Original subtitles

-Everyone, we'll resume at 12:30, please! -[man] The catering area is over here!

[Kohi] You were in London, right?

Yes. I got stuck there for half a year.

Because there was a lockdown in Japan, huh?

-And when I returned here… -Mm-hm?

Hello. Takasegawa.

Gen Takasegawa.

Who am I speaking with?

Forgive me, who are you?

Oh, poor you.

You're like Urashima Taro. [laughs]

And you, Kohi?

Oh, it was gradual.

-Gradual? -Yeah.

You know, the vaccine was given to the elderly first.

Oh?

So first, Yoshiko Mita forgot who I was.

After that, Akira Emoto forgot.

It gets worse.

That sounds worse than me.

I was deep in a series then.

I was in the first episode as usual.

I played a mild-mannered lawyer, and the reviews were good.

But around Episode 3,

even when I would search online, you know, no one was talking about me anywhere.

Around Episode 4, everyone started ignoring me on set.

It was really shocking. Was this kind of bullying still around?

So the vaccine had started working then?

But, you know, I liked it, so I kept going.

And then the chief of lighting says,

"Yo, hold the ladder there, would you?"

Episode 7.

I kept holding the ladder until we finished shooting, and he said,

"You've got guts."

[laughing]

In the first episode, you're cast. In the finale, you're working in lighting.

Didn't anyone find that strange?

Well, it's fun though.

They all treat me so great.

What about you?

Started over as an extra while working in a sauna part-time.

Until… I got my name in the script.

You must have worked hard!

Well, you know, I've only got acting.

You might be the only one who believes that.

-What? -You see, I…

I just wanted to go into graphic design, so I took photography in school.

Then I got a job being Masatoshi Nakamura's assistant.

Just when I thought all I could be was an actor,

this true calling in the lighting department just shows up.

I wish I'd realized sooner.

[laughs]

Mmm! Delicious. Green curry.

It took me becoming crew to realize that food is crucial.

That's nice, discovering a passion like that.

[chuckles warmly]

[Kawashima] Tanaka!

-Yes? -Let's go say hi to the producer, yeah?

Ah, okay.

Oh…

This place… Drop by if you feel like it.

IZAKAYA DO IT LATER

[quietly] An izakaya for folks who haven't been vaccinated.

Huh?

[man] Kohinata!

-Got a sec? -Oh, y-yes!

Hm? Acquaintance?

Oh. Well…

[Kawashima] Hm.

MR. DAIYA MIBU

[Mibu hesitates] Uh, yeah, come in.

[Kawashima] Excuse me, sir!

Excuse me.

Mibu, I've got Tanaka here for you.

Uh… Um, who?

Oh.

Oh, the old man from the sauna!

Yeah. You mentioned not caring who it was as long as they're unknown.

[Mibu] Well, if it's this old geezer

then the theorists won't be able to guess, so I guess it's okay.

Not that I'd know! [laughs]

And the actress playing Saeki.

Satsuki Mine.

-[intriguing music playing] -Tanaka.

We were practicing our lines, uh, because we're a duo, huh?

I was only getting dull roles like Sauna Prosecutor

or Instagram Prosecutor, you know?

So that's why… [inhales sharply]

…I figured it was time to self-produce something great.

And this time it's serious. It's a suspenseful crime thriller.

I'm only doing prestige content now.

All of it's riding on you, geezer.

Well then, see you later.

Later then!

[Satsuki] Nice to meet you.

[Mibu] And now, where were we? That accent was beautiful.

Let's move on…

[Gen] Satsuki Mine.

The truth is…

NEW LOVER IS ROOKIE ACTRESS SATSUKI MINE

…she's my

ex-girlfriend.

[bright instrumental music playing]

DID SOMEONE HAPPEN TO MENTION ME?

I want it like this for the line, "This man is too dangerous."

ACT 6: A RENOWNED ACTOR BLOWS HIS FUSE AND GOES VIRAL

-Rehearsal, please. -[man] Rehearsal!

[man 2] Okay, rehearsal!

[Takahashi] Ready… Action!

