The Golden Egg (2025) s01e08 Episode Script

1
MARRIAGE MIXER
You're Ami Shirakawa?
Hinako Shinoda.
Is it okay if I tell Niko-chan your name?
Yes.
You'll probably be wearing name tags,
so let's have her approach you.
Okay.
That's pretty vague.
Will this work out?
I'll let her know.
You're Makiko Tanioka?
Yes.
Thank you for coming today.
Ms. Tanioka? Ms. Makiko Tanioka?
You left your bag.
I'm so sorry!
The third victim is Makiko Tanioka,
age 28.
Could I ask you a question?
Sure.
When did you get today's ticket?
In April.
That's a while ago.
Every member does.
It's so popular it fills up right away.
I suppose so.
Thank you.
KUWABARA
GOOD LUCK
Right, I'm supposed to meet with
this anonymous Niko-chan.
What was their relationship
to the late Ms. Tanioka?
A close friend, apparently.
Ms. Tanioka entrusted something
to Niko-chan before she died.
My job is to meet them in person
to find out what.
Sounds like you got stuck
with another tough assignment.
It's like the epitome
of a Sengoku Weekly job.
Well, I've been lying low
so nobody finds out I'm a reporter.
What if the killer is watching
you right now, though?
Then I'd get killed next.
I'll do my best.
Bye.
Okay!
Niko-chan.
Niko-chan.
They're taking so long.
Niko-chan.
Where are you?
What do you look like?
What do I do? I can't just
wait here for them the whole time.
I'll have them make an announcement!
Wait, hold on.
That would draw attention.
"Niko-chan, please come
to the reception counter."
What if a lot of people gather?
I don't know what they look like.
That won't work.
I can check everyone's name tags
and find someone who might
be called Niko-chan.
Wait, nicknames aren't that simple.
Maybe the nickname comes from their smile.
Do I need to make everyone smile then?
I can't do that.
I could pretend to call out to someone
and just shout out "Niko-chan!"
No, it would suck if nobody answered.
Everyone would look at me at once
and kick me out for acting crazy.
What do I do?
Niko-chan!
The Incident Team is trying
to track down Kubozuka,
but we're not having any luck.
Just sent it.
Thanks.
What's this?
What photos are these?
It's an industry party.
From stylists like me, to photographers,
designers, and aspiring models
so I thought they could be useful.
These are great.
Thanks.
Also,
you have any connections
with Komiyama's family?
No.
Her parents have passed away,
and her older sister died a few years ago,
leaving a son behind.
And she was single.
I see.
I thought it'd be helpful to meet them.
Okay. Thanks.
Wait, isn't today Hinako's thing?
It is, isn't it?
She hasn't checked in with me yet.
I wonder how it's going.
Hey, you got a second?
Sure.
I overheard you talking, you're a reporter
for the Sengoku Weekly, right?
Are you staking out a celebrity
or something?
I'm not doing that.
Sorry, but I hate the Sengoku Weekly.
You guys ended my favorite idol's career.
How about that?
- That's not
- What?
You're a tabloid reporter.
I don't know what your deal is,
but I'm looking for a husband.
You need to leave.
I'm telling reception
there's a tabloid reporter here.
Please wait!
This is payback for ending my idol.
I'm not the type of reporter
after some gossip.
I just work for Sengokusha's free PR zine.
So that's the type of lie that you tell?
I have proof!
Sengokusha puts out more
than just a tabloid.
We publish interviews like this too.
I'm just here as a woman
who works at a publisher.
Not for an assignment!
I'm glad you understand.
Ms. Shinoda?
Yes!
So your name is Hinako Shinoda.
Who's Makiko Tanioka then?
That reminds me, it did seem like
you didn't buy your own ticket.
I got it from a friend.
Yeah?
Makiko Tanioka is the same name
as a victim of those suspicious deaths.
Don't tell me.
That's the deal then?
You used a murder victim's ticket
to investigate a crime?
You suck!
You think tabloids
can do whatever they want?
You're on the wrong path as a human
for using a dead woman's name tag.
Could you not tell people I'm a reporter?
I bet you're numb to it already.
You're a piece of trash with no empathy.
Stop looking at your watch.
I mean, Tanioka's case
hinges on Ms. Shinoda right now.
Excuse me.
I got some new info.
The place where Harue Komiyama
and Kubozuka met
was a cave bar in Akasaka.
A cave bar?
The concept is that it's cool in summer
and warm in winter.
Where'd you get this info?
I got a tentative ID match
from the bartender.
Got it.
- Keep going in this direction.
- Okay.
Hello.
Hello, Hinako?
What is it?
Are you at the office?
I'm at Palazzo Ducale AZABU for work.
Wait, I was there last week
for a hula dance lesson.
You came all the way from Chiba? Sorry!
A famous instructor came
to teach a lesson, so I joined.
It's hard to keep up
if you're not regularly exercising.
My legs were jelly.
The instructor said "That's not
hula dancing, that's dizzy dancing!"
The whole class was cracking up.
Hello?
You listening?
Yeah, I am.
So, what did you want?
Your dad and I are coming to Tokyo
and wanted to grab dinner.
Okay, let me know
when you pick a date.
What are you doing there anyway?
You're not on another stakeout, are you?
It's not a stakeout.
I'm investigating undercover.
What? An undercover investigation?!
Get it together, Hinako!
You're working for a publisher!
Only Tom Cruise and Jack Bauer
are allowed to go undercover.
You're a young woman.
Another weird analogy?
But I get it.
I'll be fine.
Thanks for the call.
Anyway, I gotta get back to work.
Just call me back later.
I will.
Bye.
LET'S TALK
COME TO THE CHAPEL
It's from Niko-chan!
You wrote this note?
I'm sorry for the theatrics.
I just assume Niko-chan was a--
I just have some visual impairments
that makes me sensitive to light.
Would it be okay
if I kept my sunglasses on?
Yes, of course.
Am I right to assume your ticket
was originally Ms. Tanioka's?
That's what I was told.
Have you been entrusted with something
other than the ticket?
I thought that was you.
If you have an envelope, could I see it?
An envelope?
It's just a regular envelope.
Sorry.
One second.
Hello?
You're Hinako Shinoda?
Yes, that's me.
Who is it?
I don't know.
But I think it's a man.
Is someone there?
Could I see the envelope?
One second.
Hello?
Where are you right now?
The yard? The main hall?
Um, so who am I speaking to?
Does Niko-chan ring a bell?
Huh?
- What?!
- Give me the envelope, now!
What are you doing?
Are you okay?
Stop it!
Tell me where you are now!
Is this it?
Second floor, the chapel!
I'll be taking this.
We're heading downstairs.
You said you were visually impaired!
He's gone.
Where are you?
Oh. I think I found you.
Are you Ms. Shinoda?
Are you Niko-chan?
Tanioka and I have been friends
since we were teenagers.
She had a rough upbringing.
She would constantly say
how she would marry someone rich.
She's the one who found this party
and got tickets for us.
I came to fill the doctor quota.
DENTIS
NIKO-CHAN
I was looking forward to today
because I like pretty women.
But then that happened to Tanioka.
You received her ticket
right before she died, right?
She told me she didn't need it anymore.
She didn't need it?
She said she found the perfect mark.
That she won't need to suck up to
rich old men anymore
because she could collect hush money.
I think she found out someone's secret.
And then blackmailed them, but
I should've tried to stop her.
But she entrusted you
with something then, didn't she?
In case something happened to her?
I just met a guy in sunglasses.
That man came to take it!
Ow.
What's wrong?
Are you hurt?
I'm okay.
But I'm glad you didn't run into
the sunglasses man.
You would've been in danger
if he'd seen your face.
Are you really a tabloid reporter?
Your first instinct was my safety.
Shouldn't it be to see
what Tanioka gave me?
I can't believe it.
I should have some compresses
at the clinic.
Let's go get you patched up.
FIRST-AID KI
So?
I got it on.
Thank you.
Make sure to visit a clinic
if the pain doesn't go away.
Okay.
Be careful getting back home.
Could you tell me about it?
What did Ms. Tanioka entrust you with?
You really want to know?
I do!
What is it that you see with your eyes?
A scoop, right? You want to know
for your article.
The friends and family of the victims
are praying for the truth.
The killer hasn't been caught yet.
What can a gossip magazine do?
While I don't trust the cops,
tabloids are amateurs
without any authority.
What exactly can you do
with the information?
You think tabloids
can do whatever they want?
You're a piece of trash with no empathy.
Buzzing around human misery.
Only ever exposing their bad side.
That's how you make a living.
You're the worst.
Yes, I work for a publisher.
It's not my job to pretend to be
with the police and arrest criminals.
My job is to see the truth about the world
with my own eyes and tell the readers!
What truth about the world?
Celebrities having affairs?
An underground idol's true nature?
Nobody cares about that kind of truth.
Swarming around people's misery,
what truth?
You're right.
I couldn't say anything the last time
this was pointed out.
But there's one thing I know now.
The Sengoku Weekly
will go after anyone equally!
Even if the target is
a powerful politician, a popular athlete,
or one of our sponsors!
At the very least,
we don't just pick easy targets,
we put out anything and everything!
No matter what the circumstances are!
That's why I think the Sengoku Weekly
might be able to do something
to help bring to light
the truth behind Ms. Tanioka's death!
I'm sorry.
Okay.
I'll show you what she gave me.
Huh?
TO BE CONTINUED
Either way, we have to go hard and fast.
There's a real person behind the words.
Everyone who got in his way
met a tragic fate.
There's a good chance
that's what got her killed.
You mean all three are connected
to the case?
Subtitle translation by: Zensho Yamamoto