Flowing (流れる)

FLOWING

Cinematography by Masao Tamai

Music by Ichiro Saito

Cast:

Kinuyo Tanaka, Isuzu Yamada Hideko Takamine

Mariko Okada, Haruko Sugimura Sumiko Kurishima

Chieko Nakakita, Natsuko Kahara Seiji Miyaguchi, Daisuke Kato

Directed by Mikio Naruse

TSUTA HOUSE

I'm back!

Fujiko, you're really coming on

I'll do some practice when it gets a bit cooler

Eh? Someone's been using this

Nanako... watch what you say. We all have to live under one roof

Namie says her payment slips don't tally up

She's got the cheek to suggest we've been cheating her

I've got it all written down here

So what?

You could've simply made them all up!

You've no right to point the finger of suspicion at us

A country girl like you...

...with filthy hair and grubby hands!

That's right. When you first came here, you were absolutely clueless

Exactly

You had no idea how to treat a client

I heard you even asked them to feed you!

You didn't even know what salmon was before you came here!

Well, where I come from in Chiba, we don't have such food

Oh, dear me!

Yes? Tsuta House...

Yes? You want to speak to my mother?

Ponko, don't stray too far!

Mother, it's the Geisha Guild for you

- You told them I wasn't here? - Hmm...

What's all the noise downstairs?

Well, Namie's complaining about her pay

She's got to understand we've a business to run here

I'm getting no sleep at night, so at least keep them quiet during the day

It's the end of the month, though, and the bills are due

All they say is, "Where's our pay?"

Just pretend not to hear them

ACCOUNTS

- How many for dinner tonight? - You'll have to ask Yoneko

She never seems to lift a finger!

Where are you off to?

Just out

- Excuse me? - Coming!

And you are?

I've been sent by the employment agency

Here...

Just wait a moment, will you?

- Who is it? - The new maid

Do you want these?

Come in

Thank you

Mrs... something... Yamanaka? How do you read these characters?

It's pronounced "Rika"

- "Rika"? Oh! - Unusual name, isn't it?

- Sounds foreign to me - Hard to pronounce, too

At your service, mistress

Please, there's no need to be so formal

- Are you married? - My husband died the year before last

And my child died last year. Since then I've been supporting myself

Oh, really?

I would actually prefer to employ an older person like you

You shouldn't talk about the elderly like that!

Everyone over 30 here is considered old!

Anyhow, you can order young people around but they're not very sensible

- Older people know better... - They're always whingeing, though!

I'll do my very best for you, if you'll take me on

Everyone I've been to see has said I'm too old

Let's try you out and see, shall we?

Well, this is where we all eat, work and sleep

We don't have any special requirements

I'll do my best for you

Mother, I'm just going out

- Where to? - Just out

Just because the new maid's here doesn't mean you can swan around

- Where's Namie? - Gone out somewhere

- Where's Fujiko? - Gone for a cold drink

Not again? She's been having them all day, she'll get stomach ache

Show her around the house

- Come on, then - Yes...

There's the toilet

That's the kitchen

And this is your room

This is the bathroom

Nanako, show her around. I'm going to get Fujiko

That's how the senior geisha can act!

- Let me help you there - That's all right. I've finished now

I hope you don't mind getting your hands dirty. Otherwise, you'd better leave now!

That was Yoneko, the mistress's younger sister. She's bone idle

Katsuyo is the mistress's daughter. She doesn't miss a trick!

- Nanako! - Yes?

- Is Ponko down there? - Ponko?

Isn't that Ponko I can hear wailing?

Well...

...I wonder where she could be

Look out for her. She's not been very well recently

All right!

They look after the cats better than the girls in this place!

Your name's difficult to say so we'll call you "Oharu" instead, yes?

Whatever pleases you, mistress

- Would you give this a rinse for me? - Yes, mistress

It's all right, I'll get it

Hello? This is Tsuta House...

Oh, hello there again

Of course...

You're requesting Namie? Very well

Yes, me, too...

No, not at all

Yes, let's make it next month

We all have to work for a living

Very well. All the best

Good morning

Morning

- When you've done that, run a bath - Yes, mistress

Oharu, come here

Someka?

This is our new maid

Pleased to meet you

Someka lives in an apartment nearby

Nice to meet you

You're naughty, running off like that

Ponko's here now

- Did Namie say anything to you? - No, nothing special

I just wish you girls would come and talk to me straight

I'll tell them you said so

You there!

Be careful there

I shouldn't tell you this, but we're not permitted to have a fire

Is that so?

It's against building regulations

Do you know that prayer to guard against fires?

Trace the character for "water" on your palm three times...

...then raise it towards the fire. You should try it

Can I help you?

I'd like two bonito and three packets of seaweed for Tsuta House

- For Tsuta House? - Yes

Oh, welcome to the store

The problem is that your last bill is still outstanding

I told the girl not to order anything more until the bill's been settled

Oh... well, today is my first day working for them so I know nothing about that

Well, I suppose you've been a loyal customer...

...I can give you one bonito

And the seaweed?

Just let her have one packet

Oh, don't do that!

- How does that feel, madame? - Fine

- Are you off to Fujimura's? - Yes

Pass me that

Where on earth has Namie disappeared to?

She's got two bookings tonight

Maybe she's gone looking for extra work on her own?

Although she's young and resilient, I wonder if she can handle it

I'm off now

See you later

Have you any sauce? Sauce?

Madame would like some sauce?

She's so untidy!

- Good evening! - Yes?

Oh, it's you, sister

- They said you weren't feeling well - I'm not. And I'm up to my neck in debt

I've got something to tell you. Is anyone upstairs?

It's an untidy mess, but go ahead

- Oharu, tea for two upstairs - Yes, mistress

I owe her a lot of money

That's her elder sister. She lives near the Kishibojin Temple

Oh...

The two sisters have mortgaged this place to the hilt

They are stepsisters with different fathers, though

So, have you had any news from Osaka?

There's no reason to expect any

We haven't signed on anything

Anyway, we're disconnected completely

To think you turned down Mr Hanayama for that good-for-nothing, eh?

How much did he swindle from you for his new business venture?

Have you just come here to scold me?

Not at all. I have a gentleman I want to introduce to you

He's a director of a steel company

He's invited us to go to the theatre with him

Excuse me

- This is the new maid I told you about - I see

Welcome, madame

We're relying on you...

...because nobody is perfect in this place!

I look forward to being of assistance, madame

Please excuse me

I'll have one of these

So, I think this fellow may help us out

The steel industry's big business these days

- Do you think he'd lend us money? - Well, that's all down to you

This is your last one, right?

Ponko! Naughty cat!

- Is Namie back? - No, not yet

- Mummy, buy some more - You've had enough

Is my aunt here?

Yes. She never forgets to show up at the end of the month!

Oh!

So pleased to see you