Tokaido Yotsuya-Kaidan

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S

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C

H

I

K

U

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"

TOKAIDO YOTSUYA - KAIDAN "

KABUKI PLAY I N 5 ACTS.

W ritten by Tsuruya - Namboku.

TO BE PRESENTED BY SOM

EGORO, MOSHIO,

SHlKAN AND EBIZO AT MITSUKOSHI THEATRE

FROM JULY, 1948.

Written by Tsuruya Nam Boku

To be presented at Mitsukoshi Theatre

By Ebizo, Somegoro, Shikan & Moshio July, 1948

x x x x x x x x x

Syn o p s i s :

T a m iy a -Iy em o n

c l a n , ruined him self by d i s s i p a t i o n a f t e r his master' s

f a l l .

Yotsuya-Saemon, his f a t h e r - i n - l a w , was very angr y

o f his conduct and persua ded his daughter O-Iwa to divorce

her husband.

So I yemon k i l l e d him by n i g h t .

I y emon’ s neighbour, I t o - Ki h e i , was the head

r e t a i n e r to Kono-Moronao, O-Ume, Kihei's daughter f e l l

in love with I yemon.

So Kihe i ordered his masseur

Takuetsu t o poison O-Iwa to damage her beauty.

I yemon,

h a l f from mercenary purposes and h a l f disgusted o f his

w i f e ' s d e s t r o

yed looks, caused her to die of v e x a t i o n .

Kobotoke-Koh ei, Matanojo ( an Enya r o n i n ) ' s footman;

was found by I yemon as he s t o l e a draught of Tamiya's

p ro p ri e ta ry medicine to giv e his sick c a s t e r ,

I yemon

caught him, k i l l e d h i m under the f a l s e charge

of the

improper connection with O-Iwa, and threw his body in a

S H O C H I K U

TOKAIDO-YOTSUYA-KAIDAN

K

ABUK

I PLAY IN 5

acts

cana l near by, found back: t o back w i t h O- I w a ’ s,

The s p i r i t s o f the two haunted I yemon by day and by n i g h t and c a u s e d him a m i s e r a b l e death a t l a s t .

O-Sode, O- I w a ' s s i s t e r , who had m arr ied Sa t o - Yomoshichi ( a l s o an Enya r o n i n ) , had t o l i v e s e p a r a t e d

from her husband a f t e r h i s m a s t e r ’ s f a l l . M i s t a k i n g that her husband had d i e d , she came t o l i v e with Naosuke, an e e l f i s h e r . L e a r n i n g th at Yomoshichi was a l i v e , she l e d her two husbands in her r o o m a t a t i me and was k i l l e d by

them.

In q u irin g in t o O - S o d e 's

b i r t h and p a r e n t a g e ,

Naosuke came to know t h a t she was h i s own s i s t e r , and k i l l e d h i m s e l f d i s g u s t e d o f h i s i g n o b l e mea n n e s s .

T h i s i s a gh os t drama o f the l a t e r Yedo p e r i o d . in which many t r i c k s and t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s are w i t h much s k i l l .

-A C T

I

:

(Scene I )

Campus o f Asakusa Temple.

(The shrine in the middle back stage a tooth ­

pick s h o p o n th e rig h t, w h e r e O -S o d e s its in a

y

u

k

a

t a .

Shozaburo l i e s w ith a rush-mat over him.

Fumika, a man o f fa s h io n , Hik ob ei a merchant and

Momosuke and I sh i, young men o f the neighbourhood,

s i t in O -T a k i’ s tea house.

She h e r s e lf pours tea fo r them.

The cu rta in

r i s e s .)

Hikobei:

Anothe r cu p, p le as e.

Taki:

Yes, s i r .

You s eem to be v e ry t h ir s t y .

Hiko:

Yes, I ’ v e run, so much.

Fumi:

I ’ d lik e to have a l i t t l e r e s t here.

T a k i:

P lea se do so.

Momosuke:

(N o t icing O -Sode)

Oh, when did

she come?

Look at h er, I s h i.

Is h i:

Ah, s h e's so dashing.

T

a

k

i: Oh, y e s , sh e's too good fo r a tooth

-p i c k s h o -p . S h e c a m e t h e r e y e s t e r d a y .

-2

Momo:

She's n ic e , su r e ----looks very l i k e

Tossho.

Hay, Kinokuniya ----.

I sh i:

Oh, don't tease her.

(Meantime Naosuke and Tohach i, a drug

p e d d le rs,

come

in through the stage passage.)

Tohach i:

You said w e'd crawl about.

Hongo and

w e 're here in Honjo.

How's that?

Naosuke:

Oh, I ' v

e

just got something to do

hereabo u t .

(In a p e d d le r ’ s c a llin g v o ic e . )

(They come in to the main s ta g e .)

Tak i :

Have a cup o f te a , w i l l you?

Nao & To:

Thanks.

Momo:

Give me your drug .

Is

hi:

For

me,

too.

To:

Yes , thanks.

To :

You n eed n 't qu ib b le.

I know e v ery th in g.

Y ou 're i ntim ate w ith some bad woman and

d o n 't even g i ve the sa le to Bos s .

Nao:

Oh, y o u 'r e mistaken.

I ' l l pay i t some

day.

To:

W e l l s h a ll we drink at Dai san?

Nao:

A l l r ig h t .

Momo:

Wha t i s i t for?

T

o

: I t ' s fo r h y s t e r ic s , heada ches and d i zzi

-ness.

Nao:

I t ' s from H olland, a i ds the fu nctions

o f s e c r e tin g flu id s .

Fumi:

Seems to be good.

Give me a parc e l.

Nao:

Y e s , thanks.

Hiko:

For me , to o .

To: )

Many thanks.

Nao:

Taki:

Re s t here a l i t t l e .

Nao:

You seem to be very busy. W e ' l l

r e s t a t O-Mon's .

To:

Oh, I ' l l w a it fo r you at D

a

is

a

n

, th

e

n

.

Nao:

A l l r ig h t .

I ' l l stand you 2 go and a h a lf

o f win e .

To:

I ' l l w ait fo r you th ere.

Come soon.

Nao:

A l l r ig h t .

(Tohachi

g

oes o u t.)

Nao:

(A t the to o th -p ic k s hop.)

N

a

o

: You came here y esterd a y, Miss O-Sode?

Sode:

Oh, yes.

O-Mon asked me to keep th is

shop in her p la c e .

I ' m to be c a lle d O-

Mon now a f t e

r .

4

-Nao:

Sode:

Taku:

Taki:

Fumi:

Hiko:

Taki:

Taku:

Fumi:

Nao:

Fumi:

Hiko:

Momo :

Is h i:

Momo:

Taku:

Ah, we ' re to be good fr ie n d s .

W ell,

w i l l you l e t me r e s t a l i t t l e ?

Oh, y e s.

(Takue tsu , a masseur, comes in . )

Good-day, O -Taki.

Oh, Mr. Takuetsu.

You’ ve bean wait e d fo r .

Is th ere someone s u ita b le f o r me, Takuetsu?

And fo r me?

Find them someone, w i l l you?

Of course.

We keep chambers fo r massag­

ing and moxacautery.

So I ' l l fin d you

women o f any age.

I ' l l fin d you a young

g i r l i f you order f o r le s s moxa and an

e ld e r ly one, i f you as k fo r b ig .

"Very

b ig " w i l l mean a very o ld woman.

Ah, t h a t 's we l l devised .

(Claps hands.)

What do you mean?

Oh, n othin g.

W e ll, I ’ d l i k e a b ig one.

I p r e fe r " l e s s " .

Do you keep a p r o s titu te house?

