Original subtitles

[people chatting happily]

The seafood was so good.

-It was. -Uh-huh.

-Yeah, let's go again. -Sure, sure.

What about over there?

[mysterious music playing]

[music fades]

-This good? -Mm.

[curious music playing]

HOTEL BAY LEAF

Takasegawa.

Come on. Let's go.

[music ends]

NAKANO WARD COMMUNITY CENTER

Oh, wear slippers. Shoes off. Here you go.

Just you, Hisako?

Oh, yeah. Gozu will be here if he can get off work.

-[man] I'm sorry. -There you are.

Look. I brought leftovers.

-Let's eat, yeah? -[Hisako] Oh, nice!

Oh, this is Takasegawa. I work with him.

-[Hisako] Hello. -How are ticket sales going?

Just over half sold for the weekend.

If we can get to 60%, that's good.

Okay, I'll hand out the new scripts. It's only three pages longer, I promise.

[Hisako and Gozu chuckle]

-[Gozu] "Sorry I couldn't see you today." -[Hisako] "No, it's okay."

[Gen] Only three days until opening night?

[quirky music playing]

[Gen] So what on earth is this?

Everyone's acting so relaxed right now.

Uninspired actors reading the script with no commitment.

Sounds like he just sat down at a desk and typed whatever came to mind.

[stilted] "I can't believe I get to… get to see you so often. It's just great."

"So that's why I cooked, and it's a delicious little reward."

"Ginger pork with a lemon garnish--"

So, let's stop.

Maybe it's sort of…

nicer, yeah?

[Gen] Extremely vague direction.

"…I get to see you so often. It's just great."

"That's why I cooked…"

[Gen] Acting that doesn't change at all.

"Ginger pork with a lemon…"

[Gen] I'm so bored! This is pointless.

Someone has to tell them.

Telling them would be a kindness.

All of you are talentless. Just get a real job!

Should I tell them?

-Wait. -[music stops]

I just remembered…

That girl from before.

I'm certain that had to be Ema.

If it was her,

then this is no time to be sitting in on an amateur rehearsal.

Okay, shall we try to create the rest with some improv?

-Oh, okay. -Nice.

[Gen] No, surely not.

The last time I saw her was backstage somewhere.

[knocking at door]

-Was she still in high school? -Yeah?

How was it?

Mm. Good.

My friends said they liked it too.

That's good. Did someone happen to mention me?

They said you were cool.

[laughs] "Cool"? They said that?

-Here. [pats seat] -I'm fine.

-What? Come on. -No, thank you.

[Gen] That was six years ago.

So she's 24 now.

That means,

she could be dating.

Let's see, Gozu. Let's say you're a corrupt producer

who takes a young actress to a motel and pressures her into a relationship.

-What's that? -Hisako, try just playing oblivious.

Or maybe you're aware, but you use him anyway.

-You decide. -[Hisako] Okay.

Hold on. What's going on?

Oh, it's an improv scene.

Sometimes the actors' improv can provide inspiration.

Okay, don't stop!

Ready… Go!

What's going on?

You brought me to a hotel?

[Gozu] Yes, I did.

[Hisako] Why?

I came because I thought I was going to get an acting lesson.

You look nice.

You can come sit here.

[suspenseful music playing]

You know, I always wanted to star in

a movie of yours, Gozu.

Is that so?

There's nudity.

You okay with that?

[music intensifies]

-Just stop! -[music stops]

Are you okay?

Yep. [clears throat] Carry on, please.

[Gen groans]

[Okamoto] Hm, it's not quite landing. Let's change the setting.

You're a call girl--

Seriously?! Stop!

Hey there!

How's it going?

[enigmatic music playing]

Ahh!

Did you finish writing it yet,

Sensei Okamoto?

Murai.

It's not Murai, it's Burai.

I haven't finished, so we're doing improv.

Oh.

[Hisako] He's a founding member of the theater company.

Burai Takeru is my name. 'Sup?

That's your stage name?

I'll soon be a star.

Two years from now, at the Takasaki Film Festival,

I'll win Best Actor.

My hometown pumps out stars.

So good to meet you.

[Gen] What's with this guy?

Do people like this still exist?

A stereotypical, egocentric, attention-seeking type of actor?

I bet he thinks he's the next Nicolas Cage.

[exaggerated] ♪ I'm drinking by myself ♪

♪ Isn't it sad? ♪

-[Gen] What did I tell you? -[Burai continues singing]

Guys like this always turn out to be painfully mediocre actors.

