Original subtitles

I hate her as much as I love her.

I sometimes think it'd be easier if she died.

She hates me anyway.

I gave her a beating for hurting my feelings.

What? Is it true?

Of course!

I sat by her door two days without eating or drinking.

The maid developed a fear of me.

It upset Taeko and she came outside.

Know what she said?

"What would you do if I never forgive you?"

"I told you many times," I said. "I'd die."

She answered, "I suppose you'd kill me first."

When I saw her again about a week ago, she said:

"I've made up my mind.

"I'm an outcast after all, so I'll do as you wish.

"But I want my freedom a little longer...

"until I'm satisfied that I've had freedom enough."

What do you think?

I'm afraid I don't understand.

Are you sure?

Shall I clarify it?

She's in love with a certain guy,

And the guy is you.

The hand of Fate!

But she can't marry you.

Why? Because it would ruin you.

She decided to ruin herself with me!

What a thing to say!

You're just jealous.

Stop!

I wish I hadn't come,

if my visiting you causes this.

Something deep down told me not to come.

But I'd hoped for a more favorable parting.

I wanted only pleasant memories.

You use this for cutting papers?

Yes.

But it's not a paper knife, is it?

A meat knife.

I can cut paper with it if I like!

I suppose you can. It strikes me as being very new, though.

You mean I can't afford it?

Yes, what am I saying?

When my head starts to get heavy,

I sometimes say and do things I don't mean.

I'm getting worse lately.

Maybe it's a sign of an approaching fit.

Goodbye. I wish you luck.

Take care. I'll go with you.

What's that?

My mother. She prays hard every day.

You? Do you ever pray?

What I mean is, do you believe in God?

Do I believe? Not especially.

I was made to pray as a child.

With a mother like that, I always carried a charm.

I still do, in my purse.

I carry a sort of charm, too. It's plain stone.

It's worthless to anyone else, but it has great meaning to me.

I told you, right?

The shock of being pardoned just before execution drove me mad.

I picked it up as though in a trance.

It's still precious to me.

You have it now?

May I see it?

Can I have it?

What? What for?

I don't know. I'd just like to have it.

I'll trade you my charm for it.

A charm swap?

I remember I used to do it with friends as a boy.

Let's have tea with Mom.

Mom. This is Kameda, an old friend of mine.

Make use some tea.

Mother, tea!

Relax.

She doesn't know a thing.

She doesn't even know I'm a rowdy.

Mother!

She likes you. She'll share the cake offering.

Eat to please her.

Don't bother and don't worry! We've exchanged charms.

It can't be helped! Taeko's yours!

You can have her. Remember me sometimes!

"What was it? What did I see? What was it that shone?"

END OF PART I

PART Il: LOVE AND LOATHING

Bad boy!

Are you offended?

Mailman, messenger boy, handyman... what else?

No answer means you know

it's wrong to deliver improper letters.

Today's delivery was rather clever. Shall we go?

In what hospital is Mr. Kameda?

He's up.

Do fits go away so quickly?

Is that bad?

Can't get even with me that way.

How stupid of me! I needn't have rushed over.

Go home then.

Be quiet! I'll do as I please!

What an ungrateful man!

Quiet, please. He's sick.

I know that. I'm letting him off easy.

About the farm...

You acted as if you were collecting debts, sending him!

What did you do, Mr. Karube?

Well, It's... You see, you had your rights, and...

My rights? Just what was it that you did?

I'm amazed. You really don't know?

Listen, tell me: Who is paying your expenses?

It's quite forward of me,

But Mr. Ono said I owned the rights to a big farm.

So Mr. Karube said he'd advance money for it on good faith.

No kidding! He forced Ono to pay, insisting you sent him.

Ono's at fault, too! He?

Don't run! I plan to take action!

Please, no!

I meant to settle it. I really meant to.

Bilk one yen from him, and you'll settle it in jail!

Leave us, so I can give this man a thorough lecture.

You're really something.

I won't say a thing. Looking at you, I can't say anything.

I'm not being sarcastic.

Forgive me.

Your tolerance strikes me as being almost cynical.

What do I mean? What have I been saying, sitting here?

It's time to ask how you are. So, how are you?

Fine, thanks.

Anyway, you'd better be careful. You're pale.

That reminds me. You still a bachelor?

Yes.

You needn't smile. I was a little sarcastic just now.

There's one thing I'd like to ask you.

What is it?

I read your letter to Ayako. What did you mean by it?

It was a fine day when I wrote it.

I didn't ask you that.

But on a bright and sunny day like that,

man is filled with hope.

Hope concerning what? Ayako? Are you in love with her?

No.

Are you sure?

I think so.

"I think," indeed! And how does Ayako feel about you?

There's more abuse than praise.

She calls you an invalid and idiot.

Don't be offended though.

She's my child to the core? Willful and a bit crazy.

She criticizes or teases anyone she happens to like.

But don't hold any false hopes concerning her.

It's a constant worry having grown-up daughters.

Know about Kayama?

No. What about him?

He has high hopes about Ayako, too.

He regained her trust by using that money.

He gave it back to that woman. I established his credit.

Be that as it may...

Oh, yes, I think I'd better warn him, too.

Take care.

By the way, you'd better not visit him.

Especially on a fine day.

Understand?

Naturally.

Ayako forbade me to visit him even before you mentioned it.

What? When?

I got her answer while in Tokyo.

That messenger boy?

What messenger boy?

Never mind. What did she write?

"There is no hope.

"I have no wish to ever see you again."

It may mean there is hope and she wants to see you.

I'll find out how she feels now.

Leaving already, Mrs. Ono? Is everyone well these days?

Won't you have some tea?

It's cold.

What did Mrs. Ono say to you in the hallway?

Whatever, your face was red afterward.

Don't ask, then.

What makes you like this? Still carrying a grudge?

Regarding this matter, I'm on your side.

What matter?

Still asking that? Didn't she warn you about Ayako?

It makes me so mad. Does she think we're beneath them?

I'm only their employee.

Mere words.

That won't do. Get a grip on yourself.

She's just shy.

Her being unpredictable is a device to conceal her real self.

Kameda 's room?

Yes. Kaoru's busy fixing his ice carnival costume.

He's happy.

Be careful. Mrs. Ono gave him a warning, too.

She was in a hurry, at that. Something's going on.

They're all nuts.

Mother!

What's everybody staring for?

Don't worry. It's too cold for an invalid to come.

That silly man?

A clown.

Messenger!

I wish he'd slip.

Be careful!

You're all making a fool of me!

You too, Ayako! You're making fun of your mother!

Tell me what you're up to.

What did the messenger boy say?

I thought you'd come, and I looked for you.

Good evening. Kaoru told me that you're here.

Let's go over there.

My feet are cold, standing in one place.

You're lying!

Making such a thing! It's hideous!

I'm going. I've had enough nonsense.

I thought so.

Why just stare? Can't you greet me?

Let's go farther on.

Go home first! I'll have him take me home.

You're here? Don't be proud: You have no right to be.

Did you forget what you meant to do for 600,000 yen?

Is she the one? Come and talk with me here at noon tomorrow.

Come! We're insulted even by her!

Come, Noriko!

Too bad! This is no place for you, after all!

Don't tell me you're not angry after what I did to you.

I trust the man who traded charms with me.

I'm no good!

Did you know she wants you to marry the girl?

What do I care?

She wants you to be happy. It means she loves you.

Are you asleep?

Really sleep?

It's you, is it? I must have dozed off.

Did anyone else wake me?

I thought another woman came.

No, I dreamed it. I had a dream.

By "another woman," do you mean her?

What did you dream about her?

No! I don't want to know!

Instead, why did you fall asleep?

Oh!

How foolish it looks! The thing seemed so fine last night.

Why did I come here?

You promised me to.

I have little use for men who fall asleep.

I was up all night. Mr. Kayama nearly committed suicide.

Wasn't he just pretending?

It's possible.

Then, I'll go easy on you.

Let's hurry.

Do you know why I asked you to come here?

I can't stand to hear people laughing at you.

You're a bit...

I'll be frank.

At times your illness makes you seem odd.

But you have greater wisdom than a lot of people.

And that's what's important.

There are two kinds of wisdom:

The important and the unimportant.

But no one else knows that.

No, actually Mother knows. But we're special.

I've waited a long time for a chance to tell you this.

You know something? Ever since you sent me that letter...

No, even before that...

But you followed here! That woman!

Did you return because of her?

I detest you!

I love Mr. Kayama.

You lie.

No, I'm telling the truth. Ask this bench. We often met here.

Another lie.

Think as you like. Anyway, he's changed completely.

To prove it, he cut off his finger before my eyes.

Of which hand?

What's the difference? He cut it off!

His fingers were all right last night.

Tell me the truth.

You're crazy about the Taeko, aren't you?

Yes. But not in the way you think.

How do you know?

I'll say it again:

Even I don't know why, so I thought you wouldn't understand.

What would you do,

if a beloved friend of yours were

chained in a cage and brutally beaten with a stick?

Filled with sorrow, you'd rather be beaten yourself, right?

Whenever I see her, she stimulates a feeling like that in me.

Maybe you just don't know.

I know.

No. All you know is she was once owned by a certain man.

And that she suffered a great deal as child.

But that's not her only problem.

When somebody takes a piece of candy from

a sensitive child,

he gets upset and throws away all the candy.

Anyhow, she's like that.

If she weren't... the thought makes me mad!

She was badly hurt once.

Because of it she's trying to ruin her life.

But I can't stand it!

Why?

Don't you know that she wrote to me three times?

Here's one.

In it she tells me to marry you.

She harps on it, flattering me, provoking me.

Last night too.

She said Mr. Kayama was in the way, so she did that!

The nerve of her!

Forgive her. As I said before...

No, I can't think as you do! It's in her letter!

She wants to see you happy. A stupid, sentimental woman's act!

If not, it's jealousy, or even worse!

She's dividing us, not uniting us!

You don't think that.

I certainly do.

Certainly what?

Ayako invited me, so I went.

I got there at noon. I was asleep.

What?

I fell asleep waiting.

That's a surprise! How do you feel about Ayako?

About Ayako?

Do you like her, or what?

I like her a lot.

Then, how you could sleep is beyond me.

No, don't bother to explain

But assure me of one thing:

Did anything happen there which might make a mother worry?

I don't think so.

Then don't talk while standing there.

Ayako catches cold easily.

When you visit, visit properly. Come all the way inside.

You're certainly a strange man.

All of a sudden

you paid us a call in a blizzard.

And you always surprise us.

In March, a blue sky shows behind the clouds.

Occasionally there is thunder.

That's the way you are.

I can't stand it!

You sat opposite her like this when you took that trip!

And you talked of me?

Go home!

Never come back!

I'm a bottled future bride.

I sit like this as if I were on display in a bottle.

&gt: From bottle to bride.

I hate it!

Listen, let's go away together.

Why do you come every day?

Don't' you know they're laughing?

I'm tired of seeing you every day.

I spoke to you cruelly, didn't I?

Will you remember this and make me suffer for it later?

Another letter from her! The nerve!

She says she'll get married when we do.

What is it? You're pale.

Inconvenient for you?

Don't worry. I'll never marry you... ever!

Why laugh at him?

Is Mr. Kameda's giving me carnations so funny?

No one's laughing.

You're lying! You put it in front of me on purpose.

You looked at Mr. Kayama and smiled.

It's usually in the center.

Don't fuss. It's not important.

It's important to me!

Mr. Kameda is finer,

more decent,

and purer than any of us!

Nevertheless you all make fun of him!

And of me!

You crying?

No. Absolutely not!

But... why is his bringing me carnations funny?

Red ones. It's absurd.

Why?

Don't you know? Red carnations mean...

Right, Mr kayama?

I'll ask Mr. Kayama. Tell me clearly: Why are they funny?

I don't know. Maybe it's because they stand for love.

I didn't realize that. That's why I...

Wait!

Even if he sent them realizing they mean love,

It would hardly be funny to me.

I'd accept them with thanks.

Ayako!

Who cares? Foreign customs don't apply in Japan.

Suppose they did?

He just got through saying he didn't know.

Isn't that right?

Yes. But it's true I like her.

What do you mean? Don't tell me you want to marry her.

I...

I want to marry her.

But that's...

Right,

Satoko?

I don't approve!

I'll speak with him privately.

We didn't anticipate this. How did it happen?

Father, mom wants to see you.

Wait! Understand? Think it over.

Look at her. See how she is?

But...

We have no choice but to let her decide for herself.

But why that man?

Still, deep in my heat,

I somehow feel she made the proper choice.

Don't look!

Don't look at me now.

But, what a face!

What?

Reflected in the window.

I know why your face seems so sad.

Don't say it!

I think I should.

The way it is, a certain person stands between us.

Don't say it!

Please stand up.

Are you happy? All I want to know is that.

Are you happy? What did she say to you?

I understand. I'm glad!

I guess this will be our last meeting, then, won't it?

Goodbye.

We're leaving tomorrow. We may never meet again.

Why did you fail to answer her question?

Happy? Are you?

I see. You have no answer.

A rare visitor is here: Miss Ono.

Not to see you. You're always like this.

You described their engagement so cheerfully.

Kameda 's place?

Still asking that? Of course.

It's maddening. The two of them went out together.

Don't you have the courage?

I have. But I'm worried.

Well, don't worry.

I intend to understand her, too.

Last night I thought and thought, and it finally came to me:

If I see her, it'll clear up everything.

I may even get to like her.

She here?

She's in, all right. But I - well...

Afraid of a mere girl?

Yes.

I'm afraid to even look at her.

She's the soul of my beautiful dreams.

She has

everything that I've lost.

To me...

She's an ideal.

At least...

I wrote to her.

I want her to make my dreams come true.

But...

If you get a look at her, you may not like her.

Please. Let's not go. Really, I'm afraid.

What a face! What's wrong?

You're pale, too.

But it's an important time for us!

I won't be impetuous.

You know, of course, don't you...

the reason why I asked to see you?

I'm afraid I don't.

You do know!

What good would it do me to pretend?

Never mind, then.

But you're under the wrong impression.

I didn't come to quarrel with you.

I'm not the sort to let things pass unnoticed.

So I came to give you my answer.

But before that, I have a question.

Do you have any idea about the sort of person Mr. Kameda is?

Definitely. A much better idea than you have.

You're lying! You couldn't possibly know!

Why not?

Why not?

You always think only of yourself.

You have so many problems you don't mind others.

If you understood him, you wouldn't subject him to ridicule.

Since when have I subjected him to ridicule?

Then why walk out on him?

He's simple and naive. Why did you deceive him?

Ayako!

Look at him.

He's still trying to shield you.

I've never met a man kinder and with a purer heart.

That's why I love him so much,

Is that all... you came to say?

No. One more important thing:

My reply to your annoying letter.

I'll speak frankly.

You've no right to interfere with us.

Don't stand between us!

A martyr at our expense!

You act as though you were the lady of the Camellias.

You mustn't say that.

Listen, it's exactly as you said.

Why was I such a fool?

For some reason I imagined

this jealous young lady to be an angel.

Listen...

You yourself don't even know why you came today, right?

Shall I tell you why?

You wanted to see what it is you're afraid of.

Afraid? Afraid of what?

Me! What else?

You've been worried that he loved me more.

So you came here to find out.

You're wrong. He only pities you.

He doesn't love you.

But it amounts to the same thing.

I realize I don't have the right to accept his love.

That's why I...

Enough!

