"but" "I'm still alive." "Know a cafe named Venus?" "There's no reason to be in this town." "Likewise, there's no reason to leave this town." "Day in day out, every day is the same." "Damn!" "Drop dead, you drunkard!" "WIFE's shrieks pierce my ears." "DOCTOR's stench Is offensive to my nose." "You good-for-nothing." "Ouch." "SODA goes to work at the florist." "A break in the monotony, once..." "BOY got an old revolver somewhere" "and became a self-acclaimed hit man." "HIT MAN" "VENUS always sits In the same place" "and I'm always here at the same time" "to perform the same chores." "You have tea?" "What about cola?" "COFFEE" " VENUS BLEND" "Coffee." "Venus Blend?" "What else is there?" "I'm... still alive." "There's no meaning to it." "I'm not dead." "That's all there is to it." "Welcome." "There's only coffee" "Two coffees." "Good morning, VENUS." "Good morning." "And..." "Dirty ol' man." "And show me Venus's back." "Venus's back ..." "Show it to me." "I had almost forgotten those words." "It is the time when nameless people..." "Coffee." "... live, hiding names they don't even have." "And..." "Please show me Venus's back" "It's the password to the hideaway Inside this old cafe." "RULES FOR LONG-TERM GUESTS" "Use it any way you want." "I'm CHONAN... whatever you like." "No one uses his real name here." "It's GUY." "She's SAI." "How old are you?" "Let her alone." "Meal's ready." "I'll have it later." "Mea 's downstairs." "Do you hear me?" "I'm going out" "SAI?" "Is that the man?" "How's his daughter?" "Won't even answer." "Like her dear dad?" "Better than the shrill here." "There's something very manly about him..." "You're womanly, too, WIFE." "How long must I earn money with my womanly charms?" "I think that's enough." "How can WIFE put up with you?" "DOCTOR." "Here, we call each other by names of no consequence." "If a name has a meaning or a hint of hope that person will despair because of that name." "Everyone here...is well aware of that." "DOCTOR must have a hard time because" "DOCTOR is no longer a doctor." "I kept your meal." "You went to find work?" "Found an opening at a construction site." "Daily laborer, huh?" "That's hard work." "Do you have to do it everyday?" "It's not that" "I'm trying to be kind to SAI." "I just want her to act normal." "Otherwise, it's too much of a hassle." "Can't you stop that?" "Damn you!" "Another quarrel?" "Wish it really was a quarrel." "He's clammed up." "Some quarrel, my ass." "I'm coming in." "Why don't you eat?" "You're not among enemies" "We I, not exactly friends, but..." "Do you always wait for your dad?" "I'm sure you can talk." "We're not your family and you don't have to be friendly." "So...just eat." "It'll be a hassle if you starve here." "The girl's eyes." "You used to have those eyes." "What do you mean?" "Like "don't come close to me but don't leave me a one."" "Eyes saying that." "Her heart is not locked." "But she doesn't know how to open it." "I don't think she means any trouble." "Come with me." "There's lots more." "WIFE." "All well with DOCTOR?" "Why ask?" "Don't hear shouts recently." "We're not kids." "We don't quarrel everyday." "C'mon" "We don't." "Then you two are happy together." "Must be the sex, huh?" "Shut up." "WIFE and DOCTOR go beyond such things." "I guess it's impossible here with those paper-thin walls." "C'mon, eat more." "CHONAN." "Won't SAI eat with us?" "Clothes in the basket." "Laundry service." "It's free of charge." "Hey." "The shower won't get the booze out of my system, will it?" "Why..." "Why did you come here?" "Why are you here?" "Probably because I'm an utterly good-for-nothing person." "I got you." "I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry." "I'll be ready soon" "It's DOCTOR and WIFE." "I think WIFE's crying." "It's out of question." "He told me to get out" "Never told you that." "I could leave." "What is this, anyway?" "Why do you clam up?" "Why are you dissatisfied?" "I earn enough money..." "and we have a decent life" "Do you realize what I have to go through to earn money?" "I do it all for you." "Who pays for your drink s?" "WIFE." "I am so disappointed." "What's going on?" "This