And he's the self-absorbed type, which makes it even worse.

"The universe is endless."

"What plans? We don't need any."

"I feel so crazy."

Yeah?

Clearly you are a gifted writer, sensei.

You're great at writing moments that drive women mad.

[Burai laughs]

Hey, get out.

-What? -My turn.

Go ahead. Start the scene.

Let's go. Begin the scene.

Just stop, Murai! You're not in this!

Oh, he's not?

What's going on?

It's weird to rehearse in a hotel.

Ah!

Blow, winds!

What?

Blow, winds.

Blow, winds.

[grunts, exhales]

Blow, winds.

Crack your cheeks.

[Gen] King Lear.

Blow, winds!

And crack your cheeks!

Act Three, Scene Two.

I never thought I'd hear them in a community center in Nakano.

This guy is… unbelievable.

Does he have proper training?

Or is he just faking it?

-[Hisako grunts] -[Burai laughs wildly]

Blow, winds!

[Gen] Nope.

-♪ Yo! Blow! ♪ -[Gen] No proper training.

♪ Blow, blow, blow winds! Blow, blow, blow the winds! ♪

♪ Yeah! Do the rumble in the bellyful! Fire! Spout, rain! ♪

♪ Now you're looking at King Lear Representing London! ♪

Whoo!

[Gen] Is he an idiot?

No. Egomania at this level takes on its own form of expression.

[Burai groaning]

[Gen] And, if I'm being honest,

I can't… stop watching!

Who was it?

Who implanted a chip in my head?

[Burai shrieking]

[shrieking continues]

[bright instrumental music playing]

DID SOMEONE HAPPEN TO MENTION ME?

ACT 4: A RENOWNED ACTOR USES A STAGE NAME

[Okamoto] We're from the same town.

We were in different high schools, but we both did drama.

[music ends]

[Gen] I suppose

I should be the one to pay here.

Out of all of us, I'm clearly the oldest one at the table.

I won Best Director, and he won… [scoffs lightly]

…the Acting Award and the Nice Guy Award.

I asked him at the awards ceremony if he wanted to work together.

Is this boring?

No, not at all.

The first show they did together,

they were each nominated for the New Playwrights Award.

You don't have to show him that.

WHISKEY BONBON THEATER COMPANY DEBUT

[Gen] You two started the company?

MURAI & OKAMOTO

I saw it from the audience. I was blown away.

I thought, "If this is their first show, I need to see what they do next!"

So what? We didn't go anywhere. I suddenly couldn't write anything.

-Why not? -"Why not"?

The pressure, I think. Which is pretty lame.

When did Murai start acting in those TV dramas?

-Maybe right after that? -About the same time.

They were mostly reenactments.

We started getting a lot of attention in our twenties.

A lot of older professionals were approaching us, talking us up.

We reserved a theater, sold tickets to shows.

I just didn't know how to write another one.

So I quit.

[Hisako] You quit five days before opening.

-[emotional music playing] -Sorry, but the show's canceled.

-[woman] Canceled? -Yes, sorry.

-[Hisako] We'll refund your tickets. -[Gozu] I'll take your tickets.

-Our sincere apologies. -Thanks for understanding.

[Gozu sighs]

-[Gozu] So sorry! -[Hisako] Thank you!

[Okamoto] It took me six years to pay back that debt.

A month later, I began to work at a smaller theater.

And then Murai, he…

must've heard I was working there.

He showed up drunk and made a scene, like today.

They inserted a chip!

Ah! No!

No, it's… a potato chip!

[shrieks]

He's impossible to deal with.

What the hell does he want?

Look at your feet, and don't worry what the end result is.

Trust your instincts and do the work.

Huh?

That's what he's trying to communicate.

Oh, you think?

Why doesn't he just tell me that?

Well, he wants you to notice him.

Seriously?

You've known each other for years.

For an actor, the first director they worked with

is the most difficult,

but that director is also the one they need the most validation from.

Oh, you mean like Kurosawa and Mifune?

No, nothing that glamorous.

I bet you probably want recognition from Murai, don't you?

Oh, I don't know.

Besides, I don't need him. I can write and fill a house.

Is that what you're looking for?

Some director to compliment and validate your acting work?

Let's take the show to Tokyo, Gen!

I'll book the theater too.

You have my word.

[Hisako] Wait, you're an actor?

Yeah.

But no one remembers me anymore. [chuckles sadly]

There must be someone, even if not a director?

Someone you want to be praised by?

[music fades]

-My daughter, Ema. -[Hisako] You've got a daughter?

[Gen] Mm.

I think I saw her.

"Saw her"?

I know it was her.

Okamoto, help me find her.

No. No, no, no.

Look, I'll cover this. The bill. I'll pay.

Now, let's split up and look.

-Okay? -What?

What's her name?

Ema. Ema Nonomura.

Nonomura is my ex-wife's name.

-Let's go, come on! -[Okamoto] No, no, no.

Maybe she's still in the neighborhood.

-She works at a themed café in Nakano. -What's that?

They wear costumes. Theme changes every month.

This month it's… cheerleaders.

THE MONTHLY OLD MAN RANCH

Preposterous. That's not her. How could you possibly know that?

She's not trying to hide it.

Looks like her name's Elza when she's working.

Look, on social media she uses her real name and has a photo.

THE THEME IS CHEERLEADERS! COME PLAY WITH ELZA!

EMA NONOMURA

Hi, it's Elza!

Ema's here!

-Can't wait to chat! -Hi!

"Ema" is that girl's fake name, so it's really confusing.

-You can put this on. -Oh!

Is putting it on required in here?

-Call me Tetsu, okay? -[Ema 2] Okay.

This old guy is…

-Tanaka. -You look so great in that!

So can you tell us how you two know each other?

Oh, uh, we met at work.

Oh, that sounds chill!

Oh, so, um, can I talk to you like we're close friends?

You know, Tanaka, I feel like I've met you somewhere.

Doesn't he look like someone?

He looks like…

I think you're right.

Huh?

I got it! Shingen!

Takeda Shingen! Do you get that?

I do. You bet.

[Ema giggles] "I do. You bet."

-[Ema 2] Just like him. -[Ema] Hilarious!

-Can I call you Shingen from now on? -[Gen] Sure.

Can we still talk like we're close friends?

Uh, ca…

-Yeah, if you want. -[Ema 2] Okay!

OUR CAST MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED

Actually, I'm more comfortable with older guys.

I can see that.

Mm.

Dad issues.

My parents got divorced when I was in sixth grade,

and my dad wasn't around.

So maybe I'm starved for a father's love, you know?

[Gen] Was she

telling the truth?

Or…

does she say that to everyone she meets?

Tanaka, I wish that I had you as a father.

But I am your father.

Oh, god, no, no!

[groans, then grunts]

This is no time to get sentimental.

I've only got one year to get out of this dingy, cramped room…

SEEKING EXTRAS

…so that I can rise to the top and reclaim the role of King Lear.

REGISTRATION FORM

Maybe

it doesn't have to be Takasegawa who does it.

That's right.

Why am I clinging to a name 99% of Japan has completely forgotten?

A stage name.

I can take a stage name.

[vibrant music playing]

VIEWING DIARY

You want to shoot a movie someday?

Man, I can't watch anything.

Haven't even had time to watch the one I'm involved with right now.

[Gen] What would be a good stage name?

[music ends]

SHIMOKITA, GINGER PORK, SPACE

HISAKO NIMANDA

"Hisako Nimanda."

Ah, jeez, that would be such a weak stage name to choose.

Maybe I'd get lucky and end up acting in something with Hisako Manda?

RYAN GOZU

Acting with Ryan Gosling is unlikely,

but acting with Hisako Manda could happen.

Burai Takeru is my name. 'Sup.

No, no, that's not it.

I'm playing ordinary people.

I need something normal.

Something completely unremarkable.

Tanaka, I wish that I had you as a father.

Tanaka, I wish that I had… I wish you were…

Oh.

Tanaka.

"Tanaka."

Tanaka…

Tanaka…

Tanaka…

SHOKU TAKU SALT

"Taku Tanaka."

-Not bad. -[vibrant music resumes]

You don't expect much from this name.

And that could be immensely useful.

This is it!

Starting today, I am…

Taku Tanaka!

[music continues]

[man] Okay, rolling.

[man 2] I'm just sad that I don't get to see you more.

[woman] I'm sorry.

I just work every day.

[man 2] But that's what you always say.

-Ayato, I swear, I love you-- -Cut! Okay!

Okay, looks good! Other side. Thanks so much.

Nice job.

Second spot, please. Standing by for the reverse shot on Misaki.

-Tanaka. -Hi, nice to meet you.

Hey, will you hear us speaking?

[man 3] No, we won't.

-Ah, just pantomime then? -Yes, please.

Shh.

[director] Rolling!

And… Action!

[man 2] I'm just sad that I don't get to see you more.

I'm sorry.

I just work every day.

[man 2] But that's what you always say.

[director] All of these patients look pretty young.

Oh!

The guy from the café with the great expressions!

-Tanaka, you mean? -Oh, he'd be great.

And… Action!

Hello there, sir! How are you doing?

[man 4] Feeling much better.

That's great. Let us know if you need anything.

-[director] Rolling! -Rolling!

[director] And… Action!

[music stops]

Shimada's not there. He moved out last week.

[vibrant music resumes]

-[director] Cut! -[man 1] Cut!

-[director] Tanaka! -Yep?

-Hey, that was great. -[Gen] Thank you.

-Should we call him for Scene 21 as well? -Good idea.

I'll check with Fukuda, make sure it works for the schedule.

-[director] He has some real talent. -[woman] He's great, right?

-[director] Rolling. -[man 1] Rolling!

[director] And… Action!

[music ends]

Here, good work.

-I'll have the beef, please. -Beef? Okay, got it.

-We'll meet in Shinjuku again tomorrow. -Okay.

-The bus leaves at 5:30 a.m. -5:30? Got it.

-Good work today. -You too.

-Oh, Tanaka. -Yes?

Do you have any kids?

-Oh, yes, I do, yeah. -Take this, if you want.

-Oh, are you sure? -Of course.

-Oh, thank you. -No, thank you!

-Okay, next. Come on up. -Thank you for today.

-Here you go. -Thank you.

[Gen] Do you want this?

Hey! From Misaki the Naughty Nurse!

I love this show so much!

-Seriously? -Of course. [chuckles]

Oh, right.

Shingen, you're an actor, yeah?

Just an extra.

So a non-paying role?

You've done it before?

My mom works in the industry. That's how I know.

Oh.

Volunteers only get to take home a souvenir.

That's why I'm also working another job.

Couldn't you get an agent?

I could introduce you to my mom.

I don't think so.

I appreciate the thought.

I want them to discover me, if that makes sense.

So your mind is set?

[Gen] Yeah.

-One more. -What? Get out!

-It's for you. -Thank you!

Behind you, excuse me.

-Welcome! -Hello.

[heavy footsteps approaching]

Please stay away from my daughter.

-Yoko. -This is the men's bath!

-You don't look like a man! -Don't act innocent!

Look at that. That's you, isn't it?

#TANAKA GAVE ME A HOODIE

How did you find her?

What are you up to?

What parent wouldn't be worried about their daughter?

What do you mean?

Actor, you never mentioned you had a daughter.

I don't know what you were thinking, letting Ema work at a place like that.

Huh?

Anime was her focus.

We paid for her training to be a voice actor.

This is scary. How do you know that?

Until she was 18, I was paying for child support.

Now that she's an adult, she can do whatever she wants.

You can't tell her not to see me if she wants to.

[Yoko hesitates]

Now,

don't you see I'm telling you the truth?

You were married to someone.

I'm sure I was. But I can't believe it was ever you.

Okay, then who was it?

Tell me, who was it?! Tell me!

Apologies. So sorry about this.

You don't remember?

You forgot the day that we met?

TOKYO, 1997

[sentimental music playing]

I'd been labeled as what the kids call a "nepo baby".

TAKASEGAWA (AGE 36 AT THE TIME)

I'd gotten fed up with all of the attention from the public.

I was thinking about retiring.

Excuse me, sir.

YOKO NONOMURA (23 AT THE TIME)

Do you want to be an actor and make money?

-What? -[Yoko chuckles]

[Gen] Yoko had just started working at a major production company

as a talent scout.

I just think

there's something about you that stands out.

Your aura is great.

[Gen laughs]

Uh, don't you know who I am?

[Yoko] Huh?

[Gen inhales sharply]

THIS IS THE PINNACLE OF AGING, ROYAL HAM

[Yoko] Oh!

Ah!

Oh, I'm sorry!

I was studying abroad, just got back.

I don't know anything about Japanese show business.

Somehow, this woman didn't know who I was,

and approached.

You know, I sort of feel like she saved me that day.

Yoko… I scouted her.

You're saying you scouted the scout, right?

She seemed perfect for managing a private agency.

And then you got married too.

She became a wife, and then a boss.

Ema was born shortly after.

And gradually,

well, she looked…

So she didn't resemble the woman that you met?

Don't say that's what it was.

[Gen sighs]

[Chijimi sighs]

Men are all such idiots.

They stop seeing a woman for who she is.

Then they go after someone else.

Soon, that woman isn't the woman they want.

Maybe another woman will be the right one.

