My Perfect Stranger (2023) s01e05 Episode Script

(All characters, organizations,
locations, and incidents)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
(My Perfect Stranger,
Episode 5, A Certain Confession)
Explain what you just said.
(Episode 5)
Why did you say
our encounter was not a coincidence?
If everything turns out to be true,
tonight
So two nights before the death
of the student teacher,
she suddenly disappeared.
Luckily, someone from the village
found her.
People thought
that she had simply gotten lost.
So it was just considered
a small incident. But the truth was,
it seemed as if
she was being chased by someone.
Do you know where
she was found?
By the riverside.
It was close to the general store.
So it should be around here.
Wait.
Ms. Lee.
- Ms. Lee.
- No! It wasn't me!
Darn it.
What was that?
Were you trying to get yourself killed?
Mr. Yoon? You again?
Darn it.
Messing it up once wasn't enough?
Do you want to repeat that
over and over again?
You let Ko Min Soo go?
Why?
I was just following orders.
Spoken like a responsible cop.
No wonder it happened.
You did a shoddy job.
Let this be your only mistake.
You'd better hope
this is the last mistake you make.
If luck isn't in our hands,
someone's life will be in danger again
because of the jerk you released today.
Was that Ko Min Soo?
That jerk again.
You and the police have no excuses
for whatever crime that jerk commits.
You see that?
I'm well aware that releasing him
was the stupidest idea!
So answer my question.
- Was that Ko Min Soo?
- I don't know.
What? You don't know?
I don't know who that was
or what this person tried to do.
Had I caught this individual,
I could have found out.
Thanks to you, this individual
got away. So I got nothing.
Even if I had known anything,
I wouldn't have shared it
with an irresponsible cop.
So I truly hope that
we don't run into each other again.
You
were just lost?
Yes. I
My sense of direction is bad at night.
I got scared for no reason.
No, there must have been a good reason.
Someone was there.
That someone even ran away.
I'm not sure. I didn't even know
someone was there.
To say that you didn't know,
your reaction was quite particular.
Don't you remember?
You said it yourself that it wasn't you.
- Ms. Lee.
- No! It wasn't me!
What did you mean by that?
Did someone blame you for something?
The jerk who ran away?
Do you know who that was?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Ms. Lee.
I know that it's not easy to believe me,
but I'm trying to help you.
You must tell me the truth,
so I can stop this.
If you were threatened, chased by someone,
or whatever this was,
you must tell me everything.
- Ms. Lee.
- Thank you for
Thank you for looking out for me.
But you're truly mistaken.
No one chased me
or threatened me.
My relatives are worried about me.
Can I get going now?
Wait.
Okay. You should go home for the night.
Let's head back home, Yoon Young.
See you tomorrow at school.
But it's dangerous. How can you
Why don't we buy
twisted breadsticks, your favorite?
Twisted breadsticks? Now?
It was obvious she was hiding something.
Are you sure she should go home alone?
Besides, she has no clue
what's going to happen to her in two days.
But is this the way home?
(Donghwa Clothing Altercations)
(Inn Entrance)
(Inn Entrance)
(Woojung Inn)
(Inn)
You followed her to make sure
she went in safely.
In case there was an incident
I didn't know about.
Will there be?
From what I know,
nothing will happen tonight.
But I'm not sure
if that's the right answer.
I don't know what you know
and what you don't know.
You probably have
the same thoughts about me.
Why don't we find out now?
Let's go.
I know the perfect place to talk.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Park, tilt the right side slightly.
This way. Tilt it.
- Sir, take a look.
- Kim, tilt the left side.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
The left side.
Get the left side. This way.
The letters fell last summer
after getting hit by lightning.
They're only fixing it now,
and it shows how indifferent
and insensible the owner is.
It wasn't H Teahouse?
I'm sure you're familiar
with the name already.
It's the hometown
of those darn matchboxes.
Let's wrap it up.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Let's go now.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
I'm not sure if you know already,
but serial murders occurred here
in Woojung-ri in 1987.
As you assumed, I've been following
those cases.
You were a detective?
You could've recognized me
if you ever tuned in
to a news show at night on weekends.
Were you a criminal?
