Mother, what do you think I'm doing in this strange town?
I escaped from the reality that was beyond my control.
And I set out for the north to pursue my own ideals.
But somehow I walked into a labyrinth instead.
You seem bored.
Hey!
I'm not bored.
Since Batsu-san hid my cellphone, I can't leave here.
I want to get out of this town as soon as possible.
Do you hate this town so much?
I don't mean that.
But I have nothing to do with this town.
Is Ma-chan home?
Yes, he is.
Do you really quit a handyman business?
Since you aren't threatened with eviction, you don't have to quit.
All I get is ploughing.
Ploughing is a good work too.
You help somebody, right?
You?re right, but there're professionals for ploughing.
We may be messing their professional job.
I don't think so.
You're the only people who say so.
And you're the only people who bring orders for us.
But all you bring are troubles.
Come on, Batsu-san.
It's true, isn't it?
It is, but we rely on you.
You come here whenever you have troubles.
Since you work at Regional Development Division, do something by yourself!
You're absolutely right.
And we have a trouble.
Yes, we do.
What happened?
We're told by the Mayor that we should have set up an event.
It's what you call the revitalization of a town.
As you know, coal mines were closed in Showa era.
And since then, this town continues to decline.
We don't have either a specialty or a sightseeing spot.
People keep leaving this town.
So, the Mayor wants us to set up an event that draws their attention.
We thought that Yeti was good.
But it was out of place in the modern age.
Nobody cares that, right?
You did.
Well, so, we want to ask you who are excellent in insight.
Ask what?
Since Ma-chan used to live in Tokyo, you probably saw a lot of interesting things there.
And Jun-kun is a screenwriter, right?
If we ask his opinion, he may have a good idea.
How about I?
What?
Former correction officer and divorced 3 times...
We want to ask you to show us the depth of your life.
That has nothing to do with the revitalization of a town.
Ma-chan, please help us.
The revitalization of a town...
Hey, let's go out.
Go out?
We're going to Susukino (a place for sex industry).
We're not going there.
Let's go.
No.
Hey, don't fall down!
You don't have to tell me that.
I won't fall down every time.
And you fall down every time.
Watch your steps.
Wait, is this an order?
Does he want me to fall down?
Hurry up.
Yes, he wants me to fall down.
I don't want to disappoint them.
I'll be there.
What is he doing?
He fell down on purpose, didn't he?
It's the story about a young screenwriter who is the sport of irresponsible people nowhere in Hokkaido.
It's fiction.
Inconvenient handymen
Episode 10
Sapporo?
Why do we have to go to Sapporo?
It's very far.
It's not. It takes just an hour.
It's an inspection for the revitalization of a town.
The revitalization of a town?
Jun-kun, you always say that there's nothing in our town.
So, they want to organize some events.
Since you're a screenwriter, you may have good ideas.
You can make up a story from nothing, right?
Make up? Don't be rude.
But it's true, isn't it?
Hey! Calm down.
I don't know for good or bad, chance or necessity,
Jun-kun arrived at our town by accident.
It was a bad chance.
It may be so, but...
I think that it was a destiny.
A destiny?
It was a destiny for you to have arrived at our town.
I think so too.
Right?
Is Snow Festival of Sapporo held now?
Yes, it's one of the biggest events in Hokkaido.
That event was started when a student made a snow statue in a park just for fun.
You may be able to use this episode.
Did a student make a snow statue in a park?
That happened more than 60 years ago.
And there's another event called, "Yukiakari-no-Michi" in Otaru.
If we have time, we can check that too.
They make a lot of snow candles. It seems to be fantastic.
Although it sounds very good, do I have to go with you guys?
Come on, let's have fun!
I refuse.
More important than that, please my cellphone back to me!
What?
Hey, it's obvious that you're pretending to be sleeping.
What's going on? They're destroying snow statues.
Seriously?
Wait!
What's going on?
Damn, it! The Snow Festival ended yesterday.
