Post by mikey on Aug 17, 2006 20:46:54 GMT -5
In response to a request, here’s (brief) summaries of “Pure in Heart,” Episodes 5-11.
Obviously, THESE WILL BE SPOILERS for Chicago - at least, until “Pure in Heart” begins running there. Read with caution.
Jeez, if I had time, I'd do summaries of episodes 1-4 also. It seems so incomplete now.
I'll also try to get a "family tree" put together for this show, since the huge number of brand-new characters still leave me confused sometimes.
Perhaps this thread could be transferred over to the “Pure in Heart” forum (when it gets created).
****
Since I’m still getting familiar with the character’s names, I used descriptive “nicknames” most of the time here.
EPISODE #5
Gukhwa (our heroine) buys dozens of eggs, in expectation of selling them on the street. She says they’re going to be special (hard-boiled in soy sauce) and that people will love them. She’s selling them 3 for $1.
Grandpa’s mad at his son Punggu (the “Music Son”). He thinks he’s wasting his time trying to be a musician, and that he should instead learn to be a tailor.
Yunhu (the “Mean Boss”) asks Ugyeung (the “Nice Son”) for advice on dating long-time friend Sinhyeong (the “Orphan Girl”). Mean Boss says he’s never actually dated before. Nice Son says he’s not that experienced either. Mean Boss says he knows his harsh personality has kept him from dating - but what’s Nice Son’s excuse? Nice Son just smiles.
Yunjeong (sister of “Mean Boss,” known here as “Spoiled Rich Girl”) meets again with creepy guy she met earlier on blind date. He’s suddenly pursuing her.
Music Son gets a ride to his singing studio from his favorite student Hyesuk (the female restaurant owner). They’re getting along well!
Mean Boss (knowing nothing about dating) sets up a “Dating Schedule,” with the entire month’s plans laid out for him and Orphan Girl. She’s ticked off with his stupid “Dating Schedule,” though, and asks him if he was like that when he was dating “Sujeong” (but who is that?
).
Mean Boss goes for a drive, and his car breaks down . . . right in front of Gukhwa, who is selling eggs along the highway. He recognizes her as “Brat.” She recognizes him as “Jiikiiikkae.”
EPISODE #6
Mean Boss confronts Gukhwa - do her parents know she’s still in Korea? And what does “Jiikiiikkae” mean, anyway? She says she’ll tell him, if he buys some eggs from her. He tells her he forgot his wallet (true) but of course she thinks he’s being a wise guy with her and she storms off angry.
Grandpa hides Music Son’s saxophone. Music Son is livid. Grandpa tells him to quit music and learn tailoring. Music Son refuses, implying that tailoring is Woman’s Work. Turns out that the saxophone is sitting outside, in the doghouse. The family’s poor dog is tied up outside his doghouse (in the pouring rain) wishing he could go back inside and escape the downpour.
Mean Boss calls for a tow truck, and it arrives and gets his car running. He offers Gukhwa a ride to wherever she wants to go (Seoul Station) but Mean Boss discovers that he’s short on gas. He needs to buy more - but he forgot his wallet. He asks Gukhwa to pay for gas, and she agrees - but she insists on taking his watch as collateral.
At the office, Nice Son shows a photo of Gukhwa to Orphan Girl, and explains what happened. Orphan Girl tells Nice Son that she’s “Trial Dating” the Mean Boss.
Mean Boss’ mother (“Rich Mom”) has a new gig promoting organic Korean foods nationwide, and she’s at a supermarket delivering her spiel. She spots Yunji (her estranged daughter) and momentarily freezes up. They meet up later, where the Rich Mom really rips into her estranged daughter, asking why she’s living with a “scoundrel” when she’s so pretty and from such a rich family? Each accuses each other of betraying the family. Rich Mom nonetheless gives her a huge bag full of premium Korean ribs, insisting that her “scoundrel” husband (Gwangman, the hapless car salesman) get none of them. Rich Mom tells estranged daughter that they want to see her for her father’s birthday, but don’t even bother if her husband comes along. It’s a very sad and unpleasant mother-daughter relationship.
Yunji (estranged daughter) comes home in a bad mood, only to see her car-salesman husband cleaning out the refrigerator. She’s steamed that he’s doing housework when he should be earning money for the family.
Back at Seoul Station, Gukhwa returns to stash her day’s earnings in her storage locker. The sleazy guy who took her in eyes things carefully, noticing that she’s keeping a lot of cash in that locker. A pretty worrisome indication of what’s to come?
Ugyeong (Nice Son) briefly meets with Mean Boss. Mean Boss is about to tell him that he saw Gukhwa, and that she’s still in Korea, but he decides not to tell him, since Gukhwa has insisted that he keep his mouth shut.
Mean Boss’ sister (Spoiled Rich Girl) argues with creepy blind date guy, telling him that she wants to marry for love. He seems to blow it all off, as if love is irrelevant. He gives the impression of being a real playboy, making one think that Spoiled Rich Girl will have a rough life if she actually marries this blind date guy.
Gukhwa tearfully calls her aunt in China, telling her that everything’s fine, and that she had a nice wedding (of course, she didn’t - Sungu had been killed in a traffic accident a few days before the wedding). Aunt, however, insists on getting a wedding picture, which puts Gukhwa in a bind, since (after all) the wedding never happened. Gukhwa eventually pays a professional photographer to make up a fake wedding photo that she can send to her family in China.
Very sad to see poor Gukhwa, posing alone in her wedding dress for the staged photo . . .
Next day, it’s the scheduled time for Gukhwa to return the watch to Mean Boss, and get refunded for the gas money she loaned him. But, in a hurry, she stumbles down the stairs at Seoul Station and injures herself severely enough to need a trip to the hospital. Mean Boss, waiting for a long time outside, finally gives up and angrily leaves, thinking that she sold the expensive watch and took off. Mean Boss is disgusted with himself for being such a sucker.
EPISODE #7
Mean Boss returns home, in a very sour mood, convinced that Gukhwa “stole” his expensive watch.
Mean Boss’ mother and father (Rich Mom and Rich Dad) are with Orphan Girl, preparing for annual service for Orphan Girl’s late parents. We discover that Orphan Girl’s parents were close friends with Rich Mom and Dad, and that they had died while on vacation when Orphan Girl was a high schooler. Rich Mom and Dad make it clear that Orphan Girl is like their own daughter to them, and Orphan girl is very appreciative of the support she got from them after her parents death. Rich Mom somewhat angrily tells Orphan Girl that if Yunhu (their son, the "Mean Boss") hadn’t fallen for “that sly fox,” she’d have already been married to him and become their real daughter-in-law.
Gukhwa gets patched up at the hospital, and then rushes back to Seoul Station. Of course, by then Mean Boss is gone. Gukhwa doesn’t know how to reach him (she doesn’t even know his real name) and she’s crushed knowing that he must think she’s a thief. On top of that, the crystal of the watch got broken in the fall. She’ll need to get that fixed before she returns it to him.
Punggu (“Music Son”) starts getting closer to the lady restaurant owner at a picnic. He plays the saxophone for her. He’s obviously interested, and thinks that the relationship is progressing nicely. It’s not so clear, though, if the restaurant lady shares those feelings.
Gukhwa receives the faked wedding photo from the photographer. She writes up a nice letter for her aunt, and sends everything off to China. Later, she happens upon a woman also from China (Yanbian) who offers her genuine Chinese diet supplements “at cost.” These supplements are so rare, the woman tells Gukhwa, that it’s hard to find them even in China. Gukhwa happily buys a dozen or so boxes of the Chinese diet supplement, thinking that she can make some money that way.
Gukhwa then goes to get Mean Boss’ watch crystal fixed - and is floored when the watch repairman tells her that it’s a $10,000 watch. It’s so expensive, he says, that he doesn’t even want to touch it. Send it back to the factory for repair, he tells her. Gukhwa can’t believe that Mean Boss wears a watch that’s worth as much as a house.
When Gukhwa returns to Seoul Station, she finds the rented office she was sharing being cleaned out - and is horrified to discover that her locker was broken into, and all her money has been stolen.
EPISODE #8
The unsympathetic movers only demand that Gukhwa leave immediately, since the office has been rented out to someone new. Gukhwa is now not only homeless, but penniless, and she’s determined to hunt down the crook who took her money, and get it all back.
Yunjeong (Spoiled Rich Girl, sister of Mean Boss) stupidly rear ends Nice Son’s car as they’re both parking in Mean Boss’ parking lot. Though SHE rear ended HIM, she demands that he pay all the repair costs, as wells as for “therapy” for her traumatized little Pomeranian dog. Nice Son essentially tells her to stuff it. As they enter the offices, Spoiled Rich Girl realizes that Nice Son works for her brother, so she grabs some scissors, cuts off his tie (apparently out of spite) and then tells him pack his bags. He’s about to be fired.
At the singing school, class in underway when Hyesuk (the restaurant woman, whom “Music Son” has the hots for) gets assaulted by a gang of women demanding money from her. Apparently, her husband took their money and then declared bankruptcy, leaving the angry women high-and-dry. Hyesuk tells them that she’s been divorced for 5 years, and hasn’t seen him in 3. She rushes from the singing school (Music Son runs after her, but only catches a glimpse of her as her car drives off). Hyesuk returns to her restaurant, where she hears that a better location has just become available. She seems anxious to move, and get a fresh start away from all the angry women who blame her for their money losses.
At the Hong household, the phone rings, and it’s Gukhwa’s aunt calling from China, thanking them for the nice wedding photo. Nice Son (who picked up the phone) is dumbfounded - you mean Gukhwa is still in Seoul??
Gukhwa, through some amazing detective work, finds the home of the thief who stole all her money. But the thief isn’t there, only his young son. The house has been ransacked, and the son says that some people demanding money came and did that. He asks if she’s there to get money from his father, too. Gukhwa doesn’t have the heart to be mean to the young boy, so she buys him dinner and forgets about her stolen money.
