Original subtitles

Congratulations, Mayor Saeki

BIG SHOTS DIE AT DAWN

Screenplay: Ichiro Ikeda and Ei Ogawa Based on a work by Haruhiko Oyabu

Starring:

Yuzo Kayama

Kumi Mizuno, Mickey Curtis, Akihiko Hirata

Eijiro Yanagi Yukiko Shimazaki Ichiro Nakaya Tadao Nakamaru Jun Tazaki

Directed by Kihachi Okamoto

Need gas? - Fill it up. What�s that?

Kuraoka�s pride and joy! It�s called Dreamland.

It�s out of character with the surroundings - too posh.

Do you know Kuraoka City?

Yeah, a long time ago.

The city's changed a lot over the last 2-3 years.

Now, it�s a passable tourist destination.

Well, I�ll have to freshen myself up then,

so I won�t look out of place in your lovely city.

There�s a faucet in the back.

Why, you!

What on earth happened here?

As you can see, you were being robbed.

Why, of all the nerve! We have to hand them over to the authorities.

First Dreamland, and now banditry -

Kuraoka has turned into quite a tourist destination.

Mayor Saeki's getting on in years, too.

Nah, if Saeki was alive, he�d never stomach such monkeyshines.

"If Saeki was alive?" Is he dead?!

Yeah, he died last October when he was re-elected.

Assassins make the world an unfit place to live in.

What?! Then the mayor was murdered?!

One shot. Died instantly. - Who did it?

The son of the operator of a pachinko parlor called

'Home Run' gave himself up. He�s in the clink.

That�s all I know, bub. Here�s for the gas.

Use the change to pay for beer to dump on these two boobs� heads!

Who are you?

Goto Enterprises.

Oh, it�s you.

What?! Are you sure?

Yes, there�s no mistaking. In any event, he�s one tough cookie.

I�m missing 3 ribs, you know.

The doctor keeps telling me to get surgery, but I can�t on my salary.

Get the message, Yasaka?

I got it, already. What do you have for me?

Did I mention that the injection is none too cheap?

I figure I can get by on 20,000 yen.

That ain�t hay. What kind of info do you have?

The doctor says I should take it easy.

Shut up about your health problems already!

Things are getting dangerous.

The Handa gang called a couple of boys from Yokohama.

You betcher bottom dollar that they pack heat!

What? - Mr Goto!

If those two gunmen were worth their salt, they�d still be working in Tokyo.

Snitch, 20,000 is a little expensive.

Next time, knock the price down a little.

What�s wrong, Matsui?

Saeki�s kid's back in town. His name's Jiro.

I couldn�t care less about some punk kid.

Forget about it.

Word is that the punk kid mopped the floor with Ikeno and Okada.

Radio newsflash.

He�s a pesky rat.

Mr. Goto, can I pamper him a little?

Put that thing away - you�ll upset the customers!

Ken, go and stand guard for a while.

Jiro should be arriving at his father�s house around now.

I�ll do it.

I want to see his face.

It�d be a cryin� shame if I mistook somebody else for him.

Saeki

Who may I ask is calling?

Jiro Saeki. This is my family�s house.

Please wait a moment. - Why? Who�s living here now?

The mistress. - The mistress?

Is it a guest?

Madam, Jiro is here.

Welcome back. It�s a bit of a surprise.

I�m Hisako. I�ve been living here by myself for the last two years.

I was your father�s secretary. - That is a surprise.

I had no idea pop was such a big shot.

Wow, this is a surprise. Of course, you must be�

A woman to contend with?

You needn�t hold your tongue; I�m accustomed to attacks on my character.

Coffee?

Don�t put yourself out. I�ll grab it myself.

Liquor in the morning?

In Alaska, they have it instead of milk.

Alaska, you say?

I directed forestry development in Alaska for several years.

It helped me cope with having to oversee those

blue-eyed troglodytes first thing in the morning.

You should have come sooner.

We didn�t hear from you for so long.

Your father assumed you were dead.

He wrote you out of his will.

Do you think I�m lying? - Not at all.

But your story is just a little too convenient...

For you, that is, tootsie.

Remember your place. I am your mother, after all.

Please don�t call me tootsie. - Whatever you say.

But I don�t remember my mother strutting around in negligees.

Thanks for the drink.

Where are you going?

To ask the police what happened to pop.

There used to be a captain named Hosoki.

He busted me more than once.

Yeah, you were a holy terror, all right.

I�ll never forget your face!

The stroll down memory lane can wait. I want to know what happened to my pop.

Last year, October 16.

Do you know the Sanko Building?

Yup, it was a glorified hovel in front of the reclamation site.

Right. At the time, it was empty and being held in lien by the tax office.

The criminal broke into room #304 and sniped him from the window.

He used hollow point shells from a hunting rifle.

So-called dum dum rounds. Your father died instantly.

And the gun? - Winchester Model 70.

A shell fish diver found it at the bottom of the sea two months later.

From the serial number on the rifle, we located the owner,

one Mr. Takikawa of the local hunting club.

He stated that it was stolen, along with

the ammunition, from his locker there.

He even reported the theft to the Public Safety Commission.

He�s also a solid citizen.

The word is, the perp turned himself in.

Why wasn�t he collared at the scene?

There weren�t any witnesses.

Everyone was too preoccupied with the spectacle of your

father�s death to think to look at a nearby building.

He just slipped out the opposite window.

Jeepers! What a class act! What a swell guy!

Your admiration is puzzling.

No, I�m just bowled over that a fella like that would turn himself in.

It�s a real brain teaser.

I couldn�t tell you.

I did a little digging, and I was wondering

why that hump ran into a small fortune?

I wouldn�t know.

It seems talking to you was a waste of time after all.

What?!

You read this kind of hogwash in cheap mystery paperbacks.

The real criminal is in cahoots with the bluecoats.

Look, jackass, I don�t intend to listen to your wild accusations!

It�s as plain as day that he was a patsy for the crime.

I see... That�s all I needed to hear.

So, who�s the real criminal?

In all likelihood�

You imbecile! I don�t know! And if I did know, I wouldn�t tell you!

Why?

You don�t give a madman a knife. And loose lips sink ships.

The madman's the real criminal, not me.

The longer he�s free, the more confident he�ll be.

That�s what I call giving a madman a knife.

Listen up, meathead!

We�ve been knocking ourselves silly to solve this case,

which is long since closed.

So if you think I�m going to stomach guff from a punk kid

on holiday from Alaska, you got another thing coming!

You�ve been on the case a year and ain�t nailed the real assassin yet?

Why're you so hot under the collar, then, gramps?

Why, you... - Captain, please!

And I would ask you to be a bit more respectful, Mr. Saeki.

Hello, Kuraoka City Police. Captain, it�s the mayor.

What? Hello.

He�s here.

I understand.

Mayor Imamura called to send for you at his home. You're to go at once.

Imamura? You mean my uncle?

Yes. Ryuichiro Imamura inherited the post after your father died.

So many people benefited from pop�s death!

Well, I�ll be on my way then.

But I ask that you don�t make a hash of my investigation.

Certainly... What!?

Taihei Preschool

Ryuichiro Imamura

I just love kids...

Now that my wife�s dead, it seems a waste

not to use the garden for something,

so I started a pre-school.

It gives the city some warmth. The police chaff my hide, though.

Don�t be angry.

Captain Hosoki had a right not to like you.

You knew just how to push his buttons.

But the incident is as much of an outrage to me as it is to the police.

It�s not just that the criminal who shot your father is running free.

Your father made Kuraoka the city it is today.

But since I became mayor, this city has become a den for yakuza.

I just wanted to make the city a tourist destination...

but my dreams were dashed almost overnight.

They were adroit in their efforts to be the real power brokers.

Now, neighboring prefectures call Kuraoka, Mobtown,

which is, of course, none too pleasing a nickname.

I imagine Dreamland has made a splash.

So you saw that?

That�s my only success. I go there every Sunday.

It does my heart good to watch the children play.

Getting it built took a lot of work.

It�s quite an achievement.

I appreciate the sentiment.

Speaking of Yakuza, there used to be an old duffer by the name of Handa.

Yes, his son took the reins two years ago.

He runs a transport company, so it looks like he�s not involved...

in any hanky-panky, but in fact, he�s a snake, maybe even insane.

Three years ago, a yakuza organization

called Goto Enterprises set up shop here.

They crushed Handa�s gang,

but when the son took the helm, Handa�s gang started to flex its muscles again.

Zoinks!

You fellas sure know how to handle a rod.

I�m counting on you.

What about the last three?

Goto Enterprises has some real heavy hitters on its team now.

But such carnival antics are going to leave you two mutts on the pavement

with a belly full of hot lead. - Say that again!

Still feel tough? Even I can get the jump

on you two eightballs without batting an eyelash.

It looks like we�re going to rumble with Goto Enterprises.

You betcher bottom dollar! I�ll take 'em all on!

Straighten up, Sanji. Your legs are shaking so bad,

you couldn�t hit the broad side of a barn.

Sir, a customer is here. He�s waiting on the second floor.

What?! Oh, it�s you.

"What, he says!

You know what! You know I�m missing three ribs.

Yeah, I know. You need surgery. How much will it cost?

If I had just 10,000 yen, it�d be a real blessing.

Mayor Saeki�s son is in town.

What?

His first son?

Have you lost your marbles? His first son died in the war.

He had a second son that was a real firebrand.

He could be a force to be reckoned with.

He single-handedly clobbered Okada and Ikeda of the Goto gang.

The word is that he�s back from Alaska.

Saijo, this is an interesting development.

Goto�s boys are playing rough.

Get out, we�ve no further business with you!

Ain�t that just a fine how-do-you-do!

Well, I won�t make a fuss, I�m just going to listen to some music here.

What are you doing?!

Hearing aids don�t play music.

What�s this about a hearing aid?

Deaf people use them to hear ordinary conversations.

Ordinary people use them to hear long distances.

That filthy vermin!

Thank you, sir.

If you�re feeling lonely, I can get you a woman anytime.

Hello? - Is this Jiro Saeki?

Who are you? - I have something you want.

The real criminal�s fingerprints! - What?!

No joke, mac. You can kill me if I�m lying.

But I want money for the information.

How much? - 5 million.

Are you drunk?! I don�t have that kind of cash!

