"Where's your mistress?" "I found out who that monster is." "It's too late." "Death... is coming boldly" "into this house." "I came to stop lt." "I think all strength is leaving me." "Before I leave" "I want to tell you what I've never said" "to a man before." "I love you." "The time for us to meet has come." "Detective!" "I know who you are!" "Of course you know who I am." "all Japan knows my name." "You wanted to find me and look where it took you." "The woman you love died because of you." "I will kill you." "You'Il never learn, will you?" "You will die." "But first" "you'Il feel pain." "The hate you feel is sweet music to my ears." "You're so much alike, you and I." "You will die." "That's it!" "Triumphant evil walks towards new misdeeds whereas Good and Love are lying in a pool of blood." "Not really the sort of ending we're used to." "I wanted you to see that movie, "The hideous beast"" "by Nakoto Yokawa because it surely is the most faithful adaptation of a novel by that great writer, Shundei Oe" "I would like to make you discover his whole work in that lecture." "I know that at the beginning most of you were shocked." "Disgusted..." "That's the point." "Instant emotional involvement," "That's where the strength of Shunde-Oe's novels lay." "violence, sex... despicable situation, outrageous characters' attitudes," "Such are his novels' main attributes." "Those are precisely the elements that made him so famous in Japan." "It is interesting to see that he is not in the least concerned with morality." "In his novels, the most dishonorable characters, the most wicked criminals are the heroes." "They are those Oe really admires, whom he likes." "That's probably why he is a best-selling author only in Japan." "Yes?" "Is it true that no one's ever met Oe?" "Yes. ln spite the millions copies sold, the hundreds articles written about him, his identity remains mysterious." "No one knows his face..." "well... except for his self-portrait on his books covers." "I'lI let you admire." "Charming, isn't he?" "Beware though..." "In his life as in his novels," "Oe is a master manipulator." "The only thing known for sure is that he lives in Kyoto." "Why does he hide?" "Interesting question." "Oe thinks reader and writer have an almost intimate relationship." "And he doesn't want that relationship to be interfered with by press articles, interviews or photographs." "Right..." "Thank you." "I think that your professor has planned a new lecture after the holidays." "So, if you're interested" "I suggest that you read "The hideous Beast"" "and I wish you a nice holiday." "Thank you!" " Have a good holiday." " Thanks!" "could you sign it?" "There you are!" " all right?" " all right." "I almost didn't recognize you in that car." "You think it's too good for an agent, do you?" "You spend your money as you want." "I said I'd buy it if you remained 10 weeks in the best-sellers' list." " Thank you!" " Most welcome!" "Let's go!" "Hello!" "How are you?" "Pierre, hurry please." "I've got a plane." "Thanks." "I Iove the way it roars." "I've got something for you." "Hey Pierre, beware!" "Cool..." "I'm in control." "There it is!" " Arrived this morning!" " What is it?" "Ladies and gents..." "The Japanese translation of Alexandre Fayard's "Dark eyes"." "Same collection, same layout as Oe's novels." "I suppose you can be proud." "They made an astounding campaign." "You can't imagine how pleased I am to have the same publisher as Oe." "Same layout..." "Not the same face..." "lucky you!" "By the way..." "I hope you won't be mad..." "What?" " l said you wanted to meet him." "You didn't!" "You're a pain..." "I would have handled it." " What did they say?" " They said that wiith the millions copies sold, Oe is unreachable." "really out of reach." "You told them I was preparing a series of articles?" "I told them everything Didn't forget anything." "The answer is :" "it's complicated." "Indeed..." "complicated means "no" in Japanese." "You still don't get it." "Oe is a genius but he's really sick." "The only way I can meet him is through provocation." "Forget it." "I'lI find a way." "Don't look back." "I told you not to look back." "Who do you think you are, Mr. Fayard?" "Who are you?" "You know who I am." "Everyone in Japan knows my name." "Don't come to Kyoto." "Stewardess!" "Stewardess!" "Don't come to Kyoto!" "Good morning, Sir!" "What will you have for breakfast?" "Coffee please!" "Right, Sir!" " hello!" " hello!" " hello, Mr. Fayard!" " Pleased to meet you." "Honda of Hakabunka publishing." " Pleased to meet you." " welcome to Japan." "I'lI take care of you while you're in Kyoto." "No thank you." " You speak good French!" " l learnt French at University." "unfortunately, I forgot much." "Your book is doing very well." "We're quite impressed." "No French thriller writer has been so successful here before." "really?" "It reminds me of Shundei's first novel." "I was in Tokyo." "It was ten years ago." "It was crazy!" "There were Iine-ups in front of every bookshop." "It was a hit even before it came out." "Incredible!" "You know..." "Thinking I may do better than his last novel is embarrassing." "Mr. Fayard!" "Wake up!" "Tomorrow's schedule is in there." "And here's the key to your room." " See you tomorrow at nine." " See you." "Thank you very much." "We must go now." "I didn't know Christmas was in autumn in Japan." "You're in a live tv show about books." "It's been on for 25 years." " Are there other guests?" " Yes." "The show is about detective stories" "Shundei Oe might be there." "I was told it was impossible to meet him." "He probably won't be there." "He was invited several times but he never came." "If I were in his place, I'd come." "Why so?" "I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to see that bastard who uses me." "If I were him." "Good evening my friends" "Thank you for being there with us." ""Book and Spirit" tonight is about the detective novel." "Our guests tonight are the best in this literary genre in Japan." "I had also invited Mr Shundei Oe," ""the hideous beast" as he calls himself but he refused to come." "I am pleased to welcome the French writer who made Shundei Oe fall from his throne as Master of the thriller." "You can ask your questions to our guests." "Our operators are ready." "I'd like to know why you chose to write a novel so similar to those written by Oe?" "If I may, I'd say it in a different way." "I agree that you find in my novels the same topics as are found in Oe's novels but" "I think, and I say so without any pretention," "I have gone farther than he has until now." "The critics agree with you there." "We explore the same areas of human nature but there is in Oe's books a glorification of evil that you won't find in my work." "Contrarily to him," "I think Good must not always lose in its fight against Evil." "Good can win." "I don't mean that... it's simple" "and I know the price can be high." "I only say that it's possible." "That's probably the reason of the worldwide success of your last novel." "Can you tell us what you think of Shundei Oe?" "It seems that he lives in his private world, disconnected from real life," "inhabited by his characters, and ruled by his fantasies." "It's very similar to a criminal's profile, don't you think?" "Yes, you're right." "I agree." "He is not far from a serial killer's fantasies." "The difference is that Oe finds in his writing an outlet to his inner violence." "I don't think he could act his fantasies." "The time has come to listen to our first phone call." "Many phone calls?" "More than ever." "hello?" "You're on." "10 : 30" "What's your name?" "15 : 25" "Can you ask your question?" "20 : 50" "These are the schedules of the next flights to Paris, Fayard." "Go back to your country." "you swell-headed small writer," "You know who I am." "All Japan knows my name." "So you're finally accepting our invitation." "Do as I say or you'll be sorry." "Why did he hang up so quickly?" "I would have liked to talk to him." "My only ambition is promoting his work, not appearing as a rival." " You could have warned me." " Warn you?" "I don't understand." "All right..." "Don't pretend." "Shundei's intervention..." "An idea of your marketing department, right?" "I'm afraid that we have no part in what has just happened." "Maybe not." "But his intervention will boost sales for his books as well as mine." "You really think I'm in danger?" "We can suppose than Mr. Oe is somewhat unbalanced." "I advise you to be cautious." "Are you serious?" "Let's stop talking of Oe." "We have a Iittle surprise for you." "Great!" "I Iove surprises." "First I'd Iike to go to the hotel." "I think I know where we're going." "Nothing could please me more." "Welcome." " Good evening." " Please come in." "please..." "please, sit down." "You're most welcome here." "I am Kobayashi, the House mistress." "I wish you a very pleasant evening." "Would you Iike sake or beer?" "is sake all right?" "Yes of course." "Sake please." "all right." "It is beautiful." "Come here often?" "Never." "It's my first time in a Tea House." "These places only have very wealthy patrons." "My chairman, Mr. Sakashiya invited us here." "Welcome to our place." "Please." "Thank you very much." "It's an honor." "Your Japanese is very good." "She says you speak