Silence Page #17

RODRIGUES:

It must be very beautiful.

INOUE:

Well, maybe more interesting than

beautiful. There is an interesting

story about the daimyo who ruled

there. You could say life had

overwhelmed him with generosity. He

had four concubines. Four. They were

all beautiful, but they...I’m sorry,

maybe this is not a story for a

celibate priest.

RODRIGUES:

Please go on.

INOUE:

In any case, they were beautiful, but

they were all jealous, and they fought

and fought without end. So the daimyo

of Hirado drove them away from his

castle and peace came into his life

again.

(beat)

Do you think this story has a lesson?

RODRIGUES:

Yes. That this was a wise man as well

as a great one.

INOUE:

I’m glad you see it that way because

it means you see as I do. The daimyo

is like Japan. And these women are

Spain, Portugal, Holland, England,

each whispering bad, bad lies about

the other into his ear. Each trying to

gain the advantage against the other

and destroy the house in the process.

If you think this man is wise, then

you must understand why we must outlaw

the Kirishitan.

RODRIGUES:

Our church teaches monogamy. What if

Japan were to choose one lawful wife

from the four?

INOUE:

You mean Portugal.

RODRIGUES:

I mean the holy church.

INOUE:

(laughs lightly)

Don't you think it would be better for

the man to forget about foreign women

and choose one of his own?

RODRIGUES:

Nationality is not so important in a

marriage. What matters is love and

fidelity.

INOUE:

Love? Padre, there are men who are

plagued by the persistent love of an

ugly woman.

RODRIGUES:

That’s what you think missionary work

is?

INOUE:

Well, from my point of view...our

point of view...yes. What is the word

for a woman who cannot bear children?

INTERPRETER:

Barren.

INOUE:

A barren woman cannot be a true wife.

RODRIGUES:

If the Gospel has lost its way here,

it’s not the fault of the church. It’s

the fault of those who tear the

faithful from their faith like a

husband from a wife.

INOUE:

(Quietly)

You mean me.

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Rodrigues lets the question hang. Inoue doesn’t seem angry.

INOUE:

Padre, you missionaries do not seem to

know Japan.

RODRIGUES:

And you, honorable Inquisitor, do not

seem to know Christianity.

Silence. They have checkmated one another. For the moment.

INOUE:

Padre, there are those...there are

many...who think of your religion as a

curse. I do not. I see it in another

way. But still dangerous.

(he rises)

I’d like you to think about the

persistent love of an ugly woman. And

about how a barren woman should never

be a wife.

Inoue leaves, the Interpreter BOWING as he passes.

There is the sound of MOSQUITOS SWARMING just outside the door.

Somewhere nearby a HORSE NEIGHS. The Interpreter looks at

Rodrigues with a mixture of disbelief--that someone should have

spoken to Inoue in such a way--and pity--at the prospect of the

results of such talk.

Rodrigues RETURNS HIS LOOK without comment. But, finally, TAKES

THE BOWL OF HOT WATER in his hands and sips from it.

CUT TO:

93 EXT. NAGASAKI STREET NIGHT 93

A procession of CHILDREN wends spiritedly down a narrow street,

SINGING A SONG and CARRYING LANTERNS to various homes along the

route. There is an air of celebration in the town.

CUT TO:

94 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 94

A Guard enters the cell carrying two fresh thin straw mats. The

Interpreter is with him. Rodrigues hands the Guard a bowl of

uneaten fish and rice.

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RODRIGUES:

Give it to the others. I don’t need to

be fattened for the slaughter.

INTERPRETER:

Why do you say that? Inoue Sama sent

the extra food especially for you.

It’s for strength. You need strength.

RODRIGUES:

Not your kind.

(nods at new mats)

You can take those too.

The Guard disregards him and GATHERS UP the old straw mats,

replacing them with the new ones. The SOUND of CHILDREN’S

VOICES singing the Urabon song drifts in from the outside.

INTERPRETER:

You understand the singing, Padre?

RODRIGUES:

Yes a little.

INTERPRETER:

It is a song for the festival, Urabon.

It is a night when everyone hangs

lanterns and lights candles for our

ancestors.

RODRIGUES:

All Souls’ Day.

INTERPRETER:

What?

RODRIGUES:

A feast day in the West.

INTERPRETER:

Oh. Well, I hope you’ll continue to be

comfortable.

CUT TO:

95 EXT./INT. NEW PRISON YARD & RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 95

The woman Monica is DRAGGED BY GUARDS past Rodrigues’ window.

MONICA:

Padre...Padre, can you help...

88

At the window, Rodrigues REACHES his fingers through the small

opening and TOUCHES the fingers of the terrified Monica as she

is dragged toward other prisoners in the yard.

The cell door opens and the Guard deposits a fresh set of

clothing on the floor.

GUARD:

You make a journey today.

TIME CUT:
Rodrigues carefully hides the cross Mokichi gave him

in his underclothes pants.

CUT TO:

96 EXT. NAGASAKI BEACH DAY 96

RODRIGUES, bound, is helped from his horse by two Guards.

Standing stiffly, HE SEES: a GROVE OF PINES near the water.

There are FIVE SAMURAI squatting by baskets and eating. A WHITE

CURTAIN has been set up, strung between two of the tallest

trees. Several stools are placed in front of it.

SAMURAI:

Sit down. Go ahead. Better for you

than a saddle, I think.

Rodrigues sits. In the distance, he can just make out the

OUTLINE OF PEOPLE coming haltingly toward the pine grove.

INTERPRETER:

Padre, how are you feeling today? I am

sure the air must feel good, even

though you are in our newest prison.

It is new. It is not so bad. The old

prison was very tough on the padres.

Rain. Wind. Very bad.

RODRIGUES:

When will Inoue Sama be here?

INTERPRETER:

Oh he’s not coming today. Do you miss

him?

RODRIGUES:

He treats me kindly. Three meals a

day. Extra bedding. All so my body

will betray my heart.

(MORE)

89

RODRIGUES (cont'd)

That is your plan, isn’t it? That’s

what you’re waiting for?

INTERPRETER:

Not at all. But we are waiting for

someone today, that’s true. Inoue Sama

wants you to meet him. He’ll be here

any moment. He’s Portuguese, like

yourself. You should have a lot to

talk about.

RODRIGUES:

Ferreira...

The Interpreter smiles. The distant group of figures has come

much closer. Rodrigues can just make them out: TWO SAMURAI. And

THREE OTHERS. They are the three Christian prisoners. Monica is

in the lead. And, STRAGGLING BEHIND THEM ALL...

...IS GARUPE. Haggard, wearing peasant clothing. Rodrigues

struggles to contain himself.

INTERPRETER:

Is it who you expected?

RODRIGUES:

I want to talk to him.

INTERPRETER:

No hurry. It is early. Plenty of time.

(fans himself)

So tell me, Padre, this mercy

Christians always talk about...what is

it?

The procession of prisoners and their guards HALTS. GUARDS

UNLOAD piles of straw mats from the pack animals.

RODRIGUES:

(agitated)

Tell me where Garupe was captured.

INTERPRETER:

Oh I cannot. I must not speak about

the business of the Inquisitor’s

office. But I can tell you...

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