Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2022) - full transcript

It's three in the morning.

You don't want to come to bed?

Did you hear me?

It's three in the morning.

What are you doing?

You should come to bed.

From what we've heard, Mika,

an ex-neighbor
heard sounds

coming from
somewhere underground,

which, if confirmed,

would give us hope
that there's still life



somewhere right below us.

Kyoko.

...trying to find my stuff,
but then...

The sounds of hitting
have been heard first

by an ex-neighbor
on his bike

trying to save something
from his devastated house.

Next to his house
was a small factory.

Under the factory
was a corridor

that is possibly the one

in which there might be
someone still alive.

But for how long?

Back to you, Moriko.

Latest earthquake news!

Read all about it!



Tokyo Times!

Death toll rises to 10,000.

Not at all?

She hasn't said a word
since the earthquake.

She just watches TV.

Just the earthquake news.

She, uh, hasn't come to bed
in five days.

I haven't even seen her
go to the bathroom.

Come on.

It's as though I don't exist.

Well, that's it.

I have to get back.

I was just going through
the rubble

trying to find my stuff.

But then I definitely heard

like some hitting noise
coming from below,

and then a voice
shouting for help.

And you're positive
you heard a voice

coming from below?

There was no one around.

I was the only one
who came back.

I was all alone.

That is a lot of money,
Mr. Katagiri.

I'm doing my best,
my very best, it's just that--

Doing your best
is not good enough

with a client
such as Big Bear Trading.

The Tokyo Security Trust Bank

cannot just sit on
a 700 million loan,

Mr. Katagiri.

He's like really gettin' it
today, huh?

Yeah.

Poor guy.

Poor old Katagiri.

They've ignored
all our lawyers' letters.

I've tried everything
that's in my power, sir,

but for the moment--

Mr. Yamamoto has called me
personally about this loan

and is putting pressure on me.

It is your duty to get me
results by next week.

Is that clear enough?

Yes. I'm sorry. Of course.

I'm telling you,

leaving early
is not a good idea these days

with all the rumors, hm.

Thanks for your concern,

but I just have to catch
this train.

Where are you going anyway?

Relatives.

My sister's family.

Mm.

Is Kyoko going with you?

And another one for you.

Sorry.

Have a nice weekend.

Yeah.

You too.

Lending Division,
Mr. Katagiri speaking.

Hi, it's me.

Satsuki?

How are you today?

What do you want?

Can you lend me
a little money?

What?

Again?

Let me call you back.

I need to pay the bills

and I'm running real short
of everything.

How's your husband doing
with the job application?

Did he send it out?

You know very well
he's trying his best.

Maybe this time
his best isn't good enough.

Listen, if you don't want
to send me that money,

it's fine.

I'll go back to working
at the Pink Pony.

I didn't say I didn't want to.

I don't have unlimited funds,
that's all.

How are my little nephews doing?

Not so well.

They're ashamed
to go to school.

Always wearing
the same old clothes.

The other children
make fun of 'em.

Mm-hm.

"I'm never coming back."

"The problem is that
you never give me anything,

or, to put it more precisely,

you have nothing inside you
that you can give me.

You are good and kind,

but living with you is like
living with a chunk of air.

It's not really your fault.

I'm sure you'll find
another loving woman.

But please don't call me.

I'll have someone pick up
my old trunk

and a few items
I've put aside next week.

Just throw out the rest.

Please take care of Watanabe,

who must be hiding somewhere.

I can't find him."

Watanabe!

Call me Frog.

Come in, come in.

Nothing to be worried about.

Please, Mr. Katagiri.

Hurry up.

Close the door
and take off your shoes.

I must apologize
for having barged in

while you were out.

I knew it would be a shock
for you to find me here.

Finding a big frog
waiting at home

would be a shock
for anyone.

But I had no choice.

So...

How about a cup of tea?

I thought you'd be
coming home soon,

so I boiled some water.

Calming down?

I know I should have made
an appointment to visit you,

Mr. Katagiri.

But an urgent matter
brings me here.

Please, forgive me.

An urgent matter?

Well, yes, of course.

Why else would I
take the liberty

of barging into a person's home?

Such discourtesy
is not my customary style.

Does it have something
to do with me?

Well, yes and no.

Do you mind if I smoke?

Hm, not at all.

Smoke and drink
as much as you like.

Myself, I'm not a smoker,
but, hey, it's your life.

You're not connected
to some sort of gang, are you?

What gang is going to hire
a frog to do their dirty work?

They'd be made
a laughing stock.

Well, if you're here
to negotiate a repayment,

you're wasting your time.

Only my superiors
can do that.

Please, Mr. Katagiri,

I have not come here
on such petty business.

I am fully aware
of your position

at the Tokyo Security
Trust Bank.

No, this has nothing to do
with the repayment of loans.

But then, if I may ask,

what are you doing here?

I'm here to save Tokyo
from devastation.

Uh...

I know you are thinking
that I must be mad

or that you're having
some kind of dream,

but I am not crazy
and you are not dreaming.

This is positively serious.

To tell you the truth,
Mr. Frog--

Please, call me Frog.

To tell you the truth, Frog,

I don't seem to be able
to grasp the situation exactly.

Did you mind if I ask you
a question or two?

Not at all, not at all.

Mutual understanding
is of critical importance.

Ask as many questions
as you wish.

Now, you are a real frog,
am I right?

Yes, of course.

As you can see,
I am a genuine frog.

Shall I croak for you?

Fine, fine.

You are, without question,
a real frog.

Anyone claiming
that I am not a frog

would be dirty liar!

And I would smash
such a person to bits.

You said before
that you've come here

to save Tokyo
from devastation?

That is what I said.

What kind of devastation?

Earthquake.

A very, very big earthquake.

It is set to strike Tokyo
at 9:33 a.m.

on March 23rd,
one week from now,

an even bigger earthquake

than the one that struck us all
last week.

The number of dead
from such a quake

would probably exceed 300,000.

Mostly from accidents
involving the grid system.

The collapse
of elevated expressways,

the crushing of subways,

the explosion of tank trunks.

Buildings reduced to rubble,

their inhabitants
crushed to death.

Fires everywhere.

Pure hell.

The epicenter will be close
to the Shinjuku Ward Office.

The Shinjuku Ward Office?

In fact, it will hit
precisely beneath

the Shinjuku branch of
the Tokyo Security Trust Bank.

And you are planning
to stop this earthquake?

Exactly.

You and I will go underground
beneath the bank

and do mortal combat
with Worm.

Uh, who is Worm?

Worm lives underground.

He is a gigantic worm.

When he gets angry,
he causes earthquakes.

And right now,
he is very, very angry.

What is he angry about?

I have no idea.

Nobody knows
what Worm is thinking

inside that murky head of his.

He is usually asleep.

That's what
he really likes to do,

take long, long naps
for years, decades,

in the warmth and darkness
underground,

absorbing every little rumble
and reverberation

that comes his way.

He replaces most of them
with rage.

But right now,

with all the different kinds
of hatred he has absorbed

and stored inside himself
over the years,

his body and heart have swollen
to gargantuan proportions.

What's more,
this recent earthquake

shook him out of the deep sleep
he was enjoying.

He experienced
a revelation

inspired by
his profound rage.

It was time now for him
to cause a massive earthquake,

and he'd do it here in Tokyo.

So, what you're saying

is that you and I have to go
underground together

and fight Worm
to stop this earthquake.

Exactly.

I still don't get it.

Why did you choose me
to go with you?

I have always had
the most profound respect

for you, Mr. Katagiri.

All these years
you have silently accepted

the least glamorous assignments,

carrying them off
beautifully.

Unpromoted, unappreciated

by your superiors,
your colleagues.

You have never once complained.

I almost wish
I could beat them

to a pulp on your behalf.

But, Frog, I'm sure
you can find somebody

a lot stronger than me
to fight Worm in the darkness,

say, a karate master
or someone in a commando force.

To tell you the truth,
Mr. Katagiri,

I do all the fighting.

But I cannot do it all alone.

I need you to stand by me
and say,

"Courage!

You're doing great, Frog!

I know you can win!"

I may not return
from this battle alive,

but I cannot run away.

As Nietzsche said,

the highest wisdom
is to have no fear.

What I want from you,
Mr. Katagiri,

is for you to support me
with your whole heart

as a true friend.

I know it must be difficult

for you to believe
all these outlandish things.

That is why I intend
to provide you with proof

that I exist.

Tell me, Mr. Katagiri,

you've been having
a great deal of trouble

recovering a loan the bank made
to Big Bear Trading,

have you not?

That's true.

Well, those individuals
are mixed up with the mob.

They're scheming to make
the company go bankrupt.

They're into you to you
for 700 million, am I right?

You certainly are.

Don't worry.

Leave everything to me.

By Monday morning,

old Frog will have
your problems solved.

Relax and have
a good night's sleep.

What time is it?

10:20.

Is your watch accurate?

I think so?

Was it expensive?

No, rather cheap.

It was rather cheap,

but it's pretty accurate.

Just because a watch
is expensive

doesn't mean it's accurate.

I used to have
a pretty expensive one,

but it was always off.

I lost it a year after
my parents bought it for me.

Now they won't buy me
a new one.

Mm.

Must be annoying
not to have a watch.

What?

Isn't it annoying
not to have a watch?

Mm, not really.

I mean, it's not like I'm living
in the mountains or anything.

If I want to know the time,
I just ask someone.

What about a phone?

You don't have one?

Nah, they don't want me
to get lost in games.

Right.

This is the right bus, isn't it?

Yeah.

As far as I know, there's still
only one bus on this route.

Is this the bus you used to take
when you went to school?

That's right.

Though, uh,

it was very different
from this one.

I wonder if it's going to hurt
this time.

Uh, the treatment?

Has it hurt before?

No, not really.

I mean, it wasn't
totally painless, of course.

Sometimes it hurts a little,
but nothing terrible.

It'll feel different
having a new doctor treat you.

And the slight change
in procedure

might make all the difference.

I wouldn't give up so easily.

I'm not giving up, but...

But you're kind of fed up
with it?

To be honest, I'm scared.

I spend so much time
imagining the pain,

it's worse than the pain itself.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

When I see someone in pain,

I can imagine
how painful it is,

but it's still
very different

from the pain that person
is actually feeling.

It's very subjective.

What's the most painful thing
that's ever happened to you?

To me?

You mean, um,
physical pain, right?

Have you ever experienced
pain so bad

that you thought you just
won't be able to stand it?

-I, uh...
-"I'm never coming back."

I, uh...

I can't remember.

So you've been here before?

Yeah, once or twice.

You were sick?

No, not me.

Kyoko.

I was visiting Kyoko actually.

What was wrong with her?

Uh, let me think.

I think it was her rib.

Displaced rib, I think.

This was a while ago,
long before we were married.

She wasn't even my girlfriend
at the time.

So then
why were you visiting her?

I already liked her...a lot.

But at the time,

she was the girlfriend
of my best friend.

So, you were in love with her,

but she was in love
with your best friend?

Yeah.

You could say that.

You still see him?

Hiroshi? No.

No, he died soon after.

-He died?
-Yup.

Oh.

What happened?

It was
a stupid motorcycle accident.

The doctors say
he didn't feel a thing.

So, then what happened?

She fell in love with you?

I guess.

Kind of.

Oh, I better go, I'm up next.

Okay.

Um, see you in a bit.

It'll be fine.

You couldn't even take it off.

-I could too!
-Come on!

She told me she had
to unhook it herself.

Please!

Stop making me laugh.

My chest hurts when I laugh.

Where does it hurt?

Over here.

Oh. Do you want me
to massage it for you?

Stop it!

What's a blind willow?

There's a tree, one like that.

Never heard of it.

That's because I made it up.

There's these little flies
that carry the pollen

from the blind willow
to the woman's ear

and makes her fall asleep.

So, what do the flies do
once they're inside?

They eat up her flesh,
of course.

Munch, munch, munch, munch,
munch, munch, munch, munch.

A young man climbs up the hill

to rescue the woman

the blind willow pollen
had put to sleep.

The young man in your story,

it's me, right?

They used a new machine
for my ear test,

but otherwise it was
the same as usual.

They do an x-ray,
check my brainwaves,

but when they can't find
anything,

they start blaming it on me

as if I'm making it up
or something.

So, what exactly happens
when you stop hearing?

Well, it's like losing
a radio frequency.

It comes and goes,
and then it's completely gone,

and before you know it,
it's back again.

Does it bother you?

No, not really,

but hearing problem
is only a part of it.

Part of what?

Have you ever seen a film,
"Fort Apache"?

Probably, a long time ago.

Well, it's this great film
by John Ford.

In the beginning of the movie,
there's this new colonel

who meets a group of soldiers
at that rock in Monument Valley.

-Mm-hmm.
-And then the captain comes out

to meet him when he arrives.

The captain is played
by John Wayne.

-Okay.
-Colonel doesn't know much

about life in the West,
or even about the Indians.

They often attack the area.

Once he arrives to the fort,

the colonel turns
to John Wayne and says,

"I did see a few Indians
on the way up here.

You better watch out."

But John Wayne,
with his super cool voice,

replies, "Don't worry.

If you were able to spot
some Indians,

that means they weren't
really there."

Or something like that.

But do you get what he means?

Maybe that...

it's not what everyone can see

that's really important?

Well, whenever someone
feels sorry about my ears,

that dialogue
always comes up to me.

"If you were able to spot
some Indians,

that means they weren't
really there."

Hmm.

Hey, do you mind having
a look at my ears?

Your ears? Why do you want me
to look at your ears?

Just in case you see something
from the outside.

All right.

Um...

Did you see anything special?

No, um, nothing...
nothing special.

But did you sense
anything...strange?

Uh...

Nothing strange.

So, how long are you staying?

I go back tomorrow.

Already?

Well, why don't you stay
a bit longer?

Well, for what it's worth,
I still have a job.

Anyway, I have to go back
and find my cat.

Your hat?

My cat.

He's disappeared,
he's probably somewhere

in the garden, but I have
to go back and find him.

Can't she take care of him?

I mean, Kyoko?

Is it true she's been watching
television nonstop,

like all the time?

Yeah, it's true.

Why do you ask?

Just curious.

This is it, right?

Huh? What?

This is our bus, right?

Yeah.

Are...you all right?

Yeah.

I'm all right.

Um, may I help you?

Mr. Katagiri.

My name is Shiraoka.

I am an attorney
with Big Bear Trading.

Oh...I see.

I received a call from my client

with regards
to their pending loan matter.

He wants you to know
he will take full responsibility

for returning the entire amount
requested by due date.

I have brought you here
a signed memorandum

to that effect.

His only request
is that you do not send...Frog

to his house again.

-Frog?
-Yes.

He wants you to ask Frog
never to visit his home again.

I myself am not entirely sure
what this is supposed to mean,

but I believe this will be clear
to you, Mr. Katagiri.

Am I correct?

You are indeed.

You will be kind enough
to convey my message to Frog,

I trust?

That I will do.

Your client
will never see Frog again.

Thank you very much.

I will transmit your message
to my client

who will, at once,
make arrangements for payment.

I appreciate it.

A week off?

I understand what
you're going through, Komura.

Sure, I can give you a week off,
but tell me one thing:

How long have you been
working for us?

Uh...seven years, sir?

Seven years, right.

What was your position
when you arrived?

Um...

I was
in the lending department, sir.

So, same as now, am I right?

Right.

Komura, why don't you take
this opportunity

to make a new start?

You're a good,
pleasant employee, smart.

You've done
some literary studies,

even played the piano.

I'll be frank with you.

There is no future
for you here.

Half the department's going
to be outsourced within a year.

I can make a nice offer
so that you can take your time

and find something
that really suits you.

But, um, this job
suits me just fine, sir.

Can't I just take
my week off?

Here's what I suggest:

Take your week off, Komura,

but think about it, okay?

A new start or a dead end.

So what are you gonna do?

What should I do?

What the hell,
why not make the best of it?

Do something special.

Something special?

Well, you're not just gonna sit
in your home alone

contemplating your misery,
are you?

Well, I need to find Watanabe.

Watanabe?

My cat, you know?

Oh yeah, your cat.

I don't know, why don't you, um,
take a short trip or something?

A trip?

I guess I could do that.

But where would I go?

Have you ever been to Hokkaido?

No, never.

Would you like to go?

Why do you ask?

To tell you the truth,
I have this small package

I'd like to send to Kushiro,
and I'm wondering

if you'd be willing
to take it for me.

You'd be doing me
a big favor,

and I'd be happy to pay
your return ticket.

I could even pay
for the hotel in Kushiro.

-A small package?
-Yeah, about, um...

that size.

Is it something for work?

No, not at all,
strictly personal.

I just don't want to post it.

I really should take care
of it myself,

but I have no time right now.

Is it something important?

Nothing fragile or dangerous.

They're not gonna stop you
at the airport for it.

I promise I'm not going
to get you into trouble.

Just take it along
with your ordinary luggage.

So, uh, who do I bring
this package to?

My sister.

My younger sister.
She, uh, lives up there.

...particular kind
of earthquake

that are associated with the
Earth's crustal deformation.

Tsunamis have
a small-amplitude wave height

and very long wavelength,

often hundreds
of kilometers long,

whereas normal ocean waves
have a wavelength

of only 30 or 40 meters.

Tsunamis can be generated
when the sea floor abruptly...

The Big Bear case is going well
for you, I presume?

Everything okay, Katagiri?

Don't worry, you're the only one
who can see me.

Tell me, Mr. Frog...

Make that Frog.

Tell me, Frog,
what did you do to them?

Oh, nothing much.

Just a touch
of psychological terror.

As Joseph Conrad once wrote,

"True terror is the kind men
feel towards their imagination."

But never mind that.

Tell me about the Big Bear case.

-It's going well, I assume?
-Uh, seems to be.

So then, have I gained
your trust?

Will you join me
to fight Worm?

Uh, to tell you the truth, I...

I'm not too crazy
about the idea,

but I don't suppose that's
enough to get me out of it?

No, it's a question of honor
and responsibility.

You and I must go underground
and face Worm.

And if we happen to lose
our lives in the process,

we will gain no one's sympathy,

and even if we manage
to defeat Worm,

no one will praise us.

No one will ever know
that such a battle even raged

far beneath their feet.

Only you and I will know,
Mr. Katagiri.

Only you and I.

However it turns out,
ours will be a lonely battle.

You know, Mr. Frog,

I'm just an ordinary man.

Make that Frog.

I'm an absolutely ordinary guy.

Less than ordinary.

I'm going bald.

I'm getting a potbelly.

I turned 44 last month,
and my feet are flat.

The doctor told me recently
that I have diabetic tendencies.

It's been three months or more

since I last slept with a woman,

and I had to pay for it.

I don't have a single person
who likes me,

either at work
or in my private life.

I don't know how to talk
to people,

and I'm no good with strangers,
so I never make any friends.

I have no athletic ability.

I'm tone-deaf, short,

phimotic,

nearsighted, and astigmatic.

I live a horrible life.

All I do is eat,
sleep, and shit.

I don't even know
why I'm still living.

Why would a person like me
be the one to save Tokyo?

Because, Mr. Katagiri,
there is no one else

I could trust as much as you
to fight by my side.

All right then.

What is it you want me to do?

I want you to meet me
on the 22nd at midnight

in the basement boiler room
of your bank.

Stay on the pretext
of working overtime.

From the boiler room,
I'll take us down

a 150-foot ladder
to a place where Worm lives.

What if I get scared
at the last minute and run away?

What would you do then,
Mr. Frog?

Frog!

What would you do then, Frog?

I would fight on alone,

though my chances
of beating Worm

would probably equal
Anna Karenina's chances

of surviving
that speeding locomotive.

Have you read "Anna Karenina,"
Mr. Katagiri?

No.

Still, I do not believe

you will abandon me
on the battlefield.

I can tell.

It's a question of...

of balls!

Which, unfortunately,

I do not happen to possess.

So you're positive?

Well, I really don't think so.

Right.

If she had a lover,
she wouldn't stay at home

watching buildings crumble
all night long, right?

Right.

And what about...sex?

What about it?

Well, I mean,
do you still...

you know, fuck her?

Once in a while,
even the wife needs a good fuck.

Everything...is fine.

And she didn't want kids
right away

because financially, you know,
we were a little...

But everything was fine.

So you still fucked her?

Well, not like in the beginning.

Oh, sure.
I was married too, you know.

I mean, to tell you the truth,

lately we weren't really...

you know?

I mean, I don't know
if she was ever really into it.

Right, or maybe she was
never really into you.

Just kidding.

So where's she staying?

Do you talk?

No, nothing.

She doesn't answer her phone.

Tried her parents?

Another drink, gentlemen?

-Uh, sure.
-No, I really should get going.

I have to work tomorrow.

Right, yeah.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Here it is.

And here's your ticket
with the flight info.

My sister will pick you up
at the airport

and take you to a hotel.

How will I recognize her?

Don't worry,
it's a small airport.

Anyway, we'll talk.

Have a good trip.

Thanks.

Good evening.

Uh, this is Komura.

Is Kyoko there?

Can you tell me where she is?

So, you know where she is,
but you don't want to tell me?

No, I need to speak with her.

Forget about it?

No, just tell me where she is.

I need to know how she is,
and I--I...

No, I am not...drunk!

I just need to speak with her!

Where is she?!

Living with you is like living
with a chunk of air.

When Hiroshi died,
to keep myself going,

I moved to Tokyo.

Komura followed me.

I knew he was
kind of in love with me.

I let him take care of me.

He was good-looking, gentle.

We'd all three been
like brothers and sisters.

We all three left each other,
but in different ways.

I couldn't keep up
with my studies,

so I got myself
a part-time job working here.

You used to work here?

Well, it wasn't a hotel
at the time.

What was it?

Do you remember
your 20th birthday?

Not a thing.

It's too far away.

Do you?

I remember every moment

as if it was yesterday.

Huh, and it happened here?

-Mm-hmm.
-Is that why you suggested

to meet here?

I felt like revisiting
that very special moment.

Hmm, because you think
it's related

to what's happening to you now.

Hmm, is that it?

Everything that happened
on that day

was like an illusion.

I can't tell
if it really did happen,

but somehow,
I think there's a link.

What kind of link?

This used to be an old-fashioned
Italian restaurant.

I worked
as a part-time waitress.

The owner lived
on the sixth floor

above the restaurant.

Every night at eight o'clock,

he got delivered a chicken dish
with a glass of wine.

So you'd bring him up
his food every night?

The manager did.

None of the other employees
knew what the owner looked like.

On my birthday,
my 20th birthday,

it was pouring with rain.

The restaurant
was almost empty.

Good evening.

Thanks for braving the rain.

Good evening.

Could we have
our usual table, please?

Of course, Mr. Matsu--

Kyoko!

Could you please see
to Mr. and Mrs. Matsui?

Tonight's special
is the tortellini

with pancetta sauce.

What's wrong?

I'm okay, I just need
to sit a moment.

Are you sure?
You look terrible.

It's my stomach, I don't know.

It's so painful.

Return to the customers.

I'll be fine.

I think you should go
to the hospital.

I feel so weak.

I want you to take his dinner
up to room 604 at eight o'clock.

Just ring the bell, say,
"Your dinner is here,"

and leave.

Room 604, right?

At eight o'clock. Room 604.

It was a slow evening.

Nothing much going on.

Most reservations
had been canceled

because of the rain.

A little before eight,

I went to the kitchen
to pick up his dinner.

It had been such a dull evening

that I was almost excited
by the idea

of finally getting to see him.

And one chicken to go.

604...604...

Room 604.

Your dinner, sir.

Dinner?

Yes, sir.

The manager suddenly got sick.

I have brought you your dinner
in his place, sir.

Oh, I see.

He's not well?

-Hmm.
-Yes.

He got a stomachache suddenly,

and he had to go
to the hospital.

He thinks he might have
appendicitis.

Hmm, that's not good.

Not good at all.

Shall I bring your meal in, sir?

Oh, yes, of course.

As you wish.

If you would be kind enough
to set the dishes

in the corridor, sir, I'll come
and pick them up in an hour.

Oh, yes, of course.

I'll put them in the hall,
on the cart,

in an hour, as you wish.

Will there be
anything else, sir?

Well...hmm...

I can't think of anything.

Then I...

I'll get back to work.

Ah.

Just a moment.

Sir?

Would you be able to spare
five minutes, young lady?

I would like to speak to you.

Uh, I think that's okay,
if it's only five minutes.

By the way, how old are you?

I'm just turning 20.

Just turning 20?

Does that mean it just happened

or that it's about to happen?

I meant I just turned 20.

-Today is my birthday.
-I see!

So today's your birthday.

That's right, sir.

That's good.

Happy birthday.

Thank you very much.

That's truly wonderful.

So, how about we make a toast?

Thank you, sir,
but I have to go back to work.

Oh, that shouldn't be a problem,

and if I say it's okay,
then no one can tell you off.

Anyway, just one sip

to celebrate
this wonderful event.

One sip then.

Happy birthday.

May your life be rich
and fruitful

and may there be nothing
to cast a dark shadow on it.

You'll only experience
your 20th birthday

once in your lifetime,
young lady.

Yes.

And here you are,

on this very special day,

bringing me my dinner
like a kind fairy.

Well, I was told to do so.

Even so, is it by chance
that, on your 20th birthday,

you delivered me
a nice, warm meal?

Don't you think this might be
some kind of destiny?

Which is why I would like
to give you a present.

A special birthday calls
for a special present.

Oh, no, please, sir,
don't even think about it.

I was simply told
to bring you your dinner, sir.

I said present,
but it's not an actual object,

and it's not worth anything,
in terms of money, I mean.

I would like
to grant you a wish,

my dear, beautiful,
young fairy.

Any wish you have,
I will make come true.

That is, if you do have a wish.

A wish?

Something you would like,

or you'd like to have happen,
miss.

If you have a wish, one wish,

I will make it come true,

but you better think about it
very carefully

because I can grant you
only one.

Just one,
and you can't take it back.

I have to wish for something,

and it will be granted?

Do you have a wish, young lady?

Or not?

This is exactly
the way it happened.

I am not making it up!

And so, did you make a wish?

The thing is,

I wasn't really taking him
100% seriously.

But it was my 20th birthday.

All I had been doing was
serve tortellini

with anchovy sauce,

so I figured
it wasn't really a question

of believing or not believing.

-You understand?
-Mhm.

Of course.

So I made a wish.

That is your wish?

Yes, that's my wish.

A bit unusual
for a girl your age.

I was expecting something
less reasonable.

Oh, if it's not good,

I can think of something else,
I don't mind.

I can wish for something else.

No, there's nothing wrong
with it, my dear young lady.

Not at all.

It's just a little surprising.

Don't you wish
for something else?

Like say you want to be prettier
or smarter or rich?

You're okay with not pushing
for something like that?

Something an ordinary girl
would ask for.

Of course
I'd like to be prettier

or smarter or rich,

but I really can't imagine
what would happen to me

if any of those things
came true.

I could end up being
rich and sick

or pretty and lonely.

Or smart and miserable.

Hmm. I see, I see.

So is my wish okay?

It's up to you to decide
if it's okay or not.

That did it.

Your wish has been granted.

Already?

Yes.

It was no trouble at all.

Your wish has been granted,
lovely young lady.

Happy birthday.

You may go back to work now,

and don't worry,

I'll put the cart in the hall.

Hey, are you okay?

You look spaced out.

No, I'm fine.

-So, how was he?
-I don't know,

I didn't really get
a good look at him.

It turned out the manager

just had
a bad stomach disorder.

He came back to work normally
the next day,

and so did I.

I never saw the owner again

and never returned
to the restaurant

after I'd left.

Not once.

Why not?

I don't know.

A kind of premonition.

I quit my job after New Years,

I went back to my studies.

I moved in with Komura

in the house
his mother gave him.

We got married.

Do you mind
if I ask you one question?

You want to know my wish.

But you don't want to tell me.

You're not supposed to.

All right, I won't insist.

I would like to know, though,
whether your wish came true

and if you ever regretted
making that wish

and not another one instead.

Well, yes and no.

I had a gentle husband.

We were planning
to have kids soon enough.

We had a nice house,

I played tennis
with my girlfriends.

Not so bad.

That's what I kept
telling myself.

What was your second question?

Oh, whether you ever regretted
having made that wish

and not another one.

No matter what you wish for,

no matter how far you go,

you can never be anything
but yourself.

Hm, that's so true.

How about you?

What would you have wished for
in my position?

On my 20th birthday?

Uh-huh.

I can't think of anything,
it's too far away.

Nothing?

Not a thing.

That's because you already
made your wish.

Hm.

But you had better
think about it very carefully,

because I can grant you
only one wish.

Living with you is like living
with a chunk of air.

-Hi.
-Hi! I'm Keiko.

My brother tells me
how helpful you've been to him.

This is my friend, Shimao.

Oh, nice to meet you.

-Hi.
-How about a coffee?

Sounds great.

My brother tells me
that your wife

recently passed away.

No, she didn't die.

Oh, I just spoke to my brother
the other day.

I thought he said quite clearly
that you lost your wife.

I did, she left me.

As far as I know,
she's alive and well.

Oh, I'm so sorry,
I must have misunderstood.

Please forgive me.

Don't worry about it.

Either way, she's gone.

Anyway, let me give you
this important package

that I brought you.

-Here you go.
-Thank you.

Do you mind if I excuse myself
for a moment?

Not at all, go ahead.

Have you been
to Hokkaido before?

-No.
-I know.

It's a long way to come.

Funnily, it doesn't feel
that I've traveled all that far.

Because you flew!

Those planes are too damn fast,

your mind can't keep up
with your body!

You may be right.

Did you want to travel
so far away?

I guess so.

Because of your wife?

Hm.

No matter how far you go,

you can't get away
from yourself.

Hm.

It's like your shadow.

It just follows you everywhere.

That's right.

Are you hungry?

I'm not sure. Kind of.

Let's go and eat something warm,
the three of us.

It'll help you relax.

This is one part of Hokkaido
that doesn't get much snow,

but it's freezing cold!

Sometimes it feels like
your ears will fall off!

You hear about drunks
who freeze to death

sleeping on the streets!

Do you get bears around here?

Bears, he says.

Shimao has a great story
about bears, don't you?

Tell me, is there something
you'd like to do

while you're in Hokkaido?

My brother tells me you're going
to spend a few days here.

Um, nothing special.

How about a hot spring?

Would you like to have
a nice long soak in a tub?

I know a good
little country place

not far from here.

That's not a bad idea.

I'm sure you'd like it,
it's really nice.

No bears or anything.

Do you mind if I ask you
about your wife?

Um, no, I don't mind.

When did she leave?

Um, five days
after the earthquake.

Do you think it has something
to do with the earthquake?

Uh, I don't think so.

Still, I wonder
if stuff like that

isn't connected somehow.

Yeah, it's just that
you can't see how.

Right! Stuff like that happens
all the time.

Stuff like what?

Like, say, what happened
to somebody I know?

-You mean Seiki?á*
-Exactly.

There's this guy, Seiki.

He's about 40 years old,
a hairstylist.

One night, his wife saw a UFO.

She was driving
on the edge of town

all by herself
in the middle of the night

when she saw this huge UFO
land in a field.

Whoosh!

Like in Close Encounters.

A week later, she left home.

They weren't having any
domestic problems or anything.

She just vanished into thin air.

And it was because of the UFO?

I don't know.

She just walked out,
no note or anything.

She had two kids
in elementary school, too.

Well, my wife left a note,

and we don't have any kids.

So your situation's
a little better than Seiki's.

Yeah, kids make
a big difference.

Shimao's father left home
when she was seven.

Ran off with his wife's
younger sister.

Maybe Seiki's wife
didn't run away.

Maybe she was captured
by aliens from the UFO.

-Wow.
-Wow.

Here we are!

Oh!

Wow, hm.

The owners are friends of mine,

so I had them get
their biggest room ready.

It is a love hotel,
I hope it doesn't bother you?

Oh, no, no, not at all.

I thought this would make
more sense

than sticking you
in a small room

in some cheap business hotel
by the station.

Of course!

It's great.

Why don't you take a bath?

I'm filling up the tub for you.

Oh, yes.

Not a bad idea.

Thank you.

We'll just hang out here
for a little bit

and drink a beer
if that's okay with you?

Of course.

Keiko went home.

She wanted me to apologize
and tell you

she'll be back tomorrow morning.

Do you mind
if I stay here a little

and finish my beer?

It's fine.

You're sure it's no problem?

Like you want to be alone
or something?

No.

No, no problem at all.

Care for one?

Sure.

I saw the helicopters
and boats.

They didn't see me.

I spent two days in the water
when a boat picked me up.

I don't know where they are.

Nobody can tell me anything.

Why do I get to--

Let's talk,

as long as we're here.

Sure.

Hm, what should we talk about?

Um...

In the car, you and Keiko
said something about a bear?

Remember?

You said it was a great story?

Oh, yeah.

The bear story.

You want to tell it to me?

Sure, why not?

It's kind of raunchy, though.

You don't mind?

It's actually something
that happened to me,

so it's a little bit
embarrassing.

Uh, I'd like to hear it.

But only if you're okay with it.

Okay.

So back around the time
I entered junior college,

I was dating this guy.

He was a year older than me,
a college student also.

He was the first guy
I had sex with.

One day, the two of us
were out hiking in the mountains

way up north.

It was autumn, so the hills
were full of bears.

That's the time of year

that they're getting ready
to hibernate,

so they're out looking for food
and they're really dangerous.

They did an awful job
on a hiker

just three days
before we went out.

But in fact,
they're pretty much vegetarians.

You're supposed to shake a bell
when you walk

so the bears will avoid you.

-Get it?
-I get it.

So that's what we were doing.

We were ringing this bell
and we were walking along

and we got to this place
where nobody else was around.

All of a sudden,
he said he wanted to...

like, do it.

I kinda liked the idea, too,

but I was afraid of the bears!

I mean, imagine
being killed by a bear

while you're having sex.

I would never want
to die that way, would you?

No, I agree.

So we shook the bell
from start to finish.

Which one of you shook the bell?

We would take turns.

We would swap
when our hands would get tired.

I think about it
sometimes even now

when I'm having sex,

and I just start laughing.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

Oh, that's wonderful!

You can laugh after all.

Of course I can laugh.

When was the last time
you had sex with your wife?

I'm not sure.

A few months ago?

And nothing since?

Nothing.

Not with anybody?

Mm.

You know what I think?

You need to lighten up

and learn to enjoy life
a little more.

I mean, think about it.

Tomorrow there could be
an earthquake.

You could be kidnapped
by aliens.

You could be eaten by a bear.

You never know
what's gonna happen.

True.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

You must've been thinking
about your wife.

Mm.

These things happen.

Mhm.

You shouldn't let it bother you.

I'll try not to.

Men always let these things
bother them, though.

You said your wife
left a note, didn't you?

I did.

What did it say?

That living with me

was like living
with a chunk of air.

A chunk of air?

What does it mean?

That there's nothing
inside me, I guess.

Is it true?

Could be.

I'm not sure.

What would something be?

Yeah, really.

What would something be?

My mother used to be crazy
about salmon skin.

She used to wish
there was a kind of salmon

that was made of nothing
but skin.

So in some cases,
it might be better

to have nothing inside.

Don't you think?

I'll tell you this, though.

I don't know whether or not
you've got something inside you,

but I think you're terrific.

I bet the world is full of women
who would understand you

and fall in love with you.

It said that, too.

What, your wife's note?

-Mm.
-No kidding.

And come to think of it,

what was the something
inside that box

I brought up here?

Is it bothering you?

It wasn't before, but now,

I don't know, it's starting to.

-Since when?
-Since now.

All of a sudden?

Yes, all of a sudden.

I'll tell you why.

It's because that box
contains the something

that was inside you,

your empty soul.

You didn't know that
when you brought it here

and gave it to Keiko
with your own hands.

Now you'll never get it back.

Relax!

I was just kidding.

I said the first thing
that popped into my head.

I'm sorry.

It was a lousy joke,

I didn't mean to hurt you.

Are you starting to feel

as though you've come
a long way?

Yes.

A very long way.

But really, you're just
at the beginning.

Oh!

I'm going to die.

True terror is the kind men feel

towards their imagination.

Excuse me.

Oh, good!

You're finally awake.

What time is it?

-It's 9:15.
-A.M.?

Don't be silly, it's night!

9:15 P.M.?

On March 23rd?

Precisely 9:15 P.M.,
March 23rd.

Wasn't there a big earthquake
in Tokyo this morning?

In Tokyo?

Yes, in Tokyo.

Not that I know of!

Oh.

How's my wound doing?

What wound?

Where I was shot.

-Shot?
-Yeah, near the back entrance

to the Trust Bank,

some guy shot me
right here on the shoulder.

Mr. Katagiri,
you have not been shot.

I haven't?

-Are you sure?
-As sure as I am

that there was no earthquake
this morning.

Then what the hell am I doing
in the hospital?

Someone found you lying
in the street unconscious

in the Kabukicho neighborhood
of Shinjuku.

You didn't have
any external wounds,

you were just out cold,

and we still haven't
found out why.

The doctor's going
to be here soon,

you'd better talk to him.

So what you're saying is
I've been lying in this bed

since early evening yesterday.

-Is that right?
-Right.

And you must've had
some awful nightmares,

Mr. Katagiri.

I heard you yelling, "Frog!

Hey, Frog!"

You did it a lot.

You have a friend
nicknamed Frog?

Frog?

Frog? Frog?

I meant to meet you
in the boiler room at midnight

as I promised,
but I had kind of an accident

and they brought me here.

I know, it's okay, don't worry.

You were a great help to me
in my fight.

-I was?
-Yes, you were!

And I have to thank you
for our victory.

I don't get it, I--

I was unconscious
the whole time.

I don't remember a thing!

It's just as well.

This whole
terrible fight occurred

in the area of imagination.

That is the precise location
of our battlefield.

It is there that we experience
our victories and our defeats.

We all eventually
go down to defeat,

but as Ernest Hemingway saw
so clearly,

the ultimate value of our lives
is decided not by how we win,

but how we lose.

You and I together,
Mr. Katagiri,

were able to prevent
annihilation of Tokyo!

We saved 300,000 lives
from the jaws of death.

How did you manage
to defeat Worm

and what did I do?

We gave everything we had,

all the courage
we could muster.

Darkness was our enemy's ally.

You brought a projector
to fill the place with light.

He tried to frighten you away
with his phantoms of darkness.

He coiled himself around me

and bathed me
with his horrid slime.

I tore him to shreds,

but still he refused to die.

I could only prevent him
from--from...

Mr. Katagiri, do you mind
if I take a brief nap?

I'm utterly exhausted.

Please, Frog,
take a long, deep sleep.

You know, we were finally able
to defeat Worm,

but to tell you the truth...

What?

What you see with your eyes is
not necessarily real.

My enemy is,
among other things,

the me inside me.

Inside me is the un-me.

It's all becoming
a little muddy.

The locomotive is coming.

You're tired, Frog, go to sleep.

You'll get better.

I'm slowly returning to the mud.

And yet...

Sleep, Frog.

As soon as I get out,
I'll buy Anna Karenina.

Then we'll have a nice,
long literary discussion.

Frog?

Frog!

Oh!

No, no.

Mr. Katagiri!

Another bad dream, eh?

Poor dear.

There.

What were you dreaming about,
hm?

What you see with your eyes
is not necessarily real.

That is so true,

especially where dreams
are concerned.

Frog.

Did something happen to Frog?

He saved Tokyo from being
destroyed by an earthquake.

All by himself.

That's nice!

We don't need any more
awful things happening in Tokyo,

we have plenty already.

You were very fond of Frog,
weren't you, Mr. Katagiri?

More than anyone.

A locomotive.

We've only revealed
his first name: Toshiro.

Toshiro is the survivor

from the mysterious
underground corridor.

Can you tell us, Toshiro,
how you managed to stay alive?

It's a miracle I'm here.

It was total darkness.

The air was thick with dust.

I thought I was dead.

I felt some dampness,
underneath the sewers

as if it were leading
somewhere.

I couldn't turn around.

With my hand,
I managed to lift up

little quantities water.

And that's what kept you alive,
Toshiro, right?

I only gradually realized
where I was,

the underground corridor
I was walking in,

the earthquake.

I thought I was just
going to die alone, unnoticed,

would make no difference
to anyone.

I was lying there in pain.

I saw my life go by.

Why haven't I given more,

taken more from it
when I could?

It's only when I had
nothing left

that I saw it so clearly.

I was just a ghost
without a soul.

And that's when I heard
some faint footsteps

somewhere up there,
and I felt it screaming and...

I suddenly realized
the meaning of being alive.

-Hello?
-So,

have you made up your mind?

Oh, hello, Mother.

About work?

Uh, no, I haven't.

I might have found
something for you.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

You remember
my very good friend Mitsuko?

-Mm-hm.
-Well, she has a friend

who publishes
a story magazine for girls.

They're looking for somebody
to pick and revise poems

submitted by readers

and to write a short poem
every month

for the front piece.

Pay is not bad
for an easy job.

Easy job?

I know nothing
about writing poetry.

But, darling, you used to write
such beautiful poems

when you were in high school.

You could do it
with your eyes closed.

Surely you could.

Listen, I can't write poetry
eyes closed or open.

I'm not writing poetry
for young girls.

For what it's worth,
I still have a job.

I'm only trying to help.

By the way, did you
go looking for Watanabe?

Oh, no.

Totally forgot about the cat.

Oh, darling.

To think of him
lost somewhere.

-Well...
-Poor Watanabe.

Listen, um, do you mind
if I call you back later?

-I just want you to be happy.
-Thanks, Mom.

Don't forget the cat,
and think about the poetry.

You never know.

Watanabe!

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Watanabe?

Watanabe?

Watanabe?

Rather hot, right?

Yes.

Very.

Could you spare a cigarette?

Yeah, sure.

You live around here?

Yeah, just back there.

Uh-huh.

I'm looking for my cat.

What kind of cat?

It's a big cat
with brown stripes,

and the point of his tail
is a little bent.

-Name?
-Noboru Watanabe.

No, not your name,
the cat's name.

That is my cat's name.

Oh, very impressive.

Well, actually,
it's my brother-in-law's name,

but the cat
sort of reminded us of him.

How does the cat remind you
of your brother-in-law?

I don't know, just in general.

Um, the way he walks.

And his blank stare.

A brown-striped cat
with a bent tail, huh?

And a black collar.

Maybe I did see a cat
like that.

I don't know about a bent tail,

but it was a brown cat,
and I think it had a collar.

-When did you see it?
-I don't know,

a few days ago?

I need to sit down, but why
don't you wait here with me?

All the cats eventually
pass through our place.

And somebody's bound
to call the cops

if they see you
hanging around like that.

Wouldn't be the first time.

-Well, I...
-Come on.

Come on, we can sit in the sun

and wait for your cat
to show up.

I've got 20/20 vision.

Okay, why not?

I got thrown off
the back of a motorcycle.

Oh.

What a big yard.

Must be a pain to take care of.

Must be.

You know, I used to work
for a lawn mowing company

when I was a kid.

Hm.

-Are you always alone?
-Yeah, always,

except when the maid comes
mornings and evenings.

During the day, it's just me.

Don't you go to school?

Don't you go to work?

No work to go to.

Lost your job?

They are outsourcing
my department,

and they want to fire me,

but right now,
I'm just taking a week off.

Oh, cool.

-You like your job?
-Suits me fine.

I mean, is that
what you wanted to do?

My job?

Whatever, I mean,
I don't really think

there's anything
I wanted to do, so...

You're married?

Well, technically, yes.

And your wife, she's at work?

Uh, she left me.

Uh, we're divorcing.

That's why I'm taking
a few days off.

My parents got divorced too,
like, three years ago.

My mother was having an affair.

I came home early one day

and I found them there
doing it.

Tried hiding it
from my dad for a while,

but then he found out anyway.

Is she having an affair?

My wife?

Not as far as I know.

Hear that strange bird sound?

Oh, yeah,
it's the wind-up bird.

Is that what it's called?

That's what my wife
used to call it.

She said it was there
every morning

to wind things up
in our little world.

Right over there
is where the cats go through.

They come under the fence
at that point,

cut across the grass,
and go into the vacant house.

They always follow
exactly the same route.

-There many cats in there?
-Yeah.

All kinds of cats.

Some losing their fur.

Some with one eye, and where
the other eye used to be,

a lump of raw flesh.

Yuck.

I've got a relative
with six fingers on each hand.

She knows how to keep it
folded up

so most people don't notice.

Really pretty girl, though.

I left my phone inside.

That's my father.

He always checks on me
around this time.

I'll go and get myself a Coke.

Care for a beer or something?

No thanks, I'm fine.

Mr. Katagiri...

Mr. Suzuki would like
to see you right away.

Right away?

Right away.

You asked to see me?

Sit down, Mr. Katagiri.

I'm sure by now
you've heard the rumors

about outsourcing
our department.

I don't pay much attention
to rumors.

Well, you should.

They're quite true.

We're about to outsource
half the department

within the next six months.

What's more, I've been advised
by Mr. Yamamoto

to begin the process
this very day.

I--I see.

Many of our employees,
one out of two to be precise,

will therefore have to leave
either on early retirement

or with severance packages.

The lending division
is therefore directly affected

by this program.

-Is it?
-Yes, Mr. Katagiri.

I'm afraid one of the first
designated employees

for early retirement is...

your superior, Mr. Mitsuda.

We also discussed your case
with Mr. Yamamoto.

-My case?
-Yes, Mr. Katagiri.

And to tell you the truth...

Okay, put him through.

Yes, have you had time
to think things over?

Yes, Mr. Suzuki.

And if the offer
is still available,

I would like
to take advantage of it.

And you'll do well.

I'll get the paperwork
and your check ready.

You can come in anytime.

Okay, I'll come in tomorrow.

Thank you, Mr. Suzuki.

Mr. Katagiri,

how would you feel
about changing jobs?

Uh...

I'm not sure
I quite follow you, sir.

Mr. Yamamoto has expressed
his satisfaction

with the swift
and fine handling

of the Big Bear case

in which you succeeded
almost magically

in recovering the entirety
of the loan with interest.

For that, as for all
the fine work

you've done over the years,
I want to thank you.

I would therefore
like to promote you as of today

to the position of chief officer
of the second section

of the lending division.

Seen any cats?

I just quit my job.

Cool.

So, if you were in love
with a girl

and she turned out
to have six fingers,

what would you do?

I--I don't know.

Maybe sell her to the circus?

-Really?
-No, I'm joking.

I don't think
it would bother me.

And what if she had
four breasts?

Um...

I don't know.

-How old are you?
-Just turned 16.

So, you wouldn't mind marrying
a girl with six fingers

but not with four breasts?

No, I didn't say that,
I just...

I don't know.

Why don't you know?

I don't know, it's hard
to imagine such a thing.

Can you imagine a girl
with six fingers?

Yeah.

Yeah, I guess I can.

So why not four breasts?

What's the difference?

Do I ask too many questions?

Do people tell you that?

Yeah, sometimes.

You can sleep if you like.

I'll wake you up
if I see your cat.

Mm-hm.

Can I tell you something?

You don't need to answer.

Yeah, sure.

Shh.

It's just some stuff I've been
thinking about these days.

Mm-hm.

I'd like to be able
to look inside a dead body...

...open it up with a scalpel

and find the core
of what he was.

I'm sure there's something
like that inside,

a kind of squishy,
dark something

hidden in there.

Don't worry.

I'll let you know
if Noboru Watanabe shows up.

I'm sure he's walking
around here someplace.

He'll be here any minute now.

He's coming.

I know he's coming...

...through the grass...

...under the fence...

...stopping to sniff
the flowers

along the way.

He's almost here.

He's getting closer
and closer.

Noboru Watanabe...

where did you go?

And there we go.

And a little signature here,
if you please.

Okay, that's it.

-Have a good one.
-Thank you.

Watanabe!