Tenshi no Sumu Heya by Tsuda Masami Source: Tenshi no Sumu Heya Translated: Dianne Dimabuyo (DiDi) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Tenshi no Sumu Heya belongs to Tsuda Masami and Hakusensha. This is a fan translation and no money is being made off of this. Note: This translation is loose and must not be taken to mean word-for-word, because that would just be silly and nonsensical, ne? ^^ Don't hesitate to send comments, criticisms, and corrections, if it so moves you. : text in bubbles <> sound () little text [] translator's additional notes.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[title]] Tenshi no Sumu Heya The Room Where An Angel Lives In. [[5]] The skies above are always a dirty black. // Early 19th century England I work in a coal mine. It's a hard job. [read: painful] Groveling in the dirt in that hole, coming and going. [note: he called it an "anagura" which technically translates to "cellar" since it's like a hole in which stuff is stored, etc.] This continues on throughout the whole day. The air's bad, too. Guy: Louie, come up already. Louie: Ok. By the time I come out, completely exhausted, it's already nighttime. [[6]] Louie: ...... The industrial district The back streets are slums where the laborers crowd together. There are no such things as dreams here. The listlessness the poverty the pollution the stink------ [[7]] ......Sometimes I get scared. It feels as if someday, even my heart will be contaminated by this black air------- along with hoping along with feeling ---along with loving Louie: I'm ho---- Waah!? Jennifer: Kyaa*heart* LOUIE! [[8]] Jennifer: Welcome back. Louie: I'm home, Jennifer. I bought us some white bread. Jennifer: Really? Jennifer: I like white bread. Let's have this and the soup from yesterday for dinner! Louie: Were you waiting? I told you you could go ahead and eat without me. Jennifer: They taste better when I eat with you. Louie: The guys at the mine gave me a newspaper today. Jennifer: Is there anything interesting in there? Louie: Hmm----- It says that coal consumption is at a world high... [[9]] Jennifer: ? Louie: Industrial capitalists have arisen. The era in which wealth belonged only to the nobles and a part of the upper class citizens is over. Jennifer: ? Jennifer: ? Jennifer: ? Louie: ......... /Louie/ That might have been too complicated-- Everything suddenly becomes brighter when Jennifer is around. There is no relationship between Jennifer and me. I found her 3 years ago. But I'm glad I met her. Jennifer: Louie, every morning, I've been giving bread crumbs to the little birds. They ate right out of my hand for the first time today. Even the contaminated air couldn't come in here. There is no despair. Jennifer: They were so cute---- I wonder if they'd come tomorrow too. Louie: Jennifer, you're heavy! I'm sure angels look just like Jennifer. [[10]] My parents died early on. I don't even remember what they look like. I was a nuisance to the family of the man who took charge over me. When I was 8, he sent me to the coal mines. I didn't feel anything. Because to feel is to hurt. I didn't think about anything. Because to think is to stop being able to live. It was as if I was rotting little by little, little by little. But Louie: ......... Louie: A cat? [[11]] ------An angel! [[12]] Baby Jennifer: Ma--- Baby Jennifer: aaaa... Jennifer taught me love and warmth... Louie: Jennifer... This isn't good, you have to stay warm... Jennifer gave me happiness. [[13]] /Guy/ Good work--- /Louie/ Louie [thought]: It's gotten much colder today... Louie: Ah... Louie: That's right. Christmas is coming soon already. Every year during Christmas, we treat ourselves to a little extravagance. This, too, is a pleasure I've come to experience with Jennifer. Man: ...How troublesome. This won't be fixed anytime soon, huh? Driver: I'm really sorry, sir. Man: Hm... I really wish I could get there by the time I promised to be there, but... Louie: Um... Should I call another coach for you? [[14]] Man: Wow, thanks. You really saved me. Man: This isn't much, but I hope it's sufficient Louie: ......... Louie: Um... Louie: I didn't do it because I wanted to get paid....... [[15]] Driver: Hey, boy! Don't be pert! Man: No... it's alright. Man: Excuse me... Man: I treated you pretty lowly there, didn't I? How embarrassing... [read: "I took the attitude of looking down upon you, didn't I?"... includes a tone of regret.] Man: Yosh... We're friends then. I am Bertram S. Ashbee. You? Louie: Lou..Louie Bertram: Louie? Thank you. Bertram [thought]: I wonder if that child works in the mines too......... Bertram [thought]: He seems like an extremely wise and good child too......... What a situation. [[16]] Louie: I'm home--- Jennifer, it's snowing. Did you see it? Louie: !? What's wrong? Jennifer: I seem to have caught a weird cold. Louie: Are you alright? Jennifer: My head is swimming. I'm a little sluggish. Louie: You have to get some sleep. You'll get a cold otherwise. Louie: I'll make you something warm. Louie: I'll boil some water. We have to dry out the room. Louie: I'll get you some molasses tomorrow. Jennifer: I like it when I'm sick. Louie: Why's that? Jennifer: because you're so caring, Louie. [[17]] Louie: What? You make it sound like I'm not caring all the time. Louie: I met a really nice person today. Jennifer: A nice person? Louie: Yeah. He seemed to be a gentleman. Louie: I bet he has a lot of big factories. That must be nice. I wish I could be like that, too. Jennifer: You will! You're smart! Jennifer: You're definitely, DEFINITELY gonna be great!! And then you're gonna be REALLY rich! /Jennifer/ Louie: Jennifer... /calm down/ /Jennifer/ Louie's the best!! Jennifer: I'm sure you'll be more prominent than everybody else. [[18]] Louie: ... And then we'd be able to live in a place with cleaner air. (Jennifer: Yeah) Jennifer will be my bride, right? (Jennifer: Yeah) /note on Louie/ shy Louie [thought]: ...I wonder if she understands--- Louie: By the way, Jennifer Jennifer: Waa- it's pretty! Louie: I picked it up at the mine. I don't know what kind of rock it is, but... Jennifer: Louie, thank you. Jennifer: I'll put it on a string and wear it as a necklace. A beautiful angel Nothing can be painful when Jennifer is happy. [[19]] [Off]: Louie! Hey! Louie: Ah... Louie: ...Is anything wrong? To be in such a place as this... Bertram: It's because I've made a young friend. I wanted to take a walk with you. Louie [thought]: I thought that was just a joke. Bertram: ......Isn't it something? Bertram: Cokestown. Bertram: The demand on coal and iron is still on the rise... And soon, the railroad will reach here. Louie: Yes. And the labourers' livelihoods will probably also improve, right? And if mass transport of provisions become possible, then the prices of commodities will fall... Bertram: ---Where did you study such things? Louie: Eh? Ah... I'm sorry. I'm speaking impertinently...... Louie: A bit from the newspapers... A long time ago, an old man with bad eyes would give me money to read it to him... Louie: I learned my letters from a priest... [[20]] Bertram: ------How about this? Would you like to get an education with my support? Louie: Eh...? Bertram: You might be thinking that I'm talking about strange things all of a sudden, but isn't it a shame that a talent like yours has been buried under here? ----This must be what they call the chance of a lifetime. I could leave this life behind...... But Louie: ......Thank you very much. Louie: But I want to try to do it on my own. Bertram: Haha... I see. Can't succeed if you rely on other people, huh. [[21]] Bertram: I wonder if it's because I had a little daughter. It's painful to watch a kid like you go through all these hardships. Louie: HAD? /Louie/ This is really warm but... I'm really dirty. [note: in reference to the coat Bertram had put upon him] Bertram: She's gone now. Bertram: Meet with me again, ok? I would like to speak with you some more... ---God Was my choice stupid? I wanted to give Jennifer only something that came from my own efforts. [[22]] Louie: I'm home---- Jennifer: O...k.... Louie: Were you asleep? Louie: I bought some molasses. Louie: I'll make some dinner, ok? Louie: THe molasses were 4 pence... Aren't they expensive? Louie: By the way, about Christmas. Louie: What do you want to eat? [[23]] Louie: ? Louie: Jennifer? Jennifer: I'm sorry... I always make you worry... Jennifer: There's nothing I can do for you. Louie: ...How come? It's not even about that...... Louie: Every day is fun because you're here, right? Louie: Even life didn't mean much of anything until I met you. [[24]] Louie: And isn't it that in this town Louie: I have not yet given up because you have been here for me? Jennifer: ......LOUIE! Louie: We'll always be together, Jennifer. Louie: Be by my side. [[25]] I met with Mr. Ashbee sometime after that. We met eye-to-eye. I like this person. /note/ Mr. Ashbee lent him the coat so he's borrowing it. No matter how many factories he owned or how successful he was, he talked to me as a friend. Bertram: Louie, hurry up with your successful career and make it big. I'll teach you the game. What happiness I would have had if I had been born his son. Louie: Ah Louie: You dropped something. Bertram: Oh, no. That's important. [[26]] Bertram: It's a picture of my daughter. Jennifer! I'm sure of it ---Why! Bertram: That's my daughter who disappeared 3 years ago. If she's still alive, she would be 6 by now.[ [note: unclear if he meant "ran away" or "was kidnapped"] Bertram: Even now, we're still working at finding her but we don't even know if she's safe or what... ...What am I going to do What am I going to do! [[27]] ...3 years ago, Jennifer was taken away from Mr. Ashbee's place by somebody. but due to some circumstance, she was left behind by the riverbank... and I found her. I've never even thought about what kind of a family Jennifer was from. The truth is that Jennifer is a young lady whom I can't even reach! In all my life, I won't even get close------.... ...What am I going to do? If they find out... I must take her back! Our social status is too different! No!! I'll make Jennifer, who doesn't even know her parents, happy! [[28]] Louie: Jennifer! Jennifer: What's the matter, Louie? The snow's really... Louie: Let's go away---- right now! As far as we can! Louie: You're happy with me, right!? You'll always be with me, right? Jennifer: What are you talking about, Louie? Jennifer: That's pretty obvious, isn't it? [[29]] God .........God! Don't take Jennifer away from me......! Don't let me be alone...! Louie: ............... Jennifer....? Louie: ............! Jennifer!? Jennifer: No! It's nothing..! Jennifer: This will be better soon! Louie: Wh...... [[30]] Jennifer: I want to go with you, Louie! Jennifer: I want to be with you! Louie: Jennifer! We can't go on anymore I thought. [[31]] Butler: What's with you! Butler: What do you want at this hour... Louie: I brought back Mr. Bertram S. Ashbee's lost daughter back. Bertram's Wife: .............! Bertram's Wife: Alice...! Bertram's Wife: Darling... Alice is! Oh... [[32]] Bertram: Louie Bertram: She'll be fine. It seems her life wasn't in danger. Bertram: Don't worry. She'll get better with medicine. Bertram: ...You've protected Alice, haven't you. Bertram: Thank you. I'm really grateful to you. Bertram: ...Ne, Louie. Bertram: Won't you be my son? Bertram: The truth is, I've been wanting to tell you this so much every time I see you. Bertram: You're a very good person. I'll give you the right books. I'll give you an education. I'll give you the means to develop your talents to your heart's content... Bertram: You'll be a very fine young man someday...... It gives me great joy to think about it. [[33]] Louie: ......... Louie: Thank you very much. Louie: Please... let me give it some thought...... If it's him, then it's alright if I had to give "Jennifer" back...... but I can't be his son Everytime I see "Alice" I'll just come to realize my powerlessness [[34]] After all I couldn't even help Jennifer when she got sick. There wasn't anything I could do. All I've done was to lock her up, give her memories of poverty, and let her become sick. She shouldn't be with me anymore...... It's good that you're back home. Because you can now live on without destitution. Because your happiness is my desire----------...... [[35]] But, I was happier than anybody. You gave me happiness, my angel who protected me from corruption. The main street was full of people. It will be Christmas soon...... /narration/ Since that day, Louie has disappeared from this town. [[36]] /narration/ And 15 years later--------- Robert: Hey! Bertram. Robert: Merry Christmas! Robert: How's your daughter doing? Bertram: Hey, Robert. She's doing well, thank you. Bertram: How's management going lately? It's been getting fairly slow for me lately. Robert: Have you heard the rumors about Early Company? Bertram: Ah. About their rapid growth recently? Robert: That's it. They have a rather skilled young man in there. Robert: They say that a countless number of people who have looked him over critically and thought him naive now think better of him. Robert: Oh hey... He came to this party today... Robert: Well, you should pay attention to him too. [[37]] Robert: I wonder what he did in order to rise in the world. Seems like such a coldhearted man. Robert: !? Bertram!? Bertram: Excuse me. Have we met somewhere before? Bertram: Ah! I knew it! Louie! It's Louie, right!? To see you in a place like this... I hardly recognize you! Louie: ......... It's been a while. [note: He actually used an extremely formal and rather distant way of saying something in the lines of "Long time, no see" which really surprises Bertram.] Bertram: ---------I've been looking for you all this time. Bertram: For the past 15 years... what in the world have you been doing? [[38]] Louie: I call myself Walter Dunlap now. Louie: I've forgotten about things from long ago. Bertram: Since you're this close, I would really like it if you could come and visit the house sometime. Bertram: Alice and I have been waiting for you. Louie: But isn't that all in the past? Louie: Mr. Ashbee? Louie: I found a different life, and if we met, we really wouldn't have anything to talk about anymore. Bertram: Then... Alice... "Jennifer".. have you forgotten about her? Bertram: Really? Bertram: "Jennifer" waits for you, even now. She believes that you'll come to see her someday. Not even prosperity or jewels or silks have changed her heart. Bertram: Even then...? [[39]] Louie: Ah... I'm glad. Louie: I wanted her to stay the way she was. Bertram: And to do that, do you intend to keep everything that's past behind you? Louie: I thought it was best for the both of us. Bertram: When I look at you, I am made to realize just how deep your loneliness must have been. Bertram: Louie, you have to be happy... Bertram: Jennifer always said so. [[40]] Bertram: "Louie is very gentle and to me, he always looked just like an angel" she would say......... There is an angel in my room. ---There is an angel in my room. During those times, how happy was I to come home to that room? It's not that I wanted money. I just wanted some influence. So that nothing more could be taken away from me......... And for that, I willingly gave away everything..... ------but even so......... [[41]] Now I can no longer find what it was that I wanted nor what I wanted to protect------ Lady: Donations, please. Lady: We appreciate everyone's donations towards the construction of an orphanage...... Louie [off]: Jennifer! [[42]] ---------If we come across each other again would I be reborn once more? [[43]] Jennifer: Louie......... That day, it was as if I had met you for the first time---------- Jennifer [off]: -----And at that time Jennifer [off]: what Mama saw [[44]] Jennifer [off]: was the figure of your uncoated, dishevelled-haired father Jennifer [off]: And until that time Jennifer [off]: I loved him so very much, but it was like we had fallen in love at first sight......... Jennifer [off]: I'll tell you this story every Christmas. It's a Christmas story. Jennifer [off]: ...Ne. Do you understand? TENSHI NO SUMU HEYA / THE END -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Homepage: http://karekano.hazydaze.net/ Email at: lostin[a]hazydaze.net Date: February 15, 2004