[Episode 19]
Performing in front of the king is the highest honor for an artist.
One must be very proper when it comes to getting ready.
You mustn’t put on too much powder and rouge.
A woman of the court is supposed to keep the king company.
And an artist serves the king by performing in front of him.
That’s why there must be no mistake when it comes to performing.
The festival will focus on who will become the head of the troupe.
Of the drum dance and the crane dance, whichever the king chooses will win the post.
How do you feel? Are you ready?
After Baekmu left this world, you haven’t been sleeping properly.
I know you haven’t been eating properly. I hope nothing’s wrong.
I don’t know if we’re doing the right thing by letting Myeongwol compete.
What are you talking about?
Performing the crane dance at the festival was Baekmu’s last wish.
I know.
You must do well, Jini. I wish you the best.
Baekmu had risked her life for this festival.
You must become the troupe leader by dancing your way to victory.
That way, Baekmu will be able to rest in peace.
Did you send the dance score to the minister?
Yes, I told Booyong to give it to him herself.
Okay.
You’ve worked hard to prepare for it.
Just do as you’ve been doing all along. Got it?
Of course I will.
You must go past that threshold.
This is where the place where the king lives.
You must not be nervous and act as if you’re on the edge of a cliff.
Don’t be lazy with your training.
Only then will you be able to go past easily over the threshold.
All you have to do is move the king to tears.
That will be the best present for you to give your teacher.
First the drum dance will be performed, your highness.
The drum dance.
Why are you fidgeting so much?
The dance is different.
The dance is much different from your score.
I see.
Why are you so calm about it?
The king is holding the score right now. If he were to compare the dance to the score...
It’s a good dance.
Thank you, your highness.
That’s a relief, ma’am.
I think that the king doesn’t realize Booyong’s mistake.
Mistake?
Will you keep still? My head is aching right now.
Do you think she’ll do well? Will the crane dance be approved as the better dance?
Of course. Myeongwol is even more talented than Baekmu.
So don’t be too worried.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous when I’m not the one dancing.
I think I’ll have to pee soon.
Oh.
Is it around 12?
Just about.
I guess Jini should be performing right now.
That’s right.
Are you happy?
Jini has taken on your wishes to perform.
Are you still roaming this place?
You must be worried about how Jini will perform.
But I know everything will go well.
So forget all your bad memories on earth.
Rest in peace, ma’am.
It’s an amazing dance.
It’s a dance that stems from the time of your predecessor taught by Ja Dongsun.
Ja Dongsun?
I know her very well.
When I was young, I used to watch her dance while sitting on my dad’s lap.
Baekmu.
She’s the troupe leader that falls under the jurisdiction of Kaesong.
Tell her to come close. I want to praise her a great deal.
Baekmu has already left this earth, your highness.
She has? That’s too bad.
What’s the reason for her death?
She fell from a cliff.
Oh, what a waste of such a great artist.
You must be devastated.
I’m sure you must be upset for having lost a great teacher.
Please show me a dance that will prove justice to this score.
It’ll be great comfort for your teacher who is no longer here.
Thank you for your praise, your highness.
I heard that Baekmu committed suicide.
You were in Song-do when it happened.
She killed her teacher with her own hands.
What?
She knew how to save her teacher’s life but she chose not to.
She’s so spiteful.
That’s right. We’ll be watching Myeongwol perform the most spiteful dance in the world.
Spiteful dance?
It’s a dance that represents her desire for power, having driven her teacher to death.
Why have you lost your cool? Stay calm.
Perform the dance calmly.
What is she doing right now?
I think she’s missed a beat because of nerves.
Your dance is a fake.
You should throw away your dance records.
It’s only garbage that been composed of your ego.
What can I do?
What can I do to make you dance with me?
A spiteful dance.
It’s a spiteful dance that drove her teacher to death.
Drove her teacher to death.
A spiteful dance.
How dare a gisaeng mess up the festival?
I hope she doesn’t think that she can get away upsetting the king.
What are you doing? Take that wrench out of here.
How dare he do that?
What’s going on in broad daylight?
I can’t believe that the Minister of Rites has lost all decorum.
It’s the end of the world.
What’s going on here?
Myeongwol...
Just let her be.
Sir.
Let her rest.
Your highness, order that gisaeng, Myeongwol to death.
You must deal with her harshly for she has ruined the festival and has upset you.
You must also punish the Minister of Rites, Kim Junghan for what he did.
He deserves to die for allowing such an untalented gisaeng perform in the palace.
How dare he stand up for that girl in broad daylight.
You must not take the situation lightly.
That’s right, your highness.
Joseon is reputed for highly regarding propriety in eastern Asia.
So you must not be lenient.
You must put the gisaeng to death.
And fire Minister Kim Junghan so that the royal family can save face.
Sir.
Take her back to Song-do once she wakes up.
I don’t think the king’s men will allow that.
I’ll take care of everything that happens.
I think you’ll be in very difficult situation.
I don’t think I can compare to Myeongwol who is in such pain that she was unable to perform.
Sir.
Please take good care of her.
Junghan is waiting for his punishment?
Yes, that’s right.
This is the minister’s letter of resignation.
Do I have to fire Junghan like this?
What are you doing here?
I couldn’t think of any other way to ask for my punishment.
Do you think you’ll be rid of your misgivings will be cleansed by doing this?
If you were to punish me by death, I’ll be willing to agree.
It was that gisaeng, not you, that had ruined the party.
She’s the only one that needs to be punished.
No, I will take on all the blame.
Are you saying that you’ll give up on me once more for a single gisaeng?
I want to protect a very talented artist.
It’s just not right, your highness.
Your highness.
What are you going to do if you get sick?
Your highness.
If you had wanted the gisaeng to be put to death, I was going to get rid of you.
So don’t forget your heart.
Please take good care of the people just like you’ve been doing so far.
It’s the fastest way for you to be cleansed of your sin.
Thank you for your benevolence, your highness.
But don’t ever do that in broad daylight.
There are many people in government that want you gone.
Don’t make people make up false accusations.
What are you doing at my home this time of day?
I have a request to ask of you.
A request?
Don’t bother Myeongwol ever again.
Look here.
No, don’t even go near her.
Don’t you think you’re being too blunt?
She’s not your wife.
She’s a gisaeng that can be bought anytime if you can afford it.
How far are you willing to go to ruin her?
You made her ruin the festival by spreading false rumors.
Please be generous.
I don’t want to lose an old friend.
Don’t disappoint me any longer.
Why don’t you be frank for once?
Yes, you’re right.
I met a woman that I came to love for the first time in my life.
If I could, I would’ve wanted to live with her for a long time.
I’ve thought this a thousand times over.
Now, you’re being honest.
But it’s just not to be.
I mean, she’s not be one to be taken.
That’s why I gave up on my desires.
I beg you. I don’t want her to be hurt anymore.
If you want to see her again, meet her after time has passed.
When you are ready to accept her as an artist,
and nothing more, you can look for her then.
Have you come to your sense?
- Where am I? - Where else?
What am I doing here? Why am I here?
Myeongwol.
I was dancing.
I hadn’t finished my dance. But why am I here?
What are you talking about?
Wake up.
- I have to go back and dance. - It’s the middle of the night.
The festival is long over.
If I don’t finish the dance, Baekmu will be angry.
She won’t treat me as human.
She’s no longer here. Come to your sense!
It’s strange. It’s really strange.
He had looked carefully at the score.
So why didn’t he ask me anything?
I know that the king is capable of picturing a dance in his head just with the score.
Maybe he wasn’t looking closely.
Or...
No way.
It’s late. It’s not like you have to attend drinks.
Where are you going?
Were you going to try to take a peak at the minister’s score?
Follow me.
You’re very smart.
You had made a second score drawn up by someone else.
Ma’am.
Were you trying to take me down with this?
You were going to hand in my score and perform the dance differently.
If the king had asked you about the difference,
you were going to tell him that you made a new score because mine was lacking.
You were going to show him your own score, weren’t you?
That’s why I had ordered a copy of your score be made beforehand.
But the score that I gave the minister was positively yours.
Don’t you know that I have connections all throughout the government?
It’s not hard to switch a score or two.
You underestimated me.
I won’t let this happen to me ever again.
What it is?
My dance score was terrific, ma’am.
If my dancing wasn’t any good, you would’ve dragged me out.
Instead, you handed in my score with your name written on it.
That’s right.
That means that my score was useful and the festival was a successful.
But Myeongwol wasn’t able to complete her performance.
So?
I won the contest.
So as you’ve promised, hand me over your position.
Unless you forget about trying to take down your teacher, I won’t give you my job.
You’re the one that said that the one that survives is the winner.
I’m sorry.
Ma’am.
It’s mostly my fault. I taught you wrong.
The position of troupe leader should be held by the greatest artist.
It shouldn’t be taken on by someone who is more interested in political power.
This is what Baekmu’s death has taught me.
So start from the beginning.
Forget about me and start afresh on your struggle to become an artist.
And win the contest fair and square.
And only then will you become the leader of the troupe.
Goodbye.
See you again.
How is it going?
Make sure you don’t’ lose your mind.
If anything like that were to happen again, I won’t forgive you.
We’ll be on our way now.
Let’s go.
What time is it now?
It’s a bit past noon, sir.
It’s time for the ferry at Mapo to depart.
Ma’am.
You looked tired.
It’s more mental than physical.
On your way out,
I wasn’t able to escort you. You have a right to scold me.
I wanted to hold your frozen hand just once.
Do you think I would’ve been able to warm your heart that’s colder than your hand?
Maybe I may have.
But I can’t do that for you.
If I grab your hand once, I’m afraid that I won’t ever be able to let it go.
I wasn’t able to regard you as an artist today.
Instead, I regarded you as a woman whom I love and for this, I have regrets.
I hope you won’t feel too much pain.
I hope that you find truth in the fact that sadness will become base for a true artist.
What took you so long? Don’t you remember what day today is?
Do we have to do this?
What did you say?
No one is happy to be doing this today.
Be quiet.
Myeongwol, what have you put on?
It’s time for practice.
Hey.
Myeongwol, what did you just say?
Where is Baekmu?
What are we going to do about Myeongwol?
What’s going on?
- What did Jini do this time? - Go inside. Go and comfort her.
If she keeps up, I think your daughter will lose her mind.
Jini.
Where is Baekmu, mother?
And what’s with this room?
What’s wrong with you? Are you going to lose your mind?
Where’s Baekmu?
Stop looking for someone that’s no longer with us.
Where is she?
Where did Baekmu go?
Jini.
She’s not one to leave.
There are so many things to do.
She’s not one to be so irresponsible as to take her own life, mother.
Stop it. Please.
If she were to know how you’ve been acting, she wouldn’t be comfortable.
She won’t be comfortable in her next life.
You think we should have Myeongwol perform at the ball?
But she’s not well yet.
That’s why we should make her perform.
Sir.
How long have you been working at the troupe?
So many girls lost their lives over the years.
Remember how you would comfort yourselves?
Once you’re up and dancing, your troubles will be swept away.
So don’t give me trouble and send her off to every festival.
Hurry up and perform.
Do you know how many hours it’s been since you’ve been holding onto the instrument?
Let’s go.
If you can’t make music, the least you can do is sell yourself.
That way, we would get our money’s worth.
Have you heard of the rumor?
What rumor?
About Myeongwol.
I heard she’s become an invalid.
That would be better. I heard she’s gone mad.
What? Mad?
This is what I call reaping what you sow.
She deserves it for being so haughty relying on her beauty and talents.
- She deserves it. - Of course.
What are you doing out here?
Is something wrong with the drinks?
No, it’s nothing like that.
You should go back inside.
The wind is quite cold at night, sir.
Hurry.
- Maehyang. - Yes?
Why don’t you visit Song-do?
What for?
I guess Myeongwol isn’t well yet.
I think you can help her become strong again.
No, I won’t be of much help.
Bur you’re the one that’s willing to give up your post to her.
That’s why I don’t want to go.
I want Myeongwol to get back on her own two feet.
I’m going to make her tough it out.
Maehyang.
Please pretend you don’t know anything.
No one should try to help her.
That’s the best way to help Myeongwol.
Did she have nothing to eat today, too?
No.
Jini.
I hope we don’t end up losing her as well.
I don’t know what to do.
It doesn’t work to soothe or scold her.
Do you know how many days since she’s stopped eating?
All she does is drink.
I’m going to go to the capital.
Sir.
Are you going to see the minister?
Why didn’t you call for me?
I know how you feel about Jini.
But I can’t ask you to do such favors.
My job is to protect Myeongwol.
Moomyeong.
I’ll go to see the minister.
Go back home.
Sir.
She is very strong.
- It’ll be hard but she’ll get through it. - That’s what I had expected.
Because I didn’t want to ask for your help.
Ma’am.
I can’t move my hands.
I can’t play my instrument, ma’am.
My arms and legs don’t feel like mine.
The arms, knees, and feet dance moves.
I can’t remember any of the dance moves.
I can’t remember anything.
I can’t dance anymore, ma’am.
Forgive me, mother.
No, don’t forgive me, mother.
I want to go where Baekmu is right now.
I want to dance at her side.
Then I believe I’ll be able to dance again.
I want to go where Baekmu is.
Please let me go.
I can’t allow that.
I barely held your hand after coming all the way here.
Until the end of the time that is bestowed upon you and I,
I will never let go of your hand.
I’ll take care of her for now.
If the arts don’t give her pleasure...
If it’s just a form of awful pain,
I’d be happy to offer my love for even a short while.
I hope that my love comforts her.