All right. I'll talk some sense into him once and for all.
This may be my chance to do it.
I mustn't let this chance slip away.
Hey, the room charge is 400 yen.
Thank you.
- Shall I bring tea? - No.
I get sick like that once in a while.
But it's not serious.
My doctor talks about a weak heart.
But sickness is all in your mind.
I need to talk to you.
You're from Tokyo, aren't you?
I knew it.
You want to go to Tokyo too.
Look...
let's be frank with each other.
Don't. I need to talk.
Talk? About the baby?
We need to talk...
Don't start...
Stop it...
I got a safety pin for you.
Hey.
I lose my temper easily.
I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.
Now I know
you're exactly the woman I expected you to be.
I wish you'd go to Tokyo with me...
I'll leave here first.
I'm a drummer at a place called Chicago in Kitamachi.
If...
If you decide to go to Tokyo, let me know.
Okay?
I'm going now.
I won't bother you again.
This is goodbye.
What if the baby is his?
What if...
This stop, Hirose Bridge...
Where have you been, stupid?
Father died. I'm taking Masaru.
Come as soon as possible. Riichi.
Excuse me...
Riichi left work early for the funeral.
Mr Watanabe asked me to bring this to you.
Oh, thank you very much.
Even a good man like him couldn't live forever...
He was a very kind old man, wasn't he?
- Where have you been? - A yarn shop, for knitting...
You've embarrassed me.
Look, Grandpa is crying!
Masaru.
Where are Grandpa's false teeth?
Oh, Riichi...
Come for a moment.
And Sadako, you too.
It's about deciding who'll look after Mother.
We can't afford...
So all of us, the siblings, should talk it over.
All he left was this house and a rice paddy.
If you come to live here,
I want nothing more than my share by law.
I don't mind you taking the rest.
When Mother dies, you'll get it automatically.
Namie married into a well-off family.
- Right, Namie? - What?
What we discussed. This house.
It's okay. But make sure you give me the tansu.
I want it in our living room. It's so big and empty-looking.
But...
it's too far to commute to my work from here.
But of all of us you live the closest.
I wish I could move.
But then I'd lose my constituency.
And it's difficult to change the kids' school.
Good evening.
I understand, but...
We have to ask Mother. I'm not on my own, you know.
Isn't Masaru registered to inherit the family name?
Yes. As Mother insisted, I had him registered that way.
You lived in this house, Sadako.
Wouldn't it be easy for you to come back here?
Shall we do it, Sadako?
Oh, aren't you Sadako?
Yes. It's been a long time...
What a surprise!
What a sexy broad you've turned into!
If I'd known, I'd have made you mine
even if Grandma killed me for it.
You opened the window for me.
So I thought I'd be safe. That was a big mistake.
You're a lucky guy, Riichi.
All the neighbours are here. Come and see us.
Don't worry about the weedy-looking husband.
Come on! Let's go now.
Sadako.
What's wrong?
- Sadako. - What's the matter?
Sadako.
How do you feel?
I'm all right now.
Is it morning sickness?
It must be. When did it start?
I'm not sure yet...
Let me see.
Yes... for sure...
Does Riichi know?
No, not yet.
You should go to the doctor.
It's six years since Masaru...
Sadako,
give us a boy, please.
Masaru's frail.
If something should happen to him,
there would be no heir.
Understand?
Take care not to get cold.
Mother, I'll do it...
No. You stay lying down.
You must be tired.
Thank you very much.
Being a woman doesn't pay.
We have all the trouble of raising children
and once they've grown up,
they do everything their own way.
You know, I want to die here...
in this house...
without giving trouble to anybody...
You're not stopping Riichi moving in here, are you?
No...
You're one who should try to persuade him, really.
If Riichi agrees, it's all right with me...
Really?
Thank you.
Now...
I'll go and tell Riichi about the baby.
She's been dead for 50 years.
You must go to Matsu's grave on the anniversary.
Sadako.
Sadako?
Sadako, can I come in?
- It's okay? - But I...
Can I? I'm coming now. Just wait.
Who is it? Who's out there?
Have I forgotten?
At the time
I did open the window.
Why do I remember it now?
- Why don't you go? - No.
I don't want to go to Akita.
Can you make a living?
I'm going to bed.
Where in Tokyo does his family live?
I don't know. Why are you asking?
His heart condition doesn't sound good at all.
I bet he has no family, from the way he behaves.
In memory of Matsu Inazawa
Masaru?
Masaru is registered as the son of Tadae and Seizo, deceased.
And Riichi?
Riichi is the second son of Seizo
and therefore an elder brother of Masaru, the third son.
Can you find Sadako in the register?
No, I can't.
But Sadako is Masaru's mother, you know.
In the register, Masaru's mother is Tadae.
Can you correct it to say Masaru is Sadako's child?
No, unless you take it to court.
Court?
Why keep quiet when your kid's taken away?
But I'm scared when I think of taking it to court.
Don't be. You should set the record straight now.
Or they'll treat you as a maid when you move in there.
Look, I know a lawyer. Shall I ask him for you?
No, please don't. I couldn't...
Don't feel you owe me. I'm doing it for myself too.
When you move over there
I'll rent one of your rooms for my knitting classes.
Listen, there's no knitting school there.
There's many who'd go if there was one nearby.
But I'm not sure...
Your socks stink. Take them off.
Don't let them take your child away,
even if it upsets your husband.
- You can find a man anywhere. - Mother!
Yes.
- Mother! Mother! - Yes.
I'll finish the jumper in four days.
That's okay. Oh, hang on...
Here's the money for the last one.
Sadako!
Thanks for the tea.
I'm coming.
Fuji Knitting School Karihara Branch
A man asked me to give you this.
A man?
I need to talk. Meet me at the Hirose Bridge.
- Where did you get this? - Over there.
- You got this too. - No!
You're lying! You got it from a stranger behind my back.
Masaru!
Stop!
- Give it to me! - It's mine! He gave it to me!
What are you saying?
- You're a liar too! - What?
You know that man!
Stupid!
What's this rotten thing?
- Get in the house! - No! Dummy! Liar!
- What! - Stupid!
What did you say?
You're a bad boy, bad boy!
Sorry to bother you, but is Eiji in?
Yes... What is it?
- He's out, isn't he? - He should be in, but...
Do you want me?
What's this?
How did you get torn like this?
A couple of days ago, when I went to the Higashi district
I fell and caught it on a nail.
Look, I know everything...
- Tell me the truth. - I'm telling you the truth.
Listen, Sadako...
- You know him, don't you? - Who?
Don't play games. Who threw the stones? Don't deny it!
What's the signal for? Tell me!
I don't know... I really don't...
Idiot!
Don't lie. Stop playing innocent.
Last month you met the guy in a department store.
Is it true? Well?
A couple of days ago, you went to see him again.
He ripped your skirt.
Speak! Say something!
Well? Isn't that the truth?
Am I right?
And he threw the stones just now?
You...
Who knows whose baby it is?
Speak! Tell me the truth!
You're awful!
How dare you say that? And you do what you want...
What!
Don't try to make a fool out of me!
I only keep you out of pity!
Mother doesn't want you in the family either!
Stop it... in front of the child!
Don't get above yourself!
You're only a housemaid!
You...
Don't! Don't!
I said don't!
Masaru!
Don't go to her!
What could I do to prevent this?
There's nothing I could ever have done...
What have I done to deserve this misfortune?
Good morning.
What's the matter? You're late today.
Congratulations!
What?
It's finalised... I mean your promotion.
Can I visit you with some colleagues tonight?
Tonight is a bit...
But tomorrow you leave for Kyoto University
on assignment.
- So how about tonight? - All right...
Don't tell stories.
About Sadako.
You think I can't prove it?
Unless you have evidence,
stop spreading slander.
Mr Takahashi, your home is calling. Downstairs.
Congratulations on the news.
Have a good trip.
It's not slander.
And soon I'll prove it.
Is that you, honey?
Hisako and Mr Hara came around a while back.
They wanted to protest the rent rise.
They asked me to sign the petition.
Is it all right to sign?
Can't you see that it is?
What? With my name, of course.
I'm leaving on business tomorrow.
Buy some sake for my colleagues tonight.
What? The cheap stuff will do.
Around six o'clock. That's right.
Thank you very much.
I'll pay him with this to go away.
If he sees my plea is desperate, even he will understand.
Hiraoka, a fat lady wants to see you.
Hey, Hiraoka!
What a creep.
Drop dead, with your bad heart.
It's all right. No one can see us here.
Sorry about last night.
I didn't intend to visit you, but...
So it really was him.
It took me three years to save this.
I'll give you the lot if you never bother me again.
There, take it. Go on, take it.
You even tricked my innocent son. Animal!
You're a thief.
You broke in to get money. Why don't you take it?
It was money you wanted most, wasn't it? Idiot!
Wait!
No, you're wrong. I don't want money now.
Let me go!
Wait. Listen, I'm going to die.
I don't want to hear it. Let go!
I don't want to part with you like this.
I won't do anything... I promise...
So stay with me, please. Stay one more minute.
I'm giving this back to you.
Money's tight. Won't you be in trouble later?
You're causing me more trouble now!
Please forgive me.
I'm a fool. I'm crazy.
But I can't help it...
There's nothing left for me in the world except you.
When I first went to your house, I wanted money for medicine.
That day,
the doctor told me I was going to die.
I wanted to live no matter what.
But I don't care any more.
I just want you to be nice to me.
Let's go on the roof. I won't do anything.
They're coming. You don't want to be seen, do you?
When I was in Tokyo, I was a popular trumpeter.
But that ended when my heart got bad.
It's eight years since I came here.
They send me to places like Akita and Aomori.
I'm not educated so I can't do anything else.
I didn't even go to junior high school.
My mother raised me after Dad was killed in the war.
She supported us by becoming a hooker.
One time,
I saw mother kill her own baby...
I didn't exactly see it...
Why am I here listening to him like this?
I got sick of everything.
Why listen to a thug like him?
I must give him the money and go home now.
Playing trumpet got me money.
I bought women... women like my mother.
When I had the heart attack on the train
you gave me my medicine.
I was happy.
Since then, I didn't care about anything in the world but you.
Let's go to Tokyo!
And let's have a house for us alone...
- And for your baby. - You can't do that.
Yes, I can. I have friends in Tokyo.
- Stop lying. - It's true.
They'll find me a job. I'll do anything for you.
You can't, with your heart like that.
Of course I can. You're talking rubbish.
That's enough.
I'll forget what happened. So you do the same.
Now, take this.
- Are you going home? - I'll leave it here.
Wait...
Wait, please.
There's something else I got to tell you. Hey!
Hey!
It's over now. He's just a thief...
I feel relieved.
I won't see him again...
I don't have to ever again.
Please...
I've got something else to tell you...
He doesn't deserve pity. He's telling me lies.
This stop, Hirose Bridge.
I don't have to listen to him...
That idiot...
Idiot! Idiot!
Hey!
I knew you'd come back.
You're just like the woman I expected.
Because...
you said you still had something else to tell me...
I had no choice.
This is the last time... Definitely the last...
I won't let you go...
ever again...
Let's go to Tokyo...
Tokyo...
It's Tokyo.
No! It's not Tokyo!
It's not the Tokyo I know!
- Let's go to Tokyo. - No! No, I won't!
I see. Then go back home!
If your family means more to you than you do yourself!
Go back right now!
No! No!
I won't go!
Stop it!
I can't give him up... My Masaru...
I can't give him up to anyone...
Dad!
Masaru, you'll be late for kindergarten.
See you, mother.
Morning!
Good morning.
There's no other way to protect this family.
I'll kill him
and go as far as I can before I kill myself.
Only when I'm gone
can Masaru and Riichi live happily...
What have I done to deserve this misfortune?
He bought himself a new jacket with my money.
What a nerve.
You're beautiful. You look great.
Two for Tokyo.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
The snow's caused a derailment.
The train ahead of us is stuck. We'll be here for a while.
At the moment it's impossible to say
when we'll be able to get moving again.
I don't think it's possible.
The bus can't climb the steep hill to Akabara Spring.
How long does it to take on foot?
It's only three kilometers but the snow would slow you down.
What should we do? We can't just stand here.
Isn't there any way? I must get to...
Shall we go?
I'm not sure.
How can you be not sure about it?
I must do it soon... before we get there.
Do it now.
Make him drink it now.
Is that tea?
Do you want some?
Don't!
I was...
I was ready to die...
Anybody could see it, the way you're shaking.
You couldn't kill anybody.
Do you hate me so much?
I guess you do. I understand.
I guess I've brought you to a lousy place.
It should have been a nice runaway trip.
But there's nothing else I could do.
Hey...
come to me.
Come to me.
My ampule...
The pain...
The ampule...
Quick!
Please!
I can't find it...
There isn't...
I don't want to die.
The pain... Give me the ampule!
I can't... I can't see it anywhere!
I don't have it!
Stop it!
Let go! Let go!
No!
Bitch!
Fat cow!
I don't have it.
I beg you... give me the ampule...
I can't, there isn't one!
I don't know what to do.
Stay with me...
I beg you...
I love you...
Love...
Please...
What's the matter, lady?
Watch out!
It's only a procedure.
Once it's finished
Just register your marriage and Masaru's...
Oh, Mr Takahashi. Good afternoon.
How are you?
The test results are all right...
The doctor says she can leave soon.
You're fine, aren't you?
Grandma and Masaru have just left.
I'm going too.
I'll take care of it for you.
Goodbye.
What did she mean by that?
It's about Masaru...
Don't ask her for any favours.
- She'll spend our money... - Oh, Mr Takahashi!
You're already here!
I've been waiting for you at the station.
