Friday, October 11, 2013

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 2 Recap

Episode starts with Bok Nyeo and Hye Gyul sitting on that bench by the river. Hye Gyul asks Bok Nyeo if she really does everything she’s asked. Bok Nyeo looks at her. Hye Gyul looks at the river and declares that she misses Oma and Uh Jin said that if she wants to see Oma, she has to die, too. She asks if that’s true. Bok Nyeo replies that there are people who believe in that. That’s an interesting response to that question. Hye Gyul asks if Bok Nyeo wants to go see Oma with her. And what is this kid doing? Poor Hye Gyul.

Doo Gyul is looking for Hye Gyul on his bike. Hye Gyul and Bok Nyeo hold hands as they walk into the water. Doo Gyul arrives and run in the river after them, demanding to know what they’re doing.

At home, Hye Gyul holds the rock tin while Bok Nyeo dries her hair. In the boys’ room Doo Gyul declares that Bok Nyeo is totally psycho (and the Korean word for psycho is psycho. Heh.) Han Gyul doesn’t look up from her texting as she says that Hye Gyul told that her shoe was floating away and that she was trying to catch it. Doo Gyul protests that it wasn’t the vibe he got from things! He can’t believe that Han Gyul isn’t worried and that she doesn’t believe him. She says that now she knows just how must he hates Bok Nyeo, implying that *that’s* why he’s saying all this. She tells him to chill out and leave.

Bok Nyeo is putting Hye Gyul to bed. Hye Gyul tells Bok Nyeo that it’s their secret. Then she asks who Bok Nyeo was planning on meeting. Interesting question. Bok Nyeo just looks at her and after a moment, Bok Nyeo declares that she’ll read Hye Gyul a book. When Hye Gyul’s already read ‘The Magic Pipe,’ Bok Nyeo starts to get a different book but Hye Gyul asks if Bok Nyeo can do magic. Of course, she can. Magic tricks by Bok Nyeo.

Sang Chul arrives and asks Han Gyul where Hye Gyul is. Instead of telling him, she tells him that if he’s so worried about her, he should come home early. Sang Chul replies that he’s late because he had to stop and buy something. Han Gyul frowns as she gives a nod to where Hye Gyul is sleeping and says that Hye Gyul’s going to bed.

Hye Gyul is showing Bok Nyeo the rock box and naming all the rocks. Sang Chul arrives to hear Hye Gyul tell Bok Nyeo that she really like Appa, but she doesn’t think he likes her. She asks Bok Nyeo if she’s correct and Bok Nyeo says that she doesn’t think so. And Sang Chul feels the pain of being convicted. Sang Chul doesn’t say anything to get their attention but put some very pretty new shoes for Hye Gyul outside her door.

As Bok Nyeo is leaving for the night, Sang Chul stops her and asks that Bok Nyeo not take Hye Gyul to the river anymore. That’s where Oma got in an accident. He says that he mentioned it on her first day of your work. Bok Nyeo asks if Oma’s death is something that she needs to keep in mind. Sang Chul’s confused by what she means. Bok Nyeo asks again if she should be thinking (sticking with the story) that Oma’s death in the river was an accident. Implying that that’s not what happened, but that’s what everyone is pretending happened. Sang Chul looks at Bok Nyeo, uncomfortable and stammers that it's the truth.

Bok Nyeo immediately replies that she’s got it! She heads out and Sang Chul runs after her, making her stop. He asks what was just now supposed to mean. In saying "That's how I should think," it implies it was something other than an accident, like he’s just insisting it was an accident. Is she thinking that Oma committed suicide? Bok Nyeo just looks at him – an answer ‘yes.’ Sang Chul sets Bok Nyeo straight, adamantly saying that Oma isn’t the type of woman to do that. If something were to happen to him, she would have worked part time at the market to support the children. She would have gotten a job as a housekeeper. There’s no way a woman like her suddenly commits suicide. If she did, she would have at least left a suicide note!

Bok Nyeo immediately answers, “Then, if you are done talking, I'm get going now.” And why do I think that note on the fridge is what gave Bok Nyeo the idea that Oma’s death is a suicide? Sang Chul yells that, no, he’s not done talking yet. Why would Bok Nyeo jump to that conclusion about his wife's death?! He asks if Bok Nyeo happened to read the suicide note that Oma left. Bok Nyeo replies that she did read the suicide note. Sang Chul’s face drains.

He hurries inside. He heads straight for the Birthday Card on the fridge. Bok Nyeo walks home. Sang Chul heads into his room, closes and locks the door behind him. He reads the note and is horrified. He has to sit down. He remembers Bok Nyeo asking about the stuff in his pockets. He heads down to sit on the bench by the river.

