Japanese Story (2003) Movie Script
[]
[]
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
Hello.
Oh, Mum.
What time is it?
No, no, no, I'm up.
I just haven't had
any coffee yet.
[BIRDS WARBLING]
Do you remember
Mary Coulter?
She was an aunt
of that funny kid
with the limp.
He used to go to school
with you on the bus.
No.
But do you remember him?
No.
He's put a nice
notice in here.
"In a while, crocodile.
Love Rick."
They must've said that
to each other.
It's quite nice, isn't it?
It doesn't do so much for me.
Oh, I like it.
Everyone I've ever
known and loved
is in this book.
You didn't know Sammy Davis Jr..
I did. I met him at a party.
He kissed my hand
and told me
he was very pleased to meet me.
That's not knowing somebody.
[LAUGHING]
It was to me.
I'm sure he meant
it at the time.
At least he said it.
Which is more than
your father managed
in 20 years.
Anyhow, your job is to put
the final clipping in here,
mine,
and then it will
be complete.
And that's it.
A life.
It's sick being that preoccupied
with deaths.
There's nothing sick
about death.
It's part of life.
Your problem is
you think it
can be avoided.
It can't.
I've left my washing
in your laundry.
Hand me the, yeah, glue stick.
Ta.
Hi.
Hey.
Get it done?
Well, I would've
if it hadn't crashed.
Baird's looking
for you.
What for?
Oh, he didn't say.
He seemed
a bit flustered.
Hmm. How unusual.
Hmm.
Let me get this straight.
First he was coming here,
and you were doing it.
Then he was
coming here,
and we were both
gonna do it,
and I was just gonna be around
as backup if you needed it,
technical support,
that kind of thing.
Now, he's not
coming here,
I'm doing it,
and you're not
doing it at all.
Yeah, something like that.
Ugh, come off it, Baird.
I'm not traipsing around
the bloody desert
with some Japanese prick
who doesn't know his ass
from his elbow
and wants
a glorified tour guide!
I'm a geologist, not a bloody...
geisha!
You haven't factored in
the landfall
properly here.
Why can't he come?
He doesn't want to.
I don't know.
Well, have you asked him?
Of course I've asked him.
What does
he want?
How would I know?
Sandy, he's Japanese.
Yeah, they're not interested
in exploration.
They're not gonna buy it.
Is this
the original data?
We need this deal.
Well, you do it!
It's Jamie's fifth birthday!
For God's sake!
Just, Sandy, don't fuck it up.
Here.
God, and how do you say that?
Tachibana Hiromitsu.
And which one's
the surname?
I don't know.
Oh, some bloody
partnership.
[COMPUTER ACTIVATION TONE]
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING]
Sandy, it's--
it's me. It's Baird.
Look, um...sit tight
till you hear from me.
I'm not sure where he is.
I'll keep you posted.
It's Baird, by the way.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Hello.
It's Eddie
with a message for Sandra.
I really enjoyed
the other night.
It was great.
[SANDY GROANS]
Perhaps we could do it again.
I'll be back in town on the 9th
and then again
on the 15th and 17th.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Bye.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Hi, it's Jane.
It's 2 p.m.
Just wondering about strategies
for the tennis Thursday night.
Shit.
Call me.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Sandy, it's me. It's Baird.
Listen,
I've got him on a plane.
He's in Alice Springs,
but he'll meet you
there in Hedland.
Okay, bye.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
JANE:
Sandy,
you've obviously left work.
I guess you won't be
playing tennis
if you're going to the Pilbara.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Oh, bugger.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry, okay?
I'm really really sorry.
It can't be helped.
It's work,
you know--
It's the finals, Sandy.
I'm sorry, okay?
Just say no.
You ever heard
the word?
How many times?
Hey, do you know anything
about the Japanese?
[SCOFFS]
Jane...
Hey, Jane,
come on,
there'll be
other finals.
Tell me about the Japanese.
Got any decent coffee?
Yup. Sure. Help yourself.
[SOUND OF TYPING]
Yeah, but can't he get a taxi?
You could've told me sooner.
Yes!
Mr. Tachibana Hiromitsu?
Hai.
Hi. Oh, thank God.
Sorry I'm late.
Time just got away on me.
Yup.
That's it.
I'm Sandy Edwards
from Edwards and Baird.
Nice to meet you.
Is this your luggage?
Uh, hai.
It's okay, we'll just
put it in the back.
We're not going
very far.
Right.
This okay?
No, you...
Is it hot enough
for you?
Hai.
How are you
finding the heat?
Does the hot weather
bother you?
Hai.
Yeah, I don't like it
much myself.
At least we've got
air conditioning in here
when the stupid thing
gets going.
Bugger it.
I might just see
if I can find the news.
[MUTTERING]
Stupid bastard.
[RADIO FLIPPING
THROUGH CHANNELS]
MAN:
I've got a little puppy
I want to give away...
DEEJAY:
Yesterday's stars,
today's stars...
[STATIC]
[]
[INDISTINCT TALK RADIO]
[INDUSTRIAL MILL NOISES]
Ah, Tachibana-san...
[IN JAPANESE]
Yes. Private. Absolutely.
Oh, thank God.
I'm sure we've got plenty
of interesting things
for you to see.
Yeah, we recycle all the water
on this plant.
We try not
to waste anything.
It's bore water
from the De Grey River.
Yes.
Yeah, the De Grey River
doesn't flow
for most of the year,
but it's always flowing
underground, you know?
We can load up to
10,000 tons an hour.
We mine almost 70
million tons a year.
About 900 million
over the last 30 years.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
Now, your company
owns eight percent
of that entire
enterprise.
Hello?
Baird. No, not yet!
Half of everything that
goes out of the harbor
flows to Japan.
Yeah, I'll call you later.
Isn't that right, Tom?
Yes.
Yes. See you.
[SIGHS]
[SINGING LOUDLY]
We can handle 20 ships
of up to 260,000 tons
of dead weight
simultaneously.
The turnaround time
for a carrier is 65 hours.
Average loading time
is 25 hours.
[CROWD WHOOPING]
Last year,
we shipped just over
68 millions tons.
[CROWD WHISTLING AND SHOUTING]
So, what's on
tomorrow?
You going out to the mine?
Oh, yeah,
why not?
It's only five hours away.
Seen it all, Cassandra.
The biggest open-cut
iron-ore mine in the world.
And I'm sure Miss Edwards
will show you
a very good time,
Tachibana-san.
I'll certainly do my best,
Mr. Tabachana.
Go on, mate.
Show us
how it's done.
Go on, get up!
Get up there!
No!
Come on.
Give us a rendition.
Hey!
So, what's he really here for?
Stuffed if I know.
I'm just trying
to sell him our software.
You tell me.
No idea.
Danny Boy
The pipe
The pipes are calling
What?
From gren to gren--
Glen to glen.
--And down the mountain side
MAN:
Hey, brilliant,
mate!
The summer's gone
And all the roses falling
[SINGING ALONG,
CORRECTING LYRICS]
It's you...
It's...
It's you must go
And I must bide
Must bide
[JINGLING KEYS]
[LOUD MUSIC FROM INSIDE]
[GRUNTS]
[GIGGLING]
You all right?
Get up.
[LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY]
Can you get up?
Great.
Come on, get up.
You all right?
Can you walk?
Hai. Hai.
No...
Hai, hai, hai, hai.
Come on.
Hai.
Come on!
Hai.
[LAUGHING]
Ah. Ah...
[MAKES WARNING NOISE]
Hai, hai.
Are you
gonna chuck?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Hai.
[GRUNTING]
All right.
Hold on.
[SLURRING AND MOANING]
Okay, in.
In.
[MUTTERING IN JAPANESE]
Get in.
Mr. Tachibana!
Hai, hai, hai.
[MUTTERING IN JAPANESE]
Sit up!
[BOTH GRUNT]
Move your arm.
[BAR PATRONS SHOUTING]
Baird.
Yeah, of course I do.
I've just gotten in,
so don't give me any crap, okay?
I had to eat bloody karaoke
and drink sake all night.
Oh, you know what I mean.
Hiromitsu?
Get real, the guy's a jerk,
a real jerk.
Boring as bloody cat shit.
Yeah, well,
it's a bit hard to sell
if he won't even talk about it.
Did they phone you or what?
And they said they wanted
to look at our stuff?
What do you mean, "not exactly"?
[SIGHS]
Well, look, if you want him
to come and see,
you fucking come and show him
yourself, okay?
Yes, of course I will!
Okay. Thanks. Thanks heaps.
Yep. Bye. Bye.
[ROLLING LUGGAGE]
Hai.
[IN JAPANESE]
[LAUGHS]
I hate karaoke.
When is
the first town?
How long?
No town between
Hedland and Newman.
It's just five hours
of driving.
That's it.
[SIGHS]
Do you need to stop?
Stop? What for?
To go to the toilet
or anything.
No town,
no toilet.
Hot enough for you?
Yeah.
You could fry a lizard
in this heat.
Welcome to Newman,
Tachibana-san.
[SPEAKS JAPANESE]
Would you like
to have lunch,
or tour the mine first?
The original hill was 185 meters
above plain level,
and the final pit will be
about 325 meters
below plain level.
It's 5.5 kilometers long
and not quite
1.5 kilometers wide.
[EXPLOSION]
Oh!
Very good blast.
Very impressive!
This is the stuff
we're after.
Feel the weight
of that,
68 percent of that.
This is crap,
this program.
You ought
to get ours.
This is our software.
You want
to see some of it?
Tomorrow, I will go there.
Pardon?
Tomorrow, I will go there.
Where?
To where this piece
of ore came from.
BLAKE:
That's a bit
tricky, mate.
We can't do that.
It is possible?
Well, yeah...
but it's a bloody
long way.
I could arrange it,
but you probab--
Yes. You can arrange it.
Thank you.
Miss Edwards
is driver.
I'm not going out there.
Forget it.
It's just a lot of debris
and a desert.
In Australia...
you have a lot of space,
no people.
In Japan...
we have many people,
no space.
Yeah.
You ready to go?
There is nothing.
It scares me.
Yeah?
We go further.
Further where?
There.
What,
straight out there?
There's barely even
a track.
We don't have
a permit.
Yes, we go there.
No, this is it.
This is
as far as we go.
You get out! I will go!
[GASPS]
Look, there's no one else
around for miles.
There's just you and me.
That's it, okay?
[SIGHS]
[DIALS CELL PHONE]
[IN JAPANESE]
Mr. Suzuki from
Iron and Steel Company Kobe
sends his regards.
Go back now?
We go back now?
No, we can't.
Why not?
You think
I can just stop
and turn around
in this?
If you stop,
you're stuffed!
Now, shift
your camera.
[TURNS OFF IGNITION]
Oh, shit.
[FLIES BUZZING]
[STARTS CAR]
[REVVING ENGINE]
Come on.
Bullshit.
[SIGHS]
Well, this is good.
There's nothing to stick
the winch onto.
Oh, fuck.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Bloody hell!
[TURNS OFF AIR CONDITIONING]
Don't you know anything?
[SIGHS]
Listen, if you want
to get out of here,
you better get off that phone
and get out and do some digging,
and I'm really sorry
that I'm not being very polite,
but I'm serious!
[VOICE IN JAPANESE
OVER CELL PHONE]
[IN JAPANESE]
Do you think
we could talk
about how we're gonna
get out of this bog?
Okay...
now!
[REVVS ENGINE]
Okay, hang on!
Hang on.
I'll yell
when I'm ready!
Are you ready?
Okay, okay.
Okay. Okay,
now, ready?
Okay!
One, two, three, go!
Go!
Forget it!
Forget it!
We're gonna have to make
a dead man.
[WINCH ENGINE STARTS]
[WINCH SQUEALING]
[WINCH ENGINE DIES]
Bloody stupid electric
piece of shit!
Can I use your phone?
Hai?
Hiromitsu, can I use the phone?
Uh...
One more time.
Try again.
I clear more,
and I push harder.
You drive stronger.
More acceleration--
Mr. Tachibana,
I don't think
that's going to work.
It's bogged!
It's up to
the axles.
The winch is
burnt out.
It's not gonna
get unbogged!
We need to get help.
No. No help.
I can fix.
Hiromitsu...
I don't think
this is gonna work.
People die
out in this country...
often.
Lots of people, all the time.
You can die
of dehydration
and heat exhaustion
in no time at all.
Nobody'll look
for us out here.
Can I just ring
and tell somebody
where we are?
No problem.
I am fixing it.
Look, I won't--
I won't say we're stuck, okay?
I'll just say
where we are
and that's
it, okay?
Nothing about being stuck.
I'll just
call my friend.
Nobody official.
Just my friend Jane.
Hiromitsu...
Please.
No. It's not working.
I can't make it work.
Here.
Some problem.
What problem?
Don't know.
Not working.
I will walk back
and find someone.
How far have we come?
No, Hiromitsu,
there's one thing
about the Australian
desert.
You never leave
your vehicle.
How far have we come?
I don't know. 50 kilometers.
12 hours walk. No problem.
Oh, for God's sake.
Wait.
What?
