The Graceful Brute (しとやかな獣)

A Daiei Production

THE GRACEFUL BRUTE

Original script by Kaneto Shindo

Cinematography by Nobuo Munekawa Sound by Kenichi Sakai Lighting by Yukio Itoh

Assistant Director: Noriaki Yuasa

Starring

Ayako Wakao

Eiji Funakoshi Yuko Hamada

Hideo Takamitsu Manamitsu Kawabata

Yunosuke Ito Hisano Yamaoka

Kyu Sazanka Shoichi Ozawa Miyako Chocho

Directed by Yuzo Kawashima

We'd better put away the TV.

Yes, of course. I'll put a cloth over the stereo.

I have to cover the things on the shelves too.

Only juice to drink.

Yes, I know.

We'd better have a worse tablecloth.

- You think so? - If there's a vinyl one, use it.

- Maybe this ashtray is too refined. - The aluminium one in the toilet will do.

That should do it.

We'd better move the painting into the bedroom.

He'll be here any moment.

Yes, he said 3:00.

You'd better get changed.

Isn't this OK?

Minoru's old one would be better. You'll look suitably impoverished.

And you're OK like that?

No, I'll get changed.

It's almost 3:10 already.

He'll be here.

Today is so damn humid.

The shoulder covering makes you look poorer.

I look so bad it's almost beautiful.

You must put up with it!

Welcome.

Thank you so much for coming.

Why?

Isn't there an elevator?

I'm sorry.

The ten-storey apartments in the next block have an elevator,

but this one has cheap rent.

Please come in.

Thank you.

Welcome to our humble home.

It's hot.

It's horrible when it's still so hot in October. But please sit down.

The humidity is very uncomfortable, isn't it?

I would like Mrs. Maeda to be here too.

I'd like to ask you both something.

What's up with your son Minoru?

He left here in the morning, didn't he come to work?

Apparently he's not shown up at work for 4 days.

You know about it don't you!

Certainly not. He's not mentioned a thing to us.

That's terrible. I wonder what's going on.

Police! Police!

What's this about the police?

This is the jazz singer Paburisuta Pinosaku.

Yes, your name is well known.

I've heard you are doing very well in those theatres in Akasaka.

You're very popular.

I've only just returned from Hollywood.

We've been able to get Presley to come to Japan.

Well, that will be a real sensation for the entertainment world.

When I arrived in Hollywood Mr. Pinosaku came to meet me.

Minoru has spent the 100,000 yen

we had collected to pay for his TV appearance.

Our Minoru would never do something like that.

That's not all. He's spent nearly a million yen!

This was discovered in my absence and the office is in uproar.

It's unheard of!

Miss Mitani, give me the papers.

There are almost 60 artists I manage at the Highlight Pro Agency.

Look at this. He's been using money from almost all of them!

200,000 from Miss Yamada the chanson girl,

150,000 from Cotton Candy.

And 170,00 from Mr. Pinosaku here. In total nearly a million yen!

That we didn't notice it is bad of course

but this level of embezzlement is staggering.

Minoru would never do this.

170,000! 170,000! You must return it.

Isn't there some kind of mistake?

A "mistake"? This sort of thing is no "mistake"!

Did Minoru tell you this himself?

Minoru collected the money and provided receipts.

It's not in the system so he's definitely embezzled it.

It never reached our accountant, Miss Mitani here.

When Minoru comes back I will ask him if there's any truth in this.

You live under the same roof, you know his lifestyle.

Have you noticed anything different?

His monthly stipulation is 12,000,

with everything else it comes to around 30,000.

It's not easy to buy new clothes with that.

Didn't you notice?

Minoru is wearing new shoes and he has a car.

Even though it's second hand, that's luxury!

Apparently he bought a new Polaroid camera. Didn't you notice?

He drinks. He gambles.

You noticed nothing?

Please, don't treat him as if he's a criminal.

You're utterly blind!

He wouldn't do that kind of thing, he's not like that.

His sister Tomoko bought clothes for him.

So she did it, did she? Tomoko, eh?

She's the girlfriend of Mr. Yoshizawa the novelist, isn't she?

She's Shuntaro Yoshizawa's mistress.

I employed Minoru on Mr. Yoshizawa's recommendation.

I will involve Mr. Yoshizawa in order to sort this out.

We're very obliged to him, we wouldn't want that.

Will you take responsibility for this then? You must take responsibility for this.

We have no means. You see the way we live in this apartment.

My money, my wife is waiting at home.

170,000 yen! 170,000!

Sorry.

Where is the bathroom, please?

Please let me check first.

Please.

You said he's called Mr. Pinosaku.

His Japanese is very good. Is he from Puerto Rico or Cuba?

No, he's Japanese.

Mr. President. Minoru is not the kind of boy to do anything bad.

Minoru has not shown up to face investigation for 4 days.

This backs up the facts.

He won't be able worm his way out of this!

It's obvious that the parents must take the responsibility for this.

Of course, if Minoru has done this then I am indeed responsible as his parent.

But my business failed and I was unable to continue it.

As you can see I live very simply in retirement.

I was decommissioned from the navy after the war as a lieutenant.

I started a lumber company with colleagues

but I didn't secure investments and was unused to the business.

I tried camera manufacturing and importing wine

but all as an amateur, and unsuccessfully.

And as a result we have nothing but our suffering, and live in these reduced circumstances.

I tried everything and worked day and night for my wife's sake and the sake of my children.

When the children were ill I even considered turning to crime.

Enough! Come on Katori, let's go. They're clearly in league with each other.

We'll have to involve the police or nothing will get sorted out.

Dear, they're saying he's delinquent.

Look. He's embezzled a million yen.

We cannot just ignore this!

I don't have difficulty finding such an amount.

Presley and his band cost that in a single day.

A million dollars. That's 360,000 yen a day!

In order to get Presley's visas

I need permission from the bank, the finance ministry and foreign ministry.

And at such an important juncture

to have the company's trust in question is bad.

I have the connections but even I have to get the right paperwork!

Yes, of course you're right.

If Minoru has indeed done this dreadful thing you must do as you want.

When he comes back I will get his account.

Tell him to come to the office tomorrow.

I'll drag him there even if I have to put a chain around his neck.

Make sure you're there too.

Of course.

I am going to put my trust in Japan's police.

I hate it when that happens.

Make some coffee.

Hot coffee?

Yes, a strong one.

Hoping everything goes well.

They're really angry you know.

There was a women member of staff with them, wasn't there?

Yes, she's very pretty.

She's the finance and accounts person.

She didn't say a word though.

Judging by appearances she's a well brought up young lady.

Your judgment is completely gone!

She's a widow with a 5 year old kid.

She seems very nice. She looked at me and smiled a few times.

That singer Pinosaku was with him too.

I can't bear his singing.

He shows off and sings like a gorilla with mumps.

Pinosaku, you asshole!

They said you embezzled a million yen.

OK, I'm thirsty. I'd like a beer.

There's some in the fridge.

How's the fridge working?

This new model is definitely better.

It makes hardly any noise.

The bearings in the motor have been improved.

It works well and it looks great too.

It's so hot. What's happened to the air conditioner?

We put it away.

You only put in 500,000! What did you do with the rest?

It wasn't a million.

You won't get away with it if it's a ridiculously large amount.

It'll be fine. He just bundles a load of dodgy amateurs together.

And sells them as a package to TV or to dance in clubs.

He threatened to go to the police.

He'd never do that. His tax dodging would be exposed.

You've never know. He was really angry.

In any case I will deal with it.

Are you sure you can handle it?

It was your scam in any case.

This is no time for recriminations.

I still need another 100,000 though.

Again?