The Last Samurai Page #6

Algren looks at Yoshitaka, who gives him a wry look.

ALGREN:

It was... educational

(Yoshitaka nods)

Would the General mind telling me

more about our common enemy?

Yoshitaka looks at him. Has Algren deliberately used the

word, "enemy," knowing that Yoshitaka, too, is a samurai?

Algren gives nothing away.

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

...Mori Katsumoto is an extremely

charismatic leader. To those who

honor the old ways, he's a hero. His

force is estimated at about five

hundred and growing by the day. All

samurai.

ALGREN:

What kind of man is be?

Graham translates. General Yoshitaka considers his words.

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

Katsumoto has no fear. He has no

pity. He is kotsutai -- the soul of

old Japan... He is my honored kinsman.

ALGREN:

Kinsman?

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

We grew up together in Yoshino.

Marched together and fought together.

He is Kaishaku, the brother of my

spirit.

Algren considers this as they observe rifle practice. Erratic

but improving. Algren notes Yoshitaka's reaction. The rifles

seem to make him unhappy.

ALGREN:

Ask him what kind of guns Katsumoto

has.

GRAHAM:

The samurai don't use guns.

ALGREN:

No, ask him what kind of firearms

they have.

Graham obliges. Yoshitaka responds, with disdain:

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

The samurai no longer dishonor

themselves by touching firearms.

Algren is surprised at this bit of information. A servant

approaches, bows.

GRAHAM:

Colonel Bagley requires you.

INT. TENT - DAY

Colonel Bagley and Algren stand at a map. Omura sits.

ALGREN:

They're not a fighting unit yet

BAGLEY:

We have no choice.

(refers to the map)

-- the railroad has been stopped

here. Just as it entered Yoshino,

Katsumoto's province.

OMURA:

Captain, we cannot govern a country

in which we cannot travel freely...

Katsumoto's provocation is strategic.

His defeat will demonstrate to the

other disloyal samurai that resistance

is an act devoid of honor.

BAGLEY:

The rebels don't have a single rifle.

They're savages with bows and arrows.

You get up there and show 'em how

it's done.

ALGREN:

With respect, sir, I need more time.

OMURA:

With all due respect, this railroad

cannot wait.

He bows and leaves them alone. Bagley spins on Algren.

BAGLEY:

You think we're the only country

interested in Japan?! You don't think

the Germans and the French would

like to oversee the new army?

ALGREN:

Colonel --

BAGLEY:

(brutally)

Why do you think we're here, Captain?

Because Remington and Colt and

Winchester have powerful allies in

Washington. We're here to sell a

shitload of American guns... and

steel... and timber. That shouldn't

be hard for a Winchester whore like

you to understand.

Algren looks at him, murderously.

ALGREN:

Yes, sir.

EXT. RUINED VILLAGE - DAY

A STEAM ENGINE lends plumes of smoke into the air as it waits.

Algren, Bagley, and General Yoshitaka ride along the railroad

line.

The Imperial Army follows, with Sergeant Gant, on foot. A

traditional Japanese village is being torn aside to make

room for the railroad line. Houses are being leveled and

black smoke drifts up. The displaced villagers gather

belongings. Omura guards herd them about rather brutally.

Railroad workers are laying a new spur, building a brick

station. Algren notes the by now familiar Omura symbol on

the new water tower and on the headbands of the guards and

workers.

ALGREN:

What is that sign?

GRAHAM:

It's the symbol for the Omura

Zaibatsu.

ALGREN:

Zaibatsu?

GRAHAM:

Old family businesses that own

everything worth owning. The most

powerful is the Omura Zaibatsu. That's

your friend, Omura.

ALGREN:

They own all of this?

GRAHAM:

They do now.

SEVERED HEADS on pikes line the road, a warning to those who

continue to resist

ALGREN (V.O.)

October 24,1876. Today we entered

Kansai province. Here the local

warlords have all been convinced to

accept the emperor's rule.

They pass a particularly wrenching sight. Villagers kneeling

outside what used to be a Shinto temple. The railroad tracks

cut straight through it.

ALGREN (V.O.)

Our destination is Yoshino, home of

the rebel Katsumoto. Protected by

high mountain passes, it can be

reached only during the summer months,

and even then with great difficulty.

The Army moves on. Ahead are towering mountains.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PASS - DAY

The Imperial Army winds its way up a steep mountain pass.

ALGREN (V.O.)

A long march. And then a battle. A

new enemy, but the same feeling I

had in my guts at twenty-one, in the

cornfield at Antietam -- men will

die here, today, and will I be among

them?

EXT. MOUNTAIN PLAIN - MORNING

Fog. Obscuring everything.

Algren and Bagley, on horseback, wait with Graham. General

Yoshitaka and a few Japanese Commanders are mounted as well.

The thousand strong Japanese Army is on foot. They stand,

rifles ready.

ALGREN:

(to Graham)

Ask him how they'll come at us.

Graham speaks to General Yoshitaka. Yoshitaka responds:

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

They'll come straight on. They will

push forward and keep on attacking.

And he adds that there is no samurai

word for "retreat."

Algren prepares himself.

They wait.

General Yoshitaka is suddenly alert. He speaks quietly to

Graham.

YOSHITAKA/GRAHAM

He says they're coming...

Algren gazes into the thick fog ahead, sees nothing. Bagley

looks worried.

BAGLEY:

Captain Algren, have you posted a

rear guard to protect our supply

train?

ALGREN:

Yes.

BAGLEY:

Who is overseeing their deployment?

Algren is somewhat confused by the question.

ALGREN:

No one.

BAGLEY:

Mr. Graham, you will accompany me to

the rear. I want to be certain we

are protected from any surprise

assault.

GRAHAM:

Yes. Of course.

Before Algren can respond, Bagley has left the front lines

with Graham in tow. Gant watches as they head out of harm's

way.

GANT:

Son of a b*tch.

ALGREN:

(almost to himself)

...I'm going to kill him.

GANT:

Waste of good ammo.

Gant checks his two revolvers. The methodical clicking of

the chambers as he checks his rounds is the only sound.

Then absolute silence. A light SNOW begins to fall.

Algren continues to peer into the fog. Nothing.

Then a sound... distant... building through the fog...

The steady rumble of horses. Slowly approaching. Closer and

closer...

Algren notes some of the Japanese soldiers are literally

shaking in fear.

Algren peers again into the fog. Nothing. But the sound is

closer.

Then the sound abruptly stops.

Silence broken only by the murmured prayers of some of the

soldiers.

ALGREN:

Sergeant Gant, order the troops to

assume staggered firing positions.

GANT:

Imperial Army, assume staggered firing

positions.

His order is translated. The Japanese soldiers prepare to

fire, one row kneeling, the other standing behind them.

One of the Japanese soldiers faints from sheer tension.

Algren can see nothing through the dense fog. The tension is

unbearable.

Then a form on horseback, ghostly... like some sort of

medieval monster. An elaborate, horned helmet. Sweeping

samurai armor.

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