Well, 4, no, 3 million will do.

You�re dreaming! I can�t go any higher than 500 large.

I went to too much trouble to get it to give it away for that little.

If you can�t pay 1 million, I�ll take my business elsewhere.

You�re on. Where do we make the trade?

On the bench next to the bus stop headed

for the shrine tonight at 10:00 sharp.

Got it.

Hello, Saeki residence. Oh, Jiro.

Do you want to stay here after all? 1 million?

This ain�t a gift, it�s a loan...

but with no interest, no pay-by date, and no questions asked.

If you�ll do that for me, I won�t care much about my father�s estate.

Not none! Just not much.

You're on.

Hello, Handa Transport.

This is Saijo. Who are you?

Is that right? How terribly interesting...

Thank you.

No need to thank me, but I am a little worried.

Why do you need the money?

To buy something, naturally. - To buy something?

Don�t women like to buy things?

That reminds me� - What?

When you�re with your son, why don�t you dress a little more modestly?

What are you doing here? The bus doesn�t run at this hour.

Just taking a load off my feet. Ain�t no fault in that.

Yes, it�s all right.

Jeepers! Actually, officer, the truth is that...

I�m planning to meet a lady.

Look, you yo-yo�

Mr. Seki, good work. - It was nothing.

Is anything wrong? - Why? I�m on patrol.

Are you expecting someone? - You know how it is. How about you?

Yes, I�m also waiting for someone.

I'd prefer to meet my party alone.

If it gets crowded, the person I�m waiting for might get scared off.

Think of this space as a wall.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

I�d also like to add, Shoot no evil and stab no evil, to that list.

Well, let�s see what you�ve got.

What exactly did you want to see?

You said you wanted a clean million for the proof.

The proof? - Don't play games!

I got the jump on y�all, 'cuz I stayed outta sight.

Swine!

I don�t know what�s up with this shindig,

but maybe we should just call it a night.

I was just thinking the same thing.

Who was that party crasher?

Someone you�d do well to remember.

Matsui. He�s a hatchetman for Goto Enterprises.

Are you the one who called?

Did someone call you? - What?

You must be wondering how I managed to turn up

so conveniently. What was the phone call about?

I�m asking the questions here, buster.

Nah, we�re in this together. And I don�t like

playing the part of a flatfoot.

All right, already. I got a call in the hotel.

The fella said he�d sell me some fingerprints as evidence.

I was there to make the buy.

Fingerprints? This is fishy.

I showed you mine, now you show me yours.

The hotshot you were talking to was Saijo, a captain in the Handa gang.

I�ve never seen the other two before.

That makes you a Goto gang member.

Matsui�s the name.

Thanks for saving my neck back there. Why were you there?

Just a happy coincidence. Don�t worry about it.

You were following me. Why?

Word has it that you were in Alaska.

You�re well informed.

What you don�t know could fill a book.

It�d be much safer if you just went back.

I plan to. Right after my work here is finished.

Your chutzpah is gonna get you killed.

Was the phone call from a young guy? - You said we were in this together.

Saying any more would knock our partnership off kilter.

There are other ways of making you talk.

No, actually, there aren�t. That thing goes off

and it�s curtains for you, too!

I guess we really are in this together.

Stop the car.

You best get out of town while the gettin�s good.

You get the picture? Get outta here.

Evidence?

If this talk is on the level...

Matsui was the only person there. If he�

You should�ve stuck around longer.

The real source of this information might've turned up.

Boss, we waited quite a spell.

If the other fella did scram, it was because of that dopey cop.

Officer Seki?

I got a hunch that Matsui set us up.

Using rumors of evidence as bait - that palooka!

Just a second...

Officer Seki is a traffic cop.

He shouldn�t have been there.

But he�s a police officer.

Why shouldn�t a cop have evidence?

If he�s the one, this could turn into a powder keg.

We�ll have the Goto gang up against a wall.

Because we won�t turn it in?

Oh, we�ll turn it in all right...

after we squeeze them for every nickel they got.

The Goto gang will be de-fanged,

and Kuraoka City will be ours for the taking.

He specifically said fingerprints?

He didn�t just speak of evidence in broad terms?

He said fingerprints. Why do you ask?

It�s too specific just to be bait.

And Handa had no real reason to bait him.

True enough.

It�s gotta be someone else.

Those idiots showed up and scared him off.

This is screwy...

I didn�t get the feeling anyone else was there.

First, consider the fingerprints...

If there were fingerprints at the crime scene,

they couldn�t have been anywhere but on a wall.

The informant couldn�t very well have ripped

a chunk of the wall off and taken it to the meeting place.

The thing I don�t get is that...

if the Handa gang did have compelling evidence,

we�d be in a world of trouble.

In any event, don�t take your eyes off of either Handa or that fool kid!

Nice shot! Are you Mr. Takikawa?

I am. What do you want?

I want to ask you about firearms.

Specifically, the Winchester Model 70 bolt action.

I�ve discussed this with the police already. I�ve nothing to add.

I�m the son of the deceased Mayor Saeki.

Jumpin� Jehoshaphat!

I sincerely apologize that it was my firearm used

to perpetrate your father�s murder.

I don�t want an apology. I�m a hunter myself.

I have several rifles in my collection.

It�s curious that your favorite weapon could be stolen so easily.

I�m a doddering old fool.

I�m always a bit cautious of a man who says he�s a doddering old fool.

In Alaska, folks say all kind of things right before they stab you in the back!

Exactly what are you trying to say!?

What�s done is done.

Since you�re a rifleman like me,

I�ll tell you something I didn�t tell the police:

I�m not absolutely certain,

but I think it was Yasuo who stole the rifle.

Who?

Yasuo Nakata. He�s a yakuza... Although I didn�t know it at the time.

My daughter Yoshiko was sweet on him and they were engaged.

He was handsome, but weak-kneed.

He was always asking me about guns, and then one night he disappeared�

with Yoshiko.

I dote on my daughter and couldn�t bring myself to inform the police.

Six months later, Yasuo died in an accident.

There are all kinds of accidents.

He got drunk and fell off one of those watchtowers used for spotting fires.

It wasn�t clear whether it was suicide, or he'd climbed up as a prank.

The police ruled it inconclusive.

Even since Yasuo died, Yoshiko hasn�t come home.

I guess she couldn�t forget that bum.

Where is she?

She has an apartment in the city.

She works at a club called The Casbah.

It�s run by Goto Enterprises.

I can�t say anything to make her come home.

Yoshiko blames Yasuo�s death on me.

Wakabaso Apartments

Who are you? - Jiro Saeki.

Mr. Saeki? Never heard of you. Waddaya want?

I haven�t figured that out yet.

You can�t just barge in here, mister.

This button connects directly to the police box.

Go ahead and push it. The police will be more interested in you than me.

After all, you helped steal the gun that was used to kill Mayor Saeki.

You said that your name is Saeki?

Yeah, he was my pop.

You�ve been talking to my father.

I�m sorry to tell you that I�m sure I know nothing about any guns.

First off, what would I possibly have to gain by killing your father?

Your loverboy was a wiseguy.

I imagine the perpetrator told him to do it.

You two did it for the payday.

All the furniture is new, but Yasuo didn�t pay for it.

Does it bother you? - I think you haven�t gone home becaus�

you have a steady job at the cabaret club.

I can�t tell if you�re smart or stupid!

Do you think my father would forgive me if I did go home?

I couldn�t stand living with him, going on like nothing had happened.

Oh, please leave. I have to go to work.

Spiffy, I�ll go with you.

To the Goto Enterprises cabaret club.

I gotta hand it to y��, this is pretty nice for a port town dive.

Mister, you said this place is owned by Goto Enterprises.

It's not?

Goto�s just the manager. Your mother owns it.

Holy crow! - She�s quite a woman.

That she is. Always lounging around in negligee.

So sexy, even her son could fall for her.

Then what would her son do?

Cold showers, babe.

Does she come here often? - Sometimes.

I don�t know if it�s all right to say,

but the manager seems to hold the upper hand. Everyone says so.

I�ve said too much all ready.

An important customer's waiting for me; I should go.

Not so fast, honey britches.

That schlub, Yasuo...

Do you really think his death was an accident?

Yasuo was scared of heights. - Say what?

He wouldn�t have climbed that tower, no matter how drunk he was.

You didn�t think to tell this

to the police? - I told them.

But they just laughed and said there�s no telling what a drunk man would do.

That�s the last I heard. - You goofy skirt!

You just let the whole thing slide? - There was nothing I could do!

Even if they did catch the goon who offed him,

it wouldn�t bring Yasuo back.

My pop ain�t coming back either...

but you can�t just forget it!

I won�t try to stop you.

That�s him!

He�s a police detective!

Yes, his name�s Nemoto. He�s the one that nixed my testimony.

He comes here sometimes.

Thanks. I owe you one, doll.

Waddaya want? - To see the boss.

Why? - Kaneda, let him in.

I'm Goto.

You wanna buy me?

I�ve got enough soldiers.

Yeah, big guys aren�t good for much.

Why, you lousy�! - Hold on!

You want to fight Kaneda?

In boxing, he had a head like an anvil.

A hamstring injury cut his career short,

but his head's still as numb as a cold toe.

Give him your best shot in the belly.

If you can�t knock him down in three shots, then it�s his turn.

Don�t try this if you mind getting your neck broken.

Be careful not to injure your wrist!

Will that do?

You�re under arrest! For illegal entry and assault!

You�re unarmed? - Too bad for you.

So this is how it is. I�m intrigued by how you set me up.

What? - Nemoto!

You�re a troublemaker, just like your old man.

How did you know?

I guess you had my photo from the start.

What?

The tie-up between the mayor�s widow and the mafia is curious.

I�m just a club manager - you got that?!

A manager? I suppose 'manager' can mean many things.

Shazam! That�s a surprise.

Not many men could've knocked down Kaneda.

At your service!

I see he�s quite spirited.

Nemoto, you could get hurt if you�re not careful.

I don�t think he�ll sit quietly in a cell.

But... - Leave it to Matsui.

Let�s go, kid.

What�s this all about?

You�re a fool.

I thought I told you to go back to Alaska.

So, there�s a price on my head?

You got it, ace.

Why did you save my neck back there?

Did you figure you could get something out of it?

Shut yer yap! I�m sick of your lip.

I find it hard to believe myself.

If I let someone else kill you, they'll just try to pin your murder on me.

Give it up: you�ve made too many enemies.

Someone or other is going to kill you anyway.

Oh, you! You�re ruining my jolly mood.

We�ll be at the coast soon. I won�t make it hurt.

You ain�t gonna drop me from a watchtower for fires?

You won�t say?

I gotta another question.

Was that yahoo at the shrine yesterday a real cop?

You got some crazy questions, squirt!

He was for real.

When Mayor Saeki was killed, he was the first on the scene.

But nothing was found at the crime scene.

There were rumors he was spending lotsa dough on a broad somewhere.

You win.

Where do you wanna go?

Sorry I spoiled your plans to cash in on me.

Don�t apologize: this will just raise the price on your head.

The punk�s got grit.

Is this the police? I�d like to talk to Officer Seki.

Yes, S-E-K-I.

I�m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Seki.

What are you�?

What do you think you idiots are doing!?

Don�t you know?

We�re trying to find whatever it was that you tried to sell to Jiro Saeki.

Some kind of evidence, I believe.

You�ve got the wrong idea! I don�t know what you�re talking about!

You seem so honest.

But if you don�t know anything, then why are your legs shaking?

Sing, pigeon!

What is it?! Where is it?!

I don�t know! I got spooked and threw it away!

You can do better than that.

Oh, god! Help!

Seki, where are you?!

Let�s scram!

Pull yourself together!

I�m being punished for hiding evidence.

Don�t talk!

I wanted money.

But I didn�t want to sell it to the gangs.

My hat!

It�s in my hat!

It was at the scene.

The heat of the gunpowder clearly embedded the fingerprint.

If you have that�

Hey, Seki!

Don�t even twitch!

We heard everything!

So you�re the ones?

Too bad for you, we�re not.

But if you have that, you got Goto hogtied.

Don�t let him get away!

Where are they? I heard the gunshots.

Come on!

You go on ahead. I got some business to take care of.

So, you still don�t know?

I gave Jiro 1 million yen for nothing.

He outfoxed us.

When we bumped up against Matsui by the shrine, he took Jiro with him.

I almost suspect it was a trap.

Why? Are you hiding something?

I didn�t come here to hear you bellyache!

Sorry, that wasn't my intention.

Have a drink.

What�re you doing?

Why did you call me?

I wanted to know what the money was for.

You could�ve asked Goto! - I can ask anyone I want!

Don�t play me for a sap!

You think I don�t know what�s going on between you and Goto?

Actually, I just wanted to get to know you better.

Try again, honey! I don�t buy it!

What kind of woman do you think I am?

Would I put on a getup like this and give my maid

the night off for someone I don�t like?

But that�s not all. I�ve a favor to ask.

The truth at last. - I want him dead. ASAP.

What?

Does that runt give even a woman like you the jitters?

Not Jiro. Goto.

Is he dizzy for another broad? Or�

Why do you care?

If you kill him, you can have the club.

Of course, I�ll get more out of it than that.

If you�re going to cuckold me, Saijo,

you might think of parking a few blocks away from my girl�s house.

Thanks for the advice with women. Don�t make me laugh!

Don�t try so hard. You look like you�d seen a ghost.

Please, forgive me!

It�s way past that, babe! - Let her be!

Are you all right? I�ll call a doctor.

I�m fine.

Can you forgive me?

I was frightened of you... Very, very frightened.

You goofy dame.

You rest here. Don�t get any crazy ideas.

Nice work!

That was quite a lascivious scene you walked in on.

You think this is funny?

In 30 minutes, you�ll be wearing concrete galoshes.

The morning paper will read, Dead Gangster Found Deep Sea Diving.

Damn phone!

Yeah, Handa Transport. Ah! What?!

I�m only gonna say this once, so listen up.

Goto plans to drown Saijo in the river.

You have about 20 minutes.

They�re gonna whack Saijo?! Hey! Wait! Hello! Hello!

Oh, we�re in a pickle now! - What is it, a hit?

I bet I can sell this info.

I think the blues are the only ones who�d pay you for it.

The blues? Right! - Let's go!

Just a minute, the police don�t have any money!

Hello. What?

The Goto and Handa gangs gonna have a little action under Kuraoka Bridge.

Make sure to bring plenty of bodybags.

It�s nowhere near the cop shop, so you might miss all the action.

Is this true? If this turns out to be a wild goose chase,

I�ll chase you out of Kuraoka for good!

How did they find out about this?

Don�t shoot, it�s Saijo!

Saijo! Saijo!

Boss, we�re wasting ammo! - Kaneda, let�s go!

Get in!

Shootout at Floodgates! Two dead

I see. The fingerprints are burned into the casing...

Where did you get this?

I can sure nail Matsui this time!

Matsui?!

Nothing�s certain yet.

This is just one piece of evidence.

It�s pretty compelling evidence!

That fella�s dead anyway. Not murdered - he took sick and died.

I�m listening.

Several ceramic pipes were found behind the Sanko Building after the murder.

A hobo sleeping there said he saw Matsui

climb in through the window with a golf bag.

He knew that there�d be hell to pay if he talked, so he ran.

He didn�t tell anyone about it.

Then one time, when he was on a bender, he talked.

I hate to break up your party, but you have a promise to keep.

Come in!

You called, Captain?

I want this fingerprint checked immediately.

This one is rare. What kind of a casing is it?

It�s nothing interesting. That�s all.

Kid, I need to tell this to the Commissioner.

This is no joke. I only gave it to you because you said you'd keep quiet.

But it�s our first real lead in a year!

The Commissioner would be very pleased. - I understand.

If you don�t like my present, I�ll take it home with me.

Wait! Don�t go trying to get on my bad side again!

And don�t think that that casing makes you some kind of a hotshot!

Do you really believe that the police are spying for the yakuza?!

Wow! I hadn�t thought of that!

But now that you mention it, I hear Detective Nemoto

is on the Goto gang�s payroll!

What�s this?!

When I went to meet Goto, he damn near killed me.

He suddenly pulled out his gun.

Do you think I�m lying? The truth is, even now�

he�s listening in on us.

Detective Nemoto!

I didn�t think anyone was in here.

Liar! I saw you staring when I came in here.

Don�t feel bad - you know how it is.

I�m counting on you, Captain.

Captain! - Spare me your stories!

There have been discrepancies in a number of your reports.

But until now, I never doubted you.

This is all a big misunderstanding!

Give up the act! You�re a disgrace to your uniform!

Go tender your resignation.

I knew it would come to this some day!

This hand perpetrated the evil!

This hand!

You�re coming to the station, turkey!

Some guys never learn!

Hey, fella! Get up!

Looks like he died, Detective Nemoto.

Get me a knife.

What? - I want a knife.

Don�t worry, this was obviously self-defense...

Isn�t that right, Detective Nemoto?

That�s a sad story...

but it doesn�t change anything.

Please tender your resignation immediately.

I can�t believe it! Captain Hosoki�s been attacked!

What!? - Call an ambulance!

Yes, sir. Put out an APB on Jiro Saeki!

Yes, sir. - Saeki?

I heard them shouting in the interrogation room.

He suddenly started beating the Captain, then ran away.

I chased after him, but he has legs like a jackrabbit.

Is this the casing that Captain Hosoki gave you?

Yes.

There�s been a terrible accident. I don�t think the Captain's going to pull

through. It has something to do with

this fingerprint. Have you found a match?

No, nothing. - Well, I�m just going to

borrow it for a while. - Okay.

What are you doing?!

You can�t trust doctors these days.

Would you like me to give you a checkup too?

Get out of my way!

Dammit!

We lost two men - I wonder why the boss didn�t strike back!

Yeah! I was so sure I was dead that I ditched my best gal!

Why doesn�t he make his move?!

Saijo, why? Why don�t you put a stop to this?!

Mr. Handa, don�t underestimate Goto.

He�s waiting for the right moment, too.

We�re not going to win this by blindly attacking him.

I�m more concerned about the bullet casing.

If we have that, we can lead him around by the nose.

That print belongs to whoever bumped off the mayor.

Hello, Handa Transport.

Oh, it�s you. What?!

I heard how you�re in the market for a bullet casing.

Well, I thought I should finally listen to the doctor

and get surgery, so if you could pony up 100,000 yen...

Right, I get the picture. What?! Nemoto?! I understand!

Hello, this is Jiro Saeki. Who�s calling?

Did you know that the casing disappeared from the police station?

What?!

Judging from your voice, I�d guess you didn�t know.

I just happen to know where it is.

If you�d like to know, come to the Sanko Building at 3:00.

And bring all the money you got.

You should probably head out right away.

There�s an APB out on you for killing Captain Hosoki.

Run that by me again?! Hello! Hello!

Ah, phooey!

Are you Jiro Saeki?

If I said no, would you believe me?

I hereby arrest you for the attempted murder of Captain Hosoki.

"Attempted murder"?!

Count yourself lucky. He�s not seriously injured.

But since he has a concussion,

there�s no telling when he�ll be able to speak again.

How about them apples! What was the weapon?

Like you don�t know!

I�ve got a head like a sieve. I completely forgot.

You will remember everything in good time, I assure you.

Scoundrel! - Nobody move!

Turn around and throw down your guns.

Handcuff yourselves.

Get out! Real easy like.

Get inside!

And let�s ride the elevator.

You�re trapped. There are police in the foyer.

You don�t say.

Don�t worry, I�m taking him to police HQ.

Skip the first floor and take me to the basement.

Oh, fudge!

I guess it didn�t go like you planned. You can get out anytime now.

You bonehead! You�re only making it harder on yourself.

I think it�s you that�s gonna be

in hot water. - What?!

I�m not the one who attacked the Captain.

Who told you I did?

Detective Nemoto. - I figured.

You didn�t do it?

Then why didn�t you go to the station and clear your name?

Believe me, I�d like to, but I�ve other fish to fry.

I don�t have time to idle in a cell eating watery gruel three times a day.

Anyway, once Captain Hosoki comes to, he�ll clear my name.

Please tell the Captain to start talking, ASAP.

Please, help me!

What?! Please! Help me!

Forgive me! I�m sorry! I�m sorry! Forgive me! Help!

It�s how an outlaw faces death that really counts.

Nemoto, do you have anything you�d like to add?

This is enough. You only did one shoe.

I hope you got dough.

Yep. - That�s a relief.

After we got off the phone, I thought you�d be

caught up in trying to escape and forget.

A reasonable concern. How much are you asking?

The thing is, I want to give it to you for free.

But if word gets out I�m dumping info for free,

it could confound the market mechanism in the future.

Business is business. I�m not complaining. How much?

That�s where it gets knotty.

I�m missing three ribs, ya see. Lost 'em to TB.

Why not tell me the price, instead of infecting me?

5 large. Sorry, bunky.

Wowee! I shoulda asked for more! I took it easy on you, since you�re

from out of town and all. I sure got bamboozled!

Where�s the casing? - I got it from Nemoto

My guess is he�s already been spirited away by Handa.

What? Does Goto know about this?

I doubt it. A crummy 50,000 yen - yeesh!

I gotta favor to ask. I want to change the plates on this car.

Do you know a mechanic who'd do that?

Taihei Preschool

Hey, Jiro!

I was worried.

Of course, I never believed that you could be capable of murder,

but the police certainly think so.

I�m sure this is just a misunderstanding

I�m not so jammed up that I gotta ice cops!

But maybe it seems that way.

I�m relieved to hear you say so.

By the way,

did you know there was a witness who saw a Goto gang

captain named Matsui go into the Sanko Building?

He�s inconveniently dead now.

I didn�t know that. That�s another piece of the puzzle.

So then, Goto and Mayor Saeki�s wife�

It�s possible.

That�s not the only evidence.

There�s a spent casing with the perpetrator�s fingerprint on it.

One Detective Nemoto absconded with it from the police station.

He�s a dirty cop on the Goto gang�s payroll.

Indeed, the Handa gang apparently abducted him.

I can�t believe such hijinks are happening in my town!

I feel like I�ve lost control of my senses.

Yeah, you�re the mayor of an insane city.

I should really be telling this to the police,

but unfortunately that�s not an option.

Please pass on the information, Uncle Ryuichiro.

Just a second, Jiro!

Calm down.

We can take care of the rest.

The authorities will settle this matter once and for all.

I don�t want to wait another year!

Jiro!

Search every room!

Hide me!

Please open the door!

Who�s there?

The police, ma�am. Please let me in. OK?

Hold on! You�re being rude!

I don�t care if you are a policeman, when a lady is in a state of undress�

I�m terribly sorry, miss! There�s a young criminal on the loose.

I wouldn�t let a man in here when I�m not properly dressed.

I�m so sorry. He�s a vicious criminal, ma�am. Please be careful.

Get back in there!

Thanks.

What was that?

A token of my gratitude. That�s how they do it in Alaska.

Oh, you!

You let him get away AGAIN!? What are you doing out there?!

Arrest him! I want every man on the force after him!

Who knows what else he�s capable of?!

What's this moron up to, visiting the mayor at a time like this?!

Hello, police.

Oh, Mr. Mayor, I�m sorry. After we received your call,

I�m afraid he escaped again.

You dimwit! We don�t know for sure that he�s the criminal.

I just said to take him into custody for safety�s sake.

A patrol car came barreling up to my house, with its siren blaring.

I hope a sugar daddy of yours doesn�t barge in suddenly.

No skin off my back.

I�ll just say that you held me at gunpoint.

You�re a dangerous criminal, dontcha know?

That used to be my dream...

A sugar daddy who was a high roller and wasn�t too old.

A bit pathetic, I imagine.

Need a match?

I think there�s some in the drawer.

Not too old, she says. I feel sorry for you.

I was talking to myself.

It�s like a military operation out there.

This is no joke. I�m waiting for a big job.

You can�t go out there! It�s crazy!

Let me use your phone.

Hello, Handa Transport?

Who may I ask is calling?

Oh, it�s you.

I�d like to thank you for saving Saijo.

It was very kind.

What? A spent casing?

Don�t play dumb, I have the evidence right here.

If anything smells fishy, I�d be happy to turn it over to the police.

How did you get the casing and dispose of Nemoto?

The police will be very interested in this and many other questions.

All right, you got my attention.

What are you asking for?

The casing, of course.

I can�t imagine any good coming from you bozos having it.

You can�t gather the fingerprints of every person in town.

The assassin will therefore continue to go free.

And?

I figured out who the perpetrator is.

I�ll give you the name, you give me the casing.

The casing doesn�t mean anything to you, but it�s valuable evidence to me.

You have evidence, but the problem for you is the criminal.

So, if I tell you his name, you can roast him on a skewer!

If you�re game, I won�t breathe a word of this to the fuzz.

Whattaya think? Not a bad deal, I�d say.

OK, you�re on.

Meet me at Dreamland at 2:00am.

At the back door. Got it?!

Mr. Handa!

Saijo, we�ve got our work cut out for us tonight!

Saijo? - Yeah, he insisted on meeting you.

I�ll meet him.

This is a fine way to greet a fella!

State your business.

Sorry to put on airs, but I�d like to talk to you man-to-man.

Mr. Goto, we can�t be at each other�s throats every minute of the day.

Let�s try to wrap up negotiations without any injuries, shall we?

We can work to do business without stepping on each other�s toes.

What business?

We want money. And I know what you want.

So, I think we make a trade here.

The casing of the bullet that killed Mayor Saeki has a fingerprint on it.

If we toss the body of Jiro Saeki into the pot,

I�d say it�s a bargain at 10 million yen.

I see.

2:00am tonight at Dreamland.

That still gives you 4 hours. I figure you can get together the money in time.

But I want you to bring it personally, Mr. Goto.

Of course, you can bring as many of your cub scouts as you like.

You got a deal.

I�ll see you at the front gate.

Mr. Goto, why did you agree to it?

They�ll ambush us and kill us to the last man!

I�d rather face off at Dreamland than at the Handa Transport office.

If what he�s saying is true, then we�ll get both the casing and Jiro in one go.

If we�re lucky, Jiro and Handa will kill each other.

Now I get the picture. It�s gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight!

That sounds like some pretty wishful thinking.

Things tend to work out better when you don�t cling too hard to life.

Yasaka, gather up all our men.

Those sons of bitches!

Boys, take whatever you like!

Listen good! Tonight Goto Enterprises will shutter its doors for good!

I don�t think that we�ll get the 10 million and kill them so easily.

That twerp Jiro will get his. If he and Goto shoot each other dead, that is.

Then peace and brotherhood will prevail.

Handa Transport

I�m surprised to see you came.

I�m Handa. - Are you sure?

Look, scooter, I can�t believe that you forgot a handsome mug like mine.

So who were the dodos I saw hiding on the way in?

Mr. Handa, be careful!

You�re mistaken, I�m sure. Ain�t nobody here but us chickens.

We went to the front gate as arranged,

but we don�t like to do business under the table, Mr. Handa.

He�s yours for the taking, Mr. Goto.

And the casing?

Freeze!

It�s just newspapers!

Kaneda, I�m going on ahead!

Mr. Goto!

Miyoshi, use the grenade!

Take that!

Cool! Let me try!

I�m going to borrow this. How about if you run away right about now?

It�s up to you now.

Mr. Goto!

Mr. Goto!

What�s all the racket!? I�ll teach you!

I apologize for the trouble, it shouldn�t be too much longer.

Matsui! If you�re alive, come out!

I ain�t here to talk, Matsui!

Doofus! I was just trying to get your attention!

So, you saved me a second time.

Don�t worry. You can repay me with your life.

Dream on, Matsui! Come out, it�s way past your bedtime!

Let�s do it!

Duck!

Matsui!

Your debt goes unpaid. It wasn�t worth the trouble.

Tell me! Did you kill my father?! Is that why you saved me?!

This is no joke...

although I was originally picked for the job.

But someone else beat me to the punch.

What?!

He couldn�t face Goto after I spotted him.

Such a corrupt� important man.

Your father caught him red-handed.

Yasuo came crying to him, and I�

Imamura!

Why, you look as if you were expecting someone else.

What are you talking about?

I wasn�t expecting anyone at this hour.

My apologies.

I wrapped up some work and wanted to see you as soon as possible.

You shot him in the back?

Hey, where did you get the rod?

It wasn�t me.

He was dead when I got here.

He was always... kind to me.

It was that woman! It�s all her fault!

A woman?

She escaped when Mr. Goto was under arrest for A&B in Tokyo.

When Mr. Goto and I finally caught up with her,

she was already married to the mayor.

Look... See how important she was to Mr. Goto.

I figure they understood each other.

He probably loved her, but he used this to threaten my young mother.

Hey, did Goto have anything else of value?

In the top drawer.

Yoshiko, what are you doing?

I can�t get this stain out of my coat.

Don�t worry about that. Come here.

So you do have something to hide.

That stain is Goto�s blood.

And that�s not all...

The man who killed pop also killed Yasuo. That guy.

Get back! Jiro, you know I detest violence.

Why did you kill pop?!

The amusement park was my dream,

but I didn�t have the money to build it.

There was no other way.

That was the problem.

I love children so much, but I couldn�t have my own.

What are you doing?! Let go, you fool!

Yoshiko!

How strange!

I�ve avenged Yasuo�s death!

Come in.

I didn�t expect you so soon.

Is your injury already healed?

I was so surprised when I saw it in the news.

I couldn�t rest. This case wouldn�t let me.

How true!

And Jiro, the police thought you were the criminal!

Call me Saeki.

Goto�s dead.

He left behind a photo from five years ago.

It gives a man pause.

You were so shook up and wouldn�t give me a moment�s peace.

You�re shaking even now.

I won�t make a fuss, but if you�ll give me just a moment.

Are you ready?

I�m sorry I didn�t offer you two a thing to drink.

Would you like some coffee, Captain?

Not today!

Jiro�

I almost forgot: you like the hard stuff.

Help yourself.

Let�s go!

All right, I�ll go.

Hisako Saeki, I'm arresting you for the crime of bigamy...

Call me Hisako Goto.

As you like. Anyway, you�re under arrest.

Jiro, I�ll need you to come to come back to Kuraoka City one more time.

I can�t believe that you raised such a ruckus, and came out without a scratch.

Don�t be that way, sourpuss.

You have to take part of the blame, pop.

THE END Translation: scannon Timing: lordretsudo