Black Test Car (黒の試走車)

A DAIEI CO. LTD. PRODUCTION

Shall we begin the speed test, then?

There are no cars tailing us.

No sign of anyone ahead of us, either.

Tadokoro, the road seems clear of spies. Let's begin.

Roger that.

We will now begin the speed test for the Pioneer test car number one.

- Alright? - Proceed.

That's it!

BLACK TEST CAR

ORIGINAL STORY BY TOSHIYUKI KAJIYAMA

SCREENPLAY BY KAZUO FUNABASHI & YOSHIHIRO ISHIMATSU

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY YOSHIHISA NAKAGAWA

MUSIC BY SEI IKENO

JIRO TAMIYA, JUNKO KANO, EIJI FUNAKOSHI

HIDEO TAKAMATSU, BONTARO MIAKE, YOSUKE TAKEMURA

ICHIRO SUGAI, KICHIJIRO UEDA, TOSHIKO HASEGAWA

TATSUO HANABU, KENJI OYAMA, KOICHI ITO, EIICHI TAKAMURA

SABURO SAKAI, TAKASHI NAKAMURA, JUN OSANAI, YUJI MORIYA

REIKO HIBIKI, ICHIRO AMINAKA, WAKAYO MATSUMURA, GEN HARADA

DIRECTED BY YASUZO MASUMURA

TIGER TEST CAR BURNS

WAS ACCIDENT DUE TO TECHNICAL ERROR?

Onoda, how did this accident happen?

There was too much momentum when the car took the curve.

So you're saying it was a driving error?

The engine's enhancements created an unpredictable acceleration.

Nothing's wrong with the car, then?

The press has it wrong. The car's technically perfect.

It's a shame to have a failure exposed like this.

Apologies, sir. It was our fault for not seeing the spies.

Clear this away.

There's nothing we can do about that now.

The question is, do we go into production or not?

As the sales manager, I'm against it.

Will a sports car sell in Japan?

There's a great demand for them, according to marketing surveys.

The family car is the most in demand. Sports cars come second.

All automobile companies make family cars.

Wouldn't it more exciting to be the first to produce a sports car?

It's too risky.

People want speed and luxury in a car.

Sports cars can deliver both.

The Pioneer's your dream.

Yes, I love it, but in a sensible way.

It's not a sporty coupé, but a practical sedan.

Your opinion, Chief of Production?

Technicians would agree with Mr. Onoda.

How about going to the hospital and consulting with the President?

Never mind that. Prepare to go into production.

I'll report to the President.

One last thought...

Only the President, the board of directors and all of us here

know that the Pioneer is a sports car, so let's keep that a secret.

DO NOT ENTER FOR DEPARTMENT MEMBERS ONLY

It's me.

Matoba? Come in. We've been waiting for you.

Excuse me.

Any news?

- I'll say. - As always. Let's hear it.

- It'll cost you. - I know. It always does.

Your rival exposed you to the papers.

- The Yamato Motor Company? - That's right.

Mawatari's spies were at the test site.

- Who's Mawatari? - A director and the Head of Planning.

A former army officer.

A colonel and a secret agent in the former Imperial Army in Guangdong.

What a treacherous thing to do!

Should we suspend production on the car?

Nonsense! He can't make us give up.

Make sure your paper says our new Tiger model will be outstanding.

Certainly. We'll make you rivals in the trade papers.

The payroll department will take care of you.

Thank you very much.

Give it your best, everyone, and win this fight against Mawatari.

Excuse me.

He's right.

That's why I set up a new department and transferred all of you here.

To keep the Pioneer a secret and to spy on our rivals.

Yes, we're industrial spies.

We can't let our competitors beat us.

It's strange, though.

Only thirty men knew about the test date and testing grounds.

- So how did Mawatari find out? - Simple. There's a spy.

A spy? Among the staff?

Asahina, have thirty data sheets printed

and give them to those who knew about the test date.

The Pioneer specs?

We're going to change the data so it'll look like an ordinary car.

Then?

After some time, we ask for the sheets back.

If someone doesn't return a sheet, he's the spy.

Interesting.

Listen, the Pioneer is my life. It's been my dream for years.

Look, it's like a Michelangelo design in its elegance and beauty.

I couldn't bear it if Mawatari stole the design.

We can't let that happen!

- Welcome. - Hello, Madame.

- I haven't seen you in ages. - Two highballs, please.

- Who's this? - One of my co-workers.

- You look beautiful, as always. - Suave, aren't you?

- I'd forgotten, since you hardly ever come. - Does your patron come every night?

- Sorry, I don't have one. - How about Mr. Mawatari?

That old man? Don't make me sick!

Listen, will you be my patron?

Don't be silly. With my salary, I couldn't afford you.

Oh, I guess you're not suave enough for me, then.

Good evening, Mr. Mawatari.

Well, this is unusual. So what brings you here?

- You sure put one over on me this time. - What do you mean?

I mean this.

Oh, that.

Reporters are like parasites.

They print lies, then demand money to retract them.

And men who hire parasites to write lies are even worse!

Ah, that's pretty harsh.

Still, whoever's controlling these reporters is still in the dark about our new car.

Are you sure?

You'd better be extra careful.

True, since I'm up against a professional military spy.

No, I fear amateurs more. They'll stop at nothing.

So do you want to bet whether you'll find out our secrets

or if I can keep them from you?

Welcome.

Let's drop all this shop talk and have a drink, eh?

It seems fine. Let's go with what you suggest.

It'll be decided at the board of directors' meeting.

You know, Oguri, our company, Tiger, is still a second-rate company.

I hope we can become big enough to overtake competitors like Yamato.

We can, if the Pioneer sells, sir.

Do your best. If you succeed, I can retire and you can become President.

Take care, sir.

Did you call, sir?

The pain's returned. I need an injection.

Very well, sir. I'll be right there.

Hiraki, how's my daughter?

- Are you two getting along? - Yes, sir.

And my grandchildren? Have you found a good school for the eldest?

Yes, but the entrance exam is very difficult.

Don't worry, he's clever like you.

- Bring them along next time you come. - OK.

Hey!

Welcome home.

- Come in. - It's rather late...

Never mind that. Come in. Whiskey.

Please come in.

I have a high opinion of you, Asahina.

If we succeed, I intend to make you department head.

Work hard for me.

- Sorry to bother you so late. - Not at all, I'm used to it.

He never stops working, even at home!

He gets home at two or three in the morning and never sees the children!

Don't complain. Work is a primary concern for men!

When you get married, Mr. Asahina, cherish your family.

Don't model yourself after him.

He's my successor. He'll take after me. Right?

So, you came...

You never come to the bar, so I decided to come here.

I've been busy at work.

I waited for you after we closed, and one of the lecherous customers loitered, too.

Get me some water.

I hate being a bar hostess. Nothing but vulgar men and low pay.

Why not quit?

Easy for you to say. How would I afford to eat?

- How about you marry me? - Don't joke when you're drunk.

I'm serious. After this job's finished, let's get married.

- Really? - On one condition, though.

What?

- Work at the Pandora until we marry. - Why?

There's a regular customer named Mawatari.

I want you to pay attention to who he meets and what he talks about with them.

- So I'm supposed to be a spy? - Frankly, yes.

- And if I don't, you won't marry me? - Maybe not.

I see. Then, I refuse.

Why? You don't want to marry me?

Not with conditions.

I'm happy with things as they are, seeing each other when we feel like it.

But this is for my career. Help me out.

You'd marry for the sake of your career?

If my plan works, I'll be department head and then we can get married.

Your company's pretty conservative, how would they feel

about a department head's wife having been a bar hostess?

We'll take a Pioneer and have our honeymoon in Hokkaido.

- What's a Pioneer? - It's a secret for now.

So, please... go and work at the Pandora Club.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

- Am I disturbing you? - Not a bit.

- Would you like a different girl? - Not at all.

- You're a new girl, aren't you? - This is my first night.

- What's your name? - I'm Masako.

Pleased to meet you.

Do you like her?

- She's a lucky find. - She's just your type.

Do enjoy yourself.

You look like someone dear to me.

- I see. Was she your first love? - No.

- Your wife when she was young? - No, my daughter.

Well, that's a new line.

- She'd be about the same age as you. - Really?

She and my wife both died in Manchuria during the war.