Transcripts - Forever Dreaming

[rustling]

[panting]

[wind whistling]

[panting heavily]

[wind howling]

[metallic creaking]

[grunting]

Mommy?

Mommy?

-Mommy, where are you?
-[deep creaking]

[whimpering]

[sighs]

[wind howling]

[footsteps approaching]

[gasps softly]

Huh?

♪ ♪

Huh?

[gasps]

[sighs] Mom. Was that...

TAMAKI:
Suzume, breakfast!

[Suzume sighs]

Coming!

Some good news for Kyushu...

SUZUME:
Looks delicious.

TAMAKI:
I'm glad.

Your lunch will be
ready soon, too.

Okay.

Oh, and by the way,
you're gonna be

on your own for dinner tonight.

I'm gonna be out pretty late.
-Huh?

Do you have a date?
Take all night, then.

I'm good.
-No date.

Event prep is going overtime.

See you later!

[grunting, panting]

[sighs]

[ship horn blasting]

[bird screeching]

[gasps softly]

♪ ♪

Huh?

[wind gusting]

[gasps softly]

Wow.

♪ ♪

[gasps]

[shudders]

MAN: Hey.
-[gasps]

Got a sec?
-[tire squeaks]

Can you help me?

I'm looking for ruins.

Ruins?

Specifically a door.

Um, there is a town that
was abandoned a while back.

It's over that way,
by the mountain.

I see. Well, thank you.

Huh?

[crossing alarm beeping]

[quiet chatter]

Suzume. Are you awake?

Oh. Hey, Aya.

Huh? Whoa, girl.

You know your cheeks are
super pink, right?

Wait, what? They are?
-Yep.

You coming or not?
-Um...

Sorry, I forgot something.

What? Hold on.
You're gonna be late.

[panting]

Am I crazy?

What am I doing?

[insects trilling,
birds chirping]

[yelps]

[panting]

This is it, right?

I can't think
of any other ruins.

[birds squawking]

Hello?

Guy from earlier?

You here somewhere?

It's the girl who helped you.

[grunting]

Can we talk?

This might sound kind of crazy,

but I have the feeling
that we've met before.

Wait. Am I a total stalker?

[sighs] I should go.

[gasps]

A door, just like he said.

[gasps]

[wind gusting]

[shudders] What is this?

[whimpers]

[gasping breaths]

[shudders]

What the...

[grunts]

[soft whoosh]
-[gasps]

[object clangs]
-[grunts]

[soft ringing]

What?

[voices whispering indistinctly]

It's cold.

Huh? [screams]

[whimpers] What is going on?

I'm out.

[panting]

[bell chiming]

It's about time.

Glad you decided to show.

One of your aunt's
special lunches?

I can taste the love from here.

Right.

So, um, you know those ruins

by Kaminoura,
the bathhouse district?

Do we?

Mm, I think I do.
Up in the mountains there?

What about 'em?

SUZUME:
There was this door.

No, never mind.

BOTH:
Not cool!

-Don't leave us hanging.
-Spill it right now.

What the...

Hey, is that a fire?

What? For real?

Yeah, right over there.
-Like, where?

There. Don't you see the smoke?

Uh, I got nothing. Sorry.

Huh?
-Aya, do you see it?

Nope. No smoke.
-It's there.

AYA: Is it coming
from the fields, maybe?

SUZUME:
Right there.

[phones chiming]
-[gasps]

[students murmuring]

An earthquake? No way.
-Can you feel it?

[rumbling]

[panicked murmuring]

Huh? It's an earthquake.

An earthquake.
-Really?

I'm wide open!

Let's go!

[phones stop chiming]
-[rumbling stops]

[sighs] That was freaky, right?

That warning was
a bit much, huh?

SUZUME: Guys?
-BOTH: Hmm?

The mountain.

Look.

♪ ♪

Hmm.

Seriously, what are you
talking about?

Suzume? Are you feeling okay?

Just me.

[gasping]

Suzume, come back!

[panting]

♪ ♪

Daddy!

No one sees it.

What is that thing?

No.

Impossible.

There's no way!

[gasping breaths]

[wind howling]

It's that door!

[gasps]

He's here!

[straining]

[gasping]

What are you doing?

You need to leave!

[gasps]

[grunts]

[groans]
-[gasps]

Here. I'm gonna help you.

[gasps]

What the...

Oh, no. It's free now.

♪ ♪

[rumbling]

[alarm blares over phone]

[screams]

VOICE: Earthquake warning.
-Damn it!

Look out!

[gasps]

I told you to leave.

♪ ♪

[strained yelling]

Damn it. [grunts]

[straining]

[grunts]

[grunts]
-Why?

You need to close
this door, right?

[both straining]

O Divine Gods who dwell
beneath this land,

you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations.

Your mountains and rivers
that we have

long called our own...
-BOY: Dad, come on!

BOY 2: Over here!
-BOY 1: Hurry up!

Are you...

We claim them no longer.
-[overlapping voices]

O Divine Gods
who dwell beneath this land,

you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations...

[overlapping voices continue]

BOY: Hey, let's come again next
year with the whole family.

[yells, grunts]
-There!

I return them to you!

[whooshing]

♪ ♪

[gasps]

SUZUME:
What just happened?

MAN: The Keystone
was supposed to keep

this area sealed.
-Huh?

Why did you come here
in the first place?

How can you see the worm?

What did you do
with the Keystone?

Keystone? Worm?

I, uh... That all sounds crazy!

Uh...

[sighs]

You really have no clue
what's going on, do you?

A Gate opened here,
and the worm came through.

Thank you for helping me
close it.

Now just run along home and
forget everything you saw.

Uh, wait.

Your arm, it's bleeding.

MAN:
That was a decent-sized quake.

WOMAN:
Look at all those shingles.

We got off pretty light,
if you ask me.

It's gonna take some time to
repair these roofs, though.

[chatter continues
indistinctly]

You can head upstairs.
I'll go get the first aid kit.

No, really, I'm fine.

If you won't go to the hospital,
at least let me bandage it.

Don't be such a baby.
-[sighs]

Hmm.

A relic from childhood?

[grunts]

[sighs]

♪ ♪

REPORTER:
Around 1:20 this afternoon,

there was an earthquake in
the southern region of Miyazaki

with a recorded
magnitude of 6.3.

There is no risk of a tsunami
at this time.

We do not yet have any
information regarding injuries

or casualties that may have
occurred as a...

[newscast stops]

You know your stuff.

Yeah, well, my mom was a nurse.

Now, talk. I've got about
a million questions.

Fair enough.

The worm you mentioned before,
what is it?

A tremendous force that dwells

deep beneath the
Japanese islands.

It has no rhyme or reason

but will rage and shake
if the land is disturbed.

You just beat it, though,
didn't you?

Well, I shut it away for now.

If not sealed with the Keystone,

it's bound to reappear in time.

[gasps] You mean there's
gonna be another earthquake?

It's my job to prevent that.
It's what I'm here for.

It's your job?

So, who exactly are you?

Thanks a lot.
It feels much better.

Souta. Souta Munakata.

Oh, uh, nice to meet you.

Suzume Iwato.
-[cat meows]

Huh? A cat.

Oh, look at the little guy.

He's a toothpick.

Oh, be right back.

You must be so hungry.

Poor thing.
Earthquakes are scary, huh?

[meows]

Cute!

Hey. You want to stay?

CAT: Stay.
-[both gasp]

Suzume, I like you. Lots.

[Suzume shudders]

You're in the way.

Goodbye.
-[gasps]

[gasps]

[whimpering]

Hey, Souta, where...

[screams]

SOUTA:
What the hell's going on?

[whimpers]

Souta, is that you?

SOUTA:
Apparently. [grunts]

But how... [grunting]
-[Suzume whimpering]

Did you do this? Come back!

Damn it.

[Suzume gasping]

[Souta yells, grunts]

No. No, no, no.

Where are you going?!

♪ ♪

Not good. Not good.

Suzume?
-Tamaki!

Sorry, got to run.
-Huh?

Hey, wait a sec.

I came home early because
I was worried about you.

Huh?
-The earthquake.

You didn't pick up
your phone earlier.

Oh, right. Missed your call.

I'm fine, though.
-Hold on.

Stop, Suzume! Get back here!

A cat.

Huh?

[frightened whimpering]

So weird.
-[camera clicking]

SUZUME:
Excuse me!

[grunting, panting]
-[cameras clicking]

What is even happening
right now?

[birds squawking]

Hmm?
-Huh?

Huh?

[panting]
-Hey, Suzume!

Over here!

Hey!

SUZUME:
Where the heck are we going?

MAN:
Whoa.

[grunts]

[people grunting, gasping]

[whimpers]

Oh, crap!

Coming through! I'm so sorry!

ANNOUNCER:
Attention, passengers,

we appreciate your patience.

We have been given
clearance to depart.

We are now disembarking
from the dock.

Hey, you guys saw that, right?
-Yeah, I did.

What do you think it was?
-A toy?

Did you see that chair?
-Moving on its own.

They got to be here somewhere.

They must be, right?

[yelps]

SOUTA:
Why are you running?

How did you do this? Huh?

What are you?

Answer me!

[grunts]

[pants, gasps]

Suzume.

[gasps]
-See you soon.

[screams]

SUZUME:
Everything's fine.

I'm spending the night
at Aya's.

Anyway, got to go.

I'll see you when I get
home tomorrow, okay?

TAMAKI [over phone]:
Wait a moment, Suzume.

You can stay at Aya's,
but listen.

The first aid kit and
strange bag in your room--

did you have someone over?

As much as I hate to
even think it, are you...

Are you seeing some low-life,
good-for-nothing...

No boys! Goodbye!

[takes deep breath]

[vending machine beeps, clunks]

Crazy, right?
You see that chair earlier?

Uh-uh.

I've got food.

We should reach Ehimeby morning.

Looks like the cat's ship
is heading there, too.

SOUTA:
All right.

Here. You should eat.

Thanks, but I'm not
really hungry.

Okay.

♪ ♪

SUZUME:
So, why are you a chair?

SOUTA: Apparently, that cat
placed a curse on me.

SUZUME:
A curse? That sounds bad.

Are you okay?

Does it hurt?
-No. I'm fine.

SUZUME:
You're warm.

SOUTA:
Still...

I need to figure this out.

SUZUME:
Um, actually,

there's something
that's been bothering me.

SOUTA:
A relic in the ruins?

That's the Keystone.

You removed it?

I just picked it up.

Of course.
The cat is the Keystone.

How dare it leave its post
like that.

Huh? I'm confused.
-You freed the Keystone.

Then, for some reason,
it cursed me.

[gasps] But I...

Oh, no. I'm sorry.
I didn't mean...

What should I do?

[Souta sighs]

SOUTA:
No, it's my fault.

I should've found
the door sooner.

This isn't on you.
-It's not?

SOUTA: Suzume,
I'm what's called a Closer.

SUZUME:
A Closer?

SOUTA:
I travel across Japan

closing doors
like the one you saw today.

Like I said before, it's my job.

If I do it right, I prevent
disaster from spreading.

You must be hungry.

Eat up.

SUZUME:
Hmm.

SOUTA:
We'll find the cat,

turn it back into the Keystone
and banish the worm.

Once we do that, I'm sure my
body will return to normal.

You see? No need to worry.

This time tomorrow,
you'll be home.

[scraping]

[young Suzume grunting]

YOUNG SUZUME [voice-over]:
Mommy?

Mommy?

[wind howling]

Mommy, where are you?

[whimpering]

[creaking]

[clattering]
-[gasps]

Hey, Souta?

That doesn't look comfortable.

[birds screeching]
-Hmm.

[gasping]

SUZUME [voice-over]:
My heart's racing.

ANNOUNCER:
Thank you for choosing

the Shikoku Orange Ferry.-
[passengers murmuring]

Take a moment to ensure
you have all your belongings.

On behalf of the crew,
we wish you

a pleasant day and
hope to see you again.

SOUTA: Suzume?
-[gasps]

Ugh. Finally!

It felt like you were gonna
sleep forever.

I was starting to worry
this was all one big dream.

SOUTA:
I was asleep? Huh.

[sighs] Out cold.

But never mind. We've got
a cat to track down.

Let's ask around the harbor.
-Huh?

Where exactly are we?
-Hey. What are you doing?

SUZUME:
Looks like the edge of Ehime.

Wow, we came pretty far.

SOUTA: Listen, if you
get on the next ferry,

you can make it home
before nightfall.

You should hit... What's wrong?
-Huh?

Aw, it's a cat.

Look! A kitty!

Huh? A kitten?
-Huh?

What's your name?

Who are you?

And you are?

Daijin, maybe?
-Daijin?

MAN:
That's a dignified name.

[cameras clicking]

This is totally him, isn't it?

SOUTA:
No way.

Daijin? I mean,
I guess he does have

a certain look, huh?

SOUTA: He's moving by train.
I have to hurry.

It's time for us to go
our separate ways.

Thanks for everything.

Get home safely.

SOUTA:
Think this through.

People will start to worry if
you're gone for much longer.

It's fine.
I make my own choices.

SOUTA:
This could be dangerous.

It's not safe for you
to tag along.

I'm not the one
you should be worried about.

Look.

Not good.
-A walking chair?

It's freaking people out.

If you're not careful,
someone will catch you

before you catch the cat.

[Souta sighs]

SOUTA:
Guess I've got no choice.

Suzume, at least until
we find the Keystone,

I'll need your help.

If you insist.

[gasps]

Hey, look out.

[sighs]

Hmm?

Ah, crap.

[whimpers]

SOUTA: Hold that side.
-Uh... Huh?

[panting] Huh?

No way.

You're a lifesaver!

Thanks a ton.
-[chuckles] Of course.

Seriously, you're like a
wizard or something.

How'd you do it?

Uh, I've just got really
good reflexes, I guess.

Huh? Well, it was
freaking awesome.

I'm Chika, a junior.

Oh. Same here. I'm Suzume.

I haven't seen
that uniform before.

You're from out of town,
are ya?

Yeah. That's right.

CHIKA:
What? You came looking for a cat

all the way from Kyushu?
-Mm.

You must really miss it.

Mm, it's something like that.

Hey, this photo--

it looks like it may have
been taken around here.

[gasps]
-[Souta gasps]

[shudders]
-CHIKA: What's wrong?

Suzume?

♪ ♪

[birds squawking]

Um, sorry, but I've got to go.

Huh? Wait a sec.

What's going on?

Can I help you out?

[Suzume panting]

Can the worm
just show up anywhere?

SOUTA: The Gate in
this area is opening.

We need to close it fast.

But at this rate,
we're not gonna make it.

Oh, no.
-CHIKA: Hey!

Suzume!

Chika, what?

Don't know what the deal is,
but you're in a rush, yeah?

Let's go.

You sure this is the way?

There was a landslide
a few years back.

It's totally abandoned now.

That's perfect. Please hurry.

And thanks.

Will there be another quake?

SOUTA:
Not if we close the door

before the worm falls.

We can do it.

I know we can.

-Here's great.
-Huh?

Thank you for everything,
Chika.

No, wait. Hold on!

SOUTA:
You've done enough.

It's too dangerous.

SUZUME:
No! Souta, stop!

SOUTA:
Go back with that girl.

I've got it from here.

SUZUME: Like that?
There's no way you can.

[Souta panting]

SOUTA:
I have to.

♪

That old school's
become a Gate.

[grunting]

♪

[straining]

Damn it!

I can't do anything. Useless.

The key!

[grunts, gasps]

[rumbling]

[gasps] It's going to fall.

[panting]

I'm coming!

-SOUTA: Suzume?
-[yelps]

-You should have left!
-[straining]

Are you not afraid to die?

I'm not!

SOUTA:
All right, then.

I need you to lock the door.

-Huh?
-Close your eyes.

Think of the people.
this place belonged to,

and the keyhole will appear.

SUZUME:
You're telling me now?

SOUTA:
You were right. I can't do it.

Eyes closed.

Feel all the emotion.
that should be here.

Listen to the past.

Hear their voices.

-STUDENTS: Morning.
-BOY: How's it going?

-Exams tomorrow.
-GIRL: Wait up. I'm coming.

BOY 2:
Man, it's hot.

BOY 3:
No way. You really told her?

GIRL 2:
I know. Crazy, right?

I couldn't believe it.

SOUTA: O Divine Gods.
who dwell beneath this land,

you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations.

Your mountains and rivers
we have long called our own,

they are not ours by right.

-We claim them no longer.
-[grunts]

-Now! I return them to you!
-[grunts, yelps]

[whooshing]

[Suzume panting softly]

-[Suzume sighs]
-[Souta laughing]

SOUTA:
We actually pulled it off.

Nicely done.

You just stopped an earthquake.

Huh? Uh, yeah.

[laughs] I really did.

-That was so crazy!
-[Souta laughing]

Hey, we make a good team,
don't we?

-DAIJIN: Suzume, good job.
-[gasps]

SUZUME:
Huh?

Another will open.
Hope you're ready.

SOUTA:
It's the Keystone.

Come back!

[both sigh]

Was he the one who opened it?

[insects chirping]

TAMAKI [voice-over]:
Huh? You're in Ehime now?

I just... [sighs]

I don't know what's going on.

Yesterday, you told me you were
sleeping over at Aya's.

Hmm?

A little vacation?

If that's a joke,
it's not funny.

Come home tomorrow,
or you're in big trouble.

Okay? And don't do anything...

Minoru, we got a table.

-You go ahead. I'll catch up.
-Hmm?

I thought I'd invite
Tamaki with us.

I mean it! This is serious.

What'll you do
about your school?

[laughs]

Going through
a rebellious phase, huh?

That's enough. Just tell me
where you're staying tonight.

I hope it's safe, and you'd
better not be with a boy.

-[phone chimes]
-[gasps]

[sighs]

Yes, Minoru? Need something?

Oh, um, Shige got us
a table at...

Oh, hey, where'd he go?

TAMAKI:
Honestly, that girl.

[groaning]

-[sighs]
-[knocking]

Huh?

Yes?

I thought you might want
some dinner.

Oh. Wow. Thank you. [chuckles]

Sure thing. There's enough
for two, if you want company.

Sounds good. Uh, just a sec.

I'll be right back.

What do we do?

SOUTA:
You two go ahead.

Turns out chairs
don't need food.

I'll be fine.

SUZUME and CHIKA:
Let's dig in.

Mmm!

Wow, this is good.

Whoa, are you crying?

Yeah. It's just so good.

You must have been
really hungry.

We had a ton of customers
today, for some reason.

Sorry to make you wait
for so long.

No, don't apologize, seriously.

You've given me food,
clean clothes, a place to stay.

Hmm. Oh, geez.

Who is it?

My aunt.

Ugh. Oh, she wrote a novel.

[gasps]

[groans]
I swear she'd be happier

if she went on a date
once in a while.

Is she single? How old?

About 40, I think.

She's really pretty, though.

It's just me and her.

She's been my guardian
since I was little.

Sounds complicated.

Nah, but sometimes...
I feel like I've taken

the best years of her life
from her, you know?

-Especially lately.
-[chuckling]: Listen to you.

Sounds like you're
a guilty ex-boyfriend.

[gasps] You're right.

[laughs]

I wish she'd just
leave the nest already.

[Suzume and Chika laughing]

CHIKA: Speaking of
ex-boyfriends, you have any?

Ever date someone, I mean.

-Huh? No one.
-Hmm.

Smart girl, Suzume.

Boys our age are nothing
but trouble, I'm telling you.

Huh? So, have you had
a boyfriend before?

Want to hear?

-No, not again!
-Absolutely not!

The bath could use
cleaning, too.

[gasps] You're kidding me!
He really did that?

Yep, sure did. What's more...

SUZUME:
No way! I can't believe it!

CHIKA: I know, right?
Boys are so dumb.

[Suzume and Chika laughing]

CHIKA [sighs]: I haven't been
back to that place in a while.

It was kind of nice
seeing it again.

Huh?

The spot I drove you to earlier.

My middle school was there.

After the landslide
a few years ago,

they abandoned the whole area.

Suzume, I can't help wondering
what you were up to,

how you got all covered in mud.

And the chair--
what's with that?

I mean, what's your story?

-Really.
-Uh...

Well, that chair,
it's a memento of my mom.

Or it was.

Sorry. It's hard to explain.

You really are
like a wizard, you know?

So full of secrets.

And the strange thing is...

I get the feeling that
whatever you're doing,

it's super important.

Thank you, Chika!

I'm doing something big,
bigger than ever before.

-[Souta gasps softly]
-[Chika laughs]

Wow. Modest much?

[both laughing]

[birds chirping]

Why do some people have
such a hard time waking up?

What, your BF? What?

I don't have one.
I'm just saying.

You can go
the fairy tale route.

-Give him a big kiss.
-What?

Ah. I heard you're
headed home today.

That's right.

Thank you so much
for everything.

You're welcome back
anytime, dear.

-Thanks.
-Hey, check it out.

-This guy is amazing.
-Hmm?

REPORTER: No one knows
where this kitty came from,

but he seems right at home.

crossing the cables
of that suspension bridge.

His progress is being
closely followed...

MAN [laughs]:
Would you look at that?

Souta, he's been sighted again.

Wake up already!

We don't have time!

[grunting in frustration]

[groans]

[gasps]

Wait. Is that right?

Where is your mouth?

SOUTA [groans]:
Suzume?

Good morning. What's up?

Honestly, what do you think?

Daijin, obviously, but I don't
know what he's doing.

SOUTA: Gods follow naught
but their own whims.

Gods?

SOUTA: That bridge
he's crossing leads to Kobe.

-We should head there and...
-[knocking]

CHIKA: Suzume!
You're leaving soon, right?

Yep, just getting dressed.

Well, I'm right on time.

Here. I thought
these might help.

Huh?

Mm, looks better on you
than me, for sure.

You stick out way less.

with the chair hidden
and no uniform.

Chika, all you've done--

I don't know how
to pay you back.

No, I'll make it easy on you.

-Visit sometime?
-I will.

I promise. [sniffles]

[thunder crashes]

[birds chirping]

-SOUTA: This isn't working.
-Hmm?

You need to be clearer
about what you want.

Wave your arms around
or something.

We could trade places.

Then people would stop
out of pure shock.

That would draw attention
we don't need.

-[chuckles] Glad you agree.
-Huh?

-You actually do get it.
-[chuckles]

[thunder crashes]

[whimpering]

SOUTA:
Why don't we just take the bus?

Uh, next one isn't
for six hours, though.

SOUTA:
Suzume.

Last night, you said this chair
was a memento of your mother?

Oh. Yeah.

So, what happened
to the fourth leg?

Well, I was so young,

I don't really remember
the whole story,

but I do remember
that I lost the chair once.

Then, when I found it,
a leg was gone.

Huh? [gasps]

Be a while till a bus comes.

Where you headed off to, hon?

So, a little
soul searching, huh?

Sounds fun.

Downtown Kobe, you said?

-Yes, if you don't mind.
-Mm-hmm.

We were just on our way home.

from a visit
to Grandma's house.

And home is in Kobe,
so you lucked out.

Mom, look at this.

-It's a chair.
-Weird.

Hey! Ah-ah!

No messing with
the nice girl's stuff!

-You got it?
-KIDS: 'Kay.

-I'm sorry.
-No, it's fine, really.

[kids grunt]

They're staring...
What's got them so interested?

That's strange.

Uh, it's nothing that special.
Just a little chair.

Yeah, that it?

They're still staring.

♪

[birds squawking]

[horns honking]

RUMI:
Careful. Don't spill anything.

-Keep her chair nice and clean.
-[kids laughing]

-We will.
-For sure.

Huh?

BOTH:
Hmm?

-KIDS: Hmm...
-[Suzume whimpers]

RUMI:
Hmm, didn't know you could see

the amusement park from here.

Barely, but still.

Huh? An amusement park? Where?

There, up over that mountain.

[sighs] My folks took me a lot
back when I was little.

But things went downhill
and it closed.

Now they don't even have

the money to tear
the place down.

There's lots of lonely places
like that these days.

-[phone chimes]
-Hmm?

[sighs]
You have got to be kidding.

-Huh?
-The kids' day care texted,

saying they had to close today.

-Great. Now what am I gonna...
-KIDS: Ah...

-Hey, knock it off!
-[kids gasp]

So, what now?

The shop's open soon.

Is there anyone else
who could...

[gasps]

Uh... [yelps]

SUZUME:
So, here we are.

Is there anything special
you want to play or...

-KID: House!
-KID 2: Let's make curry!

-Ready?
-Go!

[kids grunting]

Aah! Not edible!

Get 'em out first, and you win.

Ready? And go!

[screams] No, stop it!

[breathing heavily]

-You're Mount Fuji now, 'kay?
-Huh?

Ready? Go!

-[Suzume grunting, whimpering]
-[kids grunting]

-[panting]
-Get away from me!

SUZUME: You know, I don't think
I'm cut out for kids.

-[Suzume groaning]
-SOUTA: You need help.

[kids laughing]

KIDS and SUZUME:
Huh?

What? You... Uh...

Look. The chair, it moves.

Super cool toy,
don't you think?

Mm, hmm.

[gasps]

KID:
Whoa! [laughing]

-This is fun!
-Hey, wait! I want to go, too!

[laughing]

[chuckles]

Okay, my turn next.

SOUTA:
Not a chance.

KIDS:
Huh?

Amazing, right?

It's a chair-shaped robot
with built-in AI.

What's its name?

Oh. Souta.

-Souta, what's the weather?
-Souta, play music.

-Souta!
-Souta!

Are the stocks up today?

SUZUME:
Souta's not that smart.

SOUTA:
What was that, Suzume?

-[kids laugh]
-KID: Make it talk some more!

-KID 2: Yeah!
-[laughter continues]

MINORU [voice-over]:
Running away from home?

I mean, I did that
when I was a kid, too.

It's a teen thing, you know?

High school, parental pressure,

all of that starts to feel
suffocating after a while.

This one time, I...

We're not talking about you
right now.

Ah. Sorry.

[sighs] I don't know.

What am I doing wrong?
She keeps putting me off.

Won't even tell me
where she's staying tonight.

I have no idea where she is.

Uh, can't you track her
by her phone's GPS?

Don't have that.

So that's out.
We just have to keep thinking.

What about her bank account?
You have access to that?

Huh?

Any luck finding her?

Yeah, I did. She's in Kobe.

Kobe, huh?

Geez, that's a long way
from home.

I can't let her
stay out there all alone.

Um, you know,
if there's anything else.

I can do to help,
just say the word, and I...

Minoru, listen.

I'm taking
the day off tomorrow.

Oh?

Then I guess I am, too.

What for? You need to work
tomorrow, don't you?

MINORU [chuckles]:
Well, yeah.

RUMI: Suzume,
can you come down a sec?

SUZUME:
Coming!

Uh, wow, Rumi.
You look beautiful.

[chuckles] My alter ego.

Everything good upstairs?

SUZUME:
Yep. They're sound asleep.

Great. That means you can
give me a hand in here.

It is never this crowded.

Tonight of all nights.

-[man singing in Japanese]
-Huh?

-[singing continues]
-[lively chatter]

-This girl? She's our backup?
-Sure is.

-Huh?
-Oh, hey. Welcome back.

You won't work the floor.

-Just clean and stuff.
-Right.

[singing continues]

-Quick, get these washed.
-Right.

-Ice, please.
-Right.

-Two more wine glasses.
-Right.

-No, the ones next to those.
-[whimpers] Right.

RUMI:
Come on in.

Suzume, three hot towels, 'kay?

Uh... [gasps]

-MIKI: Where's the bottle?
-Working on it.

-MIKI: The one for Sasaki.
-SUZUME: Right.

[singing in Japanese]

WOMAN: You're awfully young
to be working here, aren't you?

Hey, share a drink
with this old gal.

Oh, and a song with me.
[laughs]

You like 'em young? That it?

MIKI:
Young, did you say? Hmm?

Must be talking about me.

-Miki, you tease.
-Oh, well.

MIKI:
"Oh, well" is all I get?

-MAN: Hey, Daijin!
-Huh?

Here's to you.

GROUP:
Cheers!

[gasps]

[laughter, jovial chatter]

I've got to be seeing things,
right?

Hey, in that booth
right over there...

What?
Oh, he's a first-time customer.

[groans]

He is?

Looks to be the quiet type.

Getting along with the regulars
just fine now.

Okay, but isn't he a little,
you know...

-catlike?
-MIKI: You think so?

Seems pretty refined to me.

Uh... Huh?

[door opens, bell jingles]

RUMI:
Welcome. Have a seat.

I, uh got to check
on something.

-Sorry!
-Wh-What?

[grunts] Huh?

Hmm?

Souta!

-It's Daijin!
-[Souta grunts]

[panting]

All right, what are you up to?

Suzume? You're late.

Huh?

Look. Over there.

Huh?

DAIJIN:
It's the worm.

[Suzume whimpering]

SOUTA:
Daijin!

Come on. We need to go.

[creaking]

[gasps] An earthquake?

Oh. Really?

Miki, you're alone?

[voice-over]:
Where's Suzume?

[rumbling]

It's the amusement park.

[panting]

-Ferris wheel.
-It's become a Gate.

Souta, look!

[exclaims excitedly]

SOUTA:
Daijin.

-[Suzume whimpers]
-Let's split up.

I'll catch Daijin and turn him
back into a Keystone.

You know your part, right?

Mm. Close the door
and lock it like before.

I can do this.

♪

[pants, yells]

-SOUTA: Get that door locked!
-Right.

♪

SOUTA:
Here we go. [grunts]

All right,
I'm getting used to this body.

We can really move.

I won't fail again.

[Suzume grunting, panting]

[yells, grunts]

[straining]

Suzume, you're good!

Huh?

SOUTA:
Daijin.

You're going to turn me back
and resume your place!

[grunts]

[electrical buzzing]

[power whirring]

WOMAN:
Look. The lights are on.

What's happening up there?

-Wasn't it abandoned?
-How about that?

-What?
-[metallic creaking]

[yelps]

Wait, no!

[whimpers]

Stop!

[straining]

Oh, no!

[whimpering]

[grunting]

[gasps]

[gasps]

♪

Is that you, Mom?

SOUTA: The Eastern Pillar alone
will not hold.

You need to become the
Keystone and reseal the worm!

-DAIJIN: Can't.
-Why not?

DAIJIN: I've entrusted this duty
to you.

SOUTA:
What does that mean?

DAIJIN:
You go away.

Daijin stays with Suzume.

SOUTA:
With Suzume?

What... [gasps]

Suzume!

What is it? What happened?

Something's wrong.

What do you see?

[gasps]

No, don't! Come back!

You mustn't go in there!

Suzume!

♪

SOUTA:
Listen to me!

You're inside a Ferris wheel!

You need to wake up!

Wake up
or you're going to fall!

Damn it.

O Divine Gods
who dwell beneath this land...

[grunts]

...you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations.

Your mountains and rivers that
we have long called our own,

-they are not ours by right.
-[overlapping voices]

We claim them no longer.

-WOMAN: This is so cool.

-MAN: Don't move around
too much.

MAN 2: You're right,
this was a great idea!

Let's not wait for our next
anniversary to come back.

-It's so high!
-Just try, just once.

WOMAN:
You know, it's funny.

My first date was at
an amusement park.

BOY: Daddy,
we can come again, right?

[voices fade]

[shudders]

-SOUTA: Suzume! Quick!
-[gasps]

SUZUME:
Souta!

[grunting]

[both straining]

SOUTA: O Divine Gods
who dwell beneath this land,

you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations.

Your mountains and rivers that
we have long called our own,

they are not ours by right.

We claim them no longer!

Now!

I return them to you!

[whooshing]

[power whirring down]

Daijin, he...

SOUTA:
Took off. Again.

[clanking, creaking]

SUZUME:
Oh. [whimpers]

SOUTA:
Let's get inside.

[Suzume shudders]

SOUTA:
What's wrong?

-I was so terrified out there.
-Huh?

[Souta laughs]

SOUTA:
You were amazing out there.

Thank you.

[creaking]

I'm curious.

What were you looking at
beyond the Gate?

SUZUME:
Huh? Oh.

A night sky
lit up by millions of stars,

and a big field.

-The Ever-After.
-Huh?

So, you can actually see it?

What is that?

This world's other half,
where the worm dwells.

There, all time exists
simultaneously.

I could see it,
but I couldn't go in.

SOUTA: The Ever-After is where
our souls go to rest.

It's not somewhere
that the living can reach.

Not a place
we're supposed to go.

[door opens, bell jingles]

Looks like
the troublemaker's back.

[gasps] Where were you?

I was so worried.

Oh. I'm sorry. I, uh...

Running off
at this time of night?

What were you thinking?

Well, she's all right,
isn't she?

That's not the point.

MIKI: And we ran away from home
how many times?

-[stomach gurgles]
-[grunts]

[chuckles]

Lecture over.
Let's grab a bite, okay?

I'm sorry.

MIKI:
How about some fried udon?

RUMI: Yeah, with
a sunny-side-up egg?

-MIKI: And tuna mayo, too.
-RUMI: Mmm. Suzume?

SUZUME: Well, at home,
we put potato salad on top.

-SOUTA: Huh?
-MIKI: On fried udon?

[sizzling]

Uh, I don't know about that.

[Rumi laughs]

-The calorie count alone.
-I'm so hungry.

RUMI and MIKI:
Time to eat.

Mmm.

It's so good.

-Thank you.
-Not diet food, though.

-MIKI: This calls for a beer.
-[Suzume gasps]

MIKI:
You in?

RUMI: You want a beer now?
After drinking all night?

-MIKI: Sure. Why not?
-You should join us, Souta.

RUMI: This potato salad's
really good.

SOUTA:
Hey. Suzume, what are you...

MIKI: I'm making this.
for my boyfriend.

RUMI:
When'd you get a boyfriend?

MIKI:
Won't be long now.

What's with the chair?

It's kid-sized. Adorable.

Why do you have it?

Uh, to remember Kobe.

-That makes no sense.
-[laughter]

[camera clicks]

SOUTA [chuckles]:
They must have thought

you were really weird.

SUZUME:
Probably.

So, is it always
like this for you,

going from place to place?

SOUTA: Not always.
I have a flat in Tokyo.

And I plan to be a teacher
once I'm done with grad school.

-Huh?
-SOUTA: Huh?

-Huh? You're in grad school?
-Well, yeah.

You can't be a teacher.
You're a Closer.

Being a Closer has been
in my family for generations.

I'll continue that.

But it doesn't put food
on the table.

I guess not.

It's such an important job,
though.

SOUTA:
A lot of times, important jobs

are ones people shouldn't see.

I need to get back
into my own body,

or I'm not gonna be very good
at either of mine.

[breathing deeply]

SOUTA [voice-over]:
But can I?

It's like I'm
right at the edge,

about to fall.

It's all getting farther.

The light grows dimmer.

The voices grow fainter.

My body gone.

My mind fractured.

[shuddering]:
It's so cold.

So, so cold.

Where am I?

-[chair creaking]
-[grunts, sighs]

-[clinking]
-[gasps]

Is this it, then?

Is this where I end?

SUZUME [faint, echoing]:
Souta...

[louder]:
Souta!

SOUTA [grunts]:
Good morning.

It took you long enough.

Here, look at this.

There's another photo
of Daijin.

See?

-Suzume.
-Huh?

Did you do something to me?

Like what?

And I thought you'd be helping.
out at the bar again tonight.

-I'm disappointed. [chuckles]
-[gasps]

Here, this is for you.

Oh, yeah.

You look even more like
a little runaway now.

Thank you for the hat,
and for everything.

-Truly.
-[chuckles]

RUMI: Just be sure to send word
to your guardian, all right?

SUZUME:
Okay.

[voice-over]:
Ah, crap!

I totally forgot about Tamaki.



Wait, she's coming to get me?
[whimpers]

SOUTA: Suzume,
you can make the next train.

Buy a ticket. Hurry.

SUZUME:
The b*llet train? You sure?

SOUTA: We know where Daijin is,
and this is the quickest way.

