- Kaji: The Red Army should be different from the Japanese or the Nazis. Fundamentally different even from the American army. Minor incidents from a historical standpoint can be of vital importance to the individual. For those who've seen such failings, the scars never heal. The blood of hatred will continue to ooze from the wounds, forming a breeding ground for distrust that can't be wiped out. A trivial event perhaps, but also a stain on humanity. How can you defend such a thing?
- Kaji: In your urgency, supervision grows slack. You stick to inflexible rules. Good intentions are suppressed and evil is tolerated. The fact that socialism is better than fascism is not enough to keep us alive!
- Refugee mother: Thank goodness. My breasts will be full of milk tonight.
- Settlement Prostitute: It's cold out here, even with a fire. Why don't you men come inside? I've kept a spot for you.
- Soldier: No need to keep watch?
- Kaji: I'll stay up for while longer. Someone can relieve me later.
- [soldier leaves]
- Settlement Prostitute: That young man's in for a surprise.
- Kaji: Why?
- Settlement Prostitute: They're all rolling around together in the dark in there. And there's more women than men.
- Settlement Prostitute: So we married women should just starve? Bite our tongues off and just die?
- Kaji: Who said anything like that?
- Settlement Prostitute: Even if we get home alive, how many of us can return to our former lives? Women and soldiers who spend fleeting nights together always talk about returning home together. When flesh meets flesh, it really seems possible. But at dawn, the soldiers are strangers again. They get restless and anxious and grab their weapons and sneak off. Soldier, are you listening?
- Kaji: I hear you.
- Settlement Prostitute: Women waste no tears. They just wait patiently for the soldier who'll come and take them away.
- Soldier: Damn, she has a nice ass!
- Kaji: [inner voice] Michiko, I'm a murderer. These hands that once caressed you killed a man in cold blood. Just to cross the road to safety! Was I justified? Or was it wanton murder? Michiko, will you decide for me?
- Terada Nitôhei: If we lose, wouldn't our country be wiped out?
- Kaji: Our country? What's that? The country you were taught to know will be dead - and that' how it should be. We've been struggling to survive - to see if a country can take its place where men are free.
- Tange Ittôhei: I hope democratic forces will unite to cope with this defeat.
- Kaji: Democratic forces? Is there such a thing in Japan? Japan's full of helpless creatures like myself - or worse. They can do nothing.
- Tange Ittôhei: Why so bitter? The test is yet to come.
- Kaji: That's not the point. We became soldiers - and fought in battle. We were wiped out, and now we plod along. We killed and we deserted our buddies. "Cope with defeat," you say. How many of us are even capable or worthy of that?
- Tange Ittôhei: That's enough. Even your ideals seem starved.
- Nagata Taii: What happened to Lieutenant Doi?
- Kaji: Killed in action, sir.
- Nagata Taii: Then why are you still alive? Why didn't you press on in a final attack? Your commanders are dead, yet you dare live on? You must be deserters. And bringing a woman along -- such indiscretion! Explain yourself!
- Kaji: I offer no explanation.
- Kaji: Let's call the men and get out of here.
- Tange Ittôhei: It's dangerous wherever we go. Why not relax the reins a bit?
- Kaji: Am I too hard on them?
- Tange Ittôhei: You're not satisfied until you've dragged everyone else up to your own level. Of course, that's probably why you're alive today.
- Kaji: They're all sick of war, sick of the army. They keep walking only to get home. Why should they risk their lives for the Americans or Chiang Kai-shek?
- Hikita Ittôhei: She's already been worked over by the Reds. Why should she deserve special treatment?
- Kaji: And just what treatment did you give her?
- Hikita Ittôhei: I gave her the appropriate treatment.
- Kaji: Meaning?
- Hikita Ittôhei: You want to know? I wiped the Russian filth off her.
- Kaji: [inner voice] Michiko, I'm still alive. I'm still walking toward you. If you weren't waiting - I doubt I could continue another day.
- Kaji: What about her? She's depending on you. Didn't you want someone to depend on you?
- Terada Nitôhei: She means nothing to me. It's only 'cause you rejected her that she...
- Kaji: Stop pretending to understand things you don't. She doesn't want you or me. She just wants male protection.
- Terada Nitôhei: When I joined up, I was so ignorant. You once said to me, "You're a fool" and "Dying in battle is a dog's death." Remember? It was true. We walked a long way. I didn't expect to end up like this. But it's all right. I see how important it is to go on living. My life is just beginning. There's no sinking any lower. We can only go up from here.
- Kaji: I could have denied it. You have no evidence! Meanwhile you deny that your own troops committed rape and pillage against the Japanese - even though it would not harm the prestige of the Red Army. I at least admit my faults so that I may point out yours.
- Kaji: I survived the battle and tried to escape. I hoped to find proof here that I was wrong to run. But now I see that that was an idealistic miscalculation. Russia's needs and its historical mission lead it to destroy human lives and then justify doing so. Just or not, the sacrificed individuals suffer. They must protect themselves, but it looks like resistance. What other way is there?
- Kaji: They seem smug and selfish to me.
- Tange Ittôhei: That can't be helped. The present stage calls for a Soviet-first policy.
- Refugee Old Man: I'm sorry we're so slow. Age is such a burden. We'll just walk until we can't anymore.
- Prostitute: Hurry up and get out. I'm undressing.
- Soldier: Don't mind me.
- Prostitute: Never seen a naked woman?
- Soldier: You've gone a long time without it too. What do you say?
- Prostitute: Who'd want to do it with you?
- Soldier: I can't pay, but you're not worth that much anyway, so come on. Come on! How about it?
- Ume-chan: What's wrong with them?
- Refugee Man: They've mooched off us ever since we escaped.
- Ume-chan: You ran to us when the Russians were going to rape your women.
- Kaji: Enough! We'll all share. If you want to argue, we leave you behind.
- Soldier: Oh, for a dumpling the size of a woman's read end!
- Refugee Woman: Nothing's more pitiful than the women of a defeated nation.
- Soldier #1: The aroma of steaming fat reminds me of that Russian place, eh, Fukumoto.
- Soldier #2: What a join! It was great! They had honey and all the meat you wanted.
- Soldier #1: White female flesh, too. What a jackass! The gal spreads her legs wide and he stands there shaking!
- Soldier: Hey, sister, want me to scrub you down? Nice ass!
- Prostitute: Cut it out!
- Soldier: That ass must be itching by now.
- Kaji: [to the prostitute] What are you doing undressing here? It's dangerous!
- Soldier: Why don't you mind your own business?
- Kaji: [slaps soldier] Go back and get ready to leave. You can complain later.
- [soldier leaves]
- Kaji: Stop teasing the men.
- Prostitute: I wasn't teasing them.
- Kaji: The tension eases and you ladies are back to your old tricks.
- Prostitute: You ladies? Stop acting so big. I happen to prefer his type.
- Kaji: I don't care who you prefer. There's danger everywhere.
- Settlement Prostitute: Let's go inside. It's safe here at night. No Russians or Manchus will come.
- Kaji: You go on. I'll find someplace to sleep later.
- Settlement Prostitute: A paragon of virtue, eh? Rare for a soldier. Too good to be dallying with my kind.
- Settlement Prostitute: If you run into Russians or Manchus on the road? The soldiers have weapons. They might get away. We could be stripped naked and who knows what else.
- Russian Captain Sverdlov: I've seen you somewhere before. Yes, it's you! The samurai scoundrel! I'd expect something like this from you! Nazi dogs are the worst scum in the world - and then come Japanese like you!
- Terada Nitôhei: You had trouble on the way?
- Refugee Woman: We had some tough geisha with us. They sacrificed themselves for us.
- Settlement Prostitute: We'll never get home. We'll never see our loved ones again. We don't even know how long we'll live. We all share the same fate. We're all ruined! We eat only to keep our strength from failing. We'll never get home! We'll never see our loved ones again! We all share the same fate! We're ruined!
- Soldier: Do enemy troops come and make trouble?
- Settlement Prostitute #1: At first we feared and hated them, but they're actually better than our own men. They bring us bread. They're huge, but they're naive as babies.
- Settlement Prostitute #2: If we're nice to them, they leave peacefully. Not like our troops, who are just freeloaders.
- Soldier: I felt like having fun last night. Hadn't had a chance to work out the kinks in a while. But what about you? You're acting like some Zen priest. Weren't any girls interested?
- Kaji: Who the hell cares?
- Kaji: Cut out the bragging. Touch a woman while you're with me and I'll shoot you.
- Soldier #1: Who gives a shit about white or Chink dames anyway? They're raping our women.
- Soldier #2: It's war. An eye for an eye.
- Soldier #1: These guys don't realize who they're talking to.
- Kaji: I can guess.
- Soldier #1: Then stop being such a wet blanket. You have to enjoy the moment.
- Kitagô Sôchô: Quit your meddling and get off this hill. Our men are raring to go.
- Tange Ittôhei: Let them try. We'll see how disciplined they are. Guerrillas! You're a band of mountain bandits!
- Kitagô Sôchô: And in good bandit fashion, I'll lop your head off!
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: Where you headed?
- Kaji: We hope to get to Mutankiang.
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: It's that way. But you're wasting your time. The enemy got there first.
- Kaji: Really? What about yourself?
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: I'm headed for Korea. Closer to home than Manchuria.
- Hironaka Gôchô: And your unit?
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: I had one until yesterday.
- Kaji: Watch out for the Korean-Manchurian border. It's controlled by Kim Il Sung.
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: Is that right? Then I'll just be another Red. What's 'comrade' in Chinese and Korean?
- Kaji: It's tongzhi in Chinese. In Korean I think it's tongmu.
- Chôsen e Iku Heichô: Tongzhi and tongmu, eh? Thanks. That's all I'll need. See ya. Tongzhi and tongmu, eh? You look strong and healthy, my tongzhi!
- Kaji: Now talk! What did you bastards do to her and her brother? Get out of here! I'm confiscating your weapons. Terada, take their rifles. You bastards can crawl on all fours from now on.
- Tange Ittôhei: Of course there must be scoundrels in the Red Army too. A handful among the millions. A few dozen or a few hundred like that don't undermine the theory of the Red... no... the People's Army. A flaw of the transition period that will surely be corrected.
- Kaji: Michiko... our happiness was an illusion. For the joys we shared at the cost of Chinese sacrifices, I am now paying dearly. What's more, I must kill and steal to fight my way back to you. Michiko... will you and I ever get a chance to start anew?
- Kaji: Can I keep walking? Where am I headed anyway? All this walking... is it just a waste of time? Has south Manchuria become just another mass grave for the Japanese? Maybe there's nowhere left for the Japanese to go.
- Kaji: You deny our request for food?
- Nagata Taii: I do! My unit's to make a final stand at the Korean-Manchurian border. We have no supplies for cowards. Now get out of here! Loiter here and we'll hang you all.
- Kaji: Captain Nagata, was it? Keep your food and your damned lectures. I'll blow your head off! Nobody move! Terada and Hikita, shoot anyone who moves. Look at these idiots in full battle dress! What 'final stand'! If you don't want to give us food, just say so! Our men were wiped out so you could run! I'll blow you to bits!
- Hironaka Gôchô: You calling me a fool? I only let you take charge because you know this area. I'm still an NCO. I won't be insulted!
- Kaji: As long as you're with me, I give the orders. Forget about rank. While we're at it, let's get something else clear. You listen too, Terada. I didn't expect Mutankiang to fall so soon. The Kwangtung Army must essentially be wiped out... so I'm no longer concerned about rejoining them.
- Hironaka Gôchô: Then what do we do?
- Kaji: We go back to our former lives. South Manchuria lies in that direction. My former life awaits me there. And I'll do my best to get you back to your former lives. If you don't agree, we can part ways now. We decide right here. How about it? We'll run into friendly forces somewhere. Whoever wants to can join them.
- Hironaka Gôchô: Not 'whoever wants to'... it's our duty! You can't just ignore the soldier's code.
- Kaji: What we need now is the defeated man's code. If you want to go on soldiering, take Terada and go. I'm going this way.