I ’ l go, to o, then.

You’ re so bad fo r a r e lig io u s man.

5

-my signboard shows a young woman cau­

t e r i z i n g the d e ity Emma w ith moxa.

I f

you pre-engage fo r ten n igh ts a month,

th a t's v ery econo m ic a l, for i t ’ s

only 1 bu 2 shu.

I f you p r e fe r b ig g e r

mox a, i t ' s so very hot y o u 'l l f e l l as

i f you were in the He l l .

Fumi:

A l l r ig h t , I ' l l engage.

Hiko :

I , to o , fo r I ' v e go t c ric k in the back.

Fumi:

W

e '11 come l a t e r again.

Taki:

We'll wait fo r you.

Taku:

This way, p l ea se.

(Fum ika and H ikobei go out ushered

by Takuetsu.

Momosuke and Ishi

fo llo w them a ft e r whispering to each

o t h e r .)

Naosuke: N

ow, Mis s O-Sode, I was footman to

Mr. Okuda Shogen, fe llo w r e t a in er o f your

fa th e r Mr. Yotsuya-Samon.

A l l the re ­

ta in e rs of Lord En y a became detached

from s e r v ic e out o f the L o r d 's f a l l .

I t ' s

nothing that I 'v e become a drug p ed d ler,

but th a t y o u s h o u ld k e e p a to o th -p ic k s h o p .

We part our l i v e s in th at way.

Sode:

Nao:

Sode :

Nao:

Nao:

Sode :

Nao:

Sode :

Nao:

Taki :

Y ou 're very kind to think so much o f me.

I t ' s more than t h a t , fo r I 'v e always

wooed you ever since I was in s e r v ic e .

Won’ t you become my w ife or m istress?

(C o ld ly )

Y o u 're fo o t man to Mr . Shogen,

my fa th e rs comrade.

I t ' s Im pertinent o f you

to woo me o nly because we ' re out o f s e r v ic e .

I t ' s too form al o f you to say such a th in g .

I 'v e got money enough, though I ' m a

drug p edd ler.

(Produces money out o f h is pock e t . )

I ' l l dress my s e l f p ro p erly i f you 'd

accept me.

I w on 't l e t you keep suc h

a shop as t h is , e it h e r .

I won't stay w ith a man I d i s l ik e ,

even i f in a p a la ce.

You mean to put me t o shame saying

such a thing?

(Take s her by the s l e e v e . )

Oh, d o n 't.

(R e t ir e s from s t a g e . )

(fo llo w in g her w ith h is e y e s .)

She ' s

so stubborn.

( G o i n g the tea-house . )

Give me a cup of tea .

Oh, yes.

We l l , Mr. Tohachi, your fr ie n d

c a lle d you Naosuke j ust now.

Which's

your r e a l name?

-7

N

a

o

: Oh, Tohach i i s the nam e of the boss o f

us drug peddlers.

Mine is Naosuke.

Tak i:

Ah, I see.

I t ' s f o o lis h o f you to woo

her so, fo r she i s t o b e engaged f o r a

n ight any tim e you lik e .

Nao:

Why.

Taki:

Hush.

(Whispers in h is ea r . )

Nao:

Ah, that i s s o ----she look s so seriou s,

th ough.

Taki :

She’ s very hard up.

N

a

o

: C a ll her in th is very n ig h t.

Taki:

B ut you can’ t said t o be well- d r e s s e d .

N

a

o

: I ’ l l manage i t .

(R e tir e s from s ta g e .)

T a k i:

I ' l l p u ll some w a t e r now.

(R e t ir e s in t o t h e l e f t . )

(Tsuburoku, Untetsu and Meda-

hach i , a l l b e g g e rs , and Doro-

hach i , a mendicant p r i e s t , come

in p u llin g Yotsuya-Samon, a ronin.

Tamiya I- y e mon fo llo w s them a f t e r

a tim e.)

Beggers:

Come, old man.

Tsuburoku:

So audacious o f h im.

They

say he took a c o m is s io n from p r o fe ­

ssion a l beggers.

Beg gers:

Le t 's p u l l h i m o f f .

(They come in t o the main s ta g e .)

Torota:

I d on 't know who you a r e , old man,

but i t ' s our custom to come to an under­

standing f i r s t .

Medahachi :

I t

' s

so s i l l y o f you, when y o u 're

so o ld .

U ntetsu:

E v e n th e c ric k e ts have g ot in t e r ­

courses.

Tsubu:

Who, did you n e g o tia te b e fo re begging

in th is campus?

Doro:

L e t ' s j ust t a ke him to the boss.

A l l :

That's i t .

(They shake Samon.)

Samon:

A l l r i g h t , do what you l i k e , fo r i t

was bad o f me to have distu rbed your

custom.

Meda:

What he does i s qu ite a g a in st ord er.

Un:

L e t 's take a l l h is c lo th e s .

Al l :

T h a t's i t .

(They s t r ik e Samon, when Iyemon

t r i e s to stop them.

K ih e i, O- Ume , Bisen and O-Maki

come in and look a t them.)

-9

Iyemon:

Wai t a min u te , p lease.

Samon:

(N o tic in g Iyemon)

Why, y o u ' r e ---.

Tsubu:

He m

a y be y our fr ie n d , s i r , but he

has i nterrupted with our ocu p a tion.

Doro:

Disturbed the order.

Un:

Don't mind I f th is gentleman knows him.

Beggars:

We needn 't mind, o f c ourse.

I ye:

Walt a minute, I say.

W e ll, he i sn' t

my fr ie n d exact l y , b u t ----oh, yes,

I was on my way to the Kannon temple

found you tea sin g t h is old man.

I t

seems that he knows he is to blame , f o r

he d oesn 't r e s is t a t a l l .

He understand

What you say then.

I t ' s rath er p i t t y ,

f o r he is so

o ld .

Excuse him, p le a s e , I

pray you.

Tsubu:

But, a w arrior ca n 't know what beggars'

customs a r e . W e 'r e to take h i s alms

and c lo th es.

A l l :

T h a t's the custom.

Iy e :

T h a t's q u ite reasonable.

I ’ l l g iv e

you some money, so take i t and be con­

10

-Samon:

0h, d on 't do th a t.

Ie :

Leave i t a l l to me now.

Tsubu:

Folks, h e 's giv e n 1 shu f o r us each.

Beggars:

Many thanks.

Un:

Y ou 're an e x c e lle n t judge, si r .

Doro:

Shall we

have cup a t Ben ten y a m

a

Meda:

B efore oth ers j oin us?

Beggars:

Quite w e ll.

Thanks, s i r .

(They r e t i r e f r om s ta g e . )

Samon:

(Looking round h im s e lf)

I'm q u ite

hard up as you must see.

I'm so

g r a t e fu l f o r your kindness j ust now.

I ' l l retu rn i t tomorrow w ithout f a i l .

(About to g o .)

I ye:

Wa i t a l i t t l e , i f you p lea se .

(Taking Samon by the hand.)

n

D on't say such a th in g , p le a s e.

My

w i f e 's fa th e r is

fa th e r to

me,

even

i f I 'v e bee n separated from O-Iw a.

Samon:

I wished to re fu s e the o ffe r e d money

fo r I knew you 'd say so.

Iy e :

Why , please?

Samon:

O h , w e 'r e just a strangers now th a t

you 've been divorced.

1 1

-I y e :

Samon:

I y e :

Samon:

I y e:

Samon:

I ye:

Mr. Samon, why won't you l e t O-Iwa

return to m e? We a r e n 't disgusted o f

each other a t a l l . M oreover, she ex-

pec t s a baby , you know.

