Original subtitles

We're here in Shinjuku, Tokyo at this particular sauna.

It was in the news due to Taku Tanaka, now caught in controversy,

who worked part-time here while continuing to pursue acting.

It doesn't seem like he's here at the moment.

As you can see, the place is quiet and empty.

Since stepping down from the stage play, he's stayed silent--

It's not totally quiet!

-What the heck?! -Don't assume anything!

Okay, okay, media trash. All you guys.

Thanks for visiting, as busy as you are.

[elevator bell dings]

-One, two… -One, two…

ACT 8: A RENOWNED ACTOR IS REBORN

[strained grunting]

[labored breathing]

[Okamoto exhales]

Okay, all clear!

[Gen grunting]

We didn't need all this.

If I wore a disguise, I could've gotten in all right.

No, Carlos Ghosn got busted when he was in a disguise.

That's right, actor. You're a giant celebrity now.

Do you remember this man?

Hey. Tabuchi from the documentary.

Oh, you do remember me?

Yeah, why wouldn't I? You're the one who forgot who I was.

Ah…

However, after I saw you, I was reminded.

Taga… Uh…

It's Take… Uh…

It's Takasegawa.

Please, you've got no idea.

Takasegawa.

The documentary I did on you, I remember. In London, right?

Oh, and I have the… All the footage.

Due to COVID,

we had to follow protocol…

[laughs] Okay, no, stop.

You didn't need to show this take.

No, this is the best part.

During COVID, that was a different woman!

-Thank you. -I'll send you a timeline…

Oh, it's me.

That's right. It's exactly what I told you about.

See, I did play King Lear before. At The Globe in London.

Oh, look!

Blow, winds!

And crack your cheeks!

I couldn't believe it when you said you were King Lear.

Now, seeing the actual footage…

Rage!

Blow!

[Yoko chuckles]

I'm sorry for doubting you, Tanaka.

Yeah. It's too late for that now.

[Okamoto] But is it really too late?

Still, I'm glad that the footage of this exists.

Are you really okay with this, Tanaka? Or should I say, Gen Takasegawa?!

Get me a DVD of that, okay?

This is proof that the greatest instant in this acting career happened for real.

-No regrets! -How long will you live in the glory days?

-It's been two or three minutes, at most. -[Tabuchi] What the hell?

You could've turned it off with the remote control, man.

I've got a better idea.

All of us

put on this show!

A RENOWNED ACTOR BECOMES A NOBODY

We'll do a week at The Suzunari. You'll be in it, right, Takasegawa?

-That's a no. -An instant no?

You can't do that. What's the reason?

-Because it's dull. -[Yoko] Oh, that's simple.

I went to see his play once.

It was great! I left halfway through though.

You wouldn't leave if it was great!

You're a moron, yet you act like you're smart.

I think that this play's third-rate and pretentious.

All you did was play with petty details, like a high-schooler.

Oh, I can't recover from that.

Hold on, you said that he was going to do the show.

No, no, he said so.

You said it was my turn. You promised me.

That's the reason I wrote it! You hyped me up.

Yeah, well, that was before my audition, so I was like this.

But now I'm like this. I don't want to embarrass myself.

Can't you do anything? I wanna shoot the next part of the story!

-A sequel? -[Tabuchi] It's incredibly interesting.

You rose to the top and then you were erased,

and then you rose up again

and were cast aside.

Don't you wanna know where it all goes in the end, huh?

Don't you wanna see the finale?

Then you should've asked sooner.

Now, even if you did follow me,

I'm like this.

I'm just a guy that drinks booze all day and has to sleep at the park.

[Yoko] Uh…

Got anything?

[sighs] Just forget it.

Well, now I'm curious. What's that now?

[sighs]

I realized it's opening the same day as King Lear.

APRIL 7, 2029

APRIL 7, 2029

There's only ten days to go!

Oh, and sorry, I forgot to tell you,

they've decided Kanji Tsuda will do Lear as your replacement.

[exaggerated] And thou, all-shaking thunder!

Strike flat the thick rotundity

o' the world!

Good work, Tsuda. Your acting's strong.

[Tsuda] Ah.

But you lack presence.

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

No! That's exactly the problem!

-Stop bowing like that! -Please stop.

Oh, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

-He who has the most fun wins, Tsuda. -Right!

[Charlie] And the Fool.

-He needs to go back to basics. -[interpreter] Omori, sir--

[laughs] Thank you so much, Charlie!

Well, originally, I took the role of the Man of Darkness from Tsuda.

So now we're square.

If I quit, another actor will take it on.

That's what you get.

Who was originally cast as the renowned actor in this?

I figured you'd wonder about that one.

Sadly, our lead just quit the show!

-[rock music playing] -Here's the Nicolas Cage wannabe.

Burai Takeru, remember me?

I watched that show you were on, Darkness of the Darkness.

I was like, "I see, so that's the angle there."

But I would've done it differently if I was there. Mm.

But it's too late to tell you now.

-Uh-huh. -By the way, in the Lear audition…

I got cut in the first round.

Blow, winds!

[music stops]

There was one more guy, Gozu. Do you remember?

Yeah. He wasn't a bad actor.

He fatally lacked charisma though.

Don't you think that you're being a little harsh?

Gozu was really up for it.

The role was his very first lead.

I'm so happy right now.

Because you're back with us, Murai,

and Okamoto's script is great.

-And 'cause you're the lead. -That's not why.

I suppose that's part of it. [laughs]

If it concerns Whiskey Bonbon,

you and Okamoto are the two wheels.

Like the rook and bishop in shogi.

So then who's the king?

Oh…

Well, this time… [chuckles]

…me, I guess. [laughs]

-You jackass! -[grunts] Hey! What are you doing?

Then get your lines down already, Gozu!

Sorry! You win! You win!

[all laughing]

[Okamoto] I'm dying.

Okay, let's start rehearsal from scene one.

Okay.

[Gozu gasps]

Huh? What's wrong?

Uh…

I… I don't know.

I can't feel anything.

[Okamoto] Fractures of the humerus and scapula. Neck sprain.

What the hell were you guys doing?

I didn't do the leg.

[Hisako] Ruptured Achilles tendon.

Three months to full recovery.

I will work

the ticket desk during the run.

Great. You can use your right hand, so you can hand folks their change back.

Advance tickets are 4,000 yen.

Nine performances.

Assuming a capacity of 100 people, and refunding everyone who purchased,

that's 3.6 million yen.

Well, we only sold 60%, so…

And with a charge for cancelling the venue…

Oh, that would make it

easily over 5 million yen.

Oh, please, Madame President!

We need Takasegawa's,

or to be honest, Taku Tanaka's brand recognition.

You have to help us!

Or if not, please lend us the cash!

[Yoko] What are you doing?

Come on, Murai, you too!

[strained grunting]

[clicking tongue]

[dramatic music playing]

[inhales sharply, grunts]

[pained groaning]

Bend, leg!

Bend! Bend!

[straining]

[Okamoto] Stop being dramatic and get down here!

[music ends]

Okamoto…

Tanaka?

[camera beeps]

I thought that

this was a script that you wrote for me just because you were worried about me.

Looks like I was wrong. [chuckles]

I'm sorry.

Looks like I wasn't the only desperate one.

You were doing everything you could.

No wonder.

Mm.

It is kinda funny.

-Really? -[Gen] Yeah, it's okay.

Something about this draft just works.

Hm, of course, it's not amazing yet.

But if I rework it a bit,

might become good.

[Chijimi] Oh, what a pain you are!

Just tell him he did good work, okay?

I don't want to owe you anything,

though I don't mind if you owe me.

Let's do it.

-[Hisako] Wow! -[upbeat music playing]

-Huh? -Yay!

[cheering]

[cheering]

-[Chijimi, Yoko] Huh? -[music stops]

-[Chijimi] Huh? -[Gozu] Ah…

What is it?

[Murai] Nothing.

-He stood up just now, didn't he? -[Murai] No.

Nothing to see here.

But what… can we do about rehearsal space?

You know, since Tanaka's the man of the hour?

Of course it happens at a time like this. No one's cheating, being cancelled.

Ohtani's not even getting hits.

Tanaka's scandal remains right at the top of the news cycle.

We definitely can't use the community center again.

Want to use this place?

SAUNA SHIRAKABA

[Okamoto] Okay, everyone!

Get ready for the aufguss with Tetsu Okamoto,

the sauna guru who did a stint in Okinawa!

Here it is!

[Gen, imitating elderly voice] If it gets too hot, don't push yourself.

Please step outside.

[Okamoto] More, more!

-[Gen] All right! -More, more!

I already told you that we are closing. Get out!

-[man] Okay. -Go, get out! Get out!

Go home!

-[Gen] Thank you. -Thank you.

-Thank you. -[Gen] Thank you.

OPEN

Thank you.

CLOSED

[narrator] Midnight.

A RENOWNED ACTOR IS REBORN

When the sauna closes,

actors appear from nowhere…

ACTOR TAKU TANAKA

…and the theater company's rehearsal begins.

T is the lead part,

a renowned actor who's forgotten very suddenly by the entire world.

For the other roles, Murai and Hisako will play those.

[narrator] Among them is an elderly man,

far older than the rest.

-Anyone have any questions? -Yes.

Are this many lines necessary?

[narrator] That man is Taku Tanaka,

also known as Gen Takasegawa, 69 years old.

I'm an old guy now. [laughs]

There are so many lines in here.

I can't memorize all this.

Can't do anything there, you're the lead.

[Okamoto] Please memorize them.

I want to, and I will try.

In ten days though--

[Hisako] Actually, eight days. We need two days for tech rehearsals.

-Cut out a little. -No can do.

Yeah, Takasegawa…

I didn't imagine he'd be such a pain in the ass.

Okay, first, this "T,"

is this Takasegawa?

Or is it Taku Tanaka?

Doesn't change anything. It's about feeling!

Look, if you want me to explain it, your name's just T.

He's inspired by Takasegawa, but this play's fiction, 'kay?

He's someone who was erased from society,

who lost his name. That's why he's T.

Takasegawa's your real name and your stage name is Taku Tanaka.

[Gen scoffs] No, no.

It's not that simple.

TAKU TANAKA CAST!

To Taku Tanaka,

Takasegawa is a bad example and a rival also.

Tanaka lives in frequent terror

that, one day, Gen Takasegawa, the beast sleeping in him, will…

That shaking is annoying!

The body counts, not the feeling!

Growing your physique is crucial.

BURAI TAKERU NO MIKOTO THE THIRD

The physique constructs the character.

It's the sensation the muscles add to the execution.

So the muscles, uh, add something to doing it?

Yes, of course.

Though a good performance isn't guaranteed every night.

That's the muscles' constraint.

Like, there are times they steer the performance badly.

Surely that's not good?

You-- You're amazing.

Amazing! Too good!

Where have you been and what have you done until now?

[Okamoto] Okay, okay.

Really?

Can you just pick an acting style? It changes each time, Murai.

That's fine, isn't it? There's a different audience every day.

What kind of logic is that?

And Takasegawa, say your lines correctly, if you would.

Huh?

I said them like they were written.

Saying them, but not living in them. I don't believe any of it.

I don't want you to perform it. I want you to be that guy.

"There's no happiness greater than this." Say it like you're living in it.

Understand? One more time!

Okamoto can be so nitpicky.

He gets hung up on the weirdest things.

Hisako, this part where you call out to stop T…

-[Hisako] Yes? -You're leaning a little bit right.

-[Hisako] Mm. -You should lean left.

-The left? -Yeah.

And there's the line "Wait," right?

You've been saying it in the note La.

It should go… [sings] "Wait."

Fa note.

-[Hisako sings] Wai… Wai… -No, no.

[sings] "Wait…"

It's ridiculous. He's so pretentious, you know?

When the real show gets close, he brags about how he never sleeps.

God, he's so annoying.

Ugh, so tired.

Late last night, I watched a video we taped in rehearsal.

Shut up!

You're not the only one who's tired here!

How's it going?

Look who came to see you all…

-Hello! -He bought energy drinks for everyone.

-[gasping] -[Hisako] Oh!

How's it going, poor people?

He brought drinks? What's going on?

-'Cause the tickets aren't selling… -Ah!

…he's gonna post on his socials.

You don't know when to quit, do you, old guy?

Sorry about that.

N-Nice to meet you.

Uh… I'm Burai Takeru, future star.

A lowly actor now, though once at the Film Festival--

-Let's take a photo for Instagram! -[Okamoto] Really?

-Okay, everyone. -Is this for real?

Get in closer now, come on.

Here we go!

One, two… Say it…

[all] Now, it's done!

Okay, let's take a vertical one. Get in close, real close!

Can you hold the cue card up a little?

Okay, okay. Here we go.

Let's do this.

Hey, folks. I'm Daiya Mibu.

The Whiskey Bonbon Theater is ready to mount their first show in eight years.

The show will run for a week and will be performed, uh,

over in Shimokitazawa at the, uh, Suzunari theater.

Taku Tanaka, the famous old geezer who can't read the room… [laughs]

…and was forced to step down from King Lear,

will be starring in this stage play.

I'm not sure if it's gonna be any good though.

[Kawashima] I saw the video.

KITCHEN KAWASHIMA

It's a very Mibu-like promotion.

[laughs softly]

I really

am grateful.

Everyone's being so supportive.

[laughs]

That's very humble of you.

[chuckles]

I'm having issues memorizing the lines.

I sent an invitation for you.

[sighs softly]

I got it.

[Gen] You don't have to come.

But if you want to,

it runs for a week.

Feeling… good about it?

Ah.

Don't know yet.

Well, I can't tell on my own.

You're confident.

[chuckles]

[Kawashima] Then I won't go.

If I watch it,

I'll absolutely want to start doing it all again.

[poignant music playing]

Okay.

I'm sorry.

I'm finished feeling torn.

[Gen] I get it.

Well… can you deliver bentos for us?

Huh?

The day after tomorrow, can we get bento lunch for 20, please?

For the cast and staff.

Keep the price cheap, huh?

[laughs] No, no, no.

There are places in Tokyo for bento. We're all the way in Tsuchiura.

The show starts at 2:00,

so have them there by 12:00, please.

Bye.

[sighs deeply]

-Actor! -Yes?

You have to get up early. Take a bath and go to bed.

Oh, the bath.

But it's past midnight.

There's a special purification aufguss.

It's so very unique.

Ahh.

Oh, the owner.

[Chijimi's and Cho's duet playing in sauna]

Purify, cleanse the body.

Purify, cleanse the body.

Thank you very much.

We'll now start the special aufguss sequence

to pray for the success of the show's run.

[blower whirring]

Blow, winds!

[Gen] Electrically powered, huh?

[narrator] April 7th.

A Renowned Actor Becomes a Nobody

welcomes its opening day.

[Gen, softly] Blow, winds…

OPENING DAY

…and crack your cheeks.

[Tsuda, dramatically] Blow, winds!

And crack your cheeks!

[Gen] Rage.

THE SUZUNARI

Blow.

You cataracts

and

hurricanoes spout.

You cataracts and hurricanoes!

Spout!

'Til you have drenched our steeples,

drowned the cocks.

You sulfurous and thought-executing fires,

singe my white head.

Takasegawa!

Congratulations on opening day!

Oh, thank you.

You know how in films and TV shows,

everybody says, "I have good news and bad news"?

I didn't think I'd get to experience that,

but now, it kind of feels like I can.

Would you knock it off? What is it?

With which should I start?

The good news or--

Out the way!

It's crazy.

There's a huge line for day-of tickets.

I wanted to say that!

TWO HOURS BEFORE SHOW

[narrator] As it turned out,

many theater fans gathered,

and a long line formed for day-of tickets.

That's great news.

So what's the bad, then?

The costumes aren't ready.

They haven't finished building the set.

I'm not done building my body yet.

Okamoto's also gone missing.

[curious music playing]

-Anyone tried calling him? -His cell phone and wallet are here.

My god, Okamoto ran off again. Big surprise. He never changes at all.

What should we do? We've got two hours before the show.

[Makoto] Hello, Kitchen Kawashima here.

I have ten mixed fried items,

ten hamburg steaks here, and comped pork soup.

Oh… Mm-hm.

-Thanks for the soup. -Oh, it's from my brother.

Let's eat for now, okay?

Let's think after we eat.

[intriguing music playing]

[lively music playing]

IN CELEBRATION OF TAKU TANAKA'S APPEARANCE

FROM SHUSAKU YUBA

Look, Tsutomu.

Would you look at that?

Let's take a photo.

Done.

We're good here.

We're good here too!

Open the doors?

Right? Curtain's in 30 minutes.

-The audience is waiting. -Cash box is ready too.

But Okamoto… [sighs]

That's right.

If Okamoto isn't here…

Then what? If Okamoto isn't here, then what?

[music ends]

Well…

[Tabuchi] Let's say Okamoto doesn't turn up,

does that actually cause any problems?

No, it doesn't.

Not really.

[sighs sleepily]

[Tabuchi] Right?

Worst case,

even if he doesn't show…

[groans] Sorry.

The toilet seat was warm, so I dozed off.

Doors are opening!

Agh!

I forgot the tartar sauce!

-[woman] Uh, tartar sauce? -What's wrong?

I can't believe I forgot to put tartar sauce in the mixed fried bentos.

-Guess I have to go there. -No, no, no…

You need tartar sauce for fried shrimp and fried horse mackerel.

There's no way they haven't finished it by now.

That's not the point, is it, now?

[vibrant music playing]

[low, indistinct chatter]

[Tsutomu] Hey…

this should be really good.

It's Dad.

[vibrant music continues]

It's amazing. It's full all the way to the aisles.

Uh,

what was that about "if Okamoto isn't here"?

Please lower the lights.

-[man] Okay. -[music ends]

August 1st.

I was erased completely from the memories of 99%

of the people of Japan!

Oh!

[laughs]

It was an unrelentingly hot midsummer day.

-[vehicle passing] -Ah!

And all that I had was 508 yen.

-Taxi, wait! -[vehicle passing]

And my only credit card

had just expired!

Oh, yes?

Oh, is this too loud?

-[audience laughing] -Sorry about that.

I've never acted in a theater this small.

[laughing]

[Gen] I'm trying to keep it down.

Yes?

[gradually lowering volume] Ha… Ha… Ha…

Ha. Oh.

-More like this? -[audience laughing]

If I'm this quiet,

can you hear this in the back?

[alternating volume] Ha… Ha…

Oh, they can hear me.

[laughing]

[doorbell chimes]

[doorbell chimes]

[sighs]

Hi.

[audience chuckling]

-Who am I speaking with? -[Gen laughs]

Cut it out now, huh?

