"SHOCHIKU CO., LTD." "A SHOCHIKU / ASASHI Broadcasting Corp. Co-production" "Executive Producers Hisashi Yamanouchi Yozo Sakurai" "Written by Tatsuo Nogami Kinji Fukasaku Akira Nakahara" "Music by Masaaki Hirao" "Photographed by Shigeru Ishihara Lighting by Toshio Nakajima" "Art Direction by Seiichi Ota" "Produced in cooperation with Kyoto Eiga Co., Ltd." "The Cast" "Makoto Fujita as Mondo Nakamura" "Hiroaki Murakami as Masa" "Kazuko Kato as Otama" "Ken Nishida as Officer Onizuka Ippei Hikaru as Junnosuke" "Toshio Yamanouchi as Officer Tanaka" "Kin Sugia as Sen Mari Shiraki as Ritsu" "Kunihiko Mitamura as Hide" "Henra Sagara as Magistrate Okuda" "Mitsuko Baisho as Ofuku" "Hideo Murota as Yahei Hirano Renji Ishibashi as Kohei Yasuda" "Hirotaro Honda as Iori Sugie" "Daijiro Tsutsumi as Chikara Jinbo" "Haruko Sagara as Omitsu" "Daigo Kusano as theatre manager Eri Saito as Oyumi" "Takashi Sasano as Yasukichi Yuki Furudate as a whore" "Mikio Narita as Lord Sakai Keizo Kanie as Kyuzo" "Kyoko Kishida as Benten, head of the assassins" "Sonny Chiba as Bunshichi" "Directed by Kinji Fukasaku" "S U R E ----- D E A T H R E V E N G E" "The 13th of April." "It's said to be the unluckiest day of the entire year." "And it had to happen on just that very day." "Bloodshed!" "Bloodshed!" "Kohei Yasuda, a rookie at the magistrate's office, went wild and assaulted Kenmotsu Nagao, the magistrate." "It happened because Nagao took fifty gold pieces from Yasuda as a bribe to promote him to detective, but he didn't keep up his end of the bargain." "So, Yasuda blew his top and went after Nagao." "Maybe I shouldn't talk like this, especially above a whisper, but Nagao's the one to blame." "The whole thing's ridiculous, and we were the ones who suffered." "It had to happen at lunchtime." "What a mess!" "Food and tea all over the place." "Life is dear to a samurai too at times like this." "Who wants to die for some jerk?" "All we could do was run around." "But Inspector Tanaka was the worst." "I'm in here!" "I'm in here!" "You heard me!" "No violence!" "Please!" "Open the door!" "Open it!" "It's me, the magistrate!" "Shall we open it, sir?" "Don't be stupid!" "You'll let the killer in!" "Wait a bit longer!" "We'll help you!" "Hang on until then!" "Be patient and wait!" "Wait, Kohei!" "I apologize!" "I'll give you back the money!" "I'll get you promoted!" "I promise!" "Too late!" "Die!" "Stand aside!" "Aside!" "You saw?" "You saw?" "Wow, I was almost killed." "I thought it was all over." "It was a great relief." "But I was wrong, too hasty." "What followed was a disaster." "A really big disaster!" "The verdict:" "Mondo Nakamura, for your cowardly conduct during the crisis, your pay shall be reduced by half for the next 6 months, and you shall be severely rebuked." "Sir, that's too much!" "What did you say?" "Why must only I be punished?" "What about the officers who locked us in?" "Silence, Nakamura!" "Don't talk back." "You're being rude." "Being rebuked is all right." "But I can't survive that long on only half pay." "No use arguing!" "Case closed!" "What an outrageous man!" "Stupid!" "I know how you feel, but it's the Shogun's judgment." "If you want to stay on the force, you'd better accept it." "Accept it?" "They made a fool of me." "Accept it?" "Dammit!" "Do you know what day it is, dear?" "The new magistrate's coming today." "It's an important day." "You're being penalized now." "It's your chance." "Be the first to meet him, and you could win his favor." "It's not that easy." "Don't argue, dear." "Murata from next door left an hour ago." "Murata's not being penalized, yet he went." "But you, son-in-law..." "All right, all right." "I'm only drawing half-pay." "So I'll go?" "Will that make you happy?" "Ritsu, where's my breakfast?" "Starting today, you get no breakfast." "No breakfast?" "We decided that, starting the day that the new magistrate arrives, we won't eat breakfast." "Not until you're back on full pay." "Go quickly!" "Lord Okuda, the new southern magistrate, has arrived!" "What a young magistrate!" "I hear he's a pet of Prime Minister Sakai." "He used to be a page." "Look at his clothes." "Think he'll make it as a magistrate?" "The food and wine are from the new magistrate." "So appreciate it, understand?" "What extravagant food!" "It must've cost a fortune." "He's young, but wants to be taken seriously." "Just a kid, yet he's trying to act big?" "Gold!" "A gold piece!" "I'm surprised!" "He's young, but so thoughtful." "Well, let's drink to celebrate." "All this fuss over a piece of gold?" "The magistrate's going to the castle." "You men stay and enjoy yourselves." "What's your name?" "I'm Mondo Nakamura." "So you're the one." "I've heard about you." "What?" "This is a good opportunity." "If something should happen to me, don't forsake me, understand?" ""The tragedy of poor Okiku,"" ""She got a hairy corncob,"" ""Shoved deep in her snatch,"" ""So she drowned herself."" ""poor Okiku, was a tragedy... "" "Hey, Nakamura!" "Who are you singing about?" "If it's Okiku, you'll be punished with blindness." "What?" "It wasn't an ordinary corncob, it jutted from the Shogun." "She was humiliated and killed herself." "She had guts." "Try to be like her." "He's in a bad