Post by TheBo on Jun 17, 2011 21:15:22 GMT -5
Ep.7 (post Sat 6/18):
San tells the envoy that he (San) knows Envoy Wang has a special love for artists, and that the damo is not like an entertainer here in Chosun. Wang gets all bent out of shape, he’s insulted, Qing’s insulted, what’s so great about this damo…etc. The chief painter pipes up and says, If she’s got a special talent, will you feel better about this? B-cuz the girl can draw, Ho-sun! The envoy is doubtful but says, I gotta go to the bathroom now, but if I can see her draw, then I’ll forget about this and take a kisaeng instead. So the ministers argue with San that they should just give Song to the guy, she can’t possibly draw, but the chief painter sends her for her materials and tells San about her earlier painting. “Are you sure?” asks San; “Well, no, but I think this is all we can do.” He then lectures Song on her duty to the state and helps her prepare for painting the identical painting she painted before. Except, as she’s about to start, Envoy Wang gives her a new topic. He apparently makes up, on the spot, a completely fictitious animal with attributes from many animals (head of lion, hooves of horse, etc). When the head painter protests, Wang points out that she might have practiced the same picture over and over, which is not art. So do it. When they show the finished product, all the ministers start apologizing, but Wang asks, do you know what you drew? Song says, yes. It’s a Qilin (unicorn). Wang is shocked and asks if she knows the myth, and she recites all the particulars. San is clearly relieved, although he does not yet seem to know her. Wang asks how she knows about it, and she says her father, an artist, had one in his sketchbook (and presumably told her all about it).
At the dock, Eunuch Nam is investigating and can’t believe the white cloths were carried off without a cart.
Song cleans up the party pavilion as San and Co take leave of Wang, who’s still a little peeved but says he’ll see San at their meeting two days hence. The ministers are all up in San’s and the chief painter’s faces about the incident, but nobody seems to note that at least Wang has put off seeing the cloths for two days. Chief painter apologizes, but San says it’s Wang’s fault, not the painter’s and not the damo’s. He looks up at Song as he leaves. She cries.
Eunuch Nam reports that he can’t find the cloth and the police cannot investigate openly (because of Qing). San didn’t think he would, and is sort of flattered that the conspirators had to stoop so low to bring him down. He must be more important than he thought he was. Yeong-jo learns what is going on with San’s work, and thinks him a fool (perhaps because of the damo incident). Yeong-jo prepares to interfere, even though he said he wouldn’t.
At the market, Song’s sponsor sees all the police, and then he sees Dae-su acting oddly, so he comes up behind and scares him. The police give chase, and these two run, but they arrest someone else. After some back-and-forth, the sponsor gives Dae-su some dirty paintings to help him deliver to his dealer, and he gifts one to D-S. Later, Dae-su learns from Song that theft of the tribute will get San into trouble. He runs out into the night, upset.
At Princess’s place, Sir Choi tries to talk her out of keeping the tribute, as trouble with Qing means trouble for the royal court. (So he’s got some scruples.) She is adamant; they’ll be in bigger trouble if San becomes king. She implies there are others who stand behind her plot.
San tries to get more cloths, but is told by the ministers, there aren’t any more—anywhere. He is then told that Envoy Wang is getting ready to leave town. Wang is preparing his people and waiting for a Qing ship to arrive.
Dae-su tries to get a refund on the brushes he purchased for Song, but the owner is not in—no joy. All shopkeepers have been called to the port, including Uncle, who finds out about the stolen cloths.
San goes to meet Wang, over protest (because San is higher in rank), but he is too late. He plans to run after Wang, but another nobleman shows up and says, “I stopped him for you.” San remembers him; he’s Jeong Hu-gyong, who was the boy who showed up San over the Book of Zhou (and apparently studied with him). Officer Jeong, naval engineer, spent time in Qing and befriended envoy Wang, who agreed to stay for the sake of their friendship. The ministers discuss this interestin’ development. Off Jeong reports to Yeong-jo that Wang wants a double tribute (which means they’ll have paid triple) or else the cloths. San is embarrassed.
Off Jeong reports to Sir Choi, he did his duty but their plan worked anyway. Turns out he’s Princess’s adopted son. She is very angry with him for saving San’s butt. He reasons with her that the people will be angry with San (for the extra burden) and that’ll give them further excuse to depose San; also that they can’t destroy Chosun for the sake of her plot against San.
San sends Eunuch Nam to find out how angry the merchants are and what the other merchants are saying. Turns out they’re plenty darned p-o’d. They protest in the streets. Even at Dowahseo, they are feeling the pinch and blaming San. San’s mother, worried, is comforted by Yeong-jo’s queen. “The people are quick to forget.”
Dae-su spies on the gang boss, then kidnaps him. D & Uncle bury the man up to his neck; D throws down the cash and demands to know where the cloth is. Gang man avows his lack of knowledge, but they torture him by pretending to bury him alive. Then D really tries to do it; he’s gone completely round the bend, but gang boss seems to be telling the truth; he doesn’t know.
At Dowahseo, one of Song’s friends is stealing Hobun, a white pigment that can also be used to whiten the complexion and bleach yellowed cloth. Eugh. As Song walks home, Uncle comes to get her. Dae-su is at the police station, trying to confess to stealing the white cloth. As usual, they don’t believe him, and neither does Song.
Yeong-jo pays a late-night visit to San, in order to harangue his incompetence. Incognito, they visit the merchants, drunk and inconsolable. Yeong-jo says he doesn’t care what the ministers say, but if San upsets the people, Y-J will let him “sink.”
Song learns from Uncle that yellow cloths are better than white ones. When Uncle wishes the yellow cloth could turn white for those stupid Qing who don’t know quality but only color, she gets the idea of using Hobun on the cloth. She runs to tell the head painter, who brings the cloth, pigment and a women’s home advice book to San and tells him it contains a proven recipe to “dye the cloth white.” Although Eunuch Nam expresses doubt, San thinks it’s worth a try. He discusses why they started giving white cloths instead of yellow (white used to be more plentiful but now it’s opposite). He is concerned about the quality after dying.
Dowahseo’s damos are ordered to bring out all the Hobun and make more (from clam shells). Apparently, Song’s friend really had been using the stuff up, because they are short. Cho-bi is annoyed by the order, so she tells everyone to do a sloppy job. Song, who knows the real purpose, tells them to grind it fine and takes over for other people. San, at the royal laundry, consults with the head lady there and she promises to do her best although they’ve never tried dying something white before. The damos at Dowahseo and the laundry women all work hard, and end up with a quantity of white cloth.
Meantime, Off Jeong reports to Yeong-jo that the alternate tributes are all ready. He is to load them onto Wang’s boats. They are being loaded, but the police arrive. As Sir Choi and Off Jeong arrive at Envoy Wang’s quarters, they are surprised to see the royal palanquin. They think it’s Yeong-jo, but are surprised to see San, all smiles. He tells them he was afraid he’d miss the party, but he’s brought all the white cloths for Wang. Wang looks a little sulky.
Song reports to Dae-su that everything worked out, San was able to give the cloths to Wang. She shows D one that she made. San reports to Yeong-jo about the dye job; Yeong-jo says good, but still, he only succeeded by cleaning up the mess he’d made, not by doing a good job in the first place. The people have suffered. San says he’ll remember that.
Off Jeong, fresh from a scolding from Princess, meets San, who merely smiles graciously. That night, at Uncle’s house, Dae-su strokes the white cloth Song gave him as Song smiles from the porch. Next morning in the market, San watches the happy merchants receiving their goods back. San visits Dowahseo to thank the chief painter, who tells him, "That damo you helped out last time had the idea." San asks to see her original painting and is shocked at the subject (himself and Song). He asks if the painter knows her name; oddly he does: “Seong Song-yeon.” San stands up abruptly from his royal seat.
San tells the envoy that he (San) knows Envoy Wang has a special love for artists, and that the damo is not like an entertainer here in Chosun. Wang gets all bent out of shape, he’s insulted, Qing’s insulted, what’s so great about this damo…etc. The chief painter pipes up and says, If she’s got a special talent, will you feel better about this? B-cuz the girl can draw, Ho-sun! The envoy is doubtful but says, I gotta go to the bathroom now, but if I can see her draw, then I’ll forget about this and take a kisaeng instead. So the ministers argue with San that they should just give Song to the guy, she can’t possibly draw, but the chief painter sends her for her materials and tells San about her earlier painting. “Are you sure?” asks San; “Well, no, but I think this is all we can do.” He then lectures Song on her duty to the state and helps her prepare for painting the identical painting she painted before. Except, as she’s about to start, Envoy Wang gives her a new topic. He apparently makes up, on the spot, a completely fictitious animal with attributes from many animals (head of lion, hooves of horse, etc). When the head painter protests, Wang points out that she might have practiced the same picture over and over, which is not art. So do it. When they show the finished product, all the ministers start apologizing, but Wang asks, do you know what you drew? Song says, yes. It’s a Qilin (unicorn). Wang is shocked and asks if she knows the myth, and she recites all the particulars. San is clearly relieved, although he does not yet seem to know her. Wang asks how she knows about it, and she says her father, an artist, had one in his sketchbook (and presumably told her all about it).
At the dock, Eunuch Nam is investigating and can’t believe the white cloths were carried off without a cart.
Song cleans up the party pavilion as San and Co take leave of Wang, who’s still a little peeved but says he’ll see San at their meeting two days hence. The ministers are all up in San’s and the chief painter’s faces about the incident, but nobody seems to note that at least Wang has put off seeing the cloths for two days. Chief painter apologizes, but San says it’s Wang’s fault, not the painter’s and not the damo’s. He looks up at Song as he leaves. She cries.
Eunuch Nam reports that he can’t find the cloth and the police cannot investigate openly (because of Qing). San didn’t think he would, and is sort of flattered that the conspirators had to stoop so low to bring him down. He must be more important than he thought he was. Yeong-jo learns what is going on with San’s work, and thinks him a fool (perhaps because of the damo incident). Yeong-jo prepares to interfere, even though he said he wouldn’t.
At the market, Song’s sponsor sees all the police, and then he sees Dae-su acting oddly, so he comes up behind and scares him. The police give chase, and these two run, but they arrest someone else. After some back-and-forth, the sponsor gives Dae-su some dirty paintings to help him deliver to his dealer, and he gifts one to D-S. Later, Dae-su learns from Song that theft of the tribute will get San into trouble. He runs out into the night, upset.
At Princess’s place, Sir Choi tries to talk her out of keeping the tribute, as trouble with Qing means trouble for the royal court. (So he’s got some scruples.) She is adamant; they’ll be in bigger trouble if San becomes king. She implies there are others who stand behind her plot.
San tries to get more cloths, but is told by the ministers, there aren’t any more—anywhere. He is then told that Envoy Wang is getting ready to leave town. Wang is preparing his people and waiting for a Qing ship to arrive.
Dae-su tries to get a refund on the brushes he purchased for Song, but the owner is not in—no joy. All shopkeepers have been called to the port, including Uncle, who finds out about the stolen cloths.
San goes to meet Wang, over protest (because San is higher in rank), but he is too late. He plans to run after Wang, but another nobleman shows up and says, “I stopped him for you.” San remembers him; he’s Jeong Hu-gyong, who was the boy who showed up San over the Book of Zhou (and apparently studied with him). Officer Jeong, naval engineer, spent time in Qing and befriended envoy Wang, who agreed to stay for the sake of their friendship. The ministers discuss this interestin’ development. Off Jeong reports to Yeong-jo that Wang wants a double tribute (which means they’ll have paid triple) or else the cloths. San is embarrassed.
Off Jeong reports to Sir Choi, he did his duty but their plan worked anyway. Turns out he’s Princess’s adopted son. She is very angry with him for saving San’s butt. He reasons with her that the people will be angry with San (for the extra burden) and that’ll give them further excuse to depose San; also that they can’t destroy Chosun for the sake of her plot against San.
San sends Eunuch Nam to find out how angry the merchants are and what the other merchants are saying. Turns out they’re plenty darned p-o’d. They protest in the streets. Even at Dowahseo, they are feeling the pinch and blaming San. San’s mother, worried, is comforted by Yeong-jo’s queen. “The people are quick to forget.”
Dae-su spies on the gang boss, then kidnaps him. D & Uncle bury the man up to his neck; D throws down the cash and demands to know where the cloth is. Gang man avows his lack of knowledge, but they torture him by pretending to bury him alive. Then D really tries to do it; he’s gone completely round the bend, but gang boss seems to be telling the truth; he doesn’t know.
At Dowahseo, one of Song’s friends is stealing Hobun, a white pigment that can also be used to whiten the complexion and bleach yellowed cloth. Eugh. As Song walks home, Uncle comes to get her. Dae-su is at the police station, trying to confess to stealing the white cloth. As usual, they don’t believe him, and neither does Song.
Yeong-jo pays a late-night visit to San, in order to harangue his incompetence. Incognito, they visit the merchants, drunk and inconsolable. Yeong-jo says he doesn’t care what the ministers say, but if San upsets the people, Y-J will let him “sink.”
Song learns from Uncle that yellow cloths are better than white ones. When Uncle wishes the yellow cloth could turn white for those stupid Qing who don’t know quality but only color, she gets the idea of using Hobun on the cloth. She runs to tell the head painter, who brings the cloth, pigment and a women’s home advice book to San and tells him it contains a proven recipe to “dye the cloth white.” Although Eunuch Nam expresses doubt, San thinks it’s worth a try. He discusses why they started giving white cloths instead of yellow (white used to be more plentiful but now it’s opposite). He is concerned about the quality after dying.
Dowahseo’s damos are ordered to bring out all the Hobun and make more (from clam shells). Apparently, Song’s friend really had been using the stuff up, because they are short. Cho-bi is annoyed by the order, so she tells everyone to do a sloppy job. Song, who knows the real purpose, tells them to grind it fine and takes over for other people. San, at the royal laundry, consults with the head lady there and she promises to do her best although they’ve never tried dying something white before. The damos at Dowahseo and the laundry women all work hard, and end up with a quantity of white cloth.
Meantime, Off Jeong reports to Yeong-jo that the alternate tributes are all ready. He is to load them onto Wang’s boats. They are being loaded, but the police arrive. As Sir Choi and Off Jeong arrive at Envoy Wang’s quarters, they are surprised to see the royal palanquin. They think it’s Yeong-jo, but are surprised to see San, all smiles. He tells them he was afraid he’d miss the party, but he’s brought all the white cloths for Wang. Wang looks a little sulky.
Song reports to Dae-su that everything worked out, San was able to give the cloths to Wang. She shows D one that she made. San reports to Yeong-jo about the dye job; Yeong-jo says good, but still, he only succeeded by cleaning up the mess he’d made, not by doing a good job in the first place. The people have suffered. San says he’ll remember that.
Off Jeong, fresh from a scolding from Princess, meets San, who merely smiles graciously. That night, at Uncle’s house, Dae-su strokes the white cloth Song gave him as Song smiles from the porch. Next morning in the market, San watches the happy merchants receiving their goods back. San visits Dowahseo to thank the chief painter, who tells him, "That damo you helped out last time had the idea." San asks to see her original painting and is shocked at the subject (himself and Song). He asks if the painter knows her name; oddly he does: “Seong Song-yeon.” San stands up abruptly from his royal seat.