In the Woods of Memory

Americans should’ve shot you. . . . Where’d you insert your finger, Seiji?... Not just your arms. We’ll break your fingers, too.... You’ll never play the sanshin again.... Seiji, we brought some rope, so you can hang yourself from this tree.... I never did anything wrong. That’s the truth, Sayoko.... What’re you grinning about?... You screwing with us? You’re gonna get yourself killed.... He always was kind of weird.... He thinks he’s a big shit ‘cause he got in a magazine, and everyone’s making a big deal about it.... He also got a big photo spread.... That damn Japanese reporter’s article was half lies! ... It called him “the old man who sings the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa.”... What a joke!... I heard he was a spy for the Japanese army.... Really?... Yeah, that’s what my grandfather said. He said Seiji was in the Defense Corps and on great terms with the Japanese.... Is that right?... But I heard he was a spy for the Americans.... If that were the case, why’d they shoot him?... Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense.... Spies are usually eliminated in the end.... Some people say the Japanese army shot him.... You’re both wrong. He wasn’t shot at all.... That’s what I heard, too. He’s senile, so he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.... My grandmother saw him get shot. She said he was shot in the shoulder, and that he was covered in blood when they carried him off on a stretcher.... In the middle of the woods, right? Hiding in a cave.... Why was he shot?... He stabbed an American soldier to get revenge for his girlfriend.... That old man? Don’t make me laugh.... Seiji, can you hear everyone laughing?... In other words, we want you to get the hell off the island! ... People are scared of you.... You’re an eyesore.... They’ve built a new bridge, so tourists will be coming.... How about going into an old folk’s home? ... What’re you saying? You guys have no idea what great things this old man’s done.... I’ll be happy if I can just sit here.... Mister, aren’t you cold? Here, have a steamed bun with meat.... Thank you.... It’s beautiful when the cherry blossoms come into bloom.... Airuyan na (Is that right?).... I’m sorry, mister, I don’t understand Okinawan dialect. . . . The white-eyes are singing. . . . White-eyes? You mean those tiny green birds, right? My grandfather told me about them. . . . Sayoko, can you hear the white-eyes singing?... Seiji always had birds when he was a kid.... They were always singing.... When I went to catch white-eyes in the woods, the leopard plant flowers were in bloom.... Ah! I can see the yellow flowers before my eyes.... Mister, it’s a shame you can’t see all these flowers. They’re in full bloom.... There were red azaleas in the woods, too.... One time, he climbed a cliff to pick some azaleas for Sayoko.... I tried to give them to you, but my hands were shaking so bad.... Mister, I heard you fought with the Americans over a girl.... That’s right. I fought all by myself.... That’s so cool.... I dived under the water and stabbed one of them with my harpoon.... Did he die?... No, but there was a lot of blood in the water as he struggled to survive.... But why’d you stab him? ... Sayoko, when I heard you crying behind your shutters, I almost went crazy.... Did the American do something?... The Americans weren’t the only evil ones.... Hold down her arms.... Stop struggling! You let the Americans have their way with you, so why not us? . . . I’ve been crazy ever since I heard what happened.... Ever since? Don’t make me laugh, Seiji. You were crazy from birth.... Spread your legs! No matter how much you scream, no one’s gonna save you! . . . Crazy! I’m going crazy! What the hell is happening to me?... Hurry up! It’s my turn!... I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them! Anyone who hurts Sayoko is gonna die!... This old man was crazy to begin with, and now he’s going senile. Nothing he says makes any sense.... That’s not true, is it, mister?... I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them!... Ow! That hurts! You bite me again, and I’m gonna knock out your teeth! . . . Mister, what’s your girlfriend doing now?... Sayoko, what’re you doing now?.. Jeez, you really stink for a girl! Take a bath once in a while!... I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them!... Haven’t you seen her?... I want to see you.... ‘Cause we wanna spend more time with you.... Don’t you know where she is?... Sayoko, where are you?... I’ll kill them! I’m going crazy! I’ll kill them! My head aches! I’ll kill them! Words are buzzing inside my head like little bugs! I’ll kill them! Everything’s so mixed up! I’ll kill them! Voices are swarming all around me! I’ll kill them!... Sayoko, look at your belly!... I’ll kill them! Sayoko, what are you doing now? I’ll kill them! ... She was crying in the woods. Crying and crying and crying.... It’s too late. An abortion would be dangerous.... In the darkness of the woods, the red fruit of the screwpine looked like a setting sun.... Still, we’d like you to go ahead with it.... I’ll kill them! Sayoko, I’ll kill those that made you suffer! I won’t allow it! I’ll kill them! ... She was just sitting on the crushed grass staring at that red fruit.... You can’t kill them. Sayoko wouldn’t be pleased.... That’s right, Seiji. Sayoko doesn’t want you to suffer any more.... Tell me where she is. I’ll go to her.... I’m sorry, Seiji. I don’t know either.... Are you gonna spend the rest of your life thinking about Sayoko? Look, there’s a woman standing next to you.... I already knew that. Two women and a man....