Silence Page #23

RODRIGUES:

Nothing grows in a swamp.

INOUE:

(nods; beat)

Japan is that kind of country. It can

not be helped. The religion of the

Kirishitan you brought us has become a

strange thing. It’s changed. You were

not defeated by me. You were defeated

by this swamp of Japan.

CUT TO:

A127 EXT. EDO RODRIGUES’ HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE DAY A127

Daily activity at the Christian Residence compound.

128 INT. EDO RODRIGUES' HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE DAY 128

Rodrigues, ten years older, sits cross-legged on the floor,

working at a writing table. He is closely observed by an

official. The room is small and spare--an area that would be

close and crowded when his entire household is present. It’s

almost like a large cell without bars. His wife sews quietly

nearby.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

Okada San’emon lived in Edo for the

remaining years of his life....

(TBD)

117

CUT TO:

129 INT. EDO RODRIGUES' HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE DUSK 129

Rodrigues accepts a cup of tea with a nod of thanksto...Kichijiro, who waits while Rodrigues sips the tea.

KICHIJIRO:

I heard the Inquisitor sent his men

for you. Was there trouble?

*

RODRIGUES:

They were only here to make sure I

wrote the korobi shomon. My latestoath of renunciation. Thank you.

*

KICHIJIRO:

You have nothing to thank me for.

RODRIGUES:

For being here with me.

KICHIJIRO:

(carefully)

Padre...

RODRIGUES:

No no. Not any more. I’m a fallenpriest.

KICHIJIRO:

But you’re the last priest left. Youcould still hear my confession.

RODRIGUES:

No. I can’t.

KICHIJIRO:

I still suffer for what I did, Padre.

I betrayed you, I betrayed my family.

I betrayed our Lord. Please....hear my

confession...

As Rodrigues WATCHES him with sympathy, WE HEAR...

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Lord, I fought against Your silence.

118

CUT TO:
Kichijiro, BOWING his head.

CUT TO:
Rodrigues, LOOKING at him.

CUT TO:
Kichijiro, head still bowed as Rodrigues believes HE

HEARS HIM SAY...

VOICE OF JESUS (V.O.)

I suffered beside you. I was never

silent.

Kichijiro’s lips have not moved. His head remains bowed.

Cut back to:
Rodrigues, REACHING OUT his hand and resting it

gently on top of Kichijiro’s head. When he speaks it is to

answer the voice he is sure he has heard.

RODRIGUES:

I know. But even if God had been

silent, my life...to this very

day...everything I do...everything

I’ve done...speaks of Him. It was in

the silence that I heard Your voice.

And he begins the words of the sacrament as WE HEAR...

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“The Inquisitor continued to insist on

periodic examinations of all suspected

Christians.”

CUT TO:

130 EXT. EDO RODRIGUES' HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE YARD DAY 130

Rodrigues, in his fifties, his adopted wife and household, as

well as Kichijiro, are lined up before officials and guards. A

fumie lies before them on the ground. One by one, the members

of the household step forward and stamp upon it.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

TBD:

Guards RIP an amulet from around Kichijiro's neck as other

members of the house look on in mute terror.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“In the year sixteen hundred and sixty-

seven a religious image was

discovered inside an amulet belonging

to a servant called Kichijiro.”

119

CLOSE ON:
the amulet, as a guard opens it. Inside is a picture

of Saint Paul and, on its reverse side, the image of Saint

Francis Xavier and an angel.

DIETER ALBRECHT:

“The servant said he had won it

gambling, had never looked inside, and

could never have gotten the amulet

from Okada San'emon since he was

always under guard. The servant

Kichijiro was never seen again.”

Rodrigues' lips move silently. No one but Kichijiro notices.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“After that, Okada San'emon himself

was carefully watched. But I must

relate to you, Fathers, that he never

acknowledged the Christian God. Not by

word or symbol. He never spoke of Him

and never prayed. Not even when he

died.”

CUT TO:

131 INT. EDO RODRIGUES' HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE/BEDCHAMBER 131

Rodrigues is dead at 71. His wife is watched by guards. His

wife approaches. Rodrigues’ body is in a coffin shaped much

like a barrel.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“Three guards stood watch over the

coffin until it could be taken away.

Just to be certain. Only his wife was

briefly allowed to view the body.

There was no indication that she

wept.”

The wife folds Rodrigues' hands carefully across his chest, as

if she is concerned something will fall from between them.

CUT TO:

132 EXT. EDO RODRIGUES’ HOUSE IN CHRISTIAN RESIDENCE DAY 132

As Rodrigues' body is carried from the house in the coffin.

CAMERA follows the coffin on a bier (kandai) forward, coming

close as we hear...

119A

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“The body was treated in the Buddhist

manner.”

120

...and we...

DISSOLVE TO:

133 EXT. BURIAL SITE/CREMATION DAY 133

...CAMERA still moving with the coffin as it slides into the

flames of a crematory fire....

...through the flames... CAMERA still moving...

...revealing Rodrigues' body, immaculately arranged, hands

across his chest. CAMERA moves up toward his hands as the

flames burn and start to consume the body.

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“And he was given a posthumous

Buddhist name. I believe you will have

to accept, Fathers, that he was lost

to God.”

As the flames rise, CAMERA CLOSES on Rodrigues' hands...

DIETER ALBRECHT (V.O.)

“But as to that, only God can answer.”

...revealing Mokichi’s beautiful hand-carved cross from Goto

clutched between them. The flames are fierce. We are very close

to the cross and hands now. And the cross bursts into flame.

Its light fills the screen.

END:

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