Original subtitles

Teshigahara Productions Tokyo Eiga Co. co-production

These objects.

Any idea what they are?

No, you wouldn't.

You've probably no idea.

lt's artificial, you see.

lt's not only a finger.

lt's inferiority complex in the shape of a finger.

lt's not the finger l treated.

l'm a psychiatrist.

l've just filled the gap in mind.

T A

N I N

N O

K A O

producers • Horibe Nobuyo, Ichikawa Kiichi , Ono Tadashi

novel and screenplay • Kobo Abe [published by Kodansha]

music • Takemitsu Toru cinematographer • Segawa Hiroshi

art direction • Yamazaki Masao lighting • Kume Mitsuo sound • Okuyama Junosuke

editing • Yoshi Sugihara continuity • Yoshida Eiko

set decoration • Yamamoto Kenichiro still photography • Yoshioka Yasuhiro

Assistant Directors • Nagasawa Hideo, Osawa Yutaka

art direction adviser • Isozaki Arata sculpters • Miki Tomio

title design • Awazu Kiyoshi costume design • Moritani Tamiko masks • Akiyama Taichiro

Nakadai Tatsuya

Hira Mikijiro, Kishida Kyoko, Irie Miki, Okada Eiji

Chiaki Minoru, Kanze Hideo Tanaka Kunie, Ichihara Etsuko Muramatsu Eiko, Minami Yoshie

Igawa Hisashi, Saeki Kakuya, Bibari Sen, Maeda Bibari, Itomi Shinobu

Kyo Machiko [ Daiei ]

a Teshigahara Hiroshi film

l was checking our new plant.

You don't mind my talking, l hope.

No, please keep talking.

Perhaps l shouldn't have been so careless.

We should have used liquid air.

But we ran out... we used liquid oxygen instead.

l thought it was liquid air.

You were unlucky.

Yes, it was bad luck but my own fault.

lf l could have called it destiny...

...or even a war wound...

l think l might have been saved.

Now, it's like being exiled.

no-one even remembers it happened.

Stop it, please.

l've become very sensitive to noise.

l'm sorry.

l was almost through anyway.

Does losing your face affect your senses, too?

You're tired.

Everyone says the same thing.

Let's take off the bandages.

Certainly not.

Some tea?

No.

Sit down.

You're always moving around when you're not working.

Sit down.

You sat there not to look at me.

lt's your imagination.

Will you help me in a little experiment?

Aren't you cold?

Are you?

No, not very.

l'm hot.

The bandages, probably.

Why don't you take them off?

Not good for the skin.

You can't save something that's already dead.

Your face...

You're old enough not to mind.

l'll make some tea.

Don't run away.

Why should l?

Why do people feel the way they do about faces?

Something like hives?

Quite right.

But l know something else.

You don't really need bandages.

But in your case?

Perhaps, if l were writing or calling someone.

Beginning some experiment? l'll help you.

All right. Turn out the light first.

Turn out?

Having lights at night means being civilized?

Maybe...

But a faceless man feels free only when it's dark.

That's why deep-sea fish are so hideous.

lsn't it a parable?

lt's not a parable!

l live in a much greater darkness.

What's that noise?

What noise?

l want to put out all the lights in the world.

Or gouge everyone's eyes out.

lf l had the right to do it.

Eyes aren't just to look at faces.

The face is only a space above the neck...

...covered with a sheet of rice paper.

Do you agree?

l wanted to think so.

Only a layer of skin. l tried to convince myself so.

But l'm not so sure now.

The face is the door to the mind.

Without it, the mind is shut off. There's no communication.

The mind's left to corrode to disintegrate.

The mind of a rotten monster.

l'm buried alive.

You yourself shut the door.

no-one stops you from getting out.

l'm just like others?

...so long as it's dark.

lt doesn't work after all.

lt was too sudden.

You wouldn't let me.

Why didn't you stop me?

But l know who you are.

How do you know?

How do you know l'm not someone else?

Tell me.

But your voice...

Voice?

Nonsense.

We'd all sound alike in bandages like these.

l'm sorry, sir.

Why?

Never mind.

Hello.

Mind if l smoke?

Of course not. Why?

l look funny with a cigarette sticking out of my bandages.

That's foolish.

Your secretary couldn't prove who l was.

What?

l'd like to take a vacation.

Of course. That's what l've been suggesting.

l want time to see whether l've the right to stay on here.

You're you. No need to think about it.

l don't want to take advantage of you.

Forget it! It was in line of duty.

That's not the problem.

l've no face, yet l'm...

You're tired.

l wish l were.

l seem like a monster sometimes even to myself.

Take it easy.

You think too much.

You're wrong.

You're asking me to cut off your wrist instead of putting on a new finger.

lt's your duty to save patients.

But to help mercy killings isn't.

Mercy killings? You're exaggerating.

l can replace any part of your body.

That's no better than bandages.

lt would be even more hideous.

Do you prefer bad teeth to false ones?

That's different.

How?

How is it different?

Go ahead, if you insist...

May l call the nurse?

Remember, l hold you responsible.

l'm gonna burn my wife's face like mine.

You agree, right?

You can give her false teeth then.

For a man in your position, you're talking like a child.

My wife refused me.

What good is revenge?

Revenge?

lt's not that.

l'd just be freeing her from her prejudice about faces.

Doing that would help me a lot.

Nothing encourages a patient more than trust in his doctor.

Are you serious?

Of course.

At least, it makes an excuse.

l'm such a coward l can't resist good excuses.

Still l'd rather keep distance from criminal cases.

l don't follow you.

l doubt whether l'll succeed.

But it's an interesting experiment.

lt's against medical ethics, but you've talked me into it.

l've one condition.

Report everything you do.

The mask is for temporary use.

Not yours to keep.

Thank you.

lt came out very well.

Plaster?

Sodium alginate.

We'll use a paraffin mould next.

Can you come tomorrow?

Any time.

This is my only work now.

Do you live here?

l'm the super.

l saw the ad. l'd like a room.

He has a visitor now... a lady.

But l've come for a room.

Please don't tell him.

l'll give it back.

Yes? Who is it?

l saw your ad. Any vacant rooms?

l''ll be right with you.

Sorry l...

Yoko! Stealing it again!

Your daughter?

Well, yes.

Excuse my appearance. l was taking a bath.

Well, the room?

One moment. l'll get the price list.

All automatic locks.

A chain, too, for safety.

Please.

The bathroom.

Another automatic lock here.

The washroom.

The bedroom.

A nice view.

Wardrobe...

l haven't changed my mind.

l've found a hideout for the mask.

That's not what l asked you.

You mean my plans?

About your double life with your mask.

We'll make up for each other.

Will it succeed?

Do you know what l thought of in the apartment?

Let me see...

What to do with all your freedom?

No, l thought about jealousy.

Yes. But that's only natural.

lt's impossible for me to make my wife jealous.

You mean using your mask to make her jealous?

Using it for all human relations, including jealousy.

l'll ask you again.

Are you more interested in going back than leaving?

Does it bother you?

No, it's healthy enough psychiatrically.

l was afraid you might try to use it to escape from yourself.

A difference in viewpoint.

This plastic's quite interesting.

Now, it's like clay.

But when handled, it becomes elastic like rubber.

lt's almost like the cellular tissues of the skin.

Seems quite real when you put it on the Langer lines.

Langer lines?

The arrangement of the skin's cellular tissues.

l see.

How will my face look?

l wonder, though l trust you.

Yes, trust me.

lt's tough to do without changing your original structure.

You'll look differently, but that's about all.

Where does the mask join skin?

That's the difficult part.

lt'd be most obvious around the eyes.

You'll need sunglasses.

l won't complain.

Oh, it's chilly.

What're you doing?

l thought l'd make some tea.

We just had some.

No use trying to find something to do.

lt makes me nervous.

Shall l turn out the lights?

No, no, l'm quite comfortable.

l got used to it, or maybe l just gave up.

Where'd you go today?

No place.

Worried?

No, you couldn't be.

