Parade (パレード)

AN ISAO YUKISADA FILM

SUGIMOTO RYOSUKE, AGE 21 3rd Year College Economics Major

At early dawn, in this park in Tokyo's Setagaya ward...

a female on her way home was suddenly beaten and seriously injured.

In the day, this park is crowded with parents and children in tow.

At night, with no pedestrian traffic, it returns to silence.

This park's popularity will surely dissipate.

Mornin'.

Morning.

Who's today's guest on TETSUKO'S ROOM?

Beats me.

Is that... the park by the station?

Seems so.

The perpetrator attacked the female college student from behind...

smashing with a blunt instrument.

Continually hitting her until she was unconscious.

That's why all the helicopters.

- Don't turn it off. - You ain't watchin'.

A rerun of Maruyama's show is on next.

Whatever. Got a killer hangover. Flip it on when it starts.

Whatever.

By the way, has the great Maruyama called?

Says he's busy filming.

He's in a movie?

Starring with Ekura Ryou. Amazing, huh?

Love story?

Ain't she old for him?

It's...

the role of young brother who falls in love with his older step sister.

That's pushing it.

Hey, Koto.

For people bored like us...

"time" is not a linear line but...

more like the edges of connected rings.

Doesn't it feel like we're reliving past moments?

I think...

it's from a lack of authenticity.

You listenin'?

Dunno. Besides, I'm not bored.

Oh...

Hey, Koto. Stop or you'll have no eyebrows.

Still got them.

Gonna hit the store.

Want anything?

Guess I'll come too.

You don't have to.

Why not?

With you, I can't read the mags I want.

What magazines?

- What will you read? - Whatever I want.

- Porno mags? - I don't read 'em.

- Porno mags! - I do NOT read them.

Did...

something happen?

I'm fine. I came here willingly.

Please let me be.

Next door is running call girls.

Why jump to conclusions?

The girl I saw, bowed politely and said thank you.

What else then?

Religion. Gotta be a religion.

Stay out of it. What if it's a cult?

Naoki thought it was a cult too.

Naoki too?

Yes. If Naoki said so, it must be true.

Besides, we live like illegal aliens.

Sharing a room secretly as a group. Guess we're both at fault.

Illegal aliens?

Got a hairy back, don't ya?

- My back? - I saw it before.

What? When did you?

While you were sleeping.

- I don't have hair. - Right here at the back.

I don't. No way.

- It's real bad, y'know. - Oh no. The beer.

Give it a rest.

This way. C'mon.

They're watching. You're embarrassing me.

Has Maruyama noticed?

Noticed what?

Your hairy back.

You still on about that.

- Maybe he noticed but can't tell you. - I don't have a hairy back.

Some call that kindness...

Thank you.

Pardon me.

Isn't that... Quick, get in.

- See that? - Yeah. Who is he?

He's on TV. That flunky for the past Prime Minister.

Noguchi...

Noguchi Yoshio.

Yeah, Noguchi Yoshio.

The police...

Call the police.

The police?

Gross me out. I'll never sleep with pigs like him screwing next door.

Wait. You just said they weren't running an escort service.

Call the police if you want, but we'll get evicted if they check us out.

This place is reserved for newly weds.

So what's a porno production doing next door?

Don't ask me.

Your cell's ringing. Answer it.

Yo man.

Okay to talk? At school?

Overslept. Just woke up.

Ah, the life of a student.

You free end of the month?

End of the month? Yeah, probably.

Wanna go to Izu? The Izu Plateau.

Izu?

I want you to drive. What's your car's name again?

Momoko.

Oh yeah. "Momoko."

Who's going?

As of now, me and my girlfriend.

- So Kiwako is going too? - Yeah.

Bring your girlfriend too.

Ain't got one now.

Then bring somebody, anybody. Lemme know if you're in or out soon.

Sure. Call you later.

Almost forgot. Is Tashiro Shinya your friend?

Shinya? I know him. Jimmy, right?

Had the same class first year.

Heard he died.

What?

Died?

Yeah.

How?

Motorcycle accident. Head on collision with a truck.

Seriously?

Yeah.

Yesterday was the funeral. I found out today.

Life is fucked up.

That's all I can say.

- Anyway, call me soon. See you. - Sure.

Koto, you free end of the month?

As long as Maruyama doesn't call.

When will you know?

Why?

Umezaki asked me to go to Izu Plateau.

Ask him on TV.

Amazing how you can just sit and wait for him.

Ever thought you were wasting your life?

Even I think so, yeah.

How can you be so calm?

More importantly, who died?

A friend.

Isn't his death more serious than going to Izu?

Guess so.

You're right.

You up?

What time is it?

Eight already.

Oh... shit.

Work?

Better call in sick.

- You sure? - Yeah. No worries.

Naoki-san, you're home early, eh?

We released our movie last week. I'm free as a bird.

Ryosuke, who died?

Somebody died, right?

Sort of a friend.

Sort of?

Not really. He dropped out second year, hadn't seen him lately.

Oh. You skip work?

- Day off. - I'm home.

- Really? - Welcome back.

Whose beer?

Naoki's.

Ryosuke's friend died.

Really? That's rough.

Will you drop it.

Can I ask you something totally unrelated?

Keep it simple.

What if your boyfriend's friend said he liked you? What would you do?

Do about what?

I mean, would it bother you or make you happy?

This "friend" got guts?

Guts?

Nope, no will-power.

Then he'd bother me.

What if he had guts?

Is he interested in Basquiat or Andy Warhol?

Nope. And why does that matter?

You're home early.

- "Bas..." - You too.

- Jogging again? - "Basquiat"?

- Way to keep it up. - Hmm, "Basquiat."

Gimme your opinion.

What?

You're a total stalker.

Ya think?

You better wake up to that fact.

Wake up to what?

That you're a stalker.

She's an assertive girl, isn't she?

Huh? You know Kiwako?

She's wild. Likes to say, "I wanna give you head". Umezaki said so.

No way!

You bad boy.