The Lower Depths Page #3

Just look at you.

You're not some beached turtle.

Get to work on that floor.

Anybody seen my sister here?

She's the one

who found the old codger.

And was he here, then?

You mean Sutekichi?

Sure was.

But he didn't say boo to Okayo.

Who asked you?

You get right to work cleaning

this place. Got that?

Demon b*tch.

Is she always so touchy?

No wonder,

stuck with an old man like hers.

They're not stuck that hard.

Listen, Gramps.

That b*tch just came to see her man.

But he's not here,

so she took it out on us.

I get the idea.

But you know, Osen...

why does she have it in

for that clog smith Unokichi?

Because he let it out

that Sutekichi ditched her

for an upgrade to Okayo.

That's not exactly a lie.

Are you going to clean this place?

Not me.

I'm going drinking.

Planning to get sloshed and weepy?

You're hopeless.

You see, Gramps?

She can't do anything

but cry her eyes out.

Sister.

Why don't you try talking

to this old man here, instead of crying?

Talking gets it out of your system.

Cut it out, newcomer.

You're getting down on me, too?

My oh my.

Quite a life you got here.

Well, then, I'll do

the cleaning myself.

Never seen your face before.

It's well-nigh impossible

to know every last human face.

I know every face on my turf,

down to the last alley cat.

But not yours.

That must mean your turf

is just a wee bit smaller

than the rest of the world.

Sure, it's a piddly bit of turf.

But every last thing on it

is a pain in my ass.

Where's the broom?

Outside the door.

Hey, listen up.

Last night, that clog smith Unokichi

was sprawled on the street,

barking gibberish.

Really drew a crowd.

I had to collar him

and stick him in the slammer.

He's completely impossible.

What happened to Sutekichi?

Nothing happened.

Nothing happened?

I've been hearing rumors.

What rumors?

Don't you play the fool with me.

Why would I do that?

I'll let it go.

But man, people sure love gossip.

"Sutekichi and Osugi are this,

that and the other thing."

And "How I'm related to her,

so this, that and the other thing."

I'm related to Osugi,

but only as an uncle.

I'm hardly her Pop.

Forget that crap.

Why don't you hurry up

and hitch yourself to Otaki?

Me and Otaki?

Don't you play the fool.

It's the word on the street.

You poor thing.

Nothing but a sack of bones.

Where do you sleep?

Thank you so much, Grandpa.

What were you thinking,

walking by yourself?

They threw me out, they did.

Who did?

Is that a fight?

Hey, Shimazo, come!

Osugi's got Okayo!

What's going on?

Cut it out!

Oh, dear me.

That poor girl Okayo.

They're sisters. Unbelievable.

It's just that

they're both so well-fed.

They get to eat their fill.

Grandpa...

What's that?

You're a good man.

A really good man.

I'm just a pebble beside the river.

I've been worn down so long,

now I'm nice and smooth.

You damn dolt!

- Damn, damn, dolt!

- Damn it all to hell!

Damn! Damn it all to hell!

Damn, damn dolt!

Damn! Damn it all to hell!

Money buys your fate in hell!

Money buys you Buddha's mercy!

This dimwit fool is broke!

Let the heavens rain down coins!

Let the heavens rain down coins!

He beats me for no reason.

He treats me like an animal.

There, there, madam.

Don't be complaining.

Hey, checkmate.

It's really true.

I've never ever eaten my fill.

What a sad fate.

You've suffered so much.

Take that!

And how do you like that?

That ends the game.

Hey, stop playing.

I won't hold it against you.

Get lost, tinker man!

I'm in. Another round.

I'm in, too.

Say, Grandpa.

Will it be just like this

in the other world?

No, of course not.

Once you're over there,

you can finally rest.

Just hang on a little longer.

Money buys your fate in hell.

Hey, card up your sleeve! I saw!

What the...

Bad move, rich man.

I saw it! You cheated! I quit!

Lose barely 100 pennies and

you shriek like you've lost a fortune.

You're one hell of a rich man!

You've got to gamble honestly!

Why's that?

Why?

Why, why...

So I said, why?

I don't know.

Never heard that, myself.

Cool off, rich man.

Just think about it.

If this lot played by rules,

they'd be dead in three days.

I don't care!

Gamble honestly!

Forget it.

Let's go for a drink.

Hey, hey...

Money buys your fate in hell.

He saw right through you.

An unspeakable

loss of face for me.

You've got no natural talents.

Your knight's at risk.

You lose again.

Shut up and butt out.

Still made 100 plus five pennies.

Those five pennies are mine.

Though five pennies won't even

get you across the River Styx.

Let's get some liquor.

Hey, Gramps.

Why not come along?

Yeah, let's see

how you hold your booze.

I just go red.

Come along.

I'll regale you with

magnificent, eloquent verse.

Lines that'll ease

your cramped spirit.

Let's go, actor.

I'm coming.

I'll catch up fast.

Listen up.

Here's one.

Checkmate.

Your move?

Knight.

Knight. Too late, now.

I can't remember.

Listen, Gramps.

Back before my bitol organs

were poisoned by alcohol,

I had a fantastic memory.

But look at me now.

It's curtains for me.

That's right.

When I intoned my lines,

you could count on it.

The audience went wild.

You wouldn't understand,

but it felt like a thousand silver coins!

You strike your pose, and then...

Can't remember a thing.

Not even a word.

It was my favorite part.

This is terrible.

It's not good when you can't even

remember your favorite things.

Our favorite things

are the very core of our lives.

I managed to drink up that

"core of life."

I'm hopeless.

There, there.

Don't be so discouraged.

Why don't you get some help?

There's a place that cures

sick folks like you.

And all for free.

How'd you like to go there?

Go where?

Where is that?

It's at a temple.

What's it called?

It'll come back to me soon enough.

What matters is

that you set your mind to it.

Start by cutting back on the booze,

and then, once you're cured,

you simply turn over a new leaf.

Turn over a new leaf, huh?

I see.

Good.

That sounds good.

But I wonder

if I can really pull it off.

Sure you can.

You can do anything

once you set your mind to it.

You're a real mystery,

aren't you, Gramps?

Grandpa.

What is it?

Will you please come

and talk to me?

Why, sure.

Did you want...

No, nothing.

Your husband's

quite something, huh?

My wife got herself a lover,

and he was a wicked chess player.

Grandpa.

Please tell me something.

I'm just so Ionely and sad.

I know. We often feel

that way before we die.

Now you just calm down, madam.

Place your hope in the future.

In other words,

all pain will pass with death.

Everything'll be for the best.

That world gives you refuge

from this world.

Is that true, Grandpa?

Why would I lie to you?

When you die and go over

to that world,

you'll see the Buddha.

The Buddha will gaze at you,

his eyes full of great mercy.

What do you know

about the other world?

Well, of course I know, boss.

I'm not anybody's boss yet.

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