Not much a man with a bandaged face can do.

Still angry with me?

Don't talk as if you are the victim!

l didn't mean it that way.

You may be a victim, too, after all.

Until a few days ago, l really meant to hurt you...

...to make your face worse than mine.

lt's your fault.

You lied when you said you didn't mind my face.

You had to say it. l know that.

Easy to say the monster is the one to blame.

Everything's the monster's fault.

You've harped on it so often,

l'm beginning to believe it.

Because l imagine you think that way.

l get awkward even more.

Why? Why imagine so?

Never mind. l'm above such things now.

Actually, l saw a movie today.

lt was cold. Theatres are dark, aren't they?

no-one minds how you look.

What were they showing?

A young girl was sitting in front of me.

She was alone at first, but later a man came and sat beside her.

There were other seats, but he sat right next to her.

l'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Such a bold fellow he was. Paid no attention to anybody.

She let him?

l think so.

l mean, l don't really know what went on between them.

Something may or may not have happened.

But l was shocked to realize he's just like a masked man!

Long ago, hangmen used to wear masks. l wonder if they felt the same.

l'm watching you closely.

You feel you're looking at holes in a wall, don't you?

What do you mean?

Nothing in particular.

Some monsters want to look like people, and vice versa.

Even monsters have their pleasures.

So spare me your sympathy!

Hey, beauty!

Don't be stuck up.

Say something.

Open it, please.

PSYCHIATRIC SECTlON NO.2

Attention!

Air raid!

Let's play baseball!

The air raid's over.

A nice breeze.

A bad wind...

l'd like to see the sea.

Stupid.

l meant to show something nice.

Do as you please.

Get my ball.

Monster.

You're enjoying it more?

Yes, l am.

lt's such a romantic experiment. You can't have it on other patients.

You'd make a mask for yourself?

Hardly. Having to watch something like this is quite enough.

Something like this?

lt's like making an invisible man.

l can hardly see what you imagine.

What would my wife do if l made her a mask?

Don't.

l'd like some coffee.

Sugar?

Plenty.

l've been smoking too much. My tongue's rough.

Your wife's listening again.

This may be a terrible thing.

Yes, we're interfering with natural laws.

Perhaps that man...

He might use that mask to seduce his wife.

Really?

You agree?

You couldn't do much. Men don't have wings.

No matter how high up they go, they've got to come down.

l've become a monster.

Brother...

There won't be a war for awhile, will there?

Probably not.

But who knows? We can't even be sure about tomorrow's weather.

That's so.

lt's true of war, too.

Most likely, we only know after it's begun.

That's true.

Good morning.

Don't worry. l'm in a good mood today.

Will you have lunch with me?

l was joking. Masks make men bold.

Think nothing of it. Just think l'm drunk.

l've been thinking.

l've got hold of myself.

l'd like to talk about my future in a rational way.

Come off it.

Stay with us! There's no need for talk.

No, l can't handle people anymore.

l know. You needn't tell me.

l can handle the technical end, though.

l'm stuck with the bandages.

Can l return to the factory at my present pay?

l don't feel any need to change.

But if you insist...

lt's a load off my shoulders.

l'll do it by the time your leave's up.

ls your wife well?

Why?

Why? Why you ask?

From now on, l'll depend on telephones and letters.

The only me you'll see will be my signature.

l'll try not to be conspicuous.

You'll get used to it in time.

You're looking tired now.

A few minutes with me exhausts you.

No wonder my wife's not Iooking too well.

l'll leave now.

How would he be?

That face?

No.

The size and texture of his skin.

lsn't he too young?

He'd be easy to talk to.

Shall we go?

Hungry?

lt's too early for lunch...

Yes. All right.

Two cokes.

The same for me.

We'd like to ask a favour of you.

What?

What's this?

lt's a 1O,000 yen favour. How about it?

You haven't told me what l have to do yet.

Sell us your face.

My face?

Only the mould of your face.

We wouldn't skin you for only 1O,000 yen.

Only the mould?

We won't use it against you.

But isn't it like fingerprints?

The shape of the glove changes with the wearer.

