Post by ajk on May 21, 2009 16:11:49 GMT -5
The search is on for a midwife. Along with all that blood, Seol's water broke. So the baby is going to have to be born now, ready or not. She's feeling some pain but is too weak and groggy to do anything about it. A midwife is found and brought in; she immediately becomes concerned that the blood loss is excessive and is putting both Seol and the baby in danger. That ugly bit of news snaps some energy into Seol, at least enough to get her determined to start pushing.
A bit later, the delivery is underway and Seol is trying--weak but trying. And she gets it done; we hear crying. She has a healthy baby boy. But as she meets her new son, the midwife finds that Seol is still bleeding and it's life-threatening! Outside, Gang Jo goes running for a physician. Hunae encourages her sister to hang in there so that she can heal and take the baby to her husband. But Seol is too weak, and feels her life slipping away: "I'm sorry, Su...I don't think I can make it." She asks Hunae to take care of her baby--but she doesn't want to die, she says. "I want to live...I don't want to...." And with that, Seol dies.
Go Hyun informs the king of Seol's death, and the cause.
Gamchan pays his respects. A very sad moment.
Prince Gaeryeong is told by Escort Jo of his aunt's death. She's being incredibly callous about it, and brazenly expresses her contempt at the Hwangju clan. Your mother, she tells the boy, runs around wearing armor and shooting arrows, and your aunt had a scandalous affair. The boy is furious at her, but she simply gives him the "advice" to never try to defend his disgraced clan. And she leaves, as nonchalantly as if she were merely running an errand. (Seriously? Hard to believe she would speak like that about THE KING'S own clan.)
Ministers are gathered, discussing Seol's death. They're concerned about what happens when the king goes to pay his respects and encounters a grieving Hunae. Then Wonsoong enters, trying to make nice with them. No way. They accuse him of causing Seol's death. Gyeongjuwon committed the crime, Wonsoong reminds them; it was his fault. But they tell him to go away. He goes outside, still spirited and unfazed...and runs into Choe Sum and his three colleagues, all now freed. Wonsoong cheerfully apologizes to them--"I was just doing what I thought was best for the king"--but there was some sort of "misunderstanding" in carrying it out, and let's just forget about it, okay? No chance, they tell him; you almost got us killed. Now go away and stay away from us or we'll beat you up. Wonsoong just laughs, but Choe Sum tells him, "We'll see how long you can laugh after what you did to us." And they leave him standing there still cluelessly wondering how everybody could be so mad at him.
The king is at Sungdeok Palace to pay his respects. Gamchan receives him and goes inside to inform Hunae. Hunae says, Tell him to go away, but Gamchan talks her past her anger enough to get her to at least go out and receive her brother. She goes outside, and tells the king, "I can't let you see her. Leave." She accuses him of killing Seol. No, he says, "I loved her just as much as you did." They exchange harsh words, but the king doesn't want to argue; he asks Hunae nicely to let him see Seol. She refuses. Then he orders her to step aside, but she won't. For a moment he visualizes having her arrested for treason...but instead he turns around and leaves. He goes home and orders that he be left alone. He has a pained look about him as he recalls Seol's last meeting with him--how she told him of her longtime love for Gyeongjuwon. Tears flow; some from grief but some almost certainly from guilt.
Wonsoong complains to Jo Sun and Jo Du of the failure of his plan. And now with everyone mourning Seol's death, he's seen as the villain. Even his daughter, he says, hates him. He still isn't frightened; just irritated.
Sungdeok Palace: Escort Yun and Yi Jujeong have come from Myeongbok Palace to pay their respects to Seol. Hunae informs them that Seol will be taken back to Hwangju to be buried. And she tells Escort Yun to care for the child Sun. (And as Yun is handed the baby, we see a perfect-for-TV newborn baby that has to be two months old if it's a day! Gotta love TV. The baby, by the way, is the future King Hyeonjong, eighth king of Goryeo.)
Hyangbi has returned from Hangae Temple. She tells her brother that she didn't get the information they were seeking, because the head monk has passed away. To the side, Sa Illa is listening...
...and reports back to Chiyang. This is good news for them, because there's no other source for what the monk knew. They discuss Seol's death; Sa Gamun fears that the emotion of it will weaken them. Chiyang counsels him, "We must first be human before we can create a new world. And in that new world we cannot allow deaths such as this." (Still have no clue about this.)
Nighttime: The king is still sitting alone in the throne room. He hasn't eaten all day. His wife comes to check on him, worried for his health. I never should have taken the throne, he tells her; it's cost me too much in my life. The queen tells him to stop it; You're a benevolent king and respected by your people, and the people have gained a thousand times what you've lost. And if you've done wrong, she says, I will bear the burden. Now take Seol's child under your wing and give him the love you couldn't give your sister. Uh-oh. She's not speaking out of malice, only out of concern for the child, but uh-oh. The king agrees that he can't leave the boy with Hunae. The queen smiles and offers to raise the boy herself.
The next morning: The king tells this to Choe Ryang. "That would be most heartless," Choe says; the sisters were so close and you already forbid Hunae from seeing her own son; now you want to take Seol's child from her? All the more reason, the king says; she resents me and "will not raise the child properly." Now what to name him? He refuses to follow tradition and name the child after his mother's region, or his father's region, or anything remotely connected to clan politics. Choe suggests Daeryangwon. It's a family ancestral region but a name without political baggage. The king likes the idea.
Troops arrive at Sungdeok Palace, and Yi Gyeomui is with them. He gives Hunae the bad news about the "royal command." Never!, she says. A tense standoff ensues, with all of Hunae's people standing forth to block the troops from proceeding. But then Gang Jo shocks Hunae by ordering a stand-down. He sees the inevitability of it: "We have no choice." Escort Jo enters the palace and obnoxiously seizes the baby from Escort Yun, and walks back outside. It's still a tense scene; soldiers are everywhere and pointing spears at Hunae and everyone else. Hunae tells Yi, You're going to have to kill me to leave with the baby. Yi actually kneels and begs her forgiveness; it's the king's command and he has no choice. But he does sympathize and makes her an offer: "Come with us to the palace. Go before the king and appeal to him." He knows she's barred from seeing him and says he'll escort her in and take responsibility for doing it.
And he does. He escorts her straight into the throne room, then kneels and begs the king's forgiveness for "what was necessary to avoid another tragedy." The king, surprisingly understanding, nods and Yi leaves. Hunae glares at her brother. "Give me back the child," she says. You took my son, you killed Seol and now you take her child--what's your motive? This show of disrespect enrages the king. "I am not your equal!", he has to remind her. I held my tongue earlier when you humiliated me in front of my men, only because Seol was there. Then they argue; a real blow-for-blow humdinger. I didn't do anything to provoke any of this. You should have stopped Gyeongjuwon and Seol from getting close. I did try, but they were in love. It was a wrong, illicit affair. There's no law against a widow getting married. But she was a queen and should have been faithful to the king as a model for "the vulgar people." At that, Hunae tears into him: So then why did you marry Mundeok--a widow with child? Because you wanted the throne! And you took Yunheung as your consort when you were married. And now you have another consort. "Why can men do this and not women?" Now she's venturing into much bigger issues, and the king doesn't want any part of it. "How could a crude tomboy like you possibly understand the teachings of Confucius?" I don't care about Confucius, she says; just give me back the child. The king has had enough: "Do you want me to lose my mind and kill you and your son both? Leave while I still have my sanity. I am sick of fighting with you. We really are the most extreme opposites! (Quoting the astrologer. It always goes back to the astrologer.) If you don't stop, I really will end up killing you."
Hunae leaves the palace, and back inside, the king is shaken and physically staggering from the confrontation. Hunae won't even get on her horse; she just walks away, dazed and crying.
Days later: By the seaside, presumably in Sasu county: We see Gyeongjuwon. He's free now and sitting by the seaside looking peaceful and content. An attendant informs him of a visitor. Gamchan has arrived. Gyeongjuwon is happy to see him, and tells him he's doing well in his new home. Gamchan receives him with a smile. The prince excitedly asks whether or not his baby is born yet. Gamchan's smile disappears and he looks away; he can't look the prince in the eye any more. She gave birth to a boy, he says weakly. And then finds the strength to look back at him and calmly tell him that Seol died. And then looks away again.
Gyeongjuwon is running on the beach, running away, with Gamchan and two guards chasing him. He climbs a slope and reaches a cliff overlooking the sea, intending to jump and end it all. "We promised we could die together," he shouts with anguish as Gamchan begs him to step back. "I can't send her off alone." Gamchan implores, "Think about your son! If you die, he would be all alone in this world. What would become of him?" Great quick thinking, and it freezes him for the moment. He falls to the ground, sobbing, as his life with Seol flashes before his eyes.
A bit later, the delivery is underway and Seol is trying--weak but trying. And she gets it done; we hear crying. She has a healthy baby boy. But as she meets her new son, the midwife finds that Seol is still bleeding and it's life-threatening! Outside, Gang Jo goes running for a physician. Hunae encourages her sister to hang in there so that she can heal and take the baby to her husband. But Seol is too weak, and feels her life slipping away: "I'm sorry, Su...I don't think I can make it." She asks Hunae to take care of her baby--but she doesn't want to die, she says. "I want to live...I don't want to...." And with that, Seol dies.
Go Hyun informs the king of Seol's death, and the cause.
Gamchan pays his respects. A very sad moment.
Prince Gaeryeong is told by Escort Jo of his aunt's death. She's being incredibly callous about it, and brazenly expresses her contempt at the Hwangju clan. Your mother, she tells the boy, runs around wearing armor and shooting arrows, and your aunt had a scandalous affair. The boy is furious at her, but she simply gives him the "advice" to never try to defend his disgraced clan. And she leaves, as nonchalantly as if she were merely running an errand. (Seriously? Hard to believe she would speak like that about THE KING'S own clan.)
Ministers are gathered, discussing Seol's death. They're concerned about what happens when the king goes to pay his respects and encounters a grieving Hunae. Then Wonsoong enters, trying to make nice with them. No way. They accuse him of causing Seol's death. Gyeongjuwon committed the crime, Wonsoong reminds them; it was his fault. But they tell him to go away. He goes outside, still spirited and unfazed...and runs into Choe Sum and his three colleagues, all now freed. Wonsoong cheerfully apologizes to them--"I was just doing what I thought was best for the king"--but there was some sort of "misunderstanding" in carrying it out, and let's just forget about it, okay? No chance, they tell him; you almost got us killed. Now go away and stay away from us or we'll beat you up. Wonsoong just laughs, but Choe Sum tells him, "We'll see how long you can laugh after what you did to us." And they leave him standing there still cluelessly wondering how everybody could be so mad at him.
The king is at Sungdeok Palace to pay his respects. Gamchan receives him and goes inside to inform Hunae. Hunae says, Tell him to go away, but Gamchan talks her past her anger enough to get her to at least go out and receive her brother. She goes outside, and tells the king, "I can't let you see her. Leave." She accuses him of killing Seol. No, he says, "I loved her just as much as you did." They exchange harsh words, but the king doesn't want to argue; he asks Hunae nicely to let him see Seol. She refuses. Then he orders her to step aside, but she won't. For a moment he visualizes having her arrested for treason...but instead he turns around and leaves. He goes home and orders that he be left alone. He has a pained look about him as he recalls Seol's last meeting with him--how she told him of her longtime love for Gyeongjuwon. Tears flow; some from grief but some almost certainly from guilt.
Wonsoong complains to Jo Sun and Jo Du of the failure of his plan. And now with everyone mourning Seol's death, he's seen as the villain. Even his daughter, he says, hates him. He still isn't frightened; just irritated.
Sungdeok Palace: Escort Yun and Yi Jujeong have come from Myeongbok Palace to pay their respects to Seol. Hunae informs them that Seol will be taken back to Hwangju to be buried. And she tells Escort Yun to care for the child Sun. (And as Yun is handed the baby, we see a perfect-for-TV newborn baby that has to be two months old if it's a day! Gotta love TV. The baby, by the way, is the future King Hyeonjong, eighth king of Goryeo.)
Hyangbi has returned from Hangae Temple. She tells her brother that she didn't get the information they were seeking, because the head monk has passed away. To the side, Sa Illa is listening...
...and reports back to Chiyang. This is good news for them, because there's no other source for what the monk knew. They discuss Seol's death; Sa Gamun fears that the emotion of it will weaken them. Chiyang counsels him, "We must first be human before we can create a new world. And in that new world we cannot allow deaths such as this." (Still have no clue about this.)
Nighttime: The king is still sitting alone in the throne room. He hasn't eaten all day. His wife comes to check on him, worried for his health. I never should have taken the throne, he tells her; it's cost me too much in my life. The queen tells him to stop it; You're a benevolent king and respected by your people, and the people have gained a thousand times what you've lost. And if you've done wrong, she says, I will bear the burden. Now take Seol's child under your wing and give him the love you couldn't give your sister. Uh-oh. She's not speaking out of malice, only out of concern for the child, but uh-oh. The king agrees that he can't leave the boy with Hunae. The queen smiles and offers to raise the boy herself.
The next morning: The king tells this to Choe Ryang. "That would be most heartless," Choe says; the sisters were so close and you already forbid Hunae from seeing her own son; now you want to take Seol's child from her? All the more reason, the king says; she resents me and "will not raise the child properly." Now what to name him? He refuses to follow tradition and name the child after his mother's region, or his father's region, or anything remotely connected to clan politics. Choe suggests Daeryangwon. It's a family ancestral region but a name without political baggage. The king likes the idea.
Troops arrive at Sungdeok Palace, and Yi Gyeomui is with them. He gives Hunae the bad news about the "royal command." Never!, she says. A tense standoff ensues, with all of Hunae's people standing forth to block the troops from proceeding. But then Gang Jo shocks Hunae by ordering a stand-down. He sees the inevitability of it: "We have no choice." Escort Jo enters the palace and obnoxiously seizes the baby from Escort Yun, and walks back outside. It's still a tense scene; soldiers are everywhere and pointing spears at Hunae and everyone else. Hunae tells Yi, You're going to have to kill me to leave with the baby. Yi actually kneels and begs her forgiveness; it's the king's command and he has no choice. But he does sympathize and makes her an offer: "Come with us to the palace. Go before the king and appeal to him." He knows she's barred from seeing him and says he'll escort her in and take responsibility for doing it.
And he does. He escorts her straight into the throne room, then kneels and begs the king's forgiveness for "what was necessary to avoid another tragedy." The king, surprisingly understanding, nods and Yi leaves. Hunae glares at her brother. "Give me back the child," she says. You took my son, you killed Seol and now you take her child--what's your motive? This show of disrespect enrages the king. "I am not your equal!", he has to remind her. I held my tongue earlier when you humiliated me in front of my men, only because Seol was there. Then they argue; a real blow-for-blow humdinger. I didn't do anything to provoke any of this. You should have stopped Gyeongjuwon and Seol from getting close. I did try, but they were in love. It was a wrong, illicit affair. There's no law against a widow getting married. But she was a queen and should have been faithful to the king as a model for "the vulgar people." At that, Hunae tears into him: So then why did you marry Mundeok--a widow with child? Because you wanted the throne! And you took Yunheung as your consort when you were married. And now you have another consort. "Why can men do this and not women?" Now she's venturing into much bigger issues, and the king doesn't want any part of it. "How could a crude tomboy like you possibly understand the teachings of Confucius?" I don't care about Confucius, she says; just give me back the child. The king has had enough: "Do you want me to lose my mind and kill you and your son both? Leave while I still have my sanity. I am sick of fighting with you. We really are the most extreme opposites! (Quoting the astrologer. It always goes back to the astrologer.) If you don't stop, I really will end up killing you."
Hunae leaves the palace, and back inside, the king is shaken and physically staggering from the confrontation. Hunae won't even get on her horse; she just walks away, dazed and crying.
Days later: By the seaside, presumably in Sasu county: We see Gyeongjuwon. He's free now and sitting by the seaside looking peaceful and content. An attendant informs him of a visitor. Gamchan has arrived. Gyeongjuwon is happy to see him, and tells him he's doing well in his new home. Gamchan receives him with a smile. The prince excitedly asks whether or not his baby is born yet. Gamchan's smile disappears and he looks away; he can't look the prince in the eye any more. She gave birth to a boy, he says weakly. And then finds the strength to look back at him and calmly tell him that Seol died. And then looks away again.
Gyeongjuwon is running on the beach, running away, with Gamchan and two guards chasing him. He climbs a slope and reaches a cliff overlooking the sea, intending to jump and end it all. "We promised we could die together," he shouts with anguish as Gamchan begs him to step back. "I can't send her off alone." Gamchan implores, "Think about your son! If you die, he would be all alone in this world. What would become of him?" Great quick thinking, and it freezes him for the moment. He falls to the ground, sobbing, as his life with Seol flashes before his eyes.