"A SHOCHIKU PRODUCTION" "SCANDAL" "Developed by SOJIRO MOTOKI Produced by TAKASHI KOIDE" "Screenplay by AKIRA KUROSAWA, RYUZO KIKUSHIMA" "Director of Photography TOSHIO UBUKATA" "Production Design by TATSUO HAMADA" "Music by FUMIO HAYASAKA" "Edited by YOSHI SUGIHARA" "Costumes by BUNJIRO SUZUKI" "Starring" "TOSHIRO MIFUNE YOSHIKO YAMAGUCHI" "YOKO KATSURAGI, NORIKO SENGOKU SAKAE OZAWA, TAKASHI SHIMURA" "SHINICHI HIMORI, KOJI MITSUl ICHIRO SHIMIZU, FUMIKO OKAMURA" "MASAO SHIMIZU, TANIE KITABAYASHI SUGISAKU AO YAMA" "KOKUTEN KODO KICHIJIRO UEDA, BOKUZEN HIDARI" "TAIJI TONO YAMA, JUNJI MASUDA TAKASHI KANDA, MINORU CHIAKI" "Directed by AKIRA KUROSAWA" "You an artist, mister?" "Don't I look it?" "Lots of artists come here to paint." "But you're the first I ever saw come on a motorcycle." "Is that so strange?" "Well, it is a little peculiar." "And so is your painting." "Mount Kumotori looks like it's dancing." "Mountains move." "Huh?" "If you look closely enough, they move." "You're right." "It's moving." "Right?" "Nonsense!" "How can a mountain move?" "Do you know" "That southern land" "Where the trees bear fruit" "And the flowers bloom" "Where the breeze is " "Anyway, I've never seen a painting in this style." "Of course it won't look like anybody else's." "I have my own style." "Do you ask advice on how to make love to your wife?" "That's a good one!" "How do I get to Kaminoyu?" "Go straight ahead to the bus route." "Turn north there." "Is it far?" "Just a little way." ""A little way" probably means three miles." "Why didn't you come by bus?" "It was three hours until the next one." "Then leave your suitcase here." "I'll bring it to you later." "I'm staying at Kaminoyu too." "I like it here." "It's too red." "Mount Kumotori ain't that red." "Shut up, old man." "I see it as bright red." "That's how it is in my mind's eye." "Is that how artists work?" "Hey, why don't you wait a while?" "I'll give you a lift." "So that's Miyako Saijo, the famous singer?" "Well, I'll be!" "She hates being photographed." "Is the guy with her?" "No, they took separate rooms." "She says she refuses to be photographed." "We already know that." "That's why we need your help " "I did my best." "Please, ask her again." "We can't go back empty-handed." "What a bother!" "We may have to stay overnight." "Is there enough in the budget?" "Excuse me." "Oh, hello!" "Thanks for the lift." "You saved me a long walk." "Not at all." "Mind if I come in?" "All right, though I'm not properly dressed." "Neither am I." "Please don't bother." "May I smoke?" " Yes." "Aren't you Miyako Saijo?" "I couldn't place you until I heard the maids gabbing." "You have such big eyes." "I forgot to introduce myself." "Ichiro Aoe." "I'm a painter." "Yes, now I remember." "I read about you in an art magazine." "About my bike?" "And how I imitate Vlaminck?" "Those writers are all copycats, so they assume everyone else is too." "What I love about bikes is that sense of not giving a damn." "It feels good to be rude!" "Did you come here for a little break?" "Yes." "I've had to deal with so many annoyances." "That's the price you pay for being so famous." "It must be tiring having people gape at you." "It's crowded in the summer, but now's a good time to be here." "If you have a chance tomorrow, take a look at the small marsh nearby." "It's a remarkable green, at times almost like jade." "Those trees over there - you see them?" "Beyond those dark cedars." "What was that sound?" "Sounded like a camera shutter." "Newlyweds, probably." "Separate rooms, eh?" "What a scoop!" "Hey, boss, how about some champagne?" "It's only a scandal if he's famous." "If he's just a nobody... we'll be drinking moonshine." "Well?" "They look like they're posing." "The two towels on the railing are perfect, like a prop man hung them there." "What do you think, boss?" "Damn it!" "I can't stand women who act all innocent, then do this behind closed doors." "But who's the man?" "It seems I've seen him somewhere." "Why didn't you ask the innkeeper?" "We heard he's a painter." "Yeah, some nut with a motorcycle " "I've got it!" "It's Ichiro Aoe." "Aoe?" "Does that mean moonshine or champagne?" "Champagne!" "Print an extra 10,000." " But " "Have someone write it up:" ""Singer and Artist on Romantic Getaway. "" ""Love on a Motorcycle!"" "But shouldn't we check " "Stop worrying." "It doesn't matter if it's bull - once it's in print, the public believes it." "Besides, the picture proves it." "You know what the idols of the age are?" "Photos and the printed word!" "AMOUR MAGAZINE SENSUAL THRILLS" "MIYAKO SAIJO'S SECRET LOVE!" "IN AMOUR'S DECEMBER ISSUE!" "LOVE ON A MOTORCYCLE!" "MIYAKO SAIJO'S LOVER REVEALED!" "Do you know who the lover of dramatic singer Miyako Saijo is?" "If you want all the news on this hot topic, pick up Amour's December issue before it sells out!" "Amour, please." "Sorry, sold out." "Come look!" "Ichiro Aoe!" "Nisshin Printers?" "This is Amour Publications." "Please print another 10,000 copies of the December issue." "We'll supply the paper." "Yes, thank you." "We're set, boss." "Let's have a big party at the hot springs." "I'd prefer my three months' back pay." "Hey, don't be a wet blanket!" "You'll get that, and maybe a bonus too." "Thanks to my trusty Leica." "Why so glum?" " You sure it's safe, boss?" " What?" "I mean, it's okay if we printed the truth " "What?" "You wrote it!" "Only because you forced me to." "I just made things up." "A love affair's a love affair." "Details don't matter." "What if they complain?" "We'll bury an apology where people won't see it." " What if they sue?" " We'll sell 10,000 more copies!" "Don't be such a pessimist." "This isn't the first scandal we've covered." "Has anyone sued us yet?" "Nobody's even protested." " I guess not." " Quit worrying!" "The kinds of snobs we target think the law is beneath them, even when they have a case." "They just get self-righteous and look down on us." "Show me the magazine." "Mr. Aoe?" "Please step inside." "Hey, get us some tea!" "Tea, sir." " Who's in charge here?" " I am, sir." "Nice to " "ARTIST SLUGS AMOUR PUBLISHER!" "I was bowing when he just hit me without a word." "I'll fight for freedom of the press!" "I was wrong to resort to violence, but hitting isn't the only form of violence." "That story was much worse." "It's the modern equivalent of cutting someone down on the street!" "If you ask me, Aoe's a sore loser." "I say you reap what you sow." "I regret to say that I am not Miss Saijo's lover." "The whole story is a lie." "Would I hide such a beautiful lover?" "My motto is, "Always report the whole truth. "" "Is the story true?" "One look at that picture will give you your answer." "Five minutes after that picture was taken," "I went back to my room and had two beers." "I had dinner, bathed, and went to sleep." "That's the entire story." "If Amour refuses to print a retraction," "I'll sue for damages." "Isn't it odd, though?" "Aoe's the only one making a fuss." "Miyako Saijo hasn't said a word." "I guess it's true that women are more honest about love." "Mother, how could you?" "I'm sorry, Mr. Aoe." "My own mother doubts us." "She'd rather believe the story than her own daughter." " Don't say that!" " You're afraid of what people will say." "I wanted to protest " "You don't understand how horrible people can be." "You just have to endure it." "How on earth do you expect to fight sharks like them?" "The way I see it, they're only this bold because all their victims have been cowards." "They just drop it, so the bums keep doing it." "Listen, we're not living in the jungle." "We live in a modern nation with modern institutions." "So what do you intend to do?" "I'll sue them." "That's crazy!" "That never crossed my mind." "We'll be laughingstocks!" "No, they'll be the laughingstocks." "What's the matter?" "You know we're right." "Why are you scared to go to court?" "You're afraid of what people will say too?" "It's not that." "Then why are you so against it?" "Fine." "I'll go it alone." "I won't deny my own feelings and just laugh it off, or let society laugh it off either." "A one-man exhibition?" "One week, starting the 15th." "The year's almost over." "It's like a year-end clearance sale." "I doubt they'll sell." "You seem down." "It's not like you." "I have a lot on my mind." "The scandal?" " Say, what do you think?" " About what?" "Miyako Saijo." "She's pretty." "That's not what I meant." "Do you think what they say is true?" " It doesn't sound like you." " Why not?" "Why not?" "You're not the type for scandals." "Now Mr. Kawamura - he's different." "But you're safe." "I'm very picky about whom I pose nude for." "But I never worried with you." "You haven't done any nudes for a while." "Am I such a lost cause?" "No, not at all." "It's all right." "It's true what they say about giving birth." "My stomach got all flabby." "But if you want to paint nudes, feel free to use other models." "Don't worry about me." "It would be hard to find another client like you, but I'm sure I'd get by." "It's not that." "Stop being foolish." "I'm just beginning to have doubts about nude art in Japan." "We lack both the tradition and the healthy spirit to accept the naked body." "People say our nudes lack proportion." "What they really lack is spirit." "I get it." "You hatch these crazy theories to save me embarrassment." "Let's take a break." "It's okay." "You're a good man." "Just remember:" "I'll always be on your side." "When you go to court, call me as a witness." "I'll yell at the judge," ""Mr. Aoe's innocent!" "I know it!" "My experience tells me so!" "He's the only man who never leered at my naked body." "Other artists always get fresh, but -"" "What's wrong?" "The window!" "Someone's peeking in!" "He's gone now." "He gave me the creeps." "OTOKICHI HIRUTA ATTORNEY AT LAW" "Not a single streetlight around." "I stepped into some open sewage." "What a mess." "The dark is ideal for trespassers." "Doesn't it frighten you to go out at night, Mrs. Aoe?" "No." "And I'm not his wife." "Oh, I beg your pardon." "It's none of my business who you are or what your relationship is." "You see, I respect people's privacy." "In fact, it makes me furious the way people these days enjoy exposing others' private lives." "The public seems to love inflicting misfortune on the fortunate." "The world's become a dark place." "We used to distinguish clearly between right and wrong." "At some point we forgot that distinction." "Now we don't have the foggiest idea of right and wrong." "In all my 50 years," "I've never seen a more confused age." "By the way, Mr. Aoe, it was a delight to read how you slugged that publisher." "It may have been reckless, but I think occasional recklessness is part of human nature." "An overly prudent life is a shabby thing." "As I said, this is a confused age, making a little recklessness practically indispensable." "The hard part is finding the balance." "That's where the law comes in." "What if the publisher sues you for assault?" "Even scoundrels know the law." "It's a danger..." "a real danger." "Do you have a doctor?" "All prudent people have a family doctor, but very few have lawyers whom they consult regularly." "Japan has only 5,900 lawyers, while America has 170,000." "Japanese people only scramble to find a lawyer when they're sued." "This may sound strange coming from me, but nothing's worse than an unethical lawyer." "It's a real danger!" " What is it you want?" " Huh?" "Oh, forgive me." " What is it?" " My briefcase " "Near the entrance." "I read that you plan to sue Amour." "Is that true?" "It is." "Excellent!" "Fifteen years ago, a police officer arrested a man for urinating in public." "The man sued." "It went to the Supreme Court, and he won." "By the way, do you have a lawyer?" "No, not yet." "Let me take the case." "I was truly infuriated reading that story in Amour." "The media is a kangaroo court." "Do people have no basic rights?" "I can't even find the words." "Look, I'm even willing to do this without pay." "That's how outrageous I find it!" "Honestly, I don't even recognize guys like Hori as part of the human race." "They're sneaky vermin, and they stink." "They stink!" "What was it with that man?" "Talk about something that stinks!" "If anything stunk, it was his socks!" "Well, he made sense." "That doesn't prove he's honest." "Come on!" "His name means "Leech Field"!" "And talk about ugly!" "But he has honest eyes." "Let's go see his home." "A man's family reveals his character." "You'd actually hire him?" "Are you really that perverse?" "Well, I don't have a lawyer." "Then all I can say is watch your back." ""It's a danger..." "a real danger!"" "OTOKICHI HIRUTA" "Mr. Hiruta?" "Are you home?" "Please come around back." "BEWARE OF DOG" " You sure about the dog?" " Don't worry." "My name is Aoe." "Is Mr. Hiruta in?" "Father's at work." "Is it safe?" "Where's the dog?" "It died three years ago." "The sign keeps burglars away." "What's wrong?" "Got a cold?" "No, tuberculosis." "I've been in bed for five years." "I've gotten used to it." "People think I must be bored, but my imagination keeps me busy." "Even in this tiny garden, flowers bloom, clouds pass overhead, little birds twitter around." "Now I have something else to look at." "Would you open this screen?" "Mother made it." "It's mine to look at until she delivers it tomorrow." "It's so