Nikkatsu Corporation
CURSE, DEA TH AND SPIRIT
A CURSED DOLL by Hiroshi Takahashi
For the first time ever, I was chosen for the Ieading roIe
and was busy rehearsing.
But I did have one concern.
That was...
Then he...
disappeared.
No...
A CURSED DOLL
As experienced by Kaoru Kurokawa
Starring Michiko Hada
My story is about a doll.
A doll?
There's a doll in my house
which is a bit strange.
MAIKO KAWAKAMIKI
Strange, how?
l hadn't even known about the doll
until it appeared in my dream.
ScreenpIay by Hiroshi Takahashi
Directed by Hideo Nakata
The same dream, over and over.
I was waIking down the corridor,
then I heard the voice.
Satomi! Satomi!
Who is it?
What?
A doll...
That was the cupboard where we keep old stuff.
lt bothered me, so...
I found the same doII I saw in my dream.
Oh, no...
Mum said we'd had it for ages.
But she put it away such a long time ago, l couldn't have seen it.
l thought
it might appear in my dream again, if l put it back in storage.
So...
Satomi, the doll...
What is it?
Never mind. Sorry.
Then?
So l took it out and put it in the alcove...
Satomi!
Did you just come up to my room?
No.
What's the matter?
What is it, Satomi!
Mum! What's that doll?
What about it?
What's wrong?
ln the end... Mum didn't tell me anything.
Do you still have the doll?
We do... in our alcove.
lt must have been my imagination.
You have to burn the doll.
What?
lf you don't burn it... Satomi, behind you!
Turn the light on! Quick!
Don't do that...
lt sounded real, Etsuko!
About the doll...
You should ask your mum.
l will. Thanks.
- See you then! - Bye.
- See you! - Bye!
Etsuko is being haunted by the doll!
l'm sure she is!
See you!
I couIdn't forget what Etsuko said.
Mum...
Hello?
Oh, Dad... what?
- How did it... - Her taxi had an accident.
Dad, go home and get some rest. l'll stay here tonight.
Will you?
Satomi... Satomi!
Who is it?
lt's me.
Who are you?
Don't you remember?
Don't you remember me?
Satomi?
You've forgotten your sister?
Take me home.
l was on the way to donate the doll to the temple.
Why?
Because... you're afraid of it.
There's a temple for dolls.
Mum...
ls there anything odd about the doll?
Anything odd?
Did l have a sister?
Wasn't this her doll?
Why didn't you tell me?
You were still a baby then.
l didn't want you to worry about it.
She gets lonely, and comes into my dreams.
Someone died nearby, but we're still having a party...
..party...
Let's take a break.
Satomi, you've been acting strangely lately.
Are you ill or something?
No, not at all.
l didn't want to say this...
but if you can't play the part, just tell me so.
No... l'm fine. Don't worry.
Hey... Did you find out about the doll?
What?
Oh, that... lt's nothing.
l don't care about that any more.
No, don't look at me like that.
Satomi... Satomi...
Help!
Oh, Satomi! What's happened?
Where's the door, Mum?
Satomi! What is it?
Mum!
Where's the door? Help!
Satomi!
You're dreaming.
Satomi!
Hey!
- D... Dad... - Satomi...
lt's almost...
Satomi?
Stop staring at me like that!
ls there something behind me?
Satomi, can l have a word with you?
Sorry, but you have to give up the part.
lt's too much for you at the moment. Do you understand?
Who will take it over?
Etsuko. l haven't told her yet, though.
- Satomi... - You know it, don't you?
- The role is yours. - Listen to me...
l don't want to.
Have you done something to the doll?
Don't stay home on your own!
lt may shock you, when l tell you this...
..but l keep seeing a traditional doll behind Satomi.
Satomi had a sister who died in a fire.
My husband rescued Satomi, who was only a baby then.
But we couldn't find her sister.
Then, from the fire...
..l heard the voice calling me.
''Mother! Mother!''
l went in the direction of the voice...
..then l saw a child.
l grabbed her and ran out of the house.
Mother! Mother!
But...
..it was a doll.
lt must have moved in the fire.
So l'd mistaken it for my daughter.
