Fires on the Plain

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1

A Kaijyu Theatre production

Adapted from Shohei Ooka's novel

A film by Shinya Tsukamoto

FIRES ON THE PLAIN

You have TB and you can't even

forage for food.

Can you dig a bomb shelter?

Can you? Answer me!

Yes, sir!

You can't.

Go then!

To the hospital.

Go.

Don't waste it.

What?

Private Tamura, 14th

Independent infantry regiment.

My squad leader sent me here.

Are you sick?

It's my lungs.

That's no reason to come here!

You have food?

Yes, sir.

Tamura.

Private Tamura.

Return to the squad.

Sir?

You're discharged. Go.

Why are you back?

You're still sick!

Come back when you

can serve my squad.

You're early. You had 5 days

of rations.

What's your problem?

It wasn't a 5-day ration.

We already ate it.

These men are injured.

I have no time for you.

Why come back like he said?

Don't give up.

Tell him you have no place to go.

If the surgeon won't admit you

kill yourself.

Make use of your grenade.

That way

you'd be doing a service.

Sir, I will go to the field hospital

and kill myself if I'm turned away.

Right.

Good luck.

Yes, sir.

You gave away your rations so

there are no more.

I don't know which is better,

to go or to stay.

I won't kill you.

I won't.

Give me that.

And that.

I'll get you yams.

Ouch!

It's you again.

You won't quit.

Move those men outside.

They're untreatable anyway.

Cook this one so I can eat it.

If you give me half.

I can't eat this raw.

So give me half.

Go and do something useful, idiot.

Want to swap your yarn

for a smoke?

Why not treat yourself

before you die?

Hey, come on.

Hey.

Why not swap your yarn?

Please.

Please give me your yam.

It has to be the whole yam.

Keep the cigarette.

What?

I don't smoke.

Now leave me alone.

Alright!

Here.

Cook it.

Thank you.

You're like

a bunch of deserters.

You cowards.

Charge!

Don't let the enemy take

the island!

Don't surrender...

How's your leg?

It hurts.

I'll be right here.

Don't expect anything from me.

I'm just... lonely.

You're always crying, you sissy.

I'm...

illegitimate.

Why are you telling me that now?

Are you surprised?

Not at all. It's common enough.

Really?

You fool!

Listen to me.

I abandoned my son.

I was just a student.

My brother looked after him.

I was told to stay away.

I only got to meet him

when I was drafted.

That's when...

My son said, "So long, Father."

You're a sinner, Old man.

That's why I'm prepared to die

in this hellhole.

Give it back!

NOW!

Those yams are for the patients.

Get up!

I've got yams!

Stop! Sir!

What?

You can have mine.

Let him off.

You have an attitude.

You have a problem?

Get up, Old man!

Ouch...

My stomach...

Fire...

I need fire.

If I can make fire...

I'll come back.

Damn, there's nothing!

Right, I need fire.

Any matches here?

I need matches.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't!

It's too much to carry.

I'm with the 14th Independent

infantry regiment, Murayama squad!

The Murayama squad...

Didn't they die?

Die...?

The enemy attacked

while I was at the hospital.

What for?

My lung$

I had a suspicion that an outsider

was in the area.

Where were you?

And your rifle?

I lost it in the stream.

That's enough yarns to get us

to Palompon.

To Palompon?

You didn't know?

All personnel on Leyte have orders

to go to Palompon.

The top brass finally noticed

how bad it is.

Everyone's retreating.

They'll send us to Cebu by ship.

So you wandered around cluelessly?

We'll pack our yarns and go.

You'd better get some food

and go, too.

Well?

Too sick?

You can stay

and give up on your

girl back home.

If you died some man will

console your girl

and she'll end up happily

married to him.

Are you okay?

What's that bulging in your bag?

- It's salt, sir.

- Salt!

That's great!

Let me have a lick.

Where was it?

In the village.

Let's go and see what else is there.

The villagers took

everything and ran.

I saw many dead Japanese soldiers.

One villager ran when he saw me.

He might have alerted guerrillas.

Right.

We should get moving.

How about you?

You give me salt

and you can tag along.

You look miserable.

Come with us.

I'll let you.

Lucky,huh?

What's that?

A guerrilla smoke signal?

Nothing like it...

A nice bonfire.

They're posing as villagers.

I guess it isn't the time

for bonfires.

Let's get going.

Palompon.

Palompon.

Palompon.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

You're good at that.

What did you do back home?

I was a writer.

I read

and wrote.

That's what I liked.

So you're the intellectual

among us.

But it means nothing here.

We survived hell in New Guinea

by eating human flesh.

We'll eat you if

you're not careful!

Don't worry.

Stay with me and you won't get hit.

Bullets dodge me.

Hey, Intellectual.

Let's go.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, sir.

Hold on.

He's dangerous.

Don't upset him.

Go around him.

Hello.

I'm glad it's such a fine day.

Is this the Kaneko squad?

You from the Kaneko squad?

The Oyama squad?

Mother...

Cigarette, anyone?

A yam for a smoke.

Half a yarn will do.

You idiot. Who wants to buy

cigarettes now?

The higher ups might.

I'll catch up.

Moron! Don't come back without yams!

Remember me?

So you made it!

You too.

For the cigarette.

Wait.

Why should I?

Don't let people beat you.

Thank you.

Oh, it's you again.

You look better.

Looks like you're eating.

Can't you walk?

Nagamatsu helps me walk

so I manage.

We better

get to Palompon before we run out

of smokes.

Guess sales are down.

Not really.

People always need cigarettes.

Especially when times are tough.

We're making ends meet

as you can see.

You're wrong, Old man.

No one's buying.

That's your fault, moron!

Any soldier

would swap his last yarn

for a smoke!

Cut it out, fool.

You big cry baby!

No more yarns...

Why did I give it to him?

Where are the corporal

and his company?

It's useless.

I can't catch up.

That's how I'll end up.

They don't know when to stop.

Corporal.

It's you. You're still alive.

Now's the tough part.

See the path?

We'll have to climb over the hill

to get to Palompon.

Once we're there we'll be okay

if we hide in the woods.

Will we go at night?

Who'd go in daylight?

We'll get to Palompon

and when we reach Cebu

we'll be home free.

Don't worry.

Bullets dodge me.

Save your strength.

Hey, you.

Any salt left?

Can I have some, please?

Wait.

Come with me.

You don't have any left.

Thank you.

Listen.

There's no reason for you

to join us.

We're stuck with the corporal.

But you're not.

You're free.

Did you really eat people

in New Guinea?

Human flesh...

Of course not.

Corporal.

I surrender.

I surrender.

I surrender.

Surrender.

I surrender.

I surrender.

Is this the way to Palompon?

Corporal...

Burning...

It's burning.

The Sun goes down so fast.

The earth is rotating.

That's why the Sun sets.

I'm in Buddha's Heaven.

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