(Episode 24)
Hello?
Yes?
Yes.
What the... what's wrong, honey?
Honey, I had a nightmare.
What kind of dream was it?
Your mom calling and saying she's taking the first bus up here.
Geez, honey. Why would my mom come up suddenly?
Right?
But still...
It was so vivid. It feels like it really happened.
- Can I sleep a little more? - It wasn't a dream, honey!
Look at this! No. No.
This can't be happening. It's a dream.
Does it hurt? What am I going to do?
(Mother)
What's going on, mom?
- You didn't even call. - I did.
- I called this morning at the bus terminal. - What's going on?
I'm thinking of getting a divorce from your father.
- What? - Why are you so surprised?
I heard that the elderly get a lot of divorces these days.
So, I want a divorce too.
You should get to work and you should get yourself to school.
I didn't get any sleep, so I need to take a nap.
Which room can I use? That one? This one?
This side...
No, I don't want your master bedroom.
It's not like I'm only staying a couple of days.
Is that the room that Baek-il used while he was staying with you guys?
I'm going to school.
Okay, honey.
Mom, I'm going to work too.
Alright, have a good day.
Hi Baek-il. It's me, Chun-il. Did something happen with mom and dad?
You don't know? How come dad's not picking up his phone?
You don't know?
What the heck do you know?
Then what in the world do you know, honey?
Hang up. Come home early.
You don't do a damned thing! You're a stay-at-home mom!
All you do is use the money my son brings home for you!
Mother, you're being unreasonable.
I'm being unreasonable?
Do you want me to show you what unreasonable looks like?
- What are you watching? - Oh my gosh!
Nothing much.
Let me watch too.
Since I no longer have a husband now...
I need to take back my son I let you borrow!
You can either live here, or the three of us can live together!
Mother, please don't do this.
My goodness, Ra-yeon.
People might think that show was about you.
My goodness.
It's not like that, mother.
Stop trying to act in front of me!
'Jolhon', this new terminology is defined as graduating marriage.
Elderly couples don't go through with a divorce, but freely live separate lives.
That's right!
What's so scary about being separated? I can get a divorce.
That mean old geezer of a husband!
Mother, did you get into a fight with father?
I didn't get into a fight with him. I want a divorce!
Geez.
An aging society.
A survey shows that divorces for elderly couples, who are over...
the age of 60, has gone up 14 times within the past 20 years.
Divorce for the elderly is becoming a reality for me.
They say innocent bystanders can get injured in a fight.
I didn't know I would be effected by my in-laws having a fight.
Mr. Na, what's with you all day?
From this day forward, I have to live with 3 women I fear the most.
You must have women problems.
I'm not joking around.
Number 1 and 2 are in the same house.
I don't know what will happen since both of them aren't happy.
They might be sitting around and talking bad about you.
Geez, Mr. Choi.
Hold on.
Hello? Yes, dad!
What?
- Your mother-in-law? - What am I going to do?
She says she's going to get a divorce and live with us.
I'm sure it's just temporary.
People say that after getting into a fight.
This has never happened before!
She used the first bus to come here and she was carrying a gigantic bag!
What happened between them?
You know how my mother-in-law has a bad knee?
She's been saying she wanted artificial joint surgery for a couple of months.
But my father-in-law didn't even hear her out and pretended not to listen.
But suddenly, he spent over $10,000 to construct a new road...
leading to the community center and the shed that's being used as storage.
I understand his house, but why the community center?
My father is the neighborhood leader. A community leader.
But still, who would use their own money for construction?
That's why my mother-in-law was so upset.
He rarely spends a $1, but he spent $10,000!
It's no wonder she's upset.
I wonder why he did that.
He might be curt, but he's not the type to do that.
I don't know. It's probably because of he's the community leader.
But, what am I going to do? The gates of hell have opened up for me.
Why do I have to live with my in-law suddenly?
Did you come over and leave your mother-in-law by herself at home?
I told her I was going grocery shopping.
Then go to the market and get yourself home! Don't leave her by herself.
I was going to leave right now.
What am I going to do? There's nothing to eat at my house.
What do you have?
Oh my goodness! Does my house look like a market to you? Does it?
I'd at least I'd get some money if I was a market.
Ms. Cho, I understand. I do. I won't take everything.
- I'll only take a few. - Oh my.
I'm so dumbfounded by you.
I don't know when I sent this to them. How can she let it rot like this?
Is she really taking care of this house or isn't she?
Mother.
What are you doing?
I was tidying up since it was so messy.
Mother, the refrigerator is my territory.
Don't mention territory to me, when I'm about to gag at all this.
Are you at least feeding your husband?
- Mother, please. - Don't just stand around. Help me clean this up.
Hurry up!
My mom's bean paste soup is the really the best.
Go ahead and eat. You can more too.
You should try it too, honey. It's on a different level.
Don't worry about me.
Anyways, why isn't Ik-hee home yet?
Do Seoul junior highs get out this late?
Geez, mom! Ik-hee went to tutoring classes.
She has 2 classes today, so she won't be home until after 9.
Two tutoring classes? After 9 o'clock?
Ra-yeon...
aren't you pushing her too hard?
If her schedule looks like this for junior high, what will happen in high school?
Kids these days go to one or two tutoring classes, mother.
How can you say that when you've seen Ik-hee's grades.
Ik-hee might have taken after you, she's not very studious.
If she took after you, she would flunk 4 times.
Here, I have water for you. Drink it.
That's because he was unlucky.
When he was young, the whole neighborhood talked about...
how my Chun-il was a genius!
- Isn't that right, mom? - Yes, of course. Of course.
What's wrong?
I think I have an upset stomach.
Really? Then you shouldn't eat tonight.
Mother, will you excuse me first?
Ra-yeon!
Do you usually leave Chun-il to eat dinner by himself?
Geez, mom. It's not like I'm a kid.
I have never left the table while your father-in-law was having a meal.
Do you want him to eat alone when he was worked all day?
Do you know how lonesome it is to eat alone?
Mother, I have to eat alone when he goes to work and Ik-hee goes to school.
That can't be avoided.
It's okay, mom. Go ahead, honey.
Are you sleeping?
Do you still have an upset stomach?
Do you need medication? Or should I do acupuncture for you?
It's not my stomach, but frustration!
- What's wrong? - What do you mean, what's wrong?
You seriously don't know?
How can you be so senseless?
Did you have to say her soup was delicious?
Do I send Ik-hee to tutoring for my benefit?
Your mom is the same! She began inspecting the refrigerator as soon as she got here.
Do you...
even know how long this day felt to me?
Get out. Get out and sleep next to your beloved mother! Get out!
Don't be like that.
Get away from me.
They say when there's an apocalypse...
cockroaches and the conflict between...
mother and daughter-in-laws are the only things that survive.
I think it might be true.
Good morning.
- Good Monday! - Mr. Choi, it's Wednesday.
Yes, I knew it was Wednesday.
Mr. Na's face looked like it was Monday, what's wrong with him?
You could say it's the sorrowful story of man...
who is stuck between his mother and wife?
Women problem, again?
What about the two of them?
My right side might get worn out from you looking at me.
That can't happen. What should we do?
I think...
it'll get better if you gave me a kiss.
That's going too fast.
You're being too much, it's not like we're kids.
You might have dated around, but this is my first relationship.
So, I'd like to take it slow.
I didn't have a lot of girlfriends.
Oh my, is that so? How many girlfriends have you had?
Three?
No, I think I've had four girlfriends.
Why would you even answer that question?
Whoa. You're getting jealous.
Mom, I'm so sad. How am I supposed to live, from now on?
I can't live like this!
I can't live like this any longer!
You're so noisy. Hurry and go back home.
Mom...
aren't you even worried about me?
- Don't you pity me? - Yes, I'm worried and I pity...
your mother-in-law who has to be around you all day!
- Mom! - You're going to make me go deaf!
Don't be like this.
Can't you try and convince my mother-in-law? Please?
Convince her of what?
You know. You could sit down with a cup of tea...
and tell her from beginning to end about...
the sorrows of being alone in your late age.
I don't feel that way.
I don't need to cook or do laundry for anyone. I can't be more comfortable.
I'm seriously too comfortable, my life has been upgraded!
They say other moms can't get any sleep when they know their daughter...
has to live with any of her in-laws.
You need to be haggled by your mother-in-law.
Please, mom!
Getting a divorce is harder than you think.
She's already upset, why not try being nice to her while she's here?
Treat her like if you were her real daughter.
No, you shouldn't treat her like you were her real daughter.
Your mother-in-law will get more frustrated.
Seriously?
You must be my step-mom.
I'm stuck in the middle and watching my every step. I can't take anyone's side.
What am I going to do?
I do have a way out of this.
How?
- Public enemy. - What's that?
It's simple. You become their enemy.
- And make them be on the same team. - Same team?
In zoos, when large predators start their territorial fights...
they let the animals hear their enemy's cries.
When they have a common enemy, they naturally come together.
And peace finds its way to you.
You're the best!
- Coffee? - Black.
Oh, I'll go get it.
Mom, when did we eat dinner at 9 and wait for dad to get home?
I'm sorry mother. It looks like he'll be late, but hasn't called.
He must be busy.
He could've been busy and forgot to call.
No, I bet he's drinking.
Since you're here, grandma, mom can't even gripe about it...
throw him out or punish him.
- He's drinking, for sure. - What? Punish him?
Throw him out?
Why are you pinching me?
When did I pinch you?
I was trying to get this hair off for you.
You should eat. You should at least be healthy when you can't get good grades.
Go ahead and eat.
How long are you going to leave me hanging?
I think you've had enough. Stop drinking.
I have to follow Mr. Choi's plan.
Give me another glass, please.
I told you to act like you were drunk, not actually get drunk.
I need to get drunk, so I can truly show real method acting.
The next round is at the karaoke room! Call?
Call!
Gentlemen, this will be bottoms up for us!
Is anyone here?
Hurry and come greet me!
You reek of alcohol! Why did you drink so much?
- Who are you? - Honey, mother is here too.
Oh, it's my wife. I didn't recognize you since you didn't have any make-up on.
Geez, what a drastic difference.
Okay, get cleaned-up and go to bed.
Geez, how much did you drink?
Ra-yeon, it's understandable if he gets drunk from working so hard.
- Clean up and hurry yourself to bed. - It's my mom!
- Mom! - That's right. I'm your mom.
Let's go sit over there. Sit down.
Here you go, sit down.
My goodness.
- Here you go. - But mom...
You shouldn't be like this to dad, mom!
- What? - Is dad the type to throw around money without a just cause?
He's fixing the community center because he's the community leader.
You decided to run away because he wouldn't let you get knee surgery?
You must be really drunk. You should get some sleep.
Dad works outside the home, so things like this can happen.
What do women know? They have no idea about the great thoughts men have!
If you keep this up, you'll get abandoned.
You punk! How dare you act like a drunken brute!
Hurry and go to bed!
You should hurry up and go clean yourself off.
Mother, please don't misunderstand him. He can be oblivious at times.
I'm sure you're tired, you should get some rest.
How could I have raised a son like him?
Geez. Ouch!
Ouch!
Honey! Honey.
Stand right here. You can stand, can't you?
Hold on.
Hold on a second, mother!
This little patch...
doesn't have a lot of effect...
but it'll relieve some pain temporarily.
Honey!
Let him be.
He won't feel a thing, since he's so drunk.
Why does my chin hurt so much?
I feel horrible.
Did you make any soup, honey?
Did you expect her to make soup for you?
- Have some of this. - Toast isn't going to help.
Why not? You can eat an American breakfast.
Honey, I need water.
Don't you have any hands?
Go get it yourself.
- Why are you being like this to me? - Like what?
Hurry and sit down, Ra-yeon.
Yes, mother.
This isn't too bad.
Grandma, should I only go to one class and come home early?
How dare you! You should work hard if your parents are spending money on you.
Go to all your classes.
You told me not to go last night, since it'll be hard for me.
Last night was last night, today is a new day.
My goodness.
You're so lazy because you take after your dad.
Hurry and get yourself to school!
I'm leaving.
I should go to work too. I'll eat breakfast there.
Okay. Would you like that better?
Ra-yeon, eat up. This is delicious.
- Good morning! - Good morning, Mr. Choi.
Mr. Choi...
Can we write off me drinking too much as an industrial accident?
- Looking at your condition, I see my plan worked. - It worked too well.
Honey...
It seems that I've made a lot of mistakes and treated you ill for awhile.
Honey...
can you ever forgive me?
I regret my behavior.
Mother.
You can call me mom.
I'm so sorry, my daughter.
I'm so sorry.
Ra-yeon...
you must be really uncomfortable having me here.
Of course not.
I'm sure you're more uncomfortable.
I know you're uncomfortable.
I also know that I unintentionally hurt your feelings as well.
Now that I'm older and my body is breaking down, even my husband is useless.
I'm also disgusted by the son, who I believed was so precious...
I couldn't think about giving him to anyone.
I'm so sorry, Ra-yeon.
Oh, mother.
- Then... - Sausages?
- Fishcakes too. - Fishcakes!
- Can we get some more liver? - Sure.
- How are your sausages so delicious? - Aren't they?
- Your daughter is so pretty. - Daughter?
Aren't you mother and daughter? You look just like your mom.
- Do we look alike? - Yes, you're really not mother and daughter?
You're right, she's my daughter.
I thought so.
Yes, she's my mom.
Honey. Mom?
Where did they go?
You're home?
- Welcome home. - What are you two doing?
Can't you see? We're using face packs.
We already had dinner.
There's left-overs for you and do the dishes when you're done.
Can you do a load of laundry after you eat too?
I just got off working all this time.
Do you think women play all day at home?
Your wife is tired and I can't do it since my knee hurts.
It isn't hard drinking all night long, but helping out is hard?
Mother, you'll get wrinkles. You shouldn't talk.
Any which way, they always think they're the only ones who work.
They don't even make that much, but act like big shots.
- Mother, you'll get wrinkles! - Okay, okay.
I think my plan worked too well.
Where should we go today? Do you have a place in mind?
Should we visit an ancient palace?
I've been up here for a whole week and haven't visited your mother once.
I bet she's bored, let's go and gossip with her.
Should we go do that?
Oh my goodness.
Take it.
Ra-yeon, isn't that your mom over there?
Is she with the mister who buys her bananas?
- They're beautiful. - Mom!
- Ms. Cho! - Oh my, Ra-yeon!
Oh my, Mrs. Na. What brings you here?
I came to gossip with you because I thought you were alone.
Is he...
your boyfriend, Ms. Cho?
Oh my. No, no! Of course not!
You're too much, Mrs. Na. Well...
He lives a floor above my apartment.
He's my neighbor.
Yes, it's nice to meet you.
- My name is Kim Young-hwa. - I see.
It's so nice to see that neighbors are willing to...
pick flowers for one another.
Mom, let's go have lunch together.
Oh! Okay, should we go?
No, don't worry about me. We can go eat dumplings another time.
I didn't know you had plans. You should go with us.
It's alright, you guys go ahead.
We're all getting old. It's not like we're still trying to separate the sexes.
If you're going to eat alone, let's eat together.
It looks pitiful when men eat alone.
I thought you're just neighbors.
What are neighbors for?
Yes, that's right. Please join us.
Let's go.
- Good. - Let's go.
Do you see my blister? Doesn't it look like housewife's eczema?
I guess. I think it looks like similar to what happened to me.
This is all your fault, Mr. Choi.
Isn't it enough that you found peace by sacrificing yourself?
I became a slave over night.
I'm afraid she'll never go back home.
And it's not like my father is the type to come get her.
There's a saying in Spain that goes like this...
"A mother-in-law may be made of sugar, but she is still bitter."
Peace between mother and daughter-in-laws don't last long, so wait it out.
How long?
Did the food not suit you, mother?
What's wrong?
Nothing. It's nothing.
Are you waiting for father to call you?
I'm sure he'll call soon. You said he couldn't even make himself one meal.
I'm sure he's seriously regretting what happened.
Is it funny that your father-in-law might be starving?
No, that's not what I meant. I just...
I know that father made you upset, mother.
Why is the air in Seoul so suffocating?
Mother, do you want to go back home?
Go back down? I told you, I'm getting a divorce!
What? Are you getting tired of me now?
No, that's not what I mean.
Geez.
My goodness! I wonder if it's going to rain.
Why does my leg hurt so much again? Oh my leg.
Oh my leg!
I didn't do anything, but she suddenly started getting irritated with me.
The way I see it, I think she's jealous.
Jealous?
You know the man who buys bananas for my mom, who lives upstairs?
She saw him picking flowers for my mom.
I think she was feeling bad since she's living with her son...
after a fight with her husband, but my mom is getting flowers from a guy.
Are they dating?
No, of course not. They're just friends.
- Why did he give her flowers? - Well...
People say when they get older, they become kids again.
Maybe he picked them somewhere.
But that's what your mom saw!
- My mom really likes flowers too. - She does?
Yeah.
That's why my father proposed to her in a field of Mexican Asters.
He told her, he'd only let her walk on flowers if she married him.
Whoa, father had a romantic side to him?
My dad is very macho, but I heard he was a romanticist when he was young.
I can't believe it, but I'll take your word for it.
Any which way, she's been irritated with me ever since we went there today!
Why else would I secretly call my mom and ask her to help me?
Is she sleeping at your mom's?
How could she not go, when my mom came to get her?
She asked her over and said they could talk all night long.
The air in our house when your mom isn't here...
is so wonderful!
- I thought you were okay living with her. - I take it back.
I totally take that back.
Now that we're talking about it, can't you give your father a call?
He can pick her up or we can take her to him.
No, never mind. He needs to at least give your mom a call.
Yeah right, as if my dad would do that.
My mom won't go down unless he allows her to get surgery.
Well, we can always...
pay for her surgery.
What?
Let's pay for her surgery.
I've been watching her and I really think her knee is bothering her.
Honey...
you're really a devoted daughter-in-law.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Never mind that.
Just hurry and call your father to reconcile with your mother.
And tell him we're paying for her surgery.
I'm sure it will be hard on him since he has make his own meals.
Honey...
- I'll do the dishes tonight. - Okay.
Are you uncomfortable?
Maybe I shouldn't have asked you over.
I'm really comfortable, I'm enjoying myself.
How is it over at the kid's house?
I'm okay, but I'm sure Ra-yeon is having a hard time.
I know I should start heading home...
Has your husband given you a call yet?
You know he's not the type to do such things.
I'm sure he's upset about not having someone make his meal for him...
but I'm sure he's having blast being the community leader.
You're so funny, Mrs. Na.
The gentleman we met today had the warmest eyes.
He even picked flowers for you.
My goodness! Really, we're just good neighbors. That's all.
I didn't mean anything by it.
But who cares if he's not just a neighbor?
You two are both single.
Oh my! Oh my, Mrs. Na.
I'm envious.
My husband used to be warm back in the day.
I don't know how long it's been since we've grown apart.
He's like an old oak tree that does absolutely nothing.
Mrs. Na...
- I'm actually envious of you. - Excuse me?
Of an old oak tree?
Yes.
An old oak tree is always in the same place.
It gives you shade and even protects you from the wind.
At least it's still...
living next to you.
Geez, Ms. Cho.
Should we trade places then?
I'll stay here and go on dates with the neighbor and you can go...
live with an old oak tree!
You can be like a cicada on him.
My goodness, Mrs. Na. You're so funny.
Let's change places. Let's try it!
You can exchange places with me!
What did your father say?
He slipped and hurt his back trying to fix the storage door.
He told me not to tell mom even though...
he's laying on his back and can't eat.
My goodness. Who on earth could be able to stop your father?
- What about her surgery? - I mentioned it but...
I don't think he'll let her go through with it.
Why?
- He won't let her when even when we're paying for it? - Well...
You have to keep this a secret.
My dad will get really mad if my mom found out.
What is it?
Did you sleep well at my mom's house?
Yeah. I had a good night's rest because your mom was so hospitable.
Mother...
- when are you planning to... - What?
- Are you tired of your mother-in-law? - No, it's not like that.
I'm worried that he's not eating well...
since he's all alone down there.
To be fully honest...
I was supposed to keep this a secret but...
How could you let my mom know?
I only told her the part about him getting hurt.
As soon as she heard, it took her less than 10 minutes to pack up and go.
Geez.
Honey!
I'm home, honey.
Why make such a ruckus if you're here?
Let me take a look. How did you hurt your back?
Geez, turn around so I can see!
My gosh, you old geezer!
This is what you get for not trying to fix...
your broken wife!
- You're getting punished! - Be quiet!
Get me something to eat, I'm starving.
Yes, yes. I guess you met your maid again, haven't you?
You're half your size from when I left you!
That's right!
Don't worry about your father.
We went to the doctor yesterday and they said his bone wasn't effected.
Me?
I'm on my way to the community center.
Just because I'm the community leader's wife...
I have to go and forth multiple times a day.
Geez, I can't blame anyone but myself.
Okay.
Don't worry about me.
- My mom really likes flowers too. - She does?
Yeah, that's why when my father was proposing...
he proposed in a field of Mexican Asters.
He told her he'd only let her walk on flowers if she married him.
You know, your mom...
has a bad kidney and has high blood pressure...
so it'll be hard for her to get surgery.
I didn't have the heart to tell your mom, since she's a coward.
The doctor told me to think it over...
since an artificial cartilage...
doesn't mean she'll be totally free from pain.
And also, it'll be hard on her to be under full anesthetics.
I just made sure...
that the road she travels on the most and the storage area...
were easier to walk on for her.
What would people think if they knew I was doing all this just for your mom?
It just looks better if I say I'm doing it because I'm the community leader.
Don't tell your mom.
She'll be scared out of her mind and won't get a wink of sleep.
I know your mom the best.
She'll come down when she wants to.
So don't be mean to her...
and make her feel comfortable.
(Episode 24: A 60-something elderly couple's story)
(Super Family 2017)
I heard the couple who lives on the 7th floor is having problems.
Maybe the rumors came about because they see you yelling at Chun-il.
Rumors only go away with another rumor.
- You want to put on a show? - Just until the rumors go away.
What did I say? We're restoring our family's image.
- Honey! - What's wrong? Can't you just use your words?
Be quiet.
(Next Monday night at 11:10)