John Blackthorne quotes from Shōgun

Blackthorne

If you cheat, cheat death. If you steal, steal the heart of a woman. If you lie, lie in the everlasting warmth of her bosom. And if you drink, drink with me.

Blackthorne

Where I come from, prostitutes are neither this well presented, nor as inquisitive.

Blackthorne

I will reunite with my crew, get back aboard my vessel, then pay a visit to that Black Ship I have heard so much about.

Blackthorne

Which comes first, God or your purse strings?

Blackthorne

I, Anjin, by my death, protest the callous punishment of this village by Yoshii Toranaga.

John Blackthorne

This isn't the end for me. I won't die in this wretched land.

This wretched land? I'll tell you what, Inglés. We're coming into port soon. Why don't you go on up there? Go up and tell me what you see. And tell me, when you set eyes on Osaka, if you really think our world is the hilt of civilization. And then ask yourself, "What kind of man wields power in a land like this? " The one who schemes in the open... or the one you never see?"

John Blackthorne

You're telling me the lords here don't know?

Father Domingo

It's too late for that now.

John

You don't understand. I must tell them. That's my way out.

Domingo

You can't play their game. Their rules are too opaque, their hearts too guarded.

John

You don't know me.

Domingo

I've known a thousand of you.

Toda Mariko

My master asks for you to draw a map of the world.

John Blackthorne

Oh. Thank you. [Uses a stick to sketch a global map outline in a zen garden] Um... This is the limit... of what I know. The earth is round. Like a fruit. Uh, Japan is here. My country, England... is on the other side of the world. We came by way of Magellan's Pass. We are the first outsiders to use it because the Spanish and the Portuguese kept it secret. And for us, it was safer to sail this way. Because we had to avoid a Portuguese base in Macao. [Softly gasps] It employs Japanese mercenaries. I'm told you call them ronin. A secret Catholic fortress, used for guns. Employed during an uprising some years ago. My master asks that, later, you write this map and mark the Portuguese bases. If I may, I will explain now. This is the way Portugal and Spain carved up the New World that split undiscovered land between them. Your country falls... into the Portuguese half. So it belongs to them. I'm sorry, sir, but... I assure you their arrogance is unbelievable. Please tell him it's written into legal documents. Each Spanish and Portuguese king has the right to lay claim to any non-Catholic land they discover and to replace its government with Catholic rule.

Yoshii Toranaga

This is a lie.

Father Domingo

Another soul for every hour of the day. It's nothing for you to fear now. You'll die a martyr. On the cross, perhaps.

John Blackthorne

I'm sorry, Father, I didn't come all this way around the world just to die on a cross.

Toda Mariko

He asks what you seek here.

John

To vanquish our common enemies.

Mariko

My master says you should not war against the Portuguese in Japan. You are outnumbered. It is hopeless.

John

Unless I win.

Father Domingo

Toranaga was born Minowara. A name that carries great weight in Japan. For centuries, his ancestors dominated this country, carrying with them a divine mandate.

John Blackthorne

Mandate?

Domingo

A title, revered through the ages. The ultimate rank a mortal can achieve. Shogun.

John Blackthorne

What's been said about the assassin?

Toda Mariko

Only that she belonged to a very dangerous sect.

John

Hmm.

Mariko

She had served as a palace maid for years. Some train their whole lives for a single kill. It is very costly.

John

A price few could afford. You refuse... to see it. What those priests are capable of, even now. [Doctor pricks his arm] Christ! How much are the Jesuits priests are paying this one to kill me?

He's too tense. He doesn't need a doctor, he needs a woman.

John

Oh, my God, dear, what did he say? What did the warlock say?

Mariko

Since, you are so upset, the doctor suggests we send a... woman to pillow with you instead.

John

Pillow?

Mariko

Uh, it is polite for... the physical joining of man and woman.

John Blackthorne

[Groans] If he's not a warlock, he's most certainly a pimp.

Mariko

Would you prefer a male companion?

John Blackthorne

Dear God, where am I? [A general enters] Who's he?

Is the animal behaving himself?

Mariko

Yes, Buntaro.

Buntaro

We're leaving Osaka immediately. The barbarian is to join us.

Mariko

Where are we going?

Buntaro

Back to Ajiro, with members of Toranaga's clan.

Mariko

I don't understand.

Buntaro

It's not for you to understand. [Walks away]

I need to verify all members of the party.

Lord Ishido cleared us to depart.

It is Lord Ishido's order. All travelers are to be verified.

John Blackthorne

[To Mariko] No one's going to stop him? [Guard captain peers into royal sedan, John announces to himself] No one's going to stop him. [Walks up to Guard Captain] This is unacceptable! Peering into ladies private quarters?! It's not proper!

What is the barbarian saying?

John

Worse than that! It's vulgar! Unholy perversion!

Toda Mariko

[Walks up, in Japanese] I think the barbarian is offended. In his country it is improper to... leer at women.

This is Japan! [Shoves John aside]

John

Am I the only man present who treasure the purity of a women?! [gets knocked down from the Guard Captain's backhanded slap]

Mariko

[Gasps, to Guard Captain in Japanese] You must excuse him! He is ignorant of our customs!

John

Low! A women's virtue is her glory! A blight on us all! My God, the shame of it!

Mariko

His customs are very different! And I find it's very hard to reach him...

John

[blocks Guard Captain from opening door of royal sedan] You, sir, are a silly little man! And your hair looks like the tail of a pony!

Kashigi Yabushige

What is this buffoonery?! Lord Ishido has ordered us all to the harbor. Let them through! [Envoy departs]

John

[To Toda] Well, I hope you didn't mind the part about the pony.

Ahoy, Inglés! [Chuckles] Still alive I see!

John Blackthorne

How's your leg?

Fine. How's your mother?

John

Dead!

Aww...

John Blackthorne

The hell was that?

Toda Mariko

Just a baby earthquake.

John

A... A b-baby what?

Mariko

You will most certainly experience more while you are here. There are also tsunami that come from the sea and fires that break out in the villages and cities. It is why our houses are built to go up as quickly as they come down. Because death is in our air. And sea and earth. It can come for us at any moment. Before you meddle with our politics, just remember... we live and we die. We control nothing beyond that.