The Last Samurai
An alternate ending
The Last Samurai is a historical fiction movie based on the time period just before the Japanese industrialization in the 1870’s. The story revolves around two characters. Katsumoro is the leader of the Samurai that are rebelling against the Japanese emperor who wants to modernize Japan. He is a follower of the Samurai code Bushido, which emphasizes awareness, discipline and service. Nathan Algren is an American soldier that has been part of a unit hired to train the Japanese army to modern standards. Over the course of the movie, Nathan learns the way of the Samurai and eventually joins Katsumoro in the battle against the army led by Nathan’s superior officers. The following scene introduces an alternate ending to the movie.
The wind swayed the cherry blossom trees and the monks in the corner of the temple chanted the guttural hymns. Algren walked into the temple and saw Katsumoro standing in the middle of blossoming cherry trees. The temple courtyard was open and decorated with lanterns. There for his morning meditation, Katsumoro wore swords around his waist, the mark of a Samurai, and a blue ceremonial kimono. “A perfect blossom is a rare thing,” he said to Algren. Algren had learned that while deadly accurate with the sword, the Japanese could be deliberately ambiguous with their words.
Algren ignored Katsumoro and asked, “Who sent those men to kill you?” Instead of his army uniform, Algren had on a dark navy kendogi, a Japanese outfit with long baggy sleeves and wide pleated pants tied around the waist.
“The tiger’s eyes are like my own,” said Katsumoro contemplatively. His eyes shone bright. The open courtyards and the dim light from the lanterns at the temple calmed him and gave him a sense of purpose.
“Was it the emperor? Was it Omura?” Algren asked still focused on the task at hand. Nathan Algren was an American soldier and Katsumoro’s prisoner. The two had spent time together and had started to become friends. Then last night they fought together. The emperor’s advisers, led by Omura, had sent assassins to kill Katsumoro and quell his rebellion against the emperor. They were the same advisers that had hired Algren to train the imperial army of Japan.
Unbeknownst to Algren, Katsumoro had held captive a junior officer from Algren’s army. “Bring Walter here,” Katsumoro ordered Ujio, his second in command. Ujio was a force of nature, strong and silent, and skilled at handling the katana, the sword of the Samurai. He was Katsumoro’s enforcer. Ujio dragged Walter in. The peace permeating in the temple was shattered.
“You traitor!” Walter shouted at Algren. His eyes couldn’t believe it. Algren was wearing the clothes of the enemy. Walter was still in his uniform, bloodstained coat, torn trousers, and mud-caked boots. Not open to change the same way as Algren was, he remained a prisoner.
“Calm down son.” Nathan ordered Walter quickly with a sharp, strong voice, the sign of a seasoned commander.
“I will kill you, you bastard,” said Walter, who was now more angry with Algren than with his captors. In a fit of rage he tried to get free and charge at Algren. Ujio tugged on the rope tied around Walter’s hands and took him to the ground. Ujio forced Walter back to his holding cell.
That night Walter escaped, driven by anger . However, what compelled him was not his own freedom; it was Algren’s betrayal. He made his way to Algren’s room, snuck in and stabbed him in the eye with nothing other his chopsticks. Having reached his brain, the chopsticks proved deadly.
