Original subtitles

Produced by Image Factory IM

Executive Director: Masayuki Ichimura

Masago. . .

Masago.

Masago.

In a Thicket

77w incident took place some 20 days ago.

Perhaps, like so many others,

it will be forgotten as time passes.

According to the law, it was all settled.

I have no complaints about that.

But [had to come here and see for myself,

as it' something had forced me to do so.

I was bored.

Just fed up with everything.

But then... she came.

A woman as beautiful as a goddess...

I knew right away.

I...

I, Tajyomaru,

was born solely to have her.

What do you want?

Where are you headed?

Don't worry - I'm harmless,

but up ahead is riddled with brigands.

Escorting such a beautiful lady will be dangerous.

Why don't I just travel along with you?

No need. We've heard of no such bandits.

What a pity... I'm no bandit.

- We're in a hurry. - Why not?

He appears to be a truthful man.

Exactly! You've got a 900d e99-

Besides, three people are more fun than just two.

She's right.

All right. But you walk in front.

Any tricks and you're dead.

Don't worry...

with me, the very demons of hell will run away,

so scared, they'll be pissing themselves!

Let's get going»

It's alright; don't be soared.

It's not rotten!

Don't overdo it!

Keep 90mg!

Don't WOW-

You appear to be a man of high rank.

I'm sorry.

This sword is from Mutsu. Very high quality.

Would you like to swap it... for your pike?

Well?

No thanks. Put it away.

I see...

What a pity...

Don't move -

or she dies!

I was just starting work at the time.

Her screams seemed to fill the entire forest.

I don't quite know how to explain.

It was as if they were resonating through my head,

sending a chill to the very marrow of my bones.

Something possessed me as Iran to the clearing.

It was there that I saw the woman who was screaming.

What's this for?

- Let me go. - Shut up!

I won't hurt you...

provided you behave.

Strip off!

Behave!

I'm sorry.

Not at all; it's been a while.

Off to work?

Sorry to bother you...

but there's one thing I'd like to ask you.

All I know is what I told you before.

I didn't lie.

I know. l just want to find out for myself.

Forget what was said in court.

Things not mentioned...

Have you had any recollections?

Not really.

- There was one thing... - What? Tell me!

It's not that easy...

Thank you.

Well... how should I put it?

At one point she stopped resisting.

Help...

Yes... you like it.

You love it!

That's enough.

Sony. That's all I remember.

Except I've never seen a woman look so beautiful.

Almost too beautiful to be human.

What happened to Tajyomaru?

I see.

But I wonder what happened to the woman?

Folks have been known to be spirited away in the forest.

It could be...

I've worked in these woods for a long time,

seen many strange things.

Just the other day, I was working away,

when I heard a voice just like hers.

Perhaps blaming me for not helping her.

But towards the end, she really enjoyed it.

Hold your tongue.

Leave this coward.

Come and be my woman.

772at really shocked me.

Minutes before, she was screaming for help.

771211 something evm more terrible happened...

Come.

Please kill him.

As long as he lives, I cannot be with you.

Please.

You must kill him.

Why?

I want to know!

Sir! Officer...

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

What are you looking for? Is it... that woman?

Enough. Thank you.

Deep in the forest, at a Shinto shrine,

lives an Oracle, who is famed for finding people.

You'd do well to go and see her.

It's said she's very good.

I disdain fortune tellers...

I must make amends!

So scared, I just watched the rape...

It troubles me.

If I'd helped her, it would have ended differently.

You must visit the oracle. She's no charlatan.

- Come. - You first.

Can you just do that?

Yes. It's alright.

She will soon return.

Are you leaving me alone?

No. I'll only be a minute.

Hey...

Welcome.

Who are you?

Forgive the intrusion.

I am Morikawa, a constable from Kyoto.

I'm looking for someone.

A local Woodsman insisted I consult the Oracle.

Please be seated.

I'm sorry to have intruded.

When can we expect the Oracle to retum?

I am she.

He said... you were older.

Am I old?

- You're the Oracle? - Yes.

Who else lives here?

I live alone.

Forgive the late hour.

- I'll come again tomorrow. - No need.

The woods are dangerous at night.

Please stay here.

It would not be proper.

I don't mind.

Don't stand on ceremony. Please be seated.

Close your eyes.

Project your feelings for the one you are seeking.

Your deepest feelings,

bereft of all falsity.

Masago!

Elder brother!

My brother!

My brother.

Brother, what is it you are saying?

I can't hear you.

But why? Why can't you?

Masago!

Don't go. Don't ever leave me again.

Now I am free,

why do you not join me?

Dearest brother, I am free!

Please come to me. I beg you! I beg you...

Affection...

love...

But no... It is stronger than love.

Stop!

What has happened?

Did I say anything really stupid?

Regarding VOW younger sister?

Do not worry.

I will not go that deep into your heart.

But you...

in you I perceive a deep pain.

No, not at all.

You were orphaned when you were just a boy.

Life has not been easy for you.

Your feelings for Masago I can well understand.

How can you?

Then why did you force her to marry?

That's not right.

I trusted him; I never forced her.

And that's how this all began.

No, wait.

Then what was the reason to make her marry?

What are you getting at?

- Was it fear? - Let me go!

You had forbidden feelings for her.

Leave me be!

That's ridiculous.

Little boy, are you alone?

I've lost my way.

Do you live near here?

What time is it?

Are you searching for something?

Hey! Come back.

Brother, I am here.

Dear brother!

My brother-in-law.

Takehiro!

I am here to ask you something.

What?

What do you mean?

Why not say?

Brother, here I am.

Dear brother!

You're Tajyomaru!

I'll say it once: leave that woman alone.

That woman? You mean Masago?

Yes, Masago.

Beautiful name, isn't it?

Why must I avoid her?

You'll understand.

You'll have to listen to me.

You cur!

I'm not much used to such praise!

Women are all liars.

Why must they always betray a man?

My booty has always been the best.

And she was the finest of all.

If anyone gets in my WEN--

What's that?

You know where Masago is?

Of course.

Why d0 you persist?

Why Won't you die?!

The fight is won.

Don't feel too bad. I've done a lot of this.

Now tell me: where is Masago?

You win.

Okay, but just ease the pressure.

I won't try anything-

All right. But one wrong move and you're dead.

L'm a man. I know these things.

A man of my word.

Please kill him.

As long as he lives, I cannot be with you.

Please.

Please kill him for me.

771ose eyes...

Looking into them...

I believed I could make ha mine.

I can never forget the way she looked at me.

My very being... was absorbed into hezs.

Why?

I want to know!

Taivomaru!

Is that you?

What's with you? It's me, Shakin... Shakin.

What are you doing? The constables are after you.

What have you been up to?

Don't touch me!

All right. Just tell me what happened.

Let's go somewhere safe.

Wretch! I've missed you so.

Soffy“ .

It's the first time I've seen that look on your face.

It doesn't matter if you can't.

See? I love to squeeze them.

You want to be inside me, don't you?

She's made you cunt-struck, has she?

After all I've done for you.

You loser! Thief!

A slut like you could never understand.

Fucking her was ecstasy deep inside me.

Don't you laugh!

And she loved every single minute.

You're so hard! Stop it!

No woman can climax when she's raped.

You're too conceited.

She ran away!

You bastard!

A woman can only climax...

when it's with a man she loves.

How dare you do this to me?

If you really want it with her,

go fuck a pig!

Bastard!

You're useless!

I told you: no more of your lies.

I'm not lying.

She is a devil.

But it feels so good thinking about her...

how can I say... perhaps it is love?

Enough! Where is Masago?

Answer me now!

In my heart.

She is too much for a man like you.

Let me have her!

If I had her, I'd need nothing else.

Please - I beg you!

Are you all right?

What was that?

I want to know... what happened to me.

You mean the magic?

All right then. l'll leave it all to you.

You can read minds; you know where she is.

Now do it again.

- Do it! - Sir, you must not do this.

Do it now!

What came over me?

Forgive me. But the vision you showed me...

was far too realistic.

Try to recall...

the one you really love.

- Masago... - Brother?

Brother.

- Brother. - Masago.

Leave her be!

You bastard!

You shut up! I'm bl1$V---

Brother!

Brother...

You bastard!

Masago?

Stop it.

Don't!

Masago.

Let me go!

Stop it!

Can you walk? Brother-in-law.

Can you walk?

Masago...

Don't! Leave me here.

Those old places are always haunted.

If such childish magic confounds you,

you must be very naive.

You've certainly changed.

It must be your new life.

Takehiro, you must still have regrets?

- For what? - You need ask?

Now that I'm dead, it doesn't matter.

Masago was responsible for your death.

Hate isn't important when you're dead.

But surely...

if I'd had her love, it wouldn't have happened.

I can understand; she blames herself.

My one regret.

— You love her so much? - I must see her again!

But she feels guilty, and she runs away from me.

Enough. Just stop it.

Thank you for saving me.

'Saving you'? I didn't come for you.

I came to ask you something.

What is it?

As you know, I have no sisters.

I have no idea what feelings pass between siblings.

Get to the point!

You know what I mean. You know my pain.

What happened with you and Masago?

It's so banal. Why do you want to know?

I'm not here to reproach you.

I just want the truth.

Tell me what happened.

I'm sorry. I can't.

Don't say that to me!

- Takehiro... - Tell me now!

What happened? What in the hell happened?

Shame on you!

You animal!

Masago!

Masago.

Masago!

Wait - it's me!

Why?

Why? Why?

Damn you!

Why did you do it?

I feel your pain.

But above all, I still love Masago.

Your heart is stricken, but you must forget about her.

That... I cannot do.

The forest is dangerous.

Even the trees and bushes are haunted.

Don't throw away your life.

Wait!

Masago.

Brother.

Why?

Forgive me.

Forgive? Forgive what?

Don't look away.

Look at me...

I who am soiled.

My dear brother.

Masago.

Show yourself!

I'm such a fool.

Bastard!

Forgive me.

That she-devil gave me life.

I had no other choice. I'm very sorry.

Brother/

Masago...

Do as I say.

— We must go now. - Why must I?

I'm your elder brother.

Subtitles by Lord Retsudo for ADC

Starring: Syunsuke Matsuoka

Kaori Sakagami

Shigeki Hosokawa

Hitomi Shiraishi

Zico Uchiyama

Kou Takasugi

Executive Director: Masayuki Ichimura

Producers: Kazuto Morita, Akio Motojima

Original story: Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Screenplay: Takashi Natori

Produced by: Futoshi Nishimura

Associate Producers: Yutaka Zenshi, Hiroshi Taniguchi

Photography: Akiko Ashizawa

Lighting: Kohei Mikami

Music: Koji Endo

Art Direction: Akio Tashiro

Recording: Masao Okubo

Editor: Nobuo Kamiya

Produced by Image Factory IIVl Co., Ltd.

Directed by Hisayasu Sato