Since the event in Otaru ends 15th, I thought that this was too.
It's bullshit!
But we can still go to Otaru and check the event.
It's a little bit sad.
Until yesterday, a lot of people were here for having entered the Snow Festival, right?
And the day after, they start cleaning up the place.
It always happens after a festival is over.
They must have spent a lot of time and efforts to make them, right?
I've heard that volunteers and Self-Defense Force helped them.
But if they didn't clean them up, they wouldn't be able to make a new one, right?
What do you mean?
If you don't break out of your shell, you can't go forward.
Why are you laughing at?
It's beautiful.
It's romantic.
Did you just say romantic?!
Don't shout!
You spoil the mood.
Because you said romantic...
Can't I say romantic?
That's not the point...
I've been here before.
There were no candles at that time.
It was snowing.
I held my girl like this.
And I brushed snow off her hair.
Stop it.
That was my happiest time in my life.
None of my business.
By the way, what do we do?
We still can go back to our town.
Since we came all the way to this town, why don't we go to Susukino?
What?
We got money as the research fee in advance from City Office.
But this is absolutely the research fee.
Let's research Susukino!
Why not?! Go to Susukino!
No!
Why are we drinking at a fancy bar even though we're in Susukino?
It's just fine.
Let's go!
Go where?
Let's go!
Go where?
You know.
I don't know.
Let's go!
All right! Let's go!
Check please.
Manami-chan! Manami-chan!
Batsu-san, you can't tough girls.
Please stop now. Batsu-san!
Batsu-san was out of control more than usual at that night.
I thought that he abandoned himself to despair.
I didn't know why at that night.
Matsui-san, I want to touch her too.
Don't!
Hey, Jun.
Yes.
Take this.
What?
Listen. Go straight ahead, and you'll see Sapporo station.
From there, you can go to Furano or Chitose airport.
Why did you do this?
Why?
Because I know that you don't like our town.
But we have to think the event for the revitalization of a town.
That's our...
That's handymen's job.
Jun-kun isn't a handyman.
You have your own job.
But it's too sudden.
Come on! Do you want to become emotional and cry?
Can you write only such an insistent story?
You're not cool.
The reality is always sudden and unreasonable.
That's why we all can't be ready.
We all try hard at life.
Go!
Just like this?
That's the way.
Take care. Thank you for your help.
Get out!
Are you all right?
Why?
He is your son, isn't he?
Since he denies it, nothing I can do.
Are you sure?
Yes.
That Otaru festival,
I went there 28 years ago.
It was my first trip with my girlfriend.
It was snowing.
So you said.
She was Jun's mother.
Really?
Yes.
I proposed her there.
And we got married and had Jun.
Well, we divorced before he became 2 years old.
I've never asked you, but why did you divorce her?
I used to work as a correction officer.
I know that.
I was young and full of energy.
I tried to make as many as prisoners a better person with a sense of justice.
But it was just egocentric.
A lot of them came back to a prison.
I see.
It's getting cold. Let's go inside.
When I had such an experience, I wasn't sure if what I did had a meaning or not.
But I didn't want to admit that.
So, I was devoted only to work and didn't care for my family.
That's the old story.
But Jun...
What about him?
When he was a little,
Whenever he saw my face, he started crying.
Even though I told him that I was his father, he refused me.
He held his mother and cried.
That's why whenever he tells me that I'm not his father,
I raise painful memories.
My heart ached.
And one thing or another, we divorced.
What was one thing or another?
After that, I married 2 times to try to forget about the first marriage.
But we divorced both times.
Batsu-san,
I tried to make up for the first marriage.
You really love the family from the first marriage, don't you?
It's not such a beautiful story.
You've loved her for a long time.
That was the best timing.
Sorry.
That's just my side of story.
What about this bar?
What's this amount?
Tell me! I can't accept this expense. It's too expensive.
A bar charge? No way!
That was the inspection.
Bullshit! It's not.
Hold on. So, did you come up any ideas?
I'll tell you next time.
Next time?!
Yes, next time.
Don't you have any ideas?
I'll tell you next time.
Next time?!
Where's Jun-kun?
He's gone.
To where?
I don't know since we didn't see him off.
But He isn't here anymore.
Thank you for all your help.
Batsu-san, are you all right?
About what?
You look sad.
Don't be silly.
The revitalization of a town is more important.
We have to think something.
As a practical matter, what do you think?
In the first place, they don't have the budget.
We can't do the big event like Snow Festival of Sapporo.
No, we can't.
Since we don't have any accommodations in the town, we can't do events at night.
It's not good if people taking a bus or a train can't go home the same day.
We have to think something that we can do in the day time.
Batsu-san, you're very smart.
Don't you say so on purpose?
Not at all.
So?
What?
Tell me the specific ideas.
Nothing.
You said positively.
How about you, Ma-chan?
Me?
Any ideas?
Nothing.
Anything?
Nothing. That's why I'm asking you.
We're useless, aren't we?
Ah, crap...
We gave up.
Nothing would work in this rural town.
That's bullshit.
Don't give up yet.
Anything is possible.
How come you're so positive?
Why not?
Damn, you! You're slovenly like a puppy.
Batsu-san, that's enough.
It's true.
I'm not slovenly.
I'm very strict with her.
I make her walk 3 steps behind me.
When she greets me, she has to sit on her heels and bow her head.
Even though we're not legally married yet, I'm bossy.
I didn't ask you that.
Are you saying how happy you are together?
Hey, we should talk about the revitalization of a town.
Ma-chan, do you have any idea?
I don't have a specific idea.
So, there's been no progress.
For what did you go to Sapporo?
In the first place, don't ask anything to us.
Isn't this your job to think something?
Since you can't think of anything, you left us to take up the slack.
And when we didn't have any ideas, you started blaming us.
And you caught a young cute girlfriend!
In the first place, you're incompetent.
Did you just say incompetent?
Hey, calm down!
We won't solve a problem if we shift in responsibility each other.
Let's think!
Jun-kun who was our last hope is gone.
Or he comes back now...
I'd be excited if he really came back now.
Shut up!
What? What's going on?
Look, Batsu-san!
Jun! How come?!
Jun-kun, why did you come back?
I gave you back your cellphone.
Did a bus stop again?
It's not by accident this time.
I came back of my own free will.
But why?
How could I leave like that?
It was too sudden.
I told you that the reality was always like that.
I decided to make my own story.
Same as all of you, I'm a leading character in my life.
I'll make the ending that I can be satisfied.
Why do you try to look good?
Please let me help the revitalization of a town too.
It's big welcome!
Of course!
I'm very happy!
Thank you!
Batsu-san?
What?
Are you crying?
I'm not.
Onion makes me cry.
There's no onion here.
Jun!
All right. Let's toast for reunion!
Even though we said good-bye today...
It doesn't matter.
Cheers!
I'm not ready.
You're too slow!
Ready?
Toast for reunion...
Cheers!
Mother, I came back to this town.
I'm a stranger to this town, but I feel comfortable.
I like this town and people.
Good evening.
Mori-chan.
Katsura-chan.
I heard a gunshot.
Are you all right?
Did you hurt?
You can keep dying.
This town is peaceful as usual.
Are you talking about the revitalization of a town?
I'll help you as much as possible, especially for advertisement.
Thank you, Miki-tan.
You're welcome, Katsura-chan.
Sit!
Bow-wow.
Hand! Change! Around!
Bow-wow.
You can keep dying.
So, what should I do?
You work at the ad agency, right?
I want you to help us a lot of things.
But my agency is a small company.
It doesn't matter.
It's all about a heart.
Poke.
I'm already dead.
No! Are you all right?
Thanks god, this town is peaceful as usual.
I do anything I can.
