Original subtitles

When people finish their day and hurry home,

my day starts.

My diner is open from midnight to seven in the morning.

They call it "Midnight Diner."

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

When it begins to get chilly outside,

I get a lot of requests for cabbage rolls.

They take a lot of time and effort to make,

so I prepare them in advance.

How long have they been together?

A little over three months.

That's a new record.

I'm surprised she decided to date him.

She's only ever dated hunks.

I've realized that looks don't matter when it comes to men.

They can always make up for it with their heart and fingers.

His name is Kimitoshi.

He works at a chiropractic clinic nearby.

They met when Marilyn visited his clinic after an exhausting rehearsal.

Here you go, Mari.

It's perfect!

I knew I could count on your magic fingers.

Here.

He's so devoted to you.

You must have stolen his heart with your dancing.

Actually...

He's never seen me dance.

He says he doesn't want to.

It's more complicated than that.

I know what you mean.

It takes a lot of courage to watch your girl on stage.

You've seen her dance, right?

Well, yes.

I'd say we get our money's worth.

Hey.

Hello.

Master, do you have cabbage rolls?

I do.

This is really good.

Here you go.

Thanks.

My mother used to make it all the time.

She sounds like a wonderful mother.

Cabbage rolls are time-consuming to make.

I don't really like it.

Why not?

My mother only ever made cabbage rolls when she wanted to visit her boyfriend.

She made them for me because she felt bad about leaving me alone in the house.

She was always quick to fall in love and just as quick to fall out of it.

Sorry, did I spoil the mood?

Don't worry, I'm not like my mother.

You're my one true love.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

SHOW CANCELED: MARILYN

She went back to Fukushima?

Yes, her family home is near Koriyama.

Her mother is in the hospital.

It was all very sudden.

I see.

I thought Marilyn had fallen sick.

Well? How is her mother?

I haven't heard from Marilyn.

From the way she talked about her mother,

they're probably not on good terms.

She reconnected with her mother after the earthquake.

Welcome.

Mari?

You're back already?

Shochu with hot water, please.

No, on the rocks.

And cod roe, medium-rare.

Sure.

I was worried about you. Kimi was just telling me what happened.

I see.

Well? How is your mother?

Can you believe it?

He stole my heart, just like that.

He always has time for me, no matter how busy he gets.

Mariko!

You came all the way here to see me?

You were the one who asked me to come.

This is my daughter, Mariko.

She's a dancer in Tokyo.

That explains her chic fashion sense.

Are you okay? How's your health?

Yu, over here!

Say hello to Mariko.

She came to visit me.

So you're Mariko.

We're so happy to have you back with us.

Right?

She told me over the phone that she had no one to rely on,

so I went there as fast as I could.

She has a boyfriend!

-Well, let's just be thankful she's okay. -I agree.

It was stress-induced gastritis apparently.

Stress-induced, my foot. She never worries about anything.

Kimi, I need a massage.

Sure.

It will be over soon.

Marilyn Goes Home.

It sounds like

it could be a touching movie if you ignore the sordid details.

SHINJUKU NEW ART

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: MARILYN (MIDNIGHT SHOW)

Ma'am.

I don't think you'd be interested in the shows here.

Hello.

Welcome.

Mariko! What took you so long?

What are you doing here?

Isn't it obvious?

I'm celebrating my recovery

with a Tokyo holiday to see how you're doing.

Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I don't have a room for you.

I booked a hotel room, don't worry.

My schedule is packed, I won't be able to show you around.

And I have a midnight show tonight.

Mr. Chu promised to show me around.

Leave it to me.

I splurged and got a lovely hotel room with a king-sized bed.

I think it may be too big for me.

There are two things I can never resist. Salt and sexy women.

You rascal!

-Is this what you wanted? -Yes!

Thanks, Master.

Wait, is that your boyfriend?

Really?

He looks like a hick. Is this the best you can do in Tokyo?

There must be better men out there.

You're always bouncing from one man to another.

Who are you to judge my boyfriend?

-Let's go, Kimi. -What?

Marilyn!

I can't remember the last time I was here in Tokyo.

It must have been in high school, for my class trip.

I don't remember Tokyo being like this.

The city is always changing.

Mariko too.

She's changed so much since I last saw her.

I worked so hard to raise her, but she left home for Tokyo instead.

Marilyn genuinely cares about her audience.

We've tried to talk her out of dancing when she isn't feeling well,

but she's never let her audience down.

The only time she canceled a show

was when she went home to visit you.

I have an idea.

Let's go see her dance, Mr. Chu.