For 40 years, he lived out of the public eye,

eventually discovering pleasure…

[Gen] She's a female detective who profiles suspects. Saeki.

This man is too dangerous.

Aihara, leave it to the police now.

[Mibu] No, I can't do that.

[Gen] She's got an intense look in her eyes.

She's got the air of an actress all right.

-Evidence is all we need, then we can act. -[Gen] Satsuki…

Hold on a bit longer.

3 YEARS AGO

[Gen] You were in my workshop,

and you didn't stand out much.

Um, you.

Um… Uh…

-Satsuki? -Yes.

Uh, please try reading Ophelia's lines. Act Two, Scene One.

Yes!

Just act like I'm your scene partner.

Ready…

Go!

Oh, my father! Oh, my father!

I'm so frightened.

I was sewing in my room when Lord Hamlet came in…

[Gen] How lovable she was.

She gave off a strange sex appeal.

That is something that I, Takasegawa,

could not have missed.

[slurring] The moment I think I have to act,

I feel my self-consciousness.

I feel embarrassed about myself acting, and that self never disappears.

I can't immerse myself. It's not even a matter of technique.

So then how about, instead of running from that feeling,

you take it on stage with you?

On stage? Take it there?

In my experience,

actors who perform without feeling any embarrassment

end up being embarrassing to watch.

I guess, yeah.

There were a few today.

Yes, though

the way that you performed while giving in to your embarrassment

had a charming quality to it.

I don't think so. [giggles]

You'd benefit from a workshop that's one-on-one.

Huh?

You're joking.

Right? Right?

You can still hear me speaking right now, even in this noisy restaurant, can't you?

Now, that's technique.

[Satsuki giggles]

[Gen] You, in bed,

were more charming than I ever expected.

You took the lead,

and it didn't look like you were acting at all.

-I don't have any. -[giggles] So cute!

[Gen] Ever since then, just hearing the word "workshop",

makes me

smile uncontrollably.

-[Gen sighs] -London, huh?

For how long?

Six months, to start with.

If the audition goes well,

one year.

I'll miss you.

And I'll miss you.

That's why

I was thinking of getting a room for you too.

What?

I want you there with me.

What's your wife think?

Oh, she

cares more about Tsutomu than she does me.

You can come whenever. I'll cover your flight.

Stay as long as you want.

Take some time off,

and come see me.

Yes.

[Gen] That day

was our last workshop.

We were photographed by paparazzi,

and I fled to London.

Now you…

-Come on. -It's really fine?

[Gen] …just like all the others, seem to have forgotten about me.

-No, you too. -[Satsuki giggles]

-[Gen] Effortlessly lovable… - Isn't her laugh great?

-[Gen] Truly, the only word is "lovable". -[Kawashima] Tanaka!

-[Gen] A fine candidate… -Tanaka!

[Gen] …for Japan's most lovable…

-[Gen sighs dreamily] -Tanaka.

-At your service. -You don't have any more scenes today?

Hm, you're right.

-Thanks for your work. -You too.

-Hey, uh, the room key? -Hm?

No, absolutely not. Gotta think about some things.

Do you mind sleeping at the sauna tonight?

[Takahashi] Sorry for the wait, guys!

[Gen] I wonder if she's dating… Mibu.

I mean, she must be. She was folding his clothes.

Uh, we were practicing our lines,

because we're a duo, huh?

[Gen] Practicing lines with an actress in the dressing room?

Oh, man, I can't take this!

I'm sorry. [chuckles]

-Hey, Tanaka! -Hm?

Do you wanna take some leftovers home?

-Oh, is that okay? -Yeah. Don't wanna waste what's left.

-Okay. -Oh, and have some minestrone too.

-It's hot. -[woman giggles]

-Is it all right if I eat it here? -Oh, sure.

[Gen] What do you mean, "I can't take this"?

What an idiot.

This is all my fault.

I had a wife and kid.

I had two families.

Then I lost myself to lust for a woman 30 years younger than me.

The only people who can get away with something like that

are Mick Jagger and Kato-chan.

SAUNA SHIRAKABA

The overnight, please.

-Yeah. -Can you also hold on to this?

[speaking Korean]

[Gen] Ahh.

