The Last Samurai Page #19

INT. CASTLE - TOWER - NIGHT

Two guards are standing at attention in a dank corridor high

in one of the towers of the castle. Cell doors line the

corridor.

Katsumoto's samurai swords lean against the wall next to

them.

INT. CASTLE - CELL - NIGHT

Katsumoto kneels in a cramped cell. A sound draws his

attention. He rises and looks out a barred window.

Below he sees two rickshaws moving up the twisting road to

the castle.

INT. RICKSHAW - NIGHT

Algren and Bagley, in formal dress uniforms, sit in one of

the rickshaws.

Bagley looks him over.

BAGLEY:

Oughtta shave more often, Algren.

Becomes you.

ALGREN:

Thought I would follow the Japanese

fashion.

BAGLEY:

...Heard you were leaving, actually?

ALGREN:

Why would I do that? Omura wants me

to train his personal guard.

BAGLEY:

Certainly seems obsessed by you. Why

do you think that is?

ALGREN:

Could it be my nose isn't permanently

lodged up his ass?

Bagley shakes his bead, turns away. Algren stares up at the

looming aide.

EXT. CASTLE - MAIN GATES - NIGHT

The two rickshaws stop by the heavily-guarded main gates.

Guards check the occupants. Motions to other guards atop the

gates.

The main gates slowly swing open.

EXT. CASTLE - COURT YARD - NIGHT

The bearers lower the rickshaws. Algren and Bagley climb

from one.

Ambassador Swanbeck climbs from the other.

EXT. CASTLE - RECEPTION CHAMBER - NIGHT

Omura waits in elegant evening clothes. A woman plays a harp.

The interior of Omura's castle is heavy, oppressive. Old

Masters paintings dot the walls. Leather-bound books.

Chippendale furniture.

OMURA:

Gentlemen...

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Omura, you have a lovely home. It

must be very old.

OMURA:

Nothing is "old" in Japan, everything

is "ancient." ...But the views are

pleasant. Sit down...

They move to chairs by the roaring fireplace as Omura turns

to Algren, noticing the cut on his face, but saying nothing.

OMURA:

Do you know your Wagner, Captain?

This is the 'Leibestod' from Tristan

and Isolde.

ALGREN:

I'm surprised you enjoy it. Literally

translated it means "love/death."

(looks at him)

A samurai concept, don't you think?

The two men take each other's measures. Servants appear with

trays..

OMURA:

Champagne? And cigars, of course.

Servants light their cigars.

BAGLEY:

(re:
cigar)

A gift from President Grant?

OMURA:

(smiles)

Queen Victoria.

ALGREN:

Mr. Omura, may I use the necessity?

OMURA:

Certainly.

Omura summons a servant. The servant escorts Algren out.

OMURA:

Now, Mr. Swanbeck, regarding our

agreement, I noticed a discrepancy

in paragraph seven in reference to

the investment protocols for coal.

INT. CASTLE - CORRIDOR - NIGHT

The servant leads Algren through a corridor, head bowed.

Then, still puffing on his cigar, Algren taps the servant on

the back, and as the man turns, decks him. The servant falls.

Algren flicks his cigar out onto the sloping roof. We FOLLOW

the BURNING EMBER as it rolls off the roof and lands at the

feet of TWO CURIOUS GUARDS.

EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - NIGHT

The guards look up, trying to determine where the cigar butt

has come from.

But their curiosity lasts only a moment: ARROWS pierce their

necks, strangling any sound.

We REVERSE to discover that one of the rickshaw-bearers has

fired the arrows. As he peels back his hood, we SEE it is

Yoritomo.

We realize the other bearers are Ujio, Nakao, and Simon

Graham. They hurry past the dead guards and up the stairs.

INT. CASTLE APPROACH - NIGHT

The three samurai and Graham race up the winding parapets.

Three GUARDS round a corner. Swords flash as Ujio and Nakao

dispatch them without even slowing. They race on, Graham

laboring to keep up.

INT. CASTLE KEEP - NIGHT

Algren rounds a corner.

Ujio, Yoritomo, Nakao, and Graham are moving toward him.

ALGREN:

This way.

Clearly, this has all been Algren's plan. They move up a

stairway.

INT. CASTLE KEEP (SECOND FLOOR) - NIGHT

The three guards are still standing at attention outside

Katsumoto's cell.

His swords are next to them.

Algren keeps the others out of sight and lowers his head to

whisper with Ujio. Ujio nods, then walks into sight and calmly

approaches the guards.

Still hidden, Algren gestures for the others remain to silent.

After a moment, he gestures that they can proceed.

Algren and the others round the comer to discover the bloody

remains of the three guards -- whom Ujio has dispatched in

absolute silence. They unlock the cell.

INT. CASTLE - CELL - FOLLOWING

Katsumoto is shocked to see Algren enter. Algren tosses him

his swords.

ALGREN:

How's the poem coming?

KATSUMOTO:

The ending is proving difficult.

INT. CASTLE - RECEPTION CHAMBER - NIGHT

Omura glances up from the documents.

OMURA:

What has become of Captain Algren?

INT. CASTLE - CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Algren, Katsumoto, and the others race through an upper

corridor.

KATSUMOTO:

(re:
Graham)

Who is this?

ALGREN:

Name's Simon Graham. Wants to write

a book about you.

GRAHAM:

An honor. I have followed your

activities with great interest. I

think the European public would be

fascinated by a book about your

adventures.

KATSUMOTO:

Not a book. A play!

Suddenly, from below, the raised voices of guards. They hurry

away.

INT. CASTLE - STAIRS - NIGHT

Guards carrying pikes race up the stairs --

INT. CASTLE - CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Algren and the others are moving swiftly down a stone

corridor.

The sound of the approaching guards is growing louder.

A silent WILD BUNCH moment of preparation as they stride

down the corridor, five abreast.

Algren pulls the cavalry saber from his dress uniform.

Katsumoto prepares his swords. Nakao stretches his huge arms.

Yoritomo and Ujio draw their bows.

EXT. CASTLE - UPPER COURTYARD - FOLLOWING

Ten guards with rifles patrol the upper battlements.

Yoritomo and Ujio crouch and fire. Arrow after arrow after

arrow, as fast as a repeating rifle, the arrows streak

through the night.

Completely silent.

It is a dazzling display. They time shots to sail over walls,

shoot through tiny windows, shoot out torches. Multiple

arrows. Perfect aim.

In a matter of seconds all ten guards are dead.

They continue across the courtyard, up some steps --

INT. CASTLE - TIGHT CORRIDOR - FOLLOWING

They stride through a tight, dark stone corridor.

Suddenly, a cadre of Omura guards emerge from the shadows.

Without hesitation, they launch into battle. Algren and

Katsumoto wield their swords. Yoritomo and Ujio fire arrows.

Nakao fights with his hands, dramatic martial arts from the

huge man.

But this corridor is just too tight -- it is a sea of

combat... the guards and our warriors are slammed together --

the swords and pikes sending up sparks in the darkness as

they strike the stone walls.

The right corridor echoes with samurai war cries and clanging

swords.

Then...

More guards appear.

These guards have rifles.

Rifle blasts thunder -- startling strobe-like bursts of light

in the darkness --

Algren dives in front of Katsumoto to protect him --

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