I finished the job in four days.
I couldn't make it any earlier.
I bet you're surprised.
Right after your wife, Miss Masuda was brought in.
When I got here, she was bleeding heavily.
They say she was hit here.
She was swollen, black, couldn't stop bleeding...
- And she died, I heard. - Yes.
It's a mystery it happened to a careful person like her.
Mr Takahashi...
may I have a word?
I was going to give it to you at the station.
This is Miss Masuda's.
She kept wanting to give it to you until the last moment.
I wonder why.
I wonder.
They're still wet. They've just been printed.
Some have double exposures.
Isn't this you?
Who took these photos?
Never mind who.
Look, this one's very clear.
It's definitely you.
No, it's not me.
Yes, it is.
It's your kimono too.
Not many women are this fat.
Still, it isn't me...
Then why were you at the station?
Isn't it strange?
Isn't it?
Why did you go to the station?
Well?
Tell me why.
As you suspected me so much
I decided to go somewhere far away...
Alone?
You couldn't get an idea like that by yourself.
This guy made you, didn't he?
I met that man at the station.
He said he was going to Tokyo too.
Who is he?
Just someone from Tokyo.
I didn't care who he was.
I decided to go to Tokyo with him and got on the train.
But it stopped in the snow...
And I don't know why, but he died.
I got scared...
So I came back.
And the pains started back at the station?
Then this is you in the photos.
No, that's not me.
It's too small to tell but I can get in enlarged.
But I tell you it's not me.
It's not me, but if it were me what would you do?
I couldn't keep such a woman in the family.
Why wouldn't you?
Why? It's a matter of course.
A woman who's had a cheap affair...
I haven't done that.
Who'll believe you? Here's the proof.
But it's not me. Who took the photos?
Never mind. It's these photos we're talking about.
Well, then I was right in leaving you
as you suspect me so much.
I'll take Masaru with me.
Your next wife wouldn't like your having a child.
Fool! That's not the point! I want the truth!
- Give me the truth! - Doctor's coming.
So you mean
you want to know if the baby was yours or not?
Yes...
If you could check the blood type or...
No. In some cases we can,
but the foetus was disposed of five days ago.
Here's the station, where the trains are.
I know that.
It was... just here.
Miss Masuda was hit by a truck just here.
I wonder what she wanted to photograph.
Did you get her film developed?
- What was on it? - Nothing came out.
It must have got exposed.
Is that right?
Such a careful person running out onto the street...
She was quite odd too.
Mr Takahashi, I heard you're moving in with your mother.
I'll bring around a few helping hands.
It says to please come before nine.
It'll take Mother 30 minutes to walk to the family court.
We must leave here by 8.30 at the latest.
She said it's just a procedure...
I hate onions. Take them, Grandma.
Masaru, that's not good manners.
Nobody asked you.
You used to steal food. Masaru's much better than you.
Presumptuous
You should have asked us before going out to the court.
- How dare you? - That's enough, Mother.
We have no choice.
It was for Masaru's sake that we registered him as our son.
What's wrong with that?
I'm sorry for causing this trouble...
If you're sorry, why haven't you withdrawn it?
What if I go to Hisako and ask her
to get the lawyer to withdraw it?
Stupid!
The hearing's today.
Begging that woman won't change a thing.
Father barely in his grave... And now this...
I had no idea really... that it would go to court.
You really are hopeless.
You're noisy!
I'm sorry, but I have to earn money
to buy school things for Masaru.
- Sadako. - Yes?
Are you happy that I've been promoted to a chief?
Of course, I'm very happy.
Look...
A while ago...
didn't you say you had something to tell me?
Didn't you, a while ago?
I wonder what it could have been.
- Sadako. - Yes.
Today Mother accepted the register change.
What would you say about moving in with her?
Well, yes...
From next month I needn't go to the hospital any more.
The registration will be done.
Probably then would be the right time.
If we move there we'll have the field and the silkworms.
We'll rent out a room for knitting classes.
We'll get pretty busy.
What was that?
Sorry?
I thought you laughed.
Oh, darling, isn't it time to take your medicine?
Yeah...
Here.
I'll take your temperature.
Don't bother.
You've got a cold. Here you go.
It was cold in that court house.
Sadako...
Later.
Soon...
you'll officially be my wife, and...
Later, darling.
That hurts.
Screenplay: Keiji Hasebe, Shohei Imamura
Original Story: Shinji Fujiwara
Cinematography: Masahisa Himeda
Music: Toshio Mayuzumi
Masumi Harukawa as Sadako
Ko Nishimura as Riichi
Shigeru Tsuyuguchi as The Intruder
Director: Shohei Imamura