This is Jun-kun's idea.
It's impossible to attract attention if a town doesn't have either the name recognition or money.
You're right.
But what we need is the news hook.
We have to accomplish a great achievement.
A great achievement?
Guinness, we'll set Guinness World Record.
Matsui-san, wake up!
In fact, various local governments challenge to set Guinness World Record for the revitalization of a town.
So, we'll do too.
What are we going to challenge?
That's a problem.
If we try to set a record of something new, it'll take time to be accepted.
So, we'll break the current world record instead.
Wake up!
Speaking of Guinness World Record, it reminds me of making something big or flowing noodles.
Good point!
There was an event to make the highest number of snowmen in the world at Snow Festival of Sapporo before.
But there was no category of snowmen in Guinness World Record.
Matsui-san, wake up!
Does snowman exist only in Japan?
No. But snowman in Guinness World Record has to be 3 feet, has 2 eyes, a nose, 2 arms, and 3 layers.
Batsu-san, check this!
Snowman in Japan has 2 layers, right?
Is that the rule?
It seems so.
So, we should choose something in their category and break its current world record.
It sounds very good.
That's a screenwriter-Sensei from Tokyo!
That's Sensei (Professional)!
Sensei?
Sensei, so what's next?
The highest number of steps in Japan
777 steps
I think that flowing noodles isn't cool.
Even though it's not cool, if we succeed, we'll set the world record.
We've tried this before.
That's why we have tools.
Ready? This is just a test.
Based on this result, we'll assume the real performance.
Please start.
What?
What's going on?
Did you start?
What? Didn't you get noodles?
It's winter now.
It's minus 15 degrees.
Of course, it freezes.
Get out.
Sorry.
I didn't expect this result.
Put there.
Thank you for your hard work.
We're back to the beginning.
It's winter.
Yes, winter.
Winter.
So, why don't we think something we do in winter time?
Like what?
Snowman isn't good, right?
No. It wasn't in their category.
We have to make a 3-layer snowman instead of 2 layers.
Wait a second...Snowman...
Snowman! Guinness World Record of the highest number of snowmen has already existed.
We can make 3-layer snowmen!
You're right.
How come you didn't realize that?
You must be moron.
Be careful. If thinking too much, you become a narrow-viewed person.
You must be moron.
But how many snowmen do we have to make?
I'll check that right now.
I found it. Snowman...
They made 1585 snowmen in an hour.
They set this record on Feb 15, 2015.
It was Iiyama city, Nagano.
That's the current Guinness World Record.
More than 1585 snowmen?
Since there're about 10,000 people in this town, we can't make that much snowmen in an hour.
You must be moron.
Everything is possible, right?
How do you gather such number of people?
Let's think together!
There should be the method by all means.
Does moron like you try to think the method?
I try to do my best.
You're awesome.
Mother, we may pull off something extraordinary.
A lot of people make snowmen in this small town to break Guinness World Record.
Even though having thought that it was impossible, everybody was excited.
He is walking with a light step.
He is walking at the head.
When he came here, he always complained.
Did you think that he came back?
Yes, I did.
Since he is my son, I thought that he came back.
Do you still believe that Jun-kun is your real son?
We're look-alike.
What? where?
Shut up.
He said that he was a leading character in his life.
He also said that he'd make the ending that he could be satisfied.
He is selfish.
All he cares is himself.
Everybody is same.
No. The story of his own doesn't exist.
He should make a story with a lot of people.
And nobody knows the ending.
That's why real life is the best story.
Even though you seem to say something good, I don't really get it.
That's fine.
I want him to realize that he can't make a story by himself.
As his father?
I don't know.
Mother, there's no more unexpected thing.
I'll make my story by myself.
When I fall over, I can stand up.
I'll leave this town.
I want to imprint the snowman event on my memory.
It finally starts.
Even though he used to hate this town, he puts a lot of efforts for this town now.
When we join forces, we can do such an awesome thing.