Gandhi Page #2

Featuring Gandhi. We see him distantly through the crowd.

The brown, wiry figure cloaked only in loincloth and shawl,

still weak from his last fast and moving without his customary

spring and energy as he is supported by his two grand nieces,

his "walking sticks," Manu and Abha.

We do not see him clearly until the very last moment -- only

glimpses of him as he smiles, and exchanges little jokes

with some of the crowd and the two young women who support

him, occasionally joining his hands together in greeting to

someone in particular, then once more proceeding with a hand

on the shoulder of each of the girls.

The camera keeps moving closer, and the point of view is

always Godse's, but Gandhi is always in profile or half

obscured by the heads and shoulders of those in front. We

hear the occasional click of a camera, and we intercut with

shots of Godse moving tensely up through the crowd, of Apte

and Karkare on the periphery of the crowd, watching with

sudden fear and apprehension, like men paralysed by the

presence of danger.

Featuring Godse. He slides through to the very front rank.

His breathing is short and there is perspiration around the

sides of his temples. And now, for an instant we see Gandhi

close from his point of view. He is only a few steps away,

but turned to speak to someone on the other side, and Manu

half obscures him.

Godse swallows dryly, tension lining his face -- then he

moves boldly out into Gandhi's path, bumping Manu, knocking

a vessel for incense from her hands.

MANU:

(gently)

Brother -- Bapu is already late for

prayers.

Ignoring her, his nerves even more taut, Godse joins his

hands together and bows in greeting to the Mahatma.

And now we see Gandhi in full shot. The cheap glasses, the

nut-brown head, the warm, eager eyes. He smiles and joins

his hands together to exchange Godse's greeting.

Godse moves his right hand rapidly from the stance of prayer

to his jacket, in an instant -- it holds a gun, and he fires

point blank at Gandhi -- loud, startling -- once, twice...

thrice.

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