The Lower Depths (Donzoko / どん底) (どん底)

FROM THE 1958 CULTURAL FESTIVAL

TOHO CO., LTD.

THE LOWER DEPTHS

Produced by AKIRA KUROSAWA

Screenplay by HIDEO OGUNI and AKIRA KUROSAWA

Based on Maxim Gorky's Lower Depths

Cinematography by KAZUO YAMASAKI Art Direction by YOSHIRO MURAKI

Sound by FUMIO YANOGUCHI Lighting by SHIGERU MORI

Music by MASARU SATO

STARRING

TOSHIRO MIFUNE ISUZU YAMADA

KYOKO KAGAWA GANJIRO NAKAMURA

MINORU CHIAKI KAMATARI FUJIWARA

AKEMI NEGISHI

KOJI MITSUl EIJIRO TONO

EIKO MIYOSHI

BOKUZEN HIDARI

Directed by AKIRA KUROSAWA

It's just an old rubbish heap.

Yeah, and so?

Like I said, I've had it with the housewife business.

What are you moaning about?

It's ridiculous.

Even if his family was stinking rich, I'd never...

You're a liar.

- What? - I said you're a liar.

Aren't you getting hitched to Deputy Shimazo?

That's all you live for.

Damn it! Quit poking me!

There you were, daydreaming again,

so I just woke you up.

Leave me be. I'm not bothering you.

There you go again. Cut it out.

Lay off the stupid dreams.

You're just a two-bit, slam-bam whore.

Stop imagining you're some kind of virgin.

All women are liars. They even lie to themselves.

Shut up! Look who's talking!

Your wife's out of service,

so you're sniffing all the bottoms like a dog.

What the hell!

On the money, huh!

- Bitch! - Darling.

Another day of fighting, is it?

Please don't shout.

There you go, whimpering again.

Day in and day out.

Can't you at least let me die in peace?

Our racket's not gonna interfere.

Why do you put up with this scoundrel?

Leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

I mean it. You were too forgiving for your own good.

Does that feel a little better?

Hey, Otaki, time to go or we'll lose our spot.

Want some candy?

You're sweet,

but don't waste it on me.

Oh, go ahead.

Candy soothes your throat.

Sorry. It's our merchandise. I'll leave it here.

Hey, Your Excellency.

You scoundrel!

Who socked me last night?

What does it matter?

Oh, it matters, all right. Who was it?

You cheat at gambling, you get it in the face, all right.

Oh, I remember.

Damn it! Ouch!

Just you wait. You really will go to hell.

Don't be ridiculous.

How can you go to hell if you're already there?

What the...

Get down from there and start scrubbing.

It's my lord's turn today.

Hey! My lord!

Who's got the time?

I'm hitting the road with Otaki.

I don't give a rat's ass.

It's your damned turn to clean up.

I refuse to do anybody else's work.

If you won't, the princess has volunteered.

Of all the nerve!

Off we go, Your Excellency.

Feels awful heavy today.

One helluva lord, he is.

Hey!

My turn again.

Honey.

What?

I'm all set. You help yourself.

Aren't you going to eat?

There's no point.

But you've got to work.

Don't brood like that. It's not like you're...

I've had it. Won't be long now.

Help yourself.

I swear it's true.

I can't risk breathing dust.

Doc's orders.

"Your bitol organs are poisoned with alcohol."

You mean "vital organs."

That's right, my bitol organs.

It's definitely gone to your tongue.

Another six months and you'll have full-blown palsy.

Don't be ridiculous.

I'm serious here.

It's just that my bitol organs have alcohol poisoning.

It's just... that, huh?

That's right.

In other words, I can't clean because I'll breathe dust.

They say, "A little sake may longevity assure,

but taken to excess..."

What the hell is that?

A little ditty. I know more.

"The sycophant flatters with forked tongue."

What the hell was that?

Don't know. Forgot.

Then why spout 'em?

You got a point.

All to say, I'm sick and tired of clichés.

Day in, day out, every last idiot spouting the same old crap.

So I prefer these silly ditties.

We got lots of those in the theatre, too.

Um... let's see.

lsn't it time you got started?

Cut the racket. I'm considering my options here.

I just can't call it up.

I can't remember a thing.

And I did my share of studying.

Who needs learning?

It's your natural gifts that matter.

An actor I know

is a dimwit who can't count higher than the fingers on his hands.

But once he gets on stage, the audience goes so wild,

you'd think the house would split in two.

Hey, gimme five pennies.

I've only got two.

What you're born with is what matters most.

Gimme five pennies.

If you do, I'll consider your "naturally gifted actor"

a star-billing, tip-top, top-notch, sterling-silver actor.

Hey, gimme five pennies.

Eat shit!

Stop barking. I'm more than aware of your poverty.

Oh, honey, I can't breathe. I can't bear it...

What do you want me to do?

Open the door for her.

Can't oblige.

Unlike you, I'm freezing here on the floor.

I'm not the one who wants the door open.

One "yes" leads to a thousand.

Oh, my bones.

Time to go pick up some boards.

Hey, the landlord and his wife sure are making themselves scarce today.

Be grateful if they've both croaked.

How are you? Not feeling so great?

I can't... breathe.

What do you say I take you outside?

It's just about time for the sun to hit that vacant lot.

Come on. Get up.

Get ahold of yourself. You okay there?

I'm sick, too. My bitol organs are...

My bitol organs are poisoned.

You make quite a pair. Off to a double suicide?

Stop blocking the runway. You're ruining our dramatic exit.

Scraping away as usual, huh?

What?

Just admiring the sweat of your brow.

Seen my old lady anywhere?

Wouldn't know.

By the way, you're taking up an awful lot of space

for 30 pennies a month rent.

Three mats' worth for bedtime and taking over the common room.

I'm raising your rent by 10 pennies.

Why not just strangle me?

Because I wouldn't get a single penny out of that.

Why not live a long life and enjoy yourself?

Wanna fight?

Hey! Ouch!

Don't scare me.

I settled your wife in the sunlight.

Bundled her up nice and cozy.

You're a kind man.

You did a good thing.

"A life of kindness will someday be rewarded."

When, I'd like to know?

In the next world.

I say I want my rewards right here and now.

Cut my debts in half.

Surely you jest.

Listen here.

Human kindness can't be bought for pennies or silver.

Kindness is kindness.

Pennies and silver are pennies and silver. Can't mix the wheat with the chaff.

You half-dead, greedy bastard!

Everybody runs off at the sight of me.

You'd drive away the devil himself.

Helluva greeting.

But you know, I consider all of you my children.