The Balloon Page #6

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Of course I can't. I'd feel bad.

You mother went to try and

sort out this mess of yours.

Mr. Tsuzuki, I'll leave the rest to you.

Please take care of yourself.

...

Sleep. Take it easy.

Did Keikichi come?

Don't worry. I'll bring him soon.

That's okay.

Are you sure?

If so then the money here is your buy-off.

Come and see me when you're feeling better.

I can help you to be successful.

If you move on a whole

new world will open up.

Is she awake?

You're better!

Sleeping Beauty's woken up!

There's no need to cry. Don't cry.

If you're awake it's OK.

I don't like people who cry

as soon as they wake up.

I came without telling my mother

so I have to go straight back.

So please don't cry.

When you've just woken up your

face looks pretty, doesn't it?

Isn't that happiness?

That's when you feel glad to be alive.

Do you think what I'm

saying is too childish?

It's not right to your mother.

Please go home straight away.

Please go home.

What's this?

Take it home with you.

Return it to your mother.

I don't want mother to know I was here.

Kumiko, you should take

it without hesitation.

You shouldn't return it. I'll look

after it for you if you like...

Or why not give it to the lady here?

She was the person who was

most worried about you.

That's a good idea isn't it?

Right?

Sorry but I must go. I'll come again.

You stay in bed. I'm going home too.

I'll take Tamako home.

It smells like gas in here.

Tamako.

The story you told me...

I could hear it even in my sleep.

Really? I'm so pleased.

I was sure you were listening.

Well, good bye.

Welcome home.

He's back. I'll go and get him.

Please talk to him one more time.

I will make make him apologize.

That won't be necessary.

I've thought about it, and he needs to be

looked after by someone else, away from here.

It's best for him to do things for himself.

Isn't that a bit harsh?

Harsh? He already talks like he's an adult.

He's surely embarrassed

not to do things himself.

As a parent I want my child

to be able to be independent.

I heard the phone, didn't I? No.

I was sure I did but...

Money is good to let into

your life when you need it...

more than that and all

it does is make people rot.

I thought painting for money was no different than

anything else. That's why I started my current job

and I've been successful.

But actually...

the money has started to

make the kids rotten.

I think it's time to stop making money.

Better for me and better for the children.

You're as selfish as a little child.

The world isn't like that.

But for me it does make sense

and I will go through with it.

Surely nobody can be so stupid?

In every family it's thanks to

the money the husband earns...

That's what makes everyone happy.

- Like a worker bee?

- Don't be ridiculous.

Shh...

It's the phone.

This is very bad.

She's dead?

She gassed herself.

Tell the chauffeur to get the car out.

There's no need for you to go.

Has Keikichi already packed?

- Can't you wait till morning?

- No, I'm going straight away.

What's up?

Hurry up. You're coming too.

I'm not going. It'll do no good.

Why not?

I'm so angry I'm not in the mood for this.

I don't want to be forced by my

father, at this of all times.

Like I said. Please go tomorrow.

You have no intention of going - to her?

Oh, you mean "feelings"...

How dare you!

Fine, don't go.

Even if you did, the soul of the departed

would not rejoice.

The maids are listening!

Good, let them hear.

She's dead so she won't

know anything anyway!

What did you say?

You're only going for your

own smug self-satisfaction.

I'm going in your place

and it's humiliating.

Humiliating for me as your father...

I'd like to be like the

prince in Sleeping Beauty...

and wake Kumiko.

But no matter how much I talk to her,

she's not going to wake up.

These are flowers from our garden.

Pretty, aren't they?

I'm sure they'll grow here.

I don't really know about death...

But you taught me...

you taught me about what

it means to be alive.

Farewell.

Farewell, Kumiko.

So Keikichi went later, did he?

By the way, which way is

your balloon drifting?

The balloon? It's still wavering.

It might be time for you to

think about settling down.

Are you 'settled'?

It's you who's always been like

that balloon, haven't you?

In Shanghai you were an imperialist...

Now you hate the bourgeoisie

and act as their enemy...

You can't really blame me.

No matter how the world

changes life is tough.

You're always trying to

manipulate people. And...

So I'm wandering aimlessly, eh?

But who was it who attached herself to me?

In Paris, In Shanghai,

Singapore, Manila, Tokyo...

It's lonely...

I wasn't lonely. There were always women.

And the women everywhere

were always the same.

But there's someone

you've indirectly killed.

What did you say?

Nothing. Even if there was

such a woman in my past,

someone who hung on and didn't leave

even if I kicked and trampled her...

If there had been a woman like that a

different world might have opened up for me.

You laugh, but...

If I'd met someone who was a bit

of a burden, a bit of a shackle...

The right one, the true one...

If I were to meet that one...

Your balloon would have stopped?

But these days there aren't

women like that any more.

It's the need to make a living

that makes them like that.

There's nothing else for it. That's

why they wander aimlessly...

Does "they" mean "balloons"?

Did you know...

Keikichi's father has said

he's going to resign.

What's that all about?

I don't know. I've no idea.

What on earth did you do that for?

I had no motivation any more.

So I resigned.

What will you do now?

Well I'm not going to end up a beggar.

This is not what sensible

and proper people do.

The president of a company

resigning is not such a big deal.

Let the technical field people

run the company as they want...

I've been thinking about it for a while

and I think I've done the right thing.

But what are you going

to do about Keikichi?

He can do things without my influence.

If he can't manage to cope like everyone

else then nothing I do can help him.

He's young and we can cast him

off to do it for himself.

You're being horrible to him

because of that business.

Actually it's the opposite.

Can't you see that?

Even Keikichi has pride, he is an adult.

What if you're damaging his self-respect?

Selfrespect?

There's been too much

of that in this house.

Master Keikichi is back, Madam.

Tell him to come here as

soon as he's changed.

Hang on...

Tell him to wait in the visitor room.

Once Keikichi has a new job... How about...

How about you, me and Tamako

getting a small house in Kyoto?

We can start to live quietly and according

to our means. What do you think?

You're serious about this, aren't you?

Yes. I am.

It doesn't have to be Kyoto.

Unlike me you've always been forced by (my

work) circumstances. It's hard in Tokyo.

Kyoto would be quieter.

I don't want to hear any

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