Toda MarikoDo you know "The Eightfold Fence"? From the time we are small, it is something we are taught to build within ourselves. An... impenetrable wall, behind which we can retreat whenever we need. You must train yourself to listen without hearing. For instance, you can listen to the sound of a blossom falling or the rocks growing. If you really listen, your present circumstance vanishes. Do not be fooled by our politeness. Our bows, our maze of rituals. Beneath it all... we could be a great distance away. Safe. And alone.
Toda Mariko
My master asks for you to draw a map of the world.
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.
What's been said about the assassin?
Toda Mariko
Only that she belonged to a very dangerous sect.
Mariko
She had served as a palace maid for years. Some train their whole lives for a single kill. It is very costly.
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?
PPhysician
He's too tense. He doesn't need a doctor, he needs a woman.
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.
Mariko
Uh, it is polite for... the physical joining of man and woman.
[Groans] If he's not a warlock, he's most certainly a pimp.
Mariko
Would you prefer a male companion?
Dear God, where am I? [A general enters] Who's he?
THToda Hiromatsu AKA Buntaro
Is the animal behaving himself?
Mariko
Yes, Buntaro.
We're leaving Osaka immediately. The barbarian is to join us.
Mariko
Where are we going?
Back to Ajiro, with members of Toranaga's clan.
Mariko
I don't understand.
It's not for you to understand. [Walks away]
[a special party is leaving Osaka Castle with Lord Ishido's clearance but a detail commander stops the group just before they reach the outer wall]
GGuard Captain
I need to verify all members of the party.
NJNebara Jozen
Lord Ishido cleared us to depart.
GGuard Captain
It is Lord Ishido's order. All travelers are to be verified.
[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!
GGuard Captain
What is the barbarian saying?
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.
GGuard Captain
This is Japan! [Shoves John aside]
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!
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...
[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!
What is this buffoonery?! Lord Ishido has ordered us all to the harbor. Let them through! [Envoy departs]
[To Toda] Well, I hope you didn't mind the part about the pony.
[while John and Mariko sit at the rocks, they feel a small tremor]
Toda Mariko
Just a baby earthquake.
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.
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
Your boy is already a man! The last time I saw Nagakado, his chin was as hairless as his balls. [All chuckles with Yoshii Nagakado particularly amused] Hey nephew, I bet you have a different girl for every day of the moon. Just like your father.
Slander. Your uncle is far more gifted with women.
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
[All chuckles with Yoshii Nagakado particularly amused] More lies!
Toda Mariko
Saeki-sama remarks about how long it has been since he's seen Nagakado-sama.
It must bring you great honor... seeing your wife perform her duty to the Anjin with such devotion.
THToda Hirokatsu
You mean her duty to our Lord.
YNYoshii Nagakado
Uncle, you honor me with these stories. What was my father like when he was young?
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
This is a good story! Did you know that your father was still a boy when he won his first battle? Yoshii Toranaga, the boy warlord. But that's not even the good part. I'm told when the disgraced Mizoguchi bowed to him in surrender, it was your father, just twelve years old, who struck his enemy's head from his shoulders with a single blow.
YNYoshii Nagakado
Oh. [All chuckles]
THToda Hiromatsu
Lord Saeki, did you receive our Lord's gift?
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
The courtesan, yes. Many thanks. She's beautiful, but beauty's a fleeting pleasure. Like trying to grasp a river, or fuck a sunset.
Tonight, we'll speak formally on the matter of our alliance.
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
Why not tonight?
Patience. [Offers him drink]
SNSaeki Nobutatsu
Nonsense! I can't live in this suspense! What will the Great Yoshii Toranaga offer me for my army? I quite like it here. [Yoshii puts down drink] Perhaps my brother would give my Izu? Wouldn't that be something? [Kashigi grunts inquiringly] Nephew. I do have one more story about my brother. Not many know it. He was once sent away as a hostage, to ensure our alliance with the Imatani clan. Our mother told him to be brave. That a Minowara does not feel fear. But the moment he left her arms, I'm told my brother shat his pants and rode his horse for ten messy ri. I mean no respect, of course. I just meant to say, I always felt for that horse... Nagakado. What do you prefer? Stories, legends... or the truth? This proposal, for example. What a legend that would make, for me to become Lord of Izu. Unfortunately, I already received another offer.
Shōgun · 56 quotes