Can you bring your wallet? I'm keeping a taxi waiting.

Oh, a credit card will do too.

[chuckles nervously]

It was terrifying,

when a strange man suddenly came to visit me.

"Ma'am, you're my wife," he says.

"Please let me see my son."

Yeah. [chuckles]

So I phoned the police.

I'm Tsuboi from the Community Safety Section.

So, Grandpa, can I ask you a few questions?

[audience laughing]

What were you doing before living in the park?

I was an actor.

A stage actor who played King Lear!

He was homeless any way you look at it.

DAISUKE TSUBOI SHINJUKU POLICE

There are those with delusions of grandeur.

They like to live in their own world.

Homeless folks are usually one or the other.

The cheery and friendly kind, you always want to help out.

And then there's the scary, nasty kind.

He surely was one of the latter.

So I thought I'd leave him alone. [laughs]

[hesitates] You promise to blur my face?

With nowhere left to go, I went to a sauna,

though I had no money--

Who are you talking to?

-Sorry. -[audience laughing]

Cold sake, namero, and mega-sized shaved ice.

Uh, 12,860 yen.

-Don't have it. -Huh?

I've got no cash. This is all I have.

-[coins clattering] -I ate and drank quite a lot.

And slept a little.

-What'll you do? -[audience laughing]

I've never seen such a brazen dine and dash.

I really went overboard.

No matter how hard I wish,

I'm still broke! [laughs]

-So what'll you do? -I'll make you sorry!

Dine and dasher!

I'm not letting this go!

I'll hand you over to the police! Hey!

Uh…

Uh, Chijimi, that's the one used to shove back a person that rushes you.

Oh my god! [yelps]

[laughs loudly]

I got really irritated.

CHIJIMI SAUNA EMPLOYEE

I have been the owner's mistress for 20 years.

[sniffles] I stood at his side through thick and thin, and still…

He left me all alone

after not having paid me for four months.

-Shizumi… -[crying]

Uh, Shizumi…

It's Chijimi, okay?!

Could you talk about Takasegawa, not the owner?

Oh…

Well, I had him take Okamoto's role in the big audition, you know?

Ruling,

I sentence this man to serve 15 years. He's guilty!

-Just amazing, Takasegawa! -Thank you very much.

You're very good! Almost too good! Marvelous!

In the name of God, what have you done with your life…

[sings] …until now?

Oh, his performance is changing again.

I can't believe it.

I can't believe you've gone this long and not had anyone discover you.

How'd you manage to stay a diamond in the rough?!

Takamizawa, please read it again.

It's Takasegawa.

"Ruling,

I sentence this man to serve 15 years. He's guilty!"

Here is the reasoning…

Wow.

It's my motivation.

-The crime committed is unforgivable. -Wow, wow, wow!

Oh! What was that? Improv?

[laughing]

An actor continues performing right until the director says cut.

The only one who ends it

is the director. [laughs]

You're the greatest, Kariyazaki!

Give me a hug!

Oh, hold my hand like a lover!

How is it? Like this? Or this?

-Just give me a hug! -Okay!

And yet, he still gave the role to someone else!

Sorry. Uh, could you tell me why?

Mm, it was just a little off.

-"A little off"? -Yeah, not what I had in my head.

If there's anything you wanted, you could've said that!

Hm, I wanted it a little more authentic, and more eccentric.

Authentic and eccentric are opposite things, sir.

I can only say I wanted you to do it normally.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

-[audience laughing] -I'll kill this guy!

At the sauna, to pay for my food and drinks,

at the ripe age of 66,

I started my very first part-time job.

Don't make me say it again, actor! Huh?

-This, you see? -Yes?

The label comes off,

then both this and the lid, you put in the plastic waste!

-Oh! -This is the only thing you can recycle!

You don't even know that, you idiot actor?

-Do it again! -Okay.

[audience laughing]

You know, before I was doing this,

uh, my assistant would come and collect it before it even was garbage.

-Who are you talking to? -Oh, this customer.

[audience laughing]

You are all the same, huh?

Sauna customers are people who won't manage anything on their own!

But, as you see,

I am not your mother, oh no!

[laughing]

[Gen] No one fawning over me.

No one turning to look at me.

It's almost as if

I'm an extra.

Existing in a world where you're unknown,

as one like me,

who's come this far on the wheels of needing esteem and sex,

seems like a fate that's too merciless.

What was that line he said?

-Awful. -I'm sorry.

-It really hits home. -Right?

At the instant of our birth, we're all unknown rookies.

No job,

no temperament,

names aren't even decided yet,

and then "baby" is the role that we're handed.

Humans cry when they come into this world

'cause they are very dejected to get pulled onto this stage

that's completely filled with idiots.

[Hisako] Cut!

-Great line. -[Hisako] One more.

You can do it when you try.

No, I didn't write that.

You didn't?

Ready… Action!

I, who had begun working as background on films overflowing with fools,

was pulled back to being a zero-year baby actor.

[grunts]

I couldn't even go through a ticket gate the right way.

And I wept at that.

Okay, cut! Let's pick it up again, Gramps!

Sorry, I'm not your grandfather!

[audience laughing]

Hey, um, is that another line from King Lear?

Hm?

You don't need to be a king. A commoner's okay.

You can just do it normally, you know?

-What does that mean? -Huh?

I think I'm doing it normally, then you tell me to do it normally.

That says my normal and your normal are different.

I bet the director's is, too.

In 100 audience members, 100 normals exist there!

In other words, you need to decide which normal--

That's enough! Kariya, take his place.

Oh, okay. Excuse me.

I was surprised the first time we met.

KARIYA CHARISMATIC EXTRA

I wondered how someone so clumsy had survived for so long.

He said he had never ridden a train.

He told me he'd never had onigiri before either.

Although, his aura was unreal.

But it's not like an extra needs aura, right?

-The person who appeared in front of me… -[Murai] Hey there!

How's it going, you poor Kyoto folks?

[Gen] My former rival, a popular actor…

Hold on, it's me.

[snickers]

For the sake of his honor, let's name him M for this.

You sure can speak well, Hajime.

Yeah, yeah. Stand there, walk like this, turn around and deliver the line.

Come on, who the hell are you talking to?!

Wait, I don't sound like that at all!

Shh! Please stay quiet, sir.

…different approach from Yoroman!

-[sword clinks] -You guys!

Come at me, now!

[Gen] That's what I was hoping to do.

[man] Rolling… Action!

[dramatic music playing]

In Edo, it's known that a roll of the dice,

is valued more than your honor or esteem,

-[sword clinks] -Will it be odd?

[sword clinks]

Or will it be even?

[sword clinks]

Regardless of the outcome…

[grunts]

…you're dead!

[sword slashes]

-[Murai groans] -[audience laughing]

[Gen] Huh?

[man] Cut! Cut!

Who the hell cut down Oniheiji?

Oh, y-yes, that was me. Uh, Takasegawa.

I'm sorry. He said to go right, so…

[Murai groans]

Are you all right?

-[both grunting] -[audience laughing]

[Murai] Huh?

[laughs]

Sorry about that.

[poignant music playing]

As I lifted his body, I was very shocked.

That lack of energy. The weakness of his muscles.

The exhausted look in his eyes.

Come on, old geezer.

I never thought I'd be killed in the opening scene.

Are you serious?

You're way younger than me!

The man who's been top dog in the entertainment world until now,

looked completely battered up close.

I'm fine, I'm fine! Take two, yeah?

He was always in the spotlight.

A star, truly.

Everyone knows him.

And yet,

he was lonely,

worried about what others thought,

and he was tired of trying to meet the expectations of the public.

In the same way that

I used to be.

I, for once, would like to act normally.

Why don't you try it? Acting normally?

No one would want to watch that.

'Cause you're famous!

I'm envious!

Then,

I want to switch places.

[cheerfully] Hey there!

[poignant music continues]

Right now, no one remembers me.

For an actor, is there

happiness greater than this one is?

Huh.

Throw on a lab coat and I'm a doctor.

Or don a crown, and I'm a king.

Then strip naked, and I can be a customer in the sauna.

[chuckles] So free.

If I fail, well, I'll try again.

I can act as many times as I want 'til I get the okay.

[laughs warmly]

For the first time,

I was grateful for being forgotten.

In this moment,

I am a renowned actor who became no one.

However,

not being known by anyone means that from now on,

the joy of being known

is infinite.

What kind of drink would you like, Tanaka? A small beer again?

-Yeah, thanks. -Ah! [giggles]

The thing is,

totally being forgotten by family

hurt a lot.

Both the good memories and the bad

exist inside of me,

but they don't exist in her.

[Hisako] Actually…

[giggles] …I'm more comfortable with older guys.

Uh… Oh, really? [chuckles awkwardly]

'Cause of my daddy issues.

My parents divorced when I was in junior high,

and my mother raised me.

So I might just be starving for a dad's attention.

[crying] Oh no, don't say that!

[giggles] Why shouldn't I?

Huh? Tanaka, why are you crying? It's so weird. Let's take a photo.

[crying stops]

-[audience laughing] -[camera clicks]

2,000 yen.

Okay.

What kind of person is your father?

Hm, I've forgotten, actually.

The only thing I remember is, um…

ham?

[emotional music playing]

I was desperate for her to know.

I don't care if everyone else forgets who I am.

However, I wanted to be remembered by my daughter, Ema.

I actually realized he was my father.

[Yoko] What? Did you really?