very good Japanese." "I'Il ask Tamao to dance for you." "Tamao will dance." "She's very famous." "Staying in the Temple, My Iighted face stares at the moon." "He just said..." "He likes the great Tashio Mazu's poems" "You speak French?" "I knew geiko had many talents but..." "unfortunately I have no talent." "I was lucky to have parents with a passion for languages." "Let's not talk about me." "Did you visit Kyoto?" "No, unfortunately." "I've been very busy." "But... ." "If it's an invitation, I'd be pleased to have such a talented and beautiful guide." "Mr Fayard is a writer." "He's come to Japan to promote his new book." "You wrote "Dark eyes"?" "You know of my book?" "I've read a review of your book." "A good one, I hope." "Very good." "Let's drink to "Dark eyes"." "I'm sorry but I must leave now." "We have another show." "Let me offer you this before you leave." "Thank you." "I hope I'Il see you again soon." "It was a great pleasure." "Do you want me to dance for you?" "Damnit!" "Yeah!" "Coming!" "Yes..." "Good morning alexandre." "Good morning..." "We're one hour late." "I ordered your breakfast." "Sorry, I had forgotten what sake does." "You have a hangother?" " Take this." " Hangover, Ken." " Hangover." " Yes." "What is it?" "The saIaryman's secret weapon." "It tastes like grenadine." "Cafeine, nicotine and extract of bull testicles" "That was the grenadine-Iike taste." " lt's good?" " Yes, not bad." "Last night's tv show did well." "all the papers write about it." "Your bosses must be happy." "Speaking of yesterday... I signed the geiko's book." "But I was a little drunk." "I wrote my address on the first page." "Rude, isn't it?" "She must find it funny." "She'lI forgive you because you're a gaijin, a foreigner." "It's a privilege here." "If you're rude, no one will tell you." "We have some free time in the afternoon." "Would you like to go somewhere?" "You know Boydoin Park?" "Yes, it's a wonderful." "You want to go?" "The geiko asked me to meet her there." "Tamao." "Mr Fayard." "hello." "Thank you for coming." "You can call me Alex." "Excuse me." "I don't know you." "Yet I asked you to meet me." "What can I do for you?" "I spent the night reading your novel." "And I feel you're the only one who could help me." "I don't understand." "Will you listen to my story?" "As I told you... my family had a passion for foreign languages." "I inherited their passion for literature." "And when I was 10, I found that book about geiko." "It was a revelation to me." "I had difficulties overcoming my fascination." "I was taken by the beauty of those women and their clothes." "There was more." "I envied their freedom." "Deep inside," "I had the feeling I entered a secret world, forbidden to little girls." "and also to most adults." "I feared only one thing then" "Good night." "that my parents would discover my passion." "The day before my 11th birthday, my life changed course." "My parents left to buy me a present and they were killed in a traffic accident." "Not having any other relatives, I was to go to an orphanage." "I risked my all and wrote to one of the oldest geiko in Gion, begging her to take me as a trainee." "And she did." "Thank you for having me." "I spent 5 years in harsh training." "Towards the end of my training, an important event happened." "The geiko, who tend to be superstitious, are used to going out on the first moonless night to call love." "If a man passes by in front of her at that very moment she'll know love in the coming year." "I was only 16 then." "And I hid to take part in this rite." "And angel came out of the dark." "What I did not know was that his heart was as dark as the night." "That's how I met Hirata." "He was my one and only friend during the 2 years that followed." "We were very close." "And he was mistaken about my feelings." "He asked me to marry him." "will you marry me?" "He wanted me to give up being a geiko." "which is more, I was not in love with him." "I refused." "He became insane." "He got very angry." "And he hit me." "You're talking nonsense." "It can't be true." "He almost killed me." "The next day, I found dead cats, their throats slit, in front of my house." "And I never heard about him any more." "Until last month." "That letter was left at the Teahouse where you met me." ""An old friend is writing to you"" ""l hope you haven't forgotten me. "" ""lt's been 15 years now, but I'm as angry as I was then. "" ""During all those years, "" ""Love has changed into pain. "" ""Pain has become resentment. "" ""And resentment has changed into a desire of revenge. "" ""l'Il make you pay. "" ""Compared to what I'm about to make you live, "" ""death is a stroke. "" "Are you all right?" "You want to stop?" "No, I have to go on." "What follows concerns you." "Me?" ""You who like reading so much... "" ""you must know Shundei Oe. "" "What?" ""well I am Shundei Oe. "" ""I like imagining your face as you read that letter. "" ""Read my books again"" ""Rediscover those pages of murder"" ""of blood. "" ""and of despair. "" ""You'lI have an idea of what is inside my heart. "" ""My heart wants revenge. "" "Signed" "Shundei Oe." "It's more than I couId imagine." "alex, I'm frightened." "Help me." "I can't go to the police." "No one must know." "I understand." "I understand." "Don't worry..." "I think he only wants to frighten you." "I know him well." "Your anxiety gives him pleasure." "I don't think he will do anything." "Look." "If... you need me, I'Il be there." "You'lI be all right." "Don't worry." "Thank you." "It's really unbelievable." "She must be in great distress to tell all these things to you, a total stranger." "Yes, yes." "It's true that I found that odd." "But the story holds." "She can't tell anyone." "It would ruin her reputation as a geiko." "So when she saw in the papers that a gaijin knew Oe's work so well, she thought no one could help her but me." "After all, who can understand a thriller writer better than another thriller writer?" "Have you chosen?" "Yes, two skewer plates." "One beer and one Ulong tea please." "What evidence have we got that Hirata really is Shindei Oe?" "I counted on you to get the answer." "He must have left written documents somewhere." "I don't know... a manuscript... ." "He's most certainly signed a contract..." "So if you could... compare the two signatures." "Then we would be sure." "is it feasible?" "I'lI see what I can do." " Thank you, Ken." " Most welcome." " Please..." " Thank you." "Thank you very much." "It's fun..." "Finding ourselves in a detective story." "lnvestigations start that way. ." "Yeah..." "Probably..." "HAKUBUNKAN PUBLISHING" " Hello Ken." " Hello." " all right?" " Yes." "You?" "We're early." "In Japan being early is being in time." "Something new?" "Unfortunately yes." "The signatures are similar." "I knew it!" "I did!" "Where are we off to?" "We'Il call at Mr. Harase's." "He is a former employee of the company." "I don't get it." "He's the only one who's met Shundei Oe." "Interesting!" "He signed the Oe contract." "He left the company?" "Yes." "Meeting Oe traumatized him so much that he resigned." "unbelievable!" "Finding his whereabouts was difficult." "It seems he doesn't want to be found." "You think he'lI talk to us?" "Yes." "I told him we were coming." " That's the place?" " Yes..." "Harase." "We were getting on well together." "Our company doctor said he was distressed and unfit for work." "That gentleman here..." "It's him?" "When Oe's manuscript arrived, they were impressed." "And decided to publish it." "It was his first novel, yet Oe demanded not to meet anyone." "He wanted his identity to remain a secret even when the contract was signed." "He asked me to go to an old house in Kyoto" "They say the house's been haunted since a whole family was killed there." "Everything had been done to keep his identity secret." "On the bookcases, he'd left a message telling me to go to a room on the first floor." "Once inside, I had to wait several minutes." "They looked like hours to me." "It was a creepy place." "Suddenly, a letter came out from under the closet door." "That was where Oe was hidden." "I could hear his loud breathing." "He had written that I must put the contract down on the table and leave the room." "I was to close the door and wait outside." "Then Oe could come out of his hiding place and sign the contract." "Only when he had heard the closet door shut down was he allowed to get into the room and take the contract" "At first I thought he was reading the contract thoroughly" "But after 30 minutes, I said to myself that I probably had not heard him close the door and I decided to get inside and take the contract." "The contract was there." "It was on the table." "It was signed." "So I walked into the room." "I should not have." "Why?" "I was about to leave the room when I saw him." "Shundei Oe was there in a dark corner, trying to remain hidden." "I was unable to move." "I was transfixed." "What happened next?" "He came at me." "but I escaped." "Was he able to see him?" "He is not human." "The threat against Miss Tamao is a serious one, alex." "It's not a game." "To us, it isn't." "But to him, it obviously is." "Once my agent asked me how I was able to write such dark stories." "I told him : because I know they're only stories." "Shundei's problem is that he's crossed over the border between reality and imagination." "I don't think we'll find anything here." "You know... for Oe there's no such thing as chance." "He knows that if someone is looking for him, he'lI come here." "I think he's left something." "I don't know..." "some clue..." "Yes..." "You remember "Beast in the city"?" " Yes." "The clue was in the children's room." "It must be here." "What does it mean?" "Let the woman alone." "Or you will die." "Looks like blood." "Wrong choice, Tamao." "One thing I don't understand..." "Why is he back after so many years?" "I don't know." "What's going on in a lunatic's mind?" "He is not mad." "There's something else." "Really?" "What makes you think so?" "After all those years studying his work," "I have the feeliong... well..." "You may find it strange but..." "I feel I know him." "intimately." "intimately?" "I don't think analyzing his books makes you know him." "You know... no, you probably don't..." "What I wrote about him is considered a reference in Europe." "You may find me pretentious but I think I am right." "Since I received the letter, I've re-read his books." "Oe understands the link there is between pleasure and pain." "Reading is not enough." "You must try for yourself." "Right..." "Lately I've learned a Iot on that link and its power." "When I was a child, my mother... would always humiliate my father." "She was always nagging at him, picking up on him." "He spent his life thinking he was doing wrong." "When I last saw him, he was in hospital, asking forgiveness because he would soon die." "And since then?" "Your novels try to justify his kindness or his being weak..." "I'm sorry..." "I shouldn't have." "Thank you very much." "Thank you very much." " Good morning." " Good morning." "What's that?" "What does it say?" "I'm watching you." "What?" "Where did you get it?" "I took it at the entrance, over there." "It was with the other books." "Please" "Miss Tamao wants you." "Come quickly." "Something bad is happening." "You must follow her." "It's an emergency." "This way!" "What's going on?" "He's in here." "He's already been in this house." "He'll be back" "Can you explain?" "I found that letter on the doorstep when I came back here." "He's having fun making me despair." "he's laughing at you too." "At me?" "He knows I asked you to help me." "He's watching me." "He knows everything I do." "He knows when I get up, what food I have, what I use to comb my hair." "Tamao?" "He's in here." "Hirata... are you here?" "Mr. Fayard is here with me." "should you attempt anything he'lI stop you." "Tamao... he is not here." "You think I am mad?" "Not at all." "But Hichiro Hirata is not in this house." "well... how does he know all this?" "I don't know." "You've read his books." "He is very good at inference." "He must have guessed those details of your life." "Or he asked." "I hope you're right." "You need rest." "I'll look around if it may help you." "Promise me you'Il rest." "Excuse me." "I fell asleep." "I'm sorry." "Did you find anything?" "No..." "Nothing at all." "For a month I've been living in fear." "I see Oe everywhere." "A man walks behind me, it's him." "The phone rings, it can only be him." "I think he watches me from a hiding place." "Since I got that letter, I've lost my mind." "He's good at playing with his victims' nerves." "Shundei is a master..." "Don't use his first name." "Excuse me." "No." "Stop apologizing, Tamao." "When you read that letter," "I shall be in Gion, working." "I don't want to hide anything from you any more." "This afternoon," "I lied to you," "I know why Hichiro Hirata is back in my Iife." "She told me she's pregnant." "She's pregnant?" "So he came back because he is jealous." "probably." "How can he know?" "I thought she was not supposed to have a relationship with a man." "You know who the father is?" "unfortunately, no." "She spoke of a guy she met a few months ago..." "His name is..." "Mogi Ruchi or..." "Ruyji Mogi?" " ls he a friend of yours?" " No but..." "Everyone in Japan knows his name." " Really?" " He is one the best known businessmen." "He is feared and respected." "He's got yakuza connections." "I have to meet with him." "Tamao says in her letter that Shundei wants to kill him." "Mogl is very well protected." "He does not need our help." "Maybe but we do need him." "He's our only lead." "No one else can lead us to Oe." "Yes, he is smart." "I discovered today that he spent dseveraI days in Tamao's attic, spying on her." "I even think that he lost this." "What is it?" "Not from a suit." "It's too small." "What will you do now?" "It's diffiicuIt." "I don't know if she loves him, she is frightened of him." "All I know is that" "I'm falling in love with her and it's not good." "But I'Il do everything I can to protect her." "Then we'Il see." "We will." "Thank you, Ken." "You're welcome." "I'lI see you tomorrow at 15:00." "Yes, all right." "alex!" "I must tell you something." "I hesitated but I'd rather you knew." "I'm listening." "I think we neglected something that might lead us to Oe." "A friend at the legal department let me see the Oe file, with all the contracts and all the manuscripts." "I'Il go to the office." "In one hour, there will be no one there." "But..." "if it was known, Ken..." "I don't want you to get in trouble." "You're worried about me?" "What are you laughing at?" "It means we're friends, doesn't it?" "Of course." "No doubt about that." "Thank you." " Chopsticks." " Chopsticks." " Glass." " Glass." "And?" " Bowl." " Bowl." "Cute." "You must be tired." " Feeling all right?" " Yes." " You read my letter?" " Yes, of course." "I was afraid you'd leave me." "No..." "I told you I'd stay with you tonight." "I'll take my make-up off." " Youy'Il wait in my room?" " Yes." "tell me." "You were with Ruyji Mogio tonight?" "No." "How can you think so?" "Yuki, bring one of our dressing gowns for guests to alex." "I make you smile?" "I didn't do too bad, did I?" "Wait." "Better this way, isn't it?" "ShouIdn't you have a... sword?" "I might wound you." "More!" "Mr. Fayard?" "Yes." "Detective Fuji of the Tokyo police Department." "What's going on?" "Mr. Garonda was killed last night." "What?" "We have a few questions to ask you." "will you come with us?" "Yes, of course." "Everything's all right?" "Yes, I'm all right." "What's wrong?" "Ken... the guy from the publishing house..." "He was found dead." "What are you saying?" "The police said a dog did it, a dog trained to kill." "I should have gone with him." "What will you do now?" "I don't know." "Mogi's life is still at risk." "I must warn him about Oe." "You followed him?" "I tried talking to him." "Getting close to him is impossible." "Now, look..." "Oe killed Ken because he felt he was in danger." "Now he'll get at Mogi." "He can't bear the idea of your pregnancy." "If I could be there when he strikes, I might be able to stop him." "Mogi is protected." "He won't strike during the day." "Maybe but I won't risk it." "You know, Alex..." "That's why I'm afraid for you." "I'm afraid for you too." " What is it?" " I don't want you to be killed as Ken." "It's not a good idea, Tamao." "I don't want it." "please..." "Do it for me." "I don't want you to die." "Well..." "O. K." "You're working tonight?" "Yes." "Until midnight." "Yuki will take care of you." "Be careful." "Don't worry." "You will keep the baby?" "DEATH" "You will die." "You've got to stop now, right?" "It went too far." "You understand?" "You understand?" "Leave us alone." "If you touch her, I'II kill you." "A friend of yours paid me... to go into the garden." "I swear..." "It's a joke." "It's me, Alexandre." "Alex, where are you?" "Yuki told me you vanished." "I'm back at the hotel." "Listen..." "A man was hiding in your garden." "I thouht it was Oe." "I almost killed him." "It was a kid." "It was impossible." "He manipulated me." "I fell into his trap." "It all went too far." "I must go to the police." "Not the police, no." "I'm sure there's a way to get him." "You're not coming?" "No, no. I really must talk to Mogi." "You must help me find him." "You know where he is?" "You!" "Mr. Mogi, we've got to talk." "hold him." "I don't like to be followed around." "But... somebody wants to kill you." "Shut up!" "You don't have my permission to speak." "Didn't you hear what Mr. Mogi said?" "I don't want to dirty my hands." "What does this guy want?" "Hold him well." "I don't want him to fall too soon." "It's going to be fun!" "I want it to last." " What happened?" " Don't worry, I'm all right." "I fought with Shundei Oe." "What?" "Go get the first-aid kit." "What are you talking about?" "Two days ago, I found this in your attic." "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to frighten you." "When I spoke to Mogi, I noticed his black leather gloves." "The same button was missing." "It's obvious. lt's the evidence." "It can't be him." "He was in Singapore when Ken was murdered." "So what?" "He may have ordered his men to do it." "I've thought things over." "Except you and I, who knew about your pregnancy?" "You must rest." "You need sleep." "please..." "You don't believe me?" " l do" " No, you don't." "You're in love with him?" "Why try to protect him then?" "I tell you that Shundei Oe and Ruyji Mogi are one and only person." "I've known Hirata well and if he and Mogi were the same person," "I'd have recognized him." "It was more than 10 years ago!" "He may have changed his face, have plastic surgery." "Sit down." "I'lI take care of you." "If I don't act, he'lI get at you, Tamao." "I must find something." "I hurt you." "I was selfish." "When we met, I trusted you." "I have no right to take that back." "After all you did for me." "Excuse me!" "No." "Don't apologize." "You're right." "I have not got enough evidence." "It's ridiculous." "I need real evidence." "What if I went to his place?" "If I searched, I might..." "Since he's back, he's wanted me to come." "If I accept, you can search the house while I'm with him." "You think you can do it?" "Yes, of course." "What about you?" "You'Il have to be careful." "Don't worry!" "You'll get on bus 49 and get out at the 5th stop." "Mogi's house is at twenty yards on the left." "Very modern." "There's a sculpture with a green beetle on the front." "You can't miss it." "When I visit him, he hasn't got his bodyguards." "The third door on the left it's Mogi's office's." "inju by Shundei Oe First draft." "What the fuck are you doing here?" "You told him to come?" "Why?" "You didn't get enough yesterday night?" "You're just like her." "You never get enough." "That's enough." "Now I'm gonna fuck her." "That's what she wants." "I know, I know it's you." "What?" "What do you say?" "I know who you are." "Of course you know who I am." "all Japan knows my name." "Don't you know she likes it?" "You must leave." "If the police came, no one will know you were here." "what will happen to you?" "I found his manuscript in his desk." "It's the evidence I wanted." "I'lI call the police." "I found something." "I'Il tell you later." "You must leave now." "One year later" "Number 422" "You have a visitor." "Who is it?" "The Embassy?" "I don't know." "Must be one of your fans." "We've met before." "Have you forgotten?" "No, I remember you but... I thought you didn't speak French." "Naivety is your main shortcoming, Mr. Fayard." "And that naivety led you where you are today." "When you saw me, you thought I was Shindei Oe, didn't you?" "I must infer the question haunts you." "Was Mogi really guilty?" "Of course he was." "May Shundei Oe still be alive?" "I've got a present for you." "please!" "could you give him... lt's the answer to your question." "Not only is he still alive but which is more he has not forgotten you." "He wants you to be the first to have it." "I suppose you wondered why the police never found the manuscript in Mogi's desk." "I thought they'd made it disappear so that I appeared guilty beyond doubt." "You disappoint me." "A talented writer such as you can find better explanation." "Think some more." "Shundei Oe?" "In a detective story, the Iast act is when you learn the truth." "I've got an important piece of information to tell you." "Hirata never existed." "You were in a world of fiction, in Shundei Oe's world." "A geisha's reason for being is to take those who watch her in a fictional world." "She is a mirror reflecting a man's heart and reveals to him things he does not know." "It goes much further than sex, Mr. Fayard." "You didn't see it coming." "It is often difficult for a writer to stand back when listening to a story, isn't it?" "My friend from the legal department is giving me access to the Oe file with all the documents..." "As for you, it started with a visit at the Teahouse." "She was starting" "She was young and already very desirable." "Since I met her then, I've been under her spell as other friends too." "I had to retire early to dedicate myself utterly to her and to her talent." "She created Shundei Oe?" "She had no other choice." "In the eyes of the world, some passions cannot go together" "Signing the novel in her real name would have forced her to give up her career as a geisha." "Why me?" "To kill two birds with one stone." "That's what you say, isn't it?" "On one hand, we have Mogi," "a whimsical lover who threatens her with telling the whole world the truth about Shundei Oe if she does not give up her freedom and marry him." "And on the other hand, we have a writer a terrible competitor with a future." "You make the two meet and" "you're rid of both." "Your coming was unhoped for." "The time has come to listen to the first call." "I must leave now." "A common acquaintance is waiting for me." "She prefered leaving Kyoto to take care of her child." "It's a long way." "She thanks you." "She is very happy." "You're lying." "Mr. Fayard, I say goodbye." "You're lying." "Let go of me!" "Let go of me!" "Alex..." "What about writing our story?"