is what's going on." "I knew this was going to happen." "Does she want to be with me?" "That's why she's here" "and gets angry." "Maybe she's unaware that she doesn't want to be with me." "I don't think she'll be happy here." "Say something." "She shouldn't be here." "That's for her to decide." "I think she's unable to decide." "I'm a hopeless loser..." "But she's such a sweet creature." "He used to be a good doctor" "About a decade ago everyone in this neighborhood relied on him." "He was such a good-natured man, and never refused any patients." "Why did he quit?" "Because of his error during an operation He crippled a patient for lif e." "He's absolutely convinced of that." "It really wasn't an error." "It wasn't all his fault." "The only one blaming him is himself." "And...he quit it all." "I don't know what he's depressed about." "People are so sensitive to their wounds but not to wounds of others." "How's SAI?" "She's eating now." "You're keeping her company?" "No, I get her to help me to lighten my work load." "When someone's heart opens up a bit" "someone else's heart begins to close." "Tell me what's wrong" "Thank you." "Can I have one?" "A woman should think of her child." "You're an old-fashioned person." "Don't worry." "My body, fortunately, is no longer good for that." "If we had kids, I'm sure things would've been different." "How do you like this town?" "Guess you don't." "City is where you cannot live in." "Home is where you cannot go back to." "Drifting north and further north... tossed here and there..." "This is the town you reached." "This place is inhabited by drifters with reasons of their own." "It's a strange place" "Because of that, we can be redeemed at times." "It smells of cigarettes." "What does SAI look like when she smiles?" "If someone's existence is like a pair of shackles it makes everyone unable to move." "Such a life is no good." "I'm in your way?" "It's over?" "It was long over." "You can't decide that." "You shouldn't be here." "Go somewhere." "Find someone stronger than me." "Go?" "Go where?" "To someone like GUY." "SAI..." "How long are you going to eat here?" "Let's eat together." "C'mon, just once." "SAI." "You, too, VENUS." "Let's eat." "Seelng SAI surrounded, WIFE smiled..." "And after that, she went out and did not return." "Romance is perhaps what you want to enjoy." "Love is perhaps what you don't want to lose." "But it's not that simple." "It's hard to believe there was never any lo ve between DOCTOR and WIFE." "SAI." "One more chore from today." "Be careful." "I've been itchng to ask you." "Ever killed anyone?" "Not yet." "There's always the first time." "Asked DUSTER to pass me a contract." "Hey, I'm not a kid." "I'm all grown-up now." "But most aren't hit men." "Because they're all wimps" "I'm the strongest man on earth." "Doesn't suit you." "No one will seriously hire you." "A hit man has" "an air like him." "Your SAI..." "I sometimes borrow her." "For laundry service." "She smiled a bit." "Don't meddle with us." "Do you enjoy it?" "What's manly about him?" "Why're you here?" "To buy flowers." "Do you work here?" "Yes, I do." "Was that your boyfriend?" "Take care of this." "Give this to her." "Tomorrow's her birthday." "To SAI?" "Give it to her yourself." "She smiles." "Right?" "She smiles in front of you, doesn't she?" "Please give it to her." "It's for you." "A gift from GUY." "Now I get it." "Get what?" "Came to buy that yesterday." "GUY..." "I'm so sorry." "No need to apologize." "He's right, CHONAN Why apologize to him?" "You need that?" "For my job" "Your job?" "That's dangerous." "Of course it is." "It's a dangerous job." "I earn a decent living." "So?" "I don't like that." "Don't meddle with other people's affairs." "Right?" "No wonder she hates you." "BOY." "Don't take your frustration out on me." "I'll blow you away." "I'll blow you away." "BOY." "It was more than 10 years ago." "A woman came here with her little son." "She ordered coffee, and... before we knew it, she disappeared." "Just like that." "She left her son, and took off." "She never returned." "It's so typical of this town" "The boy kept waiting for his mother's return." "If he stopped waiting he'd have to admit he was abandoned." "But the fact is he was abandoned." "The boy blamed himself." "He thought it was because he was weak." "He thought his mother would return, if he became strong." "He said he wanted to be strong." "He still doesn't know what it is to be strong." "Such a foolish boy ..." "Hurry up" "Hurry what?" "The contract." "I'm already for it." "You're not joking?" "I never joke." "I'm ready to blow away any target." "Just get me a contract." "Welcome home." "Ah ..." "I'm home." "You didn't drink before." "I guess I drank too much..." "Good night." "CHONAN." "Been here many years?" "Three years." "Would that be long?" "Or would it be short?" "It's hard to tell." "My time stopped moving long ago." "CHONAN" "Isn't SAI here?" "Hey, lets chat." "That flower in the pot you broke" "is called anemone." "It means "wind"" "because its petals quickly fall when wind blows." "It's not really true." "Do you know why?" "Anemone seeds fly far, far away, riding the wind." "The seeds will try to start a new life somewhere and they will" "try to bloom at whatever odds." "They don't give up easily." "Wish I could be like anemone" "What about anemone?" "Sorry." "I overheard a bit." "I wasn't talking for SAI." "I was saying it to myself." "Why are you here?" "Won't do much good anyway" "I have a dream." "I'm here to realize that." "For a flower shop?" "Oh don't make me blush." "Open my own shop someday and fill it with my favorite flowers." "Have all kinds of flowers in people's homes." "That'll be great" "To realize that, I can bear anything." "Why a flower shop?" "Where I grew up, no flowers bloomed." "The manager said I could be supervisor someday." "Hope it comes true." "Me, too." "You know..." "I'm just here." "No reason to be any where else so I'm just here." "Don't mind being alive but being dead may not be so bad." "I don't get it." "Guess you don't." "You're doing great." "Oh, c'mon." "TO MISS LAUNDRY SERVICE." "SORRY IT'S LATE." "HAPPY BIRTHDAY." "because she laughs like soda bubbles popping." "We shouldn't have called her by such a name." "The popping smiles popped and disappeared." "All there?" "Aren't you missing one?" "You knew?" "I didn't intend to." "Then, lay off." "Why do this?" "I was asked to." "You can refuse." "I just deliver." "Part of my work." "Work?" "You call this work?" "I don't understand." "You don't have to." "Doesn't concern you." "And your dream?" "What happened to it?" "This is for my dream." "I can be supervisor." "If I get my work done" "I can be supervisor." "So, this is my work too." "I can have my own flower shop." "Who do you give it to?" "Don't know his name." " You suck." " I don't use it." "It's the same." "No, it isn't." "Some want to buy, some want to sell." "We all live only for ourselves." "Nothing wrong with that." "Want to live in my own way." "That's all." "I do this for that." "It doesn't suit you." "It really doesn't." "Realizing a dream that way is meaningless." "So what?" "That's not a dream." "You?" "Of all people?" "You talk about dreams to me?" "Alive or dead, you don't care." "How can such a person lecture me?" "I have a dream." "I'm better than you." "You don't even want to live." "I can't waste time choosing my method." "You're right." "You're better." "I had a girlfriend." "She died." "She never took any drugs in her life." "But that's" "what killed her." "My girlfriend died." "She was hit by a car, driven by a junky." "She died... just like that." "She was a citizen of this country but she decided to live In my country." "She died the very day she came to my country to live with me." "You may be better than me." "But you certainly suck" "Buy your dream with others' misery." "Alive or dead, you don't care." "Dream?" "You don't even want to live." "SODA..." "She's leaving here." "I'm so sorry." "Was she alright?" "Are y ou crying?" "Of course not." "DOC..." "DOC..." "You get on my nerves." "Your work dumped you." "WIFE dumped you." "Why does a loser like you get to stay?" "BOY." "You make me sick." "Put it away." "Put that away." "Who do you think you are?" "What can you do?" "I can do any thing" "Too