I just knew.

Mom didn't, because she's his ex-wife. I'm related to him, you know?

I figured it out.

-I also knew. -Really?

It's not true. He's just competing with her.

It's true!

Huh, wait. Even though you got the vaccine?

When did you know?

I guess I knew for sure,

when we went to threaten the stalker.

When she was born, I wasn't there.

No, I was

at a studio, on set!

After rushing to the hospital,

Yoko…

was in the delivery room.

I heard that story from my mom all the time.

Ah.

That's right. You did.

She told me one of his costars flubbed his lines

so that he could stall for a bit.

Right.

There aren't many people who would've done that.

Of course you'd realize.

Now I see.

[baby crying]

[sentimental music playing]

[laughs emotionally]

Weighing five pounds, four ounces,

this tiny life…

came into this world crying.

This little finger

was grasped by a tiny hand.

I'll never forget how breathtaking that felt.

No matter what,

I will always be on her side.

I did swear that.

My love for her is unconditional.

Even if she grows up and makes mistakes,

I will love her with all my heart!

So do you know…

do you know how it feels

to love someone so much that it hurts?!

[Okamoto sniffles]

Oh, this really is the best scene.

[Murai] She may be your daughter, but I'm still being threatened.

Are you listening?

And when you were four years old,

Papa

asked you, right?

"What would you want to be

when you grow up, dear?"

Remember?

Yes.

And how did you answer that day?

Go on!

To be your

father's wife!

She doesn't remember that!

[audience laughing]

It was as if I had all the world's grace inside.

And I yearned that

she would stay four years old always.

No.

She is four years old forever!

She is to me! [crying]

Huh? Are you crying?

You're scaring me. What's happening to you right now?

[sobbing] I'm on my knees, Natsukawa.

No way.

I cannot lose her. Ema's all that I have.

So please…

Please give up

on this angel!

I'm begging you too, Tanaka!

I need to stop depending on sugar daddies.

I'll pay the debt. I'll work and earn the cash.

Then,

the sugar daddy I had after that--

Wait a minute.

You never quit doing it? You kept doing that stuff?

Oh, there's no sex. Yeah, can't get hard, you know?

Stop. Stop the camera.

Tsutomu, come here.

-[Yoko] What? -Oh, I'm sorry.

-No, no, no. -I shoulda said he's my friend instead.

We get something to eat when I need a bit of cash.

He didn't get vaccinated either.

Ta-ka-se-ga-wa?

I know that face! Takasegawa, there you are!

The Royal Ham guy!

And then he told me everything.

The affair with the flight attendant. All of that.

What did you think when you found out?

Um, not a lot, really.

Besides, blaming my parents isn't what I want to do anyhow.

I wanna believe I'm this way because I want to be this way.

As for my dad,

I don't care if he cheated.

What matters is that he keeps his acting amazing.

Yeah, I believe that too.

-[Ema] Really? Yeah, right? -[Tsutomu] Yeah.

-Because Dad's a nice guy, right? -Right!

Let's cheer him on, all right? Here we go.

[together] One, two…

[together] Go, Dad!

[Ema, Tsutomu laughing] Yay!

[Tsutomu] I like cheering for Dad.

GOTCHA! ONIHEIJI THE MOVIE

[dramatic music playing]

In Edo, it's known that a roll of the dice

is valued more than your honor or esteem,

-[sword clinks] -Will the roll be odd?

[sword clinks]

Will it be even?

[sword clangs]

-[Murai] Regardless… -Damn it!

-You're too loud. -The props aren't ready!

-What? -Switch! Switch with me!

What? Uh, what do I do? I don't know!

-Press the button! -Which one?

-[repeated clinking] -It's not matching!

[Okamoto panting]

-Oh, oh, oh! -Sorry!

[Tabuchi] Introduce yourself.

I run a bento store, Kitchen Kawashima, in Tsuchiura City with my younger brother.

I'm Kawashima.

Tanaka,

or rather, Takasegawa,

has mentioned that you were a benefactor of his, right?

No, no, no, no.

When I was hospitalized, I let him stay at my place.

Uh, you only directed one episode?

Uh, yeah. Episode 6 of Darkness of the Darkness.

What kind of actor is he, Gen Takasegawa?

Huh?

Talking about him as an actor when he's not here sounds like

the kind of thing he would like.

[laughs] Still, if you could.

Hm…

Um…

The day I collapsed of exhaustion, I got a warning from the doctor.

"If you keep going without a break, you'll die."

That's how bad my kidneys were.

It just never felt real, you know?

I'd ask in my head, "Am I in a scene in a movie?"

Maybe the doctor in front of me there

was just some actor on set wearing a white coat, yeah.

If that were the case,

I thought Takasegawa's acting would be greater, and more convincing.

And when I told him that…

[chuckles softly] …he looked so happy then.

He said there was no greater compliment as an actor.

[Gen] Sometimes, I wonder what an actor is.

What do they exist for?

Actors

can't cure a disease.

Yet audiences project feelings onto us,

project onto actors acting as doctors,

and, for an instant, they feel like a doctor.

That's its substance.

That's what entertainment is for.

The reason for actors to exist.

[panting]

[Gen] Or a murderer.

Killing people clearly is a crime.

It's unforgivable.

But when an actor

takes on that role in a show,

the more realistic they are, the more they are praised.

And their life after that

will change forever.

[phone ringing]

Mm, hello?

[Yoko, recorded] You answered.

[audience laughing]

Yes, of course I did.

[Yoko] Is this Tanaka I'm calling?

Yes.

[Yoko] I saw Darkness of the Darkness.

It was fantastic.

Yeah? [laughs]

You think so?

Thanks so much.

Hey, what the heck?

I'm doing a show right now.

[Yoko] You shouldn't answer the phone! What are you doing?

[audience laughing]

So just make it quick.

[Yoko] Which agency are you with now, Tanaka?

Uh, I'm freelancing.

[Yoko] Then why don't you join us?

[emotional music playing]

Ah.

Are you sure?

You know I'm just some old geezer now.

[Yoko] That's why you're good.

[chuckles softly]

Thank you.

You'll need to let me stay working at the sauna though.

Because what if everyone forgets me again?

[music fades]

For those who can't become doctors, or those who can't be murderers,

they can see how it feels,

at least for a moment.

That is why actors exist.

Ugh, that's all I can take.

[sentimental music playing]

So in other words,

I'm a vessel.

Actors are vessels that hold the audience's emotions,

and that's all.

Whatever kind of person

the real me is…

Whether that's Tanaka,

or Takasegawa,

it really doesn't change a thing.

Such information

is totally… immaterial.

Every time I perform,

I am reborn.

Reborn as many times as I like.

And once the performance is over, I vanish.

When a different performance begins,

I am born once again.

Again and again.

In this acting life of mine,

the greatest moment

happens over and over again.

This latest work

is my tour de force.

In other words,

once more now, an actor is

a thing that can get recycled again and again…

In other words,

an actor… [hesitates]

[music fades]

I-In other words, an actor is…

Oh, no.

In other words, an actor is…

Uh…

Ah!

[laughing]

Eh? Huh?

-Here! -[audience laughing]

[Gen laughs]

…a thing that can be recycled again and again!

-Plastic bottle, right? -[audience laughing]

[Okamoto] Dim the lights!

[sentimental music resumes]

[narrator] The actor thought,

"The me from that day, and the me now…"

"I wonder which one is happier?"

"Becoming recognized in a world where no one knew me

made me happy as an actor."

[audience applauding]

"And now,

the people who know me well

are giving me generous applause."

"Right now,

I'm happy as a person."

The renowned actor that became a nobody…

is no longer

alone.

[applause continues]

[music fades]

-Hey there! Kid! -What? Hey, hey, hey.

That was hilarious, wasn't it? Yeah!

Wanna write a show?

Oh god, that was scary! I thought you were gonna hit me.

Tanaka sucks at this, I'm way better.

That guy has no sense of humor.

The man is so clumsy and serious. Yeah.

If I had done that, the people would've roared with laughter.

Am I right?

-[Okamoto laughs nervously] -[Mibu laughs]

-I'm telling you they would. Okay? -Yes, yes.

I'll let you write something, okay?

And the platform, uh…

I think Netflix would work, right?

-[Gozu] The lobby is crowded! -[Murai] Thank you.

-[Gozu] Please move forward! -[Murai] Thank you, man!

-[Hisako] We'll be waiting. -[Gozu] Thank you so much.

-[Murai] Please come again. -[Hisako] Thank you.

Where's Chijimi gone?

She left halfway. Said it was funny.

If it was funny, she should've watched 'til the end.

-[Tsutomu] Dad! -[Gen] Oh!

Come here! Was it funny?

Yeah. I laughed through all of it.

I could hear your voice.

Hey.

Um, thank you.

Hm…

Did you like it?

Mm-hm. You were cool.

Ah, I'm so glad. [laughs]

[bright music playing]

[Machiko] Um, here.

A man named Kawashima gave this to me.

Kawashima?

He came?

Yeah. That's all tartar sauce.

Sorry to ask when you're so tired, can you do an interview?

-[music continues] -[Gen sings vocal exercises]

[clears throat]

Mic's on, right?

[Tabuchi] Oh, I just finished interviewing Kawashima.

Huh?

Really?

-[chuckles] -[music stops]

Did he

happen to mention me?

DID SOMEONE HAPPEN TO MENTION ME?

[vibrant music playing]