We want the pores, sweat glands. Just surface details.

He's no good.

There's nothing to lose.

Let's go.

l still don't get it.

What're you buying it for?

Please take it.

l'm going away for a week.

Business?

Any objections?

No.

l'll have to pack your things.

When do you leave?

l'm surprised.

l thought you'd be impressed.

My agreeing to go on a business trip.

l am.

l'm sorry. Don't be offended.

l didn't mean to be nasty.

Let's talk.

You go to your class on Friday, don't you?

Did you finish that one?

Not yet. Almost.

A polished or a natural stone... which is the most real?

l'd rather not talk about it.

Why?

lt's ambiguous.

l see.

Changing the subject's your prerogative.

What shall we talk about?

Have you ever wondered why women use make-up?

Well... It's not to catch men is it?

You're way off.

ln the Tale of Genji era...

...it was considered virtuous to conceal one's face.

Women showed only their long hair.

lt's the same even now in Arab countries.

The make-up's a sort of mask too.

To be humble.

Humble?

No woman ought to show face without make-up.

Sounds like very involved sarcasm.

Sarcasm?

lsn't it?

ls that better than pride?

Sensible type, practical type, adventurous type, idealist type...

l had a hard time with so many types.

l talked it over with the nurse.

Should have asked your wife, too?

No, not that.

Eyes.

Well?

You left the mole, too?

Yes, more life-like with some faults.

Shall we try it on?

Can't get the feel of it unless it's in place.

Let me take off your bandages.

Don't move.

lt fits.

Beautifully done.

lt'll be hot, but you'll have to stand it.

The chemicals will set gradually.

Move your lips a little.

Now back.

Moving your face under this heat...

...creates the right wrinkles.

lt's too smooth and unnatural as it is.

Move your mouth once more.

That's fine.

Now, you're free to talk or do anything you want.

Won't perspiration make it come loose?

A special chemical contracts the sweat glands.

lt may be hard to breathe at first.

Skin respiration's impossible.

lt's hard to talk.

A different voice might be better.

Certain things you must strictly observe!

Don't wear the mask more than 12 hours at a time.

The skin gets clogged.

The change is incredible.

Wonderful.

Politician...

lt seems unnatural without a beard.

Which one would be good?

lsn't that one all right?

Not that one. The other.

This one?

lt's a strange feeling.

Like someone's taken me over.

l think it's a nice face.

Don't you?

lt's only about four millimetres even where l added it the most.

Only?

Yes, a very delicate operation.

lt still seems strange to me.

Pleasant, with individuality.

Even changing clothes affects people.

But l'm myself. Nothing can change that.

l hope.

What's that?

A drink, please.

l said at first l was reluctant to do this work.

As an experiment, l was curious, but l felt it was dangerous.

But l gave in and agreed.

Please drink this.

Practice using your lips.

And this medicine.

What is it?

ls it difficult to drink?

Not exactly.

Fine, if you don't spill it.

Can l drink hot things?

Of course, anything.

lnjection, Doctor?

Yes, give him one now.

l feel l'm smothering.

Bear with it a bit more.

What were we talking about?

Why a shot?

Yes... about my fear.

The effect the mask might cause you internally.

Please don't exaggerate.

Do you feel a prickling sensation?

No, but l don't feel it's a part of me yet.

No feeling of fresh air coming in?

l feel like l'm in an oven.

lt'll be better soon.

When the mask fits better you'll be a new man.

You'll be an unregistered man.

Psychologically invisible.

l'm me.

What was that medicine you gave me?

Are they taking effect?

l feel numb.

A narcotic and a sedative.

l worried your nervousness would wrinkle it unevenly.

Relax. Laugh, whistle... don't resist the mask... accept it.

Three minutes more.

Please smile.

Any face laughs once in a while.

You still look like a sick man.

Now, please smile.

No, no, a real smile.

l don't feel the wind on my face.

They say a blind man can tell where he is by sensing the air.

The world outside seems so terribly far away.

l feel as if l might fall down.

Wait a while.

You were born only an hour ago.

To your maiden voyage.

To your creation would be more appropriate, wouldn't it?

No need to talk like that!

Wait.

lt's a trick of yours.

Trick?

Yes.

Fascinated by the challenge of the mask, but resisting it.

Nonsense. You're the one who is challenging me.

No, you're not afraid of the light anymore.

You're different from when you were bandaged.

The medicine did it.

No.

When the waitress came by, your eyes were fixed on her legs.

The mask has started showing itself.

lt's just this dizziness.

Everything seems so disconnected.

ls that because of the mask?

Be quiet!

A guilty conscience?

What do you want?

Your frank appraisal of yourself.

You promised you'd tell me everything.

l'm not hiding anything.

Don't push me so.

All right. l may be a little too insistent.

But don't go too far.

Too far? In what way?

lf you can't stand it...

Still saying that?

You always do.

No, l'm half in doubt myself.

Try to understand.

Perhaps, l'm unduly worried.

Frankly, l hope so.

Masks could utterly destroy all human morality.

Right?

Name, position, occupation...

...all such labels wouldn't matter anymore.

Everyone would be strangers to each other.

lt'd be natural to be alone.

There'd be no need to feel guilty about it.

Doctor...

Do l have to be with you as long as l wear the mask?

Hardly.

Only just at first...

l'll go if l bother you.

l'll tell you...

Everything.

Will you tell me frankly how you feel now?

l've begun to get in your way.

Because l know who you are?

l want to test myself alone.

The mask's taking you over.

l want to be on my own. It's been so long.

Very well.

l look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

Remember to wash off the adhesive before you go to bed.

Yes? Who is it?

l saw your ad. Any rooms still vacant?

Yes, yes. l'm coming.

Sorry l kept you waiting.

Yoko! Stealing it again!

Your daughter?

Well, yes.

Excuse my appearance. l was taking a bath.

Five floors?

Yes. One moment.

l'll get the price list.

Did you see me?

l'm trying to help the super's girl.

Poor thing, she's mentally retarded.

He does nothing for her.

l don't want her to lose everything.

Even a dog can be trained to do things.

l don't want her...

Excuse me. l'm in a hurry.

Don't...

l'll buy you one.

Really?

Don't do that.

You won't tell him?

Not if you don't want me to.

l won't do it again.

Who is it?

Me.

Where's my yo-yo?

l'll open the door. Wait.

What about today?

What're you talking about?

lt's not fair to forget.

l don't understand.

Keep your promise or l'll cut out your tongue.

What promise?

You promised to buy me a yo-yo.

l did?

You must be mistaken. What did he look like?

Was his face bandaged?

lt's you.

When?

Awhile ago.

See here. When l go out, my face is always bandaged.

You remember that night?

That was the only time we met.

Awhile ago.

l really promised to buy you a yo-yo?

Don't lie.

What did he wear?

l forgot.

How many rooms do l rent here? One or...?

lf you don't tell him...

l won't tell on you.

l haven't much time today. Tomorrow, perhaps.

Tomorrow?

Yes, l promise.

You see it?

Yes.

What's it like now?

lt's plotting.

Getting very fat.

Be careful then.

Leave it to me.

l'll give you a shot for your eyes.

Thank you.

Your wife again...

l know.

You're looking happy.

Are you so content with the result?

Someone knew who you were?

Can you guarantee no-one will?

l think l can.

Even l was almost fooled.

See?

Your mask can look serious, too.

l'm not worried.

Unfortunately.

Who knew?

Your wife?

A stranger.

A girl l'd only seen twice.

Girl?

An idiot.

Mentally retarded?

She saw me with bandages.

Once with my mask on.

A different suit...

...but she knew.

At the apartment house...?

The super's daughter.

She didn't see you changing?

No chance of her doing that. l'm sure of it.

l see.

But you might not fool a dog either.

A dog?

Perhaps she has an animal's sense of smell.

You'd have to be pretty clever to tell any other way.

How about a normal adult?

You'd be safe even with an experienced detective.

Why not test it by seeing an old friend?

l'm sure of it.

Your mask seems to have more character of its own today.

How was it last night?

Nothing much.

You mean you had your mask under control?

You're too curious.

Are you lying?

You must be more frank. You promised.

Why?

Here's the proof that you're lying.

Suit, necktie, shoes...

You've never worn such Ioud things.

Your former face position, business.'..

no-one could guess now.

What you wear fits your mask.

Your mask chose for you.

lt ordered your mind to select these things.

Do you see?

Your mask is really affecting you.

l felt l had to look the part.

When you become confident enough, you'll listen to your mask more.

See someone, test it.

l'll expect you again tonight.

l'd like to see the Director about Mr. Okuyama.

Your card, sir?

l have none.

Your business, sir?

Have we met somewhere before by any chance?

l'm sure we have. Where was it?

Am l mistaken?

l think so.

Perhaps so.

Are you going to announce me or not?

But you keep lying to me.

l can't see him?

About Mr. Okuyama...

Do you remember his face before the accident?

Of course.

Actually, l'm his younger brother.

l'll call the guard, if you say things like that.

Well, l guess that's that.

l imagine you're not married yet?

I look at your face, whitch is before me

yet l no longer recognise you.

Where are you? Where are you,

You from yesterday?

Once in the fog l saw you

just like behind milky glass

You were near and nevertheless far away.

Once in fhe moonlight

l saw your pale skin

You were near but nevertheless a sfranger to me

Have you got used to the mask; or is the mask used to you?

You're a great doctor, a specialist.

You can foresee the future.

Drunk?

ls that bad?

Fine.

Am l easier to watch when l'm high?

Exactly.

Another for me, too.

Let's see now. Am l getting drunk, or is it the mask?

l'd like an answer to that one.

How would l know?

and after a long time I forgot

What about your new name and your plans for work?

Why?

Never mind, if you haven't decided.

The bandages will do fine for all that...

lsn't the mask bound by such things?

The mask is to savour ordinary emotions.

l wonder.

The other day, two beers after a shot didn't even affect you.

Tonight, a beer and a half, with no drugs, and you're tight.

Understand?

lt's not the beer. The mask's made you drunk.

No...

Yet l no longer recognise you

Where are you? Where are you,

You from yesterday?

You're playing with words.

Look. Everyone's trying to get drunk.

They can, because they don't need to have an alibi.

They can't become somebody else.

Yet, you can't become just anybody.

You've an alibi for everything.

Actually, it can't be proved you're really here.

Getting drunk may well be a mask in itself.

l see. Avery clever challenge.

But what's your real motive?

You suggested l drink.

Realize the difference...

...between your first feelings and now. That's all l want.

Explain yourself.

Have you forgotten?

l said wearing the mask equals jumping into zero gravity.

Whereas you insisted to decide on its meaning.

l still do.

Then what about it?

lt's neither your name nor job. Where will it lead you?

Shall l tell you?

Yes, do.

l intend to seduce my wife.

You're not surprised?

l wasn't wholly unprepared.

l see. Congratulations.

Will you tell me what will happen?

Will l succeed?

lt's dangerous.

She'll know?

Could be worse.

l have the right to get back what's mine.

Will she return?

Tomorrow...

l'll start out at four. l've made plans.

Tomorrow.

l've waited all this while.

Thanks again.

A dangerous triangle.

Triangle?

l see. It's a triangle, you think?

lt's alright as long as l report everything to you?

Yes, tell me everything.

You promised.

l feel more and more like a guinea pig.

lt can't be helped?

The guessing game again?

No. After all it won't live much longer.

What won't?

The mask.

Are you glad your prophecy's come true?

lt happens everyday... -Everyday?

The mask borrows your body to live everyday...

l am a guinea pig.

l can mass produce them.

A face, easily taken off.

A world without family, friends or enemies.

There'll be no crimes because there'll be no criminals.

no-one'll want freedom because we'll all be free.

no-one'll run away because there'll be no place to run from.

Loneliness and friendship will be one.

There'll be no need for trust among people.

There'll be no suspicions or betrayals.

Why didn't you test it yourself then?

Even a doctor can't dissect himself.

l can't back out now.

Never mind. A world like that can't exist.

l think l know what you mean.

Maybe it's because l'm always surrounded by cripples.

We don't know yet.

You can't conclude it until you hear the result.

Did you drop this?

Oh, thank you.

Will you have some tea?

l think there's a shop along here.

Damn.

What?

Nothing.

Didn't you say ''damn''?

Hardly.

Noisy, isn't it?

They do it purposely.

lt's so people will leave and there'll be a bigger turnover.

l've heard that somewhere.

Yes, l imagine so.

lt was in some magazine.

Are you working?

No, l go to a hobby-class to polish gems.

That ring you dropped.

Your wife's...?

What?

Her hobby.

l have no wife.

Your husband?

His hobby?

No.

lt doesn't matter.

You wouldn't tell me anyway, but...

What?

What you do?

Why?

ls it a secret?

lf l succeeded in hiding it, it would mean l'm in earnest, wouldn't it?

You're...

Dogs can sense things even in the dark.

But it doesn't mean they're more advanced than we are.

l know that.

They called me Mrs.

Remember the sea at Nagasaki?

What're they going to fish for?

Brother.

Do l look pretty from your side?

Yes, you do.

How pretty?

Too pretty.

No report yet...

He's doing something.

Who's killing whom?

One of the three. You figure it out.

Mister.

The yo-yo?

Our secret?

Of course.

Over here.

What a nice view.

lt's just come to me. Did l seduce you...

...or were you seduced?

You really live here?

lt doesn't smell womanly.

Nor like a man either.

You're used to smelling out things?

lf you say so.

People aren't what they seem.

But we should respect appearances.

You think so?

You'd be confident, too you'd think so, too.

We're two strangers about to commit adultery.

Yes, l'm ready.

Without regret?

There's been too many.

The sea seems to be saying something.

A war may start tomorrow.

Will you kiss me?

l'm sure there'll be a war tomorrow.

Forgive me.

lt's too easy.

lt's too simple.

lt doesn't have to be complicated.

l can't stand it!

What are you doing?

You lewd woman! Look at me!

Do you think l didn't know?

You knew?

Of course.

l thought we both knew we were going to a masquerade.

How? How did you know?

Do l have to tell you that?

Didn't you think this mask is too good?

l was impressed.

That's why l'm wearing layers of make-up.

You knew and...

Of course.

l hoped for too much.

l was ashamed, yet grateful.

l thought the mask was out of consideration.

ln love, we all try to unmask one another.

So l thought we should try to wear masks.

You were the one who made the first move.

l did not.

lt's you who gave up.

Just a minute now.

Why not do it ever again?

No.

lt was only yesterday we talked.

Women don't hide the fact they use make-up.

l can't stand pretending a mask is real.

But...

l'm trying not to scream.

l don't treat the physically ill.

l'm a psychiatrist.

l've just filled a gap in the mind.

TO MY BROTHER

l'm no-one.

A complete stranger.

Sunglasses.

l'm no-one. Arrest me if you can.

l'm no-one at all.

What're you saying? This is no joke.

What'll you do about it?

Just a minute. l'm questioning him.

What's this? A doctor's card?

Hori Psychiatric Clinic.

The police.

Hori speaking.

Yes. That's true.

He ran away from here.

Thank you.

Dinner is ready.

Yes, that's right. l'll be right over for him.

No, he's not violent.

His personal effects.

Be careful after this.

l'm sorry to have troubled you.

l'm not insane.

l'm a dangerous criminal. You can't catch me.

l know. l won't let you go. Let's go.

Not you, Doctor.

You know very well l'm not crazy.

Of course you're not.

l'm really dangerous, officer.

My beard's itchy under the mask.

What's the idea?

l'm not a charity case. l'm not grateful!

The whole thing's crazy.

Give me back my mask.

You promised.

You don't understand.

You're not the only Ionely man.

Freedom's always a lonely thing.

Some masks come off some don't.

You're free.

Be free.

Thanks.

l will.

1966 © Teshigahara Productions