mood today." "What happened?" "Who knows?" "So, let's get on with it." ""The hairy corncob found its mark..."" "He said, "Don't forsake me"?" "That's a funny thing for a magistrate to say." "Then what happened?" "This happened." "I felt rotten, so I came here to drink." "I'll pay for the paupers here." "Give them whatever food and drink you have." "Don't be ridiculous." "Drinking in broad daylight?" "Anyway, can you afford it?" "You're on half-pay." "Don't remind me." "You're spoiling the taste." "I bet I am." "Keep it for yourself." "Any news from your man?" "No." "He went away to look for a job two years ago and never came back." "You still call him your man?" "Maybe you're right." "Why not flirt with me?" "I can't." "Why not?" "I don't want to flirt." "I want you to love me." "I'm serious." "You're lying." "I can tell by your face that you won't divorce your wife." "She'll kill you." "How stupid to be a man and a woman." "Right?" "Think so?" "People love to talk about flirting and love and stuff." "Is that all they can do?" "How awful!" "The food's burning!" "Hey, Sugie came home." "Sugie?" "That young samurai." "He went for a job interview." "I wonder what happened." "Tinker." "Yes?" "I don't think I've ever seen you." "Were you here before?" "No, sir." "I'm new here." "May I help you?" "Lend me your anvil and hammer." "I'll do it myself." "It won't take a minute." "Why do that, Sugie?" "I can't forget I used to be a samurai while I'm wearing this sword." "Can't forget?" "What about the job you mentioned?" "I didn't get it." "This sword was a family treasure." "I tried to sell it to get money for someone who helped me." "Then I found out that it's a fake." "It helped me decide to earn a living by making umbrellas." "And this is better for that kind of trade." "I feel sorry for Sugie." "Did he love that girl?" "He'd planned to marry her after he got the job." "But now he can't." "Who the hell are they?" "The Shogun's retainers." "Reckless fools!" "Hey, it's a dead end." "Who brought us to this pigpen?" "Kyuma!" "Hey, what can we do in a dump like this?" "I, Kyuma Kagazume, will demonstrate my Magaki-school leaping technique!" "Koyata, you're next!" "Go!" "Of course!" "Here I go!" "I'll go next." "Watch me!" "Stop!" "Though poor, we have the right to live here." "There's old people and children too." "What if you injure someone?" "Stop it!" "What?" "Hey, granpa, you're nothing but a masterless samurai, and you dare criticize the Shogun's personal retainers?" "You may be the Shogun's retainers, but you're still reckless!" "What's that?" "Step aside!" "Look what you did!" "Damn you!" "Watch out!" "Father!" "Are you hurt?" "Are you all right?" "Father!" "What's wrong?" "His neck's broken." "Ribs too!" "What?" "Murderer!" "Murderer!" "Murderer!" "Murderer!" "Get off me!" "Murderer!" "Bring him back to life!" "Yes!" "Bring him back to life!" "We didn't kill him." "The horse did." "The horse kicked him." "Don't call us murderers." "Let's go!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Lay off!" "I know how you feel, but don't make it any worse." "There's something I don't understand." "Anybody know what happened to the horse?" "It's over there!" "It was this." "This made the horse bolt." "But who did it?" "And why?" "Officer Nakamura." "Yes, sir." "Your report states it wasn't a mere accident." "You suspect treachery and wish to proceed with an investigation." "Precisely, sir." "I reject this." "Why?" "Your theory is absurd." "Since it's unfounded, I must reject it." "Sir, it's not unfounded." "It's based on fact." "As stated, the shiruken which had stabbed the horse..." "Shiruken?" "What shiruken are you talking about?" "I submitted it together with the report, sir." "I don't think I received it." "I can't believe it." "I absolutely..." "Did either of you receive it?" "What?" "No, sir, not me!" "Neither did I." "Don't lie." "I handed it to you, I know I did." "I'm sorry, sir." "It was my error." "It was merely an accident." "There's no mistake." "I'm glad you understand." "May I ask you one thing?" "What will happen to the Shogun's personal retainers?" "The superintendent informs me they're under house arrest." "Evidently no other punishment is required." "Case closed!" "You are dismissed." "Is Kyuzo here?" "Yes, sir." "You left evidence at the scene." "It's not like you." "Sorry, sir." "That ass Mondo Nakamura is snooping around." "I don't think he's much to worry about, but it's best to be careful." "Very well, sir." "Oyumi, the soil." "Here, have some more." "I wonder who he was." "Huh?" "That other man." "The one who saved that kid during the row." "What other man?" "You trying to say that the old samurai wasn't the only one?" "Yes." "I'm sure I saw him." "Did you see anybody like that?" "No." "I don't think so." "Me neither." "Maybe you're wrong." "I wonder." "Why not ask that kid." "He'd know." "But... he doesn't live around here." "What?" "Maybe he just came to play or was only passing through." "Anyway, I'd never seen him before." "So an old samurai had to die trying to save a total stranger?" "Boss Benten, we're all here." "Please come out." "Very well." "Thank you for coming at this late hour." "I'll get straight to the point." "This time we have 3 targets." "First, the leader of the reckless samurai, Chikara Jinbo." "Second, his lieutenant, Shinpachi Tarao." "Third, their fellow samurai, Kyuma Kagazume." "They were responsible for the death of that old samurai 10 days ago." "Next, our fee." "The client has paid an advance of 3 pieces of gold." "The promise is to pay another 3 later." "So the total will come to 6 gold pieces." "Only 6 gold pieces for 3 targets." "If the targets are real samurai, it's worth at least 10 per head." "Only 6 gold pieces for 3 targets?" "Don't be ridiculous!" "Please don't go!" "Please!" "I know it's not enough." "But it's all I could raise." "Please!" "I beg you!" "Please avenge my father's death!" "My father's death!" "Go back inside." "I'll do my best." "She's from a poor family." "You can imagine what she's had to do, to raise even 3 gold pieces as an advance." "That's not all." "Imagine what she'll have to do to raise the rest." "Will any of you accept for her sake?" "Officer, let's go." "You people go first." "I'll stay." "Stay?" "You mean you'll do it for so little?" "Are you Edo assassins?" "Some people!" "You call 6 whole gold pieces "little"." "What?" "You're a traveler?" "Did you speak?" "Sorry to intrude." "It's only the howling of a stray dog." "Boss Benten," "Let me take the 3 targets you mentioned." "Wait a minute!" "Boss, I accept." "All right?" "Officer!" "I have my reasons." "Let me do this." "Then, the two of you settle the operation between yourselves." "Will you share the targets?" "Or will you go for them on your own?" "Whatever, you'll be paid each time you hit a target." "We're strangers." "We should do it by ourselves." "How about it?" "That's the best offer I've had." "I'll get right to it." "Hey, he's got a tiny one!" "What a weenie winky!" "Murderer?" "So what?" "No matter how many come, I'll kill them!" "Next!" "Come on!" "What's wrong?" "You all right?" "Shut up!" "I'm a murderer!" "So what?" "Asses!" "Sure, Kyuma." "Sure." "Hey, take him to bed, huh?" "Please wait in here." "Hello." "What do you want?" "We brought you what our master promised." "Let's have a look." "Thanks." "By the way, about that row, do you think it was enough?" "An old samurai died." "We hadn't planned on that." "What did the magistrate say?" "Ah, yes." "He said he might ask you to pull another job." "Sounds good." "Tell your master we accept." ""Another job"?" "What's going on?" "Who are you?" "Dad!" "What a disgrace!" "It's an insult to the Shogun." "They call themselves his retainers?" "What can they possibly be thinking?" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "How long are you going to keep us here?" "Who needs those idiot policemen?" "We'll avenge Kyuma by ourselves!" "Let's go!" "Yes, sir!" "Clear the way!" "You were nearly killed." "If this was more serious, you'd lose your job, as a police officer and an assassin." "You missed your target and got hurt in the bargain." "Great samurai." "What do you care?" "Lay off." "You're too old to show off." "Can't you see we all worry about you?" "All because you took a job that doesn't pay." "Listen Officer, they may be kids, but they're still samurai." "And hotheaded to go with it." "If they get mad, wounding you won't be enough." "What's worse, I hear that the magistrate's involved in this." "You'll never be able to handle it alone." "To be perfectly honest, I have a favor to ask." "What favor?" "About the magistrate Otama just mentioned." "I've always thought he was a bit suspicious." "Check up on the man, will you?" "His family... whatever you can find." "Sure, we'll do it." "Incidentally, have you changed your taste in women?" "What?" "What are you talking about?" "You've a young girl waiting for you." "Huh?" "That little bitch!" "What do you want?" "Well?" "If you lie to a policeman, you'll be in trouble." "Why are you following me?" "I lost sight of my dad." "Don't lie to me!" "What've I got to do with your dad?" "You've got plenty to do with him!" "You're both assassins." "You're both after the same targets." "Keep it down, you fool!" "So," "I thought, if I follow you, I'll catch up with him sooner or later." "Is that so?" "I have something to discuss with your dad, too." "So follow me, if you like." "Why are you so afraid?" "He's your brother." "But, if Dad's with him, he'll scold me." "Scold you?" "Why?" "I don't know." "You're father and daughter?" "Odd people!" "Good work, son." "But you were careless." "They followed you." "Sis!" "Dad, please!" "Let me stay with you again!" "I'll go crazy if I can't live with you and Choji." "I can't live away from you." "Please Dad!" "Please let me stay!" "I'm stupid, so I can't understand if you don't tell me." "If there's something wrong with me, I'll change." "I'll do as you say." "Please Dad!" "What brings you?" "I..." "I'm not talking to you." "I'm asking the policeman over there." "Seems you've got a problem there." "I can wait until you've finished." "Not necessary." "I'm finished now." "Dad!" "Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?" "You're not my daughter." "Dad!" "Get lost!" "What's on your mind?" "I heard about this assassin whose kids are his killing partners." "So you're Bunshichi, the top vendor, huh?" "You haven't answered my question." "You may be an oddball, but don't you think you went too far last night?" "You mean about your wound?" "Take it to a doctor." "Listen, we're strangers." "We kill and get paid for it." "But there's no sense in killing other assassins, right?" "So let's make peace and share the other two targets." "Then everything will be fine." "How about it?" "Wait a minute." "You were the one who wanted to work on his own, right?" "I know." "I came to discuss it." "Sorry, I'm not interested." "Look, I've lived by getting rid of anybody who stands in my way." "And I'll keep on living that way." "So leave!" "Hey!" "Suit yourself." "Get away from us!" "Go on!" "Go!" "Get lost!" "Leave!" "Dad!" "Please!" "Get lost!" "Dad!" "Get off!" "No!" "Please, let me stay!" "Let me stay!" "Please!" "Poor kid!" "That's why I don't want any." "Drop in." "Come on in." "You'd pass up a beauty like me, would you?" "You're celibate?" "No thanks." "Want a good time?" "I can love you all night long." "Limp dick!" "Hey, come with me, please?" "Come with me?" "Come on in with me, please?" "Why not come inside with me?" "What?" "You sound like you're going to a funeral." "Look who it is!" "Back for more, eh?" "I just couldn't stay away from you!" "You'd better get ready!" "Stop that!" "Get in here!" "How many times must I tell you?" "You'll never get picked up if you look miserable!" "I'm sorry." "Apologies won't help you." "You may have been a samurai's daughter, but you're here to work." "On your back!" "Or you'll be punished!" "Yes." "Now go hook a sucker, and hurry!" "Hey, you want a little loving?" "Please!" "Please, come with me!" "Hey, this is my spot." "Scram!" "I'm sorry." "Hey, what's wrong?" "Well, you're welcome." "You're already drunk?" "I sure am." "Today I'm drinking my best booze." "Yeah?" "Great, huh?" "By the way, has a young boy brought a message for me?" "Not that I know of." "Is that so?" "Never mind." "Let me have some of your best booze, too." "No." "Why be difficult?" "How come you courted me?" "Huh?" "You've courted me many times." "No, it's only in my dreams." "You know, women sometimes want men to be serious, even when they know the guys are only flirting." "You're mean, Nakamura." "What's wrong?" "What happened?" "Tell me, and maybe," "maybe it'll make you feel better." "A friend of mine was going to Osaka, so I asked him to take a letter." "To your man?" "Yeah." "But he'd gone." "Gone, huh?" "They say he quit 6 months ago, and no one knows where he went." "Would you believe it?" "I can't help but sit here and drink." "But, maybe this is how it should be." "It makes me feel a little better," "Like someone took a load off my back." "Listen, will you take me somewhere?" "I'd love to get away for a few days." "The mountains, even a field... anywhere will do." "Will you take me with you?" "Please." "Sure, I'll take you some place, Ofuku." "But right now, I have something to do." "When I'm finished, I'll take you somewhere." "The sea, lots of sun - that'll be best." "How about we go to Enoshima Island?" "But now, I have a job to do." "Really, I promise." "So don't despair, all right?" "Sorry to keep you." "Find out anything?" "Okuda became magistrate because Prime Minister Saki arranged it." "He'd been a page at a temple." "Then Lord Saki brought him to the castle as a page for the Shogun." "After that he moved up fast and got to be a magistrate." "But the years before that, nobody knows much." "A temple page, huh?" "Right." "But I don't know which temple." "Some say he's the bastard son of a Kyoto nobleman." "Others say he was a homosexual." "What?" "A homo?" "Officer, what're you mixed up in?" "If something happens to you, it could affect all of us." "Think about what might happen." "Leave it alone, before you get hurt." "I know." "A homosexual, eh?" "Sounds likely." "Hey, where're you going?" "Judging from what you say, he must be Kyonosuke." "Age, height... it all fits." "I've been in this racket a long time." "I don't think we'll ever see his sort again." "He had such soft, fair skin, so wonderful to the touch." "Dammit," "I'm ashamed, but I'm still in love with him." "How long was he here?" "Well, only a few years." "Kyonosuke was a lucky boy." "He was so beautiful, that Kabuki theatre invited him to be an actor." "And he could go after what happened to Haginosuke." "Hold on." "Just who's Haginosuke?" "Kyonosuke's rival." "One of the two was to be recommended to the theatre." "Then, all of a sudden, Haginosuke and his guest committed suicide." "With such a bright future waiting?" "Stupid kid!" "That's fate, Officer." "It might have been more logical if they had known each other longer." "But they took poison on the very first night they met." "It was odd no matter how you look at it." "They poisoned themselves, huh?" "Anyway, because Haginosuke died, Kyonosuke got out of this den." "That's the story, Officer." "Kyonosuke?" "I remember him well." "He was a real ham." "But on stage he looked beautiful." "I don't mean in this dump." "A big theatre in the center of town." "I still remember." "Whenever Kyonosuke posed like this, the crowd went wild and I mean a full house." "It was amazing." "Then Enkoin Temple offered him a job as