"Produced by Masaichi Nagata" "The 300th film of the actor Kazuo Hasegawa" "AN ACTOR'S REVENGE" "They drove you to your death" "Lord Dobé, the retired magistrate" "The merchant Kawaguchiya is beside him" "I cannot see Hiromiya" "Your enemies, and mother's I have thought of them for twenty years" "Now I see them for the first time" "Now I shall always recognize those faces, even in darkness" "No matter how difficult it may be I will avenge you both" "Oh, you are there" "See how the girl is looking at me?" "She is Namiji, Dobé's daughter" "I will approach her first" "You saw them?" "We've got enough - let's go" "We'll miss the best part" "Never mind the play." "Did you lift enough purses?" "We paid to get in;" "let's have our money's worth" "The play's too slow for me" "That Yukinojo is creepy - he's neither man nor woman" "She's wonderful. ls she married?" "Her husband would need to be born under a lucky star" "Based on the novel by Otokichi Mikami" "Photographed by Setsuo Kobayashi." "Directed by Kon Ichikawa" "I can't bear the way our actors are so proud" "They always scoff at any outsiders, however good" "But this visiting troupe were just strolling players until their Osaka success" "He's so handsome;" "it makes me feel funny" "Take any of our actors in Edo they can't match Yukinojo" "And they're so high and mighty I'm supporting this visiting troupe" "What are you talking about?" "You never go to the theatre" "Yes, I do" "You're a fine one" "You've fallen for this troupe" "An Edo man always helps the weak" "Let's leave him to his ignorance" "What about me?" "You can go home l want to see if Yukinojo is really good" "You don't want to be left out" "Stop talking and go in" "You're a lot of idiots in Edo I don't know why these people waste money on plays" "They complain enough about the price of rice lt's always the same when times are hard" "The theatre was doing badly, so they invited Yukinojo's troupe" "They came to Edo from Osaka" "Listen to the expert" "Hard times produce good thieves, too" "There are many about now, but you're the best, of course" "Then Yamitaro, the Kid, Oryu, Otoki Shime, Hoin, Sumié, Chimé and Densuké" "All first-class thieves" "There's Hirutaro, too" "Never heard of him" "Yamitaro's about the only match for me" "Let's see what you've got" "Idiot!" "I told you to dump the purses at once" "Get rid of them. I don't want people to think I'm a thief" "She's not exactly charming" "She could be, though" "Maybe love would make her a little more feminine" "I thought this might prove useful to your plan" "I'm sorry I cannot help you openly" "Master!" "All your enemies are together" "Your late father must be helping you here" "They are all in Edo" "Congratulations." "You are a master" "You have the finest Kabuki troupe in Japan" "We are happy to be in Edo" "Your audience's reception has moved us close to tears" "Kawaguchiya enjoyed the performance very much" "He would like to honour you by introducing you to Lord Dobé, and his daughter" "They are very important guests I hope you will agree to meet them;" "it would be good for our theatre" "Unfortunately, I have a bad headache" "Please give him my apologies" "I'm sure he will be very disappointed" "But you must be tired." "Please rest" "Why should you refuse to drink with your enemies?" "You must grasp every opportunity" "Learn all about them" "Gain their confidence, then get your revenge" "This time I felt afraid of myself" "Something told me to refuse them I am sure this is the right thing to do" "Now I think they will play into my hands" "This is the way, I am sure of it" "We should not have walked" "My breath of fresh air has resulted in us getting lost" "Why attack me?" "I'm only an actor from the theatre" "I know you" "Wait a moment" "Why, Heima?" "You have said that our school of swordsmanship has no secrets" "We must learn for ourselves" "Why show him the scroll?" "Yukinojo studies here, but he's an outsider lt's not fair" "I'm young, but I am the assistant instructor here I should have this honour" "You can see it if you want to" "But your impatience tells against you" "Your very impatience prohibits your initiation" "The honour goes to Yukinojo" "It was only blank paper" "Blank paper?" "A warning... against vanity and pride" "Once we master an art and become famous we tend to forget our resolutions" "Words cannot explain the mysteries of an art I merely wanted you to perceive my innermost mind" "Heima can go" "He has lost his teacher and his friends and he has gained nothing" "Yes, we know Heima Kadokura I left Osaka because of you I came to live in Edo, and now I hear your name everywhere here" "I won't stand for it" "You have caused our teacher much anguish" "You and I studied together like brothers..." "Actor!" "Don't call me brother" "You won't get away with this" "I'm sorry I butted in without an introduction" "Thank you for saving me, although you are a stranger" "For an actor, you're a strong swordsman I felt as though I had the theatre to myself" "But you faltered at the most important moment I heard the name Heima Kadokura;" "do you know him?" "No, I was attacked without warning" "Strange... he was too skilful for an ordinary robber" "You're probably afraid of me, too" "Why not?" "Decent people don't hang around the streets at night I wonder if he was an ordinary robber?" "There are many masterless samurai about" "Better not walk alone at night dressed up like that" "Anyway, here comes a carriage" "May I know your name?" "Yamitaro!" "We've got you trapped" "Don't let him get away this time" "He must be around here somewhere" "Are you an actor?" "Well, it's dangerous around here at night" "Thank you" "Where is he?" "Here I am" "You're not Yamitaro I'm Hirutaro" "Keep out of it" "We're out for bigger game I am big game. I'm a famous thief" "Why is Yamitaro so popular?" "A wonderful ruby lt really is the colour of blood" "Who is it?" "Kawaguchiya is here" "Let him wait" "How is Lady Namiji's health?" "What is it to you?" "At the theatre you noticed how she fell in love with Yukinojo" "Now you want to bring them together and gain her confidence" "You want her to curry favour for you with the Shogun" "Do you think I don't know that?" "It isn't that at all" "The doctor says she's depressed" "So I asked permission for her to rest at home for a month" "But I think she's lovesick, and it's all your fault" "Not at all lt's all your fault." "Everything" "I told you to bring Yukinojo." "Bring him here at once" "He's much too common for my daughter" "Let her meet him a few times" "She'll soon tire of him, and that will be that" "Yukinojo is very rude; he has refused all our invitations I'll bring him tomorrow, even if I have to carry him here" "Because of Namiji, the Shogun does what I say" "She's important to me" "Stop intriguing, or you will be the one to get hurt" "The Shogun is a cold-hearted man I may be powerful, but the Shogunate is inflexible" "Even my influence cannot help merchants like you" "Let's forget the past" "Greed has its attractions, and also its limitations" "Don't become obsessed with your selfishness I hear you're buying rice" "Very well, buy it all up;" "I'll do what I can for you I would be most grateful for any kindnesses" "I'm sorry I kept you waiting" "Actors are so temperamental" "He accepts your invitation" "Why have you accepted now?" "I have been waiting for this" "This is an invitation to visit Dobé's house" "A special invitation to visit his ailing daughter, Lady Namiji" "To visit Lady Namiji" "This is far enough;" "I'll work here tonight I can smell the gold already" "It certainly is a fine mansion" "So this is the famous home of Lord Dobé" "His treasure house must be full of gifts from the Shogun" "And full of bribes he took when he was a magistrate I'll help the poor again tonight;" "a little more than usual" "Winter is coming, and many are poorly clothed" "A visitor at this hour?" "There is no need to be so formal" "The Lady Namiji herself wishes to thank you for your visit" "She is waiting in her room" "Oh, no, I am already too overwhelmed by meeting Lord Dobé I will take my leave now" "You must see her." "She is ill;" "please do as she wishes" "What did he say to you when I was not present?" "Nothing" "Not a single word?" "It was rather frightening" "He's proud because of the Shogun's interest in Namiji" "Be sympathetic towards her." "If you capture her heart..." "What do you mean?" "How can I even aspire to?" "Her mind is made up already;" "you can win her easily" "Her words count most at the Castle, not Dobé's" "You won't know about business but I'll stake my utmost hopes on you" "In return, I'll look after you all your life" "You actors live a precarious existence lt would be wise to think of your future" "We have met for the first time, yet he holds me in contempt" "He thinks an actor is some sort of prostitute" "He thinks he can purchase me to beguile a lady for him" "He is the embodiment of vulgarity" "Does he intend to use me to get rid of Dobé?" "What you say is very true" "Your words have made me extremely happy I am highly honoured by your interest in me" "I feel as if I were in heaven I shall do my very best to please the young lady" "As I thought, you understand things quickly" "But this must be a secret between you, me and Lady Namiji" "You mustn't forget that" "Poor lady, she really has fallen in love with me" "Please be at ease I apologize for receiving you in such an untidy room" "To be with a lady who has attained the heights of glory to be able to enjoy her favour, even for a few moments..." "You make it sound as though I am happy to serve the Shogun" "What greater happiness could there be?" "Every woman in Japan must envy you such eminence..." "Are you mocking me?" "If I have unwittingly offended My Lady it is best that I take my leave" "No, I apologize if I have offended you but I am hurt by your reserve" "No one seems to know the nature of my illness but I think that you understand" "You have posed a very delicate question, My Lady" "An excess of love, perhaps" "Do you think I like my service at the Castle?" "You do not know what the Shogun is like" "My illness began when first I saw you" "Your words sound very sweet to me I am a simple man and apt to believe what you say" "I beg you not to mock me I have cast aside modesty, reputation, pride..." "Dreams are superficial I know now that there is a daytime love deeper than the love of night" "If you really mean that I will do anything, even forsake my beloved stage for you" "But if it is nothing but infatuation, you leave me no choice I must die" "You understand my love. I am so happy" "How can I bear to tell such lies?" "But I shall have to tell many more lies although this poor girl is innocent of any crime" "This is Lord Dobé's house;" "even the Shogun is afraid of him" "We'll lose our heads if we're caught" "Let's go and find somewhere else to rob" "Shut up, Muku!" "I'd need a hundred heads to answer for what I've stolen lt would be a disgrace if someone beat us to this" "You can go home and get sake ready" "Don't you need me?" "You'll only get in the way" "The best of luck, then" "Someone is outside" "Better go back to bed if you know what's good for you" "Who is out there?" "Just my luck!" "It's only me" "Do you live here?" "You keep out of this" "You're strong... you're a man!" "Be quiet, or someone else will come" "Who are you, dressed up like that?" "You're from the theatre" "Never mind that" "A burglar." "He ran when I shouted at him" "You must be careful;" "I would be grieved if you were injured lt is difficult to leave you, but I must go now" "I have many obligations and duties to the theatre and to my master" "That's too bad, but what an actor" "He rang down the curtain in fine style" "Why did that crook Ohatsu have to come breaking in?" "It's funny, but I'm beginning to like Yukinojo" "He seems to be more than an ordinary actor" "But why does he humble himself to Dobé?" "And to the Shogun's Namiji?" "It looks as though he has his reasons for all this" "It still hurts" "He's given me a great big bruise" "You'd never guess his strength to look at his face" "He grabbed my wrist when I had a dagger" "And yet he let me get away" "That face, that strength..." "what a strange man" "He really has upset me" "But who could love such a half-man, half-woman?" "I hate him" "See what I'll do to him I won't rob Dobé, I'll rob Yukinojo - of his most precious thing" "Find out where he lives." "Jump to it!" "Master, I am back I want to talk to you" "I understand I know why you have refused their invitation so many times" "You were waiting for the right moment" "So I said nothing" "But this person you visit every night, who is she?" "She is the Shogun's mistress;" "she is said to be the most beautiful" "You are infatuated." "Will you let this turn you from your purpose?" "Have you forgotten your revenge?" "Master, why speak to me like this?" "I am in torment when I visit that house" "The wine I drink seems like molten lead" "Understand what I suffer, what I endure" "Master, must I do all this?" "Must my revenge be like this?" "What are you saying?" "Who drove your father to madness?" "Who drove your mother to suicide?" "I will remind you lt was Dobé, in company with Kawaguchiya and Hiromiya" "They worked together in Nagasaki, they ruined your father" "They set out to destroy your respected merchant family" "They were merciless" "Your father lived in the slums, a broken man" "You were a motherless child of seven when I first knew you I was young, too, living in the same poor slum" "One cold and rainy night your father hanged himself" "When I returned from the theatre I found you clinging to his legs, crying" "I promised I swore to help you avenge your father even though it took my whole life" "At last we are in Edo with them" "Why hesitate?" "Why not run them through at once?" "Running them through is not enough" "They should be roasted boiled in oil" "My parents will not be avenged unless these men are tortured until they become mad" "Terrible words" "Yes, terrible I am the lover of Lord Dobé's daughter" "She is now completely mine" "Sooner or later she will abandon the Shogun for me" "Dobé will be shamed." "Then he will fall into a living hell" "Master, when I think about this terrible revenge I feel I want to leave it undone and run away" "I heard someone" "Probably the inn cat l have been away on business;" "how unfortunate for me I would have been delighted to be your first patron I know quality when I see it I'm the sort who respects the best people be they lords or pickpockets" "That's why I invited you to my home without hesitation" "One doesn't entertain the best people in restaurants" "Thank you for calling so soon lt's said I'm one of Edo's richest merchants but don't be overawed by that I'm just a simple man with a wide circle of friends" "I hear that you have other acquaintances in Edo:" "Lord Dobé and Kawaguchiya" "How very extraordinary" "Unlike myself, they are both very cautious, reserved men" "They are usually very suspicious of strangers" "Why should they make an exception?" "What is the reason, I wonder?" "No doubt they are laughing at me behind my back" "No, not at all" "Dobé, Kawaguchiya and I have been friends a long time I have no qualms; we're like one family, really" "But I wonder what they said" "Nothing about you. I heard of you from others" "What have you heard?" "What an unusual clock lt came from abroad" "Did you obtain it in Nagasaki?" "How did you know I lived in Nagasaki?" "I hear that Nagasaki is something of a treasure house" "Many rare articles can be found there" "Kawaguchiya and I were born in Nagasaki" "So I guessed rightly about the clock" "To come back to what we were saying" "What was it you heard about me?" "Tell me" "Just snatches of conversation;" "I cannot remember exactly" "You must tell me" "Will you be offended?" "No, of course not" "They said you are only interested in quick returns" "They said you lack foresight" "Who said that?" "Officials at the Castle I heard it when I was there the other day" "What else did they say?" "They said that you plan to expand your trade" "They said that you are beginning to hoard a lot of rice" "They said that, too?" "This year's rice harvest is poor and prices are high lf you were a loyal merchant, you would bring your rice to Edo and use it to force prices down" "Rich and poor alike would sing your praises" "King of the rice market" "A popular figure, an influential man in Edo" "That is what they said I see what they mean" "Shogunate officials are very far-seeing" "Do you think so?" "Surely you would lose a lot of money" "You wouldn't understand such matters I'm grateful for this information I've been away on business - buying rice, in fact" "Have you told anyone else what they said?" "Not all actors are great gossips I didn't mean that at all I meant, did you tell Lord Dobé or Kawaguchiya?" "There was no mention of them at the Castle" "So, naturally, I told them nothing I didn't mean to offend you." "Accept my apologies" "He rose to the bait" ""We're like one family", he says" "But in fact he plans to deceive them" "He knows very well what Kawaguchiya is doing hoarding rice, too" "Their only bond is greed" "Even walls have ears" "It is wisest never to speak of secrets, even in private" "I have something to tell you" "I will be waiting for you in the park at ten o'cIock" "A woman you know" "If he ignores me, I'll make him regret it" "I'm most grateful for your letter l am Yukinojo, an actor in the troupe from Osaka" "Save your breath" "We're not strangers." "Look at this bruise you gave me" "You nearly twisted my arm off I'm the thief you caught, and you won't get rid of me now I've fallen in love with you" "Don't be so surprised. I may be a thief, but I'm a woman, too I've never known love before" "Pity me and hold me tight, just once I am very flattered by your words..." "Don't try my patience. I never know when I might be arrested I haven't got time to waste;" "let's go to an inn now I have no reason to dislike you but I have vowed to touch no woman until I have fulfilled an obligation" "The revenge you've staked your life on?" "is that it?" "Why so surprised?" "You came here because of my letter" "One word from me and your revenge and very life will be in danger" "Let's not be enemies lf you do as I ask, I'll help you to get revenge" "Those three old men won't have a chance if we two join forces" "If you know so much..." "You're going to kill me?" "You want to shut my mouth?" "That's a laugh" "I can be a saint, or a demon I love you, so I offered to help you" "All right, just see what I'll do I'll go to Dobé and say that Yukinojo..." "Keep away, or I'll kill you" "You won't escape" "A ruffian's after me" "I must talk to her" "Talk?" "With a dagger?" "What a woman!" "It's not a woman" "Yuki, we meet again" "Heima Kadokura" "Edo is not such a big place." "I'll finish you I must find her." "Let me go lf you don't, I won't hold back this time" "Who is he?" "An actor?" "Whatever it's about, I'll help Kadokura" "What's the matter?" "Afraid?" "What are you waiting for?" "You samurai are always boasting" "Afraid of an actor?" "This is more exciting than stage swordplay" "What a pity." "This may be his very last performance" "Oh dear!" "I seem to have lost her" "He won't find me in a hurry" "There's a fine moon tonight, Ohatsu" "Yamitaro" "What a place to meet I enjoyed watching your love scene" "Oh, no!" "Did you see that?" "Me and him... you know, that actor we're strangers, but I admire him in many ways" "That face, that strength..." "I understand your feelings I understand why you, a man-hater, love him so much" "When I heard you talk about his enemies it made things clear to me" "He's fighting powerful enemies, alone lt makes one want to help him, if possible" "If I were a man, I might talk of help sympathy with his cause, and so on" "But I'm afraid I happen to be a woman" "Well, let me tell you something:" "leave him alone" "Who do you think you are?" "Don't you know that love is the dearest thing in a woman's life?" "Are you going to be stubborn?" "I can't give him up" "Very well, acrobat Ohatsu." "We will have to be enemies" "We're in the middle of a river, with only the moon as witness" "Even an acrobat can't escape" "Yes, she can - she knows how to swim" "There was famine in the land caused by cold, drought, fire and flood" "In 1836, the starving people rebelled" "They rose against a weak Shogunate and corrupt merchants" "It is so painful not to see you I almost wished we had never met I have missed you just as much" "But I dare not come here too often" "But I must see you even though it hurts me not to be able to visit you openly" "Then I shall leave this house" "I am certain of one thing" "Many women must have fallen in love with you" "Yet, from them all you have chosen me I don't want to make you sad I don't want anything to hurt you" "I would rather die than return to the Castle" "You are so good" "My father wants me to return to the Castle" "Because of all these riots he is going to employ more guards lt may be easier if I escape now" "Lady Namiji... I cannot bear us to act like strangers any more" "I wish to be your wife I do not deserve so great an honour" "Lady Namiji, there can be no one else for me" "You will be the only woman in my life" "So many presents from Hiromiya" "You have been so generous with presents for our entire company" "Please do not mention it I thought that you would like the clock;" "I saw how you admired it" "Do you remember how it chimed that day you visited me?" "It is a priceless gift, but I have done nothing to deserve it indeed you have" "Do you remember the information you gave me?" "About the rice?" "I took action. I brought the rice here and put it on sale" "Other merchants followed my example" "Because of this, the riots came to an end" "The poor had enough to eat" "The Shogun has praised me, people respect me I'm a popular man in Edo, almost as popular as you" "You are a courageous businessman" "No, I bought the rice cheaply from the farmers themselves I couldn't lose on the deal" "Hiromiya, I've caught you at last" "Kawaguchiya, why all this fuss?" "For business, come to my store" "You always pretend to be out." "You've deceived me" "Deceived you?" "How is that?" "You know very well" "You knew I was trying to control the rice market" "Then you sold rice at give-away prices I'm ruined I'm sorry to hear that" "Weren't we business associates?" "Business is just like war, Kawaguchiya" "Relatives can become enemies" "The rice trade is not for you lt's for big merchants, not jumped-up clerks like you" "Hiromiya, I beg you to help me" "Please help" "Why not ask Lord Dobé?" "You know very well he's not the type to give any help" "He might, though." "We've been friends since Nagasaki days" "He wouldn't let you down" "Let me in. I have an urgent message from Lord Dobé" "Hiromiya, give me some water" "It's been a long time." "Have you forgotten me?" "I am Matsuuraya" "Your former master, now wandering in hell" "You were an orphan I raised you, made you my clerk, but you were ungrateful" "You went over to Hiromiya, my competitor" "Together you conspired to ruin my business" "You forced me to leave my ancestral home" "Forgive me!" "Hang yourself and die" "Hang yourself, as I did" "Become mad, as I did" "A man like you should never have been born" "You killed Hiromiya's clerk" "You burned Hiromiya's store" "You cannot escape falling into the bottomless pit" "Kawaguchiya" "Spare me, Matsuuraya" "Don't stare at me like that I wasn't the only one" "It was Hiromiya's idea" "He bribed Lord Dobé to rule against you" "You burn my house and now you blurt out everything" "You're raving mad I should have kept you gagged" "I've killed him!" "I've killed a man!" "I didn't expect that" "An actor's revenge, dramatic as a play" "One's taken care of, but it's not easy for the actor" "He's not happy in the role" "See how lonely he looks now" "Revenge is difficult, even for him" "Poor man" "I was locked up in the house, but I managed to escape" "I am hiding in the home of my old nurse near the Dentsuin temple" "The messenger is her son;" "you can trust him" "He will show you the way to the house" "I wait for you." "Namiji" "I do not understand this letter at all ls the messenger here?" "Tell him that" "Give him this money for a carriage and send him home" "Although I have retired, I am still allowed to visit the Castle" "The Shogunate officials pay me respect I owe this to the trust you place in me, My Lord" "I am sure my abilities are unworthy of such esteem I am very grateful and I cherish the honour I would never lie to you about Lady Namiji" "I do not know who has started these rumours lt is true that Lady Namiji is ill" "She remains at my house" "But now she is feeling much better" "She has spoken of returning to the Castle in a few days... ln a few days?" "Very well" "Money from Yamitaro" "Two lots today" "No, one's from me" "Always Yamitaro" "He gets all the credit" "But wait and see." "He can't provide for everybody" "My chance will come soon" "You said you were taking me to Yukinojo" "Drawing a dagger?" "You'd better put that away" "Hide where you like" "They'll leave no stone unturned to find you" "You won't escape I said I'd help you, so why don't you trust me?" "Who do you think I am?" "And who do you think you are?" "Yesterday you ceased to be the Shogun's lady" "You were foolish enough to love an actor" "So you might spare a gentle word for me" "Or is that too hard for you?" "Don't defy me. I've killed one man already - l fear no one I killed Kawaguchiya I was keeping him a prisoner to protect Lord Dobé and myself" "Now Dobé says it was merely a quarrel between commoners and refuses to help me" "He made use of me in the past and now he abandons me just as I've become famous" "Very well, if I am going to be cast down I'm taking his dearest treasure with me" "I found you before Lord Dobé's men did. I won't let you go" "You again?" "You're very persevering" "Let me go, Heima. I have no quarrel with you" "You won't escape alive this time" "Someone's given me orders to kill you" "A strange coincidence. lt's my fate to be your enemy" "So now you are a hired killer?" "Who hired you for this?" "Lord Dobé" "Then tell me one thing, if you know it" "For what reason does Lord Dobé wish me dead?" "How should I know?" "Does he think that I kidnapped Lady Namiji?" "Lady Namiji?" "He didn't mention her" "Why, then?" "He's suspicious of you and wants you out of the way" "Suspicious?" "When I told him that we had studied together in Osaka he said that explained all" "Explained?" "Suspicious?" "What does it all mean?" "If Dobé has found me out, my plans are ruined" "There is no hope; my good luck has run out" "This must mean that the gods forbid me to take revenge" "Father... mother please forgive Yukinojo" "He has failed in his duty" "I can't kill you" "You've won again I fled Osaka because of you." "Must I flee from Edo, too?" "There is no peace for me while you are alive" "The gods have not forsaken me I left my fate to your sword, but the gods saved me" "Don't be so rough" "She's the most beautiful girl I've seen for a long time" "Where did you find her?" "The dogs were barking at her lt's a good thing you brought her to me" "She'll be sold later, so treat her gently" "Shut up, we'll do what we like with her" "Stop making such a row at night" "Go outside, I'm trying to get some sleep" "You're a tough priest" "What are you doing?" "Taking her back wherever she came from" "She's my treasure." "You can't have her" "What's here is mine" "Take her and I'll tell that you're really Hoin, the escaped convict" "I'm sorry, but you'll have to shut up for a bit" "She's really beautiful" "She shouldn't walk alone at night" "Anyone would be tempted to kidnap her lt's hard being a priest" "I must control the desires of the flesh" "I'm in bed; come back tomorrow lt's me:" "Hoin" "You know I won't allow any females in my house" "Not even cats" "Now listen, you've got to help with this girl I think she has a fever" "All she says is something like Yuki" "That's all she says" "I remember you" "There's no time to explain;" "you must come to my house at once I have heard many things about you" "You are a generous man" "You rob in order to help the poor" "You saved my life, I trust you, but..." "Namiji may be dying l think I know all about your revenge" "Now just listen to me I somehow feel as though you are my brother" "You may think it strange, but it's true I'm an outlaw, so I can't go anywhere I like" "Otherwise I'd help your vengeance" "So I ought not to care about Lady Namiji it doesn't matter whether she lives or dies" "But I feel sorry for her" "No, she's not exactly ill; she says she killed a man tonight" "She said it was Hiromiya" "Hiromiya wanted to revenge himself on Lord Dobé" "He got his deserts." "Now two of them are taken care of" "But she understands nothing of all this" "She's done something beyond her comprehension" "Her mind has suffered; it is like a string about to snap ln her delirium, she keeps calling for you" "Very well, I will come with you" "She's dying" "Has anyone returned?" "Not yet, My Lord" "I thought she'd die any minute" "Please say something to her" "Your words may save her" "You kept your promise to me I am happy" "Gone, after all?" "Namiji... you were completely innocent" "Life was unkind to you" "You were born to be betrayed" "A victim of your father's greed" "A victim of my own revenge" "You have died without having known true love" "Not truly loved by anyone" "If there is a next world I will try to make good my false promises" "My vow may yet become true and I will marry you I will never leave you" "I will always serve you" "We will be together" "Lady Namiji, please do not hate me" "Please go in peace" "Yukinojo wishes to see you" "What is it?" "I came to thank you for last night" "The assassin" "Who are you?" "Why do you hold me your enemy?" "You are mistaken" "Do you think I am blind?" "Do you remember your first visit here?" "Afterwards, I sent a man to Osaka" "You studied under Koken;" "your sword-master was lsshosai" "Your stage debut was at the age of twelve" "That much I discovered, but no more" "Lord Dobé, former magistrate of Nagasaki do you recall another face which resembled mine?" "What?" "Nagasaki?" "You know Nagasaki?" "The Lady Namiji" "She is outside" "A priest brought her here, but said nothing" "Drink lt is a Dutch poison" "One tablet brings unconsciousness." "Two, death" "Namiji has returned... dead" "You as good as killed her lt means that you have killed me, too" "I don't care who you really are" "You have made me lose my power" "You must not live" "Matsuura's wife... of Nagasaki" "You know me now?" "Do I not resemble my mother?" "I am her only son" "She named me Yukitaro" "You forced my mother to succumb to you" "You promised her that you would save our family" "You made her suffer" "She cut her throat" "Thus my mother died" "Forgive me" "Now I understand" "There were three of us in the Nagasaki group ln one month we have been ruined" "Was it your revenge, Yukinojo?" "You must be happier now" "Today's performance was magnificent" "You may go now" "Only two days more in the theatre" "We may never act together again I cannot imagine the future" "Do not speak of it lt was to avenge your parents you caused these deaths and that of innocent Lady Namiji" "I understand now why you wish to retire to hide from others" "But you were my hope, I depended on you I know, and I would like to stay with you" "Was I at fault?" "It was my vow lf l had not sworn to avenge your father nothing would have happened" "You were not wrong; you could never be at fault I made you do it" "No, I must leave without repaying my debt to you" "Forgive me" "I believe it must be my fate to be alone I was born under a lonely moon" "Somesake?" "Well, if you insist" "Still, I must admit that Yuki is a fine man" "His eyes send shivers through me" "When did he look at you?" "Quiet, oaf!" "Oaf again?" "But you astonished me that time" "You stood there aiming that pistol." "I thought you'd kill him" "You made me angry that night when I jumped into the river" "And I caught a dreadful cold I may have been a swimmer once, but I'm not so young now" "It was a shock." "So I've thought things over;" "I'm going to settle down" "She's become very ladylike lately" "That's fine" "I've just noticed something ln profile, your face is rather like Yukinojo's" "You can't see the wood for the trees;" "I should have settled for you" "No women for me!" "I want to be your wife" "You'll never reform and be a decent, ordinary woman" "Are you going straight?" "I'm tired of this life" "Maybe I'll go to Osaka with Yukinojo's theatre I'll come along, too" "What about me?" "Splendid!" "If they both leave Edo, I'll have the place to myself" "After their great success in Edo Kukinojo's troupe returned to Osaka" "But Yukinojo was not with them" "Many people sought him the greatest of female impersonators" "Yamitaro searched for him..." "Ohatsu searched for him..." "But no one ever saw Yukinojo again" "One rumour said he became a priest" "Another that he had joined a touring theatrical company" "In time, rumours ceased and people forgot about Yukinojo" "Had he really disappeared beyond the windswept plain?" "Who was it who remembered the story of Yukinojo?" "Was it Yamitaro?" "Or Kukinojo?" "Or was it Ohatsu?"