[in English] Actor! Hey, actor!

Did you meet the owner?

The owner?

That person!

[pop music playing]

Oh! I did! The man at the reception desk!

Oh! He's returned!

[speaking Korean]

[in English] Oh, he's here!

[elevator bell dings]

Hey, Cho! Boss!

Hey, Cho!

[Gen] Chijimi!

The money in the register…

All the sales…

[music stops abruptly]

That's okay. It's all right.

Yes, it's totally okay!

[lively music playing]

THANKS FOR THE GIFTS!

[Gen] The gifts are piling up.

-[Mibu] What about here? -It's 'cause the guest stars are here.

[Mibu] Let's take a picture here. Okay, come on. Come on!

-[camera clicks] -Oh!

Tsuneyan, I'm so glad you took the role.

He's in the middle of filming two series, and he's still here!

I really appreciate it.

Hey, when it's a golf course ask, you can't say no. [laughs]

Okay, now let's do vertical.

All right. You're busy too, Toshi, I know.

No, no, no. I'd been drinking the whole day away.

[laughs]

Well, you never change ever, huh?

-[Takahashi] Should I take the picture? -Do you mind?

[Gen] I was once a part of all that.

[Takahashi] Okay, cheese!

[Gen] Just like that. I'd act all friendly, with a stiff smile…

-Oh, take a vertical. -Vertical? Okay.

[Gen] …while inside I smirked, thinking I was better than them.

Okay, let's run through it.

-For this scene-- -Director.

Yes?

Can I try to do some improv?

Okay… Uh… uh…

Uh, well, that should be fine. Right, Toshi?

-Yeah. I have a couple of good ideas too. -[Mibu] Right.

I'll defer to my superior though.

What are you talking about? You've done this longer than I have.

[laughing]

He called you an old guy!

[Tsuneyan] He's been doing this stupidly long, that's all.

Stupidly! [laughs]

Okay, rehearsal!

-Rehearsal! -Rehearsal!

Ready… Action!

Aihara!

Shit! Before you wrote this, did you do any research at all?

[Toshi] Shut up!

If he doesn't write this thing,

journalism in Japan will be ruined! Right, Aihara?

[Gen] Wrong. Wrong already.

Did these two even read the script?

In this scene, the editor-in-chief quietly admonishes the protagonist,

and the junior reporter silently offers coffee.

-Agh! -[Gen] It's a quiet scene.

They're improvising too much.

[Toshi] Say something! Don't just sit there!

C… Cut. Cut. C-Cut please!

[Takahashi] Cut!

Hm, well… Well… Well…

That might work too, right, Kawashima?

[Mibu inhales sharply]

[music ends]

We might make OT today.

Oh, yeah.

-[Toshi] I kind of liked that. -[Tsuneyan] Let's make it better.

[Gen] Two renowned actors who came in with completely incoherent acting plans.

Grab you like this…

[Gen] A rookie director who can't correct them.

That could work.

[Gen] And a producer who's abandoned his responsibilities.

Really?

[Gen] They're arguing.

And while they're arguing,

I…

am alone with Satsuki.

[suave music playing]

Effortlessly lovable.

She's a finalist in a Grand Prix of the heart.

Is there nothing left on that phone?

Intimate photos, or anything at all of us?

Perhaps our text messages?

[music stops]

Should I check, just in case?

-[music resumes] -Uh, so…

Mine, did you get the vaccine?

I got three shots, yeah.

Oh, I see.

You don't know what's around the corner.

[Gen] Mm, mm-hm.

-Tanaka? -Yes?

Um, what agency are you with?

Oh.

I'm, uh, freelancing right now.

-I see, yeah. -Mm.

[Takahashi] We're almost ready. Let's get back to first positions.

On this one,

Kawashima wanted me for it.

I'm new at this, though I don't look it.

[chuckles]

This could sound rude,

I'm curious as to what you did all your life.

I was on the stage.

I was focusing on theater.

I've been a fan of yours for so long.

Hm, I saw Les Misérables, Macbeth, and Hamlet.

You're like a god to me!

Talking to you feels like I'm dreaming.

[flat] Mm, wow, the theater?

You know, for a while I would go to workshops and stuff.

Yeah? Who taught you?

I don't even recall. Not at all.

I didn't learn much of anything.

My agency made me go, and I hated it.

Maybe it didn't suit me so much that I erased it from my memory.

Don't say that, babe.

Huh?

Oh, I was… I'm sorry.

So, uh, it might have just been that particular class that wasn't so good,

you know?

There's teachers out there who are great at what they do.

Mm-hm.

Every time, they change. It's hard to follow--

Yeah, I know that.

[Tsuneyan] Hey, uh, director!

Trying something else could fix it.

If it's not right, we'll attempt something else again.

[wearily] Uh-huh.

Yeah… I guess, do it like usual.

[Toshi] Should I cry?

I have hay fever, so I can cry.

Let's just start filming for now, okay?

There could be a chemical reaction.

Let's do it! Now! Let's go, let's go!

-Okay! -[Takahashi] Get ready for now.

[quietly] A reaction? Well, there won't be one.

[sighs]

Don't let anyone change your vision.

For 20 years, you've worked with directors,

and have only ever seen compromises.

I really want for you to stand your ground.

You don't know if you'll get another shot.

[sentimental music playing]

Your filming is over for today, right?

[Gen] Yes. Thank you for everything.

[woman] Hey, Tanaka!

-Yes? -Do you wanna take this?

-Thank you. -Uh-huh.

[Gen] Today again, the only one who made eye contact with me

was the production assistant, Hanako.

As for Satsuki,

while playing with her phone…

This could sound rude,

I'm curious as to what you did all your life.

[Gen] How rude!

I climbed to the top once, was incredibly popular,

then I was completely forgotten, and I crawled my way back up.

Back to here.

IZAKAYA DO IT LATER

[Kohi] Drop by if you feel like it.

An izakaya for folks who haven't been vaccinated.

IZAKAYA DO IT LATER

[music fades]

[woman] Welcome!

[gasps] Oh my gosh!

Whoa!

Look! Look!

R-Royal Ham!

-Royal Ham! -[woman 2] No way!

It's TG! Huh? Why is TG here?

Oh, Kohi said I should check it out.

[woman 1] Oh my gosh!

Thank you, Kohinata!

[giggles] Sit down, sit down.

-Can I get you a drink? -I'll have a highball then.

One highball it is!

[man] He said he wants a highball!

Are you all vaccinated?

[all] No, we're not!

That means that you all know…

We know! Yes, we know!

We love you! We love you!

The boss here is a huge theater fan. You go all over the country to see shows.

-I even went to London. -Oh…

[woman 1] The Globe in the rain. Wow!

King Lear!

-Thank you! -[excited squealing]

How was I? Really?

How was I?

[woman 1] The best!

But before that…

[all] Kanpai!

I watch you off stage as well.

Like in Break Out! Adolescence, or Shingen.

Oh, I totally watched Shingen too!

-Oh! -The one where Mibu overdid it, right?

[Gen] This is incredible!

To think being recognized as an actor could bring this much peace of mind!

-We love you! -[Gen] That's right, that's right!

This feeling… God, I love it!

Oh, I want to stay forever! I want to be pampered forever!

But that feeling really only lasted for five or six minutes.

After that, it got kind of boring

and I just wanted to get back.

Why's that? You wanted to be praised, didn't you?

Mm… But if you're praised for anything and everything,

you get kinda tired of it.

They're just ordinary people in the end.

They'll say things like, "I've always loved you!" right away.

Oh boy, you're spoiled. You really are, you know that?

I just kind of lost interest.

It was the same as listening to an old story.

Just 'cause… I'm not Gen Takasegawa anymore.

I'm Taku Tanaka now.

It's not worth clinging to yesterday's glories.

If anything, Gen Takasegawa is someone I need to transcend.

He may have been King Lear or Hamlet, sure,

but now he's only known by customers at a little izakaya.

Don't worry about it. I'll transcend him quickly.

You hear the things he's saying to us?

Honestly, though, I don't know if you're humble or arrogant.

I'm sorry for being such an approval-seeking monster.

So that's why I, Tanaka,

will stake my acting career on the role of the Man of Darkness.

Okay.

So that's why you called me here? That it?

Chijimi, two beers, if you would.

The bar's there.

The Episode 6 finale, the abandoned hospital scene.

The one where the Man of Darkness attacks the female detective?

Scheduled for next week.

Could we bring in an intimacy coordinator to work with us?

Hm? Hm? "Interior"?

Shush a minute.

Reason?

That scene is all about impact, isn't it?

Yeah. The Man of Darkness's true identity is revealed in the finale of that scene.

The more horrible of a person I can be,

the more our protagonist will feel fear, and the suspense will grow.

Yep, Mibu wants it playing the same way.

He said to "make it wild."

So then the problem is…

Chijimi, two beers, please.

The bar's still there.

…the relationship that I had with Satsuki Mine.

Hm?

Wait, what? What do you mean, "relationship"?

What is it? Don't keep us in suspense.

She's my ex-girlfriend.

-Ugh! -What?

She doesn't recognize me at all.

Though I could never forget.

And I still have some feelings for her.

So lovable.

I'm scared of being this way.

I might hold back while we're filming, and I don't like that.

I can't become a monster unless her safety is guaranteed.

So lovable…

If you're close, conduct matters in intimacy.

That's it. That make sense?

-It doesn't make sense. -That does make sense.

To lay it out,

it's awkward for you.

So it is.

So for Episode 6, we decided to bring in an intimacy coordinator to help us out.

Imura, everyone.

-I'm Imura. -Thank you for joining us!

Thank you.

Uh, I've made adjustments so that all the members of our cast

can concentrate on their acting without stress.

-Thank you for your understanding. -Thanks.

All the scenes that we are about to shoot have been discussed with the cast

and consent has been obtained.

All right, let's give it a go. This way, please.

Did it come out yet?

[Machiko] Not yet.

It won't be released until midnight in the US.

[Tsutomu] Mm.

Oh, it's there already! Look!

Can I watch Episode 6?

[Machiko] This isn't suitable for you.

[dark, tense music playing]

[music continues]

[Kawashima] Saeki, who has tracked down the whereabouts

of the Man of Darkness, goes in alone.

As the title suggests, it is true darkness.

She can't see anything.

However,

he who has lived there for 40 years, the Man of Darkness,

has eyes that have adjusted, so he can see clearly.

The shot, his POV.

The Man of Darkness's subjective shot.

-[distant thud] -[gasps]

[breath trembling]

Huh?

[Kawashima] Her phone runs out of battery,

and her mobile charger explodes for an unknown reason.

He's there! He's there!

No, this is scary!

[music intensifies]

[door rattling]

Finally, the Man of Darkness attacks!

He grabs her shirt and rips it. At that moment, the door opens.

Detective!

There's a car outside.

The Man of Darkness's face is lit up for just a second by the headlights.

Aihara seeing that, we go to a close-up…

[music fades]

Who the hell are you, geezer?

[crew laughing]

-Okay, cut! -Cut!

Let's get ready.

[man] The headlights are key to this. Got it.

[Takahashi] From the test shot, this will be a closed set.

Each department, please use the minimum number of crew.

Okay, shall we begin?

-Thank you. -Thanks to you too.

-[tense music playing] -[panicked breathing]

[grunting]

[pained groan]

[yells]

Detective!

Close your eyes!

[music ends]

Who are you calling geezer?

[energetic music playing]

[Gen] Taku Tanaka went viral overnight.

#TAKUTANAKA

DARKNESS OF THE DARKNESS IS TERRIFYING!

He entered all of the trending searches.

With Episode 6, Darkness of the Darkness

became the most viewed series currently on television!

And then…

I'd like to apply for a credit card.

You're from Darkness?

[vibrant music playing]

You are, right? From Darkness? Tanaka?

[staff gasping]

It's "Who are you calling geezer?"

[phone buzzes]

[Gen] I could no longer walk around freely outside.

KAWASHIMA

We've received appearance requests from variety shows.

The bus traveling one, you know, the one that ranks Hamamatsu gyoza,

and, oh, Aiseki too.

AISEKI SHOKUDO

[man] Tokyo, Sumida Ward.

The journey begins at Sakurabashi Bridge.

It's the Skytree.

Huh, who is it today?

[man] And the person is…

-It's a little bit cloudy. -Okay…

-Who are you calling geezer? -Huh?! Eh?

Hello, this is Taku Tanaka.

-[hosts] Hold on a second! -That guy!

-Darkness of the Darkness. -Really?

He does these shows?

This man is the scariest geezer in Japan right now.

But he's not a variety show dude.

-His hair's not a variety show style. -Right.

Actually, the line wasn't written.

-Really? -Yeah.

During the rehearsal, Mibu had said,

"Who the hell are you, old geezer?"

So I felt that I had to hit hard in the real take.

I quickly had to think of something to say.

Wait, wait, hang on…

Seems like he's actually a nice guy.

-Absolutely. -It's not exciting though.

Even now, he's telling us these things that he likely shouldn't be.

I don't want to hear behind-the-scenes stories yet.

He's an old geezer who became popular suddenly, right?

This is how it goes when you're unsuccessful for so long.

Tanaka.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

-Here, I brought this from the set today. -What?

-Wow! -[Gen chuckles]

Jojoen bento, I love it!

Variety show Bento boxes are always the fanciest you can get.

-Fancier than the TV ones? -Mm.

Even the bento for a location to decide the top five Hamamatsu gyoza was eel.

You take a shuttle bus even if it's three minutes walking.

I'll get fat so fast.

You'll get all round.

-Isn't everyone successful fat? -[Gen laughs]

Okay.

In return for the Jojoen bento…

One, two…

[both] Congratulations for your huge break, Taku Tanaka!

[cheering]

[Ema] Congratulations!

[Gen cries]

[hostess] Congratulations!

-You deserve it. -[Ema giggles]

Tanaka's crying! Oh no!

Of course this would make me cry.

Of course I'm crying.

Aw!

-[Gen sniffles] -[sentimental music playing]

I thought I'd never get to experience this again.

I'm sorry you're crying.

[Gen exhales]

Oh, I'm glad I didn't quit.

Glad I stuck with it.

[applause]

[phone buzzes]

Mm…

MACHIKO

Hi.

This is Takasegawa.

Oh, the same here too.

[Machiko] I saw it.

The streaming show.

Ah!

You should have told me you would be in it.

I wouldn't have watched it if you had.

Uh, sorry, I'm sorry.

I didn't call you up just to be mean.

How about

the three of us get some dinner one night?

Huh? [scoffs]

"Which three?" What do you mean?

Tsutomu and I.

And who else would be there?

Um, hello?

[crying softly]

I'm not crying. Not crying.

Mm.

I'll make a reservation.

Any place you like…

Okay.

You're right. [sniffles]

Home sounds good.

[emotional music playing]

Mm-hm.

Got it.

My wife just called.

You're crying!

Well… [sniffles]

All these good things all at once.

What's going on today?

Am I going to die? [laughs]

Okay.

Before you die, I'll go on a date with you.

GOTCHA! ONIHEIJI THE MOVIE TICKET

[customers whooping]

You got these for us?

Mm-hm.

Well, I can't die now!

[music fades]

[Machiko] Ah.

Please, have a seat.

Oh,

which one's mine again?

Sorry, I'm, uh…

Doesn't matter, right? I'll sit anywhere.

That's right.

I bought this condo so I could do things like this.

-Can we cheers? -Mm-hm.

Sure.

[all] Kanpai!

[Gen] And yet,

what have I been doing all this time?

Ahh.

[Machiko] Please don't cry.

Not in front of my son.

[chuckles] No crying.

[Tsutomu giggles]

Okay.

-Shall we eat? -[Tsutomu] Mm.

Thanks for the meal.

-Thanks for the food. -Thanks for the meal.

Just a little.

-All right, I'll take some meat. -Thank you.

[snuffles, breathes shakily]

It tastes amazing.

Yeah. [giggles]

[sentimental music playing]

[Gen] It's not delicious because I've been acknowledged as an actor.

But because I was acknowledged, became arrogant,

was then forgotten, and then gained all this back again.

[sniffles]

[Machiko] It's hot.

[all laughing]

Tsutomu.

Don't you have something to say to Tanaka?

Oh, is that so?

Are you gonna ask? Do you want me to ask?

So then,

do you want an autograph or anything?

It's parent observation day.

Uh, Saturday.

You can come if you want to. I know you're busy though.

I'll go!

I swear, no matter what, I'll go!

-Sleep tight. -Mm, sleep tight.

-[Machiko] Sleep tight. -Sleep tight.

Oh, yeah. I've been invited to parent observation day,

which means Tsutomu--

Please leave after you eat this.

Listen, I can't let a guy I don't know very well stay over.

[sighs happily]

"A guy I don't know very well."

[music fades]

Ah.

KORIN PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What are you doing?

[laughs] Yeah.

I wasn't sure about it either,

but they're elementary school kids.

If they recognize me--

Kids in elementary school don't watch scary dramas.

No. I, uh… I had this on for the variety show though.

No way. Now go to Uniqlo or Shimamura or another store. Get changed.

Uh, so…

Yeah. Uh, yeah.

[teacher] Okay, class, today we'll start with the seven times table.

-[children] Okay! -[whispers] Over here.

-[teacher] Who should I ask? -[quietly] Where's Tsutomu?

-He's over there. -Hm.

[boy] Hey! It's the bad guy!

[children gasping]

[animated chatter]

[teacher] Okay, okay, quiet down now.

-Okay. -[boy 2] Whose dad is he?

[teacher] What's wrong?

-Tsutomu… -[teacher] Go ahead.

He's an actor,

my dad is.

He's very good.

He's really good at acting.

But today

he's not here working,

so don't harass him, okay?

[emotional music playing]

[Gen] Can there be any greater fulfillment

of my need for esteem?

At least for me,

this is more valuable than tens of thousands of likes,

more valuable than tens of millions of views,

and more valuable

than any acting award.

[sighs softly]

[music fades]

What?

Just one showing? Why is that?

When is 25 o'clock anyways?

[laughs] It's 1:00 a.m.

SCREENING SCHEDULE

GOTCHA! ONIHEIJI THE MOVIE

-They only show it at 1:00 a.m. -It's still the first week, right?

No way. Why, though?

I can't go at 1:00 a.m.

If I did, I would just fall asleep, you know?

GOTCHA! ONIHEIJI THE MOVIE

[cheerful music playing in cinema]

Hey.

Sorry about this.

Oh god, you had to sit here?

[chuckles] You're right.

It's so empty in here.

Ah, can't avoid it.

Historical dramas don't draw crowds.

Okay, sure.

It's still inconsiderate.

Elderly people aren't awake at 1:00 a.m.

Have the decency to show it early, right?

The screens are in use then.

The shared distributor's anime is a massive hit.

That's irrelevant.

They have different audiences, so who cares?

There have been all kinds of movies that are done and never released.

That's too bad.

Half a movie budget is marketing these days.

If they don't think it'll be a hit,

it can be more profitable to skip theatrical release,

go straight to streaming, and redirect the saved money elsewhere.

TAIEI

[Gen] So we should be grateful it's even getting a theatrical release?

-[man 1] It is… odd. -[man 2] It's odd.

[Gen] I don't know.

I just can't accept this.

-A lot of work was put into this. -Just hold on.

I'm sorry.

[man 1] One more time.

Huh?

[Yuba] Are you ready?

You're ready?

I'll put them in here.

Go ahead.

[emotional music playing]

-[Yuba] This time it's even! -I see myself.

[man 3] All right, odd!

-[man 4] Even! -[man 5] Even!

[man laughs in movie]

-Odd! -Odd!

[Gen] Maybe the Kyoto staff were behind this,

but Kariya

was clearly visible from the very first scene.

[cheering in movie]

I look so good there.

[chuckles fondly]

[crying]

[emotional music continues]

You're a big star now, geezer.

I heard you even got a commercial deal.

I'm not sure if it's for ham or sausages.

No, it's for now, you know.

A temp gig. Yeah, of course. Nothing lasts forever, got it?

