Original subtitles

ALL NAMES, CHARACTERS, AND EVENTS ARE FICTIONAL

CHILD AND ANIMAL WELFARE REGULATIONS WERE OBSERVED

What do you want?

To go back…

to the time before you came up with the special act.

You'll stop me until the end?

You did the best you could.

So,

stop here.

Is that what you want?

You even dug up your painful memories that have tormented you

and got a fake illegitimate child, because you want me to stop?

Answer me.

Yes.

I want us to go back, like nothing has happened.

Because nothing

has happened.

Even if I give up on the special act,

we can't go back.

"As if nothing happened"?

"Nothing has happened"?

What you said here today will come back to haunt you.

I don't care.

As long as I can stop the special act.

What on earth are you hiding?

What is it that scares you even more than an illegitimate child?

LEE HWA-JIN

Why did you have to go that far?

I know you made Park Seo-a spread the video

Ko A-ram backed up to the cloud.

I've been thinking about it,

and it's just too much.

So you weren't just handling the divorce case.

I wondered how the victims' statements and the lawsuit

were moving so unusually fast.

It was you.

You won't be able to escape punishment either,

for instigating those kids.

I don't intend to.

I did something wrong,

so I deserve to be punished.

I don't understand why you're doing this.

Didn't you join Hyun's campaign because your husband was unfairly blamed

and denied worker's compensation?

Didn't you enter politics to make things right?

I don't understand how someone like that

could commit a crime using the president-elect as an excuse.

You know more about me than I thought.

Most lawyers get others to do the background checks,

but I do it myself.

Just like I did with Ko A-ram and Park Seo-a.

It wasn't for the president-elect.

It it were,

I wouldn't have pushed his only daughter that far.

Then who was it for? What was it for?

"Punishment is not what we want."

"We want our family back."

"Revenge is not what I want."

"I want my mom and dad to come back home."

This was your eulogy for your parents after losing them

to the H Chemical fire in 2012.

You did your research.

Why did you take the divorce case?

Why did you decide to be on Ms. Cha's side?

What do you want?

I'm not obligated to answer that.

I want the truth.

And I want the truth to punish those who did wrong.

So the victims don't turn into perpetrators

Just like the man who got framed for arson after an unjust death,

Do Tae-hun.

If you're on Ms. Cha's side for revenge,

remember this.

Ms. Cha must already know that.

She gave you the case

to use your resentment towards the president-elect.

I don't care.

Because after getting revenge on him,

your next target is

Ms. Cha?

Or are you planning to come between them

so the divorce suit ruins them both?

Ms. Cha uses people.

She doesn't get used.

Let me ask you again.

What do you want?

It's been about ten minutes. My client's waiting.

We might want the same thing.

If you really want revenge…

If you really want a just punishment,

the answer is

the special act, not the divorce suit.

-Once the special act is passed-- -Hey, look.

You don't know how awful hope is, do you?

I've tried literally everything for the past 15 years.

I've protested, collected signatures on the streets,

everything I could to get the special act passed.

I was so desperate…

that I even became a lawyer.

There's this thing Ms. Cha has.

We can get the special act passed

if you help me get it.

A thing?

Something that keeps

the Party for Peace and Freedom under control.

Something like an audio tape or an accounting ledger.

-If you just-- -Steal it?

You said you tried everything.

So why not try

one more thing?

Are you defying me?

Release U-yeong first.

After that.

So you don't trust me.

I've never had a dad.

So I want to make sure our child has a dad.

"Our child"?

You told me not to make it anxious.

It was thanks to you.

If I hadn't met you,

my life would've been so boring.

The guy who got arrested

is the father?

Release U-yeong first.

Then I'll do whatever you say.

What if I release him

and you still don't do as I say?

I haven't thought about it.

So you don't trust me either.

LAWYER KANG SEON-HO

The person you have reached is unavailable.

Please leave a message after the tone.

Additional charges may apply.

It's me, Cha Su-yeon.

You must be being questioned right now. Come to my place as soon as you hear this.

I need to have her sign a paper agreeing to do as I say

in exchange for releasing the child's father.

A legally binding document drafted in the presence of a lawyer.

Once I sign the paper,

will you release U-yeong?

If we can't trust each other,

we have to rely on the law.

We're good now?

The Special Act for the Investigation of the H Chemical Fire

and the Establishment of a Safer Society,

also known as the Do Tae-hun Special Act, the vote on it is just a day away.

The Party for Peace and Freedom has officially opposed the bill,

breaking from former Assemblywoman Bae's earlier pledge.

Let's hear from Noh Cheol-jae, the floor leader of the party.

We've never changed our party's stance.

We just corrected the improper deal former Assemblywoman Bae made

in return for the prime minister position.

It hasn't been long since the election ended.

What we need to do now is unite the divided people,

not divide the nation by bringing up the special act

and playing the blame game.

Tell me, how does that serve our national interest?

Will your party officially oppose the special act?

Well…

We've got to do what we've got to do.

Although,

there will be another meeting before tomorrow's vote.

That's it for today.

-Sir. -A quick word, please.

There is growing attention on whether

the president-elect's first campaign pledge will fall through.

You did the best you could.

So,

stop here.

Ms. Cha left.

But…

He's stuck in there for hours.

Secretary Shin.

You can't just barge in here.

Don't tell him about our call.

Once he finds out, I'll be fired.

This is Shin Hae-rin.

I have something urgent to tell you.

I'm coming in.

I heard that Chief Secretary Lim proposed passing the special act.

You're not supposed to know that.

I heard it from Chief Secretary Lim.

What else did he say?

That you didn't accept the offer.

Was that the urgent thing you wanted to talk about?

You wanted to ask me why I didn't accept it?

No.

I will get the special act passed.

I'm not asking for help.

I'm asking you to stay out of it.

Secretary Shin.

Please don't forget why you started the divorce suit.

It was for the special act.

Not for Ms. Cha.

I thought it was President Yu who was trying to stop it.

So I was trying to protect her from him.

Now you know.

Now you know that Ms. Cha is the one who has been stopping it!

I need to check something first.

After that--

The one trying to stop the investigation must be behind the incident.

Secretary Shin.

If Ms. Cha, who was trying to stop the special act, is the culprit,

she must pay for it.

Only then can we prove Do Tae-hun's innocence.

You know

politics isn't that simple.

I know.

I also know you've never turned away from a problem with such an excuse.

Are you saying I have changed?

Maybe you have changed.

Please don't stop the special act just to protect Ms. Cha.

And please don't stop me.

I can bear everything else.

But the 20 years that I have lived for you

going to waste…

I can't bear that.

My wife wants me to give up on the special act.

She said if I keep pushing it,

she'd expose who I had an affair with.

Lee Hwa-jin?

Did you know?

I did get a feeling that she was getting the wrong idea.

But it's not true.

She says it doesn't matter if it's true

because Lee Hwa-jin will speak to the press herself.

She's going that far?

You're right.

I've never avoided anything because politics is complicated.

But the problem I'm facing now is extra complicated.

So give me some time.

Time to solve this problem.

We don't have time.

We do, until the inauguration.

No.

I'm not talking about your time.

I'm talking about the time I have left.

I made myself clear.

Don't stop the special act.

SPECIAL ACT

Secretary Shin!

You think I'd just walk away quietly?

One word from me, and you're done for, Hyun Min-cheol!

Just imagine how many secrets I know about you from the past 20 years.

And imagine what will happen once I disclose them.

You have no idea!

Have you lost your mind?

You think you can just throw me out and get away with it?

Calm down. Let's talk outside.

-Let go! -Let's talk outside.

-Let go. -Come on. Talk with me.

Breaking news. Civil war has broken out.

Secretary Shin attacked the president-elect.

She was cussing and yelling. It was no joke.

She was the top contributor. I'm not surprised.

PARTICIPATION NATIONAL PARTY

The alliance of parties other than the Party for Peace and Freedom

is already falling apart.

No wonder. The divorce and the affair ruined the president-elect's credibility.

Some are already calling for the president-elect to leave the party.

If we push the special act too hard and it fails,

we'll take the blow too--

Mr. Kwon, let's take a short recess.

What is this?

Sir, what are they saying? Secretary Shin lashed out at the president-elect?

The vote is tomorrow!

We're at war now. We can't afford a civil war on top of that.

Goodness!

She's been the president-elect's closest aide for the past 20 years.

She deserves to be honored for her contribution, not fired.

This isn't just about the president-elect!

She's seen and heard everything within our party about the election!

What if she points the gun at us?

Let's hear what she wants.

We have to ease her anger somehow.

Geez, what on earth…

Hello? Assemblyman Choi?

Hello, Secretary Shin. It's me.

So…

I heard something upsetting happened.

Upsetting?

It's not a personal matter like that.

The party won't crumble just because a low-ranking member like me leaves.

But if the special act gets thrown out,

our party's identity could be at stake.

I just raised my voice a bit, trying to be forthright with him.

I know. I know how loyal you are.

I understand. I do.

Speaking of which,

it seems like the Party for Peace and Freedom will turn in favor of the act.

As long as we keep our stance, we'll easily get it passed.

You must really like jjamppong.

You never go to barbecue restaurants.

I thought you knew that I stopped going since the fire incident.

Right.

Sorry.

I forgot. Goodness.

Jjamppong is my comfort food.

I don't need to worry about who grills the meat.

You do that every once in a while.

What about the source

Cha Su-yeon promised to give us?

No news.

But no news is good news, you know.

To catch a big fish like this,

I need to be patient and wait.

That's true.

Right.

You heard about the new program launch, right?

Looks like they're pushing it as the main show.

I saw the budget and…

Man, it was a lot.

Speaking of which…

What? Just say it.

You're on the shortlist for the host.

Well, of course,

there are candidates from outside, and even other networks,

so it'll be tough competition.

But I'm betting on you.

But don't go alone, okay?

We've been working as a team.

Better the devil you know.

Why?

Is being the team leader for News Magazine not enough?

Come on.

News Magazine is not my program. It's yours.

And no one can replace you.

So if you're going,

take me with you.

Why me, though?

With your people skills, convincing people from outside or other networks

would be a piece of cake.

I'm a loyal person.

What is this really about?

We hit a homer with Cha's wiretapping story.

Let's go for a back-to-back homer with the president-elect's affair.

Then the game's over.

Whoever's in the shortlist, they won't be able to beat you.

Counting the chickens before they hatch,

I'm already getting full.

Oh, come on.

That's not what it is.

The universe is sending good energy your way.

You know how intuitive I am.

Oh, boy.

Look who's calling. Secretary Shin with no connections.

SHIN HAE-RIN

Sure.

Hello?

I was going to call you.

I heard you quit.

What happened?

Right, that wasn't so nice of me then. I didn't answer your calls.

You know presidential candidates declare their assets.

Who doesn't know that?

What? Will you report him for breaking the election law?

And if declared jewelry gets stolen,

it's a criminal case, right?

Yes, it is.

A simple theft. Nothing more than a single line in the news. Why do you ask?

What if it's undeclared jewelry that gets stolen?

That can be a little bigger case.

What if the undeclared jewelry gets stolen,

and you collude with the thief to blackmail the president-elect?

Wow.

Just hearing that excites me.

Are you sure, though?

Look into Seon U-yeong arrested at Haseong Police Station.

Haseong Police Station. Seon U-yeong.

Are you sure about this? I need to know for sure before I dive in.

Kang Seon-ho is Seon U-yeong's lawyer.

Cha Su-yeon's divorce lawyer?

Does this mean Cha has Seon U-yeong's back?

No.

She's using Seon U-yeong to join forces with Lee Hwa-jin, her stylist.

Her and Seon U-yeong are close.

All right. Let me process this.

That's all I can give you.

Cheon is right about the universe sending energy.

This is my ticket to the new program.

MBS REPORTER KIM YUN-JI

Hi, Min-ju.

See if there's a Seon U-yeong arrested at Haseong Station.

And write down everything that you hear. I'll be right there.

Hey!

To MBS, please.

That kind of paper has no legal power.

If you get Seon U-yeong released,

Lee Hwa-jin does anything you say? What is this, a gift voucher?

Just make it believable to her.

That's what matters.

I'll keep the promise anyway.

Are you telling me to trick Lee Hwa-jin?

It may look like tricking her,

but the results will be the same.

Seon U-yeong will be released, and the divorce case will be dropped.

A petition is enough to release Seon U-yeong.

You didn't really

listen to what I said.

Stopping the divorce suit is the priority.

Petition or whatever comes next.

The detention period will expire soon.

