Original subtitles

A TOHO PRESENTATION

A Toho and Kitty Film Joint Production

ALMOST TRANSPARENT BLUE

Kunihiko Mitamura

Mitsuru Hirata Narumi Tokura, Togo Igawa

Hironori Sakuma, Goro Masaki Yuri Takase, Keiko Wakasa

Akiko Nakamura Hosei Komatsu

Senri Sakurai

Alexander Easley Beckley Thomas

Ike Williams Kim Wells, Pamela Carr

Mari Nakayama

Original Story/ Screenplay/ Directed by: Ryu Murakami

1971, Summer

I'm feeling a little nauseous.

Why don't you eat some vegetables?

Right, vegetables.

- Lettuce, tomato, lettuce, tomato, lettuce. - Hey, did my brother come by?

Lettuce... Lettuce!

If he comes, tell him I'm not here.

I won't leave my room no matter who comes, okay?

I don't even know this brother of yours.

Like I told you, no matter who comes by, tell them I'm not here.

I'm going to buy lettuce.

Is he stoned again?

Welcome!

Lady, lettuce.

Give me one lettuce.

Welcome!

Thank you!

Welcome, welcome.

Thank you.

I'll take the lettuce, okay?

Thank you.

Where did Mari go? You know, don't you?

So, you're her brother, huh?

Where is she?

I don't know.

You're friends, aren't you?

Stop the car.

I'll tell Chief Tachikawa that you're messing with her.

So?

Where's Mari?

I know you're selling women to the black people in exchange of drugs.

Where's Mari?

Shit...

Son of a bitch!

What's wrong, Ryu?

What?!

You fucking pig!

What the hell are you doing?

He's crazy.

What the hell?

Stop it!

Stop it.

Wait, wait.

Wait.

Mari's in her room.

Mari's in her room!

Mari's in her room!

All right, all right.

Shut up, you fucker!

I'll get her!

I'll get her!

Hey!

Mari!

It's Ryu!

It's me, Ryu.

Your brother's home.

What?

Can I borrow some ketchup?

Wait a moment!

You liar!

Let's go visit her.

I'm not going.

That's no parent...

You idiot!

Even if she's at death's door, she still wants to see a whore like you.

I'm not asking you to bring money! Come to your senses!

I'm not going!

Like I said, that's no parent.

But she is!

All I did was come out of her hole!

You pretentious bitch!

It's not like I'm shedding tears, too, you know?

Women, no.

Skin smooth, you get me?

Ryu.

I heard you're throwing another party?

Suddenly?

Yeah.

I promised the black people I'd throw one.

And I already got the heroin.

Reiko.

You're going to the party, aren't you?

I guess...

Don't do it with those black people.

Don't you have anything to drink?

Is there nothing in the fridge?

There's nothing!

Okinawa, you should've bought something.

Why don't you just eat that pineapple?

Isn't it already rotten?

Ryu.

You like rotten things, don't you?

What?

Some people do like it, you know?

Rotten things, I mean...

Be it meat or fruit.

They can't throw it away even if it's moldy, so they keep it.

I won't give you any of this heroine if you keep saying weird stuff.

Don't try to hide it.

You like it, don't you?

I heard you don't like fresh vegetables or fresh fish?

And the same goes for women.

That you'd rather have an older woman than a younger one.

I've heard that as well.

What happened to the vegetables?

You didn't buy them?

Yeah, I did,

but they were so soggy.

I threw them away.

You must have bought rotten vegetables!

They were fresh when I bought them.

Everything rots once you touch it, doesn't it, Ryu?

Don't be silly.

I heard you were at the health center.

Yeah.

The one at the base.

Did you get over your addiction?

I left half-way through.

You ran away, didn't you?

- Are you sure you know how to do it? - Leave it to me.

She wanted to be a nurse when she was in elementary school.

Ouch.

It hurts.

Huh?

I think that's not a vein.

Do it right.

Ouch.

Isn't it a bit more to the side?

That's weird...

Your veins are so hard, Ryu.

You're not practicing on me, are you?

Ah!

The needle came off.

Don't open up too many holes in me, okay?

Don't make me laugh.

All right! That's a vein. Here we go.

There's air in it.

Oh my...

You're right...

He'll die if you inject air.

I know.

I saw it on Ben Casey way back.

I forgot my bag, too.

It's a big loss.

Tom is a fake military police, isn't he? Nobody believed him.

Hey...

I might have depersonalization disorder.

Don't care.

I'm thinking of taking Shirley back.

But then, there's you and Mac, too...

I'm worried,

but it's getting to the point where I just don't care anymore.

And if I don't give a rat's ass about Shirley, then I don't care about anyone else.

Isn't it strange?

I'm trying to be more optimistic.

You've increased the dose.

You have to sterilize the needle every time.

You want a hit?

I still have some.

I don't like injections.

What are you doing?

I'm cleaning the syringe.

Why don't you come over here?

Okinawa, wait!

Don't go so far ahead.

I wish I was also an addict.

We both need to be fully addicted...

Otherwise, I feel like there's this gap between Okinawa and I.

Huh?

Hey, what are these thin lines called again?

Hey, do you know what these are?

Aren't those the leaf veins?

Yeah!

That's right. The leaf veins.

You know, back in the biology club at my middle school,

I made a sample of this stuff.

What was it called? I forgot the name...

When you soak it in chemicals, only this part stays white,

and everything else dissolves.

And only the veins remain.

I'm going to your place...

Do you think Moko and Kei will come?

- I want to tell them about the party. - Yeah, they'll come.

They come every day. They'll come today, too.

I wish I could show it to you.

Huh? Show me what?

The sample I had for this!

I collected all kinds of leaves.

Though, most people collect insects in Okinawa.

But I collected these leaves.

And the teacher praised me for it!

I even got an award and went to Kagoshima.

It's true.

I still keep them in my desk drawer.

I wish I could show you!

Well, I guess there should be no more stock after all he's paid.

What are you talking about? He said he shoplifted it all.

Oh, Niblow's drugstore? Norbless drugstore?

Hey, didn't we have candy like this before?

The ones that refresh your mouth.

Oh, Ryu! It's been a while.

Did you bring any gifts? Do you have a bowl or something?

There's no way I'd have it with me.

I'll bring some next time I have a party.

You're supposed to eat it with whiskey.

But I can't drink alcohol.

You can't eat it with something sweet. It'll make you sick and you'll throw up.

Hey.

I was tied up on stage. I guess it's better than being painted with gold dust...

But don't you think it's still a terrible job?

Hey! Kazuo! Hear me out!

And the rope was so tough as well...

And it was in Akita, with all the peasant hostesses.

Don't you think it's terrible?

Hey.

That's terrible.

Hey!

Can't you listen seriously for once in your life?!

What are you doing?!

Don't be ridiculous!

What if the camera broke?!

I hate this.

I hate it...

This life.

Hey, what time is it?

Let it out.

Don't touch me there!

Hey, are you even looking? That's mine!

Hey, don't be so loud!

I can't do this anymore.

The Mahjong people upstairs are so loud!

And they scold me every time!

I'm begging you.

Hey!

Turn the music down a notch.

Hey.

Isn't there any sweeter wine?

I don't care if it's pot wine...

Isn't there any?

I can't drink it unless it's sweet.

Hey, wanna go to the bathroom?

I'm sure you can pee by yourself.

Hey, let's go together.

The toilet here is dirty.

But you know Yoshiyama leaves it all wet...

Remember when you fucked me in the bathroom?

When the policeman came, you told them a terrible lie.

Did you forget how you made me dress weirdly in that small bathroom?

Wait, wait. I've never heard that story. Is it true?

You're such a pervert.

So, you really did that with her, huh?

What's wrong with you, Moko? Stop talking nonsense!

It's a fake story, Yoshiyama.

- Really? - It's true!

Don't lie, Ryu!

Please stop lying.

I came four times that time.

Four times, you know?

I wouldn't forget it.

Hey, wait.

Wait, Ryu! You must have been stoned at the time, right?

- I don't remember that. - He was stoned.

You came four times?!

That's amazing.

You idiot!

I was the one who came four times.

Come on, Moko.

Do you want Ryu that badly?!

I'll fuck you instead!

Four times?! That's a lie, isn't it?!

I know you, man. He's a premature ejaculator.

Idiot!

You pervert!

- One-minute man! - Shut up already!

Stop it!

You're the worst!

- Stop it already, man. - Don't screw with me, man.

Okinawa is so mean to me.

Going to Yokohama by himself.

He won't stay with me.

He didn't even fuck me yesterday.

It's because he loves you.

He doesn't wanna come to the bar with your Patron, isn't it obvious?

But I'm running this bar just to help Okinawa.

I can't stand this.

I want to quit.

I want to get out of this place.

It hurts.

I just want to die.

Why don't you just die, then?

Right, Ryu?

Don't you think so?

If you want to die, just die.

Don't complain and just die.

You're an idiot!

Reiko, you're so spoiled.

Reiko is a spoiled brat!

You're a strong girl!

I want to go back to Okinawa.

Why don't you go?

Okinawa is at its best right now.

Why don't you go, too, Yoshiyama?

Hey!

Take my picture.

I was in An An magazine, you know?

It was in color, on page one.

Ryu, you saw it, didn't you?

I don't know anything about that.

I hate you.

- Let's go home already. - Don't touch me.

What's wrong?

Stop it!

What happened to you?

Didn't you say you were sexually frustrated?

You said it this morning while you fed the cats.

You were like: "You and I are sexually frustrated, we want a man".

Hey, at least give me a kiss.

Just a little kiss.

Even a first grader can get away with a kiss nowadays.

Hey, how much do you get from the black people?

What?

Are you talking about the party?

How much do you get for letting the black people sleep with me and Kei?

Hey, Moko, stop saying that.

If you want money, I'll introduce you to a nice person.

The party is not for making money.

It's all about having fun.

You don't have to come.

There are many other girls who would like to be invited to the party.

I'm going, of course I'm going.

The black people are strong, and they know how to use chopsticks.

He's unconscious.

What the hell, Kei? Stop it! Are you licking him?

If you could, you'd bite Ryu's tongue right off!

You'll only suck Ryu's tongue, huh?!

Ain't that right?!

Jealous?

Shut up!

It's none of your business.

Just because I live with you, doesn't mean I have to sleep with you.

- I want to throw up. - Anyway, just stop whining, okay?

- I'm sleepy. - I don't care if we break up.

- I don't have a bathtub at my place. - Where are we going, then?

- A hotel. - All right, then.

You actually mean a sleep-in hotel, right?

Sleep-in hotel? What kind of hotel is that?

- I don't have a problem with that. - I'll start working tomorrow.

I'll start making dough starting tomorrow, okay?

- What is it? - I really hate it.

What?

Sex without love.

Then, should we not go?

No...

- Let's go, let's go. - But you're upset, right?

So, you know, I think it's because I don't work.

Right?

I'm sorry to bother you in the middle of it...

We're leaving.

Tomorrow at one o'clock in front of the station.

I'll dress up.

You better do it.

A Saint Laurent scarf.

A Lambert blouse.

And a little bit of perfume.

Charles Jourdan shoes.

Music by Santana.

And my name is Moko.

Bye, bye.

Bye, bye.

Well, I'd better get going, too.

I'm going to Cassie's.

I'm not going back to the apartment, okay?

Hey, you.

Stop saying "Atai". When did you learn to say that?

I borrowed it from my mother. My mother calls herself "Atai".

You know her, don't you, Yoshiyama?

She's the woman who was eating rice crackers with the cat by the kotatsu.

That's my mother.

She calls herself "Atai".

I'm sure my grandmother called herself "Atai", too.

It's been like that for a long time.

It's a blood feud.

I'm vulgar, you know?

Hello?

Yeah.

W-Wait...

What's going on?

Hey, Yoshiyama.

Are you okay?

No, I'm not okay.

You should throw up, then. Throw up.

I'm okay, I'm okay.

Are you sure?

I'm not okay, but I'm okay.

- Can you put your mom on the phone? - You're so kind.

You know, I've been really pissed off lately.

I just have this urge to kill everyone whenever I get on the train.

Like with the soldiers.

Like the old German soldiers.

I want to gather everyone, grab them, strip them naked,

and burn them to death.

You're the last one to arrive. I told you not to be late.

Where did Moko and the others go?

You know how they say humans have to suffer?

What do you think?

I don't know.

One has to suffer, right?

You'll become a useless human being if you take it easy.

I think I understand.

Right?

Of course.

And yet, my sister got married so quickly.

She borrowed money at all cost, and opened this shop.

She still has the debt to repay.

And yet, my sister's making a man like me work in a panty shop.

She's making fun of me.

What a horrible sister.

Isn't she?

I'm a proper man, you know?

If someone calls me a fag...

I'll cry.

I mean, I'm trying so hard.

I even have all my parts, you know?

What parts?

Huh?

What do you mean by "your parts"?

Well...

You know... a man's...

A man's thing...

The two of them.

The testicles, right?

I'll give these back.

I don't think it looks good on me.

It's okay, it's okay.

I'll give it to you as a gift.

You're a good girl.

You're an unusually nice girl for your age.

It's a present.

Thank you very much.

See you later.

See you later.

See you later.

Bye bye.

Lilly.

Lilly...

Lilly?

Shirley's here.

What's wrong, Shirley?

Good morning, Shirley.

Is Auntie being nice to you?

Uncle bought me a train.

Really? What color?

Pink.

Pink?

What did you eat yesterday?

Fried shrimp.

Fried shrimp?

You know Ryu, don't you?

Go give him a kiss.

Why?

Because he's Mommy's boyfriend.

Okay?

Good morning, Shirley.

Good girl.

Don't be like your mommy, okay?

Don't look at me.

You know, I've been thinking...

What is it?

Why don't you stop using meth?

Your kid's getting older, you know?

There are things you don't understand.

Don't talk like that.

Hey, Ryu...

How old are you now?

Nineteen.

There's still fun stuff in your future as long as you keep your body healthy.

Shirley's missing.

What?

Shirley?

Shirley!

I wonder where she went.

It's because you keep saying weird things, Ryu.

Shirley!

Shirley!

Shirley!

Shirley.

Mommy was worried about you.

Were you making bubbles for Momo?

Yes.

Do you want me to call her?

Hey.

Hey!

I'm sorry about the other day.

Ah, it's all right.

Three cards.

Three cards, huh?

When did Kei go?

Hey!

Call.

They didn't say anything to you?

Two pairs.

Triple.

- That's not possible. - Nonsense.

- What's better than a triple? - That's not gonna happen.

So, minus three for Ryu.

- You're lucky today. - Yoshiyama minus five.

How much is it?

I got plus eight.

- You're losing badly, Yoshiyama. - Yoshiyama!

Come on, next round!

"I think, therefore I am."

Who said that?

Are you thinking of something?

Do I look like I'm thinking?

Hey, Yoshiyama, what are you gonna do?

I'm folding.

What? Are you folding?

You're folding with a triple?

Hey, wait a minute. Were you peeking?!

- No way! - That's dirty, man!

Forget the 4,000 yen from before!

Damn it.

I wish I had another heart.

Heart.

Hey, Ryu.

Where is Kei's club?

In the basement.

I'm gonna go.

- Japanese people are banned. - Hey, Kazuo, tag along.

Heart! You've been hiding here!

What's so special about that? Come with me.

Little heart, why didn't you come out earlier?

I'll do the Cobra Twist on you!

- What about the 4,000 yen? - I'll strange you to death!

- What about the 4,000 yen? - I'll pay you, I'll pay!

Let's get our bikes.

Hand me the nail polish remover.

My feet are so sticky, and it's disgusting.

What's wrong?

Hand me the nail polish remover!

What did you do?

It doesn't seem to be meth.

Was it mescaline?

I said give me the nail polish remover!

Hey...

Wanna go for a drive?

How many did you take?!

I want to go for a drive.

If a woman takes too much mescaline,

she'll never be the same.

She'll go crazy and won't be able to get back to normal.

What are you doing?

It's dangerous!

Get out of the way! I'm going!

Stop it! Let's stay here!

I don't want to!

This is bad!

Don't you understand?

You're gonna cause an accident!

Damn it!

Crazy bitch!

I'll kill you!

You idiot!

I told you it's dangerous!

Ryu!

Turn down the radio!

I feel like I'm going underground.

Down a big tunnel...

Hey, don't you feel the same?

It's a tunnel.

I can't see the stars.

You can't see the stars, it's raining.

It's groundwater.

What do you see around you, Ryu?

Hey, did you hear that scream?

This place...

Isn't there an unknown creature swimming around here?

That's fine and all, but where are we going now?

Hey, Ryu, come here.

Over here.