"Survival
in arid Australia."
"Do not leave
your vehicle."
And you know
what else?
It's gonna get cold.
Really cold.
[BRANCH BREAKS]
"Minus 5 degrees at night."
Stand up.
Jump.
Yes.
Coldest
just before sunrise.
Good morning.
You should put your shirt on.
Hai?
That sun'll burn you
when it kicks in.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[LAUGHING]
Yes! Yes! Whoo!
We did it! We did it!
[SHOUTING]
We did it!
Get in! Get in! Get in!
Quick! Quick! Quick!
Come on!
Yes!
Whoo!
On the road again
On the load again
On the road again
On the load again
I just can't wait
To get on the road again
Road again
TOGETHER:
I just can't wait
To get on the road again
The life I love
Is making music
With my friends
Friends
Friends
And I just can't wait
To get on the road again
Again
[HIROMITSU LAUGHING]
SANDY:
That's good.
Thank you.
We go again? Okay.
Okay.
One, two, three.
TOGETHER:
On the road again
I wanted
to kill you
Hai.
after we were bogged.
Hai.
With my
bare hands.
Hai.
What is this "hai"?
Hai?
Yeah, "hai." I mean,
what does that mean?
Ah, ha It means "yes."
"Yes"?
But...not "yes" like in English.
It means,
"I am listening.
"Go on.
Yes."
Hai is "what."
Hai is "I don't know."
Can be just thinking.
And sometimes...
it means "no."
But no one says no.
Just hai,
Mm.
which means "yes."
Even if they mean no?
Hai.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
In the desert...
I was wrong.
It is very bad
to make so many mistakes.
So I must fix them myself.
I'm sorry.
And that's why
you couldn't ring?
Yes.
And then I read the book.
I begin to
understand...
and then...I am possessed.
Like a man
who has the strength of many!
Very strong.
Never felt so strong!
And you...
You don't even want
to speak to me.
Oh, no. I want to kill you.
But without me, you are alone.
And then you die.
Oh, maybe.
Yes. You die.
In the dessert.
Hai.
Desert.
It's desert, not dessert.
Dessert's something
that you eat
after dinner.
It's sweet.
That's dessert,
but desert is "desert."
Des-ert.
Des-sert.
No. Des-er--
Des-ert.
Des-ert.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
Yes, that's it.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
[IN JAPANESE]
What was that?
Uh...
Thank you for teaching
me better English.
No worries.
Now you cut it. Go on.
Oh.
Okay?
[JAPANESE-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS]
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
I'm starving.
Me too.
Bacon.
Egg.
Sausage.
What do you call this?
Baked beans.
Oh.
Very nice.
[PATS STOMACH]
Too much to eat.
I want to go have a shower.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Hai, hai.
Sorry.
Um...
Can I just come in
and get the rest
of my clothes?
Ah, yes, yes.
Thanks.
Good.
[]
Today, we go here.
Where?
Mundabullangana.
Show me.
It's written
in Japanese.
Yes. Japanese map.
Mundabu--
How do you say?
Mundabullangana.
Mundabullanganda.
No, "gana."
[TOGETHER]
Mundabullangana.
Gana.
Mulla-- No.
Mundabullangana.
Bloody hell.
I'm gonna have
to phone home.
[LAUGHING]
Off with the map now.
No more map.
"Historic town.
First port
of the northwest."
I should like
very much to see.
In the war
we thought you blokes
were coming after us.
We had stuff stashed away
up in the hills.
Evacuation plans.
People tying knives
to the ends
of broomsticks.
Ridiculous, really.
Now you blokes own the place.
There was
a time there
when nobody would buy
anything made in Japan.
The wife,
she'd go into a shop
and turn
the thing over,
and if it said
"made in Japan,"
she'd put it back
on the shelf,
wouldn't buy it.
Still don't,
I guess.
Only country
to have a trading surplus
with your lot.
Funny thing, life,
isn't it?
MAN:
That'll be
$90, thanks.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Do you love your wife?
No need to say it.
When you say it...
then, not so true.
[SIGHS]
You give up.
It's bad for you.
No photo?
No photo.
Very old rock.
Beautiful.
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
Before...
I came to Australia...
I was sad.
I have...
heavy obligations.
But...
I must get through it.
Here in the dessert...
Ah, desert.
[LAUGHING]
You have shown me...
something beautiful.
Thank you.
Now I'll teach you
a new Australian
colloquialism.
Are you ready?
Last one in's
a rotten egg!
[SHOUTING]
It's beautiful!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Hiro!
Hiro?
Hiro!
Oh, God! Oh no!
Hiromitsu!
Oh, God.
Hiro!
Oh, bullshit.
Oh, my God.
Oh, Hiromitsu.
Oh no!
Oh, Hiromitsu!
Oh!
Hiromitsu!
[CRYING]
[GRUNTS]
Oh, God!
Oh, God, I'm so sorry.
[SCREAMING]
No, no, no, no, no.
[CRYING]
Oh! Oh! Oh God!
[STRAINING]
Oh my God!
[SOBBING]
Hiro...
Oh, shit!
Oh my God.
God...
Oh, no!
God!
Oh...
Have you got
a hospital here?
Ah, yep, but it's shut.
Been shut for about
three years now.
The government reckoned
they'd run out of money.
What about an undertaker?
Are you feeling
that crook?
Well, there's
Jimmy Smithers
down the road.
He's got a cool room
out in the back,
if you want to use it.
This way?
Just down the road,
past the pub.
How far?
Only about
200 meters.
Excuse me.
Are you...?
Is your name Jimmy Smithers?
Yeah. Yeah.
Um...
What would you do...?
Um...
What's the right
thing to do...
if you've got someone
who's dead?
I mean, is there a correct
procedure, or...?
Well, it depends.
He's not dead
till the doc certifies him.
Technically.
[LAUGHING]
Is there a doctor here, or...?
No, no.
We fly him in.
We just, you know,
whack 'em in
the cool room
until he gets here.
Is...?
I mean, do--
do you...?
Where's he from?
Japan.
He's Japanese.
Well, he was,
anyway.
Still is,
I suppose.
He's well-dressed
for this sort
of country.
[HELICOPTER BLADES ROARING]
Sandy, this is James.
He's a lawyer.
There will be
an inquest.
And Tony, for the certificate.
The, um, death
certificate.
He's a doctor.
G'day.
It's quicker than the
bloody flying service.
I couldn't get
them moving at all.
Um...look, we've got
to get this thing sorted out
before the family
gets here.
The consulate's shut,
so we won't be doing
anything tonight to it--
to him.
I've rung Japan.
His wife's
on the way.
So, what
happened?
