Come in!
Well, well.
Someone who wants to hire an unpopular actor is a pretty young lady?
Well, I'm an established producer, scriptwriter and director.
I'll pay you well.
Money isn't the issue. I want to play a challenging part.
Of course, you're the lead actor.
Real name. Alan Budonson. Fifty-five years old.
Started out as a child actor. An experienced, talented veteran actor.
Here's my favorite part. For whatever reason he's absolutely unpopular.
Well-researched.
Well, I selected you out of 25,000 people.
I'm honored. Now, what's the play?
Let's see.
What about this?
Would you like "Ukiyo-e Blues?"
"Would You Like Ukiyo-e Blues?" (Ukiyo-e Blues wa Ikaga?)
What a babe.
Good looks and the body is gorgeous. Oh, I'm gonna drool...
Ukiyo-e. You have good taste, old man.
What... what's wrong, old man?
Hey, are you all right?
Ouch... ouch...
Hold on. I'm gonna look for a doctor.
Whoa, whoa, doctor!
Wa... water...
Water? All right!
Here is some water. Water!
Thank you. Well, I have this chronic heart condition.
Lately I've been having several attacks a day.
Sharaku, huh?
I'd love to collect such art pieces some day.
Old man, I'm gonna say good bye here. Well. Take care and live long.
- Thank you. Thank you. - Taxi!
- Hey, old man! - I... I'm all right.
I can't leave you like this. Well, I'll take you home!
Thank you.
- Well, old man, is this it? - Yes.
Wow!
Are you surprised?
Phew! I'm impressed.
It's amazing you've collected all these Sharaku replicas while living in the States.
- They are all originals. - What?
I said they are all originals.
Old man, bad jokes are not good for your heart.
Aren't you home, Sharaku?
Sharaku?
Fu... Fujiko!?
Whoa! What a surprise that Fujiko and this old man know each other.
By strange chance we met. But, I'm surprised, too. Why are you here?
He took good care of me on the airplane.
Airplane? I didn't see you for a while. Where in the world have you been?
I went to Japan for one last visit.
You shouldn't have. You are in no condition to be traveling around, Sharaku the Third.
Sharaku the Third?
Right. He's the authentic third generation of Sharaku, the Ukiyo-e painter.
Hmm. Sharaku the Third, huh?
Fujiko, is he your acquaintance?
Don't be surprised. He's Lupin the Third, the one you wanted to meet for a long time.
What?
You... you are Lupin the Third?
Old man!
Sharaku the Third!
So, you're saying that all the Ukiyo-e pieces all over the world are fake and...
...the ones in the adjacent room are the originals?
That's correct.
Wow! That's awesome! It's worth a medal of honor!
Mr... Mr. Lupin.
- You need to be lying down, Sharaku. - I'm all right.
I heard, old man.
Because you wanted to try your skills against your ancestors,
you created replicas of Sharaku originals and switched them,
what an accomplishment!
- It's not that... - What?
One more piece...
Unless I switch the last piece,
what I have worked for my entire life will be unfinished.
Come on, Sharaku the Third.
Lupin the Third. I have wanted to see you for a long time.
As you can see, my body is not in good shape.
So, I figured that you're the only person in the entire world...
...who could finish the job for me, Lupin.
In other words, you want me to switch that last art piece. Right?
That... that's right.
After looking for you for a long time, I sat next to you in the airplane.
It was a strange turn of the wheel-of-fortune. Could you please fulfill my dream? Please?
Lupin, could you please fulfill Sharaku's dream?
Hmm. But...
You, of all the people, should understand his feelings, if you're a top-notch thief.
But, I can't do it for free.
One more art piece. I can't breathe...
All right. If you fulfill the dream of Sharaku the Third,
I will do anything for you.
You mean ANYTHING?
That's right. I'll give you everything.
So, that's how it came along.
This is your ancestor, Goemon.
What do you think? Does it make you well up with joy?
So, where is the original of this piece?
Right here.
"An Ukiyo-e collection at the Central Museum has been quite successful and..."
"...will be shown for three more days."
"This collection will, then, leave New York and tour St. Louis, Chicago and other cities."
So, how much are you getting paid?
- Free. - What?
Free!
Hey, are you kidding?
The going rate for an Ukiyo-e by Sharaku in the black market is millions of dollars.
Hey, what's the catch?
Because Fujiko... Oh, no! No! No! There is no behind or front.
I just wanted to add a final touch to the last moments of the life of Sharaku the Third,
the master of switching in the history of thieves.
Count me in!
What about you, Jigen?
I'm out. I don't wanna do a job that doesn't pay a penny.
Hey, wait a minute, Jigen.
Whoa! Scotch! The very best kind.
Fujiko is out until this evening.
Have a sip from time to time and look after Sharaku the Third.
Look after?
All you need to do is just be by his side.