I want to be reborn,

and become a ballerina.

Lilly.

What do you think of me?

What do you mean?

Do you love me? Hate me?

I'm cold.

So cold that I feel like I'm dying.

Tell me you love me.

That you need me.

Don't talk like a child.

I feel like I've just been sitting here all alone.

There's nothing here.

It's like I'm not the one talking right now.

Don't be silly.

Don't say weird shit.

Don't talk like a crazy person.

You're making me feel weird, too.

Aren't you young?

You were barely born when I became a woman, weren't you?

Run before you start spiraling like that.

Run!

Run?

Run...

Look.

Isn't that a race track?

Run.

Idiot!

Run as fast as you can!

Okay, I'll do it right. Like old times.

Lilly!

I used to run the 200 meters.

Always on three courses...

I've done thousands of runs.

Ryu!

Ryu!

That's enough!

Come back!

Come back, Ryu!

Hey, Ryu.

Aren't you inside the commemorative photo?

Everyone is pictured in it, right?

Even I have one.

A yellowed photo of us when you were younger.

You're not here now.

You're living inside that photo, aren't you?

The commemorative photo?

What are you talking about?!

Lilly.

I'm begging you.

Stay with me.

I'm begging you.

Stay with me forever.

Please, Lilly.

You're just a baby.

After all, you're still a toddler.

It reeks!

It's like a pigsty.

We're coming in just a second.

What the hell? Do you have a warrant?

A warrant?!

Don't get snappy with me!

Is this your house?

Come on, guys. Open your pockets.

Put some clothes on.

Kei.

It's the police.

What's this? Is shit and Miso one and the same for you?

Get a hold of yourself!

What are you doing?

Stop it.

I can't stand this smell.

Moko, the police are here.

Wake up. Come on.

Can you bring me some water?

You guys...

You need to stop acting so selfishly.

It's troublesome.

You're causing trouble by walking around naked in the middle of the day.

It's already bright out, you got it?!

Was there an incident or something?

"An incident or something"? Do you even know what's going on?

Don't make me laugh.

Listen!

You can't be showing your asses in public.

You might not understand, but we're not the same as dogs!

Don't you have a family?

Doesn't your family say anything about the way you dress?!

They probably don't care.

Can you pass my makeup bag?

Listen to me!

Bastard.

I see.

Are you guys gonna duke it out?

I know all about it.

I know you guys swap partners all the time.

So what?

What are you whining about?

We do it because we like it. What does it matter?

Don't talk to me so boldly.

I'll beat the shit out of you!

Are you saying someone died or got hurt?

Did an old woman die because we were having fun fucking around?

You know, women like you...

They sleep with their own fathers.

With your own father.

If I like them, I'll sleep with whoever I please.

You must be sleeping with your mother, huh?

Sucking on that city official girl's tits.

The policeman just hit a citizen!

Easy, easy.

You shouldn't talk to the police like that.

Are you guys sexually frustrated?

Not at all.

You're the ones who are sexually frustrated.

You guys...

Have you ever worked for anything in your lives?

My man here shouldn't have hit you. I apologize for that.

Okay?

After all, you're free people.

I know you like to think of yourselves

as different from every other normal human being.

All right.

We'll accept that you are different from the normal citizens.

If you have a problem with that, stand up! I'll smash your head in!

You bastards!

We're not asking for a favor here.

We don't care if it gets in the papers.

You guys...

You're simply spoiled.

And you seem to be looking down on us because of that.

I'm dragging you to the police station today.

I'm just doing what I want, too.

If you don't like it, I'll smash your head in.

And I'll fuck the women!

You'll have the guts to experience that if you're truly living freely.

You bastards don't understand anything!

What an idiot.

What?

I'll write the letter of apology.

I'm the oldest.

Let's go.

I don't mind being investigated.

We didn't do anything wrong.

What are you doing?

What's that?

I think there might be cannabis in here.

What's cannabis?

It's marijuana.

I didn't know they had them in Japan.

I heard the G.I.'s call it "straw".

No, we all work different jobs.

I'm a shopkeeper.

Kazuo is a photographer.

Kei and Moko are models.

Oh, you're all pretty independent, aren't you?

Yeah, I guess.

Well, I'd love to live like that someday.

You know, I've always wanted to be a designer.

But you have to be talented to be a designer.

