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

 

 
A boatman is standing in his small boat as Blackthorne walks up. 
He bows and Blackthorne bows back.
Blackthorne:"Can you take me - -in your boat - - to my ship?"
Boatman:"Hai! Hai!"

Blackthorne settles onto the seat and the Boatman begins 
sculling out toward the Erasmus -- smiling at Blackthorne nodding.  Blackthorne smiles and nods back -- then turns to look behind at the shore, alarmed at what he sees.


 

 
There are eleven men walking toward the jetty - - the man in front European, wearing a flowing priest's robe (orange instead of black), a rosary and crucifix at the belt. Mura and nine qther Japanese men are. behind him, all of them dressed in vari-colored robes or loose trousers. The priest signals for them to stop -- then
stands there staring at the Erasmus.
Blackthorne turns away, a sudden fear almost sickening him -- but the Boatman just continues to smile.

 

 
There are several Samurai (in kimonos, each with two swords angled in their belts) standing at the gunwale, watching as the Boatman sculls the boat up to the Erasmus' gangway. 
Blackthorne looks up at them, then turns to the Boatman.
Blackthorne:"Wait here, all right? You stay here".
Boatman:"Hai! Omachi shite imasu". 

 

 
There are Samurai on both sides of the deck as Blackthorne 
reaches the top of the gangway. 
One Samurai is more elaborately dressed than the others 
and he walks toward Blackthorne and bows. 
Blackthorne returns the bow and all the Samurai smile. 
For a moment, Blackthorne hesitates then he walks across 
the deck toward the companionway, the head Samurai
moving right with him. A wide band of red silk is pasted across 
the cabin doorway, next to it a small sign covered with Japanese
characters. Blackthome reaches the doorway and stops
the head Samurai stopping alongside, still smiling.
Blackthome smiles back at him then reaches out to 
remove the red silk band.
Samurai:"Sawaruna!"
Blackthorne:"But this is my ship and - -".
Samurai:"Nan no yoda".
Blackthorne:"There are papers in my cabin.
I need those papers".
Samurai:"Wakarimasen".
Blackthorne:"I - - me - - I want to go in there.
Samurai:"Kinjiru".
Blackthorne:"My crew - - my men - -where? Where are they?"
Samurai:"Wakarimasen".

The priest, Mura and the nine men are standing there ominously as the Boatman sculls the boat back to shore, Blackthorne gets out and takes a step away but something makes him stop and look back.


 

 

 
The priest, Father Sebastio, steps forward glowering at Blackthorne.
Father Sebastio:"Who are you?"
Blackthorne:"Who are you?"
Father Sebastio:"Father Sebastio -- and you are a heretic 
Dutchman pirate. How did you get here?"
Blackthorne:"We were blown ashore. What is this place? The Japans?"
Father Sebastio:"Yes -- and the authorities know about you. 
They crucify criminals and pirates here, Dutchman. 
You're going to die".
Blackthorne:"I'm English -- and we're not pirates".
Father Sebastio:"That's a Netherland privateer".
Blackthorne:"We're peaceful merchants.
Where's my crew? Can you ask someone?"
Father Sebastio:"They'll die with you and may 
God burn you in hellfire for all eternity! 
Akuma no tsukai ja! Ikyoto ja!"

Omi:"Onushi ittai doko kara kitanoda? 
Doko no kuni no moneda?"


 

 
Father Sebastio:"Kasigi Omi-san says, 
'Where do you come from and what is your nationality?"
Blackthorne:"Who is he?"
Father Sebastio:"He's the Samurai in charge of this village -- 
and you'd better answer quickly."
Blackthorne:"Tell him I'm English. 
I'm PilotMajor of the Erasmus out of Rotterdam."
Father Sebastio:"Kare wa Igirisu-jin desu. 
Ano fune no Anjin desu."
Omi:"Sonata wa anjin yue tono ga toochaku sareru made
mura wo jiyuuni aruki mawattemo yoroshi. 
Watashi no goshujin dearu Kasigi Yabu-sama ga sonata 
no unmei wo kimerudearo."
Father Sebastio:"Omi-san says, because you are the pilot you 
are allowed to walk around the village until his master comes. 
Lord Kasigi-Yabu will decide your fate."
Blackthorne:"What about my crew? Where are they."

Omi:"Wakarimasu ka?"
Father Sebastio:"says, do you understand?"
Blackthorne:"What's 'yes' in Japanese?"
Father Sebastio:"Wakarimasu".

Omi nods, then disdainfully waves them all away. 
The men rise, all of them bowing low except for one man
who rises deliberately without bowing. Omi qlares at him.


 

 
Omi:"Bureimono!"
Omi moves so cruickly that Blackthorne doesn't have time to react the lonq sword hissinq out of its scabbard and making a silver arc -- severinq the man's head.
Blackthorne his breath trapped in his throat -- lust starinq.

Mura turns to Blackthorne, qesturinq for Blackthorne to follow him. Blackthorne qlances at the body again, then moves off after Mura as Omi starts to lauqh.
As they move toward the other side of the village -the sound of Omi's laughter behind them. 
Blackthorne starts to look back but Mura tugs at his sleeve, hurrying him on.


NEXT: CHAPTER 4 SHOGUN

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