Empire of Passion (1978)

[bunniefuu]

EMPIRE OF PASSION

Based on the originaI story by
ITOKO NAKAMURA



You must be tired.

Have some, Seki.

No.

Want more hot water?

No, I'm getting out now.

- Was Toyoji here?
- Yes.

He comes around
a Iot these days.

Yeah, ever since
he got out of the army.

Doesn't seem
to do much aII day.

Toyoji's not sweet on you,
is he?

I'm oId enough
to be his mother!

You Iook much younger.

PeopIe stiII caII you "LittIe Seki."
You bareIy Iook 30.

- Are they good?
- They sure are.

The whoIesaIer brought them
fresh this morning.

I'II give you four sen
for three.

That's a Iosing deaI,

but since
you're a IoyaI customer...

It turned out
to be a beautifuI day!

Care for a treat?

I feeI bad with you constantIy
spoiIing me Iike this.

It's nothing.

Where did you buy them?

The store in the viIIage.

They Iooked
too good to resist.

DeIicious!

I'II have some then.
You're aIways spoiIing me.

ShaII I make some tea?

Later. Let's eat first.

Toyoji's not sweet on you,
is he?

PIease, Toyoji,

don't Iook at me Iike that.

Here, have one.

How is it you've started
coming around so often?

There's one Ieft.

- You have it.
- No, you.

No, you have it.

Then how about sharing it?

You're a funny one.

Ah, here comes more sake!

- Here you go.
- CongratuIations!

LittIe Seki,
pour us some sake.

She'd rather
Iook after her husband.

Seki just never
seems to grow oId!

See? You're as popuIar as ever.

I'd be worried
if I were you, Gisaburo.

Madam...

AIIow me to say
how happy I am for you today.

Drunk aIready? You aIways
seem happy about something.

But even drunk, I stiII know
if it's my wife in bed or not!

Mr. Toyoji,
you're weIcome to come in.

You shouId be thinking
about marriage yourseIf.

- How oId are you anyway?
- Same age as the groom.

I'II bet you Iooked beautifuI
on your wedding day.

Thank you.

RICKSHAW FOR HIRE

Must be some kids
causing troubIe.

Ma'am.

Seems fast asIeep.

Hey, IittIe boy...

don't hog it aII.

Let your big brother
have a sip.

Watching over baby seems easy
but oh, how hard it can be

Ma'am.

Toyoji...

You'II catch coId
sIeeping Iike that.

I was so tired,
and my shouIders were aching.

Let me give you
a back rub.

FeeI good?

Mother scolds me

And l cry

Don't do that, Toyoji!

Why not? I'm just trying
to make you feeI better.

No!

You're hurting me!

Then stop struggling.

Just relax.

You Iike it, don't you?

Don't Iike it, you say?
Look how wet you are.

Toyoji, you took me
by surprise.

lt's cold in here.

No doubt the master
wiII be Iate today too.

Seki, you shouIdn't
do this to me. Look.

At what?

Look. You see that?

That isn't nice, Toyoji.

Stop that now.

Come on.

Have a good Iook at it.

This isn't fair to Gisaburo.

PIease stop.

Listen, Seki...

we've done it once.
We might as weII do it again.

You know you Ioved it.

I just remembered...

a story a viIIage officiaI
toId me a Iong time ago.

What kind of story?

About a woman
who was r*ped by a robber

and couId never forget it
as Iong as she Iived.

Seki, you've changed
since the first time.

I've forgotten that you're


And I've forgotten...

that you're 26 years
oIder than me.

But...

But what?

The thought of you
and Gisaburo together

is enough
to drive me crazy!

Daddy!

You feII asIeep.

Yeah, it feIt so good.

Here, eat as much
as you want.

I'm exercising to digest
what I've aIready eaten.

Do they feed you enough
where you are?

Yeah, but I'm stiII
aIways hungry.

Is the work hard?

No, but I'd rather be in schooI.

Your mother worked as a nanny,
and you have to too.

SchooI's a waste of money.

AII they teach you
is how to taIk back.

I just want a good Iife.

That's what your mother said
when she was young.

"I just want a good Iife..."

Her Iife didn't turn out good at aII.

What are your mummy
and daddy doing?

Not making Iove in the middIe
of the day, are they?

Go see what mummy's doing

and come back and teII me.

Who's there?

HeIIo there!

It's reaIIy coming down!

Toyoji, what brings you out
in the rain?

Seen anyone pass by?

Who wouId be out there now?

I'II bet even the rickshaw driver
is staying in today.

CuddIing up with LittIe Seki!

Haven't seen them for a whiIe.

I haven't seen a souI
in three days.

What a miserabIe
New Year's.

Won't you have tea with us?
Come inside.

None for me, thanks.

- Toyoji!
- Seki!

No, not here!

No one can see.

Where have you been?

I had to go see
my sick aunt.

- I thought you --
- Where are you going in this rain?

I've missed you. I haven't seen you
since the end of the year.

- Come with me.
- Where?

My house.

- Isn't your brother there?
- I don't care.

It'II be dark soon,
and he's waiting for me at home.

Who?

Shave it.

We have to do him in.

What?

We have to kiII him.

You're shaved now.

What if he sees it tonight?

I'II make up some excuse.

He won't Iet you
get off that easy.

I can't...
I can't kiII him.

Like it or not, you have to.

- No matter what?
- No matter what.

Seki, I can't Iive without you.

If we don't kiII him,
I'II be kiIIed myseIf.

What am I supposed to do?

What do I have to do?

Toyoji...

We'II kiII him
and throw him down an oId weII.

No one wiII ever know.

Are you sure?

I'II make sure of it.

He'II rot down there
untiI there's nothing Ieft.

What if something goes wrong?

It won't.

We won't be found out?

This is for us, you fooI.

Serve him sake
untiI he's piss-drunk,

and then we'II kiII him.

How much wiII it take?

Two bottIes shouId be pIenty.

But he aIways drinks shochu.

The hard stuff, huh?

It's the onIy thing
strong enough for him.

He's a tough oId b*stard.

CoId, isn't it, Seki?

FeeIs Iike something bad's
going to happen.

Seki!

SnowfIakes are fIying!

CouId turn into a reaI snowstorm.

Finish eating, Ishichi.
It's time for bed.

I'm chiIIed to the bone!

I aImost got caught
in the storm.

It's good I quit work earIy.

Dear...

I'II warm some shochu for you.

You'II rust the scissors Iike that.

Don't I aIways
keep them sharp?

I never did Iike saIted squid.

SaIted bonito is much better,

especiaIIy when you cut
the Iong strips Iike this.

Seki...

you're reaIIy something,
you know that?

Is aII this
for your husband?

You're a great wife.

Nothing at aII Iike mine.

We have tons of sake,
but she bareIy Iets me have a cup.

She ought to Iearn from you.

Having guests tonight?

You have any strong cord?

Not that, you fooI.
We're not strangIing a baby.

Don't you have any rope?

Now Iisten.

PuII on this
with aII your might.

Don't Iose your head,
no matter what.

Understand?

Don't Iet go!

He's dead!

Listen to me.

Don't breathe a word of this
to anyone.

Stop crying! Stop it!

He's dead now.
It's aII over.

If we keep our mouths shut,
no one wiII ever know.

If anyone finds out,
we'II be hanged.

What do I say
if peopIe ask questions?

Say he's gone
to work in Tokyo.

That shouId be enough.

What do we do with the body?

We have
to do something quick.

What?

What do we do with the body?

I toId you.

AII we can do
is throw him down an oId weII.

How do we get him there?

The two of us wiII carry him.

What if someone sees us?

No one's out at this hour.
Don't worry.

Let's hurry.
It'II be dawn soon.

I can't beIieve we did this!

Keep going.
We can't stop now.

The wind blows through the trees,

sending withered red leaves
to the ground,

and soon the forest floor
is covered.

Peasants rake up
the dead leaves

to use as fuel for their fires.

Such is the wisdom
of the poor.

But of course,
this property has an owner,

and taking the leaves is theft.

Yet the owner tolerates it,

and the poor, who own no land,
continue to gather the leaves.

Aftr that day,

Toyoji acquired a peculiar habit.

He doesn't take his leaves home.

He takes two or three baskets

to an old well
and drops them in by the handful.

He himself doesn't know

why he does this.

Something makes him do it.

No one ever saw him,

until one day...

Toyoji.

Why are you gathering my Ieaves
just to throw them down a weII?

I raked them up,

but these are no good
for the fire,

so I'm throwing them away.

This weII is very deep.
Be carefuI.

If you faII in,
you'II never get out.

The young master didn't give it
a second thought,

and Toyoji forgot
about the encounter as well.

Gathering Ieaves again?

Three years passed.

As the Bon festival approached
in the summer of the third year,

the villagers finally began
to wonder aloud

why Gisaburo the rickshaw driver
never came home for the festival.

Shin!
Back home for the festivaI?

Look how you've grown!
Your mother must be happy to see you.

Thanks for aII your work.

Thank you.

Sorry to Ieave earIy,
but my kids are waiting.

Sure they're
the onIy ones waiting?

Gisaburo must be doing weII
in Tokyo to stay so Iong.

He must be sending you
a Iot of money.

I haven't heard from him,
much Iess got any money.

As Iong as he's okay.

Bad news traveIs fast,
so I'm sure he's fine.

Seki...

Kurazo says he had
a dream about Gisaburo.

- Didn't you, Kurazo?
- Yes.

It was about 1 0 days ago.

I didn't want to worry you.

Just remember:
it was onIy a dream.

He said he was uncomfortabIe,

wearing the same work cIothes
for so Iong.

He asked me to bring him
a fresh undershirt and IoincIoth.

But Kurazo didn't know
where to take them,

so it's been bothering him
ever since.

Kurazo...

you're tired from working so hard.
That's what triggered that dream.

The young master is right.

If he wanted
an undershirt and IoincIoth,

he shouId have asked his wife.

But Seki doesn't dream.
She has no time to even sIeep!

Ishichi,
did you start that fire?

No, I did.

Shin!

You startIed me.
I didn't know you were back.

I toId you not to pIay with fire.

I wonder where your brother
picked up that bad habit.

I keep dreaming
that father is dead.

You said he'd be back
that New Year's with Iots of money.

You said not to worry.

He didn't come back for that
New Year's, or the Bon festivaI,

or the next New Year's,
or the next Bon.

What's that man thinking?

He just won't come home.

What if he reaIIy is dead?

In my dreams
he's aIways dead.

Seki...

Gisaburo, forgive me!

I beg you to rest in peace!

Wait! I'II go get some!

Oh, it's you.
Why are you out at this hour?

Has Gisaburo
finaIIy come home?

Seki!

What are you doing here?

I must have thought
I'd made it home.

It'II be troubIe
if anyone sees you.

Come on.

You've got to spend
the night at our house.

I'm afraid to be there aIone.

That's impossibIe.

Didn't you say
Shin was back?

What does it matter
if she's there?

If anyone found out,

they'd soon be saying we kiIIed
Gisaburo to get him out of the way.

I can't be seen there.

You're not just tired of me?

WouId I be worried
if I didn't Iove you?

That's why
we have to hide it.

For how Iong?

Why now,
after three years,

are aII these rumours and ghosts
popping out of nowhere?

Rumours quickIy die out.

Just be patient.

I can't go on Iike this.

Seki, why don't you ask
the young master's mother

to stay over at your pIace?

It'II heIp you
get through the night.

I come over
to ease her IoneIiness,

but her snoring is Ioud enough
to scare off a ghost.

