01x06 - A Heart Set on Longing

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All depicted events are fictional

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My Lord,

the fault is mine alone.

I can wait no longer.

Uncle.

Can you escort me to my manor?

How did we

get to know each other?

I wasn't here to have fun?

No, Master.

You simply held me in fond regard.

I can't concentrate at all.

Why is he constantly on my mind?

Uncle, I can't handle a boat very well.
Can you escort me to my manor?

Phop,

I'm sorry.

I am relieved to know you are safe.

Pray, come inside.

Phop.

Phop!

Even if he's mad,

he still acts nice, doesn't he?

If he insulted me like before,
I wouldn't feel this guilty.

How terrifying.

If my feelings for him grow even more,

what's going to happen?

Master Klao!

Master Klao!

Master Klao.

Master, you are not recovered.
Pray, take some rest.

Kong, move.

I want to talk to Phop.

Lord Phop… He…

He is on patrol, Master.

If so, then who are you waiting here for?

I am merely here to rest.

The breeze is most agreeable here.

Lord Phop requested you not visit.

He is gravely ill,
having been out in the rain all night.

He fears you may also be taken ill by him.

My Master Klao, my little angel.

Pray, take a few bites for my sake.

These are all your favorites.

I have kept all chilies
from the kitchen today

so that the dishes
are not in the least spicy.

If you desire something else,
pray tell me.

Deer, mouse-deer, Eld's deer,

elephants, turtles,
lice, fleas, or seashells?

Say but the word,

and I shall go and hunt it for you.

Oh, Muan,

no soul takes pleasure in lice and fleas.

Good heavens.
Even Lord Phop has eaten termites.

Master Klao.

Chuay!

And I was foolishly glad

to see Master Klao
smiling and laughing once more.

I hoped things would return
to the way they were.

What is your meaning in saying so?

When Master Klao returned from Phichit,

he seemed…

In those days,

he was in such high spirits.

Whenever he visited,

he would bring books for discussion.

Even the most complex
and difficult matters,

the two of them would discuss together,

as though they alone
in the world understood.

Aunt…

He was well when he returned from Phichit,

but within a few months,
they fell to quarreling morning and night.

At times, they would grow sullen
and refuse to speak to one another.

So you brought liquor into the manor,
though I forbade you?

Do not give me cause to worry so, Klao!

I am truly weary of this!

Then cease your worrying over me.

I shall not remain here any longer!

Chuay!

Go and gather my belongings,

and move everything to the small manor.

Once the High Lord
returns from his official duties,

I shall inform him of this matter.

Chuay!

What are you dawdling for?

Now!

Master Klao has never
returned to the main manor.

Rather than devote himself to his studies,

he took to idling away his days.

At first, I understood that
he was grieving for his father

and needed some distraction.

But as time passed, it seemed he had
fallen into a life of heavy drinking.

At that time, Lord Phop was much
distressed on his account.

Whenever Master Klao went out,

Lord Phop would neither eat

nor sleep in peace.

He would often secretly wait
at the small manor,

exposed to the elements
until he fell gravely ill.

Worst of all,

they were still estranged
and not on speaking terms

until the very day

Master Klao disappeared.

At times, I cannot help but feel that

his madness might actually be a blessing.

For all his strange and erratic speech,

it is better to have
forgotten the tragedies of the past.

The most heartwarming sight
was Master Klao and Lord Phop,

laughing and chatting as in days past.

But I never thought they would
come to quarrel again.

It is true.

I am so afraid,

for I fear they shall never speak again.

Or worst of all,

I fear Master Klao might vanish once more.

Once before, I nearly lost
all that I held dear.

I know too well the agony it brings.

I wish for such sorrow
never to strike again,

neither upon myself

nor upon my friend.

What is the matter, Jom?

Why have you grown so quiet?

Nothing.

But with you staring at me,

it is ruining my appetite.

The other day,
you scolded me before everyone,

and now you treat me with such coldness.

I prepared your favorite meal,
hoping we might move past this,

but I regret ever coming here.

Sit down, will you?

I have not yet said a word.

I truly do not understand you.

Is it so difficult to speak kindly to me?

In the past,

you used to protect me.

So why…

now that we have grown older,

must you speak such cruel words?

Would you care for some cloth?

-May I interest you in my fine cloth?
-Yes.

A cloth, sir?

What a dainty
and lovely little piece of cloth.

The Farang use it to wipe away sweat,
and it is much favored indeed.

Would you like one?

This one

should suit a man like you best.

I prefer soft and light shades
such as this one.

I see.

His name is Kaew,

the youngest son of
High Lord Sintaranurak.

His household has only sons.

Kaew was an unexpected addition,
born long after the others.

Word has it that

his mother raised her sons like daughters,

keeping them at home to do housework.

What a strange household they are.

Raising sons as though
they were daughters…

Have they no shame?

To have effeminate sons,
who would not feel ashamed?

Kaew is a good man

who conducts himself well.

Being close to his mother,
his nature is understandable.

Jom.

And you should better know this,

High Lord Sintaranurak
has a kinsman within the palace walls,

a eunuch preacher,

who is higher in rank than you.

Jom, let us leave.

Whenever someone scolded me,

you were always the first to defend me.

So why must you be the one
to hurt me like this?

Protecting one another, I see.

One might think you are husband and wife.

Or is it merely a little fling?

Well…

I scold you, and no one else.

But why?

I only see you as a younger brother.

But why?

Because…

we're childhood--

Not true.

You do not scold Klao as you do me.

He too is our childhood friend.

Jom.

At times you push me away,

yet at times you are so kind to me.

How do you truly feel about me?

I treasure you.

You are my only companion.

You bring me water

and food

and assist me in every way.

I must be strict with you at times,

but only to prepare you for this world.

So you may support yourself

and remain safe
from the malice and gossip of others.

Jom…

I also

have only you as my companion.

Physician!

Are you here at present?

Leave. I have patients to attend to.

-But Jom--
-Leave at once.

Just a moment! I am coming down!

I see you only as a younger brother.

Do not do such a thing again.

Wrong time…

Wrong circumstances.

Restore what's lost and right all wrongs.

No.

My father is innocent.

Good heavens.

Master Klao.

My Lord?

Are you quite well now?

Quiet.

Has he been this way long?

Earlier today,

he was well, my Lord.

But…

What is it?

Master Klao

rose at dawn to see you.

He had been out in the scorching sun,
watching over you all day

without food, my Lord.

By evening, he began to lapse
into delirium, as you see.

He is very hot to the touch.

Go and fetch a damp cloth.

Tell the servants in the kitchen

to prepare a batch of herbal medicine.

Go now.

Yes, my Lord.

Forgive me.

I shall never again treat you so coldly.

Home…

I want to go home.

Fear not,

for I shall be your home.

Two rounds

of the lash.

Father!

Father!

Klao!

Cease this!

My father is guiltless!

Restrain yourself,

lest you too face punishment.

He is guiltless!

If you seek his life, take mine instead!

Consider your father.

How would he feel hearing this?

My father commits no foul deeds.

He bears ill will toward no one.

My father is being wrongly accused!

Dear Klao.

Act with prudence.

Prudence be damned!

I care only

to find

every soul

who bore false witness against my father!

And they shall meet their end

by my hand!

-Unhand me!
-Klao!

Stay away from me!

Steady yourself, Klao.

If Cherd slanders your father,

will His Excellency would believe him

being but a commoner?

Confronting him will court greater danger.

I care not!

I must hunt down whosoever
bore false witness against my father!

Hey!

So you brought liquor into the manor,
though I forbade you?

Do not give me cause to worry so, Klao!

I am truly weary of this!

Klao suspected Cherd,

so he confronted him.

It wasn't just about Pim.

I don't know whether
he framed Lord Preechaphibal,

but he may have k*lled Klao.

Klao?

He thought Klao was dead.

Klao should've died,
as the fortune teller said.

However, I was placed in Klao's place,

that's why Cherd looked like
he'd seen a ghost.

Cherd is a troublemaker.

Even if Phop doesn't know Klao's fate,

it's natural he'd be worried.

Phop has loved you
all this time, Klao.

Master Klao.

Are you improved?

You must've stayed by my side all night.

Thank you, Chuay.

Why did you thank me, Master?

It is Lord Phop you should thank.

Did I wake you?

I have been awake for some time,
but have not regained my strength.

You're still burning up.

Do take the herbal medicine.

I can manage on my own.

You're still sick. Don't act so tough.

You also take care of me.

Let me return the favor.

Bitter…

I thought so.

Muan prepared me for this.

ICHITAN GREEN TEA

It gets rid of the bitterness
and your fussiness.

I…

I'm sorry

for…

making you worry about me.

I too am sorry

for being harsh on you.

-I did it out of--
-Concern?

I get it now.

If I were to go anywhere,

I'd tell you everything.

Okay?

He has fallen asleep.

Please get some rest.

I shall go and fetch some books.

I'll be back. See you in the evening!

I know nothing.

When did you arrive?

What is this clutter?

Sai, why must you push me?

There's got to be something in that book.

What is it that you seek, Master?

Everything has
been moved to the main manor.

Chuay.

Have you ever seen me

write something down?

Something that feels very personal,

describing my life.

