When a Woman Ascends the Stairs Page #6

I promise...

I'll never come here again.

This is the last time.

Please help.

For poor Yoshio's sake.

Please, I beg you!

That's right - take everything!

All of you!

Just prey on me!

Enough!

I don't want to hear it!

Come in.

May I?

Go home.

Think it over.

You sure it's all right?

I meant to give you

something earlier, but I forgot.

Here.

Open it after I leave.

Please don't go.

Stay awhile.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

May I open it?

Black Narcissus.

You mentioned you liked it.

Mama.

Why are you crying?

What's wrong, Mama?

I'll take this one.

Buying a present for someone?

I heard you received

a fine proposal.

I saw the fortune-teller yesterday.

She told me.

She's good, isn't she?

Well?

Very becoming.

Look.

I don't have the money today,

but I'll pay your hospital bill soon.

Thank you.

That's a huge help.

Don't talk like that.

We're not strangers anymore.

You're right.

I never dreamed

I'd become the wife

of a factory owner.

Hello!

You seem different today.

Do I?

Junko's waiting in back

to talk to you.

What about?

She's quitting.

At least she's giving notice.

Don't be angry.

So you're quitting?

Why?

I got Mr. Goda

to put up some money.

I'm opening a bar.

Mr. Goda?

Is that so?

Congratulations.

That's wonderful.

What a relief!

Did you find a place?

It's above a sushi restaurant.

We share the restroom,

but I don't mind.

What is it?

Nothing at all.

Congratulations.

Hello? This is she.

Mr. Sekine?

No, he's not here.

Who's calling?

Mrs. Sekine?

You're really his wife?

Yes.

Hello? Hello?

It's so embarrassing.

He may not look it, but my husband's

a hopeless womanizer.

He lures them in

with marriage proposals.

I can't count how often

I've had to straighten things out.

This time he borrowed

the neighbor's car

and hasn't been home

in a week.

I'm not even jealous anymore,

but our neighbor is angry.

He forgot his address book,

so I called

all the women in it.

He's not bad at heart.

He just loves to show off.

He lies and then begins

to think it's all true.

That's just how he is.

I'm so sorry

I had to call you like that.

A pretty woman like you -

you didn't fall for it, did you?

Fill it up.

Mama, are you all right?

I'm fine!

Welcome.

Welcome.

You look well.

I heard you were sick.

I'm very well.

See, it's really you that I love.

Oh, my.

Excuse me.

Mr. Fujisaki, who's she?

Introduce us.

You're drunk.

Mama, come here a moment.

Komatsu, keep an eye on her.

Leave me alone!

Let me go!

What do you plan to do?

Drink till I die.

Who's that geisha anyway?

Acting so prim!

I'll steal him back!

Stop it! I hate you!

- How's Mama?

- Mr. Fujisaki's taking her to a nightclub.

The geisha left.

She can't keep drinking.

Her guest wants her to go.

I can't stop her.

Mr. Fujisaki...

I'll go anywhere

with you tonight.

Or don't you want

a woman like me?

I understand.

But no more drinks.

Mr. Fujisaki...

I've heard you've had

a lot of women.

But I love you.

Women fall for your type.

You know that?

Yes, I know. Let's go home.

It's after 11:
00.

You mustn't get sick again.

Let's go.

I'm so glad you're here.

The tax collector

is coming tomorrow.

Bring your books over tonight.

We'll fix them up.

I see.

Whiskey really

knocks you off your feet.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Do you feel ill?

- No, but I'm thirsty.

- Want some water?

Thanks.

Stop thanking me.

I drank so much.

Did I say anything?

No, nothing.

Thanks for everything.

Good night.

No, don't.

I love you!

I always have!

No, don't!

What's wrong?

I had a dream.

I was crying.

When I woke up,

I was really crying.

What was your dream?

It was about my late husband.

Even when a woman's

in your arms,

you can never tell

who she's really thinking of.

Light me one, please.

It was a strange dream.

He called to say he was

returning from a business trip.

I went to the harbor to greet him.

Strange that

he'd be coming by ship,

but that's how dreams are.

He stood on deck,

waving the presents

he'd bought me.

Guess what they were.

Potatoes, onions, and radishes.

We married just after the war,

when food was scarce.

He often brought vegetables

back from his trips.

Seeing those vegetables

in the dream made me sad,

so I started crying.

I see.

Was he a kind man?

I love you...

but I'd prefer a husband.

Someone always by my side.

I don't want to see you

just once in a while.

I'm happy now though.

Really?

You don't regret it?

No, I don't.

But I'm worried about one thing.

Worried?

When my husband died,

I placed my picture and a letter

in with his ashes.

I vowed I'd never love

another man.

I wrote that down

and asked the priest

to put it in with him.

I'm a strange woman, aren't I?

I have to go now.

No, stay a little longer.

I can't.

It's still early.

I'll make some coffee.

That's all right.

I meant to tell you last night,

but I couldn't.

I'm being transferred to Osaka.

When was that decided?

The end of the year.

I leave tomorrow.

I won't forget you.

Call me if you ever come to Osaka.

All I can do now is help

when you open your own place.

I promise you that.

Mr. Fujisaki...

I really do love you.

I love you too.

You do?

I love you...

but I don't have the courage

to break up my home.

It may be selfish of me,

but it's the truth.

I bought this stock cheap.

It's worth 100,000 now.

Maybe it will help.

I meant to leave it

last night and go.

A noble sentiment, but I was

too low to see it through.

I'll never forget

this brief time together.

Take care of yourself.

I just saw Fujisaki.

Why are you crying?

Did he jilt you?

I used to respect you.

I was amazed at how

you never gave in for five long years.

That illusion's gone.

Sorry.

I'm not that good.

Do you love him?

Why don't you answer?

I don't love him or hate him.

Besides, he's being

transferred to Osaka.

You fool! Why'd you give in

if you don't love him?

Aren't you ashamed?

Did you forget

your letter and picture?

- That was just -

- Liar! I looked into it.

I got drunk one day

and asked the priest about it.

Why'd you do that?

Why?

Don't pretend you don't know.

You know I love you.

But I never said a word.

I kept it locked up inside.

It became so unbearable

I even seduced one of our girls.

Some manager!

Last December it got

so I couldn't take it anymore.

I went to the temple

and checked.

It turned out to be true,

so I vowed never to touch you,

or let anyone else either!

But now you've turned

into a consummate pro!

Sorry to disappoint you.

But who told me

to act like a pro?

Who told me to flatter Minobe?

You told me never to go halfway,

to be a real pro!

Well, now I'm a pro,

and the customer's happy.

What's wrong with that?

No!

I love you!

Let me go!

Marry me.

I'm begging you.

Let's open our own bar.

Get out or I'll scream.

You hate me that much?

I don't hate you or love you.

That kind of marriage

would never work.

We know each other too well.

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