What is that doll?
l don't know. lt's been in the house for ages.
Etsuko, will you stay at our house tonight, please?
My husband is away on business.
l'm worried
about her being all on her own.
It's me. I'm nearby.
Etsuko?
Are you OK? Everything aIright?
l'm fine. What is it, all of a sudden?
Where are you now?
Where? ln my room.
Don't Ieave the room. I'm coming soon.
Satomi? Satomi?
Etsuko? Come, quick!
Is there a window in your room?
CIose it now! I'm coming soon!
It's hot! HeIp me! Mother! Where are you?
HeIp! It's hot! Where are you?
Mother! HeIp me!
Satomi!
Satomi! Come on, Satomi!
- Sister... - Satomi...
Sister...
- Where are you, Sister? - Satomi...
Satomi... Pull yourself together!
- Satomi! - Sister?
Sister?
Sister...
Satomi, we have to hold a service for this doll.
Dolls look human, but they don't have souls.
Occasionally, an evil spirit enters the empty space inside them.
It's hot! It's hot!
Get me out of here!
Get me out!
Don't give in to the evil spirit!
Get me out!
We carefuIIy buried the doII's ashes in my sister's grave.
- Emily? - Sister.
- Are you crying? - No.
What shall l say... it was wonderful.
Such a beautiful face.
Since then, I have feIt my sister's souI with me.
FortunateIy, I got the Ieading roIe back and we had the opening night.
I'm sure my sister is watching me from somewhere.
WA TERFALL OF THE DEAD SPIRIT
by Akihiko Shioda
- Doctor, he's not breathing. - Switch it on full.
Oxygen!
Monitor heartbeat!
Connect oxygen.
- Blood pressure is 40. - lncrease the lV.
Down to 30.
lt'll be fine...
He's not going to die...
One, two, three!
Again, 89 watts!
One, two...
three!
Doctor, he's not coming back.
Darling...
No response.
lt's 10:31 . Our condolences.
Oh... darling...
Darling...
Dad...
Dad, don't go!
Yuta! Yuta...
WA TERFALL OF THE DEAD SPIRIT
As experienced by Y.I.
ScreenpIay by Akihiko Shioda
Music by Katsuo Ono
Kazumi, my best friend,
took us camping.
It was severaI months after...
..my husband's death.
Since his father's death,
Yuta had become quiet and introverted.
I wanted him
to regain his energy.
MITSUKO OKA
So I accepted Kazumi's offer.
MICHIKO YAMAMURA
Directed by Hideo Nakata
- We're here! - Don't rush!
Get your luggage, all of you!
- Which way are we going, Mum? - Get your luggage first.
Watch out...
Which is mine?
What's for dinner tonight?
- A feast. - What is it?
- CU-RR-Y. - Oh, no!
Curry again?
Be nice to Takuya and Sayuri, OK?
Wow, it's amazing.
I thought something was staring back at me from the waterfaII.
lf you fall here, that's the end.
Stop it.
Sorry!
Let's go and put the tent up.
Watch your step!
Catch!
Here!
You're no good. Catch it!
Here!
Yuta, catch!
Where's the ball, Yuta?
lt sank in the river.
lt can't sink. You've hidden it. Give it back!
- l don't have it! - Liar. Give it back to me.
- Give it to me! - Takuya! You fool.
lf you don't stop...
But it was Yuta...
Don't argue. lf you don't get on...
We're getting on!
- Right? Let's go over there. - Wait for me!
- This way! - l'm coming, too!
You have to count to 50 before taking off the blindfold.
One... two...
three... four...
..47... 48...
..49... 50!
Taku!
MISSING
Where are the kids?
- Mum! - Aunt!
Yuta's missing.
Weren't you just playing with Yuta?
We lost him playing hide and seek.
What?
l'm going to find him.
Yuta!
Yuta... Yuta!
Yuta... Yuta...
What are you thinking!
Why... Where have you been, on your own?
Oh, that's mine! Give it back!
- Don't do that! - Give it to me, then!
lt was given to me! lt's mine!
l won't give you it! Thief!
Takuya, stop it.
That's enough. Why are you so selfish?
Why do you keep making me worry?
Give the ball back to Takuya.
- Looks delicious, doesn't it? - l'll start!
Hooray!
- How is it? - Delicious.
Really? Delicious?
Let me see...
l'll taste it as well.
- How is it? - Great.
Bon appetit!
- lt's nice! - lt's good!
Don't be stubborn.
Alright.
Mum, what's in this?
- Chestnuts. - You're joking!
Eat this.
ls it good?
l was too hard on you.
l'm sorry.
That was my ball.
What?
Look, that woman!
That woman gave me the ball!
Look, it's her!
There!
That woman wants me to stay here forever.
Don't talk nonsense.
Or don't you understand unless it's Dad scolding you?
Dad would have understood me!
A notice about a missing person?
l saw it, and got scared.
That's why you were so tense.
But... you came camping because of Yuta, didn't you?
Yes...
Then you should enjoy it together. Right?
Let's drink. The beer is nice and cold.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
l was trying to play his father's role today.
But look what l did... No wonder Yuta said such a thing.
This must be a dream. A nightmare.
Yuta...
Yuta!
Takako?
Yuta!
Come...
Yuta!
No! Yuta, don't!
Yuta!
Yuta...
Yuta!
Quick!
Yuta... Yuta!
Let's get out of here.
- Takako! - Run! Run!
Run!
- Quick! - What is it?
A ghost!
- Mum, run faster! - Follow him!
Get in, quick! Sayuri, get in!
Takako, l'm so sorry.
lt was my idea to go there.
l didn't tell you but...
..l've heard a story about a woman who lost her kid...
She killed herself in the waterfall.
That's what l'd heard.
But why... Yuta?
She must have thought he was her son, and tried to take him away!
lt's not...
Yuta?
Yuta!
You are... mine...
No one can take you away from me.
Come...
Stop it! Stop, please!
Come...
Dad...
Darling...
Yuta!
Mum, it's Dad! That was Dad!
He was watching over us.
ReaIising that, I couIdn't stop my tears.
- Mum, hurry up! - Have you got everything?
- Give it back! - Wait!
- See you later! - Have a nice day!
AN INN WHERE A GHOSTLIVES
by Hiroshi Takahashi
We are heading to Yamatoya lnn in the south of the Boso peninsula.
Let's see... This is the one! Here, here, Kyoko.
Close up, up, up!
But Yukari, isn't it too far from the station?
That's why it was available.
We'll need to take a cab everywhere.
- That's over our budget! - You say that after all my efforts!
I can't remember who originaIIy suggested
that we stay in a traditionaI inn.
But Yukari stuck to the idea tiII the end.
Wow, we're here!
We've arrived!
This is it! This is the Yamatoya lnn!
lt's the same as the photo!
Of course it is!
Hello!
AN INN WHERE A GHOSTLIVES
As experienced by Yukiko Miura
Your room is upstairs.
Upstairs?
ScreenpIay by Hiroshi Takahashi
This way, please.
YASUYO SHIRASHIMA
I sensed something at the top of the stairs.
- Please. - Yes.
KYOKO ENAMI
Directed by Hideo Nakata
Wow!
lt's all made of shells!
Welcome.
- For two nights? - That's right.
Do you mind that we charge in advance?
- Please sign here. - That's great!
OK.
How long has this been an inn?
lt's quite new, actually.
lt used to be a family house,
before it was converted to an inn.
So people used to live here.
Thank you very much.
Camera's rolling...
Well, Kyoko, what do you think of staying in a traditional inn?
Let me see... This inn is...
Wait, don't walk in front of...
- Damn. - l'm an outcast!
She's still in a bad mood.
Don't worry.
Let's try a re-take!
Kyoko, your comments, please!
Let me see...
This room is... what shall l say?
- Akemi, you go, please. - Oh, you're hopeless.
lt's wonderful. Look at all the dishes we've got.
Doesn't it look delicious, Kyoko?
Yukari! We're going!
Wait for me!
You're so slow.
Enjoy your bath.
Did you put your camera in the safe?
Oh, no.
Do you think it's OK?
Why don't you bring it in here?
Let's film ourselves nude.
- Well... - lsn't that a bit weird?
What's wrong with being naked in a bath?
- What do you think? - Shall we?
Paper, stone and scissors!
Oh, no...
There...
ls anything wrong?
That room... ls there anything strange about it?
No.
What kind of people lived here?
Well, it was a big landowner, but he lost his business...
Then he sold this house.
- That was over ten years ago. - l see.
Did you see anything?
No.
I thought it must have been my imagination.
ls it too showy?
What do you think, Kyoko?
Well...
Kyoko, let's go to sleep.
Oh...
lsn't a night like this a good chance to chat about boys?
You don't even have a boyfriend.
That's you, Sister.
What about you, Kyoko? Do you have a boyfriend?
lf l did, l wouldn't be here.
- That's right. - l don't believe it!
l'll ask Kyoko when we're alone.
Goodnight.
Kyoko... Kyoko...
What is it?
l'm sorry, but can you come with me to the toilet?
Kyoko, do you have a boyfriend?
No.
- But actually you do, don't you? - l said, no.
How about you, Yukari?
Don't leave me on my own.
No!
Yukari?
I couIdn't sIeep weII that night.
lt's impossible to go to the park and the sea in one day.
Shall we just go to the family park?
There are lots of things to see, and we can take our time.
Do you agree, Kyoko?
- What? Sorry. - Aren't you listening?
How about you, Yukari...
Why don't we change rooms?
ln that case, take them to the Fuji Room.
Yes, madam.
Come this way, please.
Where has Yukari gone?
Camera... My video camera's missing.
Didn't you leave it upstairs?
There! Kyoko comes out of an unexpected place!
Don't touch it without asking.
Sorry...
Nice shot!
Yukari insisted on staying at the inn.
She didn't come with us, in the end.
We shouldn't have brought her.
She's difficult to deal with, isn't she?
Well... Sometimes she's a bit awkward.
lsn't she just? You should tell her that.
She's not a child any more.
- What? - Nothing.
Hello.
- l wonder how Yukari's been. - No need to worry.
- Welcome back. - Hello.
- We're back! - Oh, hi!
- Have you taken a bath already? - Yes.
- Did you stay in all day? - Yes, l did.
Oh, what's that?
- These are for you. - Really? Thank you!
Where did you go?
- Do you want to see the video? - Yes, l do!
Kyoko!
Stop it...
- I'm coming! - OK!
What's this mess?
Yukari!
My God, l can't believe her.
..wonderfuI. Look at aII the dishes we've got!
Doesn't it Iook deIicious, Kyoko?
Where's Yukari?
Yukari? Yukari?
Yukari?
Yukari? Are you in there?
- No! - Akemi! Akemi!
Yukari...
What's that dress?
Why are you dressed like that?
What?
- Stop putting that on! - No!
You didn't want to take me with you.
You think l'm awkward!
You were there, weren't you?
You were listening to us.
What were you up to?
Wait! Stop it!
Yukari...
Yukari!
l want to go out.
Yukari!
- Yukari! - l fell.
I feII from there.
Then, my neck...
my neck...
Don't Ieave me on my own.
- Yukari... - Yukari?
- Yukari! - Yukari!
Go home. Leave here, now!
- Yukari! - Yukari! What's going on?
- Yukari! - Please go.
Yukari! Yukari!
A month Iater, Yukari died.
We've arrived! This is it!
This is the Yamatoya Inn!
- There! - Nice shot!
Kyoko...
No...
We shouIdn't have brought her.
She's difficuIt to deaI with, isn't she?
WeII... Sometimes she's a bit awkward.
Isn't she just? You shouId teII her that.
She's not a chiId any more.
Yukari must have heard our conversation.
Through the video camera.
lt used to be the daughter's room.
She was sick in bed all the time.
But she once tried to go out...
And as she told us...
She must have been lonely.
And now?
We don't use the room any more.
Because she lives there.
Yukari?
You're here, aren't you?
l'm sorry...
CURSE, DEA TH AND SPIRIT
A CURSED DOLL
by Hiroshi Takahashi
WA TERFALL OF THE DEAD SPIRIT
by Akihiko Shioda
AN INN WHERE A GHOSTLIVES
by Hiroshi Takahashi
Directed by Hideo Nakata
Nikkatsu Corporation