Why not inquire sooner, Master?

It is this one that you seek.

You used it to steady the wobbly bed.

But it was too thin for its purpose.

He loved writing notes.

Just like me.

Chuay, can you read any of this?

You wrote it this way
so that it would be illegible to me.

He wrote it so no one
could read it, as I've been doing?

This must be important then.

FIVE DAYS LATER

It's been a week, but all I can decipher
is "second period."

Chuay says the second period
is 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

What would he be doing at 2:00 a.m.?

My head's gonna explode!

Why does an English major

use ancient Thai, Khom, and Pali scripts?

Klao.

Should you be awake, step outside.

In but two days, Songkran shall arrive.

Our manor is filled with merriment.

Understood.

Every Songkran,

our relatives, kin,

and elders gather
to pay their respects to my father.

Thus, we must prepare
for hundreds to arrive.

You have visited us.
Surely you recall, do you not?

Bud.

I see you finally came.

Everyone is busy with preparations.

I am surprised
you did not remain in bed, Klao.

Oh, Bud, be not so harsh on our boy.

He is still unwell.

You are indeed talented, Master Kaew.

Your arrangements are exquisite,

and your cuisine is superb.

Kaew, you're here as well?

From that moment on,
he shunned my presence

and barred me from his manor.

How cruel and heartless.

Doing things for someone you love
is good,

but you also need to love yourself.

With beauty like this,

had this been Phichit,

the city would have fallen for you.

If you love yourself

and believe in your qualities,

one day he'll notice them.

But if he doesn't, just forget about him.

I believe that

you'll eventually find
the love you deserve.

Songkran is almost here,

shall we go do something fun?

Phop.

Can you call Chuay for me?

I ask for your blessing.

May you find solace.

-May you live long…
-Pray, a blessing.

-…and in good health.
-May you prosper.

Whoa, awesome.

It feels like an Ayutthaya fan meet.

There's even a hi-touch.

It really is touching.

Touching their foreheads.

May you find solace in this land.

It's really bustling here.

Not as lively as
Khao San Road or Silom though.

People here don't splash water?

This is Songkran, Klao, not a wedding.

Why would there be water?

Oh, so splashing water at each other
isn't a thing in this era.

So it's just a ceremony, right?

I reckon the crowd won't thin
till midday, Klao.

Let us go to the temple.

Sure. Pay respects and make a wish.

Maybe this will make Jom go

a bit softer on you.

Come on, Chuay, Sai, and Kong.

Let's go to the temple.

Master Klao,

may I powder Lord Phop's face
before we proceed?

Sai, what has gotten into you?

Well, this is Songkran.

Making merit to welcome the New Year.

May you weep no more.
May only happiness find you.

Klao.

Master Klao.

-Sai.
-Klao, wait for me.

Make haste.

May these precious walls of stone

bring you great fortune

and triumph.

Fortune teller!

It is you again, young man.

Today is a fine day.

I have a gift for you.

Hold out your hand,

for this gift is yours to cherish.

Klao, do you know her?

Rumor has it she is quite mad.

It's okay. She's a kind soul.

A madman meets a deranged soul.

Will they make such a scene again?

Fortune teller…

I dreamed about Klao.

He was actually k*lled, as you said.

If I can find out who the m*rder*r is,

will I get to return home?

Hold out your hand.

I have something for you.

A new soul dwells within this guise.

A promise has been made.

Fulfill the promise, restore what was
lost, and set wrongs aright.

A star shard from the heavens.

Keep it with you, young man.

Pray with all your heart,

and your prayers shall be answered.

She has completely lost her wits.

Let us leave, Klao.

The crowd is staring.

Give me a moment.

I need to talk to her.

Can you say that more simply?

Oracle! Leave at once!

Cause no trouble there!

I shall take my leave.
We shall meet again.

Don't go.

We shall meet again.

-Hey!
-This is Songkran!

Be gone!

I shall now depart.

-It is time.
-Hey!

Don't chase her away.
She's not a bad person.

Master Klao, I beg of you,
do not speak with her.

Hey, make haste!

No.

I wasn't done talking to her.

Master Klao.

Should you vanish again,
Lord Phop would grieve.

Klao.

It would seem you care greatly
for the oracle.

Do you know her?

Well, I've met her once or twice.

But I…

I don't like her being judged like that,

the way Klao is the subject of gossip.

I mean…

like how they gossip about me.

Being called a drunkard despite people
having no idea what I've been through.

The same goes for
how they gossip about you,

saying you like men

even though they don't know

how painful it is for you.

No one ever truly knows who we are.

All they know is gossip.

Just because…

we're different from others

doesn't mean we're bad.

If Jom had actually understood this

and cared less about what others think,

things would easier, right?

Make a wish, Kaew.

This is but a rock.

Such a kind can be found along the river.

Sometimes, ordinary things

may grant you something special.

There's no harm in trying, is there?

May you find solace.

What a relief this is.

With all that racket,

I thought you had run off with the oracle.

A promise

is a promise, is it not?

May I pour scented water over your hands

and receive your blessing?

You ask as though I were your elder.

Well, you're my brother after all.

Excuse me.

May I jump the queue

and pour scented water
over his hands first?

Jump?

Why must he jump?

May you find solace.

Sadhu.

Why wait?

Have you forgotten how to pour water?

I haven't, of course.

But may I pour it

the Phichit way?

How could you dare treat me so?

You really did it, huh?

How dare you do that to me?

Take that.

Klao!

I bid you farewell.

Jom.

May I have a little fun
and do as Klao did?

I must tend to the sick,

so I cannot get wet.

In that case, may I pour scented water
over your hands?

Over your feet will do.

Very well.

You may join Klao once you have finished.

I shall be back.

Jom…

Jom.

Where are you off to?

We must have a proper word first.

Jom.

How much more plainly must I speak?

If you behave so,

people will talk
and no longer think you a gentleman.

I do not care,

so why should you?

If you had no need
to care for anyone else,

and if there were
no one else in this world,

would you treat me differently?

I have spoken plainly.

I see you only as a brother.

I could never feel otherwise.

Do not trouble me further.

Never once have I felt

any affection for you.

I ought not to have fallen for you.

In the next life,

I hope you will be the one to fall for me.

When that time comes,

I shall not look upon you.

All your eccentricities

appear to stem from Phichit.

I am tempted to travel there,

if only to discover the truth.

Being struck with that water g*n

felt like a blow from a cane.

Truly unsuitable for children's play.

A stray shot to the eye

could cause serious injury.

I'll have Chuay burn all the water g*ns.

Are you concerned for Kaew and Jom?

I'm simply wondering
where they're squabbling now.

If they quarrel, they can reconcile.

Just as we do.

Give Jom some time alone,

and he will feel better.

It is true, Cherd.

Klao has been acting most strangely.

He has ceased his outbursts

and now laughs with Lord Phop,
unlike before.

They say he suffers from amnesia.

He visited the House of Pleasure.

I was there.

He could remember neither Sopha

nor the others.

Yet he went there to see Pim,

as though he were trying to vex me.

His amnesia is but a facade.

He would scarce deceive his family.

His taste in food has changed,

and he now resides in the main manor,
which he once refused to do.

Who told you so?

Someone at Lord Phop's manor
told me all this.

I truly believe
Master Klao suffers from amnesia.

How could that be possible?

Can amnesia change a man so much?

I think not.

Klao must have a twin brother.

How could such a thing be possible,
Master?

Of course it is possible.

Listen closely.

Klao disappeared.

His twin has assumed his guise,

posing as Klao to uncover

the one who k*lled him.

That gave me the creeps.

Master, you are full of it.

I am not.

It is true.

Consider this. If that were truly Klao,

would he not remember everything?

He once overturned the tables
and threw a terrible tantrum.

He must also remember that

it was I who cast him out.

Then he ought to resent me
and report me to Lord Phop.

Once informed, he would come to the
teahouse and give me a beating.

But where?

Where is he?
He has yet to give me a beating.

I remember that 28 chairs were replaced.

I counted them all
and noticed that two had broken legs.

As for the vase,
this is the twentieth one.

He even punched a hole clean
through the ceiling…

Why is it so quiet tonight?

Where's everyone?

Today is the New Year.

People are gathering at the temple.

Kindly join me tomorrow.

The festivities last for three days.

You promise?

If you're on duty,
you need to find a way to swap shifts.

I promise.

Now, rest.
You have been mischievous all day.

Good night.

Sweet dreams.

No, no dreams.

So we will sleep soundly

and get a good rest.

Goodnight and no dreams,

you.

Klao!

Where are you hiding?

Whither do you think to flee?

-What?
-I had a nightmare.

What about?

You can tell me anything.

I can't.

How am I supposed to tell you that Klao,
the one you love,

has already been m*rder*d?

Never mind it.

Tell me whenever you feel ready.

Tonight,

might you share my bed?

I simply wonder
how people go about courting another.

Klao, the one from our childhood, Phop?

Is it that odd?

Are you not the same, or am I mistaken?

The servants said
you have yet to eat anything all day.

I have brought you your favorites.

It is simply impossible.

Then so be it.

Pray tell me, my good physician,

what am I to do?

Are you more worried about me

or

Klao, the one you knew?

I believe you know in your heart

how I feel about you.