A family meeting at the Hong household, where they try to decide what to do about Gukhwa. They don’t decide anything, but agree not to tell Grandpa about it, at least not yet.
Families of the Spoiled Rich Girl and creepy blind date guy have a formal meeting. The parents all seem happy about marrying the two off, but Spoiled Rich Girl doesn’t seem that pleased about this essentially forced marriage.
At the office, Mean Boss overhears Nice Son asking for information from immigration authorities about whether Gukhwa has left Korea. Mean Boss mentions that he’s seen her in Seoul.
Gukhwa, for her part, has bounced back again, finding work in a health club, where she at least gets free showers and a warm place to sleep.
EPISODE #9
Nice Son is astonished to hear that Mean Boss has seen Gukhwa in Seoul, but Mean Boss (still angry about his lost watch) warns Nice Son that Gukhwa might not be the sweet, innocent girl he thinks she is. Still, Nice Son seems determined to find her.
Spoiled Rich Girl enters her brother’s office, and asks him if Nice Son has been fired yet. Since Nice Son is not only one of the few workers Mean Boss can really count on, but also a lifelong friend, he throws Spoiled Rich Girl out of his office. Furious Spoiled Rich Girl tells Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) that she’ll get even somehow, leading Orphan Girl to wonder if she’s interested in him, since she’s obviously overreacting to the whole thing.
Hyesuk (restaurant woman) gets on a train to check out the new location she’s interested in renting - and ends up sitting next to Grandpa. Grandpa sure seems interested in her (of course, Grandpa has no idea that his Music Son is just as interested . . .). The two share an umbrella at the station where they both get off, and Grandpa is delighted to discover that Hyesuk is eying a rental location that’s just two doors down from his tailor shop.
Yunjeong (Spoiled Rich Girl) meets with her sister, Yunji (Estranged Daughter). She’s still angry over Nice Son’s refusal to pay for repairs to her car. She’s also upset about her impending marriage to the sleazy blind date guy. The Estranged Daughter tells her sister that you can live without money, but you can’t live without love (which is obviously the choice the formerly rich girl made when she married an unsuccessful car salesman, and caused her snooty rich family to break off relations with her).
Meanwhile, Yunji’s hapless husband is at the car dealership, getting chewed out by the manager for his poor sales record. He comes home drunk that night, telling his wife that he can’t stand his job anymore. He tells her that he’s not qualified to have a nice family.
Mean Boss meets with his father at the office. Mean Boss assures his dad that he’ll marry Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl). But, his father comments that Mean Boss is acting like “an old man,” and wonders why his son doesn’t feel any passion towards the sweet Orphan Girl (whom Mean Boss has known since he was a child). Mean boss tells his father that he gave up on romantic love five years ago.
Grandpa returns home in a GREAT mood, happy that this attractive middle-aged woman was setting up shop right down from his tailor business. The family can’t figure out why Grandpa is so happy all of a sudden.
A furious woman shows up at the health club, looking for Gukhwa. She tells Gukhwa that the Chinese diet supplement she sold made her daughter very ill. Gullible Gukhwa can’t believe that the woman from Yanbian would have sold her a diet supplement that was harmful.
Rich Mom gets rejected by Rich Dad - in the bedroom. She storms out of the bedroom and sleeps elsewhere in the house. She’s steaming, and seems determined to get even for his having humiliated her.
Police arrive at the health club, looking for the young woman selling “illegal” diet supplements. After a brief chase, Gukhwa is taken off to the police station for questioning.
EPISODE #10
Gukhwa is getting grilled at the police station. Though she denies everything, police seem convinced that she’s a drug smuggler. If there’s any illegal drugs found in the diet supplements she’s selling, they tell her, she’s going straight to jail.
Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) meets up with Mean Boss in his office. She tells him that his father has asked her to “remake his image” as a nice guy in the company newsletter. Mean Boss reluctantly agrees to go along with his father’s ridiculous project.
Spoiled Rich Girl talks with her mom about her impending (forced) marriage. She expresses her doubts. Rich Mom gives her advice that’s completely opposite from what she heard from her sister: that love is meaningless, and that she’ll only be happy if she marries a rich man. And mom sternly tells Spoiled Rich Girl to never meet with her sister (the one who married the unsuccessful car salesman) again. Later, Spoiled Rich Girl meets with creepy blind date guy (now, officially, her fiancée). He tells her he’s going to America for a month or so - and that she’s NOT welcome to tag along.
Mean Boss finally asks Nice Son if he’s looking for Gukhwa - and he tells him where he last saw her. Nice Son rushes to the streetcorner where she was last seen selling eggs, but of course she’s not there. Gukhwa is still at the police station, getting threatened with prison time for smuggling illegal drugs.
Rich Mom - still smarting about having been rejected by her husband in the bedroom - has ordered that twin beds be delivered. She has the existing king-sized bed taken away. That’ll show him!
Spoiled Rich Girl is at a nightclub, rapidly getting drunk as she pours out her troubles to friends. She says she wants to marry for love, but her friends all seem unanimous in urging her to marry the creepy rich playboy guy. Spoiled Rich Girl admits that she doesn’t want to end up like her poor, estranged sister. Some aggressive dude at the nightclub then attempts to pick up Spoiled Rich Girl, and a huge fight ensues. The cops are called, and off they all go to the police station.
Meanwhile, at the police station, the lab test finally comes back. There’s nothing illegal in the Chinese diet supplements Gukhwa was selling. She’s free to go - just as soon as she gets someone to come and vouch for her. But, Gukhwa barely knows a soul in Seoul, so she still can't leave the police station.
Mean Boss gets a call from the police, letting him know that his drunken sister has been arrested. Mean Boss goes there to spring her from police custody, and - surprise! - he sees Gukhwa among the people being held.
Mean Boss gets his sister released, and then returns to tell Gukhwa that he knew that she was a thief, but that even he never suspected that she was also a drug dealer. He demands his watch back, but she tells him (truthfully) that she mailed it back earlier in the day. Of course, Mean Boss doesn’t believe her, and he tells her to go ahead and sell the stupid watch and make a fortune from it. Mean Boss leaves the police station, leaving Gukhwa behind, sobbing.
As Mean Boss leaves the police station, we see the words (in English!) above the entryway: “Speed, Simple, Soft” (I’m still trying to imagine those words hung above the entryway to the LAPD Rampart Division Headquarters).
An unexpected package arrives at the Hong household. It’s from Gukhwa, and it contains the broken watch. In an attached letter, she tells Ugyeong (Nice Son) that everything’s fine for her in China, and that although she doesn’t know the name of Nice Son’s friend, she calls him “Jiikiiikkae” (which means “Mudfish” in Yanbian) and she asks that he return the watch to him.
Nice Son calls Mean Boss and arranges a quick meeting, where he presents him with the broken watch - and asks him what the heck is going on between him and Gukhwa? Mean Boss (apparently realizing that he made a big mistake about Gukhwa) leads Nice Son to the police station where she is being held.
EPISODE #11
Gukhwa sees the two enter, and she’s furious with Mean Boss for telling Nice Son that she’s still in Seoul. Mean Boss - though apparently feeling bad about misjudging Gukhwa - is nonetheless furious at her for daring to call him a Mudfish. Nice Son asks Gukhwa to come home with him, but she refuses. She doesn’t want to be a burden on his family. He assures her that his family is not like that, but she still says no.
Hyesuk is having her restaurant’s grand opening, and Grandpa sends her flowers as a good luck gift. But, mysteriously, he signs the gift card “Destiny of Rain.”
Nice Son takes Gukhwa to the train station, to meet with his father (the “Train Son”). His father is astonished to see Gukhwa, but then asks to speak with his son privately, where he insists that she not be brought into the Hong household. Although she was engaged to Sungu, he explains, she never actually became part of their family, and people will talk if she moves in. And Grandfather, he adds, would also not be able to handle the constant reminder of Sungu’s recent death. Gukhwa overhears what Nice Son’s father is saying, and she tells them that she understands, and that it’s okay (it seems that Nice Son, however, still does NOT understand).
Yunhu (Mean Boss) and Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) are together in her room, watching old videos. One of them shows the two as schoolchildren, and Orphan Girl comments that the tape shows the first time she kissed him. Mean Boss seems a little embarrassed, but he continues to watch the old videotape with her.
Rich Mom tells Spoiled Rich Girl that the wedding has been scheduled for next month, as the groom’s family wants to rush it. Spoiled Rich Girl seems none too enthusiastic.
Some time later, Rich Mom is chatting with a friend, who grumbles that her car is in the shop again. Maybe she should just get a new car? Rich mom says she knows a good car salesman - but insists that she never tell the salesman who referred her to him (apparently, despite Rich Mom’s hostile words, she really does worry about her daughter and her hapless son-in-law).
Nice Son gets Gukhwa a hotel room as a temporary measure, but only until he can find her a proper apartment and a job. He returns to the Hong household to again plead his case, but it seems that the entire family is against Gukhwa moving in with them.
Next day, Nice Son tells Orphan Girl that Gukhwa is still in Seoul. Mean Boss overhears, and he openly asks if maybe Nice Son is getting a little too involved in this. Shouldn’t he just get her on the next plane to China?
Back at the hotel room, stupid Gukhwa is cooking up some ramen (to “save money”). Hotel management discovers that she's cooking in her room, and they throw her out. Nice Guy rushes over to get her, and Orphan Girl suggests that he bring her to live in her place. Orphan Girl says she sympathizes with Gukhwa's situation (both, after all, had lost their parents) and she mentions that she’s sometimes a little lonely anyway.
So, Nice Son drives Gukhwa to Orphan Girl’s place, where she’s warmly welcomed by Orphan Girl.
(end of episode #11)
Obviously, THESE WILL BE SPOILERS for Chicago - at least, until “Pure in Heart” begins running there. Read with caution.
Jeez, if I had time, I'd do summaries of episodes 1-4 also. It seems so incomplete now.
I'll also try to get a "family tree" put together for this show, since the huge number of brand-new characters still leave me confused sometimes.Perhaps this thread could be transferred over to the “Pure in Heart” forum (when it gets created).
****
Since I’m still getting familiar with the character’s names, I used descriptive “nicknames” most of the time here.
EPISODE #5
Gukhwa (our heroine) buys dozens of eggs, in expectation of selling them on the street. She says they’re going to be special (hard-boiled in soy sauce) and that people will love them. She’s selling them 3 for $1.
Grandpa’s mad at his son Punggu (the “Music Son”). He thinks he’s wasting his time trying to be a musician, and that he should instead learn to be a tailor.
Yunhu (the “Mean Boss”) asks Ugyeung (the “Nice Son”) for advice on dating long-time friend Sinhyeong (the “Orphan Girl”). Mean Boss says he’s never actually dated before. Nice Son says he’s not that experienced either. Mean Boss says he knows his harsh personality has kept him from dating - but what’s Nice Son’s excuse? Nice Son just smiles.
Yunjeong (sister of “Mean Boss,” known here as “Spoiled Rich Girl”) meets again with creepy guy she met earlier on blind date. He’s suddenly pursuing her.
Music Son gets a ride to his singing studio from his favorite student Hyesuk (the female restaurant owner). They’re getting along well!
Mean Boss (knowing nothing about dating) sets up a “Dating Schedule,” with the entire month’s plans laid out for him and Orphan Girl. She’s ticked off with his stupid “Dating Schedule,” though, and asks him if he was like that when he was dating “Sujeong” (but who is that?
).Mean Boss goes for a drive, and his car breaks down . . . right in front of Gukhwa, who is selling eggs along the highway. He recognizes her as “Brat.” She recognizes him as “Jiikiiikkae.”
EPISODE #6
Mean Boss confronts Gukhwa - do her parents know she’s still in Korea? And what does “Jiikiiikkae” mean, anyway? She says she’ll tell him, if he buys some eggs from her. He tells her he forgot his wallet (true) but of course she thinks he’s being a wise guy with her and she storms off angry.
Grandpa hides Music Son’s saxophone. Music Son is livid. Grandpa tells him to quit music and learn tailoring. Music Son refuses, implying that tailoring is Woman’s Work. Turns out that the saxophone is sitting outside, in the doghouse. The family’s poor dog is tied up outside his doghouse (in the pouring rain) wishing he could go back inside and escape the downpour.
Mean Boss calls for a tow truck, and it arrives and gets his car running. He offers Gukhwa a ride to wherever she wants to go (Seoul Station) but Mean Boss discovers that he’s short on gas. He needs to buy more - but he forgot his wallet. He asks Gukhwa to pay for gas, and she agrees - but she insists on taking his watch as collateral.
At the office, Nice Son shows a photo of Gukhwa to Orphan Girl, and explains what happened. Orphan Girl tells Nice Son that she’s “Trial Dating” the Mean Boss.
Mean Boss’ mother (“Rich Mom”) has a new gig promoting organic Korean foods nationwide, and she’s at a supermarket delivering her spiel. She spots Yunji (her estranged daughter) and momentarily freezes up. They meet up later, where the Rich Mom really rips into her estranged daughter, asking why she’s living with a “scoundrel” when she’s so pretty and from such a rich family? Each accuses each other of betraying the family. Rich Mom nonetheless gives her a huge bag full of premium Korean ribs, insisting that her “scoundrel” husband (Gwangman, the hapless car salesman) get none of them. Rich Mom tells estranged daughter that they want to see her for her father’s birthday, but don’t even bother if her husband comes along. It’s a very sad and unpleasant mother-daughter relationship.
Yunji (estranged daughter) comes home in a bad mood, only to see her car-salesman husband cleaning out the refrigerator. She’s steamed that he’s doing housework when he should be earning money for the family.
Back at Seoul Station, Gukhwa returns to stash her day’s earnings in her storage locker. The sleazy guy who took her in eyes things carefully, noticing that she’s keeping a lot of cash in that locker. A pretty worrisome indication of what’s to come?
Ugyeong (Nice Son) briefly meets with Mean Boss. Mean Boss is about to tell him that he saw Gukhwa, and that she’s still in Korea, but he decides not to tell him, since Gukhwa has insisted that he keep his mouth shut.
Mean Boss’ sister (Spoiled Rich Girl) argues with creepy blind date guy, telling him that she wants to marry for love. He seems to blow it all off, as if love is irrelevant. He gives the impression of being a real playboy, making one think that Spoiled Rich Girl will have a rough life if she actually marries this blind date guy.
Gukhwa tearfully calls her aunt in China, telling her that everything’s fine, and that she had a nice wedding (of course, she didn’t - Sungu had been killed in a traffic accident a few days before the wedding). Aunt, however, insists on getting a wedding picture, which puts Gukhwa in a bind, since (after all) the wedding never happened. Gukhwa eventually pays a professional photographer to make up a fake wedding photo that she can send to her family in China.
Very sad to see poor Gukhwa, posing alone in her wedding dress for the staged photo . . .
Next day, it’s the scheduled time for Gukhwa to return the watch to Mean Boss, and get refunded for the gas money she loaned him. But, in a hurry, she stumbles down the stairs at Seoul Station and injures herself severely enough to need a trip to the hospital. Mean Boss, waiting for a long time outside, finally gives up and angrily leaves, thinking that she sold the expensive watch and took off. Mean Boss is disgusted with himself for being such a sucker.
EPISODE #7
Mean Boss returns home, in a very sour mood, convinced that Gukhwa “stole” his expensive watch.
Mean Boss’ mother and father (Rich Mom and Rich Dad) are with Orphan Girl, preparing for annual service for Orphan Girl’s late parents. We discover that Orphan Girl’s parents were close friends with Rich Mom and Dad, and that they had died while on vacation when Orphan Girl was a high schooler. Rich Mom and Dad make it clear that Orphan Girl is like their own daughter to them, and Orphan girl is very appreciative of the support she got from them after her parents death. Rich Mom somewhat angrily tells Orphan Girl that if Yunhu (their son, the "Mean Boss") hadn’t fallen for “that sly fox,” she’d have already been married to him and become their real daughter-in-law.
Gukhwa gets patched up at the hospital, and then rushes back to Seoul Station. Of course, by then Mean Boss is gone. Gukhwa doesn’t know how to reach him (she doesn’t even know his real name) and she’s crushed knowing that he must think she’s a thief. On top of that, the crystal of the watch got broken in the fall. She’ll need to get that fixed before she returns it to him.
Punggu (“Music Son”) starts getting closer to the lady restaurant owner at a picnic. He plays the saxophone for her. He’s obviously interested, and thinks that the relationship is progressing nicely. It’s not so clear, though, if the restaurant lady shares those feelings.
Gukhwa receives the faked wedding photo from the photographer. She writes up a nice letter for her aunt, and sends everything off to China. Later, she happens upon a woman also from China (Yanbian) who offers her genuine Chinese diet supplements “at cost.” These supplements are so rare, the woman tells Gukhwa, that it’s hard to find them even in China. Gukhwa happily buys a dozen or so boxes of the Chinese diet supplement, thinking that she can make some money that way.
Gukhwa then goes to get Mean Boss’ watch crystal fixed - and is floored when the watch repairman tells her that it’s a $10,000 watch. It’s so expensive, he says, that he doesn’t even want to touch it. Send it back to the factory for repair, he tells her. Gukhwa can’t believe that Mean Boss wears a watch that’s worth as much as a house.
When Gukhwa returns to Seoul Station, she finds the rented office she was sharing being cleaned out - and is horrified to discover that her locker was broken into, and all her money has been stolen.
EPISODE #8
The unsympathetic movers only demand that Gukhwa leave immediately, since the office has been rented out to someone new. Gukhwa is now not only homeless, but penniless, and she’s determined to hunt down the crook who took her money, and get it all back.
Yunjeong (Spoiled Rich Girl, sister of Mean Boss) stupidly rear ends Nice Son’s car as they’re both parking in Mean Boss’ parking lot. Though SHE rear ended HIM, she demands that he pay all the repair costs, as wells as for “therapy” for her traumatized little Pomeranian dog. Nice Son essentially tells her to stuff it. As they enter the offices, Spoiled Rich Girl realizes that Nice Son works for her brother, so she grabs some scissors, cuts off his tie (apparently out of spite) and then tells him pack his bags. He’s about to be fired.
At the singing school, class in underway when Hyesuk (the restaurant woman, whom “Music Son” has the hots for) gets assaulted by a gang of women demanding money from her. Apparently, her husband took their money and then declared bankruptcy, leaving the angry women high-and-dry. Hyesuk tells them that she’s been divorced for 5 years, and hasn’t seen him in 3. She rushes from the singing school (Music Son runs after her, but only catches a glimpse of her as her car drives off). Hyesuk returns to her restaurant, where she hears that a better location has just become available. She seems anxious to move, and get a fresh start away from all the angry women who blame her for their money losses.
At the Hong household, the phone rings, and it’s Gukhwa’s aunt calling from China, thanking them for the nice wedding photo. Nice Son (who picked up the phone) is dumbfounded - you mean Gukhwa is still in Seoul?
?Gukhwa, through some amazing detective work, finds the home of the thief who stole all her money. But the thief isn’t there, only his young son. The house has been ransacked, and the son says that some people demanding money came and did that. He asks if she’s there to get money from his father, too. Gukhwa doesn’t have the heart to be mean to the young boy, so she buys him dinner and forgets about her stolen money.
A family meeting at the Hong household, where they try to decide what to do about Gukhwa. They don’t decide anything, but agree not to tell Grandpa about it, at least not yet.
Families of the Spoiled Rich Girl and creepy blind date guy have a formal meeting. The parents all seem happy about marrying the two off, but Spoiled Rich Girl doesn’t seem that pleased about this essentially forced marriage.
At the office, Mean Boss overhears Nice Son asking for information from immigration authorities about whether Gukhwa has left Korea. Mean Boss mentions that he’s seen her in Seoul.
Gukhwa, for her part, has bounced back again, finding work in a health club, where she at least gets free showers and a warm place to sleep.
EPISODE #9
Nice Son is astonished to hear that Mean Boss has seen Gukhwa in Seoul, but Mean Boss (still angry about his lost watch) warns Nice Son that Gukhwa might not be the sweet, innocent girl he thinks she is. Still, Nice Son seems determined to find her.
Spoiled Rich Girl enters her brother’s office, and asks him if Nice Son has been fired yet. Since Nice Son is not only one of the few workers Mean Boss can really count on, but also a lifelong friend, he throws Spoiled Rich Girl out of his office. Furious Spoiled Rich Girl tells Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) that she’ll get even somehow, leading Orphan Girl to wonder if she’s interested in him, since she’s obviously overreacting to the whole thing.
Hyesuk (restaurant woman) gets on a train to check out the new location she’s interested in renting - and ends up sitting next to Grandpa. Grandpa sure seems interested in her (of course, Grandpa has no idea that his Music Son is just as interested . . .). The two share an umbrella at the station where they both get off, and Grandpa is delighted to discover that Hyesuk is eying a rental location that’s just two doors down from his tailor shop.
Yunjeong (Spoiled Rich Girl) meets with her sister, Yunji (Estranged Daughter). She’s still angry over Nice Son’s refusal to pay for repairs to her car. She’s also upset about her impending marriage to the sleazy blind date guy. The Estranged Daughter tells her sister that you can live without money, but you can’t live without love (which is obviously the choice the formerly rich girl made when she married an unsuccessful car salesman, and caused her snooty rich family to break off relations with her).
Meanwhile, Yunji’s hapless husband is at the car dealership, getting chewed out by the manager for his poor sales record. He comes home drunk that night, telling his wife that he can’t stand his job anymore. He tells her that he’s not qualified to have a nice family.
Mean Boss meets with his father at the office. Mean Boss assures his dad that he’ll marry Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl). But, his father comments that Mean Boss is acting like “an old man,” and wonders why his son doesn’t feel any passion towards the sweet Orphan Girl (whom Mean Boss has known since he was a child). Mean boss tells his father that he gave up on romantic love five years ago.
Grandpa returns home in a GREAT mood, happy that this attractive middle-aged woman was setting up shop right down from his tailor business. The family can’t figure out why Grandpa is so happy all of a sudden.
A furious woman shows up at the health club, looking for Gukhwa. She tells Gukhwa that the Chinese diet supplement she sold made her daughter very ill. Gullible Gukhwa can’t believe that the woman from Yanbian would have sold her a diet supplement that was harmful.
Rich Mom gets rejected by Rich Dad - in the bedroom. She storms out of the bedroom and sleeps elsewhere in the house. She’s steaming, and seems determined to get even for his having humiliated her.
Police arrive at the health club, looking for the young woman selling “illegal” diet supplements. After a brief chase, Gukhwa is taken off to the police station for questioning.
EPISODE #10
Gukhwa is getting grilled at the police station. Though she denies everything, police seem convinced that she’s a drug smuggler. If there’s any illegal drugs found in the diet supplements she’s selling, they tell her, she’s going straight to jail.
Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) meets up with Mean Boss in his office. She tells him that his father has asked her to “remake his image” as a nice guy in the company newsletter. Mean Boss reluctantly agrees to go along with his father’s ridiculous project.
Spoiled Rich Girl talks with her mom about her impending (forced) marriage. She expresses her doubts. Rich Mom gives her advice that’s completely opposite from what she heard from her sister: that love is meaningless, and that she’ll only be happy if she marries a rich man. And mom sternly tells Spoiled Rich Girl to never meet with her sister (the one who married the unsuccessful car salesman) again. Later, Spoiled Rich Girl meets with creepy blind date guy (now, officially, her fiancée). He tells her he’s going to America for a month or so - and that she’s NOT welcome to tag along.
Mean Boss finally asks Nice Son if he’s looking for Gukhwa - and he tells him where he last saw her. Nice Son rushes to the streetcorner where she was last seen selling eggs, but of course she’s not there. Gukhwa is still at the police station, getting threatened with prison time for smuggling illegal drugs.
Rich Mom - still smarting about having been rejected by her husband in the bedroom - has ordered that twin beds be delivered. She has the existing king-sized bed taken away. That’ll show him!
Spoiled Rich Girl is at a nightclub, rapidly getting drunk as she pours out her troubles to friends. She says she wants to marry for love, but her friends all seem unanimous in urging her to marry the creepy rich playboy guy. Spoiled Rich Girl admits that she doesn’t want to end up like her poor, estranged sister. Some aggressive dude at the nightclub then attempts to pick up Spoiled Rich Girl, and a huge fight ensues. The cops are called, and off they all go to the police station.
Meanwhile, at the police station, the lab test finally comes back. There’s nothing illegal in the Chinese diet supplements Gukhwa was selling. She’s free to go - just as soon as she gets someone to come and vouch for her. But, Gukhwa barely knows a soul in Seoul, so she still can't leave the police station.
Mean Boss gets a call from the police, letting him know that his drunken sister has been arrested. Mean Boss goes there to spring her from police custody, and - surprise! - he sees Gukhwa among the people being held.
Mean Boss gets his sister released, and then returns to tell Gukhwa that he knew that she was a thief, but that even he never suspected that she was also a drug dealer. He demands his watch back, but she tells him (truthfully) that she mailed it back earlier in the day. Of course, Mean Boss doesn’t believe her, and he tells her to go ahead and sell the stupid watch and make a fortune from it. Mean Boss leaves the police station, leaving Gukhwa behind, sobbing.
As Mean Boss leaves the police station, we see the words (in English!) above the entryway: “Speed, Simple, Soft” (I’m still trying to imagine those words hung above the entryway to the LAPD Rampart Division Headquarters).
An unexpected package arrives at the Hong household. It’s from Gukhwa, and it contains the broken watch. In an attached letter, she tells Ugyeong (Nice Son) that everything’s fine for her in China, and that although she doesn’t know the name of Nice Son’s friend, she calls him “Jiikiiikkae” (which means “Mudfish” in Yanbian) and she asks that he return the watch to him.
Nice Son calls Mean Boss and arranges a quick meeting, where he presents him with the broken watch - and asks him what the heck is going on between him and Gukhwa? Mean Boss (apparently realizing that he made a big mistake about Gukhwa) leads Nice Son to the police station where she is being held.
EPISODE #11
Gukhwa sees the two enter, and she’s furious with Mean Boss for telling Nice Son that she’s still in Seoul. Mean Boss - though apparently feeling bad about misjudging Gukhwa - is nonetheless furious at her for daring to call him a Mudfish. Nice Son asks Gukhwa to come home with him, but she refuses. She doesn’t want to be a burden on his family. He assures her that his family is not like that, but she still says no.
Hyesuk is having her restaurant’s grand opening, and Grandpa sends her flowers as a good luck gift. But, mysteriously, he signs the gift card “Destiny of Rain.”
Nice Son takes Gukhwa to the train station, to meet with his father (the “Train Son”). His father is astonished to see Gukhwa, but then asks to speak with his son privately, where he insists that she not be brought into the Hong household. Although she was engaged to Sungu, he explains, she never actually became part of their family, and people will talk if she moves in. And Grandfather, he adds, would also not be able to handle the constant reminder of Sungu’s recent death. Gukhwa overhears what Nice Son’s father is saying, and she tells them that she understands, and that it’s okay (it seems that Nice Son, however, still does NOT understand).
Yunhu (Mean Boss) and Sinhyeong (Orphan Girl) are together in her room, watching old videos. One of them shows the two as schoolchildren, and Orphan Girl comments that the tape shows the first time she kissed him. Mean Boss seems a little embarrassed, but he continues to watch the old videotape with her.
Rich Mom tells Spoiled Rich Girl that the wedding has been scheduled for next month, as the groom’s family wants to rush it. Spoiled Rich Girl seems none too enthusiastic.
Some time later, Rich Mom is chatting with a friend, who grumbles that her car is in the shop again. Maybe she should just get a new car? Rich mom says she knows a good car salesman - but insists that she never tell the salesman who referred her to him (apparently, despite Rich Mom’s hostile words, she really does worry about her daughter and her hapless son-in-law).
Nice Son gets Gukhwa a hotel room as a temporary measure, but only until he can find her a proper apartment and a job. He returns to the Hong household to again plead his case, but it seems that the entire family is against Gukhwa moving in with them.
Next day, Nice Son tells Orphan Girl that Gukhwa is still in Seoul. Mean Boss overhears, and he openly asks if maybe Nice Son is getting a little too involved in this. Shouldn’t he just get her on the next plane to China?
Back at the hotel room, stupid Gukhwa is cooking up some ramen (to “save money”). Hotel management discovers that she's cooking in her room, and they throw her out. Nice Guy rushes over to get her, and Orphan Girl suggests that he bring her to live in her place. Orphan Girl says she sympathizes with Gukhwa's situation (both, after all, had lost their parents) and she mentions that she’s sometimes a little lonely anyway.
So, Nice Son drives Gukhwa to Orphan Girl’s place, where she’s warmly welcomed by Orphan Girl.
(end of episode #11)
