The Village (同胞)

Miss Kono first visited us in mid-March,

after a snowfall rare for Spring.

Our village, Matsuo, is in Iwate Prefecture.

One hour by train from Morioka,

then 20 minutes by bus.

Wait a moment.

Miss Kono is with the Toitsu Troupe.

She visits different districts where the troupe might perform.

Hideko Kono, of the Toitsu Theatrical Troupe.

The Superintendent told her where I lived.

She decided to walk all the way.

This was most surprising;

it would take a man one hour to cover the distance.

In Miss Kono's case, she probably plodded along,

singing merrily along that hilly road.

THE VILLAGE

Screenplay by Yoji Yamada & Yoshitaka Asama

Chieko Baisho Akira Terao

Directed by Yoji Yamada

Takashi's back.

Are you the group's leader?

The village office phoned about me.

She's been waiting for you for one hour.

I called the doctor. Difficult delivery.

Birth expected tonight.

A birth? Then you're going to be busy.

If it’s a female...

The first child could well be a boy.

We'd sell a male for ¥3,000.

¥3,000!

It's our cow. She's giving birth.

I thought it was your wife!

I'm not married yet.

I'm Hideko Kono, of the Toitsu Troupe.

I'm Takashi.

From Tokyo?

This milk is fresh from this morning.

It looks good.

Do you know Kichijoji?

It's near our headquarters.

About 15 minutes by train.

Is there someone?

My niece lives there.

Married a man named Murakami.

The house is in Midori-cho.

Tokyo's too big a city.

There'll be a birth there soon.

They have a cow, too?

Why, no, this is a human baby.

Can't keep a cow in Tokyo!

By then, it was time for the last bus.

Miss Kono summed up her request and left hurriedly.

I'll phone in April.

She wanted to bring a show here,

and asked for our youth group's cooperation.

The idea was both sudden and startling.

Our house seldom has visitors during wintertime.

A charming person had come,

laughed, and left.

Kayoko.

Why, Susumu! What are you doing here?

I returned on vacation.

Why?

I wanted to see you.

Brought your mail.

Same old job?

Did you get fired?

This is a vacation.

Tokyo has spruced you up.

Why don't you come to our board meeting tonight?

Who's the President?

Takashi.

Takashi? How did he become the President?

No one else wanted to be.

Those gone out to work returned.

A meeting was held.

A cook?

In Kabuki-cho.

Whereabouts?

Near Koma?

Know the place?

That was when I was in love with Kayoko.

Let's proceed.

The final item.

I'd better leave.

Stay until the end.

Then we'll drink.

Let me introduce the guest.

From the Toichi Troupe...

Toitsu.

Hideko Kono, of Toitsu.

I'm glad to meet you.

The purpose of her visit is to have a play staged here.

She wants us to sponsor a musical called ‘Native Village’.

Right?

What kind of a play?

Didn't I just tell you?

‘Native Village’.

A musical that both the young and old can enjoy.

Who are the stars?

It's not mentioned here. Who are the leading actors?

Our troupe isn't that famous.

It doesn't appear on TV.

We have no famous stars.

No Sophia Loren!

Any opinions?

How about you, Kikuchi?

I've nothing to say.

I think it's a good idea to have a play performed here.

What must we do?

Takashi said for our Youth Association to 'sponsor it'.

What does that mean?

Miss Kono explained it to me.

Supporting the performance in our village...

means accepting responsibility.

Responsibility?

In case there's a deficit...

Deficit?

But why?

It costs money to put on a play.

Must we pay for it?

If we sponsor it,

our Youth Association will sell tickets.

I understand.

This group will pay money to buy the performance.

A deal?

How much?

Miss Kono says the troupe's performance fee is ¥ 450,000.

That isn't all, is it, Aiko?

Lodging expenses for the troupe's 25 members to stay overnight,

then posters, circulars, tickets,

and so on... ¥ 200,000.

Total: ¥ 650,000.

For one show?

¥ 650,000 for one night.

Can our group assume the responsibility?

Any opinions?

I don't see how we could ever do it.

I thought it would be around ¥ 20,000.

May I say a few words?

Chuji just said that he thought...

it would cost about ¥ 20,000.

We'd like to do it for that, if it's possible.

But just think for a moment...

25 people will arrive with a truck.

Sets, props, lighting,

and sound equipment,

to entertain the audience with song and dance for three hours.

What we earn as living expenses...

comes to less than ¥ 200,000.

Nor is that every day.

Only about eight performances in one year:

that's what our troupe is living on.

The show is expensive.

Meanwhile, utilities charges are going up.

We'd like to do it for less,

but this is the bare minimum.

We're not doing this for the money.

We love the theater.

We want people to see our performance.

A large number of people...

gather to laugh and cry together.

They talk about it for a long time afterward.

That's the kind of experience we want to create.

This is last year's ticket, from Nagano.

¥ 800.

Even at ¥ 1,000,

you would need to sell 650 tickets...

in order to raise ¥ 650,000.

That won't be easy. It will be difficult,

but don't give up too easily.

That can be done at any time.

Please consider the idea carefully.

Any opinions?

Something, Chuji?

Why not do it?

Come to my place.

Welcome, Susumu.

The last train has left.

The train for Morioka?

Is there an inn here?

Well, there is, but... Kayoko!

Can you put up Miss Kono for the night?

I was wondering what she'd do.

Sure, she can stay.

I'd be troubling you too much.

Her house is big.

Dirty, too!

Yes, but...

Going to Chuji's place, Kayoko?

Let's all go.

Shall we?

In my car.

Nice drive-in.

I modelled it after a place in Ueno where I once worked.

I thought it had a Tokyo atmosphere!

Handsome bartender...

Are you staying in Morioka, at an inn?

Rented a house for our office.

Visit us sometime.