The Honest Fool (馬鹿まるだし)

A SHOCHIKU PRESENTATION

THE HONEST FOOL

Hajime Hana Miyuki Kuwano

Hiroshi Inuzuka, Senri Sakurai Isamu Nagato

Koji Mitsui, Tatsuya Ishiguro Norio Hanazawa, Eitaro Ozawa

Toyo Takahashi, Chieko Seki Mayumi Shimizu

Kanbi Fujiyama Kiyoshi Atsumi

Original Novel: Shinji Fujiwara Written by: Tai Kato, Yoji Yamada

Produced by: Shigeru Wakita Planning: Kiichi Ichikawa

Cinematography: Tetsuo Takaba Art Direction: Kiminobu Sato

Recording: Takashi Matsumoto Lighting: Yasukuni Toida

Narrator: Hitoshi Ueki

Directed by: Yoji Yamada

He's looking over here.

He's gonna do it again!

He took one!

It's the Young Miss!

Alright, let's go!

Hup!

Hey, it's my turn!

Dumb kid!

You gotta aim for the other side! That won't do it!

Try it and see.

No, no. Not like that!

Put your arm... Here, let me show you.

Hup!

How's that? Give me those.

Move aside...

See? It's not about your hands. It's all in the hips!

Hup!

There!

See?

Hi-yah!

I remember the day I met Yasu well.

It was, as I recall, in 1949.

That was 14 or 15 years ago.

Welcome home!

Did you see a strange man in a soldier's uniform out there?

Yeah, he asked to stay in the temple for the night, so I let him into the main hall.

The main hall?

Why on earth would you do that?!

What do you mean?

Because that disgusting man...

He said he'd come to see Mr. Ishidaya's son, who he met in the war.

There's no way! Mr. Ishidaya went to Tokyo, didn't he?

Even if he wanted to leave, there's the railway strike going on.

So, he can't go home.

He's a nice guy though.

But you're so gullible!

The thief who stole the Buddha from Myoshinji Temple is still at large!

What if he's the thief?!

Aw, there's no way.

Well, it's too late now.

We should at least bring the Buddha in here, just in case.

Right, Natsuko?

I think it's fine. If he was the thief, wouldn't he be more cautious?

Yeah, exactly!

Relax!

And who are you?

Wha...?

Be quiet!

Huh?

Father!

Father!

What is that...?!

Honey! Didn't I tell you?

Mr. Priest!

Ow! What are you doing?!

I'm not the burglar!

What?!

He ran that way!

Oh, really?

Yes! Ouch...

What do we do?

Is there a way out the back?

No way in hell. It's a cliff!

Then, he's trapped!

So, get ready, and hit him like you hit me!

Okay!

Hey, do you know where he's hiding?

Where thieves always hide!

Alright! One wrong move, and I'll beat you to death!

You scumbag!

I'm sorry!

Anyway, four temples were hit in the Toyoura Police Station area alone.

Quite a mess you got there.

I wanted to show Mr. Hinode just how strong this man is.

Good thing you just happened to be here, huh?

It's the Buddha's guidance.

Caught a cold, huh?

No, no...

So, Mr. Matsumoto, where did you get demobilized from?

From Siberia.

Siberia?

Natsuko!

Yes?

This man has returned from Siberia!

Oh my!

Do you, by any chance, know someone named Sugawara?

Seinen Sugawara is my son.

Sugawara...

I recall a guy who was always chanting sutras when someone died.

I think he was named Suga...

He was tall and pale, not like his father.

Yeah, for sure...

That was him.

Oh!

How wonderful! More of Buddha's grace!

Well, actually...

You're sure his name was Sugawara?

Yeah, I think that was it...

Please, remember!

Yes...

Let me see!

He's burning up!

Unfortunately, the doctor is out of town and can't come right away.

I don't need... a doctor!

Oh, don't be like that!

I hate... needles...!

Please, don't say that.

Anyway, please take this fever medicine.

I can't. Medicine makes me break out in hives.

This medicine will be fine.

Go easy on me!

What if you catch pneumonia or something?

Don't mind me... I'll take care of myself...

And how will you do that?

Can you call Bon for a minute?

"Bon"? You mean Seijuro?

Yes...

Mister! Is this good?

Perfect!

- What're you gonna do? - Just watch.

Oh, my... Sorry I'm late! How is the patient?

Well... You see...

A terrible fever?

Oh... It's much better!

Huh? You said it was an emergency!

Yes, I'm just as surprised as you are.

You sure are strong!

Mister, what did you do before this?

Me? I worked in construction.

Traveling all over ever since I was a babe! Skill and courage are a man's domain!

Hi-yah!

So, are you good in a fight?

Bon, come here a minute.

Ever since the day I was born...

I never lost a fight!

Wow, really?

Give it a squeeze.

Whoa...

Oh! A tattoo!

That's right.

Mister! Are you a yakuza?

"Yakuza," he says!

With a code of honor?

Oh yeah, I'm a man of honor, alright!

Make way!

Sei! Where did he run off to?

How am I supposed to know? I'm busy!

Greetings!

"Greetings!"

Good job.

I hail from the land of Kanto!

"I hail from the land of Kanto!"

Kanto, oh Kanto, it is a large region!

"Kanto, oh Kanto, it's a, uh, big place!"

A large region!

"A large," um...

A large region!

A large region!

I feel silly!

Well done, men!

My sister-in-law moved in here the spring before the war ended.

That summer, my brother went off to the army.

So, they were only together for about three months, huh?

Yeah. My brother was pretty weak, so I bet he was taken prisoner right away.

Did you get many letters?

Just one. This spring.

We heard he was laid up in the hospital.

Well, that's no good.

But didn't you know him?

Well, uh.... yeah, sure.

Ever since yesterday, Sis has been feeling good!

Really?

Seijuro! Load the wood in the bathtub!

Okay!

Hold on! I'll do it.

Sei!

It's a little lukewarm...

Sei!

What are you doing?

Oh, I just found a white magnolia seedling in the hills behind your house.

Oh my!

A white magnolia!

It's a difficult tree to replant, but with all this rain, I thought it might do well.

You didn't have to go to the trouble!

No trouble!

Next spring, when the fragrant white flowers bloom...

I'm sure we'll all rejoice!