Silence Page #4

RODRIGUES (V.O.)

“Today there was wonderful news. Your

Mr. Chun got us a boat, with twenty-

five Chinese sailors. And he found us

a guide. Our first Japanese.”

CUT TO:

9

10 INT. MACAO WATERFRONT TAVERN DAY 10

As the Chinese Businessman hovers in the background, the two

priests stoop to fit into this dank, low place. Seamen and

traders drink steadily at rough tables. Others pass by with

women, who seem to be holding them up as they pass through the

shadows. There is a MOAN from the corner of the room.

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN

He is not much. You will see.

There is another MOAN. The Chinese Businessman bolts forward

and plunges into this heap of shadows...

...pulling the body of a MAN (KICHIJIRO) into the feeble light.

The disbelieving priests stare at the heap of humanity lying

before them. He is their age, ragged and rough-skinned.

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN (cont'd)

But after almost two months, he is the

only one.

GARUPE:

Are you Japanese?

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN

Yes yes. He was drifting on sea.

Portuguese bring him.

GARUPE:

Are you really Japanese?

RODRIGUES:

Where are you from?

Kichijiro crawls back into the comfort of the shadows. The

Chinese Businessman stops him with a kick. Kichijiro turns on

him, groaning incoherently. The Chinese Businessman takes a

prudent step back.

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN

Answer them, you fool! These are

padres!

(no response)

Kichijiro! You fool! They will take

you home.

GARUPE:

Where is your home?

KICHIJIRO:

Nagasaki.

10

GARUPE:

What’s your work?

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN

He will do what you say.

KICHIJIRO:

Fisherman.

GARUPE:

Nagasaki is on Kyushu.

(Kichijiro eyes him

suspiciously)

Can you tell us about Kyushu?

RODRIGUES:

You know our language.

KICHIJIRO:

Little.

RODRIGUES:

You learned it from the Jesuit padres.

You had to. So you are a Christian.

KICHIJIRO:

No. No Kirishitan.

Kichijiro belches and shrugs.

CHINESE BUSINESSMAN

Good guide for you. And he is

Christian too.

KICHIJIRO:

(snarls)

I am not Kirishitan.

RODRIGUES:

You can tell us.

KICHIJIRO:

Kirishitan die.

(beat)

They die in Nagasaki.

RODRIGUES:

(to Kichijiro)

Listen to me. We have money. Help us

and we can take you home. We can...

Kichijiro abruptly INTERRUPTS Rodrigues, HURLING himself at the

feet of the surprised priests. He grovels, weeping.

11

KICHIJIRO:

I want to go home. Not for money.

Japan is the country of my family.

Please! Take me please! I beg you!

Don’t abandon me here!

The Chinese Businessman stares at the abject Kichijiro.

Rodrigues nods his head slightly in silent assent and Kichijiro

immediately prostrates himself in drunken thanks. The Chinese

Businessman helps Kichijiro up to leave.

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