Open up!
My name is Baekmu.
Is Hyeongeum the only one absent?
Yes, that is correct.
Is it the same Hyeongeum who asked me to help her retire?
Yes, that’s right.
Are you saying that Hyeongeum asked that she retire?
How could you not know that as her boss?
You’re too lenient in managing your staff.
Did you ask the officer to help you retire?
I’ve hurt my leg.
I’m sure it has more to do with your heart.
Do you think that the man that left you will take care of you?
Ma’am...
That would never happen.
I don’t think he’ll take care of you, now that you’re sick.
Especially when he didn’t care for you before you were sick.
How long will this last?
How long will you waste your time on that gentleman who never cared for you?
- Ma’am... - Just remember this.
You’re a member of the chambers.
You can’t leave this place just because you want to.
Please, allow me to leave.
If you turn into a corpse, I’ll kick you out in no time.
Until then, there’s no leaving this place.
What are you talking about?
[Episode 1] She’s not allowed to ever leave the premises.
How could you promise her such a thing?
I didn’t mean right away...
Come on. A bit longer.
2,000 times.
- Just a few more. - One more time.
- A bit more. Come on. - Just a bit more. Hurry.
One more time. Come on.
You shouldn’t have allowed this.
I didn’t know that she would be able to bow three thousand times.
How could you be so vulnerable?
You’ve known her for 10 years, and you still don’t get it?
This is nothing for her.
She would bow 10,000 times to get what she wants.
But I didn’t know.
Three thousand! Three thousand!
I’ve finished my three thousand bows.
You’re going to keep your promise, right?
Jini! Jini!
Wake up, Jini.
Are you okay, Jini?
Jini! Jini!
Please, get up, Jini.
Snap out of it, Jini.
Should I talk to her again?
Maybe I should tell her to forget it.
How dare you think so lightly of three thousand bows?
You were never able to execute the promise from those three thousand bows.
But still...
Take her and go.
Just this once.
I don’t care about offerings.
Is it because you want to see the market?
I’m not interested in that, either.
So why’d you bow three thousand times like a mad woman?
There’s someone I want to find.
The head mistress is coming!
Practicing your instrument isn’t everything in this world.
Your talents and spirits must be in perfect unison.
Do you understand?
Yes, ma’am.
It’s been awhile.
How have you been?
You seem a bit thin.
I’m sure that old age isn’t the only factor for you getting thin.
I’m sure that it was difficult to make up your mind.
Please, don’t put words in my mouth, sir.
You deserve to be in the capital.
I’m not talented enough to deserve such a position.
It’s not just about talent.
If you’d just change your mind…
It wasn’t the right thing to do.
Are you just going to give up like that?
No, not at all.
If it’s something I really want, I’ll get it in a proper way.
I have to be on my way now.
I know that it’s not Hyeongeum who’s bothering you.
I know there’s another reason you’re troubled right now.
I think you already knew that the court musician was part of the clan.
If you have time to talk to me about this, go and seek the girls instead.
See if they’re dressed properly.
The entire nation knows that the female court artists have been ignored.
There’s just one reason why officials from the music department are here.
Female court artists may be allowed in the palace once more...
So? What’s the big deal?
Maybe all of our girls will be selected to perform in the palace.
Even if our girls are lacking talent?
I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.
So are you saying you’re interested in the idea?
Is that what you’re saying?
Performing the right moves should come before anything else.
And then everything else will come into place.
Where’s Jini?
You kids!
What is she doing?
Jini.
I thought I would find her.
That I would find her in her pretty red dress.
I thought I’d smell the nice scent of my mother.
I thought that I would find her if I just came here.
Your mother?
That’s why I wanted to come to the market.
That’s why I bowed three thousand times.
But there are so many women here dressed in pretty red dresses.
I can’t recognize my mother.
Jini.
Sir, where is my mother?
Where does she live?
She said that she’d come to get you if you grew up to be a good girl.
Then, is she not coming to get me because I’m a bad girl?
Is that it?
Sir, I want to see my mother.
Please, take me to my mother.
- Jini, don’t cry. - Don’t cry.
Jini, where are you going?
Wait for us.
What are you doing here?
Stop looking at them.
Let go. Let go of me.
Let me see here.
The colors and movements are really fine.
I’m sure you’ve seen such performances in Euiju and Pyeongyang.
How do these women compare?
I’d say that the dancers here are far more superior.
Baekmu, what are you doing?
You should respond to such a compliment.
I’m at a loss for words on how I should reply to such a nice compliment.
I’ll reply by…
We’ll be taking over from here.
What are you doing here, Maehyang?