bad for you, but I'm strong." "You're a hit man?" "You've got no guts to kill any person." "Sure I do." "But you don't need guts." "What?" "What're you afraid of?" "You're a wimp." "Me?" "A wimp?" "Say that again" "Relying on a gimmick." "What do you mean?" "Can't do anything by yourself?" "You little wimp." "Do you think killing a person makes you strong?" "Saying that from experience?" "Put it away." "No way." "Stop it." "Both of you." "Stop treating me like a kid." "I'm a man." "BOY." "I think you're really scared of me." "You're scared of me." "SAI." "SAI." "DOCTOR." "Please hurry." "DOCTOR." "Is there a doctor?" "Isn't there another...?" "Payment by cash each time." "Bu let missed the vital parts." "But..." "The bleeding's tough on the child" "She needs blood transfusion." "Please do it." "Using your blood would cost less." "Wrong blood type." "I'm not her father." "I'm sure you knew." "I'm glad it wasn't serious." "What does it mean to be strong?" "I don't know." "Many think" "hiding their fears make them look strong." "We're a weak." "I'm weak, too." "A contract" "I killed someone" "so I'm a fugitive." "I killed SAI's mother." "I loved her." "She worked, and raised SAI all by herself." "She was so sweet, it was almost painful." "We got an apartment, and the three of us began to live together." "SAI came to like me, too, and we were happy" "It didn't last." "She fell ill." "How could such a..." "I can't believe it." "She asked me" "to kill her." "She said she didn't want to become ugly, and wanted to" "stay beautiful for me." "Saying so she cried." "How can..." "I said "Let's live and cure it together."" ""I don't care how you look."" "I said all I could think of." "What do you think she said?" "She said I was cruel." "What is it to be strong, and what is it to be gentle?" "I didn't know." "And chose the one that wouldn't make her sad." "So I strangled her." "And SAI?" "Who is to blame for losing her mother?" "Even a child understands." "She won't talk to me." "Eventually, she ended up talking to no one." "She hates me." "Can't blame her." "But..." "I can't leave her by herself." "After 10 years, she'll be able to live all by herself." "I'll take my punishment then." "I'll pay for it all my life." "But until then" "I can't leave her alone, even if she hates me." "What about you?" "Why are you here?" "After that we had a very, very long talk." "I even told him things I only told VENUS." "About my girlfriend's death." "About how I never saw her body because her family didn't let me." "Dumb, isn't it?" "I was cooking, and kept on waitng for her." "I learned about her death in the paper the next day." "Said I was to blame, and threw me out." "My name is CHONAN." "Go away." "Please..." "I beg you..." "Let me say goodbye to her." "She died because of you." "You killed her!" "My daughter died because of you." "Please, sir, wait." "I want to see her..." "Go away." "I blame you for her death!" "Don't ever come here." "I couldn't attend her funeral." "I should've gone to pick her up." "Shouldn't have invited her to my place." "She might be alive now, If she had never met me." "I told GUY about how time stopped moving for me, then." "No matter how much I miss her or get angry at myself or hate some junky I don't know" "my grief is unbearable." "I have not had a chance to apologize or bid her farewell." "Wouldn't they even tell you where she was buried?" "The letters I sent to her parents were all returned unopened." "I see fewer stars." "But the numbers are the same." "Lit by starlight, we hope to see all." "But s nce we feel insecure we only see the things around us." "When we shine the light around us to see more we can't see the stars faraway." "The stars are there you just can't see them." "And soon you won't see the stars you considered markers." "Life is like that." "Anybody's life... no matter how trifling it may be, has a back you don't want to show to others." "You may call it failure or remorse or whatever" "but we all try hard to live our own life." "We try hard to walk proud." "But when you try to walk proud your back screams in pain." "The more you struggle the heavier the