Family by Choice (2024) s01e09 Episode Script

1
(Hwang In Youp)
(Jung Chae Yeon)
(Bae Hyeon Seong)
(Choi Won Young, Choi Moo Sung)
(Seo Ji Hye, Kim Hye Eun, Baek Eun Hye)
(Family By Choice)
Why didn't you tell me Hae Jun
was a talented basketball player?
I mean, I hear that parents go crazy
when their kids have no talent.
But who knew I would go crazy
because my son is super talented?
"I wish I could send him to the US."
Do you think you can face him
every day while regretting it?
I'll follow the guy to the US.
Mom was in an accident.
So Hee's father in the
driver's seat passed away.
What a cursed life!
You're the only one.
Can't you stay with my sister and So Hee?
What's taking them so long?
Are you wrong in the head?
What's going on? What's the matter?
Dad.
Did you tell them you're going to the US?
You knew, Dad?
And that San Ha's moving to Seoul?
Why move to Seoul?
Because of your mom?
Yes.
I was going to have dinner,
then wait until Dad came
home to tell everyone.
He won't give in easily.
Right.
Is that it?
They're saying they'll leave.
You should shout and scold
them for being stupid.
Seoul's not just next door.
Going to the US is a huge deal.
You should ask what they're talking about.
Are you all
Are you all wrong in the head?
I will
explain.
You go downstairs too.
Hae Jun.
San Ha will talk to her.
She takes him seriously.
Right.
How could you make that
decision on your own?
So I came here to tell you in person.
That's a notification.
You should've asked us
before you made the decision.
That's family.
You didn't even think of asking.
Because you have a real family elsewhere.
We're not your family.
Why would you say that?
You didn't think to ask us
because we're not your family.
You don't care about us at all.
How I'd feel if you left,
how my dad would feel.
You didn't stop to think, did you?
You only considered your
mom and sister, didn't you?
What's wrong with that?
Wanting to
look after my mom and sister.
Is that wrong?
Hae Jun and I both turn 20 next year.
We'll have more
responsibilities and duties.
I get it.
You don't feel a responsibility to us.
I get it.
What's the matter?
What's the matter?
Ju Won. Open the door.
You're not going to eat?
(Episode 9)
No. You can't go to Seoul.
I'll talk to your uncle. That's final.
Hae Jun's leaving too.
He's leaving so he can do what he wants.
How can I let you jump
into a world of suffering?
Just last week,
Mom tried to take her life twice.
You and I lost family once before.
How am I to live if I were to lose Mom too?
You
Let's say
we turn a blind eye and move on.
What if something were to happen to Mom?
(San Ha, Ju Won, Hae Jun)
(Dae Wook, Jung Jae)
Why not have breakfast?
- I'll go with her.
- Sit back down.
Neither of you will get
home-cooked food much longer.
You'll let him go?
Sit down.
Eat up.
I'll pack you something to give Ju Won.
It's all on you.
Let's see what kind of karma
your tongue brings you.
- Hey.
- Focus on your own life.
Darn you.
Darn him.
Don't.
(Yoon's Kalguksu, Getting ready)
Hello, Mr. Yoon. It's me.
Six kilograms of beef leg
bones and miscellaneous bones.
The best quality you can't get
unless you have connections.
Okay. Thanks.
Can I have a bowl of bone broth?
You'll have to boil them all night
if you want to give it to them tomorrow.
Thanks.
That's nice.
Oh, gosh.
They look good, right?
Just pretend they went off to college.
Who comes to this
backward countryside with a college badge?
They're not just going to college.
They're leaving to be with family.
Cook them some good beef
bone soup and send them off.
Then you should forget them too.
They might not be your kids,
but you fed and clothed them for ten years.
You will feel lonely after they're gone.
But they were bound to leave.
I'm saying this so you don't
torture yourself waiting for them.
What parent
doesn't feel tormented while raising kids?
Goodness.
Why is my heart breaking?
- When?
- Tomorrow.
That soon?
Hey.
San Ha's in the teachers' office
applying to go to Seoul
National University.
And Hae Jun's going to
the US to play basketball.
Wasn't he going to go
to Myungjoo University?
The US?
It's okay.
Absence makes the mind grow fonder.
My sister and I got closer
since she moved to Seoul for college.
- That might be the case for you.
- What?
You're actually related.
We aren't a real family.
It's different for us.
But you insisted you were family,
and I agreed.
That was me being stubborn.
You knew they weren't my real brothers.
This isn't a prank TV show.
I heard you applied to go to
Seoul National University.
Enjoy the holidays and see
you on campus next semester.
We'll be stuck together for six years.
I should put up with a short farewell.
The whole school knows you like Hae Jun.
He's going to the US.
Not even I can handle that long a distance.
Don't you know out of
sight means out of mind?
Why does that even matter?
If distance forces you apart,
the relationship was
shallow from the start.
Go on your own.
I won't be any good on my own.
We must both show up to
appease her a little.
She went to Seoul in case
you struggled on your own.
Can't you even make a
trip to her classroom?
- She went to Seoul?
- Yes, she did.
- With whom?
- On her own.
You let her go on her own?
Why are you telling me this now?
I'll go on my own. You stay here.
She went home? When?
Just now. About three minutes ago?
You can eat this. Or give it to Hae Jun.
(Haedong High School)
I'm making a delivery.
Why? Because I was told to.
Wait.
Can't I give it to Ju Won tomorrow?
Yes.
I'll give this to him
and wish him farewell.
- We're close enough for that.
- Hey!
- Are you okay?
- Are you okay?
I asked you first.
I'm okay.
- Be more careful.
- Sorry.
This is ours.
Ju Won left school early.
She didn't eat it?
I'll take it.
I think you should eat this soon.
- You're going to the US?
- Yes.
When?
I'm leaving this town tomorrow.
Why not at least confess?
Confess what?
Tell San Ha how you feel.
- What if I do?
- He'll say no.
But shouldn't you have a go to feel better?
Am I
not attractive?
You are.
You're smart, sweet,
and you can keep a secret.
I know you're a good
person and so does San Ha.
But you're our sister's friend.
That makes you another sister.
How did that end up happening?
It's such a shame.
It won't last.
Wait and see.
Some awesome guy might
appear before you tomorrow.
"Kim San Ha?"
"Who's that?"
You'll say that.
Here.
See you around!
Don't be too stressed about your mom.
Eat well and sleep well.
Take care.
Bye.
Go!
Take care of yourself!
Why did you have to smile at me
if you can't even see how I feel?
Why did you block the
ball in the first place?
Is eating stuff like this
going to help me lift my mood?
No.
Right, this isn't helping.
I remember nothing about my mom.
I've seen a picture of her but
don't remember anything about her.
Even when the neighbors
asked out of concern
what I was going to do without a mom,
I couldn't really understand
why they were worried.
I had never felt like I
couldn't do something
or lacked anything
because I didn't have a mom.
Dad always took care of everything for me.
I just felt like
it was always just the two of us and
that was how it was supposed to be.
But then, you guys came into our life.
I'm saying, it was nice.
Going from just us two eating together
to the five of us eating together.
Even if we take turns and just
say one thing at the dinner table,
we'd never run out of things to talk about,
and I never have to return
to an empty home anymore.
Now, I have all these people
telling me not to skip meals.
That has become my normal
day-to-day life now,
and naturally,
I thought that was how my
life was always going to be.
When I come back,
I'll do that.
I'll do everything you want.
Can you not leave?
I'll be sure to visit you on the holidays.
If I can't visit you,
I'll call you every day.
What's the point?
When I come back,
I'll never leave you again.
You're home.
What?
Someone spent a fortune.
How did you know?
I spent all my money.
Are you boasting because
you have a rich dad now?
This is just chump change
for you now, right?
Hey, come on.
What is it?
What are you doing?
You won't take these to the US, right?
Give me these.
This too.
Why do you need those?
That too.
Hey, I wear this every day.
Fine, then take good care
of it until I come back.
Look, I gave you everything you asked for.
Will you come back?
Hey, even if you pray for me
never to return, I will come back.
Come on. Why would I go out
of my way to pray for you?
Hey, but this is
What? I need hair wax.
What do you need it for?
- Give it back.
- No! Hey!
- Buy a new one in the US.
- Give me some gummies.
- No, you can eat gummies in the US.
- Come on!
They have lots of yummy things in the US.
Why are you still up?
Hey.
Why? You can't fall asleep?
Drink this and go to sleep.
Everyone moves out of their
family home when they grow up.
You can't live with me forever, you know.
I know, but still
You taught me everything, Dad.
How to ride a bike,
how to shave,
and basketball too.
Shoot!
- Yes!
- Oh, my.
- Nice. He's good.
- Right?
I've never taught him anything properly,
but his shooting form was perfect.
He must've gotten the talent from his dad.
I knew it.
As soon as I graduate,
I'll come straight home.
I'll become successful and return home.
I'll totally take care of you, Dad.
And I'll be good to Ju Won too.
I'm not sending you there because
I want you to become successful.
Go there
and do everything you want.
That's why I'm letting you go.
Don't try too hard.
When you feel that you've
done and achieved enough,
you can come back anytime. Okay?
All right?
Oh, come on.
I feel better now.
Eat what I gave you. Eat mine.
Transferring to voicemail.
Why? Is she not picking up?
I'll call her again later.
Here.
Keep it for now. You can use
it when and if you need to.
Thank you.
What about me?
Why would you need money when
you're just going to Seoul?
Let's go. You'll be late for your train.
Yes.
Always watch out for cars,
- and never skip breakfast.
- Okay.
Don't forget to turn off
your lights before bed,
and try to drink plenty of water.
All right, then.
Mr. Yoon.
Yes.
Yes.
You guys should get going.
Buckle up, guys.
Drive safely, okay?
Call me when you arrive, both of you.
You were here?
I'm hungry. I want food.
You should've said goodbye to them.
The cucumber salad.
More rice.
- There you go.
- You can actually eat more?
Hey! Be quiet.
See? You're already regretting it.
But saying goodbye
would make me feel like
they're really leaving.
Saying goodbye to them
would make me feel like
I'd never see them again.
Okay.
The food is ready.
Thank you. Bye.
Thank you.
- I'm going to bed now.
- Me too.
The air in Seoul is so bad.
I can't even breathe.
Don't copy me.
(Laughing)
I'm going to have both
chicken legs from now on.
Oh, my gosh.
- Who
- My goodness.
- Be careful.
- Support him like this.
Thank you.
Why? Did you think I
would give you honey tea?
Why would you not give it to me?
Didn't you drink because
you wanted to be sick?
My goodness.
The lady told me.
That I should assume they're not
coming back when I let them go.
And that it'd be a blessing for me
if they followed their biological
parents and lived a good life.
She's right.
If they have a good life with
their biological parents,
it's a blessing for me.
But
what if I miss them?
San Ha is my son.
So he'll come back anyway.
As for Hae Jun
He'll come back even
if you tell him not to.
He'll change his surname
and live as Yang Hae Jun.
It didn't matter what his
surname was until now.
It's the contradictory nature of humans.
Thinking that he'd change his
last name to his father's,
I'm jealous.
How can he claim he's his father?
He doesn't even know what
Hae Jun likes or dislikes.
So why is he the father,
not me?
That's andropause.
Why are you being
sentimental all of a sudden?
Even though that man took Hae Jun,
he'll never know what he likes or dislikes.
I can tell from his face.
That he would've neglected
Hae Jun while raising him
even if he had taken
him when he was little.
Not everyone can nurse someone.
He didn't even serve in the military.
He knows nothing about the world.
Imagine what he felt like when he left.
I'm sure he thought it was better
to endure physical hardship
than to suffer mentally
when he made that choice.
Hey.
How do you know? He's my son.
It's me who made jujube tea for him.
Why would I not know?
If he's your son, you should've
made jujube tea for him.
"He would've neglected
him while raising him?"
Oh, my gosh.
I guess you knew because
he was just like you.
Hey.
I wonder how other parents are living.
I'm sure we're not the only ones
who sent their children away.
Why are we feeling empty
more than anyone?
- Happy birthday to me
- Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday to me
- Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday - Happy birthday
Dear Ju Won - My daughter
- Happy birthday to me
- Happy birthday to you
- This is for you.
- Thank you.
- I got this for you.
- Thank you.
The guys got this for you.
They didn't have to.
Ju Won, happy birthday.
San Ha!
Mr. Yoon, where is Dad?
Happy birthday.
Hi.
Has your English improved?
My English was always better than yours.
- Dad.
- You look more handsome.
Happy birthday.
- Okay. Thank you.
- Yes.
(February, 2016)
(Ju Won's Graduation Ceremony)
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
(Congratulations on your graduation.)
(I'll always be supporting you.)
It's San Ha.
- You've finally graduated.
- Congratulations!
(Dad: Guys, Ju Won has graduated.
(Time flies.)
Happy birthday to you - Come on.
- Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday, dear Ju Won
- Happy birthday, my daughter
- Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday to you
Thank you.
All right.
Let's have a drink.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you, Hae Jun.
Bye.
(Dad: Please contact me when
you have time more often.)
(San Ha: Happy birthday.)
(Hae Jun: Happy birthday.)
I'm sorry. I was going to go this year.
Happy birthday.
Ju Won, I'm sorry. I'll make sure
to be there on your next birthday.
(Mr. Kim: I guess Hae Jun is busy.)
(Mr. Kim: Happy birthday.)
(Dad: What do you want to
eat today, my daughter?)
(Year 2023)
(Out to pick cherries!)
What's up, Jung Jae?
Why are you asking that? What are
you going to do on your birthday?
Are you coming in the
morning or the evening?
My birthday? Was it this week?
I knew it. It's Thursday.
You should have seaweed soup at least.
It's not easy to go during the weekdays.
How about the weekend?
It's even harder on the weekend.
- How about Monday?
- Monday?
Okay. I'll go on Monday then.
All right.
Here I go.
She's too busy to talk now.
Do you want me to cook
seasonal food every day
as if it was for a king?
- Are you a king?
- A king, my foot.
Even a servant won't be able to plow
a small field after eating this.
- Let's eat out in the evening.
- We can't.
I'm going to cook meat and japchae
on Ju Won's birthday
the day after tomorrow.
You can eat a lot then.
Here. Laver, spinach, perilla
leaf, and garlic scape.
It tastes good when you eat them
in this order. Try making a wrap.
Did you stay up all night
in your bakery again?
I had a quick nap.
You should sleep at home.
I think I'll be coming back
from the court early today.
I'll stop by your bakery after lunch.
I'm on my way to the lady's
cousin's field to pick cherries.
I think it'll take three hours.
You have the key, right?
Please wait inside if I'm not there.
Okay.
Oh, right. The part-timer at
the convenience store said
a strange person was
roaming around your bakery.
"A strange person?"
I heard his face was covered with a hoodie,
looking very suspicious. So be careful.
Come on. There's nothing
to steal in my bakery.
All right.
I'll set up a security
camera or something later.
(Out to pick cherries!)
The part-timer at the
convenience store said
a strange person was
roaming around your bakery.
Well
Who keeps
cash in their store these days?
All the customers pay with credit cards.
And we buy ingredients online.
Hey!
You son of a gun.
You can just steal money quietly.
How dare you hit me?
How dare you! Hey!
(Out to pick cherries!)
- No!
- Take it off.
My goodness.
You'll uncover your face in the end.
You messed up with the wrong person.
Ju Won.
Dad. Mr. Kim.
What happened?
(Homicide Team 2)
Mr. Kim.
Yes.
Is she your daughter?
No. He is.
I'm like her uncle.
She's like a daughter to me.
I see.
Are you all right? Did
he hit you or anything?
Dad.
He slapped me in the cheek.
You little
You Did you hit my daughter?
- Did you hit her?
- Come on.
- So you're embarrassed?
- You can't hit him.
- Why are you covering your face up?
- No!
- Sir.
- Let go!
You found nothing better
to do than attack a girl?
- You jerk!
- Come on.
So you'll keep covering your face up?
I didn't hit her!
No, I mean I really
wasn't trying to hit her!
- Gosh, no!
- How dare you?
Look at you. You look
just like everyone else
Hey.
Hae Jun.
Dad.
"Dad?"
You Hae Jun.
It's you, Hae Jun. Right?
Dad.
"Dad?"
Mr. Kim!
Hey, there.
Hae Jun. If you came back to Korea,
you should've come home first.
Excuse me, sir. How do you know him?
Oh, him? He's like a son to me.
I see. He's like a son to you?
She's like a daughter to you.
He's like a son to you.
Then these two are like siblings, right?
- If you guys are family
- We're not.
Do you know me?
Yes, professor.
Yes. I'll come by to say
hello before I start work.
Okay.
(Out to pick cherries!)
Yoon Ju Won.
So listen carefully.
Proving that this was an attempted
burglary will be challenging,
However, he clearly trespassed.
It's only an attempted burglary
because I stopped him in the act.
I stopped the crime with my efforts,
so why is this criminal benefiting?
Come on. I wasn't trying to steal anything.
You should have kept in touch
with her over the years.
What about assault? I can't
charge him with that either?
I accidentally hit her when
I was trying to run away.
You hit me more.
Where? Where did she hit you?
- Did she hit you a lot?
- Right here.
Are you seriously looking after him?
Yoon Ju Won.
What?
Are you all right? Are you hurt?
- Let me see.
- Kim San Ha?
I'm fine.
Hey, you.
Oh, Mr. Yoon.
Dad, you were here.
What are you doing here?
You know what? Let's not do this here.
Let's go home and talk. Okay?
Today is a special day, isn't it?
All right. Let's wrap this up quickly.
Hold on, sir.
So
these two
called him Dad.
This one called him Dad.
But these two aren't related.
Then
what does that make you two?
So you just got here.
You're not the victim's family, correct?
I'm not.
Right. They're not my family.
We just used to live
together a long time ago.
We didn't see each other for ten years.
Doesn't that practically make us strangers?
I get that you're disappointed.
But you can't say that to them.
Why not?
They're not strangers.
But she does have a point.
You didn't even come to
visit for the last ten years.
Look at them. While you
were away for ten years,
they've gotten a lot of gray hair.
They're already old.
That's not true.
Wouldn't you say I still
have thick hair? Look.
- Right. My hair is still dense.
- Goodness.
I have more black hair than gray hair.
I called you every time.
You didn't answer my calls.
Me?
Forget about calling us.
You didn't even text us for a few years.
I got discharged from
the military last week.
So I don't have a phone yet.
- You did what?
- What?
I went to the restaurant a
few times this past week.
But then a few things came to mind.
Well, I couldn't even
graduate from a university.
I quit basketball too.
I didn't know how to explain everything.
Goodness. What about before
your military service?
You should have called us
if you came back to Korea.
Then we would've
visited you in the military.
You must have gotten days off too.
You should've called us then at least.
I kept pushing it off, so
it became harder to call.
- Gosh.
- Stop it.
Let's go home and talk about the rest.
Right. You must be tired.
Let's not do this here.
- Goodness.
- Let's go home and talk.
I have to go back to the bakery.
Why? Come with us.
Because of someone, the bakery is
a mess and needs to be cleaned up.
Then should I come with you?
I'll be fine. You haven't
seen them for ten years.
Go home and catch up.
Right. Come home as soon
as you're done. Okay?
- Let's go.
- See you at home.
I drove here. Let me drop you off.
No. You must be tired from driving.
Don't bother.
I can just get a taxi.
See you later at home.
What happened?
You're not hurt, right?
No.
Are you happy?
What could possibly make me happy?
Kang Hae Jun. No, he's Yang Hae Jun now.
Your first love came back.
Aren't you happy?
That was ancient history.
I can't even remember his face now.
What about you? Why did you
come back to the bakery?
I could have cleaned this up by myself.
They came back after ten years. You
should've had a tearful reunion.
Well, there were tears.
It's just that they were a different kind.
I'll clean up the rest here.
You should go home now.
No. It will go a lot faster
if we clean it up together.
Do you not want to go?
It's not that I don't want to go.
I mean, I've imagined how it
would feel if they came back.
But
But what?
I'm not as happy as I thought I would be.
Why not?
He's the Kim San Ha I know.
And he's Kang No. He's
Yang Hae Jun and all.
For some odd reason, they
feel like different people.
They smell different too.
Are you a dog? Why would you smell them?
It's been a decade.
It's only natural that you feel
strange and awkward around them.
I feel awkward even when
I meet my relatives
after a while.
- Is that so?
- Yes.
(MVP)
Nothing has changed.
Nothing's changed, right?
Jung Jae wouldn't let anyone
touch Hae Jun's room or yours.
So you could come back
whenever you wanted and sleep over.
I took too long, didn't I?
What matters is that you're back. Okay.
Goodness.
I'm their distant relative.
So distant that I don't even see
their names on the family tree.
It might be awkward to see
my relatives after some time.
But I should be happy to see them.
Let's go.
All right.
Here's your rice.
Here. You too.
- I know it's a simple meal.
- All right.
Let's eat first.
- Thank you for the food.
- Thank you for the food.
What? Weren't you going to have that?
I was.
Thanks.
If you told me you were coming,
I would've bought more groceries.
How is it? Do you like the food?
Yes. It's so good that
I can't think straight.
Take your time with it.
I have a lot of food.
My gosh, San Ha. You look so dashing.
You look mature enough to get married now.
- Are you seeing anyone?
- No, not yet.
He's a third-year resident.
He has no time for dating.
He barely gets any time to sleep.
Things are better compared to
my first two years of residency.
Right. Hold on.
My gosh. Do we have
Do we have beer here?
Right here.
Here.
Here you go.
What about mine?
Do you drink now?
She's a grown-up now too.
She's old enough for beer.
All right. Here you go.
- You too, Ju Won.
- Okay.
- You too.
- Okay.
- Dad.
- Okay.
Give me that.
My gosh, now that we're sitting
around this table together,
it feels like we went back ten years.
It's been a long time since
we were together like this.
Let's raise our glasses.
Here.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
My gosh, I'm so happy to see you.
What?
Nothing.
(Attorney Dal)
- Hey.
- How is it going?
Having distant relatives
isn't for everyone.
Did you ask when they're leaving?
I should ask them now.
Ask them to come by the
bakery before they leave.
Why?
You said you couldn't even
remember how Yang Hae Jun looked.
Well,
I am curious, though.
Just wait.
Cherries are in season.
So they're quite tasty.
Have them now.
You're right. They're good.
- They're good, right?
- They're nice and sweet.
They're the best.
Join us.
Did you guys plan this?
- Of all days, you two came today.
- Right.
It's Ju Won's birthday.
That's why we came today.
I see.
Why did you come on my birthday?
So we can celebrate your
birthday together from now on.
What do you mean?
Well, Hae Jun and I
are back for good.
We're not going anywhere now.
That's why we're back.
- What?
- You're not leaving?
For good. We're not leaving.
They're not leaving.
Ju Won. It looks like
you'll have a lively birthday
after such a long time. Right?
Who says I will?
(Family By Choice)