Living on Tokyo Time (1987) - full transcript

In Japan,
we make many plans.

We study hard
for big exam.

We go to the university.

We work for good company
and then we have
family-approved marriage.

My fiance was
unfaithful to me.

So I had to
break up my plan.

I quit my job
at Masamoto
Electric Company

and decided to come
to America.

I told my family
I want to have independent
American experience.

I want to study English
and learn about America.

I want to visit
Yosemite National Park



and I want to see
Golden Gate Bridge.

My friend Chikako
wrote me from Japan.

She said
I will be lonely
in America.

I told her not to worry.

America is very big.
I can find a friend.

When I first came
to United States,

my family wrote me
every week.

Their letters were
always the same.

They say, "Kyoko, come home.
America is not like Japan."

[KYOKO SPEAKING JAPANESE]

One Yosenabedeluxe,
please.One Yosenabedeluxe.

Miyako domburi. Miyako domburi.

Thank you very much.
Thank you.

How come they have
hakkuginwaitress?I don't know.



Wonder if the food's
any good?

Hey, Kyoko, can you
help me with this?

I can't figure out
how to walk
in this thing.

It feels like my legs
are tied together
with bed sheets.

Did you wear
kimonos in Japan?

Yes, I am...
I am from Japan.

No, I know. I asked
if you wore kimonos
in Japan.

You look nice
in kimono.

Do you like wear kimono?

Kimono is old Japan.
I don't like it.

How do I look?Nice.

MAN: So would you like
to go out with me or not?

Are you ready
to order now?

Where would you
like to go tonight?

We have
a tempura sashimi
special today.

How special is it?

I'll come back
in a few minutes.

See that, Dennis?
She digs me.

Thank you for coming.Thank you.

Okay. Sayonara.
Bye-bye.Bye now.

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

That's pretty
cold-blooded.What is?

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

...engaged.

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

What'd she say?

She said her fiance
was messing around
with some waitress.

So she broke off
their engagement
and came here.

I guess everybody's
on her butt about it,
including her own family.

So what's
she gonna do now?

I think she wants
to stay here. Right?

[BOTH SPEAKING JAPANESE]

[CHUCKLES]

She wants to go to
school but her English
isn't good enough,

so she studies
at night.

I want to stay here.She wants to stay here.

Okay, goodnight.

KYOKO: "Dear Family,

"thank you very much
for your letter
and the package.

"The dried fish
was very delicious,

"but it was
too much for me
to eat myself,

"so I gave some
to my friends at work.

"I am enjoying my visit here.

"But sometimes I have
a hard time expressing
myself in English.

"Please say hello to Chikako.
Tell her I will write soon.

"I hope you do not
worry for me.

"I have a very nice room
at the YWCA.

"Although my travel visa
has expired, I still
want to stay here."

"Yes, it is refreshing.
Yes, it is refreshing.

"May I have another, please?
May I have another, please?

"Lesson number 12."

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]

[SAXOPHONE PLAYING]

Hi, Ken. It's Lana.
Did I wake you?
No? Oh, good.

Huh? How's it going?
I did wake you up, huh?

No, go back to sleep.
No, it wasn't important.

No, I just wanted
to apologize
for the other day.

Yeah, I know I made
a big deal about you
helping me with my act,

and I flaked out.

Well, listen, why don't you
come down the restaurant
tomorrow for dinner?

Around 9:00.

Yeah, I'll treat you.
Okay?

Okay, I'll see you
tomorrow night.
Okay, great.

Mmm-hmm. Bye.

I woke him up.
Sure.Thanks.

MICHELLE:
Who was on the phone?KEN: I don't know.

Great, Ken.

There's no coffee.

I forgot.

What am I supposed to do
without my coffee?I'm sorry.

You know I need coffee
in the morning.

I forgot. How about
some cocoa?Coffee!

You were sitting
on my socks.

Are you mad at me?

Not mad.
More like exhausted.

I mean,
what's the point?

You want to talk
about it?

Don't want to
talk about it.

This relationship's
been stuck in neutral
for over a year

and I keep saying
the same things
over and over again.

Did you sleep okay?Don't interrupt.

Sorry.Listen, Ken,

I just don't want
to do this anymore.
Okay? Is it sinking in?

Are you breaking up
with me?

You're very perceptive.

You sure you don't
want to talk about it?

4.19.

Keep the change.Thank you.

Have a nice day.Thank you.

Can I get
a jelly donut?

Hey, man, you better lighten
up on them donuts, huh?

How about a manju?What's a manju?

You don't know
what a manjuis?
Oh, man.

You don't know what
you've been missing.

Looks weird.
I'd rather
have a donut.

It's good.
It's got sweet
beans in it.

Eat it. You'll love it.
Guaranteed.

Told you it was good.MAN: Hey, man,
can I get more coffee?

What a drag.Yeah.

First time he left he said
it was because his parents
didn't want him going out

with a Japanese girl.What'd you do?

Let him go.
What am I
supposed to do?

He doesn't want me because
his parents want him
to marry a white girl. Fine.

How'd it go
with the white girl?Bad. Real bad.

So he comes
back to me.
But get this,

he says he'll stay with me
if we can have
an open relationship.

I said, "Fuck that."

Did you ever think that
maybe you should find
yourself a nice Japanese boy?

Where? There
aren't any.

WAITRESS: One-D-two.
Two carry-out burgers.

More coffee,
girls?

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ You're looking like
an accident's
about to happen

♪ You turn around
and tell me
it's no fun anymore

♪ You're looking like
an accident's
about to happen ♪

[PLAYING HEAVY METAL]

[PHONE RINGING]

RICHIE: Hold it.

Ken, you gotta
come in heavier, man,
not with that wimpy stuff.

This is heavy metal.

Ken. Phone.Who is it?

Some girl.Oh, Ken, darling.

KEN: Nina, can you
just take a message?Sure.

I bet it's Michelle, Ken.
She wants you.

Hey, Ken,
don't worry about it.

When this band starts
gigging, you can have
all the women you want.

Fuck you, man.
She's a high school senior.I'm happy for you, Markie.

Man, shut up.
Forget women.

What are we gonna
do with the money
when we make it big?

I'm gonna buy a limo
with a Jacuzzi in it
just like Isaac Hayes did.

Yeah. And I'm gonna
buy a lot of drugs,
like Elvis.

NINA: Ken,
it was your sister, Mimi.

She wants you to
call her back.
She says it's important.

Thanks, Nina.Sure. Any time.

Okay, you guys can
get back to work now.

Aren't you gonna stay
and listen to us, Nina?I just ate.

Okay, guys, this next one's
dedicated to Peter Green,
and to Ken,

on the tragic loss
of his girlfriend.

[PLAYING HEAVY METAL]

[PLAYING GUITAR]

♪ I want to be like Idi

♪ And make a date with Kitty

You want shoyu?

How's it going, Ken?Same old.

How's Michelle?

Again? Another
big fight?

Not really.
She just got up
and left.

Huh... Well, I hope
it wasn't too painful.
You look okay.

I'll live.
You mind if we talk
about something else?

Okay.

You got any other action
going? You gotta stay
in the game, you know?

I'm devoting myself
to guitar.

Ken, man does not live
by guitar alone.

I could try.Good luck.

Hey, how's Mimi?Who?

Your sister, bozo.Oh, she's fine.

Huh. Well, do you think you
could be a little more vague?What?

I have to ask you
20 questions to get
a two-word answer.

I think you're developing
a very nihilistic attitude
towards conversation.

Have you been
reading Beckett?Who's that?

He's an Irish playwright.Don't know him.

He says that words
are not adequate
to describe emotions.

You'd probably
like his stuff.

It's short
and it doesn't
make sense.

I read a good story
about him, though.

He got in a fight.
This pimp stabbed him

and left him to die
in the street.

And as he lay
bleeding to death,

this woman came along
and took him
to the hospital.

She was
a professional pianist.

Later, as he was
recuperating,
she came to visit.

Eventually
they got married.

Oh.You ought to get married.
It might make you talk more.

I want to get married.
Sooner or later.

I could arrange it.
How about next week?Perfect.

Would you like
to marry a Japanese?

It would make
my mother happy.

Superb. There's a Japanese
girl who works here.

No, she's in the back.
She wants
to stay in the US

and the easiest thing
for her to do
is to get married.

Nakayama is never gonna
give her a green card.What are you talking about?

Ken, you're the last person
in the world to do
something spontaneous.

This is the perfect
opportunity.

You just get married,
wait for immigration
to check,

and then you're free!

In fact, you might
get to like her.

I think I'd rather get
to know the woman
before I marry her.

Listen, why can't you
get to know her
after you're married?

The best part of
any relationship is getting
to know the other person.

After that,
it's all downhill.

How many times
have you been married?

Twice. Big deal,
it's the '80s!

You're a strange one
to give advice.

Come on, what else
have you got going?
It'll make life interesting.

If it works, great!
If it fails you can write
a song about it. Like Layla.

LANA: Hey, Kyoko,
can I talk to you
for a second?

