Robert Childan quotes from The Man in the High Castle

Frank Frink

[given three rounds for his Colt45 revolver] Only three?

Robert Childan

This is an antique store, not an armory, and I can't guarantee they'll fire. They're 100 yen apiece.

Frink

[gives yen notes] 300. [sees Childan write in a logbook] What is that?

Childan

I'm required by law to keep a registry of all sales of restricted items. So these bullets were purchased by Mr. Satoshi Matsuda, a collector on his way back to Tibet. But I will need to see your identity card on the chance I need to revisit this matter with you, and that is non-negotiable.

Frink

All right, all right. Come on.

Childan

I suggest you work on your patience, Mr. Frink.

Robert Childan

I'm not an arms supplier, pal. I sell antiques, authentic items only, and fake guns aren't my thing. [has an idea] Tell me something, Frink-san, how good a craftsman are you? I mean, seriously, how good?

Frank Frink

I'm good. Real good.

Childan

Could you make this? [shows an issue of Collect Americana magazine with an image of Sitting Bull's necklace] Because I've got a chump lined up to buy it. [Frink looks at the image] Japanese. Their brains are different. I'm sure they eat from English bone china, and they listen to Negro music, but it's all just on the surface, ersatz as the day is long. Condescending bastards look down on me. Here. Look at this. [shows Zippos] Two Zippo lighters. Yeah. Look the same, don't they? Go ahead, hold them. [Frink holds lighters] One of them has "historicity" in it.

Frink

What the fuck is that?

Childan

It's worth 100,000 yen on a collector's market. Don't you feel it?

Frink

100,000?

Childan

One of those two Zippo lighters was in Franklin D. Roosevelt's pocket the day he was assassinated, so it's got historicity as much as any object ever had. And the other one has nothing.

Frink

That's your point? It's all a giant racket?

Childan

And they're playing it on themselves. I mean, a gun goes through a famous battle, and it's just the same as if it hadn't unless you know. It's all in here, [points to nape] in the mind. So who's to say our jeweled choker isn't Sitting Bull's original?

Frink

All right, so which one is it?

Childan

This one.

Frink

Won't he spot that it's a fake?

Childan

The man's already got a forgery in his esteemed collection: pistol aged by an acid chemical. He can't distinguish what's fake from what's real.

Frink

Let's screw him over. 80,000 yen split two ways.

Childan

Just make sure it looks good enough.

Frink

60-40. I got materials to cover.

The Duke gave me this just before he left to fight with the Rebels.

Robert Childan

And this is the belt buckle he wore in Stagecoach?

Mm-hmm. Stagecoach is my favorite Ford.

Childan

Yeah, I just Feels a wee bit apocryphal.

That means he doesn't believe you.

O ye of little faith. He told me to keep it as a memento till he came back, which, of course, he never did. [shows picture]

Childan

Oh. Now, that's a horse of a different color.

That's me, that's the Duke, and there's the buckle.

Childan

Yeah. Yeah, I can see that.

He was killed in action at the Battle of Dayton.

Childan

Oh.

You know that?

Everyone knows that. I mean, John Wayne. Wu?

Childan

We'll give you five marks for this and the photo.

That's the only picture I have of the Duke and me.

Childan

Well, buckle's not worth a pfennig without the photo.

Well, could you see your way clear to seven? I, I got my rent to make, and and seven marks might get me through.

Childan

I'll tell you what I'll do -

15. We'll pay her 15.

Fifteen. That's fair. Right?

You are Childan Robert?

Robert Childan

[bows] Uh, a-actually, it's Robert Childan. Ne- never mind. What can I do for you, most honored Sir?

Chief Inspector Kido has removed the people who have been illegally occupying your shop.

Childan

What?

I am instructed to inform you that it is yours to do with as you please once again.

Childan

Uh, I-I don't understand.

Chief Inspector Kido rewards you for your service to the Japanese National State.

Childan

My s-service to... Yes, of course. [bows] Arigato gozaimashita. [agents leave]

Robert Childan

Kobayashi-san, what a delightful pleasure. How may I help you today?

I was, uh, wondering if you still had that precious baseball. The one signed by the Murderers' Row.

Childan

Oh, sumimasen. I no longer have that item in my possession.

I see. Delightful pleasure to see you back. [goes to leave]

Childan

Kobayashi-san. Um, I almost forgot. Rumor has it, a great influx of Americana may be moving west from the GNR.

And what is causing this influx?

Childan

The Nazis are in the midst of purging American history. So, if these rumors are correct, it would be a great bonanza for my business.

Hmm. Interesting. If you are able to procure these old American artifacts from the Reich, I would very much like to view them.

Childan

Hai.

Your optimism is so American.

Robert Childan

What do you mean?

When I was 14, a man came to our village to collect the young girls. He told us we'd be nurses in the city and work with the war effort. I was excited. I wanted to go, but my father knew what he meant. They made the girls bainshunfu.

Childan

Prostitutes.

My father took me to the local authority. Sergeant Tanaka - a man he trusted. Tanaka scared off the man from the city, and I felt safe. And I'm working in the field, and Tanaka came. He took me in the field. My face in the dirt. I told my father what Tanaka had done to me. My father demanded my honor be restored.

Childan

Your father killed him?

No, Robert. He made me marry him. My father shook Tanaka's hand at the wedding, and I was married with the man for 12 years. The day Tanaka died was the day I was born. Never be ashamed of eating mice. We're survivors. We will outlive these men. All their honor, all their ribbons and medals are there to disguise who they really are, but their crimes are always revealed.