Flowing Page #5

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l've already had my lunch

But geisha are never early risers,

it's bad for your health!

lt's because you're working so hard

What are you doing there, Katsuyo?

A curriculum vitae?

What on earth for?

l apologise for not returning your money

for last month

Listen, Otsuta...

You, too, Katsuyo. Listen to me.

lf it goes on like this,

you're going to go bankrupt...

...so why not change your business?

What? Change business?

Well, is Katsuyo going to inherit

this business?

No, she detests the whole geisha

business. l was thinking more of Fujiko

Fujiko? That'll be ten years from now.

What will you do in the meantime?

And this place is mortgaged...

l know that. l shouldn't trouble you

any more with this

l know someone who may be interested

in running it as a hotel

You could sell this place

for a good price, pay me back...

...and then invest the remainder

in the hotel

Someone's interested

in buying this place?

Madame Ohama Mizuno wants

to start up her geisha business again

- Madame Ohama?

- Right

l'll be back. And tell her she won't

get rid of me for 50,000 yen!

l'll come by and pick up Namie's things

later in my car

He's gone at last

You think that's the last you'll see

of him? What a carry on!

Tsuta House has one of the best

reputations in the business...

...and yet that fool swaggers

around here like he owns the place

And you think l should sell the place

despite its reputation?

lt's not my idea, it's Madame Mizuno's !

Ask her yourself if you don't believe me

- Good morning

- Morning

lt's so busy here that it's impossible

to get any sleep

l don't know what Otoyo said to you...

...but unlike her l would never charge

interest on a loan to my own sister

l know you're having trouble

and l worry about you...

l'm sorry

But whatever happens...

...l would never reproach you

for anything

But if you were to take over the house...

...then l would prefer you to have it

rather than my sister

Oh, Otsuta, you're taking this

all so seriously

l'm far too busy

running my own place, anyway

You're always summoning me urgently!

- lt's been a while

- Yes, it has

That's because you'll only come

if it's urgent!

That way, Mr Hanayama can't complain

He's not as patient as he used to be...

Like he's expecting the worst to happen!

Tell him he'll damage his liver

with all that stress

He should arrange to see Otsuta

some time

Why don't you bring him round here

this evening?

This evening?

You told me he'd made

the same suggestion

"l haven't seen Otsuta

for such a long time," he said

What l think he means is that

he'd like to see you

As he's getting older, Otsuta...

...he's feeling nostalgic about you

l wonder...

He was my patron

but we parted company

So what?

Tell him Otsuta is in a spot of trouble

and needs his advice

He wouldn't say no, would he?

He's not that kind of person

He still has feelings for you

He always looked after you, never letting

you wear the same kimono twice!

And he gave you that 1 00,000 yen

the other day

About that 1 00,000 yen...

He gave it quite willingly, didn't he?

lt was just like he was giving out

pocket money, wasn't it?

Listen, l'm fine...

l felt terrible having to ask him

for the money

l couldn't ever trouble him again...

And how long have you been a geisha?

At any rate, you must meet up

with Mr Hanayama

And you, Mr Saeki,

owe a great deal to Otsuta, too

Let's make it 7:
00 this evening

lf you can't bring Mr Hanayama along,

then we'll go to him

There's a strange atmosphere

here today, don't you think?

Not only today. There's always

a strange atmosphere in this house

But l'm glad the mistress is meeting

an old client

lt'll do her good...

lt'll do us all good

- Oharu, come with me

- Yes, mistress

- Good day!

- ls that the kimono man?

- Which sash will you wear, mistress?

- Help me with my hair, Oharu

- You have such beautiful skin

- Not any more!

Back in my day, we used to take

great care of our skin

Girls don't bother so much

these days. Or with their hairstyles...

lt just doesn't look the same somehow,

does it?

No...

When we were young, geisha were seen

as very different creatures

We always tried to be better

than the other girls

But that's all changed nowadays

Our costumes, our hairstyles,

our artistry...

...all those special things

about a geisha are disappearing

Young geisha today are just like

any other women

lt will be autumn soon

Last year's colours simply won't do

You can't go out to see clients

dressed inappropriately, now, can you?

Miss Someka, can l tempt you

with something new?

Let me see...

How about this one?

A very popular colour this season...

Good day. l have the perfect colour

for you, madame

lf you get your hair done in a traditional

style, you'd look even more stunning

- Oharu, would you call me a car?

- Yes, mistress

Welcome back, madame

Are you going out somewhere?

Where have you been?

l heard from a high school friend

about a sewing machinist job

What? A sewing job?

l feel bad staying here for nothing

and not paying my way

Are you being sarcastic?

No daughter of mine should ever

have to do work like that

Please don't even think

about doing such work

Those machines make such a racket...

l'll be back later

This way

Where's your sister seeing this client?

Do you know, Yoneko?

No idea. She can still turn heads, though

That awful little man from Mt Nokogiri...

...l heard he swindled her

out of 50,000 yen!

l suppose l am to blame for that

whole situation with Namie

But she's such a disagreeable person

l couldn't stand her!

And l hate her even more

now that she's gone

l have nothing to apologise for

l won't even deign to discuss the matter

lt's difficult for my mother, though

She has a heart of gold really

and that's her weakness

That's why she ended up

separating from my father

l guess she's just unlucky

l'm afraid Nanako's with a client

right now

Eh? Yes...

Number 1 565, Koishikawa

Yes, l understand

ls that a client?

Someone called Mr Takayama

Takayama?

He said he's at that inn on Koishikawa

l see...

l knew it! The embers of their love

have been rekindled!

He's her old employer

- The guy who promised to marry her?

- That's the one

Oh, it all makes me so jealous!

Someka, why don't you treat yourself?

Might bring you luck...

Don't you think the colour's

a bit dull for me?

l'm only just 50, you know

Who knows how long l'll live,

or when l'll have a chance to wear it?

l think a subtle colour suits you better.

lt'll make you look younger, too

You think so?

Shall l buy it then?

Yes?

Madame Someka? Yes, she's here

ls that a client?

Tell them l'll be right over!

l understand, yes

- They need another geisha at lshimura's

- Any place will do me

l've got to start paying

for my new kimono!

l'm off to find myself a new patron

Someka, your man won't be too pleased

Oh, so what?

Your guest has arrived, madame

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