Original subtitles

Quietly standing still on top of an abandoned building...

is amber-colored starlight, falling as it comforts you.

Nobody turns around to look at a town covered in grey.

A butterfly flies around like something burning down.

I hold up frozen wings to the moon and shake them desperately.

I'm looking for a place of comfort, a blue evanescent flame.

Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater

Original Story by Kazuo Umezu

Screenplay by Sadayuki Murai

Hidetoshi Nishijima

Tamaki Ogawa

Asahi Uchida Hisako Shirata

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

HOUSE OF BUGS

Rui, don't worry about me.

Go out sometimes.

You need a change.

I'm okay.

My colleagues say I keep you locked up here.

Especially since you declined their tennis invitation.

I prefer to stay home.

All right. I won't force you.

I can show you this one right away.

The kitchen is big and easy to use.

Yes, I like this.

But do we need 3 bedrooms?

They could become children's bedrooms.

Or you could each have your own private room.

Is that the trend?

Yes, with all the pressures of modern life...

it gives you the chance to spend time alone.

Excuse me.

Hello?

It's me, Mikuriya.

Sorry about the other day.

No, it wasn't your fault.

So what's up?

I left my lighter?

No rush.

See you tomorrow.

The afternoon?

Where?

I know it.

Her name is Oguri.

Remember Kubota?

Yes, she's his girlfriend.

They're fussing about splitting or not.

So I gave her some advice.

She wants to meet again tomorrow.

I wonder why...

Welcome.

Sorry. I got held up.

Sorry to call you here.

That's all right.

What will you have?

Coffee.

Your lighter.

Thanks. I wondered where I left it.

I left it at your place.

I was in a hurry.

We both were.

I didn't notice at all.

When I was cleaning, I found it under the desk.

Some kind of omen, I thought.

It's quite funny.

Yeah.

I've loved you since we were in college.

How's your wife?

She's good.

I made you betray her.

But so what? It was only once.

I loved you longer.

Don't.

I've always wanted to visit your place.

She and I could become friends.

Stop talking about Rui.

I'm sorry.

Here you are.

I'd better get going.

I'll pay for this.

I want you to visit us.

I want you to meet Rui.

But...

I need to confirm if it's a delusion or not.

She had a man in the house?

Yes.

I was supposed to be late home from a party.

But it was canceled at the last moment.

I got home earlier than she expected.

Her bad luck.

Ouch.

Cut.

Okay, cut.

Good?

Yeah, okay.

That's okay.

It's a wrap.

Next is scene 14.

This is tough.

Obviously inexperienced...

You were wooden.

Gimme a break.

Yes?

Is that you, Ruiko?

It's not like that. She's a relative.

My cousin.

Long time no see. What's up?

Naoya, help me.

I don't know what to do.

What's the matter? Has something happened?

Yes?

It's me.

Just a second.

Thanks for coming, Naoya.

Are you okay? Do you need help?

First, come inside.

Excuse me.

Here.

We last met at the wedding, right?

Yeah.

How's work?

I'm getting by.

But I've just started my career.

I'm happy for you.

You're my only relative here in Tokyo.

I'm proud to see you on TV.

Anyway, Ruiko...

How do you need my help?

It sounded like you were in trouble.

Up there...

I've been trapped up there.

Welcome home.

Been drinking?

Where've you been today?

I called but you were out.

I must've been out shopping.

I saw you.

Saw what?

I was driving past here.

Really?

You were with a man.

What?

Who was he?

I think you're mistaken.

Tell me!

He admitted he was mistaken, so he apologized.

But since then he's been suspicious.

He calls to check every day.

From work?

Sometimes every hour.

You're kidding.

If I'm not in, he gets very upset.

So you're stuck here?

I try to shop between his calls.

But I'm sick of it.

Has he called today?

Yes.

Just before you arrived.

That sounds really psychotic.

At first he wasn't, not at all.

They never are.

It started with a tiny misunderstanding.

But now it's out of all proportion.

It must be tough on you.

I never realized.

What's even worse...

sometimes he beats me.

What?

I hate that the most.

Leave the bastard!

Why not?

I don't know.

Do you still love him?

Perhaps that's it.

Even though he beats you?

When he drinks, he changes.

But he doesn't notice.

He's a real bastard.

Before we got married...

she played tennis.

Your wife?

She had lots of friends, went to the movies and shops.

She used to go out all the time.

I prefer that.

Much better than being at home all the time.

I see.

One day, she suddenly stopped going out, as if to spite me.

What do you think?

No idea...

It's even with my colleagues.

My boss sometimes hosts parties at his house.

At first, she went with me.

But she gradually stopped attending.

People think it's strange.

I really don't know.

When did it start?

When did she change?

Listen, Mrs. Yasuda recently started playing tennis.

Tennis, really?

She's invited you along.

She wants you to join her.

What do you say?

Well...

Try it.

You played tennis at college, didn't you?

Not seriously, no.

Okay. I guess not.

You don't want to?

But maybe I should just make an appearance.

No need to. I won't force you.

Sorry.

If I had said I'd be happy to play tennis with her...

I'm sure later on he'd beat me up.

Was he testing you?

He thinks I've been with another man.

I haven't seen Renji for at least 3 years.

3 years? Has it been that long?

He hasn't changed at all.

Is that so?

I've heard he's changed a lot.

Not at all, you'll see.

Is that right?

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Imamura, was it? My old friend?

How could you date my friend?

Then you went to a hotel, didn't you?

He's not like that.

Why do you protect him?

Stop it, please.

Imamura, huh?

Where are you?

Show yourself, Imamura.

The next day, he'd forgotten.

He became a kind husband again.

Let's go someplace on the next holiday.

Maybe go for a drive.

That'd be fun.

Have you ever read that book "Metamorphosis?"

"Metamorphosis?"

Yes, by Kafka.

Kafka...

Yeah... I've heard the title.

When I first read it I didn't get it.

But now I understand it perfectly.

He was locked up by his father, mentally I mean.

Just like I am now.

Obsessive-compulsive neurosis.

She always had an imagination and tended to make up stories.

Women are like that.

I can't take it any more, I'm losing myself.

I'll go insane. I'll become a bug.

Sorry for acting strange.

Have you ever read "Metamorphosis" by Kafka?

He turned into a bug?

It's the story of a loser. I hate it.

He's so weak, all he does is avoid reality.

Don't laugh at me.

What?

I saw you crying in the garden after your father scolded you.

I swore this to myself...

When I grow up, I'd protect you with my life.

Naoya...

So she ran into her own world.

She rejected facing reality.

So she had an affair?

If I hadn't come home early that day...

we'd still be pretending to be a happy couple.

Rui.

Come here.

That's Rui now.

I'll tell you the strange story of what happened to me.

My suspicious husband locked me away.

I asked my cousin, Naoya, for help.

Thank you, Naoya. I feel a little better.

Really? That's good.

I'd better be going.

Rui.

No. Wait. Just listen.

Listen to me.

Just listen.

That's it.

A bug...

Bug...

Bug...

I want to become a bug.

I want to become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

I became a butterfly to escape from my husband.

If I stay like this, he'll notice me.

Since then, I transformed myself several times.

And now I am...

That's Rui now.

These days she believes she's a spider.

It seems to relax her.

I decided to do what I could for her.

After I saw her having an affair, she ran in here.

She kept on saying to herself that she was a bug.

That's it.

A bug...

Bug...

Bug...

I want to become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Become a bug.

Since then, I've played along with her game.

Or is it me who's insane?

What do you think?

Well...

Do you think we're a normal married couple?

Not at all.

I guess not.

I can't believe you're still married.

Why don't you stop it?

Maybe you still love her.

Look at her.

She sees nothing any more.

She doesn't even think you're her husband any more.

That's why she showed no reaction when we came in.

Let's get out of here.

If you stay, you'll go insane.

I can heal you.

Let's start a new life together.

The door bell.

Someone's here.

Yeah.

I didn't understand what had happened.

I suddenly became dizzy.

That's the way of a cunning woman.

She's a desperate housewife, isn't she?

That was her aim from the beginning.

It wasn't like that.

But maybe you're right.

I guess she seduced me, didn't she?

I'm glad you came.

You've grown up before I realized it.

Just a while ago you were still a boy.

That's natural.

Will you really protect me?

Ruiko...

Rui.

No. Wait. Just listen.

Listen to me.

So it's you, eh?

I'm Naoya. Ruiko's cousin.

She said she had a problem to talk over with me.

Do you meet her often?

No, this is the first time.

Just promise me one thing.

Don't hit Ruiko.

I've no idea what she's said, but I've never hit her.

Really?

Excuse me.

The door bell.

Someone's here.

Yeah.

It's me, Naoya. Sorry to just drop in.

What do you want?

I came to apologize for the other day.

But I was concerned.

Can I see Ruiko for a bit?

Then I'll go.

Ruiko isn't here.

Who are you?

Who is she?

Just a friend.

What kind of friend?

Explain yourself.

Who the hell is she?

None of your business.

You bring in another woman?

I don't have to explain anything to you.

Don't give me that!

Do you know how Ruiko feels?

How she's suffered being locked up by you?

You've no idea, have you?

But she's always cared about you.

She's that sort of woman.

Do you understand?

What the hell are you thinking?

What do we do now?

Leave him be.

I didn't kill him, did I?

So what? Who cares.

I'll check it out.

You stay here.

Rui, so you're finally awake.

Ruiko?

Are you all right, Naoya?

Yes, kind of.

What happened to them?

She has left.

Sorry for making you worry. But we're okay now.

But still...

I'm glad you came. Thank you.

Why did we waste so much time on this?

It took a while, but here we are.

Directed by Kurosawa Kiyoshi