"It's a good thing I'm blind." "ADVENTURES OF ZATOICHI" "Original story by KAN SHI MOZAWA Screenplay by SHOZABURO ASAI" "Starring:" "SHI NTARO KATSU" "MIWA TAKADA El KO TAKI" "Directed by KI MIYOSHI YASUDA" "Over there." "It's a kite!" "Does this belong to you kids?" "It startled me when it suddenly fell in front of my face." "Here you go." "Thanks, mister." "Oh, to be as carefree as a child." "Children may be the only ones... who can show their face to the sun without shame." "Hey, where're you headed?" "I'm on my way to Kasama." "That's perfect." "Could I ask a favor?" "What sort of favor?" "If it's something a blind man can do..." "It'll really help me out if you do this for me." "What is it?" "I need you to deliver this... to a maid named Sen who works at the Musashi Inn." "I get it." "I'm blind, so you know I can't read your letter." "It's not a love letter." "Is that right?" "I guess I jumped to conclusions." "But it's important that no one else sees it." "Be sure to give it directly to Sen." "I'll do that." "I wish I could pay you, but I don't have a coin to my name." "That's all right." "I'm going there anyway." "Thanks for doing this." "What a strange mission I've taken on." "He said it wasn't a love letter, but I wonder what..." "Who knows?" "Cleanse and purify this house." "May business flourish here." "Well, if it isn't Hanataro!" "You came again this year." "It's so good to see you." "You're both looking well." "Hanataro, Hanataro." "Oh, shush." "Are you trying to wear my name out?" "Names don't wear out." "Hanataro, Hanata..." "Oh, maybe they do." " Stop being silly." " Sorry." "Where's your lady?" "She's having a quiet soak before the bath gets crowded." "Then I'd better hurry, too." "Excuse me." "Hold it, hold it." "What gives you the idea she'd let you in with her?" " You don't think she will?" " You need to ask?" "Listen up, everybody." "We're ready to assign spaces... so I want you all in the big hall." " Hold on a second, bagman." " Show some respect." "We go door to door, so we don't need any space." "It's the boss's orders." "If you want to do business during New Year's, come to the big hall." " What shall we do?" " Forget it." "What's that?" "You don't have to glare at me like that." "I meant we better forget what we said about not going." "Stop trying to confuse me." "That hardly seems fair." "Sounds like we can't do business without an assigned space." "A daruma doll." "It's an eyeless daruma." "You shouldn't say that to a blind man, dear." " That's all right." " They're for the New Year." "You make a wish for the year and fill in the eyes if it comes true." "I see." "He gets eyes when your wish comes true." " I wish I could be a daruma." " Keep that one if you like." " But it's your merchandise." " We'd like you to have it." "Right, dear?" "Thank you very much." "Excuse me, but is this the Musashi Inn?" "That's right." "Thanks." "So an eyeless daruma becomes a blind man's companion." "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, fella." "Sen, there's someone here asking for you." " Who is it?" " A masseur." "A masseur?" "I don't know any masseur." "Excuse me a minute." " Hey, is my order about ready?" " Yes, in a moment." "You wished to see me?" "Are you Sen?" "I was asked to bring this to you." "Where did you get it?" "Quite a ways outside the village." " Did he say anything else?" " No." "I see." "Thank you for bringing it to me." "Is it bad news?" "No, nothing like that." "I was worried that I might be the bearer of bad tidings." "I'm looking for a place to stay." "Would you have room for me here?" "I'm afraid we're full." "With New Year's coming up... all the inns are jammed with vendors and entertainers." " But let me see what I can do." " I'd be much obliged." "Please excuse me." "I wonder if you'd be willing... to share this room with another guest." "You can't expect us to share with a man, even if he is blind." "It's fine with me." "All the inns are full, so we all need to be accommodating." "Thanks so much." "Sir." "I'm much obliged." "Thank you very much." "Miss, Gosuke hasn't returned yet, has he?" "No." "He was going to Shinozaki." "In that case, he may not get back today." "I see." "Thank you." "I take it there are two of you ladies?" "It's a genuine pleasure." "Thanks to being blind, I get to share a room with ladies like this." "Are you two traveling together?" "No." "I see." "Well, since fortune has thrown us together in this room... perhaps I can offer to massage your shoulders later." "No, thanks." "Forgive me." "Kamozo, the assignments have all been made." "All right." "Listen up, everyone." "Starting this year... the charge for doing business here during the New Year's rush... will be 40 percent of your receipts." "That's highway robbery!" "That'll leave us no profit!" "We'd be better off not doing business at all!" "That's more than twice what we paid last year!" "Quiet!" "If you don't like it, take your business somewhere else." "It's too late for that." " And they know it, damn it." " The bastards." "Who said that?" "I wonder." "Was it you?" "You?" "You?" " Who could it be?" " Let me guess." "If anybody objects, step forward." "If you object, please step forward." " Please, sir." "Spare me." " Oh, be quiet." "Ooh, I'm scared, I'm scared." "This isn't just the boss's decision." "The word came straight from the new intendant." "What did I tell you?" "I wanted to go somewhere else this year, but you wouldn't listen." "This is a complete disaster." "Very well, sir." " Congratulations, sir." " Enough of your antics!" "Are we clear?" "Who are you?" "Just an ordinary swordsman." "Hold on." "Care to rent my services?" "All right." "We'll take you to the boss." "Lead the way." "Those damn bastards." "We've got to..." "Calm down." "Don't do anything stupid." "I mean, we've got to practice our comedy routine." "You idiot." "You had me worried." "I can't believe this." "It's completely outrageous." "They say this new intendant, a guy named Gorota Kajima... has a heart of stone... and he's really been causing the farmers grief." "But there seems to be nothing we can do." "Boss Jinbei bribed the intendant... and got deputized with a constable's hook and rope." "He can pretty much do whatever he wants." " What are we supposed to do, damn it?" " What a fix!" "Maybe we should go somewhere else, dear." "But it's too late for that." "I guess that means we're stuck." "Kamozo..." "Shinsuke escaped from the island." "Are you sure?" "We got it straight from the intendant." "Does anyone know where he is now?" "He's apparently headed back here." "Damn." "There's no telling what he might do." "That's what the boss is worried about." "The boss wants us to bring his sister Sen to him." "She might know something." "All right." "Hold it, Sen." "Out of my way!" "Pull yourself together." "Is there some kind of problem?" "Blind son of a bitch." "Sorry." "Sometimes this thing has a life of its own." "Drag him down here!" "Oops." "You seem to be having trouble getting up the stairs." "Are you saying you could get this blind fool out of our way?" "That's hard to say." "But you haven't hired me yet." "Crazy blind bastard!" "Hey, don't forget about me." "They all left." "Thank you." "You're really strong." "Not at all." "It was just blind flailing, really." "They tripped and fell all on their own." "They didn't need help from me." "Are you sure?" "At any rate, it serves them right." "I like to think so, too." "Miss Sen, if they come again, you can hide in this room anytime." "Thank you." "I'm so glad." "Yes, indeed." " They had it coming." " That's for sure." "The blind man glares at him, and he slinks away in fear." "Hold on." "How can a blind man glare at someone?" "Well, that's exactly what he did." "Like this." "Watch out." "Come on, he didn't look like that." "Actually, this is no time to be laughing." "If we have to pay 40 percent, it's all over for us." "How long do you intend to keep that up?" "My eyes are stuck like this." "That could be a problem." "Hey, someone dropped some money." " Where?" " Your eyes are fine." "Could you please check at the other inns?" "Yes, ma'am." "Are you looking for someone?" "Miss Hanakoma, you're wanted in the big hall." "What for?" "They say they can't make any money if they have to pay 40 percent." "They've already agreed, right?" "Yes, but they're wondering if something can't be done." "I can't imagine what, but all right." "What about you?" "Shouldn't you be at the meeting too?" "Not really." "You have to feel sorry for them." "Why do you say that?" "The people in this county have had nothing but suffering... since that new intendant came." "It's really that bad?" "Yes." "He's been using Boss Jinbei as his enforcer." "How do you fit into the picture?" "I'm the daughter of the headman of Ota Village." "I thought you seemed different from all the entertainers." "What brings you here, then?" "A month ago... my father left for Edo with a petition for tax relief." "We haven't heard from him since, and he was last seen near here." "You must be terribly worried." "Are you looking for him all by yourself?" "No, I have a manservant named Gosuke accompanying me." "He went to Shinozaki to ask around." "I see." "Sen." "Shinsuke." " Did you get the money?" " I couldn't, not on such short notice." "Why did you have to go and break out, anyway?" "For revenge." "I'm going to killJinbei." "Why?" "I was such a fool." "Jinbei tells me the sun will shine on my whole family... that he'll even make me one of his chief deputies." "But as soon as the deed is done... the officers are waiting right there to arrest me." "When they put you on that island, it's for life, damn it!" "You killed a man." "What did you expect?" "Jinbei and the intendant are in this together." "They sent me to kill the guy to cover up their own crimes." "Who's there?" "You're the guy I gave that letter to." "You might want to lower your voice." "So you heard everything..." "Don't worry." "Sometimes my ears can be as useless as my eyes." "Son of a bitch!" "Wait!" "This man's a friend." "He saved me from Jinbei's men." "What?" "I really didn't do anything, Miss Sen." "The intendant's officers are looking for you." "You need to run away." "Forget it." "I'm going to killJinbei, whatever it takes." "Please don't!" "Miss Sen." "He's made up his mind, so there's no stopping him." " Isn't that right, mister?" " Shut up!" "You stay out of this." "Sen." "I'll be hiding in the charcoal kiln up the mountain." "Get me that money." ""Jinbei"" "Get lost!" "I won't bother the other customers." "I'll just watch quietly, so please let me stay." "Forget it!" "You drink sake in the kitchen, you beg from the other customers..." "Jinbei's gaming house doesn't want fleas like you crawling around." "Please, I promise I'll watch quietly." "Let me back in, please!" "If I have to throw you out again, you're going to get a broken back." "What's wrong with drinking leftover sake in the kitchen?" "It's already been paid for." "You don't have to be so stingy." "You must be a masseur." "Are you drunk?" "How drunk can you get from cold leftovers?" "Is this Boss Jinbei's gaming house?" "A bunch of cheapskates." "Go ahead." "Go on in." "But you won't find anybody..." "looking to rent the services of a masseur." "But I assume they'll welcome my bets." "You have money to bet?" "You've got to have money to make money." "Let me show you the way." "This way." " I warned you." " Take it easy." "I brought you a customer." "What the hell do you want?" "Ah, we meet again." "I'm a blind man... but I can't sleep until I've heard the sound of dice in a cup." "Isn't it a shame?" "You can get your chips over here." "Actually, Gramps... betting in tiny amounts with chips isn't my style." "How much have you got in there?" "I wonder." "Are you going to bet it all?" "It could be a test of my fortune for the coming year." "If the dice favor me, I can double my money." "Of course, they could just as easily tell me "no dice."" "Hey there... did you want to put all that money on the line?" "Uh-huh." "Perhaps you'd like to go one-on-one with the house?" "The stakes would be too high for our other customers." "One-on-one with the house?" "That'd be great, if it's possible." "Don't do it, mister." "Bug off!" "Go to the kitchen and sponge some more sake!" "Right over here, then." "See you later, Gramps." "They're going to clean him out." "Shall we get started, mister?" "Yes, please." "Maybe you'll get payback for this afternoon." " Just a second." " What?" "As a blind man, I've learned I can never be too careful." "Could I check the dice, please?" "Sure." " Thanks." " We'll get started, then." " You call it." " Even." "Odd." "Just to be sure, this game is played with two dice, right?" "Of course it's two dice." "What do we have?" "I believe these are the dice we were playing with." "Looks to me like we've got a problem here." "Who might you be?" "I'm the protection these folks hired today." "Wait, wait." "Take it easy." "I have no desire to fight you here." "All right, then." "Perhaps you could take me to the boss." "The boss?" "Tell him Zatoichi is here to see him." "You're Zatoichi?" "Sorry about that little charade this afternoon." "Not at all." "Come with me." "Mustn't forget these." "Right this way." "Thank you." "That's Zatoichi?" "Excuse me, boss." "Go away." "Don't bother me." "I'll wait here." "He get's that way when he's playing go." "They say go players won't leave the board even for a dying parent." "I'll bring you some tea." "Zatoichi?" "I've heard of him, but he's blind." "I can't imagine he'd be of much use." "Has Shinsuke been caught?" "Not yet." "It could get messy for us if he blabs about you know what." "Don't worry about that." "The report issued by my office says... he killed a man while attempting a burglary." "Excuse me, boss." "What?" "You're still here?" "I gather your opponent is a government official." "That's right." "He's Intendant Gorota Kajima." "I suggest you be on your best behavior." "I see." "I never expected to meet the intendant in a place like this." "What's the matter, Gounosuke?" "I came to get a look at the one they call Zatoichi." "Not bad." "I'd heard as much." "Boss Jinbei..." "I believe I'll ask you to excuse me for now." "Why did you do that?" "I thought I could take him." "You're a reckless fool." "You gave me a real start, Gounosuke." "Forget about it." "Gounosuke!" "What is it?" "Where'd the blind guy go?" "We weren't watching." "Wait up." "Aren't you kids going on up the mountain with the others?" "No, we're staying here until New Year's Day." " Where's your daddy?" " He's with us." "He's the best daddy in the world." "That's good." "I was separated from my daddy when I was five." "That must have been really hard." "Do you wish you could see him again?" "I sure do." "Though I couldn't actually see him, of course." "Oh, I know." "You could give your daruma some eyes." "Then he can see for you." "Hey, great idea!" "Master Ichi." "Let's play sumo, Sankichi." "All right." "When do you think I should go see my brother?" "I think you'd better sit tight a little longer." "Jinbei's men could catch on." "Anyway, when the time comes, I'll go with you." "Thank you." "What?" "Seiemon's daughter is in the village?" "She checked into the Musashi Inn yesterday." "You're sure?" "She's been asking about her father at all the inns." "We can't have her arousing suspicion." "Find a way to spirit her away quietly." "Unfortunately, Ichi is staying at the same inn." "Zatoichi?" "That makes things difficult." "We've also been watching Sen... but she doesn't seem to have heard from Shinsuke yet." "It's only a matter of time." "I think Ichi may have heard something from Sen." "So that's why he came sniffing around here." "All right." "Offer him some money." "Buy him off." " I don't think Ichi would..." " Any man will jump for money." "There are a few fools who won't, boss." "I have yet to meet any." "Let me think." "Five ryo ought to be plenty... but offer him a little more." "You're only paying me one ryo." "We haven't seen you in action yet, either." "True enough." "Can't argue with that." "Thanks." "That was scary." "Are you going somewhere, Miss Saki?" "Master Ichi..." "I've decided to go to Shinozaki myself, to ask about my father." "Miss Saki..." "I really don't think that's a good idea." "I just don't feel right, putting all the burden on Gosuke." "You mustn't think like that." "He'll be back any time now." "Then you can continue your search together." "No, I've already decided." "If Gosuke returns, please tell him where I've gone." " No, really, Miss Saki..." " Please let me go." "I have to find out what happened to my father." "Be careful on your way, Miss Saki." "Thank you." "You should hurry up and finish eating, mister." "I suppose you're right." "Let's finish our dinner." "Do you think Miss Saki will be all right by herself?" "Miss Sen... could you tell me how to get to Shinozaki?" "If you're going anyway, why didn't you go with Miss Saki?" "I didn't want her to think I was a busybody." "Right." "You wouldn't want that." "That's okay." "We'll show you the way." "I'd be much obliged." "Hello there, miss." "Take that." "Hurry up." "Let me go!" "Let me go!" "Help!" "Settle down!" " Master Ichi." " Zatoichi." "Such mischief, in broad daylight!" "Right under the watchful eye of Mister Sunshine." "Put the young lady down." "I don't hear an answer." "If I'm blind, and you've gone mute... this could be difficult." "No, no." "Don't move." "Move and you'll find yourself split in two." "You just want us to let her go, right?" "Put her down." "Very good." "The young lady is safe, and you folks are safe, too." "You're really strong, aren't you, mister?" "It's not that I'm strong." "It's that they're weak." "That's the same thing." "I was scared, too, you know." "You didn't look it." "Master Ichi." "Miss Saki..." "I think it'd be best for you to go straight back to your village." "I'm even more worried about my father now." "I mean, why did those people come after me like that?" "You shouldn't take it personally." "I'm sure those scoundrels get into mischief like this all the time." "I'm sorry." "I really must thank you." "I hate to think where I'd be now if you hadn't come to my rescue." "He was so worried, he didn't even finish eating." "That's right." "I'm so grateful." "You talk too much, kids." "Look, he's turning red." "They're teasing me." "Hurry up." "Look at this, mister." "We got a new top." "Ichi." "I've been waiting for you." "I may have failed to draw blood yesterday..." "You mean atJinbei's?" "But I want a rematch." "I think I'll pass." "We're right up against the new year... and it'd be a shame if one of us got hurt." " Come with me." " No, really." "I decline." "Decline?" "Damn!" "You need to be more careful, kid." "I suppose I'll let it go for today." "Just a second." "So long as you're here, can I offer you a drink?" "Master Ichi." "Miss Sen... could I trouble you for some sake?" " Just in the kitchen." " But..." "We just want to talk a little." "Please, come in." "Thank you." "I'm much obliged." "I can't help wondering why a man of your skill... would be working as the bodyguard... of a country official." "Thank you." "Sorry." "I suppose it's none of my business." "For the third son... of a low-ranking retainer to a minor lord... maybe it's about the best I can expect." "All I really care about anymore... is finding someone who can out-duel me." "That's all." "I suppose skill that rises above the ordinary... can sometimes actually hinder a swordsman's career." "As I said before..." "I'm determined to have another match with you." "I really must beg your pardon about that." "I came here to worship the first light of the new year... from the top of Mount Myogi." "I'm not backing down." "We're having it out, you and me, first thing New Year's morning." "That bum went in your shop!" "Get out of here, you deadbeat drunk!" "You're nothing but a curse." "You can't stay if you don't have money." " Please." " Get out, damn it!" "Get out!" "Hey, it's you." "Master Ichi, wasn't it?" "Yes, I remember you from last night." "Care to join me for a drink?" "Thanks." "You're a man after my own heart." "Bring us some sake, and keep it coming." "So he worms his way in again, the bum." "Oh, well." "Put one on to warm for them." "I was worried about you last night." "But, thank goodness, you saw right through their tricks." "Damn, that feels good in my stomach." "Oh, sorry." "I don't guess it's polite to drink your sake for nothing." "How about I sing you a song?" "All right?" "Sure, I'd like that." "Let me hear a song." "This chokes me up." "All the villagers do is make fun of me." "I don't know how long it's been since someone treated me kindly." "All right." "I'm going to sing." "If it starts to rain" "I'll stop in Matsuida" "If the rain holds off" "I'll cross over to Sakamoto" "Where did you learn that song?" "It's from my hometown." "A place called Shimokawa." "That's where I was born and raised." "Shimokawa?" "Thanks." "Here, Gramps." "Have a drink while it's warm." "Pour it in this, will you?" "So, Gramps, don't you have any family?" "I had a boy." "He'd be just about your age now." "He died?" "I don't actually know." " Don't know?" " Forget it." "What does it matter anyway?" "I don't want to talk about it." "The truth is..." "I'd really like to hear about it." "All right, then." "It was 18 years ago." "I brought my boy here... to worship the first light of the new year on Mount Myogi." "Damn fool thing, it was." "On the way back down, I got separated from my boy." " And?" " That's the last I saw of him." "I went on home... but I couldn't sit still... and I set out again right away to look for him." "I wandered all over the place, but wound up back here like this." "Can I have a little more?" "Sure." "Here." "By the way, Gramps..." " I still don't know your name." " It's Giju." "Giju." "His story has a lot in common with mine." "Giju." "No, I don't think so." "Of course not." "Welcome back." "I'm getting really worried." "I'm going to see my brother tonight." "Miss Saki..." "I'd like you to stay right here and not go anywhere tonight." "I have to step out for a bit." " Where to?" " Don't worry." "I'll be right back." "You kids look after Miss Saki while I'm gone, okay?" "You can count on us." "Much obliged." "Master Ichi..." "I've been thinking about it a lot... and I fear my father may no longer be of this world." "You mustn't think like that." "You can't give up hope." "Even after all these years and after losing my eyesight..." "I still carry with me the hope that I might see my father again... somewhere, sometime." "Please stop worrying." "I'm sure your father will be fine." "Shall we make a bet?" "How about this?" "When we find your father alive and well... you can paint in one of my daruma's eyes." "And you can paint in the other eye... when you find your father." "Hey, that's perfect!" "All right." "Shinsuke!" "Get inside." "What did you bring him for?" "He said it was too dangerous to come by myself." "What can a blind man do?" "Don't say that." "Come, Master Ichi." "Don't try to lecture me." "I don't care what anybody says..." "I'm going to killJinbei." "Shinsuke... you've made enemies of both the intendant and Jinbei." "What can you possibly do all by yourself?" "Please, Shinsuke, just run away and save yourself." "I have to try." "I couldn't live with myself otherwise." "Did you bring the money?" "Once I kill him, I'll have to hit the road right away." "This is it?" "You really are a monumental fool, aren't you?" "A fool whose stupidity knows no bounds." "You son of a bitch!" "Look at you." "Such a nice sister, and all you can do is bring her grief." "I'm not interested in sermons from you." "What did you do that for?" "We've got company." "They must have followed us." "What?" " Get out of here while you can." " How the hell..." "Never mind that." "Thanks." "Shinsuke!" "Miss Sen... they're gone." "Do you think Shinsuke got away?" "Shinsuke!" "Shinsuke, no!" "Please don't die!" "Sen... the man's right." "I'm the biggest fool there ever was." "BecauseJinbei asked me to..." "I killed the headman of Ota Village." "But it was a trap laid for me... byJinbei and the intendant." "I played right into their hands." "Shinsuke!" "Sen... forgive me." "Shinsuke!" "Master Ichi." "I'm so sorry for your misfortune, Miss Sen." "How can I ever face Miss Saki?" "Perhaps it would be best... if you didn't return to the inn for a while." "Is there someplace you can go?" "You're still here?" "I have no intention of fighting you." "I figure my life is worth more than one piddling ryo." "Perhaps we'll meet again sometime." "So long." "I wonder what's keeping Master Ichi." "Hey!" "Why don't you go to bed?" "He asked us to look out for you." "That really wasn't what I wanted to hear." "I never should have left Shinsuke to you." "But my men did kill him, as ordered." "I'm thinking about that damned blind man, Zatoichi." "Shinsuke was an escaped convict." "I should have surrounded him with my own constables last night." "Then I could have arrested Zatoichi as well... on charges of obstructing justice by aiding a fugitive." " We can still do it." " No, it's too late." "I can't send out an arrest party without good reason." "Gounosuke... do you think you can take him?" "I think I have a reasonable chance." "I'd say we're pretty evenly matched." "Why wait until New Year's?" "For a young fellow, he's an odd one." " You think he might be dead?" " Yes." "Around the first of this month, your father stayed in Fujioka." "He left before dawn the next morning, saying he was going to Tagawa." "Yes?" "But no one in Tagawa ever saw him." "That's hardly enough to conclude that he's dead." "That's true, but..." "But what?" "A farmer in Fujioka saw something." "It was also early in the morning around the first of this month." "It was still pretty dark, so he couldn't see very well... but he says he saw an older man and a young gangster type... having a very heated exchange by a pond outside the village." "In the end... the young man pulled out a dagger and stabbed the older man to death." "You think it was my father?" "I hate to think so, but..." "No, no, it couldn't have been my father." "I refuse to believe it was my father." "Miss Saki..." "I think perhaps it's time for you to go home." "Why do you say that?" "You know something about my father, don't you?" "Please tell me, Master Ichi." "Master Ichi!" "Please tell me what you know." "Last night..." "I happened to run into a man... who said he had killed your father." "Where's that man now?" "He's dead." "Killed by one of his former friends." "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" "You're terrible." "How could you?" "How could you know and not say anything?" "I'm sorry." "I just didn't have the heart." "The worst thing now would be if anything were to happen to you." "Please go on home to Ota." "Why?" "Jinbei intends to kill you." "SoJinbei's the one who's behind my father's death?" "No, I won't go home." "There must be something I can do to avenge my father's death." "Miss Saki... don't you understand what I've been telling you?" "What would you do in my place?" "I'm afraid you can't compare yourself to me." "Think of how it would make your dead father feel... if harm came to you as well." "Heaven will not allow such evil men to have their way for long." "Please just go quietly home to your village." "Master Giju's here." "Good." "You sent for me, Master Ichi?" "Come over here and have a seat." " Let me pour you a drink." " Thanks." "Actually, I need you to do me a favor." "Me?" "I'd be happy to." "What is it?" "There's someone I need to get to Ota... but I don't wantJinbei or his men to know... and I want to avoid government checkpoints and the guard station." "You think you can do it?" "There's no one else I can ask." "What do you think?" "I know I can trust you." "Who is this person?" "Ayoung lady." "Ayoung lady?" "Your sweetheart, I suppose?" "Hardly." "How could a blind man like me..." "She's the daughter of a village headman." "A village headman?" "All right." "Avoiding the guards and checkpoints... will mean going the long way around... but I'll escort her for you." "You'll do it?" "I appreciate it." "Let me give you this." "It's a small token of my appreciation." "No, no, you don't have to do that." "Really, I mean it." "You don't have to pay me." "Well, all right." "If you insist." "Over here." "I really appreciate this, Master Giju." "You can count on me." "Master Ichi." "I'll take this with me." "Please do." "I couldn't fill in the eye for my father... but there's still the one for your father." "Thanks so much for your help." "Master Giju... be very careful." "Come on." "Pick up the pace." "Miss Saki." "That was Grandpa Giju." "Hey, this is the daruma Master Ichi had." "Something's fishy." "Let us through." "Sankichi, you keep watch here." " What are you going to do?" " I'm going to get Master Ichi." "So you've made yourself useful for once." "You've always been very good to me, boss." "Take the girl to the intendant." "Master Ichi!" " Would you know where Master Ichi went?" " Sorry." "I wonder where he went." "Where'd that fool go?" "Scram!" "Get out of here!" "Go on!" "An untouched maiden." "What a shame." "You mustn't get any ideas, sir." "She knows everything." "Where's Zatoichi?" "He disappeared somewhere after sending the girl off." "You never know." "He might be looking for you." "You've got to be kidding." "I'm not about to be hunted down by the likes of him." "You needn't worry." "He's not likely to break into a guard station." "That's why I brought the girl here." "I wouldn't be so sure." "Are you trying to scare us, Gounosuke?" "Where'd that idiot go?" "Tatsukichi!" "Damn it!" "I told you to stay here." "They took Miss Saki to the guard station!" "The guard station?" "More sake." "Master Ichi." "One of those acrobat boys was looking for you." "Looking for me?" "I wonder why." "That table's open." "Are they keeping you busy?" "This way." "The place seems especially busy today." "Everybody's trying to avoid the bill collectors." "Just a couple more hours and the bells will start ringing." "Then it's a brand new year and they get a fresh start." "Yes, a fresh start." "Warm a bottle for me, will you?" "A fresh start." "There he is." "Excuse me." "Miss Saki's been kidnapped!" " Where to?" " The guard station." " You're sure?" " They took her away in a palanquin." "Then I suppose Grandpa Giju was killed." "You mean that old drunk?" "We saw him go intoJinbei's place with the palanquin." "Right?" "That Giju." "If it starts to rain" "I'll stop in..." "Giju..." "I seem to have misjudged you." "Forgive me, Master Ichi." "I apologize." "I know it was wrong." "Please forgive me." "Giju." "I suppose even a wretch like you wants to save his life." "Have mercy on an old man." "Please don't cut me down." "Please don't kill me." "I don't want to be cut down." "I don't want to die." "Please forgive me." "Please don't kill me, I'm begging you." "Perhaps it was only for a brief moment... but I actually thought I saw my father in you." "I can't kill the man who gave me that." "Take care of yourself, Gramps." ""Guard Station"" "What do you want?" "I understand a young lady I know is enjoying your hospitality." "I'd like you to take me to her." "Ayoung lady?" "Where the hell do you think you are?" " This is the guard station." " I'm aware of that." "The young lady I speak of was kidnapped and taken to the guard station." " Perhaps you'll take me to her now?" " Yes, sir." "Master Ichi!" "Hurry." "Boys..." "I want you to get Miss Saki out of here." "Hurry, let's go." " What about you?" " I have something else to do." "Hurry now." "I'll be waiting for you at the inn." "Go!" " Promise me you'll come." " Come on!" "We need to hurry!" "Where did he go?" "Find him.!" " Where is he?" " Look over there." "What's the matter?" "Boss.!" " It's Zatoichi." " What?" "He freed the girl." "Don't let him get away!" "Out of my way!" "So we meet again." "You owe me a match." "You win." "What's the matter with you men?" "Breaking into the guard station is a grave offense." "Blind son of a bitch, thumbing your nose at the law!" "You'll pay for this!" "Thumbing my nose at the law?" "Look who's talking." "You trick Shinsuke into killing the village headman for you... then get rid of him by sending him into exile." " What are you babbling about?" " Arrest him!" "If you can't take him alive, kill him." "Jinbei." "Damn it!" "Cut him down!" "After him!" "Go around the other way." "Don't let him escape!" "The bastard has evidence against us." "We can't afford to let him live." "He's damn quick on his feet for a blind man!" "I only came here to worship the first light of the new year." "I expected a quiet journey, with no need to draw the blade in this cane." "You brought this all on yourselves." "Find him.!" "Don't let him get away.!" "Seal off the mountain!" "I wonder what happened to him." "He'll come." "Master Ichi." "THE END"