Zatoichi in Desperation (新座頭市物語・折れた杖)

TOHO CO., LTD.

A KATSU PRODUCTIONS FILM

Produced by SHINTARO KATSU HIROYOSHI NISHIOKA

Original Story by KAN SHIMOZAWA

Screenplay by MINORU INUZUKA

Cinematography by FUJIO MORITA

Art Direction by SEIICHI OTA

Original Music by KUNIHIKO MURAI MITSUO MIYAMOTO

Starring:

SHINTARO KATSU

KIWAKO TAICHI, KYOKO YOSHIZAWA

JOJI TAKAGI, ASAO KOIKE

MASUMI HARUKAWA, NAOE FUSHIMI

YOSHIHIKO AOYAMA, SHUJI OTAKI

JUKEI FUJIOKA, SHINKAN KOUME

TERUO MATSUYAMA KAZUKO TAJIMA, ROKKU FURUKAWA

KATSUO NAKAMURA

Directed by SHINTARO KATSU

Excuse me.

Excuse me, blind man.

The bridge is full of holes.

Be careful where you step.

Oh, thank you kindly for warning me.

I must say, hearing the sound of a shamisen is always pleasant.

Where are you headed?

Well, I wonder where I'll end up.

I have no particular destination.

How about you?

I'm on way to see my daughter

who lives in Kannon'ura in Choshi.

I see.

Kannon'ura is a merry place.

I hear brothels line its streets.

Do you know a brothel called Ogiya, by any chance?

Kannon'ura...

is a place where the blind have no business going.

Well, good-bye. - Take care.

Excuse me.

It's just a small amount.

I hope you won't be offended.

You're giving it to me?

Yes.

I thank you for your kindness.

Hello?

Hello?

Uncle?

Uncle? Uncle?

Oh, no!

Why did you do this?

How could you kill yourself?

ZATOICHI IN DESPERATION

Why did you kill yourself, darling?

Excuse me, could you tell me

if there is a place called Ogiya around here?

I'll take you there.

You know where Ogiya is?

Yeah.

Come on, come on.

Oh, mister.

Just this afternoon, we were talking about you. Weren't we?

Please come in. Take your time and enjoy.

Okimi! Okimi!

Now, where is Namiji?

You really are a blunderer! Find her, idiot!

OGIYA

Tome! Tome!

You're so handsome.

Thank you very much. Thank you, please come again.

Welcome. Just this afternoon, we were talking about you.

Escort our guest!

Is this place Ogiya?

It is.

I came to see a woman who is employed here.

She has a mother who plays shamisen well.

Her mother plays shamisen well? What's the girl's name?

I don't know her name -

Welcome. Please have a look. Which girl, sir?

- This girl. - You have a good eye.

Hey, escort our guest!

- Excuse me. - How old is she?

I'm not quite sure how old she is.

Where is she from?

- Where she was born? - That's right.

I'm not quite sure where she was born.

You know nothing about her, then.

Yes, so -

Did you come here to play a joke on me?

I don't have time to waste on the likes of you!

Go on, leave! I'm busy!

What? What's this?

Excuse me. Welcome.

So, what is her mother's name?

Well. Can you take a look at this?

This? All right.

Let's see. There's writing that says "Nobu."

That must be her mother's name.

It's a nice name.

Well, then. Come with me to the back room.

I'll find the girl for you. Let's go to the back room.

So it must have been tough to find your way here.

Thank you for taking the trouble.

- Do you need help with your sandals? - I'm fine.

Thank you for waiting.

So, the girl you're looking for is a prostitute?

I'm not sure, but she might be.

What? You don't even know that?

Well, the thing is, there are 17 prostitutes alone.

If we count all our womenfolk, there will be at least 30.

To ask them their mothers' names one by one would be -

Well, I guess there's no other way.

Wait in here. You won't be bothered by anyone.

If somebody asks, say you came to give a massage.

Thank you for your help.

Ah, this must be a futon storage room.

This sort of room smells the same at any place.

When I take more than ten men, it feels like I'm dying.

Because you get too wet.

I can't help it when they have me in all sorts of ways.

I wonder if the old woman's daughter is a whore after all.

In that case,

was she on her way to buy her daughter's freedom?

Ushimatsu!

How did you get in here?

I climbed over the fence in the back.

What if you're found?

I just had to see you.

I have a client waiting. I have to go.

Stay with me, just for a few minutes.

If somebody finds us, I'll be scolded.

You're hurting me, Ushimatsu.

I told you, I have a client waiting.

No, don't make noise.

Come on, hold me tighter.

- Ushimatsu. - Hold me.

Nishikigi.

Nishikigi.

I'll die! I'm gonna die!

Nishikigi.

Nishikigi!

Nishikigi?

What is this?

I've been lucky with games lately.

Next time, come through the front.

That was awful.

I'd like to experience what this "dying" feels like, for once.

Nishikigi, that's what she was called.

All right, this is it.

We're here.

Come on, go inside.

I'm sorry it took time.

Thank you for your help.

Now, come on over here.

Where did you find her?

She was hiding in a filthy inn in Yokaichiba.

I see. You did a great job.

Stay and have a good time with us tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What a troublesome girl you are.

You think you can run away from here? Fool!

What's the idea?

This isn't a good place to do the scolding.

- All right, come on. - Idiot! Be careful!

- Kaede, fetch me some water. - Yes.

- Wash them carefully. - Yes.

Madam, my term of service has long been over.

Why can't I go home?

Why?

Because you still owe us money.

That's a lie! It can't be true.

A lie?

Are you saying I'm lying to you?

- Lock her up in the back. - Yes.

Madam, no! Don't lock me up.

Madam! - There's no use.

You brought it on yourself!

- Madam! - Come on!

Kaede.

You're not supposed to come here. I told you.

When will you come home?

Tomorrow.

Really?

Take this money and go home.

Kaede, what are you doing?

Nothing.

I haven't been with a "goddess" in a while.

Be careful not to incur divine punishment.

Let's go.

My, you're full of surprises. You really are, mister.

But I must say, you have a good eye for girls,

for setting your eye on Nishikigi.

Oh, forgive me. This way. - Thanks.

That's Zatoichi.

Zatoichi?

Is he here to sleep with a whore even though he can't see?

There's a price on his head.

If you take it to lioka, you'll get 100 ryo.

100 ryo ? That's grand.

I brought you some tea, sir.

Thanks.