a page." "Enkoin Temple in Yanaka?" "Yeah." "It's a high-class temple." "The Shogun's ladies-in-waiting used to go there to pray." "In fact, I think they still do." "It surprised us when they scouted him." "Who started the whole thing?" "I'm not sure," "but I hear that the temple magistrate at the time," "Lord Sakai, arranged it personally." "Lord Sakai?" "You mean Prime Minister Sakai?" "Yes." "But there was some trouble." "The troupe leader refused to release Kyonosuke." "That's understandable." "He was crazy about him." "But, he let him go after all, huh?" "He had no choice." "He died." "Died?" "Don't tell me he poisoned himself too?" "They said a robber killed him." "But the robber was never found." "So nobody really knows." "Anyhow, Kyonosuke went to Enkoin Temple and no one objected." "Rumor has it he finally got to be a Shogunate page." "The troupe leader's death was very timely, huh?" "ENKOlN TEMPLE" "Many thanks." "Here's a tip." "May Buddha bless you." "It was a big procession, huh?" "Who came to pray this evening?" "Ah, Lady Matsuo from the Shogunate was here." "Really?" "Then that luxurious palanquin there, whose is it?" "That one?" "It belongs to Prime Minister Sakai." "Yeah?" "Then, the Prime Minister's here too?" "Yes." "He and Lady Matsuo came to pray for the Shogun's recovery." "Thanks for telling me." "The Shogun's recovery?" "He's ill?" "I hadn't heard." "I'm sorry I'm late." "Come closer to the Shogun." "Hurry." "I'll take his pulse." "Okiku..." "Okiku..." "Be brave, sire!" "Get well!" "Okiku..." "Forgive me..." "Pour wine for Okuda." "Of course." "Thinking about it, the Shogun was well when he had this room made 3 years ago." "He'd come here almost everyday so he could enjoy himself." "I hear he did it himself when Okiku was here." "He said, "Take a good look, everybody."" ""In no way am I inferior to young pages."" "Then he went into that room, and screwed Okiku the maid," "who just happened to be there." "Please leave me alone!" "Don't!" "Stop!" "Please stop!" "Please stop!" "Please don't!" "Please stop it!" "Strange." "I'm surprised you knew." "The Shogun has recurring nightmares every night." ""Okiku!" "Okiku, forgive me!" he keeps saying." "But no one remembers the incident." "How is it that you happen to know?" "Maybe we'll talk about it someday." "But right now, wouldn't you rather watch the climax?" "They say women are lecherous right to the grave." "How enviable they are!" "The prayers of the priests won't work." "To save the Shogun from his dreams and purge Okiku from his mind," "The plan you thought up will be the best." "But he's old, you know." "We have to hurry." "Remember that." "Yes, sir." "I'm quite aware of that." ""Okiku." ""Died age 17."" ""The tragedy of poor Okiku..."" "So it wasn't just a song, it was fact." "But how will it affect the poor people who live here?" "Him!" "Why is he here?" "Who's there?" "Come out!" "Or shall I come in?" "Mondo Nakamura!" "I heard you're the laziest man in the south magistrate precinct." "But you're working hard tonight." "I appreciate it." "But remember this:" "Whatever you examine, no matter what you find out, it won't affect me in the slightest." "So why not change your mind and work for me, instead?" "Come see me anytime." "I'll have you promoted for your efforts tonight." "See?" "He's wise to us." "What do you suppose we should do?" "Do we have any choice?" "We'll act." "Hey, Shinpachi, what's keeping you?" "Hurry up!" "Dammit, don't leave me behind." "Hey!" "Wait for me!" "I'm so very drunk!" "Stupid top!" "I'm so very drunk!" "Get off!" "I'll get rid of it somehow." "I'm cut!" "What's going on there?" "Who are you?" "Wait right there!" "Stop him!" "Get him!" "Stop!" "You stop there!" "He's been killed!" "Shinpachi!" "After him!" "Where did he go?" "Dammit!" "Right or left?" "We'll split up!" "Good idea!" "I'll go this way." "He killed Shinpachi." "Don't lose him!" "This is fine." "Put him down." "Shinpachi!" "Shinpachi!" "Shinpachi!" "What's this?" "Look!" "What's that?" "Are you blind?" "See how broad and sharp it is?" "It's no ordinary knife." "It's made from a samurai sword, although a cheap one." "A sword?" "What type of samurai doesn't need his sword anymore?" "Then you can guess who did it, right?" "Shinpachi, don't rest in peace too soon." "Wait until I avenge your death." "I promise!" "Me too!" "Me too!" "I promise, Shinpachi!" "Shinpachi!" "It's soaking." "I'll have to take it apart and wash it." "But it's a brand new kimono." "A kimono lives or dies depending on the man who wears it." "For this kimono, I feel sorry." "Dear, what were you doing to get so wet?" "Working, of course." "That much I can guess." "What kind of work, dear?" "I was watching a dangerous criminal." "With whom?" "Nobody." "And what happened to this dangerous criminal?" "He died." "Died?" "Somebody murdered him." "Oh!" "You actually experienced such manly work?" "Mother!" "Mother!" "My husband was all alone, and..." "I heard." "Next time, use an umbrella when watching, understand, Son-in-Law?" "What's that?" "Who could it be?" "It could be that dead man's friend who's come to get you." "Son-in-Law!" "Don't panic, Mother." "Who is it?" "Be careful, dear." "My dad..." "What?" "Please