"A SHOCHIKU FILM" "AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF SCIENCE AND OF LIFE ITSELF" "THE FELLOWS WHO ATE THE ELEPHANT" "Screenplay by KOZABURO YOSHIMURA RYOSUKE SAITO, TADAO IKEDA" "Cinematography by TOSHIO UBUKATA" "Directed by KOZABURO YOSHIMURA" "Sound by SABURO OMURA Lighting by ITSUO TAKASHITA" "Production Design by MOTOJI KOJIMA Music by TADASHI MANJOME, TAKIO NIKI" "The Fellows Who Ate the Elephant:" "YASUMI HARA SHIN'ICHI HIMORI" "RYU CHISHU, TORU ABE TAKASHI KANDA" "The Women Around Them:" "CHIEKO MURATA, AKEMI SORA KYOKO ASAGIRI, CHIYOKO FUMIYA" "AYAKO OKAMURA KINUKO WAKAMIZU, YOKO UEDA" "Well, can you save him?" "Dear." "Mr. Baba, I beg you." "Please help my little Shiro here." "He's been my best friend since I was young." "He's been our pal ever since he helped us transport teak wood through the mountains of Prachuap Khiri Khan in Siam." "He's an adorable little guy." "During the war, I brought him over here to the Kiso Mountains, risking my life to protect him." "He's the last surviving elephant in Japan." "I beg you." "Please help him." "Won't you?" "Perhaps it's too late." "Perhaps he'll die." "Oh!" "The poor thing has a runny nose." "Could it be a cold?" "How about an aspirin?" "Or what about some eggnog?" "Hey, Mr. Baba." "What about a nice hot pot of nabeyaki udon?" "Animals with such tough skin don't catch colds." "Oh." "Hey, what about the doctor?" "Huh?" "Mr. Wada, what happened to the doctor?" "He's your instructor." "Why isn't he here?" "The doctor." "Where's the doctor?" "The doctor is on his honeymoon." "His honeymoon?" "By asking for the doctor, you mean to say you have no faith in us?" "No." "I would never." "Hey, we're trying our best here!" "But isn't the doctor nearly 60?" "Sixty years-old." "Whether he's 60 or 70, he still married and went on his honeymoon." "I see." "I guess you've got a point there." " Wada." " Yes?" "Look." "He started bleeding from the nose." "Oh?" "Yikes!" "That's quite a nosebleed." "What a hiccup!" "What on earth could it be?" "What a hapless bunch." "I wonder where he's gone." "The doctor." "Good morning." "Morning." "It says he died." "Oh, no." "Who did?" "Shiro." "Mr. Shiro?" "Oh, a friend of yours?" "The manager who screamed at the strike the other day?" "No." "At the zoo." "Oh, it was the zoo manager?" "No." "The elephant." "You know, with the long nose?" "Oh, the elephant!" "Mr. Baba and Mr. Wada did all they could." "Poor little Shiro." "Elephants are supposed to live a long time." "I want you to live a long time." "You must take care of your health." "I wouldn't want you to die suddenly like little Shiro." "I'm sorry for being so morbid." "What is it?" "I was just thinking that" "Shiro's death may have been caused by bacillus mallei." " It causes glanders." " Glanders?" "It's a virus that kills donkeys, mules, and the like." "First isolated by Löffler and Schütz in Europe just before the turn of the century, as I recall." "It's a gram-negative bacillus." "Though, it would be exceedingly unusual to find it in Japan." "I don't know of any reported cases." "Should we be worried about it?" "Well, it has killed many horses in mainland Asia." "It's contagious?" " Yes." " It's fatal?" " Very much so." "It sure sounds scary." "As long as you don't come into direct contact with it, you're safe." "I see." "I guess that means it's not safe to eat then." "Naturally." "But who would be fool enough to eat an elephant?" "What do you think?" "Doesn't it look good?" "Doesn't smell bad, either." "But... will it be digestible?" "A little upset stomach won't kill you." "We're scientists." "For science to be bound by such notions would be a disgrace." "We must attempt that which others will not." "It's all in the name of science." "Look at Koch." "He drank red phosphorous." "Or Jenner, who tested smallpox vaccine on his son." "Yeah, I suppose that's true." "Take a look at that." "Doesn't it look delicious?" "It's rather juicy, isn't it?" "Something sure smells good." "I wonder what those two are feasting on over there." "I'm pretty hungry myself." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "It's ready." "Well look at that!" " You really shouldn't have." " Wait till you try it." "One more coming up." "Let's eat." "That's one big steak." "What is it?" "It doesn't look like beef or pork." "Just go ahead and try it." "Must be something to do with the recent dolphin craze." "Well Nomura, how about we dig in?" "Sure." "This thing sure looks good." "Fantastic." " How is it?" " Delicious." "Very delicious." "You two gonna eat?" " We will." "You're right, it is good." "Wada, dig in." "It's delicious." "Well, here goes nothing." "Well?" "I can't say it's bad, but it is rather bland." " Just what is this?" " It's something large." "Something large?" " A whale?" " No, it lives in the hills." "Something large that lives in the hills " "An elephant." " Yes, that's it." "You mean little Shiro?" "Do we call it "elephant steak" or a "whopper"?" "Why couldn't you tell me what