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“SHOGUN” © 2003. Okihei Enterprise, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Tribute to Richard Chamberlain |
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| Yabu is walking alone down the long corridor,
oillamps burning at intervals -- filling the corridor with dancing shadows.
There is an archway at one side just ahead -- and as Yabu reaches it, Ishido
steps out suddenly in front of him.
Ishido:"Yabu-dono, a u made inochi wo nagaaeai zo oomoi de uka"? Yabu:"Nanzo ill koza da -- "? Ishida just gestures with his head, lookinG over Yabu's shoulder. Yabu turns. Ten paces down the corridor is a Gray Samurai -- an arrow taut in his bow, aimed directly at Yabu. Yabu freezes. Yabu turns to face him, moving very slowly -- and then he nods. |
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| Then, only moments later, twenty ninja climb
over the edge onto the battlements. Silently they re-coil their ropes,
then throw their grapples again.
Blackthorne is sitting, his back against the wall - - watching Mariko sleep. Now, Mariko stirs - - then she opens her eyes. Mariko:"Thou". Blackthorne:"Thou. Sleep again, my love". Mariko:"No. I would rather be with thee". Blackthorne:"I am glad thou art alive. I saw thee dead". Mariko:"I thought I was. I still cannot believe Lord Ishido gave in. Never in twenty lifetimes -I was dreaming of thee. To see thee when I waken is better than a dream". Blackthorne:"I thought before that I would never see thee sleep again. I saw nothing but death -- yours, mine, everyone's. Then I saw into your plan. It was very long in the making". Mariko:"Yes. Since the day of the earthquake. Please forgive me, but I didn't -- I didn't want to frighten you. I was afraid you wouldn't understand. Yes, from that day I knew it was my karma to bring the hostages out of Osaka Castle. Only I could do that for Lord Toranaga. Blackthorne:"And now it's done, my love. The victory is thine". |
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| Yoshinaka is walking down the corridor with
two Brown Samurai. Ahead, there are two Brown Guards standing in front
of a door. The two Samurai relieve the two Guards, who bow and move off
tiredly. Yoshinaka knocks on the shoji. Yoshinaka slides the shoji open
and steps inside. Yabu is sitting up on the futon in the large, neat
room -- as Yoshinaka enters, closing the shoji after him. Yabu gets up, taking his swords and sticking them in his belt. Yoshinaka:"Shikashi, mata mimawatte kimasu". Yabu:"Soreyori..Mate! Kike!". Yabu moves up to Yoshinaka, his head cocked to listen -- then, without warning, Yabu's short sword is in his hand and with the same movement, he buries the blade in Yoshinaka's back, clapping his other hand over Yoshinaka's mouth to stifle any sound. Yoshinaka dies on his reet, silently -- and Yabu drags the body to the futon. The two Brown Samurai are standing there -- as the shoji slides open and Yabu steps out into the corridor. Yabu: (speaking into the room) Yoshinaka, yoake ni okoshite yaroo". Yabu closes the shoji. The two brown Samurai bow to him -- and Yabu strides off dowu the corridor. Twenty ropes drop from the top of a wall -- then twenty more Ninja slide silently down. |
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| There are ten Brown Samurai asleep in neat
lines as the shadows suddenly move: Ninja. They glide forward -- swiftly
and soundlessly killing the ten sleeping Browns. The Ninja Leader takes
out a flint and tinder. He lights a candle and, cupping the flame, he carries
the candle to the window and signals three times into the night.
Yabu continues walking - - the Brown Samurai hurrying after him. The Brown Samurai turns -- but he only takes a single step before Yabu's sword hisses at him. The Brown Samurai falls and Yabu cleans his blade on the dead man's kimono -- then drags the body into a dark corner. Yabu turns and hurries across the cellar. A heavily barred, small iron door is set into the wall. Yabu fights back the rusted bolts and the door swings open. Instantly, a spear stabs for Yabu's throat, stopping less than an inch away. |
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| Yabu reaches the passageway, then breaks into
a wild run -- stumbling, but managing to keep his balance, arms flailing
as he races for the stairway ahead. Without breaking his frantic pace,
Yabu races past them -- leaping up the stairs. The three Brown Samurai
draw their swords and take up a defensive position -- only to crumple,
dying, a moment later, poisoned darts sticking from their bodies. Twenty
Brown Samurai are running down the corridor
-- as Yabu races toward them. Mariko, Blackthorne, Kiri, Sazuko and Sono hurry to the shoji - - as the shouts of the battle can be heard. Blackthorne slides the shoji open and motions for Mariko, Kiri, Sazuko and Sono come out. They race down the corridor. |