- On this mountain - - Twenty riders.
And 12 to the east.
Right.
This won't do. They're all scared stiff.
Good! Again!
Again!
Shichiroji's at it. Let's fire ours up too.
Everybody out here!
Raise your spears and give the battle cry.
Again!
Damn 'em, listen to that! We can beat 'em!
Yohei, what's that look for? Again!
Take cover!
Here they come!
Goddamn 'em!
Hey, where do you think you're going?
Oh, no, you don't!
Don't panic!
Goddamn you!
They're burning!
Damn bastards!
Back to your posts, everyone!
Dear!
They're just rickety shacks!
Everybody, back to your posts!
Goddamn it!
You dogs!
That's the Old Man's house!
Where's the Old Man? What about that couple?
And the little brat? What the hell's going on?
Stop! You can't abandon your post!
Kikuchiyo, come back!
Kikuchiyo!
Where's the Old Man and your husband?
She's been speared. How'd she make it this far?
Let's go!
Damn it, what is it now?
This baby... is me.
This is just what happened to me!
Here we go!
What the hell?
What the hell were you staring at?
Idiot!
No one wounded?
Good. You did a fine job.
Fine job!
Gunpowder! Take cover!
Manzo!
Where were you hit?
Shino! Shino! Bring me my daughter.
Don't bother.
If this kills you, you'd die of a fleabite.
You make a ruckus over a little scratch
and blow your daughter's cover in the process. Nice going!
You don't have to chase them all down.
That's far enough. Well done.
Who are you?
Rikichi.
They've attacked from the east, west and south
and run away each time with their tails between their legs.
This is the only approach left.
We don't know if they'll come tonight,
but when they do, they'll mass their forces here.
Perhaps, but...
I don't hear a thing.
Nevertheless,
this will surely be the focus of their attack.
I'll prove it to you in a minute.
Good work.
Now poke that scarecrow out from behind those trees.
I'd say tomorrow morning
they'll attack us here with everything they've got.
And we'll let them in.
Don't worry. I mean we'll let one in.
Two at most.
Once they're in, we form a wall again with our spears.
The one or two who get in are as good as dead.
We can cook 'em up any way we want.
We'll pick them off patiently, one by one, until the final showdown.
Those muskets worry me.
If only we could get one of them.
I'll go. I swear I'll get one!
No. You're looking to die. I'll go.
Footsteps! Listen!
That's enough. Get some rest.
It's true! I hear them! Listen.
I said enough.
You're exhausted. Get some rest.
I hear them.
Two more down.
What is it?
State your business. I'm going to get some sleep.
You are a magnificent person.
I've wanted to tell you so for some time.
They're here.
We'll let one in.
We're letting one in!
Remember, after the first one's in, jump out with your spears.
Here they come.
Step aside!
Good work.
What's wrong? You did well.
Here he comes! Scatter!
Fall back! Fall back!
After them!
Another on the way!
Here he comes.
Watch this!
Having fun with your horsey?
They've stopped. Won't fall for that trick again, eh?
They're all wimps! Who's scared of bandits anyway?
That little skirmish just cost them four. Kyuzo got two last night.
That man is a true samurai.
He's fearless, his swordsmanship is amazing,
and yet he's kind too.
He never once boasted about capturing that musket.
He walked into a forest filled with bandits as if on a mushroom hunt.
Fascinating. I'm not bored at all, I swear.
Hey, Yohei.
Take over for me.
What's that face for?
There's no danger here now.
You make a great scarecrow.
Hear me good!
If anybody else turns yellow -
Out of my way!
Hey!
How's it goin'?
Man, they're a pain.
Won't be long now.
Everything's upside down.
They burn us out, and we starve like farmers.
Quit your moaning. There are better times ahead.
Do your part, man.
Hey, it's me!
Serves you right, you dogs!
Fool!
Why did you leave your post?
Just look at this!
Don't scold me, man. My post is fine.
There's nothing heroic about selfishly grabbing for glory.
Listen to me: War is not fought alone!
Gorobei and Kyuzo, guard this post!
Let no one pass!
Stop, you asses!
Damn you!
Damn it! Two made it in!
Goddamn it!
Where's Yohei?
Yohei!
I defended my post.
Don't give up, Yohei!
Go ahead, shoot me!
Shichiroji, take over!
Gorobei!
Just 13 left.
But these last seven...
came at a steep price.
How are you? Tired?
Poor man. You've lost a lot of weight.
I'll go throw some water on my face.
Next time they come, we fight to the finish.
It's better we fight it out before we're spent.
When do you think they'll attack?
They're exhausted too, and a few are wounded.
They won't come tonight.
But they have no food, and their ranks are splitting.
They can't afford to dawdle either.
I say they'll come at us like hell tomorrow morning.
Katsushiro.
An order from above.
Place two on watch and let the rest sleep.
The men may visit their families one at a time.
So tomorrow's the showdown?
Yes. Please carry out the order.
You all heard what he just said.
I'll stand guard.
The rest of you sleep.
Manzo...
you go home first.
Take a good look at your daughter -
I mean, your son.
I told them.
All right. Get some rest.
Katsushiro.
How was Kikuchiyo?
Still beside the grave.
I see.
Are we all going to die tomorrow?
There's no way to know.
But we might!
Shino.
Where's Shino?
Anyone seen Shino?
Sake, eh? Where'd you find it?
I see. They have stockpiles, just like Kikuchiyo said,
and tonight it all comes out.
I think I'll help myself.
Shino!
Here's some sake. Drink up and get some sleep.
This is hardly like you. You must rest for the battle tomorrow.
Shino!
You tramp!
You wench!
Stop this brutality!
What the hell's a farmer girl doing with a samurai?
You slut!
Manzo.
Is this your daughter?
Tell me what happened.
You mentioned a samurai. Who was it?
Manzo!
Manzo, say something.
Speak!
Are you Shino?
Manzo, don't be angry.
When the dawn threatens our very lives,
the weight of it makes us all a little reckless.
On the eve of decisive battles...
this often happens, even inside castles.
Remember what it was to be young. You can't blame them.
I can't forgive them.
I can't stand by when my only daughter has been made damaged goods.
What's wrong with two people in love? It's not like bandits took her!
They're wound up tight. We need to loosen them up.
Everyone, the final battle is here at last.
By the way, Katsushiro, we expect much of you today.
As of last night, you became a real man.
Hey!
Where's that fighting spirit?
You'll never win with such long faces!
Kikuchiyo, what are you up to?
I can't kill five with just one blade.
There are 13 left.
We'll let them all in.
Once they pass this point,
we close in from all sides at the crossing.
Everything's riding on this battle!
Here they come!
Shichiroji and Katsushiro, go west!
Kyuzo, Kikuchiyo, east!
Katsushiro! Rikichi!
East! Go east!
East!
Shut up!
Scream and you're dead!
We did it!
Head east!
Katsushiro, pull back!
Damn you!
Kikuchiyo!
Where are the bandits?
They're all dead!
Once more we survive.
In the end, we lost this battle too.
What?
I mean,
the victory belongs to those peasants.
Not to us.
THE END