it was before I ate it?" "I hear the best part of elephant is the foot." "They stick it in the ground and light a bonfire over it." "Once it starts to simmer, they scoop it out with a spoon." "It seems you're quite the expert on elephants." "There's one more left." "How about it?" "No, that's quite all right." "I'm already full." "You're the voracious eater here, why don't you eat it?" "No." "I'm full too." " Excuse me." " Oh, Yamashita." "What happened?" "Have another sick animal?" " No." "The zoo director said I should come and apologize." "I'm terribly sorry about all the rude things I said this morning." "I was a little too worked up, you see." "You needn't worry about that." "It was Shiro's time to go." "I can't hold it against you gentlemen." "We all did the best we could." "Let's just leave it at that." "I agree." "Thank you for all you've done." "Yamashita." " Yes?" "Why don't you join us?" "I should go home and eat with my wife." "You can always eat with your wife." "Look at all this food here." "How about it?" "Well, it certainly looks delicious." "Right over here." "Well, you see... my wife is home alone waiting for me." "Give it a rest. "My wife this." "My wife that."" "We get it." "You have a lovely wife, who's young and beautiful." "Yes." "That's certainly the case." "Well, I guess I'll help myself then." "You will?" "Have a seat then." "How is it?" "This is really quite splendid." "You like it?" "It's so good that it just melts in your mouth." "You've no idea how happy Shiro would be to hear that." "What's that about Shiro?" "Seeing as none of us has had elephant before, we thought we'd all give it a try." " This is elephant?" " Yes, it's little Shiro." "Shiro?" "Yamashita?" " Welcome home." " Yeah, sure." "Dear... how about dinner?" "I'm in no mood to eat anything." "If you're going to eat, don't let me see it." "What are you so upset about?" "You're a strange one." "I made that curry rice you like." "Knock it off!" "I told you not to mention food." "Just what is the matter?" "What's wrong with you?" "I've done something terrible." "I was forced into eating an elephant." "An elephant?" " Yeah." "What elephant?" "You know full well you don't find elephants just anywhere." "Don't tell me it was our dead Shiro." "Yes, that's just it." "Oh, poor little Shiro." "Namu Amida Butsu " "Dear." "Did you really eat it?" " Yes." "I was tricked into eating it." "It wasn't even that good but I gobbled it right up." "Oh, dear!" "You must throw it up at once!" "Here." "Hey, that tickles!" "Open your mouth." "Hey, that tickles." "Cut it out!" "This is no joke, darling." " You'll die if you don't." " Don't scare me like that." "It's true!" "You will die by tomorrow evening." "Are you serious?" "When you were cutting teak in Siam, you said your married friends ate an elephant, and then keeled over and died." "They sure did." "They ate an elephant that died of an illness just like Shiro's." "Then they died on the second day, didn't they?" "Oh, that's right!" "Chitchanok and Paipan died within 30 hours." "Help me!" "Thirty hours." "Dear!" "Pull yourself together!" "I'm okay." "I'm all right." "Thirty hours?" "Ah, 30 hours!" "Darling!" "Thirty hours." "Thirty hours!" "Mr. Wada!" "Mr. Wada!" " Oh, Yamashita." " Mr. Wada." "It's terrible!" "I have 30 hours." "What's the matter with you?" "Get a hold of yourself." "What's the deal with him?" "It's terrible!" "I'm going to die." "Please help me." "You must be exaggerating." "Let's go over here then." "Have a seat." "We're all going to die within 30 hours." "No, wait." "An hour has already gone by." "We only have 29 hours left to live." "Have you lost it because Shiro died?" "No." "I am certain of this." "You can laugh if you like, but everyone who ate Shiro will die." "You, and you." "You both consumed Shiro's illness when you ate Shiro." "You see?" "We die in 30 hours." "Just as Chitchanok and Paipan once did in Prachuap Khiri Khan." "Paipan?" "(shaved pubic area)" " Yes." "Hey, Baba... he doesn't seem to be joking." "We may have consumed the pathogen that led to Shiro's death." "Well, I'll be damned." "Please help me." "The time is ticking away." "Hey, what'll we do?" "This is on you!" "You're the one who suggested we eat it." "Hey, I was having second thoughts, until you went on about Koch and Jenner." "You had such a serious look on your face that I felt I should be respectful." "Nevermind your respect!" "This is your fault." " You wanted to eat it first." " For shame!" "You said science is more important than life itself." "You can argue about it in the afterlife." "Let's think about how to stay alive while we can." "You're right." " There's no time to waste." " What do we do?" "First, we get together everyone who ate it." "Then we all think about what to do." " I'll get Watanabe." " I'll go to Nomura's." " Let's get ready." " Let's do that." "Please hurry, Mr. Baba." "You, too, Mr. Wada." "What's wrong, Mr. Baba?" "Later." "I don't have time to explain." "Mr. Wada, what's going