RAKERU CAFÉ
-
[boy] Is she really cute?
-
[boy 2] Yeah, can we trust you?
-
[boy] How old is she, anyway?
- Uh, I think she's 23 or 4
-
[man] Welcome in.
- Thanks.
MARCH, 1979
Thanks. She's cute, for real.
-
[woman] Your table.
-
[Hiroo] Thanks.
[Sakiko] Welcome in.
Thanks for coming in.
Hiroo-chan, hey.
[Hiroo] You're like a different person
in in that kind of outfit.
[Sakiko] Huh.
Are these your friends?
[Hiroo] My classmates.
Ah, four coffees. Black, thanks.
Wouldn't you rather
just have juice instead?
An Americano for me, okay?
[boy 2] Me too.
[boy 3] Me too.
[laughs]
Americanos. Back in a sec.
Okay.
[Hiroo] Trying to act cool
ordering an Americano?
-
[crash]
-
[woman gasps]
Sakiko?
Sakiko?
Are you okay?
[Makiko] Thanks so much.
Oh!
I thought I told Hiroo
not to bother you with all this.
[Makiko] He couldn't
just leave you like that.
It's not serious. Bit of anemia.
Sakiko, are you
[door opens]
Sorry, I just need to change clothes
[Makiko] Go ahead.
Sorry about this.
We'll be leaving before too long.
Oh, it's no problem.
Oh, I'm sorry.
You weren't supposed to work today.
[woman] I heard that you collapsed.
I can't say I'm surprised.
You don't eat anything at all these days.
You're not eating?
[woman] You know, if you keep this up,
you could die, long before your man wins.
Try to take care of yourself.
Hey, what'd you eat today?
What I eat is none of your business.
You ate a little, didn't you?
You didn't eat anything?
Why didn't you say
that you're short on cash?
That's not the issue.
Hide's trying to lose weight.
Over the past ten days,
he hasn't been able to
to eat a grain of rice
or his favorite ramen, nothing.
I still don't get it.
Why is it that you have to starve too?
Because then, at least,
he doesn't have to do it alone.
-
[man] Oh, I thought you had a late shift?
- I did, yeah.
- Oh, thanks for looking after her.
- Oh, of course.
Ah goodness
[Makiko] Where do we leave our shoes?
- Just right here or
- Sure, right there.
[Hide] Wanna try?
-
[woman] I'm strong.
-
[Hide] Bring it on.
-
[chuckles]
-
[woman chuckles]
- Here!
-
[Hide] Wow! Hey, you're good.
[woman chuckles]
[Hide] Nice.
- Try again. Whoa!
-
[woman] Take this!
Hey, hey, hey! Take that!
- I haven't done that for a while.
-
[chuckles]
Really, since when?
[chuckles]
[Hide] Since the last match.
Hey. Hey, that's quite the swing!
[woman] Guess you're
out of your league, huh? Come on.
[both chuckle]
MUST WIN! DISCIPLINE IS KEY!
Who does this belong to?
Who had ramen?
Did you guys eat this?
I couldn't eat all of it, though.
A little's left.
I'd like you to go.
He said you guys aren't
officially married.
I could get over all this.
[sniffles] Her.
[whimpering]
I did come back here early,
so I share fault in that.
I'll act like I didn't see her.
Don't say anything stupid. He's to blame--
Makiko, just shut up, all right?
It's the food.
How could you?
[sniffles]
This
It's this!
When it comes to this,
I just can't forgive what you did.
[Hide exhales]
[Makiko] My sister,
she collapsed during her shift today.
Makiko, shut up!
She couldn't bear seeing you suffer
through your weight loss,
so she hasn't eaten anything,
just like you said you were doing.
[Hide] Hold on.
Nobody asked her to do that.
Go on and eat,
and stop worrying about what I eat, okay?
[Makiko] You know
that she couldn't do that.
Women can't do things like that.
You think that she'd be glad
to eat alone in secret,
but she just can't do it.
[Sakiko] Makiko, please
[Makiko] She could have
rice omelets, French toast,
anything she wanted at the restaurant.
