A Cat and Two Women (1956)
Hisaya Morishige: Shozo Oyama
Quotes
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Shozo : Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Lily, what are you doing? You feel better now, don't you? Pee or poop? Whichever you want to do. You want to pee? Or do you want to poop?
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Shinako, First wife : I hate you with all my heart. But I can't bring myself to hurt you in any way.
Shozo : You can't, huh?
Shinako, First wife : I was kicked out because of my shortcomings. I'm not asking you to take me back. But I'm attached to things in the house. That's how women are.
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Shozo : Stop crying. It's creeping me out.
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Shozo : Mother, give me some money.
Orin, Shozo's mother : Huh?
Shozo : Money.
Orin, Shozo's mother : Money?
Shozo : Yes.
Orin, Shozo's mother : Ask her. She's got a lot of money from daddy. She brought back three melons. She gave me half.
Shozo : I'm the man of the house.
Orin, Shozo's mother : That's why you should get it from your bride.
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Shozo : I hate it when she gets hysterical. It ruins the taste of my beer.
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Shozo : Take a good look at this.
Orin, Shozo's mother : What's that?
Shozo : What does it look like to you?
Orin, Shozo's mother : Let's see.
Shozo : Dirty clothes. She never washed them. She let them pile up.
Orin, Shozo's mother : Here's your underpants.
Shozo : Something like that. They're called knickers. How can a woman be so untidy?
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Shozo : Fuku-chan. Don't be cold.
Fukuko, Second wife : To a man who prefers a cat to his wife? Of course!
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Fukuko, Second wife : Women have to obey someone all their lives.
Shozo : Come on. That's an ancient saying.
Fukuko, Second wife : Men have it easy. All you do is squeeze us dry.
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Shozo : I couldn't stand my wife because she was conceited and cold. I don't like smart women. A woman who quietly enjoys being held in a man's arms. That's what I want in a woman.
Fukuko, Second wife : Are you saying I'm stupid?
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Fukuko, Second wife : [on a public beach] You actually found me.
Shozo : I know the shape of your feet.
Fukuko, Second wife : My feet?
Shozo : Your toes are kind of bent, and there's a space between them. It looks like they're smiling. Let me touch them.
Fukuko, Second wife : No.
Shozo : Fuku-chan.
Fukuko, Second wife : No!
Shozo : Come on.
Fukuko, Second wife : I said no.
Fukuko, Second wife : Just a little bit.
Fukuko, Second wife : You're strange.
Shozo : Feels so good. I can see the baby hair. Your skin is so soft. Smooth, like velvet. So nice!
[Fukuko pours some soda on Shozo]
Shozo : Hey, that's cold!
[Fukuko laughs]
Shozo : Naughty girl. I love these legs.
Fukuko, Second wife : Did you touch Shinako's legs the same way?
Shozo : No. Her legs are so bony. Feels so good. You know what? Every time I'm with you, my heart starts racing. This is great.
Fukuko, Second wife : Will you stop? People are watching.
Shozo : Who cares? Let them enjoy.
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Fukuko, Second wife : Do you sleep with Lily?
Shozo : Of course, I do. She crawls into my bed every night.
Fukuko, Second wife : No way! Will all our marital secrets be exposed to her?
Shozo : That's okay. She won't tell anyone.
Fukuko, Second wife : How can she? Silly! But they say that cats are less loyal than dogs.
Shozo : Only people who don't know cats say that.
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Shozo : Do you know where cats love to be tickled? Right here.
[strokes the front of Fukuko's neck]
Fukuko, Second wife : Stop it.
Shozo : You tickle them here, just like this. This makes them purr. They also bite your fingers gently. They dig their claws into you. And they drool too. That's when cats get all excited.
Fukuko, Second wife : Stop it! I'm not a cat!
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Shozo : The way Lily was looking at me was... How can I put it? She put complete trust in me. It was almost sexual. Yet there was this sadness in her eyes.
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Shozo : Fuku-chan, how about fresh mackerel? They're too small to fry, but perfect for broiling. Dipped in vinegar and soy sauce with minced ginger. We can even eat the head. It's delicious.
Fukuko, Second wife : I don't like them.
Shozo : You don't?
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Fukuko, Second wife : Ten years for a cat is the equivalent of 60 years for us.
Shozo : I know. Her eyes were so cute, always moving. These days, they keep discharging mucus. She's getting skinnier, too. And she walks with her neck all stretched out. It's kind of sad. Lily has had a hard life. "All things must pass."
Fukuko, Second wife : Like the Buddhist prayer.
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Fukuko, Second wife : Come here, darling. I bought some fresh horse mackerel for you.
Shozo : You did? For me? What did I do to deserve this?
Fukuko, Second wife : I'll try to like what you like, honey.
Shozo : That's sweet. Mmm. This ginger vinegar is just right.
Fukuko, Second wife : I'm glad to hear that! Thank you, honey.
Shozo : I've never heard you say that. I'm getting scared.
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Fukuko, Second wife : Stay away from here!
Shozo : Be reasonable. Be reasonable. She's only a cat.
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Fukuko, Second wife : You can't run this place without my money.
Shozo : So, that's how you feel?
Fukuko, Second wife : I've got you under my thumb. Your mother said that!
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Shozo : I didn't ask you to do what Fukuko should have done. You're going to do this for her?
Orin, Shozo's mother : Men shouldn't worry about housework.
Shozo : For crying out loud. Why can't you make her wash her her own underwear?
Orin, Shozo's mother : Look, I'm just letting them soak. She'll notice and wash them.
Shozo : I bet she won't.
Orin, Shozo's mother : Enough! Go away already. Men shouldn't take part in housework.
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Orin, Shozo's mother : How dare you blame me. You're the one who was seeing Fukuko behind Shinako's back.
Shozo : It was just harmless fun. Ever since you and her father gave us your approval, the fun and the thrill disappeared, just like magic.
Orin, Shozo's mother : What is this? Song lyrics?
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Shozo : I'm not happy. I want to cry. Shinako is coldhearted. Fukuko thinks money is everything. If she really loved me, she wouldn't harp so much on her money. I'm really unhappy about my life.
Orin, Shozo's mother : I trying to help you. I'm doing everything for your happiness. Can't you see?
Shozo : I can't.
Orin, Shozo's mother : [slaps Shozo] Because you're stupid!
Shozo : You're right. I'm stupid. I'm sorry that I'm stupid.
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Shozo : This is too sad, don't you think? I can feel your sadness hidden deep in your heart.