NARRATOR". In the year of Our Lord 1598,
five trader warships left the Dutch city of Rotterdam
as the first expeditionary force ever sent
to ravage and plunder Spanish and Portuguese possessions
in the recently discovered New World.
Protestant Holland had been at war with Catholic Spain
for more than 40 years,
with England her only ally in the struggle.
The Spanish had discovered the vast riches of the Americas
and, legend had it, the even greater riches of mysterious Cathay.
Both Holland and England were determined to share in this wealth.
Only one Dutch ship survived the violent storms
and icy seas of Cape Horn,
to breach the enemy's secret of the Straits of Magellan
and finally sail into American waters:
the Erasmus.
Under the command of Pilot-Major John Blackthorne,
with only 28 men of his Dutch crew still alive,
the Erasmus ventured into the Pacific.
There, pursued and outnumbered by Spanish fleets, her retreat cut off,
this ship turned westward and fled alone...into the unknown.
Now, almost two years outward bound from home,
133 days from her last landfall...
[THUNDER CRASHING]
Go below, pilot. I take this watch.
- Where's the mate? - Dead.
There's the stink of death, pilot.
- What's the course? - Wherever the wind takes us!
And where's the landfall you promised?
Where's the Japans?
- Ahead! - Ahead...
Always ahead!
Blessed Jesus...
Damn the day I left Holland!
- Get aloft, Maetsukker. - No, I'm near death, pilot.
I'm sick. The scurvy's taken me.
Get aloft and stay there till you're dead or we make landfall!
How are you feeling, Johann?
Good enough, pilot. Perhaps I'll live.
Most men your age are already dead, so you're ahead of us.
It's the saintly life I've led. That and the brandy--
[GROANS]
The boatswain's dead, pilot.
Get the body aloft. You and Roper and Croocq.
Johann, take the dawn watch.
- Ginsel, you're bow lookout. - Right.
Captain-general?
Where...? Where are we?
Still on course.
You and your damned course.
There is no Japans.
But you... You will kill us all.
We'll get there. We'll make landfall.
It's a lie. All lies from the beginning.
God rot you, pilot.
Reef!
Reef ahead!
All hands on deck!
We're lost! Lord Jesus help us!
Get the crew on deck!
Go on!
Get out on deck! Out!
[YELLS]
Get aloft! The forecastle's ho!
Aloft!
[YELLS]
Reef!
Reef ahead!
Turn, you whore from hell!
Turn, damn you!
Turn!
[CRASHING]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Is this the Japans?
The Japans?
It is the Japans. By God, it has to be.
Sorry.
Where are my boots?
Boots.
Feet. Boots.
Thank you.
My name John Blackthorne.
What's your name?
Blackthorne.
What's your name?
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Can you take me in your boat to my ship?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
You wait here for me.
Wait here for me.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
But this is my ship.
There are papers in my cabin.
I need them.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
I, me, want to go in there.
SEBASTIO: Who are you? - Who are you?
I am Father Sebastio.
And you are a heretic Dutchman pirate.
How did you get here?
We were blown ashore.
- What is this place? The Japans? - Yes.
The authorities know about you.
They crucify criminals and pirates here.
You're going to die.
- Where's my crew? - They will die with you.
May God burn you in hellfire for all eternity.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[MAN SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Kasigi Omi-san wants to know where do you come from?
What's your nationality?
- Who is he? - The samurai in charge of this village.
You'd better answer quickly.
Tell him I'm English. I'm pilot-major of the Erasmus out of Rotterdam.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Omi-san says you may walk around the village until his master comes back.
Lord Kasigi Yabu will decide your fate.
What about my crew?
Where are they?
Omi-san says, "Do you understand?"
What's "yes" in Japanese?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[SEBASTIO SPEAKS IN LATIN]
[GUARD SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
By the Lord Jesus, pilot, you're alive.
Where's the ship? Is she safe?
Anchored in the bay. Where are the others?
Dead, pilot. The savages took them away.
[MOANING]
Captain-general?
He can't hear you. All he does is lie there and moan.
He's in God's hands. We all are.
- Is it the Japans, pilot? Is it'? - Aye, it is.
But there's a priest here. A Jesuit.
Where there be one priest, there's bound to be others.
Priests and papists... They'll burn us at the stake.
The Day of Judgment approaches. We never should've sailed here.
Are there riches, pilot? ls there gold?
- There must be. Gold and riches-- - Did you see it?
- Have you seen the gold? - No.
Maybe Roper's right. Maybe it's only greed that brought us here.
- It's God's punishment-- - Stop it.
We're the first ones to reach Japans, and we'll be rich if we keep our wits.
How? By trading with the devil?
It's always the devil with you, isn't it, Jan Roper?
[CHUCKLES]
The devil lives on your lips.
Look to your soul, Johann Vinck.
Will they let us back on the ship? Will they let us go now?
- The ship is under guard. - Guards?
Are the heathens aboard? What are we to do?
We must get away from here. This is the land of Satan.
Hold your tongue. We'll do whatever we can.
Their chief is coming soon. Then we'll settle everything.
Do you think he'll let us go?
Why shouldn't he? We've done them no harm.
Look at the way they all smile and bow.
They're not bloodthirsty heathens, are they, pilot?
Are they?
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Hmm.
[CHUCKLES]
- It's the same swill as before. - Raw fish.
How do they expect us to cook it with no fire?
[MAN SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
- He wants you, pilot. - Maybe the chief is here.
- Tell him we come in peace. - I'll do what I can.
- He wants all of us. - I'm not going with that devil.
Roper, you and Pieterzoon, bring the captain-general.
- He's dying. Let the poor man lie. - Do as I say.
I'll bring him, pilot.
[GRUNTS]
- Bow to him. - He's a heathen savage.
[MAN SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]
[ALL GRUNTING]
The daimyo, Kasigi Yabu, Lord of lzu, wants to know how you got here.
- By Magellan's Pass. - Liar.
Magellan's Pass is secret. You came by Africa and India.
The pass was secret.
A Portuguese sold us a rutter, a pilot's chart book from his ship.
Liar.
Soon all our ships will know the way through to the Pacific.
Heretic lies.
But you'll tell the truth soon enough. They use torture here.
Lord Kasigi Yabu asks what acts of piracy you have committed.
None. We are not pirates, we come in peace.
- Another lie. - Give him my answer, damn you.
- God curse you forever. - Tell him we're not pirates, Jesuit pig.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Lord Kasigi Yabu says your pirate ship is confiscated.
You papist liar. You lied to him.
You filthy lying Jesuit.
- God. Sweet Jesus' death. - We should all pray.
- Vinck just did. - I'm sick.
- I've got to lie down. - Don't touch the captain-general.
- He's dying anyway. - I said you don't touch him!
Shut up! All of you, shut up!
- Get off my foot. - Are they going to kill us, pilot?
[ALL YELLING]
Lord Kasigi Yabu has graciously spared all your lives.
All except one.
One of you is to die. You are to choose who it will be.
But you, pilot, you are not to be the one chosen.
Lord Jesus help us.
- What are we to do now, pilot? - I don't know.
How? How are we to choose someone?
We don't. We fight them.
With What?
Give them the captain-general, he's useless anyway.
- You make a man sick-- - They'll take none of us without a fight.
If we fight, they'll kill us all. You heard what he said.
All our lives are spared except one. How do we choose?
We don't, damn it.
Pilot,
this doesn't concern you anymore.
It's between us now. It's our decision.
Aye.
We'll draw lots. Straws. One shorter than the rest. Agreed?
What about the captain-general? He wasn't excluded.
- Then let the last straw be for him. - Who'll be the first to pick?
How do we know that the man who picks the short straw will go? Huh?
How do we know that?
We'll all swear to God.
A holy vow. I swear it.
- I swear. - I swear it.
I swear to God.
God be praised.
[GASPS]
[MAN SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
- Not without a fight. - But we agreed.
I didn't.
It's all right, pilot.
We agreed. It was fair. It's God's will.
- Nobody is going without a fight. MAETSUKKER: You'll get us all killed.
BLACKTHORNE: Help me! Come on! For your lives!
[YELLING AND GRUNTING]
No! No, it's not me! I'm not the one to go!
Help me! For God's sake!
I was going.
I swear before Christ, I was going.
Pieterzoon...
Why did they leave him? They could've carried him away.
- Maybe they thought he was dead. - He will be, soon enough.
[GRUNTS]
Are you all right, pilot?
Vinck,
we won.
Aye, we did. It was Hans Pieterzoon they took.
No!
No! Oh, my God!
No!
This poxy heathen's awake.
Come on. Get up.
Move!
Up!
- What shall we do with him? - Kill him.
No. Maybe we can trade him for something.
Look at the way he's just squatting there, like he don't see nothing.
[PIETERZOON GROANING NEARBY]
Pieterzoon...
God in heaven.
[GROANING CONTINUES]
[PIETERZOON SCREAMING]
[MOANING AND SCREAMING STOPS]
[FLIES BUZZING]
SEBASTIO: Pilot, you are to come up alone.
What do they want with me?
I don't know, but you must come up at once.
What happened to my man, to Pieterzoon?
He's dead.
May God have mercy on his soul.
Pilot, you must come up.
They can have me instead. Tell them me, not him.
SEBASTIO: Pilot.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- What did he say? SEBASTIO: It's a saying.
"A man's fate is a man's fate, and life is but an illusion."
- What the hell do you want with me? - Mind your manners, I warn you.
Tell this poxy bastard that I'm a lord in my own country. Tell him.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
He says he does not care if you are a king in your own country.
Here you live at Lord Yabu's whim.
You and all your men.
Tell him to go to hell.
"If you do not agree to behave,
another of your men will be brought up."
What does he mean, "behave"?
It means to obey. Obey totally.
Tell him I piss on him and his whole country.
And his Lord Yabu.
- No, I can't. - Tell him exactly.
[GRUNTING]
No, you can't.
[CROOCQ WHIMPERING]
CROOCQ: No!
Help, please! Please!
No! Please!
[SCREAMING]
Tell him...
[CROOCQ CRYING AND GROANING]
Ask him to stop.
CROOCQ: No! Please!
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- Do you agree to behave? - Yes, I agree.
He wants you to answer directly to him.
The Japanese for yes is hai.
He says, "Will you obey all orders?"
Hai, as far as I can, hai.
Omi-san says lie down. Immediately.
He says he did not insult you personally,
and there was no cause for you to insult him.
But you must be taught manners.
- Do you understand? - Tell him I understand.
You must tell him yourself.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
He says it was bad manners to say what you said.
Very bad.
Do you understand?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Get up.
What about the boy?
Croocq.
[CROOCQ GROANING]
Croocq, lad.
- Is the boy all right? - He's alive.
Omi-san says you are to go with Muraji.
You will obey his orders.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
He said that the lives of your crew depend on your behavior.
If you fail to obey, they will suffer. Clear?
Yes.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
He says that since your name is difficult to say,
from now on you will be called Anjin.
That means "pilot."
Omi-san wants you to know that this is not meant as an insult.
[GIGGLING]
[MURAJI SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
If you say so.