beautiful." "Even though it's winter now, the bride who'll wear this can imagine herself in a garden of flowers on a spring day." "The wedding is this Sunday." "I hope it doesn't rain." "I'm looking for the Hiruta Law Office on the fifth floor." "There's no fifth floor in this building." "HIRUTA LAW OFFICE" "JAPAN DERBY, RACING RESEARCH WEEKLY RACING" "APPOINTING YOU AS COUNSEL." "WILL DISCUSS DETAILS IN PERSON." "ICHIRO AOE" "Do you know" "That southern land" "Listen, you can't cancel your recital now." "The scandal is great publicity." "It's boosted your popularity." "Read that hate mail." "They're practically spitting on me." "They call me lewd, immoral, and vulgar." "But tickets for your recital are selling like crazy." "I don't want popularity without respect." "I won't be a freak on display!" "That's not what I meant!" "This piano sounds off." "You're the one who's off." "You haven't sung any other song since that trip!" "Where the trees bear fruit" "And the flowers bloom" "Where the breeze is gentle" "And the birds sing" "NIGHTINGALE OF LOVE!" "A NIGHT TOGETHER AT THE HOT SPRINGS!" "ICHIRO AOE ART EXHIBITION" "Hey, go away!" "Don't loiter around here." " Why not?" " Why not?" "Well, you may not realize it, but you're making a certain man look foolish." "How is that?" "You see, the thing is " "He's too sensitive." "Trying too hard." "Looks suspicious." "That's dirty-minded logic." "He's not like you guys." "I see you're as harsh as ever." "I'll tell you though, the paintings he did at that resort really stand out." "That one of Mount Kumotori is a masterpiece." "He must have been bursting with inspiration when he did it." "A man in that state is quite liable to fall in love." "What's wrong?" " Is he still out there?" " Unfortunately." "That story's bringing bigger crowds to your show than ever." "That's what bothers me." "A girl just asked for an autograph signed "Love on a Motorcycle. "" "I'm closing the exhibition." "Don't be so short-tempered." "I'm tired of being a laughingstock." "My poor paintings." "Everyone's sniffing for clues to the scandal." "Don't be silly!" "Keep this up and you'll have a breakdown." "Listen, I'll run the exhibition for you." "I just sit there, right?" "Don't worry." "It's even easier than modeling." "Just give me a cut of any sales I make." "It's almost Christmas." "I have to buy something for my son." "They won't sell." "That's okay." "I'll just take the Mount Kumotori landscape." "I like it." " Not that one." " Why not?" "Because I like it too." "It's not for sale." "Fond memories, perhaps?" "It's true!" "It's written all over your face." "Stop wolfing it down." "Fine, I'll stop teasing you." "Just don't eat the plate." "Idiot!" "By the way, how's the lawsuit?" " It's coming along." " Really?" "You're working with that lawyer, right?" ""It's a danger... a real danger. "" "Don't just hand over your money." "Watch your back, okay?" "Don't worry." "Just 5,000 yen for transportation." "You're unbelievable!" "Why so much?" "His daughter is sick." "I told you about her, remember?" "A wonderful kid." "The gods were in good spirits when they made her." "Pure as the stars in the sky." "I'd better pay her a visit." "Since when is she handling the case?" "The father of a girl like that can't be all bad." "Have you heard of Henry Ford?" "Of course you have." "He's the king of automobiles." "Here's why he's famous:" "A journalist called him a "late bloomer," implying he was mentally retarded." "Ford took him to court for libel and won." "He collected seven cents in damages." "Seven cents!" "The lawsuit cost him a fortune, but he didn't mind." "He said it was a small price to pay for his basic rights." "That's greatness." "See, my client is a lot like Henry Ford." "He rides his motorcycle with reckless abandon." "He'll take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary." "That's a fact." "It's an odd lawsuit, but he's an odd man." "He wants all copies and ads for that issue recalled and handed over to him." "If that's impossible, he demands tens of millions of yen in damages." "That spells bankruptcy for a small company like yours." "The law exists to protect people." "But it can ruin people too." "It's a real danger." "May I study this?" "Now that's odd." "He's suing for damages in libel, but the main subject of that story was Miss Saijo." "As long as she says nothing, he just looks like a crank." "If she doesn't join the suit, you have no case." "You're being