in the Mist

A SHOCHIKU FILM

KAMI-KUMAMOTO TO TOKYO

KAMI-KUMAMOTO STATION

FLAG IN THE MIST

From the Novel by SEICHO MATSUMOTO

Screenplay by SHINOBU HASHIMOTO

CHIEKO BAISHO

OSAMU TAKISAWA MICHIYO ARATAMA (Toho)

HAKATA STATION

YUSUKE KAWATSU YOSUKE KONDO

TAKETOSHI NAITO SHIGERU TSUYUGUCHI

ETSUKO ICHIKAWA KOJI KIYOMURA

SHOICHI KUWAYAMA TORASHIKO HAMADA

Cinematography by TETSUO TAKAHA

Music by HIKARU HAYASHI

Asst. Director JIRO SUGIOKA

Produced by HIROSHI YOSHIOKA

Directed by YOJI YAMADA

I've already got more cases than I can handle these days.

Yes. Please excuse me.

Please give Mr. Tachibana my regards.

I think I'd better be going.

Sorry I can't help you.

This case is high profile, especially as it involves the Americans.

It's rather "delicate."

The Director was adamant that I get you for this case.

He won't be happy. What'll I tell him?

- Are you going out? - No. Not just yet.

A client case...

- Whose recommendation? - There is none.

Give it to someone else.

But sir, they specifically asked for you.

- What's it about? - It's a murder.

The client is the defendant's sister.

- Where'd it happen? - In Kumamoto.

Kumamoto... a long way.

Sir, she's come so far. She really wants you to defend the case.

What'll you do? - What should I do?

She says she's short on money.

The client's name is Kiriko Yanagida.

She's a typist for a company in Kumamoto.

Her parents are dead. She stays with the defendant, her brother, an elementary school teacher there.

I told her your standard defense fees, no?

The fees will include costs for return air-fare to Kyushu...

first class hotel, investigator's fees, and incidental costs.

Defense fees in the local criminal court alone...

will be more than 500,000 yen.

The investigator's fee is about 8,000 yen per day.

There is also a completion fee if the defense is successful.

So... for the whole case... how much would it cost me?

That depends on how the case goes.

The first judgment on cause of death could cost as much as 800,000 yen.

let alone 2nd and 3rd judgment.

Then she sat thinking for a long time.

Finally she said she's OK with the daily fees...

but she asked if you could reduce your fee by a third.

One-third, eh?

Even though it's a very interesting case...

all considered, you should pass... it doesn't require your hand.

Long ago I'd have packed my lunch running and fought like a bull.

Okay, I'll send her away.

Yes.

Ah, just a minute...

Yes...?

Since she came all the way from Kyushu, I'll at least see her once.

Call her in.

Come.

So... you're from Kumamoto?

I'm YANAGIDA Kiriko, Sir.

Please come in.

Thank you, sir.

I'll get straight to the point.

You took a lot of trouble to come to me...

I heard you're the best in Japan, Sir.

There are good lawyers in Kyushu too.

You didn't need to take all the trouble to come to Tokyo.

No. You're the only one who can save my brother.

They charged my brother with murder and robbery.

The victim was a 65 year old woman.

When the police arrested my brother...

Hold on...

I only need the details, if I take the case.

However, my clerk must have told you...

No sir, whatever it takes, we need you.

Please... listen to the details first.

Well... you see I'd rather not hear the details.

Why, sir?

I must make it very clear, my services are very expensive.

You need to understand this clearly.

To do the case properly, my system requires adequate funding.

Sir, is there no way?

I'm sorry for all your trouble...

I... traveled from Kyushu counting on you.

That was a mistake.

What...?

Actually it's my reputation that's made my fees so high.

In reality I'm not that much better than most lawyers.

If you really want a good lawyer...

I'm sure, if you look, you can find one in Kyushu.

Then Sir, what you're saying is...

I'm too poor to afford your services?

That's right.

However, there's more to it than that... my problem is time.

Just now I have a lot of complicated cases.

I don't have time to travel.

I only take a case, if I can do what it takes to win.

But regretfully... I don't have that kind of time.

Money's a problem... but time's the killer.

I understand. I give up.

I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.

Sir...

my brother could receive the death penalty.

Should I call the car now?

Yes, I'm going... but...

Cancel my appointment with Mr. Hidaka.

Refuse him with your usual tact.

And Mr. Yoshida from Shin Nihon Koujiogyou...

postpone our meeting until tomorrow afternoon.

Okay?

Attention please... the 2:35 train to Nishikagoshima...

is now boarding. Passengers please proceed to Platform 2.

Ah... you're the lady from Kyushu.

I'm sorry, but Sir's refused your case.

I'm aware of that, but...

I can't just give up.

I want to see him again.

I don't care, I have to see him.

What time can I come?

Sir has left already.

What...?

He left just after you. He won't be back today.

But I absolutely have to see him today.

I have to catch the last train tonight.

Please tell me where I can find him.

I'll go straight there.

What the...? He's in Kawara.

Kawara...?

Not in Tokyo... it's in Shizuoka.

It's past Ito.

Nice shot.

You play well, Sir.

No... luck, luck.

Today... are you free?

I have to call the office at 5:00.

Oh, I see.

It's nothing much. Then I'm free until 10 tomorrow morning.

What about your work?

My manager's covering for me.

Actually, I didn't expect you to show up today.

In fact I was too busy to come.

But then I came anyway.

Something happen?

No, nothing.

Ah... feels good!

Line busy?

Yes.

If it's important, go ahead.

Thank you.

Hello. Hello. Otsuka Law Office?

Sorry to keep calling.

It's Yanagida. Has Sir contacted you?

Yes, he called at 5:00. I mentioned you'd called.

Unfortunately, he won't take the case.

No change from this morning... he won't take it.

So, Sir...

there's no way he'll take it?

Ah... you already know why.

An innocent person is facing the prospect of a death sentence.

Because we're poor, Sir refuses to help us?

How can you say such a thing to me?

I'm poor. I know I can't afford that much.

I also know it's unreasonable.

But, I came all the way from Kyushu at considerable expense, counting on him.

I had to beg to get leave.

Calling endlessly won't help.

You should give up now. There's good lawyers in Kyushu...

Nothing at all... nothing I can do?

Sorry, nothing... bye.

Hello... hello?

No... I understand very well.

I have to return by tonight's train.

Otherwise I'll lose my job.

They don't really want me since my brother was charged.

If I lived in Tokyo...

I'd bother Sir in his office every day.

However, that's not possible.

When he called you earlier, I was hoping for a positive answer.

Tell Mr. Otsuka...

my brother's life is in the balance.

If I had 800,000 yen it'd be different.

But poor people have no hope... even justice is out of reach for us.

I'll never bother you again.

Excuse me?

Oh, excuse me.

Could I talk to you?

I'm very sorry...

I heard you on the phone... I couldn't help but overhear.

Pardon me, but your brother's in a very bad situation.

How's the case coming?

"Rinsou News Company - Editor" "ABE Kouichi" If you don't mind, could you tell me?