Oh, no. No, I don't...
Like hell. A bath will make you foul sick.
Get out of my way.
Sweet Jesus.
Yes. Yes.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
NARRATOR". Lord Yabu's pleasure at having the barbarian as his prize
vanished with a glance.
[DRUM BEATING AND MEN CHANTING]
The galley that was rounding the headland
depended on neither wind nor tide.
And on its sail was the crest of Lord Toranaga.
And Toranaga's most trusted ally,
General Toda Hiromatsu, was standing on the deck.
The barbarian ship calmly at anchor in front of him.
This was no coincidence.
Pilot.
- You must wake up. - What?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
You must greet him. Say konnichiwa and bow.
Konnichiwa, Omi.
- You must say "Omi-san." - Why?
San means honorable. It is an insult if you leave it off.
Say it quickly and bow.
Konnichiwa, Omi-san.
You must get dressed quickly.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- Is she his wife? - Wife? No.
- Who is she? - The woman is a harlot.
A common whore and damned for all eternity.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
A slave ship.
You can't stop now. Not if you want to live. Come, pilot.
Anjin.
Anjin-san.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
No, I'm not going on a slaver.
It's a damned slave ship, and I won't set foot on it.
It's a God-cursed slaver, and you'll never make me go on board!
RODRIGUES: Madonna, leave him alone.
Did you hear what I said? Leave him alone.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- Are you the pilot of the Dutchman? - Aye. Who are you?
Good. I'm Vasco Rodrigues, pilot of this galley, at least on this trip.
[RODRIGUES SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
That's better.
Listen, pilot, that man is like a king.
I told him I'd be responsible for you
and that I'd as soon blow your damned head off as drink with you.
Now bow to the bloody sama.
You do that like a Japper. Are you really the pilot?
Aye.
- What's the latitude of The Lizard? - Forty-nine degrees, 56 minutes north.
And watch out for the reefs that bear south by southwest.
Ha, ha. You're the pilot, by God. Come aboard.
There's food and grog and all pilots should love all pilots, amen, right?
- Right. But where are you taking me? - Osaka.
The Great Lord High Executioner himself wants to see you.
- Who? - Toranaga,
Lord of the Eight Provinces, whatever the hell they may be.
He's the chief daimyo of this whole bloody country.
- What does he want with me? - How the hell would I know?
But if he wants to see you, by God he'll see you.
Now give them a nice little Japper bow and on you go.
Do it, inglês.
[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
- Your ship's confiscated, inglês. - Confiscated?
- What about my crew? - Oh, they'll be all right.
There's nothing we can do about it now. You'll just have to wait.
You can never tell with the Jappers. They're all six-faced and three-hearted.
Madonna, she looks fast, your ship.
- Where was she built, Rotterdam? - Aye.
Could we go aboard her?
I'd like to collect my gear and you could have a closer look.
I'll blow your head off, inglês, if you trick me.
I give you my word, pilot to pilot.
And I'll swear on your mother's virtue.
[LAUGHS]
I'm beginning to like you, inglês. Hey!
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Ima it is. lma means "now, at once." We're to leave at once.
- Ask him if I can go aboard my ship. - No, I won't ask him a poxy thing.
- I have your word? - You have it.
Come on.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
There's a boat down there, inglês. Don't move fast. Don't look around.
Don't listen to anybody but me. Go.
Don't worry, Captain-san, I am responsible.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Sit there.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Not to worry, Captain-san. You get ship ready.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Watch them carefully, tell me what they're doing.
- The bowmen are taking out arrows. - Are they getting ready to shoot?
Yes, they... No, wait.
- The captain's talking to them. - Damn all samurai anyway.
- Why? - They love to kill, inglês.
They even sleep with their swords. They fear nothing, least of all death.
If a samurai's lord says kill, he kills.
If their lord says die, he'll slit his belly open just like that.
I saw Omi-san kill a man just because the man didn't bow.
You better remember that, inglês.
The samurai rule everything here.
They have the right to kill non-samurai whenever they feel like it.
Man, woman, or child, it doesn't matter.
They all serve their master.
That's what the word means. Samurai means "to serve."
And if you forget your bloody manners, heh, they'll serve your head up for you.
- I didn't see you bow and scrape. - Ha, ha.
That's because I'm me, Rodrigo-san.
I am important because I act important.
They understand that.
Here, you don't ask, you act.
Of course, sometimes you get killed if you act wrong.
Right.
Konnichiwa...to all sod-eating samas.
BOW like I did.
Right, let's go and get your gear.
[GUARD SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[IN ENGLISH] Well, not for me, it isn't bloody kinjiru.
I am Rodrigo-san.
[chi-ban bloody pilot to Toda Hiromatsu-sama.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
I'm from Toda Hiromatsu-sama, who's a bigger king than your bugger.
And Toda-sama's from Toranaga-sama,
who's the biggest bugger in the world.
Get ready to abandon ship.
Toranaga-sama!
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
That's bloody well better.
Those sons of plague-infested lice. They've taken everything.
God curse all Jappers.
Well, since there's nothing here,
why don't you take a look at the ship?
- Where are they, inglês? - What?
Your charts. You've hidden them.
That's why you came on board. No pilot would worry about clothes.
You came for your rutters. You want me out so you can get them.
You're right, that's why I wanted to come.
But they were in here.
Oh, I don't want to steal them. I just want to copy a part or two.
- They were in the sea chest. - Liar. Come on, there's no time.
I took your word, now you take mine, pilot to pilot.
I won't steal them.
Damn!
Stolen.
What?
Do I believe you, inglês?
Eh, I think so. This was where you kept them?
- Yes. - Everything?
Even your Portuguese rutter? Ha, ha. Come on, it had to be Portuguese.
- How else would you have got here? - Yes, even the Portuguese rutter.
That's gone too.
Halfway around the Earth and no way to get home.
Lord give me strength!
I know what you feel, inglês.
I feel sorry for you.
It happened to me once.
He was inglês too, the Mei.
Heh. May his ship drown and he burn in hell forever.
Come on, let's get back to my ship.
[DRUM BEATING AND MEN CHANTING]
You never saw a slaver move like this.
Even with an infidel Turk whipping them to a lather.
Those are samurai rowers.
They'll stroke till they die, if Lord Toranaga wishes.
How far is this place you're taking me?
Osaka? Oh.
Three hundred-odd sea miles,
and we'll be there in less than 40 hours.
Hey, Captain-san.
[RODRIGUES SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
West-southwest.
[CHUCKLES]
I guess you know your compass, inglês.
These galleys normally hug the coast for safety,
but that would take too much time, and time is important.
Toranaga asked me to pilot Toda to Anjiro and back quickly.
- I get a bonus if we're on time. - You work for Toranaga?
Me work for him? Hell, no.
I was just visiting Osaka, my captain and me. This was just a favor.
They're not great ocean sailors, the Jap men.
Great pirates and fighters and coastal sailors,
but the deep frightens them.
- What are they going to do with me? - Whatever they want to do.
- What's your own ship like? - Oh, heh.
I'm the pilot of...
I keep forgetting that you're the enemy, inglês.
- We've been allies for centuries. - But we're not now.
Go below, inglês. Get some rest. If you want to sleep, use my cabin.
You're tired and so am I.
Tired men make mistakes.
[SIGHS]
- How do you feel, inglês? - Rested.
- What do you think? - I think there'll be a storm.
- When? - Before the day's out.
Ha, ha. Now, that is a safe guess.
If this were your ship, what would you do?
How far is the nearest land?
Oh. Three, maybe four hours.
If we run for cover, it'll cost me my bonus.
Oh, Madonna. I'm a tired man.
Then go sleep, I'll take the watch for you.
If the wind changes, I'll wake you.
[RODRIGUES CHUCKLES]
All right, inglês. I think I'll trust you. God knows why.
Maintain this course. At the next turn, go four degrees more westerly,
and at the next, six more westerly.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Ha, ha, hai.
Four degrees westerly it is. Go below. Your bunk's comfortable.
Ah, priest, what have you given me?
God curse me and my lack of wits.
[WIND WHISTLING]
There's a storm there, all right. This craft won't take much water.
- How was your sleep? - Short.
But more than I would've had if you weren't here.
- It can't be tai-fun. - What?
Tai-fun, huge winds. Worst storms you've ever seen.
- We're not in the tai-fun season. - When's that?
[CHUCKLES]
It's not now, enemy.
It looks rotten enough. I'll take your advice and head for land.
- Steer north by west. - North by west, aye.
Hey, Captain-san.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[DRUMBEAT AND CHANTING QUICKEN]
What's that, isogi? "Hurry up"?
Ha, ha. There's no harm in you learning a little Jap man talk.
You need about ten words and then you can make them dance.
That's if they're the right words. And if they're in the mood.
[BOTH SPEAK IN JAPANESE]
Hey, inglês,
maybe you learn too damn fast.
[WIND HOWLING]
[THUNDER CRASHING]
Go forward. Get them to start bailing. Make them understand.
Hurry. Hurry.
Ship oars! Stop rowing!
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Stop rowing!
- What do you think, inglês? - You'll do what you want.
But she won't take much water. We'll go down like a stone.
Next time I go forward, tell me you're putting her into the wind.
Ah, that was the hand of God, inglês.
A wave slapped her rump around.
We'll keep her into the wind.
When the time's right, we'll make a stab for the shore.
My nose tells me if we turn and run, we'll flounder.
If we don't turn, we'll never make it.
For God's sake, what would you do?
Wait till we're past the headland,
fall off from the wind and make the rowers pull for their lives.
- That's dangerous. - I know.
All right.
I'll go forward, you take the helm.
Watch me, and when I signal, go west-northwest for the shore.
- Watch me very closely. - I will.
Hey-
You'll watch for my order, and obey my orders.
Do you want me to take the helm or not'?
I have to trust you again, inglês.
And I hate trusting you.
Steady as she goes.
Hard aport...now!
Hard aport, aye!
Pull, you buggers.
One, two, one, two.
One, two-- Aah!
Damn you, Rodrigues!
[DRUMBEAT AND CHANTING STOP]
Rodrigues.
Yabu-san.
Thank you for saving his life. Thank you for your courage.
Thank you, you black-eyed son of a whore.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
You may come up one by one.
You may live in the world of men again.
But break any rule, and you'll be put back.
What about the pilot? What's happened to him?
If you don't come out now, you will stay down there.
- Where's the other man? - Captain-General Spillbergen's dead.
God rest his soul.
He's down there lying in the filth.
Omi-san wants you to bow to him.
He wants us to come. Come on.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[GRUNTING]
So now I owe you a life, inglês.
[RODRIGUES CHUCKLES]
Oh!
God curse you.
It was Kasigi Yabu who saved your miserable body. Curse him.
No. Those Jappos would never have come after me if it weren't for you.
The curse is thine.
There's a bottle of grog over there.
Here.
You make a foul nurse, inglês.
It's your black heart.
Bring the bottle over here.
- How do you feel? - Better.
Considering my head's on fire and my mouth tastes of pigswill.
Eh-eh-eh.
Just give me the bottle.
This, uh, Toranaga,
- why does he want to see me? - I don't know.
By the Blessed Virgin, I don't know.
And since I owe you something, here's some truth in part payment.
Never forget the Jap men are six-faced and have three hearts.
So be careful, inglês. Be careful what you say.
Be careful how you move. Even be careful how you think.
Especially with Toranaga.
Toranaga...
What's he like?
Same as the rest of them. Only worse.
They had 600 years of civil war in this country,
until about 35 years ago when Goroda conquered half of Japan
and made himself ichi-ban lord of the country.
Know who helped him? Toranaga.
Then, I guess it was 16 years ago,
one of his own generals killed Goroda and another stepped into his sandals.
General Nakamura.
Know who helped him?
- Toranaga. - Right, inglês. Toranaga.
Another big monkey-sama, lshido.
Toranaga in the east, lshido in the west.
Sooner or later there'll be another bloody civil war.
[RODRIGUES GROANS]
Madonna, I think I got drunk last night.
- Where are we? - On course, pilot.
You're the pilot now. Ha, ha-- Ooh.
A person could think that was funny.
You're supposed to be the prisoner. You could be taking us anywhere.
But you, you wouldn't do that.
If they were taking me to lshido's castle,
I wouldn't sail them there.
lshido? I thought they were taking me to Toranaga.
So they are. Except that Toranaga's in Osaka Castle,
and Osaka Castle belongs to lshido. And what a butcher he is.
Hell, they all are. Everything in this country's upside down.
- What are you steering? - South by southwest.
How did you know? Who told you?
- You did. - Me?
[CHUCKLES]
Madonna, it's all in a haze.
You looked in my rutter!
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Ah, inglês, life is so strange.
And if I live, it is by the grace of God,
helped by a heretic and a Jap man.
There's the sod-eating sama.
I'd better go and thank him.
You're a dangerous man, inglês.
Maybe we'd all be better off if they killed you.
NARRATOR". Osaka, the white castle city of Lord lshido.
An escort of 20 samurai was on the dock,
wearing the brown uniform of Toranaga's army,
under the command of Toranaga's youngest son,
Lord Naga.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Now, inglês, it's Toranaga's fifth son.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
That should keep him happy. Come on.
Now what's the matter?
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
You're staying on board, inglês.
- Why? - It wouldn't do any good to ask.
When Toranaga's ready, you'll find out.
Go with God, inglês.
And you.
[RINGS]
- Good evening, pilot. - Good evening, Father.
- I have a package for His Eminence. - I will see that he receives it.
Forgive me, Father, but I swore I would place it in his hands myself.
Wait here.
It's good to see you, Father Alvito.
- I'm pleased your journey was safe. - By the grace of God.
You must tell me about it later. His Eminence is waiting.
Vasco Rodrigues, Your Eminence.
You have a package for me, my son.
From Father Sebastio in Anjiro. I swore to place it in your hands.
Would that all vows were so dutifully obeyed.
Thank you, my son.
It's the English pilot's rutter.
Yes. I want you to read it all tonight.
If the rutter proves that they are pirates, then the man has damned himself.
Yes, Your Eminence.
Why has he come here?
Why now, when we're almost safe again?
[SIGHS]
As God is my judge, if I didn't know better,
I'd believe that the Spaniards or their Benedictine lackeys
deliberately guided him here to plague us.
Perhaps they did, Your Eminence.
May God show them the error of their ways.
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Where are we going, Toranaga-sama?
You understand, um, uh...?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Where?
You're an unpleasant little bugger, aren't you, hai?
That's what I thought.
[BLACKTHORNE SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
Anjin-san...
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[BIRD SQUAWKS]
NARRATOR". Yoshi Toranaga, Lord of the Kwanto.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
My name is Martin Alvito of the Society of Jesus, captain-pilot.
Lord Toranaga has asked me to interpret for him.
- First tell him that we are enemies. - All in good time.
Vasco Rodrigues has told me of your bravery.
Tell Lord Toranaga that I do not trust you to translate what I say.
You would be wise to reconsider.
Lord Toranaga has favored me with his confidence for many years.
Perhaps I should point out that I am quite apart from Father Sebastio,
who is unfortunately overzealous
and does not speak Japanese very well.
His experience here is limited,
and your sudden presence took away God's grace from him.
Regrettably.
- Tell him. - You may tell him yourself.
The Japanese word for enemy is teki.
If you point to me and say that word, Lord Toranaga will understand clearly.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Hmm?
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[BELL RINGS]
Mariko...
[TORANAGA SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Since you have objected to my translating,
the Lady Toda will explain your responses.
I can have no objection to that, but since she is to convey my words,
I would like to be introduced.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Lord Toranaga has agreed.
- What is your full name? - Pilot-Major John Blackthorne.
ALVITO: John Blackthorne,
may I present the Lady Toda Buntaro-Mariko.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
I am honored, lady.
[TORANAGA SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
If you are English, why were you leading Dutch ships?
That is not unusual. Holland and England are allies.
I was glad for the opportunity to sail into these waters.
No English ships were planning to come this far.
But we're a trading fleet,
though we have letters of marque to attack our enemy.
We came to Japan to trade.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
What are letters of marque?
Legal licenses issued by the Crown, our government,
giving authority to war on the enemy.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
And since your enemy is here, do you plan to war on them here?
If they war on me.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
What you do at sea or in your own countries is your own affair.
But here there is one law for all,
and foreigners are in our land by permission only.
Any public mischief or quarrel will be dealt with immediately by death.
Our laws are clear and will be obeyed. Do you understand?
Yes, sire. But we come in peace.
We came here to trade. Could we discuss trade, sire?
