Silence Page #18

(leans closer)

He knows you’re alive. Because we told

him you apostatized.

The Interpreter observes Rodrigues’ shock with satisfaction.

INTERPRETER:

Now...do you know what they use those

mats for?

Guards WRAP the straw mats around the bodies of the three

prisoners..but NOT GARUPE. One of the officials is talking

seriously to him.

INTERPRETER:

What could he be saying? Maybe

this...” If you are a priest with true

Christian charity, you must pity them.

You will not let them die because you

want your heaven.”

Rodrigues is torn between desperation and fury as the

Interpreter continues...

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

The Inquisitor promises that if Father

Garupe apostatizes the three will be

free. They did deny the faith in his

office the other day anyway. They

found it was not so difficult to take

a small step onto the fumie.

RODRIGUES:

If they did it, then why are you still

doing this? They did what you wanted

and...

INTERPRETER:

(interrupting)

Oh we do not want them. Three?

Remember, there are still hundreds of

Christian peasants on the islands off

the coast. We want the Padre to deny

and be an example to them, that is

all. Then all this will be over.

RODRIGUES:

(praying)

Vitam praesta puram, iter para

tutum...

INTERPRETER:

Well, I hope Father Garupe’s answer

won’t be in Latin. I wonder what he

will say. Oh look...

On the beach, the prisoners have been tied securely in the

straw mats and are being PRODDED WITH LANCES to board a boat

that waits in the shallow water.

91

INTERPRETER:

Since you say mercy is the most

important thing in Christianity, I

hope Father Garupe agrees.

Garupe RUNS to the water's edge and SHOUTS something. An

official in the boat shouts back to him.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

(praying; agonized)

Oh God, please. Please. Let him

deny...deny...for their sake...

On the beach, Garupe TURNS AND SHOUTS toward the pine grove.

GARUPE:

Stop this! Help them!

Rodrigues tenses at the sound of his voice.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Dear Lord, don’t leave this to us.

This responsibility You must bear.

One of the guards on the boat STICKS a prisoner with his lance,

sending him into the water. The sea SOAKS the straw quickly.

The man is PULLED DOWN under the waves, drowned.

GARUPE:

“Lord, have mercy! Christ, have

mercy!”

And Garupe PLUNGES into the surf toward the boat.

Guards PUSH another prisoner off the boat. The prisoner SINKS

like a stone. Garupe SWIMS like a man possessed of holy fury.

The guards PROD Monica over the side. She hits the water and

Garupe GRABS HER. He starts to splutter a prayer, but the

weight of the straw DRAGS them both down. He will not let go.

GARUPE:

Help me, God! Forgive me - !

The boat turns, deliberately BEARING DOWN as Garupe and Monica

STRUGGLE to the surface...and are SMASHED by the bow of the

boat. Their bodies SINK.

On shore, Rodrigues keeps staring at the water. He has risen to

his feet. Tears stream down his cheeks.

The Interpreter STANDS suddenly, disgusted and angry.

91A

INTERPRETER:

This is a terrible business. Terrible!

No matter how many times you see it.

(MORE)

92

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

Think about the suffering you have

inflicted on these people just because

of your selfish dream of a Christian

Japan. Your Deus punishes Japan.

Through you. Innocent blood is flowing

again. At least Garupe was clean. But

you. Your spirit is weak. You have no

will. You do not deserve to be called

a priest.

Rodrigues stares at the relentless sea.

CUT TO:

97 EXT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 97

The Interpreter, looking through the window of the cell door,

SEES:
Rodrigues, in the corner of the cell, half in shadow.

INTERPRETER:

How is he today?

GUARD:

Same as yesterday. Same as five days

ago. No change.

INTERPRETER:

Let me know.

CU:
on the back of Rodrigues' head as he stares at the wall.

CUT TO:

98 EXT./INT. TIME MONTAGE NEW PRISON YARD DAY 98

The first day of August - Hassaku. From his cell, Rodrigues can

see that the prison guards have opened the gate to watch a

procession of VILLAGE OFFICIALS, some wearing white katabira,

walk in formation down the street on their way to present

themselves before the daikan. One of the officials carries a

ceremonial rice offering.

99 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 99

Rodrigues’ cell, isolated in darkness--it occupies only a small

portion of the wide frame, matted. It looks like a small

compartment in infinity. Rodrigues, sitting on the floor of the

cell, looks tiny.

CUT TO:

93

100 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 100

Rodrigues, face in profile, as SOUNDS OF CELEBRATION drift in

from outside.

CUT TO:

101 EXT. NEW PRISON YARD NIGHT 101

August 15th, the night of Imomeigetu, a time when people

ceremonially offer their harvest to the moon. The prison guards

have decorated their hut with pampas grass and are noisily

enjoying some alcohol. A guard carries a table of offerings

(rice cakes and vegetables) for the moon from the guard hut and

places it on the ground. He and the other guards look up toward

the moon. The celebration continues.

CUT TO:

102 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 102

The BACK of Rodrigues’ head as he MUTTERS...

RODRIGUES:

His sweat became like drops of blood,

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani...why have

you forsaken me. Your Son’s prayer on

the cross.

CUT TO:

103 INT. FACE OF CHRIST DAY 103

THE FACE OF CHRIST in the Evora chapel.

RODRIGUES:

A cry of fear and despair. You were

silent. Even to Him.

CUT TO:

104 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 104

Rodrigues, FULL FACE NOW.

93A

RODRIGUES:

Why? Why have you forsaken us?

(whispering aloud)

Stupid. Ludicrous.

CUT TO:

94

105 EXT. NEW PRISON YARD DAY 105

FLASHBACK:
JUAN’S BODY BEING DRAGGED by one leg through the

prison courtyard, leaving a trail of blood in the dust.

105A INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL - NIGHT 105A

RODRIGUES:

(whispering)

Ludicrous...you’re so ludicrous

CUT TO:

106 EXT. NAGASAKI BEACH DAY 106

FLASHBACK:
GARUPE, DROWNING, calling out to heaven.

GARUPE:

Lord, have mercy!

106A INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 106A

RODRIGUES:

He’s not going to answer. He’s not.

Rodrigues BREAKS DOWN and laughs.

107 INT./EXT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL NIGHT 107

At the door of his cell, watching, is the Interpreter.

GUARD:

Do you want me to let you in?

INTERPRETER:

In time.

In the cell, Rodrigues’ laughter dies as it echoes in his ears.

He can’t understand what’s happening to him, to the one thing

on which he relied all his life...his faith.

CUT TO:

108 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 108

WEEKS LATER:
Rodrigues’ hair and beard are longer. The door

BURSTS open, and the Interpreter peers in at him.

95

INTERPRETER:

Padre, we’re going.

CUT TO:

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