Strange Circus (Kimyô na sâkasu) (奇妙なサーカス)

"The skull was placed on a plate"

"and given to a girl,"

"who then presented it to her mother."

"Void of expression, the executioner stood there"

"with a bloodstained long sword in his hand."

"She is a real woman."

"She has a burning passion…"

"within her cold exterior."

"That is her personality."

"A Rebours", by Huysmans

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the circus.

Thank you all for coming.

We have a great show for you today.

Please…enjoy.

I'll be your host tonight.

My name is Black Shadow.

I'm also known as Sad Song.

I'll try to be a good host,

so please stay until the end.

Now…

Let's get this started.

Do you want to die?

Or do you want to live?

Well, let's all have fun and feel alive.

C'mon. Rock'n'roll.

Now, here's our first act of the day.

Is there anyone in the audience…

who would like to be guillotined?

Is there anyone?

You?

You?

You there.

Afraid to die?

I was sentenced to death at birth.

Or maybe my mother was to be executed,

and we switched places.

There were guillotines everywhere in our house.

As far back as I can remember,

I've been surrounded by traps.

What's wrong?

One wrong move, and I'm gone.

Everyone, please be careful.

If you're not, it'll be dangerous.

No playing with fire, OK?

OK…

If you speak, you may accindentally blow out the flame.

You have to be quiet, OK?

Now, ignite.

Mitsuko Ozawa in grade 6, class 3.

Report to the principal's office.

Mitsuko Ozawa?

Mitsuko.

Yes.

Come in.

Come here.

Closer.

Closer.

What's wrong?

Good girl, why did your grades drop?

I'm sorry.

Don't embarrass me.

Sorry.

You made Mom cry.

Yes.

Who am I…?

Who? -Dad.

Repeat. -Dad.

Am I a man or a woman?

Am I a man or a woman?

Man. -Correct.

Who are you…? -I'm Mitsuko…

Who are you, Mitsuko?

I'm a man. Tell me what you are, Mitsuko.

Are you a boy or a girl?

Girl.

Correct.

You'll get full score next time. -Yes.

Sit.

This is accordion music recorded in 1938.

It's interesting.

Look.

When Dad first molested me,

it was the beginning of the end.

I was 12.

Mom and I looked exactly alike.

I was her, and she was me.

Mom used to be nice.

You look just like me.

One day, you'll look great in this,

'cause you're my daughter.

See, it suits you.

One day you'll grow as tall as me.

I'll give you all my clothes then.

They'll all be yours.

So pretty.

Come here, Mitsuko.

This is a cello case.

I modified it a little bit, you see?

Let's do something fun.

You get in the case and look through this hole.

It's fun.

Come on. Get in.

Now. Get it.

Good girl.

What is that? -That's nothing.

Bothers me.

That's nothing. -I feel we're being watched…

When Mom and Dad had sex, they made me watch.

Felt like I was having sex.

I can't…

Coming…

Whenever I closed my eyes,

I would hear a squeaking sound.

What's that noise?

Good morning, students.

How are you all doing today?

It's such a beautiful day.

Sunshine, not a cloud in sight.

And so should it be in your hearts.

Sunshine in our hearts, that is what we need.

You need sunshine and blue skies in your hearts.

That's how we must live.

Dad often talked about what was good for us.

So I figured whatever he did was good for me.

I'm home.

Mitsuko?

Honey?

Mitsuko…?

Honey?

Mitsuko?

Honey? Mitsuko?

Heard it.

Heard it again.

Dad touched both Mom and me.

The only difference between us

was that she seemed happy.

But her joy was infectious.

It was a trap.

Sayuri.

She's been watching us.

Bad girl.

Look what you did to her, Mitsuko.

Now, it's your turn.

You get in the case this time, Sayuri.

I lied down and became Mom.

When Dad touched me, Mom watched.

I was Mom and Mom was me.

I was convinced.

Dad touched me, and I became Mom.

And I even began to enjoy sex.

Cause I was Mom.

Look.

They look good on you.

Go ask Mom what she thinks.

Go.

Run along.

I was sentenced to death at birth.

Or maybe my mother was to be executed,

and we switched places.

There were guillotines everywhere in our house.

As far back as I can remember,

I've been surrounded by traps.

One wrong move, and I'm gone.

Those are my…

What are you doing?

What do you think you're doing?

Take them off. What are you doing?

Take them off. What do you think you're doing?

You. -Honey.

Put the knife down, you crazy bitch.

Bitch.

Heard it again.

Mom.

You thief.

When Dad was away, Mom became abusive.

Get back here.

Come here.

Come here.

Get up.

Who gave you this hickey?

Answer me…

Whenever we were alone, she'd try to kill me.

She was jealous of me.

Mom.

My earring…

That day…

Mitsuko…

You hid it. -I would rather forget.

It must be you.

Give me back my earring. -It wasn't me.

Get back here. -Mom, I didn't take it.

Who else could it be?

Get back here, stop running.

Wait.

Stop.

My goddamn earring.

Where the hell is it…? -Don't know…

Give it back.

Find it. -Yes.

If you find my earring, please let me know.