Post by ajk on Mar 12, 2008 20:06:35 GMT -5
...As crown prince Yangnyeong winds up to strike Choongnyeong, he suddenly wheels around and holds the sword to Min Mugu's neck. "Choongnyeong is not the one who should be punished. Isn't that right, uncle?" Min Mugu and Min Mugil are surrounded by guards and carried away. The assembly disperses.
Ministers Shim and Hwang enter a room; Shim asks, "What just happened?" Hwang reveals that Yi Su visited him last night and told him Um Jachi's story, and Hwang passed it on to the crown prince.
Flashback to the crown prince and king talking the night before; Yangnyeong observes that Choongnyeong must be very frightened right now. The king says that your uncles will have to be killed. Yangnyeong flinches, but the king advises him to consider "what can you do to get the most out of the situation. Don't be swayed by your emotions and turn this to your advantage."
Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong are left alone in the courtyard. Yangnyeong helps his brother up, tells him he was disgusted by the episode and that at least for today, he wishes he hadn't been born crown prince.
The queen is talking to the crown prince, asking him why he didn't come to her first. It would have been too difficult, he says, but she reminds him that the Mins are his uncles. "You grew up in their home and under their care for many years." "They went too far this time," he says, but she accuses him of "becoming so repulsively [more] like your father each day."
The king and Choongnyeong are standing on the long bridge over the reflecting pool, with the king's retinue lining the bridge (nice image). The prince is unhappy, saying that he doesn't want anyone else to die. But the king advises him to "keep no interest in state affairs and don't try to learn about the world. Remember--he who brings confusion to the state is the king's enemy no matter who he is."
Choongnyeong is standing outside by himself; the queen turns a corner and sees him. He says he's sorry for all this, but she tells him not to feel responsible; it's "the cross you have to bear for being born a royal prince."
Ministers Park Eun and Jo Malseng enter the torture chamber. They encounter prime minister Ha, who says that the men being tortured have confessed to paying off the Mins. They ask Ha if anyone else was mentioned; he says, "Who else is there?" But they don't seem satisfied with that answer and decide to talk to the king.
Park is before the king; the king reviews the Park's report and tells Park, "Burn it." Park is taken aback; he’s certain that Ha was also involved and wants to continue investigating. But the king will have none of it. "Find a way to give them (the Mins) the harshest sentence possible. The harsher the better."
Choongnyeong is in a courtyard with Yi Su, unhappy because Yi spilled the beans. He didn't want anybody to die because of him. Why did you do it? Yi says it was to keep him from getting hurt, but the prince accuses Yi of making him a murderer. Yi counsels, "I wanted you to fight against injustice...This is politics as well. It's wrong to let injustice prevail because of our emotions...You said you wanted to protect the people who lead bleak lives because the king doesn't give them attention."
The queen visits the Mins (her brothers) in jail, tosses them a knife and tells them to kill themselves. "I told you to lay low and do nothing," she says angrily; now this will be the best solution. Mugu responds, "If we had done nothing Choongnyeong and the crown prince would have started a bloody war for the throne (which the Mins have been through before and don't want happening again)...Eventually, history will recognize our true loyalty for the state and this king!" She leaves, and outside is met by consort Hyobin. Hyobin expresses concern to the queen for her brothers, but we can see an underlying tension between them. They go their separate ways.
Hyobin is talking with ministers Yi Sookbun and Yi Jongmu. "The sister of treasonous criminals is not fit to be the queen," she says. Hyobin declares her ambition to displace the queen and become queen herself, so that her son Prince Kyoungnyeong will be king. She tells the Yis that she’ll need their help to do so.
The king is with his attendant Noh Huibong, who suggests visiting the queen to console her.
The queen is with Park Eun; she presents him with the gift of a fancy bow (archery bow). She asks him to take better care of his health, because the crown prince talks about Park becoming his most trusted advisor upon his rise to the throne. Clearly trying to influence Park for a lighter sentence for her brothers, she tells him that she doesn't the doesn't expect Park to overlook the misconduct, but as for punishment, "Tell them to surrender half of their family fortune to the national vault. That should teach them a lesson. If you think that's too light of a punishment, tell the king to make them pay for their crime by working harder for their country." She reminds Park that the government needs competent men and that he should place emphasis on the Mins' loyalty. And again mentions the crown prince speaking favorably about him (which may or may not be true). Park leaves, clearly torn.
The king, with Noh, steps outside towards the queen’s quarters and observes Park leaving. He knows what she's been trying to do.
Park asks Hwang for the investigation file on the palace guard's death; he takes the file to PM Ha and says he's inquiring into the Mins’ possible "additional crimes" and might this be one of them. "I'm sure you know how to get a confession out of an offender," Ha tells him, to which Park says, "I will take that as an approval."
Daylight in a courtyard: the Mins are being tortured as Park watches. "Did you conspire to plot treason [and] turn Joseon into the country of the Mins?" They deny it, but he says they have witnesses, and gestures towards Um Jachi and Granny Cowsears, who are present. Mugu tells Park, "You're trying to set us up. Heaven knows the Min clan's loyalty to the country.!" Park orders the torture resumed.
The king is practicing archery; the queen and her retinue appear and she tells the king to stop the torture. He puts down the bow and she approaches him. "Why are you torturing my brothers...are you sure it isn't in order to produce a false confession?" Even if they did come after Choongnyeong, she says, they did what they did to strengthen the crown prince's position. The king reminds her that she's Choongnyeong's mother! But she fires back: "You don't care about your children...The only thing you care about is your throne and preserving it." He tries to walk away, but she grabs him and threatens, "Release my brothers and end this now, or I will make you pay." The king comments, "This just gets better and better." He brushes her off and leaves. She kneels and almost cries, but fights to maintain her composure.
Flashback to the Mins teaching the princes to ride horses out on the plains. (I think that's what it was.)
Nighttime: A beaten Min Mugu puts a bloody fingerprint on a paper that he is shown; it's a written confession.
Hwang tells the king that the Mins have confessed. The king tells Hwang to put them to death. Hwang says, But what if they're not the real offenders? "That's why the Mins have to die" is the king's answer. He says he's learned that "the real enemy is always inside (the state)." Whoever was behind the slander is close by, "and punishing my own relatives by death will teach (the culprit) a lesson."
Nighttime: The crown prince is out practicing his swordsmanship when Choongnyeong joins him. Choongnyeong asks, "If no one had come forward about the slanderous bills, what would have happened? Would you have struck me?" Yangnyeong says no, "because I know you." Then why did you put me in that terrible position to begin with? Because I had to make sure--make sure that you're "a helpless dope that can't hurt a fly to save your own life." Choongnyeong asks, Aren't brothers supposed to look out each other even if one does wrong? He wants the crown prince to be his brother, not distant and calculating like their father is.
Still nighttime: Ok Hwan is talking to foreman Jeon and Muby. He's impressed that Taejong dodged the situation and came out on top. "Joseon and his regime are stronger than I expected." So they need to be stronger for the next fight. The must strengthen their force of arms, build public support, and have a clear plan for seizing power; otherwise, Goryeo will never be revived.
Daytime: The Mins are sitting in a prisoner cart and are being transported through the city streets. Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong, dressed as commoners, watch. Suddenly Yangnyeong steps in front of the cart, is recognized by the guards, and orders that the prisoners be given water. He gives them the cups of water himself through the bars. "Be safe on the long trip, uncle." They spot Choongnyeong and Mugu tells Yangnyeong, "You will regret...choosing the boy instead of us. I promise you, you will regret it...When another prince begins taking interest in politics, he becomes your threat, your political enemy."
A montage of Choongnyeong walking through the public marketplace, his back to the camera, as the seasons change; as the camera moves forward and turns, we see that Choongnyeong has grown up and become a young man.
The grown-up Choongnyeong meets Yi Su in a busy, bustling restaurant (which has an upstairs, so it’s more than just a restaurant) for a drink. Yi observes that this is a strange place for them to meet. "You’re the one who didn't want me to be a bookworm, master." The camera pans around and we get glimpses of many strangers (including a first glimpse of Jang Youngsil.) We see one man working the crowd, trying to rustle up a drink for himself. Eventually he tries to start a conversation with a man identified as Pyeong Dojeon. He speaks with a Japanese accent, and the man deduces he's a spy. The man than says that he has valuable information that he's willing to sell. Cautiously, the spy produces money, and the man identifies himself as Yun Hwe, a former state councilor. Suddenly Choongnyeong appears and intervenes; he offers Yun more money to buy the information, but then he punches Yun and knocks him down.
Ministers Shim and Hwang enter a room; Shim asks, "What just happened?" Hwang reveals that Yi Su visited him last night and told him Um Jachi's story, and Hwang passed it on to the crown prince.
Flashback to the crown prince and king talking the night before; Yangnyeong observes that Choongnyeong must be very frightened right now. The king says that your uncles will have to be killed. Yangnyeong flinches, but the king advises him to consider "what can you do to get the most out of the situation. Don't be swayed by your emotions and turn this to your advantage."
Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong are left alone in the courtyard. Yangnyeong helps his brother up, tells him he was disgusted by the episode and that at least for today, he wishes he hadn't been born crown prince.
The queen is talking to the crown prince, asking him why he didn't come to her first. It would have been too difficult, he says, but she reminds him that the Mins are his uncles. "You grew up in their home and under their care for many years." "They went too far this time," he says, but she accuses him of "becoming so repulsively [more] like your father each day."
The king and Choongnyeong are standing on the long bridge over the reflecting pool, with the king's retinue lining the bridge (nice image). The prince is unhappy, saying that he doesn't want anyone else to die. But the king advises him to "keep no interest in state affairs and don't try to learn about the world. Remember--he who brings confusion to the state is the king's enemy no matter who he is."
Choongnyeong is standing outside by himself; the queen turns a corner and sees him. He says he's sorry for all this, but she tells him not to feel responsible; it's "the cross you have to bear for being born a royal prince."
Ministers Park Eun and Jo Malseng enter the torture chamber. They encounter prime minister Ha, who says that the men being tortured have confessed to paying off the Mins. They ask Ha if anyone else was mentioned; he says, "Who else is there?" But they don't seem satisfied with that answer and decide to talk to the king.
Park is before the king; the king reviews the Park's report and tells Park, "Burn it." Park is taken aback; he’s certain that Ha was also involved and wants to continue investigating. But the king will have none of it. "Find a way to give them (the Mins) the harshest sentence possible. The harsher the better."
Choongnyeong is in a courtyard with Yi Su, unhappy because Yi spilled the beans. He didn't want anybody to die because of him. Why did you do it? Yi says it was to keep him from getting hurt, but the prince accuses Yi of making him a murderer. Yi counsels, "I wanted you to fight against injustice...This is politics as well. It's wrong to let injustice prevail because of our emotions...You said you wanted to protect the people who lead bleak lives because the king doesn't give them attention."
The queen visits the Mins (her brothers) in jail, tosses them a knife and tells them to kill themselves. "I told you to lay low and do nothing," she says angrily; now this will be the best solution. Mugu responds, "If we had done nothing Choongnyeong and the crown prince would have started a bloody war for the throne (which the Mins have been through before and don't want happening again)...Eventually, history will recognize our true loyalty for the state and this king!" She leaves, and outside is met by consort Hyobin. Hyobin expresses concern to the queen for her brothers, but we can see an underlying tension between them. They go their separate ways.
Hyobin is talking with ministers Yi Sookbun and Yi Jongmu. "The sister of treasonous criminals is not fit to be the queen," she says. Hyobin declares her ambition to displace the queen and become queen herself, so that her son Prince Kyoungnyeong will be king. She tells the Yis that she’ll need their help to do so.
The king is with his attendant Noh Huibong, who suggests visiting the queen to console her.
The queen is with Park Eun; she presents him with the gift of a fancy bow (archery bow). She asks him to take better care of his health, because the crown prince talks about Park becoming his most trusted advisor upon his rise to the throne. Clearly trying to influence Park for a lighter sentence for her brothers, she tells him that she doesn't the doesn't expect Park to overlook the misconduct, but as for punishment, "Tell them to surrender half of their family fortune to the national vault. That should teach them a lesson. If you think that's too light of a punishment, tell the king to make them pay for their crime by working harder for their country." She reminds Park that the government needs competent men and that he should place emphasis on the Mins' loyalty. And again mentions the crown prince speaking favorably about him (which may or may not be true). Park leaves, clearly torn.
The king, with Noh, steps outside towards the queen’s quarters and observes Park leaving. He knows what she's been trying to do.
Park asks Hwang for the investigation file on the palace guard's death; he takes the file to PM Ha and says he's inquiring into the Mins’ possible "additional crimes" and might this be one of them. "I'm sure you know how to get a confession out of an offender," Ha tells him, to which Park says, "I will take that as an approval."
Daylight in a courtyard: the Mins are being tortured as Park watches. "Did you conspire to plot treason [and] turn Joseon into the country of the Mins?" They deny it, but he says they have witnesses, and gestures towards Um Jachi and Granny Cowsears, who are present. Mugu tells Park, "You're trying to set us up. Heaven knows the Min clan's loyalty to the country.!" Park orders the torture resumed.
The king is practicing archery; the queen and her retinue appear and she tells the king to stop the torture. He puts down the bow and she approaches him. "Why are you torturing my brothers...are you sure it isn't in order to produce a false confession?" Even if they did come after Choongnyeong, she says, they did what they did to strengthen the crown prince's position. The king reminds her that she's Choongnyeong's mother! But she fires back: "You don't care about your children...The only thing you care about is your throne and preserving it." He tries to walk away, but she grabs him and threatens, "Release my brothers and end this now, or I will make you pay." The king comments, "This just gets better and better." He brushes her off and leaves. She kneels and almost cries, but fights to maintain her composure.
Flashback to the Mins teaching the princes to ride horses out on the plains. (I think that's what it was.)
Nighttime: A beaten Min Mugu puts a bloody fingerprint on a paper that he is shown; it's a written confession.
Hwang tells the king that the Mins have confessed. The king tells Hwang to put them to death. Hwang says, But what if they're not the real offenders? "That's why the Mins have to die" is the king's answer. He says he's learned that "the real enemy is always inside (the state)." Whoever was behind the slander is close by, "and punishing my own relatives by death will teach (the culprit) a lesson."
Nighttime: The crown prince is out practicing his swordsmanship when Choongnyeong joins him. Choongnyeong asks, "If no one had come forward about the slanderous bills, what would have happened? Would you have struck me?" Yangnyeong says no, "because I know you." Then why did you put me in that terrible position to begin with? Because I had to make sure--make sure that you're "a helpless dope that can't hurt a fly to save your own life." Choongnyeong asks, Aren't brothers supposed to look out each other even if one does wrong? He wants the crown prince to be his brother, not distant and calculating like their father is.
Still nighttime: Ok Hwan is talking to foreman Jeon and Muby. He's impressed that Taejong dodged the situation and came out on top. "Joseon and his regime are stronger than I expected." So they need to be stronger for the next fight. The must strengthen their force of arms, build public support, and have a clear plan for seizing power; otherwise, Goryeo will never be revived.
Daytime: The Mins are sitting in a prisoner cart and are being transported through the city streets. Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong, dressed as commoners, watch. Suddenly Yangnyeong steps in front of the cart, is recognized by the guards, and orders that the prisoners be given water. He gives them the cups of water himself through the bars. "Be safe on the long trip, uncle." They spot Choongnyeong and Mugu tells Yangnyeong, "You will regret...choosing the boy instead of us. I promise you, you will regret it...When another prince begins taking interest in politics, he becomes your threat, your political enemy."
A montage of Choongnyeong walking through the public marketplace, his back to the camera, as the seasons change; as the camera moves forward and turns, we see that Choongnyeong has grown up and become a young man.
The grown-up Choongnyeong meets Yi Su in a busy, bustling restaurant (which has an upstairs, so it’s more than just a restaurant) for a drink. Yi observes that this is a strange place for them to meet. "You’re the one who didn't want me to be a bookworm, master." The camera pans around and we get glimpses of many strangers (including a first glimpse of Jang Youngsil.) We see one man working the crowd, trying to rustle up a drink for himself. Eventually he tries to start a conversation with a man identified as Pyeong Dojeon. He speaks with a Japanese accent, and the man deduces he's a spy. The man than says that he has valuable information that he's willing to sell. Cautiously, the spy produces money, and the man identifies himself as Yun Hwe, a former state councilor. Suddenly Choongnyeong appears and intervenes; he offers Yun more money to buy the information, but then he punches Yun and knocks him down.