The Last Samurai Page #24

ALGREN, KATSUMOTO AND THE REMAINING SAMURAI

Have almost reached their goal.

BAGLEY:

Cowers in fear, looks around, but there is nowhere to hide.

THE SAMURAI CHARGE

Even while riding at a full gallop, they have fixed arrows

into their long bows. They let loose a lethal volley.

BAGLEY:

BAGLEY:

Fire! Fire, dammit!!!!!

But before the guns can open up, he is IMPALED BY ARROW AFTER

ARROW, a human pincushion. The final arrow pierces his

forehead.

Then...

The Gatling Guns finally fire. Ripping into the samurai --

destroying them --

One after another is hit -- and still they come -- their

voices raised in glorious cries of triumph --

Graham watches from a hilltop, tears in his eyes.

Katsumoto is hit, blood explodes -- his horse falls -- he

spills off.

Then Algren is hit -- he falls --

Algren drags himself to Katsumoto, bullets exploding

everywhere.

Algren looks up to see...

The remaining samurai still charging --

And still the Gatling Guns tear through them --

And still they charge.

Until they are all down.

EXT. OPPOSING HILLTOP - SUNSET

A Japanese Officer shouts out an order -- the Gatling Guns

stop.

Omura screams at him to continue firing!

The Japanese officer barks out response. Refusing.

Omura sees all the samurai are dead or dying.

But he also sees Algren kneeling by Katsumoto, dragging him

away. He screams at the Japanese officer to resume fire!

The Japanese officer refuses.

He just looks over the plain of dying Samurai for a moment.

Then he does the most remarkable thing.

He slowly kneels and touches his head to the dirt.

Then a soldier near him does the same thing. Then another

and another.

And then by the thousands.

They kneel and touch their heads to the dirt.

Honoring the last samurai.

EXT. PLAIN - SUNSET

Algren drags the dying Katsumoto to a copse of cherry trees

nearby...

EXT. CHERRY TREES - SUNSET

Both men are bleeding profusely.

KATSUMOTO:

Help me up...

ALGREN:

Just -- stay there.

KATSUMOTO:

Help me up.

Algren helps him to stand. Without Algren's support, he would

fall.

KATSUMOTO:

My sword...

ALGREN:

No.

KATSUMOTO:

You have your honor again. Let me

die with mine, Kaishaku.

Algren looks at him, deeply moved. Katsumoto manages to pull

out his short sword.

KATSUMOTO:

You must help me. Hold it firmly...

Algren supports Katsumoto as he holds the sword's point firmly

to his stomach.

KATSUMOTO:

Are you ready?

ALGREN:

No, Kaishaku.

Katsumoto looks at him deeply, warmly.

KATSUMOTO:

We will ride together again.

Katsumoto embraces Algren firmly -- the small sword impales

him. Algren holds him tightly. Katsumoto is looking over

Algren's shoulder as he dies.

Katsumoto sees something. A look of joy and absolute peace

comes to his features.

KATSUMOTO:

(whispers)

It is perfect... They are all perfect.

His eyes close. He is dead.

Algren gently kneels with Katsumoto's body. He holds him for

a moment and then turns to see what Katsumoto was looking

at.

Cherry blossoms.

A display of perfect beauty.

We slowly fade to...

INT. IMPERIAL PALACE - THRONE ROOM - DAY

Ambassador Swanbeck, Omura, and a retinue of advisors are

presenting the treaty documents for the Emperor's signature.

The Emperor sits restively on his throne.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

...will usher in an era of

unprecedented prosperity and

cooperation between our two great

nations.

A servant comes and whispers into the Emperor's ear.

OMURA:

(subtitles)

Highness, if we could just conclude

the matter at hand...

The Emperor ignores Omura, and gestures that the doors to

the chamber be opened.

Algren enters with Graham. Algren carries something wrapped

in a blanket.

He approaches the Emperor. Kneels and sets the bundle at the

Emperor's feet.

Algren remains kneeling with his head bowed. He unwraps the

bundle.

It is Katsumoto's long samurai sword.

The Emperor looks at it.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

All your enemies are dead, Enlightened

One.

The Emperor continues to look at the sword. He does not look

up.

EMPEROR/TRANSLATOR

(to Algren)

You were with him at the end.

ALGREN/TRANSLATOR

Yes. He asked that I bring you this --

that the strength of the samurai

will be with you always.

The Emperor rises from his chair and sits on the floor, in

the traditional Japanese fashion, before the sword.

OMURA:

(after a moment)

Enlightened One, we all weep for his

loss, but the future of our country

lies in --

The Emperor interrupts him, speaking in English -- to

everyone's surprise.

EMPEROR:

My ancestors have ruled Japan for

2,000 years. And for all that time

we have slept. During my sleep I

have dreamed. I dreamed of a unified

Japan. Of a country strong and

independent and modern...

(touches the sword

lovingly)

And now we are awake. We have

railroads and cannon and Western

clothing. But we cannot forget who

we are. Or where we come from.

The Emperor looks up at the gathered dignitaries.

EMPEROR:

Ambassador Swanbeck, I have concluded

that your treaty is not in the best

interests of my people.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

Sir, if I may --

EMPEROR:

You may not. From this moment on,

economic investment from every nation

will be considered equally.

Ambassador Swanbeck is stunned.

AMBASSADOR SWANBECK

This is an outrage --

The Emperor gestures. A servant escorts Swanbeck to the exit.

Omura takes a step closer to the Emperor.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Enlightened One, we should discuss

this

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

Omura, do you know our northern

island?

Omura is confused.

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

There is a small one called Taraku.

A rock in the sea. There is nothing

there but crabs who have been known

to tear a sleeping man apart... I

have had a small house constructed

on the island. You will go there now

and await our summons.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Sir...?

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

I hereby seize your family's assets

and present them as my gift to the

people.

Omura looks at him, stunned.

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

Further, I have decided to stop the

railroad expansion into Yoshino.

OMURA:

(subtitled)

Enlightened One...

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

You have served your function. I

have no more need of you... You can

conspire with the crabs now. Remove

yourself.

OMURA:

(protests, subtitled)

Honored Emperor, I do not know why

you disgrace me.

The Emperor finally looks up from the sword.

EMPEROR:

(subtitled)

If your shame is too unbearable... I

offer you this sword.

Omura looks at him for a moment. Then bows tersely and goes.

The Emperor looks at Algren, still kneeling before him.

EMPEROR:

(in English again)

The Samurai is not a man now. He is

an idea.

(a beat)

Tell me how he died.

Algren looks At the Emperor.

ALGREN:

I will tell you how he lived.

We slowly fade as Algren begins to speak...

EXT. VILLAGE - DAY

Spring. A few years later.

There are no Samurai training in the square, but otherwise

the village is bustling with life. We HEAR Graham's voice:

GRAHAM (V.O.)

...And so the days of the Samurai

had ended.

INT. LECTURE HALL (ENGLAND) - DAY

Graham stands at a lectern on a book tour. A well-dressed

audience listens attentively. A banner proclaims, "The Last

Samurai," by Simon Graham.

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