I need to careen my ship. Then there's the question--
[TORANAGA SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
When I wish to discuss trade, I will tell you.
Meanwhile, please confine yourself to answering the questions.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
So you joined the expedition to trade...for profit?
Not because of duty or loyalty, for money?
Yes. It is our custom to be paid, sire.
And to have a share in all goods captured from the enemy.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
- So you are a mercenary? - I was hired as senior pilot, yes.
But I am not a pirate.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- What is a pirate? BLACKTHORNE: An outlaw.
A man who kills, rapes and plunders for personal profit.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Isn't that the same as a mercenary? Aren't you a leader of pirates?
No, sire, I am not a pirate.
The Portuguese and Spanish will tell you that because we're at war.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
What did he say?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
What I said is no concern of yours.
When I wish you to know something, I will tell you.
I'm sorry, I did not mean to be rude.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
ALVITO: Then hold your tongue until I require an answer.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
ALVITO: Lord Toranaga says that I have told him
that Holland was a vassal of the Spanish until a few years ago.
He asks you if that is true.
Yes.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Then your ally Holland is fighting against its lawful king? Is that true?
They're fighting against Spain--
[TORANAGA SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Isn't that rebellion? Yes or no?
Yes, but there are mitigating circumstances--
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
There are no mitigating circumstances
when it comes to rebellion against a sovereign lord.
Unless you win.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[LAUGHING]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Yes, Mr. Foreigner- with-the-impossible-name.
Yes, you name the one mitigating factor.
Will you win?
Yes. Hai, we will win.
How long did it take you to travel here?
Almost two years. Exactly one year, 11 months and two days.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
How did you come? By what route?
By the Pass of Magellan.
If I had my maps I could show you clearly, but they were stolen.
They were removed from my cabin, with all my papers.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
- All your papers were removed? - Yes.
[MAN SHOUTING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
You are to come over here, captain-pilot, away from the door.
If you value your life,
don't move suddenly or say anything.
What's going on?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
You will be a dead man the next time you speak.
NARRATOR". Lord lshido, master of Osaka Castle.
[TORANAGA SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Lord Toranaga asks that you stand.
Move slowly and do not speak.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
ALVITO: Lord lshido says you are a pirate.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Captain-pilot, you are to follow this man.
Where am I going?
You are to be detained.
Where? For how long?
I do not know, my son.
Until Lord Toranaga decides.
[MAN SPEAKS IN JAPANESE]
- Thank you for your help, lady. - You are quite welcome, pilot-major.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[MEN SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[MAN SCREAMS]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[GATE SHUTS]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Like hell I Will!
[MEN COUGHING]
[PRISONERS SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPUTTERS]
[PRISONER RETCHES]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[PRISONER YELLS]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
Thank you.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Thank you.
Uh...
Me...Anjin-san.
Anjin-san. You?
- Anjin-san? - Anjin-san.
Jirobei.
- Jirobei-san. - Hai.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
I don't understand.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Ah.
[SPEAKING IN LATIN]
Mother of God!
Art thou real?
Yes. Who are you?
Oh, blessed Virgin.
Real. Who are you? I--
I am Friar Domingo of the Sacred Order of St Francis.
My prayers have been answered.
I thought I was seeing another apparition, a ghost.
[CHUCKLES]
The evil spirit, yes, I've seen so many, so many.
- How long have you been here? - Yesterday. And you?
Oh, a long time. I don't know.
I was put here in September in the year of Our Lord 1598.
It's May now. 1600.
1600?
Come with me, my son.
They are my flock.
They are all my sons in the blessed Lord Jesus.
I've made so many converts here.
This one's John. That's Mark.
Methuselah, heh.
Please, sit down, my son.
You must be tired.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
One of my flock says that you are a pilot, an anjin. Is this so?
- Yes. - You came from Manila?
No, I've never been in Asia before. Why are you here?
Jesuits put me here, my son.
Jesuits and their filthy lies.
You are not Spanish, no?
Nor Portuguese? Was your ship Portuguese?
- Tell me the truth before God. - No, Father, it was not Portuguese,
before God.
Of course, your ship was Spanish.
Spanish...
And you were shipwrecked, like us, foully thrown into this jail.
Falsely accused by those devil Jesuits.
God curse them and show them the error of their treachery.
You said you had never been in Asia before?
This is my first time.
You will be like a child in the wilderness, my son, yes.
Oh, there's so much to tell.
Did you know that Jesuits are merely traders?
Gun-runners? Usurers?
And that the Black Ship is worth a million in gold to them every year?
The Black Ship? What is the Black Ship?
That is why the Jesuits are here.
They control all the trade with China.
Selling silk in Japan alone is worth a fortune to them.
Once a year, the Black Ship takes their ungodly profits back to Europe.
To fill their filthy coffers ever further.
You have never heard of this, my son?
No, never. How did that happen?
The Jesuits have forced the pope to grant them total power over all Asia.
Them and their dogs, the Portuguese.
Did you know other religious orders are forbidden here?
The Jesuits deal in gold, reveling in their profits,
against the direct orders of Pope Clement and our King Philip.
Even against the laws of this land. They meddle in politics, lie and cheat.
They bear false witness against us, my son.
Their lies and poison put me here.
I must tend my flock.
There are converts here and little time.
Sit here, my son. You will be safe here.
Shimpu-sama.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Ah, I'm sorry, my son. I did not mean to disturb you.
We thought you might be thirsty when you awakened.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Thank you.
How do you say that in Japanese?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Sometimes you say arigato.
A woman must always be very polite. She says arigato gozaimashita.
- What's his name? - He is Gonzalez.
- No, his Japanese name. - Ah, yes, ah...
Kagoya. But that just means "porter." They don't have names.
- Only the samurai have names. - What do you mean?
Only the samurai have first names and surnames.
Everyone else is known by what they do, porter, or fisherman, cook.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Only yesterday? You said you came here only yesterday?
- What occurred with you? - When we landed, there was a Jesuit.
Jesuits come from hell. God curse them.
God forgive my foolish rage.
[DOOR BOLT OPENS]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[MOUTHING]
Jirobei!
[SPEAKING IN LATIN]
What's going to happen to him?
He will be executed.
Are you sure?
His Calvary is outside the door.
May the holy Madonna take his soul swiftly
and give him everlasting reward.
- What did he do? - He broke the law, my son.
Their law.
The Japanese are a simple people.
They have only one punishment. Death.
You forget about imprisonment.
That is not one of their punishments.
To them, prison is a temporary place
where they decide a man's sentence, and that sentence is always death.
No, only the guilty come here.
For just a little while.
But you've been here almost two years.
One day they will send for me like all the others.
This is a resting place
between the hell of Earth and the glory of everlasting life.
- But you're not guilty of anything. - Then I am the one exception.
Perhaps... Perhaps it is the will of God.
Perhaps those devil Jesuits are keeping me alive to torture me.
It is so hard to be patient.
So very hard.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- What is it, my son? - Nothing, Father.
- Go back to sleep. - There is nothing to fear.
We are all in God's hands.
Ah, how are you today, my son?
- Fine, thank you, Father. And you? - Quite well, thank you.
How do you say that in Japanese?
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
- Has anyone ever tried to break out? - No, no. Heh, heh.
Why should they?
There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
To help an escaped prisoner is punishable by death.
Here, if you don't report a crime, even that will take you to the cross.
- Do not think of it, my son. - No.
Tell me more about the Black Ship. Have you ever seen one?
Yes. They are the greatest ships in the world. Almost 2,000 tons.
Two hundred men are needed to sail one.
- How many guns do they hold? - Sometimes 20 or 30. Three decks.
- She lumbers when the Wind's abeam. - What? I don't understand.
- Big but slow. - The Black Ship? Ah, yes.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Ah. Oh, you've remembered.
[CHUCKLES]
If only I had ink and paper, I could write the words down for you.
Would you teach me anyway? I want to learn.
Yes, of course.
Here, let us trace the words in the dirt.
Then you'll remember them. Now...
Dozo is "please."
Water... mizu.
"Please wait"...
...matte kudasai.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Now you write.
Anjin-san!
Your confession, my son. Say it quickly.
- I don't think I-- - Quickly, and I will give you absolution.
Be quick for your immortal soul.
Confess before God all things past and present.
[GUARD SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]
Say it now.
The blessed Virgin will watch over you.
Go with God, Father.
[SPEAKS JAPANESE]
I don't understand.
[BOTH SPEAK IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Anjin-san?
BLACKTHORNE: Is that where we're going?
The castle there?
[BOTH SPEAK IN JAPANESE]
Sweet Jesus! I thought I was a dead man.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
NARRATOR". At the castle lake,
Lord Toranaga was teaching the art of fishing
to Yaemon, the young son of the late Taiko
and his consort, the Lady Ochiba.
Toranaga had arranged Blackthorne's release from prison
for the same reason he had sent him there:
to keep him out of Lord lshido's reach
and thereby save the Englishman's life.
It gives me great pleasure to see you again, my lady.
Thank you, captain. I am pleased to see you are well.
May I present the Lady Kiri-sama?
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Is she Lord Toranaga's wife?
No. Lord Toranaga's wife died many years ago.
The Lady Kiri-sama was once his consort.
Now she is mistress of his household.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[CHUCKLES]
[BLACKTHORNE SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
I only learned a few words. How do you say, "I don't speak Japanese"?
TODA: I am sure Lord Toranaga understands.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Lord Toranaga wishes to know where you learned your few words.
In prison.
There was a Franciscan monk. He taught me.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Lord Toranaga wishes to know about you and your country.
My lord also wishes to know about your ships and weapons
and how you guided your ship here.
My master wishes to understand all of this.
- That's nearly everything I know. - Precisely what my master wishes.
BLACKTHORNE: I will tell him, but it may take time.
TODA: My master has the time.
- Where shall I begin? - At the beginning.
This is a map of the world.
The Earth is round, like an orange.
This map is like its skin, cut off and laid out flat.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
This is north, south, east, west.
Japan, Nihon, is here.
My country is here.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
BLACKTHORNE: This is Africa.
These are the Americas.
We know only the coastlines, very little else.
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Lord Toranaga wishes you to show him how you came to Japan.
This way.
By Magellan's Pass, by the tip of South America.
Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, discovered it 80 years ago.
The Spanish and Portuguese have kept the way secret.
We were the first outsiders through the pass.
- Aren't you going to translate? - I will explain everything to him later.
When he wishes to know something, he will ask.
Seventy years ago, the kings of Spain and Portugal signed a treaty,
dividing the ownership of the New World,
the undiscovered world, between them.
Your country is in the Portuguese half and is officially Portuguese.
Lord Toranaga, you, everyone,
this castle, everything in it, was given to the Portuguese.
Excuse me, but that does not make sense.
Perhaps, but it's true.
Legal documents gave each king the right to claim non-Catholic land
and replace the existing government with Catholic rule.
Many lands in the Americas have had their treasures taken back to Spain.
Portugal has grown rich from gold and silver from Brazil.
If this is true, how could the kings give themselves such rights?
They didn't. The pope gave them the rights.
The vicar of Christ on Earth himself.
