The episode starts with Hye Gyul pulling Bok Nyeo into the dining room to consume her Yagkwa cookie. Hye Gyul asks her to sit and she reluctantly does. So does everyone else. Hye Gyul gives Bok Nyeo the Yagkwa cookie and asks her to eat it. Bok Nyeo takes it and after eating a very tiny bite of it, she announces that she will tell them all about her past.
We jump to Director Hong sitting with Grandpa. She tells him that Bok Nyeo’s real name is Eun Soo. Grandpa’s shocked that it’s not Bok Nyeo.
Jump back to Bok Nyeo, who says that she met Director Hong when she was about Hye Gyul's age.
And back to Director Hong. I have a feeling that it’s going to be jumping back and forth for this part. Director Hong says that when she arrived at their house to work as the housekeeper, she was greeted by Bok Nyeo. She’ll never forget the smile on that little girl's face. It was the prettiest smile she had seen in her life, but she didn’t smile because she was happy. It was to mask her loneliness. And I am really starting to hate EMIL at the moment, because I can see where this is going, how evil that woman is. Director Hong looks like she wants to cry as she tells Bok Nyeo’s story. The year before Director Hong started working for the family, Bok Nyeo’s father had died, trying to save her from falling into the river.
Bok Nyeo: “I blamed myself for my father's death and felt guilty.” She wanted to make her mother happy, so she worked hard to excel in everything, but it would not melt her mother’s ice-cold heart.
Director Hong: Eun Soo kept on smiling desperately. Even when she cried, she would smile. “That really broke my heart.” And Director Hong has started to cry.
Bok Nyeo: When she reached Han Gyul’s age, her mother remarried.
Director Hong: She thought the mother wouldn't get mad at Bok Nyeo anymore since she had remarried. But the stepfather started abusing Bok Nyeo. Hearing this, Grandpa mutters, “That bastard!” I think the implication is that it was sexual abuse.
Bok Nyeo: Her mother noticed what was going on, but blamed Bok Nyeo for it. It happened because of her smile. What a sick woman. No kid deserves that. The Eun family is struggling not to cry for Bok Nyeo.
Director Hong: Hong tried to protect her, by locking Bok Nyeo’s door before she left at night and Bok Nyeo would stay up all night studying. To try to win her mother’s approval. Sad. Bok Nyeo didn’t sleep or eat, so eventually she almost died. Grandpa sighs and he looks like he’s going to cry, too.
Bok Nyeo: She was finally able to leave the house when she got into college. She worked as a waitress and did deliveries so she wouldn't be indebted to her stepfather. One day, a friend got her a tutoring job. There was one boy who everyone gave up on. But with Bok Nyeo’s help he changed and it brought her joy that she could help someone in that way.
Director Hong: After Eun Soo graduated from college, she said she was going to Somalia to volunteer. Director Hong asked her why she was going. But she avoided answering the question. She just said she didn't want to live in Korea. It seemed like somebody was chasing after her, but Director Hong couldn’t get any more information than that.. Maybe obsessed? A stalker? Seo Ji Hoon, maybe? The boy she helped change?
Bok Nyeo: She met a really good man in Somalia where she volunteered. He was serving as a doctor there. They married and had a son that looked just like her husband. Because of those two people, who said her food was the most delicious, she was living the happiest moments of her life. On weekends, they would go to an amusement park. And right when finally she thought that it was okay to be that happy, that was when… [there’s a noise like a gunshot or maybe a thunderstrike] that person appeared again. Seo Ji Hoon. And everyone in the family reacts to that.
Flashback to the restaurant, where Bok Nyeo grabs Ji Hoon’s (Do Hyung’s) collar and screams at him, “Why are you alive?” As we watch Ji Hoon glare at her, Bok Nyeo says that the kid – Seo Ji Hoon – that she tutored had stalked her everywhere so she had to leave the country. He showed up one day saying he got into the best college in the country because of her. And her husband, who did not know anything, treated him like he was her brother. And her son treated him as an uncle.
Seo Ji Hoon declared that he still loved her and threatened to tell her husband that they were having an affair, if she didn't love him back. How is what he's done love? Stalking is not love. She tried her best to convince him, but it didn’t work and she had to tell her husband everything. Her husband, of course, stood up for her, and warned Ji Hoon not to show himself to their family again.
A few days later, Ji Hoon wanted to meet with her, secretly, because he said there was something he wanted to show her for the last time, and if she didn’t show up, he was going to kill himself. While she was convincing him to leave, her house caught on fire from an unknown cause. Sounds of the fire trucks and a little boy yelling “Omma, save me!” It’s heart breaking listening to the boy cry for his mother. He sounds so scared. Bok Nyeo has begun to cry as she says that she tries to run into the building, not caring if she died or not, but a fireman stopped her. She could clearly hear her son crying out for her to save him, but there was nothing she could do about it.
As everything grows quiet, no soundtrack (which had been playing), just her voice, Bok Nyeo says “The two people that I cared about most in the world... that's how I lost them. Just like that, in my life... smiles... light... hopes... dreams... love, happiness, joy and the future... were gone.” It’s really haunting hearing her voice break as she says these things and I find myself weeping. Han Gyul and Doo Gyul have begun to cry, with Doo Gyul crying the most. Sang Chul sighs, his heart moved.
Bok Nyeo closes her eyes, to compose herself, and then continues that her mother-in-law suspected that she had conspired with Seo Ji Hoon to kill them. Flashback to the EMIL screaming that Bok Nyeo killed her son and grandson. And telling her never to smile until she dies. Bok Nyeo says that EMIL said that her smile ruined everything. Because it’s the victim’s fault when someone stalks them. They brought it on themselves. So, as another tear streams down her face, Bok Nyeo declared she decided that until she dies...she won’t smile.
The family reacts to what they’ve just heard, but no one says anything. What can you say? The really sad thing is, none of the crap that happened to her was her fault or the fault of her smile. She didn’t ask to be abused. She didn’t ask to stalked. But still she continues to blame herself, she made it happen because of her smile. Bok Nyeo stands and declares that since she told them about her past, she is quitting like she promised she would if they found out.
Back at Happy Company, Director Hong is sobbing horribly and Grandpa can’t help but cry. He wipes his eyes and then passes Director Hong his hankie. She’s got the shuddery breathing you get when you’ve cried really, really hard. Both of them cry some more.
Hye Gyul jumps out of her chair and grabs Bok Nyeo’s wrist. Sang Chul asks Bok Nyeo if this is why she don't smile, because she feels responsible for killing her husband and son? He tells her that it's not her fault; why does she have to live like a criminal? He tells her to just let it, her past, go. Han Gyul echoes him, adding that Seo Ji Hoon... he's the one who killed them. Han Gyul’s voice is begging as she asks Bok Nyeo to take back what she said about quitting. They can’t let her quit after they’ve heard her story. It’s obvious that Han Gyul loves her as she cries and begs.
Se Gyul asks if Bok Nyeo can't stay with them, since they now know why she acts like this. They’ll stay with her, next to her. Bok Nyeo looks at Se Gyul. Doo Gyul’s still crying as he says, “Please don't go. This is an order. Please?” Bok Nyeo looks at Doo Gyul, her eyes shiny. Doo Gyul tells her that he’s so sorry for everything. And you can see that his heart to love and protect family includes Bok Nyeo now. Sang Chul asks what happened to Seo Ji Hoon. Did he pay for his sin? Bok Nyeo gives no answer, so I would bet no.
As the family watches, Bok Nyeo takes her hair out of its ponytail, takes off her apron, and zips up her jacket. She puts on her hat and puts away her slippers. Then she turns to look at them. She doesn’t say anything before she exits the house. The family follows after her. All except Hye Gyul, who has run back into the house. Pausing by their mailbox, Bok Nyeo turns around to look at them. She tells them thank you for everything. Sang Chul replies that they know she won't listen to them now. But she’s welcome to come back any time. Han Gyul tells her that when she gets lost, she should look for the North Star. Bok Nyeo looks over to the mailbox, where the North Star is painted. Bok Nyeo says nothing more, but turns and walks away.
And I don’t necessarily disagree with her choice. She loves this family and Seo Ji Hoon is back. I’m sure he’s ready to take away another family that she loves. And now I’m wondering who the guy who’s been stalking her is. What’s even more creepy is that Seo Ji Hoon’s been stalking her, too, but he hasn’t been showing himself. Could the Stalker dude actually be working for Seo Ji Hoon? I went back and watched that part in Episode Nine and the Stalker clearly says that the EMIL is coming. And the person he was talking to was in a wheelchair. It’s just really weird.
Hye Gyul goes into her room and gets her clothes and wraps them up so she can carry them. The family sadly watches Bok Nyeo walk away. Hye Gyul packs up all her precious things, like her bear and her family tin, into her backpack, and then runs out after Bok Nyeo, calling her name. She trips and falls. Bok Nyeo keeps walking as Hye Gyul cries, “Miss Bok Nyeo, take me! Take Hye Gyul with you!” And I’m reminded of that scene in Hope Floats where Bernice tries to go with her dad, but he pries her fingers off the car and drives away. Both are so hard to watch. Hye Gyul gets up and starts running again, but the boys catch her and stop her. So she just calls out for Miss Bok Nyeo...
As Bok Nyeo rounds the corner, Hye Gyul starts calling her Omma and begging her not to go. And it is really hard for me to watch. Bok Nyeo stops. Her eyes are wet and she starts to cry. Sang Chul goes and starts hugging Hye Gyul as she cries and both she and Bok Nyeo have tears streaming down their cheeks. The rest of the kids start crying, too, with Se Gyul crying for Omma, too. Bok Nyeo stares ahead and there’s a moment where she might be going to return to them, but she starts walking away again. Hye Gyul is practically hyperventilating. And then we see Mrs. Nosy. She’s watched the whole thing and is crying too.
Mrs. Nosy stumbles inside her house, weeping, while Mr. Nosy is about to walk up the stairs. And I’m surprised by Mrs. Nosy's reaction. She doesn't seem the type to have empathy like that. It also strikes me – where is their son? He's Hye Gyul's age and we hardly ever see the kid when they’re at home. Do they keep him chained up in his room? Mr. Nosy thinks his wife’s crying is strange so he asks her what’s wrong. She sobs that the housekeeper next door quit. Mr. Nosy tells her she’s weird for crying. Mrs. Nosy sobs that she feels bad for Hye Gyul. Her husband just walks away shaking his head.
The phone rings. A woman’s voice tells Mrs. Nosy that there is something to report. Mrs. Nosy has no clue what she means. The woman tells her husband, Anchor Oh Nam Jae, is having an affair. This stops Mrs. Nosy’s crying and she demands to know who this is. The woman basically says that she’s stupid, asking Mrs. Nosy if she forgot her voice already? She’s Writer Kwan who works with him. Oh, the chick he’s having the affair with isn’t a producer. It’s Writer Kwan. Mrs. Nosy stammers, asking why Writer Kwan is telling her and Writer Kwan tells her that she should figure out why. What is it with the mistresses telling the wives in an effort to get their man? Mrs. Nosy drops the phone in shock. And I don’t envy Mr. Nosy at all for the hell-fire that Mrs. Nosy is going to rain down on him when she catches him in the act.
Se Gyul’s in his room, looking at that test that he purposely flunked. He flashes back to when he and Bok Nyeo were talking about the whole thing. He’d said he deserved a zero for stealing the test and Bok Nyeo told him that she thought he did the right thing. There’s noise from Doo Gyul’s bed. Se Gyul turns on the overhead light (he was studying with just a desk lamp) and walks over to Doo Gyul’s bed.
Doo Gyul is laying on his stomach with his face buried in his pillow. When Se Gyul says “hyung,” Doo Gyul sits up and declares that he would have been to her if he’d known that she was so unfortunate…Miss Bok Nyeo... His lip is quivering hard and he’s making me cry again. Se Gyul realizes, and tells his hyung, that this is the first time he called her Miss Bok Nyeo. As tears stream down his face, Doo Gyul says that he actually *wanted* to call her Miss Bok Nyeo. Doo Gyul turns to look at the sign declaring that “There is no one who is good at everything. But there is also no one who is bad at everything.” We hear Bok Nyeo’s voice tell Doo Gyul that there must be something he’s good at.
Sang Chul sighs and walks into the kitchen. Bok Nyeo is there, cooking. When did she come back? Han Gyul asks him about not going to bed yet and then she says she came out because she felt like Bok Nyeo would be standing over there cooking. Sang Chul can’t help but make a face, because that’s just what *he* was doing, but he tells Han Gyul to go to bed. Han Gyul wonders if Bok Nyeo will be okay. And she adds that she thought maybe their Omma asked Bok Nyeo to take care of them before she died. Han Gyul asks Sang Chul what happened to Seo Ji Hoon. He isn’t sure. Han Gyul wonders why Bok Nyeo didn’t tell them what happened to him.
The next day, Sang Chul goes and talks with Director Hong. He asks about Ji Hoon and she says that he paid for his sin on his own. What does that mean? Sang Chul asks if Bok Nyeo is aware of it and Director Hong says that they checked his death certificate together. So the ‘guy’ faked his own death. Wow. Sang Chul asks her if she’s ever seen Ji Hoon. I think so he can verify that Do Hyung is Ji Hoon. But Director Hong has never seen that evil.
Director Hong asks him what he’s going to do now that he's without a housekeeper. She really hopes that Bok Nyeo can go back to their house. They’re all hoping it, too. Sang Chul asks her to call him if Bok Nyeo shows up there. Director Hong gives him a look and he says it’s just because he’s worried about her. She claps her hands as she gratefully tells him that it’s so nice of him, that there is another person that worries about Bok Nyeo besides her. Sang Chul is a little uncomfortable. I think more because he’s not sure how to deal with his feelings, not that Director Hong is so happy that he cares.
The phone rings. Grandpa’s voice demands that Director Hong come out. She’s flirty as she asks where to meet him. They end up in a restaurant that probably just serves the one meal. It’s not that nice of a place for a date. Grandpa’s sure happily slurping his soup, though. She mutters that he must really be penniless to be eating there and she says that she’ll pay for the meal. Grandpa wants to know if Sang Chul is planning on hiring a new housekeeper. She’s not sure, since no one’s a good fit. Director Hong changes the subject and asks about him trying to get Sang Chul to give up his parental rights. He’s surprised that she’s that close to the kids. Director Hong doesn’t know what *he’s* thinking since he has no money. Exactly.
Director Hong asks Grandpa if he can help Bok Nyeo and the kids become a family, since the kids love her so much. Grandpa wants to know if she’s telling him to make Bok Nyeo the kids' mom. Director Hong doesn’t see why that’s a bad thing, since even Sang Chul’s is attached to her. Grandpa stops eating when she says that one. Director Hong things that it would be so sad if Sang Chul got old by himself. And the kids need a mom. Grandpa replies that there isn't one good thing about living with a ghost that has so many stories. He’s happy that she’s left. Director Hong just glares at him and starts stabbing her soup.
The kids have gone to the amusement park to look for Bok Nyeo. Hye Gyul moans that she misses Miss Bok Nyeo. At school, Hye Gyul sees someone dressed in a grey jacket and grey cap. For a moment it looks like Bok Nyeo, but it’s some other child’s mom.
Later that night, Sang Chul’s working at his desk. The phone rings. The voice on the other end of the line announces that he needs compensation for the damage. It’s the Seo Ji Hoon. He identifies himself as the guy who got beaten up by his housekeeper a few days ago. How did he get their phone number?
Song Hwa is buying a latte. She sees Sang Chul talking to Do Hyung (Ji Hoon). At first, it seems odd to me that she just happened to be at the same place, but then I think that Ji Hoon arranged it that way. Sang Chul’s apologizing for not contacting Ji Hoon first. Ji Hoon’s just sitting there with a smug look on his face. Which I want to slap off, hard, with a brick. Sang Chul asks if he’s still hurt. But Ji Hoon replies that Sang Chul should thank Bok Nyeo. The disturbance made him aware of Sang Chul’s abilities. What a… I wish I could think of a descriptor that wasn’t a profanity. This guy’s going to weasel in, pretending to be a friend, just like last time with Bok Nyeo’s husband and friend. He’s really sick. Ji Hoon offers Sang Chul a job.
Sang Chul’s phone rings. It’s Dong Shik, saying that their boss wants to see him. Boss wants to give Sang Chul his job back, since they’ve cleaned up all the mess. It’s basically because Manager Choi is conspiring with his new father-in-law. The boss says he can’t exactly give Sang Chul the same job, but he can make a new position for him. Sang Chul squirms because doing projects, drawing plans, is what he does.
Back at home, as he works at his desk, Sang Chul thinks about Bok Nyeo talking about how she lost the two people that she cared about most in the world. The phone jingles and it’s a text from Director Hong. Bok Nyeo is on her way there!
Bok Nyeo enters the office and goes to stand before Director Hong. Director Hong exclaims about Bok Nyeo’s face and tells her to sit. Bok Nyeo asks why she’s been summoned. Director Hong sounds angry as she says Sang Chul mentioned that she saw someone that looked like *that man.* Then she’s very nurturing as she tells Bok Nyeo that she must have been so shocked. But that evil is dead. They even checked his death certificate. Bok Nyeo replies that they did. Director Hong wants to know why she attacked the guy. Because he’s *not* dead. Director Hong wants her to let it go, because Bok Nyeo was getting better.