So you gotta get the next one!

Here.

BEGINNING OF DARKNESS EPISODE 0

"Episode 0"?

Mm-hm. Well, I suppose it's like a prequel.

It's about the early days of the Man of Darkness.

That's the reason I'm not in it.

I think this time I'll just focus on the producing side, yeah?

So I guess…

you are gonna play the lead, geezer.

What? The… The lead?

[exhales]

[Mibu] Wait, wait, wait!

This whole time, I wanted you to say it, your line.

-Oh, sorry. -Yeah.

-Who are you calling geezer? -Yes, finally, that's it!

[laughing]

So is Kawashima directing?

Huh? You don't know?

-He decided to retire. -[music stops]

You know, he was saying his back hurt and all.

Apparently, his kidneys are in bad shape.

He said he just can't do it anymore.

So I said, "You should direct something before you retire."

And that's why he was directing that episode you were on.

[emotional music resumes]

[Gen] Kawashima is retiring.

Kawashima,

who happened to mention me.

[Kawashima] "Among the 47 ronin,

Gen Takasegawa, who played Kichiemon, stood out the most."

"His father was a silver screen star,

the legendary Yorozu Mantaro from the Oniheiji series."

"No wonder he had a star quality."

Takasegawa, um, how to say this…

"His acting is like an American car."

"He's powerful, but has a lot of quirks and breaks down a lot."

"Unfortunately, there is no director who can handle him."

"That is a huge shame for Japanese cinema."

It's your debut as a director!

So freaking exciting!

Oh man, that's great!

[Kawashima] "He mainly works on stage, but I'd like to work with him someday."

Who are you calling geezer?

Cut, guys.

Okay!

If you're looking for Kawashima, he moved last week.

Ah.

That line's from…

If you're looking for Shimada, he moved last week.

-I said that. [chuckles] -[music ends]

DAIYA MIBU CAUGHT CHEATING RELATIONSHIP WITH CO-STAR ACTRESS

-Damn it! -[Yoko] Tanaka!

[Gen] How…

lovable she is.

Tanaka!

It is you, isn't it?

[Gen] Oh…

Yeah.

I went to see Darkness of the Darkness.

It was fantastic.

[Gen] Thanks.

Who are you represented by?

[Gen] I'm freelance.

Until recently, a director called Kawashima was my contact.

Sadly, he got sick.

Then you should join up with us. Being freelance must have its limits.

Don't you know who I am?

-Huh? -That's what I said.

Right here.

To your face.

Thirty years back.

[Yoko scoffs quietly]

I know who you are.

You're Tanaka, right?

[both laughing]

Take this.

I guess you know already?

The details?

[sighs] Are you sure?

I'm just an old geezer, you know.

That's the reason you got so much attention.

You have no name or record.

An old geezer nobody knows

who showed up and delivered incredible acting.

Actually, I didn't even know it was acting.

It looked completely real.

So are you asking just because I'm an old geezer?

Yeah. That's right.

All right.

That's good to hear.

I thought I'd better hurry before you're not just some old geezer.

[Gen] Huh?

WHO ARE YOU CALLING GEEZER? COMMON WIENER

[chuckles]

I'm glad

that I worked hard.

[vibrant music playing]

Oh, that's great!

That's great!

[music continues]

1 YEAR LATER

THEATER SHOW KING LEAR 2029 PRESS CONFERENCE

The production is scheduled for Spring 2029.

[interpreter speaking Japanese]

I'm here in Japan to audition actors for the lead role.

[interpreter speaking Japanese]

I'm not going to compromise

or give anyone special treatment just because they're experienced.

[interpreter speaking Japanese]

[Charlie] I don't care if they're a complete unknown.

I'm looking for someone truly special.

[interpreter speaking Japanese]

[in English] Take a seat.

Now, can you please introduce yourselves in turn.

Let's start with Mr. Shimada.

[Charlie] Let's take the show

to Tokyo, Gen.

I'll book the theater too.

You have my word.

[man] Thank you for listening.

[interpreter] Thank you. Please take a seat.

Okay then. The last person, please.

[music ends]

Hi.

My name is…

[bright instrumental music playing]