- Old Ghost Woman: [singing] Men are vain and death is long, And pride dies first within the grave, For hair and nails are growing still, When face and fame are gone, Nothing in this world will save, Or measure up man's actions here, Nor in the next - for there is none, This life must end in fear, Only evil may maintain, An afterlife for those who will, Who love this world - who have no son, To whom ambition calls, Even so - this false fame falls, Death will reign - man dies in vain.
- Lady Asaji Washizu: Admirable, my Lord. You, who would soon rule the world, allow a ghost to frighten you.
- [Morning at Cobweb castle. Washizu, armed, dozes, seated]
- Asaji attendant: My Lady!
- [Washizu wakes with a start and looks around, bewildered. He strides into Lady Washizu's quarters, almost bumping into two frightened female attendants. He sees Lady Washizu kneeling, staring blankly out at nothing, nervously washing her hands in a bowl]
- Lady Asaji Washizu: Will it never be gone? The blood. I wash and wash, yet the blood remains - and the smell! Will my hands never again be clean?
- Taketori Washizu: Asaji!
- Lady Asaji Washizu: There is still blood. My hands. Why do they not become clean? I wash and wash, stilll they smell of blood.
- Taketori Washizu: Asaji!
- Taketori Washizu: Miki would never speak of it. He is my best friend.
- Lady Asaji Washizu: He is ambitious. Children kill their parents for less. This is a wicked world. To save yourself you often first must kill. It is possible that Miki has already betrayed you. I fear this.
- Washizu Guard #1: I cannot believe that this castle is as strong as it was.
- Washizu Guard #2: I heard something, too. The rats have begun to leave.
- Washizu Guard #3: It is said that rats leave the house just before it burns.
- Old Ghost Woman: You humans! Never will I comprehend you. You are afraid of your desires - you try to hide them.
- Yoshiaki Miki: Can you see the future as I see you?
- Old Ghost Woman: Honorable Captain Miki. You are in command of Fort Two. Today you will take command of Fort One.
- Yoshiaki Miki: Command of Fort One?
- [He glances at Washizu, then back at the Old Ghost Woman]
- Yoshiaki Miki: And what then?
- Old Ghost Woman: Your luck turns slower... but it lasts longer than that of Captain Washizu.
- Yoshiaki Miki: Slower? How do you mean?
- Old Ghost Woman: Your son will eventually become the Lord of Cobweb Castle.
- [Washizu glances up from his drink and suddenly pales. He finds the ghost of Miki sitting there, staring blankly at his bowl of rice]
- Taketori Washizu: There he is again!
- [Hurling his cup to the floor, Washizu staggers backwards into the corner of the room, paralysed with fear. Breathing heavily, he snatches his sword, and advances towards the spirit]
- Taketori Washizu: If you hate me, why not draw your sword?
- [He charges at the seemingly empty space, swiping again and again with his sword]
- Messenger: Fujimaki begs to surrender. In apology he offers to shave his head.
- Kuniharu Tsuzuki: His offer is not accepted. Noriyasu! Go to the North Castle. Kill the traitor!
- Yoshiaki Miki: My only wish would be a long, quiet sleep.
- Taketori Washizu: I feel I am already sleeping and have had a frightening dream. What that witch or spirit said, that is what I dream of.
- Yoshiaki Miki: We dream of what we wish.
- Taketori Washizu: His Lordship trust me more than anyone else. And that is why he has given me the honor of leading the attack.
- Lady Asaji Washizu: Where arrows will find you not only from the front but from the rear.
- Washizu samurai: I have fought in many battles and have seen blood, yet this stain horrifies me. Because this is the blood of a dog, the blood of a despised traitor. He was a coward too. Cried for mercy after his revolt was over.
- Old Samurai Entertainer: [singing] All of you wicked, listen while I tell of a man, vain, Guileful, vile, Who through ambitious, insolent, Could not escape his punishment.
- Taketori Washizu: Stop the dance!