Flowing Page #2

---

Welcome, madame

We're relying on you...

...because nobody is perfect

in this place!

l look forward to being

of assistance, madame

Please excuse me

l'll have one of these

So, l think this fellow may help us out

The steel industry's big business

these days

- Do you think he'd lend us money?

- Well, that's all down to you

This is your last one, right?

Ponko! Naughty cat!

- ls Namie back?

- No, not yet

- Mummy, buy some more

- You've had enough

ls my aunt here?

Yes. She never forgets

to show up at the end of the month!

Oh!

So pleased to see you

You should be careful,

your voice travels

Are you hungry?

Not that we've much to offer

No, l ate earlier

And l always go to bed early, too

Good idea. lt saves on electricity bills

And it keeps the wrinkles away!

Someka, l expect you to start

paying me some interest

Good evening

Yoneko, can't you start

working a little harder?

Enough. l'll be going grey

with all the worrying l do

That scared me to death!

Ponko?

They're so beautiful

A geisha's costume is her weapon.

We spend a lot on kimono

The one your mother was wearing

this morning was a real eye-catcher

l was once a geisha

for about six months, you know

- We were all bought these kimono

- Really?

My mother went into such debt

to buy them

Did you not like the life of a geisha,

Katsuyo?

l wasn't suited to it

Everybody said l'd never be successful

in this business

l'm just no good at flattering people

that l don't like

Mother's exactly the same,

but she has remarkable talent

She's beautiful, too

Still, it seems to bring her

nothing but bad luck

What kind of man will you marry,

Katsuyo?

- No one would marry me

- Why do you say that?

What did you used to do, Oharu?

Me?

Nothing in particular

l was just an ordinary housewife

But what becomes of girls like me?

My mother spends all day

flattering people...

...but no one really cares about her

That's why l fight for her

There's a guy here, says he's

Namie's uncle. And he's really angry

Namie's uncle?

Yes. And there's something

nasty about him

l'll see to him

Welcome, sir

How may l help you?

And who are you?

l'm the maid

l've only been here four or five days

l want to see the mistress of the house

l'm afraid you just missed her.

She's gone out

l bet she's hiding somewhere, eh?

lt's better for her to eavesdrop

on me from behind the screens

She should come and talk to me

face-to-face

Eh?

l don't know if you know my niece...

...but they put her to work here

and then cheated her out of her wages!

We can have this talk elsewhere

if she wants

l can't wait around

Tell the mistress l'll be round later, eh?

l'll be back to pick up

all the money that my niece is due

She's the only one of our sisters

who succeeded in becoming a geisha

She's pretty and sings beautifully

There's only five years between us...

...but with my looks, people often think

we're mother and daughter!

Now where was it...? You were

the best geisha at a party l attended

Mr Muramatsu says

he has heard you sing before

Your reputation is well-deserved

Well...

Oh?

lsn't that Mizuno's wife?

From the Mizuno restaurant

She used to be a senior geisha

to my sister

lsn't that Mr Saeki with her?

- Excuse me for a moment

- Where do you think you're going?

At least it's a bit cooler today, isn't it?

l'm Mrs Tsurumoto

from across the way

l see. Very pleased to meet you

Everyone's been telling me

what a wonderful maid you are

Bye

Welcome back, mistress

Can l have a word, Oharu?

And now the rowing motion...

- Welcome home

- Afternoon

l don't want you talking to our

neighbours. All they do is gossip

l'll be careful from now on, mistress

Mother, something terrible has happened

What is it?

- Namie's uncle showed up

- From Mt Nokogiri?

He kicked up an awful fuss.

He said he'd be back

Oh...

Oharu, do we have any sake left?

Oh, there was some in it yesterday

You have to keep it under lock and key,

otherwise they'll just drink it all

- Go buy some more

- But...

lt's almost the end of the month.

Tell them l'll settle up then

The mistress has so much

to worry about

Her elder sister keeps

tight control of everything

She's been swindled by her man,

and business isn't looking good

And some girls have left us this year -...

...Yukimaru, Tsutaji and now Namie

- That's three of them!

- There used to be seven girls there

Oharu! Over here!

There you are

- Come and have a drink with us

- Come on

Thank you, but maybe some other time

- Buying sake ?

- For a client?

No

lt's for the mistress

to drown her sorrows

Well, enjoy yourselves.

Please excuse me

- Why is she always so formal?

- She's not, is she?

l'm back

How come you went to the theatre?

Who did you go with?

Why do you want to know?

What's wrong with me going

to the theatre occasionally?

My aunt wouldn't invite you anywhere

without an ulterior motive

Stop worrying about me

Shall l bring some sake

up for you, mistress?

Sake ? Yes, please do

Oharu...

...have you been on your own ever since

your husband passed away?

Yes

l never thought a woman

could live without a man

Oh, yes...l'd very much

like you to stay

Three free meals a day...

...two days off a month,

and 3000 yen monthly

l especially appreciate you being here

- Thank you, mistress. l accept

- Yes?

A geisha's life looks glamorous

from the outside...

...but it's not always like that

lt can be, sometimes, though...

Mother! Telephone!

You're not a little child any more!

You don't just disappear

when l've made all these arrangements

Eh?

Mr Muramatsu?

Yes, he's still here waiting for you

So come back right away

l arranged all this for your benefit!

Yes...yes.

Look, l know how you feel, sister...

...but, like you say, l'm not a child

any more, so l refuse

Right in front of Madame Mizuno,

as well! How embarrassing!

Carrying on like that at my age!

Look, leave it to me, l'll sort it out

Eh? The money?

l don't have it.

lf l had it, l wouldn't be in this state

Look, l know you think l'm useless,

but just give me some time, OK?

Yoneko, you good-for-nothing!

TO:
MR GlWATSU,

KlMlTSU, CHlBA PREFECTURE

How do they reckon that much?

There's no way we're paying that!

They've got a cheek!

- Oharu!

- Yes?

- Will you check on Fujiko for me?

- Of course. Anything else?

- See if Nanako is at the beautician's

- Yes, madame

- She plays mah -jong in the mornings

- That's her own business

l have nothing but bad luck!

l'm just going out for a bit

l wonder what my sister's up to.

That man's coming tomorrow, right?

l just wish she'd tell us

where she's going and why

- Good day to you!

- Come on in

ls she in?

- Have you got a client this early?

- l'm sorry about the other day

l don't need any apologies.

Today's the last day of the month, right?

l know, l know

That Mr Muramatsu that you met,

he's such a nice man

Despite your behaviour,

he wants to see you again

He wants to offer you help.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes