All language subtitles for Scandal.Eve.S01E06.JAPANESE.WEB-DL.NF.en

As of today, I will be taking over
as the new CEO of Kodama Productions,

in place of my father,
who is now bedridden from illness.

I am Yoko Kodama.

My father built this company
from the ground up

and made it into what it is today
with help from many talents and employees.

I plan to make
this company flourish even more,

and contribute to the innovation
of the industry as a whole.

I look forward to your support.

Many of our talents joined
because of Mr. Shigeru's charisma.

Doesn't feel like
Ms. Yoko can live up to him.

You think we'll lose cohesion?

I just hope the talents
won't start leaving us.

I will create a new
Kodama Productions with my own strength.

The winner of the Kodama Productions
Next Star Audition 2020 is...

Ms. Yuri Hara!

Congratulations!

Come to the center of the stage.

To achieve that, I will create a new star.

Yuri.

I've landed a lead role for you
in JBS's Wednesday 9:00 p.m. drama slot.

-What?
-Filming starts next month.

The actor they'd hired had to drop out,
so they offered you the role instead!

But I'm still...

You'll be fine!
This is a very rare opportunity.

It's a premium time slot!
And for a series, no less.

You'll be famous overnight!

Okay.

Do your best, okay?

I will.

Isn't it too soon for Yuri?

The filming starts so soon.

JBS practically begged me to.

The conditions aren't ideal, but I secured
a main role for their April series too.

But if the ratings don't turn out well,
she'll get bashed for certain.

It's too much for her to handle.
She needs more experience...

We'll pass up opportunities
if we take our time.

Now is the time for Yuri
to get her name out.

Don't you even get that?

But she's...

You're no longer in charge of Yuri.

NEW QUEEN OF LOW RATINGS
YURI HARA

DISASTROUS PERFORMANCE BY LEAD ACTRESS

How's Yuri doing?

She managed to finish filming,
but she seems pretty shaken up.

She might need a break.

What are you saying?

Her next shoot is coming up soon.
What about that?

Excuse me.

Hello?

What?

Yuri...

Yuri...

Yuri...

You monster!

You people killed Yuri.

Give me my Yuri back.

Give her back.

Give my Yuri back!

Yuri's parents
are threatening to sue the agency.

They're saying she killed herself
due to the agency's overzealous approach.

How should we respond?

Call Kondo, the journalist.

A SAD FATHER-DAUGHTER STORY
ACTRESS YURI HARA

THE REASON FOR SUICIDE
WAS A FINANCIAL DISPUTE WITH HER FATHER

YASUO KONDO, FREELANCE JOURNALIST

It was a shame what happened to Yuri.

But there's nothing we can do
about someone's personal troubles.

Is that really so?

I think we share part of the blame
for what happened to Yuri.

Are you saying it was my fault?

You can't nurture actors by giving them
lead roles that they haven't earned.

I will nurture actors
with a different method.

Are you saying you plan to go independent...

and leave us?

Do you really think you can antagonize
Kodama Pro and still get by?

Thank you for all you've done for me.

-Kuryu's leaving us?
-Yes.

He says he won't renew his contract.

Don't tell me...

Yes.

He's signing with Ioka's agency.

Tell the program directors of all
TV stations to deny Kuryu any roles

and that we'll withdraw
our talents if they don't comply.

Yes, ma'am.

JOINT COMPANY INFO SESSION

Ma'am, do you have a moment?

Sorry.

-It's about JBS TV's special drama.
-Yes?

The actor starring alongside Mr. Aso
is going to be Kuryu Fujiwara.

How is that possible?

JBS wouldn't dare do that.

Well...

apparently, the chairman allowed it.

What is the meaning of this?

Meaning of what?

Why did you allow Kuryu to get the role?

Why do you side with Ioka to this extent?

Do you hate me that much?

Don't flaunt your own pettiness!

A US-Japan joint production.

We'll make the announcement
after the JBS special drama conference.

So it's finally time.

Let's make sure
your American debut goes well.

Which is why...

What is it?

I'm counting on you, okay?

Of course.

I'm very grateful to you.

I'll repay the favor.

Sexually assaulted by Aso?

The other party came to us.

It was your leadership that made
Mr. Aso into the face of your agency,

which is precisely why
if people found out about this,

you would be forced
to take responsibility.

I expect the public
will react quite strongly,

especially considering the subject matter.

For next year,

we'll give Buncho exclusive rights to sell
calendars featuring our idol talents.

On top of that...

I'm sure you need
another scoop in exchange.

An alleged affair
by celebrity actor Kuryu Fujiwara.

Should get plenty of attention, no?

KURYU FUJIWARA DRANK
AND CHEATED WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL

This is fine.

Everything's proceeding smoothly.

Or so I had thought.

WILL

Mom.

Riko.

She's asleep.

They said she would survive.

Thank goodness.

How did this happen?

What happened?

Pardon me.

Ms. Hirata?

Oh dear.

Excuse me. Are you an acquaintance?

Not quite.

Here's who I am.

I'm Kondo, a freelance journalist.

I was gathering information
from your daughter about a certain case.

What a close call, though.

She almost got away.

They do say dead men tell no tales.

What do you mean?

Wait.

You don't know?

-It's pretty big news...
-Wait.

Let's talk outside.

What are you up to?

Even coming all the way here.

What am I up to?
Just gathering information.

You wrote that article, didn't you?

The one saying Riko made up
the assault for money and publicity.

Yes.

And I plan to write
a follow-up to that one soon.

About how the hostess
who claimed sexual assault had a relative,

who happens to work for Weekly Buncho.

What if Weekly Buncho made her lie
to get a big story out of it?

Now that's a scoop.

Can I get...

a comment on that?

What are you even thinking?

My sister almost died.

All because of your made-up article.

What gives you the right?

As if you haven't done
the same thing as well.

Whether it's made-up or not,
it just has to get the public's attention.

Isn't that what our job's all about?

Anyway, I'll scram for today.

I'll come again.

I see. He visited you at the hospital?

He's the freelance journalist
who wrote the article on Riko.

You should watch out too.

Thanks for informing me.

Please stay with Ms. Riko for now.

Bye.

Ma'am.

How's Ms. Riko?

Her life's not in danger.

That's good.

But we're back to square one
regarding the sexual assault.

We can't expect
Ms. Riko's cooperation as she is now.

The criticism against Ms. Riko
seems to have dialed down for now.

They're just bored
by the lack of new info.

If we pursue Aso for the sexual assault,

they'll attack her again
with baseless speculations.

Just like with Yuri.

Ms. Saki.

I'm sorry.

It's about Mr. Fujiwara's online drama.

He's been let go.

One of his co-stars
was with Kodama Productions,

and they raised a complaint.

That's just...

I'm sorry.

I tried to negotiate with them
to let him stay on, but it didn't work.

I'm so sorry. It's all my fault.

It's not.

I should have supported you properly.

You did more than enough
to get things going.

I'm sorry.

Do we let Fujiwara...

I'll tell him myself.

Sorry to call you here all of a sudden.

It's fine.

It's a shame about that online drama.

-Your comeback was so close.
-What?

You haven't heard?

You've made the wrong decision.

But I'll give you a chance.

It's not too late for you.

I can guarantee you a comeback
and turn you into a star.

I wonder if Ioka
could manage the same thing.

EXCLUSIVITY CONTRACT

THE WRITER OF RIKO'S ARTICLE
CAME TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE MIGHT BE CONNECTED
TO KODAMA PRODUCTIONS.

FREELANCE JOURNALIST, YASUO KONDO

ACTRESS YURI HARA
SUICIDE

YASUO KONDO, FREELANCE JOURNALIST

Excuse me, you can't just...

Ioka.

What is this? How rude of you...

It was you. First Yuri and now this.

What are you on about?

Riko Hirata tried to commit suicide.
Thankfully, she managed to survive.

Who? I'm afraid
I've never heard that name.

Ms. Riko tried to go public
about being assaulted by Aso.

But then an article defaming her came out.
That was your doing, wasn't it?

Do you have any proof of that?

Yasuo Kondo.

I could never forget.

That's the reporter who wrote
an article about Yuri Hara,

after her suicide four year ago.

He made it seem like her suicide

was caused by financial disputes
with her father.

You orchestrated that too, didn't you?

If people knew that work-related issues
might have caused her suicide,

it would be seen as a management failure
and damage the agency's reputation!

Are you done yet?

I don't have time
for your speculative nonsense.

Do you not feel anything?

Do you value
your agency's reputation that much?

You'd sacrifice lives for it?

You think that's acceptable?

You're the one sacrificing lives!

What?

What did you ever do
for Yuri Hara and Kuryu Fujiwara?

You failed to provide a suitable stage
for them or to protect them from harm!

On the contrary,

they both lost their future
because they were involved with you.

And you dare speak to me of management?

Kuryu learned his lesson the hard way.

I talked to him just now.

With Kuryu?

If he returns to us,

I promised to get him lead roles
in at least two TV dramas per year,

as well as four ad contracts.

And earnings upwards of 200 million yen
in the first year alone.

You sold him out to a weekly magazine!

-And now you...
-The choice lies with Kuryu.

I'm curious what choice he'll make.

Aren't you?

EXCLUSIVITY CONTRACT

Please leave a message after the beep.

Hey, Kuryu?

I need to talk to you.

Can you call me back?

Ninomiya?

Her condition is stable for now.

She's fine.

I see.

Besides your sister,
Aso assaulted others too.

I went and talked to a couple of them.

What?

They saw your sister's post
and found the courage to speak out too.

If multiple people give their testimony,

his agency can't just
dismiss it all as lies.

But why?

If I hadn't given up on the article...

this wouldn't have happened to her.

I'm really sorry.

Kanade...

you should write the article.

Make sure your sister's actions
weren't in vain.

I'll get in touch later.

Riko!

They're all talking about me.

But none of them
are listening to what I said.

The truth won't get through to anyone!

I wonder what will happen if I die.

Will they believe me then?

Or will they just insult me more?

Riko!

Trust in me.

I'll make sure...

the truth gets out.

Ms. Saki.

Thanks for coming.

-I'll have what she had.
-Yes, sir.

The online drama...

didn't work out.

Is that so?

I'm sorry.

I just...

couldn't accept the old ways
where the agency's influence

determined everything.

That's why I created Rafale.

To try to change the industry,
at least a little.

But really, what I couldn't accept
most of all was myself.

I couldn't protect Yuri.

In the end,
I haven't changed a bit since then.

I ruined your future, too.

I'm sorry.

Here you go, sir.

You met Ms. Yoko, right?

Yes.

I heard about the offer she made.

Whatever you decide,
I promise to respect your wishes.

I thought about dying.

After that scandal...

I lost my family, my work, everything.

MET AT A BAR
AND SPENT THE NIGHT AT A HOTEL

On TV, they were
spreading rumors about me.

And on social media,
people were telling me to go die.

I was genuinely about to lose it.

Even death seemed better
than going through all of that.

It really did.

But...

In that moment...

you visited me, Ms. Saki.

It's because you stayed by my side...

that I was able to pull through.

You're the reason I'm still alive.

I'm only here now
because you were there for me.

That's why I have
no intention of leaving Rafale.

No matter what.

Kuryu.

If we give up now, nothing will change.

Think of the industry.

Also, I showed the contract
from Kodama Productions to Mirei too.

And guess what?

Can you believe this?

What are these terms?

The agency takes a 70% cut?

Absolutely unbelievable.

They're mocking you.

She was pissed.

What?

That their cut was too high.

Even Rafale would be
better than this, she said.

Wait, "even" Rafale?

Well, yeah.

I'll keep following your lead, Ms. Saki.

Thank you.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m.,

I'll meet another talent
who was assaulted by Aso.

She's willing to testify?

Yes.

She hadn't even told
her own agency about it yet,

but Riko's post gave her the motivation.

But she might face intimidation
from her agency or Kodama Productions

if she comes forward with her story.

She wants to continue
her activities in the industry.

Could you help her out?

Of course. I'll help in any way I can.

We can't let this injustice continue.

Being forced into ignoring
unacceptable behavior is just outrageous.

Good evening, sir.

What have you been digging into?

Did you think I hadn't noticed?

I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone.

I'm scared to do it even now.

But when I saw Riko Hirata's post online,
I knew I couldn't just stay quiet.

We promise to keep
our sources confidential.

Thank you for being brave.

We'll make sure your courage isn't wasted.

I'll be talking
to another person tomorrow.

With this many testimonies,
they can't talk their way out of it.

Only thing left is how to make it public.

Weekly Buncho would be
the best option, considering its reach.

I doubt the editor-in-chief will allow it.
It's more likely that he'll cover it up.

Should we go with a different medium?

Hello there.

Sir?

Why are you here?

You were making some strange moves.

I just kept watch.

Sorry for barging in.

Please take my card.

You seriously plan to publish
an article on Aso's sexual assaults?

It won't just be Buncho.

You'll be blacklisted
by basically all publishers.

I'll live with that.

You want to help your sister
at the cost of your career?

How touching.

That's not it.

Her being family is irrelevant.

As a reporter,
I feel like this is the right call.

In that case...

put it in Weekly Buncho.

What?

What a fancy office, by the way.

You'll write it no matter what, right?

Then write it for Weekly Buncho.

But why?

You suppressed the article before.

What are you plotting now?

When Ninomiya first came to me,

I thought it was a tough sell
with only one person's account.

However, the story's different
if you have several people's testimonies.

A big scoop like this
has to go to Weekly Buncho.

I plan to mention the connection between
Weekly Buncho and Kodama Productions.

And your collusion with Yoko Kodama.

Go right ahead!

It could ruin your career.

You might even be dismissed from your job.

I would expect nothing less.

It's been long enough.

I applied to the early retirement program.

I'll get a hefty severance payment too.

Organizations are best used
to your benefit, you know?

I'll be waiting for your draft.

You've got a nice agency.

Excuse me.

Weekly Buncho sent us this.

REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION

HIDETO ASO'S SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS

Yes?

I just received a questionnaire
from Weekly Buncho.

This must be a mistake.

It's not a mistake.

What do you mean?

Well, the tides have turned.

Of the times?

You betrayed me?

Betrayed?

Sounds like what
a weekly magazine would do.

A friend in need
makes for a good scoop indeed.

I expect you understand what will become
of your standing after doing this?

Sure.

I gave up on becoming
the managing director.

I'm not really the type
to lead an entire organization.

Goodbye then.

Tell all the news stations
not to cover this.

And stop the article from coming out!

-But...
-Just do it, whatever it takes!

This is the final draft.

HIDETO ASO'S SEXUAL ASSAULT
LINK BETWEEN KODAMA PRO & BUNCHO?

Kodama Productions did not respond.

We'll send it to the press then.

We can finally put an end to everything.

Thank you.

Ma'am.

Excuse me.

A visitor for you.

Akashi?

We need to talk.

WEEKLY BUNCHO
NOVEMBER 6 ISSUE

Excuse me.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
ALLEGEDLY FAKED CREDENTIALS

Looks like it went well.

I would like to thank
all of you for coming here today.

Just as we informed
the media outlets in advance,

I called you here to discuss
the details of an article

which was to be published
in today's issue of Weekly Buncho,

and contained allegations
of sexual assault by Actor A.

What is this?

Didn't you stop the article?

I saw the questionnaire you sent.

And you came to stop us?

It's pointless.

No. That's not why I'm here.

The article defaming Ms. Riko Hirata,
the leak about Fujiwara's scandal,

and the scandal article
after Yuri Hara's death.

I arranged all of them
as directed by Yoko Kodama.

I am truly...

I am truly sorry for what l did!

I know what Aso did to Ms. Riko...

and to several other women.

I knew...

and turned a blind eye
to it all this time.

If it's not too late,
I want to provide my testimony.

Please!

Akashi.

Why did you suddenly decide
that you want to testify?

I want to stop Kodama Productions
and Ms. Yoko herself, with my testimony!

If you're truly willing
to provide your account,

it will raise the article's credibility.

Are you really sure?

I'm prepared.

I understand.

I'll start editing at once.

Please wait!

Can we stop the publication?

-What?
-Ma'am, what are you saying?

If we keep going, we'll be no different
from Kodama Pro and their methods.

I think we should take responsibility
for the information we put out there.

If we don't, we can't truly change
the current situation.

In the process
of our independent investigation,

we obtained several testimonies

from people who were
sexually assaulted by Actor A.

Given the similarities in his methods,

we think there's a high likelihood
he regularly engages in sexual assault.

As for the particulars of this case,

we shall not share any details as we
have handed the case over to the police.

Furthermore, an article was posted online,

defaming a woman
who tried to speak out about this case,

accusing her of faking it
for settlement money.

The contents of this article
are utterly baseless,

and we are considering
legal action in response.

Are you talking about the accusation
against Hideto Aso that blew up online?

Wasn't that a false accusation?

-Right.
-What about it?

As I said earlier,

I will not share any details
as to the particulars of the case.

Then why did you hold
this press conference?

-Give us an explanation!
-Right!

If you're not going to tell us anything,
how do we know your claims are true?

-Yes!
-Exactly!

Give a proper explanation!

I will now call upon Ms. Ioka,
representing Rafale,

and Hirata, a Weekly Buncho reporter,

to explain the purpose
of this press conference.

I'm Ioka, CEO of Rafale.

I have been investigating
Actor A's sexual assault allegations,

alongside Ms. Hirata, who is a reporter.

But as was mentioned earlier,

I decided that it was best not to share
the details of the investigation here.

Nevertheless,

I called upon you today

to ask you to reexamine
what gets treated as truth

in news reportings these days.

Weekly magazines, TV, and online news.

Faced with a torrent
of information in various media,

how can anyone be sure
whether that information is true?

I'll tell you how. It gets reported
because that's what the facts say!

-Yes!
-Exactly!

I agree that facts are indisputable,
but the truth is a different matter.

That's because the truth
that the news media portrays

is fabricated by arbitrarily
omitting and twisting the facts.

And at times, that fabricated truth...

can take lives.

Ms. Hirata over there is a reporter
for Weekly Buncho, right?

What do you make
of Ms. Ioka's comments just now?

I share the same sentiment as her.

Are you saying that you've been reporting
twisted versions of the truth until now?

Perhaps I have.

It's all too easy to twist the truth
to your liking in a magazine article,

while avoiding responsibility
by keeping your name and face hidden.

Today, we chose to avoid that
by speaking directly to you.

Are you accusing us
of spreading fake news?

Let me ask you then.
How many of you can swear

that you've only ever
written factual information?

Journalism provides
a great service to society

by bringing concealed facts
to the public's attention,

through magazines or otherwise.

But there's a negative side to it too.

I don't think it's controversial to state
that some amount of scandals

are portrayed in a skewed manner
due to industry power dynamics.

Those with authority dilute the truth
and spread narratives of their liking.

And sometimes,

the news media itself manufactures a truth
that's more likely to stir up the public.

People then believe
that manufactured truth

and use it as justification
to bring harm to others.

Sometimes, even threatening their lives.

Let's stop perpetuating this cycle.

Do you have any proof
of such manipulation of information?

For one example,
the higher-ups at Weekly Buncho

were in a secret alliance
with a major talent agency,

and suppressed an article on the
aforementioned sexual assault allegations.

Sir, did you know about this?

In addition to that,

this major talent agency ignored
the situation, despite being aware of it,

and even tried
to cover it up using its influence.

An inside source confirmed that to us.

Was that you?

Furthermore, as for why this incident
happened in the first place,

I am of the opinion that an old-fashioned
and flawed management style is to blame.

While Actor A himself obviously deserves
punishment for his alleged sexual assault,

the victims of his assault
did not simply remain silent.

They were robbed of their voice and forced
to live in fear, shame, and solitude.

No matter how esteemed they may be
or how many fans they may have,

someone who tramples on another's dignity
doesn't deserve to stand on stage.

I refuse to let Actor A
get away with what he's done.

However, I believe there's more
that needs to be done.

He is a product of the old system that
yet exists in the entertainment industry.

The management was lenient on him due to
his status, and no one could condemn him.

The women who fell victim to him

were faced with the fear of losing their
careers if they stood up against him.

He was allowed to roam free
and create even more victims.

This incident could very well
be called a man-made tragedy,

caused by the negligence
and irresponsibility of the industry.

You used to be a part of
Kodama Productions before, didn't you?

Why didn't you speak up back then?

-Right!
-Answer that!

It's as you say.

I was once part of Kodama Productions.

I can't deny that
I overlooked many issues,

all to stay in line
with the agency's customs.

I can't erase my past.

I share part of the responsibility.

That's why I'm sitting here today.

Nothing will change
just by wallowing in regret.

There are systemic issues
that we need to put an end to.

Favoritism, negligence,
success built on sacrificing others.

We can't hand over such customs
to the next generation.

I believe that putting
an end to these customs

is a duty borne by all of us,
but especially myself as a participant.

This is how we take responsibility.

I call for a third-party investigation
into the actor involved in this case.

As well as the agency
he is affiliated with.

If the agency suffers
from systemic issues,

then I believe it should
be dissolved entirely.

You don't know a thing.

You don't know a thing!

To hell with your preaching!

Ioka is right!

We have to take responsibility!

Responsibility?

Why do I have to take responsibility?

Ms. Yoko, what's going on
with this press conference?

Why haven't you stopped it?

It's your job to...

Who do you think you are?

Whose fault do you think this is?

Ma'am!

The agency's been backed
into a corner because of you!

It's your fault!

It's your fault!

Do you even know how hard
I've had to work?

All because of you!

-Do you have any idea what you did?!
-Ma'am. Please stop.

Calm down!

-Ma'am!
-It's all your fault!

Issues with the agency's customs?

Well, I didn't create them.

My father did!

I was trying to change them!

Until this happened!

It's true that you inherited
the company from Mr. Shigeru.

But you didn't try to change
the agency at its core.

If they pulled in numbers
or were popular enough,

you'd overlook any unreasonable behavior.

And if something happened,

you'd hire a reporter and bend the truth
to protect the talent's reputation.

But we should have changed our ways.

And if we couldn't,
we should have ended it.

That was...

Mr. Shigeru's final wish.

The dissolution of Kodama Productions.

That's what was in the will
that you kept hidden.

The chairman knew that
the customs of Kodama Pro

had fallen behind the times.

I expect she'll be angry.

Once she finds out.

Why not tell her directly?

Do you really think she'll listen?

She takes after me.

I could only ever teach her
the methods I knew myself.

I'm leaving her...

in your care.

Screw that!

How dare he act like that now?

He never did anything fatherly for me.

He clung to the agency until the end...

and died as if he was running away.

And then he does this at the end?!

Why have I...

What have worked for all this time?

Pardon me.

I came to this conference today
for the sake of someone dear to me,

and above all, to grant myself
an opportunity to move forward.

Even if my voice is small,

I wanted to let it be heard
instead of choosing silence.

But now,

I am certain that all the people in this
venue and those listening to us elsewhere,

have received our message loud and clear.

I believe that at this very moment,
we are standing at a crossroads.

We live in a time of great schism
between the old and new values.

But I believe that it is
in that very chaos

that true change can manifest.

It takes courage to change.

The act of speaking out
is accompanied by pain.

But despite that...

I want to believe.

That we have the power to change.

It is not someone else who will change,
but all of us individually.

Speak up.

Have doubts.

Have empathy for the pain of others.

That is what will help bring about change.

The future...

is not to be awaited, but to be created.

I hope that this moment can be the start...

of that change.

Subtitle translation by: Saim Ul Hassan