What has d is ­

pleased you?

Ask i t o f y o u r s e lf. O - Iw a w a s bad,

o f course, to have m arried you o f her

o wn accord , without my consent.

Though

I l e t her go her own way th at tim e,

I c a n 't bear you now.

Why ?

The reason is th is : i t was when my

lo r d prospered.

Some money was lo s t

from the pu blic money.

I knew w e ll

who s to le i t , but I d id n 't say

any-th in g .

The unfortu n e came soon a n d

the search w as given up.

But,

anyway, I c a n 't have my daughter

married to a t h i e f .

Oh, shut up! Have you g o t any p roof?

Don't d ig your own grave, s i r .

E very p ie ce o f the money you

sent to my daughter beared my l o r d 's

s e a l.

Samon:

I ye:

Samon:

I ye:

Samon:

I ye:

Samon

I ye:

I d id n 't say anything about i t fo r

O- I wa ' s sake, but I returned fo r I w a's

sake, but I returned a l l the sum to you.

Oh, I t was the a llo tm en t.

D o n 't l i e .

What f o r d id you

r e c e iv e an allotm ent when the c la n

w asn't y e t broken up?

W e l l ----.

You ca n 't j u s t i f y y o u r s e lf.

T h a t's

why I w on't l e t O-Iw a go back to you.

I s th at the la s t answer?

I t ’ s no use d is p u tin g any more.

W e ll, I ' l l go home.

(Samon g o e s o u t .)

( Follow ing Samon with his eyes)

He has n o t i ced o f my crime.

I ca n 't

hav e him l i v e on.

Oh, y e s , I ' l l

fo llo w him and----.

( H u rrie s o u t.)

(K ih e i, O-Ume, O-Maki and Bisen

com

e

in and fo llo w I y emon w

it h

th e ir eyes . )

-K ihei :

He seems not to be f a i t h f u l to the

E n 'y a c la n .

I t ' l l be convenient fo r

knowing the circumstances o f the

Enya ronins i f we take him in and r e -

commend him to L ord Kono.

Maki:

I t ' l l do g ood fo r Miss O-Ume's

d isea se, too .

Ume:

How

I lo n g f or him.

K ih ei :

Eh?

( O-Ume hides her f a c e . )

Shosaburo:

(W ho has appeared into stage an d

watch e d .) W i l l you g iv e me some money?

Ki h ei:

Give him something.

Footman:

(G iving Shosaburo a l i t t l e money)

Here you a re .

Sho:

Oh, thanks.

Congratulate you on your

prosperi ty .

K ihei :

What p ro s p e rity ?

Sho:

I hear th at your m a s te r's mansion i s

to be changed.

H

e 's to be promoted,

is n ’ t h e? W here is he t o move?

Kihei :

What do you a beggar ask i t fo r ?

A

n

d

do you know who my master is ?

-Sho:

K ih e i:

Sho:

Bi s en:

Oh,

I d o n 't, s i r .

But I envy him h is

good fortu n e.

I t ' s admirable o f you to con gratu late

my master h is good fo r tu ne .

I ’ l l

t e l l you about i t , then,

My mas te r

i s Lord Kono, f i r s t r e t a in e r o f the

Shogun’ s cou rt.

He is to move to

Katsushika, beyond Hanamizubashi,

where h e 's to g et a new manor and

b u ild a new mansion.

He prospers

very much and a l l h i s r e t a in e r s are

to have th e ir f i e f added.

That's t o be his town house, i sn 't

i t Katsushika, beyond Hanamiz u

-bashi?

(While lis t e n in g to Ki h e i ' s words,

he has th rown the a lms he got

from Ki h e i .

He has done i t in

.

sec r e t , but has been found by

B is e n .)

You im pertinent beggar, what f o r do

you throw the money y o u 've got?

-Sho:

Ki h ei:

Bisen:

K ih e i:

Sho:

B isen:

Sho:

- 15-

Oh, no, I don' t .

Thrown the money I ' v e given ?

Ah?

I s e e . H e 's o f t h e E n y a c la n a n d h a s

in qu ired me o f Lord K o y a 's r e s i dence

w it h t h e in te n tio n

to shadow him.

L e t's p u ll h im to th e m a n s io n a n d

have him out w ith a l l by to r tu r in g

him.

(Shos aburo knocks B isen down a f t e r

a l i t t l e f i g h t . )

H e's too

g

ood fo r a beggar.

I'm not born a beggar, o f course, and

ha v e b e e n fond o f wr e s t l i n g .

I t 's

my weak p oin t.

I 'v e been turned out

o f my house because o f a q u a rre l, and

so h a ve become a beg gar.

I won't

be c ut and tortu red .

(A fig h t in g scene, during wh i ch

Shosaburo drops the c ir c u la r

l e t t e r . )

(P ic k in g it up)

This i s a c irc u la r

o f the conspiracy gang.

16

-(Shosaburo t r i e s to g et i t back.

Bisen runs into the stage passage

w ith i t in his hand Yomoshichi

Sato, dressed lik e a p e d d le r,

comes into the stage passage,

Snatches the l e t t e r from Bisen

and comes in to the main s ta g e .)

Bison:

(F o llo w in g Shosaburo into the main

stage)

Give i t back t o me, merchant.

Sho:

(T o Yomoshichi)

Why, you’ re Sato.

Yamo:

You mad beggar.

Bi s e n :

Oh, he i s n 't mad a t a l l .

He asked

where the new mansion o f Lord Kono

is to be.

He mus t be an Enya roni n.

So I ----.

Yomo:

Then y o u 're — .

Bi sen:

This gentleman i s Mr . I t o - K i h e i ,

Lord Kono's f i r s t r e t a in e r .

Yomo:

So he i s .

Bisen:

We ' l l ju s t p u ll him w ith us and

to rtu re him.

Yomo:

You d o n 't say so.

What f o r i s i t ?

K ih e i:

W

hat?

Yomo:

His lord may have been k i l l e d o f

f a u lt , but his fa m ily i s not to be

broken o f f because o f th a t.

-- 17

-Yomo:

Bisen:

Yomo:

Sho:

Yomo:

B isen:

K ih ei:

Yomo:

Bis e n :

Yomo:

K ih e i:

B

is

e

n

: But why did you ta k e the l e t t e r

I ca rried ?

( Showing him some t o ile t - p a p e r )

Do

you mean th is?

I took i t because I

t h o ugh t you were g i v i n g a d v e r t i s i n g

bi l l s .

E

xcuse me, ple a s e.

I t is not t h is .

I mean the c ir c u la r

I took from th is beggar.

I know nothin g about i t .

I think

y o u 'r e mistaken.

Now, mad begga r,

did you drop a c irc u la r?

Oh, i t was j ust t o i l e t paper.

He says so.

You seem to be a l i t t l e

out of your w it , to o , Doc t o r .

Don't fo o l me .

Bu t ----.

Al l r ig h t , d o n 't mind.

They can

do no harm at a l l .

Excuse him, fo r h e 's q u ite mad.

You p a tr o n ize him too much.

You

must be also

What ?

Oh, le a v e him, Bi sen.

H e's

mad.

- 18

-Yomo:

Sho:

Ma k i :

Ume:

K i h e i :

B isen:

Yom o :

Ki h e i :

U

m

e

:

K ih e i:

Maki:

Yomo:

Oh, thanks.

Go to the f i e l d s , mad

beggar.

Thanks, gentlemen.

(Yomoshi ch i signs and l e t s Sho-

saburo knows that the c ir c u la r

i s i n his pack e t .

Shosaburo goes

o u t . )

Oh, I

was so a fr a id .

Yes.

S h all we go now?

Sorry t o have kept you w a itin g .

Take the p a la n q u in , O-Ume.

Sha l l we go?

Fare you we ll, g e n t le m e n .

W e ll, about th at r o n i n , ---- .

How I do wish to see him again.

D o y o u ? S o d o I.

S h a ll we go?

(K ih e i, O-Ume, O -M a k i, Bisen

and the footman go o u t.)

(L e f t alone and loo k in g at the

c ir c u la r .)

I t was a narrow escape.

(O- I r o , the masseur Takuetsu' s

w ife , com es in. )

19

-Yomo:

W

i l l a t ea house prosper i f a man

keeps i t ?

I r o :

Wh y , Yomoshichi .

Y ou 're a re g u la r

l a d y - k i l l e r .

—

Well, th e r e 's a

splendid woman.

Yomo:

I 'v e heard o f her.

I s s h e s o p re tty ?

I r o :

Y es , s h e 's t h e r e . ( P o i n t s to the

to o th -p ick sh o p .)

Yomo:

In O-Mo n 's shop?

I r o:

O-Mon

is

ill a n d a s k e d her to take

her p lace.

They s a y s h e 's v e r y poor.

Yomo:

She l o o ks lik e Tosso, they say.

I r o

:

Very much

.

And s h e 's s o g e n tle and

has se rv ed at a w a r r io r 's house.

Yomo:

Good.

And w h a t's her name.

Ir o :

I don' t know.

But s h e 's to be O-Mon

now.

Yomo:

I se e.

W ill s h e b e e n g a g e d fo r to

-night?

I r o :

Of course.

Yomo:

That's

g o od.

(Thinks f o r a w

h

ile

.)

(To h im self) But, about Okuda's son

(Sho s a b u r o )----.

Ir o :

Oh,t h e b a r r D a im it s u is b e t t e r t h a n

the ba rr Okuda.

Yomo:

To become a beggar ( Kono-Kaburi ) .

even i f f or h is

master.

I r o :

You c an’ t drink a b a r r e l (komokaburi) .

5 g

o

i s enough.

Yomo:

He mus t have met much trou b le.

I r o :

Oh, i t ' s the wo rld o f pains.

( h e l l ; p r o s t it u t e house.)

Yomo:

O h , y o u 'r e s o fu n n y , O - Ir o

(The stage goes round.)

20

-SCEN E I I .

Takuetsu' s House.

(A " H e ll Inn" , or a b ro th e l o f v e ry low c la s s .

Ragged screens, broken doors, e t c .

Two signboards over

the doorway, one bearing a fig u re o f Emma c a u te r iz ing

the skin w ith moxa, the other hearing the l e t t e r s "employment

agency".

Lanterns, mats, e t c . , in the room.)

(As the cu rtain opens, Yomoshichi comes in to

s ta g e ushered by O- I r o .

Soon Shota, son o f the wine d ealer

Daim itsu , a ls o comes i n . )

I r o :

W

here are you goin g, Shota?

Shota:

To your house.

I r o :

Who to ld you to?

Shota:

Mrs. Gakudo

I r o :

Hand i t to me.

Sho t a :

Oh, I ' l l hand i t to the one who ordered i t .

I r o :

I ' l l pay f o r i t .

Shota:

I t ' s been paid f o r , a lre a d y .

We w on't c a rry

our th ings to your house i f not paid fo r

b e fo re .

I r o :

Don’ t say t hat b e fo re my gu est.

Shota:

I ' l l ac company you to your house, a ft e r a l l .

Shota:

W e ll, I ' l l go now.

(Puts the b o t t le on the

f l o o r .

( Fumika, Hikobei and the p ro s titu e O-Dai

come in q u a rr e llin g w ith one another.

2

-O -D a i's eye-brows have fa lle n o f f and she

wears a wig ov e r her bald head.

Soon

Takuetsu f o l l o ws them.)

D a i:

Oh, catch them, p lea se, my boy.

Shota:

O.K,

( catches them.)

Dai:

They wouldn’ t pay t h e ir b i l l .

Shota:

I t ’ s bad o f you, men.

F

umi & H ik o ):

But sh e's so u gly

Shota:

Oh, you bo th shared your bed w ith her knowing

how she look ed .

You two s h a ll be howled by

howled by ch ild ren whenever you come near her e ,

i f you won’ t pay your b i l l .

Fumi:

That’ s too bad.

Shota:

W

e’ l l create a bad rep u ta tio n , making a

mountain out o f a m o le h ill.

Fumi & H iko) :

A l l r ig h t , a l l r ig h t , we’ l l pay.

(p a y)

Sho:

Hum.

Y o u 'l l b e excused.

Fumi & H ik o ):

I t ’ s as i f w e've been peeled out o f our

c lo th e s by the r i v e r Sanzu.

(A r iv e r supposed

to be in the Buduhist He l l . )

(The two escape from s t a g e .)

Dai:

Thanks, my boy.

Give me the money.

Shota:

Yes.

But, lo ok th e re .

Shota:

D ai:

I r o :

Taku:

I r a :

Yomo:

Taku:

Yomo:

I r o :

Taku:

I r o :

Taku:

I r o :

Taku:

Yomo:

I r o :

Sode

I r o :

3

-Y ou f o o l .

( Runs o f f w ith the money. )

Why, boy, rob ber --- (Runs a f t e r the

bo y . )

How n o is y .

He has run o f f without paying h is b i l l .

Too bad.

But I ' v e brought a good guest

f o r you. Step in , s i r .

Excuse me.

Welcome, s i r .

Thanks.

I ’m ra th er in a hurry.

I s O-Mon here?

Y es.

That’ s n ic e .

C a ll her i n .

He won’ t run o f f w ithout p aying?

Of course n o t.

A l l r i g h t .

I ’ l l brin g h e r.

(He goes out.

O -Iro c a r r ie s the la n tern

behind the screen .

I t becomes darker. )

Why, i t ' s so dark.

I t ' s the " H e l l " ,

you know.

(coming i n ) :

I t c a n 't be helped, I ’m a f r a i d .

Your gu est i s a gentleman, you know.

Be p o lit e to him.

Yes, thanks.

Sode :

4

-I r o :

Sode

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

So de:

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

Sode :

Yomo:

Sode:

Good-bye, s i r .

(O -Iro pushes O-Sode to Yomosh ic h i' s bed

and goes o u t.)

( approaching him t i m i d l y ) : Are you a sleep s ir ?

Of course n o t.

I ' d stay home to go to

s le e p a lo n e. We l l , come h e re .

Yes, s i r .

Don' t h e s it a t e .

I t ' s so dark I can’ t see

you.

I ’ l l bring the lig h t n ea rer.

Oh please don't.

Bashful?

He y ,

(Takes her hand.)

I ’ ve got something to ask o f you.

W e ll, w h a t’ s that?

I t ' s too much to ask i t o f you, but

r e lie v e me from going to bed wi t h you,

f o r I ’ l l t e l l you why I ’ ve come in to

th is p ro fe s s io n .

I don’ t understand a b i t . Just go on.

W e ll, i t ’ s a d isgra ce f o r me to t e l l you

t h is , but I ' m o f a samurai fa m ily by b ir t h .

My fa th e r has been detached o f h i s s e rv ic e

and my e l der s is t e r who i s pregnant o f a

baby

has been d iv o rc e d .

We’ ve always been

poor, o f course, but e ver sin ce she came

back t o l i v e w ith us, we’ re so hard up

5

-Yomo :

Sode :

Yomo:

Sode :

Yok o:

Sode:

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

Sode:

th at I work a t a tooth pick shop in day and

work here a t n ig h t.

I always ask my guests

to overlook m e, t e l l i n g them t h is s t o r y .

I t 's too bad that you should have to do such

a th in g as t h is fo r your fa th e r .

But, why

don' t you become a p ro s titu e o f h igh er c la s s

in Yoshiwara?

I can’ t , fo r my fa th e r and s is t e r d o n 't know

t h is .

You’ re so kind to them.

I ' ve become more

touched than e v e r .

Now, l i s t e n . Some o f your

guests may g e t angry at your request .

You’ d

b e tte r become a mi s tre s s o f some b ig segnor.

I won’ t ask you to r e l i e v e me , i f I could do

th a t.

Are you engaged to someone, to refu se t o

g i v e y o u rs e lf?

No t e x a c t ly .

You needn’ t hav e refu sed me, then.

Excuse me, p le a s e .

Oh, i t 's not so bad as you suppose.

(Takes her hand.)

Oh, please don’ t . (As she moves o f f , t he

screen f a l l s and they s i t fa c e t o fa ce in

the l i g h t o f the la n te rn .

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

- 6 -

Why, y o u 're my w ife .

And you, Yomoshichi.

How I f e e l Shameful.

Now, O-Sode. You'v e fo r g o tte n a l l about me

and do such a th in g only because I have n 't

w r itte n to you since my lo r d 's f a l l .

I t ' s

d is g u s tin g o f you to hav e entered in to such

l i f e o f lu s t , when y o u 'v e g o t a husband.

I t ' s reasonable o f you to be angry w ith me,

but i t ' s not out o f lu s t that I do t h is .

I t ' s on ly f o r my fa th e r , f o r he has l o s t h is

p o s itio n fo r my l o r d 's f a l l .

You've been s o

cru e l and hav e n 't e v en sent a l e t t e r .

But

I ' v e always stayed f a ith fu l to you through many

tr o u b le s . I t ' s been f o r the wish o f seein g

you again that I 'v e kept m yself ch aste.

I am

to res e n t you, f o r you came here and t r ie d to

l i e w ith me, without knowing that I was y our

w i f e .

You 'v e g o t time enough to en joy y o u r s e lf in

these p la c e s , but have no time to w r ite a

l e t t e r to y our w if e .

Oh, i t ' s too much.

Ah, I 'm s o sorry f o r th at, you must hav e had

a bad time o f i t .

W ell, I o fte n wishe

d to

w rite to you, but ---

7

-Sode:

Oh, I d o n 't resen t you fo r not w r itin g

l e t t e r s , fo r I know a l l your revenge plan

and

---Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo:

Sod e:

Oh, d o n 't say that l*m a peddler and fa r

from revenging.

You think that women are not t o be r e lie d

upon, but I know that i t ' s a l l a t r ic k that

y ou make merry

---T rick s and enemies are f a r from me now.

Now, O-Sode, l e t ’ s have a good t i me to geth er

a f t e r a lon g time o f absence.

I t was c a re le s s of me

w e ll, I ' m glad y o u 're

w e ll.

I r o (coming i n ) :

L e t me have a t i p , i f i t ' s been s e t t le d .

Yomo (ta k in g some money out o f h is p u rs e .) :

I t ' l l be

amusing t o g iv e t ip s fo r my own w if e .

Oh,

w h ere's the wine I 'v e ordered?

I r o :

Just th ere . We l l , have a good tim e.

(Goes out)

Yomo:

Have a cup, w i f e .

Sode:

Oh, y ou speak q u ite lik e a merchant.

Yomo:

Oh, d on 't be so old -fa s h io n e d .

(Meantime Naosuke has opened the s h o ji

on the r ig h t and eavesdropped)

8

-Yomo:

D on't be so p a r tic u la r .

(D rin k s .)

Sode:

You've been to other b ro th ers, h a ven 't

you?

Yomo :

Oh, no. I came here because you we re h e re .

Sode:

Did you know i t , then?

Yomo:

No t e x a c t ly .

W ell - - d o n 't be so p a r tic u la r .

Now, O-Sode, you 've met many men.

You must

have given y o u r s e lf to some o f them.

Sode:

I sw ear I havent.

You know how I refu se

my gu ests.

Yomo:

You refused me because you knew me.

Sode:

Of course n o t.

Yomo:

You 've become s k i l f u l in wheedling.

Y o u 'l l have your tongue taken by Emma when

you d ie .

(Buddhist punishment f o r ly in g )

Sode:

Oh, d o n 't be a fr a id o f i t , fo r I 'v e s u ffe re d

the H e ll here in th is w orld .

Yomo:

Surely you have.

I t ' s m eeting the Buddha

in the H e l l that I found you h e re .

Sode:

L e t 's never p art from each other even in

the next w orld .

Yomo & Sode) :

How happy we are to see each other again .

(They embrace. Yomosh ic h i takes O-Sode's

purse ou t o f her pocket, and O-Sode, the

c ir c u la r out o f h i s . )

Yomo:

Sode:

Yomo

Sode :

Taku:

I r o :

Nao:

Taku

Nao:

I r o :

Nao:

I r o :

Nao:

How i s i t that you 've got so much money

when you' v e said you' re poor?

Oh, a c ir c u la r .

(sn atch in g the l e t t e r ) :

I won’ t hav e i t read e v en by

my w if e .

And how about the money.

Wel l , i t i s - - - Oh, l e t ’ s ta lk in bed .

(O-Sode c ir c u la t e the bed w ith screen s.

Naosuke peeps in to the screens and then

c la p s h is hands a n g r ily , Takuetsu and O -Iro

come i n . )

P lease be q u ie t, s i r .

I t ’ s l a t e , you know.

Shut up.

Y ou 're planned a doubled d e a lin g .

D on't speak so lou d ly , p lea se. W hen did we

do that?

The g i r l I engaged l i e s here behind the

screen s.

Oh, she i s n ' t monopolized

What? Then she i s a sw indler and y o u 're

accom plices.

Have you got any proof?

The p ro o f i s that the man ly in g in there i s

a ls o a robber.

(As he speaks and r o a r s , Yomoshichi and

O-Sode come out from behind the s c re e n s .)

-10

Yomo:

Nao:

Tomo:

Nao:

Yomo:

N

a

o:

Yomo:

Nao:

Yomo:

Nao:

W

hom do you c a l l robbers?

Oh, ju s t you two.

Why, i t seems I 'v e seen you b e fo r e .

Sur e ly you have, fo r I was footman to Mr.

Okuda, your fe llo w r e t a in e r .

I'm now a

drug p edd ler c a lle d Tohachi.

I t ' s to put

me to shame to in te rru p t me when I've given

a l l my earnings to t h is woman.

Why, then, was that money ---?

I gave my purse w ith a l l i t s contents in

her keeping, hoping s h e 'l l li s t e n to me

sooner or l a t e r .

Moreover, you c a l l her

your w ife and have drunk my w ine.

Ha, I 'm

q u ite mad w ith an ger.

I t i s n 't enough to c a ll

you ro b b e rs .

I ' l l excuse you, however, i f

y o u 'l l g iv e her e q u a lly to me. (Leans

a g a in st O-Sode.)

Oh, never.

She's a w a r r io r 's w ife and

sh an 't la y w ith another man f o r money.

A w a rrior? No , y o u 're a ronin and a fancy

goods p edd ler.

Why.

You c a l l her your w ife , but who stood as

the go-between? You may have married each

other w ith your own accord, but sh e 's a

- 11

-Yomo:

Nao:

Yomo:

Nao:

Yomo

Nao:

Yomo:

Sode

Sode:

Nao:

Sode:

hav e sent your w ife to th is kind o f a place?

