Family by Choice (2024) s01e01 Episode Script

1
(Family by Choice)
- Everyone, isn't it so nice to be outside?
- Yes!
I love it, too!
Wow, the flowers are flying!
(Fall 2003)
Oh, it's so pretty!
Who's made pinwheels before?
Me, me!
Wow, everyone's made it before.
As expected. Everyone!
(Yoon Juwon, seven years old)
What is this?
An acorn!
That's right. It's an acorn.
Then, how many syllables is an acorn?
Three!
We're going to try saying
words that have three syllables!
Ready, go!
- Me, me!
- You can go first.
- Fish.
- That's right. What about you?
- A cruise ship.
- Oh, a cruise ship.
- A cat.
- Okay, a cat.
- An apartment building.
- A puppy.
- A rainbow.
- Right.
- A plane.
- A squid.
A squid, that's right!
Oh, how about you, Juwon?
A tree-ee?
A tree?
A tree only has two syllables.
Juwon.
A pine tree
Horaebi!
(It means widower in Korean)
Horaebi?
Teacher, what is a horaebi?
Huh?
Well, that is
A horaebi can do anything!
A horaebi can even make you an oppa!
(Handmade kalguksu, bibim
kalguksu, rice, soju, beer, soda)
- All right!
- Juwon, you're back?
Juwon, it's your dad.
Daddy!
All right.
Thank you.
Are you really a horaebi?
Is it true? Are you really a horaebi?
Ahjussi, are you really a horaebi?
Ahjussi, can you really do anything?
Yeah.
Then, is Juwon going to have an oppa?
Of course! A horaebi can do anything!
Kids, sit down and put on your seat belts.
Did someone say that Daddy was a horaebi?
Madam.
Madam!
D-Did Madam l-lie?
Well, it's not completely a lie
but it's not completely true, either.
(Episode 1)
But Juwon,
do you have to have an oppa?
You have Daddy.
But you have to sell noodles.
You can't play with me.
That's true.
I do have to sell noodles.
But you can't suddenly make
an oppa appear out of nowhere.
I know that.
You do?
Did Madam tell you that, too?
Yeah, she said you
needed to go on a blind date.
But Daddy, what is a blind date?
She said I needed to go on a blind date?
So what is it?
Blind
S-Sun!
S-u-n, the sun.
It's the sun.
Is it the third floor?
Third floor?
Yeah, we have new neighbors
moving into the third floor.
- Maybe an oppa is coming, too.
- Oppa?
Let's go.
Let's go!
(Ohryun Mansion Apartment Complex Map)
It's not as backcountry as I'd thought.
- Yes.
- It should be backcountry.
We intentionally moved to
somewhere nobody would know us.
You're right.
- It's oppa!
- Oh, there is an oppa.
Oppa!
You moved here, right? To the third floor?
Hello.
It's nice to meet you.
I'm your second-floor neighbor.
Hi.
Honey, he's our second-floor neighbor.
Hello.
Sanha, say hello, too.
Oh, hi!
Sanha.
Are you sweating?
I don't know if you saw
a noodle shop on the way
with lots of stairs
before you turn a corner.
I'm the owner of that restaurant.
Come by for some noodles sometime.
I'll treat you to celebrate you moving in.
I guess you're a family of three.
Yes. We are a family of three.
A family of two lives on the second floor,
and a family of three
lives on the third floor.
That's so cool!
It is pretty cool.
What's so funny?
- Pardon?
- Is that so funny?
I'm asking if a family
of three is that funny.
No.
What's with him? So annoying.
The ahjumma is scary.
Yeah. She's really scary.
Yeah.
What? Should I have laughed along with him?
I'm saying you didn't have to be so rude.
Do you laugh or cry as you see fit?
"We were originally a family of four, but
we're a family of three now, ha-ha, ho-ho."
Why didn't you say that, huh?
He asked first so he could
tell us they were a family of two,
because he didn't want his child
to say she doesn't have a mom.
How do you know that!
Why did you want to come to
such a backcountry like this?
You hated people whispering about us.
You wanted to live quietly
where nobody knew us.
Didn't you say that?
If you want to do that, you should
get along with others appropriately.
- Let's move again!
- To where?
Wherever!
Stop being so unreasonable!
Gosh, damn it!
Hello.
- Let's just end it all!
- Gosh, you're driving me nuts!
I'm starting work tomorrow.
Are you seriously doing this?
That's perfect.
Then, you could quit right away!
Is anyone home?
We received a report.
We received a noise complaint
S-Sergeant.
I didn't know it was your home.
Can I explain everything tomorrow at work?
Oh, okay. Then, see you tomorrow-
Is it okay to just go like this?
Since he knows we received a complaint,
I'm sure they'll be quiet tonight.
You heard from the chief, right?
Pardon? About what?
They lost their daughter last year,
and the three of them moved down here.
It'd be weirder if their
relationship was good.
Make sure to watch your mouth elsewhere.
Is that true?
Oh, did they originally have a daughter?
They had a daughter?
Oh, goodness.
Gosh, I'm so forgetful. I
came out while eating dinner.
Oh, well, I suppose it could
be noisy on the move-in day.
Let's go inside.
- Hurry up and get in.
- Okay.
Daddy, what is losing a daughter?
Juwon, you weren't sleeping?
When you see the family living above us,
let's not talk about his younger
siblings. What do you say?
Why not?
Juwon, you get sad when
people talk about moms, right?
Yeah.
That's right.
You miss her more even
though she's gone now.
- Yeah.
- It's the same.
Ahjussi, Ahjumma, and
Oppa would also be sad
if someone talks about younger siblings
when they no longer have them.
Yeah, they shouldn't be sad.
When you meet Oppa tomorrow,
bring him home with you.
I'll make something tasty for you.
Something tasty? Like meat?
Okay.
Oppa!
What are you doing?
Do you want to watch TV at my house?
Do you want to watch TV?
It's okay.
I was about to head inside anyway.
Oh, really?
Yes.
Mommy's not really mad.
You know that, right?
She's not mad?
When people are really sad,
it may seem like they're angry.
You and I shouldn't get angry, Sanha. Okay?
Okay.
You'll get hurt.
Hold this.
I wondered why a detective in
the violent crimes unit in Seoul
would move down to somewhere like this.
Then again, what family
doesn't have problems?
Still, if you see them,
don't act like you know.
If they moved to a place
where they know nobody,
they want to put it all in the past.
Aigoo, sometimes, you speak too easily.
You even talked about me
being a horaebi to Juwon.
Aigoo.
You think you could keep it a
secret in such a small neighborhood?
Mr. Yoon, does anyone in this neighborhood
not know you lost your wife in Seoul
and have been a widower for three years.
Everyone knows!
Whatever it is, you have to speak it aloud.
That way, you realize the
difficulties you're going through
may not be such a big deal.
Still, what happened to
their family isn't common.
Since you mention it, I heard that
it happened while only the son was present.
What?
I heard that something went wrong
while only the son and daughter were home.
So, it seems like the mom
partially blames the son for it.
There's such a dark shadow over his face
How about an adult? Is
there an adult besides you?
No one's here.
No one
It's okay. It'll be fine.
Just wait a little bit.
No one's here
What is it?
We have tasty food at my house.
I'm not hungry.
I guess you're not hungry.
If you get hungry, knock on our door.
Children shouldn't be hungry. Okay?
- Ramen?
- Yeah.
He says he's not hungry
because he had ramen.
I heard that something went wrong
while only the son and daughter were home.
So, it seems like the mom
partially blames the son for it.
Juwon, you eat here.
Daddy, what are you making?
What you also like, Juwon.
Meat pancake?
Bingo!
Ta-da!
This is really tasty.
We have more at my house!
Yum! It's tasty! It's so good!
That didn't work on him.
It's tasty, though.
(Haedong Traditional Seafood Market)
Well-behave and be polite.
You can do that, right?
What's this, huh?
- All done.
- Aigoo, you're here!
Hello.
You look better in
person than in your photo.
Is he your son?
- Yes.
- Hello!
Hi, it must have been
tiring for you to come.
It's not too far from here.
Okay. Let's go.
We're almost here. It's right there.
(Mr. Yoon's Kalguksu)
What are you doing?
- I know
- You know?
Daddy!
I'm home!
Hi!
Hi.
She runs a hair salon in Changwon
and has a son.
I'm Kang Seohyeon.
Hi.
I'm Yoon Jeongjae.
Aigoo, seriously.
You guys look so good
together as if you're one family.
One family?
Juwon, didn't you say you wanted an oppa?
- Oppa?
- Yeah.
Mr. Yoon needs to get married
in order for you to get
a mommy and an oppa.
Mommy?
H-Here is a dry towel.
Thank you.
I don't need a mommy!
I only need an oppa!
Won't you two need to talk a bit?
Juwon, don't you want
to go to the supermarket?
I said I don't need a mommy!
Aigoo
You should come, too. Let's go.
- Come on.
- I don't want to! Just take him with you!
Come on, let's go!
