Silence Page #21

RODRIGUES:

Christian martyrs died for these

people. Father Ferreira never

mentioned them. He’s weak, and he’s

trying to make me weak.

INTERPRETER:

He’s done fine, don’t you think?

RODRIGUES:

We’ll see.

INTERPRETER:

Are you really looking forward to it,

Father? I hear doubt in your words of

defiance.

RODRIGUES:

Insult me all you want. You’ll only

give me more courage.

INTERPRETER:

You’ll need it. Tonight. You’ll

apostatize tonight. You’re a good man,

Padre, and you cannot stand suffering.

Your own. Or others.

CUT TO:

119 INT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON CELL NIGHT 119

And two words:
LAUDATE EUM. Rodrigues’ fingers moves across the

Latin words cut directly into the wall of this new cell, a

place so hellishly filthy it makes his previous cells seem like

fine inns.

His hands stay on the crude letters. They are shaking. A tear

rolls down his cheek. He is terrified. Of what he is sure

awaits him. And of how he may act when the inevitable finally

comes to him. He prays for strength--and out of despair.

RODRIGUES:

God help me, Jesus help me, I hear no

voice but Ferreira. He knows what I

fear.

(MORE)

107

RODRIGUES (cont'd)

In the garden, You said "My soul is

sorrowful even unto death," and the

drops of sweat on Your brow were like

blood. I would bleed for You. I would

die for You, if I knew You. Are You

here?

There are SOUNDS from the nearby cells.

RODRIGUES:

You were the joy of my life. Now I am

afraid of You. What can I do to feel

your love for me again?

The sounds from nearby cells continue. They unsettle Rodrigues

even more, although they are strange, hard to identify:

sometimes they sound like groans, other times like snores and,

still at other times, like animal sounds.

He covers his ears...but now, along with the other sounds, is

the NOISE of a SCUFFLE in the hall. And SHOUTING. This is a

voice he knows, and does not want to hear. Kichijiro.

120 EXT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON YARD NIGHT 120

OUTSIDE THE CELL: GUARDS ARE PUSHING KICHIJIRO AWAY.

KICHIJIRO GUARD:

I’m a Christian! I’m a Liar! You’re just like us!

Christian!

KICHIJIRO GUARD:

Hit me! I don’t care! Get out of here I said!

KICHIJIRO:

(in English now)

Padre! Forgive me! I came to make

confession!

The Guards advance on Kichijiro.

121 INT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON CELL NIGHT 121

INSIDE THE CELL:
Rodrigues can plainly hear Kichijiro being

beaten and pulled away as he cries out...

KICHIJIRO (O.S.)

Forgive me! Forgive me, Padre!

108

Slowly...even reluctantly...Rodrigues pulls his hands away from

his ears. He silently utters the words of absolution and makes

the sign of the cross.

The strange NOISES grow even louder, more emphatic.

Rodrigues is near breaking. He starts to BEAT ON THE WALL with

the flat of his hand.

RODRIGUES:

Stop it! Stop that noise! Help!

The Interpreter comes to the door of the cell.

RODRIGUES:

No! Down there! There’s a man in

agony and the guard’s sound asleep and

snoring like a wild dog.

INTERPRETER:

You think that noise is the guard?

He turns to Ferreira, who stands behind him half in shadow.

INTERPRETER:

Incredible. Sawano...tell him. Say

what it is.

Ferreira steps into the cell almost like an apparition.

FERREIRA:

It’s not the guard. And it’s not

snoring. It’s moaning. It’s

Christians. Five of them in fact. All

hanging in the pit.

Rodrigues is stunned. The sounds seem to be even louder now,

piercing his soul.

FERREIRA (cont'd)

Have you found the words on the wall?

“Laudate Eum.” “Praise him.” I cut

them there with a stone. When I was in

this cell, like you. Do you think you

are the only one who doubted? The only

one who called on God’s help and love

and got only silence in return?

RODRIGUES:

Be quiet! You have no right to speak

to me!

109

FERREIRA:

I do because you are just like me. You

see Jesus in Gethsemane and believe

your trial is the same as His. Those

five in the pit are suffering too,

just like Jesus, but they don’t have

your pride. They would never compare

themselves to Jesus. Do you have the

right to make them suffer? I heard the

cries of suffering in this same cell.

And I acted.

RODRIGUES:

Don’t try to excuse yourself! That is

the spirit of darkness disguised as

light!

FERREIRA:

What would you do for them? Pray? And

get what in return? Only more

suffering. A suffering only you can

end. Not God.

RODRIGUES:

Go away from me!

FERREIRA:

I prayed too. It doesn’t help. Go on.

Pray.

Two Guards enter the cell and yank Rodrigues to his feet.

FERREIRA (cont'd)

But pray with your eyes open.

Rodrigues is handled roughly, and CRIES OUT in pain. His cry is

MIXED WITH the sounds from outside, which are...

CUT TO:

122 EXT. INQUISITOR’S OLD PRISON YARD NIGHT (PRE-DAWN) 122

...the AGONIES of FIVE CHRISTIANS strung up, upside down, over

a gaping pit of offal and filth. Blood drips slowly from behind

their ears. They moan in pain and desperation.

The Interpreter and Ferreira stand on either side of the

stunned Rodrigues. He has never been so close to their

suffering, and the sight of it is like a mortal wound.

110

FERREIRA:

You can spare them. They call out for

help, just as you call to God. He is

silent. But you do not have to be.

RODRIGUES:

God help me, they should apostatize...

(yelling at them)

Apostatize! Korobu! Korobe!

FERREIRA:

But they have apostatized. Many times

over. They are here for you,

Rodrigues. As long as you don’t

apostatize they cannot be saved.

RODRIGUES:

(desperate)

They are suffering now but they will

receive their reward in heaven.

FERREIRA:

Don’t make a mockery of those

beautiful words. You’re only trying to

hide your fear. Do you really believe

what you said?

RODRIGUES:

I believe!

FERREIRA:

You believe in yourself! You set

yourself above them. It’s your

salvation that obsesses you, not

theirs. You dread to be the dregs of

the church, like me. Is that your way

of love? A priest should act in

imitation of Christ. If Christ were

here...

He quiets for a moment, calming himself. The MOANS from the pit

continue. Ferreira resumes in a strong, rational voice.

FERREIRA (cont'd)

If Christ were here He would have

acted. Apostatized. For their sake.

Christ would certainly have done at

least that to help men.

RODRIGUES:

(covering his face with his

hands)

(MORE)

111

RODRIGUES (cont'd)

No, no....Christ is here. I just can’t

hear Him.

FERREIRA:

Can you love? Can you love as God

commands?

Rodrigues cannot answer.

FERREIRA:

Show God you love Him. Save the lives

of the people He loves.

The Interpreter steps forward CARRYING THE FUMIE, which he

places on the ground before Rodrigues.

FERREIRA:

There is something more important than

the judgement of the church....you

will never do anything more important

than this...

Ferreira puts his arms around Rodrigues.

FERREIRA:

You are now going to fulfill the most

painful act of love that has ever been

performed.

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