Gandhi Page #9

CHARLIE:

You'd be Gandhi --

(Gandhi nods.)

...I thought you'd be bigger.

GANDHI:

I'm sorry.

CHARLIE:

I -- I mean it's all right. It doesn't

matter.

(He suddenly steps

forward and thrusts

out his hand.)

I'm -- my name is Andrews, Charlie

Andrews. I've come from India --

I've read a great deal about you.

GANDHI:

Some of it good, I hope.

He turns and waves to the parlor window. The three boys are

there -- all bigger -- and Ba holds a new addition; they all

wave. And Gandhi turns back, and starts down the long, hilly

street.

GANDHI:

(to Charlie)

Would you care to walk?

He gestures Charlie on and starts walking.

Charlie nods uncertainly. He looks back at the cab in

confusion, then signals the driver to follow and hurries on

to match strides with Gandhi's brisk pace.

GANDHI:

(noting Charlie's

collar)

You're a clergyman.

CHARLIE:

Yes. I've -- I've met some very

remarkable people in India... and --

and when I read what you've been

doing here, I -- I wanted to help.

(He looks at Gandhi,

then smiles awkwardly.)

Does that surprise you?

GANDHI:

Not anymore.

(And now he smiles.)

At first I was amazed... but when

you are fighting in a just cause,

people seem to pop up -- like you --

right out of the pavement. Even when

it is dangerous or --

JOHANNESBURG SUBURB - EXTERIOR - MORNING

They have come to a turning, nearer to town, the area poorer,

run-down. Ahead of them three youths (twenty, twenty-one) in

working clothes, carrying lunch boxes, lean indolently against

a building directly in their path. They react to the sight

of Gandhi -- fun. Then stride the pavement menacingly. One

of them tosses aside his cigarette.

FIRST YOUTH:

Hey -- look what's comin'!

SECOND YOUTH:

A white shepherd leading a brown

sammy!

CHARLIE:

Perhaps I should --

Gandhi restrains him and shakes his head.

GANDHI:

Doesn't the New Testament say, "If

your enemy strikes you on the right

cheek, offer him the left"?

He starts to move forward. Charlie hesitates, then follows

nervously, more nervous for Gandhi than himself.

CHARLIE:

I think perhaps the phrase was used

metaphorically... I don't think our

Lord meant --

They are getting closer. The youths laughing, whispering.

GANDHI:

I'm not so certain. I have thought

about it a great deal. I suspect he

meant you must show courage -- be

willing to take a blow -- several

blows -- to show you will not strike

back -- nor will you be turned

aside... And when --

One youth has flicked his cigarette -- hard. It lands at

Gandhi's feet. He pauses, looking at the youth.

GANDHI:

...and when you do that it calls

upon something in human nature --

something that makes his hate for

you diminish and his respect increase.

I think Christ grasped that and I --

I have seen it work.

He starts forward again, he is almost on the youths -- clearly

frightened, but...

GANDHI:

Good morning.

FIRST YOUTH:

Get off the pavement, you bloody --

And he reaches forth to haul Gandhi from the pavement, but --

A WOMAN'S VOICE

Colin! Colin! What are you doing?

A woman is leaning out of an upstairs window, looking down

at the fracas disconcertedly. It is the first youth's mother

and her presence reduces the pitch of his hostility

considerably.

FIRST YOUTH:

Nuthing... nuthing. We were just

cleaning up the neighborhood a little.

A snickering response from the other youths -- but they are

embarrassed by the questioning disapproval of Colin's mother's

attitude. There's no note of apology in her cold stare at

Gandhi, but she clearly believes her son should not be doing

what he is doing.

COLIN'S MOTHER

You're already late for work. I

thought you'd gone ten minutes ago.

The moment of crisis has passed. Nothing will happen while

she is there.

Gandhi steps back on the pavement, addressing the first youth.

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