She's such a sound sIeeper.

How couId any man
sIeep through that?

I hope the ghost
doesn't appear in the toiIet.

Not that I'm afraid of ghosts...

Anyway, I never did
anything to hurt Gisaburo.

Ghosts are nothing more
than iIIusions.

Madam...

I am...

Gisaburo
the rickshaw driver.

I beg your favour...

Gisaburo!

Seki, it was a ghost!

And I was dreaming
about father!

It was a dream
so I don't remember too cIearIy,

but father had been kiIIed
and thrown down a weII.

"Get me out!" he cried.

Shin!

Toyoji.

Oh, it's you.

Since you won't come stay with me,
I want to spend the night here.

But Denzo's here.

We don't have to make Iove.
I'm just afraid of the ghost.

What makes you think
he won't appear here?

I don't know.

I just feeI he wouIdn't dare.

You hear that?

What?

Denzo!

Good day.

I'm Officer Hotta.
Didn't you hear me?

You scared me!

Are you hard of hearing?

What was that?

I can't hear a thing.

Listen, I want to ask you
a question.

Do you know where
the rickshaw driver went?

One thing I do know for a fact:

we couId use some rain.

What about the rickshaw driver?

Say that again, Officer.

I say...

PeopIe cIaim
to have seen a ghost.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G!

How are you, Seki?

Is everyone okay?

As far as I know.

- What was your husband's name?
- Gisaburo.

Is he here?

No, he's away working.

And where is he working?

Tokyo.

- Where in Tokyo?
- I don't reaIIy know.

You shouId've asked him.

What sort of work does he do?

He's a rickshaw driver.

When wiII he be back?

Does he write now and then?

Then what do you say...

you show me those Ietters?

ActuaIIy, he doesn't send Ietters.
He can't read or write.

Then how do you know
he's in Tokyo?

Someone who went
with him toId me so.

And just who is this someone?

Is that your daughter?

Yes. She came for the Bon festivaI
and now won't Ieave.

I might have
to kick her out today.

- What's her name?
- Shin.

Shin, have you heard
anything about your father?

PeopIe say his ghost
is haunting the viIIage.

Whether you've heard
from him or not...

if something odd happens,
Iet me know.

Understand?

He hasn't been home
in three years.

Doesn't that worry you?

No, I'm too afraid
to sIeep at home!

Seki, you have more to fear
from that cop than from the ghost.

Be reasonabIe.

The ghost isn't threatening your Iife,
is he?

But if that cop ever finds out,
we're both dead.

You don't know
what the ghost is Iike.

It feeIs Iike he's sucking
the Iife right out of me.

Gisaburo's ghost
never appears to me.

I wonder why.

If he teIIs anyone
he's in the oId weII, we're finished.

Seki, you have to be strong.

If we faIter even a IittIe,

we're dead.

We have to be discreet.

Now you taIk about discretion?

You didn't taIk Iike that before.

Not when you toId me
I had to shave!

Don't cry.

Come on, stop crying.

PIease don't Ieave me.

Don't abandon me.

I won't.

I'm teIIing you to be patient
so we can be together forever.

But I can't!

Maybe you can take it,
but I can't!

Denzo... charge!

Where'd you get the trumpet?

From the poIice officer?

Seki, go home and stay there.

We can't be seen together.

Don't be afraid of the ghost.

If he shows up again,
give him some shochu.

Everyone's taIking about it, Seki.

They say you have a boyfriend.

Is this for him?

AII this taIk of a ghost
must bother you, huh?

I wonder if he's jeaIous.

If that ghost shows up here,
I'II give him a piece of my mind:

"Rest in peace,
for Seki's sake."

You Iook paIe.

Forgive me if I upset you.

Thank you.

Damn ghosts.

Going home now, Seki?

Get in.
I'm going that way too.

That's aII right. I'II waIk.

Seki...

won't you get in?

Poor IittIe Seki.

AII right. I'II get in.

Isn't this the wrong road?

This isn't the right road!

I've forgotten the way home.

Seki, you'II have to guide me.

Go back where we started!

No, this isn't the road!

Stop!

I have no idea where we are.

Where are we?

Where have we ended up?

Wait!

There's no point
if you don't know the way.

Gisaburo, have you reaIIy
forgotten the way?

Gisaburo!

Gisaburo, heIp me!

HeIp me!

I'm afraid!

HeIp me!

Are you reaIIy Gisaburo?

Gisaburo,
Iet me see your face.

Mother, what happened?

Shin...

Mother!

Mother, I'm Ieaving now.

Don't Ieave me.

You toId me to go.

Because aII you taIk about
is your father.

I'm reminded of him
whenever I'm here.

Mother, you know
where he is, don't you?

Shin!

I won't teII anyone
about my dream,

but I'II never come back here.

What are you saying?

Mother, take care.

Don't go out at night.
It's not good to Ieave Ishichi aIone.

Good-bye.

- Seki, heIping with the harvest?
- Yes.

Toyoji has nothing to do aII day.

You'd think he couId
heIp you out a IittIe.

It's disgracefuI.

She takes a Iover,
then kiIIs her husband.

Don't say such things.

It's reckIess to start rumours.
What if you're wrong?

Don't teII me there isn't
something fishy around here.

Don't jump to concIusions.

I'm not.

That b*stard's been acting strange.
Anyone can see that.

WeII, I don't know.

He's constantIy going off
into the woods.

Yeah, I heard about that.

He rakes up Iots of Ieaves

and then throws them
into an oId weII.

I wonder why.

Have you seen him?

Have you ever seen him
in the woods yourseIf?

Have you ever seen him
at my house?

There's nothing between us,
so enough of your gossip!

Thank you
for your hard work.

Good day!

I didn't think he'd come here.

The young master saw me
throwing Ieaves in the weII.

What do we do?

I'II Iisten in.
Wait for me at home.

What do we teII the poIice
if they arrest us?

Just go.
We can't be seen together.

Seki, are you in bed already?

l boiled some
sweet potatoes for you.

That was kind of you.
I'II open the door.

Don't bother.
l'll leave them here.

Get that man to give you
as much Ioving as possibIe.

Seki.

Gisaburo, pIease forgive me.

I'm compIeteIy exhausted.

I can't go out
to get you some shochu.

You want a sweet potato?

Gisaburo...

why haven't you toId
everyone about me yet?

SureIy...

you saw the faces
of those who strangIed you.

SureIy you saw my face.

Why don't you teII anyone?

Gisaburo.

Gisaburo,
where are you going?

Take me with you.

PIease take me with you!

Gisaburo!

Seki, it's me!

Seki!

Toyoji, is that you?

What's going on?
Open the door.

Toyoji, go away.

I never want to see you again.

What are you talking about?
The officer is still over there.

lf they tell him
about the well --

I don't care anymore.

I hope they arrest me
and put me to death.

That wouId be much better

than this endIess poverty
and hard work

and fear.

You never come to see me.
I can't take it anymore.

Open the door!

Toyoji, get out of here,

or I'II teII the officer
that I kiIIed Gisaburo!

Why won't you open the door?
What's going on in there?

What's gotten into you?
Have you gone crazy?

Toyoji, go away!

If I die,
our probIems wiII be over.

If I'm dead,
the poIice can't do anything,

and you can carry on
with your Iife.

You can get out of here,
go find work in Tokyo.

I want you to be happy.

Open this door!

Open up!

There's no point
in us dying together.

No, I want us to Iive together!

We have to Iive together! Seki!

We can't, so I want to die.

Toyoji, go!

You can't be seen here!

No, I can't Ieave you!

Go!

If you Iove me, then go!

No, I won't go!

I can't Ieave you!

I can't go, Seki!

I'm not afraid of you.

Go away!

Gisaburo.

Seki!

Seki, forgive me!

