Silence Page #9

Villager 2 LUNGES angrily for the cowering Kichijiro. Other

villagers struggle to hold him back. The hut fills with angry

shouting.

RODRIGUES:

Stop it!

The Priests struggle to separate Kichijiro and the Villager. As

they back away from one another, a VILLAGE WOMAN haltingly

moves from the wall and prostrates herself in front of

Kichijiro. He can’t look at her.

VILLAGE WOMAN:

Please. Go in our place.

Silence in the room. Kichijiro looks over to Rodrigues. For

guidance? For sympathy? He stares at the priest. Then NODS HIS

HEAD--ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLY--IN ASSENT.

44

MOKICHI:

So. The four of us.

CUT TO:

51 EXT. CHARCOAL HUT DAY 51

A drizzle softens the summer air as the priests escort the

villagers to the head of the trail that leads down the mountain

to the village.

MOKICHI:

But if we are told...if they make us

trample on our Lord... on the

fumie...if it will save the others...

GARUPE:

You must pray for courage, Mokichi.

MOKICHI:

But if we do not do what they want,

there can be danger for everyone in

the village. They can be questioned,

taken prisoner. Taken away forever.

What should we do?

The cicadas click relentlessly, their clicking sound carried by

the wind in the tall trees.

RODRIGUES:

(impulsively)

It’s alright. Trample. It’s alright to

trample...

Rodrigues stops himself, realizing the full impact of what he’s

just blurted out. The villagers seem similarly surprised and

Garupe looks at Rodrigues in reproachful astonishment.

GARUPE:

What are you saying? You can’t...

KICHIJIRO:

Padre, why does Deusu give us such a

terrible trial? We did not do anything

wrong.

Rodrigues collects himself and the two priests look at each

other. An even harder question with no easy answer. Or no

answer at all. Except...

CUT TO:

45

52 EXT. TRAIL DOWN THE MOUNTAIN DAY 52

Priests and villagers KNEEL TOGETHER as a fine drizzle falls.

They are finishing a prayer. Rodrigues feels Mokichi take his

hand and PRESS something into it: a small hand-carved cross,

lovingly crafted, subtle and distinctive in its power.

Rodrigues is deeply moved.

MOKICHI:

Please. I made this for the jiisama.

Before you came. It was all we had.

But now we have so much more. From

you.

(Rodrigues shakes his head)

I have another. The one you gave me. I

will always have it. Take this.

Please. In Jesus' name.

RODRIGUES:

Your faith gives me strength, Mokichi.

I wish I could give as much to you.

MOKICHI:

My love for God is strong. Could that

be the same as faith?

RODRIGUES:

(moved)

I think it must be.

Mokichi FOLDS Rodrigues' fingers over the cross as we...

TIME CUT TO:

53 EXT. TOMOGI VILLAGE STREET DAY 53

The SAMURAI COMMANDER, riding down the village street past a

sullen, frightened populace. Behind him is Ichizo, tied and

being PULLED ALONG by a GUARD on foot.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“These people are the most devoted of

God’s creatures on earth. Father

Valignano, I confess, I began to

wonder. God sends us trials to test

us, and everything He does is good.

And I prayed to undergo trials, like

his Son. But why must their trial be

so terrible? And why, when I look in

my own heart, do the answers I give

them seem so weak?”

46

Behind Ichizo we see the three other hostages: Mokichi and

Kichijiro and Hostage 3, all tied and pulled along.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“They were in prison for three days.

We prayed for their safe return,

hoping then we might be safe too.”

TIME CUT:
The Samurai Commander turns to address the hostages.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

You all know that Christianity is an

outlawed religion.

MOKICHI:

We know that. But we are Buddhists. We

live according to the teachings of the

priests at our Temple.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

Is that so? All of you?

(they nod slowly)

Then it will be an easy thing to step

on the image of the Blessed Virgin and

her child. Fume!

One by one, they begin to obey the order. XCU: of feet and

knees, FALLING on the image of Christ.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“All of them did as they were

commanded. But it was not enough.”

TIME CUT:
The Samurai Commander looks at them with contempt.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

You think we’re fooled so easily? We

saw how you looked as your foot came

down. You were nervous. Full of fear.

From the hiding place on the hill above the village Rodrigues

and Garupe watch the events below with mounting dread.

MOKICHI:

We were not. Why should we be? We’re

Buddhists.

SAMURAI COMMANDER

Then let’s try one more way.

He holds up a crucifix.

47

SAMURAI COMMANDER (cont'd)

Spit on this. And say your so-called

Blessed Virgin is a whore.

CU:
Ichizo, with a crucifix held close to his face by an

outstretched hand. The old man SHAKES HIS HEAD.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Old Ichizo would not do it.

XCU:
an eye, as a TEAR ROLLS down the face of Mokichi.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

Mokichi could not. Neither could the

other man. But Kichijiro succeeded

where the rest failed.

Kichijiro SPITS on the crucifix. Then he is PULLED roughly to

his feet by two guards and shoved away. Kichijiro runs off in

shame.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

And so he was released. I must believe

he suffered, along with the others.

CUT TO:

54 EXT. TOMOGI BEACH DAY 54

Three trees made into the shape of crosses stand at the water’s

edge, stark against the sky. Ichizo, Mokichi and Hostage 3 are

tied to the crosses by Guards. One offers them some sake to

warm themselves.

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“We were told they were given sake, as

the Roman soldier offered vinegar to

the dying Christ.

Garupe and Rodrigues WATCH from a hiding place in the rocks.

RODRIGUES (V.O.) (Cont'd)

“Perhaps they remembered our Lord’s

suffering and took courage and comfort

from it.”

CUT TO:

55 EXT. TOMOGI BEACH DAY 55

WAVES BREAK on the beach at the head of an onrushing tide,

SWAMPING the crucified Mokichi.

48

His body is crusted with salt, twisted by the rush of the

water. He TWISTS in agony. Next to him is the body of Hostage

3, who has already died.

MOKICHI:

Deusu...Deusu...

On his right, Ichizo's aged body spasms in pain. He too is

dying. He looks over at Mokichi and manages to say one word:

ICHIZO:

Pa...paraiso.

And dies. Mokichi averts his eyes and raises them to heaven.

MOKICHI:

Deusu, receive his spirit. Now his

suffering is ended, receive him, Lord,

in Your glory.

Another WAVE STRIKES him in the face.

MOKICHI:

Please Jesus!

55A EXT. TOMOGI BEACH DAY 55A

HOURS LATER:
The waves have subsided. Guards sit on rocks

listening to someone singing. It is Mokichi, singing a hymn.

Rodrigues and Garupe listen from their hiding place. A moment

of grace.

CUT TO:

56 EXT. TOMOGI BEACH DUSK 56

As before:
camera sweeps along with an incoming WAVE BREAKING

against the shore, the water rushing up the sand toward...

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