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Yes?

You have the face of a man I once knew.

So?

I believe he was your father.

What do you know about my father?

I know he is dead.

He was lost at sea.

He died of a knife wound in China.

How do you know this?

I saw it happen.

He wore this.

What do you want?

To pay a debt.

A debt?

Your father gave his life that my father might live.

- Tell me. - My father was set upon by two thieves.

Your father came to his aid.

One of the thieves stabbed your father with his knife...

...and he died.

- And your father? - Lived.

And you think you can pay for my father's life?

My mother waited for this man all her life...

...to care for her, to look after her children.

I watched her wither away...

...trying to be mother and father.

I saw her ground down into the earth...

...under this strain, this terrible poverty.

You think you can make up for this?

What is owed can never be repaid.

Your tread must be light and sure...

...as though your path were upon rice paper.

It is said a Shaolin priest can walk through walls.

Looked for, he cannot be seen. Listened for, he cannot be heard.

Touched, he cannot be felt. This rice paper is the test.

Fragile as the wings of the dragonfly, clinging as the cocoon of the silkworm.

When you can walk its length and leave no trace...

...you will have learned.

Good day.

Do I intrude?

All are welcome here.

- You are the one with the debt. - Yes.

What will you do?

I will pay it.

Matteo won't allow it. He's stubborn and proud.

Is he not also just?

He is.

Then in time, the debt will be paid.

Your beliefs give you patience.

- Papa. - Yes, Kwai Chang?

You're frightened, aren't you, son?

Because of the death of that man?

We don't know very much about him.

We don't know why he did it.

To come to the aid of another human being at the risk of your own life...

It's a very hard thing to understand.

All we know is that he did it.

We owe him something...

...that can never be repaid.

One day, I'll have to visit his country...

...see if he had a family.

Perhaps we can do something for them.

Whatever it is...

...it can never be enough.

Your work is done?

- Yes. - So early?

- The work goes on. I could not. - Why not?

I do not have the strength that you have, sister.

If we do not work, we do not survive.

I question the purpose of survival when there is nothing to survive for.

Jaibo, we have our lives, we have each other.

Matteo and I will have a son who needs to grow.

Isela, if things don't change, he'll starve before he is born. We'll starve.

We work the whole year and give it away to Sanjero.

We have nothing for ourselves.

This has been a bad year.

But next year, it will be better. I know it. I feel it.

- I don't feel it, Isela. - Listen to me.

The tribute has got to be paid. You cannot defy Sanjero.

Please.

Please, little brother, keep a cover on your mouth.

All this kind of talk means is trouble.

Thank you, Clemente.

Twenty-five from Clemente.

How much from Tamasio Coronel?

- Thirty. He should pay more. - Where would he find it?

You can feel his anger.

Let him be angry.

What if it's more than that?

- What can he do? - Who can say?

A 19-year-old boy is going to give trouble...

...to Sanjero and his gunmen?

He's 20, Matteo.

And he has visions of justice and...

You are still here?

I have a debt to pay.

- You insist on paying it? - Yes.

Why?

I am bound.

I will accept the debt for my husband.

- I do not- - Do you know where my husband is now?

He's in the church with Padre Miguel, collecting money from people...

...who have no money.

We pay to be protected from thieves who would take from us.

This year, the cost has been more than we can bear.

What we produce to sell has not been enough.

When we pay the tribute...

...we will have nothing.

I will help in whatever way I can.

How much do you carry?

Is it in gold?

I have no money.

- How do you expect to pay the debt? - With work.

You are a fool!

You come here to pay a debt and you have nothing to pay it with?

Is work no value?

Work.

We all work.

It is all we have.

Only money has value.

Go away.

I tell you, he will take nothing from you.

Sit there forever, if you like.

And you think you can pay for my father's life?

A lady of peace and serenity.

The man who carved it, felt that and carved it into the bone.

It belonged to the man who saved my father's life.

And may perhaps one day permit you to pay the debt your father owed to this man.

How is that possible when both he and my father are dead?

But your father had a son who lives.

And this man, too, might have a son, or perhaps a grandson.

As a son inherits his father's goods...

...so he inherits his debts.

And may pay it in turn to his son?

If such a one exists...

...and accepts the payment.

This may be the token which identifies him.