load on your back becomes." "You want to give up and lie flat on the ground." "He's very good." "It's not a difficult operation." "It's tough to live on with a load on your back." "But it's strange." "Only from those backs will you always see wings grow out" "If you keep carrying heavier loads someday you'll be able to fly high." "The ones living here are such people." "You don't care if you're alive or dead?" "Drop dead, CHONAN." "Can't decide?" "Being unable to decide means you want to live." "If you really want to die you'll be dead before you think." "If so, it'll be easier to decide to keep on living." "Tell yourself you're going to live." "SAI..." "She's gone." "I'm sorry." "I didn't know." "DOCTOR..." "How is he?" "You know..." "I don't have any dreams of my own." "But I was happy because his dream was my dream, too." "But" "when he despaired, I despaired, too" "What have been seeing all these years?" "I blamed every single thing on him." "Even my unhappiness" "I blamed that on him." "Too." "He was with me..." "It's hard to be happy in a normal way." "I'm sure he's waiting for you." "Without you..." "Delivery for VENUS." "BOY." "SODA..." "She got away." "But I beat him to a pulp." "That scumbag manager." "DOCTOR." "Get hot water." "Tools must be sterilized." "Let's take him to your room." "VENUS." "If I fail, you must forgive me." "VENUS." "To be strong..." "What is that?" "You foolish boy." "Such a foolish boy." "Get to work." "Hurry up" "You're a man, aren't you?" "Stethoscope." "He'll make it." "Only a few broken bones." "I..." "I'll I make it too." "Any towels around?" "I'll get some, DOCTOR." "Thank you." "Mornings sure are chilly" "But I love this breeze." "Yesterday's flower will be all right, too." "The seeds will ride the wind." "And bloom again around there." "Even anemones won't bloom so quickly." "Does it hurt?" "Shouldn't have walked." "Deep inside" "weren't you happy?" "That anemone..." "You broke the pot." "I think" "GUY wanted to hand it to you himself." "You wanted him to do that too, right?" "You would have been more upset if he had." "GUY and you are not real father and daughter, but you two" "are so much alike." "You're both quite stubborn." "We're all alone." "That's how it is" "Because of that, when you're with someone you can feel the happiness." "You can be stubborn because there is someone" "GUY's looking for you" "Wait." "What's going on?" "Wait." "What is this?" "I said wait." "Just a little while." "Please." "Came to pick up garbage at the dump." "You should say "Thanks for cleaning up."" "What garbage?" "This sure is a garbage dump." "DOCTOR." "Wait." "VENUS." "Damn you." "VENUS, are you okay?" "Wait." "You piece of garbage." "What the hell." "You scumbag." "Stop it." "You're pretty..." "Dirty bastard." "Come on, let's get out of here." "Damn you." "Hey, nobody here is garbage." "We are alive." "We all have a life." "GUY..." "SAI..." "SODA..." "BOY..." "DOCTOR..." "WIFE..." "VENUS..." "DUSTER..." "No matter what happens..." "No matter what we carry or even if we can't carry..." "We are all alive and kicking." "Wait." "Please wait." "Damn you." "Thanks." "Eat your fill." "For you." "It's from SODA." "What does she say?" "Says she's well." "Still treats me like a kid." "Don't be harsh on her." "Shut up, old man." "You mean old woman." "Shut up, old woman" "I'm a man, actually." "What is this?" "SAI." "What's "anemone"?" "What?" "I'll mail this" "DUSTER." "No need to." "I'll hand it to this person myself." "I'm alive..." "In this town, which is my destination as well as my starting point" "the days I live are slightly different each day." "Excuse me." "You have tea?" "Any cola?" "Venus Blend." "Just one." "CHONAN." "SAI flew." "I could see on SAI's back little wings grew out, and captured the wind." "SAI, can you do me a favor?" "What?" "Can you mind the cafe?" "Where are you going?" "Will you come back?" "Of course I will." "Deal?" "It's a deal." "Here, speak our language." "That's the least you can do for us, living in this town." "Things happen if you're alive." "Or rather..." "We live because many things happen." "Am I right, VENUS?" "Hi." "How are you?"