Auntie Sleepie(PART 2 OF 3)
Washizu kills him with the help of his wife, who poisons the lord's guards.
When Washizu returns in shock at his deed, Asaji grabs the bloody spear and puts it in the hands of one of the three unconscious guards.
She then yells "murder" through the courtyard, and Washizu slays the guard before he has a chance to plead his innocence.
Tsuzuki's vengeful son Kunimaru and a rival of Washizu named Noriyasu both suspect Washizu as the murderous traitor and try to warn Miki, who refuses to believe what they are saying about his friend.
Washizu, though, is unsure of Miki's loyalty, but he wants to trust his friend and he still plans to let Miki's son be his heir, since he and Asaji have been unable to bear a child of their own.
Washizu plans to tell Miki and his son about his decision at a grand banquet, but Asaji tells him that she is pregnant, which leaves him with a quandary concerning his heir.
During the banquet Washizu drinks sake copiously because he is clearly agitated, and at the sudden appearance of Miki's ghost, begins losing control.
In his delusional panic, he reveals his betrayal to all by exclaiming that he is willing to slay Miki for a second time, going so far as unsheathing his sword and striking over Miki's mat.
Asaji, attempting to pick up the pieces of Washizu's blunder, tells the guests that he is drunk and that they must retire for the evening.
Then one of his men arrive with the severed head of Miki.
The guard also tells them that Miki's son escaped.
Later, distraught upon hearing of his wife's miscarriage and in dire need of help with the impending battle with his foes, he returns to the forest to summon the spirit.
She tells him that he will not be defeated unless the very trees of Spider's Web forest rise against the castle.
Washizu believes this is impossible and is confident of his victory.
Washizu knows he must kill all his enemies, so he tells his troops of the last prophecy, and they share his confidence.
He then finds Asaji in a semi-catatonic state, trying to wash clean the imaginary foul stench of blood from her hands, obviously distraught at her grave misdeeds. Distracted by the sound of his troops moving outside the room, he investigates and is told by a panicked soldier that the trees of Spider's Web forest "have risen to attack us." The prophecy has come true and Washizu is doomed.
As Washizu tries to get his troops to attack, they remain still.
Finally they turn on their master and begin firing arrows at him as revenge for his traitorous actions.
Washizu finally succumbs to his wounds just as his enemies approach the castle gates.
It is revealed that the attacking force is using trees cut down during the previous night to disguise and protect themselves in their advance on the castle.
SOURCE: "Throne of Blood"
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Wow! ... The film transposes the plot of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth into feudal Japan, doesn't it?
Yes, it has been done superbly. I really loved the movie.
Kato, are you saying that the woman you met in the library has something to do with the above movie?
Yes, of course. I was viewing the DVD at the offline computer in the libarary when she came over and said, "Oh,...it's a Kurosawa movie, isn't it!...Kumonosu-jo...Yes, that's it!...I've seen it twice!... Oh, it's such a wonderful and exciting movie!”
Did she really say that to you, Kato?
Oh, yes, she did.
Is she a Japanese?
Oh no, she is not. She is not even a Chinese nor a Korean. She is a genuine Canadian woman who was born and educated here in Canada.
How do you know that?
'Cause she hasn't got any foreign accent in her speaking English.
How about her looks?
I haven't seen her face at all.
No kidding!
I was so engrossed and concentrated in the movie that I could't take off my eyes from the movie...I could't have even set my eyes on a naked woman at the time. He, he, he, he, he, ...
What scene were you watching at the time?
The climax scene, of course, in which, as Washizu tries to get his troops to attack, his soldiers remain still, and suddenly they turn on Washizu, their master, and begin firing arrows at him as revenge for his traitorous actions.
Finally, the fatal arrow splashes through his neck. I was indeed engrossed as if I were one of his soldieres who fired arrows at him.
Did the film get you fascinated that much?
Yes, of course, it did...you're telling me, Diane. You should borrow and view the DVD yourself. It is in the Joe Fortes Library or at the main branch.
I'll go get one. But, Kato, even if you were concentrated that much in the film, you had certainly some time to set an eye on her, didn't you?
No, not a bit---you believe or not---I was really engrossed in the fascinating string of scenes.
Then, what did she do after being ignored by you?
Apparently she came to know how much I was carried away in the movie. When the movie finished, nobody was around.
So you didn't see her face at all, did you?
No, not a bit. But for some rason, in my mind she appeared like the woman in the movie.
Are you saying, Kato, she was like the spirit living in the forest surrounding the castle?
Yes, that was my impression. She was talking to me as if the spirit had come out of the movie.
So, Kato, you were day-dreaming, weren't you?
Don't be silly, Diane. I have never sleep-walked in my life, let alone day-dreaming like that.
So, that's the end of your story, isn't it?
No, that's not the end. Three weeks ago, the mysterious and inspirational woman began to appear at the same computer table where I worked in the library.
But how do you know that she was the same woman you happened to meet in last June? You haven't seen her face, have you?
No, I haven't, but I knew it by my gut feeling. Since then, she has appeared whenever I start working on the computer.
At the same time?---same place? And every day?
You're telling me, Diane.
No kidding!---Kato, you must be day-dreaming!
No, definitely not!
Can I see her?
Yes, of course, you can---she is not a spirit---in fact she is a woman with warm blood and white skin.
What does she look like?
As I told you, you would get an impression of the spirit in the forest.
Does she actually appear like the woman in the above picture?
Oh no, of course not, she doesn't wear a white kimono like the above spirit. But you will know for sure which one of the women at the computer table when you look around.
So, she looks mysterious, doesn't she? But how mysterious?
She always puts a DVD into the drive, then sits down quietly at the computer with a pair of earphone pieces on her ears. She must be a cinema-maniac.
Why?
She seldom touches the keyboard. Apparently, she views movies in the DVD, and soon afterwards she starts to nod peacefully and happily as if she was listening to the mesmerizing lullaby. So I call her "Auntie Sleepie."
Kato, are you serious about all this?
Yes, of course, I am. Next time you come to the Joe Fortes Library, Diane, you will know for sure I've told you the real story. Auntie Sleepie is in the libray and waiting for you. He, he, he, he, he, ...
(To be followed)