Silence Page #14

INTERPRETER:

He’s held in great esteem now. Which,

I believe, is why he came here in the

first place.

The Interpreter STEPS OUT.

CUT TO:

80 EXT. TINY HUT OF TWIGS DAY 80

The Interpreter looks casually at the guards.

INTERPRETER:

Arrogant. Like all of them. But he’ll

fall.

CUT TO:

81 INT. TINY HUT OF TWIGS DAY 81

Rodrigues is praying fervently now, in contrast to his prayers

of only minutes before. He has been shaken by the news of

Ferreira.

RODRIGUES:

Lord, forgive me for my pride. Give me

the strength Father Ferreira did not

have. If he could not stand up to the

test, how can I? I thought martyrdom

would be my salvation. Dear God, do

not let it be my shame.

CUT TO:

82 OMITTED 82

83 EXT. JAPANESE PRISON BOAT NIGHT 83

Rodrigues rests his head against the side of the boat which

moves forward under full sail. We think at first he is praying.

But his eyes are wide open, and his lips are still.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Lord, I feel the weight of their fate.

Those who have died. Those who will

die. Like the weight of Your silence.

71

Rodrigues raises his head as he hears a SOUND: the choppy,

rhythmic dip of a distant oar in the water. In the shadows, The

Interpreter notices Rodrigues staring into the night.

BOATMAN:

Is anyone there?

RODRIGUES:

Someone's following.

INTERPRETER:

Someone night fishing. Leave him

alone.

CUT TO:

84 EXT. NAGASAKI STREET DAY 84

A JAPANESE WORKER drops his shovel and RUSHES TOWARD THE

CAMERA, As he comes closer, he is joined by a dozen others, all

gaping toward...

...Rodrigues, on an aged horse. He attracts more attention this

way. He is MUTTERING a psalm.

RODRIGUES:

“The Lord is my refuge and my

deliverer. My God is my helper, and in

Him will I put my trust.”

A WOMAN APPROACHES, holding two CHILDREN by the sleeve.

CHILD:

Look how big he is.

A small band of STROLLING MINSTRELS (wearing hakama) LAUGH and

provide musical accompaniment to Rodrigues’ halting progress.

RODRIGUES:

“Of the blood all price exceeding,

shed by our Immortal King, destined,

for the world’s redemption...”

NOW WE SEE:
Rodrigues is among a group of other prisoners and

guards. All prisoners but Rodrigues are bound and being PULLED

along. Black clothed BUDDHIST PRIESTS point at Rodrigues.

RODRIGUES:

“We adore you, O Christ, and we bless

you ...”

72

Travelers with hats huge as umbrellas and straw coats GAPE. A

MAN in the crowd THROWS DIRT.

RODRIGUES (cont'd)

“...because by your holy cross you

have redeemed the world.”

Rodrigues turns toward the man who threw the dirt at him, and

the crowd responds with further jeering. And in their midst now

Rodrigues SEES...

...Kichijiro, staring at him in pity, fear and shame.

RODRIGUES:

(calling to him)

Was it you last night?

Kichijiro slinks back into the crowd. Beyond him, in the near

distance, WE SEE...

...Nagasaki. It’s a city still under construction. SOUNDS OF

BUILDING accompany the procession as it moves steadily toward

the city and a hill on which stands a...

CUT TO:

85 EXT. NEW PRISON DAY 85

The PROCESSION ENTERS the prison gate. Rodrigues looks at this

new place of confinement, trying to mask his emotion.

CUT TO:

86 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 86

Light STREAMS THROUGH a small window. SOUNDS of the city being

built up drift from outside: CRIES of working men; sounds of

trees being SAWED and nails being DRIVEN.

CU on Rodrigues:
he is MAKING A ROSARY from bits of paper and

string. His beard and hair have grown. The SOUND of the NAILS

being pounded makes him reflective.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Thank you, Lord, for the gentle days

here, and I pray...I hope...I have

found the strength for whatever awaits

me at their end.

73

86A INT. NEW PRISON CHRISTIAN CELL DAY 86A

In A QUICK SERIES OF TIME CUTS, WE SEE: Rodrigues, ministering

to the other prisoners, including Monica and her husband Juan;

reciting passages from Scripture; hearing confession by

pressing his ear to the hole through which food is passed as

other prisoners huddle in the cell corner.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Even the guards here have been touched

by Your hand. My ministry to the other

prisoners is a precious gift to me

and, I hope, a help to them.

WE INTERCUT the glimpses of Rodrigues and the prisoners with

SHOTS of him fashioning the rosary from paper and string.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

I feel so close to you now, Father. I

see the life of Your Son so clearly,

almost like my own. And His face. It

takes all fear from me. It’s the face

I remember from childhood, the face I

saw at Evora.

86B INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 86B

Rodrigues stares at the dirt floor of his cell AND IMAGINES the

face of Christ from the Evora chapel looking back at him.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Speaking to me. I’m sure of it.

Promising “I will not abandon you.”

Rodrigues stares at the image of Christ and REPEATS ALOUD...

RODRIGUES:

“I will not abandon you...will not

abandon...”

Suddenly an untidy package of clothes falls across the image of

Christ like a great blot. Rodrigues looks up startled. A GUARD

stands at the door.

GUARD:

Put those on. Hurry up, or we won’t

let you have any more paper and string

for your toys.

(as Rodrigues hesitates)

(MORE)

74

GUARD (cont'd)

Jittoku. You should be honored. It’s

what our priests wear.

CUT TO:

87 EXT. NEW PRISON YARD DAY 87

FIVE SAMURAI are seated formally in the yard, the Old Samurai

in the middle, the Interpreter next to him. They all hold fans,

which they SWISH in the stifling air.

Rodrigues, wearing the clothes of the Buddhist priest, SQUINTS

at the hot sun. Then GLANCING to his left, he SEES...

...Monica, Juan and the other prisoners watching through their

small cell window as he seats himself on the ground. He is very

aware of his responsibility to be strong for them.

SAMURAI 1

Father Rodrigues? From Portugal, yes?

I am sorry, Padre, for my speaking. My

language is not so good. But His

Lordship the Governor of Chikugo is

anxious about your comfort...comfort?

INTERPRETER:

Perhaps “discomfort.”

SAMURAI 1

Discomfort, yes. About why you are

here. And...

He looks to the Interpreter, who nods.

SAMURAI 1 (cont'd)

...if you are not at ease, please say

so.

(Rodrigues BOWS his head)

You also have...have...moved on the

water...

Unsatisfied with the way he’s expressing himself, he looks to

the Interpreter again, then BEGINS SPEAKING RAPIDLY IN

JAPANESE. The Interpreter translates swiftly.

SAMURAI 1 INTERPRETER

(in Japanese)

Your trip was long. There

were many dangers. The power

of your determination touches

us greatly. We know you have

also suffered greatly. We do

not wish to add to your

suffering.

(translating as Samurai

1 speaks)

“Your trip was long. There

were many dangers. The power

of your determination touches

us greatly. We know you have

also suffered greatly. We do

not wish to add to your

suffering.”

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