Opening sequence
A car drives through an intersection. It is suddenly T-boned by a mini-van, it spins out of control. There is a sound of glass shattering and some nearby parked vehicles have their alarm set off. The door to the original car hangs loose and a man is slumped on the steering wheel with the air bag inflated around him.
Act 1, Scene 1
Wisteria house. The rear of the house has a large pool with a beautiful garden on either side. The access to the pool is through a french doorway from the house, On the steps leading to the pool, a woman (Kimiko) is sitting and silently sobbing. A man (Shino) comes out of the house. He is wearing a bandage on his head and on his forearm.
Shino: Kimiko, what's wrong? Why are you crying?
Kimiko (getting up): Oh Shino-san. You surprised me. I get overcome with emotion sometimes. Don't worry about it.
Shino: Even if you say that...
Kimiko: It's fine. It's fine. It is a woman thing.
Act 1 Scene 2
(Kimiko walks inside the house into the living room and Shino follows her. The house is what one would expect of an upper-middle-class family. Not particularly expensive-looking but a place of comfort and taste. The living room has an adjoining kitchen and another room to the other side. There is a flight of stairs going up opening into a landing.)
Shino: Kimiko, don't you think it is about time I come back to sleeping in the same room?
Kimiko: Why? I mean, you still have bandages on your head and your arm hasn't healed completely yet.
Shino: It's fine. I am almost back to normal. Even the doctor said I was getting better quite fast.
Kimiko: The doctor hasn't said you are back to normal. Maybe we should ask him next time if it is ok.
Shino: Kimiko, come on. I am your husband. Why do I need a doctor's permission to sleep in the same room as my wife? I am not even suggesting that we... you know.
Kimiko: I think we should wait another week and see how it goes.
Shino: (admits defeat) Fine. I am also thinking I should take the car to work today.
Kimiko: (quickly) No. Don't do that. I ... I need the car today.
Shino: Kimiko I know you are scared for me. But, I feel like if I don't take the plunge and start driving now I might never drive.
Kimiko: I know. I am not scared. I just ... I have a lot of shopping and I don't want to hold all the bags and call a taxi.
Shino:(sighs) Okay. I don't want my darling wife to exert herself while shopping.
(Shino moves to hug Kimiko but Kimiko only allows a perfunctory hug moving away quickly)
Kimiko: I really should get going. The earlier I go the less crowded it is. I am going to get ready
(She leaves the room to the adjacent room. The sound of water running come from that room.)
Act 1 Scene 4
(Shino is alone at home. He has come home early and still in his work suit. He loosens his tie and looks at the time. The clock says 3PM. He looks around the house and then starts pacing up and down. He then picks up his phone and dials his mother Sakura)
Shino: Mom, it's me.
Sakura: Oh Shino. I was just about to call you. How are you today? Is your head ok?
Shino: Yeah I'm ok. It has stopped hurting and the doc says my arm is healing nicely.
Sakura: That's good to hear. How is Kimiko holding up?
Shino: She is fine. I'm the one who was hurt in the accident you know? (Shino laughs).
Sakura: I know but she too has had it tough.
Shino: Mom, you are taking the wind out of my sails by saying that you know? Here I was, trying to talk to you about Kimiko.
Sakura: What is it? Did she say anything?
Shino: Nothing really specific but, she has been acting strange you know. Like today, I called home at 2 from the office and she didn't pick up. Then I came home early and she is not here.
Sakura: Maybe she was asleep when you called. And maybe she has gone out shopping now. You are making big deal out of nothing.
Shino: That's the thing, she said she was going shopping in the morning and didn't let me take the car saying she wanted it. And the car is still in the driveway now. Where could she have gone?
Sakura: I think you are reading too much into it. She probably went to visit her friends. Did you try calling her mobile?
Shino: I did. It is switched off.
Sakura: Well maybe her phone ran out of battery.
Shino: I don't know mom. I think something else is going on.
Sakura: I am sure it is all fine, Shino.
Shino: No mom. I am serious. This morning I saw her sitting outside next to the pool just crying. I think she may not be happy with me and I think she may be.. cheating on me.
Act 1 Scene 5
(Kimiko and Shino's mom Sakura are sitting across each other at a cafe. Kimiko looks angry and sullen. Sakura looks sad and unhappy. Sakura starts to say something and then stops. She tries again)
Sakura: I would not ask if he were not my son. Surely you understand that.
Kimiko: (glares) Don't pull that card with me.
Sakura: He called yesterday in a panic. He said you didn't let him use the car and you left to go somewhere. He caught you crying by yourself.
Kimiko: So? What about it? I gave him some excuse or another. You don't need to concern yourself.
Sakura: Kimiko, you don't understand. He thinks you are cheating on him.
Kimiko: (thrown) He said that?
Sakura: Yes.
Kimiko: The nerve of that man! After all that I have done and continue to do. To accuse me of cheating on him when-
Sakura: Kimiko, please. The reason I asked to meet was to warn you. I am afraid that the more suspicious he becomes the more risk of you blurting out by mistake-
Kimiko: Blurting what? The truth? Don't worry. I have not blurted the truth out yet despite being sorely tempted many, many times.
Sakura: I, of all people, know how hard it has been for you. And continues to be. But I am asking you, begging you as a mother to please find it in your heart to forgive my son. The doctor says that it is not wise to-
Kimiko: I know what the doctor says. I was there when he said that I have to be careful and hold my feelings in. Not let Shino know anything till he comes by the truth himself. You have no idea how hard it has been to keep those feelings locked away and smile at him day in and day out. I have to smile at him and pretend to be a good wife when he was the one- (She pauses overcome with emotion)
(Sakura holds Kimiko's hand and squeezes it gently.)
Sakura: That was another reason I called you here. If you want to let go for a little while. If you want to cry your heart out, you can.
Kimiko: I don't want to cry. I want to yell and scream at him. (she clenches her fists) I want to go back to before the accident. But, (she calms down and straightens) neither of those things are going to happen. Don't worry mother I will make sure to be more careful with Shino in the future.
(Kimiko leaves and Sakura sighs)
Act 2 Scene 1
(The scene is a therapist's office and some comfortable couches are placed around a central office chair. The person sitting in the chair is obviously the therapist. Her name is Kanagawa. On the couch in front of her Kimiko is sitting.)
Kimiko: You know what he said the other day? That I should sleep in the same room with him.
Therapist Kanagawa: And what is so wrong with that? He is your husband,
Kimiko. You can't ask me that. You know what he did. I cannot sleep in that room especially not with him in it.
Kanagawa. Kimiko, your husband made a mistake-
Kimiko: (cutting her off) A big mistake
Kanagawa: Yes, a big mistake. But people make mistakes. In this case wouldn't you agree that your husband's mistake has had bigger consequences than he could've imagined? You don't really think he intended for this to happen?
(Kimiko is silent)
Kanagawa: You have to find a way out of your grief. One part of that could be forgiving your husband. You still love him do you not?
(Once again no answer from Kimiko)
Act 2 Scene 2
(Another office. This time in a police station. There are two inspectors - Kitamori is obviously used to command is the superior officer. The junior officer is Izumi, a woman.)
Izumi: I am sorry it took so much time to conclude the investigation. While we understand that this is an enormous tragedy for you, we have higher priorities in the department.
Kimiko: Higher priorities? You have to be kidding me to say that.
Kitamori: This is, at the end of the day, a traffic accident. Fatal yes. But still a traffic accident. Certainly not as important as a killer on the loose.
Izumi: The prosecutor's office has decided not to proceed with the charges and I think after reading the report you will agree with the conclusion.
Kimiko: What do you mean not pressing charges. After his mistake, you are just going to let him go scot-free? If it is a case of him not being mentally fit to stand trial, I have done some research and there are quite a few precedents.
Izumi: No Ms. Kimiko it is not about that. I suggest you read a copy of this report we have prepared especially for you.
Kitamori: We police have absolutely no obligation to explain our decisions to you. And giving you, the mother of the deceased, a copy of the police report is highly irregular, in my opinion. (he looks at Izumi at this point). But it was pointed out to me that this is wise in the interest of the image of the department and to give you some closure.
Kimiko: I cannot imagine what could possibly be in the report that would assuage me. You can rest assured that I am going to try to find other avenues to make him pay - a civil case perhaps.
Izumi: (cutting her off) It was you Ms. Kimiko. It was your fault - not just your husband's.
(Kimiko's shock is evident on her face. Quickly she reads the report - turns to the relevant page and stops. She gets up without saying a word and slightly wobbly, she walks out.)
Act 3: Scene 1: Wisteria house, living room.
(Kimiko has just come back from the police station. She is still in a daze. She puts her handbag down and glances at the clock in the hallway. It is still not yet time for Shino to be back.
She goes into the adjacent room, the same room in Act 1 Scene 1. Once again we hear the taps go on.
While she is out, Shino comes down the staircase.)
Shino: Kimiko! Was that you? Where were you, today? I came home early. I tried calling you and you didn't pick up. Don't tell me you went for more shopping. I don't -
(The water is running so Kimiko presumably does not hear and does not answer. Shin is about to go into the room but catches sight of Kimiko's handbag and the folder poking out of it. The police logo catches his attention.)
Act 3: Scene 2: Wisteria house, bathroom
(Kimiko is starting at the bathtub filling up. She looks like she is spacing out)
Kimiko: (Getting a realization) That's right. I need a knife.
(She walks back to the living room, through there to the kitchen. She smells something and sees Shino with a lighter in his hand.)
Kimiko: (running) STOP
(She slaps the matches away and turns off the gas.)
Shino: You knew. All this while you knew. And you didn't tell me. (when Kimiko doesn't say anything, continues). And to think I had a son. Akio. And I forgot everything about him. What kind of a father am I?
Kimiko: (softly) The worst kind.
Shino: (looking wretchedly at her) Then why did slap the lighter away. I deserved to die. I killed him.
Kimiko: Were you planning to take me with you?
Shino: (taken aback ) I... I didn't think about you. I'm sorry.
Kimiko: Hmm.
Shino: The report, it says I killed him. I ran a red light and the car was T-boned. (His anguish is obvious.) I don't remember. Why don't I remember that? Why can't I remember?
Kimiko: ( in a monotone) The doctor said it is an escape mechanism of the brain. It was such a horrible thing to think about that you locked the memories away.
Shino: (looking at her) It makes sense now. You hated me. Hate me still. You have had to live with a man who killed your son. That's why you didn't want me to drive the car. Is there.. really someone else you have been meeting?
Kimiko: (looks at him with disgust) Just because you were a bad father doesn't mean I have to become a bad wife.
Shino: Why don't you let me die?
Kimiko: (waits a long time before responding) You cannot die by setting fire to the house. Aiko's memories are still here. I cannot let you.
Shino: That is true. The gun. I have the gun still. I had forgotten all about it. I am going to get it.
(Kimiko calmly walks to the kitchen table and sits down and waits. Shino comes back with a lockbox.)
Shino: Kimiko what is the combination?
Kimiko: I will tell you on one condition.
Shino: What?
Kimiko: You have to shoot me first. You didn't read the report fully did you? Plus, you don't remember that night at all. Before you took Akio in the car. I put him into his seat. He was smiling and laughing. He wanted to take his toy. So I finally gave in and gave him his toy. But I ( she pauses and takes a deep breath) I forgot to put his seatbelt on.
Shino: Even if that is the case you don't know -
Kimiko: (cutting him off) That is what the report says. Even if you had run the red light and gotten into the same accident if only Aiko had had his seat belt on, he would have survived.
So if you want to die, fine. Just don't die in a way that destroys this house and his memories in them. And you have to kill me first. I had already run the bath and was planning to slash my wrists with a knife.
Shino: No Kimiko. Please don't make me do that.
Kimiko: Just now you felt so bad that you don't remember killing your son. Well, you can remember killing me.
Shino: But I don't want you to die. I love you, even if you hate me.
Kimiko: That is just the thing. I hated you so much because I thought you killed our son. But all that hate - I deserve it now.
Shino: We are terrible parents. We were given one job in this world. To keep our son safe. And here we are alive and well when he is dead. We both deserve to die.
Kimiko: Yes.
(Kimiko pulls the lockbox to her and enters a code. The box opens. Shino picks the gun up and releases the safety. Kimiko stands up and Shino pulls her close so their heads are touching. Shino places the gun on the back of her head and pulls the trigger.)