Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023) s01e07 Episode Script

1
[hip-hop music]
[pop music plays through car speakers]
Yeah, I'm not proud ♪
With any luck, we'll get back again ♪
I'm gonna dance all ♪
The weather's perfect
and my car's running like a dream.
What a great feeling!
I think you're just excited to see
my friend Izumi, aren't you, brother?
What are you talking about, Kaoru?
I'm giving you a ride and tagging along
to keep my little sister out of trouble!
Ah, is that so?
Guess it wouldn't matter that Izumi
got excited when I said you'd be coming?
- Huh? Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Stop lying.
- [chuckles] Whatever.
Slow down! You haven't had your license
for very long. Don't be an idiot!
[brother laughs] Pipe down, Grandma!
"TOMB TOWN"
Free as a bird ♪
[Kaoru] This place is
in the middle of nowhere.
Why don't you pull over and rest a bit?
[brother] I'm fine.
You sure we're going the right way?
- I think so?
- [growls]
- Jeez, gimme that map.
- Uh Hey!
You have no idea
how to read this, do you?
- [gasps] Brother, watch out!
- Huh?
- [brother yells] No!
- [Kaoru screams]
[tires screeching]
[crashing and thumping]
DANGER OF LANDSLIDES
[both trembling]
Holy crap.
[Kaoru gasps]
Hey, miss! Are you all right?
This is horrible.
[Kaoru, shakily] How is she?
I don't know, but we need to get her
to hospital. Help me put her in the car.
- [yells] Kaoru!
- [gasps]
Oh okay.
[Kaoru] Oh no.
Her face, it's all swollen up.
[bell jingles]
[gasps] Tsuyoshi, she's not breathing
and she doesn't have a heartbeat!
We need to get to a hospital!
[Tsuyoshi breathing shakily]
[Kaoru] Brother?
So she's dead?
[starts engine]
Let's pass through this town
and then find somewhere to bury her.
Huh?
[Tsuyoshi] Maybe up in the mountains.
[opens window]
What in the world is
Looks like some kind of tombstone.
[Tsuyoshi] Why is there a tombstone
right in the middle of the road?
[snorts]
You gotta be kidding me.
Screw it.
Let's U-turn and get out of here.
[tires screech]
[growls]
Damn it. Of all things
- [man 1] Oh, wow, you sure did it now.
- [man 2] Oh boy.
[man 3] The gravestone split in two.
- Gravestone?
- [man 1] Not from around here, are you?
Uh, no, sir.
You're gonna have to get a jack
to lift your car up and get it out.
- [Tsuyoshi sighs]
- What are you doing?
You got one, don't ya?
[man 2] Just open the trunk and grab it.
[man 4] We'll help you, so don't worry.
[Tsuyoshi grunts] Right.
[breathing shakily]
[gasps]
You sure did something
to put a curse on you, didn't you?
- It's divine punishment.
- Let's just get on with it.
Sooner we get this over with, the better.
[man 2] I've been saying we shouldn't
let any cars in. Nobody listens.
[man 1] You can't block all of them.
- [Tsuyoshi] I appreciate your help.
- [man 1] Not a problem.
You can't blame the driver for hitting
something in the middle of the road.
[Tsuyoshi] And you said
this was a gravestone, right?
[man 2] Yeah. Sure did.
[man 1] It used to be
there'd only be gravestones
for people who got into car accidents,
but now all sorts of different ones
are going up.
[Tsuyoshi] But why are they all
in the middle of the road?
Well, because all those folks
died on the road.
- Just because they died here
- [man 2] Whoa.
You really didn't know anything
before you came to this town, huh?
[Tsuyoshi] What's the best way
to get around?
[man 1] Just take the side streets.
Some don't have any gravestones at all.
- [woman] Kaoru!
- Huh?
You two were late, I was getting worried.
[Kaoru] Izumi!
Is everything okay? Did something happen?
It seems like you know these folks, Izumi.
I do. They came to visit me
during their summer break.
- [man 4] Make sure you show them around.
- [man 3] Not that there's much to see!
- [men laughing]
- Ha-ha.
[Izumi] It was kind of surprising, right?
I know it was for me the first time
I saw those gravestones on the road.
But eventually, I got used to it.
Like here. Take a look!
This is the grave of the person
who used to live here.
He took his last breath at this very spot.
To be honest, I'd prefer not to have
a gravestone inside my house, though.
Is it tradition to put a tombstone in
the place someone drew their last breath?
Yeah. That's it, more or less.
Is something wrong?
You two don't look so well.
[Tsuyoshi] It was a long drive.
I've only had my license a short time.
So we're a little worn out, right?
[Kaoru] Huh? Uh yeah.
There's still time before dinner,
so how about I show you around town?
Who knows? Maybe that'll make you
feel a bit better. Yeah?
- Sounds good. Thank you.
- Hmm?
[crickets chirping]
[Tsuyoshi] Wow,
there are gravestones everywhere?
[Izumi] We try to have them die outside.
We carry people on the brink of death
to an empty lot.
[Tsuyoshi] I see.
What a strange custom.
Is there a reason to erect a gravestone
on the exact spot a person died?
- It can't be helped.
- What do you mean by that?
[Izumi] It's always been like that.
There's really no reason.
- [man 1] Hurry!
- [woman, panting] Right!
[man 2] He's about to pass,
so we need to move!
- Quickly now!
- [all panting]
[man 2] Place him here, gently. Gently.
[woman sighs]
- [Tsuyoshi] What's happening?
- [Izumi] A patient's about to pass.
It's better for the gravestone
to be outside than in a hospital room.
Treating a dying person like that is
It's cruel.
[birdsong]
[gasps]
[Kaoru] Poor thing.
Someone must have hit it with their car.
Guess we should bury it.
- No, wait! Don't touch it, Tsuyoshi!
- Uh
If you touch it or move it,
it won't be able to rest in peace.
It's better to just leave it be, okay?
Pretty soon,
a gravestone will be erected there.
Even for a cat?
[breeze rustling grass]
[sighs]
- [Izumi] You okay? Kaoru?
- [gasps]
You seem so distant. What's bothering you?
She's probably just taken aback
by the way things work here.
Uh
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
There really isn't another town
like this, huh?
Sorry, that's not it.
Honestly,
I think I'm just still a little carsick.
[gasps]
My stomach's off, and I'm a little dizzy.
[Izumi] Oh, really?
I'm so sorry, I I didn't notice.
- [groans]
- I'm sure you'll feel better in no time.
We should let you rest
before dinner, though.
- Let's head back to the house, 'kay?
- [Kaoru] Okay.
[Tsuyoshi] I get why there's
different sized gravestones now.
The small ones are for cats and dogs
that have passed.
[Izumi] Tombstones are erected
for all living creatures.
- [knocking]
- [woman] I'm coming in.
[door opens]
Made some cold drinks for all of you.
Thanks, Mom, I appreciate it.
Kaoru, are you all right, dear?
I think I'm feeling better, yeah.
Good. Nice to hear.
Hey, Izumi.
Ayumi, has she come home yet?
No. She left this morning
for a walk out by the mountains.
[Mom] That's strange.
I wonder where she could be.
Uh, who's Ayumi?
- Oh, she's my little sister.
- Ah.
Has she been getting along well out here?
Yeah. She's as active as she's ever been.
[crickets chirping]
[man] Ayumi still hasn't come home yet?
She went on a walk toward the mountains.
She might've gotten lost out there
somewhere.
- Maybe even kidnapped.
- [Izumi] No!
We should call the police immediately.
- Would you, dear?
- Yeah, of course.
I'm worried.
I'm sure everything's fine.
I'm going to look for her.
I'm going too.
[father] No, there's no need for that.
Just stay home with your mother, okay?
- Kaoru.
- [gasps]
[Tsuyoshi] Tell me,
what does Ayumi look like?
Well, she's a little bit shorter
than I am. Kind of slim and athletic.
Her hairstyle?
Her hair's a bit long,
but she had it in braids a lot.
[breathing unsteadily]
She looks like the girl we hit.
- Stop it!
- [gasps]
If it was, we would've noticed it.
Her face was swollen up,
so there's no way I could've known!
[Tsuyoshi] Drop it. Just act normal.
Her name is Ayumi Murakami.
She's 15 years old and wearing
a striped shirt with white shorts.
Says here she also has
a little bell on her bracelet.
- [man 1] Can you hear us?
- [man 2] Ayumi!
I'm sorry.
What a bad time to come for a visit.
Hey, it's okay, we're worried as well.
I'm sure we'll find her soon enough.
She'll be back home safe and sound
in no time.
- [man 1] Can you hear us?
- Hey, Ayumi!
[man 1] Are you all right?
Where did you go?
- [man 2] Where are you?
- [man 3] Ayumi! Hello!
[calling continues]
[officer] We've searched everywhere,
but there's no trace.
Maybe she wasn't in the mountains.
You think maybe
she fell down into the old well?
I hope not. That'd be awful.
Come on, then. Let's go take a look.
The old well?
- How about it? You see anything?
- Nah, it's way too dark.
So, does this well
go really deep down, or
It does. We don't know who dug it,
but it's so deep, it's scary.
If you fell down here,
no one would be able to find you.
You're from out of town, I take it?
The local legend says
for as far back as anyone can remember,
corpses that couldn't rest peacefully
were thrown down into this well.
Corpses that couldn't rest peacefully?
You should go take a look at the person
who died at the hospital yesterday.
You'll understand what I mean.
[Kaoru] Brother, what should we do?
We didn't mean to do it,
but we killed Ayumi.
I know, stop it.
We ran over her, and now her body
is all cut up and lifeless in your car!
I said I know!
I've been thinking about
what I wanna do about it.
- And? What's the plan?
- I don't know yet!
Maybe I'll just turn myself in!
Keep quiet until I figure something out!
[whimpers]
[man 1] It looks like he'll be able
to rest peacefully after all.
ONISHI HOSPITAL
- [man 2] That's such a relief!
- [woman] I was watching him all night.
It would have been really bad if someone
had come along and moved the body.
[both gasp]
[man 1] That's wonderful, though.
- It's turning into stone at a good pace.
- [creaking]
I'm sure by tomorrow,
it'll be a fine gravestone.
- I don't
- [shudders]
- What is this?
- [gasps]
- [Tsuyoshi] Is he turning into stone?
- [man 1] Hey, stop!
Don't touch it! The transformation
hasn't been completed yet!
Am I awake? Are we just
Are we having some sort of nightmare?
This can't be real.
It's just a weird dream.
It's just a dream.
[Tsuyoshi gasps]
[Kaoru] What's she doing?
[Tsuyoshi shuddering]
[gasps]
Hey! Something wrong with my car?
No. It's nothing.
We searched out near the old well,
but unfortunately we didn't find anything.
Sorry about this.
But I appreciate the help.
- [Tsuyoshi] Any news from the mountains?
- Maybe.
We found some skid marks that recently
happened on the main road.
There were bloodstains and paint from
a car found near those skid marks, too.
The police are investigating it.
Well, at least that's something,
but it's hard to imagine Ayumi being hit
in the middle of the road
by a random car, isn't it?
I hope it's not the case.
Both of you,
please go and rest a while in your room.
I still have something
I need to take care of.
[sighs]
[gasps] Brother, look!
There's bloodstains on the back seat!
That's what Izumi was looking at!
Damn! Oh no. I didn't notice.
- What do you think we should do?
- Just calm down.
I can't! They found the car paint
and the police are investigating!
It'll be all right.
We can't keep hiding it any longer!
- Calm down, Kaoru.
- [sobbing]
Just calm down.
- [Izumi] What if what if she had died?
- [Kaoru gasps]
And after, someone dragged her body
all over the place?
That would mean
Ayumi wouldn't become a gravestone.
She won't be able to?
I recall this one time I saw the body
of someone who couldn't
turn into a stone pillar successfully.
There wasn't anything we could do,
so it was decided
to throw it down the shrine's well.
Listen, I have to ask you.
When you two were driving here,
did either of you notice anything strange?
Anything strange?
Listen. I, uh
- [whimpers]
- Kaoru.
- [sighs]
- We're sorry.
We picked such a bad time
to come for a visit.
We don't wanna burden you by staying,
so we'll pack up and leave tonight.
[sobbing]
It doesn't matter, brother. It's no use.
Let's turn ourselves in.
I have an idea.
No evidence, no crime.
[switches engine off]
Wait, this is
What exactly are you planning to do?
No one will find her
if we throw her in the well.
That's horrible!
Don't argue! And what's with this car?
If I don't floor it,
this thing won't accelerate at all!
It wasn't like this yesterday.
What could cause that?
I don't know!
Come on. Let's get this over with.
[gasps]
[gasps]
Is this what they meant
by not resting peacefully?
What is it, brother?
- [gasps]
- Kaoru, help me, please!
- [Kaoru] No way! I'm not touching it!
- Hurry up!
[Kaoru sobs]
[both grunting]
- [Tsuyoshi] It's so heavy.
- [Kaoru] This is so gross!
- [bell jingling]
- [Tsuyoshi] Just a little bit further
- [grunts]
- [Kaoru] I can't!
[Tsuyoshi] We're almost there.
[shuddering]
There. It's over.
[sighs shakily]
[Kaoru] It's not over at all.
This nightmare will continue.
Right now and forever.
- Until we die.
- [grunts]
- [gasping painfully]
- [Kaoru] What's wrong?
[Tsuyoshi shudders] I cut it
on a jagged part of the dead body.
[stone grinding]
[gasps]
What's that?
[scraping and grinding]
[whimpering]
- [Ayumi sighs]
- [loud grinding]
[screaming]
[moaning and roaring]
[Ayumi screeches] Sister!
[clattering]
[whimpering]
[Ayumi roars] Sister!
- [rattling]
- [echoing] It's him! It's this man!
This is the man who killed me
and tried to hide it!
Tsuyoshi Yoshikawa!
- Shut up! Shut your mouth, damn it!
- [Ayumi] Tsuyoshi Yoshikawa!
Stop!
- [Kaoru] Brother? Brother!
- [gasps]
- What's wrong? Why were you screaming?
- Kaoru
It's nothing.
Let's go home.
[jingles]
[leaves rustling]
[sobbing]
[whimpering]
[moaning]
[Tsuyoshi wailing]
[wailing continues]
- [cracking]
- [muffled groaning]
[gasping]
[sobbing] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
[moaning]
[Kaoru] I'm so sorry.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMEN
[crashing and grinding]
[cheerful pop music]
[man] Ahh, this is what
the insects are teaching you today.
"They're piling up. What's piling up
is the bottom of the ocean."
The insects multiplied
and filled up the paper.
They keep screaming.
It's getting hard to hear them.
There are three large pieces of paper.
The other side has many poles
sticking up from the ground.
If the insects left from here,
it would be very bad.