01x03 - As Though You Couldn't Get Me Off Your Mind

[bunniefuu]

[bottles clattering]

[dramatic music playing]

[Gi-h*] If a tree falls in a forest...

and no one is around to hear it...

does it make a sound?

Or is there nothing

but silence?

[boy] You're late, loser.

THE FROG

[scribbling]

[indistinct chattering]

Oh, hi!

- Will you join us for lunch, Director?
- Oh, you go ahead.

- Okay. See you after.
- Enjoy your lunch.

Thank you.

- [sighs]
- [Yeong-ha] What?

You got a tan.

[chuckles] Did I?

[man 1] Just use the place
as a vacation home instead.

Running that type of business at our age?

I'm teaching my wife how to run it.

She told me
she wants to work close to nature.

But the hospital's far, no?

Well, for now,
she has regular appointments.

They told me they offered you
a leave of absence instead of quitting.

I mean, either way, we're all contractors.

What's the point in taking it?

- Can we get a refill on the sides?
- [waitress] Right away.

Everyone I know who decided
to build a house out there

ended up returning to the city.

I'm selling my apartment.

- I have nothing here.
- You shouldn't do that.

Yeong-ha!
You should keep it even if you quit.

If you sell your apartment
in Seoul right now,

it's the same as throwing your money away.
Call your realtor now.

- [Yeong-ha chuckles]
- No?

How about this?

I got a company
that I can talk to for you.

This food is amazing.

[sighs]

Oh.

[Yeong-ha] Three months.

The doctors said

my wife might be gone in three months.

I'd happily be in debt
if it bought her more time.

[wife] Here. Have a glass of juice.

- [Yeong-ha] But that vacation rental...
- You did an excellent job. Thank you.

...was the only thing I could give her.

Isn't it beautiful?

[man 1] Oh, it is incredible.

[Yeong-ha] And now
it's the only thing I have left.

Yeong-ha, hey.

Oh, just a minute.

[sighs]

[melancholy music playing]

[exhales sharply]

[sobs]

[breathes deeply]

[breathes deeply]

[breathing heavily]

[sniffles]

[music fades]

[engine idling]

[unsettling music playing]

[tense music playing]

[unsettling music playing]

How can...

Uh, how can I assist you?

I'm looking to stay the night.

I couldn't call to book in advance.

[Yeong-ha] I can't do tonight.

I'm sorry.

- I have guests coming.
- [daughter] Dad!

Hello.

Hey, Dad. Did she book here?

No.

I don't have a reservation.

I was supposed to stay at another rental,

but, um, there was an issue,
so they said I should try this place.

[daughter] Oh. [chuckles]

But I see
you don't have a room here either.

I live pretty far away,
and I was planning to stay for a week.

I am not able to accommodate you, ma'am.

[sighs, tuts] All right, no problem.

Well, actually,
we'll only be here for dinner.

What do you mean?
I told you that they could stay the night.

- Why...
- Well, Ji-su's parents have a sick puppy.

They're so worried, so we decided
it'd be best for us to leave after dinner.

If we would still be able to have dinner,
we could happily accommodate you.

Oh, of course!

Oh my goodness.
Thank you so much. [laughs]

Don't mind me at all.
I'll come back later.

- And enjoy your dinner.
- [daughter] Thanks, we will.

I'll be right back. Oppa!

[food sizzling]

[gentle piano music playing]

[grunts]

[Ji-su] You okay? Here, let me do it.

[sighs]

I will...

- [Ji-su] Okay.
- I'll wash those dishes.

- Yeah, I'll do it.
- [Ji-su] Thanks.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[daughter] Dad!

I'll go give her the key.

I thought Yong-chae would be here too.

- He's in the hospital.
- He's what?

- It's a minor injury.
- Oh.

Oh, I'll go give her this.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[suspenseful string music playing]

[unsettling music playing]

[Ji-su's father] No wonder
Ji-su kept bragging about it.

This place is amazing!

[Ji-su's mother]
There are nice walking paths too.

Come visit anytime.
Feel free to bring your friends too.

Actually, you mind if I come by
when the wife kicks me out?

- Goodness, honey!
- [all laughing]

- [Ji-su's father] Cheers!
- Cheers, all.

[Ji-su's mother] Oh!
I suppose we're being a bit loud.

- Sorry about the noise.
- Oh.

- Sorry.
- [daughter] You okay?

For you.

[daughter] Oh, you didn't have to.

I wanted to thank you.

I was feeling really lost earlier,

not having a place to stay.

[chuckles]

This looks amazing. Thank you so much.

[Ji-su] We brought cheesecake for dessert.
Would you like some?

I'll get it.

We need new glasses anyway.

Hey, sir.

I'd love to listen to music.

Could I use the record player?

Sorry, it's not working.

[unsettling music playing]

[sighs]

[chuckles]

[Ji-su grunts]

- [Ji-su] We'll get going.
- Okay.

- Dad. See ya.
- Mm.

[daughter] Ah. Go inside.

[Yeong-ha] Bye, bye.

[daughter giggles]

Okay, bye.

Ah, okay. Take care.

- Yeah. See ya. See ya.
- [Ji-su] Good night.

[unsettling music playing]

[humming]

[music fades]

[moans]

[groans]

[sighs]

[shovel digging]

[shovel digging]

[suspenseful music playing]

[shoveling continues]

What are you doing?

[music fades]

- [melancholy music playing]
- [sobbing]

[sobbing continues]

- Come here.
- [sobbing continues]

Come on.

[both crying]

[wife sniffles]

[Yeong-ha breathes shakily]

[dramatic music playing]

[music swells to crescendo]

[pants]

[dramatic music playing]

[door chime rings]

[sniffing]

[vehicle approaching]

[music intensifies]

[woman] Have you had breakfast?

Did you wanna ask me something?

[water stops]

Did you stay here last year?

With your son.

No.

[mysterious music playing]

I remember you.

You said you were afraid of water.

I think you're confused.

That wasn't me.

[man 1] Check, please.

Yeah!

Well, that was delicious.

- Here you go.
- Thanks.

- Great, right?
- [man 2] Excuse me.

- What's up with the bill?
- Huh?

The bill's wrong. We only had two of each.

Ah. Mm...

- Give me your card so I can...
- Eun-gyeong. What is it, hon?

Oh, I think I accidentally...

[sniffs]

- [owner] I'm so sorry. I'll fix it. Here.
- [man 2] Jeez, okay.

[owner] There.

Did you really think I didn't know
you were sneaking drinks?

Do you seriously take me for a fool?

I'm really sorry.

[owner] I haven't said anything
because of your husband.

He helped me by sending
your guests to my restaurant.

I feel for him. I do.

Your husband's the only reason
I haven't fired you.

Gosh.

No more chances.
I don't wanna do this again.

I swear, you're being a drama queen.

Hmm? Seriously.

[laughs]

What's funny?

Why are you pretending like you care?

[owner] I'm sorry?

Why are you acting
like you're doing this for my own good?

- Eun-gyeong...
- You have no idea what I'm going through.

I'm a drama queen,

and he's the good guy?

Why?

Why do you feel sorry for my husband?

Do you... have a crush on him?

- Is that it?
- Are you crazy?

You were seeing
that bar owner, too, weren't you?

Did you really think that I didn't know
about you having your affair?

- Shut it!
- You didn't hire me 'cause you care.

I did the work for you,
and you paid me what I earned.

Yes, I work in your restaurant
and get paid by you,

but you cannot speak to me like that.

- [woman] I think you're drunk, sweetie...
- I'm not drunk!

[pants]

Fire me if that's what you want! Huh?

You won't because you like seeing that
your life is so much better than mine.

Do you get off
on having someone that's so beneath you?

Why? You act like it's your right
to see me unhappy!

Why? [sobs]

Hi. Right.

Hello?

[liquid pouring]

[sighs]

- Oh, thanks.
- Here.

There. They want to build state-of-the-art

low-rise apartments.

[pensive music playing]

They're debating between two properties.

And honestly,

even if you have to knock the price down,
I really think you should take it.

Knock it down by how much?

We'll, uh, we'll take anything.

It's already been a year.

We're okay taking it down,
so please push it as much as you can.

Good!

Let's make it happen, then.

[laughing]

[pensive music continues]

Honey.

Listen. Let's... not get ahead of ourselves.

It'll work out.

Can you drop me at the store?

[Eun-gyeong] Here you go.

[Eun-gyeong sighs]

Come on. Why are you just watching?

Let's eat.

[music fades]

[Sang-jun sighs]

It's been so long

since our family's
had a proper meal like this, hasn't it?

We didn't even celebrate Gi-h*
scoring top of his class on his midterms.

Here.

Eat up, sweetie. [chuckles]

Whether or not... this sale goes through...

I wanna work on getting better.

[phone ringing]

[phone ringing]

[phone ringing]

[Eun-gyeong] Hello?

Hi, Mi-gyeong.

[laughs] Oh, that?

Yeah.

[suspenseful music playing]

[Eun-gyeong] No.
You don't need to come visit.

Oh, no, it's okay.

Seriously, I'm fine.

Gosh. Goodbye. I'm hanging up now.

Mi-gyeong, stop being so nosey.

Yeah.

Yes, I'm sure things
are going to get better.

Don't worry.

Okay, talk to you later.

[bottles clinking]

[refrigerator door closes]

[bottle cap clicks]

[liquid pouring]

[melancholy music playing]

[sighs]

- [Jong-du] She's thrown away her soul.
- [Sang-jun] What do you mean?

She's throwing away her vice.

[water burbling]

[Sang-jun chuckles]

[sighs]

[Sang-jun sighs]

Hey, have I ever told you about me?

You have not.

[tuts] It's pathetic, that's why.

- [sighs]
- [Jong-du chuckles]

Hey.

I'm a washed-up old gangster

and a troublemaker without a father

who lives off what his mother makes.

So who's more pathetic, huh?

[both laugh]

You win. [laughs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

I've never been lucky.

My parents died when I was 17.

I realized that my... gambling uncle
ran away with the inheritance.

[scoffs]

I became homeless
with no relatives to help me.

I crashed with some of the other guys
at any construction site I could.

The laborers who went around
taking big construction work.

Yeah.

So then I...

[sighs]

...got tired of drifting around,
so I got a job at a factory.

[scoffs] And that boss ran away.

[scoffs] sh*t, man. Life really got you.

[Sang-jun] I know, right? [laughs]

And back then,
I really knew people everywhere.

I traveled so much, cleaning up his mess.

Head office was impressed.

So, in '85,

they put me in charge of the factory,
even though I was young.

Good for you.

[Sang-jun laughs]

Guess who
their office assistant was back then.

It was my wife.

[Jong-du] Ah.

The minute I saw her, love at first sight.

But she wasn't interested.

[both laughing]

Of course,
'cause compared to me, your looks are...

horse sh*t.

[both laughing]

b*stard. [laughing]

Damn.

[sighs]

The IMF crisis.

I was fortunate enough
to sell the factory, and I ended up here.

Now that I think about it,
I've been through a lot of sh*t.

And I've handled it all.

That's my life.

The moment that I think
I can't possibly do any more,

a solution pops up.

[sighs]

I hope we can actually sell

that damn motel.

[sighs]

[sighs]

Want a drink?

- Nah, I gotta go to work.
- Now?

Yeah, they're short a person tonight,
so I said I would.

See ya.

See ya.

[Sang-jun sighs]

[vacuum turns off]

[mysterious music playing]

[door rattling]

[loud bang, thud, scraping]

[thud]

- [gasping]
- [ominous music playing]

[gasping, whimpering]

[ominous music continues]

[gasping, whimpering]

[blood sloshes]

[gasping, whimpering]

- [gasps]
- [music subsides]

[panting]

[unsettling music playing]

- [boy 1] Ta-da!
- [boy 2] Whoa.

[boy 3] Yeah.

- [boy 1] I like soju.
- [boy 3] Oh, soju.

- I like soju better.
- How many more you got?

- [boy 4] Nice, I love this brand.
- [boy 5] Yeah!

- This is it?
- [boy 2] Sheesh, what the hell?

I'm sorry. I can't bring you any more.

[boy 3] Dude, seriously? Unbelievable.

[boy 2] Bro...

- Whoa! Cigarettes!
- Give it here, idiot.

- Dude!
- He remembered them.

- Oh, what? Gimme.
- Ooh!

- Dude! Awesome.
- Pass them to me.

- Give it to me. Come on, quickly.
- Hey, give it here.

- [boy 1] What's this?
- Are these pills?

- [boy 2] What is it?
- [boy 3] What?

[boy 4] Pills? He's a healthy boy.

[boy 3 laughs] Yeah.

- [boy 1] The nerd needs them.
- [boy 5] All right.

[Eun-gyeong sighs]

[distant metallic clatter]

[unsettling music playing]

[boy 1] Hurry, hurry! Get out of the way!

[whimpers]

[whimpers, grunts]

[boys shouting indistinctly]

[breathing heavily]

[cracking, scraping]

[tense music playing]

[music intensifies]

[music subsides]

Gi-h*.

[siren wailing]

[officer] Your son's the one who brought
all the alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

What?

[pills rattle]

[officer] The sleeping pills
are prescription.

Do you know where he got them?

The kids mixed 'em with alcohol.

They made a game, putting more pills in
until one went into shock.

The other kids said
Gi-h* was the ringleader

and made all of them do it.

[gasps]

Oh, no, no... No, there's no way.

You... Gi-h* is a...

[man 1] How dare you drag our kids
to the police station at this hour!

- Huh?
- h*-seob!

- Detective Jung.
- [man 1] Where's my son?

[indistinct chattering]

- [man 2] You okay? Are you hurt anywhere?
- [man 1] You little brat!

[man 2] Who the hell did this to you?

- [man 1] Is it him? That little sh*t?
- [man 2] Was it this punk?

[man 1] Why I oughta...

- What the...
- Gi-h*!

- [man 3] What the... Is he?
- [Eun-gyeong] Gi-h*!

Gi-h*! Gi-h*, you okay?

Gi-h*! Wake up!

[monitor beeping]

[sighs]

[doctor] Don't worry. He's just asleep.

[sighs]

[mysterious music playing]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[breathing shakily]

m*rder MOTEL


- Open up! Let go.
- Don't! Leave him alone!

- Open up! Now, Gi-h*! Let go of me!
- Stop! He just got home.

- Don't do this to him!
- Where were you when this happened, huh?

Move.

- You little sh*t. Come back here!
- [Eun-gyeong] Honey, honey.

- Where are you going? Hey!
- No!

- [Sang-jun] I'm talking to you!
- He was being bullied!

[Eun-gyeong pants]

What?

The other kids forced him to bring it all.

Oh, damn it.

He's not a child,
for Christ's sake, Eun-gyeong!

They said if he didn't do it,
they'd set the motel on fire.

They threatened
and have been insulting him.

They've been beating him for months!

And guess which kid
took the most sleeping pills?

Our Gi-h*!

- [door opens]
- Gi-h*!

[door closes]

[unsettling music playing]

[tense percussive music playing]

[woman 1] No, you don't understand.
We don't want that!

[man 1] First of all, if you could
separate the bully from the victims

as soon as possible...

[principal] I understand
where you're coming from.

[woman 1] My son isn't one
to do this kind of thing.

- He's just a kid! A middle schooler!
- [woman 2] Mr. Koo.

- He'd never.
- Huh?

- Is that Gi-h*'s dad?
- What the hell?

- [man 3] Are you Gi-h*'s dad?
- [principal] Please calm down. Come in.

[man 1] How do you expect us
to calm down right now?

Think about the state our kids are in,
thanks to his son.

Principal, Byeong-u had to go
to the emergency room a few days ago.

How do you expect us to send our kids
to a school where this happens?

What kind of school are you running?
You need to decide...

[woman 1] Enough!

- Hey, what do you think you're doing?
- Stop!

- Mr. Koo!
- Let go!

Stop this right now!

Please, this is no way to behave
in a school property.

Please, sir.

- Get over here, you little...
- Get off him!

[Gi-h*] The sale of the motel,
unfortunately, fell through.

[man 3] Please!

[Gi-h*] The developer
who was interested in buying it

turned out to be close friends
with that student's family.

[police chief] Oh, you didn't need
to bring anything.

[laughs]

I heard what happened.
There's no need to worry, okay?

Sorry to ask you a favor.

No problem, Gyeong-ok.

I'm always happy to help
an old classmate of mine.

I don't want any special treatment.

Can you make sure it's conducted fairly?

Yes, yes. Drink up.

- Thank you.
- Right.

- [officer] Don't worry. Get home safe.
- [Gyeong-ok] Thanks.

Sang-jun.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

All will work out.

This too shall pass. It already is.

Hmm.

Come on, let's go.

Oh, you're awake.

[Sang-jun groans]

Just let me sleep.

I wanna catch up on
all the sleep I've missed.

Yeah, sleep. Sure, sure, sure, sure.

Just ignore me.

Sorry, sorry. Sleep, sleep. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I need to recycle those.

Okay. All right.

Go to sleep. I'm done cleaning up.

[garbage clatters loudly]

Go to sleep! Don't get up. Sleep.

Can't sleep, huh?

- [Sang-jun] Hey.
- What?

Okay, I'll leave.

[intriguing music playing]

Oh, uh, I just thought

it would help me stretch, you know?

[Gyeong-ok clears throat]

[bottles clinking]

[intriguing music continues]

DOCUMENTARY ON JI HYANG-CHEOL TO AIR

AFTERMATH OF MURDERS STILL PRESENT


REPORTER YEOM DONG-CHAN

[man 1] I think the Ji Hyang-cheol motel
is around here.

[man 2] Ooh, Ji Hyang-cheol!

[man 1] Wanna go?

[man 2] Why? Isn't that kinda creepy?

[man 1] Some people go there
to take pictures.

It's a tourist spot.

- Let's go.
- Okay.

We're ready.

[Jong-du] No, you're not.

What?

I'm not serving you.

[man 1] Why not?

[man 2] Let's just go.

Let go of me.

Hey, dude.

Why won't you serve us?

[Jong-du] You can go
look at the sign out front.

"You"?

Yeah, you.

- [scoffs]
- [Jong-du] I said go look at the sign.

Jong-du's Supermarket is on it.

Yeah?

Well, I'm Jong-du.

Everything in this store is mine.

So whether or not I serve you
is completely my decision.

Wow. You're really funny.

[chuckles]

You think I'm funny?
Then go ahead and laugh.

You f*cking b*stard.
All right, you and me.

Come on!

- Come and fight, you two-bit thug.
- Fine, I'm going, you f*ck.

- You goddamned crazy son of a b*tch.
- The f*ck are you looking at?

- [man 1] Come the f*ck out, as*h*le!
- Let's go.

- f*ck you, b*stard!
- [Jong-du] Is that right?

- You're a crazy b*stard!
- Stop it, guys!

[Jong-du] I can take you!

Well, today's your lucky day!

- Officer, hurry up and arrest this thug!
- [young Bo-min] What's going on?

This f*ck moseyed into my store,
talking a lot of smack.

You picked a fight with me,
you f*cking lunatic!

- Calm down, calm down!
- Well, you b*stards were talking sh*t!

[man 2] What did we say?

You wanna take pictures at the motel?

It's now a tourist spot?
The f*ck are you talking about?

Stop f*cking swearing at us, man!
I will f*ck your sh*t up!

[Jong-du] f*cking sad excuse for sh*t!

- [man 1] f*cking hell!
- I am sorry to interrupt!

Yeom Dong-chan, the Joongmin Daily.

I'm here to write a story

about the anniversary
of the Ji Hyang-cheol case.

You two were saying

you wanted to go over to the motel
to take a photo

since someone was brutally m*rder*d there?

I'd like to interview you to see why
you'd wanna do something like that.

What a load of sh*t.

What kind of insane town have we come to?

- [man 2] Hey, let's just go.
- What a sh*t day!

- [Jong-du] And don't come back, assholes!
- We won't, as*h*le!

- [Jong-du] Get the f*ck out of here!
- [man 1] Those f*cking b*stards! f*ck!

- You're a reporter, you said?
- Huh?

- Huh?
- Huh?

- Anniversary?
- [car doors close]

- One-year anniversary?
- [engine starting]

You think it's a birthday party
or something?

I'm only here for cigarettes.

