Daily Dialogue — March 31, 2015

Ambassador Swanbeck: On behalf of the United States of America, the signing of this treaty will usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity and cooperation between our two great nations.
Omura: On behalf of the Emperor, we are pleased to have successfully concluded this…

Messenger enters with urgent message.

Omura: …negotiation.
Emperor Meiji: [to messenger in Japanese] He is here?
Omura: [in Japanese] Highness, if we could just conclude the matter at hand…
Algren: This is Katsumoto’s sword. He would have wanted you to have it, that the strength of the Samurai be with you always.
Omura: [in Japanese] Enlightened One, we all weep for Katsumoto but…
Algren: He hoped with his last breath that you would remember his ancestors who held this sword and what they died for.
Emperor Meiji: You were with him? At the end?
Algren: Hai.
Omura: Emperor, this man fought against you.
Algren: Your Highness, if you believe me to be your enemy, command me and I will gladly take my life.
Emperor Meiji: I have dreamed of a unified Japan, of a country strong and independent and modern and now we have railroads and cannon, Western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are or where we come from. Ambassador Swanbeck, I have concluded that your treaty is NOT in the best interests of my people.
Ambassador Swanbeck: Sir, if I may…
Emperor Meiji: So sorry, but you may not.
Ambassador Swanbeck: This is an OUTRAGE.
Omura: [in Japanese] Enlightened One, we should discuss this…
Emperor Meiji: [in Japanese] Omura, you have done quite enough.
Omura: [in Japanese] Everything I have done, I have done for my country.
Emperor Meiji: [in Japanese] Then you will not mind when I seize your family’s assets and present them as my gift to the people.
Omura: [in Japanese] You disgrace me.
Emperor Meiji: [in Japanese] If your shame is too unbearable… [holds out Katsumoto’s sword] I offer you this sword.
Emperor Meiji: [to Algren] Tell me how he died.
Algren: I will tell you how he lived.

— The Last Samurai (2003), screenplay by John Logan and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz, story by John Logan

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Foreigner. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.

Trivia: This film was inspired by a project developed by writer / director Vincent Ward. Ward became executive producer on the film, working in development on it for nearly four years. After approaching several directors (among them Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Weir), he interested Edward Zwick. The film went ahead with Zwick as director and was shot in Ward’s native New Zealand.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: “Very powerful scene that has a foreigner showing an Emperor the ‘strength’ of the Samurai.”

If you have a suggestion for this week’s theme, please post in comments.