Drive My Car - When that time comes, we shall rest

It is a story about love and grievance. Mr. Kafuku is married to Oto. Both of them act, but Oto turned to screenwriting after not acting. Oto draws inspiration from her love life with Mr. Kafuku. They have a quite healthy love life, but this can't satisfy Oto. One day, Mr. Kafuku catches her cheating with another guy at their house, but he walks away rather than confronting her. After some time, Oto wants to have a talk with her husband after he is off work. Mr. Kafuku can see it coming, but he doesn't want to have that talk, because he wants thing to always stay in this way. He worries that their relationship would be ruined after the confrontation. Therefore, he goes home late. When he returns home, he finds Oto lying dead on the floor. Her death has become one of his biggest regrets since then. He blames himself not returning home earlier, and he wonders she could've lived if he was there for her.

After his wife's death, he has a mental breakdown while performing the show, Uncle Vanya. 2 years later, he is hired to direct Uncle Vanya. The company also arranges a female chauffeur, Misaki, for him. He hesitated at first, but he is willing to let her drive his car after the test drive. Her driving skill is so excellent that Mr. Kafuku doesn't feel like in the car. He reveals that he and Oto had a daughter before, but she died at young age. Even since then, everything has changed between them. Though they still have healthy love life, there's still something missing that can pull them closer. Misaki later reveals that she also had the experience of losing someone. Her mother died in landslide. Unlike Mr. Kafuku, she could've done something to save her mother, but she didn't.

Mr. Takatsuki auditions for the new adaption for Uncle Vanya and Mr. Kafuku casts him as Uncle Vanya, which it's out of his expectation. Having said that, he still takes the role and start rehearsing with the crew. He is fan of Oto's work, and it's possible he is one of people who Oto cheated with. As opposed to Mr. Kafuku, Mr. Takatsuki is a reckless person and always gets into trouble with others. Even though Mr. Kafuku is Oto's husband, Mr. Takatsuki is able to share something that he haven't heard of.

It is heartbreaking to have the feeling that you don't know someone at all, when you think you are the one who knows the best. You have shared everything with that someone, but they keep secrets from you. What's more distressing is that they would rather share the secrets with strangers than with you. This may get you think who do they think you are. Even you know the relationship has flaws, but you still don't have the courage to ruin everything by telling the truth. However, the problem still exists even when you are not dealing with it. One way or another, the relationship will eventually fade away.