Now, take your precious man and leave!

I can't bear to look.

Understand this: You're the one who's made him suffer.

Hurry and take him!

Take him and get out! Leave!

I've changed my mind.

We'll have a showdown!

I'll command him.

Then he'll abandon you, and he'll stay with me forever.

He'll marry me.

And you'll go home sobbing in misery.

Won't you mind? How about it?

Mr. Kameda, which of us will you choose?

I'll never let you go again.

Say you'll marry me!

No, no, not that.

Ready?

If he fails to take my hand, or if he doesn't leave you,

Then you're the winner.

That way he'll be yours, and I won't need him.

Now, then, which of us will it be?

How did this happen?

Wait a moment. I don't want you to blame her.

Ayako is a very unfortunate person.

Will you go with her? What'll it be?

Hey!

Let me take over. Don't let a girl go home alone.

Ayako 's not home!

How could you bring her, and send her home alone?

Someone! Quick!

Miss Ono came. She has a high fever.

The phone's dead! I...!

Thank you. I'll come.

Understand this:

It's all over. I've had enough.

Come. I want to talk to you.

Is she at your place?

Yes, she is.

Did you peek from the warehouse?

Is she still here?

Not so close. I told you, didn't I?

I'm supposed to be away.

It's cold. Aren't you going to light the stove?

I can't light it.

Why not?

I felt I had to see you.

Oh? I thought so.

I suspected you wanted to see me, so I looked for you.

I've been thinking about you.

So I thought I'd bring you here so we could talk all night.

Is she sleeping in there?

Yes.

Want to see?

But...

Never mind. Come in.

It's dark in here.

We can see.

You're shaking. It'll be bad if you have a fit.

That...

You did it?

Yes.

So... So what do you intend to do now?

The way you tremble! Don't upset me!

Let's stay here together tonight.

It's hot. It's really hot, isn't it?

What? Aren't you cold?

Hey, someone's coming!

I don't hear anything.

See? She's sleeping there.

She won't go anywhere.

She's ours now.

We won't give her up, will we?

Let's take turns watching

She has a beautiful body.

You look too, in the morning.

I stayed with her all day

I've never seen anyone so beautiful.

But I'm worried she may smell.

The stove was hot a while ago.

Smell?

I don't know.

I wish we had flowers to offer.

I can't take any from the family shrine. Mom would notice.

Buy some?

Shall we bury her in flowers?

Come to think of it, that'd be too pathetic.

Listen...

There's one question I'd like to ask you.

How did you kill her? Did you use that knife you bought?

Yes, the meat knife.

Wait. Wait a minute.

I've a few things to ask you... a lot of things.

Tell me everything.

First of all, I left here, right?

Did you do it then?

Right after. The knife was on the table.

But it's strange.

The knife went in three inches.

No, even deeper... about here.

But scarcely any blood came out.

The reason?

I can explain it.

Internal bleeding.

Listen.

Hear something?

Yes!

Footsteps!

Hear them?

Somebody's outside!

I hear it.

Walking!

Walking.

Wow! Wonderful! Look at that cloud!

It's like a rainbow.

It shines oddly.

It's coming! This way! It's coming!

Rushing this way!

She's on it.

She's laughing.

My mom too.

Coming! It's coming! Coming!

Hurry! Get on! Hurry!

Someone! Hurry!

Hear the thunder? Crazy weather!

I hate visiting the sick.

Do something for him.

He's so upset.

I told him not to come.

A silly schoolboy. He's only an idiot.

Kaoru, come with me.

But I feel so sorry for him.

No matter what anyone says, he was a fine person.

He was almost too good for the world.

And that worthless Karube came bringing flowers.

He even had tears in his eyes.

I don't want to talk about it anymore!

I promised I'd look at him well and make a report to you.

But I can't!

You needn't.

That's all right.

All I'll remember is he was so very, very nice.

Yes. If we could only love people the way he did,

Without hating them.

What a fool I've been!

I was the idiot.

THE END