RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN IN
“SHOGUN”
© 2003. Okihei Enterprise, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Tribute to Richard Chamberlain

 

 

 



 
Blackthorne is lying on a thick quilt, a second quilt covering him. 
He lies there, sleeping for another moment -- then, with a cry, 
he bolts awake, looking around the room, not knowing where he is. 

 

 
There is a tray with several bowls of strange-looking food 
next to him and he sits up. Not realizing that he is naked -- 
grabbing the bowls and wolfing down the food with a desperate hunger.  Then, after another moment, he stops to sniff at the food -- puzzled by the-taste and smell -- before he continues eating, 
stuffing the food into his mouth with his fingers. 
Blackthorne glances across the room -- and there is a crucifix on the wall. He stares at it, incapable of comprehending what it is doing there.

 

 
A panel of the wall slides open and a middle-aged Japanese woman is kneeling there -- wearing a silk robe and short white socks. She bows and smiles, then:
Woman:"Goshujinsama, gokibun wa ikaga desu ka?
Gokibun wa ikagi desu ka?
Blackthorne:"Is this the Japans? Japans?"

The Woman looks back at him, not understanding -- 
then she places Blackthorne's clothes (washed and neatly folded) in the room.
Woman:"Omeshimeno de gozaimasu".

Blackthorne looks down at himself, seeing now that he is naked. He pulls the quilt up to cover himself. The Woman bows and smiles again, then closes the panel.
Blackthorne sits there for another moment, then he gets to his feet, modestly covering himself with the quilt, and begins getting dressed. He pulls on his pants, then tosses the quilt aside, as:
Blackthorne:"It is Japans, by God. It has to be". 

Blackthorne glances at the crucifix on the wall, then
he finishes dressing,  but his boots are missing. 

 

 
He moves to the panel/door, putting out a hand to steady
himself -- but the wood and paper screen cannot bear his weight 
and his hand tears through it. Blackthorne stares at the panel, 
surprised that it is so flimsy - then he slides it open.

Blackthorne:"I'm sorry. Where are my boots?
Boots - - feet - -"

 

 
Blackthorne sees his boots at the bottom of the steps, but before he can reach them the Woman kneels in front of him -- helping him to put them on.

Blackthorne:"Thank you.  My name is Blackthorne. 
John Blackthorne. What's your name?
Woman:"Onna! Onna!"
Blackthorne:"Onna! Onna!"
Woman:"Hai! Onna!"

 

 
There is a pebbled path leading to a gate in the high wall -
and Blackthorne walks toward it. The Gardener sees him coming, then smiles and bows -- and runs to open the gate, bowing again as Blackthorne walks through.

The village is set around the harbour, the Erasmus is neatly 
anchored a short distance from the shore with three bow cables.
Blackthorne smiles, relieved to see his ship safe and secured.

NEXT: CHAPTER THREE SHOGUN

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