Original subtitles

[♪ theme music playing]

The Fable

The Phantom of the Balcony

-[♪ ominous music playing] -[patting]

Okay, you can go to the car.

How long you been in this business?

Just over two years.

Is that right? I've been doing this for 10.

[car door closes]

It's been a while, Mr. Sunagawa.

Yeah. Three years.

I see you still do your own driving.

Guess you don't trust anyone, huh?

I don't talk about personal matters. Let's talk business.

Here are photos and names. You'll be eliminating two people.

Two?

[Sunagawa] I want you to take out that guy first.

Soon, I'll be meeting him at an ironworks that I'm holding as debt collateral.

While we're talking peacefully, get a clear shot

and make sure you kill him.

I'll make sure.

Who's the other one?

[hitman scoffs]

I'd also rather not talk about personal matters.

[door lock clicking]

[switch clicks]

What a lovely smell.

This is awesome.

[sniffing, moans]

[moans]

-But this isn't the time for this. -[rattling]

There. A camera hidden here is unexpectedly hard to spot.

This camera with a human presence detection system was pricey.

And I can't forget to switch out the memory card.

I'm always watching you.

And tonight will be no different, Misaki.

If only you could talk.

If only we could drink together.

If only you could make me burst out laughing.

I mean, I've got nothing to do.

-[doorbell rings] -Hmm?

[Misaki] Excuse me.

[Yoko] It's open.

Yoko.

Misaki!

I got you this to thank you for letting me stay.

-Oh, really? Please, come on in. -[door closes]

[Yoko] Don't you have work today?

I suddenly got the day off.

[Yoko] Really?

You work too hard anyway, so take a day off sometimes.

I heard from Sato that you like liquor.

I love it!

[Yoko] There, there. Have a seat.

[Misaki] Oh, thank you.

-[engine rumbling] -Huh? What's that noise?

[engine rumbling]

[engine stops]

Huh? It stopped.

It stalled.

[soft grunt]

[phone buzzing]

Stranger Misaki's here. Let's drink.

"Read" but no response?

It's okay. You don't have to ask him up.

He totally ignores his own sister when she's bored.

It ticks me off when he's so callous.

But that's so like him, right?

[sighs]

-[phone buzzing] -Hmm?

I'm glad she's having fun.

-[laughs] Stop, Yoko. -Come on. Laugh for me more.

Darn him! He's reading but not responding again!

-I'm really ticked off now. -[engine revs]

[engine revving]

It's not particularly fast.

But how do I put this...

[Takeshi] I'll give you this car. This is what it means to me!

It's like riding in a living thing.

I think I just might like this car.

[Yoko] I heard you work a lot of jobs, Misaki.

[Misaki] Yes.

[Yoko] You must have big dreams.

[gulps]

Maybe it's about time I started looking for a job too.

Yoko, until now, what kind of work have you done?

What kind of work?

It's not work I can brag about.

And I don't do it because I like it.

Before I knew it, it just turned out to be my job.

But I guess you could say I'm suited for it.

So, what kind of work is it?

[Yoko] Mm...

Well, it is kind of physically hard work.

It's hard to talk to people about it, but the money is good.

You mean, it's...

The reality is, life isn't always so pretty.

What's wrong, Misaki? Are you troubled about your work?

No... Well, actually, yeah.

Sometimes, you shouldn't think about things too seriously.

[Yoko] It's not like life lasts forever, you know.

That's pretty deep.

[Yoko] Really? You think so?

But it's not actually me that it's physically hard on.

[Misaki's boss singing] ♪ I just love drinking ♪

I am so drunk.

I drink way too much when I drink alone.

-I should have invited Sato. -[thumps]

Oh, sorry for bumping into you.

[Misaki's boss] Huh?

Aw, man. This is bad.

[Misaki's boss] I've gone way over my limit.

Oh, another post... [grunts]

[both grunting]

Hey, who do you punks work... [groans]

-[thug 1] Damn! That one landed square. -[thug 2] Huh?

[thug 1] Let's go!

[thug 2] I guess we went too hard.

[soft exhale]

When you get inside, first make sure my revolver is still there.

[Takeshi] I can't let Kojima have it.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[rustling]

If it looks like Kojima hasn't found it, then you keep it for the meantime.

[Takeshi] Also,

those six cameras you removed,

I want you to install them to monitor my place.

[door lock clicks]

You've only gotten two call girls?

-Sorry. -[switch clicks]

There are three other women who want a little more time.