Instead, she gave up food
and collapsed from anemia mid-shift!
Can you imagine doing that?
You might apologize at least.
[Hide] And why would I?
I'd say she's just acting self-centered.
Ah, sh*t.
[Sakiko] Oh well
[sighs]
I guess I chose it all on my own.
["Higher" playing]
Yeah ♪
Keep on going higher ♪
Burning with desire ♪
Everything is brighter ♪
Whenever you're around ♪
Whenever we get down, going higher ♪
Feelings like a tiger ♪
Everything is lighter ♪
Yeah ♪
[footsteps approaching]
[sighs]
- I just think you should end--
-
[Takao] Sh!
- You want more dumplings, then?
-
[whispering]
-
[Sakiko] Mm-hmm, I do.
-
[mouths]
[Makiko sighs]
[Hiroo] Honestly, I think
you should just break up with him.
[Makiko] Go upstairs now, kids.
Come on. Hurry up. Don't dawdle. Go on.
I really think
it'd be best to break up with--
Hey, let's not talk about that for now.
[sighs]
[Makiko] Maybe you
should go home to Ikegami.
Ikegami?
I'm not saying you should go now,
of course.
[Takao] You should stay here
with us tonight, okay?
Makiko, if your
husband were having an affair, then
- What?!
-
[Takao] What?!
If he cheated,
just hypothetically,
do you think that
Ikegami's where you'd like to go?
[Sakiko] For the past seven years,
Dad's been looking after
another woman besides his wife.
Mom knows about his affair,
but she never says a single word about it.
She just carries on living with him
like nothing's wrong.
So I'm not sure how well I'd do
going to their house right now.
TOKYO METROPOLITAN LIBRARY
ARISUGAWA BRANCH
[bell jingles]
[mouths]
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF NATSUME SOSEKI
I'll take a bun.
Mmm, go on.
[Takiko sighs]
[Katsumata] Ah.
Mind if I take a look?
[Takiko] Mm-hmm.
Soseki's Complete Works: The Third Volume.
May I read it?
Go ahead.
"Gubijinso."
"From beneath the brim
of his creased brown hat,
he looked up,
moving his prominent eyebrows."
"Above his head, he could see
all across the vast spring sky
a drifting wash of indigo to the horizon."
"It looked so delicate
that if one were to blow on it,
that breath could shake it."
"And against this scene
with its unwavering, immutable presence,
stood towering Mount Hiei."
That's an incredibly stubborn mountain.
-
[chuckles]
-
[Takiko chuckles]
Gubijinso uses this Gu kanji?
I didn't know that.
Know what?
I always thought that they used
the same kanji as the one in "fool."
[Takiko chuckles]
So "foolish beauty"?
Beautiful people aren't that smart.
[Takiko] I guess that's true, yeah.
It's like my sister Sakiko.
There are exceptions to that, though.
So then "Gubijin" is the name of a person,
isn't it?
Yes, a Chinese historical figure.
[Katsumata] With the "so" at the end,
uh, the word becomes a plant name, then?
And it really exists.
[Katsumata] Gubijinso?
Yeah. Who's that Chinese girl who sounds
like some kind of squeaky Chinese fiddle
when she sings anything?
- Up the hill, picking corn poppies ♪
- Picking corn poppies ♪
Oh, poppies!
So, "gubijinso" means "poppy"?
I see.
Up the hill, picking corn poppies ♪
Their petals tell the secrets
Of my loved one's heart ♪
[chuckles]
[Makiko] Well, I'll be honest.
Ever since I heard that he was a boxer,
I can't deny
I've had a bad feeling about him.
A bad feeling?
[Makiko] His career's
got a short lifespan.
He can't keep fighting past 30, right?
Champion is a title
that only one in a thousand can win.
It's just like trying to win the lottery.
[sighs]
You know, one time, I
actually won the lottery when I was a kid.
It was just 500 yen.
Well, regardless,
even if he was guaranteed
to be a champion,
I still couldn't stand him at all.
