Fall Guy

Ginshiro grows increasingly jealous as Tachibana receives more attention in the samurai film's close-ups. He mutters about unfair treatment on set while colleagues quiet him. The tension foreshadows later conflicts over status and work.

Tomoko asks for an autograph and has Ginshiro sign her inner thigh. Ginshiro responds with a mix of vanity and audacity. He then assigns his lackey Yasu to obtain Tomoko's phone number.

Ginshiro drowns his sorrows in alcohol and is brought home by Yasu. Konatsu is waiting for him and reveals she is pregnant with his child. He convinces Yasu to marry her, solidifying a complicated domestic alliance.

Konatsu collapses from toxemia, and Yasu tells the doctors that he is the father of the unborn child. The lie tightens Yasu's hold over the family and their future. The doctors' reactions underscore the fragility of the situation.

To cover mounting costs, Yasu signs up for dangerous stunt roles and endures multiple injuries. The physical toll strains him as he pushes for financial stability. His commitment highlights the film's brutal work ethic.

When Tomoko considers leaving Yasu, Ginshiro asks Konatsu to tell her how wonderful he is, and she complies. Tomoko temporarily finds comfort in Konatsu's praise, though the relationship remains unstable. The moment exposes the precarious emotional landscape around the group.

Konatsu and Yasu formalize their marriage, seeking stability amid the film's chaos. The ceremony creates a defensive alliance against Ginshiro's ego and the shifting dynamics. Their union adds another layer to the crowded emotional web.

Ginshiro hides in a warehouse after missing his scenes. He confesses that Tachibana has taken his place as the January model. He reveals the summer shoot has been cancelled and his role is being cut from the film.

Yasu volunteers to take the fall from the 30-foot staircase, earning one million yen in hazard pay after signing a release. He then purchases a 30-million-yen life insurance policy on himself. The arrangement elevates his stubborn loyalty into a dangerous bargain.

Konatsu pleads with Yasu not to perform the dangerous fall, but he insists. After he departs to take the awful fall, she packs her things and leaves, signaling a potential end to their fragile family unit.

Studio executives watch as Yasu takes his place on the stairs, a nail placed to heighten the danger. He demands that his cigarette be lit by an expensive lighter, and Ginshiro lights it with his own pricey lighter before slapping Yasu. The confrontation underscores how far the crew will go for authenticity and publicity.

Yasu performs the stunt and is seriously injured, then somehow crawls back up the stairs for a memorable death scene. Ginshiro cheers as the ambulance arrives to take him away. The moment blurs the line between on-screen drama and off-screen tragedy.

Konatsu gives birth to the child, and she opens her eyes to see Yasu holding the baby. They agree to stay together as a family, clinging to some form of hope amid the wreckage of their lives.

The director yells Cut, and the walls are pulled away to reveal the cast and crew of the film. The moment reframes the tragedies as part of a larger production, bringing the story back to the cinema itself.