High and Low

Wealthy executive Kingo Gondo is focused on gaining control of National Shoes, grappling with competing factions within the company. One faction pushes for low-quality, cheap shoes, while Gondo advocates for long-lasting, well-made products that represent his vision.

Gondo has secretly mortgaged all his possessions to fund a leveraged buyout of National Shoes. He believes this strategy will secure the company's future, despite the immediate unpopularity among stakeholders due to lower short-term profits.

Just as Gondo is about to finalize his buyout plan, he receives a phone call stating that his son, Jun, has been kidnapped. Initially dismissing it as a prank when Jun returns home, he soon discovers that another child, Shinichi, has been taken instead.

The kidnapper informs Gondo that he has made a mistake, revealing that Shinichi, the chauffeur's son, was the one abducted. Despite this knowledge, the kidnapper still demands the ransom, leaving Gondo in a moral dilemma regarding the payment.

After a long night of contemplation, Gondo decides against paying the ransom, fearing the financial ruin it would cause his family and his position at the company. His resolve weakens as pressure mounts from his aide and wife.

Ultimately, under immense pressure from his wife and the chauffeur, Gondo changes his mind and decides to pay the ransom. Following the kidnapper's instructions, he arranges to throw the money from a moving train, a risky act amidst the tension.

After Gondo pays the ransom, Shinichi is safely found and returned, unharmed. However, the aftermath of the kidnapping leads to severe financial repercussions for Gondo as he faces mounting debts and company betrayal.

Although Gondo is ousted from National Shoes due to his financial decisions, the public perceives him as a hero for paying the ransom. Meanwhile, the National Shoe Company suffers a significant backlash and is boycotted by consumers.

The police investigate and eventually discover the hideout where Shinichi was kept. They find the bodies of the kidnapper’s accomplices, who succumbed to an overdose of heroin, suggesting the kidnapper’s ruthlessness and manipulation.

To catch the kidnapper, the police fabricate a false report claiming the accomplices are still alive and request more drugs. The trick leads to the kidnapper's apprehension as he tries to fulfill the drug demand at the expense of others.

Most of the ransom money is eventually recovered after the kidnapper's arrest, but it arrives too late for Gondo to save his belongings from being auctioned off due to his debts. The financial repercussions are significant and irreversible.

In prison, the kidnapper requests a meeting with Gondo. This confrontation reveals the kidnapper’s jealousy and the emotional turmoil stemming from his failed life, shedding light on the motives behind his desperate actions.

After losing his position, Gondo finds employment with a rival shoe company. Although he earns less money, he relishes the autonomy this new role provides, allowing him to work without the pressures that once consumed him.

During their meeting, the kidnapper initially shows no remorse but gradually breaks down as he reflects on his life choices. This moment exposes the deep psychological issues that fueled his criminal behavior and envy towards Gondo's success.