I'll buy you something tasty.
(Preparing ingredients)
Don't go anywhere and
stay right here, okay?
Gosh, my belly hurts. Aigoo, aigoo.
Do you go to kindergarten?
Are you seven years old?
No, I'm 100 years old!
Really? Are you 100 years old?
Don't be so like that.
My mom and I rode a bus for
over an hour for this blind date.
Did I ask you to come?
What is a blind date?
It means seeing each other's
faces before getting married.
I told you my dad isn't getting married!
Where are you going?
- Home!
- Hey!
Kids shouldn't go around by themselves!
I'm sorry for suddenly showing up
at your house, though we just met.
Gosh, being sorry no, no.
You got your clothes wet
because of me. I'm so sorry.
Your house is quite clean.
It's not easy for someone running
a business to keep a clean house.
You usually clean only
if something comes up.
Pardon?
Do you cook often?
If you work all day at a restaurant,
you wouldn't want to cook at home, right?
Oh, no.
I'm so used to it. I cook
breakfast and dinner at home.
It's nothing fancy.
I just prepare rice, some side
dishes, and soup. Just a few things.
That's still quite impressive.
I just never got used to
housework or cooking.
I feel bad for Haejun
for having a mom like me.
That works out.
Pardon?
I happen to have some galbi.
Have dinner before you go.
Do you know where you're going?
Don't follow me!
Hey, kids shouldn't go
around by themselves!
You know why he moved
here from Seoul, right?
Is there anyone who doesn't know?
I heard they fight about that all the time.
I heard his younger
sister died because of him.
She said not to be
friends with him if possible.
Why?
Kids with family problems
may seem normal on the outside
but always have something wrong
with them once you get closer to them.
Kids without moms or dads are like that.
Hey!
Hey!
There's nothing wrong with my oppa!
You're the one with a problem!
How am I the one with a problem?
I have both my mom and dad!
I guess you must be really stupid.
What, I'm stupid?
Don't bother my oppa!
Who do you think you are? How
dare you beat up everyone like a thug?
- First, let's hear the reason-
- Aigoo.
Is it okay to beat someone
up if there's a reason?
Is that how you teach your kids?
I'm sorry.
Juwon, say you're sorry, too.
Hurry up.
Aren't you going to apologize?
He first teased that
oppa's younger sister died
and said kids without a
mom or dad were stupid!
I didn't say it like that.
You did say that, then?
That's what you told me, Mom!
You feel sorry for them, but they're
unlucky, so not to be friends with them.
Let's talk for a bit separately.
You should apologize before you go.
Pardon?
You should apologize to
the child for speaking rashly.
Oh, okay. Aigoo, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You should apologize, too.
Hurry.
I'm sorry.
Are we good now?
If you see me next
time, be sure to say hello.
I'll buy you something tasty.
I'm sorry. Let's go.
Where are you going?
Pardon?
I'm going home.
Eat dinner at my house before you go.
I made galbi.
Galbi?
Galbi!
Oppa, let's hurry up and
go! Our galbi is really tasty!
Let's head inside.
- Okay.
- It's really, really good!
- Galbi!
- Wow
Please eat. Eat up!
♫ However, time is still ♫
♫ I've thought ♫
Here.
♫ Everything is perfect prayer ♫
♫ Fire 'cause I cry ♫
You too, Sanha.
♫ The things that follow ♫
Is it good?
Here.
♫ Looking far ahead, I
would feel her like that ♫
Eat this.
♫ How much I miss this,
do you understand? ♫
- It's okay.
- It's heavier than I'd thought.
- I'll carry it for you to the bus stop.
- Okay.
Juwon, can you play
with Sanha for a moment?
Sanha, could you stay
with Juwon for a moment?
- Okay.
- All right.
- Let's go.
- Okay.
You don't like it?
It'd be nice if a pretty
ahjumma became your mommy.
I have a mommy. And my mommy is prettier.
Sorry.
But why are you digging the ground?
I'll give you a present.
A present?
It's cute, right?
Don't come near me!
Oppa!
Get away!
Do you want me to show you?
I've seen enough.
Not this. My mommy.
What?
What do you think?
She looks like you.
I can only look at it sometimes
when Daddy's not looking.
My dad gets sad when
I open this and look at it.
Why?
Because he can't see her
again, even though he misses her.
He told me not to mention
your younger sister to you, too.
I guess Ahjussi knows everything.
Yeah. Because my daddy is a
widower, he knows everything.
- Really?
- Yeah.
If you ever miss your younger sister,
you can secretly look at her photos.
Do you have a photo of her?
Yeah.
I do.
I see.
This is me.
I'm cute, right?
Yeah?
This is you?
Goodbye, Haejun.
It hurts, huh?
I'm fine.
When we go home, will
you make this for me, Mom?
Was it good?
It was the first time eating
something tastier than bulgogi burger.
That means it was really good.
Yeah!
Just a moment.
Hello?
Yes, I am Kang Seohyeon.
If you ever miss your younger sister,
you can secretly look at her photos.
Should I sing you a lullaby?
I was sleeping
♫ Sleep tight, my child ♫
♫ My Juwon ♫
♫ One, two, sleep tight ♫
Daddy
You're not getting married, right?
Of course not.
I wouldn't do anything
my daughter doesn't like.
(Mr. Yoon's Kalguksu /
Preparing ingredients)
So, she changed her phone number?
Yeah. The old lady kept insisting
that the guy must have upset her.
I said Mr. Yoon isn't like that,
and that couldn't be the case,
but she only said
whatever she wanted to say.
So, I left that joint fund meeting.
You liked that joint fund meeting
because they went to popular restaurants.
Don't worry about it. I guess
we weren't meant to be.
Who changes their number
and cuts off all contact
just because a blind date went wrong?
There must be some other
major issue she's dealing with.
Why could I take care
of the child by myself?
Just take care of him for a short while.
I'll come get him as soon
as I'm settled in Seoul.
I'll bring your favorite hamburgers
when I come back, Haejun.
I don't need them!
Don't buy anything. Just come back quickly!
- Hello!
- Hi, officers.
I guess you've become partners now?
- Yes.
- Welcome.
Please sit down. I'll get
you some cold barley tea.
- Two, please.
- Okay, two.
Don't fight all the time
and be good to her.
Madam.
What?
This neighborhood is probably
more boring than Seoul.
Buy her tasty food, be
sensitive, and pay attention to her.
No matter how big the issue is,
continue to cover it by doing small things.
Yes, I'm trying to do that.
Juwon is here!
Daddy, there's a police car outside.
Yeah.
It's the third-floor ahjussi.
Ahjussi, Ahjussi!
Wow
Daddy, Ahjussi is a police officer!
You should say hello.
Hello, Ahjussi.
Is it okay if Oppa eats at our house today?
He ate at our house last time, too.
Sanha did?
We invited him since we were eating anyway.
I'm sure he's not being
fed properly at home.
If it's not too much trouble, please.
Of course. It's not a problem at all.
Ahjussi says Sanha can
eat at our house again.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Whoa, I'm so excited!
All right.
You're back, Sanha.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Oppa!
- Eat noodles before you go.
- Let's go.
All right, let's go inside.
Hello?
Yes.
Seohyeon?
Yes. Have you been well?
Oh, yes, yes. How are you?
Who changes their number
and cuts off all contact?
There must be some other
major issue she's dealing with.
Everything is okay, right?
By chance, well
Yes, go on.
I don't usually say something like this,
and I can give it back to
you once I sell my hair salon
I just need it temporarily
Well
How much do you need?
Yes, just a moment.
1020
Haejun is fine, right?
Ahjussi!
Why are you outside when it's cold out?
Mom called me and said
you were coming, Ahjussi.
What about your aunt?
Ahjussi, should I make you some ramen?
All you need to do is add water.
It's the tastiest thing in the world.
Haejun, eat these dumplings
while they're still hot.
Here.
Thank you.
Aunt!
Hello.
Yes, hello.
I received a text from
Unni that you were coming.
My place is a bit of a mess.
It's all right.
I'm sorry for coming in
when you weren't home.
As you know, Unni went to Seoul,
and I have no time to babysit
since I'm studying for an exam.
But still, Haejun eats well
by himself and is doing okay.
That's right. I'm doing fine by myself.
Mom said she would come back
quickly when she makes some money.
Yeah?
Then
Then, would you like to
stay at my house for a bit?
Until your mom comes back.
That's okay, right?
My mom
She's not angry.
She's not?
Yeah. She's just
very sad.
When people are really sad,
it may seem like they're angry.
Okay.
Yeah.
Buy her tasty food, be
sensitive, and pay attention to her.
Honey, what's wrong?
What happened?
Look at this.
Sanha had this?
You know, Honey,
I
can't stop thinking about one thing.
You know how Sanha was there, too.
He was alone with Choseok.
What was he doing then?
Didn't you ever think about that?
How can you say that?
You never have? Really?
You've never thought that before?
- Come to your senses!
- Me?
The problem is that I'm too sane!
The problem is I'm so sane that
this thought doesn't leave me!
- Okay, Honey-
- I wish I was crazy
I wish I was crazy
and didn't think about any of this!
Sanha was just eight years old!
How could an eight-year-old watch a kid?
How could it be Sanha's fault?
Then, whose fault is it?
It's not anyone's fault.
Do you know what's driving me mad?
Ever since we moved here,
Sanha is always smiling.
I can't even bring myself
to swallow any food,
but Sanha is stuffing himself with hot food
at our downstairs neighbor's!
I just can't stand to see that!
Please let me go.
Please let me go, Honey.
Please let me go, Honey.
Please save me
Mom
Mom, Mom, I'm sorry.
I'll never go to the downstairs neighbor's
or smile, and I won't eat, either.
I'm sorry, Mom.
Please forgive me
I'll talk to her. Go to your room.
I'll never do that again, please
Mom, I'll never do that again. I'm sorry.
Please? I'll never do
that again. Forgive me
I'm sorry
Mom
Mom
Mom!
Mom Mom.
Mom
I'm sorry
Mom
It's okay.
She's just mad that Sanha
upstairs didn't keep his promise
to go to the playground.
I see.
As for this, let's see.
And
once we move these to the balcony,
we'll have space to put a bed here.
A bed!
I have to go when my
mom comes back, though
She said she was coming soon.
I'm not buying one.
Madam said she would get us one.
Thank you, Ahjussi.
To be honest, Ahjussi, I wish
I wish you were my dad.
Okay.
Pardon?
While you are here, I'll be your dad.
Really?
That's right.
No!
He's not your dad!
No, he's not!
Let's eat dinner.
You can eat slowly.
Why did he come?
You shouldn't point your finger at Oppa.
Haejun will be here temporarily.
No!
Go back to your house, you dummy!
I have a mommy!
My daddy isn't getting married!
That ahjumma is coming along with him.
I already know everything!
It's okay. Eat up.
Yoon Juwon, I'm going to eat all of this.
Don't eat then.
Dad
Why?
In any case,
I won't go over to your house
or the restaurant from now on,
so don't talk to me again.
I don't want to.
I said I don't want to.
Ahjumma, where are you going?
Oppa can play at our house, right?
He can watch TV and
eat at our house, right?
Stop it.
Is Sanha your oppa?
Yes.
Okay then.
You can have him.
Yeah, that'll work.
I can have him?
Really?
Then, he can just stay at our house?
Sure.
Wow! Wow! Oppa!
Oppa!
(November 2003)
(June 2004)
Take my sword!
Oppa, let's play, let's play!
Let's play!
Play with me!
Let's play!
If you don't play with me
Hiya!
Hiya!
Take my sword, you villain!
Hey!
(Super Stretchy)
It looks yummy.
You want to eat it quickly, right?
Yeah.
- Scared you, right?
- Yeah.
(September 2013)
(Your food is the best, Dad. Feed me!)
(Daeuk, Jeongjae)
(Ugly)
Dad, tofu!
Okay.
The food's ready.
The food's ready!
- Ahjussi, good morning!
- Hey.
- Did you sleep well?
- I couldn't sleep.
I had to stay overnight at the precinct.
Aigoo, you've been through a lot.
Go upstairs and sleep.
Today's the first day of the
semester. I should at least eat together.
I sent you the living expenses.
Then, wash your hands and sit down.
What are you doing?
This is the last time.
How come I can never get it?
And pull it up.
Let's eat.
Good morning.
Aigoo, it's nice to eat together.
Let's eat.
Thank you for the meal!
Yeah, this is it.
Eat more after you finish that.
Everyone, have you thought about the
adoption contract I mentioned last time?
Hey, you still haven't given up on that?
Do you even know what
an adoption contract is?
Of course. If you sign
an adoption contract,
you're legally a biological parent and
child, even if you aren't blood-related.
What do you think? Great,
right? Nothing's bad about it.
Who will become whose adopted son?
(46 years old, 47 years old)
Since Ahjussi is older,
how about you become
Ahjussi's adopted son, Dad?
Adopted son, she says.
I've heard of quantum physics.
Then, Ahjussi will be my hyung,
and I'll become your uncle.
Hey, call me uncle.
What? What's wrong
with calling him uncle
The soup is pretty good today. Eat up.
In any case!
We need to unify our last names!
That's the only way I can survive!
(Family by Choice)
♫ Like the flowery path ♫
♫ Everything existed for us ♫
♫ Like the sun in the clearest summer sky ♫
♫ We were shining so
brightly and so united ♫