Heat-Haze Theatre Page #2

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I thought you were

going to kill me.

M m?

Birds are stupid.

I shoot them,

but more still come.

In front of the hospital...

I meta lady

named lne Tamawaki.

I thought perhaps

she was related to you.

- You spoke to her?

- Yes.

Strange.

I'm told she's seriously ill.

How was she?

Her hair was clone formally.

She had a parcel and a parasol.

As if she was going out?

Or visiting the hospital.

Are you sure?

She called herself Mrs Tamawaki?

I was led to believe she's dying.

I'll go and see her.

A dying woman out with a parcel,

how interesting.

Let's go.

- Are you here to see Mrs Tamawaki?

- Yes.

I'm afraid she passed away

three hours ago.

Sorry I couldn't get in touch

with you sooner.

I called earlier,

but no one took my call.

When I called back,

you'd already left.

Perhaps your wife's spirit

directed you here.

She passed away

at 11:
07 this morning.

Where's her body?

As you instructed,

it was sent to Honganji Temple.

She didn't suffer?

She was combing her hair

just prior to her passing.

I saw her shortly after noon.

The sun was shining

and vapour was rising.

But by then, she was dead.

Then who was it that I met?

Who, indeed.

Many strange things

happen in the world.

The human mind, perhaps,

is the strangest of all.

Do you agree, Mr Playwright?

She was standing there.

She looked exactly like that lady.

The bladder cherry lady?

Have you seen her again?

No.

Come to think of it,

it was all quite odd.

Keep me company tonight.

After all, it seems

you knew my late wife.

Mr Tamawaki,

please accept my condolences.

She finally passed on.

She can sleep in peace at last.

I wonder. It seems

she's already appeared as a ghost.

What do you mean?

Matsuzaki saw her after she died.

She can't rest.

She's nursing a grudge.

A grudge?

She was in love with me.

To a woman,

a grudge is akin to love.

Such a theatrical expression.

Matsuzaki, use it in your play.

Taro.

Hanako.

Jiro.

I was her first man.

She was my chambermaid.

She loved me, so I fired her.

Making love to you

is her vengeance. Right?

You're wrong.

You told me to take care of him.

I'm at his service,

as if he were my lord.

We're clean, pure

and innocent, aren't we?

- Mio.

- Yes?

Are you in love with Mr Tamawaki?

Not any longer.

But he's supporting you financially.

He gives me money.

Why should I refuse it?

Damn it.

Everybody around me

is linked to him.

I'm dancing to everyone else's tunes.

He respects your talent.

My talent?

Talent for what?

I don't need flattery.

A funeral.

I wonder which wife died.

He loves to make fun

of the people around him.

We won't know the truth

until we peer into the coffin.

You say you saw lne

after she died, too.

So which of his wives died?

"Wives?"

, ...

You know everything.

But you didn't answer me

when I asked.

Well, it's a secret.

But I'll tell you.

Let's dance.

Let's dance!

He got married

while he was studying in Germany.

- With a German girl?

- Yes.

Then he ordered her

to become a Japanese woman.

V -

Hairstyle, kimono, the works.

It's a well-known story in Germany.

He returned home

with his German wife.

AN L- I- f AN '

n. A

Some say his new wife

is a mere courtesan.

There she is.

Darling.

I'll take one woman's soul.

I beg your pardon?

This is a plaything

for women and children.

I'll call it a soul or whatever

I need in order to make a sale.

Thieves!

They got me too.

Wm .

Your masculine soul

has been taken.

- My soul?

- It's a children's game.

They give the soul to a girl.

That makes them...

...lovers?

It's only a game.

The birds are restless.

Doesn't it bother you?

No. I think they're quieter than usual.

One is dead.

They tormented each other

and one of them died.

I'm sick of running an aviary.

Even if they're sold, they die.

That's why we can never thrive.

Maybe I dote on them too much.

Birds become weak

if they're pampered too much.

Is that so?

- Mr Matsuzaki.

- Yes?

A letter came for you, from a lady.

- What time is it?

- 5:
30.

I'm going out.

I might be gone for a few days.

Where?

Ah, Kanazawa.

You're really in love with her.

She isn't Tamawaki's woman, is she?

If she is, you'll end up dead.

If his dog bites him,

he'll kill it.

I may be his dog, but...

...I haven't been told for sure

that she's his wife.

I'll be true to my feelings.

"I shall be at the Yuzaki in Kanazawa.

"Our third meeting.

Next time, we die as lovers.

"Still, I wish to see you..."

You'll end up dead.

B; '"

He wants to shoot people!

You'll be killed.

Just you wait and see.

Excuse me.

Are you Mr Matsuzaki?

Yes.

Your companion is waiting for you

in first class.

- My companion?

- Yes.

I think you're mistaken.

All I know is that he wants you

to go to the first class compartment.

Here you go.

Let's start.

"Chicken..."

"Grow up fast and lay eggs."

Here.

- Nice.

- "Plums..."

"Pick and pickle plump plums."

It's sour.

"Mushroom..."

A mushroom, a mushroom...

Looks delicious!

Eat it!

"The mushroom grows out

of the bush." Excuse me.

I saw you getting aboard.

Where are you going?

Kanazawa.

Kanazawa?

What a coincidence.

What do you mean?

I'm going there, too.

To watch lovers die.

A woman disappeared.

She was married.

She left a message and vanished.

She had a secret lover.

A young man.

She was afraid the affair

would be exposed.

How do you know they'll die?

Did she write that too?

Yes, her driver took her to Lake Yasha.

So she'll die there?

And her lover is heading there too?

I don't know.

The lover is yet to be identified.

But the woman loves him

and wants to die with him.

Too perfect a story.

It sounds more like a play.

A good story, isn't it?

Much better than what you write.

A woman's determination

ruins her man.

I want to see how they die.

You'd go to Kanazawa for that?

I'm bored.

Why are you going to Kanazawa?

A woman.

I received a letter.

From a woman.

A woman.

That woman?

Yes. Your woman.

Bladder cherry, you mean?!

Mr Tamawaki.

She's risking her life.

She's so deeply in love.

Men and women in love.

That's how it goes.

Butler.

The toilet?

Yuzukiro

My name is Shunko Matsuzaki.

My companion awaits me here.

Your companion's name?

It's a lady.

A young lady.

Tell her Matsuzaki has arrived.

Clerk.

You have a date, sir?

- Yes, a lady.

- Her name?

Bladder cherry...

Sorry. I'm sure she's waiting here.

This is the Yuzuki.

That's our hotel.

Perhaps she's late.

Let me stay.

Who?

Ones who talk about

bombs and revolution.

Anarchists?

That's right.

Did one of them do something?

Kidnapped a prostitute.

- Have a drink.

- Thank you.

Our clerk thought

you might belong to that group too.

You don't look like

a regular businessman.

That face, too...

I didn't mean any offence!

What happened next?

He wanted money in exchange for the prostitute.

Her master refused.

Then what?

Such a fuss!

A policeman came to arrest him.

Then you arrived.

I see.

A call for Mr Matsuzaki.

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