Silence Page #11

A cat walks down the empty street with a field mouse between

its jaws. Rodrigues leans against the door jamb. WE SEE HIM

from behind:
his body goes SLACK. The WIND BLOWS. Swarms of

flies fill the air.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“What have I done for Christ? What am

I doing for Christ? What will I do for

Christ?”

CUT TO:

54

63 EXT. GOTO MOUNTAIN PATH DAY 63

Rodrigues CLIMBS a steep path up a craggy mountain. BLACK CROWS

CIRCLE overhead, casting long, slow shadows in the afternoon

sun.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“One priest remaining in this country

is like a single candle burning in the

catacombs.”

A shadow of a crow CROSSES RODRIGUES’ face, startling him.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“But everything I see only fills me

with unease. And I feel danger.

Everywhere.”

CUT TO:

64 EXT. GOTO MOUNTAIN HILLTOP DUSK 64

Rodrigues LOOKS DOWN from the top of the mountain on the

deserted village of Goto and the implacable sea beyond.

Rodrigues takes a cucumber from his bag and BITES into it

ravenously.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Saint Francis Xavier. And Cabral.

Valignano himself. They crossed the

black sea of Japan and were received

with love. They didn’t have to run

away.”

CUT TO:

65 OMITTED 65

55

65A EXT. GOTO HILL OF REEDS DAY 65A

Rodrigues walks amongst tall reeds.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Jesus’s spirit was forged in the

wilderness. Lord, grant me the

strength to follow His example. For

God so loved the world...”

66 EXT. GOTO MOUNTAIN CAMPFIRE SITE DAWN 66

CU:
Rodrigues' hands, with Mokichi’s cross between them, locked

in morning prayer.

RODRIGUES (V.O)

“I feel so tempted to despair. I’m

afraid. I pray, but I’m lost...or are

You testing me?

His forehead PRESSES so hard against the mountain stone it

seems his skull might split.

RODRIGUES (CONT’D)

“How can I find Ferreira if there is

no one to show me the way?”

He gets up to begin his day’s journey, pulling his meager

clothes close to his body for warmth...then SEES something.

...the ashes of a fire. A faint glow of dying embers, on the

far side of a rocky path.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Is this Your sign that I am not

alone?”

Approaching warily, he reaches down to touch an ember. It is

still warm. He pulls his hand away.

CUT TO:

67 EXT. GOTO MOUNTAINTOP TREES DAY 67

From above. A flock of crows hovers on a branch. They watch

Rodrigues approaching in the distance. SUDDENLY the CAMERA

TAKES OFF like a bird and sails into an EXTREME CU of

Rodrigues, flailing at a crow, knocking it away.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Or is this Your sign?

55A

He picks up some stones and throws them at the birds, who fly

away in a squawking panic. The sense of the desperation of his

situation--the isolation, the danger--overwhelms him.

56

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Or no sign at all? I expected Your

silence, but the weight of it is

terrible. God, lend me the strength to

be worthy of this trial and to remain

faithful to Jesus.”

A cloud obliterates the last traces of sun.

RODRIGUES:

“Despair is the greatest sin, but in

the mystery of Your silence, it crowds

my heart.”

RAIN begins, splashing his face in large drops. He looks for

shelter. Leaves are splattered by giant rain drops. The tops of

trees sway in the wind like seaweed.

CUT TO:

68 EXT. GOTO POOR MOUNTAIN HUT 1 DAY 68

A poor HUT in the distance. Rodrigues HURRIES toward it as the

RAIN FALLS HARDER, soaking him through.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“But I will not give in. I pray for

Your forgiveness. I will find the man

who set the fire. Any man. Even if he

brings danger. To help and guide me.”

CUT TO:

69 INT. GOTO POOR MOUNTAIN HUT 1 DAY 69

Rodrigues stares into the hut. Water drips through the thatched

roof.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“I thought, I hoped, that even if

there was only one man here I could

renew my mission.”

The hut is empty. Rodrigues looks disappointed.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“But Our Lord urged me on.”

CUT TO:

57

70 EXT. GOTO CREST OF HILL/SLOPE DAY 70

Following day. Rodrigues gazes down on a village below him.

RODRIGUES (V.0.)

“To find a place to begin again.”

The poor village below shines in the sunlight. It seems like a

marvelous place to him.

RODRIGUES (CONT’D)

(softly)

“How lovely are thy tabernacles, O

Lord of hosts!” Everything you have

created is good.”

Using a stick for a staff, he hurries toward the village.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“You brought me here to bring the

water of life to these poor people.”

In his eagerness, he SLIPS on the rocky earth, STUMBLES, loses

his balance. The staff drops from his hand. He TUMBLES down the

slope, BLOODYING his face...

CUT TO:

71 EXT. GOTO SLOPE DAY 71

...as he HITS the bottom of the slope, CRYING OUT in pain. He

rolls over, trying to pick himself up...

...and finds himself FACE TO FACE with KICHIJIRO, who is

BRANDISHING the staff like a club. They STARE at each other in

astonishment.

Kichijiro HELPS Rodrigues to his feet and hands him his staff.

KICHIJIRO:

I thought I was being followed.

CUT TO:

72 INT. GOTO MOUNTAIN HUT 2 DAY 72

Kichijiro helps wipe the blood from Rodrigues' face. A small

fire SMOKES in the corner. Rain LEAKS from the thatched roof.

KICHIJIRO:

Why did you come here, Padre? This

place is dangerous. Where are you

going?

58

RODRIGUES:

Nowhere.

He TAKES Kichijiro’s rag and finishes cleaning himself.

KICHIJIRO:

We must be careful. There’s a price of

three hundred pieces of silver for

you.

RODRIGUES:

Three hundred...Judas got only thirty.

KICHIJIRO:

There are Kirishitans in other places.

Not far. We can hide there. I will

take care of you.

Rodrigues says nothing.

CUT TO:

73 INT. GOTO MOUNTAIN HUT 2 DAY 73

Later. The rain has stopped. Kichijiro is crouched over the

fire, chewing on grass and cooking fish.

KICHIJIRO:

I hope you are not angry with me,

Padre. I was only following your

instructions. Faithfully.

(beat)

I was ashamed to step on our Lord’s

face and now I am an outcast again.

Mokichi and my family stayed strong,

like roots of a tree. But I'm weak.

I'll never grow. No man knows his

strength until he is tested.

Kichijiro HOLDS OUT a small piece of fish which he has cooked

over the fire.

KICHIJIRO (cont'd)

Take it. Please.

Rodrigues is hungry, but wary too. Kichijiro sets the fish in

front of him with a tiny but uncharacteristic flourish.

KICHIJIRO:

You must be so hungry.

Rodrigues takes the fish and DEVOURS it in quick bites.

59

KICHIJIRO:

I do not know how Mokichi could be so

strong. I am so weak.

RODRIGUES:

Are you? You can certainly look after

yourself.

KICHIJIRO:

Not to be selfish, only to find my way

to God. I’m like you. I have nowhere

else to go. I was made weak, where is

the place for a weak man in a world

like this?

Rodrigues looks at Kichijiro with pity.

RODRIGUES:

Saint Paul said, “When I am weak, then

I am strong.” Do you want to confess

for Mokichi and Ichizo?

Kichijiro NODS and KNEELS. A lizard scurries across the ground

and around his legs. Rodrigues pronounces a blessing.

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