[Episode 24]
It’s strange.
I guess that Myeongwol had come to the market.
Why not?
She came dressed, just as you had mentioned.
I guess she has the capacity to be a great artist.
Her first steps are quite encouraging.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
What do you think will become of her?
What else?
She’ll either give up on the arts altogether or become a truly great artist.
Why are you dressed like that?
The best dance.
What do you think makes up the best dance?
Have you found it?
I hope you haven’t gone out to dance, dressed like that.
How do you think it felt?
You went out, after all.
As I expected, you went to the common market
in search of the finest dance.
But, you were unsuccessful. Am I correct?
How could you be so sure?
You can’t make such a quick judgment.
Come to your senses.
Booyong.
You and I...
No, I’m talking about the fine arts that the high noblemen value so much.
It’s something that cannot be found in the common people at the market.
What is art?
It’s actually a type of a game.
It’s fun and exciting.
That’s why people that can afford to enjoy it are the privileged.
It’s not something that is needed by people who worry about what to eat.
What are you saying?
Are you saying that we are nothing but play toys for the king and noblemen?
Why are you so intent on pulling yourself down?
We’re not merely toys.
We perform the arts for people who can truly enjoy it.
That’s what being an artist is all about.
Just because people are of low class doesn’t mean that they are of low character.
You and I are both of the lower class.
There are different classes, even in the lower class.
Just like you and me.
There aren’t classes in people’s characters.
The arts is about reaching people’s hearts.
Artists that cannot move the hearts of kings and the lower class aren’t true artists.
That artist would not be a perfectly whole artist.
No, you can’t be considered an artist at all.
How long will your pride and fantasies last?
I can’t live as an imperfect artist.
Stop daydreaming and face the reality, you fool.
If you waste your time like this,
when will you finish the dance moves that your teacher started to make?
Don’t waste your time being the laughing stock at the market.
Stay within the walls of the troupe and practice your dance moves.
And make the finest dance.
Remember this.
I don’t have time to compete against someone who is chasing false dreams.
The finest dance cannot be found here.
I can’t make a great dance within these walls of the troupe.
What are you doing here, dressed like that?
You called me a great gisaeng.
I would like to step up to that challenge.
Come in.
How are you going to show me what you’re made of, standing like that?
Dry yourself.
What if you catch a cold, having been walking in the rain?
Why do I need to dry myself?
If you comfort me, I’d feel totally rid of my coldness.
Forget it.
I don’t have enough strength to take on even a single wife.
So how am I going to repay you for your gratitude?
Gratitude?
I am truly the finest gisaeng in all this world, sir.
I didn’t realize this, until today.
You’ve helped me realize this important fact.
How could I not repay you for this?
Please let me repay you, sir.
I won’t have another opportunity to repay you.
You won’t have another opportunity to repay me?
I won’t be working as a gisaeng anymore.
I won’t be hiding behind my pretty face or beautiful outfits.
I’ll be relying only on my artistic talents.
I’ll be an artist that caters to people who aren’t used to the arts.
I’ll live as a true artist.
That’s how I’m going to live my life.
That’s not a bad idea.
You can repay me when that happens.
Myeongwol’s gone? What do you mean?
I went to her room, because I didn’t see her. But this is all I found.
What does it say, ma’am?
That she will be back before the contest. So she doesn’t want me to find her.
I told her that it was worthless.
What? Booyong, do you know something?
Isn’t it something that you had expected?
What are you going to do?
She broke the laws of the troupe to run away in the night.
What do you mean?
We’ll have to let her do as she pleases.
What? You’re not making any sense.
We should let the servants loose and try to catch her.
Since she is just so confident, she’ll be back with a great dance.
I must see what she has come up with first.
It won’t be too late to punish her afterwards. Don’t you agree?
Yes, of course, ma’am.
Walk softly like the drizzling rain.
Step backwards like sand in the wind.
Turn around, just as a flower petal would.
There are so many dance moves out there.
I’m taking in nature, in all its beauty.
I’ve asked my teacher about how to become a truly great artist, in tune with nature.
But, I haven’t been able to come up with an answer, yet.
How long must I walk in order to find the answer?
Why are you here, when you said that you’re to become the finest artist?
What is this?
It’s a donation box.
What’s that for?
I’m going to live off on the donation that I get by dancing.
What if you don’t receive a cent?
Sir.
Work hard. If you earn a lot, I’ll add to the donation.
Booyong, what are you doing, all the way here in Pyongyang?
I’ve come to ask for you teaching, ma’am.
You’re one of the finest artists in the troupe.
What are you doing in this rural country?
Rural country? That’s not true.
Ma’am, Pyongyang is one of the finest provinces
when it comes to the arts.
I’ve heard no one can perform the Chuyong Dance like you can.
I’m trying to come up with a new dance.
Please teach me some moves, ma’am.
I thought you were only a great dancer, but I guess you have a great heart as well.
Will you teach me?
Come in.
You haven’t earned a cent.
You’re not attracting anyone, because all you’re doing is moving your body.
Dancing is about music and rhythm becoming one.
If you want, I’ll play the drums for you, starting tomorrow.
There’s no need for that.
A good dance can stand alone, without the need for drums.
You’re a great talker.
No one can compare with you, when it comes to talking.
But that’s not important.
You need to gather people.
What are you going to do?
Since you haven’t earned a cent, how are you going to eat your meals?
Are you going to beg?
I won’t die, even if I starve for a few days.
You came all the way from Ansung to learn the dance?
How admirable.
This dance casts evil spirits.
Oh, look at her determination.
Carry her on your back. She’ll be dead if she goes on.
Hey. Have you come to your senses?
You can’t keep staying unconscious.
What about Jini?
Have you heard from her?
Keumchoon.
How is she? Has she gotten better?
She hasn’t gotten better.
I think she’s on her way to death.
Is it that bad?
She seemed to be better, but these last few days she’s been totally out of it.
Did you send Deokpal to the capital?
Of course.
And still no news of her?
No.
Then where is she?
Since Jini has made her mother sick, her mother would get better if she returned.
Or at least, she would be less sick.
She went out to practice.
Is practicing all that important? Her mother is about to die.
Go back to your room.
You’ve been sitting like a statue for days.
You’ll be sick as well.
I’ve asked someone to make you some gruel.
I’ll leave after the gruel is served.
Don’t come to see me, starting tomorrow.
Listen...
It’s embarrassing for me to have you see me like this.
Go back, I tell you.
I see that you’re alive.
Are you going back to the market?
Yes, I am.
What will you do there?
I know that you’re not asking me that because you’re clueless.
Stop it.
You’ll be fainting again if you go back to the market and be left with nothing.
Do you want to die?
If I can’t find a way to be an artist, I’d rather die.
What could be more honorable for a dancer than to die during a performance?
Stop the nonsense.
You’ll never get any donations, even if you dance a hundred years.
What do you base your thoughts on?
I’ve heard of your high reputation as a scholar.
But now that I’ve met you, I can see that you deserve the reputation.
But please don’t think that you know everything about the world.
You’re the one that’s conceited and not me.
Conceited? How can you say that to me?
I’m just a dancer that can’t even get a single penny.
The dance that you perform is conceit in itself.
Actually, no.
You started becoming conceited the minute you got onto the streets.
I can’t agree with you.
Of course not.
How could you agree with me
when you don’t know what you’ve done wrong?
Fine. Do as you please.
You can do as you wish. You can choose to starve or dance to death.
Isn’t it cold?
I can tell by your face that you didn’t have such a great day.
- Go rest inside. - Sir.
Do you know it?
Do you know what I have to do?
How can I become a real artist, instead of some toy?
Do you know the answer?
How am I supposed to know?
You have many pupils that want to study under you.
You have a great number of students.
I think everyone knows this.
Who says that being a teacher is only about teaching?
A teacher is the one asking questions, while still learning something.
Let’s go inside.
There’s a better teacher inside. So let’s ask him.
There was a time when I had questioned being an intellectual.
During that time,
I had a great teacher.
I don’t know if this is a great way to answer your question about artists.
I can’t be for sure.
Looks beautiful, doesn’t it?
It has a nice scent, sir.
It’s sure to taste really good, too.
A chrysanthemum is born again in cold water.
It is a good teacher for me, just as you are for me.
A scholar studies by asking questions and an artist does the same.
I’ll throw away my pride of enlightening the world with my talents.
I’ll seek the way of the people,
in order to know the true meaning of the arts.
Just like a dry flower blossoming again after being in water.
I believe that these people will help me become zealous with true merriment.
However, even tea that has different types of tastes has no meaning if it isn’t tasted.
I hope that there will be a chance for me to show off my newfound dance.
I really hope so.
The troupe leaders from all over the nation have arrived.
And Booyong?
She has finished getting ready.
But we still haven’t heard from Myeongwol.
That’s right.
You say that she’s gotten better?
That’s right.
Today is the day of the contest.
She is hoping that Myeongwol will return today.
She seems to have gathered strength.
It’s nice to be out.
I have asked you to protect my daughter, in the past.
And you accepted my request and accompanied me in my music.
That was long ago.
It had moved me so much.
The music that we played was wonderful.
Could I ask you to play for me today?
I want to play music on my own.
My fingers haven’t healed from my illness.
Is it possible?
Sure.
But you must repay with your own music next time.
The music is great.
It’s worthy to remember all my life.
I’m sure that Jini has come up with a dance just as worthy.
Jini’s heart is just as good as yours.
The troupe leader is here.
Must we hold this contest?
What do you mean?
Myeongwol, who was supposed to compete against Booyong,
is said to have disappeared.
Disappeared?
Has she run away because she was scared?
What other reason is there?
That’s why I want to cancel the contest.
We can have Booyong be the new troupe leader.
No, that’s not right.
Myeongwol will be here for sure.
She’s the type to be here.
Even if Myeongwol doesn’t get here, I believe that the contest must be held.
If the other troupe leaders don’t recognize Booyong’s dancing skills,
we can’t have her made into a troupe leader.
I’ve seen her dance already.
She’s really good.
Hush!
Begin.
See? What did I tell you?
We don’t need to hold a contest.
I don’t think the troupe leaders need to discuss the matter.
Why don’t we choose her as the next troupe leader?
If that’s what you think...
I’m back.
I hope I’m not too late.
Who is she?
Don’t tell me...
Of course, it is she.
She is Myeongwol.
May I begin?
What are you saying?
Go and change into your dance costume.
No, I’m fine as it is.
I’ll go on stage as I am dressed now.
You’ll dance, dressed like that?
You’ll be on stage as a bum?
Yes, ma’am.
Stop it and go back inside and get ready.
Yes, do that.
It’s only right for a dancer to be appropriately dressed to dance.
Getting dressed up can be the base for a gisaeng.
But it’s not the base for an artist.
What?
You told me to find the finest dance.
That’s right.
The finest dance can be performed by only the finest artist.
How can the appearance be important to an artist?
The only important factor is the spirit and the heart.
The dance will be worthy when it is performed...
with all the body’s might and with all heart, until the end.
When you become one in spirit,
I believe that it’s only then that an artist will perform the finest dance.
What is it that you want to say?
Are you saying that your dance is the world’s best?
I don’t think that’s for me to decide, ma’am.
As a dancer, I am only dancing with excitement.
That is all.
Fine. Bring me the score.
There is no score, ma’am.
You’re competing in the contest without a score?
Yes.
Then tell me what your dance is based on.
I’m sure there is some form that the dance is based on.
There is none.
Are you going to throw away all the traditions and decorum?
How long must I argue with that rude girl?
Take her down from the stage.