Listen, you know what,
I think I might have the
answer to your visa problem.

There's this guy
out front... I haven't
convinced him yet,

but I think he might
go for it.

I'm not positive
about how
all this stuff works,

but I think it might be
the simplest way
for you to stay here.

KYOKO: Dear Chikako,

I am sorry
I haven't written you
for so long.

I want to tell you
what has happened to me.

I found a job
at a Japanese restaurant.

There, my friend introduced
me to a very nice
Japanese-American man.

He took me to dinner
and a Clint Eastwood movie,
and then we got married.

Maybe you think
it is strange,

but please don't
worry about me.

I am very happy.
I can stay in America.

Excuse us.

You're from Tokyo?

Were you born in Tokyo?

Matsuyama. Do you know?No. Where is that?

It's on Shikoku Island.

Across from
Hiroshima Prefecture.

Do you know?Hmm. Wait a minute.

Here's a baseball cap
from the Hiroshima team.

My friend Richie
gave it to me.

Hiroshima cap.Mmm. Do you want it?

It's too small for me.

It's very nice.

You look good.

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

KYOKO: Dear Chikako,
I will tell you
about my new husband.

He is a very nice man.

His name is Ken.
Like Takakura Ken,
the movie star.

He has very good job
in important
American company.

And he is
very good worker.

He cannot speak Japanese,
but is very interest
in Japanese life.

I hope you will meet him
sometime if you come
to visit me.

But please do not tell
my family about
Japanese-American man

because maybe
they will worry.

I hope you are well.
I miss you.

Sometimes
when I have trouble
with my English

I wish you are here
so I could talk to someone.

Have the plum trees
in Hanegi Park
blossomed yet?

Well, Ken is nice,
even if he doesn't
talk much.

Mr. Ken is nice, yeah.Better than some
of the boyfriends I've had.

Do you have boyfriend?A couple.

You have many boyfriends.

Well, right now I like
this 18-year-old I met
at a U2 concert.

And the sax player
from the Bay Lounge...Really?

KEN: Look,
it's got to be The Who.

None of those wimp bands
are as loud as they were.

They can make you deaf.

The Guinness Book
of World Recordscalled them
the loudest rock band ever.

I don't care what you say.
Led Zeppelin was louder.

I lived at 3rd and Irving
when they played Kezar.

My walls were shaking
from Communication Breakdown.

It was 8.5 on
the Richter scale
and I was six blocks away.

Zep was loud.I did acid before one of
their shows at the coliseum

and they were so loud
they made me un-stoned.They could do that to you.

I used to love
to ball to Kashmir.What is Kashmir?

It's a song
on Physical Graffiti.

I made a tape of it.
It took up one whole side
of a cassette.

My old lady hated it!

LAMBERT: Kashmir?Yeah.

So how about you, Lambert?
You laying any pipe?
You got a babe?

My cousin introduced me
to this girl, but
she said I was too polite.

Boy. Nice guys always
get screwed, you know?
And I don't mean the good way.

How about you, bubba?
You uh, you got
any sad stories?

I got married.[CHUCKLING]
Married? To who?

JIMBO: Why didn't you
say something?Oh, congratulations, Ken.

Thanks. She's from Japan.Japanese women
are so beautiful.

Well, jeez,
this is terrific!
Kenny bit the big one!

Congratulations!
Here, take my Snowball.

Here, here's
my sandwich, Ken.

You're gonna need
all your strength.

Thanks, guys.

I'll take you
to lunch tomorrow.

Uh, anywhere
you want to go.

SHERI: You married Ken?
That slug friend of Lana's?

Just because he plays
in a rock 'n' roll band

doesn't mean
he's Paul McCartney.

Can he even talk?

Mr. Ken and I
are husband and wife

so I can obtain
green card.

You Japanese people
are so weird.

Kyoko,
it ain't worth it!
I know that guy.

He used to go fishing
with my brother.

The fish had
more personality.
Oh, God, how do I...

[SPEAKING BROKEN JAPANESE]

Lana told me
this best solution
for green card.

For staying in this country.
I am illegal alien.

I know. But you can
do better than Ken.

I mean, you have
to live in the same
house with the guy.

You have to
watch him eat.
You have...

Have you slept with him?We have separate beds.

That's good.
Keep it that way.

And get yourself
a baseball bat,

and if he comes
anywhere near you, whack!

"Whack"?
I don't understand.

[SIGHS]

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

Yes, I understand.
We have baseball in Japan.

Mr. Ken is very nice.

Lana told me
Ken will grow on me.

Ken will grow on you?
Like a fungus.

[SIGHING] God, Lana
must've been crazy.

What was she thinking,
putting you with him?

Lana is very nice.

Yeah, right.
Everybody's nice.

Everybody wants to help
the girl from Japan.

[WIND HOWLING]

Morning, bud.Hey.

Shall we go?Yeah.

"Lesson four.
I met Noki at
the supermarket today."

Yeah, she was great.
She used to do my
French homework for me.

Sister,
you seem so alone.

I'm a member
of the Sunlight Tribe.

Think of me
as your brother.

Hey, pretty lady!

"No kidding."

[INDISTINCT READING]

"It looked like
he was driving
someone..."

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

Thank you.

Why do you think
Ken's having us
wait out here,

rather than meeting her
in the restaurant?

I don't know.

Hey, maybe Kyoko
has some friends
she can introduce us to.

What do you think?I think that that would
not be appropriate now.

Lambert, you are so...Shh, quiet! Here they come.

Hey, guys.
I want you to meet
my wife, Kyoko.

Wow, she's great.Kyoko, this is Warren,
and Lambert.

Hi, Kyoko.

It is very nice
meeting you, Kyoko.

Ken has told us
so much about you.

Are you enjoying
your stay here
in this country?

Yes. I enjoy very much.

That's good. I know
how difficult it must be
to be a newcomer here.

Oh, yeah. Lambert's
from Hong Kong.I'm from Taiwan.

Anyway, Kyoko,
I am very pleased
to finally meet you.

If you need any help,
please let us know.

Thank you. I am sorry,
I have to go back to work.

Please excuse me.

Sure. Uh... We gotta go, too.Yeah, nice to meet you,
Kyoko.

Nice to meet you.
I hope to see you again.

Goodbye, Mr. Ken.Bye, Kyoko.
I'll see you later.

She is great, Ken.

You are a very
lucky man, Ken.Thanks.

WARREN: Say, Ken, do you
think Kyoko can introduce me
to one of her friends?

I don't know.
I thought you
had a girlfriend.

LAMBERT: That's right!
I am the one
who needs a girlfriend.

Cathy dumped me.

Oh, man, if I could find
someone like Kyoko,
I would be happy for sure.

That is simplistic.
Happiness is
not so easy.

Ken is very lucky.
Kyoko is very nice.

But you can't pick
a woman off a tree
and be happy.

I'm pretty happy.

Yeah, see?
All you got to do
is find the right woman.

Anyway, where'd you get
your experience from,
Lambert?

What makes you so smart?Why do you think?
I am Chinese.

Oh, brother.

Hey, I bought this
for you. It's manju.

Thank you.
It is really nice of you
to think of me.

Manjuis my favorite.

Mr. Ken,
who is in that?

Oh, this? That's
The Velvet Underground.

Lou Reed.

Do you know Lou Reed?Yes. Lu Reedo.

No. Lou Reed.I know.

Walk On the Wild Side.That's right.

Venus in Furs, Sweet Jane.
You know those songs?

No, thanks.Please take,
Mister Ken.

I don't like Japanese food.But you are Japanese also.

No, I'm not.
Not like you.

It is refreshing.
May I have another,
please?

Now, guys,
as we all know,

there's a certain amount
of posturing that
goes on with this music.

The basic idea is
to try to look like
you're having a good,

high energy time
on stage, okay?

Because if you have
a good time, then the audience
is gonna have a good time.

So, for example,
never just hit a note.

Always make the most
out of it. Grimace.

Never just hit a note
like this. That's lame.

No one's gonna
enjoy themselves.
Go like this.

Okay?

You guys don't seem
very enthusiastic.

This is a lifestyle,
not a hobby.

[RINGING]

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

Ex... Excuse. Hello.

Ken? Ken is not here.

Yes, please.
Uh, I understand.

Ken... Ken's sister.

Dinner.

Friday?

Yes. Be sure
he gets the message.

Thank you.

Yes.

Goodbye.

How weird!
Some Japanese woman
answered Ken's phone.

Carl, I think Ken has
a Japanese woman
living with him.

That's interesting.

Do you think
we should
check it out?

We could go over there
and pretend to bring
a pie or something.

Don't look at me like that!
Someone has to look after him.

RICHIE: Ken,
I'm a little apprehensive

about this whole marriage
business with you.

I think the secret to being
successful at this kind of
stuff is staying on the edge.

You know?
Uh, so eat pizza,

you know, hamburgers,
hot dogs, things like that.

You know,
on the fly.

Just the idea that
you don't want to
become complacent, okay?

And marriage
is one of those
institutions that

if you're not careful,
it puts you in the grave.

Because look at
The Beatles, okay?

When the women
got involved
with The Beatles,

there was trouble, okay?
The band broke up.

That was a tragedy.
Lord, that group
was so talented.

See what I'm saying?

Okay, you got to
remember that.

[POP MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO]

MAN: [IN JAPANESE ACCENT]
♪ Can you dance with me

WOMAN: ♪ Sure, why not

[BOTH SINGING IN JAPANESE]

"How did four poor boys
from Los Angeles

"graduate to
Black music heaven?

"Simple.

"They did their
Black Studies methodically

"for a long time
and they acknowledge
their prior Funk mentors.

"The Peppers do covers
of Clinton's Hollywood

"and Sly Stone's timeless
dance down classic,

"If You Want Me to Stay,

"with a rowdy relevance
that shows The Peppers

"have hearts
full of soul and they
know how to use them.

"So if you and your
old lady feels like
burning down a house,

"permit me to
make a suggestion.

"Lay your hands
on the new
Chili Peppers LP

"and prepare
for some radical freaky.

"It will heal your ailing soul
with a funky sort of R and B."

Mr. Ken?What?

What's meaning
"funky sort of R and B"?

I don't know. I used
to think there was
something called magic.

And then,
after about five years,

I thought maybe there's
something called magic

and after about ten years
I figured there wasn't.

Well, I think I got it.

Magic?Yeah.

Could be, you know.I think I'm in love.

Well, that's different.
I mean, that's different
than magic.

I thought they were
the same thing.

I... Well, they start
out the same. Probably.

I mean, magic and love
are the same thing,

but I figure if it
lasts for a while,
it's love.

If it doesn't
last for a while,
then it's magic.

I don't know what I have.

Oh. Well, I mean,
I don't even know what
"a while" is, you know.

Could be a...

She's really great, though.
You should meet her.Oh, yeah?

Love to.

Sure you don't want
some chili on that?

Homemade,
out of the can.

All right.
Bon appetit,bro.

Hey, Ken, I hear you're
in Richie's new band.
That's really great.

Hi, Lindy.

Hey, listen, do you guys
need a singer? I've been
looking for a good band.

Richie says girls
and heavy metal
don't mix.

That's kind of stupid.
I mean, what about
Pat Benatar? Joan Jett?

That's pop music.

Oh, brother. Listen,
I made this tape.

Why don't you come over
to my place tonight
and we'll listen to it?

If you like it,
you can give it
to Richie.

Richie won't go for that.
Anyway, I can't.
I have to pick my wife up.

Your wife?
Who'd marry you,
you jerk?

And listen, if you see
Richie, you can tell him
he's a jerk, too!

Okay.

Ah. Parsley goes there.
Lemon go...

[BOTH SPEAKING JAPANESE]

[JAPANESE SONG PLAYING]

Okay, thank you.
Good night.Good night.

[PLAYING LATIN MUSIC]

[CASTANETS CLICKING]

KEN: Lana, I think
you should find someone
else to play guitar.

No, you're doing fine.
Come on, keep playing.

Well, I think it's worked
out pretty well.
I mean, I like her a lot.

But I can't tell
if she likes me.

Well, you don't
hate each other.
That's a good sign.

Maybe.
There's something
that isn't right.

We don't connect.You mean sexually?

No. I mean understanding
each other. Does she ever
talk about me?

Yeah. She says
you're really nice.I'm really nice? That's all?

Well, I don't know.
For God's sake,
give it time.

You're from completely
different cultures. These
things take time to develop.

Especially mixed marriages.
Look at John and Yoko.

John and Yoko?

Yeah. I mean,
I really admired them.
Didn't you?

Look at all
the ups and downs
they went through.

That's your advice?
John and Yoko?

You have a very
crummy attitude, Ken.

You have to have
a little more faith.

Things'll look
a lot better after you
have a cup of decaf.

I hate that shit.

Ken.

I'm sorry. It's just
that everybody's been
telling me what to do.

I get kind of tired of it.What does Mimi say?

I didn't tell her.
She doesn't even
know I'm married.

She doesn't know?
She's your sister.

I can't tell her.
She'll tell Carl,
then she'll tell Dad,

and he'll hit the ceiling.
He already thinks
I'm fucked up.

What are you staring at?You.

See, I told you
this marriage would
be good for you.

I told you it would
make you talk more.
I was right.

You worry too much.
Everything'll be all right.

Besides, Japanese women
always stand
by their men, right?

You think so?Definitely.

Let me help you
with your lesson.

It is not necessary.I want to.

Okay.

I'm here.

Okay. Here we go.
"What kind of present
did you send the chief?"

"I gave him
a box of canned food."

"That's a nice present.""Thank you. How about you?"

"Napoleon whiskey."

"Wow! You really
went all out."

You already know
this one by heart.

Yes. I studied it before.
Thank you.

You don't have to be
so formal. You know,
we've slept together.

It's nice, but I think
we should be less formal

if we want to get
to know each other.

Mr. Ken,
why did you marry me?

To help you stay
in this country.

What will happen
when marriage is over?

Will you divorce
and marry another?

I was hoping we would
like each other enough
to stay married.

I expected this marriage
was temporary.

I know. But we've
been living together,
and I thought...

Do you know
what I'm saying?

Mmm-hmm.

Do you like
living here with me?

I think you're
a real nice person,
Mr. Ken.

I think we can have
a good marriage.
We never fight.

May we start again?

Sure.

"Next station,
Omotesando.
Exit on the left."

"Is that before Gaia Maya?"

KYOKO: I am afraid.
Mr. Ken
is forgetting our plan.

Our marriage is
arranged marriage
for business reasons.

It is not real marriage.

We agreed
our marriage is
only temporary.

But now I think
he feels love for me.

It is mistake.

[BEEPS]

Mimi, hi. This is Ken.

I'm sorry, but something's
come up and I won't be able
to make it to dinner tonight.

Bye.

KEN: I mean,
look at Brian Ferry.

His music is
so much better since
Jerry Hall dumped him.

Have you seen
his new video?

Oh, man, it's slick!
You know, I wish
I had hair like his.

Oh, shit.What?

Get in the car!

Mimi... I...
I'm sorry, I...I said get in!

If you don't get in,
I will never speak
to you again.

It's your family, too.
Now get in!

How you doing, Ken?Okay.

MIMI: I have been
calling you for a month!

Hi, Dad.Hi, Mr. Nakamoto.

Hey, you guys are early.
I was just putting
on some broccoli.

Hey, how you doing, Carl?Pretty darn good,
Mr. Nakamoto.

Hey, Dad, you look great.
Have you been jogging?

Oh, just the usual.
Go to work, watch TV,
and go to bed.

Sounds pretty darn
good to me,
Mr. Nakamoto.

Carl and I just had
our best month ever.

We haven't officially
closed it yet,

but our commissions
will probably
be close to $6,000.

That's great, Mimi.

We earn it. You should
see some of the turkeys
we have to deal with.

CARL: Hey, look at Mimi.

Yeah. Little princess.

Hey, watch it, bub.
That's my wife
you're talking about.

Hey, you were
pretty cute, too.
The perfect son.

Perfect Japanese son.

Mimi used to
call me bo chan.What's that mean?

Something like
"mama's boy."

Hey, look, Ken, it was
really a good move,
your coming here tonight.

I know Mimi and your dad
really appreciate seeing you.

I guess so.

Carl, have some
more broccoli.
It's good for you.

Dad, Ken's playing
in a rock and roll band.

Out of sight.
What do you play,
guitar?

Yeah. I'm not
very good yet.

All you have to do
is practice. Do you
practice somewhere?

Two or three times
a week at Richie's.

His apartment's
full of hippies.

They don't care
if we make noise.
Too stoned.

MIMI: Well, if you play
somewhere, we'll come see you.
That'll be neat.

Don't you
think so, Dad?

That's nice.
But that isn't
a real job.

Carl, get enough to eat?

We're trying
to eat more vegetables.Fiber.

It's good for
the colon.

Here you go.Thank you, dear.

Where's Ken?

I think he's out back.Okay.

What are you thinking about?

Remember that time
I brought Michelle
here for dinner?

Sorta.

It was a couple
of years ago.

Dad liked her because
she talked a lot
and she was so pretty.

Mom didn't like
her at all.

I remember she asked me
if Michelle was
really Japanese.

She said she didn't
act like it.

She didn't
like Carl either,
at first.

Did you ever see
those Japanese movies

where the parents
arrange a marriage
for their children?

Couples don't even
know each other the
night before they marry.

They're scared to death
on their wedding night,

then one day
something bad happens
and they fall in love.

Maybe that's what
I should do. What
do you think, Mimi?

I think that
this is not Japan, bo chan.

Carl and I have
been together
for five years.

And before that,
I knew him for four.

Sometimes working together
makes it hard

'cause we get on
each other's nerves, but,

sometimes it's really nice,
you know?

Huh.Anyway,

I never wanted to marry
someone where I didn't know

what he did
for eight hours a day.

I guess it's
hard keeping
a relationship going.

When I did drugs
it used to depress me
'cause they wore off so fast.

The feeling wouldn't last.

And everything
would return to normal.

What are you
talking about?Nothing.

Anyway,
what would you say
if I did that?

Did what?Married a girl from Japan.

Well...

I guess it would
depend on the girl.

Yeah.

KEN: Kyoko, I'm sorry
I didn't pick
you up tonight.

I had to go
see my family.

It is fine,
Mr. Ken.
I rode the bus.

Oh, yeah,
this postcard
came for you.

What's it say?

Who's it from?

This is from my family.

Oh, yeah?
What do they say?

Are you interest?

Yeah, I'm interested.

Go ahead and read it.

They say they miss me

and they worry for me

and they hope
I am enjoying

American experience.

Well, that sounds good.

My mother say,

it is very hot in Japan

and rain very much.

And she said she hope

I can come back for Obon.

What's Obon?

It is time when
Japanese children
visit their family.

And they make

horse with vegetables

so ancestors

come down
and get on the horse

to visit us

and at the end
of the Obon

we burn it.

So smoke,

with the smoke,
ancestors go
back to the heaven.

That sounds good.

Maybe we can go there
after we get through
immigration.

I could borrow
some money
from my sister.

Mr. Ken,

it is difficult.

It's just a thought.

I still think you
should think about
what we talked about,

staying married.

Mr. Ken,

I would like to sleep
with myself tonight.
Please.

Are you sure?Yes.

Okay. No problem.

I'll watch some video.

[SINGING IN JAPANESE]

KYOKO: It is better
our marriage is temporary.

I cannot
blame Mr. Ken
for my situation.

He does not
understand me.

But it is not his fault.

I cannot speak
my feeling in English.

He cannot speak
his feeling in Japanese.

[TRADITIONAL JAPANESE
MUSIC PLAYING]

[COIN RATTLING]

You ever have
the tuna sandwiches?

Yeah. It's good.

Make sure you take
the lettuce out.

Your sister
drives a BMW.Yeah.

Yeah, that's
a nice car.

How come
she yelled at you?

I don't know.

She's always
been like that.

Very emotional,
you know.

I wish I could
get married.

Why?

I don't like
going to movies
by myself.

You're lucky.

Maybe.

But you know what
Bob Marley said?

"No woman, no cry."

LAMBERT:
You got it made, Ken.

"I'm so sorry to have
kept you waiting.

"I'm so sorry
to have you...

"Kept you waiting.

"Please come right in.

"Please come right in."

RICHIE: Say, Ken,

do you have the first
Back Street Crawler LP?

The band
or the Kossoff solo?

The solo.Yeah.

How about loaning
that to me?

It's out of print.
I'll tape it for you.

That'd be great.

There is some
gut-wrenching
guitar on that LP.

Yeah, Kossoff was great.

Too bad he died.

Yeah, he's in
rock and roll heaven
with Jimi.

NINA: Excuse me,
but do you guys
know how to talk

about anything
but rock and roll?

What else is there?What else is there?

Nina,

what'd you think
of that last one
we did?

Good. Real good.

It was an original.

Mmm-hmm.

Honey, you don't seem
very supportive.

I'll get more enthusiastic
when you get more successful.

How did someone
intelligent like you
ever end up

going out
with a guy
like Richie?

NINA: We used to go to
the same laundromat.

Hey, please, please.

Do you mind if
we don't talk about
my personal life?

Oh, sensitive.

No, Markie,
I'm not sensitive.

I just think we'd be
a lot better off

talking about the band,
okay?

Isn't rock and roll
kind of dead?

I mean, it seems like
you'd be better off

getting into some Ornette
Coleman Harmolodic Jazz
or something like that.

I mean, that music
has a lot more potential.

Well, Nina,
the problem with that
is that you have to

know how to play
to do that kind of music.

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

You know
I can't speak Japanese.

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

You want to
go out tonight?

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

All right,
Mrs. Nakamoto,

I have a few questions here
that will assist us

in ascertaining
the legality
of your marriage.

Please answer truthfully
and remember that

any discrepancies
in your answers

can and will lead to your
immediate deportation.

Is that clear?

Please answer
"yes" or "no."

I understand.Very good.

Now, please pay attention,
Mrs. Nakamoto.

What color shirt
did your husband
wear yesterday?

What kind of toothpaste
do you have in your bathroom
and who purchased it?

How many pairs of shoes
does your husband own
and where does he keep them?

What is his favorite food?

Hamburger.

What is your favorite food?

Italian food.

Name the members
of your husband's
immediate family.

I have never met.

Macaroni and cheese.

And any kind
of Mexican food.

INTERVIEWER: And what is
her favorite food?

Japanese, I guess.

Well, she has
a mother and a father.

But I'm not sure
about the rest.

We haven't talked
much about...

You've been married
for two months

and you don't know
the members of her family?

They're in Japan.

Mr. Nakamoto,
some of your answers

contradict what
your wife said.

KEN: Well, what do you expect?
Her English isn't that good.

In addition,
you were unable
to answer

several of the questions
yourself.

How do you explain that?

Certainly you do not
have a problem
with the English language.

We are married.

That is still in question.

If you insist,
we can recommend
an additional interview,

possibly at your place
of residence.

I don't care.
We are married.

You can interview us as
many times as you like.

You'll be notified.

It's just that
some of those questions
were hard to...

The interview is over.
Please take your forms and
return them to the clerk.

Kyoko,
why are you
taking your bike?

I can pick you up
after work.

It is not necessary,
Mr. Ken.

Are you sure?

I am fine.

Please excuse.
I have to go to work.

Okay.

I have an ant farm
at home, you know.

And last night I dreamt
that all the ants
got together and rebelled.

They pushed
the lid off
the ant farm

and started throwing
my furniture around.

And the whole apartment
was full of giant fire ants.

And they were
really pissed off.

They were like
a red menace.

Oh, want one?No, thank you.

What I was talking about?

A dream.
You know?

Sleep? Dream?

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

Yes. I had a dream
about Japan.

You were homesick.

My grandmother
used to get homesick.

Your grandmother
came from Japan?

A long time ago.

She always
wanted to go back,
but she never did.

Too much nihonjinpride.

You know what
that means? Pride?

[SPEAKING JAPANESE]

Yes. Japanese
have very much pride.

Yeah, I guess we do.

You know, Kyoko,

if you want
to go home,
you should.

I will stay in America.

Okay.

Leaving already?

Yeah.
See you, Lane.

Okay, Jeannie.
Take it easy.

Bye.

Man, I used to have
such a crush on her.

Did you guys go out?

Nah.

We hung with
different crowds.

You know,
she was in the key club.

Now she's married
to some big-shot
real estate lawyer.

And look at me,
I'm still
a fucking manjuman.

What's wrong with that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

At least I don't
have to listen
to a bunch of suits

when they tell me
to breathe, huh?

Fuck.

You should've
made a move on her.

Yeah,
maybe I should've.

Hey, Lane,
you want to see
a picture of my wife?

Yeah.

Oh.

She's really Japanese, huh?

She looks fine, though.

Don't screw it up.

KYOKO: Dear Chikako,

how are you
and your family?

I am fine,

but many things
have happened

since I wrote you
last time.

Do you remember
the Japanese-American man

I told you about?

He is dead.

It was great tragedy.

And now I am
too sad to stay
in the United States.

I will return
to Japan soon.

Dear Mr. Ken,

I'm sorry,
I have to leave,

because I cannot be
a good wife for you.

You are very nice

but I cannot stay.

I hope you find someone

and will be happy.

Goodbye.

Don't be down.

Love, Kyoko.

[PHONE RINGING]

Jasmine.Thanks.

I've been thinking.

How would you like
to come and work
with Carl and me

at the travel service?

Thanks for the offer
but I don't think so.

Well, you don't have
to answer right now.

Think about it.

You want to tell me
what's been going on?

You don't have to,
but I'd like to know.

Maybe later.

Thanks for the tea.

Sure.

Mr. Rocklay
was looking for you.

Yeah. I'm working on
the ventilation system.

That's good.
You should
take it easy, Ken.

Lambert,
you ever think about
going back to Hong Kong?

Taiwan.Well, Taiwan, then?

When I came
to the United States,

I never thought
I would be working
a job like this.

Five dollars an hour.

I thought I'd be
rich by now.

So?
Can't you go back?

It's too late to go back.

If you stay too long,
you have to stay.

It's too hard
to go back now.

Well, maybe
you'll strike it
rich some day.

That is propaganda
put out by rich people.

They get poor people to
work for no money
by spreading those stories.

You should become
a musician.

One hit record
and you got it made.

You're not
as smart as you look.

How many Asians
you know
with hit records?

Well, it could
be the first.

KYOKO: Dear Mr. Ken,

I took package tour
to Yosemite National Park.

It is very beautiful.

I think you would like
the natural setting.

Now I am in Japan

with my family and friends.

They are happy
I am back from America.

How are you?

How is your
rock and roll band?

If you want to,
you can write
to me in Tokyo.

Your friend, Kyoko.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[ROCK MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING]