"Ms Takeda..." "Yes?" "Last week's pay, with Wednesday deducted." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Just a minute..." "I'm sorry." "Nippori Ayumu, 80." "He has a bad heart, so keep his nitro close." "Is he very bad?" "He's been ill for years." "Ms Nakamura..." "Mr Senda says you're making eyes at his father!" "I love him." "Don't tell me..." "You did?" "!" "How could you!" "Anyway, we'll talk about this later." "What next!" "Can you start tomorrow?" "What about the last girl?" "She quit." "He's eccentric." "He sits on the veranda, he never talks just waiting for things to be done for him." "That makes a helper's job hard." "That's fine with me." "She couldn't even say good bye." "He'd shut himself in his room." "Doing what?" "I don't really know..." "Writing his diary, maybe." "His file says he keeps one." "Thanks for the tea." "I'll be going." "Think of him as a speak-no-eviI money with a bad heart." "Leo" "This looks like a very good week for a Leo." "Love..." "Work..." "Wow!" "ACROSS A GOLD PRAIRIE" "Day 1" "Tuesday" "What's happened to me?" "I don't feel right..." "maybe I'm getting a cold." "Why do I feel so heavy?" "Which channel is this?" "Mother?" "Are you here?" "Are you still alive?" "I'm going swimming." "Eat your heart out." "Not talking today?" "Talk, you old fart!" "'Old fart'?" "Enjoy the rest of your life, you old fool." "Wait..." "Somehow... everything's changed so much..." "I haven't gone anywhere but it feels like I've come so very, very far..." "That's it!" "This is a dream." "I'm still asleep..." "This is a dream!" "Good morning." "I'll be your helper from today." "My name is Kodai Narisu." "It's her!" "The girl who walks by the school!" "'The madonna'!" "I'm Kodai Narisu." "How do you do." "May I come in?" "Sorry?" "May I?" "It's a bit weak..." "How does it taste?" "Very good, thank you." "So I'll come at 8 a. m and leave at 6, with an hour off?" "With extra charged overtime?" "Every day?" "Yes." "Except Sundays and holidays." "This is wonderful!" "She's coming every day!" "Will that be all right?" "What a great dream!" "He talks a lot, and he's nice." "Nippori Ayumu, 80." "Keep his nitro close." "Is something wrong?" "Uh..." "I don't know what to do with these..." "Is that laundry?" "Give it to me." "I'll do it." "No..." "I can't let you do these." "Don't be embarrassed." "I'm used to it." "What large shorts you have!" "Mr Nippori?" "Are you all right?" "Mr Nippori?" "I know what's going on." "It's a dream where I know that I'm dreaming." "That's why no one's home." "That's why you're here, too." "Oh, I'm sorry!" "I've always wanted to live free of any constraints." "That's why I'm dreaming it now." "It's always nice when your dreams come true..." "I'll wash these." "Not these." "Not even in a dream!" "There's a real crab in these croquettes." "You're not moving home?" "You move back." "Mom'll like that." "You're off school till September." "I got a job." "Yeah?" "Osawa Music." "Where Makiko works?" "She got me in." "Did you see her?" "A few times." "Makiko's my friend, not yours!" "Oh..." "Maruo hands off." "This tastes great!" "Really?" "You should move home." "Mom and Dad don't know you quit school." "You move back." "Mom'll like that." "I got a job, I said!" "What did you two talk about?" "I forget." "She didn't say anything..." "Day 2" "Wednesday" "Tomomi..." "How may mistakes did you make?" "Very good!" "OK, once more from the top." "Shall we?" "There are things I've got to do before I wake up." "Narisu..." "Yes?" "Please... just once would you walk out with me?" "Where to?" "Anywhere." "With you, anywhere." "I want to walk out with you." "But..." "No?" "I've got work to do." "Who cares about work?" "I can't do that." "I want to before I wake up!" "I've got things to do, too!" "Surely if I say it's all right..." "No." "I like things to be done right." "Oh..." "I see." "Then I'll wait till you've finished your work." "Is that okay?" "Hurry and get started, please." "You're not done yet..." "I just started." "I'm sorry." "Narisu..." "Did you know that we call you 'the madonna'?" "No, I didn't." "We all watch when you pass the university gates." "You do?" "Thank you." "Do you like sunflowers?" "Yes, I do." "I'm the one who say you first." "But all term I never dared speak to you." "And now the Madonna is here in front of me." "A dream to dream about!" "Narisu..." "Let's go out." "Who cares if it's raining?" "I've not finished my work." "Narisu..." "In all my 20 years I've never thought of anyone this way." "Ok..." "I have always right from the start..." "Yes?" "...loved you..." "Mr Nippori?" "Mr Nippori!" "So what did you do?" "I gave him some nitroglycerine." "'It's hard being lovesick,' he said, and laughed." "He doesn't realize he's ill!" "Maybe he's just putting it on to win your sympathy." "He's senile." "I don't think it's that... it's like he's in some kind of a dream." "You know what?" "If he likes you so much." "you could always marry him." "No way, Makiko!" "You can have him!" "But the old man's rich, isn't he?" "He won't live long, and you'll have all his money!" "Then you could do whatever you wanted." "You could have all the men you want." "No way!" "Never!" "It's a great idea!" "No way!" "Makiko!" "Let's get out of here!" "'Makiko!" "Let's get out of here!" "'" "'Makiko!" "Let's get out of here!" "'" "I just met you!" "You work fast, don't you." "Come on!" "'Come on!" "'" "Is that the way you always hit on women?" "You act like some middle-aged guy in a suit!" "It's a great chance." "You could go abroad and buy yourself a young guy." "What do you mean?" "Would you like to do that?" "Would you?" "No!" "Of course not!" "Maybe once... for the hell of it." "Yeah, maybe once..." "I'm kidding." "No." "No?" "I won't!" "Never?" "No, never!" "Good!" "Excuse me!" "On another subject..." "What?" "I'm seeing your little brother." "I thought you should know." "For my next trick..." "Stop it!" "See?" "cool, huh?" "Great." "Watch..." "No more..." "Day 3" "Thursday" "This is very good." "I should've pickled it longer." "Narisu..." "Eat with me, please." "I've got no appetite." "Exercise is good for that." "Let's go for a walk." "Then you'll be hungry." "I'll do that." "Thank you." "Or rock-climbing." "I'll get my knickerbockers." "Thank you." "Mr Nippori..." "I've got some you can wear, too." "My heart might be broken." "Sorry?" "I'm heartbroken." "You are?" "So you have a sweetheart?" "I think it's over." "It is?" "It's over?" "That must be difficult." "Mr Nippori?" "Where are you going?" "Narisu... can you show me how to use this?" "You press the number you want to call." "Thank you." "The number you have dialed is not in service." "The number you have dialed is not in service." "Hello." "I'm a friend of Tanabe Ichiro." "Is he at home..." "I'm sorry?" "My father is dead." "He's dead?" "Yes, ten years ago." "Ten years ago?" "But just the other day..." "Who's speaking, please?" "Miss Narisu, will you put back this telephone, please?" "Hello?" "I'm very sorry." "Goodbye." "I'll call Omori." "Omori Makoto died last year." "All the family was with him at the end..." "I'm sorry, but he's been dead nearly ten years for five or six years, and never woke up please burn some incense for him." "Sokabe Katsuo?" "He's been dead for ten years." "'Why'?" "Well, he was in hospital..." "What kind of dream is this?" "My father's long dead." "I'm sorry we didn't contact you." "It was very sudden..." "Kunio?" "I'm told he was killed in the war..." "I was still in grade school, so I don't remember..." "Four years passes so quickly..." "He died on the ship bringing us back to Japan after the war." "But that was so long ago..." "Mr Nippori..." "I want to call my friends." "They're a lot of fun." "We can help you feel better." "But I can't." "They're all dead." "If this was a dream, would it make him feel this bad?" "His diary..." "Diary: 1948" "'A Chronicle of Memory'." "'August 2, 1999:" "I have been up until 2 a. m. writing this." ""The maid has not come in, so I have not eaten... '" "Narisu!" "Yes?" "Could you come here, please?" "I'm coming!" "Narisu..." "I'm sorry..." "I was going up to my room but I'm tired and I can't get up." "I'm sorry..." "I hope your broken heart heals quickly." "Thank you." "I'm suffering, I'm afraid." "I feel as if I'm carrying a great weight." "It must be the blankets on me." "I'm sorry." "I can do nothing for you." "I'm sorry." "'I write so I will know who I am when memory fails me... '... or for those who enquire after me when I am dead. '" "'A record of 80 years spent trying just to keep a heart beating. '" "'I was born in 1919." "My father dealt in international trade... '... and my mother was a former schoolteacher." "the Great Kanto Earthquake." "my father is killed in an accident... '... but leaves a great deal of property." "I enter First Higher school." "'Coming home from the entrance ceremony, my mother and I watch the sunset." "'1938... '" "'I enter Tokyo imperial University." "I make friends." "'I meet the Madonna." "First Love. '" "That's where Mr Nippori is now." "The happiest time of his life." "I develop valvulitis." "'PhysicaI training, marriage, irregular habits... '... and all strenuous exercise are forbidden." "'I am given months to live. '" "Narisu ...if this is a dream, why do you go away?" "'Why?" "'" "'Why?" "' the Pacific War begins." "My heart has not stopped." "My heart has not stopped." "I enter hospital." "I leave university." "My heart has not stopped." "My friends Endo Kengo... '... and Niinuma Akio are killed in action." "My heart has not stopped." "the war ends." "My heart has not stopped." "I leave hospital." "My heart has not stopped." "'My heart has not stopped." "'My heart has not stopped." "You'd better hide this." "If he sees it, his heart'll stop." "Narisu why won't my love go as I wish?" "'Why?" "'" "Why, Narisu?" "Day 4" "Friday" "Nanako..." "You're not someone who can raise a child right!" "What will you do when she starts to have her period?" "You don't know how weird you are!" "Nanako!" "You really are strange, you know that?" "Nanako!" "I said I'd take her to the beach." "She's in there, isn't she?" "Tomomi!" "Nanako..." "Tomomi!" "We're going to the beach!" "What's this all about?" "What?" "What?" "Go on, then, do it." "Do it if you're going to!" "Beware of Perverts" "What is wrong with you?" "!" "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." "How I wonder what you are." "Up above the world so high." "All right, everyone, sing as loud as you can!" "Tomomi!" "Let's go to the beach!" "Let's sing real loud!" "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." "How I wonder what you are." "You're a good singer." "What do you want, you old fart?" "He called me." "Something sounded wrong." "He's here, isn't he?" "Yes, but he's not quite himself..." "What do you mean?" "His memory..." "I see." "Hey!" "Nippori!" "Are you here?" "It's Kanzaki!" "But Roppa was the best of the fringe comedians then." "He was as famous as Enoken four or five years later." "Yes, he was." "You had it right." "When we saw the Kingdom of Laughter show in Asakusa you said Roppa's day would come" "Yes..." "I guess I said that..." "But later you became a Shimikin fan." "'Shimikin'?" "Who's that?" "Nippori!" "What's wrong with you?" "Why are you so distant?" "Is that how you treat an old friend?" "A friend?" "Are you a friend of mine?" "We used to skip school and go to the movies in Asakusa!" "I go to Asakusa..." "but with a guy called Kanzaki." "That's me!" "I'm Kanzaki!" "But just last week..." "Would you be Kanzaki?" "That's what I've been telling you!" "Kanzaki!" "I'd know you anywhere!" "That's right!" "You remember me!" "I'm glad!" "But you're so old..." "Look who's talking!" "Here's some watermelon." "It looks very good." "Narisu..." "This is my very old friend Kanzaki..." "Enough!" "Mr Kanzaki brought this." "Were you always so considerate?" "I went through hell." "You went through hell..." "And what would your name be, Miss?" "Kodai." "Have you noticed the resemblance?" "You look just like my wife here when she was young, Miss Kodai." "When I saw you at the door, I had the feeling I'd seen you before." "To us, when she was young she was what now you'd called an 'idol'." "An 'idol'?" "A 'madonna'." "Kanzaki, doesn't Narisu remind you of someone?" "Our 'madonna'!" "Our Madonna comes to my house every day!" "Jealous?" "She does, eh?" "Yeah, I'm jealous." "Kanzaki's one of the guys who admire you, too." "Thank you." "Don't mention it." "A ground thrush." "You don't see them too often." "You're a lovely girl." "No, I'm not." "Yes, you are." "Take good care of him." "There's been something I wanted to ask you." "What?" "Your arm..." "This?" "I lost it in that damn war." "Oh... you go into the forces..." "It got blown off on GuadalcanaI" "Still it's good you don't get killed." "That's right." "I think so, too." "Tomorrow I'll tell the young you..." "Tell him what?" "'If you go to war, you'll end up eating watermelon with one hand. '" "Yeah..." "All right, Nippori." "You make sure you tell him, OK?" "Kanzaki see you tomorrow." "Day 5" "Saturday" "Why did you come?" "Makiko brought me." "She has aristocratic blood?" "It's a very old family." "It is?" "She'd be a perfect wife." "Why didn't you tell me at breakfast?" "She called me after that." "You didn't have to say yes!" "I wanted to see him." "I don't want you to see him!" "Are you from an old family, too?" "Me?" "From your hair color, maybe from the west?" "Western aristocracy?" "Sort of English..." "I knew it!" "I'm honored Narisu would invite someone like you to my home." "Thank her, then." "Narisu..." "Thank you very much." "It's nothing." "Makiko!" "'A little child looks at... '... a meadow rose '... so beautiful as it flowers '... how lovely it is!" "'The child stares at it..." "'How deep, deep red it is... '... the meadow rose. '" "There's two more verses..." "Let's go for a drive." "Would you like to come in the car?" "Narisu, we're going." "Thanks for coming." "The beach was fun." "Good luck with Mr Nippori." "Jerk!" "Maruo, what do you want for supper?" "Hamburger!" "Narisu!" "Yes?" "Narisu!" "Hurry!" "OK, I'm coming!" "Hurry!" "I'm coming!" "It's a fine day." "A dream sunset..." "Yes, it is." "I can fly." "I can fly right out this window up into the sky." "I always dream that." "Will you fly with me?" "I'm afraid of heights." "I see." "The ship should be here soon." "The ship?" "In my dreams, when I feel like this and I look out the window a ship comes floating across a wide, gold prairie." "I get on and sail the world." "You try it." "Maruo..." "It's time for me to go." "Stay here, please." "Sorry?" "If this is a dream, why do you always leave?" "Stay here with me." "But..." "Please." "I can't." "Please!" "I can't!" "So you're going?" "It's the rules." "If you leave then please don't come back!" "Mr Nippori!" "Never!" "Never!" "What are you doing?" "!" "Mr. Nippori!" "I can't breathe..." "I can't breathe!" "Are you all right now?" "Come out of there, please." "Will you stay?" "OK, I'll come tomorrow." "'From one cup of coffee... '... dreams can bloom." "'In the sunset from a terrace in the town... '... the lights start to twinkle... '... in two people's hearts. '" "'From one cup of coffee... '... the Princess of Mocha and the Java girl... '... sing a serenade of southern lands." "'Side by side with you... '..." "let us sing a happy song. '" "It's Maruo." "I won't be home tonight." "Message at 7:02 p. m." "You'll see when we get there." "Hey, is that where the ship comes in?" "No, no ship... this way." "Then I'm not going." "I don't want to go!" "You OK?" "Are those crepes?" "Yep" "Then this must be Harajuku." "Yes, it is!" "You can get crepes anywhere." "Let's go." "Leave me alone!" "My brother bought me a crepe here once." "A good brother to have." "He's not really my brother." "We just say that." "Sounds complicated." "What do you think I should do?" "How would I know?" "I'm only 13 years old, you know." "Hey, I know someone like you!" "You're as stupid as he is!" "I'm not stupid." "You're crazy!" "You'll scare away my business." "Here." "Go away." "A crepe..." "OK, let's go." "It's good..." "Come on." "You know someone like me?" "Mr Nippori." "A weird old man." "'Nippori'?" "Like the train station?" "Gross!" "Day 6" "Sunday" "Narisu, why don't you come?" "Mr Nippori?" "Yes..." "This is for you." "It's good..." "You're like me." "You live in a dream." "I've been doing that since I was 8." "It was fun at first." "You can do whatever you want." "But it can't go on forever." "I get hungry, but when I go to look for my parents, they aren't there." "The other grown-ups I ask won't help me." "They look at me like I was 50." "It's going to be hard for you..." "best of luck, and be careful." "Otherwise you'll just make other people unhappy." "Be careful of what?" "Reality." "The one you see." "'Bye." "Sorry!" "'I often have it... '... this dream, piercing and strange... '... of a woman unknown, who loves me, and I love her. '" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "'And each time she is never quite the same... '" "Mr Nippori!" "'... and never quite different..." "'And she loves