Youth of the Beast (野獣の青春)

A Nikkatsu Film

YOUTH OF THE BEAST

Produced by KEINOSUKE KUBO

Based on the novel by HARUHIKO OYABU

Screenplay by ICHIRO IKEDA & TADAAKI YAMAZAKI

Cinematography by KAZUE NAGATSUKA

Art Direction by YOSHINAGA YOKOO

Music by HAJIME OKUMURA

Starring:

JOE SHISHIDO

MISAKO WATANABE

TAM IO KAWAJI

MINAKO KAZUKI, DAIZABURO HIRATA, EIJI GO

SHOJI KOBAYASHI

MIZUHO SUZUKI

ICHIRO KIJIMA

KINZO SHIN

MASAO SHIMIZU

NOBUO KANEKO

Directed by SEIJUN SUZUKI

"I shouldn't be in love with a married man,

"but he's everything to me.

"I feel sorry for his wife,

"but this is the only way to make him mine.

"I'm sorry, Mother. Tamiko"

A double suicide brought on by the woman?

Lucky man to have a woman who loved him that much.

I agree.

What kind of work did he do?

Chief.

DETECTIVE KOICHI TAKESHITA

Hey, watch it!

Oi, that hurts!

Watch it, pal!

Any special girl you want?

- What are you doing? - Bring the best.

Yes, sir!

Waiter, ice!

Quite a playboy, isn't he?

He's a good customer. He's already spent 70,000.

Who is it?

- Somebody beat up Ken. - You guys take care of it.

He says it was a total stranger.

- Where's Ken? - Outside.

Forget about this stranger.

Just pay him off.

Maybe this guy's from the Sanko mob.

They're no match for us. Just forget it.

Get Ken in here.

Is that the guy?

That's him!

The total is 72,500 yen.

- Any policemen around? - Why do you ask?

Well, I've got no money.

Don't bullshit us!

Wait.

Let's settle this peacefully in the office.

Stop.

He isn't packing.

This room is completely soundproof.

One false move and they'll blow you away,

so watch your step.

You're new. Where are you from?

I hear you've been messing around on our turf.

You got some grudge against Nomoto Enterprises?

Spit it out or you'll get hurt.

I just felt like doing it.

If it had been this lady here, I would've been gentler.

- Smart ass! - Shut your face!

Good thing it's soundproof. Turn around.

- What for? - Do as I say.

You stay here.

Get up.

Whatever they're paying you,

I'll double it.

Name your price.

One million yen up front.

You got it.

And 200,000 yen a month.

- Then... - Did you think I was a hit man?

I just wanted a job. Thanks for hiring me.

Good. I'll introduce you to the boss.

You aren't the boss?

You keep wanting more, but our neighbourhoods a slum!

- You can't ask for so much. - That's enough!

NOMOTO RESIDENCE

Call yourself a killer?

You'd be faster with a gun.

I dislike such unreliable weapons.

I like to feel the results with my own hand.

These are the best.

- Put that away. - I don't like being shot in the back.

So you can take your hand off the gun.

Let's get rid of them together.

You've got a few things to learn.

So do you.

I'm Minami. We should get along fine.

We will. I'm Joji Mizuno.

Call me Jo for short.

Don't touch!

He's never been able to hold a gun in his left hand.

How about introducing me to the boss?

I'm Nomoto.

You lot should act more respectable!

You still act like yakuza off the street.

Minami... I told you to wear a tie, didn't I?

You won't believe this,

but alcohol and women are my weaknesses.

- Where are you staying? - The Hibiya Hotel.

The Hibiya Hotel?

That's classy!

- Can you afford it? - No, I'm flat broke.

So you're going to do a runner then?

You've got guts.

I'll pick up the hotel tab for you.

Minami, take care of him.

He could be useful.

Is he really at the Hibiya?

Forget it. He won't be on your list.

- Here he is. - Yeah?

From Abashiri, the prison town in Hokkaido.

Just a moment, sir.

That's one hell of a suitcase!

- Nomoto runs this place too? - Yeah.

Jo, what's in there?

You have to report to your boss, right?

The tools of my trade.

I take better care of them than I do of myself.

Pretty impressive!

I'll show you around,

then on your first job, you can show us what you're capable of.

Minami... This is for you.

30...

Good day to you, sir.

- He's their new hand. - Name?

J0 Mizuno, I think. A bit of a maverick, but I hear he's good.

Boss, it's a shakedown!

- What? - Where?

The real estate office. Some guy's blackmailing them.

What?

There's the deed. Write out a cheque.

How the hell can I pay three million yen?

- Just write it. - You can't threaten me!

You can't do anything to me. Get out!

I'll write it! I'll write the cheque!

Hold it right there.

You almost pulled it off, but you got a little overconfident.

To hell with your plan!

Hold it!

Hold it!

I said hold it.

Jo, let's finish the job.

I've changed my mind now.

I've decided I want the three million in cash.

Please! Just a little, please!

No. Drugs are expensive.

I can't give you any.

Don't say that. I promise I'll work harder!

Shut up!

It hurts so bad.

Quick! Give me some quick!

You want it that much? Here you go.

Give it to me.

Wait!

The dope!

Fuck you!

You're inhuman!

If you want it, get your ass out there and make me some money.

Stop playing around with your boyfriend.

Well? Do you understand?

How did the job go?

Boss!

That's the first time I've pulled that trick.

Here's the three million.

Just like J0 said, there was a guy on the balcony.

From now on, I won't work without him.

Jo, I checked you out.

You're clean.

You're now on the payroll.

Here's your front money.

I'm gonna hang out with you today.

Sorry, not today.

I have a memorial service to attend. An old friend of mine.

A memorial service?

- Oh, thank you. - Not at all...

Seeing these photos makes you feel like Takeshita's still alive.

He used to love to sing when he got drunk, didn't he?

Hello?

Mrs Takeshita?

My name is Mizuno. My condolences.

Thank you.

Along time ago, your husband was very kind to me.

Is that right? Please, come inside.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

Please stay and eat.

Thanks, but I must go.

Would you mind telling me a story about my husband?

Hello? Takeshita speaking.

A yellow sweater?