Desperado Outpost (独立愚連隊)

TOHO CORPORATION, LTD.

DESPERADO OUTPOST

Producer: TANAKA Tomoyuki

Screenplay by: OKAMOTO Kihachi

Directed by: OKAMOTO Kihachi

IT WAS NEAR THE END OF THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR,

IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA AT THE NORTHERN FRONT

Oh, you have been going around different corps alone for a year!

I surely did.

Don't you get scared?

To tell you the truth, I am always anxious even though I travel with this many men.

I am the same way.

But after travelling all around, I can tell when the danger is near

as my palm gets itchy.

Really? Your palm?

It is just like weather forecasting.

When my palm gets itchy, I just run like hell.

That's convenient. I would like to buy one of your palms...

No, I can't help you with that.

By the way, where are you going?

I heard about this interesting outpost when I was at the hospital in Beijing.

So I am going to see them.

If I remember right, they are called Desperado Outpost.

Desperado Outpost?

Yes.

Let me warn you. You'd better stop. They are at the most dangerous place in this area.

I will avoid those dangers with this palm.

Really? Well you will have to stay overnight at Shogunbyo.

Shogunbyo?

SHOGUNBYO

KODAMA CORPS

KODAMA CORPS March in step!

Hey, who are you?

Excuse me. This is my ID.

Stop marching!

Oh...

You should call on the deputy commander and the commanding squad to pay your respects.

They will help you out. So long.

Thank you for everything.

Oh!

A wild chrysanthemum is blooming in the wasteland.

No, one, two, three... Seven of them all together!

Come on in, young man. Let's have a little fun.

How much if I stay overnight?

It's ¥5 and 50 sen, but I will give you a discount.

¥5? That's reasonable.

I will come back. Prepare a bath for me later.

Make sure you come back.

Hey soldier! Yes.

Where is the deputy commander?

He is at the shooting range behind headquarters.

All right. Let him run!

Hello, are you the deputy commander?

Yes, I am Lieutenant Fujioka.

I see, I am Araki from Maicho Newspaper. It's nice to meet you.

Why did you come to an uninteresting place like this?

Well, various things.

I am here for various news stories.

No, no.

There is nothing here. It is so uneventful that I am running out of things to kill time.

You should go back.

I am ready for the next one. Let him go!

That's the spirit!

What are you doing?

Browning semiautomatic pistols are sometimes unreliable, I heard.

They are useless by just doing this. I always wanted to try it once.

I am sorry.

Why did you stop me?

Cute girl like that should not be killed, I thought.

She is cute but also a spy from the Eighth Route Army.

Is she, really?

You never know. I am sorry for interrupting. Please go ahead.

But wait a minute.

There is no military policeman present.

There is no need for it! Really?

There is no need for it? Let me see...

Don't you think it's better to contact the military police squad first?

Otherwise they may think you did it to kill time.

That would hurt your evaluation.

Shut up!

I wonder what Kameda at the command centre would say...

Kameda?

The staff officer, Captain Kameda.

He is my good friend from junior high school.

I don't know what I should do. Rumours like this spread fast.

You won.

You are like a weasel.

It is like a battle between a weasel and a sly fox.

I apologize to you for my impoliteness.

Second lieutenant Yamaoka, just returned with the transporting squad.

Well done. Well done!

Run! Get lost quickly!

Ah, that man is a weasel, too.

Deputy commander, how about something like this for killing time?

I see. You are good. How many did you kill so far?

No, I am not in that business.

I have stolen the hearts of a few girls, though.

Really, Tomi-chan? You knew that reporter?

Yes, he is an awful man.

Awful? He ran away without paying?

Ran away without paying?

Yes, that's too bad. That's a big loss.

If he comes tonight, he will really pay for it.

Why are you laughing? I am concerned about you.

I am sorry.

But I really wonder why he is here.

It is silly to wonder about that. Getting the money back is more important.

First of all, our goal is to make as much money as possible,

and open a coffee shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo after the war.

Don't forget!

So these are the enemy's movements in this area.

We are here... and Kokufu's Grey squad is there.

The Eighth Route army in red is from here to there.

We are surrounded.

Are we okay?

What?! I am sorry.

The danger zone is from here to there...

Look! This small squad is in the middle of the Eighth Route army controlled area.

What is this?

That?

It is the Independent 90th platoon, also known as Desperado Outpost.

It is a garrison made up of the scum from various troops.

Really? Scum... That is interesting.

And what is their duty?

There must be a reason for being so deep into the enemy's territory.

Shut up!

It is all military's decisions. Criticism from someone like you will not be tolerated.

I am sorry about that.

Impudence is the trait of newspaper reporters.

I sincerely apologize.

By the way, I don't see the commander anywhere.

Where is he?

An enemy raid!

An enemy raid..!

Everyone take your positions!

The commander is here!

Machine guns move to the front! Artillery move to the South gate.

All command staff gather!

Move quickly!

That man there! Lie down! Lie down now!

That's him again... It's too bad for him.

Idiots! Stop doing laundry before the enemy!

Lie down! Lie down now!

I am too busy. I have no time for that.

Idiot! Idiot! Stop dawdling!

Are you real imperial army soldiers?

Don't you have any balls?

Of course we don't. Stop making fools of us.

What are you mumbling about?

Hey soldier!

Get the deputy commander! Get the deputy commander now!

These men will be in the stockade. Heavy punishments for them!

That's awful. He must be really ill. Why isn't he sent to a field hospital?

We waited to see if he recovers. We will send him back tomorrow morning.

I see. What caused his problem?

He slipped and fell from the rampart while he was patrolling at night.

He had neuralgia all along...

I see.

Don't let this out to preserve the commander's honour.

No, I will not.

And that means you will be acting for the commander starting tomorrow.

That is a big duty.

It is not that big.

The main force is on an expedition to the western part.

So we are mostly absent corps, a size of just one company. It is easy.

By the way, where are you sleeping tonight?

Do you want to stay at the command centre quarters?

No, don't worry about me.

I get too lonely sleeping alone.

What?

Ah, I see. You are clever at handling girls.

But go visit the command centre anyway, we will give you some rations.

Corporal Lance Cpl Corporal First Sergeant Apprentice Officer COMMAND HONDA KAWAKAMI TAKEDA SAKAI OKUBO STAFF:

Are you Apprentice Officer, Okubo?

No, I am Sergeant-Major Sakai.

That man went to the Desperado Outpost and died ungracefully.

Hey, Corporal Takeda!

Yes.

Throw that nameplate away. Yes.

Ah...

Are you the newspaper reporter that just arrived today?

Yes.

Lady-killer!

Huh?

Don't play innocent.

I manage the military brothel here. My name is Tachibana.

One of my girls is mad about you. Is it 'love at the first sight'?

She is waiting for you in bed in broad daylight!

Really? Then I am on my way.

So long everyone.

Hey, don't rush.

Apprentice Officer OKUBO

Hello, Second Lieutenant.

Oh, it's you.

You are an exciting man, I envy you.

Huh? What is that about?

I am not fit to be a military officer anymore. Maybe I am too old.

When I start thinking about things, I hesitate to do or say anything.

Second Lieutenant!

Second Lieutenant, Yamaoka! What?