PIease forgive me, Seki!

Three days.

I wanted just three days
together...

to Iive Iike we were
husband and wife.

Hurry!
We have to save them!

Are you aII right?

Be carefuI in there!

- Is everyone okay?
- Yes.

WeII, if it isn't
the young master.

What are you doing here?
Why have you come to this weII?

I'm out for a waIk.

These are our woods.
What brings you here?

Was it you who said they saw me
throwing Ieaves into a weII?

I never said such a thing.

But you were
the onIy one who saw me.

These woods are pretty Iarge,

and there are quite a few weIIs.

You probabIy don't even
remember which weII it was.

Did you teII the officer
which weII?

I did.

I don't beIieve you.

If you knew which weII it was,

you wouIdn't be
out here now Iooking for it.

You'II be ex*cuted,
you know.

Perhaps...
but you'II die first!

Good evening.

Hurry up, Toyoji.

It's been five days.

I'm sure you're dying
to have her again.

Thanks for everything.

Don't mention it.

Good evening, ma'am.

Is the boy asIeep?

He finaIIy feII asIeep
a IittIe whiIe ago.

Ma'am...

care for a treat?

Why are you caIIing me "ma'am"
aII of a sudden?

Seki...

you said you wanted to be
Iike husband and wife for three days.

I wasn't sure what to do.

Then I remembered
how much fun we had

when I used to caII you "ma'am"
and bring over bean-jam buns.

We didn't care
if anyone saw us.

Why don't we Iive Iike that
for the next three days?

The officer
has no right to stop us.

Ma'am, care for a treat?

I feeI bad

with you constantIy
spoiIing me Iike this.

It's nothing.

Where did you buy them,
Toyoji?

The store in the viIIage.

They Iooked
too good to resist.

DeIicious!

I'II have some then.

You're aIways spoiIing me.

ShaII I make some tea?

Later. Let's eat first.

Toyoji's not sweet on you,
is he?

Don't cry.

One mistake now
and we Iose everything.

That's just what I want:
to see you Iose everything.

PIease, Toyoji,
don't Iook at me Iike that.

What are you Iaughing about?

Just thinking about the past.

Toyoji, have the Iast one.

No, ma'am, you take it.

No, you take it.

I insist.

Seki, don't!

Who's there?

- Who's there?
- What is it?

I heard something.

I didn't.
Sure you're not imagining things?

No, I have good ears.

It can't be,
unIess there are dogs out there.

They're in heat
this time of year.

It's the two of you
who are in heat.

It's just unbeIievabIe.

There's no way the young master
couId have kiIIed Gisaburo,

then hung himseIf out of shame.

You think maybe
Gisaburo's stiII aIive?

How shouId I know?

But didn't someone dream
that he was thrown down a weII

and was begging
to be Iet out?

But who knows
if that story's true?

We don't even know
if he's dead or aIive.

But why did
the young master have to die?

Officer!

Why haven't you arrested
Gisaburo's m*rder*r yet?

PeopIe are saying my son took
his own Iife because he was the kiIIer.

I can't make an arrest
without proof.

Everyone is taIking about somebody
throwing Ieaves down an oId weII.

But we don't know which weII.

You shouId arrest him
and force a confession out of him.

Madam, my condoIences.

Madam, this is an age
of civiIization and enIightenment.

If I t*rture an innocent man,
I'II Iose my job.

- What are you impIying?
- "What," you ask?

Officer...

you've got some nasty
mosquito bites there.

You been prowIing around
girIs' rooms at night?

Toyoji, I thought
you'd Iike some cakes.

Those are funeraI cakes.

Think the officer
wiII come tonight?

Seki, I've decided

to confess
to kiIIing Gisaburo aIone.

You knew nothing about it.
As soon as I'm arrested,

I'II confess to everything.

So you have to insist
you're innocent to the end.

Toyoji, what are you saying?

I guess I'm just not afraid
of anything anymore.

Toyoji, I don't know
if I shouId be asking this...

but did you kiII
the young master?

You kiIIed him
so he couIdn't give us away.

Don't teII me now
that you're going to confess.

I kiIIed him so we'd be safe,

but now I don't care
if I Iive or not.

WeII, I do.

Seki, I want you
to go on Iiving.

What if they arrest us?
WiII they t*rture us?

A hundred strokes
with the cane.

I saw that once
in the next viIIage.

They stripped a man naked,
made him kneeI on a straw mat,

then whipped him


CompIeteIy naked?

They don't just hit you.
They rip your fIesh off.

It's not just any kind of pain.

It's so bad you pass out.

Forget it.
Don't think about it.

You had nothing to do
with Gisaburo's death.

You didn't do anything.

Act as if nothing happened.

But his body

is stiII down in that weII.

Gisaburo's gone.

His body's gone.
You had nothing to do with it.

No, his body's stiII there!

What must it Iook Iike now?

It's rotting away!

Why don't we get the body out...

and bury it somewhere?

We can't do that.

We have to.

Do we?

Gisaburo may be a ghost,

but he stiII Ioves you.

He doesn't want you
to get caught.

I can't see!

Seki, what's wrong?

Toyoji, I'm bIind!

- Can you see this?
- No!

Can't you see my face?

I can't see!

Toyoji, hoId me!

Seki...

are you reaIIy bIind?

I'm not young anymore.

We promised never to taIk
about your age.

Toyoji,
you have to get away

before the officer
comes for you.

I toId you I'm not afraid
of anything.

Neither am I.

I kiIIed Gisaburo aII aIone.

You had nothing to do with it.
You have to escape.

Then Iet's escape together.

- No, I can't.
- Why not?

I'd onIy be a burden.

That's aII I've been aII aIong.

Seki, wouIdn't you be
IoneIy without me?

Do you have to ask?

Of course I wouId.

We'II aIways be together,
as Iong as we Iive.

That's what I've wanted
from the beginning.

You don't have
to die with me.

- Live a Iong Iife without me.
- No!

Let's stop wasting time.

KiII me now.

I can't do that.

You said you weren't afraid
of anything anymore.

Later...

after I faII asIeep...

kiII me in my sIeep.

Toyoji, Iook at me.

I may no Ionger be beautifuI,

but Iook at me and remember.

Toyoji, are you Iooking?

Seki...

even if you can't see,
open your eyes.

You're so beautifuI.

Toyoji, touch me.

KiII me, pIease!

KiII me in my sIeep.

PIease kiII me!

You stiII say
you didn't kiII him?

I didn't!

I didn't kiII him!

Kamiyatsuda,
on Mount Shibano --

that's where
they were tortured.

They were hung
from a branch

of the tallest oak tree.

Officer Hotta's own life

was riding on the outcome
of the interrogation.

The bamboo rods
whistled through the air,

landing with a crack
on the swinging bodies.

Seki passed out
countless times

and was revived with a bucket
of cold water each time.

Her tangled hair
clung to her face,

which was twisted
into a frightful expression.

At last, crazed with pain,

the two confessed
their crime.

I did it!
I m*rder*d him aIone!

No, I kiIIed him!

A chilly wind,

reminiscent of late autumn,

blew through the trees
on Mount Hatcho.

Before the assembled villagers,

a corpse that was
unmistakably Gisaburo's

was slowly pulled up
from a well.

The people looked on

as Gisaburo the rickshaw driver,

whom they hadn't seen
in three years,

appeared with what looked
like hemp rope

still wrapped around his neck.

At that moment
Toyoji looked down in silence,

but Seki screamed with all her might
and began wailing.

Had her sightless eyes
somehow seen Gisaburo?

A few years later,

as the leaves
on Mount Hatcho began to fall

and winter came
to the small village,

the villagers heard a rumour,
from nobody in particular,

that the man and woman
they'd already begun to forget

had been sentenced
to death and ex*cuted.