If it'd been just the ramen
or only that we found him cheating
- Seems sour.
- If it had been one,
then I suppose I could make
make a kind of peace with that.
But no, the fact that it was both?!
It's too much!
[Takao] Hey.
Well, you
you saw her, right? The woman of his?
A woman with a plain looking face,
who didn't have good taste in clothes
and didn't do her makeup well?
- And she spoke somewhat slowly too.
-
[Takao] Uh-huh.
Tss
[sighs]
To be fair, I can understand it.
How, you know that guy feels.
I realize you're going
to get angry with me for saying so.
But guys can struggle
when their girlfriend
takes good care of him,
like you do, Saki.
Let's say, you're a writer for instance,
not that I know any, though.
So then you're writing your book
and your wife just quietly reads it
and makes all these corrections.
Wouldn't that hurt?
On the other hand,
what if the wife just sleeps soundly
while the husband is hard at work.
Sure, a lot of husbands would call her
lazy or whatever, and yet
the man is still almost relieved
while he's trash-talking her.
What kind of reason is that?
Ramen and women,
there's just no excusing it.
[Takao] All that is certainly wrong.
But, you know,
nothing to do with a man's feelings
is logical at all.
It's just how men are, really.
Maybe you should have someone investigate.
[Takao] Investigate?
- What for?
-
[Makiko] What is it? Mata
-
[Takao] Oh, Katsumata?
- Yeah.
Your guy's called Jinnai?
He can look into it all this.
His behavior and future,
what his prospects really are.
Stop it now.
If you do that,
I'm never talking to you again.
[indistinct chatter]
[curious music playing]
Why don't we talk someplace else, huh?
Hello?!
[quietly] I really don't like
places like this.
Hey!
[sighs]
All this it's just not my thing, okay?
Let's
act like this never happened.
No.
The investigation.
Let's pretend I didn't get hired for it.
The fact that I was investigating
your dad's affair
and that's how we started
our relationship
It just seems wrong, you know?
Katsumata-san
So can I
Oh.
- Uh uh
- Huh?
- This is
- Oh!
- bad.
- It's growing!
[man] It's a fire!
- Oh! Uh
Oh man. Oh no.
- Ah!
-
[man] Fire!
- Don't get burned.
- Whoa.
- It's burning! Look!
- Oh no!
- Ah, stay back!
- Hey!
[Makiko] Sakiko!
There's some shampoo you can use.
It's on the bottom shelf.
[Sakiko] Yeah, okay.
[Makiko] If the tub's too hot,
add cold water. Don't hesitate, okay?
[Sakiko] I won't.
Hey, you need
to stop siding with that boxing jerk.
It's true, though. What can I say?
[Makiko] She'll be hesitant to break up
with him if you keep talking like that.
Stop trying to make her decisions for her.
[Makiko] I know it's her decision,
but if she stays with him,
I know she's gonna pay for it.
She'd be better off leaving
if there's no kid.
No matter what you think,
it's still her decision.
She should just go home
to our parents' house.
She should talk to Dad about it.
There's no point in pushing her
if she doesn't want to.
You're right, I guess.
But she can't stay here forever.
Just let her stay.
That back storage room can be cleared.
That'd work, right?
Yeah, but
that one's right next door to ours.
Oh!
Ah, it slipped.
Or is that okay with you?
Huh?
Isn't it strange
having her here day in and day out?
Not at all. She's one of us too.
And it's lively with her around.
It's hard to discuss
certain things around her.
We can talk about anything we want
with her here.
[scoffs]
It seems like sisters
turn into strangers once they're married.
[phone ringing]
You think it's
Hey.
Say Sakiko's staying at our place, okay?
- Hello?
-
[Sakiko] Who's calling? Is it for me?
Satomi residence.
What? The police? What?
- Huh?
-
[Sakiko] I'll take it!
Don't. Hold on.
Wait a second. I said hold on!
- Yes, hello? What's going on, is he okay?
- Ah, yes, I'm sorry.
Huh?
Takiko Takezawa?
Well, she's my sister-in-law.
[grunts]
Takiko? What's wrong? Is she okay?
MORIOKA POLICE BOX
[officer] Just imagine
if all the couples in this country
lit up a bonfire in the park.
The signs clearly say no bonfires.
This is a clear violation
of the Minor Offenses Act.
Ah, I'm very sorry, sir.
And besides, you two appeared
to be destroying workplace papers,
which I cannot overlook.
As I said to you earlier,
it's all because I asked, as his client,
that he, uh, close the investigation
that I had requested.
[sighs] Still, you can't just
throw gasoline down
in the middle of a public area
to start a fire.
[Katsumata] It was benzine, sir.
[officer] What?
No, uh it's not gasoline. Benzine.
Uh uh
I don't care
what it is you used, all right?
[Katsumata] Yes, sir.
[groans]
[Takao] Well, actually, uh,
there's a family issue I should
share with you, sir. It's awkward.
See I have a 70-year-old father.
Actually, a father-in-law,
and he's her father, you see, sir.
[officer] Yeah?
[Takao] And apparently, sir,
our father has a mistress.
-
[officer] What?
-
[Takao] A mistress.
-
[officer] Seventy with a mistress?
-
[Takao] Yeah.
So my sister hired an investigator,
and as these things happen,
they fell for each other.
But as you know,
the circumstances of how these two met
isn't how anyone
ever wants to meet a partner.
- And so
- Oh! Oh! Ah, I follow.
-
[Takao] Yeah.
-
[officer] Oh
[Takao] So we decided that it's best
to just let it all go
and to not dig up
any more of our father's shame, you see.
[officer] Mmm. A mistress at 70
[Takao sighs] Yeah, that's right.
Here, you see this? Twice a week
-
[officer] This?
-
[Takao] Yeah.
[man] Who's cooking dinner, me or you?
[woman] You're offering to cook?
Yeah, I can cook. What?
They're all sooty.
[woman] Yeah.
[curious music playing]
Goodbye, then.
Your hand got hurt, didn't it?
It's nothing serious.
Let's treat it while you're here.
Oh, it's all right.
It's not all right.
No, truly, it's all right.
We're going to treat it. Go.
[Katsumata chuckles] It's all right.
[Takiko] Go, already.
Ah, oh no, I look
[Katsumata] Just leave it as it is.
Why's that?
[Katsumata] With some dirt
on your face, I
I just feel more relaxed, I guess.
Seems I can't talk if you're, uh,
too beautiful, too clean.
Quit that. I'm not beautiful.
[Katsumata] Yes, you are.
Uh c
Can I, uh uh
[Takiko] Huh?
[Katsumata] Can I
[Takiko] Do what?
C can I
- Ow, ow, ow! Ah, my foot, you're
- Oh!
Ah! Uh
Huh.
[Katsumata sighs]
[emotional music playing]
[Takiko breathing deeply]
[both grunting softly]
[glasses crunch]
[Takao] How long has she been gone now?
[Makiko] I have no idea.
When I brought bedding to her room,
she was gone.
[Takao] And you didn't notice her going?
[Makiko] No.
I thought I'd get to live with Sakiko.
Man, this sucks.
[Yoko] Hiroo, that's so gross!
Moron!
Come on. It's nothing like that.
Where would she
have gone out to this late?
Maybe back to the apartment?
Call her up. See if she's there.
The phone's in the lobby.
I'd wake the building.
All right.
Ikegami, then.
[water splashing]
[phone ringing]
Hello, this is Takezawa.
Oh, hey.
[Fuji] Is there someone on the phone?
Makiko! Ah.
-
[Fuji] Is it for me?
-
[sighs]
Yes, your mother's in the bath now.
Uh-huh. What?
- Makiko says not to get out.
-
[Fuji] Hmm?
Don't worry. It's all right!
[phone ringing]
[curious music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[train passing]
[Hide] What are you doing back here?
You left, didn't you?
So why did you come back?
Stay away from me.
Nothing good'll come of it.
You wanna bet?
[Hide] Go away!
[scoffs]
Go away! Go away!
Go away!
[crying]
Go away. Go away.
[crying]
[Sakiko] I'm not running away.
So, Hide, don't you run away either.
Stay and fight like me.
All right, I will.
[crying]
And become a champion. Don't quit,
'cause then
the people who never once
believed we could do it
will see they were wrong.
You got that?
[crying]
It takes about three hours on Hikari
to get to Osaka, right?
[Takao] Mm-hmm.
Sleep on the way, okay?
You tossed and turned all night.
[Takao sighs] Okay.
Your dad's going away for work, kids.
Say goodbye at least.
-
[Hiroo mumbles]
- See you later, Dad.
Huh? Uh, efubashi?
- Yatsuhashi!
- Oh, oh.
Hey, that's a Kyoto souvenir, moron.
That's Kyoto, moron.
Oh, red bean popsicles?
-
[Yoko] Those'll melt, dummy.
-
[Makiko chuckles]
-
[Hiroo] Then pork buns?
- Later today, I'll head to Ikegami.
[Takao] All right.
[Hiroo] I don't know.
I said I'd lend a hand
with the work over there.
[Takao] Ah, I see.
[sighs]
That bag is gigantic.
[sighs]
Well, you'd better get one
that's a little smaller, then, huh?
You could try entering a contest.
Maybe you'd win one.
[Takao groans] It's not as easy as that.
[sniffles]
Your shirts are all packed up.
I put two in the bag, okay?
[Takao] Okay.
And it's two nights, right?
If you need anything,
tell Sodei-kun at work.
He can send it along.
[sniffles]
Here, cold medicine.
- No, I'm fine.
-
[Makiko sighs]
Well, have a good trip.
Okay?
[humming]
[gentle music playing]
[chuckles]
[humming]
Mmm. Mmm.
[humming]
[phone ringing]
[Takao] A pack of Seven Stars.
- Hey, it's me.
- Mmm!
- Mmm.
-
[Takao] It's me.
-
[horns honking]
- I've got time before the train heads out.
- Let's grab lunch first.
-
[man] What's wrong with you?
I can come over there.
You're blocking the way, like I said.
- Will that work?
-
[man] You can get through right there.
- Go around.
- Look at this. It's not wide!
[man] Yes, you can.
Come on, man. Just go ahead and go past.
What? You can get through fine,
so please, go ahead.
-
[man 2] You're blocking it.
-
[man] You have your license?
[man 2] I can't get through.
[man] Just taking a break here.
What's your problem?
[man 2] I'll be late for deliveries
if you don't move.
[clattering]
-
[man 2] You gonna pay for it if I'm late?
-
[man] Fine. Just go!
[man 2] Hey, look behind you.
You're causing a lot of trouble
by blocking the road with your truck.
-
[man] You're blocking the road!
-
[man 2] I'm not!
[Makiko chuckles]
Guess he called the wrong one.
[chuckles]
Getting sloppy now, huh?
Honey, what are you doing?
[boy] Oh, Mama? Can you please put
a fried egg on my hamburger too?
[woman] Only if you eat your carrots.
Hey, why are you bringing up carrots
when I just want an egg?
[chuckles]
-
[boy] Wow!
-
[man] Whoa!
[chuckles]
Hey, I did it!
[woman] Shoji, did you win?
- Yeah, I just won!
-
[woman chuckles] Wow, that's amazing!
You're getting
stronger and stronger, Shoji.
-
[Shoji] Hey, Gin-chan, I just won!
- Ah, guess I lost.
[man and woman chuckle]
[woman] All right, dinner's ready.
Let's eat.
[man] Ah, here.
Thank you.
- Papa?
- Yeah?
Hey, you know at the park
we did that one ride?
How we got to drive
go-karts around that day?
- I really wanna do it again!
-
[chuckles]
Then let's go.
Are you sure?
- I'm sure.
- Yay!
[woman chuckles] Good for you!
[Makiko] Sis, do you
still pickle napa cabbage?
Mm-hmm, but just little batches.
I sure used a lot of peppers, didn't I?
Oh, don't rub your eyes. Please don't.
