The Last Samurai Page #6

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.

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