Original subtitles

Presented by Tenjo Sajiki

Lemmings: The Man Through The Wall

A Terayama Shuji stage play

Directed by Terayama Shuji, and J.A. Seazer

If you would like to learn more about this play, visit anguraresearchcenter.wordpress.com

When everyone will have gone,

I shall write a letter, alone.

When everyone will have gone,

I shall smoke, the very last cigarette in the world.

Come down Mose, you good for nothing.

Come down Mose, you good for nothing...

Take 600g of pig feet,

soak them whole in water.

Splash! After 2 hours, take them out and rip them up into good bite sizes.

I said, after 2 hours, take them out and rip them up into good bite sizes.

Here we go...

Rip them vigorously into cylinders of 5 or 6 cm diameter.

If you can't get the shape right, wrap them in cotton string,

then roast them slowly in the oven.

Madam!

Madam, how's the taste?

Yes? Madam, how's the taste?

Madam, how's the taste?

Well, not bad. Pork's good no matter what.

Let me teach you a little something, then.

Pork's right here, see?

Madam! Back in the day, pork wasn't eaten roasted like that.

The ears and feet would be torn off and eaten raw.

Here. - Ah, here!

Indeed, in Grand Dong.... Guangdong(1),

Guangdong! Indeed, in Grand Dong.... Guangdong(1),

Indeed, in Grand Dong.... Guangdong(1),

there was a great fire, and the town pigsty burned down. - Yup, yup.

The pigsty burned down completely!

The children who had kept piglets,

held their pet's little corpses on the way to church, crying...

absentmindedly they licked their oily fingers and found it...

Delicious! Delicious!

They tried to taste a small bite of the corpses and again, found it...

Delicious! Delicious!

From that day on, when the children got hungry they would set fire to pigsties!

You would hear them first, and then the little perpetrators

came out running from everywhere! - Ooooh, smells good!

The smell of roasted pork hung all over town.

At last, in the great city of Guangdong,

there were as many fires as there were pigs,

and it turned to ruins.

I'm so hungry...

So for the soup we need onions...

Man, I wanted to go see Tootsie(2), but I'm broke...

Hum... sake, then salt...

Hey Wan, you've met the neighbors right? Hum... sake, then salt...

Hey Wan, you've met the neighbors right?

The neighbors?

They're at it every evening, and they're not even newly-weds!

Like "Darling, darling, darling!"

Pepper... Sake...

Darling Pepper... Sake...

Pepper... Sake...

Darling

Here she goes again!

Again? - Yeah!

Darling!

Darling

Darling

Darling

Darling!!

Darling! Darling!

No way!

The wall disappeared!

We can see everything in the next room!

Hang on darling! The downstairs doctor will be here soon!

Oh no, the thermometer's falling off!

Here... Darling, hang on!

What did you wander in for? Bring some dry towels! Dry towels!

We're sorry to impose at such a time, but...

the wall just disappeared, you know?

What I mean is, the wall separating your flat and ours just went away somewhere...

I just told you, didn't I? Go get some dry towels now!

You've really lost weight...

Bring some dry towels! Now! Dry ones, lots of them!

Darling, no! You'll go see them alone!

The medium said, when you're in a fever dream, that's your best chance to see them!

Darling! Don't close your eyes! If you close your eyes you'll see them alone!

No no no!

Huh? Who are you?

Ah, no, well... the wall... here...

Can you go to the hospital right away? The doctor's awfully late!

Huh? Go quickly! Look at this terrible fever!

Run!

Run! Go!

Darling, darling!

In 8 years, it's only revealed itself 5 times!

But as they were leaving, they made a promise.

"We'll contact you when we come back, without fail!"

I brought some towels.

And this message came last night!

The UFO people didn't break their promise!

UFOs would be nice and all but.... Alright, let's see...

Who asked you to do that? The bucket!

Go empty that bucket!

Darling, darling! Don't just stand there! Go empty that bucket!

Thanks. Darling!

Quickly!

Darling

They really dragged me into their mess!

A wall disappeared, and now here we are.

Living with strangers, with no privacy.

What if he's faking being sick?

And actually they're observing us...?

They'll wait for us to sleep, and come to our side without warning...

They'll open our bank books, and look through our withdrawals!

That's unforgivable!

In the first place!

In the first place, my dad always said

to never share a room with people who don't know proper manners.

Ah, the UFO, right.

Before that weird UFO thing comes in, floating about at knee height...

Ah yes, the wall! Gotta have it rebuilt!

I'll go meet the landlord, and negotiate that!

I even caught a fever!

Mr Landlord!

Mr Landlord!

Mr Landlord, ah, hello.

Good evening. Hum, you see, well,

You see, I'm here about a wall in my flat...

The thing is, it just disappeared!

What did?

The wall! Something you'd never believe!

The joint wall has completely disappeared,

so now I can see everything in the two neighbors' flat!

What did you say you can see?

The man that's on death's door's wife, as she's nursing him!

Ah, the good wife then? - Yes.

How old does she look?

I'm afraid I haven't really-

White jumps on 4, black cuts in on 5!

That's the procedure, an early board division.

White goes for a knight move on 6!

Knight move! Corner hit!

Go? You're playing Go?(3) - It's city planning!

You're just a pawn on the board, - eliminated with a snap!

Yes, this white pawn has nowhere to go.

If it escapes, black will get it on 9. - Now white's in danger!

There we go, no more vacant lots. - So what did you want?

I want you to fix my wall.

As it is, I just get bothered by anything!

Plus, I can't act like I don't know the neighbor's sick anymore.

Gotcha! - A ladder move, it's caught in a trap! - White's in a bad spot.

I'm telling you, tenants need walls!

If there's no walls, we can't have fun making holes in them.

We can't enjoy peeping through either.

If I'm angry, I can't even go whaaam, punch straight into it.

Where am I supposed to scribble on now?

How about placing a cup like this and having fun eavesdropping, huh?

Can't even have fun imagining what the two neighbors are up to, right?

Snap! Checkmate! - White attempts to rebuild!

Black strikes on 17 - Jumps across white on 12

Black passively counters on 13; White gains a corner on 14 - Black cuts in on 15; White cuts again on 16

Stuck, like a rat in a trap!

So, this wall you're speaking of, where the hell was it?

Flat #3 at Happy Homes. The wall that disappeared is the joint wall with #4.

It's too bad but- - the name of this apartment building-

- Isn't on this board! - That's ridiculous!

Wait, look at the lease! The lease! On the lease for rental rooms, right here:

Between both parties as referred to as lessor and leaseholder,

the following contract for rental rooms applies. It says here,

Location of rental: Happy Homes, Gotanda, Shinagawa city, Tokyo.

And you say it doesn't exist?

It doesn't! There were some spaces still unoccupied but

black has quickly overtaken them in one game. - It's unfortunate but,

there was no more room for those apartments.

Wait, then where the hell have I been living? You're saying I've been

paying rent to live in a place that doesn't actually exist?

Paying rent?

I've been paying my rent diligently every month.

This fella's a bit strange, isn't he? - Strange indeed.

Such a big man claiming to live on a Go board not even 1m wide, very unlikely.

1. False accusations? 2. Harassment?

3. You misunderstood the dream's message?

Your name? We're asking for your name! - I'm Tsu!

I have a roommate called Wan. Together we're like One, Two! Just kidding...

He thinks he's funny. - I'm sorry...

Occupation? Cook in training, sir.

Bastard! So the one who incited the sabotage of the weapon company...

Answer honestly! Where were you yesterday morning?

We asked where you went!

I didn't go anywhere! I was in my flat, making roasted pork.

Where're you hiding Kim Il(4)? - Kimchi?

Unfortunately, Kanuma isn't of this world anymore.

Yesterday morning, Kanuma and Vashkov were gunned down!

What defines this wall,

is first the level of common sense. - One prison cell

is made of - four walls.

All four walls - are the same width

and the same height - but they are conceived as

intrinsically lawful.

These square spaces(5) are cells too, no more than two can get in.

The number of cells is 90 per season, so 360 pieces.

Since a year is 365 days, it is thought that the extra 5 is just an extension.

Cells, in other words, are invisible locked spaces with no exits.

Not even the head of a nail can give away their existence.

A human fly(6) cannot crawl up their surface either.

What if we gave each of those walls a number...

Wall 1 is wall 2's past, and wall 3's father.

Wall 2 is wall 1's mirror, the decay of the prisoner's memories.

Wall 3, as expected, can become the dwarf's verbal form.

A city of shadows!

Wall 4's peeping tom. Wall 2 flipped inside out.

On the Ether constellation map you.... oh?

Mr Landlord!

Let me go! Mr Landlord!

The box is broken

The dwarf has run away

Leaving behind

Just one small eraser

A smiling hometown

An orphan, alone

sticking out his tongue

crosses the galaxy

Water, overflowing

A cursed dog

In the autumn rain, who is it

playing the silver flute?

The blindfolded child

the dead child

behind him

someone hides. Who is it?

It's me!

What do you think you're doing,

coming silently in someone else's room like it's your own?

Here's the moon!

In Thebes they called it Khonsu. Looks like it's not following its cycle.

Very inconsistent in its movement. Look!

Its orbit is exceedingly irregular.

What are you talking about? That's just a normal hat.

Look here, I don't know about any Thebes or Khonsu. I bought it at Isetan.

The name's origin is "traveler". To be more precise, "traveler over the wetland".

Hey, give it a rest already! - Shh!

Ouch

What are you doing? This is my room!

Everything is "as it was in the beginning, and continues to be forever".

Actually, add "should" there. "Should continue to be".

That's what happens when a wall disappears.

Everyone just comes in as they please.

That's why we came to fix the wall.

What?

We've come to put back the wall separating your room from the next as it was before.

Who in the world are you guys?

We are simple repairmen!

Nothing suspicious at all.

We were sent by the clerk of the "As it was in the beginning, and now we're making sure it still is"

from the department of the "as it was in the beginning, and continues to be forever"

from the Gotanda office of the Shinagawa city hall.

The problem is measuring precisely how much the wall existed in the first place.

Yes, and this isn't simply a matter of the tenants' memory at all.

If it's even a little off, the length of night and day will go completely astray!

The gravitational pull of the curiosity of two tenants in their small room alone

can make the wall change its location from here to there.

This could become a job of many years.

Many years? This isn't a joke!

I can't have you two come here every day!

I also have my own stuff to worry about.

Anyhow, let's install the temporary wall for now.

Tomorrow we'll be back to properly measure and give you a quote for the job.

The construction work could be - starting sometime this fall, maybe.

This fall?

Yes.

For now, here's the temporary wall.

Where?

Right here!

This?

Jean-Paul Sartre: "Wall"(7)

I can see over it.

I can step over it.

I can carry it!

You call this a wall? This?

Hey. - What are you saying!

He's dissatisfied. - He sure is.

We can't leave like this. - We can't.

Apologies, should we explain once again?

Go ahead! How many times you want! So this is a wall, you say?

This thing'll collapse with a mere gust of wind.

Here! The wall's gone once again.

Hey!

Ouch!

It's heavy!

The thermometer's heavy!

G'day!

Since the other wall disappeared, we brought another one.

Oh my!

He's dead!

Medically speaking he seems alive but

theatrically speaking he's pretty much dead!

What should we do? - Never mind that, let's just leave the wall like they said.

"In the Penal Colony", right?

"In the Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka(8)

With a blindfold over the eyes,

I open the door.

A small poppy

burns bright; look now, I've become a fire.

Didn't you lose last time?

But it'd be so nice to win this time!

This will cover it for sure!

What's all that?

That customer came again!

I know who! Lawrence of Gotanda!

Ah, yes! This guy!

"You know, girls..." What?

"Lawrence came from Arabia and attacked Turkey, right?"

"And me, I come from Gotanda, and attack the Turkish baths."

"That means I am..."

"Lawrence of Gotanda!"(9)

In the steam desert,

the masked dog and electric machines manager

ride a steam camel

on a 4000km voyage.

The two capitals of Saracen, The two capitals of Saracen,

in the time of mosques,

on the other side of the eyelid's walls a boy, locked up

a red slave's

end of the century!

They're naked!

I can't.

I'll get dragged in a mess again.

I know...

I won't look. I won't.

Surprisingly innocent, - kinda shy,

inexperienced, - cowardly,

badly equipped, - and no money!

I won't look!

I said I won't!

I know!

To not get dragged by those drowning, one must stay far from the riverbed.

Oh no!

Mom!

Didn't I tell you not to show your face?

Where are you going?

Where am I going? I'm not going anywhere, I just.. you know.

You just what? Where're you going?

You're working the late shift today, right? You still have more than 2 hours!

Poor me...

- Alright, alright! I got the time wrong. - Really?

Please mom, get back inside! It'll be a pain if the concierge finds you.

I'm not paying your part of the rent, so what can I do?

Mom, what's going on? Are you feeling sick?

Just breathing deeply.

I'll forget your smell if I don't breathe it in once in a while!

Recently, you've changed cleaners, haven't you?

I'm sure of it!

You changed cleaners. Your shirt smells different than usual!

Hakuyosha's always late, mom!

The price is also too high for a cook in training like me.

But, you, you'd decide something so important without asking me first?

Ah! I get it!

You're having that girl wash them!

Anyhow, a girl who likes doing laundry is ugly for sure!

She doesn't suit you! And Hakuyosha's the best, anyway!

Please, I'm begging you, get back inside and plow the field!(10)

I'm done planting the seeds.

There's still stuff to do right? Like,

apply fertilizer, or chase away the sparrows.

It's just a small four tatami and a half sized field, there isn't that much to do!

Or are you saying my face is bothering you?

We agreed

you wouldn't show your face ever,

and you'd just plow the field!

What of it!

That's why I brought you! - What of it?

But don't I always help you when you're in trouble?

The other day you didn't know how to write a CV so I wrote it for you!

I made a mistake...

Should've put you in an elderly care home. like everyone else...

They probably offer euthanasia services, too...

Woah... how cruel!

So you regret, then?

You would've preferred buying a cheaper mom at the Beloved Senior Association,

have her do all the cooking and cleaning, but since I'm here you couldn't!

Please mom! I'm begging you to go back inside!

I know! If you need something, I'll come down myself.

No! Don't want to.

You always do this, shutting me down here under the floor,

walking around loudly over my head like a pro wrestler.

But mom, the concierge might do an inspection today.

They threatened to arrest me!

You're being tricked again. Cigarette!

Cigarette please!

Alright.

You haven't been ventilating at all lately, right?

Your poor mom

is growing mold all over!

Keeping your old mother under the floors of this small, 4 and a half tatami flat,

making me plow the field day and night, neglecting me for a week!

I haven't forgotten, mom.

Who's in that picture?

Huh?

I saw it. The picture of a girl in your card holder!

That? Oh, her, she's just a customer!

Doesn't matter, she looks horribly improper! Ugly even, she doesn't suit you at all!

Her face might be ugly, but she looks good down there!

Down there? How dare you! - No, that's not it!

No! I'm just joking about her ass mom!

Her ass? No! I'm just joking about her ass mom!

No! I'm just joking about her ass mom!

Really? - Yup.

But you know, she's a really good girl. She's good at math, too.

Tsk, you don't have much ambition, do you?

No matter how good she is, it's still too early for you!

I'll introduce you to a nice girl someday, for crying out loud.

I'll spit fire as soon as you do something weird!

Wan...

Let's stop arguing so much, okay?

Let's get along again, like when you were little.

You entered a meat bun eating contest, ate 11 meat buns,

and I rubbed your belly as you were writhing in pain. How happy that made you!

This distant meat bun memory, where did it go?

Here she goes again...

You were so cute back then!

Mom. - Yes?

Does health insurance cover premature ejaculation?

What? - Premature ejaculation. For me.

You! Surely you don't understand what that means?

You don't know what "premature ejaculation" means, do you?

I read it in Home Medicine(11). They say it's more frequent in men with

a mother complex. - I've had enough! Now, say it with me, "I'm fine!"

Filial piety

Honor

Unconditional love

Obedience

Harmony.

Mother's love

Unworthiness

Worship

Favor Filial devotion

Respect Admiration

Reverence

When your mother is sick, express sincere worry.

Attend to her late into the night.

1. Serve your mother, and do not neglect your filial duties.

-Wan! - 1. On the parent and teacher day,

do not cry, instead rejoice, and flaunt your mother to your friends.

1. When your mother goes out, chase after her every time.

1. Father is harsh like thunder, mother is sweet like honey.

1. Love your mother so,

but despise your father so much you won't go near him.

Walls!

Mom, there's more walls!

Walls?

Walls don't just appear like that.

Walls!

There's more and more walls!

You just can't see them, mom!

Kanto region: Partly cloudy with some clear skies.

Occasional rain throughout the day.

Kanto region: Partly cloudy with some clear skies

Occasional rain throughout the day.

The number you have dialed is not in service.

To confirm the number, or dial again,

please contact the service desk.

Address unclear. Recipient address could not be found.

Shinagawa Postal Office. Address unclear. Recipient address could not be found.

Shinagawa Postal Office.

At the tone, the time will be 00:57:20

At the tone, the time will be 00:57:30

Hello, ah, yes it's me.

Hum, I have information about Mr Exit.

I heard he gets turned on looking at manhole covers.

So, all the manhole covers around town...

He says he started quietly going out at night to steal them.

Yeah, he showed me too.

His room's filled with manhole covers.

Yes, he said he's doing research on

"Unidentified Flying Manhole covers" or something.

When I lifted one of the covers up, it got so dark, like in a cave,

kinda felt like Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.

It became a manhole.

Then, when turning on a flashlight, there was a group on a field trip,

all wearing glasses, and carrying bug nets.

The teacher went like "Exit, Exit!" during the roll-call,

but Mr Exit didn't pay attention at all.

He was just listening to the interference from the crystal radio,

polishing his manhole covers, not even attempting to reply.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your secrecy on this matter. Thanks!

Sumiko. Waited for 30 minutes. Got mad and left.

Sumiko. Waited for 30 minutes. Got mad and left.

We treat stutters and social anxiety.

Shinagawa Education and Treatment Center.(12)

We treat stutters and social anxiety. Shinagawa Education and Treatment Center.

It's about flat #5 in my apartment building.

It's empty now, but a middle school aged kid used to live there.

I've seen him as well, he was a really strong looking kid.

I'm pretty sure he said his name was Exit.

That boy played for the Gotanda team at the National Juvenile Baseball Tournament.

That day, I heard he tried to protect the left fielder from a fly ball during

the bottom of the 4th inning. "Exit" went like "alright, alright!"

He kept backing up but the fly ball just went on and on

so he continued chasing it!

I've heard Atlantis, but...

Some people say they saw him at the north of the Gibraltar Strait,

some say he approached the Pyrenees peninsula,

then in the Atlantic around Africa, among many other rumors.

I don't really know the details, mind you...

Anyway, anyway, that fly ball, Exit caught it way too far from the stadium.

He was yelling "Out! Out!",

took a taxi and went home, apparently.

By then, the baseball stadium had been demolished,

and his classmates had all become adults. The boy who had hit that fly ball

was now a brokerage branch manager and a father of two.

The pitcher became a leather goods artisan and moved to Canada.

Exit wanted to show everyone he'd caught that fly ball.

He wanted them to know it was a Three Out Change,

so he went to visit every player's house, then...(13)

No exit!

World Supervisor. Someone has removed the light bulb.

It's the end of the game. They're already gone.

The last word is

the end of the world!

In that empty room you'll find

the end of the world!

In that empty room you'll find

the end of the world!

The door is open halfway

The light is always on

Although nobody lives there, someone is missing...

Vanished from a hotel room on a creaking bed's night

Vanished from the cinema at the end of The Last Picture Show

Vanished from the corner of the drug addicts' garage

Vanished from the red ward in K Mental Hospital

Vanished when buying cigarettes at the subway stall

Heart thinner than an unaddressed letter

Lonely heart echoing like the whistle of a night train

In that empty room you'll find

the end of the world!

In that empty room you'll find

the end of the world!

The door is open halfway

The light is always on

Although nobody lives there, someone is missing...

Ready!

Shoot!

A film

named

World.

Rain,

rain,

rain is falling!

Floating,

at the pool's surface,

my dead body.

You've gone too far!

You've gone too far, shadows!

You've gone too far, shadows!

Look here.

A rotting corpse is dirty, but aren't the bones fine, since they are clean?

If I place them under my pillow before sleeping,

I'll surely have a pleasant dream.

A pleasant dream.

A dream of my second wedding, in Santo Domingo.

Good, very good! Let's do a closeup!

Yes, now pull in your chin!

Beautiful, beautiful! Okay, keep going!

A pleasant dream.

Yes, a dream of my second wedding, in Santo Domingo.

It was my first time dancing the tango. I was barefoot, too.

I was in a wedding dress, you were in a grave.

Your grave was immaculate,

but my dress was stained with blood.

You've gone too far, shadows!

Keep going, keep going!

When we were alone, I could smell your cigarette breath

as you came close, and you'd say...

I can't say the next word.

Cut!

What is it now? Heh?

It isn't a difficult line, either.

Here... "What a nice ass!"

"What a nice ass!" Try saying it!

How dirty!

Isn't there a prettier expression?

That's just it! That's what reality is!

Bottom, rear, backside...

No, only "ass" can truly express the personality of the dead man!

Try saying it! "An ass like a horse"

No!

Well then,

how about "an ass so tight it can hold a flower?"

How long are you planning to make me do this?

How foolish, there isn't even film in there either.

What did you say?

Enough already!

Not even Sternberg(14) could shoot with an empty camera!

Please don't say that, let's keep going!

Let's go to today's last cut then!

I decided to do a closeup.

Why?

Why did you decide on a closeup?

What are you saying, heroine?

Heroines always wish for stories.

Still, stories usually lead to dead ends.

They might seem like mirrors, but in reality they are walls,

on which heroines project their own faces.

A face unseen until now.

Here, look closely!

How this beautiful face

gradually appears before us!

Liar.

Liar?

Why would acting the same scene over and over in front of an empty camera

make this unseen face appear like so?

Who do you think I am?

I know everything.

You've gone too far, shadows!

This line, "you've gone too far, shadows",

as I repeat that same line over and over again,

perhaps I'll regain my memories, is that it?

"Passion on the Tracks," what even is that?

Look,

you even hired this many extras.

Hey you,

how much do you get paid for a full day looking like that?

Stop right now! - I know everything!

Wait! Hey!

This isn't even a shoot for the film "Passion on the Tracks",

it's a shoot for a TV News Show.

An amnesiac woman, playing the same character over and over for 20 years,

you document the shock of this madwoman stuck in a film,

unable to return to real life.

It will certainly earn great ratings.

It's a shame, however,

the woman you wish to film is not here.

She can only be inside an old film.

So, tonight,

don't forget to look towards the window.

If it is half open, when the light shines through, come in.

Take off your coat,

I'll iron it for you.

A corpse has to at least have decent attire.

However if the window it closed, you'll have to stay away,

for it is the sign that my husband has come home.

On those lone nights, look up at the moon,

and go home without a word, Otternschlag!(15)

Aah, I'm so tired.

Will you pour me a glass?

Hey, this line's from the wrong scene.

You still haven't said, "What a nice ass"!

I won't!

You!

Acting out this amnesia again and again for your benefit fills me with disgust!

Enough, enough, enough!

But, still, I'm your lawful husband, huh?

Cut!

So so, but far better than the rehearsal.

Excuse me director, after this,

after this, I run up to her and say

"So you regained your memories,

but you still don't remember me, your lawful husband?"

and she "grinds her teeth in anger," pushes me away,

and that's where we should cut, isn't it? - Sure.

We'll figure all of that in post anyway.

Take a break!

Lunch time!

Break time. Proceed to the green room.

You're redoing the green room scene again?

Ah, no, it's lunch time it seems.

Ah! "It's lunch time it seems"

that's your line!

As for me, I once again return inside the film, entranced!

Rain falls over the former capital.

People sometimes forget their lines.

You've gone too far, shadows!

No, these are bones.

Not a flute, but this man's bones.

My Otternschlag!

My Otternschlag!

My Otternschlag!

Cut!

Good work! Good work today!

3 meters! 3 meters. Ok.

Yes ok.

Guys!

I mean, this here, this is our room!

You sound like you're from Fukushima... what page was that line on again?

You can't come in here without permission!

You two! What's with these clothes?

I said, you're bothering us!

You get it right? She commits murder to protect her own past.

In front of the dresser that contains the corpse,

she dances the tango with the man who knows her former glory.

As she redoes this scene ten times over, she regains her lost memories.

And me, what do I do?

You! You play... look,

you play the dead body in the dresser.

Me? A corpse?

Yes!

A living corpse!

What should we do? - Wait!

Going out aimlessly,

even though just going home would've been fine,

carrying a shopping basket,

carrying a bag filled with work documents,

always with an unwavering expression,

on the way to buy the weekly magazine at the corner stand,

closing the door from behind,

going with everyone, even if it's not Sunday,

in the comfortable warmth of the sunlight,

walking leisurely,

turning to vapor, rising up into the sky, before disappearing.

Laughing,

joining hands,

from the back, like this,

turning to vapor, rising up into the sky, before disappearing.

When everyone will have gone,

I will smoke a cigarette alone.

I'm Exit!

I'm your Exit!

The missing person on the Tokyo map.

At the railroad postal office,

hiding inside an unidentified package.

Nobody knows my name.

Everyone rushes about anxiously,

everyone passes me by,

they come and go from one wall to another,

every day, again and again!

Every day, again and again!

Mr demon, over here!

Follow the clap of my hands!

A dog turns to vapor

An airship catches fire

The electric man runs around town

Fallen flower, obstructed,

guilty.

A Chinese woman strikes a bag, a lone rat jumps out.

The day before yesterday, a dead salesman came by to sell a family register.

A business card came out of the chicken egg bought at Seiyu.

Turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle.

Who hid in the building's garbage incinerator?

My husband got life insurance for the dog without telling me.

Before I knew it the tax agent who had taken residence

in the shed came to pay rent.

The hidden cable TV camera is still observing me.

In the dead of night, a daughter I don't remember giving birth to came to visit.

I had to be there during the cat's IQ test.

The cleaner's employee counts the sheets one by one.

On the 100 survey forms are written 100 favorite positions.

The survey analyst is wearing my mask.

Excuse me, excuse me.

Excuse me, ah!

I'm awfully sorry to visit on your day off.

I've come from the healthcare center.

Healthcare center? - Yes.

Why would someone from the healthcare center come here?

I was wondering... don't you have any old people you don't need anymore?

A father past his years, one that's served his purpose!

A father that doesn't work anymore, that's in the way...

You certainly have one, right?

You one of those toilet paper dealers(16) or something?

No, you see,

I came from the rose colored street corner to buy your father.

Buy my father? - Yes.

Buy... with money?

Oh no no no!

I mean to exchange him for a few pages.

So you do want to exchange him for toilet paper!

Do I really look like a mere toilet paper dealer? Me?

I can exchange him for Plinius' "Natural History",

or even Salvadores' "Principle of the City".

Wow, you know a lot for a healthcare center rep.

That's because I graduated from Waseda's cram school!

I'm really sorry but...

Yes? - I don't have a dad.

Plus, I wouldn't have the time to read such difficult books.

Please leave.

No matter! Even without a father,

No need to shout!

You got a mother then right? A mother?

A mother? - A mother in her menopause!

She's a pain, she nags you all the time! You have one, don't you?

I do, I certainly do.

I'll exchange her for the complete translation of Sophocles' "Oedipus",

if not, "Home Medicine" or "All About Marriage". How about that?

I won't sell her.

I'm still using her.

Still using her? How?

How are you using her?

That frail, white haired hag!

Yes yes exactly! That face, you can't get rid of it during the spring sale!

It's winter already! It's just hopeless, bulky garbage now(17)!

Even then, she's still my mother!

Parents exchanges are quite easy these days! You should read

"In Praise of Running Away From Home"!(18) - Also, as long as that old bag's here,

we'll never get married!

It'd be better if we took her in as fast as possible!

If you absolutely need one,

through welfare you can receive a brand new, young and charming mother.

Hey, let's do that!

We'll sell your mother and use the money for a ceremony!

A wedding ceremony! - Not selling!

I'm absolutely not selling!

Okay? Listen,

bringing them to the healthcare center,

keeping them in cages,

giving then an injection and killing them one by one...

Who could do such a thing?

Shall we get married? - Go away.

Please go away.

The healthcare's center is very clean-

Go away. The healthcare's center is very clean-

The healthcare's center is very clean-

Go away! The healthcare's center is very clean-

Let's get married!

- Putting them in cages, we wouldn't do something so cruel - Leave already

- They can certainly- - Go away!

Shut up!

Let's get married!

Marriage!

Marriaaaaaaage!

She's fast asleep, I see.

Yes, looks like the medicine is working.

That's good. Will we observe the effects of

Dr. Haeckel's "Play Therapy for Couples", I wonder?

It appears the patient believes you are her real husband.

That's right. Ever since that day.

That day?

Yes, ever since she found a UFO.

You see, she thinks she's the only one who can communicate with aliens.

Communicating with aliens! Huh!

That's what she thinks.

That girl's friends

all live on Venus, apparently.

I think I get it.

Huh? Why?

I mean,

that girl,

is ugly.

That's so mean!

This girl is ugly.

Offensive, obscene, off-putting!

Ugly.

You're doing way too much!

That's too many adjectives.

She's just, you know...

Just... what?

On her own, she might look ugly according to another woman, no?

See! You said it too!

No no, I mean,

She's a very pitiful girl.

To this day she doesn't remember her own name.

Believing I'm her husband is her only reason to live.

Good morning! - Good morning.

He's a tiger again.

It's the "Playing the tiger and tiger hunter at the same time,"

- a quite unreasonable story. - That's why he's a side character.

If he did it just a bit better, he could really become famous.

By the way doctor, about that new patient...

Ah yes, the cook in training?

We'd better move him to a single room too. He's been strange lately.

Mh? Strange?

He rambled about a wall here and there, and got lost in the nurse dormitory.

Well, he went into the bathroom to relieve himself and left the door open.

Mmmh, I see.

Right! Tomorrow, he'll get a complete alcohol spray brainwash.

While we're here...

Girls! Girls!

Girls! - Not here.

Not here?

Fine, shall we go to the operating room then?

I can't believe it!

A brainwash, with alcohol spray?

If he does that to my son, I'll spit fire and burn him to a crisp!

It's okay ma'am! I can help.

Hey! You!

Who the hell are you?

Me!

Acting cute!

What are you writing? - Medical records.

The director says it's a policy of the Liberation Therapy(19),

we'll be in trouble otherwise, since the patients want to act as doctors and nurses.

Liberation Therapy?

You saw it, right?

Earlier, these three weirdos playing doctor.

Oh, they're insane? - Yes, that's it!

The director's policy is to make them write "game rules".

For example, that man with the black glasses,

Yes, yes. For example, that man with the black glasses,

Yes, yes. his wife ran away and he became insane.

He wants a wife so much, he can't bear it.

But, if his wife's too pretty, he'd be anxious about

other men snatching her away, right?

So a woman like me, covered in spots, playing the wife...

Can't help it if patients want to play doctor!

The director always says we need to do anything and everything for the treatment!

He'd say "You, you have to endure it a bit longer!"

A nurse's job sure is hard!

Yup, I like it so here I am!

About this Liberation Therapy...

How can you tell who's really a doctor or a nurse?

That's why I make medical records every day. - I see!

I thought you were writing the sequel of "Gazing at Love and Death"!(20)

Ma'am. - Yes?

Someone's coming! - Again?

Miss nurse! - What?

Please sincerely protect my son, okay?

Of course! If anything happens, just yell out and I'll come!

Really? What should I say?

Let's make a password! - A password?

- Yes. - Okay.

"A dog turns to vapor, an airship catches fire,

a Chinese woman strikes a bag, a lone rat jumps out."

A bit simpler maybe? Something easier to understand?

Then, "a lone rat jumps out"!

Yes? Then, "a lone rat jumps out"!

Then, "a lone rat jumps out"!

How's this?

Fine.

"A lone rat jumps out", right?

Many rats tied by their tails - form a circle.

Tied up like so - they grow bigger.

Koyama, Shinagawa city, 2-7

- In the middle ages, the rats' owner was - declared a witch and burned at the stake.

The origin of all sins is in a garbage can. - Higashi Oi, Shinagawa city, 2-5-7

- However in this official annual French report, we see that - this kind of rat

- was sold as an amulet. - Rats forming a circle - all tied by the tail

in German they call it Rattenkonig. - The Rat King!(21)

Osaki, Shinagawa city, 3-7-10 - It means "leader"

"toxic relationship", - "gigolo".

"Can't sneak away". - they're surrounding the Invader table again.

Ebara, Shinagawa city, 4-5 - Plague!

Salmonella Typhimurium - Salmonella infection

Leptospirosis - Scrub Typhus

Histoplasma capsulatum - So, how are we feeling?

The kids are going to kindergarten - The TV's in bad health

Hatanodai, Shinagawa city, 2-4-7 That same evening,

Bernard Rieux(22), at the entrance of his apartment - was looking for his keys.

At the same time, a lone rat - in Gotanda, Shinagawa city, 1-2

suddenly died.

That same evening - That same evening

That same evening.

When everyone will have gone,

pretending to be drunk, yet she only had a sip.

When everyone will have gone,

in the morning, we shall wear our best clothes.

Come down Mose, you good for nothing

Come down Mose, you good for nothing

Take me to the end, to the end of the world

Take me to the end, to the end of the world

Take me

Let's sleep for a while.

Let's sleep, you say...

How many years has it been?

What?

Since we've been here.

Dunno! I haven't been counting.

Feels like I've been here since before I was born...

but also like it was just yesterday.

Cell number 426, huh?

It's not really a cell if we're together, right?

"I will cover the walls of this cell with dirt that shines like diamonds"

How sentimental!

Yo - Mh?

Wanna hold them? - What?

My balls.

They're like hot fire torches.

Stop it, I don't have time for this, anymore.- You don't have time?

I'm exhausted from trying to leave this place all the time.

When everyone,

will have gone...

Singing, in the Penal Colony?

Penal Colony?

This isn't anywhere, yet.

I thought it was a hotel, but before I knew it the bell boy disappeared.

The room key?

It didn't exist in the first place.

You, you weren't anyone yet.

I wasn't anyone yet either.

The sunlight shone on the stone wall,

and the old Moor woman told me,

"If you die, you'll receive a name and address."

Hey, a crow!

Description of individual:

Height: 1m72,

weight: 73kg,

oval shape face, 9mm buzzcut,

a quite gray complexion,

a 2cm scar on the bottom left side of the cheek,

and a tattoo of a date.

- Looks like we're getting another friend! - Don't care!

Yo.

Huh?

Gimme a massage.

What are you drawing?

A door right? The one from your old apartment?

An exit! I'm drawing an exit.

The guard on duty will just erase it again, anyway.

Just like that ugly bird you drew last time.

Don't worry, I can draw faster now!

This time I'll be done way before the guard comes.

You're too heavy!

I'm not done yet, go over there for a while!

It's not because you draw an exit that the door will really open!

You think you can escape just like that?

That's why, - That's why what?

That's why I'm not just drawing a door, I'll also draw myself getting out of here.

I'll leave an empty shell here, and the real me will have left.

Asshole.

What?

You want to escape on your own?

What am I to you, just a pastime?

That's not it!

Draw both of us then! Draw me too!

It'll take twice as much time!

- Draw just a little bit then. - Just a little bit?

You know, like I'm almost completely outside,

so only my foot's left here.

Your foot? Fine, I'll draw that.

It opened!

Idiot! What if the guard sees us?

It opened for real! I can't believe it!

What a nice breeze, music to my ears!

Let me listen too!

Drug offense

Document forgery

Check fraud

Gambling fraud

Bigamy

Break out

Family abandonment

Misuse of title

Dine and dash

Rape

Gas theft

Male prostitution

Vagrancy

Engagement cancellation

Animal abuse

Finally, the crime of doing nothing!

They changed the lock again.

Don't worry, next time just draw the key!

I don't know what it looks like.

The key looked like...

Relax, next time someone comes in, the door'll open on its own.

You've gone too far, shadows!

Rain falls over the former capital...

What the hell!

Is that a dream, too?

Even then, coming in suddenly like that...!

Hey, next time's our turn to get out.

20 years between these walls, and finally the exit's right there!

Do I look stylish?

You're fine, don't worry!

I'm just not sure about going out like this!

Idiot, now isn't the time to worry about that!

Ok, good!

Let's see, next is scene 12.

We can go to scene 12!

Ah, right.

Who were these two, again?

Okay everyone, let's get this done! Over there, what're you doing?

The costumes, we need the costumes!

- Costumes, let's go! - Coming up!

Okay, let's wrap this up quick!

The chair, the chair! Where's the chair?

Where's the chair?

Bringing the chair now!

Good morning!

Panel at the center? Chair, center as well? Everything on the mark??

Isn't the panel a bit crooked?

Today's the extras audition, right?

Alright, audition time, all the extras please come in!

Yes! - Yes!

Okay, the audition will be held on set, so...

Sorry for the wait!

Are we good to go?

Just a moment... Auditions are starting now!

Okay, we're all good! - Alright, let's go!

Extras audition!

Ready!

Shoot!

When someone forgets their line

the world starts to crumble.

A motion picture of a dog's eye

Stepping on the shadow of the shadowless man

Poor Mary's destiny

turns to smoke rising up in the air.

"Please stop the Earth from turning.

I want to relax, and watch a movie!"

At the Quai des Orfèvres, northern Shinagawa,

detective Nakamura Gabin(23) - has sniffed out a hint.

The kidnapped Hana Ranko,

from class 2-A, wearing her uniform

was tied up with film scraps

and thrown into

the darkness of the movie.

You've gone too far, shadows.

The world is my - film trailer.

You've gone too far, shadows.

In a mirage of

Shanghai Cinema.

I am your

godparent!

Cut!

2m60

Mole touch up, OK!

Right, moving on!

Ready!

Shoot!

No need to worry.

That camera's just a toy, there's no film in it at all.

Isn't there another camera out there...

Another camera out there...

Indeed, it's all part of the set.

A reenactment of a scene from the melodrama "Passion on the Tracks" from 20 years ago.

At the center, me, recovering my memories just as I utter these lines.

Another one, a hidden TV camera, to capture this moment.

A TV camera?

It's alright.

There's isn't really a TV camera.

- A TV camera, in my room? - There isn't!

Life's a film, not a TV special.

Floweeeers

Flowers!

How about some flowers

from a Corsican sailor's funeral?

It's not theatre either!

How dare you intrude in this film to sell funeral flowers?

Floweeeers

Flowers!

How about some flowers

from a Gibraltarian singer's funeral?

Right then, as you slam the window shut,

"Collapsing,

decaying,

- words of resentment." - Wait, where's the window?

Even if it's not there, shut it!

That is the essence of drama!

Shut a window that's not there?

Floweeeers - Shut a window that's not there, she says!

Flowers!

How about some flowers

from the North Hotel boxer's funeral?

If you don't hurry, Death will come in!

How insensible of you! Here, look!

Shut it, slam, like that!

Then, surprised, you rush over to the window that's not there.

Ah, but...

- You rush over to the window, I said! - But how?

So picky!

You rush over to the window that's not there as you say the lines you don't remember,

agreeing to the words I haven't yet said.

Agreeing to the words you haven't said? - Yes.

Did you notice anything about the flower seller?

No. - No.

That flower seller extra,

also plays the hospital nurse.

The nurse?

I get it now.

According to the script, this is where the nurse comes in to take my pulse.

Then,

playing as the intern, the small-time actor who never got his big break,

"Hospital director, sir!

Do you notice anything different?"

He says.

Hospital director, sir!

Do you notice anything different?

It's fine.

As long as we let her say the line, looks like she won't be dangerous.

Ma'am, your pulse.

Excuse me, what film are you shooting right now?

Film?

Apologies, but

this is merely a pretend film, as part of our Play Therapy.

To treat one patient, the cooperation of this many people is required.

It's alright though, she's almost healed.

Hum, excuse me,

who is this then? - A pitiful madwoman.

She has become obsessed with the delusion that she once was a star,

forgetting even her name.

Therefore, as a result of the doctor and I's discussion... - Hey, you!

Look, it's her! From flat #4!

And you had the thermometer-

Therefore, as a result of the doctor and I's discussion, we recreate her delusion-

So, how's the wife? Still working you to the bone?

She's a patient too.

You two!

I told you already!

As soon as you're in costume, hurry up and memorize your lines!

Our lines? But,

where's the script?

If you don't memorize them faster, you'll get the patient treatment!

What do you think you're doing?

- Where the hell's the script? - Ah, wait!

I'm not the author! It hurts, it hurts!

"I'm not the author! It hurts, it hurts!"

Those are all my lines.

Tell us. - Huh? Then what's our role?

You're that woman's past.

In other words, the men who knew her before she became a star.

You play the Chinese restaurant cooks in training that were killed by her.

I'm a real Chinese restaurant cook in training.

But I don't want to be killed!

You won't be killed for real.

Yes! Exactly, it's just a film.

Moreover, it's the treatment to help the madwoman.

Don't wanna!

Listen here, fake or not, I don't wanna be killed!

Did you hear me? I won't! I don't wanna be killed! I don't wanna be killed I said!

Don't turn on the light.

I can see better in the dark.

My apologies but,

I must now go to the ball.

Tango.

Yes, the tango I learned to dance with him.

Besides,

the woman you're looking for is already dead.

The blood stained sheets have already been washed.

Right away, after Otternschlag's boat had left.

The woman you knew on the life boat,

the kitchenmaid from the camp, she isn't here anymore.

Collapsing,

decaying,

words of resentment.

The truth you seek is perishable,

it will rot away soon enough.

The truth needs soft-colored under garments,

or it will catch a cold.

The truth is light of body and mouth, it buzzes about like a fly.

It sells its body for pennies,

and wanders in without being called.

Ready!

Shoot!

Reality is dead!

Wan!

I can't.

I'm still dead.

You are? I thought you were sleeping again!

Wan!

Don't talk to the dead.

That's fine and all, but you have the early shift today, right?

- I'm sure of it! You had the late shift yesterday, after all. - Ah! mom!

Right now, I'm in a movie, okay?

I was beaten inside someone's dream,

and I'm perfectly, happily dead.

Perfectly, happily dead?

Whose damned dream is it?

The former movie star, Kageyama Kageko!

Never heard of her!

For 20 years she has shut herself inside the melodrama "Passion on the Tracks".

Killing other people's children in her dreams, what a useless woman!

I am nothing more than the simple truth!

What did you say?

The world is one night's film!

Ah, wait, you haven't paid the gas bill yet, right?

The bill collector came today and wouldn't stop knocking. - Reality has died!

Tsk!

He's gotten involved with a real bad woman!

But mom, she's really beautiful.

She says she's the same age as you but she doesn't look it at all!

How frustrating! Calm down, calm down!

Really?

Because it's her, I don't mind being killed, it felt good!

How many times have I told you?

When using other people's dreams, always read the instructions carefully!

But there weren't any side effects or anything...

No side effects? Didn't you die?

My poor son,

still so young,

dying in other people's dreams like that.

What would your father say if he was alive?

Your mom... can't bear it anymore!

Mom!

Where is she?

Where's this woman who tricked you?

Your mom will go and fight off the enemy!

You can't!

It's someone else's dream!

There's nothing you can do in these circumstances!

How dare she dreams of shooting you!

I'll take care of it!

Mom! You're doing too much! What if someone finds you?

I don't care.

From here it's my dream.

What?

A dream, in a dream.

I dreamt you, too.

Everything here is my dream.

In my dream, you can't tell me what to do! Now!

Look closely!

Be careful, the tatami!

It's your dead father's will. The early bird gets the worm.

Dreaming before someone else does.

Ah, the tatami floor's broken!

This might just be a few square meters, but it's ours.

Others have no space to complain here.

The tatami!

It's amazing, mom!

The field is thriving, mom!

Amazing!

I did that all on my own!

In the center of the field, there's also a grave.

Surrounding the grave are the Nanohana flowers you loved as a child.

Look closely. Those Nanohana flowers, they are all imitations

made from my grey hairs, so they will never wither away!

All of this?

Mom, you've dreamt all of this on your own?

I did. Look,

in the center, a small hut with a thatched roof.

That road down the middle, no matter where you go it'll lead you back home.

Just like a game of Sugoroku(24).

I will scold you,

you'll leave with a bag under your arm,

but by nightfall you'll take that road and be back home every time.

I won't let you go anywhere!

Who're you?

Who the hell are you?

Someone I don't know.

I've never dreamt of this person.

The wall!

I swear it had disappeared.

I can't believe it, after all this time, the wall-

This isn't my dream!

It's someone else's!

It's not mine! Someone has been dreaming all of us!

"A lone rat jumps out"!

Hum,

so, about the wall...

The wall? - Yeah

I went right through it, like sshhu! No resistance at all!

No resistance at all... right.

Yeah no, of course I was like,

there's just no way! So I tried it over and over again!

I'm telling you,

It doesn't just work on concrete walls,

but also block walls, or veneer walls, or plaster walls.

No matter the kind, I just, sshuu!

Sshuuuu! And I pass through, easy.

Hey, can you sleep well at night?

At night?

I start snoring as soon as I lay down. - And your bowel movements?

This much usually comes out. - Got a headache?

No. - Appetite? - Lots.

What is it?

Something's wrong.

Wrong? - We should go see a doctor.

I knew it, I also thought something felt off...

Wrong...

There's no way something's wrong with me, hey, let's leave it at that for today.

Do you know why there are walls? That is,

to prevent me from running away.

But I can't be shut in forever like that!

Let's pack up already!

We'll be late for the train! - Stop right there!

Don't come over here.

What is it?

You, can't you see this wall?

- This wall? Wha- - It's dangerous!

I see.

I get it now.

No way, you made yourself your own wall? Is that it?

You put up four walls, built a box,

and planned to completely hide yourself inside?

You want to cut out your anxiety and sorrow for as big as this box is,

and live hidden inside it quietly, is that it?

It's not gonna be that easy! Do you understand?

Ah, seriously...

So you're really leaving?

Yeah. - By train?

Like I said, let's go together!

My mom always said, "No matter the train you board,

you'll never reach freedom."

What the hell are you saying? Freedom?

That's a fantasy made up by those who hide behind walls and who've never seen freedom.

You think freedom is sold at the store, right there on a shelf?

That it's just found in a world encyclopedia?

I'm going wherever I want, now.

There're walls no matter where you go.

Don't worry about that! For your information,

I'm the man who passes through walls! I can just go straight in anywhere.

I can get into a bank's vault, like hop!

Or in the women's bath at the bath house. Hop!

You'll get caught right away.

I'm telling you! I can even go through the bars of a prison cell! Hop!

Huh?

There's rats here!

Rats? - Yeah.

There's so many rats!

These guys,

tried to get out and died trampling each other.

By the way, yesterday evening at Shinagawa station

I saw an employee carrying a whole box filled with dead rats.

These rats, it seems,

were all lined up along the wall, dead.

"The terror of concentration camps isn't limited to the Second World War."

That's what the station chief said.

The dark spot on the sun has become bigger.

The rats come out of the apartments, slowly start walking somewhere.

Mass evaporation. That's Lemmings.

In the morning, acting as usual, the rats come out

of the factories, following the gutters at the edge of town,

blood swelling up, foaming at the mouth,

straightening their whiskers like so, wearing a tie and a bag in hand,

they go through the exception, interdiction, contradiction, and restriction walls.

Stopping once in a while,

looking around anxiously,

as the fleas scatter away, the dark sunspot, ah yes,

they slowly start walking towards an endless cave.

then, as they walk, they turn to vapor, rise into the sky, and disappear.

But!

Look at this size! Huh!?

Awake and asleep, I gaze at the size of this room(25), you know?

We could use a wall around here.

We could hang a picture of Mao Zedong the Great Ramen King,

and here, we could put a field!

My wheat would stretch aaaaall the way to the neighbor's kitchen.

The bed could go here, and this time to hell with the futon,

I'd buy a king-sized French bed on monthly payments,

I could even invite Hiromi from the Mimatsu diner to come over!

I'm just gonna stay, right, here!

If there's no wall, to me,

getting out of here or staying, it's all the same in the end.

But you know,

it's not the same for you, right?

You, who can't live without walls,

you think you've freed yourselves,

but in the end you just walk right into other walls!

Don't be scared, that's what you want right?

You don't think it's just gonna end like this, do you?

This is Tenjo Sajiki. The doors are all sealed!

You love closed rooms so we'll make one.

It's what you want, right? It's a closed room, it's all closed! Get it?

.....this is what you wanted right?

All of you are closed rooms!

Walls? That's what's in your hearts, right?

Exits, you say!

Exits?

You never had an exit in the first place!

Timed and translated by AnguraResearchCenter.

Starring：Fukushi Keiji as Wan Nemoto Yutaka as Tsu

Makino Kimiaki as Mother Ran Yoko as the nursing wife

Saigo Takaaki as Healthcare Center rep Niitaka Keiko as Kageyama Kageko

Wakamatsu Takeshi and Kawada Keitoku as the prisoners

And other Tenjo Sajiki actors in various roles.

Written by Terayama Shuji

Directed by Terayama Shuji and J.A. Seazer Music by J.A. Seazer

Lemmings, performed at the Yokohama Education and Culture Hall, May 15 1983

Original run performed at the Kinokuniya Hall, December 9 to 15, 1982