naive." "Listen here:" "We've already considered that." "Her testimony is the key to this case." "Any testimony on her own behalf as plaintiff would carry little weight." "Therein lies my strategy." "When Miyako Saijo takes the witness stand, tears welling up in those big eyes, how could any judge not be moved?" "Hey, Asai!" "Call the Kataoka Law Office." "Ask him to stop by." "You... you know Professor Kataoka?" "He's our legal advisor." "A lot of people try to shake us down by threatening to sue." "We'll really shine in court with this one." "We'll run a special edition." "Boy, will it sell!" "There's no publicity like a lawsuit!" "Look." "You came all this way, and I'd hate to part on bad terms." "How about a drink?" "AMOUR PUBLISHING" "Good night." "Out drinking again!" "You can barely walk!" "Masako!" "Quiet!" "She finally fell asleep." "She has a fever of 101º tonight." "I brought you a present." "What do you think?" "A great big bear." "I always wanted to buy it for you." "I've got lots of other nice things too." "Father." "Mr. Aoe came by today." "He brought me those apples." "He kept telling me what a fine person you were." "But deep in his heart," "I could tell he was afraid you'd do something bad." "I understand how he feels." "Lying here with this fever, I see things so clearly it frightens me." "You've done something bad again, haven't you?" "Don't deny it." "I can tell." "You're so kind and gentle tonight." "You seem so sad." "You want to be kinder to everyone, so much so that your heart feels about to burst." "That's how you get whenever you've done something wrong." "Masako." "It's all right." "Your kindness makes me happy." "I love this bear." "Masako, I'm no good." "I'm a scoundrel." " No, you're a good man." " No!" "Your father's a rotten man." "And not even a big shot rotten man." "I'm just a worm." "How did I come to be like this?" "People were always cheating me." "They made fun of me and deceived me." "Somewhere along the way, I got fed up, and in order not to be deceived," "I started deceiving others." "Dear, we understand." "You mustn't tire her out." "Don't worry, Mother." "The more he talks, the better he feels." "It's true." "Masako's right." "If a person doesn't let out what's deep in his heart, he'll end up choking to death on it." "Your mother never says anything." "She never opens up to anyone." "Instead of saying what she feels, she just quietly sews." "Every stitch releases a bit of her pent-up emotion." "But I have to talk." "I'm so weak." "As I was saying - Where was I?" "You deceived others so they wouldn't deceive you." "Yes, now I remember." "Human beings are such pitiful creatures... and so weak." "So we pretend to be strong." "It's a danger... a real danger." "When I read about Aoe, I felt sorry for the man." "I felt like someone had struck my own son." "It's true." "That much is true." "I didn't even dream of preying on him." "Then I meet that scoundrel Hori." "What an absolute beast!" "Every cent the pig earns is as filthy as can be." "Relieving him of some of it would be like divine retribution." "That's what I thought." "That was my first mistake." "The fact is..." "Hori is the perfect scoundrel, a diabolical con artist." "Every dirty trick that I know I should be using to get ahead in this world," "Hori uses and gets away with!" "A truly horrible man." "A real stinker." "But this vileness, this pure, absolute vileness... beat me." "It defeated me." "By the time I saw what had happened, it was too late." "Mr. Hiruta!" "Phone call from Amour Publishing." "Please tell them I'm out!" "Making me take his phone calls!" "Senile fool!" "They just left a message and hung up." "They'll be waiting at the Kawasaki racetrack." "Is Mr. Aoe here?" "No." "He never comes here." "The painting of Mount Kumotori is listed as not for sale." "Might I persuade you to let me buy it?" "I'm afraid that's impossible." "It seems it holds sentimental value for him." "Wait!" "You're Miyako Saijo!" "Come on, Takeda!" "No, I couldn't." "That would be too much." "This is peanuts." "Besides, I have a favor to ask." "Don't forget I'm the plaintiff's lawyer, not yours." "Don't forget that or we're in trouble." "Don't be foolish." "You're better off settling out of court." "I'll benefit too." "It'll save a lot of time." "Aoe won't look like a fool." "Everyone will be happy." "No more plaintiffs or defendants." "The suit will drag on forever if Miyako Saijo doesn't sign on." "How