The Last Samurai Page #18

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

I read every edict with singular

attention.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Yet you would bring weapons into

this chamber?

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

This chamber was protected by my

sword for four hundred years --

OMURA:

(interrupting,

subtitled)

We need no protection. We are a nation

of laws now.

KATSUMOTO:

(calm, subtitled)

We are a nation of whores. Selling

ourselves to our Western "allies."

Katsumoto slowly looks around at the Members of the Council,

but his words are addressed to the Emperor.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

Does Japan no longer need its

patriots?

Omura speaks with quiet conviction and honesty.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Who is the patriot? The man who would

keep his country trapped in the past,

or the man who would help his people

into the future?

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

A future with no honor.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Honor means less to me than feeding

our children. And teaching them. And

giving them modern medicine so they

will live.

KATSUMOTO:

And lining your own pockets in the

process.

They stare at one another with barely concealed hostility.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Minister Katsumoto, it is with great

regret that I ask you to remove your

sword, as this body has declared in

its edict.

Katsumoto's hand closes on his sword hilt

KATSUMOTO:

This sword serves the Emperor, and

only he can command me to remove it.

Katsumoto looks to the Emperor, as murmurs fill the room.

OMURA:

(quickly)

Ah, but it is our tradition that the

Emperor's voice is too pure and great

to be heard in such worldly

circumstance as the Council of State.

One last time, Katsumoto meets the Emperor's eye.

KATSUMOTO:

Then, with great regret, I must refuse

to give up my sword.

Omura looks to his associates, and a silent decision is made.

OMURA:

Minister Katsumoto, I must invite

you to accompany our soldiers to

Himeji Castle, where you will be our

honored guest. I think you will find

the surroundings there quite

harmonious.

Guards with Mauser rifles move into position around Katsumoto.

He turns to the other Council members. Looks at them.

KATSUMOTO:

(subtitled)

Brothers... One day you will know

what you have done and feel what I

never will... shame.

Omura nods to the guards. The guards lead Katsumoto out.

EXT. LIVING QUARTERS - AFTERNOON

A BEARER is loading the last of Algren's luggage on the back

of a rickshaw.

Algren emerges from the building, sees the same two

disreputable MEN who followed him earlier lurking nearby.

He resists the temptation to confront them. Instead he climbs

into the rickshaw and it starts off.

But a moment later, Graham has jogged alongside, huffing and

puffing.

GRAHAM:

Thought I'd missed you. Were you

going to leave without even saying

goodbye?

ALGREN:

I have a fear of sentimental

Englishmen.

GRAHAM:

You sod.

(trying to keep up)

Christ, give us a second here

Algren indicates for the bearer to stop. Graham tries to

catch his breath.

GRAHAM:

You're making a mistake, I promise

you. Katsumoto's under house arrest,

Omura's made his move -- he'll need

you more than ever --

Graham stops, sees the look on Algren's face, realizes.

GRAHAM:

Oh, my goodness. How silly of me.

All that time you were with him, up

in those mountains -- I told you

they were a remarkable people...

Algren doesn't answer, but isn't denying it either.

GRAHAM:

Then you should get out. Because

Omura will become rather impatient

with anyone who isn't on the team.

Graham notices Algren staring at his followers.

GRAHAM:

Case in point.

ALGREN:

Who are they?

GRAHAM:

Ronin would be my guess. Disgraced

samurai doing odd jobs for his meals.

ALGREN:

What do they want from me?

GRAHAM:

To make sure you're on the side of

God and Country, or to make sure you

get the hell out.

ALGREN:

You've been a great help, Graham. I

thank you.

GRAHAM:

Look who's getting sentimental now.

A look between them, then Algren nods for the bearer to

continue.

EXT. HARBOR - SUNSET

Algren stands at the gangplank. Porters wait with his luggage.

Algren looks back into the crowd and sees the Ronin. They

glare back, no longer trying to keep out of sight.

A BLAST from the steam whistle.

Algren looks from the ship, to the Ronin, to the bustling,

chaotic city behind them. Finally, he looks out at the harbor

and the ocean, beyond which used to lie his home.

He turns to the bearer.

ALGREN:

(subtitles)

Take back to quarters. I walk.

And Algren starts back into the city.

EXT. TOKYO STREETS - EVENING

Down a shadowy street, lit only by torches. Slowly we realize

he is being followed and that he knows it.

Up ahead, the street appears to dead-end.

The two Ronin step out from the shadows and face him, their

hands on their swords.

Behind him, another dangerous looking Ronin joins the one

who has been following him.

They begin to close in.

Algren stands completely still. They grow closer.

Algren appears to close his eyes. And the sound of the

approaching footsteps fades as we HEAR ONLY the sound of his

breathing.

The Ronin draw their swords.

Algren gently opens his eyes. Everything has SLOWED DOWN: a

sign in the breeze, a piece of rubbish on the street, the

flame of a nearby torch.

A BLUR OF MOTION.

Everything happens so fast it is hard to tell just what has

taken place. In the strobing shadows, all we really know is

that Algren has leapt to the attack.

Within seconds, four bodies lie in the street Algren holds a

bloody sword.

His face is cut and a sleeve of his jacket is ripped, but

other than that he is unharmed. Ujio has taught him well. As

he stands, catching his breath, we HOLD on his face in CLOSE-

UP.

A SUDDEN FLASH:

We see Algren grab one of the torches and smash it across

the Ronin's face.

It is the attack -- replayed in real-time.

Rolling to avoid a death-blow, he grabs the fallen man's

sword and eviscerates attacker #2.

The two remaining Ronin strike.

He parries the blow of attacker #3, whirls to slice the legs

of attacker #4, whirls again to cut off the hand of attacker

#1, who has returned to the attack.

Meanwhile, attacker #3 turns and charges -- just as attacker

#4 is trying to stand.

Algren steps back as attacker #3 impales attacker #4. Algren

steps forward and cuts off the head of attacker #3.

Even now, it has happened too fast to be truly appreciated.

BACK TO THE STREET

We move, closer-still on Algren's face.

A SUDDEN FLASH:

And so we watch the attack again. in super-slow motion now,

so we can fully appreciate it.s terrible beauty.

A torch smashes across a face.

A sword slices the sleeve of a coat.

Sparks fly as two swords meet.

A severed hand falls in the dirt.

Blood sprays from a decapitated head.

A sword is wiped clean.

BACK TO THE STREET

In real time, Algren kneels to examine one of the dead Ronin.

On his arm is tattooed a familiar emblem: The sign of the

Omura Zaibatsu

EXT. OMURA CASTLE - NIGHT

Omura lives in a huge medieval castle on a promontory directly

above Tokyo Bay. A testament to Japan's martial past.

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes