Silence Page #19

109 INT./EXT. NAGASAKI ROAD/PALANQUIN DAY 109

Rodrigues is being conveyed in a curtained palanquin. The

Interpreter rides along outside.

INTERPRETER (O.S.)

Today you’ll meet someone different.

The Interpreter PARTS THE CURTAINS.

INTERPRETER:

Not the officials. Not Inoue Sama, who

continues to be concerned for your

well being. Someone else. Someone

Inoue Sama thought might help you.

Someone I think you will want to meet.

The Interpreter CLOSES the curtains again. Rodrigues HEARS

children playing nearby; bells being rung by the bonzes; more

SOUNDS of sawing and hammering.

CUT TO:

110 EXT. NAGASKAI ROAD/PALANQUIN DAY 110

The palanquin, with a small escort of guards, moves through the

growing city toward a new temple in the near distance.

CUT TO:

111 EXT. NAGASAKI TEMPLE ENTRANCE DAY 111

As the PALANQUIN ENTERS THE FRAME. It stops and the

Interpreter’s HAND comes in and OPENS the curtains.

INTERPRETER:

Come along, Padre.

Rodrigues is helped from the palanquin. A Buddhist priest from

the Temple of the True Pure Land sect walks past and gives him

a hostile look.

96

INTERPRETER:

The bonzes do not like you priests.

Nevermind.

CUT TO:

112 INT./EXT. NAGASAKI TEMPLE COURTYARD SUNSET 112

The Interpreter and Rodrigues are seated comfortably. Rodrigues

is wary.

INTERPRETER:

What is it Padre? The incense? The

smell of meat? Perhaps there will be

some for you to share.

Rodrigues HEARS the SOUND OF DISTANT FOOTSTEPS. The Interpreter

watches him closely.

INTERPRETER:

Have you had any meat since you came

to Japan? I don’t much like the smell

myself...

He watches the priest, amused. He knows what’s coming...or,

more precisely, who.

INTERPRETER:

Have you guessed yet?

Rodrigues doesn’t seem to hear him.

INTERPRETER:

Have you guessed who’s coming?

(Rodrigues’ face stiffens)

This is Inoue Sama’s command. And the

other’s wish...

RODRIGUES:

The other?

Rodrigues looks down the long corridor off the garden, SEES: an

old Buddhist priest. And behind him, a tall man in a black

kimono. His eyes are down...

...until he sits in the dimming afternoon sunlight. Then he

looks up. His expression is enigmatic. But his eyes are deep

and dark, like coals that once glowed bright but now are burnt

out.

97

RODRIGUES:

(after a silence)

Father...I’d given up...Father

Ferreira...

The Old Priest is on Ferreira’s right, the Interpreter between

them. He whispers a translation of the two priests’

conversation to the Old Priest.

RODRIGUES:

Father, so long since we have met...

Please... say...something.

FERREIRA:

What can I say to you on such an

occasion?

RODRIGUES:

If you have pity for me... please...

say something.

Ferreira does not reply.

RODRIGUES:

Have you been living here for long?

FERREIRA:

About a year I suppose.

RODRIGUES:

What is this place?

FERREIRA:

A temple called Saishoji. Where I

study.

Rodrigues looks steadily at the older priest.

RODRIGUES:

I also am in a prison somewhere in

Nagasaki. Where precisely it is I do

not know myself.

FERREIRA:

I know it.

RODRIGUES:

(quietly)

You were my teacher. You were my

confessor...

98

FERREIRA:

I am much the same.

CUT TO:

113 EXT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON YARD NIGHT 113

1633. A pale face in a vast darkness: Ferreira. Covered in

sweat. His blazing blue eyes showing signs of pain and terrible

struggle.

What little is visible of his body seems rigid, and not just

with fear. It seems to be in conflict with gravity itself. At

war outside itself as well as within.

And this is why.

The ANGLE of the scene seems to PIVOT. Ferreira’s world seems

literally to turn UPSIDE DOWN. But the world is not out of

balance. It is Ferreira himself.

He is bound and SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN over a pit just visible

in GLIMMERS of light at the edges of this foul place.

A TEAR RUNS from his eye...down his CHEEK...where it JOINS a

thin TRICKLE OF BLOOD from the side of his head.

A O.S. VOICE belonging to the INQUISITOR INOUE speaks softly.

WE DO NOT SEE HIS FACE.

INOUE:

I am only asking you to take the path

of mercy. Abandon yourself. Do a

single, simple thing.

Ferreira’s head moves slightly. Perhaps a nod of assent.

INOUE:

(continuing)

Once you understand. Completely.

Beyond a doubt. You will agree. It is

the only way. Tell me then, Padre.

Tell me you agree.

Yes. Ferreira NODS his head: yes.

INOUE:

Good. You take this unnecessary burden

from us both.

CUT TO:

99

114 EXT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON YARD NIGHT 114

A HAND comes into frame, placing a fumie with a sacred image on

metal on the dusty ground.

Ferreira, TREMBLING, stands over it.

INOUE:

Now show me. With only a step.

Ferreira hesitates.

INOUE:

Not because your body is weak. Show me

how strong you are. Show me your new

heart. With just one step. Step on

your Jesus.

Ferreira RAISES his right foot, then brings it down on the

fumie. Ferreira collapses on the ground on top of the fumie,

shuddering as if his soul has abandoned him.

CUT TO:

115 EXT. NAGASAKI TEMPLE COURTYARD SUNSET 115

Back to the present. Ferreira looks at the younger priest

solicitously.

FERREIRA:

Do I really seem so different?

INTERPRETER:

The honorable Sawano spends his day

writing. About astronomy.

FERREIRA:

At Inoue Sama’s order. There is great

knowledge here, but in medicine and

astronomy much remains to be taught.

I’m happy to help. I’d like to show

you the lenses and telescope the

physician Albrecht just brought us.

They’re very beautiful.

Rodrigues stares at him incredulously.

FERREIRA (cont'd)

It’s fulfilling to finally be of use

in this country.

100

Rodrigues notices that Ferreira is SPEAKING so that the

Interpreter and the Old Priest CAN HEAR.

RODRIGUES:

Then you are happy, Father?

FERREIRA:

I said so.

The Old Priest looks IRRITABLE AND IMPATIENT at the course of

this conversation. The Interpreter intervenes.

INTERPRETER:

(interrupting)

Mention the other book you’re writing.

Rodrigues notices that Ferreira HESITATES.

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

It is called Kengiroku. It shows the

errors of Christianity and refutes the

teachings of Deus. Do you understand

the title?

Rodrigues searches Ferreira’s face for some sense of

shame...even embarrassment. Ferreira lowers his eyes.

INTERPRETER:

Tell him.

FERREIRA:

(quietly)

It means Deceit Disclosed. Or

Unmasked, if you prefer a more florid

reading. His Lordship the Inquisitor

has read the manuscript. He praises

it. He says it is well done.

Rodrigues is stunned. He SHAKES HIS HEAD in denial.

INTERPRETER:

It’s the truth.

RODRIGUES:

You use the truth like poison.

INTERPRETER:

What a funny thing for a priest to

say.

Rodrigues LOOKS AGAIN at Ferreira, who CAN’T MEET HIS EYES.

101

RODRIGUES:

It’s cruel, worse than any torture.

To twist a man’s soul this way.

Ferreira TURNS HIS FACE AWAY from Rodrigues...but Rodrigues

thinks he glimpsed the trace of a tear in Ferreira’s eye.

Perhaps this man he revered above all others has not changed so

thoroughly after all. The Old Priest continues to look on

everyone like a stone Buddha.

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