So why not take it?

SUZUME:
To Tokyo, though?

That'll eat up all my savings.

You better pay me back,
Mr. College Man.

SOUTA:
I got you covered.

SUZUME:
Souta, you have to see this.

SOUTA:
What is it?

SUZUME: Look, we're going
so fast right now.

This train rules.

SOUTA:
Yeah, it's the best.

ANNOUNCER:
Attention, please.

We will soon arrive at Atami.
The doors...

SUZUME:
Oh, no. Souta.

-SOUTA: What's wrong?
-This is awful.

We totally just missed
Mount Fuji.

There, see?

You didn't think maybe
you should say something?

SOUTA [chuckles]:
I guess not.

I'm sad now.

Sorry.

ANNOUNCER:
Attention, please.

We will soon arrive at Tokyo.

[door chimes]

ANNOUNCER 2: Thank you
for traveling to Tokyo.

-This is the final stop...
-[Suzume gasps]

SOUTA:
Suzume, that way.

-SUZUME: Okay.
-SOUTA: Right. Left.

-[Suzume whimpers]
-SOUTA: Go up.

Train on the left. Run.

-Faster.
-SUZUME: Aah!

[door chiming]

-[sighs, gasps]
-SOUTA: Time to get off.

[beeps]

[sighs]

Could you treat me
a little less like a horse?

SOUTA:
Before we look for Daijin,

there's a stop I want to make.

Could you call someone for me?

[groans]

[children laughing,
chatting playfully]

[door chimes]

WOMAN:
Hello. Welcome.

Uh...

Uh, um, hello.

My name is Iwato.

I called earlier, and, well...

-Huh?
-WOMAN 2: Oh, yes, of course.

You're related to Souta, right?

Been expecting you.

Here's the key to his place.

Up the stairs, room 301.

Take your time.

You've got quite the fan club
around here,

-don't you?
-SOUTA: Huh?

How is he? When's he going
to get back from his trip?

It's a bit lonely without him.

He's such a sweetheart
and so cute.

-I think you mean
gorgeous. [chuckles]

SOUTA:
They're just kidding around.

Oh, yeah?

SOUTA:
Go on in.

SUZUME:
So, this is your place.

Wow.

SOUTA:
I want to look something up.

On the top shelf,
see that cardboard box?

Grab it for me.

SUZUME:
Sure.

[straining]

-Need a boost.
[Souta grunts]

[grunts]

[gasps excitedly]

You don't mind, do you, Souta?
[laughs]

SOUTA:
A little late to ask that.

Oh, wow. Is this it-- the worm?

SOUTA:
Yeah.

And it also shows
the Keystones.

The Western Pillar
and the Eastern Pillar.

Wait. Keystones?

SOUTA:
There are two.

Disasters that couldn't be
contained by closing the Gate

were sealed away
using the Keystones.

So the locations change
from era to era.

The Keystone from Kyushu
changed forms

and is running around
as Daijin.

-Oh.
-The Eastern Pillar is here,

in Tokyo,
keeping the worm's head at bay.

[gasps]

What I don't know
is its exact location.

And we need to find that out.
because, apparently

there's a huge Gate there
as well: Tokyo's Gate.

It opened a hundred years ago
and decimated the Kanto region

before finally being shut
by the Closers of that time.

My guess is that Daijin
is trying to reopen that door.

So much for that.

Looks like the information
we need has been blotted out.

SUZUME:
Why? Is the location a secret?

SOUTA: I'll have to
ask Grandpa about it.

SUZUME:
Your grandpa?

SOUTA:
He pretty much raised me.

He's in a hospital nearby.

I didn't want him
to see me like this.

He'll be disappointed.

-[knocking]
-[Suzume gasps]

MAN:
Souta, answer the door.

I know you're in there.

-The window's open.
-SOUTA: Serizawa. Of course.

-Perfect timing.
-[gasps] Who is he?

SOUTA: Someone I know.
Get him to leave.

SERIZAWA:
All right, dude, I'm coming in.

That's all the warning
you're gonna get.

SOUTA:
He's not a bad guy, really.

Huh?

Hi there.

Um, you're not Souta.

No, his sister.

He's got a sister? Since when?

I'm more of a cousin
who's like a sister, you know?

-Huh?
-So, um,

you're his friend, right?

Serizawa?

Teacher employment exam?

SERIZAWA: Yeah.
Yesterday was the second one,

but he was a total no-show,
the idiot.

He had a test yesterday?

SERIZAWA: I don't know
what he was thinking.

That's four years of work
down the drain.

And it bothered me so much,

I couldn't focus
on my own test.

And then you show up.
Suzume, yeah?

When you get a hold
of that loser,

I want you to tell him
that I'm pissed,

and he is dead to me.

No, wait,
he owes me 20,000 yen.

Money first,
and then we are done.

I heard his family business
was in trouble and all,

but still, that guy's got a
life of his own to worry about.

Ticks me off.

See ya.

-[phone chiming]
-[gasps]

There's a quake?

-Hey, what are you...
-[chiming stops]

Weird. It stopped.

You okay?

[shuddering]

It's close.

[birds squawking]

♪

That's a lot of birds. Whoa.

-SOUTA: Let's go.
-[grunts]

SERIZAWA:
Huh?

Where are you going? Hey, wait!

[panting]

I didn't know you missed
a major exam to deal with this.

-I'm sorry.
-SOUTA: It's not your fault.

But I freed the Keystone.

SOUTA:
It all ends today.

We're going to return the cat
to the Keystone,

and I'll go back
to being human.

-WOMAN: What's happening?
-MAN: There's so many birds.

[crowd murmuring]

[panting]

SUZUME: So, you can tell
where the Gate is?

SOUTA: Yeah. Looks like it's
somewhere downriver from us.

[people gasping, murmuring]

Isn't that something?

Hey, cute cat.

[gasps]

Suzume.

-[gasps]
-Time to play.

-SOUTA: Daijin!
-Aah! Souta!

[people grunting, gasping]

-What the heck?
-Was that a chair?

[horn honking]

-[Souta grunting]
-[horn honks]

-[people murmuring]
-[Suzume screams]

MAN:
Whoa!

-[horn honking]
-SOUTA: Stop fighting!

You have to go back!

One isn't enough to hold it!

-DAIJIN: Nope.
-SOUTA: Why?

-Really? You still haven't
figured it out?

Huh?

-[tires squealing]
-DRIVER: Whoa!

SOUTA:
Where'd he go? Huh?

-SUZUME: Souta!
-[horn honks]

[horns honking]

[grunts]

[gasps]

That's where the Tokyo Gate is?

What now?

How are we supposed
to get down there?

[whimpers]

♪

[Suzume shuddering]

[birds squawking]

SUZUME:
It's stopping?

-SOUTA: No.
-[thumping]

SUZUME:
Huh?

[people gasping]

-SOUTA: We're too late.
-[gasps]

-[loud thump]
-[people gasping]

[screams]

[gasping]

[alarm blaring over phone]

VOICE [over phones]:
Earthquake warning.

-Earthquake warning.
-[gasping, murmuring]

The warning just stopped.
What's going on?

-The second Keystone.
-Huh?

It couldn't hold the worm.

[expl*sive whooshing]

-[screams]
-The whole body's coming out!

SUZUME:
Daijin?

SOUTA: We can't let
this disaster unfold.

I'm sorry.

I have to go.

You can't! Souta, no!

[horn honking, tires squealing]

[people gasping]

Wait!

-[yells]
-SOUTA: Suzume!

-WOMAN: Did you just...
-[people murmuring]

What just happened?

[squawking]

-[murmuring]
-All those birds.

♪

[strained grunting]

SOUTA: Have you completely
lost your mind?

SUZUME:
It worked.

[yelps, screams]

Suzume!

[whimpering]

I'm coming!

[grunts]

[both grunting]

[Suzume whimpers]

That was close.

SOUTA:
The worm's surface is unstable.

Don't let go of me.

[grunts]

[birds squawking]

♪

[squawking continues]

[rumbling]

[panting]

It's spreading so fast.

Like it's gonna swallow
the whole city.

-What do we do?
-We stop it.

We need to pierce it with the
Keystone somehow-- with Daijin.

DAIJIN [echoing]:
Suzume!

When the worm falls,

the earth's gonna break.

SOUTA:
Daijin!

[grunts]

Souta. [whimpers]

-What's wrong?
-[Daijin giggling]

People will die.

A whole lot of 'em.

SUZUME:
Why would you let that happen?

Become the Keystone again!

I can't.

I'm not the Keystone.

-The Keystone's not me.
-[gasps]

[gasps]

You are the Keystone.

Hey!

[grunting]

What should we do, Souta?

Is there anything?

There is.

-I'm sorry.
-[gasps]

I finally understand.

I didn't realize it before.

Or I didn't want to.

What's happening?

-Your body...
-I'm changing.

It feels like
it's freezing over.

[gasps]

SOUTA:
Because I am the Keystone now.

The moment I took this form,

the role of Keystone
was passed to me.

[Daijin giggles]

SUZUME:
Souta.

SOUTA:
Yes.

This is it.

This is where I end.

I don't want that.

But at least I got to meet you.

[gasps]

Souta, wait. No!

Souta, please come back!

-Souta! Souta!
-[rumbling]

DAIJIN:
That's not him.

Souta is gone now.

Daijin! Traitor!

Well, aren't you gonna
use that on the worm?

I won't do it.

Have to.
The worm is gonna fall.

The earth will break.

♪

[rumbling]

SUZUME [gasps]:
He's right.

It's falling.

Souta, please. Wake up!

Hurry! We're out of time!

I told you, that's not him now.

[grunts angrily]

Souta, I need you!

Please!
I don't know what to do.

Souta!

Lots of people
are gonna die soon.

[gasps]

History will repeat.

♪

[Suzume whimpers]

[crying]:
It's not fair.

I never wanted this.

I'm sorry.

[whimpers]

[grunts]

[shouts]

[expl*sive whooshing]

-Hey, look at that.
-So cool.

WOMAN:
It looks like an aurora.

MAN:
A rainbow at night?

[crowd murmuring]

♪

[wind whistling]

[tapping]

[gasps]

Huh?

Mommy, is it ready yet?

Not even close to ready.

-How about now?
-Not yet.

Now?

Mm, we're getting there.

Well, now?

Let's see.

[chuckles]

All ready.

Happy birthday, Suzume.

Aw.

Um, so where are you
gonna put the face?

-Right there?
-Huh?

There's no face.
It's a chair, just for you.

Okay. How's that?

[gasps excitedly]

-[chuckles] Cool.
-Oh.

A chair just for me.

You're the best. Thanks, Mommy.

-Oh!
-[both laugh]

I'll take good care of it.

-Forever, okay?
-Oh, yeah?

Guess I picked the right person
to build it for, then, huh?

SUZUME [voice-over]:
A child's easy promise.

How long did I
actually keep it?

[water dripping]

[grunts softly]

Where am I?

Looks like... [gasps]

[gasps]

What's that light?

[grunts]

[shudders]

Is this it?

[panting]

Is that Tokyo's Gate?

[high-pitched ringing]

[wind whistling]

Souta!

[panting]

-[soft rumble]
-[grunts]

[whimpering]

[groans, grunts]

[groans] No!

He's in Ever-After.

Souta, can you hear me?

[crying]:
I'm sorry.

Souta.

DAIJIN:
Suzume.

[Suzume gasps]

Finally, just the two of us.

[gasps] Daijin!

This is your fault!

Give me Souta back!

-I can't.
-Why not?

'Cause he's not human anymore.

-[frustrated grunt]
-[Daijin yells]

Then you'll make him
human again!

Suzume, you're hurting me.

Bring him back!

I mean it!
You're hurting me, Suzume.

-I don't care!
-[whimpering]

You shouldn't say that
to somebody you love.

-Somebody I...
-You love me, right?

-I hate...
-[yelps]

[Suzume whimpering]

-Go away.
-Huh?

I don't ever want
to see you again.

Suzume doesn't love me.

[wind whistling]

[heavy creaking]

I'll come back for you.
I promise.

I return them to you.

[shuddering breaths]

-[indistinct radio broadcast]
-DRIVER: Huh?

[panting]

[sighs]

GIRL [voice-over]: Hey,
look at that girl over there.

She's not wearing any shoes.

You're right. Crazy.

[beeps]

MAN: Look at her clothes.
Wonder what happened.

MAN 2:
Oh, she's barefoot, too.

MAN 1:
For real?

[horn honking]

I'm glad Munakata's condition
has stabilized.

Me, too. Things looked
pretty grim yesterday.

SUZUME:
Souta's grandpa.

[medical monitor beeping
steadily]

[shudders]

As I feared,
Souta failed, didn't he?

I shouldn't have barged in.
I'm sorry.

Souta told me you were in
a hospital nearby, and, well...

[sighs]

Reckless boy.

Did he drag you into this?

Tell me, then,
what is my grandson's fate?

He's in the Ever-After,
as a Keystone.

Then he's gone.

I saw the worm appear
from my window yesterday

and cover the city.

I wanted nothing more
than to go myself,

but of course I couldn't.

This broken body of mine
wouldn't cooperate.

Sir, can you help me?

I want to know how
to enter the Ever-After.

Why is that?

Because I have to go
save Souta.

-Foolish and unnecessary.
-Huh?

Souta will spend decades
as a Keystone housing the gods.

You cannot alter his fate,
nor should you attempt to.

Accept that he is no longer
of the mortal realm.

and let him go.

How can you... No, please,
there must be a way.

Let him go, or do you wish to
waste my grandson's sacrifice?

Who pierced the worm
and sealed it away?

Well, I...

Was it you using
Souta's Keystone form?

-But it was all so...
-Answer me, girl!

I did it!

Okay.

You did what you had to
to prevent millions of deaths,

so take pride in your deed
and leave it.

I absolve you of blame,

if that's what
you're waiting for.

Go back to your life
and say nothing.

[gasping breaths]

Ordinary people have no place
in our world.

Forget it all.

You'll be better off that way.

I could never forget. Never.

I'll open
the underground Gate again.

Impossible.

No, you can't.

There's a way,
and I'll find it.

There isn't, and even if
there were, it wouldn't matter.

The Gate must remain closed.
Come back!

[coughing]

[coughing stops]

[labored breathing]

The Ever-After is beautiful,
but it's the realm of the dead.

That much at least
should frighten you.

Maybe, but it doesn't.

If one lives or dies,
it's all a matter of luck.

I've always felt that way.

But...

[crying]: ...a world
without Souta terrifies me.

Huh?

[laughing]

Very well.
There is one Gate alone.

through which a person
may pass in their lifetime.

You've been to the Ever-After
before, haven't you?

What did you see there?

Looked like...

a younger version of myself.

And my mom.

She's dead.

Interesting.

I suspect you perceive
the world as we do

because you got lost
in the Ever-After

-when you were young.
-[gasps]

To get back there,
you must find the Gate

you passed through as a child.

[Suzume sighs]

[labored breathing]

It's been quite a while,
hasn't it?

I see that you are
finally unbound.

[chuckling]

You wish to follow the girl,
don't you, old friend?

I entrust everything to you.

♪

[shower running]

[pained grunting]

♪

[takes deep breath]

Hope you don't mind, Souta.

I'll bring them back.

SERIZAWA:
Hey. Hey, you. Hello?

Suzume!

Huh?

Serizawa?

Where are you going?

To find Souta?

I have to find a door first.

-Huh?
-Sorry. I'm in a hurry.

Wait. I've been looking
everywhere for you.

[groans] Let go.

The cousin thing's a lie,
am I right?

-Why does it matter?
-Get in the car.

-What?
-You're going after Souta,

and I'm gonna help you
track him down.

Why would you do that?

I'm worried
about my friend, okay?

-Wow, man.
-Big fight.

There you are! Suzume! [grunts]

[gasps] Tamaki?

Oh, I've finally found you.

Do you have any idea
how worried I've been?

And you, stay away from her

-or I'll call the police.
-Wha... Who is...

Is this the guy you had over?

You can't trust
a single word he says.

-Huh?
-We're going.

I'm sorry, but I can't yet.

[Serizawa shuddering, grunting]

-Serizawa, let's go.
-Right.

You're not going anywhere
without me!

[grunting]

What the heck is wrong
with you, lady?

-Move over! I'm trying...
-Hey! Watch the seat.

I am not letting you drive off
with some random man.

SUZUME:
I can handle this, Tamaki!

-Some kind of love triangle?
-Men are such pigs.

Why won't you talk to me, huh?

Hey, let's all take
a deep breath, yeah?

Hey. You done?

Uh, Daijin?

BOTH:
Did that cat just talk?

What? No, of course not.

-Yeah, there's no way.
-Yeah, you're right.

-That's crazy. [chuckles]
-I mean, a talking cat?

-'Cause cats don't talk.
-That's nuts.

Can we focus now?

VOICE [over speaker]:
Destination confirmed.

SUZUME: Serizawa,
I put in the location we need.

SERIZAWA:
Whoa, geez. That's far.

Hold on. Isn't that...

You both insisted
on coming with me.

So, please, no more arguing.

SERIZAWA:
Seriously?

Guess we won't be
making it back this evening.

Daijin, what are you
trying to pull?

[takes deep breath]

["Lipstick Message / Rouge no
Dengon" by Yumi Arai playing]

[song continues
with lyrics in Japanese]

[song continues
over car stereo]

[Serizawa singing along]

TAMAKI:
Will you turn that down?

What? This is the perfect
road trip song.

I bet the cat likes it.

Well, Suzume is sleeping.

We should let her rest.

About our furry passenger--
a pet of hers?

It's not ours.
We don't have a cat.

So, according to this...
[gasps]

You're a teacher in training?

Yeah.
That's the idea, at least.

-[engine revving]
-[Tamaki gasping]

Not exactly the smoothest ride,
is it?

The car's used. I'm not gonna
complain about it.

Got it way cheap.

Listen, are you sure
about this?

It'll take more than seven
hours just to get there.

It's not just your daughter.

I'm looking for Souta, too.

She's not my daughter.

She's my niece-- sister's kid.

I took Suzume
after she passed away.

-She was a single mom.
-Uh...

TAMAKI: Suzume was only four
years old when it happened.

She couldn't process her mother
suddenly not being there,

so she went out looking for her
and got lost.

[voice-over]:
Suzume! Suzume, where are you?

Suzume!

[wind whistling]

[gasps]

-Huh? Auntie?
-It's all right.

[crying]:
I'm here now.

I'm sorry it took me so long
to find you.

Starting today,
you're my daughter.



I took her to Kyushu,

and we've lived there together
ever since.

Huh?

Huh?

Oh, sorry. Do you mind?

Well, it is your car, right?

SERIZAWA: So, we're headed
for Suzume's hometown.

Is Souta really gonna be there?

TAMAKI: No clue.
Don't know why he would be.

It's deserted.

You know, you could just
give up and turn back.

Surely, she'd let it go.

No can do. Souta owes me money,
and I need to collect.

[Tamaki groans]

TAMAKI:
Great. So we're getting a lift

-from a loan shark.
-[Serizawa laughs]

[Serizawa singing along
to stereo]

[song fades]

["Sweet Memories"
by Seiko Matsuda playing]

[song continues
with lyrics in Japanese]

[gasps]

Feel that--
the shaking just now?

Ah, look who's awake.

Your aunt is totally out,
though.

Do you guys always sleep
in shifts?

-You're right. I didn't notice.
-SUZUME: Stop the car.

[music stops]

SERIZAWA:
Huh? Hey.

Hey, hey, what are you doing?

Suzume.

[panting]

-[rumbling]
-[gasps]

-[whimpers]
-[rumbling stops]

It's not appearing.

Souta must be containing
the worm.

Huh?

Daijin.

Tell me what's going on here.

Why won't you say anything?

Being a Keystone--
can anyone do it?

Or only Closers?

SERIZAWA:
Hey. What's the deal?

What did you go
running off on us for?

I'm so sorry. It was nothing.

Uh, we should go back now.

[grunting]

Halfway. Let's take a break.

[lighter flicking]

[birds chirping]

SERIZAWA:
Not a bad view.

Has this area always been
so beautiful?

Huh? This place is beautiful?

What?

Uh, are you done?

We need to get going.

Huh?

Hey, kitty cat.

Hear me? Hey.

Okay, fine.

You're as weird
as the other two.

[thunder rumbling]

["Yumeno Nakae" by Yosui Inoue
playing]

[song continues
with lyrics in Japanese]

[Serizawa singing along]

[Serizawa humming along]

[continues humming]

Huh?

It's raining.

Uh, crap.

That's not awesome.

I don't see what
the problem is.

You can just close the roof,
can't you?

Uh, no harm in trying, I guess.

[mechanical whirring]

[squeaking]

Huh? What the...

[laughing]:
Yep, still broken all right.

TAMAKI:
It's not funny.

We can't keep driving
like this.

SERIZAWA:
Oh, relax. We're almost to

-the next rest stop.
-[Suzume sighs]

VOICE [over speaker]: 40
kilometers to your destination.

ETA: 35 minutes.

TAMAKI:
That is not "almost"!

ANNOUNCER:
Time is 3:30 p.m.

SERIZAWA [sighs]:
I'm ready to eat.

[chuckles, blows]

MINORU [over phone]: What?
You're with some shady playboy?

TAMAKI:
I don't know.

I'd say he's actually
more like a discount hustler.

I don't think he's trying to
get anything out of us, really.

MINORU [groans]:
I still don't like it.

Just him
and the two of you together,

shut up in a car like that?

It's a convertible,
if that helps.

That's even worse!

Tamaki, where in Miyagi
are you now?

-Tamaki again?
-Right. Yep, yep.

[chuckles] Minoru doesn't
give up, does he?

Good. Give me a sec.

There.
I think I found something.

A bus at that rest stop's
headed for Tokyo.

It's got open seats
and everything.

Say the word,
and I'll get 'em booked.

Whoa.
Slow down a minute, Minoru.

We've come a long way already.

Turning back now...

-[phone vibrating]
-Huh?

-[rumbling continues]
-[vehicle creaking]

[gasps]

Souta, Souta, Souta, Souta.

-[footsteps approaching]
-Huh?

Suzume, did you feel
that shaking?

There are so many
earthquakes lately.

[sighs] Anyway, you sure you
don't want something to eat?

-[Suzume grunts softly]
-[Tamaki sighs]

TAMAKI: Hey, you know,
I'm here, if there are things.

-you want to talk about.
-Like what?

Maybe what we're going
all this way for.

A door.

Sorry. I can't explain it.

Then try harder.

You owe me that after
the trouble you've caused.

Owe you?

It's not like you would
understand, so why bother?

[car door opens]

That's it.
We're taking the bus home.

I don't know what else to do.
You won't tell me anything.

You look depressed.
You're not eating.

-Get off me!
-I've had it!

You go home, then!

I never asked you
to come after me!

You were gone for days.

Do you have any idea
how worried I was?

That's exactly why
I'm suffocating!

[deep, shuddering breaths]

Fine. I'm done.
I can't do this.

I took you in
because you needed a home,

then spent all of these years
caring for you.

What an idiot, right?

[gasps]

Now I walk on eggshells
around you every day.

The guardian
of a motherless child.

With you, I could never have
a life of my own.

Who would want to marry me?

Too much baggage.

Even with my sister's money,

there's no balancing
that scale.

That's how you feel?

I know it's been hard, but...

TAMAKI: I'm sorry it took me
so long to find you.

It's not like
I had a choice, either.

TAMAKI:
You're my daughter.

You said I was your daughter!

Nobody made you do it!

-I don't remember that.
-[gasps]

When we get back,
I want you out.

Give me back
what's left of my life!

[hisses]

[growling]

It's not her. Who...

-Sadaijin.
-[thunder crashes]

SUZUME:
Sadaijin?

[yowling]

[gasps] Oh, no! Tamaki!

[cats yowling, growling]

[grunting]

I didn't know. I'm sorry.

[meows]

[Tamaki grunts]

Tamaki! Are you okay?

What did...

Sorry. I can't. I have to go.

[crying]

[cartoony music paying]

-TAMAKI: Serizawa.
-Yeah?

I think I might be
losing my mind.

Huh?

I have to be.

I never would've said
those things.

-[crying]
-[stammers] Hey.

-I... Take a breath.
-[others murmuring]

What happened?

Are you okay? Aah!

Uh... [sighs]

Seriously?

["Sotsugyou" by Yuki Saito
playing]

SERIZAWA:
Nope. Gonna pass.

♪ Valentine's Day kiss... ♪

Skip. That's it.

["Kenka O Yamete" by Naoko
Kawai playing, in Japanese]

[singing along]

[chuckles] You got to admit,
when it's sunny,

this car's not bad.

The music is too loud.

What? But I'm picking songs
that suit my audience.

Hey, Suzume,
you like oldies, don't you?

Guess the rain isn't done yet.

-Right, newcomer?
-[purring]

Weird, us ending up
with another stray.

[chuckles] And one that huge.

Hey, look, a rainbow.

How's that for a good sign?

Man, sure is
a tough crowd today.

Listen, Suzume,

cats don't follow people
around for no reason.

Not like dogs.

-Hmm?
-I don't know what it is,

but if they're here,
there must be

something they want from you.

-SADAIJIN: Precisely.
-What?

With human hands,
return what was lost.

-Uh, huh?
-Huh?

-BOTH: Did that cat just talk?
-[horn blaring]

[yelling, gasping]

-Could you do something?
-Oh, crap! Oh, crap!

-We're gonna fall!
-Here we go!

[grunting]

[music continues playing
over stereo]

-[music stops]
-Hey, roof's fixed.

Not cool.

TAMAKI: Could've been
a lot worse, actually.

So, um, it did talk before--
the cat?

Yeah, I think...
No, it did, for sure.

Is something supernatural
going on?

TAMAKI:
No, that can't be possible.

Excuse me!

No one's stopping.

Hey, Serizawa!

We're about
ten kilometers out, right?

VOICE [over speaker]:
Approximately 20 kilometers

to your destination.

It's more like twice that.
It's still a decent ways away.

VOICE [over speaker]:
Return to the designated route.

-Yeah, I know!
-All right, I'm going.

-Huh?
-I'll run the rest of it.

Thank you both for everything.

-[Tamaki gasping, grunting]
-Uh...

Huh?

[grunting]

-Sorry, but I'm going, too.
-Huh?

Thanks for getting us this far.

-What?
-We almost made it.

And for what it's worth,

I think you're going to make
a great teacher.

[grunting]

What the heck? Hey, come back!

[sighs]

They are totally nuts,
both of them.

[laughing]

Souta, you're one lucky guy.

[inhales deeply]

[Tamaki panting heavily]

♪

Tamaki, why...

I give up.

All this, it's you chasing
someone you love, right?

[gasps] Uh, um, no.

-It's not a love thing.
-[chuckles]

[Suzume groans]

TAMAKI:
Want to fill me in?

Who are these guys?

Um, they're supposed
to be gods, I think.

What? Those two?

[laughing]

Listen, that stuff I said
in the parking lot...

It's true I've felt that way
sometimes,

but that's not all I've felt.

And I've definitely never
meant to hurt you.

SUZUME:
Same here.

I'm sorry, Tamaki.

First time home in 12 years.

Must feel pretty strange.

-[running footsteps]
-[gasps]

Hey, I'm home.

Mommy!

I'm home, Mom.

It's incredible how much
she's grown up, huh, sis?

I brought her back,

but I have no idea
what she's about to do.

[gasps] It's here.

[gasps] A diary?

Oh. My memories from back then
are pretty fuzzy,

but I do remember wandering
through a door.

[gasps]

[warning siren blaring]

ANNOUNCER:
Tsunami warning.

Take action immediately.

Those near the ocean,

please evacuate
to high ground at once.

-This is not a drill.
-[shuddering]

ANNOUNCER 2: Evacuate to
high ground immediately...

YOUNG SUZUME:
Have you seen my mommy?

-WOMAN: Are you all alone?
-WOMAN: She was working

-her shift at the hospital.
-Do you know where my mommy is?

WOMAN:
They haven't found Tsubame yet?

MAN: The poor girl is still
asking around.

YOUNG SUZUME:
My mommy is missing.

-Have you seen her?
-She's only four.

-Her mother's probably...
-The poor thing.

-Has anyone seen my mommy?
-Is no one looking after her?

-I'm so sorry, Suzume.
-I have to find my mommy.

[overlapping voices
saying "I'm sorry"]

YOUNG SUZUME:
Mommy, where are you?

It was real. I knew it.

That's right,
the moon was full.

Over there,
by that big telephone pole.

You mean this door
is the reason we're here?

Hey, hold on. Suzume!

It's been more than a decade!

The rubble's probably
long gone!

Come on.

-DAIJIN: Suzume.
-[gasps]

Daijin.

Wait! Where are you going?

[Suzume sighs]

[grunting]

[sighs, gasps]

You knew exactly
where this was.

Daijin, have you been
guiding us

to open doors this whole time?

But I thought...

Mm.

-[wind gusting]
-[gasps]

You did great. Thank you.

[Daijin exclaims]

Let's go, Suzume.

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[wind gusting]

TAMAKI:
Suzume!

Tamaki, I'm going!
Wish me luck!

Huh? Going where?

To see the person I love.

Suzume?

[whooshing]

[shuddering]

There's fire everywhere.

[gasps]

There it is-- the worm.

♪

It's going for the Gate!

-[growling]
-[gasps]

Sadaijin!

[Suzume whimpering]

[screams]

That light-- it's Souta.

[rumbling]

[grunts, screams]

No! Daijin!

[pained whimpering]

Suzume, you okay?

What is this place?

Is this really the Ever-After?

[gasps]

It's Souta!

[screams]

[whimpering]

♪

[screams]

[crunching]

[yells]

Souta!

Souta! Souta!

[straining]

DAIJIN:
Suzume.

If you take the Keystone,
the worm's gonna escape.

I'll become the Keystone
instead!

Souta, please wake up!

[grunting]

Come back to me, Souta!

-[gasps]
-[Daijin grunts]

[gasps] Are you...

[straining]

[grunting]

[growling]

[rumbling]

Souta!

I've come this far!
I'm not giving up!

You're still in there
somewhere.

I know it.
Let me hear your voice.

Souta, please!

Answer me!

[straining]

-SOUTA: Hey, got a sec?
-[gasps]

Can you help me?
I'm looking for ruins.

Ruins?

SOUTA:
You should have left!

-Are you not afraid to die?
-I'm not!

Hey, we make a good team,
don't we?

I'm doing something big.

You should join us, Souta.

You've got quite the fan club
around here, don't you?

Wait!

These are...

SOUTA:
Yes. This is it.

This is where I end.

It's Souta's memory.

-SOUTA: But at least...
-Souta, wait!

-I got to meet you.
-No! Souta, please come back!

SOUTA:
I finally met you!

Souta!

SOUTA:
I don't want to go.

I'm not done. I want to live.

I'm afraid to die.

I want more. More time.

More life. More!

I'm not done living, either.

I want to hear your voice.

See your face. Be together.

I'm afraid to die, too.

So afraid.

[grunts softly]

[gasps]

♪

-[grunting]
-[Suzume yelps]

[groaning]

[gasps]

♪

You came back.

[grunts softly]

Uh, Suzume?

What happened?

[Suzume gasps]

SUZUME:
Daijin!

What's wrong?

Are you okay?

Suzume?

I couldn't become
your cat after all.

[gasps]

Will you return me with...

your own hands?

[whimpering]

Daijin.

[roaring]

[roars]

The second Keystone!

The worm's going to escape
from the Gate!

[Suzume screams]

[gasping]

[growling]

[roars]

-[Suzume screams]
-[Souta grunts]

-SOUTA: You all right?
-SUZUME: I'm fine.

What now?

Hear their voices,
and they'll hear us.

-Follow me!
-Got it.

O Divine Gods
who dwell beneath this land,

you have protected us,
sheltered us for generations.

Your mountains and rivers that
we have long called our own,

we claim them no longer

and respectfully
return them to you.

♪

-MAN: Good morning.
-WOMAN: Morning.

-GIRL: Morning.
-WOMAN: Have a great day.

-WOMAN: Dinner's ready.
-MAN: Thanks for cooking.

-GIRL: See you later.
-BOY: I'll see you later.

-GIRL: See you soon.
-MAN: Take care.

-GIRL: Take care.
-BOY: Take care.

-Have a good day.
-See you later.

-See you tonight.
-See you tonight.

-See you soon.
-See you soon.

-See you around.
-See you later.

-See you.
-Come home soon.

-I won't be long.
-Later.

-Take care.
-Take care.

-I'll see you.
-I'll see you.

SOUTA: Life is a fleeting,
fragile thing.

We traverse it with death
ever by our side.

But we still fight
with everything we have.

We fight and we hope to live
just one moment more.

[growls]

And so, Divine Gods,
please, I beg of you,

allow us this chance!

[roars]

It's okay. Entrust yourself.

-[Suzume shudders]
-[roaring]

[gasps]

[whimpering, gasping]

[grunts]

[yells]

I return them to you!

[whooshing]

♪

[rumbling]

[both whimpering]

♪

[insects trilling,
birds chirping]

SOUTA:
Suzume?

[Suzume groans softly]

[sighs]

-Suzume, there's someone here.
-Huh?

SOUTA:
A child?

That girl...
I need to go and talk to her.

Wait! Why?

[breathing heavily]

♪

So that's what happened
back then.

I finally understand now.

After all this time.

Suzume?

-Suzume.
-[shuddering breath]

Mommy?

Mm-mm.

Have you seen my mommy
around here somewhere?

I'm sure she's been
looking for me, too,

and she's got to be
super worried.

I have to find her,
but I don't know how.

-Maybe you can help me.
-Slow down, Suzume.

She works at the hospital
making people feel better.

She's really good at cooking
and building stuff.

[crying]:
My mommy can make anything!

-Suzume.
-And our house.

Our house is gone, so...

So Mommy...
she doesn't know where to look.

I'm sure that's why
she hasn't found me yet.

That's enough!

[both crying]

Deep down, I already knew.

Even then.

Let go! She's out there!

She's out there somewhere
looking for me!

-Come back!
-Mommy, where are you?

[grunts]

[sobbing]

Mommy!

[crying]:
Mom.

What am I supposed to do?

[sniffling]

Here, Suzume.

I brought you something.

-See?
-Huh?

The chair my mommy made.

Why?

Not sure how to say this.

All right, here goes.

Right now,
things are really tough,

but I'll tell you a secret.

They won't always be that way.

Huh?

So don't worry, okay?

The future's not that scary.

There will be so many people
in your life who will love you,

and you'll even fall in love
with someone yourself one day.

The night might seem
endless right now,

but I promise,
the morning will come again.

And you'll grow up
basking in its light.

Your life will be a bright one.

I know because
it's written in the stars.

I don't understand. Who...

Who am I? Um...

You could say
I'm your tomorrow.

[chuckles softly]

SUZUME:
Somehow, I forgot.

I kept looking,
but I'd been given

everything that matters
a long time ago.

[sighs]

-I'll see you.
-[lock clicks]

["Kanata Haluka"
by RADWIMPS playing]

[gasps] Suzume?

SUZUME:
Hey!

Tamaki, I'm back!

Serizawa's here?

♪

TAMAKI:
So, was it worth it?

I mean, the money Souta
owed you-- Get it back?

-Yeah, funny-- about that.
-Huh?

I wasn't being honest.

I actually owe Souta.

Looks like he forgot about it,
though, so keep it between us?

[both laughing]

TAMAKI:
You're hopeless, you know that?

♪

SUZUME: Why don't you
come back with us?

Emotions anchor the earth
and keep it from shaking.

There are still deserted places
that have lost that anchor.

Gates opening.

I plan to close them
on my way to Tokyo.

♪

Souta, uh...

Thank you for saving me,
Suzume.

[whimpers]

I'll come see you. I promise.

[birds chirping]

♪

[bird screeching]

[gasps]

[shudders]

[chuckles softly]

Welcome back.

♪

["Suzume" by RADWIMPS
feat. Toaka playing]