Bok Nyeo’s eyes are glassy as she asks, “What if... he is Seo Ji Hoon? What if he wasn't dead and is still alive?” That maybe *this* is the reason she’s still alive, that God had her live, so she could kill Seo Ji Hoon? Director Hong looks scared by her words. And she silently cries for Bok Nyeo. She grabs Bok Nyeo’s hand and Bok Nyeo looks like it’s taking everything in her not to breakdown, especially when Director Hong touches her. Director Hong tells Eun Soo (she uses her real name instead of Bok Nyeo) that this is just wishful thinking on her part. Bok Nyeo looks at her for a moment and then pulls her hand away. She stands and declares that she’s going to find out the truth. She turns and leaves and Director Hong just watches her go, sighing.
Sang Chul arrives just as Bok Nyeo is leaving. She wants to ignore him but he blocks her path. She asks him to move and then walks around him. He asks her why she’s living like that, since she didn’t kill her husband and son. Bok Nyeo has stopped walking. Without turning around, she declared that she killed them. He sighs and points out that by her logic, he’s a murderer who killed his wife. And now he realizes how she must see him. Even after he killed his wife, he kept carrying on with his mistress. What a son of a bitch she must see him as. So is he supposed to live like her as a result? She answers that she doesn't deserve to talk about his life. She says goodbye and starts to walk away. And I want to slap her just a little for being so stubborn in her self-flagellation. And I really want to slap the snot out of her mother and EMIL. More than once. With something like a mace since a brick wouldn’t be painful enough.
Sang Chul rushes after her and grabs her. He spins her around to face him and as she looks him in the eyes, he asks her if his family couldn’t be a reason for her to live? Bok Nyeo shows no reaction, says nothing and walks away. Because she knows Ji Hoon is still alive and he already killed her loved ones once.
Gatsby Investments. Do Hyung is surveying the plans for his project and telling Song Hwa that he’s picked the project manager, if the guy will agree to it. And it just happens to be the guy who dumped her: Eun Sang Chul. She stares at him, shocked. He asks her why Sang Chul shouldn’t do it? Because of his scandalous past? She said it's in the past. She seems unhappy with his decision, but what can she do, since he’s the CEO. She asks if there’s a reason why Eun Sang Chul has to work there and he replies that there isn't a reason why *she* has to work there, and if he had to choose, he would choose Sang Chul. Ouch. Really cold. But I honestly think that his treatment of her is going to go far in seducing Song Hwa.
Song Hwa tells Do Hyung that he’s very cruel. He laughs and replies that’s why he makes the big bucks. He doesn’t even care if the two of them start up again, as long as they do their jobs. Song Hwa replies that if he’s okay with it, that's cool with her. And I wonder what *it* she’s talking about. The job or the relationship. Sang Chul arrives and he wasn’t expecting to see Song Hwa. Because Do Hyung (Ji Hoon) is a jerk. Who likes to torment people who get in the way of what he wants. And since he wants Bok Nyeo in a crazy obsessed way, he wants to torment the man he sees standing in his way: Sang Chul. And if Sang Chul implodes as the kids’ father, going back to the mistress, all the better, because he’s destroying the other people that love her: the kids. Psycho!
Do Hyung plays like it’s the first time Sang Chul and Song Hwa have met, even though it isn't, because they met in the restaurant. And Song Hwa goes along. Do Hyung adds that he looks forward to great teamwork from them. Do Hyung smiles as they shake hands with each other.
Now the exes are talking alone and Song Hwa says they should just reset their relationship, since Sang Chul dumped her and all. She even goes as far as to refer to the dead wife when she’s talking about how she’s not bitter. Witch! They agree to a reset. She shows her true colors as she coolly walks away, she truly doesn’t care about anyone but herself. I feel no sympathy for her predicament, but I do feel bad for Sang Chul. He’s still got some residual affection. I don’t believe that she ever really cared about him, beyond the context of what he could do for her. The fact that she didn’t want him to have a relationship with his kids so he could have a relationship with her makes that selfishness perfectly obvious.
Back at home, Sang Chul’s told the kids about his new job. But it seems like he’s left off the part about having to work with Song Hwa, since they’re excited and happy about their dad’s new job. He adds that the guy that got beaten up by Bok Nyeo at the restaurant was the CEO of an investment company and that’s how he got the job. Although, from where I’m sitting, from everything that Bok Nyeo said about Ji Hoon, I would be running in the other direction. Ji Hoon pretends to be nice so he lull you into a sense of complacency, and it’s all to further his agenda. There’s a reason he’s done this, given Sang Chul (and Song Hwa) a job, and it’s not a positive thing. But their pride (and desperation) have led them both to ignore that fact.
Sang Chul adds that because of Bok Nyeo, he’s receiving all sorts of good things. He tells them that he talked to Director Hong about convincing Bok Nyeo to work for them again, which makes the kids even more excited because they think Bok Nyeo will soon be coming back, just as soon as Director Hong talks to her. Not knowing what we know, that the talk didn’t go well, and that Bok Nyeo is starting to head down a very dark road. Han Gyul is the voice of reason as she asks whether Bok Nyeo made a mistake in thinking the new boss is Seo Ji Hoon. Sang Chul says that Director Hong said that Ji Hoon is dead. And people *never* fake their deaths. Especially not in k-dramas. Or in real life when they’re trying to escape the consequences of something criminal. Just like they don’t hide their money in the Caymans so they can argue that they’re poor. The kids are surprised by that news, since Bok Nyeo was *really* sure that Do Hyung was Ji Hoon.
Amusement Park. Bok Nyeo has bought her family meal. Even though there’s food for two when there were three of them. I guess she shared hers with her son. She turns around and the kids are there. She asks them why they’re there and in an answer, Doo Gyul takes the tray and declares that from now on they’re going to eat all this. It’s almost that he’s mad that she’s continuing to torture herself. Se Gyul adds that they’re not letting her just sit there and space out by alone. Han Gyul asks Bok Nyeo if she’s aware of how much they’ve been worrying about her, especially since hearing her story? And Doo Gyul has started eating one of the sandwiches, to prove that she’s not eating alone anymore. Which makes me love the boy more.
Han Gyul asks Bok Nyeo about Ji Hoon being dead, since the guy she ‘attacked’ at the restaurant has a different name and is a showy businessman. Doo Gyul mentions Sang Chul getting a job at his company. Hye Gyul takes Bok Nyeo’s hands and says that she missed her. Did Miss Bok Nyeo miss Hye Gyul too? It’s almost as if she’s a robot, how she’s looking from one to another child, not saying anything.
Over at Gatsby Investment. Sang Chul’s giving a presentation and Do Hyung is very bored. I’m calling him Do Hyung, because that’s what they’re calling him at the moment. But I firmly believe that this guy is Seo Ji Hoon. He’s totally acting like the man Bok Nyeo described. Song Hwa is engaged in the presentation, working. Finally Do Hyung says that it’s strange. He’s not talking about Sang Chul’s work. In fact, he’s thinking about it at all. Instead he asks about the guy he was mistaken for… Seo Ji Hoon or something. Or something. Why would you remember the name when she only said it once and she screamed about him being alive a lot more. You weren’t paying attention when she said the name, unless you already knew it. Could you be fishing for information? Sang Chul is reluctant to say, so Do Hyung nods, saying that a maid has her privacy too.
Do Hyung apologizes, but goes right back to asking about her. Did she get dumped by him? After all, he just wants to know the reason why he got beaten up. Sang Chul responds that he wouldn't want to know. And then Song Hwa asks whether Bok Nyeo’s still his housekeeper. Why are you helping Ji Hoon? She’s probably seeing if her rival’s still in the picture. Sang Chul says that Bok Nyeo quit. And then Do Hyung is all sad that Sang Chul fired her because of what happened with him. He's really good at fishing for information. Sang Chul says that Bok Nyeo *wanted* to quit. Do Hyung nods. Probably thinking, ‘crap, now where did she go?’ That’s how I’m interpreting his face as Sang Chul goes on with his presentation.
Sang Chul’s at his desk (at work) working. He gets a phone call. And I have to say, I *hate* his ringtone. The person on the other end says that he needs to talk to Sang Chul. But we don’t hear the name. Next thing we know, we’re at the police station. Why’s he at a police station? Sang Chul’s there to talk to Detective Lee Tae Shik. We don’t see the detective’s face at first. What? The Stalker is a cop?!!! Expletive of your choice regarding the man who’s helping to HARASS Bok Nyeo. Years after the incident. Dude, it’s harassment and stalking!!! You should know that. But at least that gives us an explanation as to who he is. And why he’d be reporting to the EMIL, but that’s out of bounds, too, at least how *he's* doing it. I am pissed now.
Sang Chul’s looking at police documents. The arson happened around Nov. 25, 2008. That’s almost five years, dude. Five years you’ve been stalking and harassing her. The newspaper clipping announces that the suspect of carrying out the arson attack, Seo Ji Hoon, killed a father and son. Tae Shik definitely thinks she’s guilty, since he says that he found her after several years but she hid herself again. Sang Chul’s not quite buying it. He asks stalker detective if he really thinks she's a suspect. Tae Shik’s certain based on two things: (1) her mother-in-law's testimony and (2) she was with him on the day of the accident. Wow. That’s airtight evidence right there. Testimony by the woman who is blaming her for the deaths - she'd be totally unbiased - and the fact that she was with Ji Hoon on the day of the attack. No real actual physical evidence proving an affair or that Eun Soo had any type of motive to do it, just the word of a sick, grieving mother. That’s some *fine* police work. The perfect excuse to stalk, threaten, and harass someone.
Tae Shik says that he’s going to track this case. One killed himself (Seo Ji Hoon) but the other one is still alive. Sang Chul’s just looking at the police report of the arson. As Tae Shik asks whether Bok Nyeo harmed him or his family, I notice that the detective is not that professional, either, since he’s wearing a sweatshirt with several holes in it. Sang Chul says, “No. Not at all.” Tae Shik says he should be thankful that she left without any trouble.
Tae Shik hands Sang Chul his card and tells him to call if she comes back or gets in touch. Sang Chul shakes his head and says he, honestly, can’t believe it. And neither can I. This detective is totally incompetent. Bok Nyeo doesn’t act like someone who got away with murder. She acts like someone trapped in grief. He says that she would never do that to her own family. Tae Shik laughs and then talks like Sang Chul is completely naïve. It's not that a certain type of person would do something like that. Really? Because I think it is. All the cop shows that I’ve ever watched say that it is. They might be soccer moms or high society people, but the person that takes another’s life, in a case like this, does it because they’re completely selfish. And Bok Nyeo’s never shown herself to be that. Even during all the things he’s observed her doing.
And then Tae Shik’s insulting, implying that Sang Chul’s faith in Bok Nyeo is because he’s fallen for her. Sang Chul naturally responds like he’s crazy. It’s not that he (Tae Shik) could be wrong. Tae Shik’s heard that she's very talented in flirting with men. From who? The mother who allowed her husband to molest Bok Nyeo? Or the EMIL, who totally believes that Bok Nyeo was having an affair on her son? Who probably said that Bok Nyeo seduced and tricked the dead husband with that smile of hers.
Sang Chul points out that Bok Nyeo tried to kill the guy that looked like Seo Ji Hoon when she saw him. If they're complicit in a crime, she wouldn't do that. This is news to Tae Shik. She saw a dead person? Sang Chul says that it wasn’t him, just a guy who looked like him. Tae Shik asks for the guy’s name. Hopefully, this detective won’t turn out to be totally incompetent. I mean, the fact that the guy faked his own death to get away. That’s says a lot. If Bok Nyeo had been his lover, she would have gone, too. There’s no one she had left after her family’s death. Not her mother or her EMIL. If she’d been his lover, she would have left, too. Not stayed and become a robot.
We hear someone say, “You think anyone can do music?” Then a clatter of a chair and cd’s flopping across the floor, as a result of Soo Hyuk being shoved by his father. Dad’s there to take Soo Hyuk’s guitar and amp. After all, the boy isn’t making enough money with the jobs he’s working. Not that Dad could a job and actually work to pay his *own* debts. That’s crazy talk! Soo Hyuk’s apartment door is slightly ajar and we see Han Gyul and Woo Jae arriving to see the interchange. Dad repeats his observation that because of Soo Hyuk’s great inheritance (his looks) it’s *easy* to earn enough money. And my skin crawls as he strokes his son’s face. Slimeball! You deserve to be castrated. And I mean that, pimping out your own son it extra sick.
Soo Hyuk says, “Give me my guitar.” Neither father or son have noticed that Han Gyul and Woo Jae have entered the apartment. Dad takes off the guitar and shoves it at Soo Hyuk. Dad threatens to go make a disturbance and destroy stuff at Soo Hyuk’s mother’s restaurant. The manipulation works because Soo Hyuk tells him to take the guitar. Even though mom could easily call the cops on her deadbeat ex-husband who’s destroying her restaurant. Dad smiles and snarks, “Thanks, Son.” Dad even waves happily at Han Gyul and Woo Jae as he exits the apartment with Soo Hyuk’s guitar and amplifier. And I bet Soo Hyuk hasn’t said anything to his mother about any of it. She was strong enough to leave her husband. There’s no way she’d put up with her son being treated this way.
Han Gyul asks Soo Hyuk if he’s okay and he yells at both her and Woo Jae for not having manners and greeting an elder properly. Soo Hyuk goes and sits. It’s obvious that he really didn’t want them to see that whole thing or to know about his deadbeat dad. So I guess Woo Jae *didn't* tell Soo Hyuk about overhearing that last conversation. They try to comfort him by commiserating about what a jerk his dad is. Soo Hyuk’s response is to tell them to get out, if they’re going to talk badly about his father. He's his father, after all. Then Soo Hyuk acts like nothing’s happened and offers them some drinks. He has some money left for drinks. Han Gyul and Woo Jae look at each other. And at least, this way, Soo Hyuk can come back to school, since the guitar and amp should pay off his dad’s debt. But the dad seems to be the kind of guy who’s going to come back and try to make his son a prostitute anyway, because threatening the mom worked.
Bok Nyeo is walking down the street, bag in hand.
The doorbell rings and Hye Gyul answers it with a “Miss Bok Nyeo?” But it’s not Bok Nyeo, but a new lady, sent from Happy Company to be their housekeeper. Hye Gyul whines that she’s not Miss Bok Nyeo. I guess Director Hong didn’t mention this family’s attachment to their last housekeeper, because the smile on New Maid fades away. None of the family looks very happy that she’s there.
Auntie’s on the phone with Han Gyul. They’re talking about the new housekeeper. Auntie’s happy since she was worried they would get another weird housekeeper. Way to stick your foot in your mouth again, Auntie. None of the family thinks Bok Nyeo’s weird. They like her as is. Han Gyul gets off the phone as New Maid scurries around in the kitchen. The pot on the stove is boiling over and New Maid is “Eotteokay!”ing it. Han Gyul sighs because New Maid isn’t anywhere as good as Bok Nyeo or Mom. Han Gyul think about Bok Nyeo talking about Seo Ji Hoon appearing again and repeatedly stalking her. She wonders if Bok Nyeo is okay.
Do Hyung arrives at what I guess is his house. Shortly after he leaves his car and starts climbing the stairs, a taxi drives up. Bok Nyeo emerges. She’s watching Do Hyung’s house lights go on.
Do Hyung is at the grocery store. Bok Nyeo is also at the grocery store. Both have shopping carts with groceries in them. Eventually they end up in the same aisle. As they walk past each other, and Bok Nyeo is looking at the shelves, not him, Do Hyung asks, “Didn't you follow me?” Which, I interpret is a dig at how he, Ji Hoon, was always the one doing the stalking. Bok Nyeo stops and says she did. He’s laughing as he asks why. Does she want to apologize? In her Bok Nyeo way, she says that she’s sorry about what happened the other day. Maybe she's sorry that she didn't kill him the minute she saw him. He glances over at her and says her apology sounds very insincere. No reaction from Bok Nyeo. So Do Hyung ‘accepts’ the apology and tells her that she can go.
But as Bok Nyeo starts to walk away, Do Hyung turns and asks what Seo Ji Hoon did to her. Did he dump you badly? What a jerk. He's really enjoying seeing her suffer. And he wants to laugh in her face as she describes what he really did. She replies, as she turns to look at him, can he prove it? That he isn’t Seo Ji Hoon? He laughs and feels his pockets for his ID card, but, of course, he didn’t bring it with him. No reaction from Bok Nyeo. Do Hyung asks if she wants to come to his house, but then decides that the question sounds kind of rude. He’s all charm as he talks. And I have a feeling that Ji Hoon has always been like this, able to charm people with his words. Bok Nyeo asks Do Hyung that if she goes to his house, will he prove it. He laughs and she just stares at him, her face expressionless.
What turns out to be about 50 meters away, Mr. Butcher and Mrs. Butcher are watching Bok Nyeo talk to Do Hyung. Mr. Butcher looks practically depressed. Mrs. Butcher remarks that he’s done. He has no chance with Bok Nyeo because Mr. Butcher can’t even compare to the guy she’s talking to. He’s so young and tall. Mr. Butcher mutters that he has bad feelings about him. Mrs. Butcher scoffs that it's because he’s jealous. Then she escorts her husband away, hand pulling him by the collar as he mutters, “I really have bad feelings about that bastard.” And so do I. I don’t like this guy, Do Hyung. Something’s been off about him from the beginning. And he likes tormenting people.
Bok Nyeo is outside Do Hyung’s office building. Or a building that looks just like it, and sits on a slanted street and has a huge slanted B in the lobby, just like that one like the other one, because this building doesn’t have the sign for Gatsby Investment. It says PAX tower. I’m think this is sloppy editing. She’s staring up at the building.
Inside, Dong Shik is visiting Song Hwa’s new workplace. He likes it and would love it if she’d get him a job there. When he looks out the window, he spots Bok Nyeo. Song Hwa isn’t happy Bok Nyeo’s there. In fact, she takes it on herself to tell Bok Nyeo to get lost. She goes outside to tell Bok Nyeo to leave. She asks why Bok Nyeo’s there. Didn’t she quit? Is she waiting for Director Eun? Bok Nyeo replies that she’s not. So Song Hwa snarks about Bok Nyeo flirting with CEO Jang. Or is she here to beat him up again? Bok Nyeo tries to ignore her, saying, “Yoon Song Hwa, it has nothing to do with you.” But Song Hwa does think it involves her, because he was a lifeline she got at the edge of a cliff. She’s not going to let Bok Nyeo cut that line again. Because that’s how Song Hwa thinks. It was Bok Nyeo’s fault, for interfering, which cut her last lifeline, when Bok Nyeo got Sang Chul to dump her. IHH!
Sang Chul arrives to see Bok Nyeo and Song Hwa talking. He goes up and asks what she’s doing there. It kind of looks like he’s excited; maybe she changed her mind about the job. She replies that she’s not his housekeeper anymore. Can he stay out of her business? That made me chuckle just a little. Sang Chul says he can’t do that, after what she told him. Do Hyung has come outside, too, and he’s got an odd look on his face, kind of like he’s enjoying watching Bok Nyeo be miserable.
Sang Chul asks if this because of CEO Jang? Because she’s mistaken. He's not Seo Ji Hoon. And because she *knows* what Ji Hoon’s capable of, she replies: “That's something I should check for myself.” Song Hwa looks over at Do Hyung, who’s staring at Bok Nyeo. And she’s jealous. But that’s just my interpretation. Another man who’s going to choose Bok Nyeo over me! Song Hwa snarks, “I knew you were strange but are you sure you're not a psycho?” Which upsets Sang Chul, who calls her words uncalled for. Then Song Hwa digs at Sang Chul’s pride, saying she doesn’t understand him either. What is she to him that he’s trembling with fear around her? Do Hyung reacts to that statement, ever so slightly. But I’ve gotten used to slight facial movements betraying inner thoughts, thanks to observing Bok Nyeo. And this is confirmation that someone else is getting in the way of the thing he wants.
Song Hwa goes further: Did he end their relationship, not because of his kids, but because of this strange woman? And Sang Chul is incredulous. There’s nothing going on between them. He told Song Hwa why he was dumping her. Why is she acting like that now? Do Hyung steps forward and asks to steal this strange woman for a second. Which puzzles Sang Chul. But it shouldn’t, since he’s a very sophisticated stalker. He asks Sang Chul if Sang Chul has a problem with that and Sang Chul shakes his head no. An exchange of looks between Bok Nyeo and Do Hyung.
Soo Hyuk’s on his bike, making deliveries. In the distance he sees his friends and bandmates about to start performing. He’s surprised to see them and looks at them longingly. Aw. They tell the gathering crowd that they’re out performing because one of their members' guitar was stolen, so please help him play his guitar again. I’m a little choked up. Well, maybe a lot. The crowd claps for them and we’re treated to the chorus of the Korean version of ‘I Love Rock and Roll,’ or rather 'I Love Lock and Loll.' Soo Hyuk is in the crowd but then he stomps off angrily.
Han Gyul runs after her sunbae. He only stops when she shouts, “Hey, Ha Soo Goo!” He tells her she should feel embarrassed, with that pathetic display of street performing (which my subtitles call busking, a British slang term). She says that she does feel embarrassed, so could he come and help? He almost stays, but then he just drives away without even saying goodbye. Woo Jae approaches and asks Han Gyul why she talked to him. Doesn’t she care about his pride? And I think that Soo Hyuk’s being more than a little prideful, since he isn’t talking to his mom and he’s upset about someone else trying to help him instead of letting him take care of it all by himself.
Han Gyul, Woo Jae and the band are up on a rooftop balcony, grilling up some of that mouthwatering meat. Everyone is eating happily. And I have an aw moment as I notice that Woo Jae is putting meat on Han Gyul's plate. And Mr. Butcher brings some more for them. Woo Jae worries about how much the boys are eating but Dad says they should eat as much as they want. Mr. Butcher tells Han Gyul that she should eat a lot. Especially with the cooking your New Maid is doing.
Mr. Butcher sighs deeply and Han Gyul asks if he’s okay. Mr. Butcher casually asks why Bok Nyeo hasn't been around. When he hears she quit, he’s confused since he saw her at the market, talking with this sketchy looking man. I love that Mr. Butcher calls Do Hyung (Ji Hoon) sketchy looking. Particularly because Ji Hoon’s quite well dressed. You stick with your gut, Mr. Butcher! Han Gyul thinks he might be talking about Ji Hoon, so she describes him. Mr. Butcher sighs because the guy is better looking than he is.
Bok Nyeo now is riding in Do Hyung’s car. Sang Chul, if I were you, I would follow them. This guy may look good, but he’s crazy. He has no problem killing people, including children, in very painful torturous ways. He asks her what she’s going to do if he’s the guy she’s looking for? Is she going to kill him? Bok Nyeo say that that’s her plan. He doesn’t like her answer and clenches his jaw. Then he squeezes the wheel and starts to rev his engine to drive faster. Is that to scare her? She’s a lot more stronger than she was before, Ji Hoon.
Back at the Office, Sang Chul and Song Hwa are working. But he’s distracted. He tries calling - probably Do Hyung, since Bok Nyeo doesn’t have a cell phone. But there’s no answer. Song Hwa wants to know if he’s worried about her. He is. He says that Bok Nyeo is in a dangerous situation. But Song Hwa says he’s flustered, as if Do Hyung stole his woman. And in typical k-drama style, Sang Chul will start *really* liking her because everyone’s told him he really likes her. Even though right now he’s not feeling that; he's fond of her and cares for her but it's not saranghae affection.
Song Hwa says that Bok Nyeo was just a housekeeper who worked at Sang Chul's house for a while. Sang Chul rightfully gets irritated at Song Hwa. Why does she care if he’s flustered or not? He wants her to stop being so familiar, since she’s the one who wanted to reset everything. Sang Chul turns away from her and makes another call. He’s calling Do Hyung again. Do Hyung’s phone rings. He sees that it’s Sang Chul and doesn’t answer it.
Han Gyul’s at home, telling the children about Mr. Butcher seeing Bok Nyeo with “that guy.” She saw him at the market. Se Gyul asks if that means that guy works in the neighborhood. Good question. What was he doing in a market by their house? Since I don’t think he lives around there. Han Gyul says that it’s giving her a bad feeling. The kids decide to go find Bok Nyeo.
Bok Nyeo is sitting while the mysterious music plays. She’s at *his* house and it's pretty dark. There’s unpacked boxes in the background. And lots of books bound up by string. I wonder what those are. I want to say something related to his stalking. Do Hyung walks forward and pulls up a chair to sit in it backward. They look at each other. And finally, he says, “You're right. Just like you said... I am that person…” He smirks as he says his own name: Seo Ji Hoon. So, what are you going to do now?” Ji Hoon smiles smugly at her while the episode ends.
Thoughts
Small disclaimer as I begin my thoughts for this episode. I have mentioned wanting to grave bodily harm to several persons. Yes, they’re fictional, but even if they were real, I might think these things, but I would never actually do them. They are just a metaphor for the type of pain I think they deserve for their cruelty. But that’s not for me to mete out.
With my disclaimer over, I can’t believe how horrible Bok Nyeo’s story was. And with the horrible people in her life, it’s no wonder she has become someone who is blaming herself for all the tragedy that befell her. But her father died saving her, because she was precious to him and he loved her. Her mother was a selfish, evil woman who blamed her own daughter for the abuse her husband was doing, saying that Bok Nyeo brought it on herself. And then her horrid EMIL blames her for the ultimate tragedy: that the man who tormented her through much of her adult life murdered the only two people that loved her (besides Director Hong, but I don’t think Director Hong was in the picture then). It’s horrid. And the guy that’s helping her – Tae Shik – it’s equally horrid for him to do it too. How can they *still* torment her for it? And believe she did it? Since she didn’t shack up with the ‘lover’ who killed them? Stupidity.
And Tae Shik’s a policeman! I thought he might be some sort of detective, or a brother living off of EMIL’s money, but he’s a police detective. His amount of evidence is so pitiful in this case, it’s not even funny. And yet he bought the whole thing. And helped ruin a woman’s life because of it. I have my fingers crossed that he’s going to start looking into Ji Hoon being alive and discover that what he’s believed all this time is WRONG. So that he apologizes thoroughly to Bok Nyeo for falsely thinking she murdered her family and failed to get her, the victim, justice.
And I have to say again, how slimy and disgusting is Soo Hyuk’s father? I really hope he gets it in a big, painful way, something that comes as a result of the adults like his mother and Sung Chul finding out what the guy's doing. It really aggravates me that Soo Hyuk is trying to handle this all on his own instead of telling his mother. Or allowing his friends to help him. I think it’s very awesome that they were working to get him back a guitar, because they know how much it means to him. They’re good friends. Even if the whole band performance was cheesy. Very cheesy. Very cheesy.
I have to also say that I'm now torn between Soo Hyun and Woo Jae as far as who I want Han Gyul to ultimately choose. I really like the idea of Woo Jae getting the girl, because he's decent and true, but, just like with Sang Chul, I also want to see the jerk end up with the girl. Sang Chul strikes me as someone who has lived most of his life afraid of really going for the things that he wants, so much so that he gets overwhelmed when he's actually asked to commit to something. But I think slowly but surely, he's starting to have courage to admit what he wants and to fight for it. The same goes for Soo Hyun. He comes across as a total player, but as we get to know the kid, we see that life (especially through his dad) has taught him not to love anything, or it can be used to hurt you. So, even though I think he cares about Han Gyul, he also doesn't want to admit that to anyone, including himself, and I want this kid to find some sort of family and good father figure. And I think that Sang Chul's becoming a really good dad.
So we’ve had at least one bad guy emerge: Ji Hoon, aka Do Hyung. I wonder how long it’s going to take for him to be exposed for who he is. I hope they don’t drag it out for the rest of the series. To where the ending feels rushed because they didn't pace things correctly. And we have yet to see the other bad guy: the EMIL. Tae Shik said that she’s coming. When is she going to show herself?
On the other hand, Bok Nyeo's relationship with Director Hong makes a lot more sense now. It makes sense that she would cling to, in her robotic way, the one person who's ever shown her love (besides the dead dad). It makes sense that Director Hong would know what happened to Bok Nyeo's family, because Director Hong has known her since she was around seven.
There are many threads going on here… Bok Nyeo’s plight, Director Hong’s lost love with Grandpa, Soo Hyuk’s problems with his dad, Han Gyul being liked by two boys, and Auntie… Sometimes she just seems like a plot device. And then there’s the side story of Mr. Nosy’s affair. Why is that even in here?
What I’m also really hoping is that Song Hwa really gets what’s coming to her, at the hands of Ji Hoon. And it's painful. Also, I’m concerned that Ji Hoon is going to go after the Eun family, since he sees how much they mean to Bok Nyeo. Even though she has quit and wants nothing to do with them now. I think he knows her well enough to know when she cares about something, because he's taken it all away, more than once. I mean, she fled the country to war-ravaged *Somalia* to get away from the guy.
I have to wait until next Monday for the next episode! That’s the arg factor of watching a k-drama while it’s in progress: you can’t marathon it.
I have to say, I really hate just relying on subtitles from DramaFever. They’re usually not as true to what’s been said than the ones I find from Viki. And there were a few places where I could really tell they were off. I hate how they replace something like unni or noona or hyung or sunbae with the person’s name. Really annoying. Or they sum up something instead of giving the nuances that exist in Korean. I may be American but I *like* those nuances. Rarely they’ll get the correct American lingo in there. But most of the time, they leave much to be desired. So I had to use their subs this week, since all three subs I found were courtesy of DramaFever, so there were a few places where things didn't quite make sense. Fighting!
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