After the Storm Page #6

It's rare for a child in grade school

to structure an essay like that.

You think so?

You should give him lots to read.

Like what?

For example,

books by E.T. Seton and Jean-Henri Fabre.

And Doctor Dolittle.

I'll send him a selection of books.

Thank you.

Well,

that's all I can do now.

Are you writing?

Me?

You know, these days,

literature is out of fashion.

It's all light, pop fiction.

Same old complaint.

Speaking of which,

I got an offer

to write the story for a manga series.

I'm thinking I should give it a try.

I kept trying to tell you to do that,

but you never listened.

If I take that job,

I'll be able to pay monthly child support.

You don't have to work so hard

just to visit him.

I really want to see him.

I'm taking responsibility as his father.

Taking responsibility

is acting like his father once a month?

Wait a minute. Don't call it acting.

That's all it is.

Well...

I'm happy to see him every week.

You know you can't.

If you're that interested

in being a good father,

why didn't you try harder before?

You're right.

We're divorced now.

But it's not over.

What?

I'm always going to be Shingo's father...

whatever happens between us

as husband and wife.

Wait.

You're already in a new relationship?

Well, yes.

Oh?

Really?

Another man?

Why?

Did Shingo say something?

So it's true.

Have you...

already...

done it?

Don't talk about that here.

Have you?

Yes.

You have.

So, you have.

Of course we have. We're not teenagers.

Are you going to marry him?

I don't know yet.

You did it before you decided?

Couldn't you wait?

Who decides those things before doing it?

What are you saying?

Don't talk so loud.

Why did you have to choose that guy?

Did you say that guy?

You already know?

Know what?

You saw him with me?

Who? Where?

Right, right, right.

You're Mr. Detective. Of course.

How can you stoop so low?

Are you going to have kids?

Yes, we might.

That's why you're in such a rush.

I am um 'm a rush. Dam be so mean.

You're so calculating.

No. it's called planning your life.

Well, it's not love.

Grown-ups can't live on love alone.

Hey, what are you doing?

We're both adults. Why not?

Your mother's right there.

If Mom wasn't here, it would be okay?

Mom's trying to bring us back.

Wait.

Are you two in on this scheme?

You set this up from the beginning?

It wasn't like that.

Don't make it sound crude.

Mom, which one's my toothbrush?

I'll be right there.

It's okay. I'll go.

More importantly, where's my 100,000 yen?

I'll pay. I'll pay, I'll pay.

You said it three times.

You always visit him and never pay.

This is your last visit.

Your towel, Shingo.

Thank you, Mother.

Happy to.

Dry off, Shingo.

I'm glad I bought some big towels.

TOO BAD!

YOUR SISTER:

The latest typhoon news.

You're still up?

As you get older,

you fall asleep but not for long.

Ask your doctor for sleeping pills.

I have, and he prescribes sleeping pills

now and then.

That wind is fierce.

Something just flew by.

They said it'll blow over by morning.

I love typhoons.

They're so refreshing.

You're strange.

When we lived in that house in Nerima...

every time a typhoon came,

I worried it would tear the roof off.

At night, we packed up our things

and took shelter in the church

with the kindergarten.

Right.

I only ever saw the church during the day,

so the stained glass

looked extra beautiful.

When we moved in here,

I was so relieved I wouldn't have

to be afraid of typhoons anymore.

But I never imagined

I'd wind up living here 40 years.

I'm sorry I'm such a useless son.

I am going to die.

What? DOM talk like that. it's bad luck.

Luck has nothing to do with it.

I will definitely die someday.

And probably right here.

What?

Are you sick again?

No, I'm not.

Listen.

As I grow weaker and weaker,

I'll need you by my side

to take care of me.

That's not for me.

They say that it's easiest for the dying,

and for those left behind,

if you die in your sleep.

But that's not true.

It isn't?

That's how your father died.

But he shows up in my dreams.

You have dreams like that?

Every once in a while.

What do you dream?

He's always alive.

I feel like he's still alive, too.

Which is better?

To have me bedridden for years

and unable to die...

or to have me die quickly

but keep appearing in your dreams?

Neither.

Oh, no, you have to choose.

Which is it?

Bedridden, then.

Final answer?

That's such an old show. Yes.

Final answer."

The singer Teresa Teng

is known by her fans

for her songs Atonement and Beloved.

But my personal favorite

is Wakare no Yokan.

I wonder what Dad really wanted.

From what?

From his life.

I never could figure him out,

to his final day.

His life didn't work out like he wanted.

So many things...

because of the times.

He blamed all his weaknesses

on the times we lived in.

Why are you so grave?

Do you think that the incense is your dad?

Missing him after he's gone

won't bring him back.

You have to deal with people

while they're alive.

I know that.

I wonder why it is

that men can't love the present.

Either they just keep chasing

whatever it is they've lost...

or they keep dreaming beyond their reach.

How can you enjoy life

if you keep doing that?

If you say so.

You can't find happiness

until you've let go... of something.

Even deeper than the sea

Even blue:
than the sky

I've never loved anyone

deeper than the sea...

even though I've made it to this age.

Don't sound so depressing.

Have you?

Me?

In my own way.

No, not most people.

But we still live our lives,

enjoying every day.

Actually, we keep on living

because we haven't.

So we manage to find joy

day after day.

That's complex.

No, it's simple. Life is simple.

I just said something really deep,

didn't I?

You can use ii in your next novel.

Write it down, or you'll forget it.

It's okay.

Where's the notepad?

I'll remember it.

Which pan?

You can't find happiness'!-

The typhoon's still around?

Yeah.

It's intense.

The toilet? The light switch

is the middle one on the right.

I know.

Shall we go?

To the water tower?

No, the park.

Rice crackers, cookies, candy.

A feast. We'll get drinks there.

They're not climbing up the tower,

are they?

I think they're going to the park.

They mentioned the slides.

They'll be fine, then.

I'm sorry to ask you at this hour.

I'm wide-awake anyway.

Would you like a snack?

No, I'm fine.

I'll make some coffee, then.

I just hope you aren't picky.

It's late. I'm really fine.

You're right.

You have such beautiful handwriting.

I envy you.

You're too kind.

Your mother had good handwriting, too?

Yes. She was a calligraphy teacher.

If I had been a little smarter...

I wanted to be a home economics teacher.

I studied teaching, too.

What a coincidence. What subject?

Language.

I even did some practice teaching.

You make me nervous

staring at me like that.

I just wonder...

if the two of you are completely over.

You treat me like your own daughter...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes