All language subtitles for 1935 愿妻如蔷薇 Wife! Be Like a Rose!

TOHO CO., LTD. presents
a P.C.L. Production

Based on the Novel "Two Wives"
by Minoru Nakano

WIFE! BE LIKE A ROSE!

Cinematography
HIROSHI SUZUKI

Sound Recording
KOICHI SUGII

Art Direction
KAZUO KUBO

Music
NOBORU ITO

Written and Directed by
MIKIO NARUSE

Cast

SACHIKO CHIBA as Kimiko Yamamoto
YURIKO HANABUSA as Oyuki

TOMOKO ITO as Etsuko Yamamoto
SETSUKO HORIKOSHI as Shizuo

SADAO MARUYAMA
as Shunsaku Yamamoto

HEIHACHIRO OKAWA as Seiji
KAORU ITO as Kenichi
KAMATARI FUJIWARA as the Uncle

Working late, Miss Yamamoto?

No, I´m leaving.

"Onions, bean, paste, tuna".

Phooey! Thought it was a
love letter.

Never you mind.

Miss Yamamoto?

Don´t you want a boyfriend?

The nerve!

Aren´t you lonely?

You´re too kind.
But I have someone.

Waiting for me?

You wish.

Then what are you doing?

I was just thinking of
leaving when you came.

The same as waiting.

No, the feeling´s
totally different.

Let´s go to a movie.

No. I´m busy tonight.

Actually, I´m too.

Well, Good-bye then.

Yes, Good-bye.

My uncle wants to talk.

Yours?

Are you sure?

Maybe not.

Don´t scare me like that.

I´m sure it´s about
Father.

Have you heard from him?

I´d like to talk to you
about that.

Can you come over tomorrow?

Yes, sure.

I´ll cook for you.

But use your movie money
to buy a gift fot Mother.

You´re tought!

Mother!

Supper´s ready.

Quiet, please.

I have an inspiration
for a poem.

Please be quiet!

Did you write one?

It´s very good. Listen.

With spring my solitude...

...grips my heart more
harshly than in winter.

Lovely.

But beyond me.

No poetic sensibility.

Like your poem, I´ve
created a masterpiece.

What is it?

Here, this.

Chef´s salad.

Silly.

Cooking is too much work.
You should hire a maid.

We´re only two people.
It would be wasteful.

Registered letter!

It´s from Father.

What does he say?

"Money Order: 30 yen".

He could have written
something.

I know Shunsaku.

He won´t write until
he can send a large sum.

He may be doing this
behind that woman´s back.

The money aside, I see
Mother growind older...

That´s the problem.

Did you see this?

Mother´s poems?

Listen.

Neglected I remain
these many years...

Yet each spring I long
for him afresh.

Here´s another.

Alone year after year...

I´ve lost the art of joking.

What do you think?

She thinks of nothing
but your father.

I hope she won´t make
herself sick.

I´m going out a while.

You and your uncle
talk over...

...how to bring your
father home quickly.

Good-bye now.

Good-bye, Auntie.

Take care of things.

Uncle...

I don´t mean to blame
Mother.

But when Father lived
with us...

...she didn´t seem to care
that much about him.

When he´d come home
at night...

...she didn´t even help him
change his clothes.

She hardly spoke to him.

I don´t think she was
a good wife.

But what about him?

A mistress and children.

Left his wife and daugther
for fifteen years!

I didn´t say he was
a good husband.

Precisely. Now listen.

And with him away...

...how can you and Seiji
get married?

Don´t worry about me.

Do you mean that?

Don´t lie to yourself.

Want to end up writing
poetry like your mother?

Seiji´s father wants
you two to marry soon.

But he wants to meet
your father first.

If you´ll go, I´ll help.

Thank you, Uncle.

Where did Auntie go?

To play mahjong. She´s
out all the time lately.

My, how modern!

You don´t mind?

No, I´m a good husband.

An example for your father.

Do you write poetry too?

Not poetry, but I have a
new passion.

Wait, I´ll surprise you.

What is it?

Cactus, maybe?

Or is it birds?

Nothing like that.

Last time it was a mice.

Auntie was unhappy
with the smell.

Gidayu songs.
Want to hear?

Uncle! You´re doing
classical song?

What shall I sing?

Something interesting,
and short.

And cheerful.

Never heard of a
cheerful Gidayu.

Anyway, listen.

After my parents left me...

...my uncle took care of me.

He raised me with you,

...three years older than I.

Then misfortune befell you.

Smallpox struck you down.

You lost your eyesight.

Poverty took its toll.

But I have promised...

...to stay with you, Sawaichi.

Though fires rage or
floods pour down...

...we will be man and wife...

...into the world beyond.

Hello.

Seiji? Come in.

I´m already in.

Good. You remembered.

This seems more eagerly
awaited than I am.

Of course.

Where´s your mother?

The poetry club.

I´m thirsty.

Would you like tea?
Just help yourself.

There´s English too.

But I´m the guest.

Sorry, my hands are full.

What did you bring?

Thought your hands
were full.

Silly. I´m not going
to eat it.

I saw Uncle last night.

What was it about?

He wants me to bring
Father back home.

Yes, it´s too hard on
you and your mother.

Have you seen Mother´s
poetry in the papers?

Yes, they´re all love
poems to your father.

Strange. She told me he´s
unsympathetic and vulgar.

Does distance really
make the heart grow fond?

Do poems make money?

Hardly.

But she teaches
poetry, doesn´t she?

Yes, but not for money.

Look out there.

That´s all her pupils
ever bring.

The place is a flower dump.

I have to water every day.

That´s pretty.

Can you eat it?

Eating is all you
can think about.

But you can eat cherry
blossoms and chrysanthemums.

They bring chrysanthemums
in the fall. Be my guest.

If you can´t wait,
eat that one.

This will do fine.

Your father doesn´t know
my father´s not here.

But your uncle will
explain eveything.

Still, they´ll have to
meet some day.

I guess so.

It´s Mother.

Hello, Mother.

Hello.

She looks angry.

No, she´s not.

It´s an inspiration,
for a poem.

Poetry comes from
inspiration?

I´m impressed.

Silly.

Hello.

Mrs. Yamamoto,

...did you just have
an inspiration?

On my way home I saw
something...

...that moved me deeply.

What was it?

A young couple walked
toward me,

...leading their pretty
little girl.

Then the girl tripped
and broke...

...the strap of her sandal.

It was as red as fire.

The young mother repaired
the sandal,

...ripping her handkerchief
with her lovely hands.

The young father held
and comforted the girl.

Would that make a poem?

Such a beautiful portrait.

It was a familial affection...

... in perfect harmony.

That was happiness.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Was that "inspiration"?

Experiences like that
produce good poems.

Is that so.

Kimiko.

I´m very upset. Very.

What is it?

Mr. Yoshida´s son is set...

...to marry the daugther of
one of my pupils.

They want me to be their
go-between at the wedding.

I thought only married
couples were go-betweens.

That´s why I´m upset.

I declined once, but
they insist.

Don´t they know
about Father?

I don´t talk about it.

They should read
your poems.

What shall I do?

Hello!

I brought you some cakes.

Thank you.

Mother, it´s the tailor.

He´s brought a coat.

Did you order again?

Yes, there´s a poetry
meeting this month...

...and Mr. Sasagawa´s book
publication party.

Mother´s impossible.

She doesn´t understand me.

Get one made for yourself,
then.

Oh? And who would pay
for it?

You, maybe?

I might.

Silly. How much do you
make a month?

Only ten yen more than I do.

Excuse me.

Ten yen´s not much.

But men are still
better than women.

What a bad loser you are!

How do you like it?

If you like it, fine.

And I want a formal
kimono too.

For yourself?

Yes, for a wedding.
Make it fancy...

...but not frumpy.

I understand.

For a wedding?

The Yoshida wedding.

I can´t wear my old
one again.

But you can´t be
their go-between.

Yes, but I can´t
refuse. It´s awful.

Anyway, draw a desing.

What´s wrong?

She´s impossible.

She´s upset, but the
orders a new kimono.

Can´t be helped.

She has no other
consolation.

But my salary´s only
45 yen.

There you go with the
salary talk again.

Good-bye.

Please make it nice.

I´m staying home today.
Why don´t you go out?

But Kimiko promised to
cook for me.

Seiji, let´s go out.

That´s nice.

It´s a beautiful day.

Have a good time.

We´re going out?

Do you have money?
Let me see.

More than I thought.

Let´s splurge today.

No thanks.

I´m not just counting
on your finances.

I have even more.

Let´s spend it all.

Are you sure?

What is it?

The weather may change
as fast as you.

Poor Mother.

She´s not a bad person.

In fact she´s quite nice.

She´s just a loser.

All the more pitiful.

Men like a wife who acts
childish and cajoling...

...or jealous sometimes.

Or motherly and protective.

But my mother can´t do it.

Not that she doesn´t know.
She knows but she can´t.

You´ve done your research.

I know I´ll be a good wife.

Maybe too good for you.

It´s Father!

Driver, stop!

Hey, the fare!

I´ve lost him.

Was it really him?

Yes, definitely.

Let´s go home.

He´s sure to come.

Really?

Shunsaku, is that you?

It´s been a long time.

When did you arrive?

This morning.

Been home?

Not yet.

You´re on your way?

They´ll be so glad.

He´ll be so glad.
He loves this.

Cucumbers! They´re
cheap. I´ll get some.

This is enough.

Just a few.

Give me some money.

In poetry direct
expression is best.

I see.

Why don´t you try?

Yes, all right.

For example, direct
expression of hunger...

Seiji, come here, please.

I´ll work on it.

Yes?

Peel this, please.

Such a feast today!

It´s a big event.
You´ll be surprised.

Yes, it´s...

Seiji!

What is it?

Well, where is this
surprise? Not yet?

Not quite.

"Thought I am hungry..."

"...an empty stomach..."

"The samurai who
has not dined..."

What´s happened, Kimiko?

All right, I´ll tell you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Hello.

What´s this? A party?

Kimiko´s idea.

Oh, I see. For Shunsaku.

Where is he, anyway?

How did you know?

Your aunt saw him today.

Mother, he´s in town.
We saw him from a taxi.

You mean he hasn´t
come here yet?

My wife met him on
the street.

This is too much!

He must be here on
urgent business.

He may come very late.

It´s not right.

If he´s in town, he
should come here first.

That´s right.

At this rate, he´ll
never come home.

That woman is
manipulating him.

If this goes on,
he´ll be ruined.

If he leaves Oyuki now
we´ll help all we can.

He can give her everything
he has and come home.

He´s not as well off
as he once was...

...but he has enough to
send some to you.

That´s why she stay
with him.

Anyway, she was a geisha.

If he goes broke, she´ll
get rid of him.

He should leave now.

"Billiards"

Mr. Sakazaki!

You have a guest.

Oh, thank you.

Just a small gift.

Good evening.

On your way home?

I´m going to see Father.

He can´t ignore us.
I´m furious.

When are you leaving?

Tomorrow.

What about work?

I got time off.

O.K. by yourself?

Of course.

Oyuki is a tough one.

Don´t let her beat you.

Don´t worry, I can
handle it.

That´s right, I guess
you´re as tough as she is.

Is that an insult or
a compliment?

Oh, if you want, tea,
help yourself.

There´s English too.

If you give me some money,
I´ll bring you a souvenir.

As tough as ever.

Got the train fare?

Uncle gave it to me.

Where is it?

Change trains in Nagano.
Then into the mountains.

Father!

Sorry I´m late.
You must be hungry.

I´m all right, just
tired today.

I was about to quit.

How is it going?

Not so good.

I may have to cross
another mountain.

I´m sorry for all of you.

Oh, no.

We´re looking forward
the day you succeed.

I´ll strike it rich
some day for sure.

They say there´s gold
in that river.

Just speculators´ talk.

How far is Hirao Village?

Right there.

Do you know the Yamamotos?

Which Yamamotos?

Shunsaku Yamamoto.

That´s us.

What, you?

He´s my father.

Coming to my house?

Yes. Please take me there.

What are you here for?

To talk to your father.

Do you know him?

Yes, very well.

Mother, too?

No, I don´t know her.

What does she do?

She´s a hairdresser.

Hairdresser?

And my sister´s
a seamstress.

"Hairdresser"

"Dressmaker"

Here were are.

A lady from Tokyo?

I´m Kimiko Yamamoto.

The Young Miss from Tokio?

Is there an Oyuki here?

I am Oyuki. I´m happy
to meet you.

You´ve come all that way?

Please come in.

Thank you.

Welcome to our home.

Forgive my sudden visit.

I´ve wanted to meet you,
and apologize.

Mother! Mother!

Excuse me.

Who is the Young Miss
from Tokyo?

Someone very precious
to your father.

What does that mean?

You´ll understand when
you grow up.

Thank you.

Father´s tired, so he´s
coming home early.

That´s good.

The Young Miss from
Tokyo is here.

Young Miss from Tokyo?

I´ve spoken of her.

You mean Kimiko?

Yes. Say hello to her.

Kenichi, come with us.

My daughter and son.

How do you do?

How do you do?

How do you do?

You may go now.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Please make yourself
at home.

And my father?

Working in the mountains.
He´ll be home soon.

I saw him in Tokyo.

From a taxi.

I got out and followed,
but I lost him.

Yes, he was in Tokyo
on business.

He didn´t come to see us.

I begged him to.

Your family must hate me.

Put yourself in my
mother´s place.

Though he has a good wife.
I´ve come to depend on him.

I´m deeply sorry.

Father is to blame.

I have some sympathy
for him...

...but when I think of Mother
I can´t permit this.

Who is this Young Miss?

She´s precious to Father.

Why precious?

You´ll understand when
you grow up.

You talk like Mother.

Kenichi!

Take the Young Miss
and go meet Father.

You may meet on the way.

Until later.

Mother!

What does she want?

She wants to see Father.

Should we be worried?

Oh, no.

I hear you´re precious
to my father.

Who said that?

Mother and Sister.

Why precious?

You´ll understand when
you grow up.

It´s Father!

The Young Miss from
Tokyo is here.

Father!

Oh, Kimiko!

It´s been so long.

Yes, you´ve become a
fine young lady now.

You look well as ever.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming
such a long way.

Actually, I...

Kenichi, we´ll chat
as we walk.

You go on ahead.

What do you intend for
me and Mother?

Of course you´re
on my mind.

And when I make good
I´ll send you money.

Money´s not the point.

Weren´t you in Tokyo
recently?

Yes, on business.

Why didn´t you
come home then?

Why didn´t you
come and see Mother?

Whether you succeed
or fail...

...she wouldn´t complain.

I know, I know.

After twenty years,

...I know her better
than you do.

It makes it all the worse.

Why? Mother´s
a fine person.

Too fine.

That´s what´s beyond me.

I don´t understand.

I´m no good with her kind.

We´ll discuss that later.

I came to take you
back home.

To Tokyo?

That´s right.

Please! Let´s go home
together.

No. I can´t.

I have work to finish.

Prospecting all this time,
and no gold in sight.

Can open a business in
Tokyo. You´ll manage.

If you just leave Oyuki,

...Uncle says he´ll help us.

No thanks.

I´ll strike gold soon.

Then I´ll provide for you.

I´m not talking about money.

We have my salary and...

...the monthly money you send.
We manage all right.

Who sends you money?

You do. 20 or 30 yen,
every month.

No, I don´t.

You do. Just last week.

No, the last time
was years ago.

It´s strange. Never any
letters, just money.

Then it must be Oyuki.

Oyuki?

Since my failure,

...she and Shizue feed us by
hairdressing and sewing.

She´s worried about you,
so I guess she sends it.

She´s that kind of woman.

She hasn´t sent Shizue to
school, so you could go.

"Lesson 10. Filial Piety".

"There once lived a man
named Gihei".

"He was born in Kyoto".

"He was adopted soon
after he was born".

"His foster father died
when he was ten".

"From then on the cared
for this sick foster mother".

"He had a filial heart".

Tired? Want a massage?

Yes, thanks.

"His family had no land".

"Gihei worked for the
other farmers".

"He made a meager living".

"Rising early, he fed
his poor mother".

Such manners!

Sister?

The Young Miss called our
father "Father".

Never mind.

Just do your homework.

Young Miss?

Will you have some?

Thank you.

"Lesson 18. Wifely Duttes".

"Takiko was the mother
of Shoin Yoshida".

"His father, Yurinosuke,

...was a poor samurai, so
to support her family".

"Takiko worked in the
fields".

Would you like a bath?
There´s a hotspring.

Shizue.

Take the Young Miss
to the baths.

What about me?

Later, with Father.

Oyuki.

Forgive me.

For what?

Father made me see.

It´s you who send us
the money.

It´s nothing.

I´m sorry. I had
no idea.

It´s all right.

I didn´t want
anyone to know.

I never dreamed.

In fact, I thought...

...Father was sending us
money behind your back.

Until I arrived here...

...I had no idea you were
supporting him.

I thought we suffered
while he spoiled you.

Of course you´d think so,
because I was a geisha.

If it weren´t for me...

...his Tokyo relatives would
probably help him.

I blame myself constantly.

But looking at my two
children...

... thought I feel guilty...

...and though we are poor...

...the happiness we four have
in being together...

...is something I can´t destroy.

We have talked of separation
many times,

...and him returning to Tokyo.

But his work is going
so badly...

...and he has been so kind...

...I just can´t send him away.

I could live the rest
of my life this way...

...if the four of us
could stay together.

To those who worry
about his welfare...

...I may sound crazy.

But there´s nothing else
I really want.

I understand.

I know I will have to
let him go some day...

But I hopped he´d stay
till the children grow up.

Now that you´ve come,
I don´t know what to do.

To tell you the truth, I
came to take him home.

I thought so.

But I think...

...I may have been wrong.

"In the evening...

...near the luster...

...of firefly light...

...many different kinds...

...of talk arise".

"Oh, is it not fine...

...in the summer night?"

You´ll need this
formal wear too.

Where did that come from?

Men don´t need
to know everything.

I won´t need that.

You have go-between duties,
and Kimiko´s wedding plans.

Anything else?

I don´t think so.

Your train fare.

This is too much.

Buy a wedding gift
for Kimiko.

Where´d this come from?

I´ve been saving up
for Shizue´s wedding.

But we´ll manage.

Don´t worry.

Just...

Yes, what?

I´ll repeat what I asked
las night.

You´ll come back, won´t you?

I´m staying.

I just won´t go.

Oh, you mustn´t do that.

I only decided to go
because you asked me to.

Kimiko said she´d
go back alone.

I´m sorry. It´s not that
I doubt you.

I understand your feelings.

Father?

Are you packed?

You´re coming rigth back,
so you don´t need much.

Right.

I´ll borrow him for
a few days.

Please do.

Where are Shizue
and Kenichi?

On an errand.

Kenichi will miss...

...his father.

I´ll stay home after all.

Not that again.

I don´t mind going alone.

Not you too. This won´t do.

Take him this once.

When I left I was ready to
rope him and drag him back.

But once here I´ve seen
why he can´t leave.

You´re no good
without Oyuki.

Right?

What are you saying!

