The Balloon Page #3

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But...

Have you been here before?

You know some odd little places.

It's good for a date.

Why did you call me?

Don't you know?

To seduce you.

Seduce me?

The woman you were with was really pretty.

I believe her name was... Kumiko?

Is she a waitress?

Is it bad to her for you

to be here with me?

No.

You're cold.

When we leave here where

are you going to take me?

To Kumiko's bar maybe?

Shall we go to Yokohama or something?

Is that where you and she always go?

No.

Then it's OK.

What do you mean?

I like it near the harbor.

I was born in Kobe and

brought up in Shanghai.

How old are you?

I was still a child when

I went to Shanghai.

I studied singing. I didn't

worry about the war.

What about your parents?

They're alive.

But when the hydrogen bomb falls on Tokyo,

those in Nagoya will die too, won't they?

When the next war comes,

everything will be done for.

Do you think about that much?

I don't like to think about it.

No tomorrow... only today.

And I've been hired for a fashion show.

I wear a beautiful kimono.

One so beautiful

I could even fall for myself.

That's just how I am. What can I say?

I'm going to make a quick phone call.

Yes, it's me. Where are you?

In "Tom." It's quiet, hardly any customers.

Are you telling me to come?

There's someone sitting

in your usual seat.

Can you guess who?

No? It's the one you

pointed out to me.

Which way will

the balloon move tonight?

If you don't approve,

be here within 20 minutes.

If you are even one minute late,

I'll be gone.

Where are we?

We're already at the Tamagawa Bridge.

It feels like when we're running

away together. Far away.

Is Kumiko's bar in Ginza?

Yes.

This must mean goodbye to her.

Mustn't it? Say so.

Is that an order?

Yes, an order.

That probably

won't be necessary.

I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep a bit.

Come in.

Oh, it's you.

Are you on your way out,

or just coming back home?

I must thank you.

We've just been to promote

me to the 'Cornet' bar.

- Was it a success?

- I'd say so.

I'm glad.

You're so kind.

And the other thing -

was that a success, too?

Are you thinking of

trying to marry him?

Who knows

what tomorrow will bring?

Did you say anything about me?

I just said you told me

to seduce him.

And that was what seduced him,

I suppose?

Can you spare me an hour?

I got some money from a record company.

Not a bad idea.

Where are we going?

A bar called "Minotaur."

I don't know exactly where it is.

- Don't you know it?

- No, I don't.

Somewhere in Nishi-Ginza.

Do you know who will be there?

How could I?

Kumiko. His lover.

- Welcome!

- Is someone named Kumiko here?

Kumiko!

Good evening.

Ah yes, I remember.

Please come this way.

What will you have?

- Cognac.

- I'll have the same.

Two cognacs.

- Who's that?

- Someone I know slightly.

She's quite something.

Is Keikichi here?

I've not seen him recently.

Won't you sit with us?

Do you come to bars like

this sometimes then?

Not often.

Keikichi can be cold-hearted.

Hadn't you noticed?

Even to our faces he's very up front.

He's like you Mikki. You don't

keep much love in stock!

Of course I do. I'm young.

When I realize I have been cheated

I know I've deceived myself.

- I wonder if that's affection.

- It's the same thing.

The bill is rather high tonight.

I thought you already knew the price.

You're a shrewd guy.

Come back to my place with me.

"Non."

I'll run you a bath.

Give me another.

Kumiko.

We're probably going to fight,

you and I.

What do you mean?

You can't not know.

I just want you to know.

Who can see the wind?

Neither you nor I can see it.

But it makes the leaves

of this tree tremble.

And then moves on.

Miss Kumiko!

Did you come to visit?

Nice to see you.

Did you come to see us?

No, I just happened to be nearby.

I see. So you have Sundays off.

Won't you come and visit?

I bought these

so I can sketch them.

I see.

Thank you. My left arm is bad.

Come to the house.

I can't.

Your brother will be angry.

He's been in Hakone

since yesterday.

With someone from work?

Probably playing Mah Jong again.

I don't like it.

What about your parents?

Are they home?

They won't mind.

They have have a visitor.

Come up to my room.

But I...

Don't worry.

I'm always on my own up there.

It's like a hospital.

When they get too much,

I close the door and forbid visitors.

WORKING DO NOT DISTURB

This is my den. It's only for

me but I like it that way.

Nobody tells me off,

and nothing sad happens here.

Do you always do this?

Yes, painting pictures, looking at the garden.

Sitting and thinking pleasant thoughts.

What is that?

That cross.

It's the grave of a baby bird.

They come to that nest box every year.

So you like birds?

Yes, they don't talk and

they're quite quiet.

Aren't you lonely?

No. They all think I'm strange,

and they say my illness

has made me a bit simple,

but I don't think I am or it has.

When I'm alone in my room,

I understand my brother and my mother...

Perhaps I'm a bad girl .. a bit sly!

I'm not in very good health,

so I don't do anything bad.

But I can still think bad

thoughts - and I do!

Of course I do. I'm 20.

Is it strange for me to say it?

No, not at all.

Really? Help yourself.

Will you show me your drawings?

Sure.

They're not very good.

And then there are these...

You have a visitor?

Don't forget your medicine again.

I won't.

Very well. You mustn't neglect it.

You're both here, I see.

- Here on business?

- Not anymore.

They're drinking by themselves.

As am I.

When it's something between Japanese it

tends to drag on endlessly though...

Waiter! Cognac!

I'm in the way I see. But

I'm going to leave shortly.

You look very pretty tonight.

You too (also means "your

covering up is nicely done")

You shouldn't tease the oldies like me!

That lady is an American

of German descent.

She says there's no "geist"

in the things Japanese make.

- What's "geist"?

- It means "spirit" or "soul."

For example,

Japanese cameras are well made,

but there's something missing and

you can't feel sure about them.

That's an opinion I'd

like your dad to hear!

Even without this "geist" though...

It seems you can get by

with just money these days.

There are many ways to cover

up a lack of content.

Such as films, music, books, women,

booze and new ways of thinking.

It's a paradise for fools.

All you need is money.

But there is such a thing

as love, isn't there?

Thank you! (I enjoyed it)

I would like to hear

your opinion, Keikichi.

I don't really have one.

But love can sometimes kill an older man.

You'd better be careful too, Keikichi.

They certainly know all about having fun.

I hope you two are successful.

Your visitor today - how is

she a friend of Keikichi'?

I have no idea but she's really nice.

'Nice' covers a broad category of people.

You may not be able to

understand that though.

But she really is nice.

That much I do know.

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