Original subtitles

WOMAN CHASING THE BUTTERFLY OF DEATH

Produced by: Jung Jin-woo

Directed by Kim Ki-young

How much water do I need to put in?

You call yourself a woman and don't know that?

Everything tastes better outdoors.

Hey, I brought some fresh vegetables from town.

You got spring onions.

City veg never tastes fresh.

Why don't you go help out? Girls these days can't cook.

I've been living alone for 3 years. I'm sick of cooking.

Hey, it's a butterfly!

Why'd you kill the poor butterfly? Is it so unimportant?

People can't live forever.

When it comes to death, people are no different.

It's just as trivial as the death of an insect.

That's ridiculous. Human death is much more noble.

Do you want some juice?

I was waiting for someone to come along.

Is death really noble?

Now we can find out together.

The juice is poisoned.

I didn't want to die alone.

Why? Why are you trying to kill me?

We'll be going to heaven together.

I'm happy now, I'm...

I'm dying!... I'm dying!...

Usually when there's only one victim, we treat it as a homicide.

Anyway, here's a souvenir from her.

It'll be like proof of your innocence.

You can go.

So am I done here?

After the autopsy, there was a secret in her body.

It was a suicide.

This poor kid's a victim.

Let's go, Young-gul.

That poison has filled my head with suicidal thoughts.

Come on.

Books for sale... Finance available.

Get out of here, I hate books.

How about this one? About the triumph of the will.

It's good for young people to test themselves.

I'm not interested even if it's made of gold.

Fine, but don't talk to me like that.

- Get out. - You won't even take a look?

I said get out!

You've lost your will to live, you need this book.

Get out or I'll call the cops.

How can a dead man do anything?

I need to sell you this book before you die.

This book says it's all about will.

With will power you need never die.

Get out! I swear I'll kill you if you don't.

That's a lie, if you had the will to kill me,

you would never kill yourself.

I will kill you. Stop bothering me.

I'll never die.

Like this book says, my will power keeps me alive.

I can be shot and stabbed, I still won't die.

If I stab you, you'll die!

If you don't kill me, I'll kill you.

I'll finish you off, you little piece of shit!

Come on, try to kill me.

I had to kill someone before I killed myself.

Don't worry...

I won't die.

How about you play the harmonica for me?

My blood's drained. Now I feel empty.

My heart's stopped beating.

I feel set free.

Body temperature's dropped. Just barely alive.

Now I'm living on pure will.

You're as good as dead.

Don't worry, I'll be joining you shortly.

You can't die.

I'll show you what will power is all about.

Fine... Then I'll wait for you to die.

The origin of the nucleic acid is not from the member of...

Did you go to class today? If you killed yourself yesterday...

Don't you ever shut up?

Read this book, "The Triumph of the Will"

I don't want to.

People are born with an ever increasing amount of will.

Throughout evolution, human will has been the foundation.

As we develop, so do the dangers.

Through wars, floods, earthquakes, it's will that sees us through.

The will to live is flourishing these days.

Even people in car accidents, they survive through pure will.

Everyone is living in this world with their strong will.

Why do you want to die and abandon this will to live?

You stink so much I'm going to have to bury you.

No, I'm not finished talking.

You're a corpse. You need to be buried.

I won't die! You going to bury me alive?

I'm going to bury you and your mouth.

You'll bury me alive?

- Time to get buried - No!

A corpse with no beating heart.

Just a mouth that won't shut up.

Sick of eating noodles every day.

Hungry all the time, I'd be better off dead.

"The only solace from despair is a woman."

"The need to reproduce is the most basic instinct."

Screw that...

A woman save me?

I'd rather die.

Open this door!

Open it!

You thought I'd die if you buried me?

You can't beat me.

If you do, it means you can beat death.

I won't allow you to kill yourself.

You don't know the solace that death can bring.

A hard life can be fixed instantly with death.

Supporting only life but not death

It's utter hypocrisy.

My book!

The Triumph of the Will!

My book! My book! My book...

You've got maggots.

I'm going to have to burn you.

Even cremated, I won't die!

My will can never die!

Surrender to me!

You trying to burn me? To destroy me?

I'm immortal!

I will never die!

Are you going to burn me? That won't work either.

I am still alive! I will never die.

Cremate me... I'll never die!

While I have the will to live, I will never die.

Never die! Never die...

Will to live?

Let maggots have that kind of thing.

I should be executed for killing this old man.

Farewell to the earth and to the flesh.

I'm back. I've got the WILL to live!

Farewell to the flesh?

It's been here for millions of years.

Leave me alone!

Get a hold of yourself! I just want to teach you WlLL!

Just admit it. I'm alive because of will.

No!

- Surrender! - I'd rather die!

I just want to die!

- You've lost to me... - No! No! No!

The will to live is sacred. When will you realize this?

Are you that stupid?

Okay, okay.

I am sorry.

But how long will you make me suffer?

It's a homework for every human being.

You don't have the right to abandon this will.

You got it? You see, I'm not dead!

Even turned to ashes I won't die. Never!

It's just ashes, I'm not dying!

My will survives everything! Will! Will!

"Will"

This is another drug induced hallucination.

He confessed to a murder but there's no evidence.

Also this isn't human remains,

it's just dirt... Look.

That old man did some magic again.

Just like he fooled me into believing will can cheat death.

These stalactites are recycled via carbon dioxide and rain water.

Every 1000 years, they grow by 10cm.

Some of them are 1 00,000 years old.

You're not allowed to take anything out...

to preserve the integrity of our research.

I found a treasure. I came to see this.

What treasure?

A female skeleton, thousands of years old.

How is that a treasure?

Wait...

How do you know it's a girl?

You need to study anatomy. A girl's pelvic region is larger.

Oh. Okay.

We can get a good price for the complete skeleton.

- Won't we get searched? - I'll take care of that.

We'll be searching everybody.

Why do you have bones here?

We actually wanted to bury his mom's remains here,

but couldn't find a spot.

You think this is a public cemetery?

Yeah, you're right, it was a silly idea.

Here's an anatomy book, use it to assemble the skeleton.

So if I do this there's a job for me?

As an assistant.

Make sure you do a good job.

Professor Lee's very prominent in his field as an archaeologist.

Past or present, poor people are the same everywhere.

Since you have short hair, were you a monk?

What time are you from?

From the Shilla Dynasty of King Kongmyung

That's 2000 years ago.

Has it really been that long?

How are you still alive?

To escape a marriage, I fasted for 30 days in a cave.

A shaman told me I would wake up 2000 years later...

and meet a good man.

A good man? Is that me?

I'm sure it's you.

Oh, I'm so hungry.

I fasted for 30 days, I'm starving.

All I have are noodles.

At least they're fast.

What's your name?

My name's Kim Young-gul.

Your surname is Kim?

Mine too, we can't get married.

The law's changed.

Now identical surnames can get married.

So it took 2000 years to change that stupid law.

Go ahead eat and warm up.

These noodles taste the same as 2000 years ago.

What's wrong?

The shaman told me I need to eat a raw human liver.

A raw human liver?

If I don't, within 1 0 days I'll turn back into a skeleton.

Are you thinking about eating my liver?

I am starving...

Are all women like this?

At least you're honest.

I need to pee...

- What the...? - I really need to...

Give me a break, it's been 2000 years.

Girls come with so much baggage.

What's this?

Some modern clothes.

It looks like a shaman's robe.

I couldn't get a human liver so I got a pig's liver.

You trying to turn me into a pig?

What do you want from me? Only demons eat human liver.

All girls are demons.

Even female mosquitos suck their male partner's blood.

That's true.

Let me go out so that I can get some liver.

Humans aren't that easy to hunt.

If I seduce a man he'll be happy to die for me.

That's how I'll get his liver.

Not while you're under my roof.

I won't allow it!

Then your liver's the only one I can get.

Just wait, in 1 0 days I'll be bones again.

Phew! That was heavy.

Let's go.

What's that?

It's a cake making machine.

Maybe we can use it to earn some extra cash.

It's all automated, so it's really simple.

I've waited 2000 years for you.

A man and a woman...

need to connect physically.

You still talking about my liver?

You've already tried so many times to kill yourself.

Don't throw your life away...

I've got a much better idea.

For some reason, I'm not afraid of dying anymore.

Does the male spider eaten by the female spider feel the same?

I'm so starved I think I'm going to die.

I will turn into a skeleton if I don't get some liver right now.

I don't want to hurt you.

but I've waited 2000 years!

Too long to die now, huh?

Without life, everything's useless.

I must eat your liver...

I have to do it to stay alive.

I can't do it.

I hope I at least gained your love.

Dr. Lee, I finished assembling that skeleton.

Bring it to my study.

This here's my classmate and he's looking for work.

You'll have to help him out in the beginning.

Of course.

This is the skeleton of a young girl.

The pelvic area is not fully developed yet.

I wonder how she ended up so deep in that cave.

Make sure you teach your friend everything.

The research done here is very important to anthropology.

What research is done here?

It's just basic skeleton research.

You find the skeletons, and measure the sizes.

It's a simple job.

Why did you quit?

I kept receiving these weird packages.

What were they?

You'll soon find out

That's the professor's daughter. She's a bitch.

This is my daughter, Kyungmi.

This is Moonho's replacement.

Hello, I'm Kim Young-gul...

He brought this 2000 year old skeleton as a present.

Excuse me!

Kyungmi prefers candles when we dine.

That's nice and classical.

Not classical, more like western style.

Come in.

Only perverts snoop around like that

I'm just checking that everything's secure.

You should have been checking outside.

So this is where my butterflies are.

Interesting pictures...

You like Gothic stuff?

Where did you get that butterfly necklace?

A girl tried to poison me and this was hers.

She died, but I was rescued.

The police gave it to me,

after originally charging me with her death.

I knew her well.

We had planned to die together.

I read about what happened, I was resentful when only she died.

What a strange coincidence.

Like some sort of a trap.

She died horribly.

Alone.

Well, why did she choose to die?

Never mind that.

But she'll have her revenge against you.

Get out.

Hello,

Ma'am...

it's already noon. What's wrong with you?

Where's my breakfast?

My stomach is weak, I need food right away.

I've never let anybody go hungry.

It's alright, just fix me something simple.

I can eat anything.

I don't do simple food...

I only do great food, okay?

Hurry up, I don't have much time.

Also, I don't eat with strangers.

Get out!

What?

You can eat after the she eats.

Is this how you treat a guest in this house?

The mistress is queen in this house.

What the...

I'm going to teach that queen some manners.

How can you make me go while I'm still eating?

That's between you and her.

She was afraid of repercussions from you.

Fine...

from tomorrow I'll eat in my own room.

But you'll have to bring my meal upstairs to my room.

The maid has problem with her knees, she can't do it.

Wait...

Yesterday, in my dream...

my dead friend appeared to me.

She asked me to kill you.

I've been a fan of your daughter's artwork,

and I found out that she has a father...

who is an archaeologist.

I also heard that you have some fascinating old skeletons.

I can show them to you after my research is done.

Are they like the Mongolian skeletons...

from Beijing University?

You've done your research...

So you have a treasure in this house.

Be careful, private collectors can be very aggressive.

Get in.

Two orange juices.

About this butterfly necklace, my friend died prematurely.

We talked about dying together.

This butterfly signifies death.

You can't take it off. It's my order.

My poor friend died alone.

I don't want her be alone in heaven.

Your friend's burning in hell, for trying to kill me.

No, my friend was pure. She actually was dying of cancer.

Cancer?

Have some juice.

High cheekbones and a square face.

This is definitely Mongolian.

We Koreans are Mongolians too.

Not me, I'm no half-breed spawn of Genghis Khan.

What about language? We both speak an Altaic tongue.

Delivery.

Open it.

Receipt for one Mongolian skull.

Will contact you about payment later.

Record the type.

It will be an Altaic type for its projected bone.

1 8 inches circumference 6 inches front to back.

Dad, you still don't know who's sending these packages?

This is a genuinely important find.

We must inspect it thoroughly.

Is that Detective Park?

Kim Young-gul... You still suffering hallucinations?

What? Professor Kim's missing a head?

Stop talking nonsense.

Don't make me crazy like you.

Ah, you're here.

You take care of that business?

Dr. Lee, you've appraised 1 5 skulls and we've got 1 5 headless corpses.

So? I'm a scholar not a detective.

These are bodies from people you were studying...

for Mongolian traits.

Who stole this list of people?

Do we have to talk about this now?

These were definitely live beheadings.

You really have no manners!

Talking about corpses...

while a lady is eating.

The Mongolian people expanded all over the world.

From the kingdom of Spain, to the Eskimo in Alaska.

From lndians in North and the Inca in South America.

It's in the papers.

Mongolian civilizations spread far but all had things in common...

Excuse me...

Let's open the crate.

No, not here.

We have intel it may contain dynamite.

Really?

No head! Someone cut it off.

It's unusually heavy.

It can't just be full of rocks.

This is Professor Kim! He was cremated today.

Hurry up and strip and clean it. Turn it into a skull!

No, we need to report this to the police.

We can't betray our client.

Anyway, our research would get shut down.

That would ruin everything

Just hurry up and treat the skull.

I never heard of antique dealers trading in skulls.

Someone's beheading corpses or beheading live people.

A famous actress is being buried today.

- Should we stake out the grounds? - I need to sleep.

Why should I die? I can't die, not this young.

Why should l? I still have things to do.

If I die, I can't be born again.

Death is worse than being a little bug.

How are my wife and child going to survive?

I want to live!

Help! Help!

Investigated the scene. There's no evidence of wrongdoing.

It wasn't a dream.

We did find 1 2 empty bottles of Soju liquor.

After that much booze you could imagine World War lll.

I'm not crazy...

but I guess crazy people would think that.

Times are hard but now even corpses are being desecrated.

Do you know who bought your appraised Genghis Khan skulls?

I said Mongolian, not Genghis Khan.

You need to stop these appraisals. Let the undertaker do it.

Dr. Lee, let's see that 1 0,000 year old Mongolian skull.

Anything as rare as that could always be a fake.

You want me to die alone too? Let's die together.

At least follow me into the arms of death.

Promise me! Promise me...!

Hey... Kyungmi.

Get up, you low-life.

You shouldn't be here.

Hey, what's wrong?

I don't know... I hear this ringing.

I dreamt about mom.

She's in the afterlife...

but she still worries about me.

She feels like I'm in the care of a mental patient.

I didn't do anything wrong.

A mental patient?

It was a dream.

Do you really think mom was happy with you?

We never quarrelled once.

You think that's everything?

What do you mean by everything?

You guys never quarrelled.

You neglected her for your work.

Mom told me never to marry a boring, lifeless man like you.

Even if he's a millionaire, she said it's like suicide.

You need to sleep.

Maybe that's all it is.

You caged mom up and turned her into a living mummy!

You two never quarrelled because you never talked.

Let me check, open up.

Sounds like you have a stomach disorder.

We'll get the lab results in a week.

I thought Kyungmi was pregnant because of the vomiting.

No, no...She's a virgin.

I just want to give her a chance. Why don't you take her camping?

I don't know if that's a good idea.

If she does you any wrong I will compensate you.

What if she's wronged?

If you play it right, you could end up my son-in-law.

I never thought you'd be so ill that you'd quit your art.

Why are you so sarcastic?

Want to help me catch this blue butterfly in the fields?

Not interested. What's the point?

Don't artists starve to make their one true masterpiece?

No such thing as a masterpiece.

Maybe, but everyone needs to make one great work.

One great work?

Yes...

Yes, one great work.

No, no. Stop.

I don't think so...

No...!

- They're all crazy. - I'm getting a little antsy.

I don't know why they act so immature.

It's hormones raging out of control.

Don't they know the value of their bodies?

Maybe we're wrong.

An arrogant girl, a man with no will power.

There's just not enough passion in here.

Don't even think about it.

You trying to sound sympathetic?

I don't accept sympathy.

Well, either sympathy or love is fine.

I just want to do what my friend couldn't.

I want your life...

Dying together.

That's the ultimate expression of love.

Your precious life would make everything right.

Nothing would be wasted. It would be worth everything.

Let me think about this...

Dr. Lee promised me tuition money if I bring happiness to Kyungmi.

If I die, it doesn't matter.

But wait...

I do want to die!

But I want to control when and how I die.

Dad, it was fun.

I don't like to ask, but did you do it?

I know this is not a proper question...

but since I'll be your father-in-law.

I didn't do anything.

What's wrong with you?

I'm inexperienced, sir.

Might as well just cut it off!

Why are you arguing?

I think he was too stuck up for you.

Dad, you wanted to console me somehow, right?

You asked him to take me out and do something, didn't you?

What kind of father are you?

You're treating me...

Iike some sort of sick farm animal.

You're not even human! You're a beast!

What do I have?

How sick am l?

Is it cancer?

How long do I have to live?

No, we can treat it.

You can have chemotherapy.

It's all about your will.

As long as you have the will...

The will?

So long as I have the will?

While my body's going to waste, your will is wasted too.

Come... Kyungmi...

Open the door!

Kyungmi, please!

Nurse!... Quickly!

Come on!

The door's locked.

She doesn't want to see anybody.

We'll check her out of the hospital. To be free.

Free?

Close the door... Close it!

Where is Young-gul?

- Where is he? - He's out right now.

He'll be back soon.

No. he doesn't want to see my dying face.

Go downstairs.

Your job is done.

There's no-one in this room.

When you're dead you're dead.

A death row inmate doesn't have a future.

I'm just unlucky, you put me in that position.

Bring him to me.

He can help me...

He can help me... kill myself.

He's heartless enough, he can poison me.

No! Never!

Well, you can't do it!

Just bring him over!

Where've you been?

Yunmi's been looking for you.

She checked out of hospital?

Yes, because her case is hopeless.

That's too bad.

Do what she wants. There will be compensation.

Compensation?

You look like you lost the will to live.

At the hospital I realized...

that you mean everything to me.

I...

I don't know what I'm doing.

Love may be a luxury...

but you're a necessity.

An absolute treasure.

I never lose a treasure...

once it belongs to me.

Before, love was a dirty word.

And now...

I yearn for it.

Damn butterfly.

Stop tempting me!

Why does it have to be me?

A life lived alone is meaningless.

Don't go! Please don't go!

I'm a beautiful, educated woman.

Don't shut me out of your life...

Don't shut me out.

What happened?

Screw this. I can't keep up this farce.

Don't do this to her. You can't leave her like this.

She's beyond hope.

She's a living corpse!

He abandoned me, didn't he?

Now you're all that's left.

My savior's gone.

We are all promised death...

as soon as we are born.

But I don't want to die... I don't want to.

Don't put me in the coffin!

With death everything becomes nothing.

Don't let me become nothing.

Father...

Father...

Father!...

Please save me, father.

Father... save me

I don't want to die!

Death is being nothing!

I'm afraid. Save me!

- Calm down! - Save me...

- I said calm down! - Dad, please...

Listen to me!

Father, please help me... I don't want to die...

Life is great but death is even greater.

Nothing can beat death, that's why it is greater.

Death is the great equalizer.

Enough talk about death. Let's drink.

Girls with butterfly necklaces, they want me to go with them.

Why didn't I go?

Why didn't I go?

Why!

Drink!

I'll go!

Light more candles. Light more candles!

The room is getting darker.

My life is worthless.

My heart is going to stop.

I'm so afraid.

I don't want to die.

How can I survive this night? And this horrible death?

The light has gone out.

Light it... Light it again.

That's the only thing that you can do for me.

You want to just get rid of me, right?

No?

Light it! Hurry up!

That young man sent a note and a cake.

"To Kyungmi my love."

"Death is not to be feared."

"I've killed myself so I can lead the way for you."

"I'll be with you now every step of the way."

"I'm not afraid anymore."

"Love, Kim Young-gul."

This cake...

Oh, thank you! Thank you...

Thank you so much.

Now I am not afraid.

We will be butterflies in the afterlife.

Now I am going to die...

It's time to die...

To die... happily...

I'm sorry...

Sorry I had to sacrifice you.

Please take care of her in the next world.

I won't die!

My will won't allow it!

My will can beat death!

But you have to die...

For my daughter.

Die!... Die!... Die!!...

No! My will is too strong!

- Kyungmi! - Father!

- Kyungmi! - Father!...

So they asked me to come?

They can't pay because their heads are cut off?

These boys are missing necks.

They reported it?

They're mental patients.

Get them out of here.

You're here.

When he drinks he makes up crazy scenarios.

Survived and lived by will alone...

Life is fragile but it can be strong as well.

It sucks but I think I'll keep on living.

The will to live is a good thing.

Let me buy you a drink.

Only because I miss the old school days.

- Being a man is about will. - It's will.

Man is will!...

The End