Senrei (1996) - full transcript

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Baptism of Blood

Rie Imamura

Mie Yoshida
Naoko Amihama

Shinya Kashima
Chihiro Tago

Risa Akikawa

Planning: Kouji Kokusho
Haruo Okamoto

Haruhiko Yoshida Producers:
Katsuaki Takemoto Hideo Arai

Original story
Kazuo Umezu

Director and screenplay
Kenichi Yoshihara

We're all set.



Ready?

Hurry and get me
that bronze weight.

Hurry up!

No, that's not it.

- Cut!
- That's a cut!

Okay. Print it!

That's a take!

Great job, everyone!

Take everything out the back.
Get going!

- You're done here, miss Izumi.
- Really? Thanks.

- Asuka, up next.
- Coming!

- Great job, miss Izumi.
- Thanks, everyone.

- Prep Asuka, will you?
- Got it.

That's it for today. See you
tomorrow, huh? Bye, ladies!



Bye!

- Thank you, guys!
- Take care!

- See you tomorrow!
- Melissa?

Thanks!

Hold it. Let me do your hair.

Don't you just love
her beautiful baby skin?

It's so pale and translucent!

Even with no make-up on,
it's smooth as silk!

Oh, I just can't help
pinching her cheek!

Give me a minute to change.

Okay.

Wasn't his hand
a little higher before?

Something wrong, miss Izumi?
You're running a little late.

Just a minute!

- What's this?
- She's not coming out.

She might be ill.
Why doesn't she talk to us?

I got the key!

Gee, thanks.

What are you all staring at?
Don't we have work to do?

- Right.
- They're ready, miss.

Doctor...

the time has come at last.

My body is falling apart.

It can no longer be
concealed by make-up.

There's no time
to let my leg heal properly.

My mind is made up.

I've decided
to carry out the plan.

I'll retire from my career
and go into hiding for a while.

It's been completed.

It's upstairs. You can
open the door yourself.

Twenty years from now,
you must come back here.

This mansion will be
in your name.

Call me when you're ready
to commit to the very final stage.

Many years later...

that was wonderful.

How is she coming along?

Excellent.

She'll be perfect
by the next recital.

Try this on, dear.

It's just the right size,
and very becoming.

I used to wear it
when I was young.

May I play a little?

Is this right?

What are you trying to play?

This?

No... that's not it...

never mind.

Sorry to interrupt the session.

What's next?

Mozart's piano sonata no. 8
in a minor.

I'd like to put on
the finishing touch.

It's a challenging piece,
but one of my favorites.

You can do it.

After the session, I?d like
to have a word with Mr. Tanigawa.

It's very important.

I'll be waiting
in the next room.

There!

Hey! You brat.

Wait!

Sit down.

Yes, sir!

Try the opening
with more accent, like this.

Oh, you're home.

- Let me take that.
- Thanks.

God, it's stifling in here.

Leave the ac running
when you do errands.

And run up the electric bill?

Where's the hanger? Damn...

what's with all this
dirty laundry, huh?

My belly's so big
I don't feel like doing anything.

You could make real money
at a jazz bar.

Instead, you had to buy
that expensive suit...

for your student's
stupid recital.

And who bought
all the jewelry and kimono?

I didn't know a well-schooled
pianist like you...

could turn out so shiftless.

Can you at least do the dishes?
They're all slimy and gross.

Where's my food?

In there.

When is that rich madam going
to pay for your private lessons?

Soon.

When?

I'll ask for an advance
next time.

I thought maybe she offered you
a juicy proposition...

regarding her estate.

How did you know?

Ms. Uehara called here.

Were you planning
to hide it from me?

Why should I?

We must take her
for all we can get. Hear me?

Don't tell me you grew
a conscience overnight...

and declined her offer?

No way.

Anyhow, she only asked me to be
the executor, not the beneficiary.

If something were to happen
to her daughter, would it be ours?

I've got some work to do.
Clean this up, will ya?

- Good-bye.
- Good-bye.

St. Joseph's college I?m
really sorry. Are you okay?

It's fine. You can't even
see it under my hair.

Want a bandage?

It's no big deal. Let's go.

You must protect your fingers
if you want to keep playing.

No ball games at school.

Did you drink your milk?

Yes, mom.

You must watch your diet
to keep your skin lustrous.

What's my skin got to do with it?
I'm not a movie star.

Don't be silly.

Let me see you.

What's this?

We were fooling around
in ballet class.

Ryoko hit me right there.

My hair conceals it, you see?

I didn't want a bandage
to leave a mark.

Mom?

Hello, ms. Uehara.

How are...

what are you doing?

Leave me alone!

Ryoko!

Mom, wake up! Mom!

Ryoko, are you all right?

- I'm so sorry.
- Ryoko...

- I just lost my temper.
- Are you all right?

I snapped when I heard
Ryoko had hurt my daughter...

Ryoko just goofed!

I made a bad joke.
It was half my fault!

Mom, I appreciate
your concern for me,

but you get too carried away.

You just lose
your senses sometimes.

Look out!

Hello, dr. Melris.

I've been looking forward
to hearing your voice again.

What?

Yes, of course. We've made
all the arrangements.

The machine is
working just fine.

I've taken good care of it.

Let's cut open Sakura's head
and do the operation right away.

We'll take out her brain
and put mine in its place,

and then, her body
will finally belong to me.

I can't wait any longer!

I've gone to such lengths
to create that unblemished body.

Now, all my efforts
will be rewarded!

Mom!

You have seen it.

You curious?
I'll let you see it all!

There's no need
to hide it any more!

There! Take a good look.

Sakura...

this was your dear mother.

You probably can't believe
your own eyes.

My stardom on the silver screen
left my body tattered.

The producers, the media,
and the audience...

they all imposed
their own dreams on me.

They took everything
I had in my power to give!

I felt like a chicken in a coop,
slaving my precious life away.

All that remained was
this ugly shell of a body.

I never knew the happy life
of a normal woman.

So I decided to start my life over,
whatever the cost.

My family doctor, Melris,

has left me miraculous technology
and a machine.

It will fulfill my plan.

I need young
and beautiful flesh.

I want to transfer
into that body and possess it.

I'll start a whole new life,
a life without regrets.

That body...

is yours!

I slept with a white man
passing through town...

just to have you!

You poor thing...
you have no life to live.

Your brain will be
ripped out and discarded.

You will neither
see nor talk again.

Instead, my brain
will sit right here...

to take over your body
and start a brand-new life.

A new life... without regrets!

Sit still!

I don't wanna cut you!

If you take another step,
I swear...

I?ll ruin my face!

Step back!

Now!

Give me the key!

Someone, please help me!

Police.

Help! Someone's trying
to kill me!

Calm down. What's going on?

Hello? Hello?

Hello?

Please come at once!

What's going on?

My mother's trying
to operate on me, and...

miss, is your mother there?

Hello? Hello?

She's right in front of me.
Please help!

Let me talk to your mother.

Help! She's going to kill me!

Please hurry!

Mom?

Mom!

You're mine, Sakura.
I'll never let you go.

You're awake?

It'll be a little while till you
regain full consciousness.

Go back to sleep.

I'm leaving now.

I doubt if I?ll ever
see you again.

This is a one-time opportunity.

I hope you get to live
this life to the fullest.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Good morning, Sakura!

St. Joseph's college

good morning.

Good morning.

Mr. Tanigawa!

Hey! Don't be so dramatic.

I heard about your illness.
Are you all right now?

Uh-huh.

This is Lijima
from the record company.

Your mom wouldn't like it,
so we made it our secret, remember?

I told you how much he liked you
at the last recital.

Let's go inside.

This is a private performance
for you, Mr. Lijima.

It's a great honor
to hear her live and up close.

I'll give you the signal.

She must be nervous.

Relax. One more time.

Sakura!

Sakura, are you all right?

Mr. Lijima,
please get a glass of water!

Right!

Stay with me today.

She is still a bit ill,
apparently.

She's lost a lot of weight
and seems lethargic.

I'd better sleep over tonight.

What with her mom
being away...

hello?

Hello? You listening?

Yes.

I haven't heard from ms. Uehara.

I'm soaked with sweat.
I'm taking a shower.

Hello?

I've deposited
this month's salary.

You can take out
some money for yourself.

Bye.

Why are you
breathing so hard?

Kiss me.

Not like that.