- How? - It is the talisman...

...by which you will recognize each other.

Sanjero. Sanjero!

Sanjero!

Sanjero. Sanjero's coming.

Sanjero's coming.

Sanjero and his men.

We didn't expect you.

The money is still being collected.

Well, we were on a holiday, a few of us, away from the women and children.

You know how it is. So we were in the neighborhood.

You must give us some more time.

We should be ready a week from now.

You should be ready?

- You will be ready. No? - You should get nothing!

I thought I heard a sheep squeak, Regas.

Tell me I'm wrong.

I have fear, Regas.

Take up the challenge.

I don't wanna die.

Are we without honor, Regas?

- Please. - Regas, listen to the padre.

He is only a boy.

Treat him like one.

Regas, if I ever have children, you will raise them.

Any time.

Regas! Enough.

He beat you fair. The next time, you will be more careful, huh?

Pick yourselves up.

Chinoco...

...I salute you.

We will be back for the collection.

It's not only Matteo who is out of temper.

It's not only Jaibo who's greatly disturbed. Everybody around is troubled.

What money we have is short this year.

Yet Sanjero demands that we pay him the full tribute.

This Sanjero, he is an official?

No. He is our protector.

The hills are plenty with bandits. Sanjero has guarded us well.

Then you owe him much.

We owe him.

Yet maybe we won't be able to pay all we owe.

What will he do?

I don't know.

He kills for us to protect. He could as easily kill us...

...if he believes we defy him.

He cannot allow any one of us to defy him...

...because others would follow.

Do you still need him to protect you?

No one really knows.

Then perhaps it is time to find out.

There are still bandits in the hills.

Well...

...can you not learn to take care of yourselves?

After all, these protectors, they are only men...

...like you.

Jaibo.

- Jai- - Let him be.

You saw what they did to him. Don't you care?

It could be worse.

How?

He could be dead.

Jaibo is gone.

- Gone? - He's looking for Sanjero.

How do you know this?

I know it.

The boy has a growing anger. I have seen it.

It may be true.

Hey, Chinoco, you don't run, huh?

He's all right!

Say what you come for.

To ask for mercy.

A warrior like you?

A warrior comes with weapons.

It is not you who needs the mercy, no?

It's the boy.

Jaibo.

The little sheep.

The one who was beaten by your men.

He was not beaten, he was disciplined.

It was my men who were beaten by you.

Say what he needs the mercy for.

He may try to come here.

If the cold air does not kill him first.

If he comes...

...do not kill him.

I will consider it...

...for I am a man of honor, no?

You know, Chinoco...

...when I came here three years ago...

...that village lived in fear.

Bandits came down from the hills.

And they robbed from them, they killed them, abused their women.

This no longer happens.

They have nothing to be afraid of.

Only you.

Only if they break their word with me.

If they cannot pay?

They will pay.

Can you not...

...take less?

You know how much a gun costs?

A gun?

You have lost a gun?

A coincidence, no?

You have lost a sheep, and I have lost a gun.

Now, what shall I do with mercy if they have found each other?

You go now.

It is hard to find your way down.

Be careful you don't break your neck, no?

No!

- No! - Carry him indoors.

Where did you find him?

On the beach.

Near Sanjero's camp.

He had a gun.

He was going to kill Sanjero.

Where can he find a gun?

I do not know.

- Did you see him with a gun? - No.

I saw it beside him on the ground.

It was planted by Sanjero.

I do not think so.

Well, even if it isn't so...

...did he have a chance against him?

He was murdered.

Where are the sheep?

In here.

I must have lost track of time.

I thought today was Sunday, Regas.

They are performing a service for the boy.

Which boy?

You know.

Do you think I killed him, Chinoco?

I do not know.

Tell me what you think.

He is dead.

You were standing over him with a gun.

I am standing over you with a gun.

But you are alive.

You have not pulled the trigger.

You are learning a lot about guns, Chinoco.

But still know nothing about sheep.

He came to kill you.

And that is why he is dead, Chinoco, and you are alive.

Have you no feeling?

- For what? - The dead.

I have feelings.

I have feelings...

...for my men who are no longer breathing.

Who have died for your village.

What do you want?

You know.

The collection isn't ready.

But my men are. And they are tired of waiting for their money.

Surely you can see we had a duty to perform.

Yes. The little sheep.

How long does it take to put a lamb into the ground?

To dig a hole and to fill it up again with dirt.

Tell me, how long does it take?

You'll get your money.

- When? - In...

...two days. That I can promise you.

No more.

No more!

This country is good for grazing.

It grows fine sheep.

Not men, but fine sheep.

Tell me about my father.

I have told you.

He died...

...so that your father might live?

Yes.

And left you with a debt...

...that must be repaid.

Which is why I am here.

From the fathers to the sons...

...a debt of honor.

I will accept payment.

How?

Teach me how to kill.

Teach me how to kill.

Who do you want to kill?

- You know. - Sanjero?

Yes.

He will not fight you.

He will.

How can you know?

I know.

On the afternoon of the second day from today...

...the money will be ready for him.

He will come to collect payment.

I will stand between him and the money.

His men will shoot you down where you stand.

He will know it is between him and me.

Then he will kill you.

Not if you help me.

I cannot teach you how to kill.

Then you come in here...

...you talk about repaying for my father's life.

Words?

Teach me.

Think what you ask.

I can't think of nothing else.

We spoke of the debt to the man who saved my father's life.

Yes, grasshopper.

Must I indeed pay this debt?

Did your father acknowledge it?

Yes, master.

And do you acknowledge it?

Yes, master.

Then if circumstances permit you to seek out the man who can receive payment...

...or if he seeks you out, you must pay.

How can payment be made for the loss of a life?

He must tell you.

And if he asks too much?

What is too much?

This man gave everything he had, unasked.

In turn, his heir may demand from you anything he wishes...

...short of your own life.

And I must pay it?

Are you...

...or will you be a man of honor?

Well?

This is what you wish in payment?

Yes.

You owe me.

Pay my way...

...or you can keep that debt...

...forever in your soul.

I will pay the debt.

- Let us try it again. - Yes.

You are strong.

- You thought I was weak? - No. Not weak.

- I can't feel this arm. - You will be able to move it in a moment.

I thought I knew my own strength.

You have two strengths:

The strength of the body and the strength of the spirit.

The strength of the spirit?

Body is the arrow, spirit is the bow.

You must learn to use the strength of the spirit.

Why?

The strength of your own body is not enough to defeat Sanjero.

You must know his strength.

Then you can use his strength against him.

That's the way you used my own strength against myself.

There are other means...

...and little time to learn them.

Come.

Let's go, then.

Chinoco, I am troubled.

Maybe you will help me.

Why would you wish to be the cause of a sheep's death?

I would not.

You help him. You teach him to fight, no?

I owe him a debt.

A debt. That I can understand.

But you will not ask me to show him mercy again, no?

A man must do what he has to.

But you do not have to fight him.

What would you have me do with this sheep?

He is not a sheep.

In your own country, Chinoco, what are you?

A farmer? A judge?

A soldier?

A priest.

No.

Yes.

I am confused, Regas.

Chinoco is a priest that would send a man out to die.

Yet will he sacrifice himself for the sheep?

You pay the debt of his father's life with the life of his son?

- It is what he wishes. - Isela. Go home!

Go to him. Teach him.

Then I will owe you. And my son will owe you.

Hurt, you can do little.

Wounded, you are helpless.

Look not only at his weapon, but his eyes.

The eyes give away the thoughts.

And the thoughts direct the weapon.

Sheep, do you have the money ready?

- Do you wish to hand me the money? - No.

Money is of no use to a dead man.

No, I believe this sheep was talking to me.

Is this what you had in mind, sheep?

Why? Why will you kill him?

He's a murderer.

Is that what you wish to be now, a murderer?

- I do not want to be a sheep. - What, then? A wolf?

Where do you stop? With him?

With him?

With me?

You have learned something worth more than what you have asked.

You've discovered your own strength.

You are free.

Is this not enough?

Not much to feed a band of hungry men, no?

You have your lives.

Chinoco, you spoke of men.

Brave men who fought for a living.

What do you call them?

Samurai.

But they still don't do the same thing?

Mostly they are not needed.

What happened to them?

They became workers, blacksmiths...

- ... farmers. - Sheep.

Still men.

You know, Regas, something for you to think about.

So...

...your debt is well-paid.

For Matteo?

For his son.

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