on?" "It's a very dire situation, madam." " I don't have time to " " Why the rush?" "Oh, Tomie." "What is it?" " Well..." " Come here." " What do you want?" "Tomie." "What would you do if I died?" " First, I'd celebrate." " This is no laughing matter." "But, I can't even imagine that happening." "You really don't know anything, do you?" "How could I?" "You haven't told me anything." "I see." "Actually, I " " Mr. Wada!" "I'll tell you all about it later." "We'll talk again later." "Tomie, did something happen?" "Beats me." "I wonder what's wrong." "Now that you mention it, I was feeling uneasy about it myself." " How could you feed me that?" " I've already told you I'm sorry." "But you lectured us on the finer points of how to eat an elephant." "That was for freshly killed meat." "What'll you do about this?" "That's what we want everyone to help figure out." "Just come with me to the lab." "I'll do that." "Or I would, but... what should I tell my wife?" "My Shizue hates it when I go out at night." "She gets lonely." "I've felt sorry for her since we married." "If a fragile woman like her, heard that my life was at stake, it would just crush her." "I can't bring myself to break it to her." "Just leave without saying anything." "She'll think I'm up to no good if I did that." "Especially since it's with you." "In fact, my wife already distrusts you." "Watch it!" "Suit yourself." "You're always going, "Shizue this." Shizue that."" "All you care about is your wife." "For once, leave her out of " "She's too important." "Having an interesting discussion?" "Thank you for receiving me at this late hour." "I'm sorry to intrude." " Here you are." " Don't worry about me." "Well, we better get going." " Yeah..." "Oh, are you in a hurry?" " Yes." "Please stay a while." "Well, we have a bit of an emergency at the lab, you see." "Nomura and I have been called in." "My husband has to go, too?" " Yes." "At this late hour?" " Yes." "In all my time here, my husband has never had to work this late." "Neither have I." "I assure you, it's not what you think." "There's an experiment at the lab that requires our urgent attention." "It's a trying time for us scientists." " Right?" " Yeah." "Is that so?" "You must be working hard." " Yes." "Well, shall we get going?" " Yeah." "Please excuse me for a moment." "Darling, please come straight home as soon as you're finished." "Don't worry, I will." " Don't be late." " I won't." "You know I hate being all alone at night." "You be a good girl and I'll be right back, OK?" "Make sure you lock the door." "Okay." "When I come home, I'll knock on the front door the usual way." "If it sounds suspicious, don't open it." "I won't." "Dear, please come home as soon as you can." "I will." " Honey." " Yes?" "Oh, nevermind." " Dear." " Yes?" "You're forgetting something." "What's that?" "Huh?" "Oh, right." "Hurry up already." "That's all I ask." "Bacillus mallei." "It has to be glanders." "Muscle pain, subcutaneous nodules, fever, nasal inflammation." "See!" "Profuse nasal discharge, bloody nose, and hiccups." "It's the one discovered by Löffler and Schütz." "It's glanders all right." "That's what it says here, too." "But it doesn't say anything about dying within 30 hours." "How about yours, Baba?" "No, nothing." "It's a chronic condition, right?" " Yeah." "Hey, that's strange!" "It has a tail." " Oh, it's a flagellum." " Let me see." "There is, indeed." "Did somebody's sperm get mixed in with this?" "Don't be stupid." "Watanabe, look it up, would you?" "Let's see." "Sperm-like bacillus mallei." "Oh, here it is!" ""October 25, 1910." "A report by Dr. Whitmore to the University of London's Veterinary Congress."" "It's in here, too." ""Report of a motile bacillus mallei."" ""Congress of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, Batavia, 1921."" ""When the meat of an animal infected with this disease is consumed, death has been known to result within 30 hours."" " So it is 30 hours." " Thirty hours." "Thirty hours." "Yeah." "It's in here, too." "There was an incidence reported in Prachuap Khiri Khan." "You see!" "That's it." "It's..." "It's Chitchanok and Paipan." "Yes, Paipan." "Damnit." "This hairy little paipan is an impostor." "Things have really taken a turn for the worse." "But, what time is it now?" "If it's 8:40 right now, how long do we have?" "We ate it at 4:00." "So, 30 hours would be..." "tomorrow night at 10:00." "So long as they have the serum samples I requested earlier we'll be fine." "Well, of course." "There it is!" "Hello?" "Is this the Asao Institute of Physical and Chemical Research?" "This is the Kojima Biology Lab in Tokyo." "Do you have any serum samples of bacillus pseudomallei?" "What?" "Yes, bacillus pseudomallei." "What?" "You don't." "I see." "Thanks anyway." "None in Niigata." "None in Sendai." "And none in Osaka." "Fukuoka is the only place left." "I already requested it from Fukuoka." "I guess we'd better prepare ourselves." "I'm begging you." "Please." "If I were to die, my