Before the arrest warrant--

Whether he's arrested or ends up in jail,

I don't care.

Mr. Kang.

Don't forget who you're working for.

Until the divorce case is dropped,

there will be no petition or release.

Did the president-elect say he'd withdraw the divorce suit?

It's a matter of time.

Just make sure

that she can rest assured.

Yes, ma'am.

I'll get going now.

By the way, I didn't get to eat today.

Before I go, can I have ramyeon down in the kitchen?

Ramyeon won't do.

I'll have my butler prepare a meal.

Hello?

Could you prepare a meal for Lawyer Kang?

And more tea for me.

I want to get more rest.

Thanks.

Anything more you want to say?

No.

I'll go downstairs, then.

Let me know if you want more.

Actually,

I was just about to ask for one more bowl of rice.

My gosh, you must've been famished.

That's three bowls of rice.

Well, I had a lot of things

to deal with today.

Do you not

have a family?

You're always here, you never go home.

I've been doing this since I was 16.

I never had time to make a family.

But then,

you've been with Ms. Cha for a long time. She must be like family to you.

Family? No way.

She was the first person to ever treat me like a human.

I used to be called a servant,

but she gave me the title of butler.

I didn't know you were such a sociable person.

Oh, I apologize.

I went overboard.

No, I like it. It feels natural.

You don't have to stand there.

Please do your thing. I'll clean up after finishing it.

No, you can just leave it there.

I'll go check on Ms. Cha.

I just made some more tea for her.

Okay.

No legal power?

That's why I came here before going to Ms. Cha's place.

I thought you should know.

So she lied to me.

But

there's another way to get U-yeong released.

Please tell me in detail where and how you stole the necklace.

Why do you ask that?

I'm going to find Ms. Cha's weakness.

Once I find it,

I can

help get U-yeong released.

Trust me.

I will get him out.

I stole the necklace

from the walk-in closet.

Was it in a safe?

No. It was in a display cabinet, not a safe.

I frequented the place, so I knew where it was.

Gosh, that scared me.

And the cabinet isn't locked?

It isn't.

What about a safe? Was there no safe?

Oh, I've seen it.

A safe, in the dressing room.

When I took out the necklace from the cabinet,

I saw a button under the shelf.

When I pressed the button, the wall slid open.

Please enter your password.

I need to know the password.

Most of Ms. Cha's passwords, including her phone,

are 1119.

Ji-yu's birthday.

Wrong password.

Please try again.

Wrong password.

Please try again.

After three failed attempts, you cannot re-enter for an hour.

One hour? It's over if it gets locked for an hour.

Is it six digits, not four?

My electronic door lock is six digits too.

Except for one and nine…

Zero.

Zero.

Zero.

I just need to combine them.

Most of Ms. Cha's passwords, including her phone,

are 1119.

Ji-yu's birthday.

It's Ji-yu's birthday.

Ji-yu is a freshman in high school, so she's 17.

I'm 29, so she's 12 years younger than me. That means

she was born in 2010.

If it's six digit…

1011…

Nineteen.

Safe unlocked.

The door is opening.

What were you doing in there?

Shush. I…

I took a selfie to post on my social media.

Don't tell your mom about this.

Right, and I followed your account. Make sure you follow me back.

Ko A-ram and Park Seo-a didn't contact you, did they?

No.

They haven't since they were disciplined.

As I said before, if they come find you or anything, let me know.

I'll deal with them right away, okay?

Lawyer Kang.

Why did you come back up?

Well, I wanted to thank you for the dinner you prepared for me.

I ate to my heart's content. Thank you so much.

Well, then.

I should really get going.

KANG SEON-HO LAWYER

REVEALING THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE

He's such an attention seeker.

You must be tired.

I lost my touch from the few days' rest.

Since I wasn't making progress, it was even harder.

You should eat. Wash first. I'll prepare food for you.

I just need something

to drink.

You said you could pass the special act if you had this. Are you sure?

Where are you?

I'll go to you.

I just left the house.

There's a secondhand bookstore

ten minutes from here that I like to visit.

A secondhand bookstore?

Lawyer Kang, can you hear me?

I don't know

if I should

trust you,

Secretary Shin.

Why would you say that?

"We can pass the special act with this."

There were way too many people who took advantage of us in the past.

