Post by ajk on Dec 17, 2008 16:05:01 GMT -5
We see a recap of important recent scenes. Among them is Jang Youngsil's flogging, during which we now hear Sejong's thoughts as he watches the flogging: "Condemn me for forsaking you. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will give my all to developing Joseon's calendar and writing systems."
Our three troublemaking scholars go into a building. "Now we will begin the meeting for national salvation," Choi Manli says. Inside, doors open and we see a group of regional lords and scholars gathered. Choi introduces himself.
At Jingwan temple, Sejong is doing more of that pacing around while making word sounds. But this time it's Shin Sukju and Sung Sammun who are following behind him, along with Jachi and a few others.
We must form a coalition to stop the writing system, Choi tells the group. But first we need "irrefutable proof of the king's scheme," which he says he has men trying to get. The group seems to approve.
Sejong and his group are sitting around on a porch, exchanging rhymes and talking to each other like little kids. Even the four little monk boys are laughing at them. To the side, we can see Ha Wiji and Park Pengnyeong (two of the young Hall of Worthies scholars) watching, for Choi Manli. They can't tell for sure what's going on, but as best as they can tell, "It's just meaningless repartee."
Crown prince Hyang, Hwang Hee and Jeong Inji are meeting. They know the king is being watched by the young scholars. We need to find a way to keep them away from the king, the agree; the writing system project is tough enough without him having to worry about being watched.
Back outside, Sejong gets a little discouraged as he realizes how much work remains to do. He gets up to leaves and starts to walk. But his vision is suddenly VERY blurry. It's so blurry that he staggers as he walks and has to grab a post for balance, scaring everyone watching. But then a ruckus: Choi Haesan, drunk as a skunk, shows up and starts shouting at Sejong. He can't control his anger over Youngsil's death, and is screaming at the king in frustration. Send him home, Sejong orders, and guards forcefully escort him out of the complex. Outside, Yi Chun shows up...and slugs him! "Get a hold of yourself," he says; "Stop this and show up at the Bureau of Weaponry tomorrow."
Evening: Jachi tactfully asks Sejong if he can get Haesan some help, but Sejong tells him not to get involved. Then he tells Jachi to summon the royal physician.
The physician examines him. "Will I lose my vision? Will I go blind?" The physician responds anxiously, "I will accept death as punishment for my failure." (So I guess that's a yes?) Find a way to fix me, Sejong orders, but nothing can be done--"Loss of vision due to diabetes is untreatable." It can only be delayed, and then only with absolute rest and by staying away from books and state affairs. Which isn't likely, knowing the king. He gets frustrated: "I have work to do, but it's impossible without eyesight. If I fail to finish this work, I cannot rest in peace even in death." He storms out of the room...and runs into Jachi, who must have heard the whole thing, knowing how thin the walls are. Sejong heads for the research room, but Jachi goes chasing after him, stepping in his path in the courtyard, dropping to his knees and literally grabbing the king's leg to get him to rest: "Kill me first if you must go!" But the king doesn't even want to sleep, for fear of waking up blind. He wants to work like a lunatic until he's finished. "Please, just for tonight," Jachi begs. "Speak about this to no one," Sejong orders him...but then we see the queen at the edge of the courtyard, watching with teary eyes. So apparently she already knows.
The next day, in a Ming courtyard: The teenage Emperor Yingzong, blindfolded, is chasing after some maidens. Some kind of game. Then he catches one...but it's not a maiden; it's Wang Zhen, who's just arrived. (Whatever turns you on, dude.) Wang asks him, "May I show you a game that's even more enjoyable?"
Wang tries to sell the emperor on the idea of a military campaign. He proposes going after the Mongols, and if Joseon "continues to show insolence," going after them next. "War is a game," he says. The young emperor thinks about it. I'd need new, powerful weapons to enjoy that game, he says, to ensure that I'd stay safe. Wang replies, "Soon a man will come" and provide that very thing. Huh?
Haishou is back in Ming again on some other diplomatic mission. The Joseon ministers are a little suspicious, telling him cordially that they've been seeing a lot of him lately.
Choi Manli is sitting with Choi Haesan: "Have you given it some thought? I know it's not an easy decision." We immediately get the idea that Manli is trying to turn him--and just then, sure enough, Manli puts a small chest (full of loot, of course) in front of Haesan. But this isn't what Haesan wants. Far from it. "You bastard! Who do you think you're dealing with. You thin you can bribe me? I might do it for Youngsil; I might do it to punish the king who beat his most faithful servant to death, but I will not be bought!" "This isn't meant for you," Manli immediately responds. "I heard Jang Youngsil's mother is still alive. Money won't ease her heartache, but it might ease her living situation." Now there's no way that this was the purpose of it, but Manli showed he's a quick thinker. Haesan asks "What's your motive?" After all, if we give Ming the weapons technology, they might use it against us. No, Manli assures him, if we bring down the king, they'll only use it to go after the Mongols. Haesan is floored at hearing this, but Manli argues that an enemy's enemy is your friend and Sejong is Ming's enemy now. Haesan has a lot to think about.
Nighttime: On a porch, Jeong Changson is quietly reporting to Haishou that Haesan has made up his mind. But we see a shadow behind Jeong. "You've been followed," Haishou says. Then a chase ensues, but Haishou loses the person.
It was Poongae. He reports to Jo Malseng that Haishou is trying to get the weapons technology from Haesan, but that he couldn't see the face of the person Haishou was talking to.
Poongae goes back to the envoy's quarters. Haishou is waiting for him. Where were you, he asks suspiciously. Just out getting some air. Well, tonight we're going after the weapons technology, Haishou says. Poongae answers with an innocuous comment about Haesan--but Haishou had never mentioned Haesan. Uh-oh. Huge slip-up. Not batting an eye, Poongae says that Haesan was the obvious target and it was easy to figure that out. Aren't you smart, Haishou says, but he sure doesn't seem to buy it...Flashback to an unseen conversation: Wang Zhen telling Haishou that a spy must be in their midst and he suspects it might be Poongae.
Later than evening: Haesan, sitting alone and thinking, weapons manuals in front of him. Then he gets up and goes outside, walking...we see two figures in the shadows watching him, at least one wearing the Dongchang rose...then he turns a corner, and gets decked! POW!
Park Pengnyeong, taking a break out on a porch, see guards escorting Haesan away. He runs inside and tells the other young scholars, "Something's up. A suspicious movement has been detected!"
Choi Manli is off somewhere in a big hurry, but Jo Malseng had figured as much and is outside waiting for him. "Where are you headed in such a hurry? You look frustrated like you just lost something important. Why don't you buy me a drink?", he says with a smile; you just got promoted and should show your peers your gratitude. What can Choi do but go along quietly.
The young scholars are out in the woods, looking around nervously in the darkness. Suddenly they come upon Jeong Inji! What are you doing out here at this hour, he asks, and they ask him the same thing. A tense conversation ensues between Jeong and Ha Wiji; then Jeong accuses the group: "You didn't come here for research; you had another purpose." No, Wiji says, we've been doing the research. Very well, Inji tells him; I look forward to debating the material in detail with you to prove it. And they all head back. Whatever was going on here, Inji snuffed it out.
Still nighttime: Oddly, a tied-up Choi Haesan has been brought out to a location in the woods. Sejong is there! Huh? Choi may be surprised to see him there too, but he only tells him, "Don't you see me sticking out my neck? Go ahead and chop it off!" Sejong answers ominously, "You deserve a greater punishment." Choi is hauled away, and for just a moment in silhouette Sejong looks and sounds a bit like his father.
Jo Malseng and Choi Manli are at a Gisaeng house, eating and drinking a bit. "I hear you've been getting yourself hooked up with local gentry as well as regional lords," Jo says, and accumulating slush money too. He's amused by the irony: "I thought you despised my methods." The money isn't for me, Choi tells him; "these are patriot funds" to save the country. Jo makes us laugh: "It's like looking at myself in the mirror twenty years ago." But Choi isn't ruffled and goes right to the heart of it all: "Writing system development--you know all about it, don't you?" "Whatever do you mean?" "Have you decided to support the king on anything and everything?" "All I know is that the king is not out to ruin this country." That sure doesn't sound like the Jo Malseng we used to know (thank goodness), and Choi has had enough: "I don't think there's anything more we can talk about." He gets up to leave, but Jo warns him, "Don't take this too far. I value your talent and hold you in high regard. But if I determine that you have gone too far, I will be the one to bring you down."
In the darkness, Haesan is brought to a cave and taken inside. In one section of the cave, a closed-off room has been constructed. Choi is taken inside the room and untied. It's a large room, and it's full of Jang Youngsil's stuff; a model ganui, weapons drawings, various tools, and other such things. Then, out of a dark corner, someone steps forward. It's YOUNGSIL! So the flogging didn't kill him after all. Choi think's he's seeing a ghost. Youngsil is leaning on a cane, weak and limping, but it's him. Choi is so baffled that he doesn't even show happiness; instead he eventually says of Sejong, "Now he's locked you up in a cave to use you like an animal?" And he starts running around the room breaking things and tearing up drawings, and scolding Youngsil: "You brainless moron! How could you be so stupid? He almost killed you and you're still being loyal to him!" Youngsil calms him down, and even calls him "father." I did it for you, Youngsil says, because we accomplished so much together and we have to accomplish so much more together. Haesan asks, "Why didn't you tell me about this?" "I wanted to wait until I was well. I didn't want you to see me this way." That's a bizarre answer, since Choi's not knowing almost got him executed for treason. But finally Choi settles down and shows his emotion at having Youngsil back.
Choi Manli has offered the chest to Choi Haesan again, but Choi Haesan pushes it back. No deal. "I didn't think Youngsil's mother would accept this either," he says sarcastically. Manli can't hide his frustration. "There is no other way to stop the king." "Try someone else," Haesan says; I don't even like these weapons being aimed at other people, and if there's a chance they could be aimed at us, then nothing doing. Manli has found out that Haesan is going back to work at the weapons bureau, and angrily challenges him: If you don't like these weapons, why would you continue to build them? Haesan's terrific answer: to make weapons that are so effective, it will "make Joseon an untouchable state." But, he says, I want them to end up as useless junk. That's your job, he tells Manli; use your political and diplomatic skills to build good relations with Ming so that no weapons are ever needed; then my weapons will be useless scraps of metal. And he gets up and leaves Manli sitting there stewing.
Haishou is pacing back and forth. He can't understand why Haesan had such a complete change of heart. Poongae and two subordinates are in the room with him; he tells the three of them to investigate this. You're our top agent, he tells Poongae, "but if you do fail, there will be severe consequences."
Then outside the room, with Poongae not there, he tells the subordinates, "Choi Haesan is not the man you need to watch. Catch my drift?"
Nighttime, at the writing research room: Sejong, Shin Sukju, Sang Sammun and Jachi are there working. Sejong is getting short-tempered. He apologizes; "We're not making any progress and it's getting me irritable." And he's having serious vision trouble. "Let's call it a day," he says, which Jachi wholeheartedly encourages. The two scholars leave the building...and outside, Ha Wiji and the Park Pengnyeong see them go. "There is something in that corner room."
Sejong tells Jachi he must go see Jang Youngsil, even at this late hour. "Lead the way," he orders. So the two of them, with Gang Hui, leave the building...and the two scholars see them go too. "Did we find the king's secret office?"
Still that evening: Queen Soheon is out in a courtyard, walking awkwardly with her eyes closed. She's pretending to be blind. She nearly walks into a lamppost, panicking her attendants. "Will he be able to live this way?" she despairs, and cries. "There is so much left that he wants to do."
In the darkness, going through the woods accompanied only by Gang Hui and Jachi, Sejong can barely see his way. Then he trips and falls, and even rolls down a slope to a creekside. Just then, Youngsil and Choi Haesan, come out of Youngsil's cave for some fresh air. They see the fallen king and run over to him. Sejong sees Youngsil, and from his pocket pulls out the magnifying glass that Youngsil make for him. "Make me a clearer glass," he tells Youngsil. "I need something better." Youngsil doesn't understand: "What's wrong with him?" Jachi tells him. "I can't go blind before we finish developing the writing system. Make me a glass that will allow me to see even when I'm blind." And there's that ridiculous pop ballad again. Everyone present weeps at the prospect of their king going blind.
Our three troublemaking scholars go into a building. "Now we will begin the meeting for national salvation," Choi Manli says. Inside, doors open and we see a group of regional lords and scholars gathered. Choi introduces himself.
At Jingwan temple, Sejong is doing more of that pacing around while making word sounds. But this time it's Shin Sukju and Sung Sammun who are following behind him, along with Jachi and a few others.
We must form a coalition to stop the writing system, Choi tells the group. But first we need "irrefutable proof of the king's scheme," which he says he has men trying to get. The group seems to approve.
Sejong and his group are sitting around on a porch, exchanging rhymes and talking to each other like little kids. Even the four little monk boys are laughing at them. To the side, we can see Ha Wiji and Park Pengnyeong (two of the young Hall of Worthies scholars) watching, for Choi Manli. They can't tell for sure what's going on, but as best as they can tell, "It's just meaningless repartee."
Crown prince Hyang, Hwang Hee and Jeong Inji are meeting. They know the king is being watched by the young scholars. We need to find a way to keep them away from the king, the agree; the writing system project is tough enough without him having to worry about being watched.
Back outside, Sejong gets a little discouraged as he realizes how much work remains to do. He gets up to leaves and starts to walk. But his vision is suddenly VERY blurry. It's so blurry that he staggers as he walks and has to grab a post for balance, scaring everyone watching. But then a ruckus: Choi Haesan, drunk as a skunk, shows up and starts shouting at Sejong. He can't control his anger over Youngsil's death, and is screaming at the king in frustration. Send him home, Sejong orders, and guards forcefully escort him out of the complex. Outside, Yi Chun shows up...and slugs him! "Get a hold of yourself," he says; "Stop this and show up at the Bureau of Weaponry tomorrow."
Evening: Jachi tactfully asks Sejong if he can get Haesan some help, but Sejong tells him not to get involved. Then he tells Jachi to summon the royal physician.
The physician examines him. "Will I lose my vision? Will I go blind?" The physician responds anxiously, "I will accept death as punishment for my failure." (So I guess that's a yes?) Find a way to fix me, Sejong orders, but nothing can be done--"Loss of vision due to diabetes is untreatable." It can only be delayed, and then only with absolute rest and by staying away from books and state affairs. Which isn't likely, knowing the king. He gets frustrated: "I have work to do, but it's impossible without eyesight. If I fail to finish this work, I cannot rest in peace even in death." He storms out of the room...and runs into Jachi, who must have heard the whole thing, knowing how thin the walls are. Sejong heads for the research room, but Jachi goes chasing after him, stepping in his path in the courtyard, dropping to his knees and literally grabbing the king's leg to get him to rest: "Kill me first if you must go!" But the king doesn't even want to sleep, for fear of waking up blind. He wants to work like a lunatic until he's finished. "Please, just for tonight," Jachi begs. "Speak about this to no one," Sejong orders him...but then we see the queen at the edge of the courtyard, watching with teary eyes. So apparently she already knows.
The next day, in a Ming courtyard: The teenage Emperor Yingzong, blindfolded, is chasing after some maidens. Some kind of game. Then he catches one...but it's not a maiden; it's Wang Zhen, who's just arrived. (Whatever turns you on, dude.) Wang asks him, "May I show you a game that's even more enjoyable?"
Wang tries to sell the emperor on the idea of a military campaign. He proposes going after the Mongols, and if Joseon "continues to show insolence," going after them next. "War is a game," he says. The young emperor thinks about it. I'd need new, powerful weapons to enjoy that game, he says, to ensure that I'd stay safe. Wang replies, "Soon a man will come" and provide that very thing. Huh?
Haishou is back in Ming again on some other diplomatic mission. The Joseon ministers are a little suspicious, telling him cordially that they've been seeing a lot of him lately.
Choi Manli is sitting with Choi Haesan: "Have you given it some thought? I know it's not an easy decision." We immediately get the idea that Manli is trying to turn him--and just then, sure enough, Manli puts a small chest (full of loot, of course) in front of Haesan. But this isn't what Haesan wants. Far from it. "You bastard! Who do you think you're dealing with. You thin you can bribe me? I might do it for Youngsil; I might do it to punish the king who beat his most faithful servant to death, but I will not be bought!" "This isn't meant for you," Manli immediately responds. "I heard Jang Youngsil's mother is still alive. Money won't ease her heartache, but it might ease her living situation." Now there's no way that this was the purpose of it, but Manli showed he's a quick thinker. Haesan asks "What's your motive?" After all, if we give Ming the weapons technology, they might use it against us. No, Manli assures him, if we bring down the king, they'll only use it to go after the Mongols. Haesan is floored at hearing this, but Manli argues that an enemy's enemy is your friend and Sejong is Ming's enemy now. Haesan has a lot to think about.
Nighttime: On a porch, Jeong Changson is quietly reporting to Haishou that Haesan has made up his mind. But we see a shadow behind Jeong. "You've been followed," Haishou says. Then a chase ensues, but Haishou loses the person.
It was Poongae. He reports to Jo Malseng that Haishou is trying to get the weapons technology from Haesan, but that he couldn't see the face of the person Haishou was talking to.
Poongae goes back to the envoy's quarters. Haishou is waiting for him. Where were you, he asks suspiciously. Just out getting some air. Well, tonight we're going after the weapons technology, Haishou says. Poongae answers with an innocuous comment about Haesan--but Haishou had never mentioned Haesan. Uh-oh. Huge slip-up. Not batting an eye, Poongae says that Haesan was the obvious target and it was easy to figure that out. Aren't you smart, Haishou says, but he sure doesn't seem to buy it...Flashback to an unseen conversation: Wang Zhen telling Haishou that a spy must be in their midst and he suspects it might be Poongae.
Later than evening: Haesan, sitting alone and thinking, weapons manuals in front of him. Then he gets up and goes outside, walking...we see two figures in the shadows watching him, at least one wearing the Dongchang rose...then he turns a corner, and gets decked! POW!
Park Pengnyeong, taking a break out on a porch, see guards escorting Haesan away. He runs inside and tells the other young scholars, "Something's up. A suspicious movement has been detected!"
Choi Manli is off somewhere in a big hurry, but Jo Malseng had figured as much and is outside waiting for him. "Where are you headed in such a hurry? You look frustrated like you just lost something important. Why don't you buy me a drink?", he says with a smile; you just got promoted and should show your peers your gratitude. What can Choi do but go along quietly.
The young scholars are out in the woods, looking around nervously in the darkness. Suddenly they come upon Jeong Inji! What are you doing out here at this hour, he asks, and they ask him the same thing. A tense conversation ensues between Jeong and Ha Wiji; then Jeong accuses the group: "You didn't come here for research; you had another purpose." No, Wiji says, we've been doing the research. Very well, Inji tells him; I look forward to debating the material in detail with you to prove it. And they all head back. Whatever was going on here, Inji snuffed it out.
Still nighttime: Oddly, a tied-up Choi Haesan has been brought out to a location in the woods. Sejong is there! Huh? Choi may be surprised to see him there too, but he only tells him, "Don't you see me sticking out my neck? Go ahead and chop it off!" Sejong answers ominously, "You deserve a greater punishment." Choi is hauled away, and for just a moment in silhouette Sejong looks and sounds a bit like his father.
Jo Malseng and Choi Manli are at a Gisaeng house, eating and drinking a bit. "I hear you've been getting yourself hooked up with local gentry as well as regional lords," Jo says, and accumulating slush money too. He's amused by the irony: "I thought you despised my methods." The money isn't for me, Choi tells him; "these are patriot funds" to save the country. Jo makes us laugh: "It's like looking at myself in the mirror twenty years ago." But Choi isn't ruffled and goes right to the heart of it all: "Writing system development--you know all about it, don't you?" "Whatever do you mean?" "Have you decided to support the king on anything and everything?" "All I know is that the king is not out to ruin this country." That sure doesn't sound like the Jo Malseng we used to know (thank goodness), and Choi has had enough: "I don't think there's anything more we can talk about." He gets up to leave, but Jo warns him, "Don't take this too far. I value your talent and hold you in high regard. But if I determine that you have gone too far, I will be the one to bring you down."
In the darkness, Haesan is brought to a cave and taken inside. In one section of the cave, a closed-off room has been constructed. Choi is taken inside the room and untied. It's a large room, and it's full of Jang Youngsil's stuff; a model ganui, weapons drawings, various tools, and other such things. Then, out of a dark corner, someone steps forward. It's YOUNGSIL! So the flogging didn't kill him after all. Choi think's he's seeing a ghost. Youngsil is leaning on a cane, weak and limping, but it's him. Choi is so baffled that he doesn't even show happiness; instead he eventually says of Sejong, "Now he's locked you up in a cave to use you like an animal?" And he starts running around the room breaking things and tearing up drawings, and scolding Youngsil: "You brainless moron! How could you be so stupid? He almost killed you and you're still being loyal to him!" Youngsil calms him down, and even calls him "father." I did it for you, Youngsil says, because we accomplished so much together and we have to accomplish so much more together. Haesan asks, "Why didn't you tell me about this?" "I wanted to wait until I was well. I didn't want you to see me this way." That's a bizarre answer, since Choi's not knowing almost got him executed for treason. But finally Choi settles down and shows his emotion at having Youngsil back.
Choi Manli has offered the chest to Choi Haesan again, but Choi Haesan pushes it back. No deal. "I didn't think Youngsil's mother would accept this either," he says sarcastically. Manli can't hide his frustration. "There is no other way to stop the king." "Try someone else," Haesan says; I don't even like these weapons being aimed at other people, and if there's a chance they could be aimed at us, then nothing doing. Manli has found out that Haesan is going back to work at the weapons bureau, and angrily challenges him: If you don't like these weapons, why would you continue to build them? Haesan's terrific answer: to make weapons that are so effective, it will "make Joseon an untouchable state." But, he says, I want them to end up as useless junk. That's your job, he tells Manli; use your political and diplomatic skills to build good relations with Ming so that no weapons are ever needed; then my weapons will be useless scraps of metal. And he gets up and leaves Manli sitting there stewing.
Haishou is pacing back and forth. He can't understand why Haesan had such a complete change of heart. Poongae and two subordinates are in the room with him; he tells the three of them to investigate this. You're our top agent, he tells Poongae, "but if you do fail, there will be severe consequences."
Then outside the room, with Poongae not there, he tells the subordinates, "Choi Haesan is not the man you need to watch. Catch my drift?"
Nighttime, at the writing research room: Sejong, Shin Sukju, Sang Sammun and Jachi are there working. Sejong is getting short-tempered. He apologizes; "We're not making any progress and it's getting me irritable." And he's having serious vision trouble. "Let's call it a day," he says, which Jachi wholeheartedly encourages. The two scholars leave the building...and outside, Ha Wiji and the Park Pengnyeong see them go. "There is something in that corner room."
Sejong tells Jachi he must go see Jang Youngsil, even at this late hour. "Lead the way," he orders. So the two of them, with Gang Hui, leave the building...and the two scholars see them go too. "Did we find the king's secret office?"
Still that evening: Queen Soheon is out in a courtyard, walking awkwardly with her eyes closed. She's pretending to be blind. She nearly walks into a lamppost, panicking her attendants. "Will he be able to live this way?" she despairs, and cries. "There is so much left that he wants to do."
In the darkness, going through the woods accompanied only by Gang Hui and Jachi, Sejong can barely see his way. Then he trips and falls, and even rolls down a slope to a creekside. Just then, Youngsil and Choi Haesan, come out of Youngsil's cave for some fresh air. They see the fallen king and run over to him. Sejong sees Youngsil, and from his pocket pulls out the magnifying glass that Youngsil make for him. "Make me a clearer glass," he tells Youngsil. "I need something better." Youngsil doesn't understand: "What's wrong with him?" Jachi tells him. "I can't go blind before we finish developing the writing system. Make me a glass that will allow me to see even when I'm blind." And there's that ridiculous pop ballad again. Everyone present weeps at the prospect of their king going blind.