help my dad." "Who's that boy?" "He's sick." "Sick?" "He has a fever!" "Bring him in!" "Don't bring him in here." "Mother!" "Before taking care of him, there's something we have to make sure of." "Son-in-Law, is he an illegitimate son of yours?" "Stop kidding around!" "He has a father, who's waiting for him." "Can I take it that you're telling us the truth?" "Why must you needle me?" "That's a relief." "Ritsu, boil some water." "Wait!" "Don't hold him that way." "Keep his head higher." "What an oaf!" "Hurry!" "Dad, be brave!" "Don't die!" "Dad!" "Hey!" "It's only me." "Your brother came and got me." "What happened?" "I don't know." "I found him wounded and lying on the ground." "This was in his shoulder." "It's poisoned." "Someone applied poison to it." "What a dirty trick!" "He's coming around." "Dad." "You all right?" "Be brave!" "Dad!" "It's me, Dad." "Why are you here?" "Dad." "Get out!" "Don't say that." "Get out!" "Choji." "Choji." "Who are you?" "Relax." "It's me." "Me." "Oh, it's you." "Your boy's with me." "Why is it me that has to take care of your son?" "Poor kid!" "He was drenched." "You use your own kid as a tool for murder." "What's wrong with you, anyway?" "Is that the way a father and son should be?" "He isn't my son." "I bought the two kids a while ago." "You bought them?" "Don't glare at me." "If I hadn't bought them, they'd both be long dead." "Their parents would have killed them and buried them in a paddy field." "That's still no reason to use kids." "I'm teaching them how to live, like my old man taught me." "I was bought too, as soon as I was born." "And the man who bought me was an assassin." "That's how it was." "I learned how to smile in a swordfight, and how to fling a top to crush a man's face." "The stench of blood..." "rolling human heads." "They're nothing once you get used to them." "Like a merchant's son who learns accounting almost automatically." "Why so silent?" "That's how it happened." "If you're a real assassin, don't look so glum." "It doesn't suit your work." "Thanks for taking care of Choji." "You can leave now." "What about you?" "What about me?" "Maybe she never thought she could get poisoned too." "What?" "She sucked out the poison." "Your fever will go down soon." "You may have bought her, but be nice, or the gods will punish you." "She's no longer a kid." "She's a woman now." "It happened when we worked together a month ago." "Dad?" "Yeah?" "Today's work... we did it, huh?" "Sure." "You said I couldn't do it, but I did." "Right." "You surprised me, Choji." "I'm glad." "Saucy kid!" "Shut up!" "What's wrong?" "Go to sleep." "We have to get up early." "Omitsu?" "What's wrong?" "Since then I've kept away from her." "I can use kids, but not women." "Women are too soft for these life-or-death situations." "Really?" "Sorry I made you talk about it." "What lousy work we're both in, huh?" "Don't worry about the boy." "So, you're awake?" "Your fever's gone down." "Good." "And your dad will be all right in a few days too." "Listen, don't tell anyone about our secret work, okay?" "Especially not my wife or that old battleaxe." "Got it?" "Good." "It's almost time for breakfast." "Listen Ritsu." "That child's eyes, nose and mouth... the way he looks." "Don't you think he's good enough to be a samurai's son?" "You think so, Mother?" "I hate to grumble, but he looks so much better than my son-in-law." "Maybe you could adopt him as the Nakamura heir." "What?" "Then you can divorce that clod, and we can have a chance of happiness." "How about it?" "That's going too far." "Ritsu, you can't stay young forever." "You can find a proper husband easily." "I think it's the time for you to decide." "To be honest, Mother, I've been thinking the same since last night." "That's some plot you've cooked up." " Dear!" " Son-in-law!" "No kidding!" "I'm a man too, you know." "And I have a woman who wants me to take her away someplace." "Who'd want to stay in a haunted house like this?" "Thanks for nothing." "Goodbye!" " Dear, where are you going?" " Don't worry." "He'll be back." " Are you sure?" " Unfortunately." "He always comes back." "Stupid clod!" "Why can't he drop dead?" "Nakamura!" "Oh?" "What's up?" "I want to talk." "My husband says he's coming for me." "What?" "I got a letter." "He worked hard and made enough to open a shop." "He said to wait till he comes for me." "Would you believe it?" "After making me worry so much." "Don't you think he's selfish?" "So selfish!" "What should I do?" "Do about what?" " I'm a little scared." " Scared?" "Is it all right that only I be happy?" "I'm scared." "Do you think the gods will be jealous and punish me?" "Don't be asinine!" "What gods would punish you for that?" "Pray with me." "So, we don't get to go to Enoshima Island, huh?" "Sorry." "But thanks anyway." "I'll never forget your kindness." "It's him!" "It's the one I saw." "Mr. Tinker!" "You're the man who saved the boy." "What?" "When the horse went wild, you and Hirano saved the little boy." "Not me." "I think you're mistaken." "I never did anything like that." "Don't be modest." "Poor Hirano broke his neck and died." "I've been wondering who the other man was." "I'm glad I found you." "I'll tell everyone about you." "If they know how brave you were, they'll give you more work." "You certainly deserve it." "Stay here, all right?" "The samurai!" "That wild gang!" " They're back again!" " Here they come!" "What do you want?" "Get lost!" "Whose is it?" "Mine." "I lost it a few days ago." "I've been looking for it." "So, it's you!" "If it's yours, then you're the one who killed Shinpachi!" " I killed him?" " Watch your tongue!" "You guys are the ones who killed the old samurai Hirano." "What?" "Are you challenging us?" "Sounds like fun." "We came to fight too." "So let's fight!" "What are you doing?" "Is it a special day?" "Nobody's here." "What's it all about?" "Nakamura, what are you doing here?" "What's it to you?" "What's wrong with sipping tea?" "You shouldn't." "That wild gang of samurai went to the slum to fight." "A lot of people were killed or injured." "The other officers went there hours ago." "What's that?" "Nakamura, you're late!" "Nakamura!" "Ofuku!" "Ofuku!" "It's me." "Nakamura!" "Luck's on your side." "Don't die!" "No, luck had deserted me." "Ofuku!" "Let me speak to the superintendent!" "We only avenged our friends' death!" " There's no reason for hara-kiri!" " Silence!" " What poor losers!" " I must tell you this!" "Magistrate Okuda started it all!" "He told us to do it!" "Kill them!" "What did we do?" "Tell me." " Why must we leave?" " All of them!" "I've lived here all my life!" "All of you!" "Move it!" "Hurry!" "Get going!" "Move it!" "Move!" "Snap it up!" "Move it!" "Faster!" "Keep moving!" "Officer, can we talk?" "She ruined the quilts and bedding." "What a tramp!" "She was a real pest." "Scattering purifying salt!" " She won't bother you any more." " Good riddance." "She died this morning - stabbed herself in the heart with a kitchen knife." "She didn't leave any last words, but I hear the balance, 3 pieces of gold, was given to the boss last night." "When she sold herself to raise the money, she'd already decided." "It must have been painful to give herself to slobs every night." "She put up with it to avenge her father's death." "I kind of think she'd planned to end it like this." "Excuse us." "Excuse us." "Who are you?" "Are you saying you'll bury her by yourselves?" "Yes." "We used to know her." "It'll be less work for us." "Good!" "Be our guest." "Yes." "Assassins are meant to satisfy people's craving for vengeance." "If the Shogunate kills the targets, our clients feel cheated." "Joining her father like this, Oyumi can't rest in peace." "If you dunces couldn't do the job, you should never have accepted it." "Only 3 gold pieces, and she gave her life for them." "What'll we do about it?" "Keep them until I finish the job." "What do you mean?" "As you say, her soul can't rest in peace." "But it's not for the reason you mentioned." "The real killer is still alive." "What?" "Don't tell me you're lying." "No." "I saw what happened." "It looked like the horse kicked the old man, but it was a trick." "A guy who pretended to save the kid, actually jumped the old samurai and broke his neck." "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" "My job was to only get rid of the targets for our client." "But now it's different." "Maybe I wouldn't care if she were alive." "But now that she's dead..." "I'll kill the real murderer and then come for the balance." "Hold on." "Are you talking about the guy who uses the shiruken?" "Then there's somebody else behind all this, right?" "If you know, why ask?" "Mother!" " Ritsu, did you find him?" " No." "He's nowhere around." " Oh?" "I wonder where he is." " Where could he be?" "What's wrong?" " Dear!" " Son-in-law!" "That boy disappeared." "While Ritsu and I were in the kitchen." " He disappeared?" " Like the wind." "Did you see a man around?" "A guy with a black hood and a mantle?" "I don't think so." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "I thought I heard something in the garden, but there was nothing there." "What kind of noise?" "Well, not really a noise..." "More of a whistle." "Brief but sharp." "Ritsu went to the garden, and I looked in my room, but the boy was gone." " Dear, where are you going?" " Son-in-law!" " Sis!" " Relax." "Don't go." "Dad won't lose." "Dad!" "Dad!" "Choji, stay put, okay?" "Sis!" "Dad!" "Cry!" "Yell!" "Call for help!" "Yell, or I'll kill you!" "Call for him!" "He's overthere!" "Dad!" "Don't die!" " Dad!" " Don't die!" " Dad!" " Don't die!" "Don't worry." "I won't die." "I'm all right." "We made it again, right?" "Because the three of us came together again." "Dad." "What's wrong?" "Get tough!" "I missed one target." "What a shame..." "after I bragged to Boss Benten." "Do it for me." "Sure." "Don't worry." "Omitsu..." "Choji..." "Let your dad rest a while." "Don't worry." "I'll wake up soon." "Then we'll take another trip, the three of us, all right?" "Does it hurt, Dad?" "Not really." "Living with you kids makes me feel so good, so wanted." "Really." "I love it." "It's too good for a punk assassin like me." " Dad!" " Dad!" " Dad!" " Dad!" "Officer, you're breaking the rules by doing it for free?" "It's not for free." "I think I'll go too." "Yeah, assassins shouldn't act until they're sure of getting paid." "Still, doing nothing is even worse." "We'll do it for those two kids." "Let's get at it." "We don't know how many we'll have to fight this time." "That stuff only works once." "We better not use it." "We haven't got anything else." "Leave it to me." "Don't forget, I'm good at things like this." "What the hell are these?" "Grenades from Holland." "Don't pull the pins until you throw them." "I'll use these." "Let's go!" "Magistrate Okuda, you're a frightening man, aren't you?" "You got those wild samurai and the peasants... to clear that slum in only 10 days." "It's hard to believe." "The Shogun is delighted." "He plans to build a temple there and dedicate it to Okiku's soul." "I'm amazed how happy he was." "It's like you can read his mind without even seeing him." "A man so thoughtful will be perfect as the Head Steward to the Shogun." "I appreciate your recommendation, sir." "The post of magistrate doesn't suit me." "Maybe the job's too rough for a handsome man like you." "Anyway, let's drink to it." "I'll pour for you." "Come closer." "Thank you, sir." "Actually, though, it's time to explain why I wanted to know... about the Shogun and the maid servant Okiku." "Yes, I'd like to hear." "Tell me." "Okiku was my older sister." "She was raped by the Shogun and drowned herself from shame." "What?" "Is that true?" "Yes, sir." "Then, why have you been doing all this?" "Maybe I shouldn't be so blunt, but the Shogun caused your sister's death." "Why are you being so loyal to him?" "Can't you guess why, sir?" "Stop teasing me!" "I have no idea what you're thinking." "My sister's death taught me a great thing:" "Death is defeat." "So, sir..." "So?" "Okuda... why this?" "Now you know." "You've lost to me." "Just like the Shogun destroyed my sister." "Damn you!" "Then you plan to ruin the Shogun and his family for revenge?" "You still can't tell?" "The Shogun is the man I'll use to get promoted." "Who'd touch such an important person?" "This new job will allow me to function directly under him." "So I don't need you anymore, see?" "Maybe it should be "You're in the way,"" "rather than "I don't need you anymore."" "Dammit!" "Just be quiet and give up." "We'll announced that you've died of a stroke." "Then your family won't be disgraced." "So just give up and die in peace." "Die fast!" "Die!" "Die!" "Die!" "Die!" "Die!" "Die..." "Isn't this a great success?" "Ha!" "Who's there?" "You missed the show." "How many corpses must you leave in your wake?" "Did you come just to show off?" "We've checked." "We know that you're one of the assassins." "Excellent!" "Do your job!" "Try to take my head!" "Intruders!" "Come, everyone!" " Magistrate Okuda, what's going on?" " Nothing serious." "Calm down." "I said, calm down!" "What's wrong, old man?" "I still have my head." "You're good, huh?" "Come!" "Come!" "You think you can reach me with that stump?" "Is this possible?" ""The tragedy ofpoor Okiku,"" ""She got a..."" "Here." "Buy yourself a ticket to hell." "Shigeyoshi Fujioka Shiori Nagasaka Ryusuke SkaiZu Koji Uki Shingo NiShida Takashi Fujiki Hitomi Kobayashi Daishi Seigo Takashi TakayoShi MiChio Kai" "Tatsuo lnada Satoshi Fujikawa Hayato Iwato Tomoyuki Yamada Miki Morita Naomi Morinaga Shoji Sawada Takemori Doi Satoshi Kurihara Rantaro Mine" "Yukiko Morishita Junichi Hosokawa Masataka Iwao Kinji Nakamura Daisuke Awaji YoShikaZu suzuki Takaya Shimoyama Yuki Miyagi Kohei Sugiyama Akira Matsuda" "Mitsutatsu Nakamura Michiko Miyai Junko KatSura Satoru Nagata Shinya Watanabe Yasuko MatSuyama Ichiro Hasu Hitomi Tanabe Hiroko Yuge Hiroko Inabe" "Emiko Maekawa Kyoko Imamura Eika Utsumi Yoko Fujiwara Masae Okada Eri Akagawa Kyoko Sawamura Shizuka Nogami Chihiro Matsunami Takashi Komine" "Tetsuko Yoshida Shigeru Inoue Mineko Maruhira Kanki Asahi Minoru Sanada Akio Kobune Mineto NiShio Hideki OSako Maya Tsuji Hisako Kurenai" "Ryoko Aizawa Tomoko Hirose Ryo Toshikura Yuraro Ban" "Recording by Koichi Hirose Edited by Koichi Sonoi Script Girl :" "Yaeko Nozaki Sound Mixing :" "Shinichi Suzuki Set Decorations :" "Kenichi Tamai" "Stills :" "Sohei Hasegawa Special Effects :" "Yoji Takemoto Production Managers :" "Masayoshi Suzuki Koreki Nishimura Actors, Management :" "Ryozo Kitsuji" "Assistant Director :" "Shinji Harada Assistant Cameraman :" "Masahiko Yasuda Lighting Assistant :" "Toshio Nakayama Recording Assistant :" "Kenji Yamamoto Editing Assistant :" "Kenji Sekiya" "Mitsutatsu Nakamura Michiko Miyai Junko Katsura Satoru Nagata Shinya Watanabe Yasuko Matsuyama Ichiro Hasu Hitomi Tanabe Hiroko Yuge Hiroko Inabe" "Props by Kozu Shokai Film Processing by IMAGlCA Fighting Coordinators :" "Toshio Sugawara / Eiichi Kusumoto 1st Assistant Director :" "Masaru Sugawara" "Props by Kozu Shokai Film Processing by IMAGICA Fighting Coordinators :" "Toshio Sugawara Eiichi Kusumoto 1st Assistant Director / Masaru Sugawara" "Titles by SPUR Main Title by Keinan Itomi" "Many Thanks to Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto Daikakuji Temple, Kyoto Kitano Tenman Shrine, Kyoto Komyoji Temple, Awau Toei Uzumasa Cinema Village Hosendo Kyuami, Asakura Ecran Actors Group" "Music Selected by Keijiro Nakamura Theme Song : "Let Me Follow You", Music  Lyrics by Eiji Takino Arranged by Nobuyuki Sakuraba Sung by Ten Lee RIV." "STAR Records" "THE END"