If you use this to strike a deal

with the Party for Peace and Freedom for your own political gain--

Don't worry.

Did you forget why I went so far as to break the law and spread the video?

It was all for the special act.

Hand the ledger over to me.

I'm the only one who can pass the special act.

Someone who goes by Secretary Shin said…

that if she had this,

she could pass the special act.

What? I really don't want to give it to him, but I'm forcing myself to do it

because my uncle strongly insists.

And you stop me? You're pissing me off!

It's okay.

I'll check it first.

The security regulations say…

Go ahead.

God…

You're so thorough.

You don't even let him open a bag on his own.

There's no issue. Would you like to check?

HASEONG FOUNDATION PROSECUTOR NOH CHEOL-JAE…

FINANCIAL LEDGER

HASEONG PETROCHEMICAL

I need an explanation for these.

Secretary Shin claims that you can seize control

of the Party for Peace and Freedom with these.

You stole from my wife.

Ki-ju, what did I tell you?

I said we should've just handed it over to Secretary Shin.

Did you hear what he said?

I knew he would nitpick saying that I stole them!

I was even prepared to go to prison in case things went wrong,

and he's acting all unbothered. I knew he would act like this!

Did you hear that?

Seon-ho couldn't decide who he should hand those over to.

I told him to give them to you.

For the last time,

I'll let myself trust you again.

If you intend to pass the special law using those,

drink it up and take them.

If you're going to

drag your feet the way you have been,

just leave without them.

Why me, not Secretary Shin?

I didn't choose you. I was going to give them to Secretary Shin.

Yoon Ki-ju.

Why me?

You know I suck at making this kind of choice.

So I used my brain.

"If Tae-hun were here,

who would he have chosen?"

WE ARE AGAINST ILLEGAL SUCCESSION

I heard Lawyer Kang gave you the ledgers.

Hand them over to me.

I'll get in contact with Peace and Freedom Party.

You want to threaten the assemblymen

and force them to vote in favor?

Of course.

We can't be picky with our methods now.

We must pass the special act--

What if I insist on the ethical method?

Will you reveal my weakness?

I know well that this isn't how you like to do things.

But at times like this, you must prioritize the outcome.

"At times like this"?

"The outcome"?

Who decides that?

Who gets to make that choice?

That's why I said I'd do it myself.

Just hand over the ledgers and stand back.

Turn a blind eye.

After the special act is passed,

you can play your role as the president-elect.

That's what you took me for.

Someone who dumps all the responsibilities on you.

H Hotel was my husband's pride.

He took me there even before the construction was finished.

He was proud of building the tallest hotel using the soil from the lowest ground.

But on the day of completion,

his claim for worker's compensation was denied,

and he was investigated for injury by professional negligence.

What I've done for the past 20 years isn't any different.

I served you like your shadow from the lowest place

and made you president in the end.

Please stay someone I can be proud of.

You're the president now.

Do what you must as the president.

This should be my job.

Let me handle it one last time.

Your job is already done.

President-elect!

Your 20 years.

The 20 years you spent for me.

I wished I could stay grateful to you until the very end.

This is my job!

Hand them over to me!

I told you not to stop me

when it came to the special act!

I told you!

President-elect!

President-elect…

President-elect!

Please stay someone I can be proud of.

You're the president now.

Do what you must as the president.

You did the best you could.

So,

stop here.

"If Tae-hun were here,

who would he have chosen?"

SPECIAL ACT FOR H CHEMICAL FIRE REINVESTIGATION

FINANCIAL LEDGER

At the Haseong Interchange, which leads to Yeouido,

a one-ton truck suddenly broke down

creating a massive congestion around the area.

In certain areas, cars have come to a standstill,

it's like a parking lot.

The police and the expressway corporation

request that drivers avoid the area

and check live traffic information.

What happened?

A truck broke down.

The police will tow it away,

but it will take some time.

You can't go. Our security regulations say…

YEAR 2007

-My hand! -Tae-hun!

Tae-hun, what's wrong?

Tae-hun.

-Call 911! -Hang in there.

My hand!

Call 911!

-Tae-hun. -Tae-hun.

Tae-hun.

President-elect.

I did as you said.

Of course.

I confirmed the President-elect's car.

The voting will start in 30 minutes.

Don't worry. He'll never make it in time.

But must we go this far?

The party is against the special act anyway.

You talk as if you're a politician.

You might soon become one.

I apologize.

Do you know

why Europeans unnecessarily use forks

and even knives to have a meal?

Because they might die

if they let their guard down and go to a meal empty-handed.

I'm not only good at arithmetic. I'm pretty decent in world history.

It's not over until it's over.

How many people in history

do you think died unexpectedly at the last possible moment?

That's how Genghis Khan died.

And so did Napoleon.

Who's to say I won't end up like that?

So don't say another word

and keep

the President-elect tied up in traffic

until the last possible moment.

Today, at the 22nd National Assembly's plenary meeting,

a vote on the Do Tae-hun special act will take place.

People are paying attention to whether President-elect Hyun's

first election promise will be fulfilled.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

How may I help you?

President-elect has just arrived at the National Assembly.

But instead of his usual state car,

he arrived on a traffic cop's motorcycle,

which is unprecedented.

Congratulations

on winning the election.

We should've paid you a visit first, but you came here before we could.

From now on, it will be a private meeting.

President-elect made a difficult decision and came all the way here.

We should have a heart-to-heart without the cameras.

Instead of meeting the assemblymen of Participation People's Party,

President-elect visited Party for Peace and Freedom,

who was having their final meeting to discuss the vote.

With only ten minutes left until the voting,

it is presumed that President-elect will persuade

the Party for Peace and Freedom himself.

If the special act is still voted down after this,

President-elect will have to be politically responsible for it.

He's facing a trial.

How dare you barge in here?

You're not the president yet.

Show some respect!

Did you hear that?

You came here to get some pictures taken

and get it on the news.

"I did everything I could."

"The act was rejected because of Party for Peace and Freedom."

If you intend to spin the story like that, just kill some time and leave.

We have less than ten minutes left until the voting anyway.

Ten minutes is enough.

But for those ten minutes,

lend me your ears.

-What is he saying? -That's nonsense.

Are you hearing yourself?

-You're being unreasonable. -What on earth?

What does he want to say?

In ten minutes at that?

I'd like to thank Party Leader Ju Hyuk-rin

for arranging this meeting

so that I could meet everyone here in person.

Why did you allow him in?

What does he want to say?

I don't think I need to explain why the Do Tae-hun special act needs to pass.

Just a few days ago,

in the meeting held by formal assemblywoman Bae,

most of you expressed

that you were in favor of the act.

Instead,

I'll talk about the obstacle that hinders you

from voting for the act.

You're crossing the line.

What obstacle?

What on earth are you saying?

Do you have proof?

Show us the proof!

What on earth?

What's that?

-What's that? -What's that?

Are those really…

What do you mean?

He brought the ledgers?

I mean what I said.

That's impossible.

Safe unlocked.

The door is opening.

The late Cha Jin-taek left this legacy for my wife.

The past records of your party's slush funds

and the recordings of some assemblymen's corruptions.

What slush funds?

What corruptions?

If you're here to slander us, you should go back.

I have eight minutes left.

Eight more minutes for you to listen to me.

I will return Cha's legacy

to you guys.

It belonged to your party to begin with.

If this legacy

was holding you back from voting as you wished,

don't worry about it now.

This is the first time

someone has threatened me so openly.

So you're saying

we should vote for the special act

because you know our secrets?

And become your puppets?

There are no secrets.

There are

no copies or recordings.

Really?

But

vote based on

your individual choice, not based on your party.

The weight your vote holds…

Don't share it with your fellow assemblymen.

The right and responsibility of the vote belongs

solely to you.

Don't lay your responsibility on your party.

Just like how I named the special act after one person,

for today's vote,

vote as an individual,

not as a party member.

I just want to know.

Fifteen years ago.

April 2, 2012.

Why Tae-hun had to face such a death.

I just want to know that.

Why people try to stop me from uncovering that day's truth.

And what exactly happened on that day.

I must know the truth.

Did you call Reporter Son?

After the interview, U-yeong will be released.

No, I didn't do it.

I am President-elect Hyun Min-cheol's…

Is she really your daughter?

Answer me! Is it true?

What if the test results say Lee Hwa-jin isn't his daughter?

What will you do then?

It's been two months, and they still haven't found the culprit.

I want to find the culprit

who killed my mom.