[grunts angrily]

Damn them to hell!

Eventually the women will run out.

[Gen sighs heavily]

Yeah. And none of them were happy, at the end of the day.

Not Yoko, Machiko, or Ema.

[tuts, inhales sharply]

Of course, it was my fault.

So what? Old man, you don't get to decide that.

[Gen sighs]

Chijimi, so…

you're the boss's--

[Chijimi] Mistress!

That's what I heard.

You went out and learned Korean,

you picked up an accent, just so you could marry that guy.

[chuckles] And now you--

-[bangs table] -I told you!

You don't get to decide that just because you're a man.

You couldn't be more wrong!

Listen to me.

Women don't rely on men to make them happy, understand?

And I am from Iwate, so that is why I have an accent.

-Is that so? -You don't tell me how I feel!

I get to decide for myself if I'm happy.

-You idiot! -[bangs table]

[speaking Korean]

[pop music playing]

[music fades]

[Gen, in English] Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

When you are well fed,

you have a roof over your head,

and you've achieved stability in your life,

the next needs you have to satisfy

are your social needs.

Like what? Getting married and starting a family?

I already messed up the family I have.

-Twice. -[Ema] Hey, Shingen.

[Gen] Yoko, Machiko, and Ema.

If they're happy now,

maybe it's better if they don't remember me.

[Ema] Shingen!

Hm? What is it?

It's your turn to go.

Oh, sorry.

-Have you played before? -Oh, yeah.

I played it a lot with my daughter when she was little.

[Ema] Mm.

Shingen has a daughter?

[Gen] Mm-hm.

[Gen breathes deeply]

Come on.

Well, let's say,

I don't see my ex-wife and that makes it harder to talk.

Mm. So you got divorced?

Not just once. Twice. [chuckles]

Okay. Why? Cheating?

[objects clattering]

Oh, are you okay?

-Let me help. -I'm sorry.

-No worries. -[Gen] So sorry.

-[man] It's fine. -Thank you.

Of course you did. After all, you're a man.

Well, the thing is, it's not so simple, right?

Because if your folks knew you were--

[Ema 2] One cow going home!

Moo, moo!

Thank you for coming, sir!

Oh, by the way, I do sugar daddy stuff.

-[quirky music playing] -What?

I keep it a secret. [giggles]

I meet men through an app on the phone.

We go out to eat, and I get paid for it.

You…

You, uh…

Hm, the wages here aren't great.

Shingen, you wanna maybe try?

-Huh? -Be my sugar daddy?

[hesitates] So…

Does…

Does that involve, uh…

Sex?

It does, or it doesn't. You know?

-[music ends] -[woman] Whoa.

What the hell, Yoko?!

I could say the same to you!

Our meeting just started. Can you go?

So what if it did?

Ema's been accepting money to have sex!

-Stop it! What are you talking about? -Not all the time, but sometimes!

-What is wrong with you? Get out! -How can you let this happen to her?

Come back after six o'clock!

I can't!

I've got a "sugar daddy" appointment with our daughter!

No big deal. I'm already her dad, after all!

[Yoko] Get out!

-Toast to us! -Kanpai.

[Ema] Mm.

Thanks for the meal.

Mmm!

It's delicious!

[Gen] Meeting up, sharing a meal,

and giving her some money.

It's all completely in line with my role as a father.

So why do I still feel

so guilty?

-To be honest… -Hm?

Tanaka, there's something I want to talk to you about.

Oh.

[man] Hey there.

I'm Officer Tsuboi from the Senjuku Station, Safety Division.

Nobody's number is saved in his phone?

You!

Don't worry.

I'm a regular here as well.

Ema is great.

Yay! [giggles]

Oh. [chuckles]

Actually,

Ema Nonomura, who goes by Elza,

is currently being stalked.

I'm sorry, but it's hard to discuss here.

Because sometimes there are sugar daddies who come to the café,

but go beyond being a sugar daddy and get super possessive,

because they fall in love.

[Tsuboi] Seiichi Akiba. He's 39.

He's high up at the Ministry of Justice.

He met Ema after he had joined the Tasukaru app

six months ago.

They started messaging--

The photo I have of him is a little clearer, right?

Oh, hey!

That might be too clear.

Yeah.

Uh, the breakup didn't go so great--

We weren't even really dating.

[phone buzzes]

SEIICHI AKIBA

FOUND YOU

[Tsuboi] Akiba's demeanor changed.

Excessive stalking. Over 100 messages a day.

Lots of posts that sounded like death threats.

