here as a missionary for twenty-three years, apostatized, and are now working for us, your former enemies. I guess you've a right to be sad. Still, it's good to have remained alive.
FERREIRA: Do you think so?
HIRATA: It's very strange, isn't it? I was your enemy until just a year ago, and here I'm trying to console you. I'm something of a strange fellow too.... All right. If you really don't know, I'll tell you. Today, by official order, five of the farmers of Korimura and the daughter of Tomonaga will be executed. Gennosuke has been added to their number.
Ferreira listens silently, arms embracing his legs.
HIRATA: What's the matter? Aren't you surprised, even at this?
FERREIRA: I knew this day would come.
HIRATA: In just a few minutes the Christians, with Yuki and Gennosuke at the fore, will be led around Nagasaki on unsaddled horses. From Banzai-machi to Omura-machi, to Motokonya, passing through Goto-machi to Iwahara River.
FERREIRA: Yuki and Gennosuke? Also, Hisaichi and Mokichi. Will they be burned?
HIRATA: No. Stakes will be planted in the inlet of Iwahara River and they'll be bound to them. Toward evening the sea will swallow them up little by little. Until that time, if any of them by even a single word or gesture indicates he will give up his religion, he'll be saved.
FERREIRA: This scheme smacks of Inoue.
HIRATA: Inoue wishes to postpone the execution to the last possible moment. He is overly solicitous. And it was he who bade me come to inform you of the executions.
FERREIRA: You call that solicitude?
HIRATA: Don't judge him so harshly. To think the worst of all men is my privilege. You must have more faith in people. For example, Inoue. Incidentally, he asked me to give you this.
Hirata unwraps the package and pulls out a painting of Christ.
HIRATA: Do you remember this? It's said to be a painting of Giovanni Niccolo, the Italian artist who came to Japan in the 1580's. Inoue told me to bring this to you.
FERREIRA: He asked you to bring this to me now! How cruel of him!
HIRATA: He asks that at least today you pray for Yuki and the other prisoners.
FERREIRA: Does he tell an apostatized priest to pray?
HIRATA: Don't take it so hard! The bureau has become very sophisticated in its operation. In this new atmosphere there's much that even I must still learn. The officials are now men of sensitivity. Sounds very nice, doesn't it? But I must be on my way. I must go round and make sure that everything is ready for the executions.
Hirata departs. The sound of children singing the same chant as above. Sound of falling stones. The children renew the shout: "Fallen Father Ferreira. Fallen Father Ferreira." Father Ferreira sits, arms embracing his knees, looking up at the sky. The lights dim, indicating passage of time. When they come up again, Ferreira is still in the same position. Kasuke, dressed as a beggar, speaks to him from the shadow.
KASUKE: Father, Father.
FERREIRA: Who is it?
KASUKE: It's me-Kasuke from Korimura.
Ferreira, surprised, closes the sliding doors.
KASUKE: Father, won't you let me in?
FERREIRA: I'm no longer "Father." The children are right: I am the fallen Father.
KASUKE: I know that. If you are the fallen Father, I am the fallen Christian.
FERREIRA: According to the Japanese proverb, those with the same disease console each other. But if you've come here to console me, there's no need for it. You mustn't be found here or you'll be under suspicion. Hurry and leave.
KASUKE: I have a favor to ask you. Won't you please open up?
FERREIRA: Why?
KASUKE: Even though you've apostatized, you still have the power to hear my confession. Please absolve me from my sins. If I stay this way, I'll go straight to hell.
FERREIRA: Go to hell? I wonder. Do you really think you and I will go to hell?
KASUKE: Ah, how I envy Hisaichi and Mokichi. Just about now they're being welcomed to heaven by Santa Maria.
FERREIRA (opening the doors halfway): Did you see them ? Were you on the spot?
KASUKE: Yes,
FERREIRA: Do you think so?
HIRATA: It's very strange, isn't it? I was your enemy until just a year ago, and here I'm trying to console you. I'm something of a strange fellow too.... All right. If you really don't know, I'll tell you. Today, by official order, five of the farmers of Korimura and the daughter of Tomonaga will be executed. Gennosuke has been added to their number.
Ferreira listens silently, arms embracing his legs.
HIRATA: What's the matter? Aren't you surprised, even at this?
FERREIRA: I knew this day would come.
HIRATA: In just a few minutes the Christians, with Yuki and Gennosuke at the fore, will be led around Nagasaki on unsaddled horses. From Banzai-machi to Omura-machi, to Motokonya, passing through Goto-machi to Iwahara River.
FERREIRA: Yuki and Gennosuke? Also, Hisaichi and Mokichi. Will they be burned?
HIRATA: No. Stakes will be planted in the inlet of Iwahara River and they'll be bound to them. Toward evening the sea will swallow them up little by little. Until that time, if any of them by even a single word or gesture indicates he will give up his religion, he'll be saved.
FERREIRA: This scheme smacks of Inoue.
HIRATA: Inoue wishes to postpone the execution to the last possible moment. He is overly solicitous. And it was he who bade me come to inform you of the executions.
FERREIRA: You call that solicitude?
HIRATA: Don't judge him so harshly. To think the worst of all men is my privilege. You must have more faith in people. For example, Inoue. Incidentally, he asked me to give you this.
Hirata unwraps the package and pulls out a painting of Christ.
HIRATA: Do you remember this? It's said to be a painting of Giovanni Niccolo, the Italian artist who came to Japan in the 1580's. Inoue told me to bring this to you.
FERREIRA: He asked you to bring this to me now! How cruel of him!
HIRATA: He asks that at least today you pray for Yuki and the other prisoners.
FERREIRA: Does he tell an apostatized priest to pray?
HIRATA: Don't take it so hard! The bureau has become very sophisticated in its operation. In this new atmosphere there's much that even I must still learn. The officials are now men of sensitivity. Sounds very nice, doesn't it? But I must be on my way. I must go round and make sure that everything is ready for the executions.
Hirata departs. The sound of children singing the same chant as above. Sound of falling stones. The children renew the shout: "Fallen Father Ferreira. Fallen Father Ferreira." Father Ferreira sits, arms embracing his knees, looking up at the sky. The lights dim, indicating passage of time. When they come up again, Ferreira is still in the same position. Kasuke, dressed as a beggar, speaks to him from the shadow.
KASUKE: Father, Father.
FERREIRA: Who is it?
KASUKE: It's me-Kasuke from Korimura.
Ferreira, surprised, closes the sliding doors.
KASUKE: Father, won't you let me in?
FERREIRA: I'm no longer "Father." The children are right: I am the fallen Father.
KASUKE: I know that. If you are the fallen Father, I am the fallen Christian.
FERREIRA: According to the Japanese proverb, those with the same disease console each other. But if you've come here to console me, there's no need for it. You mustn't be found here or you'll be under suspicion. Hurry and leave.
KASUKE: I have a favor to ask you. Won't you please open up?
FERREIRA: Why?
KASUKE: Even though you've apostatized, you still have the power to hear my confession. Please absolve me from my sins. If I stay this way, I'll go straight to hell.
FERREIRA: Go to hell? I wonder. Do you really think you and I will go to hell?
KASUKE: Ah, how I envy Hisaichi and Mokichi. Just about now they're being welcomed to heaven by Santa Maria.
FERREIRA (opening the doors halfway): Did you see them ? Were you on the spot?
KASUKE: Yes,
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