Jin goes about working on a newer, stronger batch of penicillin. He explains his process in great detail. Am I in science class again? Why must I watch all this? He informs soy sauce king Hamaguchi Gihei that he would like the secret penicillin factory to produce this new strain from now on. Just so you know, it's gonna cost some money. Money that Hamaguchi isn't eager to donate at this moment. Jin has to prove himself worthy enough of Hamaguchi's esteem.
When a dejected Jin and crew return home, it is to find Moma T in a state. Some Bizen tea cups, family heirlooms of a sort, are missing. Tachibana has to admit that he sold them. That's where he got the money to buy the horrendously ugly eyeglasses for his near-sighted geisha. He storms off to see said geisha, only to be turned away at the brothel door because she is feeling under the weather.
Jin is wondering what to do about getting the money (400 ryo) he needs. Sakimoto decides this would be a good time to visit the red light district and so he drags Jin and Tachibana off. They arrive in time to see Nokaze turning away a strange man with a veil. Sakimoto tries to smoothly approach the geisha but she whizzes right past him to beg Jin to examine a geisha at another house. Her name is Hatsune and we can tell from the startled reaction from Tachibana that this is the near-sighted girlfriend. Suddenly Sakimoto's spider senses tingle and he whirls around. Two suspicious men melt into the crowd.
Hatsune is delirious with fever. Nokaze explains to the group that the young girl became this way after she had had an abortion. Although no one is sure who the father of the baby is, it could be Tanosuke, the foppish man Nokaze had just thrown out. He's a famous female impersonator but Nokaze doesn't like him or the way he was doing Hatsune. (Did you know Kabuki actors were prohibited from patronizing brothels? I wonder why.) Tachibana is silently suffering during all this although Jin has noticed the young man hasn't been himself lately.
Jin tries to treat Hatsune with his wonder drug but her fever won't go down. If only he could make his new and improved penicillin, but where to get the money? Surprisingly it is Tachibana who makes the suggestion they try asking Tanosuke for the loan. Turns out Kabuki actors can make a shitload of money.
However much they beg, though, Tanosuke isn't letting go of any of his hard-earned money. Finally Tachibana breaks and calls the actor out. Hatsune is in love with Tanosuke, is deathly ill because of him, yet he won't do a thing to help her. Tanosuke shoots back that if Tachibana really loved Hatsune then he would sell his shogunate retainership and get the money that way. This is an intense dramatic scene and Tanosuke is an interesting character. I hope we see more of him in the show.
Again, Sakimoto spies two strangers with swords in the crowd.
Hatsune is getting worse. Nokaze offers the doctor 50 ryo of her own but he politely turns her down (to the distress of Sakimoto). Jin goes back to the factory where the workers are about to revolt because they haven't been paid. He pleads with them to keep working, that somehow he'll get the money for their wages. That somehow shows up just in time - Sakimoto comes in hefting a chest on his shoulders. On his own Sakimoto went to the abortionist and explained their need for money. Surprisingly the abortionist was all, "Oh yeah, that's a great idea. I'll lend you the money at no interest. You can pay me back in seven years."
With the infusion of money, Jin and factory workers whip into action, which doesn't go unnoticed by Hamaguchi. With a batch of new and improved penicillin, Jin races back to treat Hatsune. In the room next door, Tachibana, Nokaze and Sakimoto await the results. Nokaze assures the young samurai that Hatsune had truly appreciated the glasses, the first thoughtful gift a customer had ever given her.
In the morning Hatsune regains consciousness. Jin announces the good news in the next room. Everyone assumes Tachibana will want to see his lady love, yet he refuses and leaves. In the sick room Hatsune asks Saki whose voice that way. Saki identifies her brother. Tentatively Hatsune asks while she was sick did she say anything. Saki confirms that the prostitute kept calling for Tanosuke. Hatsune quietly cries, expressing shame that she has hurt such a kind man.
As expected, if it sounds too good to be true it is. Seven days pass and the abortionist shows up to claim his money. He's flaunting a contract signed by Sakimoto. The rough samurai declares he had seven years to pay the loan back, but the smirking abortionist says Sakimoto was mistaken - it was seven days. If they don't have the 400 ryo, then they have to give up all the new medicine to him. It's all there in black and white. Er, black and light tan.
Jin is about to give in when Sakimoto stops him. It was sunset when he made the deal with the abortionist, so technically it hasn't been seven days yet. Tachibana runs to Tanosuke and offers to sell himself to the actor for the 400 ryo. Umm, just what do you mean by that, Tachibana?
Time is running out. Shockingly Saki blurts out to the owner of Hatsune's brothel that she'll work there if he will lend them the money. Oh thank goodness, Tanosuke shows up in time. Everyone in this episode likes tossing gold coins on the floor. The creepy abortionist picks up his money and leaves.
In a flashback we see what Tachibana had to do. Outside of the Kabuki theater, in front of everyone, he fell to his hands and knees and begged Tanosuke (who is wearing an odd wig) for the money. For a vaunted samurai to bow his head to an actor is a big loss of face in Japan. Afterwards, Jin and Sakimoto assure the young man what he did took the greatest of courage to do. Tachibana cries.
Jin reports to Hamaguchi about the lesson he has learned in today's episode: that he cannot accomplish anything without so many other people helping him along. He bows his head low and fervently asks Hamaguchi to be one of those people. Impressed, Hamaguchi agrees.
As Jin, Sakimoto and Saki are walking down a crowded street, Sakimoto is tired of their tails and tries to confront the Mystery Men, who again just slip away. Saki worriedly asks if they are assassins after Jin again. Sakimoto light-heartedly replies they are probably after him. This gets Jin to wondering if, in his effort to advance medicine ahead of schedule, he has also advanced the time of Sakimoto's assassination.
There's only one thing to do and that's consult with the Almighty Photograph. Jin pulls the picture out of the book he keeps it in. When he looks at the photo Jin has a mighty serious look on his face. We the viewers don't get to see it, though. Ah, another damn cliff hanger.
In conclusion: don't buy cheap chairs. Because I just broke mine.
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