about betting on another race?" "Mr. Hiruta, snooping again!" "If there were a dog, he'd bite your nose off!" "Cold, isn't it?" "Of course." "It's winter." "Have you prepared the case?" "That's why I'm here " "Not yet, huh?" "I've discussed it with some more experienced colleagues, and I've concluded we need Miss Saijo as coplaintiff." "Exactly!" "Let me introduce you." "This is Miss Miyako Saijo." "My attorney, Mr. Hiruta." "She came by to say that she'll join the lawsuit." "It was a great relief." "We were just celebrating." "Please join us." "Mr. Hiruta, come on." "AOE AND SAIJO SUE PUBLISHER OF AMOUR" "FREEDOM OF THE PRESS OR HARASSMENT?" "FURIOUS ARTIST AND SINGER SAY SCANDAL IS UNTRUE!" "GOSSIP RAG SHAKEN!" "This puts me in an awkward position." "It's hard." "They trust me." "I mean Aoe is so " "Enough!" "I'm not interested in excuses!" "Stop playing dumb!" "I gave you that cash for a reason." "You'll do as I say in court." "Don't forget:" "You work for both sides now." "Boss!" "Boss, will this really work?" "Fool!" "Stop being so negative." "Call Professor Kataoka." "Kataoka?" "I thought you were bluffing." "What if I was?" " We have no introduction." " Then we'll have to beg." "If we don't, we'll lose." "It's my principle as an attorney to be willing to take on any kind of case, but I won't engage in a foolhardy contest." "They're the ones being foolhardy." "I have every confidence." "I'll defend our good name." "The case will hinge not on how it was reported, but whether the affair actually took place." "If you can prove it did, you can prevail." "But if you can't..." "Mr. Aoe!" "No, it's Santa Claus!" "I'm a dog!" "A beast!" "I'm a worm!" "Think of poor Masako!" "What's going on?" "You'd never understand!" "You can't!" "Let's go get a drink and talk." "No!" "I'm a dog... a worm!" "I'll look after him." "Don't worry." "Mr. Hiruta!" "Hey, pops, wanna dance?" "Order something!" "You can't just drink what you brought." "I'm sorry." "Okay, bring us something." " How about turkey?" " Make it chicken." "It's Christmas." "Let's have turkey." "You're too young to know." "In this place, the turkey and the chicken are the same thing." "Only the price is different." "Haven't we met before?" "Ladies and gentlemen!" "There's only one week left in the year." "One more week and we welcome 1950." "We know that!" "Year after year, human beings remain oblivious to the present." "It's too late for this year, but we believe that next year will be different." "Otherwise we just can't go on." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "Next year is going to be my year!" "No doubt about it." "I'm going to do my best!" "Next year, without fail!" "I'll build a little house for my family... and make things easier for my wife." "Yes, next year I'm really going to do it." "I swear to you, I'll do it next year." "The hell with this year." "Come, my friends, let's sing together!" "We're all going to do a bang-up job next year!" "Right?" "Won't we?" "That's a fact!" "That's a fact." "That's... a real fact." "Next year will be my year too." "Next year I'll be a new man." "This year I've been a worm." "Next year I'll be a man." "This year I was a scoundrel, but next year " "That's right." "No need to mope." "Listen, I have a daughter." "Such a nice girl, too nice for someone like me." "Such lovely eyes." "When she looks at me with those eyes, I want to crawl into a hole." "But next year, when she looks at me," "I'll have nothing to be ashamed of." "Hey, let's all sing!" "Hey, you're good." "Mr. Aoe... please sing with us." "Sing for this senile old crook." "I beg you!" "Everyone, please sing along!" "I beg you." "Old man, look!" "It's a miracle!" "Look!" "Stars have fallen down into that filthy pond." "Old man, doesn't it bring tears to your eyes?" "Glittering stars in the midst of this filthy town!" "And a worthless old crook like you with a daughter as pure as the stars." "You mean Masako's like a star?" "Thank you!" "Thank you!" "Yes, she's as pure as a star..." "a real star." "But me..." "I was a dog in my past life!" "Quiet!" "Someday even you may turn into a star." "You may shine too." "We mortals can't imagine how generous the gods might be." "Merry Christmas... everybody!" "AMOUR TRIAL BEGINS TODAY" "Aoe, where's your lawyer?" "He looks hideous!" "Those robes went out years ago." "AMOUR TRIAL" " FIRST REPORT" "Preliminary hearings in the Amour libel suit began on January 25th in Tokyo District