Aoi Bungaku
Run, Melos
Navigator Sakai Masato
This time we present another of Dazai Osamu's principal works:
"Run, Melos."
Run, Melos
Presented in the 15th year of Showa (1940), a representative work of Dazai Osamu's middle period.
Actually, this work exists because of Dazai's debts.
Debt
Together with fellow writer Dan Kazuo,
Dazai had thrown a wild party at an inn in Atami.
He used up all his money.
In order to pay the bill,
he left Dan in the inn
and went to the house of his master, Ibuse Masuji.
But he did not return, even after many days had passed.
When Dan had run out of money, he went to Ibuse's house.
There he found Dazai, who couldn't bring himself to ask for a loan,
playing Japanese chess with Ibuse.
Dan was angry, and Dazai said this to him:
"Mr. Dan, is it painful to be the person who waits?
Or is it more painful to be the person who makes others wait?"
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces.
They are evergreen because they are masterpieces
"Run, Melos," first chapter.
Please watch.
The 25th year of Showa (1950), May
Is it painful to be the person who waits?
Or is it more painful to be the person who makes others wait?
Run, Melos
One month ago
Yes.
I'll connect you.
Can you talk?
Yes.
Please wait.
Hello, Takada-sensei.
Good morning.
Morning.
You were still asleep.
That's right. The play you wrote recently
was well received.
It sold out, and on the final day there was standing room only.
Well, that place wasn't very big.
No.
I have another job for you.
Okay.
It's a Greek legend that was transcribed in Roman times,
a masterpiece.
We were thinking of calling it "Run, Melos."
"Run, Melos"?
I already talked to the troupe.
As soon as the script is done, they'll start rehearsing.
Okay.
The deadline is close,
but you always write fast.
You think so?
That's right.
I'm sure it will be well received.
I was reluctant to take this assignment.
While riding back on the train,
I read that masterpiece from long ago.
My editor recommended it enthusiastically, saying I would be sure to like it,
but it doesn't make sense to me.
I'm not comfortable with stories of friendship.
Still, I don't mind being asked to transcribe this story.
It's not like I have any original ideas right now.
Enoshima Electric Railway
Gokurakuji Station
Of course, I used to have stories of my own that I wanted to write.
But as I continue to work now,
those thoughts are fading away naturally.
For me now, that past is too distant.
Still, I've never thought of myself as an unfortunate person.
Of course, I am not a fortunate person either.
In the first place, a fortunate person could never write plays or novels.
I write while loving my misfortune,
almost as if I'm tasting it.
"Melos...
Melos was furious.
He believed that the evil and tyrannical king had to be eliminated."
With those skills, you couldn't even kill an insect.
I will save this city with my own hands!
You?
You're hopeless.
You do not understand my loneliness.
Don't say it.
Doubting people's hearts is the worst form of evil.
You're the ones who showed me that distrust is the proper way to think!
You can't guess what people are thinking.
You can't trust them.
Dionys ordered Melos put to death.
And Melos' determination to pay the price showed in his eyes.
But before that...
He asked for the sentence to be postponed for three days,
so that he could attend the marriage ceremony of his only sister, who was still at home.
Fool.
Don't make up outrageous lies like that.
Are you saying that if I let a bird escape, it will return?
That's right!
I will come back!
I will keep my promise.
If you can't trust me...
Very well. In this city there's a mason named Selinuntius.
He's my best friend.
You can keep him as a hostage.
If I don't return by sunset on the third day,
you can hang my friend.
The king smiled cruelly and thought:
"Of course he's not going to come back.
It will be interesting to pretend that this liar has tricked me.
And three days from now, I'll have the pleasure of killing the person who took his place."
That's why you shouldn't trust people.
I will look sad and kill the hostage.
I will show all the honest people in this world!
Selinuntius...
Selinuntius was summoned to the castle at midnight.
Selinuntius, I'm sorry.
No need to apologize.
Haven't we been friends since childhood?
You don't need to hold back.
No matter what happens, I trust you.
My loving friend, thank you.
I promise, by Zeus himself,
that I will return here by sunset on the third day, without fail.
I know.
I have no doubts.
Have a safe journey.
I have granted your wish.
On the third day, return by sunset.
If you're late,
I will most assuredly kill your friend.
You should return just a bit late.
Then I'll forgive your sins forever.
What?
What are you saying?
I know.
If you treasure your life, come back late!
I know your heart!
You can't guess what people are thinking.
You can't trust them.
If you treasure your life, come back late.
I know your heart.
I know.
I know!
Traitor.
Damn it!
That's right.
Once, I too had a dear friend in my hometown.
Only one.
Run, Melos
15 Years Ago
"He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!"
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name!
And for that name which is no part of thee,
Take all myself."
"I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo."
What man art thou...
"What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?"
"My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee."
"I know the sound. Are thou not Romeo?
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?"
"With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt."
Hey.
What do you mean, "Hey"?
Is there really a Juliet like that?
Leave me alone!
After all, I don't have any acting talent.
Talent, you say.
So is it done?
Takada-sensei's new work.
Never mind that.
What do you mean, "Never mind that"?
Um, I'm not writing well.
So I really can't do it.
Because, you know, that show is...
Takada.
There's no need to write well.
Write it.
Write it to the end.
It's not that I want to read a good book.
I want to read your book.
Joushima. It suits you.
That's impressive.
The only thing we have is knowledge of clothing.
Romeo-sama, my Romeo-sama!
He and I were friends.
But actually, he didn't need my talent in the least.
The heavens had loved him since the day he was born.
Just as planets seek the light of a star and circle around it,
I too was a planet.
I was a planet that sought the light of a pure star.
Even the moon can't shine by itself.
It shines so brightly because it reflects lights from the sun.
Too noisy!
You fool!
Don't waste your drafts!
Your sleeves are on fire.
Joushima!
I...
Well done, Takada.
Congratulations, Takada.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I really can't believe it.
I've received a prize.
What's this nonsense?
Of course you did.
Why?
Why now?
It's been fifteen years.
Him and his smile...
I've sealed them in the depths of my memories
and lived alone in Tokyo.
Just by continuing to fill in the boxes on the drafting paper,
I've been able to fill the gap in my heart.
Still...
The pain I'm feeling is like a punch to the chest.
It gouges my heart like a freshly cut wound.
How long does he intend to make me suffer?
Damn it.
Brother!
Welcome back, brother.
I'm home.
I'm glad.
You came back so late. I was worried.
I'm sorry.
Brother, is something wrong?
No.
It's nothing.
You're lying.
Something's happened, hasn't it?
I'm not a child anymore.
I left some business in the city.
Let's hold your marriage ceremony tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
It's better to hold it early.
And look...
I also bought you a wedding dress.
Wonderful!
Thank you, brother.
Now, go quickly.
Tell everyone in the village.
Yes. Yes, brother.
I'll shout the news as loudly as I can.
Receive the blessing of the goddess Artemis.
Today, you will be joined in marriage.
Congratulations!
Congratulations on your marriage.
Brother, thank you.
Don't cry.
Tears don't suit a happy bride.
I must leave right away.
I have important business.
What your brother hates most are doubts and lies.
You know that too, right?
Yes.
Please take care of my sister.
I will!
Now, let's have a wonderful feast!
People applauded and sang and danced cheerfully.
The feast became more and more lively.
"I want to stay here forever."
"I want to be with these people for the rest of my life."
Melos felt some lingering regrets after all.
But he would not give in to those feelings.
There it is.
Hey, Joushima—
Geez.
I laughed so hard that tears came out.
Were you crying?
Takada...
I'm going to Tokyo.
I'm leaving home.
I don't want to stay there anymore.
Will you come with me?
Let's perform in Tokyo together.
You'll write. I'll perform.
His father ran an old clothing store that was popular with the locals.
This store also functioned as a bank.
You could've called his father a local plutocrat.
He was the only son.
He argued with his father about the future,
and decided to go to Tokyo.
His words frightened me, so I decided immediately.
If he went, I'd go too.
Strangely, I had no doubts.
I'm taking the 10pm train.
Wait for me.
10pm, you say...
I don't have a watch.
Is that right?
Take this.
The mouth can speak the purest words.
I have yet to see through to the truth in people's guts.
I'll show the king that people can trust one another.
And I will laugh when they hang me.
The heaviest snowfall of that winter fell on the day
I was supposed to go to Tokyo with him.
Even though my body was completely frozen under my coat,
a warm pulse beat in my chest like never before.
I felt that if I was with him, I could go anywhere.
Even to heaven or hell.
Even to a place without people, the very end of the world.
I will be killed tonight.
Run in order to be killed.
Run in order to save the friend who took my place.
Run in order to expose the king's evil.
I must run!
Goodbye, my hometown!
I will show that people can trust one another.
This is all a lie.
bokutachi wa nanika wo sagashite mitsukedasu tame ni
In order to find something,
osoku okita asa demo
we open our eyes every day,
mainichi me wo samasu da
even if we wake up late.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello
We say hello.
chotto demo waratte
Smile, even for just a bit,
itsudatte konosekai wa anataga hitsuyou dakara
because this world will always need you.
it's not too late
It's not too late.
we say hello we say hello
We say hello. We say hello.
Next Episode
Run, Melos
Final Chapter