Ahira's Hangar

David Zindell's Neverness, A Requiem for Homo Sapiens and all things Science Fiction and Fantasy
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:04 am

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: There's none so blind...
PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:29 am 
Offline
Master Pilot
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:23 am
Posts: 586
In honor of the dvd release of the original pilot and first season of the original Kung Fu tv series, here's a few moments from the pilot and the 2nd episode.

------------------------------------------------------------

The young Caine, only days or weeks after being let into the Shaolin temple, is sweeping the floors, and meets Master Po for the first time. Po is an old man, and "the milky hue of cataracts or blindness filled his orbs." ( ) Caine sees Po, and startles when he sees the blind eyes.

Caine: You cannot see!

Po: You think I cannot see.

Caine: Of all things, to live in darkness must be the worst.

Po: Fear is the only darkness. (pause) Take your broom, and strike me with it. (Caine, naturally, hesitates.) Do as I tell you. Strike!

[Caine tries a few times to hit the old, blind man, but is thrown to the floor each time. Po laughs in delight.]

Po: Never assume that, because a man has no eyes, he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear.

Caine: I hear the water. I hear the birds.

Po: Do you hear your own heartbeat?

Caine: No.

Po: Do you hear the grasshopper, which is at your feet?

Caine looks down in surprise at the grasshopper: Old man, how is it that you hear these things?

Po: Young man, how is it that you do not?

------------------------------------------------------------

[Many years later]

Po: What? Sad, Grasshopper?

Caine: My saddness is for you.

Po: Is it?

Caine: Never to see the clouds. Never to see the sun on the water. Or the plumage of a bird.

Po: Yet sometimes it is eyes that blind a man.

Caine: How can this be?

Po: Because he can see, he does not look. Is the bird only the color of his plumage?

Caine: None should think so.

Po: To be at one with the universe is to know bird, sun, cloud. How much shall a man lose if he then loses his eyes?

------------------------------------------------------------

Serenity (played by David Carradine's father, John) is a preacher who is blinded by Indians. He's tied with his head immobilized, facing the sun, and his eyes are sewn open. Serenity's helper, a young mute man (played by David's brother, Robert), takes Caine to Serenity. Caine takes him back to town. Later, Serenity is in bed, his eyes bandaged, singing a silly song, getting drunk. He hears Caine approach.

Serenity: Anybody here?

Caine: I am here.

Serenity: Well who are you?

Caine: You know who I am. (pause while Serenity sings some more) Look at me.

Serenity: How can I do that, friend?

Caine: Can you hear my voice?

Serenity: I hear very little else, brother.

Caine: Then look at me.

Serenity: What do you want, Little Brother, thanks for saving me for this? (points at his bandaged, dead eyes)

Caine: You are alive.

Serenity: Well who'd know it, friend.

Caine: Are you in pain?

Serenity: I've known better days.

Caine: Are you in pain?

Serenity: I'm blind!!

Caine: Listen.

[Caine strikes a match, and holds it close enough to Serenity's hand to make Serenity pull his hand back quickly.]

Serenity: You gonna set me on fire, Little Brother?

Caine: With what?

Serenity: The match!

Caine: I have no match.

Serenity: What do you take me for?

Caine: A blind man. (short pause) Yet you felt it.

Serenity: So would you.

Caine: Heard it.

Serenity: Yes.

Caine: Smelled it.

Serenity: Yes.

Caine: Blind. (short pause) Yet you know who stands before you. You know I have a match in my hand. (gets up and walks a few feet away) Reach out and touch me.

Serenity: If my arms were longer.

Caine: You saw me move.

Serenity: With these? (points to his eyes again, and chuckles)

Caine: Yet you know where I am.

Serenity: Your voice comes from where you are. I heard your footsteps.

Caine picks up a kerosene lantern: Tell me what I have in my hands. You know!

Serenity: Smell of kerosene.

Caine: Say it.

Serenity: The lamp.

Caine: Is it lit? You have ears. Do you hear a flame?

Serenity moves his head, listening: It's off.

Caine: Touch it! Confirm it!

Serenity does, then nods his head: It's off.

Caine: Is it day, or night?

Serenity: Day.

Caine: Is the window open or closed. (pause) Tell me. Feel it on your skin.

Serenity: Open.

Caine walks away, putting the lamp down: For a blind man, Large Brother, how much you know. ____________
Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something very much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.<i></i>


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group