I guess I don't have the talent.

Did you really play in a band?

Yes, I played in a band.

I was crazy about the foreign band Red Chips.

Really?

Is that section chief really Motoyama? Oh, man!

Well, you know, in the end it was hard, and I wasn't very good at it.

I see.

Well, I mean, you guys are mocking all the decent people out there.

We're not.

At least I'm not.

I don't know about the others...

It was my dead grandma's dying wish. That's why I don't make fun of anyone.

Even if they're idiots.

You looked so pathetic acting so meek with those police officers, Yoshiyama...

I'm so tired.

Chitchatting with the cops is exhausting.

It's so hot.

I don't feel like going back to Ryu's room.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Come see it, okay?

Thank you.

Here.

Here you go.

Here.

Here you go.

No, thanks.

Please come and see it.

I don't want it.

Come...

I guess you won't...

Now?

Excuse me.

It was funny.

The movie's over!

Let's go home.

We're going home!

No!

What are you doing?! Stop it!

Help me!

No!

Please!

Stop it!

Hey, Ryu.

I'm dead tired!

No! No!

Hey...

Aren't you craving a pizza?

No!

Like an anchovy pizza.

With lots of Tabasco!

The one that makes you tingle.

Stop it!

Stop, she's an ugly bitch.

Oh, the police are here.

Hey!

What are you doing?

Yoshiyama!

Hey!

Stop!

Hey...

Let's take a bath.

A bath?

Let's do it!

Ryu...

Turn up the music.

I don't want to just fuck.

There's gotta be something else to do.

I think there's more to enjoy elsewhere.

Like riding a horse, tennis or golf?

I don't know about that, but I just think there's more out there.

Were you guys together yesterday?

Yoshiyama...

I'm the secret lover.

You've let your guard down.

Secret lover.

Stop it!

What are you doing this early in the morning?

Is this all you think of?

Geez!

He's not working, that's why he's always like that.

I'm leaving for today, Ryu. I'm tired, so I can't do it.

Did you do it with Kazuo?

Kazuo.

Your weird joke made Mr. Yoshiyama mad.

Mr. Yoshiyama.

Stop the "fuck this, fuck that". It's below you.

Mr. Yoshiyama.

Ryu, take me home.

Hey, Ryu. Give me a ride.

Oh, Moko.

Leaving already?

I'm tired.

Ryu.

This.

- And some Seven Stars. - Yes.

That'll be 190 yen.

Here's your change.

Are you really that tired?

It's because I've been with everyone the whole time.

I get tired when I'm with everyone.

But I'll go to the party again.

Sure...

I mean, there's nothing interesting to do.

I don't even get to party often, you know?

I'm getting married, after all.

What?

Are you getting married?

I think I will.

It'd be cool if I didn't have to.

Is your family doing well back home?

Yeah.

Although dad's been a little sick since he quit the company.

He's probably worried about you.

How come?

I'm such an upstanding adult, you know?

He was so happy when I showed him my picture in An An magazine.

It's summer, huh?

It hasn't rained much.

You have to have fun in the Summer, or else you get depressed.

Do you want me to say "I love you"?

I'll say it, then.

I love you.

I love you.

"Don't just touch my body."

Stop saying things like that.

It's not like that, Kei.

- No, don't get mad at me. - Hey, Reiko.

Where did you learn that?

- I'm just saying... - From Ryu.

You know, we've got to stop doing all that exhausting stuff.

We're both getting too tired over this stuff.

Let's stop, all right?

Hey, you.

Are you listening?

- Are you listening?! - I'm listening!

What are you doing?!

I heard some kind of rumor about you, Reiko.

Maybe the black people started it.

Don't be absurd.

I don't like sex.

I won't do it with anyone other than Okinawa.

I don't care if you do it with other guys.

I was quiet when you fucked the black people.

I'm uncomfortable with that!

If you fuck the black people...

I'll be angry.

Ryu, you won't get away with this either.

What do you mean?!

Leave him be!

He hasn't done anything.

I'm gonna start working.

- That'll do it, right? I'll just start working. - Yoshiyama...

Have you heard about "Actions speak louder than words"?

Hey, Ryu.

Turn up the volume.

I've been wanting to hear this record since I woke up this morning.

I went all the way to my apartment to get it.

Hey, Ryu.