It's too easy a job for the best Scotch there is. The map to get to his place is in your pocket.
Huh? You're too well-prepared!
Now, let's go take a look at the museum beforehand Goemon.
Sure.
It's almost closing time for today. We have two more days to go.
I hope nothing will happen.
I didn't know Ukiyo-e was so popular.
Hey!
This is the art piece in question.
Lupin the Third and Goemon?
Let's go, Goemon.
- You were absent-minded, Lupin. - Ze... Zenigata!
Fire!
What the...?
Lupin, you're under arrest!
Stop resisting!
Hey, stupid! Lupin is over there!
Hey, wait!
Wait, Lupin!
Phew, that was close. I never imagined I would see Zenigata at such a place!
What's up, Jigen?
Hey, Lupin, do something!
Sharaku the Third started moaning and groaning all of a sudden.
Don't panic. Just calm down and look after him.
Damn it!
One more art piece. One last piece...
We'll take care of it. So, just calm down.
Are you sure? Could you really do it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll take care of it. Somehow...
Water. Water!
Oh, no. It's...
Ah! He finished it all.
Lupin the Third. Since I've found out that your target is an Ukiyo-e,
I will wait till you show up.
You always finish what you started no matter what.
The security is tighter than expected.
What shall we do, Lupin?
Well, we have no choice but to target it when it's being transported to St. Louis.
Right. You have no other choice.
Huh? Jigen. You're still hanging out with us?
I can't help doing something after seeing the tenacity of Sharaku the Third.
So, that's how it is. That's it. I'm counting on you guys.
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
Whoa!
You look absolutely awesome, Fujiko.
I'm gonna love you even more!
Not until everything goes well.
No, no, no! What am I doing? Today is the last day.
No good. He's been in a coma for quite some time now.
I hope he'll last through tomorrow, at least!
Gosh. I feel bad. I wonder if that Scotch caused this.
Lupin! You never showed up.
But, I will stay with this Ukiyo-e until you show up!
Jigen, preparation is complete.
Over here, too. Ah!
Here they come at last!
- Hello. - Thanks for your service!
Inspector, all the procedures were performed. No irregularities were found.
Good.
Ah! Now I can take a breath of relief.
Would you like some coffee?
This is it!
Inspector, that's the Appalachians.
So, this is the Appalachians. It's beautiful.
Ouch!
Ah, nothing. I have a little stomachache.
Are you all right? Can I help you?
Oh, no. Please never mind.
Ah! It hurt like hell.
Well, what about the thing?
I got it right here!
What's going on?
This is your captain speaking.
This aircraft has been attacked by an unidentified source and has caught fire.
Please take a parachute from the compartment above your seat and...
jump out of the aircraft immediately.
- Hey, hey! Parachute! - Sir!
Inspector! Hurry up!
Inspector! Here! Hurry!
Mercy on me!
This place is...
...a hangar!
That bastard, Lupin!
Now, old man is waiting!
We did it, old man!
It was too late.
Old man, all the Sharaku the Third Ukiyo-e were buried with you.
Now Ukiyo-e by Sharaku are an eternal illusion.
Only four of us know the true story behind the mystery.
Inspector, we checked over and over again, but we see nothing wrong with these Ukiyo-e.
That's weird. Why would Lupin do such a thing? For what purpose?
Even the greatest thief of the century is destined to return to the soil at death.
Hey. What happened to Fujiko dear?
She was very close to Sharaku the Third.
It's better to leave her alone for now.
Well. I guess you're right.
By the way, isn't it sort of wasteful that...
...millions of dollars worth of Ukiyo-e are buried underground?
The best performance of my life time!
Hey, you removed the transmitter from the switched Ukiyo-e, didn't you?
Oh, no. I forgot.
Then, Goemon in the Ukiyo-e is walking around on his own?
What?
Damn it!
Could you explain, old man?
What the hell is going on?
Oh, well. Your price is not too bad.
Here is something I promised you.
Here's your money.
Wow. 10,000 dollars! I feel bad to get paid so much money.
The play is over. So long. Bye, bye.
Call me for the next play, too. I'll be waiting. You, talented producer!
Fujiko. She's ten years too young to be putting on a show to fool us.
Well, that was pretty good for a woman with fragile arms.
But, I almost made a fool out of myself.
"I took the original. I'm giving you back all the fake ones. Lupin the Third"
Uh! You! You are...
I see. You screwed up and confessed everything.
What a wimpy actor! Why couldn't you have put on a quick show?
Now I know why you are such an unpopular actor!
Speaking of acting,
I'm a much better actor!
The Third generation!
The prince of society in Paris, Marcel.
Fujiko and I were invited to his party. But, it was a trap. Fujiko was taken hostage.
And, I was ordered to steal a file from Scotland Yard. The next episode:
"Steal the File M123" (Zenigatacon) See ya!
Next Episode: "Steal the File M123"