- Kenji Shirai: Isn't he a good guy?
- Mitsuko Maki: Yes. Where does he work?
- Kenji Shirai: He's like an underling for a big shot in the area.
- Mitsuko Maki: An underling?
- Kenji Shirai: To be frank, he's a yakuza. He had no luck finding a job either and ended up like that.
- Kenji Shirai: I'm looking for a gig too. A friend told me about this place. This is my third night.
- Unemployed pianist: Have you had any luck?
- Kenji Shirai: No. But I'm sure I'll get hired if I'm given a chance to play. I just don't get the chance.
- Unemployed pianist: I see. You're young. Waiting around to get picked up like a hooker must be hard for you. I've gotten used to it by now. It doesn't bother me much.
- Kenji Shirai: If I don't get a gig tonight, I plan to sell my sax and hang it up.
- Kenji Shirai: A few hours ago, I was feeling really down too. I was ready to chuck it all. Inside this case is my saxophone. It belonged to my late brother. Lately, I was beginning to think that it was ruining my life. Nobody was interested in my playing. I was giving up hope that somebody would recognize my sound. Then finally tonight, a door opened for me. I'm actually happy right now. Do you think that's strange?
- Mitsuko Maki: I don't regard nude shows with contempt. But it's too much to ask me to dance nude right away.
- Mitsuko Maki: We'll never meet again?
- Kenji Shirai: We can find each other at work.
- Mitsuko Maki: True. We'll be in the public eye, on stage in the bright lights. It might be a very dark place.
- Maruoka: I want you to dance nude.
- Mitsuko Maki: Oh, I can't do that.
- Maruoka: You don't have to look so distressed. These days, nude shows are done tastefully.
- Maruoka: Are you interested in dancing at our theater? Well, you may be surprised because this is rather abrupt. It's a bad habit of mine and everybody gets offended at first, But would you like to give it a try?
- Mitsuko Maki: But my only dance experience is square dancing in high school.
- Kenji Shirai: I felt horrible for you.
- Mitsuko Maki: You sympathize with me?
- Kenji Shirai: I'm powerless to help you. Sympathy won't do any good. When reality hits me like this, I feel the world is a cruel place.
- Murata: That girl is going to dance nude? The world works in mysterious ways.
- Kenji Shirai: Yeah.
- Murata: She might actually be pretty ravishing.
- Maruoka: Would you go to the lesson studio?
- Mitsuko Maki: Yes?
- Maruoka: We'd like to see you in the nude.
- Susumu Ueno: [singing] My melancholic love, The pretty girl I saw some time ago, Her wet, painted lips were glistening, In the evening mist, Letting go of the hopeless memories, I wandered alone under the Neo lights of the city...
- Kenji Shirai: Remember I once told you how I felt the world was a cruel place? I think I'm beginning to understand what the feeling means. People out there have no respect for others. It's like they're simply making offerings at some huge alter. They watch the offerings burn in the red flames at the altar, and they take pleasure in it.
- Mitsuko Maki: I don't understand.
- Kenji Shirai: You'll understand someday that we are the offerings.
- Mitsuko Maki: What sort of offering am I?
- Kenji Shirai: I can't forget your face on the night we first met. I've seen and heard about men and women falling in love and breaking up. But I've never seen anybody so in love that she could cry in front of a stranger.
- Susumu Ueno: [singing] My heart is broken with sadness, And clasped in my hand, Ah, it's a one-way ticket to love... .
- Mitsuko Maki: I'm a foolish woman. I'm a weak woman who can't live alone. I'm not used to living on my own, so it makes me nervous when I'm alone by myself. That's why I can't resist when somebody asks me out. Tonight, I'm ready for you. Take me anywhere you want.
- Susumu Ueno: [singing] Take her down the street, To Lonesome Town, Gotta stay at Heartbreak Hotel...
- Chantan club manager: You found the perfect guy. Recorded music just won't do for our clients.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: I expect an appropriate reward.
- Chantan club manager: You're a shrewd businesswoman.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: I don't know what to make of young people today. I thought Ueno was the submissive sort.
- Maruoka: You're angling to make money by driving Ueno to work hard?
- Eiko Yoshinaga: That's right. These next couple of months may be crucial. He'll get worn out eventually. Just like baseball players.
- Maruoka: Can't you think of some way to control him?
- Eiko Yoshinaga: It's beyond my abilities.
- Maruoka: Well, Ueno is young.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: Are you mocking me?
- Maruoka: You're not old enough to be ticked off like that. You have to be coolheaded and find a way to rein in Ueno.
- Susumu Ueno: Have you felt pity for me?
- Eiko Yoshinaga: Felt pity? For you?
- [laughs]
- Eiko Yoshinaga: What a funny thing to say. Felt pity for Susumu Ueno, the hot Japanese Elvis Presley? So tell me, why should I feel pity for you?
- Susumu Ueno: I'm much younger than you. I want to enjoy my youth. I want to spend time with people my age.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: You're in love with some young girl?
- Susumu Ueno: That's not it. I just wish I cold date a girl my age.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: If you don't take some action now, he might turn against me.
- Maruoka: Your sexual magic isn't working with him?
- Eiko Yoshinaga: It's no time to make a joke.
- Maruoka: Well, getting bitten by your own pet is nothing new.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: Now, listen to me. We've spent a lot of money on you. How do you think you got to where you are now? Don't think you made it this far all on your own.
- Susumu Ueno: I know that.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: Think of what you were before I found you. You were a strolling musician. No better than a beggar. You wanna go back to that life? I won't let you get away from me now. In our world, betrayal will cost you dearly. So do as I say and you'll be fine. Understand? You're my angel. Be a good boy.
- Kenji Shirai: I came to ask your help finding her a job rather than me.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: You've got a lot of cheek. We just met last night.
- Mitsuko Maki: I'll leave.
- Eiko Yoshinaga: I was just kidding. You don't have to go. Isn't it bad manners to ask me to help out a pretty girl like her?
- Maruoka: [to Mitsuko Maki before her debut nude dance] Listen, you're a star. Audiences have come to see you. Show them your beauty and be loved by them. Don't be afraid of them. They came to be conquered by you.