Original subtitles

Elephant, elephant

Why is your trunk so long?

Because my mot/r erk trunk is long too.

Elephant, elephant

Who do you like?

Well, I like my moth er!

That's my cigarette... it's mine.

It's strong!

Excuse me!

Help that customer over there.

- Please. - Kanako.

You need to work on how you talk.

Kanako.

Yes!

Yes, I'm coming.

That'

be 400 yen, please.

Thank you. Bye.

Hello, this is The Colorado.

Yes, that's me.

I see, okay.

Number 201.

Understood.

Yes, okay.

Mr. Yoko ya ma?

Hey, can you lend me your car’?

But you don't know how to drive.

Right, that's why I wanted to lend... no, borrow your car and...

What are you talking about? What do you want to do?

I need to transport a corpse.

A corpse?

Why would I do such a thing?

It's got nothing to do with me.

But it does!

He was a customer who came here several times.

And besides, he...

Why are you laughing?

Mr. Man a be!

You wanted to go for a ride with me, right?

Yes.

How about we go now?

Sure.

Here we go...

Where do you want to go?

You know where that is?

Yeah, more or less.

If anything happened, he said to call this number.

I don't think he's been dead that long.

He led an orderly life.

He always said hello.

Yesterday, the neighbor told me...

He heard a noise, like someone falling.

Have you told anyone else about this?

No.

I don't think he has any relatives.

And, you're the only one...

He never mentioned anyone else.

About this...

Please use this to vacate the apartment.

You can sell his remaining belongings.

I guess I can do that.

Can I ask you something else? It may be a bit strange.

Could you say that he isn't dead...

But that he just disappeared somewhere?

I'll take care of the rest... so please do that for me.

I wasn't done with deliveries yet, so...

This is great!

- Lower! - Wait, wait.

I'm putting him down now!

Great, he'll be surrounded by flowers!

Wait!

Mind the flowers!

You have to be delicate with them.

Lucky you, Mr. Shimozuki.

What are we going to do now?

I suppose we finish the deliveries first.

You're gonna explain all this, right?

You can do it later.

One other thing:

don't forget to mind the flowers...

I want to bury him.

What?

Bury?

Where?

Don't know... where should we?

Kanako, you're serious?

I promised him.

That's a crime...

- Doing whatever you want with a body... - I told you, I promised him!

I promised him.

Susumu!

Ka ko-sa n!

Welcome back.

You just got here?

Tell me...

Are you seeing your friends today?

Then come picnic with Kako-san, right now.

Picnic?

Yes. You remember Mr. Shimozuki’?

You met him two or three times.

He gave you chestnuts.

- Chestnuts. - Uncle Chestnut?

Right!

Uncle Chestnut died.

So...

We have to go and bury him. Understand?

Whose kid is that?

- He's my son. - What?

You never say anything until you're asked.

I'm sorry. It's a bad habit of mine.

Susumu, this is Kak0-san's friend, Mr. Man a be.

Say hello.

Tell him hello.

- Hello. - Hello.

Leave your bag at home.

Don't worry, he's already dead. He won't run away.

Hurry up!

It's so hot!

Hey, Man a be...

- Where does your family live? - In Set a gay a.

We live on the second floor; the store is on the first.

- You're continuing your parents' business? - Yes.

- Does your place have a garden? - Eh?

- A garden. - Yes.

No, not at my place!

The garden's small, it's a residential area...

It's outta the question!

You're scaring me.

What should we do?

We won't find any land in Tokyo.

We'll find some if we raise the concrete.

Listen!

The earth is like a candy apple.

- Huh? - You don't know those?

They sell them at fairs.

There's a layer of candy surrounding the apple.

Yes, I know them.

What should we do?

In any case, if we start at lzu, for example...

We might find a place to bury him.

It's close to the sea, too, so lzu might be perfect.

- Kanako... -Yes?

You're actually serious.

Uh... if this is all too much for you, you don't have to help.

No, that's not it.

What's wrong?

Hey!

What is it?

- What are you doing? - Just open the door.

- Why? - It doesn't concern you. Open the door.

- Listen! - Why won't you open it?

- What are you gonna do? - What do you mean?

Forget it, I'm going. Come on, open the door!

You can't do it by yourself!

I'll do it on my own if I have to.

I promised him... open the door!

That's enough, Kanako! I didn't mean to upset you!

- What, then? - What is it, then?

- What is it? - You're being unreasonable!

This is... this is a misunderstanding!

- That's not it. - What's with you?

I promised him, and I already said I'm serious!

- I didn't mean it that way. I'll apologize! - It's okay.

- Susumu, we're leaving. - What's going on?

I don't get it! Damn!

Excuse me. Where can I find shovels?

You'll find the camping section on the 3rd floor.

Don't remove those things in his nose.

Susumu, how old are you?

3?

You like drawing, Susumu’?

Can you show me your picture?

Is your mother always like this?

You want to stay back here?

Your butt's going to hurt when we're driving.

You want to stay here?

You'll stay with Uncle Chestnut?

You're not afraid?

Why would I be?

Okay, I'll close the door.

You're sure taking all this in stride.

It's annoying.

There are somethings you just can't quit.

I can quit...

When my father died...

I smoked as a way to mourn him until the 49th Day ceremonies.

I just never had a reason to stop smoking since then.

So I can quit.

You play the piano?

Eh? I used to.

I wonder if Susumu is alright back there.

It looks like he's taken a liking to Uncle Corpse.

Is it actually fun back there?

Isn't he quiet?

But he's a good kid.

- What kind of person was he? - Huh?

I'd like to know at least something...

About the man we're going to bury.

He told me he had been a piano tuner.

Back then, since there were no specialized schools for that...

He learned it all in a factory.

So he was also able to build pianos from start to finish.

But when I met him, he was a security guard.

You know him well.

No, not really.

I didn't even know where he lived.

But he helped me out once, a while back.

I was really down in the dumps.

Helped you how?

He talked to me.

When I was in high school...

A classmate killed himself.

I'd hardly talked to him...

So I wasn't really sad or anything.

By chance, a week before it happened...

In the photography club room- that's where we smoked...

We met there by chance.

I didn't have any money on me that day.

I asked him to lend me some.

He did, just like that. And he smiled.

I never got to pay him back.

The school... their rules are weird.

Because it was a suicide...

we couldn't take time off school for the funeral.

They were stern about everything.

But me...

For some reason, I skipped class and I went.

I wasn't...

I wasn't really sad oranything.

It was just...

I thought about not being able to pay him back.

A lot of his friends came.

We all walked back together.

Then, the girl who represented his friends...

The one who'd been crying while reading the eulogy...

She said there was no use going back to school.

She laughed and suggested we go to a cafe.

At that point, I felt strange.

It's not like I was sad...

But, how can I put it...

You know, he smiled... when he lent me the money.

He smiled...

I don't know why he died.

Even now, I still think of it sometimes.

I can't give him back his money.

Me...

I can't give him back his money.

But you, Kanako...

You can keep your promise.

Yes.

It's all private property.

Burying someone is hard.

We don't have any experience.

Not to mention, it's a crime.

Raising him alone... must be difficult.

Not really.

In the end, women can find a way to make it.

Take telephone dating clubs, for example.

What?

You can do work like that at home.

If you work hard, you earn more than at a café.

Shit... so it really is like that.

So you mean...

those are pros doing that.

Damn.

No, some of them might not be pros!

But I prefer honest work.

I like working at the café.

If I work there... I may be able to...

One day talk to someone who needs it.

But it's pretty hard, you know.

So, what are we going to do now?

Let's stay somewhere for the night.

Huh?

We'll think about it tomorrow.

But... the burial...

Wouldn't it be easier to do it at night?

Yes, but...

I'm just a little tired.

Yeah’? Okay, I understand.

Sorry.

Thank you.

I'm going to call my mother.

What?

Business will be tough without me and the truck.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I can be so careless.

- In that case, we could... - No, don't worry.

We have part-timers who can fill in for me.

And this is important too.

But I need to call her.

Otherwise, she'll worry.

Everyone has their own responsibilities to attend to...

Once you hit 30, you have to start worrying about your parents.

I'll be right back.

Ah! You look well.

It's for you.

This is great!

When I come here...

I think to myself that I'm protecting the night itself.

You don't just think it. You're saying it out loud.

It feels good to say it.

You work in a café? How is it?

Um...

You working ha rd?

I always am!

You're no longer working as a pianist?

No.

- Tonight... - Huh?

You came just to bring me this?

Yes.

Really’? That makes me happy.

Thank you.

Huh? For what?

Me...

I guard the night.

When you look during the day...

This place looks like a dinosaur graveyard.

A 9 rave ya rd?

I heard that there are elephant graveyards.

There are secret graveyards deep into the woods.

The old elephants gather there voluntarily.

I read that in a book.

The tired elephants...

They just keep on walking... searching for a place to die.

Of course, when they get there, they're all exhausted.

They lie down to rest.

And then...

While they watch the clear blue skies...

These elephants... suddenly... they feel sad.

So...

It's said they weep.

They cry because they're sad.

But... it sounds like they're singing.

Maybe they're really singing...

Yes. Maybe...

When I die... I want to serve some purpose.

Because I've lived a useless life.

Being cremated and placed in an urn is no good.

It's meaningless.

At least...

If I'm buried... my body will rot...

And my juices... will spread throughout the earth.

They could serve to feed small trees...

Right?

At least, when I die...

So, let me know when you die!

I'm being serious.

We can get this burial done!

We're going to bury him!

Stop! Stop!

Why did you drive away?

Wait, it's a simple checkup!

You have your license!

You can make some excuse!

Shut up.

Pull over night a way!

Puff over to the left and stop.

They suspect us now...

Go as far as possible before they stop you.

Okay, I'll come back.

I'll come back for you!

Go!

It's not heavy.

It's not heavy.

It's not heavy.

It's heavy!

It's heavy! It's heavy!

- Ka ko-san! - Wait.

I know you don't like this place, Mr. Shimazaki.

Damn!

Mr. Shimozuki, you're too heavy!

Uncle Chestnut is starting to smell.

Okay, let's go.

Susumu.

Elephants...

When they die...

They go up to a place where there's no one...

And they sing.

I wonder what kind of song they sing?

Susumu.

Kako-san...

Wants to become someone people can talk to.

Susumu.

Kako-san...

Wants to become someone who keeps her promises.

You see, Susumu’?

Mr. Shimozuki.

I'm keeping my promise.

I'm keeping... my promise.

Susumu, are you thirsty? Do you want a mandarin?

Here you go.

So, what do you think?

Let's do it here!

Now...

I'll bury him.

This is hard work.

Susumu... I made you miss school.

- Susumu, do you like school? - Yes.

Oh, you'll help me?

You're amazing.

Ka ko-san isn't the most reliable...

so you have to be independent, right?

Listen.

Uncle Chestnut...

When he's buried... he will rot...

And his juices will penetrate the earth...

And give nutrients... to trees, flowers...

And many other things.

Listen.

Uncle Chestnut...

It would be nice it he turned into a great chestnut tree.

Susumu...

You're so strong.

Kako-san loves you very much.

When Ka ko-san dies...

You'll bury her like this.

Okay?

It's upside down.

You draw so well.

Susumu.

Can Kako-san have this?

Yes.

That's it! It's done!

Mr. Shimozuki.

I'll cover you.

Okay?

You want to tamp the soil?

Ouch! Ouch!

Okay-

Let's say goodbye.

Even if we come back, we won't find him.

Aren't we going to sing?

Ah, yes.

Uncle Chestnut can't sing anymore.

- So we'll sing for him. - Okay.

- What'll we sing? - The elephant song.

Okay-

One, two... and three!

Elephant, elephant

Why is your trunk so long?

Because my mot/r erk trunk is long too

Good bye.

Good bye.

We're leaving.

Susumu, I'll leave without you!

MATSUDA Miyuki

TERAJI MA Susu mu

TAKAMURA Yu ki

KURONUMA Hiromi, SUUDAN Marumage, KAKESU Natsumi, KAKESU T690, SION

AGATA Morio

MITANI Noboru

Producers: SENTO Takenori, SATO Shoetsu, KOBAYASHI Koji

Screenplay: GO Riju, MINORIKAWA Osamu

Music: SION

Camera: OGURA Kazuhiko Sound: YOKOMIZO Masatoshi

Editor: KAKESU Shuichi Assistant director: MINORIKAWA Osamu

Director: RIJU Go