W

e l l

---Or, can you support her fa th er?

B u t

---You can’ t , you see.

I remain kind to her

and o f f e r to g iv e e x tra money to support

her fa t h e r .

I t ’ s s i l l y o f her to p re fe r

a good -for-n o th in g ron in .

Just g i ve me

back my money i f you d o n 't want any money.

(m o r t ifie d ):

I ’ ve saved some money, o f course,

but i t ’ s the apportionment and I can’ t use

i t f o r my p riv a te use.

Why?

No, I c a n 't .

(producing the b e fo r e -s a id purse out o f her p o c k e t):

Here’ s the money,

(Throws the money to

Naosuke. )

Y o u 're contented now, a ren ’ t you?

I w on't grumble, anyway.

You spoke ve ry k in d ly and gave i t to me.

I t was my fa u lt that I kept i t w ith me

even fo r a tim e.

But i t ' s too much o f

you to c a l l us robbers and s o o n . I 'm so

g la d y o u 'l l never woo me

d e te sta b le way.

12

-Nao:

Oh , you hate me so much?

Sode:

Oh . I o b je c t even to lo o k in g a t you.

Tohachi (coming i n ) :

Where can Naosuke be?

Nao:

Here about, I th ink.

(A t the door) Good even in g.

(Opening the door ) Ah, here he i s .

Why, you’ re ---

(About to escape. )

To:

I thought you were h ere.

I t ' s very audacious

o f you to have indulged in th is s o rt o f l i f e

without even paying your commission to our

b oss.

Nao:

I ’m not so bad.

I ' l l pay a l l my dues tomorrow.

To:

What f o r are you h ere, then?

Nao:

W e ll, I 'm here - - - w e ll, my shoulders

ache, so I ' ve come to have c a u te r iz ed w ith

moxa.

I r o :

Su rely he has.

Taku:

H ere’ s the m

oxa.

L e t me c a u te r ize you a t on ce.

Nao:

Oh, you needn’ t

To:

This i s a b ro th el a f t e r a l l .

Nao:

Oh no.

(Takes o f f h is c lo th e s over the

shoulders.

I r o :

H ere. ( c a u t e r ize s )

Nao:

How h o t.

I t ’ s enough.

To:

I s your moxa so good as to have a f f e c t s on ly

with one c a u te riz in g ? Now, I am to take the

s a le and the remaining drugs.

- 13

-Nao:

To:

To:

Nao:

To:

Taku:

Nao:

Taku:

Yomosh ich i

Sode:

I ' l l take i t tomorrow.

Our boss sa id that you m ustn't never v i s i t

h im a gain . He t o ld me to take the sale from

you.

(Naosuke produces h is purse out o f h is p o c k e t.)

There.

And g iv e me your c lo th e s , too.

My c lo th e s , too?

The boss has given i t to you. You need n 't

wear a h a ori to have your shoulders c a u te riz e d .

(Takes o f f a l l Naosuke's th in g s . )

(A t the d oor) Sorry to have disturbed you.

Oh, he c a n 't pay us h is t i p , then.

Oh, I needn't pay, fo r I 'v e got the m itte n .

See what you d eserve, Naosuke.

(who has observed a l l ) :

He was w e ll-d re s s e d and

looked to be qu ite r ic h , though he r e a lly

was poor.

I t was a l l h is b o s s 's th in gs.

I f he could use h is b o s s 's money, a l l the

sa fe-k eep ers are m illio n a ire s .

He c a lle d us

rob b ers, and he proved to be one h im s e lf.

I t was lucky o f me not to have taken h is

money.

14

Taku:

Oh, d on 't s i t in my house naked.

I r o :

Go out a t once.

Nao:

Oh, I ' m g oin g.

What a shame.

Yomo:

He d o e s n 't much mind h is shame and d o esn 't

even pay fo r the moxa.

Sode:

As fo r us, l e t ' s go hand i n hand.

Taku:

W e 'll lend you a la n te rn .

Y omo:

This i s fo r the la n te rn .

(G ives them 2 shu.

I r o :

Oh, thank you.

Yomo:

Mind what he does in your house.

Taku:

W e 'll j u st turn him out a t

once-I r o :

He r e 's the la n te rn .

Sode:

Now, my dear.

Yomo:

L e t 's have a good time to g e th e r.

Nao:

You needn't d is p la y so much.

Yomo:

Do you envy me?

Nao:

Oh, no. (To h im s e lf) I ' l l ju s t f ollo w th

e

m

.

Sode & Yomo): L e t 's have a good t a lk .

Nao:

The la n tern w i l l be the mark.

Taku (t o Naosu k e):

Go out a t once.

(The married couple go out embracing

each o th e r .

The cu rta in f a l l s w ith the

sound o f wooden c la p p e rs . )

15

Scene I I I

In the Fie l d s near Asakusa.

(The f i e l d s behind the Kannon temple.

A stra w -ric k and a s t one J iz o on the r ig h t hand.

Shosaburo prays in s ile n t m e d ita tio n .

Soon he fin is h e s

praying and looks round. )

Shosaburo:

About noon today I dropped the c ir c u la r

l e t t e r in the Kannon campus. And Mr.

Yomoshichi happened to pass by and seemed

to have picked i t up.

I wish to hear what’ s

happened to the l e t t e r .

(Yomoshichi comes in w ith a lig h te d

la n t e r n .)

Yomo:

Shosaburo must be hereabouts.

Sho:

Is th at you, Mr . Yomoshichi?

Yomo:

I ' v e searched you fo r a lon g tim e.

You must be more ca r e fu l, how ever young

you may be.

Your conduct th is aftern oon

would hav e l e t the Kono r e t a in e r suspect

who you r e a l l y were, i f I hadn't passed by.

Sho :

Thank you fo r your kind a d v ic e .

And how about the c ir c u la r I dropped?

Yomo:

I picked i t up.

I ' l l take i t a t once to

Yamashina through Kama

kura and urge the

people there to g e t ready.

Sh o:

Yomo:

Sho:

Y

o

m

o

:

Sho:

Y

o

m

o

:

S

h

o:

Iy e :

Why, you must be very c a r t fu l in Kamakura,

so you

'd

b

etter change cloth es with me.

T h a t 'll b e g o o d . A n d you’ l l do

the lia is o n work in E d o . W e ll,

s h a ll we change c lothes?

(T h e y c h a n g e c lo th e s .)

And this lantern?

O h , a b e gg a r d o es n 't n e ed o n e .

Take i t with you, p le a s e .

See you again , Mr . Yomoshich i.

Fare y o u w e ll. (Goes out clothed in the s tr a w .)

Now I f e e l at ease.

But i t ’ l l be troublesome

i f my fe llo w b eggars see me i n

th is su it of

c lo th e s .

N o w I 'l l g o o f f here a t once.

(G o e s o u t.)

(Sam on com es hu rrying in through the

s ta g e p a s s a g e . Iy e m o n fo llo w s h im .)

W a i t a m i n u t e , p l e a s e

M

P

lea se g ive me back O-Iw a, f o r she expects a baby.

r

.

S

a

m

o

n

.

(Samon walks on, ignoring Iyemon.)

I t ’ s i mp o lit e o f you to go on without answerin g me.

16

-S

a

m

o

n

:

Iy

e

:

Iye:

Samon:

I y e :

Nao:

Oh, do you know what the word im p o lite

means?

I gave my daughter to you and then

g ot her back from you because I got disgusted

#

o f you.

I won’ t g iv e O-Iwa back to you.

T h a t 's q u it e s e t t le d .

R ea lly a n d tru ly?

Samon: Really and truly.

You' re a stranger to m e now.

I announce I w i l l k i l l you without f a i l .

I won’ t be k ille d by you, f o r I'm Yotsuya-Samon,

old as I've grown.

I w on't l e t you continue your words.

( Iyemon g iv e s Samon a cut.

A fig h t in g scene.

Samon entrenches h im self behind the s to ne

Buddha. Soon Iyemon stabs Samon.

They g o out in to the r ig h t while f i g h t i n g .

Af t e r a pause, Shosaburo Sato comes clad in

Yomoshichi's clothes. Naosuke follows him

in to s ta ge and, taking him f o r Yomoshichi,

k i l l h

i

m

w i t h h i s d a g g e r . )

Y

o

u’ re my r i v a l i n lo v e , Yomoshichi.

(Giv e s a coup de grac e.

Then he hides his dagger

b eh in d a h ed ge.)

(Soon Samon comes i n wounded and stained with blood.

Iyemon fo llo w s him and g iv e s him a coup de g r a c e .)

-18

Iye:

Nao (staring

S o d e : Iwa (Noticing H e 's s u c h a s t u b b o r n o l d m a n . It serves him right.

a t I y e m o n t h r o u g h t h e d a r k ) :

Oh, you're Mr. Tamiya.

A n d y o u 'r e N a o s u k e , O k u d a 's f o o t m a n .

I ' v e k i l l e d Sa t o - Yomoshichi, my r i v a l in lov e . I was f or c ed to k i l l Samon, my wi f e ’ s f a t h e r ,

f o r he deprived me of my w i f e and got

the wind of m y h a v i n g s t o l e t h e p u b l i c m o n e y . We've done just the same thing.

I t ' s a s t r a n g e c o i n c i d e n c e .

(T hey both hide themselves behind a t r e e , when O- I wa, I yemon's w i f e , comes in through

t h e s t a g e p a s s a g e . )

I t ' s so l a t e . Why f a t h e r hasn’ t come

back y e t ? I f e e l so uneasy, f o r h e ' s very o l d . Where can he be by now?

(When she r e a c h e s the main s t a g e ,

O-Sode c omes in from the l e f t with a l i t t l e la n t e r n a n d r u s h e s a g a i n s t O -I w a .)

Oh, excuse me. I was in such a hurry. O - S o d e ): W h y , y o u 'r e O - S o d e

A

I y e : N a o : Iw a : N ao:

Iy

e

:

Iy

e

:

19

Sode

Iwa:

Sode

Iwa:

Sode

Both

Iwa: Sode: Both Iw a:

Oh, s i s t e r .

W e l l , I happened to meet Yomosh i c h i

my f i a n c e .

Bu t, as he’ s gone somewhere

a f t e r t a l k i n g with me f o r a w h ile ,

I ’ m looking

f o r h i m. I

f e e l such

a f l a t t e r about him.

Oh, do you?

I ’ m looking f o r f a t h e r and I also f e e l

very uneasy.

I wish nothing w i l l happen.

(looking round):

A gloomy plac e,

i s n ’ t i t ? ----Oh, much blood.

(Soon O-Iwa fin d s Samon’ s body and O- Sode,

S h o s a b u r o ' s . )

W

hy, f a t h e r --- .

A

n

d

this is Yomosh i c h i ’ s c l o t h e s .

What s h a l l we do? (W eep .)

( I yemon and Naosuke appear from behind the t r e e . )

Oh , f a t h e r , f a t h e r .

Cheer up and t e l l me.

Who’ s your enemy?

My f a t h e r and my husband have died at a t i m e .

I t ' s such a p i t y ---.

That they should have died without e ven

l e a v i n g p a rti n g words.

I y e :

(The two women weep; when I yemon and Naosuke

approach them with big sounds of steps.)

W hat can I woman's weeping

v o ic e mean in th is darkness o f the night?

----Why, you're O-Iwa.

Iwa:

Oh, I yemon, my fa th e r has been k i l l e d .

I y e :

W h ose doing can it be?

I sh ou ld n 't have had him k ille d i f I were h e re .

Na o :

And th is is M rs. O -S od e, I su sp ect.

And the body - - — oh, i t ’ s Yomoshich i ' s.

Sode:

H

e 's been k i l l e d , too.

Nao:

S u c h a p it y .

I y e :

I t must h ave been that

he came to h is fa t h e r - in - la w 's aid and they both

got k i l l e d .

The enemy must have been

a very c le v e r f ig h t e r to have k ille d them both.

Nao( as i f about to commit a happy d esp a tch ):

Hail to the Buddha Amitabha.

I ye :

What fo r do you tr y t o k i l l y o u r s e lf, Naosuke?

Nao:

Oh , I m u st d ie , f o r I 'v e o f t e n wood

Mrs. O-Sode and been re fu s e d .

Everybody

w i l l think th a t I am the murderer.

-21

I ye:

Nao:

Iwa:

Sode:

Iw

a

:

S

o

d

e:B

o

th

:

Your fe a r i s reasonable, but you’ ve got

no blade a t a l l . Moreover, they we re both

g o o d fig h te r s th a t n o o n e w ill

e

v

e

r

t

h

i

n

k

that you, a footman, could have

ki l l e d them. J ust l i v e on the show that

you 're innocent by h elp in g O- Sode in rev e n g in g .

Oh, that'll be my greatest wish.

I'll d o a n yth in g fo r h er, ev e n if w h a t h a p p e n s .

I ’ ve done e v e r y th i n g I could in my p o verty

t o l e t fa t h e r lead a b e t t e r l i f e .

I ’ ve g o t no

hope a t a l l now that he’ s died.

I t a l l has become useless

th

a

t we two have su ffered much.

Moreo ver, i t 's so sad a fa t e that I should

h a ve to p art from m y lon ged -for h u sb an d a ft e r

so short a reunion.

Our r e la tio n

has been so u n certain .

I ’ d lik e to d ie here w ith my f a t h e r ----.

And my husband.

L e t’ s s t a r t on our journey to the Hades,

th

e fou

r togeth

er.

( They a re about to k i l l themselves

O-Iwa with Samon's sword and O-Sode,

I ye:

Iw

a)

S

o

d

e

)

Iy

e:

Iw

a

:

Iy

e:

Na o :

Iye:

Who'll take revenge, i f you both d ie now?

W

e l l --- .

O-Sode has got reasons to die,

fo r she has lo s t both her fa th e r and husband.

But, as fo r you, O - I w a , i t ' l l be a g a inst

your duty to your husband i f you k i l l

yourself.

But I've divorced from you.

We've not yet been formally divorced.

So your father's enemy is mine, too.

Do you o f f e r to help me in reven gin g, th en ?

O f c ou rse.

O h, I envy you , for you aren't

disgusted o f e a ch other at a l l and are to l i v e

togeth

er a

ga

in

.

W e ll, Mrs. O- Sode, I f e e l i t my duty to

l e t you take revenge of your husband.

Give y o u r s e lf in to my care and l e t me

help you, please.

I sh ou ld th in k N a o su k e sta n d s in rea son ,

O- Sod e.

Mar r y him ju s t fo r fo r m a lit y ’ s

sake and succeed in avenging.

2 2

-I wa:

Iye:

Sode:

S

od

e :

N

a

o

:

Sode:

Iw

a

:

Sode:

N

a

o

:

Sode:

Iye) :

I w a )

N

a

o

:

Iy

e :

Iwa:

Nao) :

Iy e )

But, it'll be against my duty to Yomoshichi to

c a l l Naosuke my second husband.

Just for formality's sake.

B u t --- .

I pray you to do so, O-Sode.

Do so, w i l l you?

W e l l , then ,

---Oh, will you?

I t h in k I s h o u ld d o s o ,

just for formality's sake.

Then you both c an be each o th e r’ s su pport.

A ll b e w e ll b y a n d b y .

(S m ile s to h im s e lf.)

(Medahachi and Dorota, the begga rs,

s t e a l in and watch.

They approach I yemon

and Naos uke s t e a l t h i ly , when Ivemon

gives M edahachi a hard cut

and Naosuke catches Dorota by the arm.

T

h

a

t's ju st to c e le b r a t e our v e n d e t t a

----Nao: And our wedding.

Have cups o f wedding, both o f you.

W e ll, b y a n d b y --- .

(They knock down the beggars.

Iy e mon

and O-Sode sa lu te, b e fo re

the bodies o f Samon

and the supposed Yomoshichi, that is, Shosaburo.)

24

-The curtain falls w ith the sound

o

f w

o

o

d

en

cla

p

p

ers, as the s is t e r s b

u

rs

t

in t o t e a r s o v e r t h e ir f a t h e r 's b o d y . )

um brellas.

ACT I I .

Scene I .

Iyemon's R e tre a t a t Yotsuya.

(As the cu rta in r is e s , I y emon i s mending

Takuetsu, a masseur, makes a f i r e in the l e f t

sta g e .

Chobei, a dashing man, comes running i n . )

Chobei:

Mr . Iyemon, I ' ve found K odaira.

Iyemon:

Oh, Mr. Akiyama, have you?

Cho:

Yes, I found h i m on my way to Shimbori.

This i s the medicine he f l e d w ith , i s n 't

i t ?

I y e :

C e r t a i n l y . And where's Kodaira?

Cho:

Oh, there comes Kanzo.

(Kanzo Sekiguchi, a detached w a rrio r,

comes in w ith Kohei ---- Matanojo S h io ta 's

footman - - - bound in a rop e. )

Ko h e i:

Excuse me, p le a s e .

Kanz o :

That w on 't do.

Tomosuke (Iyemon's footman):

How daring o f him.

Kan & Tomo) :

Come r ig h t in .

Iy e :

Thanks f o r your tro u b le .

Takuetsu:

No, Kohei, why on earth have you come to

do such a thing?

K oh ei:

Mr. Chobei has taken the medicine away

f r om me.

I haven't robbed you o f any

other th in g. Excuse me p le a s e .

2

-I y e :

Kan:

I y e :

K oh ei:

I y e :

Koh e i :

I y e :

Ch o:

Kan:

Tomo :

Taku:

K oh ei:

How can I , when you 've robbed me o f my thing

His master i s Matanojo Sh io ta , one o f your fe llo w

r e ta in e r s o f the Enya cla n .

That’ s so strange.

Are you his footman,

r e a lly ?

Yes, I am.

My fa th e r was in h is s e r v ic e , to o .

Esq . Matanojo l o s t i s p o s itio n by the f a l l o f

the Enya cla n .

Moreover, he has f a l l e n

s e rio u s ly i l l .

I was tempted to s te a l the

medicine by h is m isery. I t was fo r my f i d e l i t y

to my master.

Excuse me, p le a s e .

Oh, have your master ordered y ou te s tea l my

p ro p rie ta ry medicine t o cure him h is illn e s s ?

Oh, no; he knows nothing o f i t .

I t was my sudden impulse.

I t ’ s a crime t o s t e a l, whatever the cause may

b e.

I s i t the law that one won’ t be accused o f

s t e a lin g i f the cause i s the f i d e l i t y t o h is

master?

I ' l l excuse y ou, on con d ition that

you’ d have me snap your fin g e r s .

That’ l l be a good amusement.

I t ’ s a cheap compensation fo r h is l i f e .

I ' l l help you, to o .

Oh, i t ’ s too poor. Don’ t , p le a s e .

W

a i t a l i t t l e , p lea se.

I ' l l not be able to

fe ed my master and my fa th e r i f I become

deformed.

3

Three :

T h a t's no concern o f ours.

K o h e i:

Oh, I pray you, fo r heaven's sake ---.

I y e :

Gag him, fo lk s .

Kan & Tomo ) :

A l l r i g h t .

(Gag K ohei)

Tomo:

Here, now.

Kan:

Le t ' s p u ll out h is h a ir , f i r s t .

Tomo :

C e r t a in ly .

(They tea se K o h e i . O-Maki, nurse to the I t o

fa m ily com es through the stage passage,

accompanied by a footm an.)

Maki (a t the g a t e ) : .Good day.

Ch o :

Someone' s th e r e .

I y e :

Put him in the c lo s e t .

Kan:

A l l r i g h t .

(Kanzo & Tomosuke put Kohei in to the c l o s e t . )

Taku (a t the d o o r):

W ell, where are you from?

Maki:

I'm from Esq. K ih ei I t , your neighbour.

Ch o :

Ah, I s e e .

Y ou 're Madame O-Maki, the

nurse, a r e n 't you.

Come r ig h t in , p le a s e .

Maki:

Thanks.

Cho (t o Iy e mon ):

She's from Esq. K ih e i.

I y e :

Oh, has she?

I s your master a l l r ig h t?

Maki:

Yes, thank you.

My master has sent me to

con gratu la te you fo r your la d y 's having

g o t a baby.

These th ings are from him.

I ye :

Oh, i t ' s too kind o f him.

Maki:

And th is powder i s a remedy f o r woman's

d iz z in e s s .

I t ' s fo r your lady O-Iwa.

I ye:

I t ' s very kind o f h im. I ' l l g i v e i t to

her a t once.

(A baby c r i e s behind s t a g e .)

Maki:

There c r ie s the baby.

I s i t a boy?

I y e :

H e's a boy.

Maki:

C ongratulations to you.

Why, he c r ie s so hard.

I ' l l tend him.

I y e:

Wi l l you, please?

Maki:

A l l r ig h t , (t o the footman) Go ahead.

I ' l l

fo llo w you at once.

Footman:

C e rta in ly , ma'am.

Maki ( t o Iy e mo n ):

Excuse me .

Cho:

(Go es behind the screen where O-Iwa l i e s .

The footman r e t i r e s .

Chobei takes t o the dishes and b o t t le s O-Maki

has br ou g h t.)

S h all be have a fe a s t now?

I ye :

How greedy you a r e .

(They d rin k .

Tenokuraya-Hosuke, a pawnbroker,

comes in w ith a fro ro s h i ki in h is hand.)

Mosuke:

I s Mr. Iyemon in?

I y e :

C erta in ly I am.

5

-Mo suke:

I'm so g la d .

W

e l l , I ' v e come f o r the

m osqu ito-cu rtain and the mats I ' v e le n t you.

I'm to g e t 3-bu 2-shu fo r r e n t . You may

p r e fe r whichever you lik e - g i ve back my

things or pay the money.

And, about the 5 ryo I l e n t you la s t year —

I y e :

I'm s o rry I h a ve n 't said anything about i t ,

but we’ v e be e n so busy, you see.

I ' l l pay

i t in a few days.

Mosuke:

I c a n 't w a it any more.

I y e :

I t ' s so h e a r tle s s o f you.

Mo:

A l l r ig h t , then,

I ’ m to t e l l you la n d lo rd ,

then. ( About to g o . )

Cho:

Wai t a l i t t l e , fo r I ' m to answer fo r i t .

Mo:

You can answer fo r nothing wh

a tever .

I know

i t by ex p erien ce.

( About to g o . )

I y e:

W

a i t , Mr. Tonokura.

.

Mo:

What?

I y e :

H e re 's 5 yen fo r you.

Mo:

Re a lly ?

I y