[Ema 2] He came to the café with a bunch of thugs too.

[man] Hey, Elza!

I'd like to speak to Elza, please.

It's not that he's in love with me.

It's sort of like his pride just can't handle it.

He can't handle that he was rejected.

Aren't the cops working on it? There's laws about stalking girls.

That man knows the law so well,

we can't find a way to make it an official case.

You can't stay. I'll call the police.

Well, my dad was high up at the Ministry of Justice.

My guess is he'll make it all go away.

[hesitates] So what?

Uh, my papa is high up in the mafia.

I panicked, and that's what I said, Shingen.

[tense, dramatic music playing]

Help us, please, Tanaka.

-[music stops] -But how?

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

He's going to act like he's her father, and pretend to be in the mafia.

I mean… [chuckles]

…in reality, I am her father.

That's why you're dressed like you're in a bad sketch comedy about gangsters?

[Hisako] I brought that from the theater storeroom.

Hm. Maybe this isn't the right look.

Is there something in lost and found that could work?

-Let me see. -[Chijimi] Hey.

Take this. It belongs to the boss, so bring it back!

[swaggering music playing]

GEN NONOMURA RYUSEIKAI SYNDICATE

[Gen] I had Gozu make me a business card.

Problem is, there's no script.

I'm a stage actor.

I can't act unless I have lines.

And besides,

all I've done is Shakespeare over the last ten years.

I think you'd be a natural

at playing a godfather or the boss.

Once I became a dad,

I turned down every offer for a role like this.

Ema would've gotten scared.

Hm?

Huh?

Hold up. You mean…

-You want me to write it? -Mm-hm.

Yeah, no way. I can't do that. I haven't finished the play.

You wouldn't just write it.

You'll act in it too.

[rock music playing]

-[guard] Excuse me-- -[Okamoto] Out of the way!

I said move, you idiot!

God damn it, asshole!

Let us through, move back! I said let us through!

-[guard] Step back, please! -Outta the way!

Get out of the way! Keep moving, or else!

[music fades]

These lines sound pretty soft, and they're all so long-winded.

Stalkers need to sound more threatening.

The tough guy stuff from the Showa era really isn't my thing.

I go for modern realism when writing.

I mean, you wrote,

"Have you ever loved so hard and for so long that it hurts?"

Does that sound like yakuza? Really?

You should be more direct.

"Back up now, or I'll kill you!"

Write language that's intimidating!

One of these days,

I'm going to kill every single one of you!

-Do that. -Okay, okay.

"Stay away, or I'll bash your head in and laugh at your death."

-Like I said… -That's so good. We have to use it.

"I'll laugh at your death." We're doing great work here. Incredible.

[exhales]

Don't you have anything but your phone to write on?

That's why your lines sound so inauthentic.

You don't write, so maybe you should say nothing.

You're scariest when you're quiet.

ASSISTANT CHIEF SEIICHI AKIBA

Uh, Mister Nonomura?

If you're looking for Akiba,

he is not currently in the office, I'm afraid.

Then get him on the phone, imbecile,

or I will bash in your head and laugh at your death!

[man] Well… I…

[Okamoto] You know what your issue is?

You really enunciate everything.

The Globe is an outdoor theater, after all.

In order to perform outdoors, I did voice training

for a full six months.

A yakuza boss isn't a trained actor.

Tell me you saw Battles Without Honor?

You can barely understand what they're saying.

That's why they're scary.

Your career doesn't hold any weight here.

More gravelly in your throat. You gotta do more.

[raspy] "Your career doesn't hold any weight here." Yeah.

Your career doesn't hold--

Stop, I can still understand you.

From the throat, not from the gut. Your mouth can't move at all.

[strained] Your career doesn't hold--

Marlon Brando! Come on! Talk so we can't understand!

[husky] You career doesn't--

You're saying it too well still. Say it like you've never spoken English.

[hoarse] Kyary, Kyary…

Pam Pam… pomegranate.

Hm? Pardon me, I can't understand you.

He doesn't care what you do for a living. Listen!

What's wrong, Daddy? Are you sick?

My god, that's enough.

I mean, I imagine you really love your daughter,

but so much so that you'd come here?

You know, I'm a victim here too.

What?

How? What did I ever do to you?

I spent quite a lot of money on you, Elza.

Oh, did you know? Your sweet little girl is awful with cash.

You're a cosplayer, aren't you?

You dress up in stupid outfits and post pictures online.

It'd be fine if you made money, but you're not,

so you're drowning in debt.

Okay, Dad. What happens when your mouth doesn't know what to say?

So what do we do now?

Yes! "So what do we do now?" is best.

That way, it's their turn, and they'll run out of things to say.

So then you… [clicks fingers] …can wrap up the scene.

And I'm not the only one who's a victim.

Her main targets are men in their fifties and sixties.

I bet you're selling your body.

So what do we do now?

So that's why your daughter needs me to be by her side.

She's sick. She's a mess.

So what do we do now?

I'm trying to say that I can rehabilitate your daughter.

-So what do-- -You're so full of shit.

Pervert. You're sick!

I want you to stop selling yourself and quit the café.

It's obvious which one of us is right.

Don't you see?

We drafted the anti-stalking law.

If I'm a stalker, then you're guilty of fraud.

You'd be arrested, too.

-I said, "What do we do now?" -Not yet…

[Akiba] Intimidation! He's verbally assaulting me!

Even if she's sick,

or selling her body, or even buried in debt,

Ema's my daughter, and to me, she is precious.

She is everything to me, got it?

And I'm telling you now,

I won't let a rotten guy like you

talk about my daughter with that type of language.

You understand that?! Don't you dare forget!

Mr. Nonomura, there are others here who might get hurt.

When she was born, I wasn't there.

No, I was

at a studio, on set!

TAIEI STUDIO

It was a difficult birth.

My wife was hospitalized several times.

They thought she might be premature.

But I never showed up.

No, I had a job I had to finish.

A once-in-a-lifetime job.

How's my wife doing?

And then,

my struggle was too hard for Hirata to watch.

Hirata helped me out!

Hirata did that?

Wait. Who's that?

-[emotional music playing] -I'll be there soon.

Okay. Thank you, sir.

[sighs]

Oh, who's that?

-[man chuckles] -Oh!

Hey, Gen, I heard the little one's on the way?

Oh, yeah.

You should go. You can make it still.

I know, but later we're filming the raid scene.

Ah, and before that, there's my seppuku scene.

I'll mess up the takes to buy some time for you.

Thanks so much.

After rushing to the hospital,

Yoko…

was in the delivery room.

-[Yoko moaning] -[nurse] Keep going!

-Yoko! -You're doing great!

Yoko! I'm here!

[nurse] The father's here! Keep pushing!

-Camera! -Speeding!

Rolling… Action!

[pained groaning]

[director] Cut, cut, cut!

Hirata! Look, your sword is upside down.

Ah! So sorry. Sorry.

Okay, let's do another take.

-Camera! -Speeding.

Rolling!

Action!

[pained moaning]

-[nurse] Keep going! -That's it!

-Almost there! -Keep going!

[groaning]

[Hirata] Make it quick! Just do it!

[director] Cut! Not, "Just do it," it's "End it all!"

Ah!

[chuckles] One more!

-Hirata, are you doing this on purpose? -No, no, no.

All right, let's pick up the pace!

Take 74!

What's the line again?

-The line is, "End it all!" -[Hirata] Okay.

-[nurse] Almost there! -[Gen] Keep going, Yoko! Keep pushing!

[groaning]

Keep going. That's it, Yoko!

[emotional music playing]

[Gen] That's it! You're doing great!

[nurse] All right, big push!

[baby crying]

She's precious.

Hold her hand.

[Gen] She weighed just over 2,000 grams.

Life on such a small scale.

I will never forget

how I felt in that moment.

The moment she was born,

I swore I'd be there for her, always.

No matter what.

My love would be unconditional.

Even if

I don't agree with the choices she makes,

I will love her with all my heart!

So tell me, Akiba,

do you know how it feels

when you love somebody so much it hurts?!

[Akiba chuckles] You're changing the subject.

She may be your daughter, but I'm still the real victim here.

Are you listening?

-Hey, Ema! -Look at Daddy's bubble!

-It's huge! -It's so big!

-See that? -[Yoko laughs]

Ema, tell Daddy what you said.

No!

-Huh? -[Yoko chuckles]

What'd she say?

About when you grow up, remember? Yeah? Tell Daddy.

I'm going to marry my dad!

-[Gen] In that moment… -So cute. My gosh.

…I felt like the luckiest man in the world.

I wished, on that day…

that she'd never get older.

[sniffles]

Never.

Even now, she's still a kid,

and always will be to me!

[cries quietly]

Are you really crying, old man?

Jeez. What the hell is wrong with you?

Please, stop this.

I'm on my knees, Akiba.

I cannot lose her. Ema's all that I have.

So, please.

Please give up on her. She's precious to me!

I'm begging you too, Tanaka.

[music ends]

Please stop.

Tanaka, you can stop it now, okay?

Huh?

None of what he's saying is real.

He's pretending right now. He's not my dad at all.

Tanaka and I met at the café. He's a sugar daddy.

An old guy that gives me money, like you.

You're just gonna say it?

He's not a criminal at all.

He's an out-of-work actor.

Well… [chuckles] …an extra.

At first, I was happy.

But then…

I couldn't take it anymore.

I knew it was fake in the moment.

And still…

it almost felt real.

I am being real.

I'm sorry. Thank you.

But you can stop acting now.

You don't have to commit that deeply for a girl like me.

Hold on to that.

You should keep that for your real daughter.

I know.

You're my real daughter.

Shingen, stop.

If you'd been my dad,

my life would've turned out better.

[Gen cries softly]

I need to stop depending on sugar daddies.

I'll pay off my debt.

I'll work and earn money.

[scoffs] What the hell is all this?

Like a comedy show?

That's enough!

You said I was trash and berated me online, asshole.

You would never commit for me just like he did.

You know that's true!

Tanaka has it hard too, you know.

He has his own problems to deal with!

He's been divorced, twice.

He doesn't get to see his daughter.

He's an out-of-work actor.

He's over 60 and he's working part time at a sauna.

And he brings what little money he has to the café at night.

Beer and shrimp is all he orders, and he stays for a couple of hours.

Don't you get it?

He makes sure that I feel safe,

but he's got problems he has to deal with on his own!

You get that?

I don't care if you're successful, or rich, or whatever.

Guys like you should take your wealth and stay inside, and be creepy all alone!

You're so pathetic!

[door opens, then closes]

[emotional music playing]

[sniffles]

Excuse me,

I'm so sorry, but are you

Ta-ka-se-ga-wa?

I know that face! Takasegawa, it's really you!

The Royal Ham guy!

Wow! Wow!

I love your work so much! [squeals excitedly]

Did you skip getting the vaccine?

Oh, I didn't get it.

Huh? Why?

No reason.

[man] Wow! I knew it was you when she said "Shingen."

You played Shingen, didn't you? Whoa!

The ham actor! You see it!

You know, the commercial. You don't know him?

Wow! What?! It's the ham guy!

Oh my gosh! In the flesh!

[laughs excitedly]

I'm just grateful you remember me.

[Okamoto] "So much that it hurts."

Thank you for making that work.

Huh?

Ah!

That was such a great moment.

I was so moved.

That's the power of words, right?

I feel inspired now. I'm going to write so much!

[Gen] And with that,

he ran off, filled to the brim with courage.

But he still could not write.

And after that, he disappeared.

SHOW CANCELED

Hey, hey!

Feeling responsible,

I took Okamoto's shifts,

and honed my aufguss skills.

-Hey! -[women cheering]

Okay, let's go for another round!

[bright music playing]

POSTS EMA NONOMURA

Ema stopped sugar daddy stuff.

She decided she's going to focus entirely on cosplay.

SHINGEN HAS ARRIVED

And just like that,

her profile picture changed.

I'LL BE THE BEST COSPLAYER!

The owner of this room, Kawashima, was in the hospital for a while.

These are the diaries and notebooks

in which a chief assistant director in his forties,

who supports the Japanese film industry,

writes down his daily thoughts.

VIEWING DIARY

He never makes the moment about himself.

He just quietly and professionally does his job.

But his love for cinema was feverishly scrawled on every page.

-Hm? -[music ends]

"Chushingura: The Surviving Ako Ronin."

"2002."

"Among the 47 Ronin, Kichiemon,

played by the actor Gen Takasegawa, was exceptional."

Uh, "His father was a movie star,

the Oniheiji's leading actor Yorozu Mantaro."

"No wonder he stood out."

"I would compare him…"

"I would compare him…" Hm?

"He mainly works in theater."

"Still, he's an actor I'd like to work with someday."

[heartfelt music playing]

Kawashima.

He happened to mention me.

Hm.

Ah. Gotcha.

CHUSHINGURA: THE SURVIVING AKO RONIN

STARRING: GEN TAKASEGAWA, MITSURU HIRATA

[phone buzzes]

[music fades]

KARIYA

Hey.

Hey, Tanaka? It's Kariya.

I know this is sudden,

but can you be in Kyoto in March?

Kyoto?

Yeah, it's for a movie version of the Oniheiji series.

[Gen] Oniheiji.

My father's most famous work.

[bright instrumental music playing]