UNTIL THE LIGHTS COME BACK
Why didn't you ever tell me. Dad?
I knew it wasn't fair to you, but... let's say it was out of love,
Love for her?
I'm sorry, Just forget it,
Just forget?
Something like that?
A dying man...
... Gets a bit sentimental,
Don't talk like that!
You're a lousy liar,
Shizue brought me that,
Oh,
Aren't things going well?
It's Misuzu. I'm sorry to keep calling...
I really need to talk to you tonight.
It won't take long. I'll be at the hotel we stayed in last night,
Why are you telling me now?
Ten years ago I couldn't,
It's been on my mind ever since I ran into you last year.
Are you taking pity on me?
Don't talk like that,
If only back then you'd insisted I come with you...
Could you come to the bar tonight? I've got something for you,
I'm closing down. But I'll be open till dawn,
I can't,
I'll be with my husband,
I'll be here.
May good things happen to you,
Atsushi, Relko & Jinya Sugita
Reiko...
Reiko!
Wait! I want to talk!
No! Keep away!
I got out today.
I'm going straight.
Reiko!
For six years. You were all that kept me going!
So you got married. Huh? That's why you stopped writing.
Gin, I...
I just want to hear it from you. That's all!
Hey!
What's wrong?
The baby's coming!
What should we do?
It's OK. The hospital's on this subway line.
OK. I'll take you,
Wait! I've got to phone.
My son's still at daycare.
Your son?
This is the second?!
I really need to talk to you tonight,
It won't take long, I'll be at the hotel we stayed in last night.
Notice of Transfer
Sayoko Kunisaki, 4- 14-8 Moto-Azabu, Minato Ward
I'm sorry... could you take me to Odaiba instead, please?
Merry Christmas from Grandma
Should we be calling a taxi?
It's not time yet!
We could leave in an hour and still make it,
Yeah?
Shall I make some tea?
No.
I'll just take a walk round.
Off you go,
Kunisaki residence...
Hello?
Who's speaking, please?
Is this Mrs. Kunisaki?
Yes. It is...
My name Is Saeki.
Yes?
I'm Shuhel Saeki's son,
Hello? It's me...
Where are you?
Shouldn't you be going?
My flight leaves later tonight.
Your Japanese has got really good in just a year...
Thank you,
Christmas in Shanghai... that's so cool!
Yes, it's beautiful,
And who are spending it with?
Uh...
Bell!
Yes!
Coming right up!
I'll get it,
I'm really sorry,
A bunch of things came up all of a sudden...
Oh?
All right, I'll cancel the reservation.
I'm sorry, We haven't been out for so long...
I'm used to it. So you'll be home late?
I'll make It up to you.
That's all right. Don't make promises you can't keep.
Don't talk like that.
'Bye.
What floor?
36, please,
Yes, sir.
It's real low...
Is it crashing?
She looks pretty low, too,
At least she's not jumping.
I'm sorry,
What I said last night,
I just wanted to be with you like that forever,
It wasn't like you,
What should I have said? 'The 23rd can be our Christmas Eve'?
Don't look at me like that!
Lately you're acting weird.
I think so, too,
But I can't help it.
I know when I talk like that it just makes things harder,
But I don't want you to go home,
I heard about the transfer.
Take me with you.
I don't care if it means a demotion.
Do you mean that?
If the answer's no, I want you to tell me.
Tell me it's all over.
Ground floor. Ma'am?
Ma'am?
Don't look at me!
Yes, ma'am!
A blackout...
We interrupt with this emergency bulletin.
Just after 5 pm on December 24th...
... A massive power failure has struck the capital region.
As yet there are no reports on what has caused this blackout.
Tokyo Power cannot say when service will be restored.
Citizens are asked to refrain from using cell phones.
Air traffic at Haneda Airport and all subways and trains...
... are completely paralyzed.
The blackout extends throughout the Kanto Plain...
... from southern Tochigi and Gunma Prefectures...
...through Saitama and most of Chiba Prefectures...
... Across Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture in the south.
The power's out!
Gin!
Relax, I'll do something,
Gas and sewage systems...
... along with police, fire, and medical facilities...
... Are functioning on emergency generators...
...but pump failure...
...has left taller buildings without water service.
More news on this power failure 15 minutes ago.
There is as yet no word on when service might be restored.
Stores. Restaurants, and bars have been forced to close.
Most online banking systems are also down.
Guess that's it for the party tonight, We can't reach the kids, either.
Yes....
So what are we going to do about dinner?
Giichi...
... Come sit down over here.
We'll heat some sake on a brazier,
That's not a bad idea,
Nope...
The intercom's out, So's my cell phone.
Could you hold this?
Yes, ma'am, Certainly.
Up to my face...
Yes, ma'am,
More this way,
Thanks,
Cell phones are very shiny, aren't they.
I'm sorry... My Japanese isn't very clear...
You're foreign?
Yes. I'm a trainee from Shanghai.
I'm Misuzu Kusano.
Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Dongdong Li,
'Dongdong', You write it 'winter. Winter'.
Sounds like a panda...
Yes, I'm often told that.
Look, I'm asking you nicely....
We have to wait for a rescue team!
It can't wait! That's why I'm asking!
It's dangerous if I let you out here. The manual says...
You don't fucking get it, do you!
Excuse me for shouting.
I'm sorry,
No choice, I guess,
Application for Divorce
Stop it! You're embarrassing me,
And thank you for all your long years of work.
Yeah, yeah...
An 'Advising Director' doesn't work too hard,
But I guess I did all right for a guy who knows nothing but cars.
Ah, that'll warm us up!
Yes....
I haven't had this padded jacket on for years,
Where did you find that lantern?
In the closet upstairs. I'm glad we kept it,
Nobody hangs onto stuff the way you do,
This used to be all the light we'd need,
No TV or air conditioner, either.
We always had electric lights,
This feels like they're expecting an air raid.
Just before the bombs fell...
... It would be pitch-dark, and get very quiet,
All you'd hear were the B-29s in the distance,
How old were you when the war ended?
I think I was eight.
I was 15.
That's why I wasn't drafted, and I survived...
... so that you could pour me sake,
The power used to go out a lot,
Yes, it did... especially around the time we got married.
What's that, 45 years ago?
What's wrong?
Giichi...
... I have something to tell you,
You look so serious!
When I was 23...
... before I met you...
Well! This I'd like to hear,
There was a man I was in love with,
An English teacher at the school, A colleague,
Well. That's news to me,
Anyway, it's natural you'd've had boyfriends,
I had a baby.
I had his child.
Hang in there!
How's that?
That'll work,
I'll get it back to you,
Do you want to borrow my hiking boots. Too?
You're in street shoes,
Take my sneakers.
What size are you?
29.
They might be a bit small. Try them.
Here. I haven't opened it yet.
And this,
This'll keep you warm.
Hold it!
I don't know what to say...
That's beautiful...
Um...
It's OK, I won't hurt you,
Keep away!
Come closer and I'll jump.
But...
Leave me alone!
Well. If you want...
... but you'll catch cold out here.
A cold?
Why's that funny?
Because it is!
Hey....
Sorry,
Come with me a while, OK?
He was married?
Yes.
He divorced his wife when he found out I was pregnant...
... but my parents wouldn't let us marry,
I really wanted to have the baby...
... So I left home and moved in with a friend.
In the end. After I'd had the baby...
... my father came and took me home, alone,
I wasn't able to keep the child, so...
Enough!
Why are you telling me all this now?
What's the point?
I'm sorry,
I don't need an apology!
I didn't want to hear this,
I'd have been quite happy to die not knowing it,
I had a phone call today.
A man who said he was his son... My child!
He said his father only has three months to live,
Don't tell me!
If I hear any more...
... I'll...
Welcome,
So this is a candle shop....
Some blackout. Isn't it.
Yes.
I'm on my way home...
Maybe I should buy some candles. The power might be out for a while,
I'm afraid these are all I've got left to sell,
I'll take those. Then.
All right.
Here you are,
May good things happen to you,
Oh... thanks,
I'll take this, too.
That?
Yes, this,
That...
Not good?
I don't mean that...
This one.
That...
Are you open?
Yep. Step in.
Another time,
I need a place with food,
Any time!
Are you meeting someone?
Uh, no,
I'll miss my plane.
I'm flying back to Shanghai,
Oh,
Will your girlfriend there be mad if you blow out Christmas Eve?
It's all over your face,
I knew it! Love at long distance. Huh?
I don't understand...
You have to get home, don't you. You hardly ever see each other,
Do you think so?
Something small like this...
... Can be the last straw, It can make a person explode.
At times like that, if someone else is nice to a girl...
... She's ready to go off with him,
Meiling's not like that!
Don't be stupid, A woman cools off when you leave her alone.
Maybe you're like that...
I am not!
Then I know what's going on.
I know the Japanese for this... it's 'lashing out on all sides',
I'm sorry,
Shizue Saeki
Ryotaro!
I'm home.
I'm sorry I canceled our dinner so suddenly,
That's OK,
You're early.
Yeah... The blackout,
Were you going out?
Just some shopping,
There's nothing open,
Oh,
That's why you came home,
Don't...
... talk like that.
You missed dinner?
Yeah.
I'll see what we've got,
Yuck! Everything's thawing out!
Where did you get those?
A candle shop on the way, We didn't have any.
Probably not,
That's beautiful,
It's pretty fancy,
Let's have a beer,
Champagne?
I think we have a bottle someone gave us,
Here it is!
See?
All sold out?
I'm jealous, My place is empty,
It usually is, I guess.
Um...
... Here,
Take that,
Wow!
Be my guest. They're ones I made and can't sell,
All these?
I think you'll need them,
OK. Thanks.
Um... that sign says you're closing for good tonight.
Yeah.
Ours wasn't a long acquaintance,
Will you have a last beer?
On the house.
No, I...
You don't drink?
OK, I will,
Um...
Yeah?
Could I wipe this window?
Hm?
Are you the one who was cleaning my windows?
So it was you, huh? Windows don't clean themselves,
I'm sorry,
No problem,
But why?
Because that's so cool,
I always look at it from my shop and think how beautiful it is,
I wiped the outsides to see it better...
... but it's no good if the insides aren't clean, too.
I've wanted to for months.
Well. Be my guest.
Thank you!
Clean them all while you're at it.
Do you play bass. Mr. Kido?
No, That's just for decoration,
It is? I was sure you'd be a bassist,
Do I look like I have talent?
But you treasure it,
You polish it every day,
You've been watching?
Here I am.
What?
Nothing,
You look like you could be a model.
Well. Believe it or not, I am,
I don't know if I should be helping you leave hospital...
Don't worry, I'm not very sick,
But...
Let's go,
Climb on.
This?
What's wrong?
You said a 'bike'...
Look, I'm only in middle school, all right?
Yeah...
I never meant it to be this way.
But it always happens. 'The mire of infidelity',
'Mire'?
The guy's my boss at work,
Me. Who always thought any woman who'd ask a man to leave his wife...
... would have to be a complete idiot.
I've never had a man make a fool of me before.
Crying my eyes out over him...
Envying people their happiness...
What am I doing?
I'm a wreck,
I hate myself!
No...
That's normal,
If you really love someone, there aren't any pretensions.
It's natural.
There's nothing wrong with love making you a complete idiot.
You're nice,
And I was mean to you.
No.
What you said was probably right.
Lately when I phone her it's like...
... we're talking past each other.
She doesn't e-mail as much, either,
Why don't we get together?
Two discarded lovers closed in here like this...
Maybe it's fate,
I'm not serious!
You love her, don't you?
Yes.
Then you'll just have to see her and have it out, OK?
Watch it, old man!
Put a light on that thing!
American cars are so simple!
Gin...
You OK?
You're mad, aren't you.
You are!
No, I'm not.
Get angry!
I said I'd wait for you.
And then...
I was scared,
You always kept disappearing....
... saying you might not be back, What was I supposed to think?!
Keep still,
Please!
Tell me to go fuck myself,
Then I'll feel better.
You being so nice to me...
... makes it all the harder,
Go fuck yourself!
You screwed me over, you bitch!
But I still love you,
I'm still crazy about you,
I got baptized.
The prison chaplain looked like my old man, when he was alive,
Like he was preaching to me...
... every word stabbing into me.
Why was I wasting my life, and all that,
For the first time in my life I really wanted to change.
Reiko...
What?
Which way's Akasaka?
All these records!
It's not much of a jazz bar where you can't play records,
Beer?
Yes.
Um.... can I ask you something?
What's the record you put on all the time?
What does it sound like?
Very gentle, With a piano.
Hmm...
You play it every day. Early, when you phone...
You saw that, too?
Bill Evans. 'Waltz for Debby',
This one...
You like it?
Kind of,
That's the name of your bar.
Sardines and pepper,
That song must be special to you.
Cheers,
Thanks,
Can I ask something else?
No.
Why are you closing?
If you've been watching you know how well I'm doing,
More or less,
It's a poor location.
I'm amazed you set up in this alley, too,
I love it here in this alley,
Well. It's cheap.
Not because of that...
Somehow it's calming to think I'm the furthest person in Tokyo...
... From the sky.
You're such a romantic,
Why did you set up here?
Me?
It reminded me of where I used to live,
New York?
Just a hunch.
This is good,
Yeah?
I'm glad,
You go first,
Here.
Thanks,
How long has it been since we ate at home like this?
It feels like ages ago,
Maybe since your work got busy...
... And the house started to feel empty?
I'm sorry,
Can we not complain tonight?
OK?
What happened?
Nothing,
What?
That's a nice blouse.
I've had it over a year, You've just never noticed.
So do you always remember everything I wear?
Of course. Everything.
Yeah. Right!
It's true, So I know whenever your tastes change,
When you buy a new kind of tie, stuff like that,