What's happening with your subject?
He says if you can't walk the line,
you're better off dead.
So it's "proceed", then?
The punk doesn't want him dead.
So this is sympathy?
Probably.
Chiba!
The truth!
If Fujita goes up against Kuriki,
will he get done?
You mean "die'?
Yeah!
No one doesn't die.
How do you know that?
There might be one!
He is Mr Fujita.
Come on!
I'll get Kuriki.
Why you?
They sold out Mr Fujita.
There's no meeting tomorrow.
They know he'll come.
It's a trap.
He knows that.
Watch the road.
You die before he does.
Shit!
That's right. I'm scum!
But
I'm through betraying Mr Fujita.
We can still save him.
Can't we!
Just one thing...
Am I coming?
You ever hear " in the same boat"?
Yeah.
Come on.
Talk or
I put a hole in your throat.
Then you'll
Whistle when you breathe.
Whistle.
Well, I like music.
Chiba! Don't tell them!
Shut up!
So that's the truth?
Yeah.
I let Mr Fujita get away.
T ough shit.
Call him here.
That won't bring him!
He's the old-fashioned type.
He'll come for
his little brother.
He knows I sold him out.
He won't come.
Let's see.
T ell me his number.
Like hell I will!
090-981 8-901
What?
What did you say?
His number.
Chiba, shut up!
Shut up!
Again...
090-9818
You traitor!
Shut up!
090-981 8-901
Don't worry.
He'll come for you.
I know that, dumb-ass!
Call him.
-Y es. - You idiot.
I know he would come for me.
I know.
But
when he does, they'll kill him!
You simply lack faith in Fujita.
Wait, Boss.
Mr. Fujita.
- No, Mr Fujita! - It's been a while.
There's five men in here,
and four out front!
We're partying down
with your little brother.
No! Stay away!
Don't worry about me!
The same place.
Mind your manners.
Keep quiet
when l' m on the phone.
Mr Fujita's coming alone.
Let's get prepared.
Boss...
Akutsu, don't worry.
It's not Fujita who' ll die here.
Mr Fujita!
I' m sorry!
It's OK.
OK.
Thank you!
Wait.
It's OK.
Get up.
Sorry about that.
It's OK.
Y eah.
Mr Fujita's.
You OK?
OK?
It's OK.
A car accident?
Is that a good death?
A good death.
Why, when he
could have gone out in a blaze of glory?
He'd met his expectations.
He'd fulfilled his purpose,
so I went to " proceed'.
What about the young guy?
He'll
Iive like there's no tomorrow.
All right.
The day after tomorrow, then?
Handle it however you want.
Bye.
Robot User's Manual
Good morning, Missus!
Great!
It's been ages, Takeko.
Y es, it has.
She's working fine.
Let us know if there are any problems.
Thank you.
Subject is a hairdresser, 70.
An old lady?
That's rare.
Are you open?
Welcome.
A haircut?
Yes.
So what are you here for?
A haircut.
Anything else?
I want to draw the scenery from here.
Well, it certainly is a good view.
Marvelous.
But surely not in the rain.
Well, I've never seen a real blue sky.
Is that possible?
I'll wash your hair.
You' re a Grim Reaper, aren't you.
You don't deny it.
Most people would say something.
" Don't be silly, they'd say.
But you stay silent.
So l'm right.
I've met people like you.
There was a man I lived with once.
When he died
I had the feeling there was someone
Near other-worldly,
Iike you.
That guy took him away, right?
Did you cut his hair?
I wasn't doing this then.
I don't know why...
but everyone I love
seems to die
in an accident.
So l'm used to
people like you.
Your whole family?
Yep.
Except for my son.
He still seems to be alive.
But I won't see him again.
Why not?
I abandoned him as a child.
He hates me.
Takeko?
Masashi!
Hello!
It's been years!
Yes!
There's someone ahead of you.
It's been a long time since that happened!
You've grown!
Yeah?
You' re a lot bigger.
Where's your son now?
I don't know.
It doesn't matter...
as long
as he's all right.
Still,
I'd like to
see him once before I die.
Is that a last wish?
That must mean...
I'm going to die.
Your haircut's done.
Why are you still here?
I have to see something.
You mean the sea?
It's different here.
A photographer said that
732 days ago.
What do you do?
The Grim Reaper!
That Grim Reaper card
is really rare.
Be careful.
What's the sickle for?
Hmm...
You're all done.
Thanks!
Takeko,
it's raining.
Will you see me home?
Sure.
Is that all right?
Yes. Go with him.
Great!
You come, too!
Come into town with us.
All right.
Is there music there?
Music?
I still haven't paid you.
I don't need your money.
But could I ask you a favor instead?
What?
Get me some customers.
Customers?
Yes.
Some boys about 7 years old,
who I've never seen before.
Get them to
promise they'll come the day after tomorrow.
In two days...
Yes.
But not
with their mothers.
Only the children.
They should come together.
Why should I do that?
Why not?
Just bring them.
Surely a god
can make one wish come true?
I'm not a god.
Thanks.
You're welcome
Tell me,
is there a school around here?
What are we doing today?
Soccer, I hope.
Why?
What else then?
Hey...
Do you guys want to get your hair cut?
In two days, at a salon by the sea.
Way out there?
Forget it!
Who is this guy?
Weirdo!
Come on!
Go catch the frogs!
Y eah!
And earthworms.
Come get your hair cut...
And now, turning to sports...
The World Cup of Soccer,
Iast held here in 2002
in Japan.
It returns to Japan
after 24 years.
The Japan line-up
was announced today.
How did it go?
Kids don't seem to like me.
Nobody likes you!
Except for crows.
T ell me, what do you think about death?
Why do you ask?
That question seems familiar, somehow.
Forget that stuff.
" Stuff'?
Get me
those kids.
But about death...
This is
the last wish of my life.
Beware of this man!
What are you doing?
How do you get a bunch of kids together?
Your missus told me to.
I wonder why...
For a free haircut.
Maybe for practice?
No, not at her age.
Kids...
Hello. How did it go?
I did what I could.
You did? Thanks.
Could you tell me
what you want them for?
Surely I can
keep one secret from you?
It really has to be a secret?
Well,
it's not nice to ask you
and not tell you why.
I'll tell you when l'm done.
Tell me what do you think about death?
That's my line.
Answer me,
anyway.
Death is nothing special.
Everyone dies someday,
so it's not special at all.
But that's easy for you to say.
I mean...
you see lots of people as they die.
But
you don't see any of them
as they live.
So you don't really know life.
That's the reason
you can say death
is nothing special.
Is life special?
Against the whole world
or all of history...
one life is nothing special.
But...
for those of us living it,
it's very important.
Not special, but important?
Yes.
The sun in the sky is nothing unusual.
But
it's important that it be there.
Death's like that, maybe.
I'm sorry, but I've never seen a blue sky.
That's right.
So that's not a good example.
I' m confusing you.
That's kind of fun.
She's running you around in circles.
I'm tired.
Why does she want kids?
Dunno.
She says it's her last wish.
Her last wish?
Then we can go to "proceed"?
Probably.
Can we get the card?
Yeah.
It's worth it.
Y eah.
This is the card.
You've got this.
I've got this one.
Let me see.
-Let me see. -And this one.
Give it to me.
You see.
Thanks for coming in this rain.
It's worth it.
That man said he'd give me a rare card.
A card?
This one.
Soon l'll have the whole set.
Oh...
So that's it!
Give me my card!
There.
Thanks!
Thank you.
The Grim Reaper! Thanks!
I've never seen this one!
Thanks!
Excuse me...
Coming!
Y es?
Is this enough?
Children are free today.
Didn't that man bring you?
Who?
Didn't you come to get a "Grim Reaper" card?
No.
Can I get one?
Sure!
Thank you!
It's OK?
Great! Thanks!
Thank you.
Hi.
Today they said it was free.
And I got a card!
Is that why we came here?
That's right.
Great.
Your hair looks good.
Let's go.
Akutsu Box Lunches
It's still early.
Should you be closing already?
That's enough.
It's been ages since I was this tired.
But why all
those kids today?
My son called me the other day.
The one you've lived apart from?
Yes.
And...
he said
I have a grandson who's almost 7.
A grandson...
My son said
he wanted me to meet this grandson.
But I said no.
Why?
I was afraid.
So I said,
"I don't want to see you."
And he said,
"It's all right if you don't see me."
"But"
at least meet your grandson.'
I said he could come as a customer...
but only on condition
he wasn't told that I was...
his grandmother.
Why not?
Well,
if I knew the boy was my grandson...
I'd go all to pieces.
How
would that make the boy feel?
So those kids were
to stop you knowing who he was...
Everyone I love dies.
My parents, when I was small,
then the couple who raised me...
When my fiance was killed,
I lost hope.
I wanted to kill myself.
But then, by some twist of fate,
I became a singer.
At last I had a life.
When I got married and had a baby...
I thought then I'd be truly happy.
But that didn't last.
My husband up and died...
and I took it into my head
that I'd abandon everything.
" l' ll never love again, I said.
And so I abandoned my son.
There was one boy who wanted to pay.
Oh?
There was, was there?
You knew which one he was, didn't you.
I didn't.
Let's leave it at that.
T oday was a busy day,
but it was fun.
Where are you going?
For a walk.
Don't you get the feeling
it's going to clear up?
That won't happen.
Do you play this a lot?
She likes to listen to it when she's alone.
Beautiful...
So you can see that, can you?
I've never seen it before.
It really is blue.
Y es. It's beautiful.
So this is what the ordinary
and not-special looks like?
Yes.
But it's very, very important.
Y es.
Not hard to look at.
We meet again...
Mr Chiba...
was it right that I lived this long?
Yes, I guess so...
It was?
Then I leave no regrets.
I leave no regrets.
I can die any time.
Don't say that!
That means there's no need for me.
Eat your heart out.