wife, Chiyoko, would be all alone." "I love my wife dearly." "And she loves me." "I feel terrible for my wife." "Please help me!" "Please, Mr. Wada." "Please do something!" "But there's nothing I can do." "Oh, it's Fukuoka!" " Hello?" " I'll take it." "Hello?" "Is this the Imperial University Hospital?" "Do you have any bacillus pseudomallei serum samples?" "You do?" "I need five of them." "Five." "Five is all I need." " Do they have it?" " Seems it." "They're checking." " Have them bring it right away." " I know." "We'll meet them at the station and pop it in right there." "Yeah, let's do that." "There's no time to waste." "You make sure to be there too, Yamashita." "You bet I will!" "I'll fly there." "You only have one?" "What?" "You mean, you don't have any?" "Oh, I see." "If they didn't have any they should've said so from the start." "They had us so excited." "That's it then." "I have many affairs to settle and lots of family to see." "You'll have to excuse me." "I should hurry home to my wife." "Mr. Wada." "I'm holding this against you." "That's enough, dear." "Twenty more of these and I'll have breathed my last." "I only have 24 hours left to live." "But you see, dear... there's no telling how long I have left myself." "I suppose you're right." "Tell me, do you really only have 30 hours to live?" "It's been known to happen before." "But wasn't that in Siam?" "Whether it happened in Siam or Japan, it makes no difference." "So... this time tomorrow you'll be " "It's just too surreal to be true." "You've never had so much as a cold." "Please, dear." "Can't you go see a doctor?" "It's pointless." "There's no medicine." "This is all just so awful." "Hey, don't we have some wine?" " You want some?" " Please." " One more." " Are you sure?" "I thought I'd try getting drunk for once." "Won't it just make your head hurt?" "It can't hurt any more than it does already." "Won't you have some, too?" "Okay." "This day will be my last." "It's like New Year's Eve without the new year." "Shigeko." "It's my own fault." "So I'll have to take whatever comes." "But I'm sorry for you." "You came here to marry a poor student and have suffered all this time." "The past 10 years, all I've done is stare into my microscope." "I wasn't able to do anything for you." "You managed the household, and worried about the kids." "You handled everything." "You've worked hard without a word of complaint." "You've been a devoted wife." "I thank you for that." "You're honest, diligent, and passionate about your work." "What do I have to complain about?" "The children are still so small." "And we're about to have another." "I was careless." "I've only added to your troubles." "I'm sorry." "I know all too well Just how the apple feels" " He's awake?" " Just talking in his sleep." "Tomorrow's Sunday." "He said you were taking him hiking." "He went to bed so excited." "The poor things." "They don't even know." "Listen, can't you go to the doctor?" "Can't it be cured?" "Dear, what can I do?" "Won't you tell me?" "What's wrong, Mother?" "Does your tummy hurt?" "What is it?" "But I just know my Shizue will be beside herself, once I'm dead and gone." "You're starting to sound like Yamashita." "Hey, get drinking." "Drink it all." "No, no." "Don't." "By getting drunk, aren't you just fooling yourself?" "Think about it." "Test it out for yourself." "It makes no difference no matter how many times you say it." "Is sake a teardrop?" "Or is it a sigh?" "You make us eat that crap and get drunk, like you haven't a care in the world." "Don't act like you didn't think our elephant steak was a good idea." "Enough already." "It doesn't matter anymore who's right and who's wrong." "It matters for the future." "This guy here is reckless." "The future... what good is the future?" "We have just over 21 hours." "Who got us into this mess?" "Who was it that thought it would taste good?" "Huh?" "What's that?" "You're the one who said it smelled good." "While I was cooking it, you were " "Nasal discharge!" "It's already begun." "So it has." "Hey!" "Sake!" "More sake!" "That's enough, Mr. Wada." "Don't be so petty." "We hardly drank anything." "If you won't listen, call madam over." "Madam?" "Coming." "I'm terribly sorry." "Please bear with us tonight." "Don't be so petty." "And you said I could drink without paying." "Just two or three more." "OK?" "You've got to be joking." "We closed a while ago." " Closed?" " Is it that late already?" "Why didn't you say so earlier?" "Mr. Wada, when did you become such an "angry drunk"?" " What're you talking about?" " Hey, let's go." "Let's go home." "But, what do I say when I get home?" "I won't be able to face Shizue." "Nomura, listen." "Say you just leave it all to fate?" "Come on." "Let's go." "I'd like to head straight home." "But, looking at Shizue's " "Well, I'm not comfortable looking at your faces, either." "Suit yourself." "But, I also don't want to be alone." " Well, that's only natural." " I know just how you feel." "But you still have to go