Mmm!
[Makiko] So even though you
live alone now, you still do all of this?
Or have you managed to find someone
to cook for you now and then?
No, I just eat them by myself
with some rice and tea.
Oh, is that the case?
It is, yes.
Don't boast that you eat alone.
- Huh?
- Oh, hey.
Goodness, I guess you really do
hit the nail right on the head, huh?
She's great at that. Here.
Ah!
Please, you have to be careful, girls.
- Just look at that now.
- Go wash that off quick.
Oh my.
[Makiko] I'll wash it.
-
[Tsunako sighs]
-
[doorbell rings]
Is that for us?
[all] Yes?
Door's unlocked!
[man] It's Machida Dry Cleaning!
Oh! No, thanks!
I'm all right! No dry cleaning!
- Ah.
- Of course.
[Fuji] But thank you very much!
[Makiko and Tsunako] Machida Dry Cleaning
- You still bring your laundry there?
-
[Makiko] Still? Even now?
[Fuji] Of course I do.
-
[gasps] Machida Dry Cleaning, of course!
-
[Makiko] That's right!
[girls laugh]
[Makiko] They had that guy with
all the pimples clustered around here?
- That actor he looked like Tr
-
[Makiko] Huh?
- Tr
-
[Makiko] Tr
Wait, it's the guy who had big lips,
and, um, he had a bold look. Uh
The one in the white suit.
Posing like this.
Ah!
- Tr
-
[Makiko] Tr Tra
[both] Travolta!
-
[both laugh]
- That's right!
Stop laughing,
and get to work already, you silly girls!
I'm not even sure if you're helping
or getting in the way at this stage.
- I'm helping, really!
-
[Makiko] No, we're helping!
[laughs]
[Tsunako] Oh, we're all out of yuzu.
Oh, there's still one more in the kitchen.
Okay, I'll go get it.
[Makiko laughs] Travolta
[laughs]
How's Takao-san? Is he doing well?
[Makiko chuckles]
Yeah, he's great.
Great enough to have an affair.
Earlier today, he
he said he's traveling for work
when he's not.
[Tsunako] Hey, where is it?
-
[Fuji] Hmm?
-
[Tsunako] I can't find it.
It's next to the fridge.
To the left, on the counter.
And I think I have a rough idea
of who he's seeing and where.
I'm still just
gonna keep quiet, though.
Yes, of course.
It turns out worse if we try to speak out.
That's true for women, huh?
It's true, dear.
I'll try to stay
as strong as you're able to, then.
[gasps] Did you get the yuzu?
[woman on TV] I just want
to start over again
with everything.
[phone ringing]
[both] Mmm, mmm!
[man on TV] You love him that much?
- Kosuke, I mean.
-
[Yoko] Satomi residence.
Is Mom there?
[Yoko] No, she's out.
She's probably at Grandma's.
Back there again, huh?
[mouths]
Yeah, she's there cooking, I think.
She told you that, Dad.
Didn't you listen earlier?
[Hiroo] Of course not.
He never really listens.
[woman on TV] You can kiss me
But I can't talk now. My show's on.
[Hiroo] Ah.
No, we're on break right now.
Come on. You're k*lling us.
Should I tell her?
Uh, no.
No, no big deal, it's not urgent, so
See ya.
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
KADOYA RESTAURAN
[woman] Bye. Thank you very much.
[woman 2] Thank you. Thank you for coming.
It's just so frustrating.
With Mom or
Yeah, since she knows about how
Dad's cheating instead of going to work.
And yet here she is, carrying on
like there's nothing wrong at all.
I can't hold a candle to her.
Extraordinary, huh?
I guess women her age know how to
to rise above feelings
of hate and resentment.
I don't understand how they do it.
Astounding, right?
It's beyond me.
- Too sticky.
- Hmm? Hmm?
For my false tooth.
I guess I got these bad teeth
from our dad too, huh?
[chuckles]
Am I like our mom or dad?
[Tsunako] Hmm
Like Mom.
Don't you think?
[chuckles]
Looks or how so?
