Summer, the season when love's flame burns the hottest. Summer's my season.
As a man of summer, I have no rival.
I've got this strong feeling love's coming my way,
and we're not just talking about one or two girls.
We're talking about twenty babes here!
Mr. Saeba, the production company I work for is staking its future on this movie.
We have to able to complete this audition for the leading lady successfully.
"Shut down this open audition.
If you don't, I can't be responsible for what happens to the young ladies."
Leave it to me.
When it comes to guarding beautiful ladies, I'm unsurpassed.
Wow! A high-cut bathing suit to the max!
Whoa! Another one with extreme mokkori bounce factor!
This is like leaving the fox to guard the henhouse.
Yahoo! Calling all my girlfriends!
Excuse me, are you with this place?
Yes... I mean, no.
Where are the twenty beauties?
Beautiful all right! Just the girls that cleared the preliminary round.
One, two, three...
Hey, nineteen! One's missing. Maybe she's in the bathroom?
Mr. Ogura, I'm going for a little swim.
Okay, but don't stay out too long.
Okay!
Who was that?
Her name's Etsuko. She's one of the ones auditioning.
Really, that girl?
You've come to this resort as a caterer. Got it?
No, come on! I want to guard them as their close and intimate assistant.
Handsome Mr. Assistant, please button me.
If you insist, let's see here.
That's not fair. Me too!
No! I'm next!
How you depend on me so. What am I going to do?
You octopus!
Since they're all women, a man's not appropriate.
I'll be the assistant, naturally.
You are to take care of the girls. Their meals, the cleaning, all of it.
You have absolutely no time to play around.
Kaori, you tricked me big time.
My summer is over.
I should have become a movie star.
This is stupid! I quit this lousy job! I'm heading to the beach for some action!
There isn't one girl here!
And no man matches this backdrop better than me. What a shame.
There's a girl!
Da-da-da!
There she is, Venus! God hasn't forsaken me after all!
Haven't I seen her somewhere?
Father?
Calling me your father like that...
I'm sorry. My mother said she met my father for the first time
on an early evening like this by the sea.
The way you appeared reminded me almost exactly of her story.
So I was taken by surprise when image and reality completely merged in my mind.
Maybe women who want to be actresses tend to be like that.
Actress? I'm not interested in that at all.
But why are you...
Oh, I get it. You're all hot for that Hi-what's-his-name too, aren't you?
Sorry, incorrect!
I have a secret reason you might say.
Mr. Saeba, let's go for a swim!
Etsuko? Sometimes being a caterer isn't all that bad.
You're kidding!
We can't possibly eat so much in the morning!
That's right! All I eat for breakfast is salad!
But I put my heart and soul into it. Couldn't you just for today?
But we'll get all fat.
That's right.
Right before a big audition, no one eats this much.
This is so good!
Can I have another helping, Mr. Saeba?
Oh, Etsuko!
You're kidding! What is she doing?
Are you really okay eating so much?
What do you mean? Your body will run out of energy if you don't eat breakfast.
Etsuko, it's you. You're my angel.
Mr. Saeba?!
Etsuko...
Okay, that's enough.
Kaori!
This always happens as soon as I let you out of my sight.
Couldn't find her?
I searched all around here, but...
Oh, no! And there's no time.
Where could Etsuko have gone?
You don't think she was kidnapped?
Isn't it time yet?
I want to go ahead and meet Hiyuga.
Kaori, is Hiyuga going to be the only guest at the party?
No, there'll be one other guest, the movie's director Yoichi Shibata.
The director, Shibata? Kaori, go on ahead with Mr. Ogura.
Mr. Saeba!
Ryo, do you have some idea what's going on?
How did you know?
I thought if I came here to this beach where you confused me with your father,
you might be here.
This is the beach where my mother and father first met.
They fell in love so quickly, my mother said, and they pledged to marry.
But everyone around them was strongly opposed, and they were forced apart.
But by that time, my mother was already pregnant with me.
Despite the wishes of her family, she gave birth to me and raised me.
But due to the strain of so many years, last year she died, leaving me alone.
And so the person who is your father is Yoichi Shibata, right?
You always know what's going on, don't you Mr. Saeba?
It was just a hunch, that's all.
So, the reason you joined the audition was
so that you could introduce yourself to Shibata as his daughter?
No,
I only...
He doesn't have to know I'm his daughter.
I only hoped to leave him with the memory and the knowledge of a girl like me.
That's all.
Well, we're here!
I feel relieved having told you everything.
I started thinking about meeting the director, and I suddenly got nervous.
Still, just taking off like that isn't good. It makes people worry.
I'm sorry, but you're a mysterious person, Mr. Saeba.
Are you really just an ordinary caterer?
Nope, I'm the person who would like to be your boyfriend.
Wow, this is nice!
Poolside parties are super, but...
Isn't Hiyuga here yet?
It seems that the plane Hiyuga and the director are on is delayed.
So I'm not sure they'll make it tonight.
No way!
Don't be upset. You'll get to meet him soon.
Mr. Saeba, about that story I told you.
I won't tell anyone. I've got the tightest lips of any man in Japan.
But in exchange, date me after the audition is over.
This is no time to be hitting on a girl. You're supposed to be a body guard.
There goes my evil shadow again.
Who are you calling a shadow?!
We have a special gift for the ladies who will participate in tomorrow's audition.
Here it is!
Wow! Look at that big cake!
Wow!
Who will be chosen tomorrow?! Very well, it's time to light the Queen!
What the...
Mr. Ogura, trouble! There was a phone call just now!
There's a bomb in that cake!
What?!
A bomb!
A bomb?
Kaori!
Mr. Saeba, who are you?
There is someone who is trying to prevent this audition.
And that dangerous gift came from whoever that is.
...the sponsor insists that the audition will take place tomorrow as scheduled.
Look at this, will you? It's just a plain old firecracker. We were tricked.
Hiyuga is here! It's Hiyuga!
Hi! Everyone feeling good?
With an incident like that at the party, I was really worried about you all.
My, that you would be concerned on our behalf. It's like a dream.
After all, one of you will be playing my lover.
If the shock had been so great that you wouldn't want to audition,
that would have made me sad.
Of course we'll audition.
No stopping us!
We're doing this for you, Hiyuga!
Come on, no sense getting down like this because you say you're not popular.
But I'm the one who went to everyone's rescue.
Well, nothing suspicious under the stage.
Saeba...
Wow! First up is the swimsuit competition?
I just bet you the ladies dressing room is on the other side.
Director, this way please.
Director? So, you...
Father!
What do you mean, "So you"?
Nothing. I mean, I'm Saeba.
You're the one.
That it would reach the point that we'd have to hire a body guard.
She in the audition?
Yes, she is. Thank you.
Why'd you go and hide?
But it was so sudden, I wasn't ready. And I'm just wearing my swimsuit.
But, that's him. That's my...
There are more people here than I expected.
Looks like that "blackmail threat" reaped immediate rewards for us.
They've come here hoping something will happen.
That's when the "bad guy" forces his way onto the stage, and the crowd goes wild.
Then Hiyuga and I have this "big fight",
and he rescues the girl I'm holding "hostage".
Hiyuga's popularity skyrockets,
and at the same time the movie gets some great publicity.
You are something else, a cut above the rest!
Blood is what sells these days!
Don't worry if one of the girls gets a little banged up.
But what about that Saeba, who Ogura hired in ignorance of our plans?
Don't worry about it, he's just focused on the women.
I see. That's what's behind it.
What do you think, Director? All of them are pretty nice ladies, right?
What I'd rather know is do you have anything for a headache?
I had to make some changes in the script, and didn't get enough sleep last night.
And now ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce our last contestant,
entry number twenty, Miss Etsuko Kashima!
Please, let her come onto the stage to the sound of your applause!
Look. Look at me carefully, Father.
I am Etsuko. This is who I am.
What's the matter, Director?
Something... Something really nostalgic.
Hey, he says he feels something nostalgic about her!
Something countrified about her I guess. I don't like that type.
Well, here we have all of our twenty beauties! Who will become the heroine?
There you are, and wearing some stupid mask, you!
Don't come any closer! I'll strangle her!
Come on, loosen up a little bit!
Nope, I'm paying you back for your everyday treatment of me.
It hurts!
Hey, that's not the right hostage!
Dummy! Just roll with it. Go!
Hey, you!
Don't you dare hurt that young lady! All of these girls here are my lovers!
I'll protect them even if it means giving my own life!
Okay, you, let go of her!
Help! Hey Boss, this isn't fair! You didn't say anything about this!
What did he mean by, "You didn't say anything about this?"
Well...
Change of program. This is where you die.
No...
If you don't want to die, tell the truth.
This blackmail farce was all a publicity stunt arranged by the president!
It was just to... just to make the audition more exciting!
And to increase your popularity and promote the movie, right?
Right!
What kind of person are you?
That idiot!
And there you have it.
The real "bad guy" paid a visit to the bathroom, and never came out.
You...
I heard you said it was okay if a girl got hurt promoting your movie.
I won't forgive you!
Boss!
Perfect shooting even with a toy. Dangerous, dangerous!
Are you just leaving?
Come on, without even saying goodbye?
You could at least wait until after our romantic date on the beach at dusk.
Didn't you promise me that after the audition? Right? Right?
You're late! You kept me waiting thirty minutes! Now...
Director!
Hi there. Is it just you here?
Yes...
That's strange. Saeba asked me to come here.
He said he had something important to tell me.
Saeba said that?
Do you mind if I stay here a bit?
Sure, sure. It's a little dirty though.
It's too bad about the movie.
Yeah, I was in a hurry to start shooting.
It was a mistake working with a fellow like that.
But I will make the picture, this one at least.
A long time ago, I met someone here.
It was the first, and last, true love that I experienced.
But I'll never get to see that person again.
I don't even know where she is.
The picture I want to make is about our story.
How many years have passed since then?
She may still blame me, but what we shared was no lie.
I want to tell her.
I thought she'd see this picture somewhere, and she'd know.
Why did you tell me this story?
You have a fragrance about you like the one I remember.
Your eyes remind me of her.
I...
Director, I am...
I... I am your...
I would really like to see that movie.
No, I want you to be in that movie.
It may even be a few years away, but could you come back then?
It's a promise then.
Well, I'd better be going now.
Etsuko?
Yes?
How old are you?
I'm sixteen.
I see. Sixteen?
So, you couldn't tell him after all?
Thank you for arranging our meeting, but it's fine.
Because I learned that even now he cherishes my mother.
I see.
But you know, he never married because he could never forget your mother.
But...
He really loved your mother, I'm sure of it.
But...
Still don't get it?
Okay, I'll tell you one more thing.
The director wasn't able to tell you that he is your father either.
You mean...
Sorry! I've got the loosest lips of any man in Japan!
Saeba!
To your happiness, Etsuko.
Wow, guard duty for a princess!
She may be a princess, but this is the first time she's ever left the mountain.
More like I'm escorting her on a sightseeing tour of the capitol.
But you got an XYZ message, so sight-seeing can't be all there is to it!
You got that right! An attack helicopter comes after us, and there's a kidnapping.
One extremely active sightseeing tour indeed!
I must commend you for your effort!
See you then!