The Last Samurai Page #10

Nearby, Higen and Toshiie are imitating the grown-ups,

sparring with wooden swords that are much too big for them.

Yoritomo watches his nephews proudly, murmuring details of

their prowess to Algren, who has no idea what he's talking

about.

Higen charges his little brother, but goes careening past,

right toward Algren, who deftly dodges out of the way. This

causes gales of laughter from the boys, one of whom takes

Toshiie's sword and offers it to Algren.

Algren looks at the sword in his hand and unthinkingly twirls

if with a flourish -- causing the boys to applaud. Yoritomo

bows, and encourages Algren in Higen's direction. Algren

shakes his head politely, but Higen is already on the attack.

Algren dodges one thrust, then parries another, as the boys

begin to cheer.

Suddenly, everyone goes silent. Algren turns.

Ujio is standing behind him, arms folded.

Ujio barks a command in Japanese. He wants Algren to drop

the sword.

It is obvious to Algren what it must mean, but he does

nothing.

Ujio approaches Algren slowly. Algren holds the wooden sword

casually, only his eyes betraying the tension of the moment.

Ujio's wooden sword FLASHES, quicker than the eye can follow.

Algren's sword is knocked from his hands, then, somehow in

the same fluid movement, Ujio brings the sword around and

cracks Algren across the chest hard enough to knock the breath

from his body and send him to his knees.

Satisfied with himself, Ujio starts to walk away, but the

expressions of the bystanders cause him to turn back:

Algren is standing again, and again holding the sword.

With grim purpose, Ujio returns to Algren, who has assumed a

ready pose.

Again Ujio's SWORD FLASHES. Algren manages to parry one blow,

before he is cracked across the face, and blood begins to

flow freely from his nose.

Ujio knocks Algren's legs out from under him, and while Algren

is sprawling on the ground, Ujio kicks Algren's sword out of

his hand, and starts away.

Again, Algren manages to stand up, and before Ujio can turn,

charges him.

But Ujio doesn't need to turn. In a sliding move, he dodges

and cracks Algren in the side, then the legs, then the neck.

Gasping for breath, at least one rib broken, Algren writhes

on the ground. Ujio digs the point of his sword into Algren's

hand until he releases his grip. Again Ujio kicks the sword

away.

The ever-enlarging crowd gasps as Algren once again struggles

to his feet.

This time without hesitation, Ujio runs back and rains blows

upon Algren's now defenseless body. First the wrist, then

the back, then the stomach, then finally the head.

Algren hits the ground, unconscious, his fingers still

clutching the sword.

Ujio reaches down, pries it from his fingers, and breaks it

across his knee.

INT. YORITOMO'S HOUSE - EVENING

Algren lies painfully on a mat, his eyes unfocused.

SUDDEN FLASH OF MEMORY:

The lovely blond woman, tears in her eyes, looks up to

Algren's shining face, the epaulets on his crisp officer's,

uniform gleaming gold in the sun.

The reverie is broken.

As Taka kneels to swab the cuts on his face. He stares at

her darkly.

ALGREN:

Who are you people anyway?

She makes no attempt to understand or respond.

ALGREN:

You have no God, you have no mercy,

you don't even have any f***ing walls.

Your walls are made of paper, what's

the matter with you?

She pushes his head aside so she can attend to his neck.

ALGREN:

This man tries to kill me and I've

done nothing to him, and you, I kill

your husband and you act like, what?

Like I'm a guest in your house. What

is wrong with you?

This last said so intensely that she glances at him before

picking up a bowl of soup she had brought for him, and

bringing it to his lips...

ALGREN:

Do you have a soul at all?

He stares at her for a moment, then knocks the soup out of

her hands.

Her eyes FLASH for one moment, before resuming their usual

mildness.

But that flash is enough to satisfy him, and he calms down.

She walks away.

He sighs, exhausted, only to see her approach again with a

new bowl. Their eyes meet, and hold for a moment. She does

have a soul. He takes a sip.

INT. SHINTO SHRINE - DAY

Algren is led past baldheaded monks into an ancient shrine.

Katsumoto kneels before a small altar. He doesn't seem aware

that Algren is present.

KATSUMOTO:

Ujio is teaching you the way of the

Japanese sword.

ALGREN:

Is that what he's doing?

KATSUMOTO:

At what age did you become a soldier?

ALGREN:

Nineteen.

KATSUMOTO:

To fight in your American civil war.

ALGREN:

Yes.

KATSUMOTO:

Tell me about that war.

ALGREN:

What about it?

KATSUMOTO:

Everything.

ALGREN:

Everything about the civil war?

Katsumoto sits impassively, staring at the altar.

ALGREN:

That would take a year.

KATSUMOTO:

You have pressing business elsewhere?

Shaking his head, Algren sits down.

ALGREN:

The civil war began on April 12,

1861 when the rebs attacked Fort

Sumter. Well, actually, it probably

began three years earlier when the

Supreme Court decided a runaway slave

had to be returned to his master

DISSOLVE TO:

The TWO OF THEM, hours later --

ALGREN:

-- and Pickett says he wants to do

it, over Longstreet's objections and

Lee doesn't know what to think, but

he lets him. So 15,000 men go up

that hill. And most of them die.

KATSUMOTO:

Was that wise?

ALGREN:

No, it was stupid.

KATSUMOTO:

Why?

ALGREN:

The point of a battle is to win, or

at least have enough men survive to

fight another day.

KATSUMOTO:

You did not try to survive when we

took you prisoner.

Algren eyes him, frustrated.

ALGREN:

What do you want from me?

KATSUMOTO:

What do you want for yourself?

ALGREN:

You know they're not going to ransom

me.

KATSUMOTO:

We have little use for money.

ALGREN:

(mounting fury)

Then what are you doing, why are you

asking me these questions, what is

going on here?

KATSUMOTO:

The snows will melt in May, and the

passes will open, and the events of

the world will unfold. Until that

time, you are here.

(smiles)

I enjoyed this conversation in your

English. I hope you will honor me

with more tomorrow.

Katsumoto stands, bows, and leaves.

INT. YORITOMO'S HOUSE - DAY

Young Toshiie sits near Algren. He labors over a scroll with

a brush, the gentle brush strokes are hypnotic as they sweep

across the rice paper.

Algren tries to indicate that he would like pen and paper

for himself. Toshiie gives him what he asks. Algren begins

to write:

ALGREN (V.O.)

Day unknown, month unknown, 1876. I

continue to live among these strange

people.

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Katsumoto watches Ujio bark orders to the men he is training.

A sudden movement of their eyes, causes Ujio to stop. He

turns to find:

Algren standing at the end of the line, holding a wooden

sword.

An almost imperceptible look passes between Ujio and

Katsumoto, but Ujio's Resentment is over-ruled. Without a

word, he continues.

Algren does his best to follow the exercise.

Katsumoto, the slightest hint of a smile on his face, walks

away.

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