Gandhi Page #60

NEHRU:

(fast, curt)

No. There just are not that many

troops.

MILITARY AIDE:

What's he to do?

NEHRU:

What he can!

He turns. Patel has a message he was going to present to

him. He hesitates, grins dismally, and crumples the message --

"No use." Nehru sags. He looks at Patel with haggard eyes.

NEHRU:

He was right. It's insane -- anything

would have been better.

PATEL:

Have you found him?

Nehru nods solemnly.

NEHRU:

He's in Noakhali.

Patel reacts to that -- surprise, apprehension.

NEHRU:

He's tramping from village to village --

no police, no troops -- trying to

quell the madness single-handedly.

(He sighs, half in

admiration, half in

hopeless exasperation

at the old man's

audacity.)

Maulana has gone to bring him back.

Patel nods grimly -- the noisy chaos of the room. Someone

shouts at Nehru, "Prime Minister!"

CLOSE SHOT - GANDHI

In silence -- looking tragic, tired and defeated. He is

sitting in his characteristic manner, staring down at the

carpet before him.

NEHRU'S VOICE

(dull, lifeless)

What you have done in Noakhali is a

miracle, Bapu, a miracle, but millions

are on the move -- millions. There

is no way to stop it... and no one

can count the dead.

The camera angle has changed. We are in

NEHRU'S PRIVATE CHAMBERS - INTERIOR - NIGHT

Patel and Azad are there and Pyarelal of course, and with

them now the giant figure of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the first

time we have seen him among Gandhi's intimate group.

NEHRU:

In Calcutta it's like civil war. The

Muslims rose and there was a

bloodbath, and now the Hindus are

taking revenge -- and if we can't

stop it there'll be no hope for the

Hindus left in Pakistan.

PATEL:

...an eye for an eye making the whole

world blind.

It is an empty and despairing echo of Gandhi's words.

AZAD:

Aren't there any troops to spare?

NEHRU:

(tense, fragile)

Nothing -- nothing. The divisions in

Bombay and Delhi can hardly keep the

peace now. And each fresh bit of

news creates another wave of mad...

ness.

He has turned and seen Gandhi standing slowly. It has almost

stopped him.

PATEL:

Could we cut all news off? I know --

NEHRU:

Bapu -- please. Where are you going.

GANDHI:

(sounding like an old

man)

I don't want to hear more...

He is moving toward the door. It stops them all. Pyarelal

moves tentatively to open the door.

PATEL:

(impatiently)

We need your help!

GANDHI:

There is nothing I can give.

AZAD:

Where are you going?

Gandhi turns, looks at him bleakly.

GANDHI:

Calcutta.

CALCUTTA - EXTERIOR - NIGHT

We are high. There are fires, the sounds of spasmodic gunfire,

of looting, screams, the roar of police vehicles and

occasional sirens. The camera zooms in on a poor quarter of

artisan dwellings in narrow streets. Outside one of the houses

is a car, an army jeep, policemen, a few soldiers and a group

of people. It seems a little island of calm in a sea of wild

chaos.

On the roof of the house, a figure moves into the light.

CLOSER - TAHIB'S ROOF

The figure is Gandhi. He peers down at the dark, rioting

streets. Azad, Tahib, a Muslim whose house this is, Mirabehn

and Pyarelal are with him along Abdul Ghaffar Khan.

A police commissioner moves to Gandhi's side, demanding his

attention.

POLICE COMMISSIONER

Sir, please, I don't have the men to

protect you -- not in a Muslim house.

Not this quarter.

GANDHI:

I am staying with the friend of a

friend.

There is a sudden commotion just below them and angry shouts:

"Death to Muslims!," "Death to Muslims!"

Gandhi peers down.

His point of view. A surging gang of youths, many carrying

torches, and far outnumbering the little group of police and

soldiers, are shouting up at the roof. We see three or four

black flags and stains of blood on many of them. A few hold

knives still wet with blood.

A YOUTH:

There he is!

A feral roar goes up at the sight of Gandhi, but he stands

unmoving.

HINDU YOUTH LEADER

(his voice emotional,

tearful)

Why are you staying at the home of a

Muslim! They're murderers! They killed

my family!

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