Okuribito Page #3

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that the family does not see.

The anus must sometimes be blocked.

The cotton wool is rolled

and pressed deep into the anus.

This prevents seepage.

What's all that?

You looked in my desk...

Don't change the subject.

I just got this acting job...

I checked what the company does.

So?

Why didn't you say?

You'd say no.

Of course!

Aren't you ashamed

having a job like that?

What's to be ashamed

of? Touching dead people?

Just get a normal job.

'Normal'?

Everyone dies. I'll

die, and so will you.

Death is normal.

Spare me the word games!

I want you to quit.

Please.

I haven't said anything so far, have I.

When you wanted to quit the cello

and move back up here...

I just smiled.

The fact is, I was

all broken up over it.

But...

I love you.

So...

just this once...

listen to me.

And if I don't?

Will this be a career?

I'm going home. Come

see me when you quit.

Mika!

Don't touch me! You're unclean!

No.

I'm sorry?

That's not my daughter.

The color's wrong.

It's all wrong!

That's Miyuki!

What are you doing?!

It's all wrong!

Do it again.

Certainly.

What's the point now?

You didn't raise her right.

That's why this happened!

Don't talk like that.

What?!

You didn't pay her

much attention, either.

Who are you to talk?! You

killed her on your bike!

Have you no shame?!

Stop it!

Stop it!

All of you!

Get out.

It's your fault Miyuki's dead.

Can you make up for that?

Well?

Work all your lives like him

at a job no one else would do?

Well?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry!

The boss'll be disappointed.

He likes you.

He does?

Yes! You're the first one

he's ever made full-time!

He sure hired me fast enough...

The man goes on instinct. He

knew as soon as he saw you.

Even still...

Well, if you're going to quit,

can you tell him yourself?

He's upstairs.

Excuse me...

Come in.

Are you eating?

Your wife's still away...

Yes.

Eat. I'm probably a

better cook than you.

Dig in.

What's that?

Puffer roe, grilled

with salt. It's good.

My wife.

She died on me nine years ago.

One of you always goes first,

but it's hard being left behind.

I made her beautiful and sent her off.

She was my first.

Then I started this business.

Even this...

is a corpse.

The living eat the dead.

Unless they're plants.

Unless you want to die, you eat.

And if you eat, eat well.

Good, huh?

Yes, it is.

So good I hate myself.

It's nearly two months since

I moved home from Tokyo.

It's been an awkward time.

Can I really do this job?

Want to do it?

All right.

Lay the head down first, please.

Tomeo!

We'll take our leave.

Thank you.

Once he went like he did,

we did nothing but fight.

After that I wasn't seeing him.

But when I saw his smile, I remembered.

'He's my son.

'He may dress as a girl,

but he's still my son.'

Thank you very much!

Mmm!

Is it good?

I hate myself.

You brought your cello?

I want to hear it!

Just a bit.

I've never heard one live.

You were in an orchestra?

But it went broke.

When did you start playing?

In kindergarten.

That long ago?

This is a child's instrument.

My dad made me take lessons.

Good for him!

He was a louse.

He had a coffee shop, and

he took off with a waitress.

A real bastard.

Where is he now?

Dead, probably.

So... what'll it be?

Well, since it's Christmas...

No problems of religious affiliation?

It's fine.

Buddhist, Christians, Islam, Hindu,

we handle anything.

All right, for a holy night...

Hello, NK Agent. Thank you for calling.

Tomorrow? And the name of the deceased?

We will now prepare the

deceased for her departure.

Slip them over the toes...

Um...

Grandma wanted to wear socks like ours.

Certainly.

Grandma... bye-bye.

Thank you for everything.

...we pray in the name

of Jesus Christ. Amen.

He's getting old.

Papa...

Thank you!

Mika!

Don't you ever clean?

Sometimes.

Not even once.

Twice.

That's not 'sometimes'.

I guess you need me.

And I've got news.

What?

I'm pregnant.

I'm going to be a father?

So get yourself together, OK?

Will you be able to

tell a child what you do?

The other kids will laugh.

I don't care about the

money. Let's be happy.

Hello?

Hi.

Right now?

What?

I'll be right there.

Are you going to work now?

The lady who runs the

bath... she's dead.

My wife Mika.

She was carrying firewood.

She dropped dead.

Working right till the end...

The town won't be the

same without this bath.

If you would all wipe her

face, and take your farewells.

Ma!

Mother!

Shiori...

Grandma's leaving us.

Mother!

Thank you for everything.

You work here?

If you would place

your hands together...

I will now close the casket.

Thank you.

We'll meet again.

May I watch?

Thank you.

People probably have a

premonition of what's coming.

Last year we did Christmas Eve together.

Just like a young couple, at our age!

But she insisted...

so we bought a little

cake, and lit some candles

and celebrated together.

Then all of a sudden

she asks me to help her

heat the public bath.

Now I know why.

I'm good at fire.

Working here all these years,

I've often thought that

maybe death is like a gateway.

Dying doesn't mean the end.

You go through it and

onto the next thing.

It's a gate.

And as the gatekeeper

I've sent so many on their way.

Telling them...

'Off you go.

'We'll meet again.'

Ma!

Ma!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

Ma!

I'm sorry!

What are you doing?

This one.

Here.

What?

A stone letter.

'Stone letter'?

Long ago, before writing,

you'd send someone a stone...

that suited the way you were feeling.

From its weight and touch,

they'd know how you felt.

From a smooth stone

they might get that you were happy

or from a rough one

that you were worried about them.

Thank you.

What did you feel?

Not telling.

That's a lovely story. Who told you?

My dad.

You mean... that big rock?

Yep. I got it from him.

I didn't know that.

He said he'd send me one every year,

but that's all I ever got.

That jerk!

Will you play for the baby

every day till it's born?

What a nice day!

Hello.

Is this the Kobayashi residence?

Yes.

'Kazuko Kobayashi'?

Doesn't she live here?

My mother-in-law

died two years ago.

What?!

Is that so?

May I see that?

No, don't...

(Name of Deceased Kobayashi, Hideki)

I'm back.

You forgot your cell phone.

Huh?

It's at home... sorry.

Your father's dead.

Mine?

Yes.

What do you mean?

So I called the fishing port.

Our address was in his things.

But who cares now?

I haven't seen him in 30 years.

His girlfriend can tend to him.

They said he was single.

They're cremating him tomorrow.

His body's at the

Fishermen's Co-op there.

He's not on our family register.

Tell them I can't sign for him.

Daigo!

Go.

No, it's fine.

Please!

I left...

a son in Obihiro.

He was six.

I met someone.

'Mommy! Mommy! ' my son was crying.

I pushed his little hands

away and went running out.

And since then?

I'd love to see him, but I can't.

Why not?

You could go there.

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