She has a midnight show tonight, right?

What?

What? Are women not allowed to watch?

No, there's no such rule.

But is that really a good idea?

Check, please.

Sure.

It's not like she takes off all her clothes on stage, right?

Hey, can you come over?

I don't care. I need you here now!

I can't do this alone, I think I'm having a heart attack.

Mr. Chu, is it this way?

Come on, let's go.

She teases but never reveals, right?

That's not how I would describe it...

-Marilyn! -Marilyn!

Marilyn!

This is...

This is too much for me.

Stop, please!

Mari, please. Don't do it!

Is this part of the show?

That was embarrassing.

I couldn't stand it.

I know I'm just a stripper, but dancing is what I was born to do.

Don't ever do that again.

I'm a man. I have my pride.

If you're a man, accept me for who I am.

Excuse me.

Oh, hello.

That was amazing, young man.

For a moment there, I thought it was part of the show.

Sorry.

Well? Did you enjoy watching me strip?

You saw me in the audience?

I can see every face in the audience from the stage.

You have my genes, all right.

I had your breasts when I was younger too.

But how long do you plan on doing this?

There you go again.

You never approve of what I do.

I can't believe you introduced me as a dancer at the hospital.

You should have come right out and said I was a stripper.

I'll keep dancing, even when I'm a wrinkled hag.

You're being stubborn again.

You've always been stubborn, even as a child.

Go home.

My next performance is about to begin.

Thanks for the food.

And then, a few days later...

-You're taking the bus tomorrow? -Yes.

Are you sure? You haven't made up with Marilyn yet.

It's fine.

We'd just squabble again.

I've told her I'm getting married, so I'm done here.

-What? -What?

You're getting married?

My sweetheart proposed to me.

I've dated my fair share of men, but I suppose those days are over.

I see. Okay.

What's he like?

Plain and unremarkable, unlike all my other exes.

But he's different from most men.

How so?

He's such an oddball.

Most men wouldn't want to marry a sick person like me.

-You're sick? -Yes.

I came here for a checkup.

A checkup?

What kind of checkup?

I had it done as soon as I got here.

And the results?

They'll let me know later.

If my cancer didn't metastasize I won't need chemotherapy.

You should have told Marilyn about it.

I've lived my entire life on my own terms.

-I don't want to depend on her now. -Here you go.

Is this...

Marilyn told me that

her mother used to make this for her when she was a little girl.

She said it brought back memories.

It's strange, isn't it?

We will never forget the taste of home.

Excuse me.

Is Mari here?

No.

I see.

I owe her an apology.

I don't know if this helps, but I saw her mother just now.

She came to say goodbye before going to the bus station.

I see.

EXPRESSWAY BUS BOARDING AREA

Ms. Eri, listen...

Thanks for everything, Mr. Chu.

I was able to see Mariko, and I finally understand what she's doing with her life.

I can't thank you enough, Mr. Chu.

I'm just a drunkard.

Take care.

You should visit me sometime.

Kimi?

Marilyn, someone sent flowers.

What?

Thanks. You can leave them there.

You're on in ten minutes.

Okay.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN A GOOD MOTHER, BUT YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY DAUGHTER.

FROM: YOUR MOTHER

-What was that about? -It's from your mother.

I know.

This morning, I heard from Master that your mother is going home today.

So I went to see her off.

That was none of your business.

She didn't tell you the truth.

She came to Tokyo for a detailed checkup at a university hospital.

She told you she was here on holiday because she didn't want you to worry.

She gave me some money and asked me to send you the flowers on her behalf.

She bowed to me.

She asked me to take care of you with her head bowed.

She's such an idiot.

I'll accept you for who you are.

All of you.

Ms. Marilyn, you're up.

Okay.

Ms. Eri received her medical report.

Her cancer had not metastasized.

One month later, Ms. Eri had her wedding.

It was a simple wedding, attended only by the bride, the groom,

and their immediate family.

We could tell from her smile that Ms. Eri was genuinely happy.

Seriously, Marilyn?

It's a happy occasion. What's with that sullen pout?

They got into another argument.

She complained about my clothes.

She said, "You know how to strip, now learn how to dress."

Here you go.

Thanks for the food.

Does it bring back memories?

Your mother gave me her recipe.

I feel like having her cabbage rolls again.

The cabbage leaves will be easier to fold if you boil and flatten them first.

Put your heart and soul into it.

Be gentle with the rolls. Treat them like a lady.

Leave the cabbage rolls alone when you simmer them in the soup.

You don't want the rolls to fall apart.

Until next time. Good night!

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon