Silence Page #20

INTERPRETER:

I think you must be speaking of

yourself, Padre. Not of Sawano Chuan.

RODRIGUES:

Who?

INTERPRETER:

Him. He is Ferreira only to you. He is

Sawano Chuan now. A man who has found

peace. Let him guide you along his

path. The path of mercy. That means

only that you abandon self. No one

should interfere with another man’s

spirit. To help others is the way of

the Buddha and your way too. The two

religions are the same in this. It’s

not necessary to win anyone over to

one side or another when there is so

much to share.

(to Ferreira)

Go on.

FERREIRA:

I’ve been told to get you to abandon

the faith.

He turns his head so Rodrigues can SEE a scar behind his ear.

FERREIRA:

This is from the pit. You are tied so

you can’t move then hung upside down

and the incision is made. You feel the

blood running down your cheek drop by

drop. So it doesn’t run to your head

and you won’t die too soon.

INTERPRETER:

It was Inoue Sama’s idea. It’s

practiced from Nagasaki all the way to

Edo. You’re the last priest left here

now, Padre. I’m sure Inoue Sama would

be pleased to put an end to the pit.

(MORE)

102

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

He is only a practical man, Padre, he

is not a cruel one.

Ferreira leans in. He still speaks quietly, but his tone is

becoming increasingly emphatic.

FERREIRA:

I have been in this temple for a year.

I have labored in this country for

fifteen years. I know it better than

you. Our religion does not take root

in this country.

RODRIGUES:

Because the roots have been torn up!

FERREIRA:

No!

Ferreira’s tone has changed. He speaks now with resolution,

almost with vehemence. There is no trace of the tear Rodrigues

thought he saw only moments before. The light has returned to

his eyes.

FERREIRA (cont'd)

Because this country is a swamp.

Nothing grows here. Plant a sapling

here and the roots rot.

RODRIGUES:

There was a time when Christianity

grew. And flourished.

FERREIRA:

When?

RODRIGUES:

In your time, Father. Before you

became like...

FERREIRA:

Like who? Like them? Rodrigues, please

listen. The Japanese only believe in

their distortion of our gospel. So

they did not believe at all. They

never believed.

RODRIGUES:

How can you say this? From the time of

Saint Francis Xavier, through your own

time, there were hundreds of thousands

of converts here.

FERREIRA:

Converts? Francis Xavier came here to

teach the Japanese about the son of

God. But first he had to ask how to

refer to God. “Dainichi” he was told.

And shall I show you their Dainichi.

He POINTS to the sky...to the setting sun.

FERREIRA:

(softly)

Behold...there is the sun of God.

God’s only begotten sun. In the

scriptures Jesus rose on the third

day. In Japan, the sun of God rises

daily. The Japanese cannot think of an

existence beyond the realm of nature.

For them, nothing transcends the

human. They can’t conceive of our idea

of the Christian God.

RODRIGUES:

You’re wrong! They worship God Our

Lord. They praise the name of Deus!

FERREIRA:

That’s just another word for a god

they never knew.

RODRIGUES:

I saw men die for Deus! They were on

fire with their faith!

FERREIRA:

Faith in the wrong god! Their god, not

ours! And where does our church...your

church...consign believers in the

wrong God? Your martyrs may have been

on fire, Father, but it was not with

faith.

RODRIGUES:

No! I saw them die! Those people did

not die for nothing!

FERREIRA:

Indeed not. They’re dying for you.

RODRIGUES:

And how many did you save when you

crushed the image of Our Lord? How

many beside yourself?

104

FERREIRA:

I don’t know. Certainly not as many as

you may help.

In the background, there is the SOUND of bells and the priests

chanting sutras.

RODRIGUES:

You’re only trying to justify your own

weakness. God have mercy on you.

FERREIRA:

Which god? Which one?. We say...

"Mountains and rivers..."

(stops)

I'm sorry. You haven't learned the

language thoroughly, have you. There's

a saying here. "Mountains and rivers

can be moved. But man’s nature cannot

be moved." It’s very wise, like so

much here. We find our original nature

in Japan, Rodrigues. Perhaps it's

what's meant by finding God.

RODRIGUES:

You are a disgrace, Father. I can’t

even call you that any more.

FERREIRA:

Good. I have a Japanese name now. And

wife. And children. I inherited them

all from an executed man.

He gets up and WALKS INTO THE LENGTHENING SHADOWS of early

evening. The Old Priest follows him. Rodrigues watches him go

with a growing sense of helplessness. If Ferreira gave up his

faith, what hope can there be for him?

The Interpreter STARES at him with such fixity that he seems to

be reading his mind.

CUT TO:

116 INT./EXT. NAGASAKI TEMPLE HALL/COURTYARD SUNSET 116

As Rodrigues and the Interpreter walk back toward the waiting

palanquin. The Interpreter gives Rodrigues time to weigh the

experience of seeing and hearing Ferreira.

INTERPRETER:

Well? How do you feel? He has shown

you the path of mercy.

(MORE)

104A

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

I hope you take it. Just a single step

can set you on your way.

105

RODRIGUES:

Why don’t you just hang me in the pit?

INTERPRETER:

The Inquisitor feels it is better to

have you accept our teaching...our

country...our life...on your own. It’s

better if you see reason for yourself.

RODRIGUES:

Well, it can’t be helped then.

CUT TO:

117 INT. NEW PRISON RODRIGUES’ CELL DAY 117

The door OPENS, revealing Rodrigues huddled on the floor.

Morning light shines in from the outside, illuminating the

figure of a LARGE MAN, naked to the waist. The sight of him

fills Rodrigues with a sharp sense of dread.

The LARGE MAN deftly TIES Rodrigues’ hands behind his back. The

knots cut.

LARGE MAN:

You’re an animal. You stink like

animal flesh.

He YANKS the priest to his feet.

CUT TO:

118 EXT. NAGASAKI CROWDED STREET DAY 118

Rodrigues is seated with hands tied in the saddle of a spindly

horse. He is in the midst of a small procession moving through

a crowd.

RODRIGUES:

Where are you taking me now?

INTERPRETER:

To the Inquisitor’s office.

Once the people in the crowd were curious. Contemptuous. Now

they are openly hostile. They PRESS FORWARD. Guards have to

HOLD THEM BACK.

INTERPRETER:

So, Father, you see how they respect

you.

(MORE)

105A

INTERPRETER (cont'd)

You came here for them, and they all

hate you. You’re useless, completely

useless.

RODRIGUES:

There are some here who may be praying

in the silence of their hearts.

At that moment a clod of mud STRIKES Rodrigues on the back.

106

INTERPRETER:

And there is the answer to their

prayers. There may be people in this

crowd who were Christians once. But

are there any now?

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