01x10 - Danger on the Turning Wind

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All depicted events are fictional

and for entertainment purposes only.
viewer discretion is advised.

Should we meet at
the appointed time and place,

we shall capture Cherd.

Should we manage to capture him,

we might be able to find
whoever framed my father.

Phop,

tell me everything that you know
about my father.

You already know, do you not?

I must accompany Father to Phichit.

I do not wish to be parted from you.

PHICHIT

We are officials of the state,

entrusted with the duty
of safeguarding the people.

Having been granted a life far more
bountiful than that of the common folk,

we cannot commit such an act.

I shall accept only your kindness.

As for all else,

I must most respectfully decline.

Who might that be?

I know not, Master. I know only that
he is a nobleman from the capital.

Father.

Father.

Has something occurred?

There is nothing for you
to trouble your heart over, son.

I have already settled the matter.

Son,

you have been studying all day.

Are you weary?

I am,

yet I do so with all my heart.

Perhaps, when the day comes
that I become an official,

I may ease the burden upon your shoulders.

My deepest thanks, son.

I entrust the hopes of our future to you.

Yes, Father.

But if it is too wearisome,

on the morrow

shall we venture to the market?

A splendid idea, my Lord.

Chuay.

It appears you are eager

to accompany my son on this outing.

If that be the case,

how about you set forth
and wait for us at the market?

Wonderful idea, my Lord.

I shall take my leave.

The hour is late.

Look at him.

Chuay.

Are you so eager to set forth?

Very well, onward.

Let us depart.

We shall set out at this hour.

-Come.
-Master Klao.

-Now.
-Master!

Chuay, do take good care of my son,
will you?

Yes, my Lord!

Father, can you truly not tell me

when you shall return?

High Lord Phichaiphakdi
has given no word regarding my return.

But I believe it shall be brief.

His Excellency requires my aid
in matters of tongue

to interrogate and examine

the Chinese and the Farangi merchants

regarding the smuggling of opium.

Remain here and await my return.

But…

I wish to accompany you.

I wish to see Phop.

Endure this bitter patience
for a sweeter reward.

Once the examinations are over,

I shall escort you back to the capital.

Forgive me, son,

for leaving you to endure such solitude.

I pray this mission

shall reach a swift and successful end.

Should His Excellency favor our service,

I shall petition for

my reassignment to the capital,

and you shall no longer need to be
so far from your brother.

Yes, Father.

How peculiar.

Those fluent in the tongues of
the Chinese and the Farangi

are plentiful in the capital.

Why then must they require my father?

What did you say?

The Lord was apprehended
for assisting Chinese merchants

in smuggling opium.

It cannot be.

My father is a man of integrity.

It is certain that he has been framed.

Chuay.

Gather my belongings.

We shall depart this very instant.

Yes, Master.

The said vessel had illicitly conveyed

a vast quantity of opium into the kingdom.

Furthermore, a warrant was discovered

permitting the vessel
to pass through the river's mouth

without being searched.

Lord Preechaphibal.

Will you confess to your misdeeds?

The Legal Principles decree that

whosoever is found guilty of bribery,

or of engaging in corruption,

such as the trafficking of opium,

shall receive 50 lashes upon the back,

be subjected to a fourfold fine,

and condemned to a life of servitude.

Father!

Memories of my father are back.

It went much like what Phop told me,

but one thing is bugging me.

That sword.

Where have I seen it before?

Phop.

Kindly partake of a little sustenance.

Dear Klao.

Phop.

If you have no appetite,

at least dine with me.

Without you,
how shall I endure this existence?

Dear Klao.

Come with me.

I must now take my leave, Aunt.

Good heavens!

When Master Klao disappeared,

Lord Phop's physical condition
declined greatly.

Should they be separated once more,

I fear that he will perish.

Dear Klao.

I have secured you a post
in the official service of Lavo.

Gather your belongings
and depart on the morrow.

I offer my deepest gratitude,
Your Excellency,

for overseeing this matter.

But…
I fear I am unable to depart.

I…

Whatever hardships I might suffer,

I care not.

Yet, if I am no longer by his side,

Phop shall surely perish.

And have you not considered it?

How would you and Phop

live together

without inviting cruel gossip?

I have raised him with the utmost care.

I shall never permit harm to come to him.

I ask only to share this heavy burden.

I pray you permit me
to watch over Phop in your stead.

I beg of you.

If you truly look upon me

as one of your own kin,

a child of your dearest friend,
as you once mentioned,

do not force me to part from his side.

Klao! Depart at once.

Both of us shall set forth.

Should he leave the manor,

I too shall depart.

All my life,
I have lived solely for your sake.

I devoted myself to my studies,

and I gave my heart to royal service

and to my work, all for your sake.

Even my marriage to Lady Varna,

I dared not refuse,

for the deep reverence I bear you.

But from this moment forth,

permit me, if only for once,

to follow my own heart for my own sake.

Phop…

Rise, I beg you.

Dear Klao, pray rise.

One cannot simply follow the whims
of one's own heart in every matter, Phop.

Such a path would
bring ruin upon your life.

Indeed, Father.

This is my life.

Should ruin come,

let it come by my own hand,

and not by yours, Father.

Phop.

Compose yourself, I beg of you.

My Love,

speak with patience and restraint.

Do not hasten your judgment
while your mind is troubled.

Let it be, Lady Prayong.

I shall no longer render decisions
on Phop's behalf.

Go forth and live your own life.

I shall concern myself
with your affairs no longer.

Phop, what do you--

What do you intend to do?

Surely your father
must be deeply angry with you.

This means that
his heart has already softened.

From this day forth,
no matter what may happen,

I shall not let go of your hand.

As a mother,

I would sacrifice all.

But I cannot bear
to see my child suffer thus, Physician.

Therefore, I implore you

to save my child. I beg of you.

Be that as it may.

Do you keep a dog at this manor,
Physician?

Kaew.

Behold.

It is a dog.

Oh my!

All sorts of sweets and confections.

They look utterly delectable.

Not true. It is merely a ruse
to make me take my remedy.

It is no ruse.

Remarkably sweet. It truly is a delight.

Will you not join me?

You have my thanks.

Where shall the dog wander?

This way, perhaps?

Can you guess?

Perhaps it is this way?

Or is it this way?

Kaew, you are remarkable.

You have soothed
my daughter's fear of the physician.

Come back and play with the dog again.

How did you manage to persuade that child?

It is quite simple.

I spend my days preparing sweets
day in and day out.

Simply coating your herbal remedies
with honey

will make them more palatable.

I shall remember that.

By seeking me out in this manner,

-have you truly forgiven me?
-No.

However,

Buaphan learned from Chuay that

a grave matter had arisen at Phop's manor.

Thus, I have come
to urge you to visit Klao.

Go, if you will.

Do as you please.

If your heart truly harbors such anger,

why did you come to my manor
seeking me out, Kaew?

It brings me joy to see you smile.

Buaphan said
you quarreled with His Excellency.

So I thought…

Well…

We did have a quarrel.

But…

when Phop confessed his love
before his father,

I knew then that,

no matter the hardships we might face,

we should endure them together.

Since Jom has chosen to accompany you,

does this mean

you will no longer journey
to Pak Nam Pho, Kaew?

Kaew.

I have a matter to discuss with you.

I came here to see Klao,

not to speak with you.

Klao.

And what of Aunt Bud?

Did she truly bring
the enemy to your doorstep?

We have no concrete evidence

of her conspiring with Cherd.

However…

Aunt had her sent to a small manor.

Once her anger has abated,

she shall return here.

And what of the lady
at the House of Pleasure?

Knowing how much you love Phop,

I find it hard to believe
you have any affection for that lady,

as rumor has it.

Is there perchance anything
you wish to tell me?

Chuay,

have the servants go away at once.

Yes, my Lord.

Let us leave.

So this is the reason
you visit to the market,

the tavern,

and the House of Pleasure?

Pray, accept my apologies.

I misjudged you.

In truth,

you came to learn the truth
concerning your father.

And all this while,
you have borne it entirely alone.

Forgive me.

I kept it from you
not because I distrusted you,

but rather…

because I wished to bring no trouble.

Klao.

Henceforth, should any trouble arise,

do not hesitate to speak to Jom and me.

We are willing to help you.

You have my gratitude.

Strangely enough, I require your aid.

At this hour,

His Excellency and the lady
are not at the manor.

This gives me the opportunity
to search the quarters.

You two must delay the servants

and ensure that
no one sets foot in the manor.

This is no time to set foot in the manor!

Help me search for Dear Kaew's ring.

What of that tree?

Do climb up and take a look.

Swords?

His Excellency seldom bears his sword.

He looks rather majestic.

-Who might that be?
-A nobleman from the capital.

Phop's father…

He k*lled me?

Being his close friend,

he led my father into opium corruption.

My father refused.

So he framed him?

If he really framed my father,

then taking me into the manor
would only serve

to track everything I do.

This means it is here.

Furthermore, a warrant was discovered

permitting the vessel
to pass through the river's mouth

without being searched.

Is that forged warrant
with my father's fake signature

with Uncle?

A key.

A key, a key.

MY DEAR FRIEND

YOU MUST NOT COME TO THE CAPITAL

Are you looking for this?

Jom.

Kaew.

Leave the manor for now.

How did that document…

I sent my men to retrieve this evidence
from within the capital.

The handwriting in the letters
we exchanged

and this document…

is undoubtedly that of Lord Preechaphibal.

See for yourself.

Examine it with your own eyes.

The chest is yours to examine.

And…

What about those swords?

Any officer of the rank of Lord or higher
is entitled to carry a sword.

Do my swords trouble you in any way?

Uncle…

I ask for your forgiveness.

Should you punish him,

punish me as well.

It is my fault for failing to guide him.

I shall not hold this against you.

Take the utmost care of yourself.

As for the case,

I have long been plagued by guilt

for failing to save my dearest friend.

But this time,

I shall be the one to aid you.

I cannot condone your romance with Phop,

yet my affection for you

remains as though
you were my own flesh and blood.

I am profoundly grateful to you,
Your Excellency.

Thank you, Father.

This is all I could do for your son,

Lord Preechaphibal,

my dear friend.

The handwriting is indeed identical.

Yet my father never smudged ink.

Why then is there an ink blot here
and nowhere else?

Why did you enter my father's quarters?

Were you suspicious of him?

I…

The sword I saw there

was similar to the one I saw in my dream.

Thus, I suspected him.

I only came to realize that

all the patrolmen carry swords like his.

This makes everything more difficult.

No.

Quite the opposite.

Now we know with certainty that

the one who framed your father

must be an officer
of the rank of Lord or higher.

This eliminates a great many
within the capital.

It does indeed.

"The warrant permits the ship from China

to pass through the river's mouth
without being searched."

You were there to see a certain lady

who was accompanied
by a Chinese Port Master.

Do you suspect that Chinese man,
the one with Pim,

whom Meng says you quarreled with?

How could she not be here?

Every time I have come,

Pim has always been here.

She has fallen grievously ill

and has returned to Suvarnabhumi.

Fallen grievously ill?

What ails her?

Perhaps it is a venereal illness.

She will likely be away for a few nights.

Allow Puang to attend to you
in her stead tonight.

It is quite all right.

I shall take my leave.

Master Klao!

Do not leave just now.

I have many tricks, Master.

No charge for this service.

Master Klao!

I went there in vain.

The teahouse was already closed
at that hour.

I am so weary, Phop.

Rest if need be.

Would you like to sleep now?

I may find it hard to do so.

Are you feeling sleepy?

If such is the case,
I shall return to my quarters.

In that case, I fear I cannot find rest,

for I shall miss your warmth.

I might shiver myself to death.

Then…

Let us sleep in each other's arms.

I wish to cherish this moment
every day and night.

I do not wish us
to be torn apart ever again.

I believe my father's heart has softened.

So, you may rest easy now.

Do you recall

that time when you fell ill?

I came in and sponged you down.

I do.

Chuay told me about it.

You lapsed into delirium from the fever,

saying in your sleep
you wished to go home.

I whispered something

to you,

though I believe you remember it not.

So, I shall say it again now.

Even if my father forbids
your staying here,

I shall follow.

Wherever we may find ourselves,

I shall be your home.

What are you doing?

The tip of the roof.

You are my home, are you not?

Let me feel your tip.

Can I feel it tonight?

Stop it. Stop.

Stop it, Phop!

Let go of me!

-Let me feel it then.
-No.

-If your father hears us…
-No.

Hey, stop it already.

Master, I beg of you, tell me.

I shall buy out all the tea
in this teahouse,

every last pot of it.

Every last pot of it, you say?

Good.

A promise made is a promise kept.

The Chinese man whom Pim accompanied

holds a position in Krom Tha Sai.

Krom Tha Sai is responsible
for overseeing the Chinese,

Vietnamese, and Japanese communities
in the capital,

as well as managing royal junks
engaged in trade with those lands,

but chiefly the Chinese.

If such is the case,

it would come as no surprise

if someone had forged
my father's signature

to permit those Chinese junks
carrying opium

to sail into our lands.

Who might that Chinese man be?

I am not certain of his identity.

But Pim is the most beautiful lady

in the Pavilion of Affection.

She caters to the elite,

and that Chinese man must therefore

be a person of considerable influence.

If so, we must seek him out
at the Royal Treasury.

Where might that be?

Pray, take me there, Phop.

Why leave?

We are already here.

-Right on cue.
-Unhand me.

Draw him closer

-and hold him tight.
-What?

Finger of grace.

Do not harm me!

Master.

Thong.

Pray, cease this.

Was it you

who conspired with the man
who framed my father?

Unhand me.

I do not know you.

It is only that

I fear the violence
you have inflicted upon me in the past.

Do you know Lord Preechaphibal?

Lord Preecha…

phibal…

Who might that be?

You once signed the warrant
that allowed those junks

to pass without being searched,
did you not?

I…

I…

The man who signed it

was the father of my relative,

a man to whom I owe filial respect as--

Enough!

Unhand him, Klao.

The person who signed it

must be a high-ranking official,

likely older than this man.

What a waste of time.

It would be easier to find the forger

than to find the truth
in the Port Department.

It seems you must return to
the Pavilion of Affection

and draw the truth from Pim.

This is our only path forward.

But Pim would likely flee from me.

Asking you and Chuay
to wear other disguises

may no longer suffice.

Chuay.

We need a helping hand.

My Lord,

what would you have me do this time?

I am too afraid to wear
a woman's disguise.

I meant not that.

Summon the physician and Kaew to me.

Jom, cease your pursuit of me.

It is most irritating.
I am here to select fabric.

Well, I am here to assist you.

-You like this.
-This one?

I shall take this one.

Certainly.

That is the son of High Lord Sintaranurak.

They say he is effeminate.

And it would appear to be true.

He seems to be procuring a lady's item.

How peculiar.

Jom.

Let us leave.

It is you who are peculiar.

What kind of man speaks ill of
others without a hint of shame?

Kaew has done no wrong.

He merely favors things unlike others.

Protecting one another.

One might think you are spouses.

Or is it merely a passing fancy?

And so?

Find a soul as gracious as my spouse,
if you can.

Thank you.

You have my deepest gratitude
for protecting me.

But calling me your spouse…

Do not address me as such.

It is not to my liking.

Forgive me.

-I thought--
-Never again.

Because…

you have never asked.

If that is so,

I shall ask you this very instant.

Jom.

Why do you…

In your absence,

I felt as though

the other half of my very soul
had vanished.

Without you by my side to assist me,

to offer your support,

your affection and care,

and to see to my needs,

it is far worse than any slander
I have endured.

I sincerely apologize

for not realizing it sooner.

I am now ready to tell you

whom I wish you to be in my life.

Allow me to care for you

as my dearest beloved, Kaew.

I shall allow it,

Jom, my beloved.

Physician!

Master Kaew!

I had to venture from Master Jom's

to Master Kaew's manor

and then the canal market.

You wish for us to escort you into…

the House of Pleasure?

Yes.

Tonight is the fifteenth night
of the waning moon.

Cherd should smuggle opium tonight,
if true.

Your task is

to uncover exactly
which temple that hut lies behind.

Through the House of Pleasure?

Through the House of Pleasure.

That is because Pim,
a lady at the House of Pleasure,

may well know the truth.

Did you pay any heed to his words,

or was your mind
wholly fixed on that one thing?

As for Phop,

dispatch the patrol
to reinforce the position

once the temple has been identified.

Yes.

I must make haste and depart.

Klao, tell Kaew and Jom of our plan.

Keep yourself safe, my dearest.

Understood.

Once this night is over,

we shall at last live in peace.

Once this night is over,

I shall ask my father
for your hand in marriage.

You are right-handed, are you not?

Why then wield your sword left-handed?

One must keep the dominant hand free,

so the sword may be drawn thus.

Why the question?

It vaguely came to me that

the official who visited my father
in Phichit

carried his sword in his right hand.

That would imply that

he is left-handed, would it not?

My deepest thanks to you.

I now see clearly

how I must proceed
with this investigation.

I shall take my leave now.

Once the truth is found,
hasten to my department.

Now then…

Our plan

is as follows.

Pim has been shunning me,

yet I must speak with her.

One of us must wear a disguise
and call for her.

Me!

I shall take upon myself
this daunting task.

You seem quite eager, Jom.

We will need Jom for our backup plan.

So…

The one who assumes the guise shall be…

I am here to officially inspect
the House of Pleasure!

Inspect this establishment, I hear?

We have paid our dues

and tributes

to the authorities without fail.

Do not be shy, Master.

If it is pleasure you seek,

then speak your mind plainly.

I shall offer you my service.

Is Pim within?

She is not here.

I, Puang, shall take her stead.

Compelling, is she not?

If that is the case,

then I shall take my leave.

What if Kaew's ruse were to falter?

Deary me…

you have indeed
placed your trust in me, Jom.

I simply…

I am merely devising another plan,
my Kaew.

This is beyond me.

I…

I am here to see Pim.

She is not here.

I, Puang, shall take her stead.

Allow us

to satisfy you, Master.

I cannot do it!

I simply cannot!

I cannot do this.

I cannot!

Even Jom has failed.

Now then,

the time has come for my ultimate gambit.

-Ultimate gambit?
-Ultimate gambit?

Yes!

It shall go as follows.

Help!

I have been bitten by a serpent!

Ouch!

Ouch!

Ow!

A serpent took hold of him.

Good heavens!

Good ladies,

kindly bring a physician to treat him.

Where were you bitten?

-Look for the bite mark?
-I see nothing.

-A serpent of what kind?
-I could not see…

I shall draw the venom out myself!

I shall take on the task as well.

-Where is it?
-I can't find it.

Where is it?

-Pray, tell.
-Up here?

I can't find it.

-It is not down here.
-None to be found here.

What kind of serpent bit you?

I have yet to find one.

I too shall draw out the venom!

I had better take the task.

-Where?
-Here, is it not?

-There, is it?
-Oh, allow me to do it.

Ow!

Pray, loosen your garments.

Did it bite you in the arm?

Your arm, is it not?

Or is it your leg?

His leg…

-His arm…
-Is it here?

Curses!

Can I not have a single night of peace
in my own establishment?

-Oh, make way!
-She is coming.

What is all this commotion?

Physician Jom?

Kaew?

The son of High Lord Sintaranurak?

What brought both of you here?

Pim!

You said that we are friends.

Why then turn your face from me?

It is best for you
to stay away from me, Klao.

Cease this charade of illness.

Speak truthfully,

and tell me why you shun me.

Is Cherd the reason?

What did he do to you?

He is consumed with jealousy.

He has forbidden me from coming near you.

Should I disobey, he shall have me k*lled!

I beg you,
have compassion for my situation.

Leave this establishment, I pray.

Pim.

You cry

because you are afraid, do you not?

Or perhaps you believe…

you were the cause
of my previous disappearance?

The night we last met,

I did ask you

for the location of the meeting place.

Klao…

Have your memories returned?

Yes.

At present,

Phop and I are investigating this matter.

It has all come back to me.

There is no point in lying
or hiding from me any further.

Simply give me the answer

and I shall no longer set foot here again.

That abandoned hut by the pond
near the temple,

to which temple does it belong?

Is Kla not here?

He is not.

He has been keeping a close eye
on Cherd, my Lord.

Leave, all of you.

Wat Sema Thong is the first temple
we come across as we sail along the river.

However, if we go ashore from Sam Khok,

where we have seized opium
on several occasions,

it would instead be Wat Sema Khu.

Lord Phop.

Can you not put your doubts
about that hut to rest?

I simply cannot.

Wat Sema Khu
lies close to the canal market.

Cherd's territory.

It lies also within

you and your father's jurisdiction.

Lord Phop.

Are you suspicious of me?

Certainly not, Lord Harn.

My suspicion lies with your father.

Impossible.

How would my father do such a thing?

I have reasons to believe,

but time is of the essence.

Lord Harn,

you have the power to set wrongs right.

At this hour,
I have no one else to rely on but you.

Should your father be guiltless,

then take it

as my own misunderstanding.

If such is the case,

what would you have me do?

Pim.

No need for such formalities between us.

Let me serve you with all my heart.

And I beg of you…

never return to this place again

lest you invite disaster upon yourself.

What is the meaning of that?

But that hut…

It is the meeting place, is it not?

Indeed it is.

It is a staging ground
for opium smuggled from Sam Khok,

bound for the capital.

And…

So…

Which temple is it?

Is it Wat Sema Muang,

Wat Sema Khu,

or Wat Sema Thong?

It is Wat Sema Muang.

My heart is burdened with guilt.

The last time I spoke thus,

rumors reached my ears

that you had perished.

I have tormented myself
in every waking moment,

believing I was the cause of your demise.

No wonder

you wept…

when we first met again.

You have my deepest gratitude, Pim.

What you have done is right.

I shall leave this place at once

and never return.

I shall not cause you trouble again.

But…

if you still hold on to me thus,

how then could I rise and leave?

Grant me your forgiveness,
I beg of you, Klao.

Forgiveness?

Master.

Calm yourself, A-Chai.

You need not trouble yourself

to serve me tea, High Lord.

Allow me to serve you.

You have gone to great lengths
to summon me here.

What is the matter?

Is it something pleasant?

Indeed it is.

At last,

the truth has come to light.

The truth?

Is it regarding
Phop declining his own marriage?

No.

It is not so.

What has come to light is that

you framed Lord Preechaphibal,

permitting the junks carrying opium

to sail into the river's mouth
without being searched.

Oh, compose yourself
and speak at a steady pace.

You shall be out of breath
if you continue thus.

Now then…

Was it you

who orchestrated all of this?

Indeed.

And what exactly do you think you can do?

Master.

Are you certain this is the way

that leads to your father's stash?

Assuredly.

He has been visiting Wat Sema Khu
more often of late.

Thus, this must be the place.

Make haste.

By my reckoning,

the second period must have passed.

Lord Harn.

Does the hut you spoke of truly exist?

It ought to.

I am certain I have seen it.

Or has my father learned of us
and had it demolished?

How could an entire hut
vanish without a trace?

Either that, or you have deceived me.

Cease this charade, Lord Harn.

I know full well you are behind this.

If you already do,

why then did you follow me here?

Because I still have hope

that a patrolman like you

would not commit such a misdeed.

If such is the case,

do pray that
you make it out alive and in one piece,

Lord Phop.

What is it you are saying?

In the previous incident,

you were not in the wrong.

Indeed.

But this time,

it is certain that I am.

A traitor is among us.

-Summon the patrols here at once.
-I cannot do this.

I place full trust in you.

Never have I known a soul
so wise and resilient as you.

Fear not
that you will be alone in hell,

for your good brother

shall soon join you.

I call upon the Buddha as my witness.

My heart belongs to you alone.

After this day,

if I am gone,

promise me you will live well.