Memoirs of a Geisha
Tanaka-san!
Tanaka-san!
A story like mine
should never be told.
For my world is as forbidden
as it is fragile.
Without its mysteries,
it cannot survive.
I certainly wasn't born
to the life of a geisha.
Like so much in my strange life...
...I was carried there by the current.
The first time I knew
my mother was sick...
...was when my father threw the fish
back into the sea.
That night we went hungry.
"To understand emptiness,"
he told us.
Mother always said my sister Satsu
was like wood.
As rooted to the earth
as a sakura tree.
But she told me I was like water.
Water can carve its way,
even through stone.
And when trapped,
water makes a new path.
Stop here.
These are the girls from Tanaka?
Sisters, yes, from Yoroido.
This one, maybe.
The other one, no.
- No, no, Chiyo! Chiyo! Chiyo!
- Satsu! Satsu!
- Chiyo!
- Satsu!
Show your respect for Mother.
You must not speak.
I will answer for you.
Kneel.
And head down.
Never look her in the face.
- How old are you?
- She is Year of the Rooster.
Only 9.
Where is my sister?
Let me see those eyes.
Look at me.
Too much water.
But, Okasan, a little water
is good to guard against fire.
You won't have to worry
about the okiya burning...
...losing all your kimono.
These country girls.
Too late to send her back now.
Go.
Pumpkin. Keep her quiet.
Mother is downstairs.
Let me go!
Let me go! Let me go!
Let me go!
- Stop that.
- Let me go!
Mother will hear you.
She's got a bamboo stick.
I want my sister! Satsu!
I cried too at first.
You know, it is easier
if you just forget everything...
...that happened before
you came to the okiya.
If you impress Mother
and do exactly as she says...
...she will send you to school
to be a geisha.
A what?
A geisha. Like Hatsumomo.
You will get to drink sake
Where is my sister?
Probably in another okiya
in the hanamachi.
Your family sold you to this house.
You live here now.
Outside, you wear these.
Inside, these.
We don't display our naked feet
like monkeys.
It's not flesh we're selling here.
This is a geisha house.
Remember to always honor
this okiya.
You listen, you learn.
Now get to work.
Be quiet. Hatsumomo is sleeping.
Pumpkin, when can I go outside?
Outside the okiya?
You can't. It's not allowed.
How will I find Satsu?
You can't just walk up to every house
in the hanamachi.
Do you know how many there are?
Look.
Tighter!
Chiyo. Chiyo-chan.
Come. Two nights ago, Hatsumomo
had to stay at the teahouse until dawn.
That's what she told Mother. But she
was really here with a man the whole...
Why can't you be quiet?
So this is the new arrival.
A pity she still stinks of fish.
Stay out of my room.
Your fingers smell.
I can't have you touching my things.
Hatsumomo...
good money.
Never forget.
It is Hatsumomo
who pays for your supper...
...the clothes on your back.
By the time she was 20...
...she had already earned back
her purchase price.
Unheard of.
She has been the talk
of the hanamachi ever since.
These are all hers?
Certainly not.
They belong to the okiya.
A kimono like this,
made of Tatsumura silk...
...it would take a lifetime to earn.
A geisha needs
an elegant wardrobe...
...just like an artist needs ink.
If she's not properly dressed,
then she is not a true geisha.
Nobody told me what a geisha is.
You will find out soon enough.
I have news for you, child.
Mother has determined
it is off to school with you.
You are to become geisha.
Chiyo! Pumpkin!
Quick, quick! Don't be late!
You will be late.
Go. Go.
This way!
Pumpkin! Pumpkin!
Pumpkin! I'm going to run.
I'm going to find Satsu.
No, Chiyo-chan, don't!
You will ruin your own chances.
And mine too.
Please, stay with me.
Squid. Come on!
Look for your sister's name later.
You are late!
Chiyo! Where is Granny's food?
Where have you been?
It's freezing cold!
Close the window!
- With millions of people unemployed,
on the brink of starvation.
Banking institutions have continued
to suffer in Germany...
...due to rapid inflation.
Another cause of Germany's suffering
is the constant struggle...
...to pay the heavy burden
of war reparations it's still...
Chiyo! Chiyo, come quickly!
Hatsumomo is at the bathhouse.
Tidy up.
- But she told me to stay out...
- Hatsumomo does not run this okiya.
The Japanese emperor has agreed to
send army instructors to Manchuria.
Why, look who's in my room.
Did you touch this?
I can just hear the General now.
"Why, Hatsumomo,
you used to smell of jasmine.
What's this new perfume?
Blowfish?"
I told you never to touch my things.
Can't you understand why?
Because your General will say,
"Hatsumomo, you stink. "
At least you don't smell as bad
as your sister.
You know, she was here.
She came by looking for you.
What?
Was I wrong to ask her to leave?
Please, tell me where she is.
Only if you swear yourself
to me first.
Yes?
Now, get out.
Hatsumomo.
You'll wake the entire house.
Your big sister is thirsty. So am I.
Go get us some beer.
I'm not in the mood for beer.
I know what you're in the mood for,
and his name is Koichi.
What did you say, Korin?
I'm sorry. I forgot.
You're just jealous
someone cares for me.
Guess who this belongs to.
A geisha as desired as she is...
...ought to keep a close eye
on her clothes.
- It's Mameha's?
- Yes.
- How did you get it?
- Bribed her maid.
- There.
- I can't.
Give it to her.
- Little Chiyo, come. Come.
- Chiyo.
Now, then, little Chiyo,
it's time to practice your calligraphy.
There.
Remember, you swore yourself
to me.
Yes.
Don't let anybody see you.
Go, go!
This will teach the great Mameha.
Come, come.
Thieving rat!
than you!
Careful! You will hurt yourself
more than her!
Let me.
Kneel!
What have you done
to Hatsumomo?
I haven't done anything.
I promise you.
Her little trick with that kimono
will cost you.
Whatever you have done to anger her,
you'd be wise to stop now.
Lie facedown!
I will beat you hard...
...so Mother does not
beat you harder.
I told you not to let anybody see you.
I have kept my promise.
So tell me, where is she?
She's in the next hanamachi
In the pleasure district.
Trust me, little Chiyo,
you will find her.
Tatsuyo?
Satsu! Satsu!
Satsu!
Satsu from Yoroido! Satsu! Satsu!
No! Satsu! No! Satsu! Satsu!
Sat...
Satsu! Satsu!
Chiyo-chan!
- What took you so long?
- But, Satsu, I tried!
I went to your okiya weeks ago.
They laughed and turned me away.
Please, I did not know!
I've missed you so much!
Let's leave. Tonight.
But we need money, Chiyo. I know
I can steal some first thing tomorrow.
- No, please! Tonight!
- No, tomorrow!
Meet me at the Sasame Bridge
as soon as it's dark.
Now I have to go. Quickly,
What if I cannot get away?
Be there, Chiyo.
It's our one chance.
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"Memoirs of a Geisha" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/memoirs_of_a_geisha_13618>.
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