Soda Master (ラムネモンキー)

The stars born from this town of Tanbe

have returned to their hometown after a long absence!

His latest work won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

The master, Director Hajime Fujimaki!

Next, an original creator,

manga artist Kisuke Kikuhara.

And the one you've all been waiting for,

the Asian action star and lead actor, Yuta Yoshii!

Today, a surprise guest has rushed over to greet you three.

- What? - Really?

Your dear teacher from middle school,

Ms. Michiru Miyashita!

Oh, wow! She really came!

You've all grown into fine men. Congratulations.

Thank you!

Ms. Miyashita, what kind of students were they?

All three of them possessed something extraordinary.

The first film they shot, Ramune Monkey Soda Master,

though just a film by middle-school students,

won the Japan Academy Film Prize, plus other domestic awards, a great feat.

Then the three of them took flight into the world.

Truly, this New Happiness Town Tanbe has nurtured their talent.

A staunch opponent of the Tanbe redevelopment, old lady Kuroe,

died in a fire caused by arson.

Her granddaughter entrusted a videotape to Ms. Matilda,

then left Tanbe.

Was Ms. Matilda killed because of that tape?

Number 12, which was thought to be lost, has appeared before us

after 37 years.

If we can figure out what's on this tape, the mystery should be solved.

Give it to me.

This is bad. It's covered in mold.

No wonder. It was up there for 37 years.

So we can't watch it?

We'll need a professional to remove the mold.

Even then, I don't know if it will be viewable.

- Huh? - What's wrong?

There's something else in the bag.

Don't trust Clark?

What does that mean?

Clark…

I have no idea.

EMI COME HOME NOW

PLEASE

I'm sorry. Can I head back first?

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Let's just send the tape for restoration and wait for it to come back.

Okay.

See you.

See you.

- What is it? Anything else written? - No.

Aya, are you okay?

What is this?

There has been all sorts of slander since you were arrested,

but nothing of this sort.

What is this? Why is this happening to us?

First, we need to call the police.

Both of you, try not to go outside.

We can't just do that.

Aya, let's go to bed.

Yeah.

- Hey, I said let go! - Miss, which take do you think is better?

Miss?

Your back.

My back?

What? Really?

Did you get any threats?

Not me. I live alone, anyway.

I'll check with Kam-Bo and Hakuba.

Please do.

You stay out of this for a while.

- You think I'm going to give in... - No!

Stay by your wife and daughter's side. Got it?

Oh, sorry to bother you while you're busy.

You have five minutes.

That is worrying.

Okay, the company will provide security.

Thanks.

If it's harassment due to your lawsuit, of course, the company will handle it.

If it were for a different reason…

If it's due to a personal reason, the company cannot cover the cost.

Is that the case?

Never mind. Don't worry about it.

The 60th birthday party for Toyo Shimbun's Mr. Tatsunami is next week.

Will you come?

I haven't been invited.

It's just a casual gathering.

It's better to have the media on your side.

Clark Gable?

Arthur C. Clarke?

William Smith Clark?

Welcome.

Oh, you're here!

Come, sit down, young man.

The usual.

Yuen's wife and daughter were threatened.

One of the methods is the same as the one Matilda received 37 years ago.

In other words, it's a warning.

Nothing has been done to me and Chan. But…

Hakuba…

It might just be my imagination,

but I feel like I've been followed a few times.

Some time ago, there was someone scouting us out.

They got away, though.

That means the Matilda case is still ongoing.

You got a "stop" order from above, right?

You were told to stop investigating this.

What are you talking about?

The redevelopment of this town began after the death of old lady Kuroe.

That old lady was the victim of malicious land sharks.

Her house was hit by a car disguised as a drunk accident,

and finally, she died in an arson attack.

The police processed it as a mishap with a cigarette.

They probably snuffed it out, didn't they?

That's why even now, what happened back then is untouchable. Right?

That's baseless.

Why involve Yuen's family?

- That's cowardly! - Don't tell me that.

You're in cahoots with them!

An officer's job is to act under orders.

What a noble sense of duty.

It's fine.

You have no obligation to cooperate with us.

- I'm going home today. - Thanks for the coffee.

Here you go.

It happened way before I was born. What am I supposed to do?

Right?

Yeah.

But,

we're living in the town that was built back then.

So it's not like we're unrelated.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Tanbe is now a good town, like they planned…

But to be honest,

back then, didn't we expect it would be even more amazing?

We were imagining something like Blade Runner.

Right.

Therefore, the city has launched a redevelopment plan,

for the future of Tanbe City.

A new line will serve the station to bring us

within commuting distance of Tokyo.

We'll build apartments befitting a Tokyo suburb,

parks for citizens to relax in, and a new bypass.

Our plan looks 30 years ahead,

and will transform the town into a 21st century city.

That's great!

The smoke from that factory will be gone. That's great, right?

- Yes! - Exactly.

It's not good to have that thing in the middle of town!

Dad sure changed his tune.

- Thank you. - To think he was so against it.

As chairman of the shopping district association,

he has the best interest of the whole town.

Hey! You guys are here?

Hello.

Hello.

Thank you for taking care of Yuta.

It's an incredible plan!

I guess so.

Though I can't even imagine 30 years from now.

2018, huh?

That's way further in the future than 2001: A Space Odyssey !

I wonder if there will be space colonies?

Cars will probably be flying in the sky.

I wonder what you will be doing.

Chan might have become a movie director.

Kam-Bo will be a manga artist.

Yuen will be an action star!

We should return to this town and do a talk show together.

I will rush over, carrying a bouquet.

HAPPINESS RAINS FROM ABOVE!

New Happiness Town Tanbe.

Doesn't seem like anyone calls it that now, though.

Because it just became a town like any other in Japan.

If you can't even carry this much…

It's fine.

Sorry.

We polished it, incorporating your feedback…

I think it's a really good script.

This will do. Let's use this.

Thank you.

Regarding the casting, who will be the heroine?

We're contacting a few people now.

Wait a moment.

How about someone like her?

Huh?

YUNA YABUSAME

Yuna Yabusame?

Who is that?

She's a good actress. She has appeared in movies.

Bright future ahead of her. Let's make her a star with this.

Is she your…

Acquaintance?

More or less. She has a spark. Let's go with her.

Shall we go meet her now? Where she works.

It's a really great place.

Chairman, let's not use this person.

- She's good at acting! - Even if she's good, we can't.