NIKKATSU CORPORATION FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC
KYOTO FILM CORPORATION KIHACHI PRODUCTIONS
- No, this man is not crazy.
Nor is he retarded.
You may think he is fooling with little children.
But, no, he is extremely serious.
For the world and the people,
and, above all, for his own self, he is thus busy.
His weapon for today is a clothes pole he has found at hand.
He hates swords. He has never used them.
When he saw the two men fighting,
he decided it must be a vengeance.
Before he had time to stop and think,
there he went.
- What?
- Cham, Cham, Chambara! (Clang, clang, clanging!)
- He is cut! - He is stabbed!
- The blood galore! - The blood galore!
- When he was 17, he left his home for Edo.
On his way, he became involved in a vengeance,
and aided the avenger.
Boy, how good it felt!
There was this stately samurai thanking him!
It was a wonderful feeling. He became addicted to it.
What's more, the samurai thrust upon him something...
that felt rather heavy and nice.
It added to his addiction and 7 years have passed.
He went here, there and everywhere in search of vengeance.
- Now is your chance! Go!
"My enemy!"
- Come on! Do it!
- Don't go, honey.
- Hey, no, but...
- One day in his 7th year of wandering,
the avenged party wanted a compromise settlement.
That is, in order to be spared, he was willing to pay...
15 ryo. That was a lot of money.
It was an easy money, too. You only have to ask to get it.
What happens to 'Bushido', the honorable samurai spirit?
Are you as lowdown as that?
Oh, well. So he finds himself
going home to Joshu after all these years.
No one is waiting for him there.
He was only 5 when his mother
died at 35, and now only her grave waits for him back home.
This man is known,
though he is quite unknown, really, as Sukeroku the 'Helper'.
Sukeroku the 'Helper'.
He believes himself a cool rambling yakuza.
VENGEANCE IS SUCH A GREAT BUSINESS (Sukedachiya Sukeroku)
JOSHU
- Ma.
I haven't exactly gone to riches, but I ain't in rags, either.
See.
What'd you say?
Don't I look good?
I'll walk around in this fine silk garment.
And girls will flock around me everywhere.
And I can just have my pick.
Well, no. Picking will make me as bad as Dad.
When I find my girl, I will marry her.
Come to think of it,
Dad was a real bastard.
Wasn't he, Ma?
He just threw you away.
Picking and throwing. That's mean.
I don't even know his face.
Not that I want to, anyway.
If I ever see him, I'll give him a piece of my mind. I swear I will.
But I don't even know his name. So...
Ma, I think maybe...
you knew his name, didn't you?
Didn't you, Ma?
Anyway, your tombstone is so small.
Uncomfortable, isn't it?
I thought that with this easy money that I have...
I might settle down to marry.
But making a proper tombstone comes first.
What about making it big enough for a couple of people to relax in?
Who gave you this, Ma?
As far as I know, we have no relatives, Ma.
- Grazing freely.
Wish I could, too.
- What is the matter?
What's happened?
What is it?
Hey, say something!
A riot, a quarrel, or a plague?
Okay. You don't need to answer.
Let me ask you then. Do you remember me?
- Does it tickle so much?
- It tickles so much that I could die!
Stop that, Auntie Tome.
- You could die?
- Yeah.
- Well I guess that means you are a virgin, Osen.
Yes, yes.
- 7 years ago, I was the leader of the kids around here.
- I was the leader in those days.
And I still am.
- Hey, aren't you Taro?
- Sukeroku-san, is that you?
- It's been ages.
- Yes, really.
- Hey, look at yourself.
Why are you the leader?
- Ugh!
How terrible!
It's awful.
- It's not as bad as all that.
There was a little girl with a runny nose
chasing after her elder brother.
Running around with her skinny legs.
I wonder what her name was.
- I'm the area guard.
- The area guard?
You mean you work for the law?
In this town?
How can you do it?
- Yes, I can.
If there are offenders of the law or rogues,
I will arrest them. That's all.
Are you wanted?
- Am I wanted? No, of course not.
- What shall we do now, Auntie Tome?
I have never painted myself before. Now I am so heavily made-up.
It's like wearing a mask, and I am no longer shy.
Nobody will recognize me now.
I am ready to serve sake for the High Official.
What shall we do now?
- Well, I guess...
you need to change your clothes.
- What?
- Your brother told me...
he wants you to wear something like this now and again.
- Oh...!
- Are you wearing a silk garment?
- If it's silk, what will you do?
- I must arrest you. It's against the law for a commoner.
- I wear what I want to wear.
I am a yakuza.
- A yakuza and a guard are enemies.
- What?
- Show me your sword.
- Why?
- It seems a bit too long to me.
The limit for a yakuza is 2 feet.
- Really? Is that so?
You can keep it.
- You have never killed anybody...
with... this... thing, have you?
Right?
Keep it. - All right.
By the way, Taro, whatever is the matter?
What has happened?
Or what is about to happen?
- An 'Adauchi' (Vengeance)!
- What?
- There is an old children's game,
which is called Lord's Telescope.
Just put your fists together,
and look, and you will see people and things far away...
much closer than they actually are.
I wonder why that is.
- Sukeroku?
Why?
Why is he here? He's gone off to Edo!
- I guess I have enough stones.
- What are you doing?
- What am I doing? Helping, of course.
- Help is not needed.
- Not needed? The guy is so weak?
- No he's very strong. He used to be a 'Hasshu' (police official) here.
- Hasshu?
Then he is your superior?
Why is a police official wanted by the law?
- He was drunk when he had this row with his colleagues.
He killed the two of them in a flash.
He is very quick on the draw.
- So, help will be needed?
- No. There are four avengers.
- Four won't be enough. - Huh?
- He kills two, unsheathing. He kills the other two, sheathing.
- The rightful avengers are four.
But, in fact, we're all ordered to help.
So, it's one against all the officials in this area.
No need to help.
- What the!
Who are they?
- Two of the helpers.
- Oh, my rivals in business.
- Huh?
- Well, I mean...
I don't remember that pub.
- It's new. They remodeled the old sake brewery.
What about the pub?
- Let's have a drink to celebrate our reunion.
It's on me. - Okay.
No. I don't drink when I'm on duty.
- On duty? What do you mean?
- In half an hour the 'Ometski' (High Official) will be here.
The vengeance will begin... ...and soon end.
The investigation will begin and end.
We will get rid of the body. And, everything will end.
- What is the futon for?
- Oh, this?
The High Official got here this morning. So he'll sleep here.
- Sleep?
- Yeah. He needs to take a nap, you know.
- So I have a lot to do now.
Don't you get mixed up in this affair.
- What is it? - Well, nothing. Really.
- But I know there's something.
- What do you mean, Yonosuke?
- This stone.
What do you think?
- Well, a stone is a stone.
- I wonder who threw it and why.
Our enemy, Katakura, who killed our brothers,
was their colleague as a Hasshu.
They were in charge of this state of Joshu.
He must have been known in this town, too.
- But he was different from our brothers. Greatly different.
Unlike our brothers, he wasn't from an old samurai family.
We may be poor, but we can be proud of our samurai lineage.
Not Katakura.
He used to work for the bailiff.
He could have been born a commoner.
- That's it, Shinkuro.
So commoners may sympathize with Katakura.
In time a stone may be followed by...
hundreds of stones. We must hurry.
Let's not waste time waiting!
- Be patient, Yonosuke.
That's all the more reason for waiting.
The commoners are most afraid of the High Official.
They are so much in awe that they dare not move against him.
You may not know these things about commoners.
They obey power,
and we use that power to seek our vengeance.
When it is over, we will succeed our brothers
to the seat of power.
- We also want to make use of the power.
So we'll wait until the High Official is here to help you.
- Well, I want to help, too.
I thought I would, but it seems you have enough hands.
Hey, old man! Come on! Warm the sake, will you?
Hey, is anybody there?
- Nobody is here. - What?
- Nobody is supposed to be here.
- Pardon?
- Who are you?
- I am Sukeroku the Helper. Helping is what I do.
- The 'Helper'?
- Well, that's what I call myself. And I don't help for money.
Just a little bit of money is welcome, though.
Well, what I mean is I basically like helping avengers.
I have already helped in 38 cases.
And I've just heard that you are seeking a vengeance, too.
I sure wish you a good vengeance.
I thought I would help you, but I was told you have enough help.
So I thought I'd just buy you a drink to wish you luck.
Hey, anybody!
Can you hear me, Sister?!
What? Oh, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.
I wish you lots of luck in achieving your goal.
Well, then...
I hope you will take very good care of yourselves. Yes, sir.
By the way, where is the one?
Your enemy, the atrocious murderer?
- He is at a coffin-maker's on the edge of town.
- Coffin-maker?
He seems to be well prepared.
- I feel much better now.
- I feel very disappointed now.
- What?
Why is that?
- I mean the fee. - The... fee?
How much?
How much was it?
- Ten...
- What? ... Five.
That is 15. He said you will be quite happy with that much.
- My brother said so?
- Yes, he did.
- I thought it so strange!
I was only to serve sake to the High Official.
And then you started painting me.
And then I was made to wear these red underclothes.
And then I was to be given as much as 15 ryo?
To hell with my brother!
I am no longer his little sister!
Speaking of brotherly affection... indeed!
- Indeed.
COFFINS
- Sir.
Tea for you.
- Thanks.
- Sir.
- What is it?
- Why don't you flee?
- Flee?
Look at all those people keeping watch.
- You can use the back door.
- Don't you smell something?
It's their guns.
Somewhere on the windward side, two hunters are aiming their guns.
I am tired of being on the run, too.
It's been 5, 6... maybe even 7 years.
I've suffered to no end.
- Hi there!
Good to see you're still alive, old man!
Why, no need to look so surprised.
I was a real brat in those days, but 7 years have passed.
And here I am. Back again. See?
How do you like me now?
Hey? Why do you look so serious?
Don't worry. I won't play that trick on you again.
But it was funny, wasn't it?
A bit of work on the bottom of the coffin.
And the corpse fell out when they lifted up the coffin.
But I'd only thought of it. It was Taro who actually did it.
Taro the area guard, you know.
He has no brains, but he has a lot of muscles.
By the way, Taro told me that you may have a busy day today. Right?
At least one...
or even four coffins may be needed today.
I bet you will only sell one coffin.
- Ouch! Ugh...
- I can tell you are getting old.
- That one coffin...
will be for me.
You may be right in betting so.
- What? Well, I guess I am.
- But then again you may not.
- What?
- In this fatal hour, I realize that there is one thing...
that still makes me reluctant to die.
This reluctance of mine may create the need for another coffin or two.
- Are you reluctant?
- That wouldn't do for a man?
- Well, I guess that wouldn't do for a samurai.
But come to think of it, anybody may have...
a thing or two that makes him reluctant. It's only natural.
- Well, I suppose so.
- But you don't look it. You just don't look it.
- What do you mean?
- An atrocious murderer.
- What should an atrocious murderer look like?
- Well, I mean, he looks like...
Not like you, anyway.
And I've never seen one with a child.
Hey, you are going to have a busy day, old man.
Two or three more coffins may be needed.
But he doesn't look like one. He just doesn't look like one.
Hey, my dear old man.
There used to be a little girl here.
I used to carry her on my back when she cried.
She cried so much that my back was soaked.
What was her name?
Ta... Ta... Takeno...
Yes, Takenoko!
That was a pet name for Takeno.
Takenoko.
I guess that little girl must have grown, too.
Where is she now?
- Takenoko.
Takenoko... Will you please lend me a writing box?
I would like to write.
- Yes, sir.
- That is Takenoko?
- Even a crying child stops crying at the mention of the High Official.
There he goes. Sakakibara Oribe-sama.
The High Official is here today...
for a vengeance against a murder from 7 years ago. To investigate...
or just watch it.
It's the same thing, anyway.
His entourage includes two foot soldiers,
two servants, and two guides.
One of the men carries the newest model of loaded gun.
That is to protect the High Official.
Too extravagant, maybe, but he is like today's High Sheriff.
U.S. Marshal in a Western.
He must be extravagant for his dignity.
By his dignity, I mean his public estimation, reputation, or honor.
In case you don't know.
- What is it?
- My posthumous Buddhist name.
On my way, I stopped at a temple and had it written down.
- Say, I'm going to get one like this, too.
- It's too early for you.
- No, it's not for me. It's for my dead mother.
- Your mother?
- I thought something was wrong with her tombstone.
Now I know this is what it needs.
- You don't have a father?
- Oh, no, I don't.
I guess he's just a gambler or a petty criminal.
A cheap fellow who took a passing fancy to my mother.
I guess he should be dead somewhere by now.
Or he is about to be dead somewhere now.
In any case, he is nobody you can...
Hey?
Something stuck on my face?
- Huh?
Oh, no. I thought there was something, but...
there's nothing.
- Then go ahead an write it. You're running out of time.
- Exactly.
- Where is he? - Sir.
Down there where the sound of tightening hoops is heard.
The area guard is keeping watch with about 10 men.
We also have two guns.
- I see. Well done.
As for the other arrangement...
- I saw to that. The brother and the sister are so delighted.
As you can see.
- I see. I see. Well done again.
- However, there is one thing.
- What is it?
- The woman, called Tome, who arranges these things,
complains that 15 ryo for a virgin is too skimpy.
- What? A virgin?!
- Say, can you write letters?
- I hate lettuce and letters.
- Learn to write at least your name!
But, what shall I do?
- Huh?
- My hand shakes. It shakes awfully.
I wonder if I am scared in an emergency like this.
- What is it?
- The High Official is here. It's about to begin.
What is he doing?
- Writing his posthumous Buddhist name.
He is troubled because his hand shakes.
- His hand shakes?
POSTHUMOUS BUDDHIST NAME
- It looks like a child's handwriting, doesn't it?
Takenoko.
- Excuse me. The other party is ready to begin.
- I see.
I say, Takenoko.
Thank you for everything.
Can you do me a favor?
- Sure.
- My hand wouldn't stop shaking.
Will you tie it to my sword?
- Sure, I will do that.
This is a funny idea of yours.
- He is not scared. It's a writer's spasm.
- A writer's spasm?
- His hand shakes under strain. A condition caused by too much writing.
- Then, he cannot fight back, can he?
- Area guard, go and tell the High Official.
- Yes, sir.
- Yonosuke, I have a good idea. Listen...
- Sir, I don't understand...
Why a man like you is hunted by the avengers?
You sure don't look like an atrocious murderer to me.
- Don't I?
Hey, you should tighten it up.
- Yes, sir.
I don't know why,
but I want to help you against the avengers.
- You are?
- I am the Helper.
- What's your name?
- Sukeroku.
- Sukeroku...
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Old man.
Don't tell Sukeroku.
If you tell him, he'll wind up dead.
- Grandpa.
The gentleman is?
He is his?
- He is his father.
- Katakura!
Let me ask you before you die.
- Don't ask him anything. Just kill him!
- No. I want to know!
Why did you kill our brothers?
Why?
Why did you kill them?
Tell me, Katakura.
- If I tell you, many people will be sorry.
- I don't care.
Say it!
I want to know.
- If you want to know, ask the High Official Sakakibara Oribe!
Ask Sakakibara's conscience.
Ask Sakakibara's heart.
- Hey!
- Sukeroku-san!
- Ask Sakakibara's...
hands that have accepted the bribes!
- Idiot! I said I wanted to... Look out!
- Murderer!
- There now.
- See? I said I'd help.
Oh, well.
It's a shame. Really.
- Sukeroku.
- What did you say?
- What?
Oh, nothing.
- Well...
I never expected it of Sukeroku. He is really something.
- What do you mean?
- I went to a lot of trouble to paint your face.
But you thought he wouldn't like it, and made me rub it off.
You made me work hard.
- No, it's not that!
- What do you mean?
- It's been ages since we met, and if I am all white like that,
he probably won't recognize me.
Anyway, it was not Sukeroku the man whose name I have called.
- What?
- It is Sukeroku my horse that I put to grass.
- Huh?
- Whenever I whistle for him, he comes running to me.
- Come on. No kidding.
He is here.
- Hey! We want sake. Bring sake!
- P...p... Please, wait a moment. A moment, please.
- To drink in celebration first, and then rest. I think that might be...
better in many ways.
- In many ways.
I see.
- In many ways...
- Hop, step, jump!
Well, come to think of it.
He was a funny sort of fellow. Somewhat impressive.
Did you throw this in, old man?
Then it's you, Takenoko?
Then it was...
The guy was...
That can't be.
- Please. We need another coffin now. Will you hurry?
- Hey, Taro. - Yeah?
Do you know when that murderer...
held his office in this area?
- Taro-san! - Yeah.
- Would you like some tea?
- Oh, thank you. Just what I need.
Oh, no, no. I am too busy for that now.
- Come on. This way.
- Well, Sukeroku.
Have some tea.
- Why thanks, Takenoko.
You sure have grown.
How about marrying me?
MEMORIALTABLET
Oh, yes. The tombstone!
I've forgotten all about the tombstone.
Hey, I want you to make me a tombstone. That is, for my mom.
I want something really solid and grand.
Big enough for two or three people to fit comfortably in.
Why, here it is!
This is great. I'll take this.
- That one is expensive.
- I have money. I'm willing to pay a lot.
- Sorry, Sukeroku.
Somebody else has already bought that one.
- Then I'll buy it back from whomever it is.
Who is it?
- He's dead.
- Huh?
- The samurai that you have just met.
- Then it's all right, eh?
He is a complete stranger to both you and me.
Just forget him.
- No, I will not do that!
I had known him for a long time. Long before you were born.
- What?
Then, is it possible that?
- No, no. Anyway, he's already paid. And I accepted the money.
He even gave me the Buddhist names.
So that I can engrave them on the tombstone.
You see, there are two of them.
- Two of them?
Old man!
One of them is for my mom, isn't it?
That scoundrel.
That good-for-nothing.
He wants to lie in the grave with my mom!
What kind of a joke is that?
- Sukeroku-san, what are you?
Where are you going?
- Where? I am going to avenge!
- Sukeroku!
Sukeroku.
Are you...
- I know what you think.
No need to say anything.
I lost heart while I was struggling with my sword.
Yes, I know. My adversaries are too strong.
Much too strong.
I can't fight against all the police officials in the area...
to avenge the death of the man.
I am not even...
dreaming about it.
- "That's right, it's impossible to think about revenge."
"If I think about taking revenge for my father, I will lose."
"Sukeroku, calm down!"
"Cool off! Cool off!"
"I was always cool.
That's why I've been a good helper."
"Wait... Wait, wait, wait, wait.
"How about as a Helper?"
"What if this memorial tablet asks me a favor?"
"I'll receive a reward when the job is done!"
"I will give you what little money I have."
"Oh, no. No need to think about these things."
"I will help you because I want to."
"Okay. So this is the way it should be."
"I am Sukeroku the Helper. A cool, calm, collected Helper."
"Now I should relax and take a deep breath."
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
"Four."
- Sukeroku-san, is it?
- What? Oh, this?
You think I'm whetting my sword?
You're quite mistaken. Actually, I am polishing the gravestone.
- Won't you give it a second thought?
- What do you mean by "it"?
15 ryo? Is that it?
- Yes.
I understand they have successfully taken vengeance on the murderer.
In his happiness, the High Official may double the payment to 30 ryo.
You may even be his mistress, if things go well.
That is great success in life, like your brother Taro said.
All right. Then...
- Let us bet.
Who will walk into this room? The High Official or Sukeroku?
Now!
- Huh?
- Sir, do you know if Katakura has any relatives?
- Well, I don't think he has anybody.
He was committed to making his way in the world.
As far as I know, he wasn't even married.
He aimed too high for a man of humble birth.
Oh, I see.
You're worried about being avenged for his death?
- Well... Yes, sir.
- It is against the law.
Even if he has a family, they are...
not allowed to avenge his death on you.
You need not worry.
- Have you heard that, Yonosuke?
- Sakakibara-sama.
I would like to ask you one thing, too.
Is it my conscience...
or my hands, which accepted the bribe, that you want to look at?
- Yes, please.
- Yonosuke, stop that!
I was told many people would be in trouble if I looked.
Will you be in trouble, too?
- Your dead brothers will, too.
- My brothers!
- Eventually, you will be in trouble yourself.
At first, everybody cares the way you care now.
Then gradually, you get used to it.
Finally, you just take it for granted.
- No!
- In fact, what do you think made it possible for you to study in Edo?
Bribes. Graft. Money under the table.
- NO!
- What is the matter with you two?
You... and... you look so?
I see. You're worried that I may try to avenge my dad's death.
- But the sword...
- Sword?
Hey, Takenoko, I won't marry you anymore.
As the daughter of a coffin-maker,
you should know that at the funeral a sword is placed on the coffin.
A rusty sword won't do for that purpose.
That'll be an insult for the spirit of the deceased. Right?
- Excuse me. We need another coffin!
- What happened?
- They quarreled among themselves and one man was speared.
And he died.
- They killed one of themselves. That's good news.
- I could never understand what samurai do.
- You never know. Such a good thing rarely happens.
- What is it?
- Oh, never mind.
You do seem to have a busy day, old man.
What about making another coffin or two just in case?
I remember our childhood days.
- Yeah.
- You were the leader of the kids near the river.
- You were the leader of the kids up in the mountain.
- We used to fight a lot.
- Our group always won.
- Because you had this wonderful thrower of stones.
- You mean my sister, Osen?
- Yeah, Osen the 'Runny Nose'.
She always had her nose running.
But when it came to throwing stones, could she throw!
- You all ran away holding your most vulnerable parts with your hands.
- And, how is Osen doing now?
- She is fine if you ask me.
She is old enough to be married.
- Is she getting married?
- No, maybe not.
- That's odd.
- What is?
- I guess her nose isn't running now. And she's kind of cute, too.
- Of course!
In fact, a man of high standing is interested...
- What?
A man of high standing?
- Oh, never mind.
Sukeroku, do tell me one thing, though.
- Sure, what is it?
- F... F... For example, how much is 15 ryo?
- It's a lot of money. This 15 ryo.
It took me 7 long years to save up that much.
It can break up a married couple.
Or it can alienate a brother and a sister.
So a fortuneteller once told me.
- I see.
I am glad I have such a good friend as you.
- And now it's time for us...
to go our separate ways.
- Yes, as an area guard and a yakuza.
But...
My sister is upstairs here if you want to see her.
- I do want to see her.
I really do want to see her.
But I still have something else to do.
I won't have time
- I have to go get another coffin, too.
- Taro.
- What?
- Let's have a drink together later.
- Yeah.
- Oh, no. Not in there.
This corpse should go in here.
- It's the same thing anyway.
- It's not the same, you fool!
The good man had it made to order especially for himself.
It's not like other ready-made coffins.
There now. You take care.
Easy now. There, there.
Ladies and gentlemen, who are here today.
Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to attend the funeral.
I'm sure the deceased is most delighted.
On behalf of the deceased and his family.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you.
Hello, folks. Good day to you.
Excuse me.
I would like to congratulate all of you on your success.
I am very sorry that I could not be of any help.
I thought I would at least buy you a drink on this happy occasion.
Hey, Mister?
Miss?
Isn't anybody here?
- Nobody is here as yet.
Come here and have a drink with me.
- Really? Oh, thank you very much.
I wonder where they are.
Pa! Ma!
Pretty Osen!
This is for my dad!
- Your dad?
- My enemies!
I am Katakura Umetaro's only son.
My name is Sukeroku!
I am going to kill each and every one who's responsible for my dad's death!
- The counter-vengeance is not allowed! It's against the law!
- Against the law?
Oh, yes. I almost forgot.
This is not a vengeance.
I am only helping. Helping is what I do.
For a private reason of my own, I, Sukeroku the Helper, am here...
to kill two more men today.
I don't want to hurt the others here.
So, I hate to tell you this,
but please end your party and leave.
- Help me!
- Go! Get him!
Get him!
Area guard! Area guard!
- This way, you guys. Come this way.
- Search for the guy!
We must find him!
- Area guard... Area guard.
- Did you find him?
- Sukeroku, you're an idiot!
- Sukeroku?
Hey, Sukeroku?
- Sukeroku... Sukeroku.
Hey, Sukeroku.
- Sukeroku!
If you want to flee, now is the time.
Now you can flee. Go!
- Rice balls.
Sukeroku-san.
The rice balls are for you.
- Sukeroku... Sukeroku
Sukeroku... Sukeroku.
- Sukeroku!
- Osen!
I missed you!
- Area guard! You have not duly performed your duty!
Why is a man like that at large here?
- He is a childhood friend. So, I was taken off guard.
- Childhood friend?
That's good. Then, the kind of places he may go to hide,
you know them all?
- He was very quick to run away, even as a child.
- Don't keep anything from me!
- I am here!
Look. I am here, sir!
You missed!
Good shot!
- Sukeroku!
- Get him, everyone! Get him!!!
Don't let him escape!
- You killed my dad!
- Where is the man called Hotta? His spear was quite useful.
Where is the area guard? Summon him.
What are you doing, hunters?
Get ready fast! Get ready and fire! Fire!
No, no, fire when you see him.
No, no. Don't go all at once! Don't get upset!
Two or three should stay here!
There now. Everyone is gone.
- Did you see him?
- Oh, Grandpa!
The rice balls are gone.
All four of them.
He took them all when he left.
- What? You've searched everywhere, and there is no trace of him?
That's funny.
This is such a small town. That is impossible.
- But...
- I know you are hiding something.
- No, I am not.
- For this childhood friend, you are.
- Welcome back.
- Hi there. - Thank you.
This was a great help. - You're welcome.
By the way,
won't you go away with me on horseback?
- Oh, I'd love to.
- Wait here.
- Area guard, think about it well.
If you lose your current job, what can you do?
With no land of your own, how will you earn your living?
With your experience, your promotion is drawing near, too.
- I... I just think that...
a coffin may be...
- A coffin?
- He used to hide in a coffin when he was a child.
That's all.
But I don't think he will go to the coffin-maker's this time.
- How do you know that?
- To avoid trouble for the old man and his granddaughter.
He is like that.
- Go!
- Pardon?
- Go and arrest the two of them!
- For what?
- I don't know! Think for yourself!
Hurry!
- But...
- Are you lonely?
Or are you frightened, Sakakibara-danna?
- Where? Where are you?
Can't you guess?
- Do you think you can get away with this?
- I suppose so.
You searched everywhere, but could not find me.
And this is a small town.
The world is a bigger place.
Here, there, and everywhere, as the saying goes.
Take that!
15 ryo. Thanks to you.
I guess you have a woman in every town you go to.
But it's so skimpy.
Your skimpiness may have driven a virgin or two to hang themselves.
Don't you agree?
You killed my dad!!!
Dad...
I did it.
Your enemies,
I killed them all.
- Sukeroku!
- Sukeroku-san!
- It hurts.
What do you think you're doing?
- Sukeroku!
Go, go, go!
- Sukeroku!
- Taro.
The leader is...
still me. Right?
- Yes, you are.
- Don't die, Sukeroku!
- Sukeroku...
So you did it.
- Old man.
I couldn't help myself.
Takenoko.
Don't you cry.
If you want me to marry you,
stop... crying.
- Sukeroku.
You... fool!
- Torn between two pretty women.
That's what I am.
- Another woman here.
- Sukeroku! Sukeroku!
Sukeroku!
- Ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for taking time from your busy schedules...
to attend the funeral today.
I am sure the deceased is most delighted.
On behalf of his family...
Well, no, what I mean is that...
he had no family.
Therefore,
on behalf of his childhood friends, I would like to express my...
- Big Brother - What is it?
- Let me bury him, please.
- Why?
- He was an old friend.
It's the least I can do.
- Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo...!
- Big Brother, give me a hand. I want to carry him by ourselves.
- Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo...! Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo...!
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo...!
Nam-Myoho-Ren...
- "Also known as Sukeroku the Helper,
"Sukeroku, age 24, unemployed,
"on September 17, in the 2nd year of the Bunsei era,
"killed Sakakibara Oribe, the High Official of the Eastern states,
"Wakiya Shinkuro,
"and a certain Hotta, with no reason whatsoever.
"Sukeroku tried to flee.
"Therefore, he was immediately arrested
"and executed, according to a report from the local police.
"The report is duly accepted."
- Don't you dare, Sukeroku!
- Yes, Ma'am.
- But why aren't you dead?
- I had unloaded the gun. Just in case, you know.
That's why.
Otherwise I would have been dead right away.
Then I could not make my own child.
What will you do now, Osen?
I want to ask you something.
- Sukeroku!
I want to ask you something, too.
- What is it?
- Why don't you start working as a coachman or something?
- Co... Co... Coachman?
HORSE
HORSE = DELIVERY BY HORSE
- Oh, yes. Now I want Sukeroku the man and Sukeroku the horse...
to start working hard.
- My goodness.
I guess that can't be helped. Right-o!
Right-o...
- Yes, we are all set!
SANADA Hiroyuki
SUZUKI Kyoka
MURATA Takehiro
TSURUMI Shingo
KISHIBE Ittoku
KOBAYASHI Keiju
SATO Makoto
KISHIDA Kyoko
NAKADAI Tatsuya
Executive Producer: NAKAMURA Masaya
Photography: KATO Yudai Art Direction: NISHIOKA Yoshinobu
Music by: YAMASHITA Yosuke
Written and Directed by: OKAMOTO Kihachi