Court." "Who might this be?" "Laughter filled the court upon the arrival of plaintiffs' counsel in ceremonial headgear." "PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL MAKES INCOHERENT CASE" "PLAINTIFFS MAKE FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS" "KATAOKA FINDS HOLES IN CASE" "PLAINTIFFS' KEY WITNESS MISSING" "We met on the mountain." "I don't know his name or address." "We're looking for him now." "Silence!" "Have plaintiffs discussed this with their counsel?" "LEADING DEFENSE WITNESSES TAKE STAND" "Yes, they both arrived on the motorcycle." "The lady was seated behind him on the luggage rack." "Yes, they took separate rooms." "But don't secret lovers always pretend to be strangers?" "We'd gone all that way, but she refused to see us." "She made fools of us." "They were sitting on the balcony, enjoying a chat." "They looked like they had just taken a bath." "Their towels were hung up to dry, like in the picture." "You may begin your cross-examination." "No questions." "Your Honor, this is absurd!" "I'll testify!" "Mr. Aoe's not that kind of man!" " You call yourself a lawyer?" " Quiet!" "COURT IN UPROAR!" "COUNSEL WIDELY DENOUNCED" "ATTORNEY HIRUTA CRITICIZED IN LEGAL CIRCLES" "I don't want them!" "Dear, you mustn't." "Please leave her alone." "She has a fever." "Be quiet!" "I don't have a fever." "Go away, both of you!" "What's wrong?" "Is it because I didn't visit for a while?" "I'm sorry, but the trial's kept me busy." "Leave me alone." "I hate to ask this, but please don't come here again." "Why not?" "The child believes that her father is cheating you." "She can't bear it." "She's convinced that the reason the trial is going so badly is because her father is deceiving you." "That's why the kinder you are, the harder it is for her." "It's the hardest thing for her to bear." "I know how she feels." "After you leave, she'll lovingly pick up each of these flowers and pray." "She'll pray and cry." "That's how she is." "Let me be honest." "I won't throw clichés at a child as special as you." "I already know that your father is deceiving me." "But it's not because he's a bad person." "He's just weak." "He won't go through with it." "I have faith in him." "You must too." "I swear I won't let your father go through with it." "Otherwise I'd never have hired him." "It's all right." "Don't worry." "The important thing is, we're in the right." "How can we lose?" "Listen, we found the witnesses we were looking for." "We're going to win!" "Please don't cry." "PLAINTIFFS' WITNESSES FOUND IN AMOUR TRIAL" "TRIAL RESUMES TODAY" "You'll be called to the stand one at a time." "One of you please read the oath on behalf of all three." "All rise!" "Come now." "One of you read the oath." "What's an oath?" "Quiet!" "It means you promise to answer all questions honestly." "Now see here!" "I've never told a lie in all my life!" "Do you recognize these persons?" "I sure do." "Ain't that why we're here?" "Where did you meet them?" "At Kappazawa." "He was painting a picture of Mount Kumotori." "I never seen a painting like that." "Mount Kumotori ain't that red." "Quiet!" "Only the witness addressed is to reply." "I will continue." "Were they together at the time?" "The lady came along later." "Ain't that right?" "Can you explain how they ended up on the same motorcycle?" "Yes." "It all happened like this:" "The lady there missed her bus and came on foot." "She was tired out." "The artist man felt sorry for her and said he'd take her bag on his bike, right?" "But since he was going the same way, they decided they might as well ride together." "I have no further questions." "Defense, you may now cross-examine." "No questions, Your Honor." "But I would have plaintiffs' counsel clarify one point." "Proceed." "Why were such important witnesses - their only witnesses - not confirmed to testify before this suit was filed?" "Counsel claimed they couldn't be found because they were chance passers-by." "But that means you brought suit without any witnesses." "As counsel for the defense," "I find this most difficult to understand." "Is this how one pursues a fair trial?" "I would like plaintiffs' counsel to offer an explanation." " Kataoka's clever." " He turned the tables." "Does counsel have a response?" " It all hinges on this." " Their testimony will be worthless." "Worse." "It'll hurt their case." "Plaintiffs' counsel has no reply." "Court is adjourned for today." "We'll reconvene..." "I warned you." "Trust a guy like that and this is what happens." "Maybe you don't mind because you did it your way, but what about Miss Saijo?" "I don't mind." "Don't lie." "Stop it!" "What are you doing?" "All right, I'll be quiet!" "Stop it!" "Why are you doing that?" "Stop it!" "What's wrong?" "What's wrong?" "Have you gone crazy?" "If I'm bothering you, just say so." "You don't have to go that far." "I was losing confidence." "I just wanted to hear that sound." "Sorry if I upset you." "But I am sorry, for your sake." "It's all right if we lose." "We can always appeal to the Supreme Court." "Shut that door!" "It's cold!" "Mr. Hiruta, you're hopeless!" "What happened?" "Masako..." "Masako's dead." ""Father..." "Mr. Aoe... will win." "He'll win the case!"" "She cried out those words... and then she was dead." "AMOUR VERDICT POSSIBLE TODAY" "PLAINTIFFS EXPECTED TO LOSE" "This court has heard from both parties and has weighed the evidence they duly submitted." "It is this court's intention to review once again the claims of both parties, define the issues, and deliver a verdict." "First, the plaintiffs." "Does counsel have anything to say?" "What?" "Don't you wish to put Mr. Aoe on the stand?" "Your Honor, may I speak?" "Please." "These proceedings have clearly not worked out in our favor." "The newspapers say we're certain to lose." "But I just can't believe that because we're in the right!" "That story was a lie!" "In the last session, Professor Kataoka skillfully used our own witnesses against us." "He suggested we brought suit without sufficient evidence." "But if I'm guilty of anything, it's of placing too much faith in the legal system." "The one thing I'm certain of is that we're innocent." "That's why we were confident enough to sue." "Unfortunately, we lack enough evidence to persuade you of that." "All I can show you are my and Miss Saijo's faces." "Your Honor, take a good look at us." "Are these the faces of people who would lie?" "That's enough." "Do you have anything else to say?" " I do not." "Does coplaintiff Saijo have anything to say?" "We'll now hear from the defense." "The plaintiff's argument, spoken with the candor of a true artist, was genuinely moving." "But though he has a right to feel as he does, he seems to misunderstand the function of this court." "But let us set that aside." "As counsel for the defense, I'd like to call attention... to the manner in which plaintiffs' counsel carried out this lawsuit." "An attorney, in addition to representing his clients, has certain solemn responsibilities toward the court itself." "Earlier..." "I asked plaintiffs' counsel to elucidate his opinion on this matter." "Unfortunately, he gave no reply." "Mr. Aoe claims that plaintiffs are innocent and that that's the one thing of which he's certain." "Such arguments lead nowhere." "The defendant too has grounds to believe he is right." "He too believes he is innocent." "Does anyone have anything to add?" "Yes, Your Honor!" "Professor Kataoka just claimed that his client believes in his own innocence." "But he's wrong." "I have clear evidence to the contrary." "Your Honor... please allow me" "to take the stand as a witness for the plaintiffs." "Any objections?" "Well?" "Do you object?" "An objection must have a reason behind it." "The defense has no objection?" "Please take the stand." "This... was made out to me by the defendant." "It's a check for 100,000 yen." "Do you wish to submit that check as evidence?" "Yes." "I will examine the witness." "What is the significance of this check as evidence?" "That check is the reason why" "I didn't respond to Counsel Kataoka's question during the last session." "It's the reason I neglected to call witnesses to the stand." "I have disgraced this court." "To Your Honor... to Professor Kataoka... and to my clients..." "I humbly apologize." "This evidence of my own wrongdoing incriminates the defendant as well." "Counsel for the defense, are you in accord?" "We are, Your Honor." " How do you feel?" " How's it feel to win?" "I'm happy, of course." "But more than that " "More than that?" "It won't make much of a story." "Come on, tell us." "We just saw a star form in the sky." " Can you explain?" " Impossible." " You mean Mr. Hiruta?" " Yes." "Not a very pure star, if you ask me." "For the first time in my life, I saw a star come into existence." "Compared to that feeling, our victory was nothing." "THE END" "Translation by KERIM YASAR for SUBTEXT SUBTITLING"