The Last Samurai Page #17

OMURA:

You have gained important knowledge

of Katsumoto's province, his army,

and his rebellion. This is extremely

valuable to me.

He watches Algren to see how this lands.

OMURA:

You also possess significant knowledge

of my army, my weaponry, and my plans.

This is extremely valuable to

Katsumoto.

ALGREN:

Again, you flatter me.

OMURA:

No. I am a businessman. I recognize

what is valuable. And I buy it.

(looks at him)

In this case, I value your loyalty.

Algren considers the implications of what Omura is saying.

ALGREN:

I didn't know loyalty was something

that could be sold.

OMURA:

Then perhaps you will give it, as a

token of future friendship -- for

which, as a friend, I would be in

your debt.

ALGREN:

(stands)

Then I will consider it.

OMURA:

And I will be grateful.

INT. SHIPPING OFFICE - DAY

Algren is in a shipping office. A clerk consults his schedule

of departure.

CLERK:

All righteee, the ANDREW JACKSON

leaves tomorrow -- if you want a

steamship you'll have to wait six

weeks.

(Algren is silent)

Gets ya to Frisco by the 28th. 14

dollars for a private cabin, 8 for a

shared or 3 for a lower berth. What

can I put you down for?

Algren is silent, concentrating on a calendar hanging behind

the clerk. It features a beautiful Hiroshigi watercolor of

mountains.

CLERK:

Sir...?

ALGREN:

(after a moment)

Private cabin.

EXT. TOKYO - STREET - DAY

Graham walks with Algren.

GRAHAM:

Leave? Why would you leave now? No

white man has ever been in your

position. Do you have any idea what

it will mean to have Omura as your

friend? You want land, you want women,

you want boys?

Algren starts to walk faster, but Graham stops him.

GRAHAM:

Nathan. I wanted to leave, too. For

three years. You must believe me

there is a majesty about these people --

can you imagine what your own country

would be if it had half the drive

and the discipline and the belief

and the bravery of these ridiculous

little people?

Then raised voices from across the street stop them.

They see Yoritomo surrounded by four Imperial Army soldiers.

The soldiers are rough and imperious, drunk with power. They

carry gleaming rifles.

The soldiers bark orders. Yoritomo stands proudly, responding

calmly.

ALGREN:

What is this?

GRAHAM:

My God, it's the edicts...

ALGREN:

What edicts?

Algren arrives as the situation is clearly growing volatile --

the soldiers are pointing to Yoritomo's head, screaming.

Algren steps toward the soldiers --

ALGREN:

That's enough --

One of the soldiers SCREAMS at him -- raises his rifle --

all the soldiers raise their rifles.

Yoritomo reaches for his sword -- Algren tries to push through --

ALGREN:

(subtitles)

YORITOMO, WAIT!

One of the soldiers smacks Algren in the chin with a rifle

butt. Algren reels, and by the time he stands straight again,

four others are pointing their bayonets at his face.

Graham takes hold of Algren's arm.

GRAHAM:

Don't be stupid.

Algren makes eye contact with Yoritomo, who -- in deference

to his friend -- puts his sword away.

The Japanese soldiers continue to scream at Yoritomo. They

force him to his knees.

Rifles pressed to his head.

Yoritomo bows his bead, speaking quietly, as if praying.

Algren witches in horror all one of the soldiers removes his

bayonet -- another grabs Yoritomo's hair, jerks his head

back and begins hacking off Yoritomo's traditional top-knot

of hair. Brutally. Blood.

Yoritomo remains kneeling, head down, blood flowing down his

face.

The soldiers laugh and move off.

Algren kneels by Yoritomo. Yoritomo looks up at him. There

are tears in his eyes.

EXT. KATSUMOTO'S HOUSE - DUSK

Katsumoto's house on the outskirts of Tokyo is spacious and

harmonious. Utterly Japanese. Samurai guards in full regalia,

stand menacingly outside.

INT. KATSUMOTO'S HOUSE - DUSK

Ujio kneels with Yoritomo, dressing the wounds on his head.

Graham sits across the room talking quietly to the mammoth

Nakao, taking notes in a small notebook. Nakao has been

brutally shorn of his top knot as well. His shame is apparent.

INT. KATSUMOTO'S CHAMBER - DUSK

Servants help dress Katsumoto in his exacting samurai wardrobe

as Algren is ushered in.

KATSUMOTO:

Captain, I had not thought to see

you again.

ALGREN:

I'm leaving tomorrow. But before I

go I need to tell you what's going

on here.

KATSUMOTO:

You mean the Gatling Guns and the

howitzers, is that how you say it?

ALGREN:

They're about to close a trade

agreement that will bring this country

more weapons than you can imagine.

KATSUMOTO:

Yes, if the emperor agrees -- but

Omura knows the Emperor must be

convinced there is cause to need

those weapons before be will sign.

ALGREN:

(realizing)

And you are to be the cause...

KATSUMOTO:

Elegant, isn't it? Omura passes laws

sure to cause a samurai revolt,

creating a need for the weapons. The

Emperor sees that the weapons are

needed so he agrees to the entire

treaty, giving your country what it

wants and the Omura Zaibatsu what it

wants. And my country is sold to

yours.

As Katsumoto dresses, Algren notes that Katsumoto's body is

a battleground of old scars, so like his own.

KATSUMOTO:

Today the Council passed two edicts.

The first called for the elimination

of our traditional topknots.

ALGREN:

I know.

KATSUMOTO:

The second banned the wearing of

sword.

Algren stops. He knows what swords mean to the samurai.

KATSUMOTO:

(re:
his swords)

Hand them to me, will you?

Algren picks up Katsumoto's two swords. Looks at him deeply.

ALGREN:

If you do this, they will kill you.

KATSUMOTO:

I am hard to kill.

ALGREN:

You don't know what their weapons

can do. All your men butchered...

Just for pride.

KATSUMOTO:

Not for pride. For the Emperor.

ALGREN:

But the Emperor is the one signing

the agreement.

KATSUMOTO:

He has not signed it yet.

He holds out Katsumoto's two samurai swords.

ALGREN:

Is it worth it?... just for these.

KATSUMOTO:

I cannot live without my soul... Can

you?

They regard each other.

EXT. OUTSIDE KATSUMOTO'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Algren leaves Katsumoto's gate and sets off on foot.

EXT. TOKYO STREETS - NIGHT

As Algren walks, he becomes aware that he is being followed.

Two dark figures lurk some distance behind him. After a few

moments, he whips around to face them. They stand for a

moment, then melt away into the shadows.

INT. COUNCIL OF STATE CHAMBER - NIGHT

The Council of State meets in an august chamber. Many of the

Council members wear Western clothes. Cigarette smoke billows.

The young Emperor sits on a dais off to the side, as befits

his ceremonial role in the proceedings.

Omura is speaking... he stops... looking at something... all

the Council members turn... and gape.

Katsumoto strides into the chamber, his swords proudly

displayed.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Minister Katsumoto, you honor us.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

It is my honor to join again the men

who are leading Japan into her

glorious future.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

You are perhaps unaware of this

Council's edict regarding the wearing

of swords?

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