me... '... and understands me." "Mr Nippori!" "'For she understands me, and my heart... '... clear to her alone, is a problem no more. '" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "Over here!" "Wait there!" "Don't run!" "You mustn't run!" "Don't!" "I'm coming over there!" "careful!" "Hold on!" "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I thought I'd go to your place." "But I came back." "I didn't know where you lived." "Why did you do that?" "I didn't think you'd come again." "Do I make you unhappy?" "Not at all." "It's not your fault." "I'm just afraid to be happy." "Narisu will you marry me?" "Be with me forever." "I hate it when you leave every day." "I'm sorry." "I just..." "The ship's here... floating across the gold prairie." "I'll marry you, Mr Nippori." "Narisu..." "This is the best dream I've ever had..." "Day 7" "Monday" "You sleep a little longer." "You didn't come home, so we thought maybe you didn't realize I was kidding about his money and all that..." "I'm not that stupid." "Then what?" "I'm going to marry him." "What?" "You're not!" "I am." "What, out of pity?" "You can't marry someone out of pity!" "Why can't I?" "Do you love that old man?" "Is there a difference?" "Yes, there is!" "What is it?" "I don't understand." "Sure you can marry out of pity!" "Narisu..." "Don't do it." "Do what you like." "I've made up my mind." "Do I have to hit you, too?" "Go ahead." "I'm still going to marry him." "Hey, wait wait wait!" "Wait a minute!" "Who said you could hit back?" "!" "What gives you the right to hit me?" "!" "It's for your own good." "How?" "If I don't marry Mr Nippori, will you make me happy?" "Grow up, will you!" "Leave me alone!" "Narisu!" "We want you to be happy!" "What's wrong with you?" "This is crazy!" "Who made me unhappy?" "!" "What are you talking about?" "Is the old man here?" "Tell him I'll come and see him again." "A dream is a dream." "Reality is reality." "Why won't you understand that?" "It's you who's dreaming, not Mr Nippori." "Maybe I am, but dreams can come true." "The dream and the reality ...they've become one!" "Dream..." "Reality..." "In the reality I see..." "I'm going to marry Narisu." "I'm 20." "But that diary and old Kanzaki..." "I'm old, too." "The hospital my heart living just so my heart won't stop." "But I love Narisu..." "I'm really a sad old man..." "Narisu is a dream..." "Is it a dream Narisu who says she'll marry me?" "Mr Nippori..." "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "Mr Nippori!" "No, Narisu." "Stay back." "I don't know what I am any more." "Maybe I haven't known that for a long time." "Maybe for years and years." "No." "Stay back." "I'm almost sure now." "If this is a dream, I'm going to marry you." "What a beautiful dream!" "But if if that diary is real that would be horrible." "But if it's reality that I met you, and that we've been together there's nothing that would make me happier." "Not Narisu the madonna, the real Narisu." "If this is a dream, I should be able to fly." "I want to find out for sure." "Mr Nippori!" "This isn't a dream!" "Fly!" "No!" "I'm flying..." "I'm not rising..." "this isn't a dream." "It's reality." "I remember everything." "But I'm glad I met Narisu... not the madonna... but the real one." "I'm glad I woke up." "I'm glad I came back to reality." "It's wonderful." "Even the reality of the diary?" "Yes." "What is he doing?" "Next time I'll fly." "I'll soar on the updrafts." "Goodbye." "Thank you, Narisu." "Two Days Later" "Mr Nippori's gone..." "Listen to me..." "I'm in love with you." "I don't want to be brother and sister any more." "But I can't think of you as anything but my sister." "I understand that." "But this is my reality." "I see..." "OK." "Then Maruo said how when we first met when our parents were talking about getting married how suddenly he started crying." "He said that when I reached out and took his hand that's when he became my little brother." "We were both ten." "Are you eating right?" "Yeah." "How's the job going?" "I'm off next week." "Let's go out." "Sure." "What I remember best is the day we drove to the beach." "Mr Nippori was all smiles, a little excited, and he said..." "You know, I think this is wonderful." "I think it's just wonderful." "It was a very clear, warm day..." "ACROSS A GOLD PRAIRIE"