THIRD MAN: Yeah, which one of us being violent? My family’s seen
that the boat has come in.
The man hurries off.
Kagekiyo feels for Murasaki with his hands, shields her. . . .
KAGEKIYO: Are you hurt? Have your sleeves come unsewn? Oh, your
hands are cold.
MURASAKI: (Shaking him repulsed.) A blind man will sew up the torn
stitches for me?
KAGEKIYO: With a needle of the heart, tears in the heart. I’ll sew them.
MURASAKI: The road we walk in this world is a mountain of needles—
be very careful where you step.
Murasaki picks up the money the man gave her and gives it to Kagekiyo.
There was a beggar here earlier.
Murasaki leaves, making a show of her slovenliness.
In the inlet at Tomo women divers fish for bream in the sea at Tomo
women divers draw in their nets they are so dear they are so dear.
KAGEKIYO: How strange—that woman seemed. . . . She seemed to be
a Heike, one of those left behind. (He sits.) The beautiful Heike have died
out—1’11 play for the wanderers.
He plays his biwa.
Oh how precious the preciousness of this day.
Murasaki returns, seemingly possessed by the sound of the biwa. Then,
feeling as though her heart has been pierced, slowly remembering the last
dance her mother taught her, she begins to dance.
This life the life of a drop of dew yet still I chance to meet the joy of this
day.