It´s true. The two of you
act in complete harmony.

My mother can´t do that.

How about you?

I´ll manage fine.

You seem confident.

Seiji´s pay is only 55 yen,

...but he´s not a speculator
like you.

Not very subtle, are you?

"Lining each side...

...of the path like walls...

...the barley ears emerge...

...myriad flowers bloom".

"Sleeping butterflies...

...and skylarks take flight".

On the way back to Tokyo...

...I forget which station...

...he bought me tangerines
and chocolate.

Until then I hadn´t felt
much affection for him.

But such a small thing...

...suddenly made me feel
I wanted to keep him near.

I even felt jealous of
Oyuki´s children.

In the mountains I had
promised I´d return him,

...but now I swore not to.

I wish Mother would do
something to keep him.

The day after we arrived...

...I suggested we all go out.

Kimiko, please get a taxi.

The train´s right there.

Let´s not be wasteful.

Father, cabs aren´t much.

I´m good at haggling.
Wait a minute.

Kimiko, don´t be cheap.

Don´t worry.

Father, I saw it in the
movies. There´s a way.

That wasn´t a taxi.

He looked surprised.

Let me try.

Kimiko, let´s walk.

Father, where would you
like to go?

Well...

I´d like a pleasant
drink somewhere.

You can drink at home.

Why not do something
more meaningful?

"Calligraphy Exhibit"

Next it´s Father´s turn.

You want more?

No, I´ll quit now.

Have a little more.

But next it´s my choice.

"Kagamijishi Dance"

For yourself?

No. Kenichi wants shoes.

It was useless.

Father´s heart was
in the country.

And Mother thinks only
of herself.

So she hasn´t changed.

Father knows her well.
He says.

"She´s too fine, and
I´m no good with her".

So they´ll never get along.

Even mornings are funny.

Father says,

Good morning.

Good morning.

Lovely weather again.

Like strangers.

A farce.

A tragedy.

Maybe so.

They´re back.

Welcome home.

Another inspiration.

Father, would you like
to change clothes?

Yes...

Would you get my suit?

Your suit?

Yes. I can still catch
the night train back.

But, Father!

Mother!

Quiet, please.

I´m correcting a poem
I had forgotten.

I met Seiji´s father, and
did the go-between duties.

That was all I came for.

But...

Mother, Father says
he´s leaving.

Really?

You´re leaving?

I´m sorry.

Forgive me.

I see.

I wish you well.

Thank you for everything.

I have work to finish.
Please excuse me.

Would you call me a cab?

Good evening.

Hello. Is Shunsaku in?

Everyone´s home.

Taxi?

Would you wait a minute?

Going out?

Uncle, he´s going back
to the mountains.

Really?

Yes. I still have
work to finish.

A man with a grown child.
Stop chasing dreams.

I came to offer you a
job but...

...first tell me what you
intend for this family.

What do you have against
Etsuko and Kimiko?

Are you going to let that
Oyuki woman ruin you?

Uncle!

Tell me. What´s wrong
with Etsuko?

You left her, yet she´s
waited for you.

Few woman would do that.

Up till now...

...you haven´t even written.

It´s not as if you were
too poor to pay the fare.

You can get on the train
any time you want.

Uncle, you mentioned the
train fare. Actually...

Kimiko!

I´m sorry.

I should keep quiet.

Uncle, please.

Don´t try to stop him.

What are you saying?

Isn´t happiness having
your parents together?

If it were only my own
happiness at stake, maybe.

But I think it´s right
Father should go back.

Ridiculous.

Father, please go.

Thank you. I will.

You´re both crazy.

Etsuko!

Etsuko.

He´s going back to her!

Each heart is different.
There´s no forcing him.

You, too!

Mother!

Never mind.

Seiji, take good care
of Kimiko.

Kimiko, take care
of your mother.

Mother!

Etsuko, stop him!
Don´t just cry!

Was a cab waiting?

The one you came in.

Idiot!

Mother has lost.

THE END