Turn up the volume.

Do it yourself!

Well, aren't you chipper today? You're just a womanizer, anyway.

You have to do your things on your own.

I mean, I'm talking about something a little more substantial.

Let's be a little more...

like, gentle...

We've gotta take care of each other. Don't you think so?

You know, we're not like all those people...

We're from a different dimension, we're not ordinary.

So, let's be nice to each other, okay?

Who do you mean by "ordinary"?

Mr. Yoshiyama?

Shut the fuck up, man!

It's none of your business.

Listen, Kei.

We need each other, okay?

If we're not aware of that fact...

I mean, you're all I've got.

And, you know, we have a lot of enemies, too.

Right?

You'd be in trouble if that parole officer caught you, too.

That's the same for me.

Next time they catch me, I won't get away with just juvie.

Don't you think we should help each other out?

Don't touch that, Kazuo!

You see, money isn't the problem.

I've been doing things right. And I'll work again.

At that place in Roppongi, the one you mentioned.

I'll be a busboy. I could even start painting and sell art.

I heard it sells pretty well.

I'll save up and we can buy a cat, all right?

You know, like the cat on the roof of Tokyu? The gray Persian cat.

The fat and flabby one. The one you said was cute.

You wanted one, didn't you? I'll buy you that cat.

And then, let's move in together. Come live with me.

Fussa would be nice.

We'll rent a house with everyone, and live together in the country.

The yard'll be huge, so we can plant vegetables.

And we can get a cheap car.

We can ask Ryu.

Ryu, are you listening?

- And then... - Get out of the way!

And then...

We can go to the beach, you know?

Let's have fun with everyone.

I don't have a driver's license, but I'll get one soon.

I can get it in a heartbeat. Let's have fun!

And then...

Let's start over, Kei.

You understand, right? Let's start over.

You understand me, right? You do, right?

How can you say that with such a serious face?

Aren't you ashamed?

Everyone's listening!

I can't stand it.

When I'm with you, I feel miserable.

I feel so miserable I can't stand it!

Don't say that, come on.

What's the matter?

Yoshiyama.

Listen...

If you have something to say,

say it after you get my necklace out of the pawn shop.

Say it after you get back the gold necklace my father gave me.

You pawned it in.

You said you'd buy it back...

You were so drunk...

Come with me, Kazuo.

It's hot outside.

Though it's hot here as well.

Just come with me!

She wanted to go back to her country, didn't she?

We promised we'd take her there someday.

She said she wanted to go back to her country, right?

Didn't she say so?

You idiot.

There's no way she would've talked to us.

She was like a piece of rag.

She looked like a piss-dripping rat.

She was worn out.

Well, it can't be helped.

She was an old woman, after all.

Hey, Ken!

I'm thinking about moving out!

Did you get tired of the black people, too?

Yeah.

You got tired of home and ran away. Then, you got tired of the Japanese.

Now, it's the black people.

That's right.

You're a fool, sister.

You can't run away.

You have nowhere to go.

It'll be the same no matter where you go.

What are you talking about? You're the fool!

We have to keep running away.

I can't take it anymore.

Hey, you small head.

What are you guys doing?

They're fighting upstairs. Could you go stop them? I'll go get Ryu.

Have you been practicing the flute?

No, I haven't.

But you're going to make a career out of music, right?

I haven't decided yet.

Nothing's set in stone yet.

Are you losing interest?

Sort of.

But it's something else...

It's not like I'm losing interest...

Are you in despair?

Despair?

Yeah.

It's just...

I'm empty right now.

Empty...

I used to have much more back then...

But now I'm empty.

I can't do anything.

Because I'm empty.

I feel like I'm talking to an old man.

Hey, you.

You should play the flute.

Come on...

Remember how you played the flute that one time on my birthday at Reiko's bar?

What was the name of that song again?

Black Orpheus?

Yeah, that's the one.

I was so happy that day.

It was an indescribable feeling.

It's just...

I felt something as you played the flute, I'd like to know what those feelings were.

That's how I feel.

I want to know what it was.

I want to explore it better.

If I were to truly understand it, I might consider quitting heroin.

But I guess that won't happen.

Not that I'm saying that's the case, but...

You...

You should play the flute.

When I get paid for selling heroin,

I'll buy you a nice flute.

A Muramatsu will be nice.

What?

Muramatsu.

It's a flute maker.

I want a Muramatsu.

All right.

I'll buy you one for your birthday.

You're too late this year.

Get changed.

Are you a crossbreed?

Getting punched by a man feels unexpectedly good, doesn't it?

It depends on the man.

Hey.

Was that your friend?

Yeah.

Don't let him hit a woman. It's unsightly.

Do you regret it?

Ryu.

I'm moving out, so you'll have to buy your own ketchup and mayonnaise.

Let's go for a drink. It's a welcome party.

You mean farewell party, right?

Hey.

Let's go all out!

Is your mother better?

She's dead.

Reiko...

Hey, come back inside.

We'll know more about it when we get there.

Hey.

Reiko.

Hey, Kazuo, do you think anything good will come out of this?

How the hell should I know?

In any case, I'm eating that meat first.

You're right.

We should eat first.

That's right, Yoshiyama.

Most things are forgotten once you eat and get some sleep.

Right, Ryu?

What are you daydreaming about?

I'm always like this.

Shall I tell you a story about a bullfighter?

What?

A man who came from a poor family.

He practiced like a madman until he became a famous bullfighter.

Really? What kind of guy was he?

Anyway, he was there...

He became really famous.

Married a beautiful woman.

And built a big house.

And then, you know...

He became afraid of bullfighting.

You can't be a bullfighter if you value your life, right?

What do you think he did?

He struggled with it. For a long time.

He struggled to find a decision.

And then, one day, he was in the middle of the bullring, thinking...

He was hit by a bull and died.

God, what an idiot he was.

Right? What an idiot!

♪ A necklace of flowers

♪ Put it around my neck

♪ So that your arms are entwined around me

♪ The flower-blossoming girls in a field of blooming flowers

♪ A necklace of daisy chrysanthemum flowers

♪ I was knitting it gently

You're Korean, aren't you?

Get out of here.

Okinawa.

Are you Korean?

You shit!

I'll kill you!

What's the matter, Okinawa?

- I don't know you, motherfucker! - Stop it, Ken!

Ken!

Okay, okay.

Over here, over here!

You're an idiot!

- You're always like this. - Get out of my way!

What the hell are you doing? You idiot!

Let me go!

- Stop him. - Let me go!

Let me go!

It hurts.

What's the matter with you?

Hey, Ryu.

Let me hear the flute.

The flute!

Reiko, please don't sleep with other men.

Let's dance.

Come on, let's dance.

Come on.

Okay.

Hurry up, Ryu!

Put it out!

Wasn't that man a pervert?

He was wearing a nightgown or something.

It's not a nightgown.

It's an Indian dress.

Hey.

We're done here, right?

Yeah.

Lots of people die today.

In that case, we'll have to ask his brother from Nagoya to come.

Do you have his phone number or telegram?

I don't know his phone nor his address.

I know where he lives, though.

Our hospital doesn't allow us to keep him for more than two days.

Because he'll rot?

No, it's not that.

The point is, it's troublesome.

It's troublesome.

Anyway, you can't just leave him here.

Can't we give him to a university as a gift and have them use it for experiments?

Well, it's possible for those who don't have any relatives...

But he's got a brother in Nagoya, doesn't he?

Okay, then.

I'll go get someone, then.

It'll be easy to find him if you know his name. You can look him up in a phonebook.

Or the police could contact Okinawa prefecture for you.

I don't know anything!

Okinawa and his brother have different last names.

Okinawa.

Do you know what he said when he died?

He said, "help me".

He asked for help.

You know, his penis...

It had shrunk.

He used to be pretty big, though.

And then you cut it... Like this.

Like this.

Only this one.

This one goes here.

Okay.

What about this?

Are you going to take it off?

There's another one here.

Hey.

What happened to your face?

Were you crying because someone beat you up?

Don't you think it's a beautiful morning?

What?

You're at peace, aren't you?

So long!

♪ Run! Leave behind the scenery you've grown tired of seeing

♪ Run! Forget the words you've grown tired of hearing

♪ Towards the pale sunset you loved so much

♪ Keep running until you melt

♪ By the time all the lights go out

♪ Alone beyond the darkness

♪ Your breath will shine brightly

Original Story/ Screenplay/ Directed by: Ryu Murakami