The Last Samurai Page #3

OMURA:

Economic incentives were offered.

Most provincial leaders saw the

financial benefits of modernization.

ALGREN:

What about those that didn't?

OMURA:

To deal with those who have resisted,

the Emperor has decided to create an

Army with allegiance only to him...

We considered hiring advisors from

Germany, but your Ambassador reminded

us of your experience in suppressing

rebellious elements in your Civil

War.

This evocation of the Civil War is not lost on Algren.

ALGREN:

Who are we supposed to be fighting

against?

OMURA:

His name is Mori Katsumoto. He is

samurai.

ALGREN:

Samurai?

OMURA:

The word you might use it "warrior".

But that does not quite capture it...

Katsumoto once served the Emperor

but he is now a traitor who leads a

band of traitors. He must be punished.

Algren looks pointedly at Bagley.

ALGREN:

You told them about our experiences

together on Sutter's Hill, did you,

Colonel?

BAGLEY:

They know I was your commanding

officer. Yes.

Algren glares at Bagley, then stands.

ALGREN:

Excuse me, gentlemen. I need some

air.

(to Omura)

I'm sure Colonel Bagley can amuse

you with more stories of patriotic

gore.

He walks away.

OMURA:

He is insolent.

BAGLEY:

Get him in front of the troops, you'll

see. Top of his class at West Point.

Brilliant tactician. Even wrote a

book.

OMURA:

Why did he leave your army?

BAGLEY:

What's a hero to do when there's no

more great battles?

OMURA:

Is that an evasive answer?

BAGLEY:

Sir, this man was left for dead at

Sutter's Hill. Doctors swore his

heart had stopped beating, but before

they could bury him, he came back to

life. After the war he fought the

Sioux, the Cree, and the Blackfoot.

(leans closer)

Point him at the enemy. He was born

for it.

INT. SHIP - ALGREN'S BERTH - NIGHT

Algren lies in his cramped berth. Can't sleep.

A SUDDEN FLASH:

On the wagon of dead bodies, Algren's eyes open to stare

into the unblinking eyes of his brother, Davey, half his

face shot off. He tries to move but be is buried beneath the

weight of those piled on top of him. Blood drips down into

his eyes and mouth, blinding and choking him.

BACK TO THE SHIP:

Algren awakens, bathed in sweat. Terror. A silhouette in the

doorway.

Colonel Bagley stands looking down at him.

BAGLEY:

I hope you realize the kind of second

chance this is for you. I won't

tolerate insubordination.

Algren reaches for a nearby glass, drains it.

ALGREN:

Court-martial me.

BAGLEY:

Would you rather I hadn't recommended

you for the medal, Nathan? Is that

it?

ALGREN:

We both know why you helped me,

Colonel. Don't expect me to go all

weepy with gratitude.

BAGLEY:

I expect you to do your job. Save

the self-pity for your own time.

He turns and walks out, leaving Algren to stare at the empty

glass.

EXT. SHIP - DAY

Algren and Gant stand at the rail.

GANT:

Hate boats. If the Lord bad wanted

man to sail he wouldn't have created

infantry.

ALGREN:

How many times you puke today?

GANT:

I'm down to two.

Omura comes up next to them.

OMURA:

I understand you are a scholar,

Captain Algren.

(to Gant)

Have you read his book, Mr. Gant?

GANT:

Can't say I have.

OMURA:

An analysis of the triumph of weapons

technology over antiquated military

tactics.

ALGREN:

(wry)

A real page-turner. Sold twelve

copies.

OMURA:

Nonetheless, I was impressed. I enjoy

reading military history. I spent

two years studying English at

Princeton University.

ALGREN:

And where did you learn to speak

Japanese?

Omura is perplexed by Algren's remark, then realizes he is

being kidded. He laughs heartily. Algren laughs with him. A

connection is made.

OMURA:

Yes, and in Japanese there are twenty-

seven words for "war." I will be

impressed if you learn only half of

them.

He walks away. Algren watches him go. His face darkens.

ALGREN:

I got twenty-seven words too -- Reb,

Sioux, Pawnee, Blackfoot, Jappo.

Only one language when it comes to

war.

EXT. YOKOHAMA HARBOR - DAY

Like all Japan, Yokohama is at the cusp of a new era.

Ancient sampans and wooden schooners beside freighters and

steamships.

EXT. YOKOHAMA - DOCK - DAY

After 23 days at sea, they are all glad to climb down the

gangplank. The Yokohama docks are a frenzy of languages and

looks and smells and sounds.

Japanese competes with German and English and French and

Russian.

Warehouses fly the flags of a dozen countries.

One striking Japanese character dominates: the symbol for,

Omura. It is seen on buildings, warehouses, and the headbands

of scores of laborers.

A series of palanquins, litters carried by bearers, await

our voyagers.

As does SIMON GRAHAM, a dissipated Englishman who has lived

in Japan for many years. Slender and pale, with an occasional

consumptive cough, in his 50's, he wears a white linen suit,

a bit worse for wear.

OMURA:

Captain Algren, this is Mr. Simon

Graham. He will be your translator.

GRAHAM:

Pleasure, Captain.

BAGLEY:

You'll be quartered at the Embassy

for now.

OMURA:

The Emperor will summon you at his

pleasure.

Graham ushers Algren and Gant into their own less-ornate

version.

GRAHAM:

If you please, Captain...

ALGREN:

They're gonna carry us?

GRAHAM:

You're guests of the Emperor. You

cannot walk.

Algren notes the hoods covering the faces of the palanquin

bearers.

ALGREN:

Why the hoods?

GRAHAM:

So you won't have to burden your

eyes by looking at slaves. Oh, excuse

me, they're servants now.

(coughs, wipes a bit

of blood)

This way, gentlemen...

INT./EXT. PALANQUIN - YOKOHAMA STREETS - DAY

Their bearers maneuver them through the bustling streets of

Yokohama.

White face painted geishas walk alongside bearded Russians.

Traditional Japanese kimonos alongside European suits and

hats, schizophrenic world of ancient Japan versus modern

commercialism.

GRAHAM:

Twenty years ago Yokohama was a lovely

little port. Then your Commodore

Perry arrived and changed all that.

ALGREN:

All this in twenty years?

GRAHAM:

Japan has... embraced... Western

ways. Hired lawyers from France,

doctors from Germany, naval architects

from Britain, civil engineers, railway

designers, scientists, teachers.

And, of course, warriors from the

United States.

ALGREN:

Buying the future.

GRAHAM:

Or selling the past...

INT. GUEST QUARTERS - DAY

A shoji screen is opened by a bowing servant to reveal the

clean, classic lines of a Japanese room. Algren is about to

enter when Graham stops him, indicating for Algren to remove

his boots.

Algren scowls, confused, and struggles to pull off the high,

filthy boots. He takes in the foreignness of the room, an

arrangement of flowers on a low table.

ALGREN:

No chairs?...

GRAHAM:

Correct. And this --

(points to a mat)

...is your bed.

ALGREN:

And this?

He points to a block of wood.

GRAHAM:

Your pillow.

ALGREN:

You mean to say there are no real

beds in Japan?

GRAHAM:

For its entire history Japan his

been completely aakoku, a "closed

country." Thirty years ago, if you

had washed up on Japanese soil...

you would have been beheaded on sight.

Now, they let you keep your head...

and give you a wooden pillow.

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