In exchange for spreading God's word.
- I don't believe what you say is true. BLACKTHORNE: It is true.
Pope Clement VII sanctioned the Treaty of Saragossa in 1529,
giving Portugal the exclusive right to your country.
And Cathay.
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
My lord wishes me to explain what you have said.
You may wait over there.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Lord Toranaga will continue his discussion with you later.
I am at his service, lady.
Was the boy Lord Toranaga's son?
Yaemon is the heir. He is the son of the late Taiko.
- And the woman who came just now? - She is the Lady Yodo.
She is the official mother of the heir.
Lord Toranaga has instructed me to tell you
that you are to be taken to your quarters.
When he wishes to see you again, he will send for you. Please.
FERRIERA: How bad'? - Very bad, Captain Ferriera.
Toranaga has been questioning Blackthorne.
The sooner that heretic is dead, the better.
If the Dutch and English spread their filth in Asia,
we are in for trouble.
ALVITO: We are already in trouble, captain.
Toranaga said Blackthorne told him of the Treaty of Saragossa,
and then he asked me if such a thing could be.
- How did you answer? - With the truth.
Fool. You endanger all our profits.
A false answer would endanger very much more.
Our whole position here is based on trust.
And what else did the Jappo say?
He requests a written explanation of our conquests in the New World.
And, "purely for my own interest," were his exact words,
the amount of gold and silver taken from the Americas.
This must absolutely be refused.
You cannot refuse Toranaga.
He's just another murdering heathen.
Without my Black Ship, their economy would collapse.
We've purchased a million ducats' worth of silk at the Canton fair,
and we'll have at least 100,000 ounces of Chinese gold.
Yes, captain, they need our silk to make their kimonos...
...but this is your first visit to Japan.
You have no idea of our problems here.
They need us, that's true, but we need them more.
You must excuse me, Your Eminence,
but sometimes soldiers must do God's work.
I must ask you, captain, formally,
not to even think of interfering with internal politics here.
I am captain of the Black Ship this year,
therefore Governor of Macao this year
with viceregal powers over these waters,
and if I choose to eliminate Toranaga or anyone else,
I Will.
Then you do so over my direct orders to the contrary
and risk immediate excommunication.
This is beyond your jurisdiction, Eminence.
This is a temporal matter, not a spiritual one.
Once and for all, you will not involve yourself in internal politics.
Only if the internal politics do not interfere with my plans.
By Christ's blood, my Black Ship
will sail on time from Macao to Nagasaki
and then, the richest treasure ship in history, she will head home.
As Christ is my judge, that is what is going to happen.
- Our prayers will go with you. - So will your profits.
But if that Dutch pig, the Erasmus,
with her English captain, catches us at sea,
we would lose everything.
I hope you understand that.
You have made it quite clear, captain.
Yes. I'll be getting back to my ship now.
Perhaps you'll come aboard to dine with me tomorrow night?
Yes, some good food would be wonderful again.
Thank you. You're very kind.
Tomorrow. At dusk.
We must be very careful, Martin.
Painfully careful.
The more Toranaga learns from the heretic,
the more perilous our situation.
Then, Your Eminence, we shall have to do something unexpected.
[SHOUTING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Anjin...
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
No, no, he did not wound me.
NARRATOR". The mark of the Amida Tong,
the deadliest assassins in all Japan.
NARRATOR". Lord Toranaga's first question:
"Who would know how to hire one of these men?"
When he was summoned, Lord Yabu was certain
that the moment of his destruction had arrived.
But Lord Toranaga simply invited him to watch the sunrise.
Still, the message was clear.
Yabu knew that Toranaga was not pleased.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[WOMEN GIGGLING]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
Ah.
[ALL LAUGHING]
[BOTH SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
Good day. Please sit down, Anjin-san.
Thank you.
Lord Toranaga has instructed me to tell you
how much he regrets the incident of last night.
Your samurai have been doubled,
and every effort will be made to prevent it happening again.
Please inform Lord Toranaga of my appreciation.
Lord Toranaga will send you to the provinces in the next few days
so you may recuperate.
In the meantime, he asks if you would prepare a few maps
showing the way you came here and showing the world as you know it.
He has provided you with these materials.
Will this be acceptable?
BLACKTHORNE: Yes, this will be acceptable.
TODA: My master will meet with you soon.
He has instructed me to answer any questions you might have.
Lord Toranaga is anxious that you learn about our ways and customs
as he is equally anxious to know about the outside world.
Then you will answer any question?
As well as I am able.
- What does it mean? - That is the sign of the Amida Tong.
It is a secret society and...
- I don't know much about it. - What do you know?
They spend their lives
training to become a perfect weapon for one kill.
They swear to kill only at the order of the leader.
If they fail to kill, they must take their own life at once.
Not one of them has ever been caught alive.
Why did one of these Amida Tong attack me last night?
That is a question Lord Toranaga is attempting to answer.
[SPEAKING IN JAPANESE]
[SPEAKS IN JAPAN ESE]
More? Well, why not?
What do you call this stuff?
Namuka, or however the hell you say it.
[BOTH SPEAK IN JAPANESE]
Very good. More sakazuki.
No...
To drink. Drink.
Whatever it is...
I think it's got me a little drunk.
Must be why I feel so damn good.
More sakazuki.
[SINGING] I promised her rings for her fingers
Sparkling flowers for her flaxen hair
I swore that I'd never Set sail in foul weather
But stay by her side at the shore
Fare-thee-well Oh, you Barbary merchants
Fare-thee-well To the Spanish blockade
Fare-thee-well To the Straits of Gibraltar
And the treacherous seas of Cathay