Oh sh*t, man.

What happened back there
is what I should write about?

I only stepped in like that
'cause they were annoying.

Writers like you are the worst,
aren't you?

You shared pictures of the motel incident

and post them for your work to make money.

Wait, that's not...

[Dong-chan sighs]

Do you really... think people would be
interested in a story like that?

You know,

an article mentioned
that Ji Hyang-cheol smoked these,

and the brand sold out.

Only because he smoked them.

I smoked these way before that.

Anyway,

people don't always respond to
or pay attention to

the things that you think are important.

So that's part of my job too.

I have to keep hunting down
the next big story.

I'd... I'd still like
to interview someone about it all.

Do you know the motel owner?

[Jong-du] I do.

Yeom Dong-chan. The Joongmin Daily.

He's good. Trust me.

You can go.

[Jong-du] Sheesh.

[Jong-du sighs]

Hey, come on.

[Dong-chan] Everyone thinks

that the dead are the only victims, right?

But as soon as people start to forget,

he gets sentenced to death
and is right back in the news.

It's already been a year.

Soon, it'll be two, then it'll be three.

It'll continue to be rough for you.

He won't actually be ex*cuted,

and he won't keep his mouth shut
about anything he's done.

He sends tons of letters
to reporters and police

and gives interviews nonstop.

He sees his murders as accomplishments.

[pensive music playing]

He'll brag about them
for the rest of his life.

And your motel will be mentioned
in all of this.

No one knows how much it's damaged you.

Yes, I did come here to write about you.

And the article about the m*rder?
Yeah, that was me.

But now I think I know what I left out.

It's not about a hit crime story

or the man who committed the murders.

It's really about you.

Don't you wanna tell your story?

[Jong-du sighs] Sang-jun.

The interview.

I think you should do it.

If you do,

then people might leave you alone finally.

{an8}JOONGMIN DAILY
YEOM DONG-CHAN, REPORTER

[pensive music continues]

[Sang-jun sighs]

You know, earlier, you were a little too...

[Yeong-ha] Did he do the interview?

[mysterious music playing]

[Gi-h*] No.

[gasps]

- [officer 2] Hey!
- [officer 3] Officer Yoon!

Officer Yoon!

[engine starting]

[siren wailing]

Officer Yoon!

[music fades]

[percussive music playing]

[Yeong-ha sighs]

[jar cap pops]

[dramatic music playing]

[woman laughing]

[music fades]

[woman inhales deeply]

[sighs]

Guess it was too hard to keep pretending.

[mysterious music playing]

[woman slurps]

Why have you returned?

[sucks in air]

[moans]

Should I grow tomatoes?

I'm really good at making sauces.

[woman slurps]

[woman sighs, moans]

Why have I returned here? Hm.

Good question.

Originally, I didn't plan to.

But I couldn't stop thinking about you.

[woman laughs]

So I came back...

[tuts]...and you pretended
I was a stranger.

As though

you thought of nothing else

but me all this time.

[woman chuckles]

[Yeong-ha sighs]

[woman chuckles]

[slurps]

[slurps]

[melancholy music playing]

[eerie music playing]

[music intensifies]

[Yong-chae] Too bad we cut our fun short.

[Si-hyeon] It can't be helped.
It's raining.

[Yong-chae] Oh, is that right, kiddo?

You're so smart, Si-hun.

[Si-hyeon] Si-hyeon.

Ha Si-hyeon.

[music fades]

[breathing heavily]

[chair clattering]

[breathing heavily]

[tense music playing]

[panting]

[Choi] Can I help you?

[panting]

Oh!

You're...

[Yeong-ha] Oh.

[dramatic music playing]

[officer 2] Here.

- Th... thank you.
- [Choi] Are you okay, sir?

What?

His nose was bleeding.
We gave him a tissue.

[dramatic music continues]

Room 403. Fourth floor.
The left stairs! Quickly!

[young Bo-min] Wake up! Ma'am!

[panting]

[grunts]

[panting]

[Jong-du] This way. This way.

[music fades]

[gentle piano music playing]

[unsettling music playing]

[glass shatters]

[dramatic music playing]

[dramatic music continues]

[music fades]