Silence Page #12

RODRIGUES:

“In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus

Sancti...”

As the confession continues, we also hear...

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Our Lord is crowned with thorns. Our

Lord is crucified...”

...and the words of the confession become Rodrigues’ whispered

prayer.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

"What you will do, do quickly.” Your

Son’s words to Judas at the Last

Supper. Was he angry when He said

them? Or did they come from love?”

CUT TO:

74 INT. GOTO MOUNTAIN HUT 2 NIGHT 74

Rodrigues lies on the ground near Kichijiro, who squats near a

smoking fire. The priest would appear to be sleeping, but his

eyes are wide open.

60

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“And if Jesus loved Judas, why didn't

He stop him?”

Kichijiro looks at Rodrigues, who closes his eyes tight.

KICHIJIRO:

Padre? Are you asleep?

(no response)

Padre?

Rodrigues still does not answer. After a moment, his eyes

flutter, as if he’s waking...

...and looks for Kichijiro. But Kichijiro is gone.

RODRIGUES:

"What you will do, do quickly."

He LIES DOWN again, resigned to whatever fate Kichijiro may

have in store...but Kichijiro WALKS IN FROM THE SHADOWS, arms

loaded with twigs which he dumps on the fire.

KICHIJIRO:

Did you say something, Padre?

RODRIGUES:

Prayers.

Rodrigues TURNS AWAY from him and, relieved, closes his eyes.

KICHIJIRO:

Don’t you trust me by now? No one

trusts me.

CUT TO:

75 EXT. PATH IN THE WOODS DAY 75

Kichijiro’s staff PIERCES the body of a snake in the grass at

the side of the road. He holds the dying reptile up.

KICHIJIRO:

Take this. We eat them for medicine.

Rodrigues shakes his head and walks on. Kichijiro pulls the

wiggling snake from his staff and throws it into the grass.

CUT TO:

61

76 EXT. PATH IN THE WOODS DAY 76

A path through a deep wood. SUN SHINES down in shafts through

the dense trees. The heat makes WHITE STEAM RISE on the road.

Kichijiro WALKS several yards in front of Rodrigues.

KICHIJIRO:

We won't reach the village today if we

can not walk faster.

(turns)

Are you all right, Padre? You seem

tired.

RODRIGUES:

Just...no, I'm all right. Just so

thirsty. The fish was so salty.

KICHIJIRO:

I will find you some water. Keep

walking.

Kichijiro takes a water vessel from his pouch.

RODRIGUES:

No, that's all right, I...I thirst.

KICHIJIRO:

Our Lord said that.

RODRIGUES:

Yes. I mean...I ate so much of that

fish. You made me.

KICHIJIRO:

For strength.

Kichijiro DASHES from the path and into the wood, holding the

small water vessel. Rodrigues is alone. He walks a few steps,

stops, looks around. He is exhausted and uncertain. He SINKS TO

HIS KNEES and prays aloud.

RODRIGUES:

Lord, hear me. My foot is on the path,

but I don't know where it leads.

As Rodrigues prays, CAMERA MOVES BACK, FURTHER AND FURTHER...

RODRIGUES:

Please, Lord, lead me. Give me Your

hand...

SUDDEN CUT TO:
the water vessel, FALLING AND SMASHING on the

ground. Kichijiro stares at Rodrigues.

62

KICHIJIRO:

I am sorry, Padre. I thought something

was wrong.

(as Rodrigues gets up)

But never mind. There is a stream just

nearby. You can drink as much as you

like.

Rodrigues resignedly FOLLOWS Kichijiro off the path.

CUT TO:

77 EXT. STREAM DAY 77

Rodrigues' face, REFLECTED in the water as he kneels by the

bank. As he stares at it, the gentle current shifts, creating

RIPPLES that change the reflection to the image of...

...Jesus:
much the same image as in the Evora chapel.

Rodrigues LAUGHS and PLUNGES his face into the water, BREAKING

the image. He DRINKS deeply from the river, then raises his

head. He SEES his reflection again. He SCOOPS up a handful of

water, rubs it on his face. When he lowers his arm, HE SEES...

...THE SAMURAI COMMANDER. Frightened, Rodrigues JUMPS to his

feet and backs into the stream.

...but SEES:
a HALF-DOZEN SAMURAI and GUARDS.

Rodrigues knows he is trapped. He tries to hide his panic.

The Samurai Commander SIGNALS his men. They quickly cross the

stream and seize Rodrigues firmly but not forcibly. Rodrigues’

bag falls from him and the contents spill out (his chalice,

paten, pyx with hosts, wine flask, missal, crucifix, and

notebook.) Then the Samurai Commander inclines his head in the

direction of...

...Kichijiro, who is watching from a large rock a few yards

away. The Samurai Commander THROWS A HANDFUL OF TINY SILVER

PIECES at him. Kichijiro lets them lie where they fell as he

watches Rodrigues being LED OFF through the thick brush.

KICHIJIRO:

Padre, forgive me! I am weak. I told

you I am weak. God knows I am weak but

will He still love me? Isn't that what

you promised? Does God still love me?

The Samurai Commander stares at Kichijiro impassively.

62A

KICHIJIRO:

I pray for God's forgiveness. Will He

hear me?

63

Rodrigues TURNS to look at Kichijiro, who stares after him,

getting smaller and smaller as Rodrigues is pulled away.

KICHIJIRO:

Even me? Will He forgive even me?

CUT TO:

78 EXT. WOODS AND CLEARING DAY 78

The SUN is merciless. HEAT WAVES rise from the earth.

Rodrigues, PULLED by his captors, stumbles along the path,

swallowing dust. PEASANTS and VILLAGERS on the route stare at

him. Rodrigues tries to smile at a boy who looks at him wide-

eyed, but his cracked lips only make his mouth wrinkle.

RODRIGUES(V.O.)

“And the word was with God, and the

word was God."

The procession, with Rodrigues in the middle, leaves the path

for a field. FIVE PEASANTS, BOUND, STARE in amazement as...

...Rodrigues approaches. Guards nonchalantly place the priest

in the midst of the peasants who BOW as he settles on the

ground. He notices a tiny twig HUT in the near distance. The

whole scene is unexpectedly peaceful.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

So quiet. Like a day of peace and

prayer, not a day of sacrifice. I

won’t be a martyr today. “The Lord is

near to the brokenhearted and saves

the crushed in spirit.” Thank you,

Father. “Everything is Yours, do with

it what You will. Give me only Your

love and Your grace. That is enough

for me.”

A PEASANT WOMAN (MONICA) reaches into her blouse and retrieves

a cucumber, which she offers to Rodrigues. The sound of flies

humming.

RODRIGUES:

Blessed be God. Arigataya...what is

your name?

MONICA:

Monica.

RODRIGUES:

Like the mother of Augustine.

64

MONICA:

My baptism name. That man is Juan.

She pronounces it “Ju-wan,” which is the way everyone

pronounces it throughout. Rodrigues nods at the man, whose

eyelid lies lifeless over his left eye. The taste of the

cucumber is foul in his mouth, as bitter as the fear he tries

to suppress. But he’s ravenous. He keeps eating.

MONICA (cont'd)

He wanted his name to be like our

priest who died at Unzen.

RODRIGUES:

(unguarded)

There will be many more joining him.

They look at him blankly. A sudden desperation escapes him. His

temper flares.

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