Flashback to what Oma must have been going through: sitting at the table and writing the note, sticking it in his coat pocket and then walking into the river to kill herself.

Sang Chul winces, his heart aching. He heads to Song Hwa’s house and calls her. She’s inside drinking wine. He doesn’t say anything at first. Then he says that he’s heading over, so can she come out. She gets up and sees that he’s outside, so she says that it’s too late now. Then she hangs up. He looks at her door and asks why he needs to be comforted by her even in this situation. I really don’t have an answer for that one. He sadly sighs.

The next morning, Sang Chul is waiting outside for Bok Nyeo to arrive. He looks down at his watch, which says 7 a.m. and when he looks back up, Bok Nyeo is there, asking if he slept well. He’s mad as he says he didn’t and then asks what Bok Nyeo was thinking. Mrs. Nosy just happens to come outside right then. She mentions Hye Gyul not knowing Hangul and how it’s causing problems for her son because he’s writing notes for her. Apparently, because she was living in the Philippines, she was taught English. Sang Chul apologizes but she makes him feel bad about neglecting it. Nicely, of course. At a pause in the conversation, Bok Nyeo announces she will prepare breakfast and goes inside. Mrs. Nosy asks if he’s going to continue to employ Bok Nyeo.

In the morning, Han Gyul has an awkward encounter with Bok Nyeo and Sang Chul. Hye Gyul discovers the shoes from Appa and concludes that he must not hate her. Sang Chul looks at her awkwardly and tells that, of course, he doesn’t hate her. Bok Nyeo doesn’t say anything but goes into the kitchen. Sang Chul sits on the couch ‘reading’ the newspaper (really he’s watching Bok Nyeo). Hye Gyul shows him the rock box, which now has her treasures in it.

Morning breakfast is a spread of food. Doo Gyul is still anti-Bok Nyeo. Han Gyul asks where Sang Chul went last night. He says that took a little walk. I wonder how often he was going on walks when Oma was alive. Sang Chul says that he has something to tell them. His face is awkward, which makes Se Gyul say that he looks likes he wants to make a confession. Hye Gyul doesn’t know that word. Bok Nyeo defines it for her: a confession is an admission of one's sins to a priest and repenting of the sin. Sang Chul’s face twitches and I know that he’s thinking about how she knows he’s an adulterer. Sang Chul gets more and more uncomfortable as she continues, saying that some people think that the sinners will find peace in their heart, and it's their last chance to be forgiven. Sang Chul tries to start talking but can’t get the words out.

Hye Gyul saves him by announcing that Bok Nyeo can do magic. Doo Gyul mutters that he could do magic too, if he practiced. What’s with Doo Gyul hating on Bok Nyeo so much? Hye Gyul announces that Bok Nyeo-nim is good at everything. She's knows the names of all her friends at kindergarten, and she knows all the characters from Pororo. Bok Nyeo illustrates by rattling off the characters names. Hye Gyul tells Doo Gyul to ask her to do something. Doo Gyul thinks a moment and his face says he’s got something to stump her: he asks her to juggle. Bok Nyeo just looks at him.

Juggling show by Bok Nyeo with 4 balls. Even though she’s tossing the same two in each hand it still looks cool. Especially because she’s staring straight ahead while she does it. Hye Gyul claps and declares that Bok Nyeo is the best. Doo Gyul says that Bok Nyeo must be a secret agent who was trained to do everything.

Bok Nyeo walks the kids out. Mr. & Mrs. Nosy are leaving at the same time. Uh Jin joins the kids as they walk to school. Mr. Nosy whips off his glasses and gives Bok Nyeo a smile. No reaction from Bok Nyeo. Mrs. Nosy watches her warily but Mr. Nosy stops smiling, gets in his car and drives off. Mrs. Nosy corrects Bok Nyeo for not greeting them. Doesn't she know who he is? Bok Nyeo replies, asking if it’s something she must know? Mrs. Nosy declares that Bok Nyeo has such an arrogant attitude! Bok Nyeo just looks at her and says that if Mrs. Nosy’s done talking, she’s going back inside. She goes inside, leaving a slack-jawed Mrs. Nosy behind her.

Sang Chul is in his bedroom, trying to figure out what to do with the suicide note. Bok Nyeo enters for his laundry. He asks her if she really feels nothing about what she’s done?! Wow, there’s some projection. It's all her fault that his adultery is a problem. He can’t believe that Bok Nyeo posted the suicide note on the refrigerator. Bok Nyeo just looks at him. He asks if it’s because she has some score to settle with him because he cheated on his wife. Was she planning to threaten me with this? Why doesn't she just ask for money then?!

And then Sang Chul gives his rationalization for why it was okay for him to cheat on his wife: Every human has a certain amount of love. There's an absolute value of love that has to be poured into someone. After his wife and kids left, he just became the ATM. Can Bok Nyeo understand the feeling of pouring love into an ATM once every month? I’m not quite sure what he means by that, referring to himself as an ATM (and the Korean is ATM), but it’s really a lame excise. Bok Nyeo responds by saying, “Then… I'll go do the laundry.”

Sang Chul stops Bok Nyeo before she can leave. He supposes that it is cowardly but he’s not going to tell the children. To avoid hurting the children, of course, not because he doesn’t want his shameful behavior to be known. Camera pans around to show that Han Gyul is eavesdropping and has heard the whole thing. Her lip quivers from trying not to cry. Sang Chul asks Bok Nyeo to burn the note so the kids don’t find out that Oma committed suicide because of his infidelity. She looks at it and asks if that’s an order. I’m beginning to realize that every time she asks if it’s an order, it means that she thinks that what they’re asking is a bad idea. He says that it is, so she replies that she will obey his order.

Bok Nyeo puts down the laundry basket and takes the note. She picks up the lighter that was sitting on Sang Chul’s table – so he could have easily burned the note, alone, by himself, instead of asking her to do it. But this way he can blame her for burning it, rather than more guilty for destroying it. As she starts to burn it, Han Gyul tells her to stop. Han Gyul glares at a slack-jawed Sang Chul. She asks him to repeat what he just said; adultery? He sputters that she left for school. She yells at him that it doesn’t matter. Han Gyul grabs the note and reads it:
I can't forgive myself for trusting you who betrayed me. Since I am an obstacle, I'll get out of your way. Sun Young.
What a horrible note! So sad! Han Gyul demands to know what it is/means. This moment is interrupted by Bok Nyeo, who says that if there’s nothing she can do for Sang Chul, she'll get back to work. She leaves and Han Gyul angrily stares at her father.

Bok Nyeo puts the wash in the washer and stands there, watching it run.

Back in the bedroom, Sang Chul says that during the time they were in the Philippines, he formed an attachment to someone. Wow, that’s one way of putting it. Han Gyul just spells it out: because he was having an affair, Oma committed suicide. Did he ask for a divorce? He replies, almost whining, that it wasn't like that. She tells him not to be deceptive! Was he planning to abandon them? Immediately he replies that he wasn't. She Han Gyul doesn’t believe him. After making Oma die, he displayed indifference and kept on going. By burning the note he intended to deceive them for life.

Sang Chul says that he was doing that for her. She yells at him not to make excuses. He’s shameless! She doesn’t believe him. Han Gyul tells him that she felt the sorriest for him… eating alone, and working alone and he could only do video phone calls when he missed them. Sang Chul squirms. Han Gyul adds that it wasn't like that, was it? He sent Oma and them to the Philippines, while he was partying with another woman. Sang Chul just looks at the floor as Han Gyul says that he pretended to miss them and acted like he loved them, but really he didn’t give them another thought. She tries to leave the room, but Sang Chul stops her. He brings up her siblings and Han Gyul’s response is to call him ‘filthy.’ It’s like she slapped him. He just stares at her as she leaves the room.

Downstairs, Bok Nyeo is doing the dishes. Han Gyul comes down and yells at her for starting to burn the note. She replies that it’s not something she could decide, since doing what the master orders is her job. Han Gyul doesn’t like that answer. She leaves the house.

Sang Chul stops by Happy Company to see about getting a different house keeper. Director Hong says that there isn’t anyone she can send. They refuse to take care of 4 children. Director Hong will look for a replacement, though. Before he leaves, he asks Director Hong what type of person Bok Nyeo is. She is vague in her not-answer. Director Hong asks why he wants to replace Bok Nyeo, since it’s not because of how well she’s performing her job. She just wants to know for management purposes, of course. Why do I get the feeling that it’s more than just a professional interest that Director Hong has in Bok Nyeo?

Sang Chul thinks of the real reason – the suicide note – but says that it’s because Bok Nyeo doesn’t smile. Director Hong tells him not that Bok Nyeo doesn't smile, but it's because she *can't* smile. She decided that she shouldn't smile. When Sang Chul asks what she means, Director Hong cackles and says that she’s saying needless things and he should please forget what she just said.

Han Gyul enters her classroom. She doesn’t answer when her teacher yells at her. He tells her to see him after class. Two jerky guys behind her imply that she’s a slut, which is why she looks the way she’s looking. She stands up and slaps one across the face. Then she starts beating both of them with her backpack. Later, Teacher says that he understands that she’s having a hard time since Oma died and adjusting since she just came back from the Philippines, she needs to get her act straight. Also, she’s the first born; what about her younger siblings? He tells her to bring Sang Chul to see him. He finally looks at Teacher and tells him to just give her the demerits. Teacher can’t believe that she’s acting like demerits are some kind of mileage!

Han Gyul leaves Teacher’s office and Choi Soo Hyuk (Seo Kang Joon) is there. He smiles at her. He teases, asking if she’s not past the age where she whines about Oma not being there. He smiles again.

Sang Chul is walking with Dong Shik. They’re worrying about another company who is also vying for the project that they’re working on. It’s all very exciting. My sarcasm runneth over. Apparently, Sang Chul’s promotion hangs on it.

Bok Nyeo waters the lawn. Han Gyul arrives home. She starts to look at the note again, but the other kids burst into her room, with Doo Gyul telling her that she needs to help spy on Bok Nyeo. He’s planning on following Bok Nyeo to reveal her real identity. Han Gyul protests that she doesn’t have time to waste on such trivial matters. She kicks them out of her room.

Sang Chul is on the phone with Bok Nyeo. He mentions that he’s asked Director Hong to find a new housekeeper. Then he asks if Han Gyul told the other kids about Oma’s suicide due to his affair. She doesn’t answer. He asks what the kids are doing. They’re playing (except for Se Gyul, who has fallen asleep while studying) and Aunt has just fallen as she entered the house. The kids groan inwardly with the arrival of Aunt. Bok Nyeo asks if he wants to talk to anyone. Quickly he refuses, saying that he won’t be able to come home tonight.

At 9:00 pm, Bok Nyeo goes to leave work. Han Gyul is waiting outside for her. She asks Bok Nyeo what she thinks of Sang Chul’s affair. Bok Nyeo replies that she didn't think much about it. Han Gyul can’t believe she’s like that, because she’s also a woman and a person. Bok Nyeo tells her that she doesn't have any right to say anything about what someone does. Han Gyul asks Bok Nyeo to find out who the person Sang Chul is having an affair with the following day. Han Gyul says that because the woman also has a responsibility regarding Oma’s death. Han Gyul needs to know how that woman is living. Bok Nyeo replies that she can't find her for Hye Gyul. Han Gyul doesn’t believe it. Bok Nyeo’s supposed to be able to follow any order. Bok Nyeo replies that tomorrow is her day off. She leaves.

Sang Chul is thinking about what Han Gyul said while he’s at work. Song Hwa notices he’s uneasy. The next day, Sang Chul goes home and guiltily looks at Oma’s picture. Han Gyul and Hye Gyul see him. Hye Gyul happily greets him but Han Gyul glares indignantly at him. The boys get up. Han Gyul puts out the kimbap for them. Why wouldn’t Bok Nyeo leave them some leftovers? Or a meal at least? The kids ask Sang Chul if he knows why Han Gyul’s so mad, but he says that he has no clue. They eat.

Doo Gyul asks if Sang Chul has been able to find out anything about Bok Nyeo. He tells them Bok Nyeo doesn't think she should smile, which is why she doesn’t. Doo Gyul declares that the reason for must be an affair! Sang Chul chokes on his water. Han Gyul can’t help but smirk. Sang Chul tells Doo Gyul to stop, since Hye Gyul can hear. Hye Gyul announced that she knows what that word means since Uh Jin said that Mr. Nosy is having an affair. She asked Bok Nyeo what that meant. Bok Nyeo told her that an affair is when your friend who is supposed to eat snack with only you is eating even more delicious snack with another friend. Heh.

From the couch, Han Gyul tells Hye Gyul that, if she wants to know, she should know the real meaning. She says that an affair is when one man who is a head of a household, deceives his wife and his children and meet another woman. He betrayed his family. Sang Chul tries to pretend like it’s nothing and chews his kimbap. Han Gyul declares that Mrs. Nosy might die of the shock. Hye Gyul immediately feels bad for Uh Jin.

Sang Chul starts moaning that his stomach hurts. He hurries off to the bathroom. Han Gyul gets up and takes his phone into Oma’s sewing room. She looks in his phone and find texts between Sang Chul and Song Hwa:
[I had such a great time. Let's go there again.]
[I miss you already]
[Department Head, you look so cute when you sleep.]
She gets the name: Yoon Song Hwa. She remembers how they met at Oma’s funeral and is appalled that Song Hwa came so shamelessly. I agree, Song Hwa is shameless. Loathsome. I’d say the same thing if Song Hwa were a man. Completely selfish and disrespectful to the woman whose life she helped ruin.

Han Gyul goes to Aunt’s house. Aunt eagerly asks Han Gyul if she needs help. Is it a school problem? Is it because the Philippines is so different from here? Han Gyul protests that it’s not that. Aunt asks if it’s a boy. Han Gyul says Aunt’s name, like she’s crossing the line. She asks Aunt what she thinks of Sang Chul. Aunt says that Sang Chul is fine. He is kind and he doesn't ever say 'no'. It may look like he’s indecisive, but that shows that he is clean and pure. To summarize, Aunt declares that he's like Spring Mountain Water. She giggles.

Grandpa arrives, yelling at Aunt about her calling Sang Chul pure Spring Mountain Water, since he destroyed Oma's life! Her head is pure! She yells at Grandpa to stop, since he was Oma’s choice. Is he going to hate Sang Chul forever? Grandpa looks at Han Gyul. Uncomfortably, she greets him with a bow. He asks how Bok Nyeo’s cooking is and when he hears that it’s good, he doesn’t believe it, since she looks like that AND even has skill. Grandpa declares that Sang Chul selected Bok Nyeo as the housekeeper because of her looks. Aunt tells Han Gyul to come inside and eat and then leave but Han Gyul just leaves.

Grandpa looks at Han Gyul sadly as she leaves. Aunt yells at Grandpa for scaring Han Gyul off and not saying things like "Have you finished your mom's funeral well?" "I was so heartbroken that I couldn't go there." "I am so sorry." Grandpa blusters that he’s not sorry. Because Han Gyul was conceived, Sun Young got married to that jerk! He declares that whenever he sees Han Gyul, he boils inside! Nice. Blame someone who had no control over that. Frustrated, Aunt asks how long he’s going to act like this! Grandpa says that he’ll change him mind when Sun Young comes back from the dead.

Happy Company. Director Hong is looking at a photo of Bok Nyeo. She tells the guy in a black leather jacket that she’s not sure if she’s seen her. His face says that he doesn’t quite believe her. Wonder why he's looking for Bok Nyeo. The cast list says that his name is Lee Tae Shik (Jung Moon Sung). She tries to casually ask why Tae Shik’s looking for Bok Nyeo. She cackles that at this her, she has lots of curiosity. He doesn’t answer, just says that Bok Nyeo is someone he must find and asks that Director Hong contact him if she sees Bok Nyeo. She takes his card.

The kids (minus Han Gyul) arrive at Happy Company so Tae Shik leaves. Doo Gyul says that they want to know more about Bok Nyeo. He tries to repeat what Sang Chul said but messes it up. He has Se Gyul say it instead: That it's not that she doesn't smile, but it's because she thinks she shouldn't smile. Director Hong mutters that it’s because Bok Nyeo has had a hard time. She stops. Doo Gyul tries to persuade her but she is mysterious and tells them to just Bok Nyeo when she arrives momentarily. She starts to count down from 5 and the kids hide behind Director Hong’s desk.

Bok Nyeo arrives with Director Hong’s monthly commission. Director Hong offers Bok Nyeo a cookie, but seeing what they are, she turns down the invite. Director Hong asks if it’s hard working for the Euns. She replies that it isn’t, which makes Hye Gyul very happy. Bok Nyeo leaves and Director Hong tells the kids that she can come out. She tells the kids to hurry and follow Bok Nyeo.

The kids follow Bok Nyeo.

Song Hwa gets a phone call. She looks over at Sang Chul as she asks who’s calling her. Song Hwa heads downstairs, a sour look on her face. Han Gyul has called her. Song Hwa is pleasant and acts completely innocent of anything. Han Gyul declares that she has something to show Song Hwa: it’s the suicide note. Song Hwa twitches as she reads it. Then she asks why Han Gyul why she’s showing it, like she doesn’t know. Han Gyul replies that it’s Oma’s suicide note. Song Hwa’s one of the people who are responsible for it, isn’t she?

Song Hwa asks if Sang Chul knows and then steps closer to Han Gyul, trying to intimidate her. She tells Han Gyul that she’s still young, so it's hard to understand. Adults make their own decisions. She says that Han Gyul must be there to see a bomb explode, but the one who will get hurt the most will be Sang Chul. Han Gyul can’t believe that Song Hwa is telling her to worry about Sang Chul. She tells Song Hwa to prepare herself. She knows the relationship between them!

Song Hwa gloats as she pretends to be concerned and says that it’s over now. Han Gyul says that it’s lies. Right then Sang Chul comes running up and tries Han Gyul outside. She struggles against him while he protests that it’s his workplace! She yells that she came to talk to that woman! She yells at him to let her go and that he’s dirty as he drags her outside.

The kids are still following Bok Nyeo. She goes to an amusement park. There she buys a family meal with two drinks and three sandwiches. She sits at a table and doesn’t eat. Did she buy it for them because she knows they’re there? Doo Gyul is puzzled. Is Bok Nyeo planning on eating all that by herself? Hye Gyul says that it will be the first time she’s ever seen Bok Nyeo eat. They watch her as she doesn’t eat. Happy families sit around her, but she doesn’t eat.

Switch to Sang Chul and Han Gyul at a fast food restaurant. Sang Chul declares that that woman didn't do anything wrong. Whatever! Oh, my gosh! He is annoying me! Just her whole attitude is not that of an innocent, seduced woman. Sang Chul declares that the one who did wrong is him. Han Gyul sarcastically comments on how they’re so touching. He’s worrying about Song Hwa and she's worrying about him. Sang Chul protests that it’s not because of Song Hwa. He’s in line for a promotion, but if it gets out, then instead of promotion he might get fired! Then, he wouldn’t be to provide for them.

Han Gyul can’t believe that he’s playing that card. He’s talking about his promotion? Han Gyul loudly tells him to do whatever he wants, whether they starve to death or not. Attracting some of the other customers' attention. And outside the window there’s an add for bubble tea. Angrily she declares that that woman is more important than they are. She leaves.

Back at the amusement park, Hye Gyul and Se Gyul want to go. Hye Gyul whines to Doo Gyul that she’s hungry. Bok Nyeo gets up and gives her tray to the attendant. Nothing’s been eaten. The kids take off after Bok Nyeo again. It’s very dark now. Why isn’t Han Gyul at least looking for them? The kids lose sight of Bok Nyeo. And if I was Se Gyul, I would really be mad at Doo Gyul, since he’s kept me from practicing for the math Olympiad.

Sang Chul returns to work where Song Hwa is waiting. He asks if she’s okay. She asks why he didn’t tell her about the suicide note. He replies that it wouldn’t have really benefited anyone if he did that. He says that he can just handle this himself. She snaps at him, wanting to know why she had to hear it from his daughter. He apologizes and says that Han Gyul is a teenager. He asks that Song Hwa try to understand Han Gyul and Song Hwa responds by asking why he’s dumping that on her now. And she’s not selfish at all.

Song Hwa declares that Sang Chul has to stop Han Gyul. And here comes the guilt trip. Song Hwa looks at their model and declares that now she feels that it’s the same as she is. It looks really good, but you can't live there. Its destiny is to disappear when the real thing comes. Sang Chul doesn’t say anything. Song Hwa smiles and says that she’s attached to it, though. They got closer because of working on the project. Sang Chul says that the start didn't look too bad. Song Hwa replies that more than the start, it's better to make the end look beautiful.

Sang Chul wonders out loud how his wife found out their relationship. She wasn't angry or anything. And something in Song Hwa’s face makes me wonder… He wonders if it wasn’t something like a woman's intuition. But still... how could she decide on such thing without saying a word to him? Even though Oma was his wife, he has no idea what she was thinking. He admits that he feels resentful toward Oma.

Song Hwa responds that truthfully, she feels resentful, too. I bet you do. Your little fantasy world got stuck with 4 kids in it. Ugh! I’m really starting to hate her. She says that the moment she saw him wearing the suit she bought him for his birthday at Oma’s funeral, she felt as if she killed her. And I’m wondering if she *is* the reason. He asks how she could be that extreme in her thinking.

Song Hwa walks down the street, looking burdened. She stops outside a restaurant, Green Coffee. It’s apparently a real restaurant. They tried to hide it’s real name by hiding the middle word in the name. She looks inside and it’s a flashback of her meeting with Oma. They’re sitting at a table, both with a cake in a box. Song Hwa smiles and almost looks smug as she declares that she’s always wanted to meet Oma. She tells Oma that since Oma came to her in person, she'll say what she needs to say. As Oma’s hands clasp together nervously, Song Hwa tells Oma that Sang Chul promised her a divorce so Oma needs to stay out of it. She needs to go, cleanly, taking her children. Oma knows that Sang Chul is indecisive, right? Unless she takes charge, he's going to make both of them tortured together.

Song Hwa declares that Sang Chul will send her the same amount of money that he’s been sending. Nothing will change then, right? She’ll get her man and Oma will get her ATM machine. Wow, and I wonder where I’ve heard that term before? Oh, right, when Sang Chul said that he was an ATM machine. I wonder who put that idea in his head? Oma looks at Song Hwa, crushed. Song Hwa tells her that when she left with her kids to go to the Philippines, didn't that mean she gave up on her husband's fidelity? Wow. I really hate Song Hwa.

As Oma tries not to cry, Song Hwa tells Oma to call Sang Chul exactly at midnight. She'll answer his phone and leave it on. Song Hwa smugly wonders which cake Sang Chul will light tonight. Sang Chul is at Song Hwa’s apartment. She lights the candles on the cake and fingers that suit she mentioned. Oma does it; she calls. Sang Chul emerges after taking a shower. He’s oh, so grateful, that she remembered his birthday. He hugs her. Oma hears everything and cries. She’s sitting at home with the birthday dinner and cake all ready.

Back in the present, Song Hwa starts walking again and mutters to herself that she didn’t tell Oma to commit suicide.

Han Gyul is sitting on that bench by the river with Soo Hyuk. She’s looking at the last text Oma sent her, which says that she’s sorry. Han Gyul says in the last few months that they were in Philippines, Oma was strange. She wasn't laughing that much and would sit staring into space. Or she’d pointlessly would get angry. Just like some manic depressive patient. The day before they came back to Korea, she and Oma got in a big fight. She says that if she had responded immediately, Oma might not have killed herself. Oma always sent texts addressing her as 'eldest daughter.' But why did she suddenly write 'Han Gyul?' Han Gyul starts to sob as Soo Hyuk tells her that it’s not her fault. He hugs her.

Sang Chul is at home, working. He looks at his watch and then mutters about Han Gyul being out after midnight. He tries calling and her phone is turned off.

Han Gyul has gone back to Soo Hyuk’s apartment. He tells her that his parents aren’t home. He holds out his hand to her and after looking at him and his smile, she takes it and goes inside. Uh oh. Why does it seem like Soo Hyuk’s a player?

Sang Chul wakes up to see Bok Nyeo making some eggs for breakfast. He’s fallen asleep on the couch waiting for Han Gyul to come home. He asks if Bok Nyeo has something for fatigue. Of course, she does in her handy, dandy satchel. He asks if Han Gyul came in? No. She stayed out all night. And in walks Han Gyul.

Han Gyul asks what she was doing all night? Where did she sleep? Han Gyul replies at a man's house. Sang Chul is stunned and can only sputter. Bok Nyeo keeps cooking. Han Gyul tells Sang Chul that it’s exactly what he’s thinking. He walks over to her and says her name. Sarcastically she asks him why he’s upset. Because now he wants to act like a father? This makes Sang Chul angry. Han Gyul asks him how he's qualified to tell her what to do?! Sang Chul raises his hand like he’s going to slap her.

Han Gyul yells at him, asking if Sang Chul even has the right to hit her?! Almost crying she asks what she did wrong. Bok Nyeo keeps on cooking. She’s not like him. Aside from that man, she’ll never like anyone else. She won't look the other way and will love that person forever! He grabs her as she starts to go upstairs. She wrenches her arm free and yells at him that he’s filthy and to go away!

Doo Gyul and Se Gyul come down the stairs. Doo Gyul asks her why she’s acting like this. Is she going through puberty? She says that puberty is not what she has. It's what that person (Sang Chul) seems to be going through. She stomps upstairs as the boys puzzle over why she called Sang Chul “that person.”

Bok Nyeo tells Sang Chul that she’ll make breakfast. He tells her to forget it. He’s skipping it because he has an important presentation.

Han Gyul goes to her room and looks at her phone. It’s a text from Soo Hyuk: “You left like that, so I'm feeling sorry, are you alright?” She texts him back says that she’s sorry. She calls him ‘Sunbae’ and says that she’s not ready yet. So I guess that means that she just let Sang Chul think that she slept with Soo Hyuk, but she actually didn’t sleep with him. Bok Nyeo enters with some food and asks Han Gyul to please eat breakfast. Han Gyul demands to know why Bok Nyeo is looking at her with those eyes. Didn't Bok Nyeo say that she isn’t qualified to say anything about someone else's life? Bok Nyeo puts the food down on her desk.

Bok Nyeo walks Sang Chul out but stops him before he leaves. Because of his ‘necktie.’ He quickly goes and Han Gyul is ticked. She asks how Bok Nyeo can so gently adjust Sang Chul’s necktie after knowing what he’s done! How can she do that, as a woman, like Oma?! No response from Bok Nyeo. Han Gyul declares that she can never forgive Sang Chul. Han Gyul pulls out the suicide note and tells Bok Nyeo to go to Sang Chul’s office and expose everything. Bok Nyeo asks if it’s an order. It is. Bok Nyeo says that she’ll do as Han Gyul wishes. She takes the card and goes inside.

Manager Choi concludes his presentation for the project that Sang Chul is competing for. Sang Chul looks nervous, but he gets up and begins. He’s used it as the inspiration for his presentation. He says that even though his wife has passed away, this box contains her world. His Boss is intrigued. Manager Choi and Manager Kim mutter about how Sang Chul is using sentimentality to win the proposal. Manager Choi thinks it’s clever. Sang Chul says that they have established the healing stone as the main concept of the eco-city. Boss likes it. Everyone claps. Manager Choi is not happy.

As they walk away from the presentation, Dong Shik mentions how they just hit a grand slam to win the losing game. Song Hwa says that Sang Chul worked hard. His ideas were particularly outstanding. Dong Shik is sure Sang Chul will be getting the promotion.

Sang Chul sits down at his desk, looking at the model. He feels quite satisfied. Manager Kim runs in with a flyer that someone is circulating downstairs. The highlights: Eun Sang Chul... adultery... suicide by drowning... lie. Downstairs Bok Nyeo is distributing the flyers while saying:
Eun Sang Chul, Director of the Construction Division, had an affair with an employee in the same division, Yoon Song Hwa. His wife, Woo Sun Young, first learned of her husband’s infidelity while in the Philippines with her four children. She committed suicide by drowning in the River Han. However, Department Head Eun Sang Chul lied to his children saying it was an accident.
Everyone is seeing it. Over and over Bok Nyeo repeats it. A guard comes up and tells her that she can’t do that there. She stops and heads outside, where she continues. Song Hwa comes outside and sees her. Manager Choi sees her. Sang Chul arrives and Song Hwa glares at him and walks off. Manager Choi gives Sang Chul a smirk before going inside.

Sang Chul angrily goes over to Bok Nyeo, grabbing the flyers out of her hands and asking if she’s out of her mind! The episode ends.

Thoughts


Several things happened in this episode that will probably have some repercussions on the future...
  1. Han Gyul knows about the affair and has exposed it to everyone that Sang Chul works with. That’s a big deal. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the kids know about it, too. So it’s not just Appa being an absent dad, but it’s Appa’s affair being to blame for what drove Oma to kill herself. Grandpa already hates him. This is going to be a lot of work.
  2. How is Bok Nyeo’s news going to affect that project bid that Sang Chul just aced? And what’s with Manager Choi looking at Song Hwa like that and smirking at Sang Chul?
  3. Oma found out because Song Hwa *told* her about the affair. More and more I really despise this woman. It’s the whole way that she only cares about herself and no one else that gets me really riled. And if Sang Chul had no children, how she *still* would be with him, since the wife was out of the way. Her complete rationalization, “I didn’t tell her to commit suicide,” so she doesn’t have to take any responsibility… It makes my blood boil.
  4. Sang Chul seems more and more like just a big coward. His muttering to himself, asking why he needs to be comforted, it’s almost like Song Hwa is his mommy. And I hate how he’s painting himself as the one at fault. They *both* are at fault.
  5. The kids subconsciously know how Sang Chul feels about them. Hye Gyul telling Bok Nyeo that she thinks Appa hates her… Han Gyul’s comment that his face at most showed indifference to them…
  6. The kids are used to Sang Chul not being around. It was evident last episode, but this episode, they don’t wonder where Appa is, ever. Even last episode, looking for Hye Gyul, they didn’t really pull Sang Chul in the loop to alert him to Hye Gyul being gone.
  7. Hye Gyul mentioned Mr. Nosy having an affair. That explains all of those weird looks that Mrs. Nosy gives Bok Nyeo (she’s insecure because her husband is a filanderer).
  8. Hye Gyul has latched onto the rock box. Each stone represents one of the family. I wonder when Bok Nyeo is going to get a rock, what with how much Hye Gyul loves her already?
  9. “Is that… an order?” It seems like any time that Bok Nyeo says these words, she thinks what they’re telling her to do is a bad idea. It also seems like her asking can make them think about it later, too.
  10. Sang Chul, for all his justifications, knows that what he did was wrong. That’s why he couldn’t just burn the note but wanted Bok Nyeo to do it. Then he could, somewhere, blame her for getting rid of the evidence.
  11. Han Gyul spent the night out with Soo Hyuk and then lied about it to Appa. Even though she didn’t sleep with the kid, I wonder how long it’s going to be before that happens, given the way that she’s acting right now. I really hope that doesn’t have too many repercussions on her life. Oma’s death is already impacting her school life. I hope this does, either.
  12. Tae Shik is looking for Bok Nyeo. *Why* is he looking for her? Why is Director Hong covering for her? What happened in Bok Nyeo’s past that she needs to hide?
  13. Bok Nyeo was going to burn the note, even though, as a woman, she had to be horrified. What happened to her that caused her to retreat from life that much? She wears a puffy winter coat all year long? Why? Why has she decided not to smile? Why does she go to an amusement park and order a family meal and then never eat it?

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