When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025) s01e14 Episode Script

1
[opening theme music playing]
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES
How can he even think of
putting all the blame on you and bail?
He only opened that pawn shop
to take all the money
and run in the first place.
Did you think I didn't like Cheol-yong
because he was last in your class?
When he was ten, he came over
and robbed your dad of his washer fluid.
My washer fluid? Why the washer fluid?
I don't know.
He just stole whatever he could.
He would always come with nothing.
And when he said goodbye and walked away,
his pockets were always
full of a bunch of stuff.
What does telling me this change?
We should really be worried about
the buncheong stoneware.
That woman is such a liar.
Real buncheong, come on.
She said it was appraised at 70 million
on Authentic Masterpieces.
Se
Seventy million?
Why'd she leave her buncheong stoneware
at a tiny pawn shop?
-Why?
-Oh, sweet Jesus.
So why why
open a tiny pawn shop
with a partner like Cheol-yong?
Why blame the pawn shop?
It's the financial crisis.
People were giving out credit cards
with cash advances.
Who the hell would come into
a damn pawn shop, Mom?
You know what's worse? Gold stockpiling!
Stockpiling! That damn gold hoarding.
I couldn't collect gold
'cause the state made us get rid of it.
The government shouldn't have supported
gold collection because of you?
You wanted to sit in that pawn shop
and get your hands on that pile of gold,
didn't you?
None of this is your fault?
Instead of living within your means,
you got a loan for the pawn shop.
-That damn stupid get-rich-quick scheme!
-Because I didn't wanna live like you.
I absolutely couldn't stand
to live like that! I hated it, you know?
You smelled like cooling patches
every day. What have you done for me?
-Yang Eun-myeong.
-You haven't done anything!
-[sighs]
-You made me feel like nothing.
Honestly, you and Dad never said,
"Our son's the greatest."
But you always told Geum-myeong,
"You're good at it all. At everything."
Ever say that to me, huh?
Know why I need to make money like this?
What else can I do to outdo Geum-myeong?
I did it so you'd see me.
Just to be seen for once, just once!
[young Eun-myeong crying]
Why can't I have a birthday party?
You did it for Geum-myeong? Come on!
-[Ae-sun] Eun-myeong, I'm sorry.
-[crying]
I have a pretty terrible headache
right now.
[young Eun-myeong] Get up!
Make me rice cake! I want rice cake!
Eun-myeong, get over here!
Huh?
[pop music playing]
Your brother died
three days after your birthday.
They can't celebrate it, understand?
So be a good boy and comfort them, okay?
You'll need to live
for you and your brother.
This is too much for your mother to take.
But that's not fair!
I don't wanna!
Eun-myeong, come here.
YANG GEUM-MYEONG
DAILY SCHEDULE
[young Eun-myeong] What are you drawing?
[young Geum-myeong] Here, look.
[music fades]
Mom and Dad have a hole in their hearts
because Dong-myeong's gone, right?
How can they survive like that?
Fill their hearts with something else.
So how can we help with that?
Don't quiz me. Just tell me.
You get a "good job" stamp
on your homework if you do well, right?
Look at it.
You take the tiny stamp out,
then keep stamping it like so
and fill their hearts every day.
You keep stamping until it's full.
So they can go on.
Do you understand?
Geum-myeong, you are the smart one.
You're just a bookworm.
What?
Ow!
Jeez.
[music resumes]
[young Eun-myeong] Look, Mom, look.
Look at this. Look at what I got.
[Ae-sun] Ten points more than last time.
I got one wrong on the econ test.
The teacher phrased the question weirdly.
One wrong?
Out of all the classes you have?
[chuckles]
[fly buzzing]
Am I a dog?
All I get is leftovers?
Your sister and your dad
have to bring their lunches.
I want pork cutlets. Cook me a new one.
Geum-myeong's picky
'cause her tests are very tricky.
And your father's work is tiring.
[sighs]
Come on. What's wrong with you?
Did you hit puberty already?
[sighs]
Oh my. Kang Ho-dong's mother
has to be so proud right now.
If a mother had a son
who brings home golden bull statues,
she couldn't ask for more.
What, you want a bull made of gold?
Is that what you dream of?
[scoffs]
Mom, I got you. You stick with me,
and the minimum I'll get you
is a bull made of gold.
I'll buy you a Mercedes.
[laughing]
Listen, I'm pulling Dad off the ocean,
and, Mom,
you're finished with street vending.
Not Geum-myeong. I'll do it.
-I can do it. Okay?
-Goodness.
What, in a thousand years?
If you won a golden bull for me,
I'd shout it from the rooftops
and have a whale of a time.
Stop it. You're full of it. A windbag!
Where did you get that from? Mm.
Your sister hasn't bragged about anything
and actually achieved things.
Mm.
[gentle acoustic guitar music playing]
[Geum-myeong] Things that Mom said
without a second thought
made Eun-myeong want to please her more.
[Eun-myeong]
Favoritism is such a slap in the face.
It'd actually be better
not to be loved at all.
Receiving less love is so insulting.
It makes you feel like a kid forever.
[Geum-myeong] Mom's worst fears
had come true.
Aren't you scared?
Well, of course.
It still feels surreal.
How will this thing come out of here?
[chuckles]
But what's
scarier than the birth
is having to raise the baby after.
Why?
Oh, well,
people who have seen it before
at least know what to do.
Parenting is a mystery.
You worry you won't know
how to parent properly?
And what's it like in puberty?
What if they become assholes?
Why are you so worried about that now?
The thing I'm most scared of
is that I may scar them
because I don't know how to be a mother.
That's what scares me the most.
This little baby
will trust me more than anyone else.
I don't wanna ruin my child's life.
You won't ruin it.
You couldn't
even if you tried, my dear.
[Ae-sun chuckles]
The truth is,
I really want to be a good parent.
Really. [chuckles]
[Eun-myeong] Do you know why
I named my son Je-il?
It means number one.
And I was never your number one.
Never.
It's because I was raised like that.
[sobs]
[whimpers]
Wanna be number one?
Your mom was never number one to anyone.
You're angry about
the pork cutlets? Really?
How many did your mom eat, you think?
-Go. Step out for a bit.
-You inconsiderate
You goddamn inconsiderate idiot.
Don't bail me out.
I'll finish my sentence
as a son without honor.
You're so brave. Do it, then.
[door opens]
[Hyeon-suk] Father. Father!
Dad!
Kick her out of here.
Kick her out right now!
Give me the money, Dad.
Give me my share, please!
Implying I owe you money now, huh?
That money is already mine.
I'm saying you can
pull it out of my inheritance.
You think I'm already dead?
[sighs] What am I supposed to do?
Should I be a prisoner's wife?
You want Je-il to be a criminal's son too?
So have them find the real crook, then.
If your husband's innocent,
why should anyone pay?
Eun-myeong is an innocent man. Seriously!
[sobs]
He only did it to look after my family.
If he's innocent, he'll be out soon.
Do I matter less to you than money?
A hundred times over.
A hundred times, yes!
What exactly have you done
to deserve anything?
Did you help me become a ship captain
or a or a village chief?
Did you make me that?
All those things are made possible
with money. Money brings honor.
You think you have the right to ask me
because you're my child. No way.
I don't need a daughter
who disrespects me like that.
Dad, you know what I envy the most
about my sister-in-law?
Her relationship with her dad.
Knowing my luck, even if I were reborn,
I won't have a dad like hers.
He treats Geum-myeong
like she's a luxury car.
And I'm not even a cattle wagon to you.
[pensive accordion music playing]
[door opens, closes]
Yeah, speak for yourself!
It's just 70 million won.
"Just 70 million won"?
You. Have you ever even earned
a hundred won yourself?
Warmth of a child towards a parent,
respect, gratitude.
Those things,
money can't ever buy, you see.
[scoffs]
You pierce your child's heart
with a dagger.
No amount of money can pull it out.
You think you're the only one who cares?
I care a lot too.
I care a lot more than you do.
You love your boat more than your kids.
Anyone can buy a boat at any time
with a price tag on it,
but a man's value is known once he's dead.
You should really start thinking hard
about how you'll be remembered
and what your life's worth
every single sleepless night.
[door opens]
[door closes]
AUNTIES' SEAFOOD HOUSE
CHEOL-YONG SALON
[woman] Do what you want with me.
I couldn't tell you where he is
even if you beat me to death.
You could cut me open
and not find any money.
That buncheong stoneware
was 70 million won,
and it's your son that ran off with it.
So why should her son repay that woman?
My son Cheol-yong was a victim here too.
Can you believe the damn words
this lady's saying?
My son was a very good boy
until he made the wrong friend.
Remember all the things
that Eun-myeong used to do.
Didn't you do that boy's hair
for all those years?
Eun-myeong was such a bad influence
on that boy.
He messed up my son's life.
[scoffs] Ae-sun, go.
Say something, will you?
We can't fight for you forever!
You are talking to your son, right?
[chuckles] If you know where he is,
let me know.
Because of your wonderful son,
I need to take my kid's name
off the shop signage here.
Did Cheol-yong sell
that buncheong stoneware
and buy you that television?
Did he buy you that gold ring too?
[scoffs] You have evidence?
Show me where is it?
Now I finally get
why Cheol-yong is the way he is.
He takes after you.
So is Eun-myeong in prison
due to his high school dropout mother?
[scoffs] He's becoming
what he was always meant to be.
[chuckles]
Ow!
What the hell?
Ow! Bitch!
You and your small head and your tiny IQ!
It's three of us against you!
Damn you! Damn you!
[all grunting]
[screaming]
[grunting]
[screaming] Ah! Ow!
-Pay now!
-Ow, let go! Let go!
Pay up now!
If you make someone
cry blood-stained tears,
you should at least get a taste!
Ae-sun, um, just, let let go for now.
See how you feel
if your son gets arrested!
Nothing matters to me! Nothing!
I don't care what happens to me!
I don't care anymore!
[woman whimpers, screams]
She's Gwang-rye's baby, that's for sure.
[Geum-myeong]
Mom grabbed someone by the hair
for the first time in her life.
[sighs]
She's rougher than you.
She used a special fight technique.
Like, she, um, grabbed her hair
and twisted her body,
like some pro wrestler.
Oh, you know what?
Mothers get stronger as they age.
Fathers become more fragile.
-Mm-hm. That Steelheart?
-[woman 5] Mm-hmm.
[Geum-myeong] Dad also did something
for the first time in his life.
I told you to buy a spot
when they were building
that place in Seogwipo.
Your son always said,
"You only live once."
Anyway, I'll see you around.
Goddamn financial mess. Jeez.
I have to be
my own delivery man these days.
-Hey!
-Mr. Byeon.
Could you
maybe
[Mr. Byeon sighs]
[middle-aged Gwan-sik]
Could you lend me money?
You've known me a long time.
I never take time off.
I'll go out to sea
and catch as many fish as I can.
Captain Yang,
you're not as young as you were.
You can't even
reel in the nets with those knees.
How many fish do you think you'll catch?
Mr. Byeon, you know
I'm a highly skilled fisherman. Also
The world has moved on, Captain Yang.
They have machinery capable of raking in
a full net as big as a house, you know?
But you're so old-fashioned,
you still throw young fish
back into the water.
You're the only one in Jeju
who honors the fishing season the most.
That's no way to turn a profit.
Did you make a lot of money? No.
Sir.
I'll reimburse you.
I'll pay you back with fish
or work for you for free.
[Mr. Byeon] I know you get the point.
Don't let this be any less comfortable
than it has to be.
Just go! Leave, leave, leave.
The entire port is avoiding you,
Captain Yang, in case you didn't know.
How did that fine a man,
so quiet and introverted,
end up with a son like his?
My son is 26 years old, and he
he's always been a troublemaker,
and I can't,
um
I can't see a way out this time around.
[sighs]
[sighs]
[gentle pop music playing]
CAR LIFE
FISHING LOG
FISHING LOG
AUGUST 15, EUN-MYEONG'S BIRTHDAY
[Geum-myeong] Three days
after Dong-myeong passed,
Dad went back out to sea.
Ultimately, Dad had to forego
20 years of his life
and give up his boat
that carried the names
of his three children, Geumeundong,
that he'd never let go of otherwise.
[sniffles]
M.F.L.
A moth? Erase it. Why did you draw a moth?
Butterfly.
Can you write me a poem too?
Name it "Yang Gwan-sik," dear.
[scoffs]
Why would I?
[Geum-myeong] "M.F.L."
Dodong Girls' High School,
sophomore, class 5, Oh Ae-sun.
When he's by my side, he's annoying
When he isn't
I wonder where he went
How many times is he reading it?
[Geum-myeong] If I pick on him, it's fine
If someone else does it, I get mad
When I open my eyes
I pretend not to see him
When I close my eyes
I see an image of him.
He's like the sea I see every day
When I don't see him
I feel all alone in the world
Like candy no one knows
I have in my mouth
He makes my whole world sweeter
Is that why?
Is that why?
Is that why my heart
Is always in spring?
I told you to read it at home, didn't I?
[frustrated sigh]
[Gwan-sik] My first love.
"My first love," right?
I know it is.
Who said it was you? Who said that?
[gasps] Hey!
You think you can keep doing that
'cause you did it once?
I can't?
I can't do that?
Uh, enough questions!
No. No more questions!
[gentle feel-good music playing]
[music fades]
[middle-aged Gwan-sik]
"Always in spring," my foot.
Doesn't seem like spring at all.
It doesn't seem like spring at all.
[sniffles]
[Geum-myeong] The boy's hand
made rustling sounds of the winter trees.
-[woman] This is our boat.
-[man] Our boat.
-Doesn't that look good?
-Daddy's boat.
Daddy's boat.
-Hello, sir.
-Oh, I didn't know you were here.
Isn't it a good-looking boat?
Yes. She kept asking
if we could come see our boat again.
[woman] You wanted to see it too.
No, I didn't.
[wistful music playing]
[Dong-myeong] Daddy!
-Daddy!
-[Ae-sun] There he is!
Hi.
[children] Daddy!
-Hurry back!
-You catch a bunch today?
-[Geum-myeong] Dad, hurry back!
-Daddy! Daddy!
Have you picked a name for it yet?
You'll learn to love it
once you've named it.
Uh, it's Eunyeongho.
-[chuckles]
-Oh, you're Eun-yeong. That's great.
That's fantastic.
This boat let me raise Geum-myeong,
Eun-myeong
Dong-myeong too.
And now, it's Eun-yeong's turn.
Oh, here.
Oh.
Oh. Are those study notes?
These here are from
the three latest years aboard.
They're a bit old-fashioned,
so I don't know if they'll help.
FISHING LOG
Can I really have these?
I don't believe
I'll ever captain a boat again.
[gasps] We would be
truly grateful to you. Truly.
Eun-yeong, thank Mr. Yang.
Thank you very much.
Thank you! I thank you, dear.
I'm grateful.
[Geum-myeong] We didn't realize it
because we saw him every day.
We didn't realize
that the time that Dad spent at sea
flew by so quickly.
[sentimental music playing]
Okay, good, good. You're finally out.
Wait, but where did you get the money?
-Did you sell the apartment?
-Let's go.
The boat, then?
You sold the boat?
Oh shit.
[sobs]
Don't cry.
If you cry, it'll make Dad cry too.
He'll cry, and it'll kill him inside.
Why did you guys have to sell it?
What the hell am I? What the hell am I?
We sold it because you're our number one.
Of course you're our number one.
[Geum-myeong] A child
can walk away from a sick parent,
but it'll never be the other way around.
[sobs] I hate this. I hate it.
How could you sell the boat?
How could we not bail you out?
How could we leave you in there?
[Geum-myeong] A mother's love
for her children is always overflowing,
no matter how imperfect
they may be as people.
Eun-myeong realized they'd always
been there for him after all.
You can resent me
but never resent your father.
Do you know he used to
eat five times a day? He did.
He had to eat like that all his life
because his work was so hard.
He wouldn't've lived like that
if he wasn't a dad.
It's fine if you resent me.
But how can you resent him?
Please don't.
If you resent him,
he'll think everything he did
was for nothing.
What is Dad supposed to do now?
If he can't catch fish anymore,
you can't sell anything, you can't!
Go and take care of yourself, okay?
I'll get through it,
whatever it takes.
-[Geum-myeong] The bookworm had changed.
-Don't cry.
[upbeat funky music playing]
[Mi-suk] Hello, ma'am.
No, over here, please.
If you bring a squid,
I'll fillet it for you.
Ooh! Look at how easy that is.
Hey! Oh, give it.
I'll fillet it very well for you.
Hey, one for 2,000. 3,000 for two!
Just bring it on over!
Right here! I'll fillet it for you!
[Geum-myeong] The girl who said
50 won for one cabbage
and 150 won for three cabbages
had changed.
Hey! Stop hogging customers!
If you continue, we won't sell a thing!
Oh, hello, ma'am. You bought squid?
Let me fillet it for you.
I'll do a great job for you, huh?
Excuse me. Hey, miss. Don't stand there.
Right here. I'm right here.
Are you really stealing my customer?
You stole her, not me!
Uh, miss, who did you come here to see?
-[woman] Wait.
-Huh?
Well, my mother-in-law said
to pick the pretty lady.
And who's that?
Hmm.
[middle-aged Ae-sun] Which one?
Hey! I could've been the one!
[Geum-myeong] The bookworm evolved
like Squirtle the Pokémon
evolved into Wartortle.
[middle-aged Ae-sun]
Good choice. All right.
Well, let's fillet your squids.
Wow, you have fast hands.
I couldn't do anything like this at all
when I was a newlywed.
What a liar.
Clearly a fisherman's wife
can fillet a squid.
My husband used to do it all.
He didn't want me hurt. He was afraid.
Oh Ae-sun's flaunting song, verse one.
My husband says not to do stuff like this.
He keeps telling me not to do it,
but I have time.
He's a boat captain.
He can sail. He's great. He's great!
Is he still a captain?
-Tell her what he's been doing now, huh?
-[phone ringing]
Go on, tell her.
Sorry, miss.
[chuckles] It's my daughter.
She went to Seoul National University.
She always calls at mealtime.
Hi, sweetie!
You wanna make sure
that I'm eating every day?
Ae-sun's flaunting song, verse two.
[Geum-myeong] Getting a phone call
from their children
was a point on their scoreboard.
Oh, I don't need a checkup, dear.
I don't need it. [laughs]
No, it's okay. It's okay.
I love you too, honey.
Okay.
Come on. Geum-myeong wasn't even saying,
"I love you," right?
You're the only one saying it? [laughs]
[Geum-myeong] The more they lost,
the more Mom boasted about her family.
[Mi-suk] Hey, there's your boat husband.
There he is. [laughs]
[Geum-myeong] But that's how Mom
protected her own heart.
None of them get phone calls, babe.
Only our children call every day
to ask if I ate and what I ate.
They're jealous of what we have.
When the fire dies down,
you have to change the candle.
You'll be cold.
Oh my. They don't even know the law.
They can't tell the difference
between a holding cell and a prison cell.
Mi-suk knows enough. She keeps asking,
"Why don't you talk about your son?"
"Where's your son work these days?"
Just talks shit. Bitch.
Things get desperate, but I don't care.
I'd never go as low
as messing with a married man.
Have things gotten desperate?
No. [chuckles] But I didn't
I didn't intend that.
No. They're all envious of me here.
A new face cream sound good, hon?
A fancy one.
Why?
Isn't it cute?
It looks like blush. [laughs]
They call me the pretty one here.
[giggles]
[middle-aged Gwan-sik sighs]
Oh man.
How did we get here?
How did this happen?
[sighs, groans]
What's going on?
Getting old, huh?
Jeez, you've been crying more lately.
I'm the one who forced you to sit here.
[sighs]
I couldn't do anything I promised you.
I robbed you of your potential.
[sobs] So what if you know
what "nostalgia" means?
What about college?
Being a poet?
What about the mainland?
I can't give you everything.
But I'll do one thing,
even if my life depends on it.
Hey, can't you at least say
you'll give me everything?
Tell me you'll give me
the moon and the stars!
How can I live with a boy like you?
[sobbing continues]
You should've turned me down back then.
You shouldn't have ended up with me.
I was all by myself.
I was an orphan,
and you were there for me.
With Yang Gwan-sik by my side,
I didn't have to hide
and pretend to be shy.
Should I scare that lady, Mi-suk?
[middle-aged Ae-sun laughing]
[middle-aged Gwan-sik sighs]
Why are you aging on the outside
but not on the inside?
How is it you never change?
It's annoying.
[middle-aged Ae-sun] Lucky you, Hyeon-suk.
Your father-in-law
never got me face cream.
Hyeon-suk, I noticed
you're not wearing much makeup now,
and your hair isn't curly anymore.
You should find time
to perm it if you like.
Getting a perm costs a lot.
[Je-il] Open this for me.
-This?
-[Je-il] Like that.
[middle-aged Gwan-sik]
Okay. Let's see. Bless you.
Are you the only people eating?
Are these just for your husband?
-[Je-il] Hmm Da!
-Hey.
His father loves rolled omelet, right?
How can you hide two-thirds of it?
Silly girl. [chuckles]
Tell Eun-myeong to come home
when we're having dinner.
He makes you set the table twice.
Tell him that.
How much is he drinking?
Why does he always sleep in
until 10:00 a.m.?
But, Mother, that's unfair.
I'm not going to eat.
[door slams]
Look at that.
Our daughter-in-law
is just like our little girl.
Why aren't you asleep?
We can get Je-il to bed tonight.
-[Hyeon-suk sighs]
-You guys can have it.
You're joining me?
Really?
I know you already know
how much I love to drink.
[laughs] Oh, yeah.
I needed a hammer, and I found your stash
while I was looking for it.
I don't know anyone that buys
their daughter-in-law a box of beer.
Can't be easy living with your in-laws
after you've been eating your mom's food
for 20 years, can it?
To be honest,
bunking with my in-laws hasn't been hard.
No?
Oh, good.
Actually
Eun-myeong is what's making it hard.
What about my son?
Is that punk of a man making trouble?
Dad, you've got no idea
what your son's been up to, do you?
[indistinct chattering]
[middle-aged Gwan-sik]
Stop going to the ping-pong bar.
You're not the boss of me.
Well, folks have been saying
only Bu Sang-gil
asks for a mixed doubles team.
Having mixed doubles happens.
Hyun Jung-hwa, Yoo Nam-kyu!
What, are you lonely?
Lonely, my ass. Damn it.
-[Je-il] Yummy.
-I'm the boss of my house!
[Je-il] This is good.
Hey, you don't have to be
everybody's boss, you know.
They're avoiding me anyway.
[Je-il] Yeah.
Yummy!
You can approach him, you know.
[feel-good music playing]
[laughs]
Maybe because it's our first grandson.
But I think he's
a spitting image of his father.
Of his mother.
Don't you think?
Fine, tell me
if you ever want to see your grandson.
I'll bring him out to you.
Is there something I can do for you, sir?
Oh, "sir"?
[laughs]
It's crazy how gracious you are.
So you do care
about your daughter, after all.
I know how that is.
Do you believe your son-in-law's
a thief too?
Having that Community Chest of Korea badge
won't make you great.
Show affection at home.
Then forget going to the bar
on Lunar New Year.
[music fades]
The tangerine field is yours.
My payment for you
placing the bedpan under me.
While your father-in-law was alive,
he never went to visit
the camellias in the cold winter.
If the canola flowers
bloomed west of Jeju,
he would travel to the east.
If the camellias blossomed in the east,
then west he'd go.
That's what an affair does to a guy.
He knew what he was doing was wrong
in the eyes of others.
He looked for other women
until his last day,
but I went along with it
because I wasn't sure
how I'd survive alone.
One day, because of the distress,
my body gave out.
Mother,
why are you saying this?
What am I supposed to do though?
The tangerine field is yours.
Do whatever you like.
[middle-aged Ae-sun] You're looking for
another get-rich-quick scheme.
They're nothing but trouble.
Uh, Dong-jin's brother, Dong-won,
just got out of the military.
We wanna hang out. I'll be home early.
You know I don't drink milk, Dad.
I'll get diarrhea.
[middle-aged Ae-sun]
We have to stop him now!
If he gets in trouble again,
we won't have anything to sell!
Your child will be
a thorn in your side eventually.
A thorn conch is more expensive
than a regular conch.
Okay, there, there, there, there,
there, there you are. That's good.
Sh, sh, sh, sh.
So,
Hong-nam's brother, Hong-sik,
started a business.
But why do you care about
Hong-nam's big brother? Why?
You'll drink all night again?
I don't want it.
[middle-aged Gwan-sik] They're hot.
The chestnuts are hot.
Hey, I don't like chestnuts.
Don't give me stuff you like.
It's freezing. Don't stay out too long.
[door closes]
[Geum-myeong] The voice
that used to be background noise
[Eun-myeong] Sticky rice cakes.
Acorn jelly for sale.
can no longer be ignored
when it belongs to your child.
Sticky rice cakes!
[gentle piano music playing]
Acorn jelly!
Sticky rice cakes!
Acorn jelly!
[Hyeon-suk] Have you seen
the sticky rice cake vendor lately?
No. It's because
Eun-myeong is doing that now.
No one would hire him
just because he's been in jail.
They all keep their distance from him
because they think
that he stole someone's money.
He goes out in this cold weather
and walks around for six or seven hours.
I hate it.
I really hate it.
[sighs]
Dad, for the time being,
would you be able to provide for us?
You know Je-il doesn't eat much anyway.
The other day,
some drunk kicked the box of rice cakes.
Also, he had somebody call
from the fifth floor
who bought some acorn jelly,
then asked him to take out their trash.
He's got to do something. He has to.
It's because he's the head of the house.
[Geum-myeong]
Even though he told her that
Tell him he's doing well.
Let him know.
[sniffles, sobs]
[Geum-myeong] Dad's heart once again
silently broke into pieces.
How can I say that to him?
Eun-myeong hates that kind of thing.
You know that!
Goddamn it!
[reporter] The number of suicides
this past year has reached record numbers.
More and more heads of households
who lost their jobs or had family woes
are ending their own lives
[Hyeon-suk sobs] Dad! Dad.
Go find Eun-myeong for me! Go!
If you don't find him, I'm gonna die.
I'm gonna kill myself.
Where are you going?
He's on a boat! He's on a boat!
Mi-suk saw my boy!
The deep-sea fishing boat?
[uneasy music playing]
[middle-aged Ae-sun sobs, pants]
[sobs]
[sighs, sobs]
Don't let him go out to sea!
Don't let him go out to sea!
You'll bring Eun-myeong back to us, right?
You'll get him back, right?
[man] Do you know how much gas costs
for a boat like this?
You can't tell us to come and go.
Oh, please turn the boat around for me!
Just this once!
I'll cover the gas you'll use!
Time is money too, isn't it?
Stop talking nonsense.
Holy shit. Hang up. Hang up now!
This is Bu Sang-gil from Dodong-ri.
I don't care if you're Bu Sang-gil or not.
Pissing me off from the start.
Same here.
I said, same here, same here!
Listen! I said same here!
You gotta back down now!
[man] Did you raise your son
in a greenhouse?
He threw up the entire time.
[middle-aged Gwan-sik]
Thank you. Thank you.
What is this, a passenger ferry?
You did it for money, you cheater!
Don't act like you're a saint!
Why did you even let a boy like him
get on your boat anyway?
Lower your price!
And what price is that?
-It's already a done deal.
-You son
You know what fishing takes?
You have any idea?
People die.
They drown, get struck by the rope.
They get their hands cut off!
People avoid this work
as much as they're able!
As much as they can!
You have no idea what it takes!
Why would you do something so hard?
Tell me why!
[man] Hey, get off my boat.
How did you do it
if it was so difficult?
[sobs]
[tender piano music playing]
Let's go. Let's go.
If you go to sea,
it will kill your mother.
But you did it all!
No matter how tough it was, you did it!
Who said the deep-sea fishing boat
would make you rich?
This is one more of your schemes, right?
I wanna buy your boat back, Dad.
Don't buy my boat because I don't need it.
Don't get on a boat.
Do anything else. Anything.
If I don't do this,
you'll have to pay for everything again.
When I sold sticky rice cakes,
you know what all the people
kept on saying?
Here are two more.
[man] I don't need change.
-What?
-Listen, kid.
You be good to your dad.
Be good to him.
I'm not hungry.
I really don't like emergency crop foods.
Treat your father well, kid.
Treat him well.
[Eun-myeong] Why are you buying
four packets at this time?
[man] I don't know.
That's what I was told to get.
Mom said that?
Oh, yeah. And she said to tell you
To be good to Dad.
[Eun-myeong] What are they paying for,
Christmas stamps?
Is my rice cake box
the Community Chest of Korea?
Jeez, what the hell?
Shit. How much is this?
[Eun-myeong] Everyone who
buys rice cakes from me
tells me to be good to you!
You and my father-in-law did this!
Someone gave everyone 5,000 won.
[Eun-myeong] You went to the apartments
women's association.
Gave out money at the ping-pong bar.
All the money I made
is because of my family's money.
[sobs] It's humiliating.
Why'd they do this?
So humiliating. God.
[Eun-myeong] It was so humiliating.
-I feel so guilty when I think of you.
-Hey!
Be good to your father!
You'll regret it if you aren't.
I was gonna be anyway.
It'd be worth his time
if he made more money in the cold.
That way, he'd be able to get up in time
and have a purpose, all right?
So, you want me to give cash
to people in the complex
so they can buy your son's rice cakes?
You know all kinds of people around town.
What would they complain about
if they're nabbing rice cakes for free?
You may not like him,
but he is the father to your grandchild.
[Sang-gil sighs]
Can't believe I'm dealing with
a guy I actually hate. Ah shit.
Do you know when
I began to despise you, Gwan-sik?
It doesn't matter.
[Sang-gil] I've despised you
since the day you carried
your little floral lunch box onto my boat.
I didn't wanna be on that boat either.
Let's be blunt. Life is a matter of luck.
You're just lucky
the odds are in your favor,
and things fall into place for you.
Seeing as you ended up with
a smart, frugal wife,
you reaped the benefits of who she is.
It made me pretty jealous of both of you.
I hated it.
And you know, I, uh,
had a blind date with Ae-sun just once.
Hey, let's stop before we say something
we'll both regret.
But I realized
it wasn't just because of your wife.
You're different.
You and I are just different.
-What the hell? Get off now. Get off.
-Hey. No, I won't go.
-Fast, man. Hey, I said get off the ship.
-Go away!
[man] Damn, you crazy bastard.
[Sang-gil] I'm sitting right here.
Why are you doing everything for me
when you said to learn
to provide for the future myself?
Hurry up! Let's go.
Your mom's crying.
What am I? A baby?
When will you start treating me
like an adult?
What adult?
You really think you're a grown-up?
[Geum-myeong] In a way,
no one ever really grows up.
[middle-aged Gwan-sik] Crazy bastards.
Calling my son a thief and a convict.
I'll kill them if they keep talking shit.
I'll kill them. Kill them all!
[Geum-myeong] We're all just children.
[sobbing]
Who said fishing was a good idea? Who?
You want me to die of a heart attack?
Have you really been selling rice cakes?
Hyeon-suk told you everything?
Why didn't you tell me?
Are we not speaking now, son?
Are you still mad at me?
Say you're sorry.
Say you'll never do it again.
Tell your mother!
No, no!
This is my fault! All of it!
It's my fault, my son. I'm so very sorry.
I'll make you pork cutlets
every single day.
[sobs]
Stop crying, would you?
Every time you cry,
the whole family can't move a muscle.
[middle-aged Ae-sun crying]
[emotional pop ballad playing]
[Mr. Byeon] A criminal.
A windbag.
A thief who blows through
someone else's money.
Do you know why I took you in
when no one else would?
Not sure what other people
would think of this.
Yang Eun-myeong, you're the son
raised by a high-end racehorse of a man.
These horses are worth
hundreds of millions of won.
Thing is, their offsprings
are even more expensive.
Their value jumps in folds
even if they don't race.
Cows, horses, and people are unique
when they're worth a lot.
People look down on others who are earnest
because it's old-fashioned.
Your father's level of sincerity, though,
he merits everybody's respect for that.
Yeah, people around here
love to nag every time they see me.
People grabbed me three times
on my way here!
So why did you start up that business?
You ruined your family.
Your father and mother in their fifties
It was the financial crisis!
I didn't ruin them!
[scoffs]
[man on TV] The new millennium
will soon be upon us.
Let's count down together.
Ten, nine, eight, seven
[Geum-myeong] As always,
life did not fail to bring us trouble.
three, two, one
[cheering]
[man on TV] The new millennium
is finally here!
It's the year 2000. Do you believe that?
And we've been a couple
ever since the '50s, Gwan-sik.
I have a feeling the millennium
will bring something explosive.
Why's that?
[laughs]
Because we hit our record low.
It's not easy for the entire family
to not have work, right?
[both laugh]
You like that?
You know,
you have a really weird sense of humor.
You know how a cat hunches
before it leaps into the air, right?
I think our real race
is starting pretty soon.
[spokesperson on TV] It'll help you build
a lean figure and tight muscles.
While nearly silent,
it also reduces impact on the joints
with its elliptical rotation,
making it a fun workout
for people of all ages and genders.
Four exercise machines in one. Cyclone!
[woman] The secret to our stock?
In our family, neither our son
nor his wife know the secret.
Hey, it's Natasha!
Natasha, Natasha!
It's the Natasha noodles!
-[laughs]
-Hmm?
[Geum-myeong] I wonder how well
Song Bu-seon is doing
at the noodles place.
Why should my past be a running joke
for you anyway, my little wifey?
Oh, that's hot.
But her noodles look really good!
It feels like I'm eating them as I look.
Should I make ramyeon right now?
For today's last meal?
-Honey.
-Yeah?
Don't you think there'll be a day
when we all do everything with our eyes?
Just by looking,
we will eat and learn and exercise.
We won't have to go anywhere.
[chuckles]
What? Are you thinking about
another business idea?
Everyone's suffering
because of the financial crisis.
When everyone's down,
wealth distribution
is reconfiguring, right?
[sighs] I should take a chance
on a situation like this.
You're right. You don't get heroes
from tranquil eras, unfortunately.
Let's do it.
I shall make us ramyeon.
[Geum-myeong] Will you be swept
by the waves, or will you ride the waves?
[sportscaster] The ball goes past
the pitcher's glove, but it is caught
and tossed to the shortstop.
[exclaiming]
[Geum-myeong]
That is up to the individual.
That's right! [laughs]
I passed the exam!
I passed because of the financial crisis.
The test is usually given
once every two years.
And because of the crisis,
they changed it to once every year!
Of course. I did.
I checked the answers.
[gasps] Your mom. Your mom won.
I won!
[laughing]
[Hyeon-suk] But, Mom, you passed the exam.
Why do you keep saying you won?
You're making me nervous.
REALTOR LICENSE EXAM WORKBOOK
[man on TV] It was so satisfying
when the ball hit the bat.
It was wonderful, yeah.
I saw the ball go and ran to second,
and I must say the feeling is,
it's absolutely electrifying.
[Gye-ok] I saw Korea
gain independence at age 13,
and now I'm seeing Korea
celebrate nationally again.
I wonder if Lee Seung-yuop
was destined to play baseball
when he was young.
What more could you want
if you won a medal
because you pursued your dream?
[Gye-ok] What more do you want?
What desire could you possibly have?
You've been spoiled all your life.
Your husband thinks you still can't lift
or carry a bag of rice.
[chuckles] You're right.
[Gye-ok] If I lived like you,
I would have written
I would've written poems.
Everyone knew you wanted to be a poet
more than anything, so why aren't you?
Hmm? Is there an age limit
for writing poetry?
If all those bookworms
decided to be poets,
everyone and their mom would be a poet.
Why do you hold back from writing?
If I were you, I'd brag to the world
about my life and write 100 poems.
A whole book of them.
HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNT BOOK
[Geum-myeong] When one door closes,
another door creaks open.
[wistful piano music playing]
M.F.L.
[Geum-myeong] Like a field covered
in freshly fallen snow,
a new chapter begins.
"High risk, high return."
Don't you know that expression?
That area of Jeju will be very valuable.
[Geum-myeong] The horn on the boat
that had been docked for a long time
began sounding again.
[man] Captain Yang,
you're taking a risk for your family
and your wife to stop working, right?
I hear your daughter
is also starting a business.
She needs backup somewhere.
[heartbeat echoes]
You only get one chance
to make a difference for the family.
[Geum-myeong] In the first winter
of the new millennium,
each of us was ready
to take massive risks.
It's my fresh start now.
Ready? Go.
[upbeat funky music playing]
SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY
"IF YOU CAN'T, JUST BACK DOWN.
WE'RE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU."
[music fades]