Silence Page #8

think I could really be of use to

people in this country at the ends of

the earth...a people and a country I

could still never understand.”

KICHIJIRO:

A little strong drink once in a while

might do you good, Padre. Have some?

RODRIGUES:

You have a good heart, Kichijiro. You

want to be a good man, all you need is

strong faith.

KICHIJIRO:

I have faith, Padre. And thirst too.

He holds the bottle out to Rodrigues again. Rodrigues

considers...and takes a gulp. He looks off the bow and sees

they are approaching Tomogi beach.

RODRIGUES:

We’re there.

CUT TO:

39

48 EXT. TOMOGI BEACH ROCK CAVE NIGHT 48

Following Kichijiro, who has gone ahead, Rodrigues DASHES TO

the shelter of some overhanging rocks.

Rodrigues HEARS a noise and, expecting Kichijiro, boldly steps

from his shelter.

RODRIGUES:

You took so long I thought...

But it’s Mokichi, with Kichijiro and a few other village men

behind him. They are anxious, and a few are afraid.

MOKICHI:

Men. From the Inquisitor. They are in

the village. They took Ichizo.

CUT TO:

49 EXT. TOMOGI VILLAGE STREET DAY 49

From far away, and above. Midday sun pierces the sky, shining

on a great CLOUD of WHITE DUST, making it almost gleam. The

dust cloud obscures the village street.

There is a SOUND, as of distant thunder...and A RIDERLESS HORSE

GALLOPS through the cloud of dust and out of the village.

From a hiding place on a hill just above the village, Rodrigues

and Garupe watch silently, fearfully.

The dust cloud dissipates, revealing armed samurai moving

inexorably forward.

The samurai stare impassively ahead at the entire population of

the village, assembled down the length of the dirt street, all

trying to hide their fear. Expecting the worst.

And the villagers look up at the sound of another horse...this

one moving slowly. It carries the SAMURAI COMMANDER, who looks

down at the villagers with level and chilling indifference.

Behind him is another rider, an OLD SAMURAI wearing a huge

black hat like an umbrella. He smiles at the villagers

benevolently.

Behind him, roughneck GUARDS lead a prisoner on foot. The man

is tightly bound and pulled along harshly. It is Ichizo.

The Samurai Commander reins in his horse in the middle of the

street. The guards bring Ichizo to stand beside him.

40

SAMURAI COMMANDER

(to the villagers)

We know there are Christians among

you, like this poor wretch here. An

informer told us.

Mokichi steps forward, a reluctant spokesman.

MOKICHI:

But we pay our taxes every year. And

do our duty to the State. We worship

in the temple like generations before

us.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

We know you’re all good people. We

only want to hear about those who

embrace the outlawed faith. And those

who hide them. We will know who they

are.

The Old Samurai looks benignly around at the terrified

villagers. His presence is almost reassuring as his eyes drift

over the people.

From their hiding place on the hill, Rodrigues and Garupe watch

everything that is happening with increasing unease.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

Think of the price for information. So

much silver.

OLD SAMURAI:

You have three days.

He slaps the reins easily on the horse's back. The horse takes

him slowly down the main street as the people stare at him. The

Old Samurai seems to regret the treatment of Ichizo as much as

they do. The Samurai Commander NODS once and his men undo

Ichizo’s bonds.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

We will let this one go. But if we

hear nothing in three days, we will

take him again, along with three

others. Choose them yourselves.

(to Mokichi, casually)

But one of them must be you.

MOKICHI (O.S.)

I am not afraid to die, padres.

CUT TO:

41

50 INT. CHARCOAL HUT NIGHT 50

The hut is bursting with people from the village, all of them

in a state of worried agitation. Rodrigues and Garupe try to

calm them a little even as they grapple with their own fears.

MOKICHI (cont'd)

And we will never surrender you.

Rodrigues is shamed by the strength of this simple resolve

RODRIGUES:

(quietly)

No one should die.

MOKICHI:

No, but we’ll be in danger whether you

go or stay. So stay. Stay. We will

never surrender you.

GARUPE:

They’ll keep coming back if we stay.

They could destroy the entire village

and kill you all while we hide.

RODRIGUES:

We should give ourselves up. That

would draw the danger away from you.

There is a movement at the door: Kichijiro stands there

silhouetted against the inky sky and sparkling moonlight.

GARUPE:

We can hide on his island.

KICHIJIRO:

(taken aback)

There is no difference between there

and here. They will come to Goto, they

will search, the same thing will

happen.

RODRIGUES:

And what would the people of Tomogi

say if we ran?

MOKICHI:

All would say we love God. And you.

Even those who think Inoue Sama is

trying to protect our country.

RODRIGUES:

Protect it from what? Salvation?

VILLAGER 1

No! They would say it would be a good

thing if you leave! More of us would

be saved!

Garupe and Rodrigues don’t understand what is being said, but

from the fact that it is spoken in Japanese--and so angrily-they

know it does not bode well.

VILLAGER 2

You can’t say that! They came to do

God’s work. We can’t just give them up

to Inoue’s tortures after all they

have done for us.

VILLAGER 1

What have they done? They’ve put us

all in danger! We never knew danger

like this before they came here!

Slowly Ichizo, who has taken no part in this debate, RAISES A

HAND. The room immediately goes quiet.

ICHIZO:

The padres stay.

He repeats what he just said for the two priests.

ICHIZO:

You will stay.

(a beat of silence)

Now we must pick two more to join us.

Who will be a hostage? Who will join

me and Mokichi to honor God?

An embarrassed, uneasy silence descends as every man in the

room tries to avoid the eyes of the others. Finally one man

(HOSTAGE 3) STEPS FORWARD. But after him, no one else moves.

Until finally someone POINTS AT KICHIJIRO.

TOMOGI HUSBAND:

He’s not from here. What about him?

VILLAGER 2

(to Kichijiro)

Yes. For all our sakes. Please

consider it. It won’t be so hard on

you. The officials won’t question you

so severely. It’s the people of Tomogi

they want now.

43

VILLAGER 1

He’s not from here, why should we

trust him? He could be the one who

informed on us.

KICHIJIRO:

I’m not an informer! Tell them, Padre.

(looking pleadingly at

Rodrigues)

I confessed all my sins.

VILLAGER 2

Then if you’ve received the Lord’s

blessing act like it. Honor him with

your life. Give us ours.

KICHIJIRO:

Honor? What are you talking about?

VILLAGER 2

A real Kirishitan would know!

KICHIJIRO:

Does your mother know you?

VILLAGER 2 KICHIJIRO

(overlapping)(overlapping)

You can’t say things like I can say what I want to you,

that to me. A man from Tomogi you think I’m afraid of you,

doesn’t let himself be talked I’m not afraid of anyone.

to like that by anyone, much

less a drunk from Goto.

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