The royal Highness sent us.
He felt insecure about having countrywomen performing for such an important guest.
Is that right?
I am in charge of the royal court dances.
My name is Maehyang.
I’m sure you must be tired from your trip.
Let us entertain you with our performance.
Sure.
Weren’t you lying when you said that the king sent you here?
That’s a stupid question to ask.
Why’d you have to do that?
You were the one who started the fight.
I know exactly why you wanted to take on this job when you didn’t need to.
Maehyang!
Do you still have feelings for Baekmu?
Don’t even dream about it.
I’m never going to let that happen.
Your eyes are still sparking.
How much longer will you be obsessed with those dancers?
They were so lovely.
How could you be so interested in such idle affairs as a Buddhist?
How could they be so pretty?
And their songs were so clear.
Jini.
Is it wrong to be frank about the nice things I saw?
I’m sure that Buddha himself would’ve been happy about it.
What?
Do you want me to perform what I saw?
I think I can remember parts of it.
Once you see it, you won’t be able to keep yourself from liking it.
Oh, you little…
You made three mistakes.
You have no right to cry.
Who was it that saved your father?
You did.
No, that’s not right.
It was my power and money that saved him.
So how are you going to pay me back?
You told me that I should be the best artist.
You must practice until you drop.
Then all the power and money I have will be yours.
Do you understand?
Are you inside?
I’m coming in.
What brings you to my humble quarters?
I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.
I’m sure you know that women like us can’t do anything on our own.
We do what we are told to do.
I know, so don’t feel sorry.
I feel much better that you understand.
What did you think?
Did you think that my girls were any good?
I couldn’t take my eyes off of them.
There was just so much to see.
What are you so scared about?
Scared?
What do you mean?
That’s exactly what I mean.
You’re the finest of them all.
Why did you have that little girl perform at a party you weren’t even invited to?
I’ve already won.
Let’s not cry over spilt milk.
Artistic talent isn’t about competition.
It’s not about winning or losing.
I know that you are extremely jealous of my job as leader of the troupe.
It’s a job that requires extreme talent.
But you have enough talent already.
No, I can’t say that.
Being an artist requires extreme modesty.
That’s what I believe in.
I thought that our dancers weren’t good enough to move the soul.
I guess Maehyang’s troupe is getting on your nerves.
It’s not easy to be pleasing to the eye.
Yes.
Our team isn’t pleasing to the eye yet.
There is no future for our troupe.
Was her name Booyong?
She’s not refined yet, but she’ll grow up to be one of the best.
She’s the future of Maehyang’s troupe.
We need a new child to join our troupe.
We can’t make it work with the girls that we already have.
I just can’t give it my best under the current situation.
I need a girl who’s passionate about the arts.
A girl like that will bring about a sensation in this part of time.
Or else, there will be no future of us.
No one would be able to make it to the city.
But how are we going to find someone like that?
All the talented girls head straight to the capital.
Go to hell if you have to, to find someone like that.
That’s your duty.
No, not like that.
I think I need to go to the market again.
Jini.
I’m going to get it right this time.
I don’t think the head monk will go easy on you if you do that.
He’s going to make you suffer.
That’s not all. I’m sure he won’t feed you, either.
You’ll starve to death, don’t you know?
That’s why you have to help me.
What?
I’ll learn a lot of things.
I’ll teach you even nicer things when I get back.
What do you say?
Don’t you think it’s a good idea?
Can I ask you something?
Sure.
I’m looking for the place where the really pretty girls dance and sing.
A place where they dance and sing?
Are you talking about the troupe?
Are you talking about the advertisement over there?
[If you want to be an artist, come visit the Songdo troupe]
Are these the girls who will be entering the troupe?
My daughter is just as qualified.
This is the sick Jini?
Where is she?
Is she where I think she is?
No, she’s not at the market.
Did you say the market?
No, I didn’t.
She didn’t go to the market. She didn't.
I said, no.
What do you mean? Why not?
How dare you enter dressed like that?
Stop talking nonsense, and go back to your temple.
No, I want to learn to dance.
No way.
I’ve never heard of a monk becoming an artist before.
Stop!
Why haven’t you been able to master the dance yet?
Why did you change your breathing?
I told you that breathing was important.
If your breathing is out of order, you’ll be nothing but a stiff log.
If you lack talent, perform from your heart.
What’s with the fake smiles on your faces?
Who’d be impressed with a fake smile that’s not genuine?
They’re all losers.
The new girls that we’ve hired are complete losers.
Look for other girls.
I’m telling you that’s not easy.
The girls I showed you earlier were all that I could find.
Stop giving me excuses.
What is she still doing here?
Who is that?
This female monk wanted to join the troupe, but I refused.
I’ll kick her out.
Why did you stop?
You didn’t finish the dance yet.
Go on.
That was all that I could see.
What do you mean?
Are you saying you’ve never learned this before?
No.
I saw the dance being peformed, but I wasn’t able to watch the ending.
Are you saying you were performing from memory?
Yes.
How did you feel?
With your talent, I’m sure you can feel something.
What was it that you felt?
I was sad.
Sad?
Yes.
Why did you feel sad?
I don’t know.
The name of the dance is “Nakhwa Ilsoon.”
It means that the flower flows in the water stream.
I guess you can say the dance is a sad one.
What is your name?
It’s Jini.
Hwang Jini.
Jini...
Would you like to learn the rest of that dance?
Will you allow that?
What are you talking about?
Sir!
How could you ask her to join your troupe?
She’s a follower of the Buddhist faith.
She’s not yet a priest.
What?
At her age, I’m sure she hasn’t made her decision yet.
You should let her decide.
After all, being an artist or a monk is one in the same.
Look here.
What do you say?
Would you like to learn how to dance?
Don’t talk nonsense.
Her parents entrusted this child to us to take care of her.
Her parents would never allow it.
Let’s go.
Sir...
Haven’t you had enough?
Did you say that your name is Hwang Jini?
You can come here whenever you want.
This is the gisaeng’s quarters of Songdo.
Open up.
Let me out.
Make us a promise.
Promise that you’ll never run away again.
Promise us.
No. I can’t do that.
Please, let me go.
I want to learn more about the arts.
I want to return to the troupe.
How dare you act like this?
I told you that your mother won’t come for you if you keep this up.
Please, just let me go.
Can’t you just tell my mom to come look for me at the troupe?
What will it take to get that little girl?
Stop being so stubborn.
It’s been four days already.
If you continue to refuse drinking a single drop of water, you could die.
Jini, say that you’ll never go to the troupe again.
That’s the only way you’ll be given supper.
No.
I’m going to go to the troupe.
I’m going to learn how to dance there.
Hey...
I don’t know what to say.
Please, take good care of the girl.
She should never be allowed to join the troupe.
I don’t think I can keep this up any longer.
Sir.
It’s in her blood.
I gave her up when there was nothing wrong with her.
I’ve never even breastfed her since she was born.
I never even held her. I was so cold to her.
That was because I didn’t want her to take after me.
Hyeonguem...
Please, take care of her for a bit longer.
I’ll come up with something. Just wait a little...
- Is it true? - Ma’am...
I’m asking if you lied to me about your baby dying?
Ma’am...
Have you forgotten the law?
A gisaeng’s daughter is born a gisaeng.
How dare you go against the law and lie like this?
Please, forgive me.
Please, pretend you didn’t hear anything.
How dare you!
What do you mean the girl is gone?
No one knows where she went.
But that’s not possible.
Her mother said that Jini was dead.
She’ll stop at nothing.
If you’re telling me the truth, she’s heading to our quarters.
Please, catch her and place her in a safe place.
Okay, I’ll do that.
Where did you take her?
I don’t have the power to do something like that.
Tell us the truth.
How dare you lie to us?
Do you need to be punished before you tell us the truth?
- Take her. - Okay.
Wait.
I want her to be tortured in the ladies’ quarters.
Look here...
I want to set an example for the other women.
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Where did you hide your child?
It’s been a long time since I’ve lost my child.
I buried her in the ground and in my heart.
How can I hide my child when she’s no longer around?
Would you like me to continue with the beating?
Don’t you know that a child born of a gisaeng is not one’s own?
This lie cost you your life.
The child is dead.
So you won’t tell me the truth until you’re dead?
Jini!
Ma’am.
Please, kill me instead.
Harder.
What are you doing?
I told you to beat her until she tells the truth.
That’s enough.
Sir.
Let her go.
Sir.
You’re sure to kill her if you keep this up.
Go easy on her.
You can question her from the cell.
We still have time.
Let her go.
Who is that?
It’s Jini.
I’m here to learn how to dance.
Can I live here with you?
Of course.
Come with me.
No!
You can’t.
You mustn’t be here.
Go, run away. Run away!
Come this way.
No. I told you not to.
Don’t do it.
Run away. Go far away!
Come with me.
Don’t do it.
Run away. Don’t enter the troupe.
Run far away!
It’s not a big deal. Don’t be too concerned.
Come inside the threshold.
Once you cross the threshold, you’ll be on your way to be an artist.
No, Jini. Don’t do it!