Kundun Page #11

A knock.

TAKTRA RINPOCHE (OC)

Enter.

The Regent is next door.

The boy climbs up on a chest and peeks through a tiny window

in the wall which separates this enclosure from the

Regent's.

Taktra Rinpoche reads a telegram. His aging

face becomes quite grave.

The Regent leaves his side of the enclosure.

REGENT (OC)

Summon the Lord Chamberlain and

the Kashag.

And then, there is a knock on the Dalai Lama's door.

TENZIN GYATSO:

Enter.

It is the Regent.

REGENT TAKTRA:

Holiness.

TENZIN GYATSO:

Yes.

REGENT TAKTRA:

The Chinese have invaded.

EXT. GARDENS, NORBULINKA DAY

Back to a new group of performers - satirists, dressed as

high lamas and monks - even as the Nechung Oracle -

lampooning the rulers. The crowd roars with laughter.

INT. DALAI LAMA'S PRIVATE ROOMS, NORBULINKA DUSK

The Lord Chamberlain stands with the teenage Dalai Lama.

The room is a violent red in the sunset.

Tenzin Gyatso has cleared off his table, he is creating a

three-dimensional battlefield as his Lord Chamberlain

explains the situation. Tenzin Gyatso uses papers, books,

little statues to bring a physical life to the words we

hear.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN

They crossed the river, Holiness.

They have invaded in six locations,

Chando Province, Kham, eastern Tibet.

TENZIN GYATSO:

What is the size of our army, now?

LORD CHAMBERLAIN

Eight thousand, five hundred,

soldiers and officers.

We have recently requested mortars,

anti-aircraft guns and ammunition

from India. We have several hundred

in the area.

Little statues are placed facing what stands-in for the

river.

The Lord Chamberlain helps the boy to create this panorama.

TENZIN GYATSO:

Has anyone died?

LORD CHMBERLAIN:

The radio contact said one

officer had died. Then he

said, "The Chinese soldiers -

they are coming."

And then, the radio went dead.

Tenzin Gyatso lifts one statue, a small, golden Buddha, from

the display. He cradles the Buddha in his hands.

TENZIN GYATSO:

One man. A man has died.

One man is too many.

INT. DALAI LAMA'S PRIVATE ROOMS, NORBULINKA DAY

In beautiful sunlight, the painted cabinets of this room

glisten. Rainbows of color play on the glass windows. The

Dalai Lama sits at a low table, a pack of colored pencils,

or pastels, spread out around him. He is teaching his

little brother to draw.

Together, little hand in bigger hand, they draw.

The Dalai Lama's Mother sits in a side chair, watching her

sons.

The little boy screams with laughter as the brothers draw a

yak.

EXT. GARDENS, NORBULINKA NIGHT

A movie is being shown - outside - on a makeshift screen.

It is "Henry the Fourth".

This is a treat for the sweepers, and gardeners and

servants. children sit on the grass, mesmerized by this

incredible vision.

Tenzin Gyatso sits beside Heinrich Harrer.

The boy rubs his eyes wearily. He appears distracted.

This line is spoken by an actor:

ACTOR IN MOVIE:

"Heavy lies the head, that

wears the crown."

CLOSE on Tenzin Gyatso.

EXT. ROAD BEHIND NORBULINKA DAY

The Dalai Lama sits behind the wheel of a 1927 Austin. He

is a lousy driver - a boy who never commanded a wheeled

vehicle in all of his young life.

The Attendants sit in the back seat, holding on for dear

life.

We hear Tenzin Gyatso's wonderful, deep laugh.

INT. DALAI LAMA'S PRIVATE ROOM, THE POTALA NIGHT

Tenzin Gyatso is listening to Peking Radio. Norbu Thundrup

is with him.

The boy tinkers with a clock as he listens - he is swiftly

becoming a master tinkerer.

RADIO:

"This week, the People's

Liberation Army crossed the Drichu

River east of Chamdo and began

the peaceful liberation

of Tibet.

Tibet is in the hands of

imperialist enemies of

the people. The Dalai

Lama, a foolish reminder

of an illiterate past,

is the figure head of

this autonomous region

of China. Accept our

help, Tibet! The people

shall be free!"

TENZIN GYATSO:

What do the people say, Norbu?

Norbu is not shy in his report.

NORBU THUNDRUP:

Tibetan officials have retreated from

Chamdo. They are scared and

running. The Chinese strategy has

destroyed the heart of our defense

forces. Chamdo falls, several other

villages are lost. You know what

happens. The road to Lhasa will be

wide open.

Tenzin Gyatso listens carefully to the man.

NORBU THUNDRUP:

The people want you made Dalai Lama.

TENZIN GYATSO:

Then, I am lucky.

I am still too young.

NORBU THUNDRUP:

These are dangerous times.

They want the Dalai Lama to lead

them.

TENZIN GYATSO:

But, I have no experience.

NORBU THUNDRUP:

Oh, but you do, Kundun.

Who else would be here?

INT. DALAI LAMA'S PRIVATE ROOMS, THE POTALA NIGHT

The Nechung Oracle spins in his trance. Horns blow, cymbals

clash, the Oracle spurts sounds as lamas chant.

Finally, the Oracle approaches the boy, stands beside him,

like a lieutenant, a comrade, and says:

ORACLE:

"His time has come."

EXT. TERRACE, THE POTALA DAY

The Dalai Lama is reading - Tibet's appeal to the United

Nations.

TENZIN GYATSO:

"To the members of the United

Nations:

The attention of the world is

riveted on Korea where aggression

is being resisted by an international

force. Similar happenings in remote

Tibet are passing without notice.

The problem is not of Tibet's

own making but is largely the outcome

of unthwarted Chinese ambition

to bring weaker nations on her

periphery within her active

domination."

This is very good. Quite strong.

The Lord Chamberlain and the four members of the Kashag

agree.

The boy continues:

TENZIN GYATSO:

"Tibetans have for long lived a

cloistered life in their mountain

fastness, remote and aloof..."

In the background, we see monks on top of a wall, long horns

in front of them. The blowing begins.

In a courtyard below, a debating session is in progress. We

hear the shouts and the claps and watch the beautiful body

movements of the questioners. Laughter fills the air.

Below that, the small capital of Tibet - the mysterious

city, the forbidden city of Lhasa - carries on, for now.

INT. DALAI LAMA'S PRIVATE ROOMS, THE POTALA NIGHT

A monk - an abbot, in fact - sits beside Tenzin Gyatso.

It is Takster Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama's oldest brother.

TAKSTER RINPOCHE

I was never alone. Two Chinese

were with me every minute of the day.

Tenzin Gyatso plays with a box of those special sweets which

comes from his mother.

TAKSTER RINPOCHE

Their talk is always of liberation

and helpfulness. They put their

words like honey on a knife, but if

you lick the honey, you will bleed.

Takster Rinpoche begins to say something, but holds back.

TENZIN GYATSO:

Tell me.

TAKSTER RINPOCHE

They think they have convinced me.

They think I am on their side.

They have allowed me to leave Kumbum

and come to Lhasa believing that I

will try to turn you to their ways.

If I do not succeed, I am to

eliminate you.

TENZIN GYATSO:

You, kill me?

TAKSTER RINPOCHE

Eliminate you.

The tension is great, the idea profound.

TARSTER RINPOCHE

I can be Governor of Lhasa,

they say.

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