Original subtitles

[solemn orchestral music playing]

[music fades]

[groans wearily]

[boy 1] How long are you gonna be here?

[Gen grunts]

Just because this base is our secret one.

How long are you gonna stay here, mister, huh?

[rousing music playing]

[boy 1] Hey, how much longer?

[Gen] Quiet!

I'll sleep wherever I choose to!

[laughs] Is that so?

Are you some king?

-[boy 2 laughs] -[boy 1] Hey, wait.

You can't say that to him!

Director, thank you for having Yuzuru Matsushima for Episode 8.

Oh, glad you're here.

Do you have anyone at your agency, a 60-year-old guy, free in two days?

In two days?

-Omori. -Oh, right.

A guy who's in his sixties…

The guest for episode one has a fever. He's an anti-vaxxer, turns out.

The rumors are crazy. There's no evidence it causes memory gaps.

If you refuse to be vaccinated, you cause issues for us all.

Oh, I have this guy.

[Yoko tuts]

-Hey. -Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, Denden isn't free right now.

[man sighs]

And the other guy? You know, with the thinning hair?

Oh, Katsumi Takahashi?

No, no, the other man.

-The one in Furuhata. -Nishimura?

Not that guy. The balding, short man who does the denture commercials.

-Sasano? -No, no.

-Tayama! -No. He's short, with thinning hair.

Not bald. How don't you remember?

In Japan, there's basically one guy who's short with thinning hair.

He's not bald, he's thinning.

-Okay, Kawashima, enough. -He's short…

-That's enough. -And his name is…

-[Yoko] Commercials for dentures? -Ah, frustrating.

I can see his face, but his name is completely gone!

[bright instrumental music playing]

DID SOMEONE HAPPEN TO MENTION ME?

[music continues]

ACT 2: A RENOWNED ACTOR RECEIVES SOME LINES

END OF LINE SINGLE FILE

Gen Takasegawa is proud and very difficult to deal with.

It'll be fine. He just has to stand there.

[youth 1] It hit 102 the other day.

[youth 2] Some people get one, some don't.

[youth 1] Oh.

Wait, is this

a line to get the vaccine?

Please have your vaccination ticket ready and go to the end of the line.

NEW VIRUS VACCINATION SITE

-No, wait! -[woman screams]

Don't! I can't afford to have anyone else forget me!

-Takasegawa, what's wrong? -Don't get it!

Don't "what's wrong" me!

Shot number two will give you awful side effects!

Oh, this is a line for a third. A booster shot.

God damn it!

[Gen yells]

-No! Wait! -Takasegawa, take it down a notch!

-Don't get it! It's a mistake! -Stop it now!

-Quit it! Cut it out! -Just say "no"!

-[music stops abruptly] -[Gen slurps]

Delivery, cleaning toilets, convenience stores.

POLICE STATION

None of them worked out.

[woman] He's earnest,

but he's a little intimidating.

[sternly] Cash or card?

-Having such a… -[Gen slurps]

…dignified old man living in the park, though…

[quirky music playing]

Let's go somewhere else. The king's home now.

What were you doing before you were like this?

I was an actor.

I represented Japan on the stage.

[woman] Have some konjac jelly. You look really hungry.

He was living in England for nearly two years.

I had the title role in King Lear

over in London at the Globe Theatre.

Do you get that?

The whole world recognized how good I am.

But Japan didn't care. No one here cared how prestigious I am.

[man] No one's reported him missing. Poor guy.

-Likely has no family. -I do!

I have a place in Yotsuya.

And when I went there,

I got arrested by the police.

[loudly] So tell us, sir,

is there anybody, a relative you know,

whose full name you can actually tell us?

Please don't talk to me as if I'm old and senile.

Because all of you are the ones who are acting old and senile.

It's everyone else, 99% of folks in this country,

they've all gone insane!

Nobody's number is saved in his phone?

I called everyone, one by one!

Everybody thought it was a scam and they all hung up.

[laughs awkwardly] His service has been cut off due to delinquency.

-[music fades] -I used too much data.

I was searching to see what everyone said about me.

Is that so wrong?

SAUNA SHIRAKABA

All right, here it is.

Hey, mister!

You dine-and-dasher! Pay what you owe!

12,000 yen?

[chuckles] Not too bad.

He didn't want to come after failing the audition.

The audition was a farce!

Huh, you tried to win my love with the audition, and failed?

As if something like that could assess an actor's worth!

Can we peek inside?

They had no respect for actors!

Auditions for King Lear take half a year.

-Intense study's required… -[clattering]

Hey, what are you doing?

[saw whirring]

Hey! Hey!

Sometimes you can identify someone from their things, yeah?

I've told you many times, I'm Gen Takasegawa, the actor!

Yeah, none of us know who you are, though.

Are you saying that you know every single actor in the world?

Well, this suitcase is mine until you pay off everything you owe.

[man] I'll pay!

I'll take care of the bill, really.

And… I have a new suggestion.

You get a job in here.

[Okamoto, Chijimi] Huh? Why's that?

[man] Hm.

You're hiring, right?

STAFF NEEDED URGENTLY! LODGING AVAILABLE

And he… kind of stinks.

Ah, I… I'm sorry.

And it seems to me he gets along with everyone.

[together] No, we really don't, though…

Uh, and you stink, so… I'm sorry.

You could get a job right here,

and not stink.

[woman] Hi, sweetie!

PRIVATE SCHOOL KORIN ELEMENTARY

[Machiko] I wonder if I should get him to start swimming.

-Ren's family said they started too. -Oh, really?

-Mm. -I hear it keeps them healthy.

-[man] Machiko! -Okay. You know--

[mouths silently]

Do you know who I am, ma'am?

Omori, right?

[Tsutomu] Huh? Hey!

It's been so long since I've seen you!

[Machiko chuckles]

Uh…

How is it… that I know you, Omori?

I'm your husband's assistant.

Wh… Husband?

[Okamoto] Body soap, shampoo, conditioner.

Yeah, that's it.

Okay, next.

And then?

[Gen] Body soap, sham--

Wait, wait, that's wrong. You have to be careful, all right?

Good day, sir.

[Okamoto] Okay, lay it down nicely.

Hang it a bit off the edge. Yeah, overlap them just a bit there.

Good to see you.

You pick things up quickly.

Of course I do. This is simple work.

You could teach a monkey to do this.

How about you work silently? You annoy me when you talk.

You look like you're feeling settled, sir.

Just don't forget to take it easy when you stand later, all right?

-You'll get dizzy and fall down. -Stop!

Are we really hiring this guy? Shouldn't you check with the owner?

You know the owner is almost as good as gone.

Huh? W-What was that?

Hey, actor! Okay with bibimbap for lunch?

Bibimbap? Yes, thank you!

[clears throat]

So, what's with that lady?

She's not actually Korean?

Oh, Chijimi?

Her real name is Shizumi Honda.

She's the boss's mistress.

They did a ton of stuff together.

Saunas, yakiniku, K-pop merchandise.

All fakes, of course.

And it was just indie stuff, but they even released some CDs.

[pop music playing]

[Okamoto] But right before the lockdown,

the boss went back to Korea alone.

So she got ditched?

Hey!

Would you put that away?!

Your **** is out! No one wants to see that!

She got dumped, definitely. [chuckles]

He told her he wanted to open a karaoke bar with her in Busan.

She believed him and started to learn how to speak Korean.

Sad, isn't it?

Hey!

Get your ugly **** away now!

Uh, the label goes in the plastic bin.

And the cap goes in here.

Then the bottle goes in the recycling bin.

What about you?

You're an actor, aren't you?

Well, I'm a playwright, actually.

Not writing lately.

Well, that's no good.

"No good"?

It used to be good, though.

I used to get two plays staged a year with my theater company.

But attendance fell off,

and then I piled on debts.

You think you'll pay debts from your shows working at this place? [scoffs]

You sure sound pretty high and mighty for a homeless guy.

-[Chijimi] Actor! -Yes?

Hurry up and get to the washing area!

-And do it now! -Yes.

One fast search ought to tell me if it's true or not.

Let's see. Takasegawa…

Symbol used for "Gen" is…?

[Gen] To be, or not to be…

Huh?

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

or to take arms against

a sea of troubles,

and by opposing end them?

To die,

to sleep.

No more.

And by a sleep to say

we end the heartache and the…

thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.

To die.

To sleep.

To sleep.

[rousing music playing]

To sleep, perchance to dream.

Ay, there's the rub.

For in that sleep of death,

what dreams may come

must give us pause.

Must give us pause.

There's the respect

that makes calamity of so long life.

[music peaks, then fades]

How was that?

Do you really doubt me still?

It's long.

-Sorry? -It felt long and pretentious.

It was self-indulgent. Really embarrassing.

Sorry, but personally,

I have mad respect for Yuji Sakamoto.

I like how he stays in a 15ft radius.

That micro worldview. Like, do you add lemon to fried chicken?

I'm a man who likes who he is, see. Forget that life-or-death stuff.

Man, he's in the lunatic zone.

[Gen grunting angrily]

That was Shakespeare, you fool!

Hamlet! Don't you know?

I don't care! Hamlet is worse than Quartet!

Your ignorance should make you feel ashamed of yourself!

[Okamoto coughs and wheezes]

Listen!

I'm the only Japanese actor

to have taken on King Lear at the Globe Theatre!

I shouldn't be stuck changing these mats

in a run-down sauna like this one!

All I've got is acting. It's all there is.

[exhales] Well, in that case, have you thought about being an extra?

An extra? Are you serious?

I, Takasegawa?

That's so ridiculous!

Look, there's so many jobs here.

See?

EXTRAS WANTED

See?

[Machiko] From the vaccine?

Due to a side effect,

you lost all recollection and memory of your husband.

[Machiko] This is the person

that I'm married to?

[curious music playing]

No, no, no.

[Omori] Can't believe it, right?

Um, but,

it's the only theory that works.

Well, if it's true, it would be a scandal.

A side-effect like that? It should be on the news everywhere.

If it was happening to just a few people, then yes.

But, um, unluckily,

about 99% of the population has totally forgotten.

So then it

wouldn't get to the news.

[sighs] One sec.

Look, somebody actually deleted his Wikipedia entry.

It's the same for socials, search engines.

AI manages it all these days. See here?

All that comes up is a person with the same name,

or a restaurant.

We don't have any either.

No photos or videos of him.

Why is that?

That's because…

they were probably thrown out.

A lot went on.

So, um…

What?

Look at this, Tsutomu.

[Tsutomu] Hm?

This is your papa, apparently.

Ew, no way.

He's not, huh?

Oh, Omori…

Have you had the vaccine?

It seemed kinda scary.

But… everyone else at the company got it,

so I go along with what they say.

All the employees are making a big fuss, saying it's hacking.

-Delete it! -[Omori] A cyberattack.

This guy has no connection to our company!

All this! Throw it out!

[music fades]

If this keeps going like it is,

Takasegawa might get erased entirely.

TRAINS HAVE STOPPED RUNNING FOR TODAY

[animated chatter]

[man] Let's begin the rehearsal!

Ready,

action!

And cut!

You're all doing great!

[tuts] Of course we are.

Even a monkey could be great. [scoffs]

Mocking us isn't nice.

[man] Return to your starting positions!

[Gen] I knew this would be the case,

but the extras don't get a script.

They don't explain what kind of show this is,

or what scene we're doing.

[man 2] Restart!

[Gen] Who am I supposed to be?

Am I on my way to work,

or am I going home?

I need a reason for my actions.

Where's the director?

There's something that bugs me about this old guy.

I mean, he's wearing a funeral suit.

Oh, sorry about that.

Extras wear what they bring to set. We didn't give any instructions.

We'll pull the guy.

Arisawa, pick up your radio.

Yes, yes. Oh, sorry. Just wait a second.

Hey, you.

I have a question for you.

Is this happening in the day or at night?

-Do I… Do I live close or far from here? -[Arisawa] Uh…

And if I'm going to work, I think I might be carrying a bag.

Can you ask the director?

[Arisawa] Yes. In the funeral suit?

This person?

Oh, this? This old thing?

Charlie, a director, had it made for me by a tailor in London.

To wear at a celebrity-only party after the preview show of King Lear.

Hey.

Please wear this. Sorry for the wait!

What do you think?

[director] Well…

Well, he doesn't stand out anymore.

Okay, let's get rolling!

Ready, action!

Cut, cut!

Arisawa, why are they standing still?

[Arisawa] Sorry!

I'm sorry!

Start again!

Oh my god, get them moving, you big moron!

Okay!

We can't hear the director talking.

You need to tell us, okay?

[Arisawa] Okay!

Move when I give the signal, everyone!

[indistinct chatter nearby]

Ah. Good morning.

Late-night dramas like this one

don't usually cast stars.

[crew] Good morning!

Thank you, everyone.

[Gen] The lead actor?

I don't know who he is.

That young punk looks so full of himself.

Extras are told where to stand

and aren't even allowed to get close to the lead actor.

Okay, so this

is where I stand right now.

-[director] Testing! -[Arisawa] Testing!

-[director] Ready… Action! -[Arisawa] Ready… Action!

I…

I love you, girl.

-I'm sorry. -[director] Cut!

This old man in the tracksuit top is really bugging me.

[quirky music playing]

Should we lose the guy?

[Arisawa] Uh…

Please could you do it like you normally act?

"Normally"?

And what exactly is that?

[director, via earpiece] Go through the ticket gate normally.

Please try going through normally.

Like that?

[director] No one walks like that!

Is he a nobleman? Or a king?

I don't get it.

I've tried to do it normally from the start.

[Arisawa] Maybe it's your demeanor.

In the tracksuit, you still have a royal air.

Well, I am Royal Ham's face, so…

[director] We can't have him looking like he's performing.

Do it without looking as if you're performing.

Does it look like I am to you?

-How many years have you done this? -Six months. I just intern.

[director] Can't he do it like he usually would?

Do it like when you take the train--

I don't take the train!

-There's no one like that. -There is, right here.

I usually travel in a car, and I'm driven by my assistant!

[director] Get Kariya to take his place.

I'm able to hear what you're saying!

-I'm not sure what your "normal" is! -[music fades]

-[director] Rolling! -[Arisawa] Rolling!

-[director] Ready… Action! -[Arisawa] Ready… Action!

I… love you, girl.

[girl] I'm sorry.

[director] All right, cut! Okay, good!

[Arisawa] Okay, good!

-You saved us, Kariya. -Really great job.

[man 1] Okay, that's a wrap for today. Good work, everyone.

-[man 2] Good work, everyone! -[Gen] Neither good nor bad.

-[man 2] We'll be here tomorrow. -[Gen] Perfectly normal.

Damn it!

Why can't I do something so simple?

I'm God's gift to acting,

Gen Takasegawa!

[Kariya] Feeling frustrated?

Extras are wall dressing, you know.

If the wall dressing is frustrated, that's not exactly normal.

We're here again tomorrow, so meet on location.

[card reader beeps]

[upbeat music playing]

Exit.

[man] I'll treat it as a platform ticket.

-[card reader beeps] -Go ahead.

[exhales deeply]

[card reader beeps]

[sighs]

Exit. Let me out.

[man] Sir, your money's going down by 210 yen each time.

Yeah, I know.

[man] Isn't it a waste?

It's so I can master normality. Nothing I can do.

-[card reader beeps] -[man] Go ahead.

[sighs]

[exhales deeply]

[alarm chimes]

[man] Please top up your card!

-[director] Rolling! Ready… Action! -[Arisawa] Rolling! Ready… Action!

I… love you, girl--

-[director] Cut! -[Arisawa] Cut!

[director] Okay!

-[Gen exhales] -Okay!

-Whoo! -[Arisawa] Good work!

[Gen laughs]

Uh, this is your blazer, sir.

Oh, right, right. [chuckles]

Did the director happen to mention me?

[Arisawa] And a souvenir.

Oh…

[Arisawa] Thanks.

A SPRING CLOUDY THEN BLUE

[Gen] I acted, but nobody praised me.

Not even once.

I didn't even get paid anything.

Unbelievable.

[steam hissing]

[Gen] "A Spring Sunny Then Blue"?

It's about youth, I guess.

2 YEARS AGO

It's the principal in the protagonist's high school.

Script only goes to Episode 2.

They tell me you'll have more scenes later on, but who knows?

What's it pay?

You'll do it?

[chuckles softly]

Well, that's rare.

I'm doing it for the agency.

I won't be bringing in income while I'm in London.

But I need to see the rate.

[inhales]

[coughing quietly]

[Yoko] Uh, okay, so this is what they offered…

for each episode.

What? Are they kidding?

Turn it down.

Do they have any idea who they're dealing with?

I'm God's gift to acting, Takasegawa.

-[coughing] -[Yoko slaps Gen's back]

[Gen] I was arrogant.

Is this really what I'm actually worth now?

2 WEEKS LATER

[Okamoto] Welcome!

Let me present the top sauna master in Asia, Tetsu Okamoto.

The aufguss will now begin.

[quirky music playing]

If it gets too hot, please don't hesitate to step outside.

-[stones sizzling] -[Okamoto grunts]

Here we go! Hup, hup!

All right!

[Okamoto shouts]

A SPRING CLOUDY THEN BLUE

[gasps]

[TV playing without audio]

[Okamoto] Okay, here comes the heat wave for the front row!

[Gen] Hey!

The towel!

-[Okamoto] And again! -It's in the way!

-I can't see! -Once more! Thank you, men!

Now the heat wave for those on stage right! [grunts]

[music ends]

[Gen] Was that

me just now?

[optimistic music playing]

If it was,

though it was only for a moment,

it was certainly a step forward as an actor.

[Chijimi] You did well,

actor.

[optimistic music continues]

[gasps]

[Gen] All right!

Time to celebrate.

One beer and a big stew, if you would.

Yes.

[Gen] My first paycheck

will probably be almost all gone after paying my phone bill.

[music fades]

#BLUE SPRING #OLD MAN IN TRACKSUIT TOP

No, no.

Why would the wallpaper be egosearching itself?

If I come up in the search results,

that means I didn't blend in.

Failure as an extra.

The way Kariya blended in

was really something else.

-[intriguing music playing] -A commuter.

A station attendant.

A police officer.

A reporter.

An izakaya worker.

Even a memorial photo.

You'd never know unless someone told you,

but he played multiple roles.

He completely blended in to the background.

And then there's me…

Can you do it without looking as if you're performing?

[Gen] Playing the lead

is the only thing I'm any good at.

How pathetic.

Kariya was leading the extras who weren't used to the job,

and even giving them acting advice.

But he was treated the same as me,

with a clear file.

Where exactly are his esteem needs fulfilled?

[music stops]

You know, it could be time for you to learn the aufguss.

[chuckles]

I saw the way you were watching.

You loved me.

[Gen] No, I didn't.

I wanted to see the TV, but you were in the way.

You get extra pay every time you do the aufguss.

Also, it drives the women wild.

What's that?

[Okamoto] Open up in front of you!

[grunts]

Open up in front of you!

[grunts]

You try.

[grunts] Like this?

-Like this? -You're just pushing air upward. Go again.

Like this?

If you're just looking to circulate air, I hear fans work great.

Hey. I'm trying, you know?

Even still, a sweaty human stands in front of the customers and fans them.

The customers are deeply moved seeing that.

This is… theater, isn't it?

3 WEEKS LATER

[vibrant music playing]

Hey-up!

This is like theater!

It does feel good to be watched.

-Ha-ha! -I admit that.

Compared to being an extra no one pays attention to.

Could you do it like you normally would act?

Try going through normally.

Do it without looking as if you're performing.

[Gen] However,

what's needed here is not normal,

but a performance!

Okay!

Now, let's do one final set for you all!

[women cheering]

All right! Okay!

The ladies are looking at me with flushed faces.

Right now,

I'm practically the lead!

More! Ah!

-[Gen] Will this fulfill it? -[woman] More!

[Gen] My need for esteem?

Blow, winds!

-[music stops] -Blow, winds!

-[audience cheering and whistling] -No, this isn't it.

It doesn't even compare.

[vibrant music resumes]

HOW TO ENJOY THE SAUNA

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

ESTEEM

SOCIAL, SAFETY, PHYSIOLOGICAL

If I were to compare it to Maslow's hierarchy of needs,

only my hunger and sleep are satisfied.

PHYSIOLOGICAL

All right! Ha!

How can I get excited over something like this?

Not yet!

-I must aim higher! -[music ends]

-Where's Okamoto? -Skipping out on us.

Says he's practicing for a play.

SHIMOKITA, GINGER PORK, SPACE

[scoffs]

That's rich.

Thank you for before.

I'm Kawashima.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Says he wants to use the place for a TV shoot next week.

Show this guy around.

We'll try to be very careful to not annoy any of your many guests.

This way, if you would.

The baths are located on this floor.

-Can I take pictures here? -Of course.

The sauna closes at 12:00 midnight.

Um, there will be guests dozing still, so please keep it quiet.

-Okay. -[camera clicks]

[Gen] Leave everything as you found it.

The morning bath service starts at 6:00,

so we'll start cleaning at 4:30.

Okay, so the sauna will be stopped from 12:00 to 6:00, yes?

It will.

-Just finish everything by 4:30. -Okay.

[camera clicking]

Hey, you're an actor, yeah?

Well, that's what you were called earlier.

-Ah. -We might get you to act.

[man chuckles]

We'll use this area for the director, yeah?

-Okay. How about dressing rooms? -Hm.

Uh…

Mibu gets grumpy if his private area isn't provided.

-Mibu? -[Kawashima] Yeah.

Yeah, Daiya Mibu's the lead.

1 WEEK LATER

[man] Mibu's car has arrived.

-Good morning. -Good morning. Thank you for your work.

[elevator bell dings]

[Mibu sighs]

Good morning!

-Good morning! -This way.

It's completely different when you see them for real.

-Shoes! Hey! -Quiet!

Huh?

Is that bad?

Man, what a hassle. [inhales sharply]

Sorry! Sorry to keep you waiting!

-Oh, come on. It's fine, right? -Go ahead, please!

Okay. Okay, thank you. Thanks. Sorry about that!

[Mibu sighs]

All right.

Lifts in his shoes! You see that?

He can't remove them because he's wearing shoe lifts.

-That's so lame! -[Okamoto] Chijimi!

[Mibu] Huh?

[Okamoto] Old man!

This floor is a non-smoking area.

Huh?

Huh? What are you doing?

Don't I know you?

Oh, he's allowed to!

Oh, I'm sorry, really.

-I can smoke, can't I? -Yes.

Right? So, what the hell?

[inhales]

[Mibu exhales deeply]

-We set up a smoking area, second floor. -[Mibu] Oh, really? Thanks.

[inhales]

[exhaling] They said it's fine.

-Over there? -There, yes.

-[Mibu] Where am I going, huh? -[Kawashima] Over here.

[woman] I brought in an hourglass. Where are the two of them going to sit?

Ice cream or sorbet would be good. It's very hot on set.

-Oh, that'd be great. -Yes, it would.

-Okay, got it. -Thank you.

Hey, Omori, can you deliver some things to set?

Please, I wanted to thank you for having Yuzuru Matsushima.

[Yoko yelps]

[Kawashima] Starting rehearsal, scene 32!

Ow, ow, ouch!

Let go of me now!

What are you doing here?

I should ask you the same question.

What is it with you?

Why would you cast one of our actors in that guy's show?

Have you no integrity?

I don't understand.

I've told you often, I don't know who you are.

A New Year's historical from 2012.

[Yoko] "Shingen and Nobu…"

-"Nobu…" -[Gen] Nobukado!

You were the one who got me that job.

It was supposed to be a buddy show between Takeda Shingen

and his younger brother Nobukado, who served as his body double.

He messed with me from the start.

[man] Let's have you glare at each other.

[gasps] Oh, no, no, no, no.

He is a thoroughbred master.

There's simply no way he'll be looking us commoners in the eyes!

-[Mibu laughs] -This guy…

Oh, your father really took amazing care of me,

ever since the days I would just get bit parts.

I'll be learning a lot from you!

[photographers laughing]

[Mibu laughs]

He couldn't remember his lines or fight choreography.

"So, brother!"

"Please severely chasten the western Suwa forces

who rose against Takeda, our master!"

Cut! Okay!

Sorry about that, sensei.

[Mibu laughs]

Sorry!

He sexually harassed the make-up artist, bullied the A.D.

He wouldn't turn his phone silent. He was gambling on horse races.

Worse, he'd outdo me at bringing treats!

[man] Gen Takasegawa has brought us some macarons!

[crew] Ooh!

[woman] Daiya Mibu has brought us some jumbo cream puffs!

-[crew cheering] -[woman] Whoa, yeah!

-[man] Thank you! -Thank you, everyone!

I know all of you are hungry, so chow down!

Eat up, eat up! Ha!

I don't recall.

Was I there during that?

Yes, you were!

You also were sexually harassed that night!

-Oh, Mibu! -[Mibu] Hey, hey.

-Thank you for all your hard work today. -Yeah, you too.

[Yoko] Oh!

Ooh, Miss President!

Pillow business is essential.

[laughs]

[smacks lips]

I sorta remember that.

To begin with, we don't even look anything alike.

Mibu was hardly available due to commercials and stage appearances,

so I ended up playing Nobukado a lot of the time.

With special makeup!

[angrily] Why do I

need to get dressed as this guy? [grunts]

I guess Mibu was worried it would make his screen time decrease,

'cause he demanded a ridiculous script change on set.

Of all things,

Nobukado dying before Shingen is what he demanded,

the asshole!

Yeah…

That would be rewriting history, so…

No, no, no! That's exactly what makes it interesting.

The double is murdered with Shingen looking on, huh?

That'd be good for you too, Master, right? Yeah.

I am…

I am Shingen!

Nobukado!

That's enough!

[grunts, yells]

[yells]

[Gen] For some reason, his overacting was well received,

and Mibu came out on top.

They criticized me for not doing enough!

I got fed up with movies and TV right then.

I chose to put all my focus into stage acting after that.

In other words,

that thing was the last screen work I ever did.

I see, yeah.

Wait, you really don't remember that?

Mibu's amazing job I remember a little.

But,

were you in it?

Seriously?

What's going on?!

You don't need to shout, okay?

Mibu's not the only one.

The director. The camera crew. The art department.

I know everyone here!

[groans] I can't do this. I don't want to see them.

And of all things, I'm dressed in these shorts and a polo shirt!

[Kawashima] Staff? Ah, there you are.

Hi, what do you need?

As it's 12:00, can you turn off the sauna now?

The director has a request…

That okay?

[Kawashima] Okay, starting rehearsal for scene 34.

[crew] Okay.

Prosecutor Totonoi pursues inconsistencies in the defendant's testimony.

Why is this in a sauna?

The cornered Tanaka turns the hourglass.

-Sure. -Turns the hourglass.

Now, say your lines as you move closer.

Okay. All right.

"Tanaka…"

A little more…

"You're protecting someone, aren't you?"

No.

No, I did it all alone.

-Hey, why is this happening in a sauna? -Shh! I don't think we're supposed to ask.

And how come he's wearing a suit?

Totonoi doesn't succumb to heat. He's a cool and composed guy.

That's the setting, right?

He can't relax,

'cause he has so many loose ends to wrap up for the case.

[Mibu] We good?

[Kawashima] Sorry, please go on.

"Well, either way,

you aren't getting charged with murder, just…"

Uh…

ABETTING SUICIDE

-[Kawashima] Abetting suicide. -I know that!

-No need to shout. -Excuse me.

-[Mibu] I did know. -Sorry.

-What was it again? -Abetting.

Yes, abetting. "Charged with abetting suicide."

"Tanaka."

"You're not at fault here."

The defendant is shaken.

Mibu, look at the camera and deliver your catchphrase.

Now, it's done!

We think he snaps, but… Go ahead!

I have to change the mats. Wait outside for a second.

[Mibu groaning]

[crew laughing]

Cut! That was great!

We'll go without stopping to this point.

-We'll try this scene in one pass! -[crew] Okay!

Staff, same thing again.

Mm-hm. Okay.

You did it, actor!

Finally, your drama debut!

Okamoto, switch with me?

Why? This is your shot. You even got some lines.

I'm not ready.

I'm not skilled enough yet.

Actor, how old are you now?

-I'm 66. -You're already so late!

[Gen yelps]

[Kawashima] Roll when you're ready.

Okay, roll, please.

Scene 34, shot 1, take 1.

Okay, rolling!

-[Mibu clears throat] -Ready…

Action!

[soft jazz music playing]

Tanaka,

you're protecting someone, aren't you?

No.

No, I did it all alone.

Well, either way,

you aren't getting charged with murder, just with abetting suicide.

Tanaka,

you're not at fault here.

[triumphant music playing]

Now, it's done!

[clicks fingers]

[music stops]

Oh, I've got to--

-[director] Cut! -[Kawashima] Cut on set.

Please wait until the hourglass is ready again.

Don't worry, old man. It happens.

-"Old man"? -[Kawashima] Let's go again.

Thank you.

[man] Take 2.

[Kawashima] Rolling! Ready… Action!

[soft jazz music playing]

Tanaka,

you're protecting someone, aren't you?

No. No, I did it all alone.

Well, either way, you aren't getting charged with murder,

just with abetting su--

-[Gen] I've got to… -[music stops]

Ah…

That was too soon!

Old man, let me finish my lines.

Cut! Sorry about that.

Hold for the hourglass. Shall I give you a cue?

-No, I got it. -[Kawashima] Okay.

[man] Take 3.

[triumphant music playing]

[Mibu] Now, it's done!

-Mat change! -[Kawashima] Cut! Cut on set.

[Mibu] The timing was perfect, though.

Uh… so…

[Gen hesitates]

Takasegawa.

Takasegawa, you're a little bit tense.

-Relax, okay? -Right.

[man] Take 5.

[Mibu] Now, it's done!

I have to change the mats, so j-just wait outside--

[Kawashima] Cut! Cut!

[man] Take 8.

[Mibu] Now, it's done!

[sternly] Mat changing time. Wait outside for one second!

[Mibu yelling angrily]

Cut!

How was that?

It's bad.

The audio clipped. It's totally useless.

Once more, okay?

[man 2] One more time.

-Once more, guys! -[man 2 whispers] Please.

Once more.

-[Gen moans] -Uh, let's see…

Takasegawa… Um, how to say this?

-Please do it normally. -There it is.

The rehearsal, the very first one, was the best. Normal, you know?

It's just getting more strange.

-Did you reset the hourglass? -[man 1] I did. Ready to go.

-Let's go again. -Mm-hm.

[man 1] Take 13.

Rolling, folks!

Ready… Action!

I have to change the…

[moans quietly]

Okay, cut!

I'm sorry. Let's step out for a little air.

-Right. -Air it out.

Let's rehearse privately, Takasegawa.

[Gen moans]

Oh, are you okay?

Let's do it here.

[Gen sighs heavily]

Let's begin. Ready… Action.

Men, I've got to change the mats, so wait outside for a second.

Your voice is still too loud. Exhale totally.

[both exhale deeply]

Okay.

[quietly] I have to change the mats, so--

I can't hear you now. In between, please.

Ready… Action.

[wearily] I have to change the mats, so wait outside for a second.

Your volume is great, but you're a bit depressing.

Action.

[chuckling] I need to change the mats, so wait outside.

I didn't mean for you to start chuckling. Action.

-Mats change, you go-- -You're speaking broken English.

If you could just be like a normal person.

[groans wearily] Normal is the toughest thing to do.

Huh?

[Mibu] Kawashima,

what are you doing, working an amateur so hard?

Are you kidding?

Worst case, we'll simply re-record the flubbed line in post.

No way we'll see his face in the shot.

Just do it the easy way, okay? The easy way.

[man 1] Take 14.

[Kawashima] Rolling.

Ready… Action.

[soft jazz music playing]

[Mibu sighs]

Tanaka,

you're protecting someone, aren't you?

No. No, I did it all alone.

Well, either way, you aren't getting charged with murder,

just with abetting suicide.

Tanaka,

you're not at fault here.

[triumphant music playing]

Now, it's done!

I'm going to change the mats, so just go wait outside a second.

[Mibu yelling]

[director] Okay, cut.

Okay.

[silence]

[Gen] Gen Takasegawa…

God's gift to acting.

I thought no one could beat me when it came to acting.

And yet…

my role was stolen from me.

-[poignant music playing] -Twice.

Can a man who failed to play even a passerby

become a king?

Your slave!

The road is long.

A poor…

Far too long.

[cheering]

The audience

were simply blinded by the name Gen Takasegawa.

-You can't take photos. -It's okay.

The real me

didn't have a shred of talent.

Was I just a delusional fool?

[poignant music continues]

No one speaks to me.

Even though they can see me,

they walk right past.

Right now, I'm a pebble.

No…

A frog that's been run over by a car.

Of course they don't want to look at me.

Pathetic.

There's another me

calmly watching

this pathetic me.

[music fades]

[contemplative music playing]

Shingen?

No.

That's the old me.

Feeling frustrated?

Yeah.

Stand normally. You shouldn't be doing anything at all.

Right.

I know that in my heart. I… end up trying too hard.

I'm sorry.

Filming was held up because of me.

Takeda's cavalry is at least 200 men strong.

That large background is for making the lead look strong.

What good are you, looking like that?

-[music stops abruptly] -[silence]

To think, after all this time…

those words would come back to me.

Should we replace him? He's kind of standing out.

Go for it.

[sighs sadly]

I was so arrogant.

[bright instrumental music playing]

Office T&G sent me here tonight. I got treats!

Omori!

You are, right? My assistant?

Huh. You forgot, I guess.

-[Omori] Takasegawa. -[music stops]

[music resumes]

Wait…

Tell me, did you get the vaccine?

No, I never got it.

Yay!

[chuckles warmly]

One on my side, finally!

You remember who I am!

Good to see you, Omori!

[laughs]

I've been forgotten by everyone in there.

You wanted to act because you admired me, isn't that what you said?

You're welcome! Would you tell them?

Say I'm one of the greatest actors that ever lived!

-Okay? -[music stops]

[Gen grunts]

Just because I know you,

doesn't mean I'll automatically take your side!

[smooth jazz music playing]