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

 

 

 
Uraga:"We cannot take the fourth vow like you, Father. 
Other Orders ordain their brethren, but not the Jesuits. 
Why shouldn't -"
Alvito:"Hold your tongue!"
Uraga:"I have been training for sixteen years -".
Please excuse me, Father. In the name of the 
Blessed Madonna, it is not the pain. Pain is nothing to me, 
death is nothing to me. That I am damned and will burn 
in hellfire all eternity may be my karma, and I will endure it. 
But I am Samurai and I will not be scourged".

 

 

 
Buntaro remains expressionless, but Omi reacts as if he cannot believe his ears. Even Alvito seems surprised.
Blackthorne:"What did he say?"
Alvito:"Lord Toranaga has agreed. He is going to Osaka -- 
to submit himself to the will of the council".
Alvito translates.
'The council of Regents should be obeyed. 
Even though it is illegal, it is constituted and no single lord 
has the right to tear the realm apart, however much cruth is 
on his side. The realm takes precedence.
I accept the invitation".

Blackthorne:"We English are simple people, too. 
When we're dead, we're dead, but before that we put our
trust in God and keep our powder dry. 
I have a few tricks left, never fear".
Alvito:'Oh, I don't fear, Pilot. I fear nothing -- not you, 
nor your heresy, nor your guns. 
They're all spiked -as you are spiked".
Blackthorne:"That's karma -- in the hands of God -- 
call it what you will. But by the Lord God, 
I'll get my ship back and when I do -"
Alvito:'No, Pilot, the die is cast.
(he looks at Blackthorne as if he were already dead)
May God have mercy on you, for God is my judge, 
I believe you will never leave these islands".

 

 

 
Yoshinaka is organizing the departure.
Alvito:"May God bless you and keep you in his hands forever".
Mariko:"Thank you, Father".
Alvito:"Good morning, Pilot. How are you today?"
Blackthorne:"Good, thank you. And you?"
Alvito:"We are travelers on the same road. 
I trust you will not object if we ride with you".
Mariko:"Not-at all, Father".

 

 

 
Blackthorne:"If thou knewest how I love thee -"
Mariko:"I love thee more. Thou are my first love -- my only love -but now I tremble with fear for thee".
Blackthorne:"There is no fear. There is only now".
Mariko:"I fear that I have destroyed thee, my love -- by this beginning. We are doomed, you and I. 
I have destroyed thee".
Blackthorne:"I am not easily destroyed".
Mariko:"I wish to be nowhere else. wnatever else happens 
on this journey is not important. He will live this moment until 
Yedo's First Bridge. There our journey must end".

 

 
Mariko:"There must be an ending, my love. 
At First Bridge our journey together ends. 
Please swear that you agree or I will die with agony over fear for you and the danger I have put you in. The First Bridge. Swear it".
Blackthorne:"I cannot".
Mariko:"The First Bridge at Yedo".
Blackthorne:"I swear".

 

 

 

 
Blackthorne and Mariko ride side by side -- their eyes meeting 
again and again, as if they cannot bear to look at anything else.
Alvito reins his horse around and rides up to them.
Alvito:"We will be leaving you now. Our road leads to the 
Port of Nimazu, but our paths shall cross again".
Blackthorne:"Not willingly, priest".
Alvito:"I bear you no malice, Pilot.. I come now to bring you a gift. Yes, a gift from God".
Alvito brings out a bound book and holds it out to 
Blackthorne -- who eyes it suspiciously.
It is a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary and grammar. 
Three of our brethren spent twenty-seven years preparing it.
Cherish the gift, samurai. It merits being treated well".
Blackthorne:"I shall -- but there is more to it than that".
Alvito:"We ask nothing in return".
Blackthorne:"With this - I'll learn the language in six months".
Alvito:"Yes, perhaps you will. If you have six months.
(to Mariko) I shall hope to see you in Yedo, Lady Toda. 
Lord Toranaga has invited me there to see the site of our new 
cathedral. Until then, may God keep you safe in His mercy".
Mariko:"Go with God, Father".
Alvito:"And you, my child".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT: CHAPTER 36 SHOGUN

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