[chuckles]
You're alike here.
Your big heart.
They say ignorance is bliss.
Well, that's never
gonna happen to me ever.
Some more tea, please.
- Mm-hmm.
-
[woman] Be right there!
-
[curious music playing]
-
[chuckles]
[scoffs] Seriously?
Why is this where I went?
[footsteps approaching]
[brakes squeak]
[sighs]
Oh no. No!
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
[woman] Shoji!
It's pretty fun.
[laughs]
It's lots of fun!
[man laughs]
-
[announcer] Thank you for visiting us
- Wow, he's fast, isn't he?
[announcer] As a reminder,
all children must be accompanied
-
[woman] Hey, wait for us!
-
[laughs]
[woman] Ah!
Ah!
[laughs]
[Shoji laughs]
[Shoji] Mama! Papa! Hi there!
I've been thinking of marrying someone.
Have you?
Well, then I'm glad for you.
He's here. I know.
You've got my errant husband here.
He's not here.
I guess you misjudged where he's at.
I know if I open this and look,
I'll see his shoes tucked inside,
hidden out of view.
[Tsunako] By all means,
go ahead and check.
You're going to find a few men's shoes
They're just my son's and husband's
that I hold onto still.
[woman] And what was
your husband's shoe size?
He wore a size seven or so
My son, let's see, wore a size eight.
That works out well
since my husband wears nine and a half.
I guess you know that already, right?
I didn't. Of course I don't know.
How could you be so--
Well, allow me, then.
[gasps]
[both grunting]
If you've already lost your husband,
then you should understand how I feel.
You know what it's like
to lose the one you love.
Yes, but you have a living husband still!
Mine is he's dead and gone now.
Then, if his heart has been stolen
from me, he might as well be dead.
Then go and say all that.
[woman gasps]
[panting]
[Tsunako gasps]
What are you doing?
[man] What the
Don't do anything stupid.
[gasps]
[Tsunako whimpers]
Ah!
[both whimpering]
[Tsunako gasps]
Ah.
[gasps]
Looks like a real g*n, huh?
It's a stupid toy.
[chuckles]
[Tsunako] It's just water?
[laughs]
[g*n clatters on ground]
[woman laughing]
[phone ringing]
[gasps]
[panting]
Yes, hello?
- Makiko
-
[man] What the hell, Toyoko?
Toyoko!
Who fainted? What are you
Mom did?
Where is she at?
Yes.
Yes.
Right.
Wait. She left Ikegami
to go to Meguro? Why?
Makiko?
All right, I'll be there right away.
Sorry, what's
what's going on with your mother, then?
Just go. You need to leave now.
[man] Huh?
I didn't expect much, but then you
you used me to hide
when you thought she'd sh**t!
- I, uh No, I didn't try to hide. I just
-
[door slides open]
- Hey, Tsunako!
-
[door slides closed]
[sighs]
[gasps]
Just hold on. Hey.
- Thank you, then
- Wait.
- for everything over the past few years!
-
[groans]
[coughing]
[machine beeping]
So, Dad where did she faint?
Have you got any idea?
For ages, now,
she knew about what you're doing.
She knew what you'd do
every Tuesday and Thursday
instead of work!
She bottled it all up inside of her
'cause Mom was a a woman,
so she stayed quiet.
[crying] With shopping in hand, she
was outside your woman's home,
just standing there!
Hey.
What have you got to say, Dad?
Stop it! Stop it!
You can't do this. Don't!
- What can you say, Dad?
- Stop it!
[crying]
[Takao] Don't!
You have no right to hit
to hit your father. Now just calm down!
I didn't hit Dad at all!
She's our mother!
Where do you get off?
His wife forgave him already.
That's why she kept it from you.
No, he wasn't forgiven!
She was jealous.
So jealous that she couldn't
even put it into words!
She was so angry at you!
And broken and sad!
You were the love of her life, Dad! You!
How could you do that to her, Dad?
[crying]
Okay.
This man spent
his entire life working hard.
He worked to build a house
and raise four girls.
Then the man just tried
to have a little fun
without causing anyone any worry.
Is that so wrong?
He left his wife crying
while he had his fun!
So he prays with his hands together
and begs to be forgiven by you all!
So if he really feels that bad,
why not just stop the affair?
[Tsunako] Stop it right now!
[Takiko] Mom's right here. Please stop it!
[weeping]
[Takiko] Sakiko.
Well, I'm back.
[sighs]
Fuji.
[sighs]
She's going to get hitched.
She moved on.
She left, so it's only us now.
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
[emotional music playing]
It's better this way, you know?
It's all done-with for good now.
It's too late at this point.
If he'd broken it off earlier
It's true, yeah. If she
hadn't gone through this, she might--
You guys are all being really mean to Dad.
You all turned on the guy.
What are you doing?
There's something they should know.
[Makiko] About what?
We're engaged.
[Makiko] Saki-chan, you
I know.
I'm pregnant too.
[Makiko gasps]
[man crying]
I would've really liked our mother
to hold this child.
So do you know? What the sex is yet?
I would like to have a boy.
- How you're carrying looks like a son.
- That's an old wives' tale.
So what's going on with Dad?
Oh, here he is.
He's really aged a lot lately, hasn't he?
I can imagine living alone
after all these years is really hard.
I wonder how he
takes care of his laundry now.
Well, he deserves it. It's his own doing.
- Well
-
[Katsumata] He can hear you.
I don't care if he hears.
Well, our mother can't rest in peace
if he's got too much energy.
Ah, wait. I'm pretty sure we've had
this exact conversation already.
Well, it's true. No husband
does well outliving his wife, as they say.
- Right?
[chuckles]
- I'll keep that in mind.
- That's not what we're saying at all.
- She's right, you know.
You're always awfully quick
to make assumptions about women.
- Uh-oh.
- Yeah, yeah.
I just try to stand up for Dad
and then end up getting the blame.
Oh, please, Dad, let me do it.
-
[birds chirping]
-
[chanting in background]
My mother died
around this same time of year.
[curious music playing]
[Katsumata] Ah, sis,
more to the left, please.
Which sis are you talking to now?
Our names are a safer bet with four of us.
Oh, uh uh Ts Tsunako-san, then, please.
Hey, you doing all right?
I hope these pictures
aren't like your others.
He gets nervous.
[chuckles]
[Katsumata] Yeah, please.
Okay, say cheese.
[camera clicks]
You're so round, now!
Look at her!
Look how she walks like this.
- She does!
-
[chuckles]
[Katsumata] Are you excited?
Oh, for sure. Yeah.
How about you? You want kids?
You know what? Kids are hard.
[Yoko] Can you reach?
Nah.
[Hiroo grunts]
You know Soseki's Gubijinso at the, uh
the tail?
The tail?
The part at the end.
- Oh, I see.
-
[chuckles]
Do you know how it ends?
How's it end?
"Here, it's the comedies they want."
Eh? So not a tragedy?
Mm-hmm.
He could've been right.
Seems like it for now, I mean.
[Tsunako] What was that? What did you say?
Never mind, nothing.
[Tsunako] You looked back at us
and said something.
[Makiko] Yes, you did. I saw.
[Katsumata] "A tragedy
is greater than a comedy."
"Millet or rice?"
"This is a comedy."
"This woman or that woman?"
"This is another comedy."
Holding up all right, dear?
[Katsumata] "English or German?"
"This is also a comedy."
[Takiko] "It's all a comedy."
"In the end,
it all comes down to one question."
"Life or death?"
"This is the tragedy."
EXCERPT FROM "THE POPPY"
BY NATSUME SOSEKI
[closing theme music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
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01x03 - Episode 3
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Four sisters face turbulence when their father's affair is exposed. Embodying the tumultuous "asura" demigods, they clash over differing outlooks on love yet find moments of connection amid conflict and growth.
Four sisters face turbulence when their father's affair is exposed. Embodying the tumultuous "asura" demigods, they clash over differing outlooks on love yet find moments of connection amid conflict and growth.