The Long Excuse Page #4

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A bit to the left.

Looking up.

Too high.

Pull in the jaw.

That's right. Good.

What would you like to tell your wife in Heaven?

In Heaven...

If you have a message for her, go ahead.

I don't have any message.

Nor she for me.

Rather...

...I take her death itself as being a message to me.

My wife was intelligent.

She understood.

The ones who suffer from death...

...are those left behind, not those who die.

It's great for her.

One day, suddenly, at the worst possible time...

...she disappears out of my life.

Great, huh?

I'm left stuck to feed and clothe myself.

'Serves you right,' you say?

Eat sh*t! You only died to get at me!

Now what?

Rethink.

Go, go, Sachio!

Of course I have regrets about the life my wife led.

That's why now I want to find what good I can...

...in our being parted this way.

It's difficult to accept the death of one close to you.

You feel like you're losing yourself.

But I won't try to forget her.

I want my wife's death to be with me.

I always want it in my mind.

Left behind, I want her in my mind as I live on.

Good. We've got it.

Wait there, please.

Right.

The praying scene was a little forced.

Yeah, acting.

The kids are great.

For sure!

The kids!

A huge gap.

Good thing Mr Omiya let us film.

It sure was!

Well done, Mr Kishimoto.

I thought we were sunk.

Let's move on.

Mr Omiya, what would you like to tell your wife in Heaven?

If you have a message for her...

I want her to come home.

That's all.

That's powerful.

It sure is.

Simple really gets to you.

It never gets old.

Now we'll blow in air with a straw.

When I say 'blow', you blow with me, OK?

Ready, blow!

Go, Akari!

Harder! Blow harder!

Fine.

Well, well, well!

What have we here?

What happened to my water?

It turned white!

Yes! It's turned white.

My beaker holds limewater, lime mixed in with the water.

Limewater turns white when you mix it with a certain something else.

So what was there in my breath?

Let's ask Daddy over there!

What is the substance in my breath that makes it do that?

Right! I don't know.

I'm s-s-sure you know.

I'll g-g-give you a hint.

It starts with 'car'.

'Carlic'!

Yes, there might be g-g-garlic on my breath...

It's f***ing embarrassing!

Don't swear like that.

You shut up!

No, you shut up.

Not knowing carbon dioxide never killed anyone.

It's more use knowing garlic makes your breath stink.

It's more important to know about photosynthesis!

What's that?

Aw, forget it.

Be careful!

That never happened when Yuki was around.

He's at that age.

It means he's growing up.

Lately he doesn't like me talking about Yuki.

Not everyone handles things the same way.

He's got his own issues as far as his mother's concerned.

So he forgets her?

He's trying to forget the only mother he'll ever have?

If we don't remember her, who will?

What does her life go then?

I want to talk to Yuki.

I want to talk to her.

Sachio...

...a friend of my boss says some people can talk to the dead.

So I...

Give me a break!

Shinpei's reaction is natural.

When are you going to quit?

'Quit'? It's only been six months.

No, it's almost seven months.

So what?

Yoichi...

...where did Shinpei place in his cram school summer test?

Who's Akari's best friend?

Are you paying attention to them?

The only time they'll be kids is right now.

That's amazing, Sachio!

Yuki said the same thing.

'Yuki' again!

They're trying as hard as they can to move forward.

So why are you dragging them back?

You have to forget.

You have to disconnect.

It's OK now with me coming.

But what about next year?

Just keep coming.

Once Shinpei's in middle school, there's no need.

Why not?

'Why not'?

I can't kick back like this forever.

I've got a serial to work on.

Yeah, but...why?

Mr Ts-Ts-Tsumura?

Um, I saw you...

...give a lecture once.

I never dreamed I'd see you here.

Then I saw you on T-T-TV with the children.

You saw that?

Did you recognize me?

Yes.

After the garlic...

...I thought I'd seen you.

Wow!

I was m-m-moved.

I've never gotten over losing my elder sister.

'But I won't try to forget her,' you said.

'I-I-I want...

'...m-m-my wife's death to be with me.

'I-I-I-I...

'... always want it in my mind...'

That's fine.

Thank you.

But...

...I'm not really as sentimental as what I write.

That's life in the real world.

Daddy!

Coming!

Sorry to disillusion you.

N-n-no, that's...

Talk to him about the show.

S-s-sorry...

...I guess.

No, that's OK.

It's fine.

You didn't say anything wrong.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!

Wait...

There!

Akari!

Daddy!

Come here.

I've met up with Natsuko,

We're about to leave Shinjuku.

Just to be safe, put a diaper on Akari.

Make sure they brush their teeth and get to bed.

I'm on my way.

I'll call when we get there.

To erase this message, press 7.

To replay this message, press 1.

To save this message, press 9.

Message erased.

There are no more saved messages.

Go!

Happy birthday!

This isn't much...

Thank you!

What did you get? Open it.

What is it? What's in there?

Where did you get it?

They were selling them at the Science Center.

It's open? Take it out.

There's lots!

They eat that in space.

Put lots in.

For Ms Kaburagi...

Put tons in.

No allergies?

No, I'm fine.

Thank you.

Eat up.

Have some sauce.

Thank you.

I found out something.

What?

Ms Kaburagi's parents are part of some city program for children.

Something like that.

Something like what?

Retired people register for a child-support program.

They look after children at their homes.

Her parents live near Akari's kindergarten.

You're going to be busy, so when you can't come...

Who's going to take her there?

You can't if you're gone three or four days at a time.

Will Shinpei have to go again, after it's gotten dark?

I'll check and see if she can be picked up by car.

By car?

How old are your parents?

My f-f-father is...

...73.

Wait a minute!

A man of more than 70...

...driving a child at night?

How will that work out?

How?

Yes, how?

It's all right. I can drive, too.

Are there kids at your house?

Yes.

They come sometimes.

Are they yours?

No. I don't have any children.

Why not?

Why not?

I'm not married, for one thing.

Why not?

That's a tough question.

What's tough?

Don't you have children, Sachio?

That's enough.

Some things you don't understand.

Like what?

Akari...

I don't mind.

You see...

...having children isn't all good.

They take time, they cost money, you have to sacrifice a lot.

Lots of people say raising kids has ruined their lives.

Without children, there's not so much risk.

Do you understand 'risk'?

It means 'danger', 'loss', 'hurt'.

That's not so.

Oh?

But you said yourself it'd be easier without them.

That was different.

What was different?

Look...

...you don't get children just by getting married, Akari.

What are you talking about?

Some people can't...

...and some people don't.

As for me...

...I didn't have them on purpose.

The world doesn't need any more jerks like me.

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