Still Walking Page #5

Just like that novelist -

who was it?

No, like that comedian

who keeps apologizing.

We're not talking

about novelists or comedians.

Stop comparing

his life to others'.

One of his socks was black.

He's doing the best he can.

Things don't always work out

the way you want.

How can you sit

in judgment, Dad,

calling him

"useless" and "trash"?

Don't laugh!

What happened?

Wipe it up with this.

You don't need to yell.

What are you so defensive about?

This has nothing to do with you!

Is being a doctor so important?

Advertising is a fine profession.

Who knows how Junpei would have

turned out if he were still alive.

We're only human.

I heard "useless trash"

and thought

you were talking about me.

I was scared to come out.

Thank God you were

talking about Yoshio.

If only he'd lose a little weight.

He looks like that former

sumo wrestler - who was it?

Takamiyama?

No, he's the one from Hawaii

who's in those commercials.

I mean the one with the face

like a mid-belly, like this.

What's a mid-belly?

I think it's time to go.

Our driver's awake now.

- Going home so soon?

- Yes, we are.

Get ready!

Nobody asked him

to live Junpei's life!

Ryota, buy an RV.

We'd better put those desserts

in the refrigerator.

Atsushi, can you bring

those desserts here?

Can you find a spot

for them somewhere?

There's no room.

Oh dear, in there.

- From Grandma?

- Three thousand yen.

Three thousand yen.

Grandma seemed to be

enjoying herself.

Of course she was.

The best thing for her

is to be with her family.

Did we earn some points with her?

I don't know.

She won't come out and agree to it.

She wants to preserve her son's room.

I can understand how she feels.

He's got it good.

We've got our hands full

taking care of the living.

You'd prefer she look out

for her living daughter?

Of course.

My brother's ghost isn't going

to look after them in their old age.

Don't worry.

It's not that expensive.

It's light.

It doesn't matter what it costs.

It's not like I'm going

to buy more than one.

Does Mother have

her own cell phone?

It's right there.

When she makes calls,

she goes and uses our home phone.

The fool doesn't trust phones

without cords.

Says to keep this here.

What?

What's so funny?

Nothing at all.

They should have stayed

for supper too.

Oh no.

I couldn't stand to have

their whole gang

hanging around all night.

Sushi for lunch and eel for dinner.

I'm impressed.

I shouldn't have fried

so much tempura. What a waste.

Maybe I'll take

some tempura home.

Leftover tempura isn't any good.

It loses its crunch.

I'm glad we got the deluxe.

Anything less and they only

give you instant soup.

Can you eat this?

Sure you can.

You don't have to.

Grandpa'll eat it for you.

Grandma'll give you

some eel instead.

- You're so lucky.

- I can't eat all this rice. Here.

Don't dump your rice

on top of my eel, Mom.

Inside your stomach

it's all the same.

She's never had

a delicate bone

in her body.

What do you mean, delicate?

You're hardly one to talk.

I take her to concerts,

and she always falls asleep, snoring.

When was that, dear?

There are so many records

in the room next door.

I used to be quite a collector

in my youth.

Now it's just decoration.

He hardly listens to them.

They just take up space.

I associate physicians

with classical music.

He was just the doctor

at a local clinic.

But in an emergency, it's good

to have a doctor in the house.

Not necessarily.

He was so busy,

he couldn't be here

when his own son was dying.

I couldn't help it. I had a rash

of food-poisoning patients.

Eat this.

You don't have a clue

how important work is to a man.

I've never worked,

not even once.

Not that he works anymore.

What other music

do you listen to?

Well, jazz.

It's outdated, but Miles Davis.

I can tolerate

up to about the Beatles.

But this recent rap crap -

you can't call that music.

You're right.

At karaoke,

apparently he sings

Japanese ballads.

Karaoke?

I read it on Shimazu-san's

New Year's card.

"I look forward to hearing you

sing 'Pleiades' again."

Don't read people's mail.

It was a New Year's card.

I couldn't help it.

If you don't like it, have your

friends seal them in envelopes.

Japanese ballads, huh?

"Pleiades" is not a ballad.

It's classier than that.

Don't you two have

a special romantic song?

Nothing like that.

- Yes, there's a record.

- What is it?

It's a cherished pop song.

Want to hear it?

Last year...

she got tricked into buying

"Favorite Pop Songs" by mail order.

A 30-album set.

Who knows what it cost.

I saw it in my room.

She's never listened to it -

I wasn't tricked.

How insulting.

I'm not senile.

What song?

- Play it on the stereo.

- Now?

- Isn't the needle rusted?

- It plays fine.

How does this work again?

What kind of song is it?

How should I know?

It's got nothing to do with me.

It has everything

to do with you.

Mom, this song -

The city lights

are so pretty, aren't they

Yokohama

Blue light Yokohama

I'm so happy alone with you

When is this song from?

About 1970.

Right before Expo '70.

I remember

you sang it sometimes.

Still walking, on and on

But I only sway

like a little boat

I sway gently

In your arms

Only our footsteps follow us

Yokohama

Blue light Yokohama

Your gentle kiss...

I'll leave your fresh clothes here.

With your towel.

When did you buy that?

The record?

About the time... at Itabashi.

I carried Ryota, strapped to my back,

all the way to that woman's apartment.

I could hear your voice

singing from her room.

Still walking, on and on

I didn't want to interrupt you,

so I went straight home.

The next day, I bought it

at the Canary Records by the station.

Please leave your washcloth

hanging out to dry.

Remember how Mom said,

"It plays fine"?

You know she plays it

when she's alone.

Kind of gives you the creeps.

That's not true.

What's strange about that?

Yeah?

Everybody has a song

they listen to on the sly.

- You think?

- Of course.

So you have one too?

Which one? Tell me.

It's a secret.

Women are so scary.

People are scary.

Everyone is.

I bet there's a baseball game on.

Want to watch?

We put a dish on the roof.

You can watch extra channels.

Not really.

There's not much to watch

on TV these days.

There's nothing funny,

but they laugh so loud.

That laughter isn't real, is it?

So they say.

Here.

What's that?

You treated us to a real feast today.

Why don't you treat yourself?

My, an allowance

from my own son.

How wonderful.

You're always treating us.

In that case, thank you.

What shall I buy?

What was

that sumo wrestler's name?

Still on your mind?

Solving these things

keeps your mind active.

- Waka-no-hana?

- Not him.

- Kita-no-fuji?

- He was really handsome.

No, he was more loveable.

Say...

isn't it time

we let Yoshio off the hook?

Let's stop inviting him.

Why?

I feel sorry for him.

It seems painful

for him to see us.

That's why we invite him.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes