01x05 - Chapter Five

[bunniefuu]

Sunja?

Sunja?

(in Korean) Sunja?

We're here.

I know it's been a
difficult journey,

but we'll be at
my brother's soon.

Isak!

Brother!

Yoseb!

How did you get so tall?

You were just a
runt when I left.

You stole those inches from me!

I prayed very hard for it.

Brother,

this is my wife, Sunja.

I admit, Kyunghee and I
were surprised by the news.

And already with a child.

We have been blessed.

That is how we see it.

How are you feeling?

I'm relieved to
be on land again,

and grateful to be
welcomed into your home...

No need. We are family now.

But we should go.

If I don't get you home soon,
Kyunghee will be furious with me.

No.

I'll carry them.

Let's go.

Wow, look at this place!

There's our car coming.

Are you still with the factory?

Better to speak
Japanese in public.

(in Japanese) I'm the foreman
at the biscuit factory now.

My boss trusts me.

Hey, look at that!

They're building a subway now.

Tokyo just opened its
first line a few years ago,

so Osaka will have the
second one in all of Asia.

It'll change everything.

But it feels like we've
already leaped into the future.

Look at that!

I was only seven, but I could
catch bigger abalones than these.

And look how expensive!

My father would come to
watch me dive for them.

I'll take two.

Not for me.

Who said I was giving you one?

I'm not even hungry after that
breakfast buffet at the hotel,

but how can I resist?

Of course I have to eat this.

Mother, I told you the buffet
is included in the room charge.

It's called sunk cost.

Only people who grew up rich
think stupid things like that.

Come now. Let's spread
your aunt's ashes.

Mother!

Keep up now!

Stay right behind me!

Yoseb,

what is this place?

This is Ikaino,

our neighborhood.

Listen carefully, Isak.

There are still spies around.

Even in the church, I imagine.

You can't ever let your
guard down, understand?

Look what I'm doing, scaring
you on your first night.

You can't imagine how dire that
first year was for us here.

Look around, and
you can see why.

Bellies are hungry,
but there's no work.

They are desperate.

And do you know how many times
our house has been broken into?

When we go to the
police, they do nothing.

They don't care about
the Koreans here.

But I suppose when you
consider everything,

we're still the fortunate ones.

Scram! Go now!

I told you not to let your
pigs run around like this!

sh*t!

We're home!

Kyunghee!

Following the First Sino-Japanese
and Russo-Japanese w*r,

Manchuria and Mongolia have
become a lifeline for our country…

Isak!

Look at you.

But you haven't changed at all.

Not changed?

I'm an old lady now.

It's Sunja, isn't it?

You must be tired
after the long journey.

How are you feeling?

I'm fine.

Please do not concern yourself.

But you're hungry, right?

Sit.

Today, you just eat.

I got a special treat
to mark this occasion.

You came!

I see that look. Guess
you already heard?

Just happy you're here.

Let me introduce my fiancée.

Meet Solomon, my classmate
from the international school.

Ah! The one who
conquered America.

How do you find Tokyo
after all this time?

A city with too much money
but no time to spend it.

The best.

See? He always
charmed the girls.

So it was a mystery why he was
always stuck on that one girl.

The intense one...

- Hana.
- Yes, Hana.

Whatever happened to her?

She disappeared.

If that's the kind of girl you
want, you know where to find them.

Kumiko's alone again.

I told you not to invite her.

She just wants your attention.

Her older sister,

she's the reason we had to
delay our engagement party.

Her parents wanted to marry
her off first, but no takers.

So, what's the situation?

Abe-san is blackballing you
from every bank in Tokyo.

Who cares? I'm going
back to New York anyway.

You sure about that?

What do you know?

No, it's nothing.

But Tom Andrews,

I wouldn't put too
much faith in him.

He's busy atoning
for his own sins.

Financial irregularities,
clients' assets.

No way. He's not the type.

Could be why New York
shipped him off to Tokyo.

To hush things up.

Whatever happened,

he can't afford to damage
his career any more.

So you think he'll cut me loose?

Well, wouldn't you?

I'll do my best to
defend your reputation.

But really, I don't get why
you would do such a thing.

Neither do I.

I need to greet the other guests,
but I'll see you in a bit.

Hey,

what did you mean before,

when you said I should
know where to find Hana?

Where should I look?

For that sort of thing,

I would guess the
Yoshiwara area,

by the Uguisudani stop.

Hi.

What was he thinking?

Lower your voice.

How could he marry
a girl like that?

She's still young.

Let her settle in.

Were we any older when we
came? We were the same age.

And we were miserable
then. Don't you remember?

I'm not just talking about that.

She's further along
than I expected.

You see that as well, don't you?

And Isak, he's susceptible
to idealistic leanings.

A girl like that…

She might have
planned to trap him.

Yoseb.

We've taken in someone
we know nothing about.

Doesn't that worry you?

It seems I disappoint them.

They'll come
around. Don't worry.

But this place…

I feel like it
wants no part of us.

I feel that as well.

For so long now,

I've wanted to leave home.

Now that I've done it…

Sunja, I worry you'll
come to resent me.

Resent you?

How could I resent
the one who saved me?

I don't want this
debt between us.

You owe me nothing.

You said it yourself.

My prospects were bleak.

But you were not
afraid to meet them.

You're wrong.

I was terrified.

You really don't see it,

do you?

You have so much fortitude.

So much that I can siphon
off my own dose of courage

and still leave
you with a bounty.

And this child…

The one I will give my name to,

he will save me.

Death cannot have me.

So no matter what my brother or
sister-in-law believe, they are wrong.

I am the one who must
not be a burden to you.

You're nervous as well.

You know, I saw you that day,

dancing in the plaza.

You were there?

Where did that come from?

Who knows.

When I left that
conference room,

I really wanted to
sink into that ground.

But when I got outside
and I heard that music…

It's hard to describe.

I really felt I could fly away.

I was on top of the world.

But you didn't fly away.

I guess gravity won.

Perhaps there was
another reason?

Perhaps Hana?

The office walls are thin.

You heard all that?

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to eavesdrop.

But I must confess,

I was curious.

She must mean a lot to you.

She did,

but I haven't seen her in years.

Honestly, I was starting
to forget about her.

But then she called
after all this time.

It wouldn't affect you so much
if something wasn't still there.

From the first time we met,

she's been stuck in my heart.

I was 14.

She was the daughter of
my father's girlfriend.

Strange circumstances, I know.

But maybe that was
part of the appeal.

Some people just have…

That power to consume you.

Hana had that power.

Why did the two of you split?

I left for America.

Not too long after that…

She ran away from home.

You can try to find her.

I'm not sure I want to do that.

I don't think she's going
to like who I've become.

Well, Baek-san, you
like complicated women.

Like that landowner.

Why bring that up?

No amount of money was
going to make her sell.

Then do you think that
was her plan all along?

What plan?

To humiliate you.

When you think about
it, it's obvious.

Naomi-san, it really
is unfortunate

to be born a woman,

especially in this country.

Being married to a job
that doesn't even want you…

Is that what you call winning?

Baek-san, it will be interesting

to see what your future holds.

I'm sorry.

I slept in again.

If the baby is to grow strong,
the mother needs her sleep.

Please, let me hang the wash.

Slowly.

Don't strain yourself.

I didn't even hear Isak
leave this morning.

He's getting up
earlier and earlier.

The work at the church
seems to suit him.

What is it?

Are you in pain?

The smell… you
washed it all away.

It's been a few weeks, and
they were smelling so terribly.

Oh, I didn't realize…

It's all I had left.

Just a little while…

I just needed it for
a little while longer.

Oh, Sunja.

When does it go away?

This ache,

when does it stop?

It doesn't.

But you'll learn to endure it.

Trust me.

You're sure this is it?

This is where your
father is buried?

What are you saying?

How can I forget where
I buried my father?

This is the right place.

Then they moved his grave when
they built this parking lot.

Mother,

they would have done it right.

Don't worry. We'll find it.

I'm sorry.

I know nothing of this.

You'll have to speak to
my husband. He's not in.

We've already spoken
with your husband.

But since he doesn't
have the money,

it's up to his family then
to pay off the 160-yen debt.

That seal,

it's your husband's, is it not?

It is.

We don't want to be
a hassle for you.

Give us a 20 if you have it.

Our boss,

he'll be satisfied
with that for the week.

The 160 yen,

that's the entire amount?

I'll handle this.

Including the interest,
it's now double.

When was the loan taken out?

Two months ago.

Said his brother just got married.
Needed an extra fare over.

We'll have the money
in a few hours.

- Who do we bring it to?
- You don't seem to understand...

No need to waste your breath. Just
tell me where to bring the money.

Over by the docks,

there's an office above
the net repair shop.

So you'll have the 20 yen then?

We can let our boss know?

Tell him he'll get
the entire amount.

But Sunja…

Where did you get
a watch like this?

My mother gave it to me.

She wanted me to have
something for emergencies.

Kyunghee, it must
be paid right away.

We should trust
Yoseb to handle this.

I'm sure he tried his best,

but the payments are
too cumbersome now.

I've seen this
happen many times.

Back home, so many farmers had to turn
to moneylenders after a bad season

to buy more seeds or equipment.

Many even lost their homes.

How could he do this?

To go to such people.

Was there any choice?

This is my debt.

I'm the one who must pay it.

Can you at least assure me that
his grave was moved properly,

that he is safe somewhere?

I understand your concerns,

but without the file, I
really don't know anything.

Let's start by processing
the request for the report.

Your name?

Kim Sunja. My Japanese
name is Bando Nobuko.

You're one of those.

When did you move over?

1931.

Do you have Japanese
citizenship then?

No.

- I'm a permanent resident.
- But you carry a South Korean passport.

All we want is to find
my grandfather's grave...

Mother?

Mother,

calm yourself.

They'll find the location.

How can you say that?

So much has changed here.

It's impossible to
find the living,

let alone the dead.

Excuse me!

I found a note while
looking through our files

related to relocation requests.

Perhaps you know the name.

Shin Bokhee?

Do you know this person?

She's my older sister.

We've been looking
for her for years.

She'd be 29 now.

Someone shows up
here once a week

with the same story.

It's not a lie.

That's what they all say.

In any case,

I'm sorry, but I can't help you.

Haruki-san?

Solomon?

I'll be right there!

What is it?

What do you want
to sell me today?

Have I really changed that much?

I suppose I must have.

Sunja?

Sunja, is that really you?

Sister! It's me.

Bokhee, my sister!

You came back.

It's certainly a fine piece.

But I'm sorry to say

there isn't demand for something
like this in this neighborhood.

Young men these days, they like
the ones you wear on the wrist.

I can give you 40 for it.

I'm sorry for bothering
you. Good day.

I'd like to help you, especially
since you are expecting.

I'd be willing to go up to 50,

though I'm not sure
I can earn it back.

It's worth at least 300.

It's from Switzerland.

They make the best
watches there.

You're not in
Switzerland, are you?

I understand.

Goodbye.

You're from Busan.

I can tell from your accent.

Your parents, what do
they do over there?

Just my mother.

She runs her own boardinghouse.

Must be a clever businesswoman.

Fine.

225 yen.

Three hundred.

That is my price.

Kyunghee, what is it?

We can't go there.

It wouldn't be respectable.

But the loan isn't paid
until we deliver this money.

Can't we just give it to Yoseb?

This kind of dirty work
belongs to men, not us.

Do you really think he would
take this money from me?

I'll go. Wait for me at home.

No, you can't go!

If I don't,

what happens then?

You don't realize…

Before I came here,

I never even cooked or
washed my own clothes.

I never spoke to anyone
who my parents didn't know.

Never even handled my own money.

Learning how to do everything,

it was so hard, Sunja.

But then I see you.

You've only been
here a few weeks.

I feel foolish.

This morning, you asked me

when the ache will go away.

The truth is, I'm scared
all the time here.

This constant fear…

How much longer do I
have to live with it?

Let's be scared together.

Perhaps some strength
can come out of it.

Do you think so?

I do.

Move out of the way.

Eat.

After you left…

It felt like a huge hole
opened in our lives.

Your mother, especially,
she felt it deeply.

It was hard for Donghee and me

to see her like that.

Then the w*r broke out,
and things got even harder.

We were a burden to your
mother. We knew that.

But even then,

she refused to send us away.

Then, one day, Donghee and
I were approached by a man…

Who promised us decent
factory jobs in Manchuria.

We hated the thought of
leaving your mother alone here…

But how much longer would she
have been able to keep us?

Besides, your leaving,

it made us realize just how
small our lives were here.

Donghee, especially,

she really wanted
to see the world.

We came back after the w*r,

and we found your mother gone.

The truth is,

I was glad.

I didn't want her to see

how much we had changed.

Even though there was so little to
come back to, I was glad to be back.

But for Donghee,

that happiness faded quickly…

When she realized
it wasn't possible…

To fit back into the
shape of the young girl

she once was.

Remember where we
used to do laundry?

That's…

Where I found her.

You realize that some people

live in their dreams.

They're not made to
endure in such times.

This is where you live?

I just ran into him.

This is Solomon.

I've known him
since he was a baby.

Please welcome him.

That's Noriko.

Her brother, Takashi.

Masako.

Such a handsome young man.

Is he a gift for me?

He's a little old for
you, don't you think?

You're right, but I
could make an exception

for such a good-looking guy.

And this,

this is Satoru.

This is Mozasu's son.

I still speak often
of your father.

He was my greatest friend,
and he saved my life once.

But that's all a long time ago.

This is my home now.

Get me the promissory note.

I'm fine. Please
serve yourselves.

You are our guest.

Thank you.

This is delicious.

What's in it?

Just eat your fill.

If it weren't for Bokhee…

My father would be just one of
many in a crowded, unmarked grave.

I don't know how I can
ever repay her kindness.

She did it for you.

In the end,

I was the lucky one.

But…

In my heart, it
doesn't feel right.

It is not a shame
to survive, mother.

A long time ago,
someone once told me,

"For every step forward,

another person would
have to fall back."

I couldn't believe that then.

But now I wonder…

Perhaps he was right.

I don't know who would've
said such a thing to you,

but it doesn't
sound right to me.

Hey,

let's go home.

Really?

But we still have
two more days here.

I can come back.

I know that now.

When you disappeared, my
father mourned for you,

as did your wife and brother.

I know I hurt many people.

I didn't mean it like that.

It's only to say

how much you were loved.

That is true…

But…

The Haruki they loved
was a different man.

The person I am now
couldn't exist then.

I may not have much here,
but I can be myself.

Please.

I'm sorry.

What am I doing?

I always felt sorry for you.

You grew up

burdened with your
family's hopes and dreams.

It must have been impossible.

But then,

to feel bad for someone
who has so much,

that feels wrong somehow.

I just hope we
can both be happy.

Sunja…

Did we do the wrong thing?

Respectfully, may I ask

how did you know she would
come to sell the watch?

She married a dreamer.

A man weaker than her. And
for that, she'll pay dearly.

310 yen, for your troubles.

FOR SALE BY KUROHANA ENTERPRISES

Tom, listen, I know
you're pissed at me,

but I think there's something
at play with Mamoru Yoshii.

I've been hearing he's
selling off a lot of property.

Hey, I'm glad you called.

- I've been meaning to get in touch.
- Why?

Shiffley's is
letting you go. Okay?

They're getting too much
heat from Colton and Abe-san.

You can't let them do this.

Believe it or not,
I tried to help you.

T-Tom, my visa. It's
sponsored by Shiffley's.

That means I can't go back.

Well, you should contact
a lawyer right away, man.

I don't know if there's anything
they can do, but they...

I have to get the other
line. Don't hang up.

Hello, what is it?

Solomon, I don't
want to die alone.

I don't!

Hana,

what happened?

Hana!

You need to come!

Come now…

Before it's too late.