Giovanni's Island Page #5

but not bother to send us home to Korea. Junpei! "Wait here tomorrow at midnight.

-T" Dad...! "Wait here tomorrow at midnight.

-T" That day was the

Russian New Year. The night of their

Yolka Festival. Junpei... Happy New Year! A mail troika dashes

along the frozen Mother Volga... Hey, cool it!

We'll get in trouble! Relax! The Commandant

will overlook it today! The coachman hums a sad tune

and shakes his head... Hey, come down here

and drink with us! As you command! There! No, wait! It's Dad! Kanta! Kanta! Dad! What were you thinking?!

What if you're caught?! It's not safe here!

Go back this instant! Go back. Go back right now! Junpei! - Kanta!

- Dad! Thank you.

I'm so glad you came. I'm so glad! We came on the

Galactic Railroad! You did?

You did, did you? Dad! Junpei! Dad! Kanta! Dad! Wait for me! I'll come

home alive, no matter what! Thank you, Sawako.

Please look after the boys. I will. Dad... Let's go. Kanta! - Kanta!

- Kanta! Kanta! - Kanta! Kanta!

- Are you all right, Kanta? Kanta! Tomorrow? Then... Yes. Of course. Kanta... Here. Thank you. Put them on a truck

and take them to Kholmsk. Comrade Commandant? A Japanese repatriation ship is

leaving from Kholmsk tomorrow. - Make sure they're on it.

- At once! Happy New Year! Kanta! We're going home!

We're going back to Japan! I told you to keep quiet! Can't you see that he's sick?

Be kind and let them talk. The stars are so pretty... Are we riding

the Galactic Railroad? That's right! We're Giovanni

and Campanella! You and me,

together forever! Look, Kanta! The Indian and

the Bird Catcher are here, too! I can see the Southern Cross

and the big Coalsack! Junpei... Am I gonna die? No way! You're not

gonna die, not here! We have this magic ticket to go

wherever we want, remember? See, Kanta? It's a ticket

for the Galactic Railroad! It is... It's a magic ticket that will let you go

anywhere you want in the whole universe! Kanta, let's go home to Japan. We'll head straight home and

eat a whole bunch of tasty food! We can do anything.

What do you want to be, Kanta? I know! A conductor on the

Galactic Railroad, right? An airplane pilot? You could even be a sailor or

own a toy store or a bookshop! You can be anything! When you grow up, you can even

get married and have kids! You can ride in cars,

sing songs, You're right, Junpei... I can see a light... I wonder if it's

the final stop? No! Don't go there! I can see a lovely field... It's such a lovely field... This has to be the final stop on the line. Dummy! We're supposed to stick

together forever! Right, Kanta?! Kanta? Kanta! Kanta... Kanta! Hey! - Uncle?!

- Hideo! I'm an indestructible,

wandering crow, you know! Hideo, what happened

to your leg? The Russkies are rusty,

but their bullets have bite. Did you see Tatsuo? Hey, Kanta.

What's the matter? He didn't make it, huh?

Damn. Come on, let's all

go home together. Honey! If you die, you get thrown

by the wayside. Junpei! Prop up Kanta! Make it look like he's alive!

Talk to him! About anything! There has to be something!

Think! I know! Kenji Miyazawa!

Wasn't the Galactic Railroad born here? It was! Kenji Miyazawa

came to Karafuto because he wanted to talk

to his late sister. The Galactic Railroad was his way of

communicating with his sister in space! That story was born right here!

On this very spot! Junpei! Kanta. Let's go home together. Back to Japan! "It was at that precise moment

that it happened. In the far distance of the

Milky Way's downstream course, a cross, bejeweled with bright

orange and blue lights, appeared, standing shimmering

in the midst of the river." Kanta, can you see it?

Can you see the cross? "'Halluleja! Halluleja!' Brightly and happily the passengers'

voices resounded together. From far off in the distant,

cold depths of the sky came the clear, bracing,

indescribable blast of a trumpet." Kanta, can you hear it?

Can you hear it? Just a little further.

Just ten more meters! There's the border!

It's Japan! "I'll no longer be afraid

of that vast darkness. I'd go looking in there for what

would make people happy. You and me, always together!

Always together! Always together!

Always together! Always together,

forward we go!" "Together! Hey! Don't those fields

look so lovely? And everybody's gathered there!

That must be the real Heaven! Look! She's there!

There's my mother!" Kanta, we're home! We've come home to Japan! Kanta... More than fifty years have

passed since all that happened. The island where my family lived...

The island where I met Tanya... Our island stood before us,

looking exactly the same. "Seno Family Grave" We've finally managed

to come back. Kanta. Tatsuo. That day, a primary school

graduation ceremony was held. For those of us who weren't

able to graduate back then. "Welcome, Visitation Group!" I hereby certify you have completed

your primary school education at Shikotan National People's School

after a 56 year course of study. - Congratulations.

- Thank you, ma'am. - I'll never forget that.

- Me, neither. Wait, did that happen? Tanya! Giovanni? My grandma told me

to give that to you. Is Tanya here? This is Nina.

She is Tanya's granddaughter. Tanya was my mother.

She passed away last year. She always said that she

hoped to see you again. So, she's gone... Then this is for you. "Night on the Galactic Railroad" What's it about? When people die, they rise up

into the heavens and become stars

in the night sky. Those countless stars fill the sky,

shining brightly and eternally, and we live our lives down here,

basking in their light. That's what the story is about. That's very beautiful. Along a long road,

and on a moonlit night, and with that song that

flies away with a jingle, and with that ancient,

seven-stringed guitar that tormented me

so much at night... Giovanni? Shall we dance, too? Thank you. Hold this, Mum!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes