Joze to tora to sakana tachi (Josee, the Tiger and the Fish / ジョゼと虎と魚たち)

It was a mid-winter trip. Freezing cold, I remember.

So we had some hot noodles.

And, uh... a chocolate-covered banana?

We borrowed this car.

All the punks staring at us made me real nervous.

The aquarium.

It was closed.

The seaside.

A seashell.

A busted light-bulb.

Man, this takes me back!

The love hotel we stayed in. It was her idea, not mine.

Um...

Oh, that book... Josée was always reading it.

'In a Month, In a Year'...

How many years has it been?

Hey, 'Brother'...

Sit in for me, will you?

Uh, sure.

Boss, can I sit in here?

We don't mind, do we?

Sorry. I've got to run.

She sure is one weird old lady...

Yeah!

I see her all the time.

About dawn, when I'm going home. This old lady shuffling along...

...pushing this falling-apart old baby carriage.

It gives me the creeps.

What's she got in the baby carriage?

A grand-kid, maybe?

What are you talking about? She's been doing it for ten years!

A mummy, then.

A mummy?

Her grand-kid, who died ten years ago.

And then she lost her mind.

You're crazy.

That old lady? She's a messenger.

They say she runs stuff for some crime syndicate.

Is that true?!

That's the rumor.

She's carrying something?

Yeah?

Cash.

No, drugs.

You're kidding!

I should go check her out. Where does she walk?

Thanks, man.

What?

What's going on?

'Earthly Hand' and '13 Orphans'...

A perfect hand...

The first time I've ever had one.

Why when I was just sitting in?

Tsuneo!

Don't let any stray mutts get near.

Mimi's a virgin, you know.

Yeah, yeah...

And don't you go taking her to a hotel yourself.

Yeah, right!

Kumiko!

Kumiko!

Kumiko!

Young man...

...see if she's all right.

Kumiko!

No!

It wasn't him!

That low-life!

That thug!

You've come out of your way.

The girl's legs are bad. She can't walk.

Cerebral palsy, one doctor said.

Then another doctor said it wasn't.

We never did find out.

But still she wants me to take her out for walks.

For me...

...I don't want people knowing I have a grand-daughter like this.

That's why I always go out around this time...

...so not many people will see her.

We live here.

Will you eat?

Sorry?

Breakfast.

Uh, well, you know...

'No, thanks'?

It's just that... I'm kind of at work.

Thank you.

Oh, I couldn't...

Thanks.

Thank you.

Uh...

...this omelette's great.

Sure it is.

I made it. Nothing I make tastes bad.

But you might get sick later.

There's chicken shit on the eggshells.

Salmonella.

Salmonella?

Salmonella causes 40 per cent of all food poisoning cases.

You're in university and you don't even know that?

Screw-ups? They happen all the time.

Oh, damn...

The senior was looking all over for it...

...and here I was going, 'Hey, man, don't look at me! '

You're funny.

Yeah?

Have you got time later?

Why?

I need to ask about something.

Me? Why?

Why not?

Here, Tsuneo.

The tapes you lent us. Thanks.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Sorry to keep them so long.

These aren't mine!

Wait, wait! Keep still!

Wait, I said!

So what was it all about?

What was what about?

Kanae.

She wanted to know if she should become a social worker.

Aw, isn't that sweet! She would, wouldn't she.

So what did you tell her?

I said I thought it was a great idea.

Why'd you say that?

Well, you know... she's cute.

I just had to tell her she was a sweetheart.

Out comes the secret weapon.

What's that?

She looks up at you, tilts her head 45 degrees...

...and says, 'I'd really like to talk to you about something.'

There isn't a guy I know who could resist that.

She broke up with her boyfriend.

Now she's playing the field.

You could fuck her.

Yeah?

And she's got big tits.

What are you grinning about?

Nothing.

Don't look so happy!

Tits, huh...

I didn't touch the baby carriage.

I just went to look in it and the old woman let go.

Causing trouble again!

What was in it?

I don't know. Now I want to see even more.

Sounds like he's after the money.

I'd be careful. You might come out worse than you even do at mah jong.

Look...

...what are you old farts talking about?!

I'm just making small talk!

Next time he'll attack her.

Tell the old lady to watch out.

You ate there, didn't you?

The food was great.

Who's there?

It's me.

Me.

It's me.

The guy who had breakfast with you the other day.

What do you want?

Did somebody go after you again?

Was it a young guy?

An old one.

Not a young guy with a thick face?

A fat little old man.

What? Who's he?

But I fought back with my knife.

I drew blood, and he took off as fast as he could.

You told the police?

The police?

Maybe you should stop taking those walks.

I can't do that.

Why not?

There's things I have to see.

Like What?

Flowers...

And cats.

Flowers and cats?

Don't laugh!

But flowers and cats?

Your poor Gran!

What the hell?!

I got down.

You ought to think of a better way to get down.

Who's that?

Uh, hello...

He's back for another meal.

Oh, it's you again.

I like cucumber.

It's not pickled yet.

That smells good.

She keeps diving onto the floor.

Diving?

It's true!

Like it was a mosh pit at a rock show.

I'm afraid she'll break her neck one day.

You were thinking about social work...

...so I came to you.