What's wrong? Haven't you
been dreaming about this?

Look at me.

Why do you control yourself?

You can do whatever you want.

Neither my ugly mother
nor Kazuyo will bother us.

Nobody will.

Hi, Sakura.

You look very well. I'm glad.

Hello.

- Honey?
- Good morning. - oh, hello.

There's iced tea in the fridge,
if you like.

Please come on in.

Officially, ms. Matsuko Uehara's
assets include her mansion...

and her savings, which amount to
a rather small sum.

However, there is
an undisclosed estate,

and this is
our major concern here.

Please confirm the following.

Article 3.

Access to the safe deposit box
must be approved...

by Matsuko, or in the event of
her death, only by Sakura.

Or regardless of Matsuko's status,
Sakura shall have...

unrestricted access when she
reaches the age of twenty-one.

Oh, wait. I've brought
a "signing pen" today.

Shall I?

No. I need my bifocals as well.

Bifocals at your age?

My sight is really shot,
I?m afraid.

Oh, here they are.

May I have your signature
as well, my dear?

Here... and here.

Do you have to go back home?

I don't wanna go back... ever.

Let's go abroad...
some place beyond their reach.

Good morning.
I'm detective Takamatsu.

How can I help?

I would like to ask you
a few questions. May I come in?

Sure.

Today's Sunday, correct?

Yes.

I've been doing
so much legwork lately,

I?ve lost my sense
of date and time, you know?

And I?ve been up
all night again.

Is anything wrong?

No, I just have a few questions
about ms. Matsuko Uehara.

She's abroad at the moment.

Yes, I know about that.

You can't go upstairs.

Off-limits?

All the rooms
are locked anyway.

You must be miss Sakura?

Sorry to bother you.
I'm detective Takamatsu.

Oh, you've got a piano!

Look at that! A real baby grand!

Oh, boy. This is impressive.

Did something happen
to ms. Uehara?

According to immigration,

there is no record of her
leaving the country, you see.

Ms. Uehara's real estate people
needed to get in touch...

with her regarding
the tax status of this mansion,

so they looked into it
themselves.

Ordinarily,
this is not a police matter.

But we'd like to make sure
that she's neither missing...

nor perhaps involved
in some foul play.

You know that I?m
the executor of her estate.

Yes, I do.

That's why I?m trying to find out
if you've been contacted...

by anybody suspicious.

But I really don't sense
that you have.

Oh, speaking of
suspicious characters,

we've been getting
these weird reports from someone.

Oh, well...

I love this tune.

Although this is
the only tune I can play.

You were saying before?

Well...
what was I talking about?

A suspicious character.

Oh, right.

We don't know who it is,
but apparently...

it is someone who knows...

a great deal about
all the goings-on in this mansion.

Oh, yes... there was a mention
about you two, as well.

What about us? There's nothing fishy
going on between us!

My, this room is just lovely.

Plenty of sunlight
and a great view.

Well, I guess I?ll be going now.

Sorry to bother you so early.

Who is this informer?

I wouldn't worry about it.

We get these crank calls
from the usual gossip freaks.

She sure is pretty.

I want to know who...

oh, you know the kind.
They say the most trivial things.

Say one guy says he slept
with so-and-so when he hasn't.

Another won't admit it
even if he's caught red-handed.

Thanks for your cooperation.
Good afternoon.

Do as I told you and you won't
have a problem opening the safe.

I'll take a cab from here.
Get my things from the mansion.

The plane tickets are...

Kanagawa prefecture
police

I?ll see you at the airport.

Why can't you come with me?

We never know
where the cops might be.

What's wrong?

Let me get off here.

Here you go.

This one's a little heavy.
Careful.

Right.

I just heard from Mr. Tanigawa.

The parking at
the airport hotel was full,

so he's waiting
at another building.

Okay. Shall we head
over there directly?

Miss Uehara?
Mr. Tanigawa is waiting for you.

Here?

He said to hurry, or else!

Come this way.

Hold on. Wait!

Stop!

Someone stop her! Hey! Wait!

Oh, shit!

Wait!

Wait!

Take me to the airport, please.

Hurry!

Get in.

The fact that we knew
about her drug addiction...

before you made the withdrawal
looks bad for us.

You must keep your lips
absolutely sealed about this.

We don't want the cops
to get suspicious again.

If she gets committed for good,
we won't have any trouble...

snatching the estate.

Have you heard
from the hospital?

Not yet.

Should I call them?

No, we'd better not make
any moves for a while.

Whether to spend it slowly,
so nobody finds out,

or take the lump sum
and flee abroad...

let's take our time
figuring that out.

You have no use for this, right?

Kazuyo.

Are you all right?

Quick! Call a doctor!

Yes, the unreported estate
that belongs to Izumi Wakakusa...

has been withdrawn from
the safe deposit box by Tanigawa.

May I please talk
to detective Takamatsu?

Detective? It's me, Sakura.
I'm about to meet Tanigawa.

I'll ask questions
and try to buy some time.

Be careful with the stakeout.
How will you get there?

Yes...

please make sure
Tanigawa doesn't see you.

Do I have to go back to the hospital
even if our plan works?

Sakura's escaped
from the hospital!

I've seen her in the street!

The cops are
definitely involved.

Hurry home, then.

That's no good. The cops are
already there waiting for me.

I guess I?d better
return everything to the safe.

The cops must be there, too.

You take our daughter
and come to me.

It might be a while
before we can go home again.

I'll be in front of the station.

We'll talk more later. Bye.

What should I do?

Help!

Someone stop it!

Kazuyo?

Let's see what you can tell us.

Let me go!

Doctor. She's escaped!

Kanagawa prefecture
police

come on!

Kazuyo!

This way!

Get back!

Sakura, wake up!
There was no operation!

Let's go!

How is Sakura?

She doesn't remember
anything about the incident.

Will she recover?

It'll take a long time.

When you got the report
from the neighbors...

that Kazuyo was abducted
and taken away in a van,

did you know that the culprit
would end up at the mansion?

No, I was searching Tanigawa's
house when he came home.

He was panicking, I pushed,
and out came all the clues.

So, there was no brain transplant
to begin with?

Right... although Sakura
really believed there was.

She was tied to her mother
by profound bonds.

Sakura was devoted to Matsuko,
and Matsuko doted on Sakura.

It's not so uncommon
in a single-mother household.

They existed as one,
body and mind.

So, Sakura became her mother...

and embarked on a new life
as Izumi Wakakusa?

But what was Matsuko doing?

Like Sakura, she also
believed in the operation.

Her role then was to become
a corpse... a living corpse.

She got out of the shed
and wandered like a zombie.

Eventually, she landed at
a hospital ten kilometers away.

They took her in
as an amnesiac drifter.

When did you connect
all the dots?

It hit me when the hospital
reported Matsuko to us.

I met her and told her all about
Sakura's condition at the time.

That brought her back to
her old self again after 30 years.

She began to cry.

It turns out dr. Edmond Melris
had passed away...

when Matsuko was very young.

But because he had been
the only one she confided in,

she simply
denied that he was dead.

Her life became
one elaborate fantasy.

What caused
Sakura?s hand to shake...

and her face
to suffer those bruises?

Her tiny body couldn't handle
the reckless amount of drugs.

But she's recovering rapidly
as we speak,

thanks to her youth.

Don't worry so much.

Attempted embezzlement will
get you off with parole for sure.

But the fact that you neglected
a woman with a drug problem...

may not serve you well
in the trial.

If you had been stronger,
you could've stopped Sakura?s decay.

You've got to do all you can
for her from now on.

The verdict might just depend on
your willingness to help her.

That was so moving, Sakura!
I can't wait for the recital.

Thanks.

We're leaving, Sakura.

- See you.
- Bye-bye.

Ms. Kazuyo...

this is for the baby.

It's cute! Thanks.

See you later. She's got
another piece to practice.

I hid it beneath the piano.

You must kill Kazuyo
with that knife.

Then we'll take Izumi's estate
and be happy together,

this time for sure!

Masahiko?

That piece...

I?ll be playing the piece
that I only let you hear.

She had this hidden
in the piano.

Still the same?

She's behaving as Sakura,
not Izumi,

but she's still carrying on
with the tragic act all the same.

She can no longer distinguish
between herself and her mother.

I am the only one
she opens her heart to.

That's right.
Your work has just begun.

I will help her recover,
even if it takes all my life!