Like those who have to stand
in front of reporters for photos?
Wouldn't it make more sense
to assume that I was an anchor?
Oh, right.
So you were a TV personality.
I don't watch news shows much. Sorry.
Is that how you thought of me?
No, it's not that.
I was just being imaginative.
I wanted to be in a safe home,
although I'm staying there for free.
Is this for news coverage?
It's something like that.
Then when does the first case occur?
On the 14th, which is 2 days later,
1 of them will occur.
And another one will occur on the 16th,
two days after the first murder.
A total of two women lost their lives.
- And on the 20th
- One went missing.
Because of a note she left behind,
she was thought to have run away
from home.
But she died.
What did you just say?
She died.
Because there were
three murder victims in total.
For over 30 years,
none of their bodies,
let alone any traces, were found.
Even the police and the families
of the victims don't know about it,
so how do you
It may be hard to believe,
but I only told you the things
that were written here.
("The People I Killed")
It's a novel
written by Ko Mi Sook.
Ms. Ko, can you give us a spoiler
for the novel you're currently writing?
It's sort of like a confession.
A confession?
The main character
is someone who reveals
the perfect crime
someone committed 30 years ago.
They thought it was a waste
to keep it to themselves
their whole life.
If it was 30 years ago,
it must be around the timeline
of this novel.
("Small Door")
I'm going to talk
about myself for real this time.
I'm just kidding.
Of course, they're all made-up.
I wrote it all there.
Of course.
You're so silly, Ms. Ko.
I was the editor in charge for Ko Mi Sook,
and I worked with her for a long time.
For Ko Mi Sook?
Thanks to that, I could read
the manuscript of her novel
that wasn't released.
I forgot all about it after coming here,
but I kept feeling this weird deja vu
after seeing the student teacher.
So you reread the manuscript,
and everything was just like
the content of the novel?
I couldn't imagine that it was
based on a true story.
Anyway, that's what was written
in the manuscript.
Starting with that student teacher,
three women died.
And that the real culprit
couldn't be caught until the end.
It talks about the real culprit?
The last sentence of the last paragraph
on page two.
Go ahead and see for yourself.
"The truth wasn't revealed in the end."
"The one responsible
for all these murders"
Was me.
Even that joyful truth wasn't revealed.
Not having you around in this house
is so nice.
("The People I Killed")
Do you really think
Ko Mi Sook was behind them?
The real culprit wasn't caught
in the end in real life, right?
He was caught.
He denied it to the end,
but we can never know what the truth is.
Right. That must be why
she said such a thing.
She stole the story
of her first novel from Mom.
And this was her actual story.
Then this could be
a new piece of evidence.
We can be certain about that.
In any case, this is a novel,
and even if it's based on a true story,
she could've used her imagination
to develop it further.
And the narrator of the novel
We can't guarantee that she's Ko Mi Sook.
But we can't guarantee
that she's not either.
You saw it too.
It even tells where
the student teacher was hiding.
Someone who knows more than you
about the cases.
That someone must be the culprit.
Since she's from the same town,
she could've written down
the things she had heard and seen.
I did look into the cases,
but they were only official records.
Why do you keep saying
that she's not the culprit?
Why do you keep trying
to make her the culprit?
Do you want Ko Mi Sook to be the culprit?
You know her, so why do you
That's why I'm suspicious of her.
The Ko Mi Sook that I know
is more than capable of doing all of that.
What did you just say?
Are you asking me to marry you?
Sorry? When did I say that?
What? What was that about?
What? Marry her?
You haven't even dated her. What marriage?
You're still wet behind the ears.
That's why you made a mistake
at such a young age!
When did you call her out
to meet you alone?
- And at this hour!
- Yoon Young!
What's wrong with you?
What mistake did I make?
This is driving me crazy.
- I never said that!
- Oh, my!
You said we should have a son
and a daughter and live happily.
A son and a daughter?
- Soon Ae.
- What's wrong with you?
Do you have a hard time
understanding things?
When did I say we should live happily?
I said I wanted to live happily.
You asked me what my dream was,
so I just said
that I wanted a family of my own!
I'm sorry, but I'm already seeing a man.
So I can't accept your feelings.
- You're seeing a man?
- You're seeing a man?
We're going to meet later
in front of the teahouse.
There he is!
Are you saying that punk
is your lover?
I thought he was her first love.
He is, and I just came to tell you that.
Bye, then.
Also, I don't like flowers.
Bye.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Soon Ae.
Soon Ae.
You'll have to explain what I just saw.
I was going to tell you soon.
Is it
your family?
In that earlier talk
about 1 son and 1 daughter,
it looks like I'm the daughter.
You're the daughter of the suspect,
Baek Hee Sub?
Gosh.
I'm so scared.
(Inn)
How could I report this?
I can't get involved with the police.
I don't think I can stay here for long.
Yes.
Who on earth knows about me?
Okay.
(There is someone who is watching you.)
You must be confused.
I was quite shocked too.
It's ridiculous enough
how I traveled back to 30 years ago.
The person who hit me is a time traveler,
and in front of his house,
my mom's side of the family lives.
Goodness.
Why did you get into the school?
No.
Why did you do that at the teahouse?
Well, it's a little complicated.
I was at the teahouse
to separate my mom and dad.
Separate who?
I just wanted
to prevent my parents from meeting.
Then I got to stay there
- Are you stupid?
- What?
Fine. Let's say
everything was a coincidence.
You got hit by a car out of the blue
and woke up to your young parents
in front of you.
And you thought of splitting them up?
Haven't you thought
about the consequences of that?
- You might not exist
- So what?
I'm sorry?
What about that?
You don't think I knew that?
On the first day I came here,
you said my minor action
could completely change someone's future.
So what?
You asked me
what I was doing at the river
before I got here.
(Police)
On that day at the river,
my mom abandoned us.
We had no right to resent her.
It might have been us
who abandoned her first.
She only loved unrequitedly like a fool.
(Soon Ae)
She was naive enough
to let her name be ignored.
(Soon Ae)
Maybe
she realized one day
that there were too many moments
she couldn't undo.
That it was too late.
That day at the river,
I desperately wished
that I had one chance.
"How nice would it be if I could
change at least one moment?"
I might look stupid.
But I really don't care
what happens to me.
My mom couldn't do anything
until she went to that river.
I wouldn't have endured
the thought, anyway.
I'm sorry.
I wasn't going to tell you all this.
Get inside.
You better get some rest today.
Okay.
I should've asked about this.
No way.
On that day at the river,
my mom abandoned us.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
You picked that up by chance?
(Women who read are dangerous.)
Where and when?
I saw this floating around
by the riverside in this village.
I picked it up
without thinking much about it.
Why was it there?
(Woojung-ri Serial Murder Case Suspects)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Where did you pop out of?
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
I have something to know.
(Woojung-ri Fishing Spot)
If this is about what I told you
yesterday,
don't worry about it.
It's my personal business,
so I will be careful
not to affect what you're doing.
The word mom
is not a heartrending word for me.
My mom gave birth to me
and ran away without ever hugging me.
So I don't know how a mom feels.
I don't even have a remote idea
if her love is special
or sentimental as others say.
I've never wanted to either.
But I do know
that the person who is loved
always knows, whoever they are.
You cared so much for your mom
that you didn't care
what happened to yourself.
You don't think your mom knew that?
What do you mean
Do you think she ended her life,
knowing how much she loved you?
- What are you trying to say?
- Listen carefully.
The first murder will take place
tomorrow night.
And you will see an item you recognize.
The matchbox.
And the note inside it.
(Women who read are dangerous.)
This is
Back then, the police thought
that the culprit left this note
on purpose as the signature
because the second victim
also had this note in possession.
It's the culprit's signature?
Then why
Why did an item that was found
at a murder scene 34 years ago
show up at another murder scene in 2021?
Of all places,
why did it show up by the riverside
where your mother died?
Are you saying
I don't have any definitive proof.
Yes. It's possible that
your mother didn't know
how much you loved and treasured her.
But if
there's a chance
If your mother happened to see someone
by the riverside that night
And if that was the real culprit
who was never caught 34 years ago
Then you're making a terrible mistake.
It's unfair of you to hate yourself,
and you were ready to give up.