home." "OK?" "Come on." "Up you go." " You take care now." " Good-bye." "Say, Mr. Wada, is your friend there a "sad drunk"?" "Don't be so carefree." "It's not as simple as you think." "Oh, madam, please put it on my tab." "I'm expecting a life insurance payout very soon." "Then I'll pay you back all I owe you." " You can count on it." " You must be joking." "Oh, so you don't believe me, huh?" "You just wait!" "Is sake a teardrop?" "Or is it a sigh?" "Something must have happened to them today." "I guess so." " Here's your water." " Huh?" "Oh." "Thank you very much." "Dear, what is it you were experimenting on at the lab?" "Something very important." " You're lying." " No." "It's true." "But you reek of alcohol." "Is that what you were experimenting with at the lab?" "No." "We really did conduct an important experiment." "Honest." "Actually, Wada took me to an oden restaurant on the way back." "So, it was Mr. Wada, was it?" "That's why I don't like him." "You are your own man." "Why couldn't you politely decline?" "Well, it's just part of socializing." "Do friends always have to go drinking together?" "What?" "Why do you ask me that?" " Huh?" " Never mind." "I must say, it feels like one body isn't enough." "You're right about that." "I'm feeling worn out." "I'm the one who's worn out." "It's been half a year and I already feel this way." "Just thinking of what the future holds I feel helpless." "What are you saying?" "You don't even know." "That's right." "I don't know anything." ""Ignorance is bliss."" "You don't have to say it like that." "But I don't." "Hey, I'm sorry." "OK?" "It's my fault." "Hey, you're forgetting something." "Hey!" "Oh, no." "I can't." "I can't infect you." "You don't have feelings for me anymore, do you?" " I knew it." " That's not true." "My body is full of poison." "You mean to say you've had a serious illness?" "No, it's not like that." "I'm going to die." " Die?" " That's right." "This time tomorrow I'll be cold and lifeless." "I won't be fooled by such threats." "Would I kid about such things at a time like this?" "My time is up." "Listen, honey." "I can't die and leave you here all alone." "You're really going to die?" "I'm afraid so." "What happened, dear?" "I ate an elephant." " An elephant?" " Yes, that's right." "The meat contained a poison called bacillus pseudomallei." "That's what our experiment uncovered." " Are you sure?" " Yes." "At this point, treatment is useless." "There's no medicine." "How could you!" "What would possess you to eat something like that?" "Why would you do such a filthy thing?" "Don't I feed you well enough here?" "I'm sorry." "I was careless." "It's too late to blame anyone now." "Honey, please forgive me." "It's all my fault." "It's not!" "I don't blame you." "Honey." "You're young and beautiful." "I want you to find a kind man who will make you happy." "How can you say that?" "Honey!" "I wasn't a good husband." "I can't bear seeing you like this." "I want you to forget all about me and be happy." "That's all I ask." "No!" "Don't say such things!" "I don't want you to die." "As my lips approach The red apple" "The blue sky Watches in silence" "Let's take a train and go even further next Sunday." " Next Sunday?" " You have to work?" "Well... no." "Let's do that." " I wanna see the Japanese Alps." " I say Atami." "I say the zoo." "The zoo is boring." "The elephant died, and you've seen pigs and ducks." "But pigs are yummy." "You can't eat elephants." "Right, Mom?" "That's right." "That's not something we eat." "Anyone who does is a fool." " Tomie." " Yes?" "Listen." " What is it?" " This is good-bye." "Oh... you're going somewhere?" "The underworld." "You're kidding!" "I wish that were the case." "Whatever you say." "Tomie, I want you to have this." "Why, did something happen?" "It's my life insurance policy and official seal." "What you told me last night about the elephant was true?" "You think I could make up something so pitiful?" "If I die, use this to pay this month's rent, to settle my accounts with the oden vendor, and to pay for my funeral." "The rest, I leave to you." "You're really gonna die?" "My time is up." "It's fate." "My time here with you was fleeting." "Seems you really are gonna die." "It's not that I want to." "Listen, Tomie." "There's something I'd like to ask of you." "You probably already know." "Know what?" "I have no parents or siblings." "I'm all alone in this world." "I don't have anyone who will be there for me at the end." "You see, Tomie..." "I've always thought you were a swell girl." "You're hardworking, virtuous and pure." "Please, Tomie." "There's just one thing I want before I die." "Would you tell me you love me?" " Love you?" " Yes." "I want someone who loves me to be there at the end." "I'd like my lonely life to at least have a romantic ending." "A romantic ending, huh?" "Can't I count on you?" "If you really die." "I'll at least be there for you at the end." "So, you're willing to be my loved one?" "Only if you really die." "Don't be like that." "I'm going to die." "I'll die for sure!" "You don't have to boast about it." "But, if you really died, I'd feel awfully bad." "Thank you." "Now I can die content." "You're sure it's all right?" "Mr. Wada." " Mr. Wada, come here a minute." " What is it, madam?" "Nevermind that." "Just hurry." " Tomie, you come too." " Okay." " Quickly!" " What's the meaning of this?" "Nevermind that." "Just go." "Come, Mr. Wada." "Right here." " What is it, madam?" " Now have a seat." "Face the other way." "Mr. Baba told me everything." "It's such a terrible thing that happened." "Let us recite the sutras." "That's not going to help, madam." "That's not true." "We're fortunate to have the o-daimoku mantra." "Without it, we'd be completely reliant on the Buddha." "As a scientist, I'm an atheist by nature." "Don't say that." "Come, let's do it together." "All Hail the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra..." "Miss Tomie..." "Madam, as much as I'd like to..." "There's no need to be shy." "Tomie, don't just sit there." "Come offer prayers for Mr. Wada." "Okay." "Even though I'm an atheist myself." "Rightly so. "Religion is opium."" "Take up your drum." "All Hail the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra..." "Hello?" "Yes." "Mr. Wada, they're calling from the lab." "Hello." "Yes, that's right." "What?" "They do?" "You're sure?" "I see." "So they do have it!" "OK." "I'm on my way." "Ah, they have it!" " They have it!" "They have it!" " Have what?" " The medicine." "The serum!" " Does that mean your saved?" "You see?" "It's all thanks to the mantra." "Let's do it a little longer." "I can't." "I have to let everyone know." "Excuse me." "Mr. Wada!" "Mr. Wada!" "Mr. Wada, are you really saved?" "Yes." "I'll be fine." " Be happy for me." " You'll be okay?" "Then I take back what I said earlier." "How can you be so cold-hearted?" "You knew there was medicine all along, didn't you?" " Sneak attacks are cowardly." " I wouldn't dare." "You're no man." "I despise you!" "Suit yourself." ""While there's life, there's hope!"" "The acacias smell so sweet" "In the darkness of the tree-lined avenue" "A rendezvous between you and me" "The puppies howl jealously" "On the roof, the neighborhood calico cat" "Has her love scene with our black one" "Now then, everyone, Elephants..." "Have their own sweet sweet jungle love" "When elephants kiss" "Their two trunks intertwine" "And their ivory tusks get in the way" "The laws of love" "Are the same for everyone" "What's the matter?" "It's no use." "It wasn't much of a distraction after all." " Shall we go?" " Yes." "Hey, Nomura!" "Time to celebrate." "We're saved!" " Saved?" " I just received word from the lab." "The Morioka Agricultural Laboratory has the serum." "Really?" "That's an odd place to find it." "They have lots of horses there." "They're sending it by express train." "It arrives at Ueno Station at 6:35 this evening." "I see." "Honey, I'll be fine now." "Darling, isn't that wonderful?" " It sure is." "It's only half past two." "We still have plenty of time before it's 6:35." " Why not have a look?" " You must be joking." "You have no idea what I went through to tell you this." "I went to your house and you weren't there." "If your neighbor hadn't told me you were here, you would have died." "Sorry about that." "We have to let everyone know." "I'll go to Watanabe's place." "You go find Yamashita." "I'll take care of it." "But what about Baba?" "He ran off to die at his parents' place in Ome." "I see." "What a hasty fellow." "Will he be OK?" "Can he make it in time?" "No, there isn't enough time." " Oh, dear." "You and Papa went to such great lengths to raise me properly." "To die before one's parents without having been a dutiful son," "I must be one sorry fellow." "You're really going to die?" " Yes." "I'm as unfilial a son as they come." "Papa even put me through college with his meager pension." "You needn't worry about that." "To die without contributing any useful research," "I must be pretty feckless." "And now all that's left is to die for my own research." "What could be more disgraceful?" "I haven't just been a bad son..." "I've dragged your faces through the mud." " It's inexcusable." " What'll I do with you?" "Wait here." "Papa, come here a minute." "What is it?" "What is it, Mama?" "The poor thing." "There's something really wrong with him." "Yeah... so you think so, too?" "There must be." "He says he ate an elephant with some kind of disease." "Are there so many elephants that they're eating them?" "Well, there's a lot of meat on an elephant." "It wouldn't surprise me." "Even you accept this?" "He was such a nervous child but did well academically." "That's true..." "But a person who's sick like that shouldn't be contradicted." "We just have to agree with what he says and help him to keep calm." "Yes, I suppose we do." "We should make him take it easy for a year and not let him go anywhere." "Yes, we should." "Come and eat." "I've made your favorites." "Please don't be so kind to me." "It's too much to bear." "Go ahead and eat." "We grew a lot of vegetables this year." "It must be tough for Papa." "Yes, but thankfully he's doing well." "Papa is 57, right?" "Yes, that's right." "He sure is." "And you must be 54." "Yes, that's right." "Exactly right." "Make sure to guard yourselves against the heat and cold." "Yes, we certainly will." "To die here near you and Papa is the most I could hope for." "Nothing has changed." "Not even the piano." "Say, Mama... when I was little, you often sang for me." "Yes, I did, didn't I?" "Mozart's Lullaby..." "I often sing it when I'm alone in my apartment." "Say, Mama, won't you sing it for me one last time?" "Yes, of course I will." "Sleep, my child, sleep" "The waves have fallen silent" "And the light of the stars" "Glows ever so brightly" "Evening has turned into night" "The flowers lie dormant" "And the birds, too" "The birds, too" "Sleep, my child, sleep" "Sleep, my child" "Sleep..." "Mama!" "Mr. Baba, you have a telegram." "Is there a Jukichi here?" " Yes, there is." " I see." "Very well." " Thank you." "Jukichi, you got a telegram." ""Have medicine." "Be at Ueno Station. 6:00."" "Mama!" "Mama!" " Papa, I'll return to Tokyo at once!" " What's the big idea?" "I don't have to die!" "I'm saved!" " You'll have to excuse me." " Papa, hurry and stop him!" "If he goes back to Tokyo, he might really go crazy this time!" "Oh, right." "Papa!" "His shoes!" "Oh, right." "Jukichi!" "Jukichi!" "Jukichi!" "Hey!" "Jukichi!" "Seems it's gonna be like this all the way to Ueno." "I can't feel my legs anymore." "It's all for a good cause." "Hang in there." " I'm getting off next." " Open up!" "Quit pushing me." "There's something very important in here." "I can't help it." "I'm being pushed from behind." "The lives of five people depend on the shots in this box." "Get up on my shoulders!" " All right." "Hold this for a second." "Let me have it." "Excuse me." "I'm getting off." "Can you even make it to the door?" " Careful, careful!" " Are you all right?" "Hey, it was supposed to arrive at 6:35, right?" "Yes." "It won't be long now." " You brought the syringes, right?" " How could I forget?" "I wonder what happened to Mr. Baba." "Do you suppose the telegram arrived in time?" "That's just it." "We'll be in big trouble if it wasn't." "Attention please." "Attention please." "The Aomori express train due to arrive at 6:35 p.m." "has run into some trouble on route and will likely experience a slight delay." "A slight delay." "How long is a "slight delay"?" "How should I know that?" "I'll go ask." "Will everything be okay?" "Stationmaster!" "We've been at this backwater station for 25 minutes." "What's going on?" "A freight train got into a rear-end collision." "How could anyone do something so stupid?" "It wasn't on purpose." "Either the break or the signal must have failed." "The railroads are under constant strain, you see." "Hello?" "What?" "Service won't be restored until tomorrow morning?" "Tomorrow morning?" "Tomorrow?" "Tomorrow morning?" " Yes." "They say they're doing their best to fix it." "Is it hopeless, Dad?" "Will you die, Daddy?" "Darling, what shall we do?" "Hello, everyone." "Sorry I'm so late." "Thanks for the telegram, Wada." "I was overjoyed." "Did something happen?" "What's wrong?" "There was a train accident." "The serum isn't coming now." "Wh..." "What!" "Not coming?" "Why didn't you check before sending me the telegram?" "Can't you do anything right?" "Well, you see, we only just found out." "Just now." "That's why everyone looks the way they do now." "I see." "So it didn't work out?" "No, it didn't." "Not at all." "Shall we just go home then?" "No." "I'm not leaving." "Say we head towards the scene of the accident and get the injection there?" " That's a good idea." " How about it?" "Why don't we do that?" " Darling?" " We might not make it." "You can all set your minds at ease." "The repairs were completed sooner than anticipated." "The train should arrive in an hour." " Oh, that's wonderful!" " Isn't that great, Dad?" "Banzai!" "Banzai!" "UENO" "I'm sorry." "Please excuse me." " Here it is at last." " Thank goodness!" "I'm afraid our late arrival has caused you to worry." "You've done well." "Thanks to you, we're saved." " Thank you very much." " You saved us." "The train was really packed." " And there was the accident." " Oh, I see." "Why don't we get on with the injections?" " Wada." " Sure." "Let's open it." "One, two, three, four..." "Hey, it's broken." "This won't do." "One is broken." "It happened when I fell off your shoulders." "Th..." "That's..." "I'm afraid we've committed a terrible blunder." "I can't tell you how sorry I am." "What on earth do we do now?" "So this means there's none for me?" "If you don't get any, then nobody does." "What are we supposed to do then?" "It's obvious." "One person has to die." "Who?" "I won't do it." "I won't let you." "I won't either." "I'm afraid I can't, either." " I don't want you to die, Daddy." " It won't be my husband." "I can't say who it should be, either." "What are we supposed to do then?" "Nevermind, I'll do it." "I was late anyway." "Just pretend I didn't make it." "It should go by age." "I'll bow out." "No, I will withdraw." "I will " "Well, I don't mind either way." "Given a choice, I'd rather live." " Yeah!" "That's right!" " Wait just a minute." "If everyone volunteers, there will be no end to it." "How about this:" "What if we just resolve ourselves to drawing lots?" "What do you say, Baba?" "How about you, Watanabe?" " It's the fairest way." " No, that won't do." "I was wrong to stroll in here after everyone else." "You're such a nuisance." "What do you guys think?" "I like the fact that it's fair." " How about it, Watanabe?" " As long as everyone agrees." " Yamashita?" " If everyone agrees." "That okay with you, Nomura?" " Well, Baba?" " Well no, I " "You're such a nuisance." "You're the only one complaining." "Yeah, but " "We can't let your foot-dragging cause trouble for everyone else." "All right?" "It's settled then." "Alright, everyone." "I'll prepare the lots." "Whoever draws the broken match, will be the one to die." "Please excuse me for a moment." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "How about this?" "Among these five match sticks, there should be one with a broken tip." "Whoever draws it will be the one to die." "Mr. Watanabe, if you'd please." "If I may..." " Isn't that great?" " Nice one!" "Go ahead, Yamashita." "We're saved!" "Nomura." "Oh, darling, isn't that wonderful?" "You're next." "Hey, let's see yours." "I'm too afraid to look." "We already know what it is without looking." "It's not good to do bad things." "After all, I made everyone eat the elephant." "No, I'm responsible too." "Quiet!" "Say no more." "Well, good-bye everyone." "Wada!" "I saw everything." "I respect what you did." "It was Madame Curie who said, we have a particular duty to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." "Good-bye." "Welcome back." "Here you go." "Madam." "Thank you for all you've done for me." "What happened?" "You got the medicine, right?" "Then you have until 10:00?" "How awful!" "That's only 15 minutes from now." "Quickly!" "We'll chant the mantra." "That's quite all right, ma'am." "I want to go peacefully." "Good night." "Mr. Wada!" "Let's chant the mantra, OK?" "Mr. Wada." "There wasn't any medicine?" "What happened?" "They were one short." "So, you sacrificed yourself?" "Yeah." "I was so tired of the whole thing that I just went along with it." "Besides, everyone else has children or loved ones." "My!" "So, you'll die?" "Yes." "I really owe you a lot." "Don't forget about my insurance policy." " I won't." "What you did was very admirable." " Not at all." " I respect you for it." "Thank you." "That's why I will..." "You will...?" "I'll gladly be yours." "You'll gladly be mine?" "Miss Tomie, thank you." "Now I can rest in peace." "I may only have 10 minutes left, but they may just be the best 10 minutes of my life." "Miss Tomie..." "Anything happen?" " No." "Is everything all right?" " Yes." "I'm real sorry about earlier." "Five more minutes." "Five minutes till good-bye." "Five minutes, huh?" "Mr. Wada, I don't want you to die!" "You just can't!" "Good-bye, everyone." "Mr. Wada." "Hey, Wada!" "Are you in pain?" "No..." "I don't feel anything." " That's strange." " You were lying?" "Have you tricked me again?" " No." "Hey, there's something wrong with that clock." "It's seven minutes fast." "That explains it." "I thought that was odd." "I guess I'm to die after all." "Mr. Wada, hang in there!" "Hello?" "Yes, this is Kojima." "Yes, just a moment." "Dear, it's Tokyo on the line." "Oh?" "Yes?" "Oh, it's you, Baba." "What's that?" "You mean to say someone ate it raw?" "You cooked it until it charred?" "And you call yourselves scientists?" "How many years have you been in my lab?" "With the exception of heat-loving bacteria found in hot springs, virtually all organisms die when heated above 70 degrees centigrade." "An elementary science textbook could've told you that." "What's all the fuss about?" "You've recklessly injected yourselves with that serum." "Now there's no telling how itchy you'll be from the allergic reaction." "Fools!" "Will they really be itchy?" "Why, that's just to scare them." "Is that right?" "We sure screwed up." "Oh, that's right!" "We're in trouble now." "He said the serum will make us itch like crazy." "What if you took some calcium?" "You expect us to take another injection?" "We had better get to the lab then." " Yes, let's do that." " Excuse us." "Good-bye." " Take care." " I will." "Well, that was quite a scare." "I'm all worn out now." "Mr. Wada..." "I'm so glad you didn't die." "Miss Tomie, I'm sorry." " I've told you another fib." " It's okay." "I'm glad." "I want you to live forever." "For you, I could live 50, or even 100 years." "Come on." "You're not an elephant." "Let's put an end to all this elephant talk." "Miss Tomie." "THE END"