Are you all right?
Is everything
all right,
you know,
with you?
Christ, those things are scary.
Can't see
a bloody thing,
and the noise,
it's--
Sorry, mate,
I'm--I'm Bill Baird.
I'm the other director
of the company
that was showing
the poor bugger around.
G'day.
This is Tom Goodwin.
He's come over from...
Where was it?
It was about an hour
out the highway.
The wife got me on the CB.
Thank you so much.
No worries.
Okay, Sandy,
where is he?
They've got some ice
packs on the plane,
the, um, helicopter
whatever,
to keep him
from going off.
I mean, Tony, you'd
like to see him now,
wouldn't you?
Wouldn't be a bad idea.
Yeah, sure, sure.
I'd like
to go over
a couple of things
with you, Sandy.
Did you get
a statement?
Yeah.
Sandy?
Well, that's a good idea.
I'll go with you, Tony.
G'day, mate.
Jimmy Smithers.
Oh, g'day. Bill Baird.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
Sorry about
the phone message.
Was it awful?
Can't you eat?
No. I'll eat it.
Ta.
Think of his
wife and family.
Imagine what she's
going through.
Maybe I should send her a card.
Have you got an address
I can send it to?
Sandy?
What?
Do you have an address?
The poor woman's
probably beside herself.
You can't do that.
Why not?
You can't send a condolence card
to a complete stranger.
You don't know her.
You don't know her culture.
You don't know anything
about her or her marriage!
Nothing!
I know she was
married to him.
I know she's probably sad.
I don't have to be Japanese
to know that.
Oh, for
heaven's sake.
I've been a wife.
I've been a widow.
I mean, some things are the same
the world over.
Oh, that's bullshit,
Mum!
[LOUD SOBBING FROM OTHER ROOM]
[CLUCKS AND SIGHS]
You don't have to be here,
you know.
No one expects you
to work.
Yeah.
What are you doing?
I'm just getting
some of this stuff
in order.
Mm.
What's this?
I'm just
trying to get
all this stuff we've
had to do in order.
What stuff?
Um, it's the things
for Hiromitsu.
There's been
quite a few
odd kind of details
to attend to.
A hundred and forty-three
dollars from a dry cleaner.
"Express courier, $79.15."
Who's this
Mr. Anderson?
Why does he
want to know
"the precise location
of the incident"?
Incident?
Is that what they're calling it?
The dry cleaners
were for his clothes.
We couldn't send them
back like that.
Like what? Why not?
They were covered in red dust.
Filthy and--and--and crumpled.
Apparently, his wife and family
would've had a fit.
The Japanese--
The Japanese what?
And we had to send all
his personal belongings
to his wife's hotel.
That's some
of the couriers.
What, you've sent
all of his stuff?
Already? I thought
it was coming here.
It did, and it--
It was. It did.
And then we had
to do something with it.
We couldn't just
let it sit around
where anyone
could go through it.
so we thought it best--
Who thought?
Baird. I suppose.
It had to be done.
We didn't know--
Why didn't
anyone tell me?
Nobody told me!
I was there too, you know.
I was there when it happened!
It happened to me too!
Sandy, I'm sorry. I am so sorry.
I thought you'd
like to have it
taken off your hands.
Didn't anyone think
I might like to have a say,
you know?
"The incident,"
they're calling it.
The incident!
I mean, even the photos.
You've got to get them back.
At least get them back.
I can hardly go and demand
the photos back, Sandy.
Why not?
It's rolls of
undeveloped film.
She might not ever
get them developed.
Surely, she's entitled
to a few photographs
of the last days of
her husband's life!
Christ!
What the hell were you doing
out there anyway?
Look, Sandy.
Whatever happened
out there...
Jesus, I don't know,
that's not something
that anyone wants
to have to go through.
A lot of people...
You did a good job.
You handled it.
You did everything
that you had to do.
It must've been...
Why don't you
take a break, eh?
Take a few days off.
We can handle
things here.
And we'll get
other deals.
No problem there.
You did well.
You did really well.
You did a great job.
No one doubts that around here,
honestly.
[SIGHS]
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Hello.
[IN JAPANESE]
[MOUTHING]
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck.
Oh, fuck.
Ow...
Right, so white's for Chinese?
Oh, no, no, no, it's okay.
It's my mistake.
So for Japanese,
you have...?
Look, I tell you what.
Can I give you a call back?
Oh, all right.
Yeah. Fine.
No, I've got that number.
Excellent. Okay.
Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
Yeah?
I'd like to be involved.
I think it would help.
Sandy, I'll call
you over.
Mrs. Tachibana.
That is
Sandy Edwards.
She was the one
who was with
your husband,
showing him around
when he passed away.
[SOFTLY TRANSLATES
INTO JAPANESE]
Sandy,
come on over.
Mrs. Tachibana,
Sandy Edwards.
TRANSLATOR:
Sandy Edwards,
Mrs. Yukiko Tachibana.
I'm sorry.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Can I--
Can I get you a drink?
[TRANSLATING
INTO JAPANESE]
[RESPONDS
IN JAPANESE]
No, thank you.
[CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY]
[]
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
Mrs. Tachibana would like
to have the coffin sealed now.
Thank you.
Everything will be
taken care of.
I hope it's to your
satisfaction.
[CONVERSING
INDISTINCTLY]
Baird.
What?
What?
What is it?
SANDY:
Nothing, okay?
"Hiromitsu loves Sandy."
I just need
a signature here
from you, mate.
Sure.
Thanks.
Going to
Tokyo, right?
No. Kyoto.
Oh, yeah.
Right. Sorry.
Excuse me?
Can I just...
[TRANSLATING]
Tachibana-san.
I'm so sorry.
I should've--
I should've not let it happen.
It was my fault.
My responsibility.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
[SPEAKS JAPANESE]
Christ, what did
you say that for?
It's true.
Is that your photographs?
Don't know.
I'm glad
that's over and done with.
Let's get out of here, eh?
You go back. I'll get a taxi.
You're kidding me. What for?
Life's short.
I don't know, just...
To say goodbye.
Yeah.
Right.
I'll see you
back at the office then?
Mm-hm.
I'll see you at the office.
Thanks, Baird.
Are you sure you...?
I'm sure.
[]
HIROMITSU'S VOICE:
Dear Sandy:
By the time
you read this letter...
I will be on the plane
going home
to my wife and children.
I'm sorry you have to read
my funny writing.
I hope you are well and happy.
Now I can be good husband,
good father, good man.
But today...
I stand in the desert...
[LAUGHS]
The sky is so big...
so blue.
There is so much space...
and my heart is open.
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
[]
[]
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
Hello.
Oh, Mum.
What time is it?
No, no, no, I'm up.
I just haven't had
any coffee yet.
[BIRDS WARBLING]
Do you remember
Mary Coulter?
She was an aunt
of that funny kid
with the limp.
He used to go to school
with you on the bus.
No.
But do you remember him?
No.
He's put a nice
notice in here.
"In a while, crocodile.
Love Rick."
They must've said that
to each other.
It's quite nice, isn't it?
It doesn't do so much for me.
Oh, I like it.
Everyone I've ever
known and loved
is in this book.
You didn't know Sammy Davis Jr..
I did. I met him at a party.
He kissed my hand
and told me
he was very pleased to meet me.
That's not knowing somebody.
[LAUGHING]
It was to me.
I'm sure he meant
it at the time.
At least he said it.
Which is more than
your father managed
in 20 years.
Anyhow, your job is to put
the final clipping in here,
mine,
and then it will
be complete.
And that's it.
A life.
It's sick being that preoccupied
with deaths.
There's nothing sick
about death.
It's part of life.
Your problem is
you think it
can be avoided.
It can't.
I've left my washing
in your laundry.
Hand me the, yeah, glue stick.
Ta.
Hi.
Hey.
Get it done?
Well, I would've
if it hadn't crashed.
Baird's looking
for you.
What for?
Oh, he didn't say.
He seemed
a bit flustered.
Hmm. How unusual.
Hmm.
Let me get this straight.
First he was coming here,
and you were doing it.
Then he was
coming here,
and we were both
gonna do it,
and I was just gonna be around
as backup if you needed it,
technical support,
that kind of thing.
Now, he's not
coming here,
I'm doing it,
and you're not
doing it at all.
Yeah, something like that.
Ugh, come off it, Baird.
I'm not traipsing around
the bloody desert
with some Japanese prick
who doesn't know his ass
from his elbow
and wants
a glorified tour guide!
I'm a geologist, not a bloody...
geisha!
You haven't factored in
the landfall
properly here.
Why can't he come?
He doesn't want to.
I don't know.
Well, have you asked him?
Of course I've asked him.
What does
he want?
How would I know?
Sandy, he's Japanese.
Yeah, they're not interested
in exploration.
They're not gonna buy it.
Is this
the original data?
We need this deal.
Well, you do it!
It's Jamie's fifth birthday!
For God's sake!
Just, Sandy, don't fuck it up.
Here.
God, and how do you say that?
Tachibana Hiromitsu.
And which one's
the surname?
I don't know.
Oh, some bloody
partnership.
[COMPUTER ACTIVATION TONE]
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING]
Sandy, it's--
it's me. It's Baird.
Look, um...sit tight
till you hear from me.
I'm not sure where he is.
I'll keep you posted.
It's Baird, by the way.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Hello.
It's Eddie
with a message for Sandra.
I really enjoyed
the other night.
It was great.
[SANDY GROANS]
Perhaps we could do it again.
I'll be back in town on the 9th
and then again
on the 15th and 17th.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Bye.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Hi, it's Jane.
It's 2 p.m.
Just wondering about strategies
for the tennis Thursday night.
Shit.
Call me.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Sandy, it's me. It's Baird.
Listen,
I've got him on a plane.
He's in Alice Springs,
but he'll meet you
there in Hedland.
Okay, bye.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
JANE:
Sandy,
you've obviously left work.
I guess you won't be
playing tennis
if you're going to the Pilbara.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING]
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Oh, bugger.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry, okay?
I'm really really sorry.
It can't be helped.
It's work,
you know--
It's the finals, Sandy.
I'm sorry, okay?
Just say no.
You ever heard
the word?
How many times?
Hey, do you know anything
about the Japanese?
[SCOFFS]
Jane...
Hey, Jane,
come on,
there'll be
other finals.
Tell me about the Japanese.
Got any decent coffee?
Yup. Sure. Help yourself.
[SOUND OF TYPING]
Yeah, but can't he get a taxi?
You could've told me sooner.
Yes!
Mr. Tachibana Hiromitsu?
Hai.
Hi. Oh, thank God.
Sorry I'm late.
Time just got away on me.
Yup.
That's it.
I'm Sandy Edwards
from Edwards and Baird.
Nice to meet you.
Is this your luggage?
Uh, hai.
It's okay, we'll just
put it in the back.
We're not going
very far.
Right.
This okay?
No, you...
Is it hot enough
for you?
Hai.
How are you
finding the heat?
Does the hot weather
bother you?
Hai.
Yeah, I don't like it
much myself.
At least we've got
air conditioning in here
when the stupid thing
gets going.
Bugger it.
I might just see
if I can find the news.
[MUTTERING]
Stupid bastard.
[RADIO FLIPPING
THROUGH CHANNELS]
MAN:
I've got a little puppy
I want to give away...
DEEJAY:
Yesterday's stars,
today's stars...
[STATIC]
[]
[INDISTINCT TALK RADIO]
[INDUSTRIAL MILL NOISES]
Ah, Tachibana-san...
[IN JAPANESE]
Yes. Private. Absolutely.
Oh, thank God.
I'm sure we've got plenty
of interesting things
for you to see.
Yeah, we recycle all the water
on this plant.
We try not
to waste anything.
It's bore water
from the De Grey River.
Yes.
Yeah, the De Grey River
doesn't flow
for most of the year,
but it's always flowing
underground, you know?
We can load up to
10,000 tons an hour.
We mine almost 70
million tons a year.
About 900 million
over the last 30 years.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
Now, your company
owns eight percent
of that entire
enterprise.
Hello?
Baird. No, not yet!
Half of everything that
goes out of the harbor
flows to Japan.
Yeah, I'll call you later.
Isn't that right, Tom?
Yes.
Yes. See you.
[SIGHS]
[SINGING LOUDLY]
We can handle 20 ships
of up to 260,000 tons
of dead weight
simultaneously.
The turnaround time
for a carrier is 65 hours.
Average loading time
is 25 hours.
[CROWD WHOOPING]
Last year,
we shipped just over
68 millions tons.
[CROWD WHISTLING AND SHOUTING]
So, what's on
tomorrow?
You going out to the mine?
Oh, yeah,
why not?
It's only five hours away.
Seen it all, Cassandra.
The biggest open-cut
iron-ore mine in the world.
And I'm sure Miss Edwards
will show you
a very good time,
Tachibana-san.
I'll certainly do my best,
Mr. Tabachana.
Go on, mate.
Show us
how it's done.
Go on, get up!
Get up there!
No!
Come on.
Give us a rendition.
Hey!
So, what's he really here for?
Stuffed if I know.
I'm just trying
to sell him our software.
You tell me.
No idea.
Danny Boy
The pipe
The pipes are calling
What?
From gren to gren--
Glen to glen.
--And down the mountain side
MAN:
Hey, brilliant,
mate!
The summer's gone
And all the roses falling
[SINGING ALONG,
CORRECTING LYRICS]
It's you...
It's...
It's you must go
And I must bide
Must bide
[JINGLING KEYS]
[LOUD MUSIC FROM INSIDE]
[GRUNTS]
[GIGGLING]
You all right?
Get up.
[LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY]
Can you get up?
Great.
Come on, get up.
You all right?
Can you walk?
Hai. Hai.
No...
Hai, hai, hai, hai.
Come on.
Hai.
Come on!
Hai.
[LAUGHING]
Ah. Ah...
[MAKES WARNING NOISE]
Hai, hai.
Are you
gonna chuck?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Hai.
[GRUNTING]
All right.
Hold on.
[SLURRING AND MOANING]
Okay, in.
In.
[MUTTERING IN JAPANESE]
Get in.
Mr. Tachibana!
Hai, hai, hai.
[MUTTERING IN JAPANESE]
Sit up!
[BOTH GRUNT]
Move your arm.
[BAR PATRONS SHOUTING]
Baird.
Yeah, of course I do.
I've just gotten in,
so don't give me any crap, okay?
I had to eat bloody karaoke
and drink sake all night.
Oh, you know what I mean.
Hiromitsu?
Get real, the guy's a jerk,
a real jerk.
Boring as bloody cat shit.
Yeah, well,
it's a bit hard to sell
if he won't even talk about it.
Did they phone you or what?
And they said they wanted
to look at our stuff?
What do you mean, "not exactly"?
[SIGHS]
Well, look, if you want him
to come and see,
you fucking come and show him
yourself, okay?
Yes, of course I will!
Okay. Thanks. Thanks heaps.
Yep. Bye. Bye.
[ROLLING LUGGAGE]
Hai.
[IN JAPANESE]
[LAUGHS]
I hate karaoke.
When is
the first town?
How long?
No town between
Hedland and Newman.
It's just five hours
of driving.
That's it.
[SIGHS]
Do you need to stop?
Stop? What for?
To go to the toilet
or anything.
No town,
no toilet.
Hot enough for you?
Yeah.
You could fry a lizard
in this heat.
Welcome to Newman,
Tachibana-san.
[SPEAKS JAPANESE]
Would you like
to have lunch,
or tour the mine first?
The original hill was 185 meters
above plain level,
and the final pit will be
about 325 meters
below plain level.
It's 5.5 kilometers long
and not quite
1.5 kilometers wide.
[EXPLOSION]
Oh!
Very good blast.
Very impressive!
This is the stuff
we're after.
Feel the weight
of that,
68 percent of that.
This is crap,
this program.
You ought
to get ours.
This is our software.
You want
to see some of it?
Tomorrow, I will go there.
Pardon?
Tomorrow, I will go there.
Where?
To where this piece
of ore came from.
BLAKE:
That's a bit
tricky, mate.
We can't do that.
It is possible?
Well, yeah...
but it's a bloody
long way.
I could arrange it,
but you probab--
Yes. You can arrange it.
Thank you.
Miss Edwards
is driver.
I'm not going out there.
Forget it.
It's just a lot of debris
and a desert.
In Australia...
you have a lot of space,
no people.
In Japan...
we have many people,
no space.
Yeah.
You ready to go?
There is nothing.
It scares me.
Yeah?
We go further.
Further where?
There.
What,
straight out there?
There's barely even
a track.
We don't have
a permit.
Yes, we go there.
No, this is it.
This is
as far as we go.
You get out! I will go!
[GASPS]
Look, there's no one else
around for miles.
There's just you and me.
That's it, okay?
[SIGHS]
[DIALS CELL PHONE]
[IN JAPANESE]
Mr. Suzuki from
Iron and Steel Company Kobe
sends his regards.
Go back now?
We go back now?
No, we can't.
Why not?
You think
I can just stop
and turn around
in this?
If you stop,
you're stuffed!
Now, shift
your camera.
[TURNS OFF IGNITION]
Oh, shit.
[FLIES BUZZING]
[STARTS CAR]
[REVVING ENGINE]
Come on.
Bullshit.
[SIGHS]
Well, this is good.
There's nothing to stick
the winch onto.
Oh, fuck.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Bloody hell!
[TURNS OFF AIR CONDITIONING]
Don't you know anything?
[SIGHS]
Listen, if you want
to get out of here,
you better get off that phone
and get out and do some digging,
and I'm really sorry
that I'm not being very polite,
but I'm serious!
[VOICE IN JAPANESE
OVER CELL PHONE]
[IN JAPANESE]
Do you think
we could talk
about how we're gonna
get out of this bog?
Okay...
now!
[REVVS ENGINE]
Okay, hang on!
Hang on.
I'll yell
when I'm ready!
Are you ready?
Okay, okay.
Okay. Okay,
now, ready?
Okay!
One, two, three, go!
Go!
Forget it!
Forget it!
We're gonna have to make
a dead man.
[WINCH ENGINE STARTS]
[WINCH SQUEALING]
[WINCH ENGINE DIES]
Bloody stupid electric
piece of shit!
Can I use your phone?
Hai?
Hiromitsu, can I use the phone?
Uh...
One more time.
Try again.
I clear more,
and I push harder.
You drive stronger.
More acceleration--
Mr. Tachibana,
I don't think
that's going to work.
It's bogged!
It's up to
the axles.
The winch is
burnt out.
It's not gonna
get unbogged!
We need to get help.
No. No help.
I can fix.
Hiromitsu...
I don't think
this is gonna work.
People die
out in this country...
often.
Lots of people, all the time.
You can die
of dehydration
and heat exhaustion
in no time at all.
Nobody'll look
for us out here.
Can I just ring
and tell somebody
where we are?
No problem.
I am fixing it.
Look, I won't--
I won't say we're stuck, okay?
I'll just say
where we are
and that's
it, okay?
Nothing about being stuck.
I'll just
call my friend.
Nobody official.
Just my friend Jane.
Hiromitsu...
Please.
No. It's not working.
I can't make it work.
Here.
Some problem.
What problem?
Don't know.
Not working.
I will walk back
and find someone.
How far have we come?
No, Hiromitsu,
there's one thing
about the Australian
desert.
You never leave
your vehicle.
How far have we come?
I don't know. 50 kilometers.
12 hours walk. No problem.
Oh, for God's sake.
Wait.
What?
"Survival
in arid Australia."
"Do not leave
your vehicle."
And you know
what else?
It's gonna get cold.
Really cold.
[BRANCH BREAKS]
"Minus 5 degrees at night."
Stand up.
Jump.
Yes.
Coldest
just before sunrise.
Good morning.
You should put your shirt on.
Hai?
That sun'll burn you
when it kicks in.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[LAUGHING]
Yes! Yes! Whoo!
We did it! We did it!
[SHOUTING]
We did it!
Get in! Get in! Get in!
Quick! Quick! Quick!
Come on!
Yes!
Whoo!
On the road again
On the load again
On the road again
On the load again
I just can't wait
To get on the road again
Road again
TOGETHER:
I just can't wait
To get on the road again
The life I love
Is making music
With my friends
Friends
Friends
And I just can't wait
To get on the road again
Again
[HIROMITSU LAUGHING]
SANDY:
That's good.
Thank you.
We go again? Okay.
Okay.
One, two, three.
TOGETHER:
On the road again
I wanted
to kill you
Hai.
after we were bogged.
Hai.
With my
bare hands.
Hai.
What is this "hai"?
Hai?
Yeah, "hai." I mean,
what does that mean?
Ah, ha It means "yes."
"Yes"?
But...not "yes" like in English.
It means,
"I am listening.
"Go on.
Yes."
Hai is "what."
Hai is "I don't know."
Can be just thinking.
And sometimes...
it means "no."
But no one says no.
Just hai,
Mm.
which means "yes."
Even if they mean no?
Hai.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
In the desert...
I was wrong.
It is very bad
to make so many mistakes.
So I must fix them myself.
I'm sorry.
And that's why
you couldn't ring?
Yes.
And then I read the book.
I begin to
understand...
and then...I am possessed.
Like a man
who has the strength of many!
Very strong.
Never felt so strong!
And you...
You don't even want
to speak to me.
Oh, no. I want to kill you.
But without me, you are alone.
And then you die.
Oh, maybe.
Yes. You die.
In the dessert.
Hai.
Desert.
It's desert, not dessert.
Dessert's something
that you eat
after dinner.
It's sweet.
That's dessert,
but desert is "desert."
Des-ert.
Des-sert.
No. Des-er--
Des-ert.
Des-ert.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
Yes, that's it.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
Desert.
[IN JAPANESE]
What was that?
Uh...
Thank you for teaching
me better English.
No worries.
Now you cut it. Go on.
Oh.
Okay?
[JAPANESE-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS]
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
I'm starving.
Me too.
Bacon.
Egg.
Sausage.
What do you call this?
Baked beans.
Oh.
Very nice.
[PATS STOMACH]
Too much to eat.
I want to go have a shower.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Hai, hai.
Sorry.
Um...
Can I just come in
and get the rest
of my clothes?
Ah, yes, yes.
Thanks.
Good.
[]
Today, we go here.
Where?
Mundabullangana.
Show me.
It's written
in Japanese.
Yes. Japanese map.
Mundabu--
How do you say?
Mundabullangana.
Mundabullanganda.
No, "gana."
[TOGETHER]
Mundabullangana.
Gana.
Mulla-- No.
Mundabullangana.
Bloody hell.
I'm gonna have
to phone home.
[LAUGHING]
Off with the map now.
No more map.
"Historic town.
First port
of the northwest."
I should like
very much to see.
In the war
we thought you blokes
were coming after us.
We had stuff stashed away
up in the hills.
Evacuation plans.
People tying knives
to the ends
of broomsticks.
Ridiculous, really.
Now you blokes own the place.
There was
a time there
when nobody would buy
anything made in Japan.
The wife,
she'd go into a shop
and turn
the thing over,
and if it said
"made in Japan,"
she'd put it back
on the shelf,
wouldn't buy it.
Still don't,
I guess.
Only country
to have a trading surplus
with your lot.
Funny thing, life,
isn't it?
MAN:
That'll be
$90, thanks.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Do you love your wife?
No need to say it.
When you say it...
then, not so true.
[SIGHS]
You give up.
It's bad for you.
No photo?
No photo.
Very old rock.
Beautiful.
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
Before...
I came to Australia...
I was sad.
I have...
heavy obligations.
But...
I must get through it.
Here in the dessert...
Ah, desert.
[LAUGHING]
You have shown me...
something beautiful.
Thank you.
Now I'll teach you
a new Australian
colloquialism.
Are you ready?
Last one in's
a rotten egg!
[SHOUTING]
It's beautiful!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Hiro!
Hiro?
Hiro!
Oh, God! Oh no!
Hiromitsu!
Oh, God.
Hiro!
Oh, bullshit.
Oh, my God.
Oh, Hiromitsu.
Oh no!
Oh, Hiromitsu!
Oh!
Hiromitsu!
[CRYING]
[GRUNTS]
Oh, God!
Oh, God, I'm so sorry.
[SCREAMING]
No, no, no, no, no.
[CRYING]
Oh! Oh! Oh God!
[STRAINING]
Oh my God!
[SOBBING]
Hiro...
Oh, shit!
Oh my God.
God...
Oh, no!
God!
Oh...
Have you got
a hospital here?
Ah, yep, but it's shut.
Been shut for about
three years now.
The government reckoned
they'd run out of money.
What about an undertaker?
Are you feeling
that crook?
Well, there's
Jimmy Smithers
down the road.
He's got a cool room
out in the back,
if you want to use it.
This way?
Just down the road,
past the pub.
How far?
Only about
200 meters.
Excuse me.
Are you...?
Is your name Jimmy Smithers?
Yeah. Yeah.
Um...
What would you do...?
Um...
What's the right
thing to do...
if you've got someone
who's dead?
I mean, is there a correct
procedure, or...?
Well, it depends.
He's not dead
till the doc certifies him.
Technically.
[LAUGHING]
Is there a doctor here, or...?
No, no.
We fly him in.
We just, you know,
whack 'em in
the cool room
until he gets here.
Is...?
I mean, do--
do you...?
Where's he from?
Japan.
He's Japanese.
Well, he was,
anyway.
Still is,
I suppose.
He's well-dressed
for this sort
of country.
[HELICOPTER BLADES ROARING]
Sandy, this is James.
He's a lawyer.
There will be
an inquest.
And Tony, for the certificate.
The, um, death
certificate.
He's a doctor.
G'day.
It's quicker than the
bloody flying service.
I couldn't get
them moving at all.
Um...look, we've got
to get this thing sorted out
before the family
gets here.
The consulate's shut,
so we won't be doing
anything tonight to it--
to him.
I've rung Japan.
His wife's
on the way.
So, what
happened?
Are you all right?
Is everything
all right,
you know,
with you?
Christ, those things are scary.
Can't see
a bloody thing,
and the noise,
it's--
Sorry, mate,
I'm--I'm Bill Baird.
I'm the other director
of the company
that was showing
the poor bugger around.
G'day.
This is Tom Goodwin.
He's come over from...
Where was it?
It was about an hour
out the highway.
The wife got me on the CB.
Thank you so much.
No worries.
Okay, Sandy,
where is he?
They've got some ice
packs on the plane,
the, um, helicopter
whatever,
to keep him
from going off.
I mean, Tony, you'd
like to see him now,
wouldn't you?
Wouldn't be a bad idea.
Yeah, sure, sure.
I'd like
to go over
a couple of things
with you, Sandy.
Did you get
a statement?
Yeah.
Sandy?
Well, that's a good idea.
I'll go with you, Tony.
G'day, mate.
Jimmy Smithers.
Oh, g'day. Bill Baird.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
Sorry about
the phone message.
Was it awful?
Can't you eat?
No. I'll eat it.
Ta.
Think of his
wife and family.
Imagine what she's
going through.
Maybe I should send her a card.
Have you got an address
I can send it to?
Sandy?
What?
Do you have an address?
The poor woman's
probably beside herself.
You can't do that.
Why not?
You can't send a condolence card
to a complete stranger.
You don't know her.
You don't know her culture.
You don't know anything
about her or her marriage!
Nothing!
I know she was
married to him.
I know she's probably sad.
I don't have to be Japanese
to know that.
Oh, for
heaven's sake.
I've been a wife.
I've been a widow.
I mean, some things are the same
the world over.
Oh, that's bullshit,
Mum!
[LOUD SOBBING FROM OTHER ROOM]
[CLUCKS AND SIGHS]
You don't have to be here,
you know.
No one expects you
to work.
Yeah.
What are you doing?
I'm just getting
some of this stuff
in order.
Mm.
What's this?
I'm just
trying to get
all this stuff we've
had to do in order.
What stuff?
Um, it's the things
for Hiromitsu.
There's been
quite a few
odd kind of details
to attend to.
A hundred and forty-three
dollars from a dry cleaner.
"Express courier, $79.15."
Who's this
Mr. Anderson?
Why does he
want to know
"the precise location
of the incident"?
Incident?
Is that what they're calling it?
The dry cleaners
were for his clothes.
We couldn't send them
back like that.
Like what? Why not?
They were covered in red dust.
Filthy and--and--and crumpled.
Apparently, his wife and family
would've had a fit.
The Japanese--
The Japanese what?
And we had to send all
his personal belongings
to his wife's hotel.
That's some
of the couriers.
What, you've sent
all of his stuff?
Already? I thought
it was coming here.
It did, and it--
It was. It did.
And then we had
to do something with it.
We couldn't just
let it sit around
where anyone
could go through it.
so we thought it best--
Who thought?
Baird. I suppose.
It had to be done.
We didn't know--
Why didn't
anyone tell me?
Nobody told me!
I was there too, you know.
I was there when it happened!
It happened to me too!
Sandy, I'm sorry. I am so sorry.
I thought you'd
like to have it
taken off your hands.
Didn't anyone think
I might like to have a say,
you know?
"The incident,"
they're calling it.
The incident!
I mean, even the photos.
You've got to get them back.
At least get them back.
I can hardly go and demand
the photos back, Sandy.
Why not?
It's rolls of
undeveloped film.
She might not ever
get them developed.
Surely, she's entitled
to a few photographs
of the last days of
her husband's life!
Christ!
What the hell were you doing
out there anyway?
Look, Sandy.
Whatever happened
out there...
Jesus, I don't know,
that's not something
that anyone wants
to have to go through.
A lot of people...
You did a good job.
You handled it.
You did everything
that you had to do.
It must've been...
Why don't you
take a break, eh?
Take a few days off.
We can handle
things here.
And we'll get
other deals.
No problem there.
You did well.
You did really well.
You did a great job.
No one doubts that around here,
honestly.
[SIGHS]
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Hello.
[IN JAPANESE]
[MOUTHING]
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck.
Oh, fuck.
Ow...
Right, so white's for Chinese?
Oh, no, no, no, it's okay.
It's my mistake.
So for Japanese,
you have...?
Look, I tell you what.
Can I give you a call back?
Oh, all right.
Yeah. Fine.
No, I've got that number.
Excellent. Okay.
Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
Yeah?
I'd like to be involved.
I think it would help.
Sandy, I'll call
you over.
Mrs. Tachibana.
That is
Sandy Edwards.
She was the one
who was with
your husband,
showing him around
when he passed away.
[SOFTLY TRANSLATES
INTO JAPANESE]
Sandy,
come on over.
Mrs. Tachibana,
Sandy Edwards.
TRANSLATOR:
Sandy Edwards,
Mrs. Yukiko Tachibana.
I'm sorry.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Can I--
Can I get you a drink?
[TRANSLATING
INTO JAPANESE]
[RESPONDS
IN JAPANESE]
No, thank you.
[CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY]
[]
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
Mrs. Tachibana would like
to have the coffin sealed now.
Thank you.
Everything will be
taken care of.
I hope it's to your
satisfaction.
[CONVERSING
INDISTINCTLY]
Baird.
What?
What?
What is it?
SANDY:
Nothing, okay?
"Hiromitsu loves Sandy."
I just need
a signature here
from you, mate.
Sure.
Thanks.
Going to
Tokyo, right?
No. Kyoto.
Oh, yeah.
Right. Sorry.
Excuse me?
Can I just...
[TRANSLATING]
Tachibana-san.
I'm so sorry.
I should've--
I should've not let it happen.
It was my fault.
My responsibility.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
[SPEAKS JAPANESE]
Christ, what did
you say that for?
It's true.
Is that your photographs?
Don't know.
I'm glad
that's over and done with.
Let's get out of here, eh?
You go back. I'll get a taxi.
You're kidding me. What for?
Life's short.
I don't know, just...
To say goodbye.
Yeah.
Right.
I'll see you
back at the office then?
Mm-hm.
I'll see you at the office.
Thanks, Baird.
Are you sure you...?
I'm sure.
[]
HIROMITSU'S VOICE:
Dear Sandy:
By the time
you read this letter...
I will be on the plane
going home
to my wife and children.
I'm sorry you have to read
my funny writing.
I hope you are well and happy.
Now I can be good husband,
good father, good man.
But today...
I stand in the desert...
[LAUGHS]
The sky is so big...
so blue.
There is so much space...
and my heart is open.
[WOMAN'S VOICE
BEGINS SINGING IN JAPANESE]
[]