Shouldn't you try to save your mom
until the very last moment?
Yoon Young.
You were surprised last night, right?
Sorry.
I wasn't trying to lie to you
or date that guy, Baek Hee Sub.
Right.
How did I miss this?
I would like to play with you
for the rest of my life until
I become a white-haired granny.
With love, Mom.
It wasn't a suicide note. It was a letter.
She promised me that
she would forever stay by my side
just like always.
How could I have misunderstood
her intention this badly?
How could I
fail to understand her
until the very last moment?
Yoon Young.
Were you that disappointed?
I'm sorry.
Why do you always apologize to me?
It's me who didn't understand you.
No. I really didn't know either.
It was written on the note
inside the matchbox.
He wanted to meet me at Bong Bong.
Don't worry.
I will
protect you,
so you never have to go through
a horrible thing like that.
I'll protect you no matter what.
Thank you.
But was it that horrible?
Isn't it okay to drink
some juice with him?
It's not like
I'm going to marry Bum Ryong.
Ji Eun. What are they doing?
I don't know.
Our report cards are out.
Maybe, Soon Ae's grades went down.
- Thank you.
- Have a good day.
- Mr. Choi.
- Yes.
Take it and eat it.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
- Okay.
- You see,
- Yes.
- my son sent this from the US.
From the US?
What do you think?
Doesn't this look fancy?
- Goodness.
- Right?
It does look different.
Is it because it's from the US?
- You can feel it too.
- Thank you.
Then you're making a terrible mistake.
It's unfair of you to hate yourself,
and you were ready to give up.
Goodness.
Oh, my. This feels amazing!
I didn't have to be that harsh.
I should have been nicer to her. Goodness.
- Right.
- That's a huge country indeed.
Because it's a big country,
the flowers are big too.
- The leaves are big too. Nice.
- Yes.
- Hello.
- You're here.
That's what I thought too.
By the time you have to throw this out
Why would I throw it out?
Ms. Lee, come over here.
I'm going to give you some precious jelly.
It flew over to Korea
on a 14-hour flight. Come.
Okay.
I didn't tell anyone about last night.
Can you grab one for me too?
Pardon?
The jelly from the US.
Sure.
Thank you.
- It's sweet, right?
- It is definitely from the US.
Come here. All right.
- Try some of this.
- Thank you.
- My grades went down.
- Mine stayed the same.
- I might get scolded.
- Seriously. Am I ranked last?
I guessed a lot of questions.
(Midterm Rankings for Seniors:
Lee Soon Ae, Ko Mi Sook)
- I can't believe this.
- I did a good job at guessing them.
First place?
- First place.
- His ranking stayed the same.
I'll go back to the classroom.
- This is a miracle.
- Goodness.
No way.
I had no idea you were
at the top of your class.
Goodness. I'm so proud of you!
How did you get first place?
- First place in the entire school!
- Gosh.
First place!
- First place!
- Goodness.
- Our rankings are up. Darn it.
- Gosh.
You got the highest grades!
I guessed most of them.
Hey.
Soon Ae won first place?
Of course, she's upset.
Gosh, I'm so proud of you.
Goodness. Seriously?
What a way to make students
with bad grades feel awful.
Get out of my way.
You pretended as if you bombed the exams.
That's what Lee Soon Ae does.
Are you that happy?
Should I put this poster
on your forehead
for everyone to see?
- That crazy
- Yoon Young.
That crazy girl. Kim Hae Kyung!
- Hey, you're in trouble
- Hurry.
Kim Hae Kyung!
Get back in your classrooms.
- I hate her.
- I'm so sick of her.
- What's wrong with that girl?
- I know, right?
- Let's go.
- I'm so sick of her.
Bring that back!
(School Regulations)
This is an interesting school.
I guess there's only a notice
for the student ranked last.
Why would she like someone like him?
What does she see in him?
(College Entrance Exam Part 1)
I didn't know I could use
this math expression for this.
This is so fun.
Yoo Bum Ryong, you ranked last.
Please get a grip.
Gosh. Darn it!
This guy is such a loser! Unbelievable.
What's wrong with you?
Nothing.
Forget it.
I don't want to lose a friend.
Don't tell me
things didn't go well last night.
The flower I gave you didn't do the trick?
What is that?
Why go through so much trouble
to pick them yourself?
Flowers from the store are way prettier.
Gosh, seriously.
Take it.
Women don't like such things
because they're pathetic.
Is that so?
By the way,
you're really not going to tell me
to whom you're confessing your feelings?
Well, I told you
that I'd tell you if things worked out.
Okay. Good luck.
Thanks for this.
- Hee Sub, good luck.
- Yes?
Flower, my foot.
Did your What is it?
Did your girlfriend like it?
Of course.
She always says she doesn't like it,
but it actually means she likes it.
She's just being coy.
No means no.
Why don't you take her word for it?
Wait. You said you'd give her
just one flower.
You gave me one. Where is the other one?
Oh, that?
Well, I
used it well.
Hello.
Why do you think it's not Ko Mi SooK?
If the culprit
of the serial murder case
committed a murder again 34 years later
and caused my mom's death,
then I think there's a higher chance
that Ko Mi Sook is the culprit.
That could be the case.
But what about the man
from last night who was stalking
the student teacher but fled?
Who could he be?
I think that's the guy
I've been waiting for.
All this time,
I waited, thinking the answer
lay in the path that Ms. Lee took.
The path Ms. Lee took
the night she was murdered.
(Forward with our autonomy,
creativity, and intelligence)
That night, after she was done
with her work,
she left school at 10 p.m.
(Woojung High School)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
The place she headed straight to
was Bong Bong Teahouse,
the teahouse we went to last night.
Welcome.
She stayed there for 20 minutes,
and at 10:30 p.m.,
she left the teahouse.
Naturally, she headed to Woojung Inn next.
But that night, Ms. Lee
never made it to the inn.
(Payphone)
(Woojung Inn)
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
Even if you walk slowly,
it takes only three minutes
to the inn from the teahouse.
She disappeared
within that short distance.
And her body was discovered the next day.
There were no witnesses
within that short distance?
There's no one who saw
whom she ran into or met.
That's why I'm planning
to witness that myself.
At the same time, in the same place,
and on her path,
I'll be right behind Ms. Lee.
Then I'll be able to run
into the man in a blue hat again.
A blue hat?
The 20 minutes Ms. Lee spent
in the teahouse.
The only person she met there.
(Bong Bong Teahouse)
They were arguing?
He was very suspicious,
but the police couldn't find out
who he was until the end.
But the man I was pursuing
last night was wearing a blue hat.
I'm not saying I'll leave
Ko Mi Sook out completely.
I'll keep her in mind
and keep an eye on her.
But
we can't suspect her yet.
I'll make sure to catch
the culprit here the right way.
The culprit won't be able
to kill anyone
either in 1987 or 2021.
That's what I'm here for.
So please trust me and give it some time.
Gosh, Yoo Bum Ryong.
(Let's be united as a nation)
(with self-esteem, independence,
and cooperation.)
I'll go and see if she gets home safely.
Do you want me to come with you?
It's my job. And it's not a big deal.
Also
Don't go home by yourself.
Go home with your mom and uncle.
(Twist Jelly)
Yoon Young, let's go home together.
Gosh, this is jelly from the US.
(Detective Division 1)
But you're truly mistaken.
No one chased me or threatened me.
She was definitely hiding something.
Why don't we buy
twisted breadsticks, your favorite?
He knew I was following them,
but he said that on purpose
so I could hear it.
As if to tell me that woman was in danger.
All right.
Where are you going?
- It wasn't that nice.
- Then why did you finish it?
Hey, Baek Dong Sik.
Where are you going all by yourself again?
(Woojung Police Station)
Oh, I had something to check.
What are you going to check again?
If you're going to bring in trouble
like the son of the hospital director,
please spare us. I beg you.
Right. A new student teacher
came to Woojung High School,
and things are looking bad.
I'll be right back.
Hey.
What do you mean things are looking bad?
You didn't know who she was?
(Inn Entrance)
(Woojung Inn)
She has three previous convictions.
We were just pretending not to know,
but she's one to look out for.
It's tonight.
If nothing else comes up,
it'll happen tonight.
Are you sure
there's nothing I can do to help?
Now it concerns me too. I can do anything.
I'm used to doing things by myself.
What if something comes up?
You should head in first.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Your name tag.
- Look at that.
- Hello.
What's going on?
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Hello.
- Hello.
I asked what this was about.
I also asked you to make way, didn't I?
I gave you a chance to do your job
with your last ounce of decency.
You're not here
to help Lee Ju Young, are you?
You want me to help
someone like her?
Mr. Yoon,
you could've died because of that woman.
Do you know that?
Hey, go and get her.
Don't let her get away.
- Yes, sir. Let's go.
- Yes, sir. Come on.
Darn it.
My foot.
Why is she so fast?
She's tiring me out. Gosh.
I swear. They said I could become
Miss Korea
if I paid 500 dollars.
What the
Five hundred dollars, my foot.
Even with 5,000 dollars,
you could never
become Miss Korea, you brat.
Why not?
Why can't I?
Father,
I'm the Kim Wan Sun
of Woojung-ri. Got that?
Don't I look like her right now?
What did you say?
The oriental melon is laughing, you brat.
You're so annoying.
- Oh, my gosh.
- When can I catch
the quickest bus to Seoul?
You startled me.
It'll be here in five minutes.
- Can I get a token?
- A token?
Hold on.
- Gosh.
- Let me see.
Please hurry.
Why is everyone running around all sweaty?
What?
- Darn it.
- Ms. Lee, hold on!
Hey, grab her!
How dare that weasel order me around?
- That hurts.
- But I'm going to listen to her.
- Gosh.
- Let go.
Let go. Hey!
- Oh, my.
- Ms. Lee.
- Let go!
- Hold on!
- Please, Ms. Lee.
- Let go!
Please.
I don't know why you're acting like this,
but you have to stay here
tonight. All right?
That way, we can catch the criminal.
Obviously.
That language teacher is coming too.
Oh, my.
Oh, my goodness.
- So it was you guys.
- Ms. Lee.
I knew you were watching me every night.
It's also not a coincidence
that you guys found me
under the bridge that night.
You planned this all from the start
in order to hand me over
to the police, didn't you?
There's a misunderstanding here.
Please calm down and put down that knife.
I can't trust anyone.
You dirty spies.
You have to believe me.
We're
trying to help you.
What in the world?
Let go of me!
Ms. Lee, please!
The cops are coming, so please be quiet.
Sir, is there a place we can hide?
Go inside here.
Go ahead.
Are you okay? Did you get hurt?
I'm fine.
Are you?
Yes, I am.
I'm not sure.
The bus has already left.
I don't know who you're talking about.
We just kept talking
about Miss Korea here.
Hello.
I told you, didn't I?
You can never become Miss Korea.
Well, didn't I tell you that I'm
the Kim Wan Sun of Woojung-ri?
Let's check the inn again.
- What? Okay.
- Yes, sir.
- Gosh.
- I cut it for you, you brat.
Why did you
It's all because of me.
I made a wrong judgment,
which led to an unexpected issue.
I think it'll be dangerous
to send her back to the inn tonight.
You're right. We should
take her somewhere safe first
I thought I was alone.
I was so scared.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Will you be okay alone?
I'm just going to see his face.
(Bong Bong Teahouse, Coffee and Tea)
If we're lucky,
even without Ms. Lee,
he could appear
at the same location and time.
If you get lucky,
please
get a glimpse of his face.
Because he'll become
the person who kills my mom in 34 years.
Darn it.
(Women who read are dangerous.)
(My Perfect Stranger)
He was one of the suspects
and the hidden owner of the blue cap.
Even his movements
make him the prime suspect, Baek Hee Sub.
If the owner of the blue cap
is the real criminal,
that means
he killed her mother and his own wife.
The blue cap is
I know. I saw it with my own eyes.
I never imagined he would do such a thing.
He's just one of the suspects.
Are you saying the man
with the blue cap is my father?
What?
No way.
(Epilogue)
How could you
How
How could you deceive everyone
after doing such a thing?
Don't come near me.
Don't come near me!
(Bong Bong Teahouse)