I'll call them again tomorrow.

Women like them have a weird sense of pride.

Men want compliments, but women want you to understand them.

Make good use of those emotional needs.

Anyway, let's have a beer.

[Takahashi] Okay.

Huh?

-[fridge door opens] -[bottles clinking]

Aniki, here's your...

What's the matter?

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

-[phone buzzing] -[Takahashi] Aniki.

Mr. Sunagawa is calling.

That baldy? Answer it.

[Takahashi] Yes, sir.

Hello? Takahashi here.

[Takahashi] Okay.

Damn, it's cold.

-[door slides close] -[door lock rattles]

[Kojima] This is Kojima speaking.

[Kainuma] Hmm... [sighs]

I've been watching for a while, but it's all just normal stuff.

I guess that wasn't a good place to put it.

Hmm...

The manager at the place I work was attacked and injured.

Is she having an argument?

-[Misaki] Are you kidding me? -[surprised grunt]

Then you got someone else to do it.

I will never be a call girl no matter what you do to me.

I swear it!

Huh? What? A call girl?

Wait! What?

-What's this all about? -[phone buzzing]

Incoming Call

[hospital staff] This is Taihei Municipal Hospital.

Huh?

We've got a former bikini model working for us.

If you want, I'll have her work at your hostess club too, Mr. Sunagawa.

Of course, she'll go all the way. She'll do anything.

[Kojima] Her name?

Uh, for now, let's call her Misaki.

I'll tell you more later.

Yeah, I get it, Sunagawa Aniki.

Just give me two more days. All right.

Damn baldy, rushing me like this.

Here you go.

Will two days be enough?

Don't be stupid, moron!

Just you watch while I do my thing.

[birds chirping]

-[door opens] -[Akira] Good morning.

[door closes]

Where's the Prez?

He's not here.

[breathes deeply]

Good morning, Sato.

[Akira] Good morning.

Last night, I stayed over at your sister's place again.

I'm hungover.

Ah.

Good morning, Kainuma.

-Huh? Where's the Prez? -[mouse clicking]

He's not here.

-He was taken to the hospital last night. -[gasps]

A passerby found him lying in the street and called an ambulance.

[Kainuma] He was probably beaten up by some random attacker.

Looks like he got away with just some bruises,

but they'll still do a CT scan and release him tomorrow.

[♪ tense music playing]

Misaki,

are you in some kind of trouble with dangerous types?

[Misaki gasps]

Why do you think that?

Because the same thing happened to someone from one of her other jobs.

Who told you that?

I go to that bar sometimes.

I can't believe it's just a coincidence.

[Misaki] I'm sorry.

Why are you apologizing?

[Misaki] I'm sorry.

I'm going out for a while.

[door opens, closes]

I called her

right away last night, but she was getting drunk?

Give me the details.

[Kainuma] Huh?

Tell me all you know.

[weak grunt]

I know you've been filming Misaki with hidden cameras.

[Kainuma] Huh?

But that stuff doesn't matter now.

I don't plan on telling anyone about it.

Give me the videos.

I want to do something to help Misaki.

Do something to help her?

She's probably dealing with yakuza.

Seriously?

[Kainuma] Huh?

[indistinct chatter]

Two guys in a love hotel, huh?

[hitman] Sunagawa runs this love hotel. It's safer than anyplace else.

[Sunagawa's hire] He's sure got quite a reach.

But that's a pretty small gang. I'm surprised they survive alone.

Usually, a bigger one would take them over or the cops would crush them.

I was hired by Sunagawa three years ago

and eliminated two members of Sameken Group.

But not long after that,

the boss and all the members of Sameken got taken out.

The underground rumors are

that the hitman organization Fable backs Maguro.

Fable? Are you kidding?

That's like some kind of urban legend.

Is that what you think?

But if you admit that Fable exists, that would...

[Sunagawa's hire] You must be joking.

Listen.

We know the truth behind the incidents

that most people think are a joke.

[hitman] There's always truth behind what seems like a joke.

[Sunagawa's hire] Do you mean this time has something to do with Fable?

[hitman] No, I doubt that.

I don't think Sunagawa even knows of Fable's existence.

However... However, if I did happen to run into Fable,

I want to kill him.

Lohnan

-[car approaching] -[soft gasp]

Get in.

Well, I'm glad you called.

So, you made up your mind.

[shaky breathing]

Hey, don't give me that angry glare.

It ruins your beauty.

[Kojima] Which do you prefer, a marathon or a sprint?

I asked you to help with the call-girl business for a year,

but if you help at a hostess bar at the same time, three months is enough.

Three months?

[Kojima] Yeah. The choice of a race is yours.

I'll have you sign a contract later.

I don't want there to be trouble later. And put your seal on it too.

It'll be all proper and legal. Everybody's happy.

[shaky breathing]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

A one-year course or a three-month course.

You're lucky. You've got a choice of plans.

[crackling]

You called?

Yeah.

Hey, what the heck are you doing?

H-Hey! Wait a minute!

[Yoko] Don't tell me that's a...

Yeah, it's a barrel.

What do you plan on doing?

Are you making a gun?

Well, just the barrel.

I've got the Nighthawk body.

I know that.

But what about rounds?

[Akira] There were some nice ones in a model gun at the store.

I'll repurpose those.

Actually, Yoko, I've got a favor to ask.

Temporary Employment Contract

[Kojima] The sprint suits you better, huh?

That's a wise choice.

How old were you when you first had sex?

[♪ tense music playing]

How many have you done it with?

I don't need to answer that.

[Kojima] Yeah, that's true.

But I'm the one who's asking, okay?

Four.

[chuckles] Four guys?

Have you really been that good of a girl?

After doing that erotic model stuff, just four? You're kidding.

-[shaky breath] -And...

[lighter clicks]

Here, suck this.

[Misaki] What?

Don't act so surprised.

[Kojima] Go on.

-Hey, this is your job. -[shaky breath]

In three months, the number of men you've done it with

will be in the three digits for sure.

[whirring]

[whirring continues]

I will never be a call girl no matter what you do to me.

We've got a former bikini model working for us.

I want to help Kojima.

[♪ pensive music playing]

I'll come pick you up tomorrow night.

Make sure your clothes and makeup are appropriate.

As long as your skirt is short, anything is fine.

[Misaki] Okay.

Good girl.

Sleep well.

[engine revving]

[tires screeching]

[Misaki sobbing]

[Yoko] Seems like you've been pretty busy lately, Takahashi.

[Takahashi] Yeah, kind of.

I always have to stick with the Aniki I'm working with now.

[sighs]

You're looking pretty pale.

Here's some coffee.

Thanks.

Say, let's go out for some fun tomorrow night.

[Takahashi] Huh?

No, I can't tomorrow night.

I've got a big job then.

[sighs]

Last time, you got really drunk and hurt yourself,

so I thought I should get you something as a token of apology.

Seriously?

[Yoko] Here.

A watch?

Sorry, it's not in a box. I was in a rush when I bought it.

Anyway, go ahead. Try it on.

Go on now.

Uh, thanks.

Great! It fits perfectly.

Uh, I'm not sure how to put this, but it's got some scratches.

Is this new? Where'd you buy it?

Don't worry about that kind of thing.

I don't mean it in a weird way.

But if you were scammed, that would be a real shame.

Don't you worry about that.

Think of that watch as a good luck charm from me

and wear it all the time, okay?

[emotional grunt]

Of course.

[giggles]

Okay, I'll be going.

I told Aniki I was going home to change.

See you later.

Yeah. Let's go drinking again.

[whirring]

[Yoko] I gave Takahashi that watch with the GPS tracker.

[Akira] Good.

We could just follow him, so why go to all this trouble?

Lots of yakuza are good at detecting a tail.

Kojima is particularly that type.

I'm used to just killing and leaving.

But Misaki is caught up in this one.

I've never done a rescue operation.

And I can't let her find out it's me.

Then how are you going to do it?

You're not supposed to kill anyone.

[Akira] I know.

[whirring]

I'll give you this car. This is what it means to me!

Normally, I mean, with a proper man,

you can't refuse when another man shows his sincerity.

Isn't that gunpowder from fireworks?

And what are the bullets?

Fishing sinkers?

Yeah, that's about right.

[Yoko] Will you be okay using that toy?

As long as they've got guns, I can't go unarmed.

[Akira] Well, compared to the real thing, it's got hardly any power.

But as a pro, I'll make up for that.

You watch closely.

[silenced gunshot]

Since the gunpowder has no power, there's no blowback.

Are you kidding?

It doesn't eject?

I'll have to do it manually.

As a pro, I can handle it.

[Yoko] This is making me anxious.

Incidentally, it takes 40 minutes to make a single round.

[Yoko exclaims] Totally anxious!

[♪ closing theme music playing]

Next Episode The Fated Day

Translated by Brian Athey