The Last Samurai Page #16

Omura bows his head quickly and goes.

Silence. The Emperor gazes at Katsumoto. Then:

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

You rise against me, my teacher.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

No, Highness, I rise against your

enemies.

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

They are my teacher, my advisers,

like you.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

They advise in their own interest.

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

The world is changing, Mori -- you

have not seen what goes on beyond

our borders, the inventions, the

science. I need men who can look

outward, or soon we will be left

behind, and defenseless.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

I am sworn to defend you even to my

last breath.

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

The samurai live in the past. You

cannot defend against a future you

don't understand.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

If I am no use, then I will happily

end my life,

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

No, Mori. It is my wish that you

rejoin the Council of State. I need

your voice.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

It is your voice that needs to be

heard, Highness. You are a living

God, you can do what ever you think

is right.

The young emperor is silent a moment.

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

I am a living God only as long as I

do what they think is right.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitle)

Your Highness, may I beg forgiveness

for saying what a teacher must, that

such a statement is pathetic drivel

not worthy of an ignorant stable

boy, let alone a young man I know to

have some modest intelligence.

The emperor laughs warmly, almost happy to be scolded as he

once was.

EMPEROR:

(subtitles)

Is it possible a living God can be

too afraid to make his voice heard?

(Katsumoto's look is

not unkind)

Tell me what to do, Mori-San?

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitles)

You are emperor, my Lord, not me.

You must find the wisdom for all of

us.

EXT. YOKOHAMA WHARF - DAY

A series of warehouses, beyond which we see warships in the

harbor. Algren walks with Bagley and two other OFFICERS.

INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

The cavernous warehouse piled high with huge crates.

BAGLEY:

As soon as they sign the agreement,

they're obligated to buy the entire

weapons package, from Colt revolvers

to Halliwell twelve-pounders. Plus

this particular item you might

recognize.

A few stevedores tear open one of the crates. Algren hides

his astonishment:

A Gatling Gun is revealed.

BAGLEY:

They've been calibrated to fire 200

rounds a minute, The new copper

cartridges cut down on jamming.

Algren closes his eyes, trying to keep his memories at bay.

EXT. - TOKYO STREETS - DAY

Algren fights the crowds with Colonel Bagley And Ambassador

Swanbeck.

ALGREN (V.O.)

May 15, 1877. The city I return to

is immeasurably changed. New

construction everywhere. Telegraph

wires strung next to an ancient

temple. A modern European hotel is

going up, dwarfing the traditional

Japanese buildings. Huge billboards

advertising Western goods. A new

invention, the rickshaw, has replaced

many of the palanquins. As though

Tokyo were determined to become

another New York or Chicago -- all

in one headlong rush.

Spider's web of telegraph cables spread from a tall new brick

building.

It is like a New York office building stabbing into the heart

of old Japan.

The familiar Omura character is emblazoned on the side.

INT. OFFICES OF THE OMURA ZAIBATSU - DAY

Aside from the occasional bit of Japanese decor, this could

be a buzzing Wall Street firm.

Telegraph operators click away. Accountants use adding

machines. Secretaries use pneumatic tubes to send documents

back and forth. Engineers plot out railway lines. All are

dressed in Western clothes.

Algren, Colonel Bagley, and Ambassador Swanbeck enter.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

(to Algren)

If he asks, you can talk about

ordnance and tactics. But remember,

this has to do with a lot more than

just weapons.

An anteroom holds waiting delegations from the various

European powers.

A babel of language... French... Dutch... Russian... German.

A pretty American secretary looks up from her desk.

SECRETARY:

Ambassador Swanbeck, if you'll follow

me.

Some of the delegates are craning forward, watching Algren

and the others hungrily as they head into the final office.

INT. OMURA'S OFFICE - DAY

Omura stands like an industrial titan before large picture

windows offering a dramatic view of Tokyo.

The only decoration in the room is an enormous Caravaggio.

OMURA:

Please, sit down, gentlemen.

Omura removes a gold cigarette case and lights up. Cigarettes

are the newest Western fad Sweeping Japan.

OMURA:

(re:
cigarette case)

A gift from Czar Alexander... Captain

Algren, it seems you have endured

your captivity with little ill-effect.

ALGREN:

Yes, sir.

OMURA:

He's an extraordinary man, isn't he?

ALGREN:

He is samurai.

Omura gazes at him. Slowly takes a puff from his cigarette.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Mr. Omura, my people have been drawing

up the documents we discussed. I

have a draft --

OMURA:

We're not quite ready to announce

the treaty, Ambassador.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Excuse me?

OMURA:

The Emperor is... sentimental.

Katsumoto was his old mentor -- he

is not eager to offend him. It will

take I few more days.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

How many days is... a few?"

OMURA:

I assure you the Samurai will not

stand in the way of our agreement.

You are prepared to make delivery?

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Soon as your Emperor signs on the

dotted line.

OMURA:

Captain Algren you are the expert.

Will this array of ordnance be

sufficient?

ALGREN:

Depends on what you're trying to

accomplish.

OMURA:

I want my country to take its place

as a modern power.

ALGREN:

Then they will set you well on your

way.

OMURA:

I am pleased.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Mr. Omura, you assured us you had

the influence with your emperor to

make this deal come to pass. With

all due respect perhaps there is

someone else we should be speaking

to.

OMURA:

With all due respect, Ambassador,

perhaps there is someone else we

should be speaking to, for instance

the French. Or the English. Or any

of the legations waiting in the next

room.

Ambassador Swanbeck stands swallowing his rage.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Yes, well, we look forward to hearing

from you.

OMURA:

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

They start to go.

OMURA:

Captain Algren, perhaps you can stay

a moment and tell me of your

experiences in our rebellious

provinces.

Bagley looks at Algren. Do as he asks. He leaves Algren alone

with Omura.

OMURA:

Cigarette?

ALGREN:

Thank you.

Omura lights his cigarette. A moment as he takes Algren's

measure.

OMURA:

You fought bravely on behalf of our

army, against the rebel Katsumoto.

Algren says nothing.

OMURA:

And yet you helped save his life

when attacked by the Ninja.

ALGREN:

My role was much less significant

than you may have heard.

OMURA:

Tell me about your role in Katsumoto's

plans.

ALGREN:

I have none.

OMURA:

And your sympathies?

ALGREN:

Again, I have none.

OMURA:

I know you have little sympathy for

Colonel Bagley.

ALGREN:

He is... unsympathetic.

Omura smiles.

OMURA:

I thought it was we who are

inscrutable.

Now it is Algren who smiles.

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes