Post by ajk on Aug 27, 2008 20:06:09 GMT -5
Jo starts to walk away from Park. "The king has one talent, at least," he complains; "one exceptional talent for turning smart men into fools." Don't mock me, Park tells him, but Jo says with more anger than we're ever seen from him, "I'm not mocking you. I'm fuming mad! Are you getting too old for politics, or do I look like a fool to you? The Park Eun I know would never do this!"
"Dismiss him? Are you telling me to dismiss Park Eun from his post?" That's what Yun Hwe has advised Sejong to do; he then argues that someone must be held accountable for failing to develop an effective flood policy. The ministers are resentful of the Hall of Worthies, he says, because "you try to protect them like your children." He even asks the king if he's trying too hard to be nice to Park, his political enemy, just to make a point. He presses the king hard to act. "If you give up this card, you have nothing left."
Park finds Jo outside in a court. "Let's talk," he says, but Jo tells him, "Don't you know how to bargain? There's nothing you can trade for your dismissal. No one is stupid enough to bargain with someone who comes waving a white flag." But Park gives him a surprising explanation: "I couldn't bluff as if I found dirt on you and try to bargain." Why not? "Because this is it. I haven't always been true to my own beliefs, but I believe that good politics is persuasion, not bargaining. And sometimes it's good to be stupid for effective persuasion; showing your opponent your true feelings." You're still my most trusted subordinate, he tells Jo; that's why I didn't want to play games. But Jo tells him, "You patronize me to the end." And turns to walk away. As he leaves, though, Park asks him a question: "Have we been doing the right things?" It seems to strike a nerve.
Ministers are meeting, discussing the possibility of leaving the Hall of Worthies alone in exchange for Park Eun's dismissal.
Yu Jeonghyun is kneeling before Sejong; he's brought a scroll. Sejong reads the scroll; it's from the Supreme Council and the Six Ministries. It's a sort of bargain: strike down Prince Hyoryeong because of his Buddhist intentions, and we won't even mention the Hall of Worthies again. Sejong asks Yu, And if I refuse? Yu tells him, We'll take that as an indication of your intention to exclude all of us from the government and we'll all resign.
Yi Su has come to see Hyoryeong; he tells him to stop his Buddhist activities. "Please help him," Yi says; "Don't make him live with the guilt of having destroyed his own brother." He makes the prince an offer, specifically, that the royal court will step in and take care of everyone you're taking care of. But Byun Gaeryang, who's there with them, explains to Yi that the people who are here "need spiritual solace as much as they need food and medicine" and that it's an important part of the healing process. Then Hyoryeong gives Yi his response, to take back to the king: "I cannot obey an order that ignores the wounded hearts of the people."
Inside Hyoryeong's makeshift Buddhist temple: The queen, queen mother and their attendants are participating in prayer and tending to the sick. They seem comfortable and at peace there.
Sejong is with Yun Hwe and Yi Su. "My brother is doing more than I am. So brave and noble. It's no wonder my wife and mother are helping him as well." But his advisors urge him to stop the Buddhist activities. Yun asks, "Are you delaying the inevitable to avoid hurting your mother's feelings and be a good son?" Silence. "Just issue the order. High ministers are at the conference hall determined to sit this one out." Tell them to go home, Sejong says. Getting more and more frustrated, Yun then gives his king a lengthy and bold talking-to: "Are you giving up the Hall of Worthies? Then why didn't you just beg (to heaven) in the first place...You are the one who declared so boldly that you would fight against heaven!" Jang Youngsil is working like crazy at the astronomy bureau because you told him to find a weapon to use against heaven, but you won't do anything yourself? "How can you say you're the sovereign of this state?"
At the astronomy bureau: Jang Youngsil is working under the eyes of the astronomers and Choi Haesan. He's learned the prediction method very quickly and put it to use. But to his surprise, he comes up with the same predicted eclipse time that they did. "The calculations were correct but the prediction was wrong?" Suddenly, a Eureka moment. "Is the clock inaccurate?" He goes to a star chart on the wall and asks the astronomers, "Do they use the same map in Ming?" Of course, they tell him. "Is the sky different in Ming?" That's a heck of a question, coming out of nowhere. "That you'd have to find out," they tell him. How?
Jang is outside of the Hall of Worthies and has stirred up a hornet's nest with his revelation. The scholars think they had a Ming star chart but they can't locate it. They realize they might need to come up with a different calendar if the skies of Ming and Joseon are different. They decide that scholars will go to Ming and study this.
Yun Hwe is still pressing Sejong. "Don't you believe that this is the only way to protect the people? It's the only way to protect the Hall of Worthies. Make the decision (about Park), your majesty." Without answering, Sejong walks into the hall...
He's alone in the hall; Park enters. With regret Sejong says, "I'm afraid I have no choice but to let you go." Far from surprised, Park replies, "What took you so long? It would have been so much easier for you if you had done this sooner." "Lord Park," the king says, "I am not worthy of your immense loyalty." Then he confesses to Park that he didn't really keep him around to be a challenger of his ideas, as he had told Park; it was because he would have looked bad "if I dismissed you after telling the world that I'd embrace my enemies. I guess," he continues, "I really wanted to pretend to be a good king." "Do continue to do that, your majesty," replies Park, touched by the king's honesty. "If it doesn't come from the heart, do pretend. I'm sure that's how it was with all great kings in history. First you pretend to be a good king, then you will become used to it." Sejong is astonished: "You are now the most loyal of my subjects to understand me in such depth." Then Park offers some honesty of his own: "I justified doing the former king's dirty work all these years by saying that it's a necessary evil and that if I don't do it, someone else has to. But it wasn't right. No, in fact it would be closer to the truth to say that I destroyed countless innocent lives. This dismissal might be too light a punishment for what I've done." Park thanks the king for offering him a dignified exit and "for allowing me to contribute what little talent I have. Now I leave you to live out the rest of my life with penitence. I believe that is my final duty." With tears in his eyes he says, "Please be a good and wise king." And he kneels and bows to his king.
Outside, as Park leaves the hall, all of the scholars are waiting for him. They want to see him off, to show their gratitude, but he won't have it and tells them they have work to do. "Your first job will be to recapture the public trust his majesty has lost. Remember--good policy is the only true strength that can protect the Hall of Worthies." And he walks off by himself. The scholars bow to him as he leaves, even though he can't see it, and Park leaves the grounds.
Jo Malseng is dining with Gim Moon. "Can we leave the Hall of Worthies like this?", Gim asks. It's all right, Jo tells him; my target was Park Eun, not the hall itself. Park was the only one in there who knew politics, and now it's "nothing but the king's fan club. I'm not cruel enough to take every last one of the child's toys." Then Gim observes, "You got what you wanted but you don't look very happy." And he's right. "I respected Park Eun and I was quite fond of him. He was my political mentor as well as my one and only worthy opponent. It's gong to be quite lonely without him."
Taejong is with Hyobin. "It looks like Jo Malseng is the tiger cub I've been raising. He destroyed his mentor without blinking an eye. Is this Jo Malseng's world now? Will the young king be able to lead this country with those sly old snakes in the court? That's my biggest concern." He continues, "I always controlled my retainers with my sword and my strength. I accomplished what I set out to do by orders and intimidation. Not one man ever sacrificed himself for me completely of his own will" like Park Eun just did. "What is that mysterious power? Can I trust that mysterious power my son has to be the force that will help him lead this country?"
The next morning: Before his ministers, Taejong reads an order: "I hereby decree a prohibition against the practice of Buddhism in 229 temples...as well as order an immediate arrest and home confinement of Prince Hyoryeong for violating the national anti-Buddhist policy and actively engaging in the practice of Buddhism." This is tough and he reads it haltingly, but firmly.
We see Buddhist monks meeting, declaring their intention to resist the order. They see this as their chance to turn public favor against Sejong and towards Hyoryeong and "to bring a disciple of Buddha to the throne of Joseon." Papers are distributed among them. We don't know what's on the papers.
Sejong tells Gim Jongsuh that he believes his order will lead to dissent among Buddhists. If he can expose the dissent, he tells Gim, "I will have the courage to punish my brother and those who congregate at the temples. Bring me that justifiable cause."
The queen is with the queen mother; she tells her, "You don't look well. I think you have been working too hard." You need to rest. "I can't do that," Wongyeong responds. "There are those who need me. I started this to spite the king, but now I enjoy going to the temples and helping those in need. I don't think I have ever felt so much at peace." Then she wonders, "What is the king doing? Judging by how quiet it's been, I think he might give in to me this time." "He will," the queen says with a smile; "You know he's a good son." Just then an attendant comes running in....
We see soldiers clearing Hyoryeong's compound--violently. Yi Sunmong and Park Sil arrive; they tell Hyoryeong that they've been ordered to bring him in.
In the throne room: Hyoryeong stomps in and tells his brother, "Stop these repressive measures against the temples at once!" Sejong reminds him, "This country rejects Buddhism and reveres Confucianism." But Hyoryeong is steamed: "Are you afraid I'm gaining public attention? I hear that the throne makes cowards of men. Are you afraid I might go after your seat of power?" "Yes," Sejong answers, "you are indeed the greatest threat to my power now." Hyoryeong argues, "Is it bad to rely on Buddhism and comfort the suffering people?" But Sejong tells him, "Men will conspire to use you to further their own interest." A puzzled look on his face, Hyoryeong doesn't understand what his brother is talking about. So they go outside...
A group of monks are tied up and kneeling before them. Hyoryeong is shown one of the papers that was circulated among them. He reads it and gasps. (Obviously it must detail some sort of treasonous plot.) Byun Gaeryang is there; Sejong asks him, "Are you with them in this as well?" "Would you believe me if I denied?", Byun answers. Sejong orders a tribunal to be held and Byun to be interrogated. Byun is taken away. Then Sejong tells Hyoryeong, "I don't believe you were a party to this plot, brother. But this is the truth about men who sought to comfort the people by teaching Buddhism with you. Forget about taking refuge in Buddhism. You must stay away from anyone who has anything go gain from associations with you. They will use you to acquire power and influence." But Hyoryeong is defiant, arguing that these monks don't represent all Buddhists. "It is my firm resolve to live and carry out Buddha's teaching." "You must know I can't let you do that." "What if I refuse and defy you?" "Then I will have to make a decision I don't want to make." Then suddenly, from off to the side: "What decision would that be?" It's Wongyeong; she's shown up. She repeats her question as the monks are led away. "Answer my question." Silence. To Sejong: "I heard you ordered home confinement. What next? Would you send him away and give him poison to drink? Or would you strike your brother with your sword before my own eyes?" Sejong tries to tell her that nothing will happen if he renounces Buddhism, but it doesn't stop her: "You're cutting out a piece of your heart. That might come easy for someone like you and your father, but for the rest of us, it's not that easy. Heaven is so unkind. Why did heaven make me bring such merciless men into the world?" She's quivering with frustration and anger. She turns to leave, but as she does so she collapses to the ground. Sejong runs to her but she pulls her arm away from him. "Would you send me away?", she says, as a sort of request. "I don't care where as long as it is away from this palace. Would you let me be free of this revolting place?" Tears fall from her eyes. Then she passes out.
Taejong is informed by Hyoryeong.
We see the queen and attendants tending to the unconscious queen mother. She has a very high fever. "What is wrong with her?", the queen asks. "Why is she suddenly so ill without warning?" Even the physician can't understand it.
The physician has come outside to report to a waiting Taejong. "Quarantine, you say?" Taejong is horrified. "She will be fine, won't she? She will recover from whatever she has, won't she?" But all the physician can do is kneel and cry, "Give me death, your majesty!" "Give you death? All you've done is check her pulse!", Taejong says with frustration (but his candor is kind of funny). The physician tells him, "We will still do our very best, but if we can't get the fever down tonight..." Then get working on it, Taejong tells him. "Or I will have you killed first!" Then we notice Taejong stagger just a bit himself, from weakness.