Yes, that’s right.
How can you call her an artist when she’s not following tradition?
Take her down and punish her.
You must punish her severely, for making fun of this contest.
She must be dealt with severly.
No, that’s not necessary.
Why don’t we see your dance first?
Ma’am.
But your dance, that is lacking in form and tradition,
must persuade those that are present.
If you can’t, it’ll be the end of you.
You won’t be able to work for any troupe in all the nation.
You’ll only be a mere prostitute that will sell her body.
Can you handle that?
Yes.
I’ll do that, ma’am.
Since there is no base in your form, we can’t play any accompanying music for you.
You must move the audience purely with your dance moves.
Do you know how difficult that is?
Yes, I do.
Fine.
Let’s begin.
Sleeping?
You must’ve been tired, after your outing.
Try to get up, though. You need to eat something.
Hey.
Sir.
Sir!
Since all of you have agreed unanimously, I’ll follow your decision.
How do you think it’ll turn out?
Why are you asking such a stupid question?
I lost.
I lost fair and square.
I didn’t think this would happen.
Baekmu would be proud of you.
You mustn’t be hard on the Song-do troupe, now that you’re the top troupe leader.
The one to succeed me as the next top troupe leader...
is Booyong.
I hope you’re not dissatisfied.
Of course not, ma’am.
You’re not dissatisfied? That doesn’t make sense.
Booyong.
I can’t be the winner.
You can’t?
I lost.
It is upsetting, but her dance was better than mine.
That means that Myeongwol should be the troupe leader.
That’s exactly the reason why I want you to be the troupe leader.
The nation’s finest dancer can dance her best.
But it’s different for the troupe leader.
She must take care of all the talents in the orchestra.
She must have a keen eye for finding talent.
That’s the job of a troupe leader.
Booyong, you were the first one to notice that Myeongwol had great talent.
This is the first reason why I chose you.
There will be many younger girls that will try to be better than you.
You’re the only one that can applaud, instead of being jealous.
That’s a characteristic of a troupe leader as well.
Just like you had applauded Myeongwol today, after competing against her.
Don’t forget that heart.
You’ll be able to be a great troupe leader, no matter what.
I see that you’re back.
You’ve come back.
Deokpal, what is it?
Don’t be too sad.
I know that you would’ve done the same, Baekmu.
Oh, Myeongwol.
Mother. My mother.
Go inside. Hurry and go inside.
Mother.
Jini?
Jini, are you here?
I’m back, mother.
You’re safe.
Mother.
Mother. Mother.
Mother.
Mother. Mother.
The music is great.
It’s worth remembering all my life.
If there is another life...
if I’m given another chance to live,
I’ll live as your woman.
Have you come to pay off you debts?
Or have you come to teach me, now that you’ve become the finest dancer?
I came here to cry, sir.
I need a place to cry, sir.
Yes, you must cry. I understand why you would want to cry.
Who is the artist?
An artist must go through hell thousands of times.
That life is really hard.
It’s only right that you would want to cry.
You’d want to cry and wash away the world with your tears.
But an artist cannot be crying all the time.
I know.
I must make people happy and laugh until the very end.
That’s because I’m an artist.
I’ll cry only until tonight.
And just like a dried flower blossoms again in water, I will start anew.
If someone passing by asks me about three things Song-do is famous for,
the pond would be my first answer.
I would have to mention you, for you have taught me a great deal.
And my last answer is me. I want to make the world a place to smile.
That’s why I would choose myself.
I want to be an artist that is always starting from the beginning.
That’s how I want to live.
I’ll be starting again.
Who is that, ma’am?
She used to be an old friend.
She’s the only colleague that rivaled me.
But she was too great of an artist to be caught in the walls of the troupe.
I dream of a world where everyone can dance together.
And that’s why I’ll be dancing, just like today.
I can see people smiling and laughing.
That’s the only compensation that can help me win over pain.
The dance isn’t over.
It’ll never be over.