Original subtitles

When people finish their day and hurry home,

my day starts.

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

They call it "Midnight Diner."

PORK MISO SOUP COMBO BEER, SAKE, SHOCHU

That's all I have on my menu.

But I make whatever customers request

as long as I have ingredients for it.

That's my policy.

Do I even have customers?

More than you would expect.

Many of my female regulars always come to my diner alone.

Hello.

Welcome.

This is Ms. Tsukiko, a screenwriter.

She comes here when she wants to drink alone.

The usual?

Here you go.

Thanks for the food.

She's a big fan of my pickled Napa cabbage.

Here you go. Tuna mayo with rice.

I've been pickling my own Napa cabbage, but they don't taste the same.

Master, where's my sake?

Coming right up.

Pickled food from different batches tend to taste different.

Master's pickled cabbage always tastes the same.

That's impressive. They say it's harder to be consistent than it is to change.

I bet he can't change even if he wanted to.

That hurt, Tsukiko.

It was a compliment.

By the way,

I ordered this to go the other day, right?

That night...

Remember the taste of your hometown? It's different for everyone.

I'm from Sendai.

If I could choose my last meal before I die,

I'd choose pickled Napa cabbage on piping hot rice.

When I first came to Tokyo,

the pickled cabbage here just didn't taste right to me.

I agree.

It doesn't taste the same.

Then again, I suppose this counts as the taste of home

-for those born and bred in Tokyo. -I haven't had that in a while.

You like pickled cabbage?

What? Yes.

I'm from Miyagi, you see.

I'm sure you have one too. The taste of your hometown, I mean.

I forgot.

The pickled Napa cabbage they make here tastes nothing like the one back home.

I've tried many restaurants, but none of them made the cut.

Maybe they use a different kind of salt or cabbage.

-You know what? -What?

You should try this.

What is it?

Is that pickled cabbage?

-Eyes on the road! -Oh, right.

Thanks.

I hope it meets his standards.

Don't worry, I know he'll like it.

I told him about this diner, so maybe he'll drop by.

Excuse me.

Are you Tsukiko Maeoka, the screenwriter?

Yes, that's me.

I'm a fan!

I can't believe it! I'm a huge fan!

Bridal Paradise is my favorite!

Oh, I really love BriPara!

Oh, that one? The producer and I didn't see eye to eye.

I didn't think the show would be a hit, to be honest.

Really?

I'd never have guessed.

I recorded every episode, and I still watch them from time to time.

I'm honored.

-Hello. -Welcome.

-Tsuki! -Kosuzu!

Komichi!

Rolled omelet and a beer, please.

Sure.

How's Merubo?

He's doing great.

Look.

Who's Merubo, you ask?

Kosuzu has a cat, Meruru, and Merubo is one of her kittens.

Tsukiko adopted Merubo after she met Kosuzu here, in this diner.

I'm only home at night.

If I get home later than usual, he bites and scratches me.

You should have seen him.

His bites really hurt.

-Really? -Yes.

That's strange.

He was already three months old when you took him home, right?

I let him play with his siblings until then.

He should know how to play-bite.

I've got it.

He must take after his mother.

My Meruru is the jealous type too.

You have a man, don't you?

I can smell it on you.

My, how scandalous!

You can never fool a cat.

You may be on to something there.

You're sharp, Kosuzu.

Is your entire life reference material for the stories you write?

Tsukiko.

Don't worry about the deadline.

I'll handle the program schedule.

You don't have to worry about anything.

Write whatever you want.

That's what I want to see from you.

Okay.

I look forward to it.

Thanks.

Good night.

Good night.

Merubo, I'm home.

If you ask me,

I think Merubo knew what was going to happen next.

TSUKIKO MAEOKA HAS AN AFFAIR WITH TV STATION PRODUCER

FAMOUS SCREENWRITER TSUKIKO MAEKO HAS LATE-NIGHT RENDEZVOUS WITH PRODUCER

FAMOUS SCREENWRITER TSUKIKO MAEKO CAUGHT KISSING MARRIED PRODUCER IN PUBLIC

Disgusting, right?

I bet she's been seducing men to get her writing gigs.

Writer, my ass.

More like a prostitute, am I right?

Welcome.

-Beer, please. -Sure.

-The producer is just as disgusting. -Right.

I bet he told her, "I'll hire you, so let me sleep with you."

Really?

Of course. He abused his power.

The casting couch, as they call it.

I bet she's not his only mistress. There must be other models and actresses.

He must have been sleeping around.

-What a sleazeball, right? -I'm kind of jealous, actually.

-What does a producer even do, anyway? -Good question.

-They're just for show. -Right.

They drive around in their flashy Porches and say, "How about dinner in Ginza?"

-Thanks. -Thanks for the food.

-Come on. The night is still young. -All right.

I heard about your pickled Napa cabbage from Ms. Maeoka.

I see.

Have you seen her?

No.

A "sleazeball," huh?

What I did was wrong.

There's no excuse for it.

But it was her talent I fell in love with.

It just so happened that I was a man, and she was a woman.

It just happened.

I knew it was wrong.

But I was like a moth to a flame.

I couldn't help it.

A week later,

Ms. Tsukiko dropped by.

Welcome.

That's a surprise.

Hello, Tsuki.

Sake and pickled Napa cabbage, please.

Sure.

I'm staying at a hotel west of the train station.

I've never had to hole up like this before.

Isn't it ironic?

They only call me a "famous screenwriter" when they have a scandal to sell.

Merubo!

Mr. Nose

is the only one who truly understands my work.

He told me to write whatever I wanted to.

None of my other producers ever said that to me.

His appreciation for my work blinded me.

I stopped thinking about his wife and children.

Does it upset you?

Isn't your life just reference material for your work?

I can't take this anymore.

Merubo!

-Oh, it's you again. -Did a cat run by?

It ran that way...

Merubo!

What happened?

-What did they say? -Oh, you're still here.

Is your cat okay?

Well...

His right hind leg is broken.

He'll have to stay in the clinic until he recovers.

-So he's okay. -Yes.

That's a relief.

I'll drive you home. Hop in.

What?

The pickled cabbage was delicious.

Mister.

Yes?

I'm from Miyagi too.

I see.

Don't cry. What's done is done.

I know.

I went to see the ocean on my way home last week.

There were crabs on the beach. Can you believe it?

I thought they were a thing of the past.

The crabs found a way to survive?

Yes.

You did it.

This is good. It's perfect.

I stopped worrying.

Once I started writing, I couldn't stop.

I'll show this to the company right away.

We'll prove to them that your talent is real.

Let's...

end this.

What?

I have to move on.

I see.

You're not taking it with you?

I can't.

That story is a part of you.

Tsukiko.

Thank you.

Six months later, Tsukiko's new drama series went on air.

AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE

Your new show is a hit.

Thanks.

I have a date today, Master.

Again?

Haven't you learned your lesson?

Not that kind of date.

-Hello. -Welcome.

You're here.

Master, we'll have pickled Napa cabbage. Make it extra-large.

Sure.

Before you pickle them,

dry the Napa cabbage in the shade for half a day.

The cabbage will taste sweeter as they dry out.

Add dried kelp, chili pepper, or any other spices you prefer.

They taste even better with your favorite spices.

Until next time.

-Good night. -Good night.

TO BE CONTINUED

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Subtitle translation by Chen Li Woon