Sejong has been told the diagnosis by his eunuchs. It's malaria. Then the queen walks in and asks the eunuchs to leave them. "How could my mother have contracted such a contagious disease?", he asks her. She's hasn't come to see him to be kind to him: "Prince Hyoryeong is responsible for his mother's heartache, but you are responsible for her disease." She was working so hard, the queen explains, not just to help the sick people but to restore the public favor you lost. His mother would always tell the suffering people, "If you're hurt, blame me, the mother of the king." "There was only one thing she wanted and that's sibling harmony. You should have found a way to protect Hyoryeong somehow. But you broke her heart and now she is dying. How will you live with what you've done?" She's crying, and he can't even look at her. She leaves.
We see the queen and attendants attending to an unconscious Wongyeong. Outside, everyone is standing and waiting for news. Sejong arrives and everyone bows--everyone but Hyoryeong, who only sneers at his brother.
The next morning: Taejong is at the ancestral shrine, praying for his wife.
Wongyeong's home is surrounded by a quarantine rope. Outside, the physician tells the king that the fever has not changed. Sejong tries to go in and see her, but Um Jachi throws himself in the king's path and tells him, "I am not to let you in under any circumstances." Sejong is frustrated but abides.
Later, Sejong and Hyoryeong are talking. Hyoryeong has cooled off. "We must hold a Buddhist mass if nothing else." Didn't you ever notice, he points out, that mother had a rosary in her hands every time she was emotionally shaken. "If there is nothing we can do, I'd like to turn to Buddha. And if we can't bring her back we should pray for her peaceful passage to heaven." Then, challenging his brother, he says, "Would you be all right? Would you be willing to let mother leave us this way?" As Sejong listens to this he grows increasingly irritated; he rises and leaves without saying a word.
Walking up to his mother's front door, Sejong breaks the quarantine rope and walks purposefully into her bedroom, panicking all of the attendants in the process. The queen blocks his path and won't let him pass, but he tells her, "Step aside, my queen. I am taking my mother away from here. I'm going to bring her back to health and no one can stop me." He kneels down and begins to lift his mother up.
"Dismiss him? Are you telling me to dismiss Park Eun from his post?" That's what Yun Hwe has advised Sejong to do; he then argues that someone must be held accountable for failing to develop an effective flood policy. The ministers are resentful of the Hall of Worthies, he says, because "you try to protect them like your children." He even asks the king if he's trying too hard to be nice to Park, his political enemy, just to make a point. He presses the king hard to act. "If you give up this card, you have nothing left."
Park finds Jo outside in a court. "Let's talk," he says, but Jo tells him, "Don't you know how to bargain? There's nothing you can trade for your dismissal. No one is stupid enough to bargain with someone who comes waving a white flag." But Park gives him a surprising explanation: "I couldn't bluff as if I found dirt on you and try to bargain." Why not? "Because this is it. I haven't always been true to my own beliefs, but I believe that good politics is persuasion, not bargaining. And sometimes it's good to be stupid for effective persuasion; showing your opponent your true feelings." You're still my most trusted subordinate, he tells Jo; that's why I didn't want to play games. But Jo tells him, "You patronize me to the end." And turns to walk away. As he leaves, though, Park asks him a question: "Have we been doing the right things?" It seems to strike a nerve.
Ministers are meeting, discussing the possibility of leaving the Hall of Worthies alone in exchange for Park Eun's dismissal.
Yu Jeonghyun is kneeling before Sejong; he's brought a scroll. Sejong reads the scroll; it's from the Supreme Council and the Six Ministries. It's a sort of bargain: strike down Prince Hyoryeong because of his Buddhist intentions, and we won't even mention the Hall of Worthies again. Sejong asks Yu, And if I refuse? Yu tells him, We'll take that as an indication of your intention to exclude all of us from the government and we'll all resign.
Yi Su has come to see Hyoryeong; he tells him to stop his Buddhist activities. "Please help him," Yi says; "Don't make him live with the guilt of having destroyed his own brother." He makes the prince an offer, specifically, that the royal court will step in and take care of everyone you're taking care of. But Byun Gaeryang, who's there with them, explains to Yi that the people who are here "need spiritual solace as much as they need food and medicine" and that it's an important part of the healing process. Then Hyoryeong gives Yi his response, to take back to the king: "I cannot obey an order that ignores the wounded hearts of the people."
Inside Hyoryeong's makeshift Buddhist temple: The queen, queen mother and their attendants are participating in prayer and tending to the sick. They seem comfortable and at peace there.
Sejong is with Yun Hwe and Yi Su. "My brother is doing more than I am. So brave and noble. It's no wonder my wife and mother are helping him as well." But his advisors urge him to stop the Buddhist activities. Yun asks, "Are you delaying the inevitable to avoid hurting your mother's feelings and be a good son?" Silence. "Just issue the order. High ministers are at the conference hall determined to sit this one out." Tell them to go home, Sejong says. Getting more and more frustrated, Yun then gives his king a lengthy and bold talking-to: "Are you giving up the Hall of Worthies? Then why didn't you just beg (to heaven) in the first place...You are the one who declared so boldly that you would fight against heaven!" Jang Youngsil is working like crazy at the astronomy bureau because you told him to find a weapon to use against heaven, but you won't do anything yourself? "How can you say you're the sovereign of this state?"
At the astronomy bureau: Jang Youngsil is working under the eyes of the astronomers and Choi Haesan. He's learned the prediction method very quickly and put it to use. But to his surprise, he comes up with the same predicted eclipse time that they did. "The calculations were correct but the prediction was wrong?" Suddenly, a Eureka moment. "Is the clock inaccurate?" He goes to a star chart on the wall and asks the astronomers, "Do they use the same map in Ming?" Of course, they tell him. "Is the sky different in Ming?" That's a heck of a question, coming out of nowhere. "That you'd have to find out," they tell him. How?
Jang is outside of the Hall of Worthies and has stirred up a hornet's nest with his revelation. The scholars think they had a Ming star chart but they can't locate it. They realize they might need to come up with a different calendar if the skies of Ming and Joseon are different. They decide that scholars will go to Ming and study this.
Yun Hwe is still pressing Sejong. "Don't you believe that this is the only way to protect the people? It's the only way to protect the Hall of Worthies. Make the decision (about Park), your majesty." Without answering, Sejong walks into the hall...
He's alone in the hall; Park enters. With regret Sejong says, "I'm afraid I have no choice but to let you go." Far from surprised, Park replies, "What took you so long? It would have been so much easier for you if you had done this sooner." "Lord Park," the king says, "I am not worthy of your immense loyalty." Then he confesses to Park that he didn't really keep him around to be a challenger of his ideas, as he had told Park; it was because he would have looked bad "if I dismissed you after telling the world that I'd embrace my enemies. I guess," he continues, "I really wanted to pretend to be a good king." "Do continue to do that, your majesty," replies Park, touched by the king's honesty. "If it doesn't come from the heart, do pretend. I'm sure that's how it was with all great kings in history. First you pretend to be a good king, then you will become used to it." Sejong is astonished: "You are now the most loyal of my subjects to understand me in such depth." Then Park offers some honesty of his own: "I justified doing the former king's dirty work all these years by saying that it's a necessary evil and that if I don't do it, someone else has to. But it wasn't right. No, in fact it would be closer to the truth to say that I destroyed countless innocent lives. This dismissal might be too light a punishment for what I've done." Park thanks the king for offering him a dignified exit and "for allowing me to contribute what little talent I have. Now I leave you to live out the rest of my life with penitence. I believe that is my final duty." With tears in his eyes he says, "Please be a good and wise king." And he kneels and bows to his king.
Outside, as Park leaves the hall, all of the scholars are waiting for him. They want to see him off, to show their gratitude, but he won't have it and tells them they have work to do. "Your first job will be to recapture the public trust his majesty has lost. Remember--good policy is the only true strength that can protect the Hall of Worthies." And he walks off by himself. The scholars bow to him as he leaves, even though he can't see it, and Park leaves the grounds.
Jo Malseng is dining with Gim Moon. "Can we leave the Hall of Worthies like this?", Gim asks. It's all right, Jo tells him; my target was Park Eun, not the hall itself. Park was the only one in there who knew politics, and now it's "nothing but the king's fan club. I'm not cruel enough to take every last one of the child's toys." Then Gim observes, "You got what you wanted but you don't look very happy." And he's right. "I respected Park Eun and I was quite fond of him. He was my political mentor as well as my one and only worthy opponent. It's gong to be quite lonely without him."
Taejong is with Hyobin. "It looks like Jo Malseng is the tiger cub I've been raising. He destroyed his mentor without blinking an eye. Is this Jo Malseng's world now? Will the young king be able to lead this country with those sly old snakes in the court? That's my biggest concern." He continues, "I always controlled my retainers with my sword and my strength. I accomplished what I set out to do by orders and intimidation. Not one man ever sacrificed himself for me completely of his own will" like Park Eun just did. "What is that mysterious power? Can I trust that mysterious power my son has to be the force that will help him lead this country?"
The next morning: Before his ministers, Taejong reads an order: "I hereby decree a prohibition against the practice of Buddhism in 229 temples...as well as order an immediate arrest and home confinement of Prince Hyoryeong for violating the national anti-Buddhist policy and actively engaging in the practice of Buddhism." This is tough and he reads it haltingly, but firmly.
We see Buddhist monks meeting, declaring their intention to resist the order. They see this as their chance to turn public favor against Sejong and towards Hyoryeong and "to bring a disciple of Buddha to the throne of Joseon." Papers are distributed among them. We don't know what's on the papers.
Sejong tells Gim Jongsuh that he believes his order will lead to dissent among Buddhists. If he can expose the dissent, he tells Gim, "I will have the courage to punish my brother and those who congregate at the temples. Bring me that justifiable cause."
The queen is with the queen mother; she tells her, "You don't look well. I think you have been working too hard." You need to rest. "I can't do that," Wongyeong responds. "There are those who need me. I started this to spite the king, but now I enjoy going to the temples and helping those in need. I don't think I have ever felt so much at peace." Then she wonders, "What is the king doing? Judging by how quiet it's been, I think he might give in to me this time." "He will," the queen says with a smile; "You know he's a good son." Just then an attendant comes running in....
We see soldiers clearing Hyoryeong's compound--violently. Yi Sunmong and Park Sil arrive; they tell Hyoryeong that they've been ordered to bring him in.
In the throne room: Hyoryeong stomps in and tells his brother, "Stop these repressive measures against the temples at once!" Sejong reminds him, "This country rejects Buddhism and reveres Confucianism." But Hyoryeong is steamed: "Are you afraid I'm gaining public attention? I hear that the throne makes cowards of men. Are you afraid I might go after your seat of power?" "Yes," Sejong answers, "you are indeed the greatest threat to my power now." Hyoryeong argues, "Is it bad to rely on Buddhism and comfort the suffering people?" But Sejong tells him, "Men will conspire to use you to further their own interest." A puzzled look on his face, Hyoryeong doesn't understand what his brother is talking about. So they go outside...
A group of monks are tied up and kneeling before them. Hyoryeong is shown one of the papers that was circulated among them. He reads it and gasps. (Obviously it must detail some sort of treasonous plot.) Byun Gaeryang is there; Sejong asks him, "Are you with them in this as well?" "Would you believe me if I denied?", Byun answers. Sejong orders a tribunal to be held and Byun to be interrogated. Byun is taken away. Then Sejong tells Hyoryeong, "I don't believe you were a party to this plot, brother. But this is the truth about men who sought to comfort the people by teaching Buddhism with you. Forget about taking refuge in Buddhism. You must stay away from anyone who has anything go gain from associations with you. They will use you to acquire power and influence." But Hyoryeong is defiant, arguing that these monks don't represent all Buddhists. "It is my firm resolve to live and carry out Buddha's teaching." "You must know I can't let you do that." "What if I refuse and defy you?" "Then I will have to make a decision I don't want to make." Then suddenly, from off to the side: "What decision would that be?" It's Wongyeong; she's shown up. She repeats her question as the monks are led away. "Answer my question." Silence. To Sejong: "I heard you ordered home confinement. What next? Would you send him away and give him poison to drink? Or would you strike your brother with your sword before my own eyes?" Sejong tries to tell her that nothing will happen if he renounces Buddhism, but it doesn't stop her: "You're cutting out a piece of your heart. That might come easy for someone like you and your father, but for the rest of us, it's not that easy. Heaven is so unkind. Why did heaven make me bring such merciless men into the world?" She's quivering with frustration and anger. She turns to leave, but as she does so she collapses to the ground. Sejong runs to her but she pulls her arm away from him. "Would you send me away?", she says, as a sort of request. "I don't care where as long as it is away from this palace. Would you let me be free of this revolting place?" Tears fall from her eyes. Then she passes out.
Taejong is informed by Hyoryeong.
We see the queen and attendants tending to the unconscious queen mother. She has a very high fever. "What is wrong with her?", the queen asks. "Why is she suddenly so ill without warning?" Even the physician can't understand it.
The physician has come outside to report to a waiting Taejong. "Quarantine, you say?" Taejong is horrified. "She will be fine, won't she? She will recover from whatever she has, won't she?" But all the physician can do is kneel and cry, "Give me death, your majesty!" "Give you death? All you've done is check her pulse!", Taejong says with frustration (but his candor is kind of funny). The physician tells him, "We will still do our very best, but if we can't get the fever down tonight..." Then get working on it, Taejong tells him. "Or I will have you killed first!" Then we notice Taejong stagger just a bit himself, from weakness.
Sejong has been told the diagnosis by his eunuchs. It's malaria. Then the queen walks in and asks the eunuchs to leave them. "How could my mother have contracted such a contagious disease?", he asks her. She's hasn't come to see him to be kind to him: "Prince Hyoryeong is responsible for his mother's heartache, but you are responsible for her disease." She was working so hard, the queen explains, not just to help the sick people but to restore the public favor you lost. His mother would always tell the suffering people, "If you're hurt, blame me, the mother of the king." "There was only one thing she wanted and that's sibling harmony. You should have found a way to protect Hyoryeong somehow. But you broke her heart and now she is dying. How will you live with what you've done?" She's crying, and he can't even look at her. She leaves.
We see the queen and attendants attending to an unconscious Wongyeong. Outside, everyone is standing and waiting for news. Sejong arrives and everyone bows--everyone but Hyoryeong, who only sneers at his brother.
The next morning: Taejong is at the ancestral shrine, praying for his wife.
Wongyeong's home is surrounded by a quarantine rope. Outside, the physician tells the king that the fever has not changed. Sejong tries to go in and see her, but Um Jachi throws himself in the king's path and tells him, "I am not to let you in under any circumstances." Sejong is frustrated but abides.
Later, Sejong and Hyoryeong are talking. Hyoryeong has cooled off. "We must hold a Buddhist mass if nothing else." Didn't you ever notice, he points out, that mother had a rosary in her hands every time she was emotionally shaken. "If there is nothing we can do, I'd like to turn to Buddha. And if we can't bring her back we should pray for her peaceful passage to heaven." Then, challenging his brother, he says, "Would you be all right? Would you be willing to let mother leave us this way?" As Sejong listens to this he grows increasingly irritated; he rises and leaves without saying a word.
Walking up to his mother's front door, Sejong breaks the quarantine rope and walks purposefully into her bedroom, panicking all of the attendants in the process. The queen blocks his path and won't let him pass, but he tells her, "Step aside, my queen. I am taking my mother away from here. I'm going to bring her back to health and no one can stop me." He kneels down and begins to lift his mother up.