Original Story by JEON Kyeong-lin
KlM, Yun-jin
LEE, Jong-won
GYE, Sung-yong
ARDOR
My name is Lee Mi-heun
I married a senior classmate the year I graduated from college
We had a daughter and spent eight happy years together
I devoted myself to my house and family
My husband loved this about me
This was how we planned to grow old together
Not finished yet?
Let's wrap it up and go to bed
Leaving this unfolded can bring bad luck tomorrow
December 24th, 2000
Even on the night she came over
I believed my life
would always be this peaceful
Hello?
Yes, it is
Yes. Go ahead
I bought some beer. I didn't want to come empty handed
I thought I should see Mr. Kim before I leave
I owe him quite a lot
I wanted to stop by earlier
Anyway, we had a party around here
He's the only one who didn't show
It's not that I had to be there
I'm leaving early tomorrow
Are you going far away?
Incheon
You know what a foster home is?
It's for abandoned children
I'll be living there with them
Sounds like a difficult job
Nice apartment
How big is it?
Oh, there's a flag in the house
My daughter drew it in pre-school
Something is wrong with it
But what?
Isn't it upside down?
Right, it is!
I knew something was wrong with it
How silly! It's drawn upside down
Sweetie
- She doesn't know anything - What the? What are you doing?
Can't you stay with me tonight?
Miss Jung, stop it. Are you drunk?
But I'm really leaving tomorrow!
Aren't you sad at all?
Don't do this, get off me
No, I wanna stay with you
Can I sleep here with you?
Sweetie, huh?
Young-woo
Can I sleep here with you?
I haven't slept in days. Let me stay, sweetie
Don't you miss me, honey? Smell me
I know you love me, huh?
You two, If you need to talk, go outside
No, Mi-heun, that's not it
Let go
- She's just drunk, that's all - Let go
You crazy girl
This house
This house not here! Don't you know that?
Get out! Get out, now!
Sweetie?
How disgusting
Was it fun fooling around?
Mi-heun
Get out It's over now. Stop it
Let go!
What the?
Wanna know what he said to me?
He said I pull him in all the way
He said he'll never forget how
I squeeze him tight inside me
We weren’t just fooling around
I even got pregnant
Last month, I had an abortion, and he
Your husband, I mean
He waited outside the operating room afraid I'd get hurt
He worried I wouldn't wake up and he'd never see me again!
We loved each other like more than you could ever dream of
And you want me to leave?
You gotta be kidding
I've got as much right to be here as you!
You!
I didn't know there was a knife!
- I didn't know, sweetie - Daddy?
Su-jin! Go back to your room
Mi-heun, open your eyes!
What the hell did you hit her with?
Mi-heun! Mi-heun! Open your eyes!
6 months later
She just moved here from Seoul
and doesn't know her way around
- So help her adjust - The countryside's best for kids
We had a bus for them until last year
- But the school funds have depleted - I see
- The head wound is fully healed - There shouldn't be any problems
Nothing will stop your headaches I'll prescribe a tranquilizer
You know what a drug addict is?
Snap out of it, Mi-heun, please?
Ma'am? We're at Butterfly Ville
This is where you get off
- Get on - No, you go first
- Oh! It's you! - Hello
Coming from somewhere?
- You're getting around well - I went to the school
- Taking off - Oh, mister! I'm coming on
Honey? I picked Su-jin up from school
- Daddy, what's this? - Oh, that's a TV
If you press here, we can watch TV Cool, huh?
Mommy, look! Daddy came to school in this!
- You bought a car? - Oh, you're up
Well, you'll need a car too, to get to the hospital
You can use the other car. On weekends, we'll go around in this
- How's that sound, Su-jin? - Great!
Wonderful?
Hello? Yes, professor, this is Hyo-kyung
I'm here for good
I handed over the publishing company to Chang
and took over the bookstore over from Dae
No, nothing like that
Well, with my wife's health
No, it's nothing serious
She just needs clean air and rest
Yes, I think so
I'll come by sometime
Take care, professor. Bye, sir
Hi, Mommy!
I couldn't quit, no matter what Even after getting lung cancer
Rest stop
A bottle of water, please
- Hey! - Yeah?
You put a novel under Reference!
Ah-huh
Don't sit around doing nothing Go clean the windows
Fuck the nice weather today
Hello?
Are you the owner of this car?
There's something wrong with it
What's the problem?
I'm not sure, it just stopped
When's the last time you put gas in the car?
Pardon?
Didn't even know that it's out of gas
15,000 won, please
- What about the gas can? - Excuse me?
You have to return it, but
You're not from around here, huh?
- Just visiting? - No, I live here
- 3000 won more for the can - What?
You know doc, but I don't know you
I ain't never seen you 3,000 won!
How's country life so far?
You moved into the house downhill?
Didn't change your car plates yet?
I didn't know you lived uphill
I was surprised to see you come out of that house
It's famous around here. Did you know when you went in?
That does it
Seems like your thoughts are always somewhere else
Are you okay?
Live here for a month, you'll see. It'll bore you to death
No mall, no theatres
It's an hour from the city
If you sit around doing nothing, you'll just go crazy
Doesn't the Mrs have a job?
You must have made a lot of money
You should come out more
People are saying you're sick
since you don't come out Rumours!
Oh, I didn't know that
Don't be offended
It's different from Seoul around here
Anyway, did you meet him? Up the hill?
When they moved in, it was worse than here
Wondering why a young, handsome doctor
would think of coming here
Do you know the bamboo house? On the way to So-Jung li?
What about it?
I heard something happened there
The village was turned upside down last year
A stabbing!
A woman killed her father-in-law in broad daylight
The son was such a nice man
I'm telling you. The wife ruined him completely
She had some nerve
being butt naked with her lover in broad daylight!
When the old man caught them
she grabbed the sickle from him
and Gives me chills
just thinking about it
Mommy!
- Wasn't it fun today? - Yeah, science class was best
Mommy! This is Oh Mi-sook. She sits left, right, up from me
She takes the bus a long way
Can we give her a ride?
Where do you live?
Seven stops on bus #2 My house is right there
- Bye - See ya
- Take care, Mi-sook - Bye
You!
I told you
never to get in a stranger's car!
You brat! Go inside, now!
Wow! She's scary
No, she's not
Greet her politely next time
Okay
Can I play at Dong-wook's house?
Okay, but be back before dinner
Yes
- Did you have fun at his house? - Uh-huh
What are you doing? Let's eat
Daddy, I already ate
Did you eat, Hon?
Mommy's sick again
- You said you ate, right? - Ah-huh
- Let's get ready for school tomorrow - Okay
Honey?
Why are you crying?
What's the matter now?
These people can die doing that. Why would they do it?
- It's so stupid - What?
Maybe you should've died
before she came over
Then I might've died along with you
No, it would've been better if I died first
Then I wouldn't have found out. That would've been nice
I can't do it
I can't go back to the way we were
But why am I here, in this house, still sleeping next to you?
Life, It feels so empty
so boring that I'll go crazy
Nothing's worth living for
everything's a waste
Just stop it!
How many times do I have to tell you?
It was just an accident
I apologized over and over!
I gave up everything
to be stuck here running a tiny bookstore!
For what? I dedicated my life to you and Su-jin!
Frankly speaking
you always lay around like a corpse
but did I ever complain about you?
You're really something, Mi-heun! Really something
You're not going to sit here wasting away your life, are you?
The weather's too nice for that
Would you like some coffee?
Su-jin, turn down the volume! Mommy's head hurts
Yes, Mommy
Su-jin, let's go
Kim Su-Jin, quickly
- Where are we going? - Mommy has to go into town
Quick, go to Dong-wook's place
Okay
Let's go
What's the problem?
My head
it hurts so much I can't do anything
Let me take a look
Breathe
All right
That's fine
- Does it hurt like this often? - Yes
Since when?
Since last December 24th
Were you hurt?
Did a specialist look at it?
Yes It's nothing serious
- But your head still hurts? - Yes
Let's check your blood pressure
I was treated by a neuro-psychiatrist. They're vascular headaches
Please just write the prescription. It's Xanax and Diazepam
Write it, please
All right
Let me just see your health insurance card
Lee Mi-heun?
I'm Choi ln-kyu
What do you do most of the time?
Sleeping?
