Only three innings to go.
Right.
We have a lost child to report..
Calling the father of Hiroshi Yamamoto.
Your son climbed onto the roof of the announcer's booth.
Please retrieve him immediately.
Let's give that a try.
Call Honda over the PA system.
I get it.
Honda-san of Ueno.
Please come to the main gate immediately.
Your part.y will meet you there.
Maybe it's pointless.
Let's try again.
Right, this time use his real name.
Tachibana-san of Ueno.
Please meet your part.y at the main gate now.
Put 'em up!
RlCE RATlON CARD SHlNJlRO YUSA
We're lucky Honda hadn't torn this to pieces.
He couldn't stand someone having stolen his Colt.
He was planning his revenge.
Once a thief, always a thief.
Good work. Now we'll go after Yusa with everything we've got.
We'll track him step by step. Who knows how long it'll take.
A little rain would sure help.
This heat dulls your instincts.
I'm putting Sato-san and Murakami on this investigation.
So Shinjiro Yusa is your younger brother?
Yes. Has he done something?
He hasn't been home for a week now.
Oh, it's no big deal, really.
Ever since he got home from the war, he's like a stranger.
The poor boy.
His knapsack and everything he owned was stolen from him on the train ride home.
He turned bitter.
You're just indulging him.
I can't be as hard on him as you are.
He's always blaming the world, the war.
Like he's carrying all Japan's problems, but he never lifts a finger.
I blame those horrible friends of his.
Friends?
There's a yakuza who comes by sometimes.
You know the Regent cut? That's how he wears his hair.
It's all his fault. - What's his name?
He always calls him "Sei-san."
They were in the army together.
Do you know where he lives?
I wonder.
May we look at your brother's things?
There's almost nothing to speak of.
Just some junk in that box.
Excuse us.
He's a sweet, gentle kid, but he's really too shy.
Go play outside.
Is this where he sleeps?
No, he sleeps out back...
More out back?
No, he just bought some wood and made it himself.
May we see his room?
I'd hardly call it a room, it's so makeshift.
I wanted to look after him, but with so many kids...
How was he when you last saw him?
Let me see...
I remember. It must have been the day he left.
He didn't come when dinner was ready.
I found him sitting here in the dark, crying,
his head in his hands.
He kind of scared me.
Right.
Another sleepless night.
I hear that alley cat crying over the rain.
The one who followed me through the storm.
It's only going to suffer and die.
Better to kill it once and for all.
I still remember
how it felt when I crushed it with my foot.
I'm a coward.
Just like that rain-drenched cat.
What's the point...
Is this your brother's writing?
And this Sakura Hotel?
That's right. He mentioned his yakuza friend
manages that hotel, or something like that.
I'm sure that can't be so.
Thank you.
Welcome.
The manager?
- That's me. - Know a man named Sei-san?
Sei-san's one of our bellboys. What did he do now?
So, he's always up to something?
He does like his women.
We'd like to meet this ladies' man.
- Right away. - We'll go this way.
Hey, the police are here.
Oh, Midori must have gone whining to you.
I want you to know she knew the score when she lent me the dough.
This isn't about Midori.
Is it about Kaori, then?
But, Officer...
We're not here over your Midori or Kaori.
We want to know about Yusa. Your war buddy.
So they beat you up in the army. We aren't like that.
Isn't it about time you turned off the faucet?
Where were we?
When did you last see Yusa?
It was Saturday night, the 1 1 th. He turned up, loaded.
- Pockets full too? - Yeah, new clothes.
- What kind? - A white linen suit.
White linen? Was he by himself?
He's shy around women.
Not everyone can be like you.
He spent the night? - Yes.
- How'd he seem? - Who knows.
He was broke, but suddenly he's loaded. Isn't that odd?
Didn't you ask him why? What'd he say?
He didn't explain anything. He just stared ahead, looking pale.
Did he pull something?
I hear you're the one who led him astray.
But that's... Who told you that? I just...
You just what?
I just hung around with him some.
What do you get out of a penniless vet?
- I just... We're just friends. - Liar.
I'm sure all your other friends are good for dough.
What do you get out of being pals with him?
He's got some pull backstage at the Bluebird. That's why.
Right. Women again.
So you're telling me
you used him like a pass to get close to those chorus girls?
Yes.
But why him? He was broke.
One of the girls, Harumi Namiki, was an old friend of his.
Do you have any more questions for me?
We'll send a juvenile officer around.
Which one is Harumi Namiki?
Second from the left.
Harumi.
Why were you out yesterday?
I felt bad.
In this heat, everybody feels like crap.
And you've got visitors. They're police.
You act so innocent. God knows what you're up to.
You're Namiki?
You know
a guy named Yusa?
Yes.
I hear you go way back.
Way back?
Weren't you childhood friends?
Friends?
We sat next to each other one year at school.
I want the truth from you.
I'm not lying.
Forget it. So, what's the deal with you two these days?
The deal?
I mean, are you his girl?
It's not like that.
So he's just another fan?
Not that either.
What is it, then? I hear he comes to see you every day.
I can't just pack him off. I do know him.
That's not what I'm talking about.
When was the last time you saw him?
Answer.
I'm thinking.
You're thinking?
What's wrong? Answer.
I haven't... done anything bad.
I filed a report with Headquarters.
We're beat. Tomorrow's another day.
I'll excuse myself, then.
I'd like you to make one last stop with me.
Why do you think that woman burst into tears?
Well, she's exhausted. And so are we.
I shouldn't have done that.
When you're tired, you run out of patience.
Questioning's a tricky business.
If you try to strong-arm 'em, you lose. Just like Sumo.
I think we should give her another try tomorrow.
Sure, that's fine.
But she's not going to give us much.
That kind of high-strung girl is as stubborn as they come.
Make 'em mad and they clam right up.
By the way, where are we going?
Hey.
Welcome home.
You're all so hot.
How 'bout welcoming our guest?
Welcome.
I was expecting more work.
Make yourself at home.
Welcome home.
Murakami from HQ.
- Pleasure's mine. - No, mine.
I apologize for the decor.
Go on and play in the other room.
Please.
I remembered
we still have some rationed beer.
Please.
Impressive.
What? Those are just from walking the beat every day.
Twenty-five years now since I took home my first 1 3.5 yen.
How many shoes did I wear out?
Each citation must have a story.
That's right. In a word, I've lived through it all.
I invited you on a whim, so it's slim pickings.
Will squash do? - Sure.
As you see, my house is just a glorified shack,
but Yusa's place was pretty awful.
Not fit for human habitation.
Like they say, "Maggots prefer filth."
They say there's no such thing as a bad man.
Only bad situations.
Come to think of it, you have to feel sorry for Yusa.
Oh, no. Thinking like that won't get you anywhere as a cop.
It's easy to develop delusions, chasing criminals all day.
We can't forget the many sheep a lone wolf leaves wounded.
Half those citations were capital cases.
There's no help for a cop who doesn't believe he's protecting the masses.
I say leave psychoanalysis to the detective novels.
I just hate them, that's all. The bad guys are bad.
I just can't bring myself to think that way yet.
All those years in the war, so many men became beasts
at the slightest provocation, over and over.
Right. Must be our age difference.
Or maybe it's the times.
What do they call it?
Ap... Aple... - You mean après-guerre?
That's it. You're part of that postwar generation. Maybe Yusa is, too.
You identify with Yusa too much.
Maybe you're right.
My knapsack was stolen on my train ride home too.
I see.
I was half out of my mind with rage.
I could have pulled off a robbery back then.
But I realized I'd hit a dangerous crossroads,
deliberately chose another way, and got myself this job.
Hmm. Right, I see.
It's just, in other words, aa...
Ap, aple... - Après-guerre.
There are two après-guerre types: like you or like Yusa.
You're the real thing.
Yusa's an ap... ap...
après-nothing.
I'm all après-ed out.
And tomorrow?
What's the hurry?
I can't help it when I think of Yusa running through all that cash.
He blew half upgrading his duds.
It's been over a week now.
That's 6,000 yen a day. We could live on that for a month.
I'll be going.
You sure?
Tomi.
Our guest's leaving. Hey, Tomi.
They all just fell asleep.
Oh, they fell asleep?
Take a look.
Looks like a pumpkin field.
It was armed robbery?
Yes. The wife was known
as quite a beauty around the neighborhood.
They were so lovey-dovey the maids all quit.
The husband was out of town. Came back this morning to this.
You never know
what life has in store.
See, it's that house with the crape myrt.Ie bush.
Crape myrt.Ie always brings bad luck.
It's really a problem. Was it you who moved the body?
I was her doctor and she didn't even like me to see her naked flesh.
I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted anyone to see her that way.
I've known her since she was this high.
Sato-san, do you think it was my Colt again?
What the hell does it matter if it was?
What's wrong?
My wife... planted these tomatoes.
The day I left town, they were still green.
But now that I'm back,
they've all ripened and turned red,
even though my wife is dead.
What's the point, Officer?
All for a measly 50,000 yen.
How can I even stand to look at them?
The way I imagine it...
Imagining only complicates an investigation. Stick to the facts.
Yes, hello? Nakajima here.
Is this Evidence?
Right, thanks.
So it was one of my bullets?
No, it was one of Yusa's.
Let's go.
No time for despair.
The only way to stop this is to arrest Yusa.
There are five bullets left in that gun.
- A new lead? - Where to?
Where to? Home for beer and a nap.
But you're awful sneaky. You'd never go home together.
Just let me through. It's so hot.
- The mark? - I don't see a mark.
Always joking.
Headed this way, I bet.
- Who's headed this way? - Who?
I was talking about the rain.
You can't be this tense all the time if you want to be a cop.
I'm ready to collapse from anxiety.
The way you're talking, you already have.
This is the make-or-break point.
He's killed someone. A killer's like a mad dog.
Do you know how a mad dog walks?
There's an old ditty that's disturbingly close to home.
"A mad dog only sees straight paths."
Yusa only knows straight paths now.
He's in love with Harumi Namiki. She's the only thing he sees.
I know he'll go to her.
The manager's out.
Can I help you?
We want to see Namiki.
Harumi's out today.
She's a real problem, that one.
One little comment and she takes the day off.
She's quiet all right, but the quiet ones are always
the most stubborn.
And she's sick right now.
She's sick?
With her monthlies, you know.
They're always impossible then.
Know her address?
Sure.
I think she lives over in Koenji.
She's a mama's girl.
We want to see your daughter.
- Come in. - Thank you.
We're fine here.
Harumi.
Please don't trouble yourself.
I'll take a match.
We can definitely expect a downpour.
Harumi, we'd like to ask you something.
I don't know a damn thing about Yusa. I hate cops. They're so pushy.
Don't.
She's impossible.
Can it, Mom.
We don't have to say a thing if we don't want to.
Even if you're covering up for an armed-robbery suspect?
I still don't know.
Don't lie. He was just here.
Yusa left this box of matches?
That's exactly right.
You were just complaining that he follows you around.
Do you happen to know where he went?
Tell them. I'm ordering you, tell them.
Harumi, you must tell them everything you know.
- I don't know what I don't know. - You really don't?
- I really don't know. - You'd better not be lying about this.
Harumi.
Listen, Harumi.
Why won't you tell them? Tell them. Tell them.
Harumi, listen, Harumi.
We're closing in.
I've had enough of her lip for now.
I'll check the hotel these matches came from.
And me?
See if you can tough it out in there.
That mother's born to prosecute her daughter.
Phone downstairs? I'll call you.
Say, do you have a gun? - Yes.
Afraid I left mine at home. No holster.
Yusa just left. I doubt he'll turn up here again tonight.
No more questions. Do whatever you want, if you won't do as Mother says.
It's all my fault.
I spoiled you because you never knew your father.
Go ahead. Make a fool out of me.
He's in his late 20s, wearing a white linen suit.
Got me.
They never register under their real names.
Haruo Namiki. I get it.
That's him, ma'am.
Oh, that guy.
He spent two nights here, drunk out of his mind.
No one ever came and met him. Pretty gloomy, even for a drunk.
It was last night. He suddenly announced he was going and called a cab.
Know which company?
Peace Taxi, over by the train tracks.
I think the driver was Matsu-san.
Thanks a lot.
- Who is he anyway? - A mad dog.
Officer,
how long are you planning to torment us?
- You're the tormentor. - No, I'm not.
I don't know what that Yusa did,
but he's never done anything bad to me.
He'd stop by backstage sometimes and watch me mournfully.
I can't have any part in arresting someone like that.
So you know where he is, but you won't tell me?
Maybe so.
Go ahead and arrest him on your own. I won't help you.
I'll return this, so beat it.
Armed robbery, huh?
No wonder he was such a big tipper.
Where did you take him?
To a geisha joint called Kogetsu.
Excuse me.
Where would you ever get such a dress?
He gave it to me.
I saw it in a shop window when we were taking a walk.
I said I wished I could have a dress that pretty just once.
He stared at me with the saddest expression.
A week later he brought it to me backstage.
You mean, Harumi...
That's right.
He committed a crime for me.
But I would've stolen it myself if I'd had the guts.
They deserve it for flaunting these things.
We have to do worse than steal if we want things like this.
Harumi.
It's the world's fault. A world where people steal a vet's knapsack.
Yusa told you that?
That's right.
But it didn't only happen to him.
Me too.
And, yes, I think the world's not right.
But it's worse to take it out on the world.
The bad guys eat and wear anything they want. Might as well steal.
Do you really believe that? Then why don't you steal?
Why don't you wear this dress?
Go ahead, try it on. Why don't you wear it?
- You have to work in such heat. - No choice.
Enjoy.
It's sake.
It's one way to beat the heat.
Thanks.
What'd he do?
He came late at night.
And he left ridiculously early the next morning. Beyond that...
Who was his geisha?
Oh, that's right. Yes, she escorted him as far as the street.
Her name?
Kintaro. She's one of Wakehisamatsu's girls, right?
But when I called them, she was out.
A popular girl. The booker know where she went?
Kintaro's at a party.
- Where? - Musashiya.
This is wonderful.
So wonderful.
Like a beautiful dream.
You fool.
Mother.
- You Kintaro-san? - Yeah, that's me.
You'd probably look good with an ax.
I'm so soaked, I'd better be funny.
You had a customer two nights ago.
Two nights ago at Kogetsu?
Oh, I hate that kind of customer.
Why?
'Cause he was so damned gloomy.
He pull anything? - Right.
You saw him off.
- You've done your homework. - Where'd he go next?
Where to?
Get a hotel name or anything?
- Were you watching? - Where is it?
The Yayoi Hotel in Kanda. A while ago...
You're a fool.
I'll make her talk right away.
I went too far.
After all, this case
involves a pistol Yusa's carrying,
which someone stole from me.
That's why...
My gun has already injured two people.
One of them's dead.
And I have a terrible feeling something else will happen tonight.
Welcome. You're soaked.
I'm with the police. You've got a guest, Namiki?
Yes. Room 6, second floor.
Your phone?
Yes, this way.
Please.
Don't tell anyone I'm a cop.
Other entrances?
There's another around back.
Locked?
- Not yet. - Then lock it up.
His wailing's driving me nuts.
But...
Shit. Our only high roller is a wanted man.
Can't you stop crying? You're a boy.
That fat guy over there's a cop.
You don't listen to me, he'll throw you in jail.
Yes, yes.
Send an All Points Bulletin immediately. Okay, then.
Yes?
What?
What? That's right.
Murakami. What?
Murakami.
Can't you hear? Murakami.
In Harumi Namiki's room.
Oh, Harumi Namiki?
Right, right.
Hello, hello.
Not Namiki. Murakami.
Hello? Not Namiki. Murakami.
Harumi-san, telephone.
Hey, if that's Yusa...
Dear, if that's him...
What shall I say if it is?
Hello!
Hello.
This is Harumi.
What? Sato-san?
Sato-san?
Hello. Murakami, please.
Sato-san!
Hello, Sato-san!
Yusa's hotel?
- You must get some rest. - Leave me alone.
How much blood did you give?
I don't know.
Please, sir, tell me.
Was it another bullet from my gun?
Abe-san, please tell me.
Iwase-san.
Sato-san, please don't die. I'm begging you.
Sato-san.
Don't die.
Sato-san, I'm begging you. Please live.
Sato-san, please live.
Don't die.
You're still here?
He's over the worst, you know.
Officer.
Yusa's going to meet me at 6:00 a. m. at Ohara.
- What? - He just called.
I'll go too.
No. He's got three bullets left.
Damn. Which one's Yusa? Which one's Yusa?
Don't panic. Calm down.
Calm down, calm down.
Calm down.
Twenty-eight years old. White linen suit.
What if he changed clothes? Which means, a man in his late 20s.
A 28-year-old.
Don 't panic.
That's right. Yusa ran out into the pouring rain last night.
Muddy shoes.
Muddy pants, muddy pants.
A lefty.
I gave my gun to Sato-san...
Congratulations. Hear you got a citation.
Nakajima told me.
Oh, no, I owe it all to you.
No, no.
How's it feel to get your first citation?
Thank you.
But it was all my fault to begin with.
You still obsessed with that Colt?
But look at it this way.
Your Colt netted more than a dozen of Honda's guns.
Yes.
But I just can't get that Yusa off my mind.
I remember feeling that way myself.
You'll always remember your first arrest.
But there's a lot more guys like him than you realize.
The more you arrest them, the less sentimental you'll feel.
That dancer. What was her name?
Harumi Namiki?
That's right.
I can understand her sentimentality.
But take a look out the window at the world.
There'll be all sorts of cases under those rooftops today.
And a few good people
will fall victim to someone else like Yusa.
Forget about Yusa.
No, as soon as your arm heals, you'll be busy again.
You'll forget all about Yusa, naturally.