Your head hurts because you stay in sleeping
I really have to get going
Uh, yes, that's right
You shouldn't take too much Diazepam or Barium
Thank you
Ah, Mi-heun?
Want to play a little game with me?
Having fun is the best medicine for headaches
For four months, until summer's end
let's pretend we're lovers
We'll have fun together and have sex
Sound intriguing?
But there's one rule
lf one of us tells the other ''I love you'', then it's over
We can never meet again
So I'm not proposing a relationship, just a game
Why would anyone play such a game?
Life's full of changes
I don't like being tied down
Or, maybe it's because I know I'll never lose
And mostly, because I find you attractive
Do you play this game often?
Not often, but once in awhile
Why can't there be love?
Confessions of love, marriage
Typical steps before sex
I hate it, it's like insurance
I'm not a person who can fall in love
So how about it?
You look bored, too
I know you'll play it. You have nothing else to do
They have the best mushrooms here. Let's get some
Mushrooms, please
Your mom's not out waiting today
Bye
- See you tomorrow, Mi-sook - Bye
Mommy!
- Mommy! - You bitch! Come here!
- Mi-sook! - Mommy!
Come here, quickly
Hold on
You bitch! Come here! You fucking bitch!
Hey, get over here!
Get back here!
Shocked?
He's my husband
I met him working at a bar
the first customer I slept with
He'd drink and then beat me
Went in and out of jail
No matter how far
I try to run
he somehow ends up finding me
Crazy, ain't it?
Looks like it will rain
It's the typhoon coming
there's always one around now
Mi-heun?
Hi, Mom
I called because of the typhoon
Is your place okay?
It's okay
If you're fine, then bye for now
- Wait, Mom? - What?
- How's Dad? - The same as always
- I see - Then, I'll see you soon. Bye
Each time you played, have you always won?
There's no winner in this game
just a loser
Have you ever lost?
Only once
to the woman who first proposed it to me
What happened then?
I asked her to live with me and to get a divorce
Threats, stalking
I turned worse than scum
Who would play such a game?
Bored women?
Ruined women?
There are women who want to be ruined
Like you
Open your eyes
Don't look at it
No, yours is so beautiful
What do we say now?
Anything
Anything you want
How many kids do you have?
Nothing like that
Was I any good?
You don't know how seductive you really are
So you looks so normal
You're really fantastic
I thought my whole body would be sucked into you
Does your wife know about your lifestyle?
As long as she doesn't see it, she's okay with it
She knew about this before we married
I've always been like this
Even before I ran away from Seoul
Why did you leave Seoul?
Why'd you spend 2 weeks in the hospital for a head wound?
That's not fair
One advantage of living up the hill
- Tricky, aren't I? - As much as me?
You got me there
Su-jin
this is an internet joke, what's soccer players' favourite drink?
Penal-tea!
What happened to my hair?
No, it's pretty
I'll brush it when we get home. Don't worry
it looks good
- Hey, Doctor Choi - Oh, hello
- We should go fishing sometime, huh? - Yes, I'll look at my schedule
Bye
Hello?
- Who was that? - No one, maybe they'll call again
It's nice out, wanna go for a hike?
Why don't you go with Su-jin? I don't like hiking
I wanted to go as a family
We've never gone out since moving
It's too late to hike
It'll be lunchtime soon
How about hot springs, then?
I'm a bit stiff these days
We can have sushi on the way back. How about it?
Mommy, hurry up
Daddy!
- The hot spa was good, huh? - Yeah
- Do you have some lotion on you? - You didn't put any on?
I didn't like the one they had
Did you put some on Su-jin?
By the way
- Hon? - Hmm?
You know Prof Hwang?
He asked me to try writing again
He thinks I have a lot of time in a place like this
I guess everyone's out on Sunday
Stop by the store, let's get some drinks
Honk! Honk! Big car coming. Move away, please
Mommy, let's get some ice cream
- Do you want something? - Anything's fine
I'll wait here
Is something wrong?
Do you know how I got out?
Over the window!
Look at my feet!
Is someone here?
I don't like such dangerous acts
- I couldn't keep our appointment - That's no problem
You came to say that, this late?
The light was on
I'm leaving
No one saw me
Mi-heun, wait
Our promises are
like sea buoys
They don't really mark anything
Stop there or just float past them
It doesn't make a difference
Mi-heun
Hey, Mi-heun
Where'd you go?
I was worried about you
I went for a walk
At this hour? In your pyjamas?
Who cares? No one's around to see me
But when did you leave?
When you went to the bathroom
Are you crazy? Weren't you scared?
No I went to the lake
What's wrong with you?
You make me crazy
Can we do it?
Mi-heun?
It's okay, isn't it?
Here they go again
What?
The wife! She does this every year
She invites some outsiders
has an outdoor party
and keeps the village up all night
They say she runs a restaurant in the city
Probably just a pub
Is there anyplace cool around? It's so boring here
- Shall we go to the beach? - The beach?
- Is it nearby? - Of course, it's not far
Wow, you came pretty far
I love you
Does this mean I lost?
- The game's over? - You mean it?
Can't I?
No. It's not that you can't
I just said it
for practice
to remind myself of the rule
If you only knew
You don't know how hard I'm trying not to lose this game
Oh, it feels so good
Darling?
Wait, wait
Darling?
In-kyu
Darling?
They're looking for you
In-kyu! In-kyu!
Want to put in a pond
and raise goldfish? Su-jin will like it
There's a place by my shop
They'll give us a good deal
Let's do it later
No, it's best to do it now
I've one more thing to say
I want to write a novel again
Hello?
Yes, yes okay
- Who was it? - Wait
What? Where are you going?
Um Mi-sook's mom is sick
- Who? - You know, at the rest stop
So why do you have to go?
I'm the only one she knows
- But this late at night? - I'll call when I get there, okay?
I parked at the post office
Is something up?
Not that I know of
It's just, different
Isn't it fun and thrilling?
What'd you say to him?
Why?
Relax
On my way home, I realized I really needed you
I didn't come to joke
You've got to relax
and take us less seriously
Come here
Where were you this afternoon?
This place was closed early
I just went for a long drive
Honking loudly and speeding, I bet
I'm going to my mom's next week
Can I try it?
Want to meet me there?
Can you meet me if I go?
It's my sister's memorial day
Let's meet at night
The garlic is great there
I don't make it often
Take some home for your family
Why didn't you bring Su-jin?
I'm only here for the day
Besides, she's busy these days playing with friends
Where's the brother In law?
He has a new wife, don't bother
Hae-jin should get close to her, too
She's never seen your sister
Shouldn't we go to the temple?
The monks will pray for her
And don't bother coming next year
We've left this to the monks. No need for us to fuss anymore
You want to go for a walk?
Do we have to? It's like downtown Seoul here
Look, just go back
Why'd you come?
If you hadn't, I wouldn't have waited
Don't get angry
Look at me
I hate the way I am
This is just crazy
No need to drag this on. Let's end it
I'm not angry with you. Stop it
If you're tired of us, just say it
There isn't any commitment here
It's not that I don't want it. It's the complete opposite
You don't really understand me
We came way too far
While coming here, you know what I realized?
What's that?
I'm disgusted with how I am
how I live, how others live
I even thought of going back
But after 4 hours
I couldn't
It'd be crazy for me to go back, and there's nowhere I want to be
It's the story of my life
I'm not angry with you
I know I'm bad
I've never kept a promise in my life
When I get older, I'll be just like my dad
I ran away from the one I
confessed love to go, just like him
I cut my hand so I'd remember not to love again
But here you are
My nurse said rumours about
us are all over the village
Someone in the next town even asked
how the doc and his lover were doing
Let's spend the night together anyway
It'll be our first full night together
You could call it our first night
You men like first too much
What if today wasn't the first
but the last, how would you spend it?
Do the laundry
Clean the fridge
Go to the hairdresser's and say
"Do whatever you want with it" for the first time,
put Su-jin's things in a box
and write 2014, so she can find it as an adult
Go to Jinju to eat pizza Write a letter to a friend
Look at all my old report cards and pictures
Oh, and change my underwear
And me?
When will you meet me on the last day?
When will you meet me on that day?
From morning till night, all day
All day Beginning to end
I wouldn't let you go for a moment
Let's go
You're right. We came much too far
The game's over
Let's not meet any more
Say that you love me
I don't want to play games anymore
- Mommy - Huh?
I'm hot. Can I get out?
What's all this?
I put the store up for sale
I'm running off to hide again
So he can't find me
Is something wrong?
Why?
You seem different
Huh?
I've heard about it
They all know except my husband
When are you leaving?
The next owner will be here soon
Keep in touch. I'll write
My name's Eun-Yeon
Na Eun-Yeon
Don't say it
No one's called me that since I left home at 15
I just wanted you to know my name
Hello?
It's me. Where are the stop smoking tapes that were in the car?
I threw them out
But they weren't yours!
You knew I was trying to quit smoking!
You should've at least asked!
- Wait! Someone's at the door - Shit!
- I'll call you back - Hey! Mi-heun!
- Who is it? - Here to construct the pond
- Pardon? - Pond construction, ma'am
Hey, mister! Sir?
Hey, stop for a sec
I'll take the kid out for a while
- Okay, but be back before lunch - I will. Thank you
No problem! Go on
Bye, sweetie
You bastard!
Get on
People are looking. Get in now
I have to go pick up Su-jin
You go first and wait for me
One big change in life is more than enough for me
If you and
I live together
we'll just end up repeating the same mistakes
Just like with your husband
you'll end up lying to me
And I'll meet another woman
and be forced to lie to you
That's absurd
What do you know about me and my husband?
What's the big change?
I can just eat you up right now
Like a man-eater
I need you
Don't go seeing anyone else yet
A woman who makes me
warm soup every morning
And has my baby through her body
Coming home at night
and falling asleep in her arms
It's no longer possible
We both tried it before
We both failed at that sort of life
What were you doing there?
I'm talking to you!
I went to the spa
When did you arrive?
An hour ago
I was here for three hours!
I went home early but no one was home!
The workers were mad about missing lunch!
I looked for you and Su-jin everywhere!
I found your car here, so I waited
I asked if anyone saw you or Su-jin inside the spa
They said no!!
I waited since then. It's six now!
Where's Su-jin?
You know there's nothing but a motel through there!
Where is she?
Playing at a friend's house
Explain yourself
Is it true what everyone says?
Let go
Get off, now!
Get out!
Now, explain! I'm listening!
You think I'm sacrificing my life to live in this hell-hole
so that you can fuck some doctor?
I have nothing to say
- Let's end it - What?
I want a divorce
You think I'm crazy enough to give you what you want?
God forbid!
I'm gonna make sure you pay for this!
- When did it start? - As soon as we moved here
Where do you think you're going?
Stop right there! You can't go! Fuck!
Hey, miss, is something wrong?
Are you okay?
Are you sure?
How'd this happen?
You're unreal
A jerk who seduces crazy women in the country with bad games
Let's go to the hospital
I can't go into town
Let's just stay here, together
People believe that only the good
can fall in love forever
But the people who love
intensely are the bad ones
Immoral, weak,
selfish people
the poor, dark souls
I don't have a picture
No picture of Su-jin!
What am I going to do?
It's at the house
What if I forget her face?
What am I going to do?
What if I forget her face?
What are we going to do?
I love you
What shitty luck
Let it go
Right, it's nothing
Where are we going?
I'm scared of your driving
You and I have no place to go and no place to stay
Let's just go anywhere
But you know, we won't work
Are you okay?
Here
Yes, I'm fine
Deserted by family and friends, I walked out of the hospital alone
And someone was kind enough to tell me of his death
I left home
And a year has gone by
When the sun rose, I got up to work on a day to day job
When I got hungry, I filled up on cheap food
At night I returned to my one room home and fell asleep, alone
Sometimes, memories would crowd in and stab my heart
Often times I'd wake up at night and cry like a mad woman
But I believe
I'm more alive now than I ever was in the past
It's like I'm walking toward a world tossed by wind
Vitality starts with misery
My sadness reminds me that I'm alive
That one dazzling moment in my life
The all too short summer, that year
I didn't have the chance to say I loved him
Even now, I remember I can hear his final laugh
Are you ready?
Ah yes
Okay, let's take your picture now
Tilt your head a little to the right, and turn
That's great
Can you put the bag down from the chair?
Great
Is today a special occasion? Taking a photo by yourself
No, I just have no picture
Director BYUN Young-joo