[upbeat waltz music playing]
16 YEARS AGO, 1904
Hey.
The woman you've been pining after for ten years.
She's here, right?
And yours?
-Here too. -[door opens]
Hey, we swore.
Tonight we confess our feelings no matter what. Yes?
Fine.
I need to talk to some people, okay?
You go and show her how you dance.
You--
Ah, shake to the music, you know?
Right, I'll be quick.
Oh, and keep in mind it's the only shot we've got.
[waltz music ends]
-Hey. Wait. -Go on.
-[graceful waltz music playing] -[Yoon sighs]
You must not have been to war before.
Sorry?
Oh, no. I haven't been.
[Hee-shin] I don't know you or the circumstances
that led to you being here.
I just hope your sword and gun
will not point towards the weak and our fellow countrymen.
I will bear that in mind.
And your name was?
Lee Yoon, miss.
Try to return with your life, Lee Yoon.
[graceful waltz music continues]
SONG OF THE BANDITS
[knock at door]
[woman] Miss Nam.
I took a call from your fiancé.
He said he's going to meet his uncle.
Yes, understood.
[gears clicking]
[phone line clicks]
Oh, yes, hello. This is Hee-shin from the railroad.
Please, could you connect me to the major?
-[gentle music playing] -[phone line connecting]
[phone ringing]
I'm sorry to meet on such short notice.
You know I'm swamped.
Still, that isn't an excuse for me not to see you.
[laughs] I get it. I get it.
Business can be like that, I know.
I know I should've visited you more often.
You made it possible that Hee-shin and I got engaged, Uncle.
This happiness isn't something I knew that a person could feel.
Thank you, Uncle.
No need. [laughs]
I've been transferred to a new base. It's in Nanam.
-I'm not sure if you've heard? -Yes, I heard about it.
I wish the best of luck.
Have you fulfilled the last of your responsibilities here?
Yeah.
Just one small issue to resolve.
This man, Jang Seok.
A rebel we caught some days ago. He talked. He told us about his gang…
and who the ringleader is.
Why would you do it?
Why lie to everyone, even your family, all over a worthless cause?
Don't imagine I'm without sympathy.
Repairing and restoring Joseon?
Yes, splendid.
I suppose it feels noble.
But, Uncle,
it's already been a decade under Japan.
This all belongs to His Majesty Emperor Taishō.
So cease these pointless efforts, please.
Just take my hand.
[Sang-guk sighs]
[Sang-guk clears throat]
Gwang-il,
there are some things
that I have been meaning to ask you and your father.
What happens after this?
When Joseon was nearing its end, and Ganghwa was taken,
you followed your father to Japan's side.
All the world's matters are similar to flowers.
They can't bloom eternally.
One day, Japan's empire will wilt like a flower too.
Once that day arrives, you'll both say,
"Now Japan is ruined and devastated, so just take my hand."
[laughs]
[Sang-guk sighs] On that day,
where do you plan to throw your lot?
Which is your new country?
Uncle,
you need to adapt to the times.
Joseon's demise was complete.
Gwang-il,
don't get lost in pursuit of glory and forget about history's judgment.
Times make the wrong choices, but history does not.
Your actions will be judged in course.
Please think about that, will you?
[chair clatters]
[Sang-guk sighs]
[music fades]
[woman in Japanese] I will now sing "The True Nature of a Soldier."
♪ Are those cherry blossoms in bloom On your collar? ♪
♪ The flowers blow over Yoshino Like a storm ♪
♪ If you are born as a Japanese man ♪
♪ Fall as a flower on the skirmish line ♪
♪ A foot-long rifle is not a weapon ♪
♪ An inch-long sword is of no use ♪
♪ Don't you know? Here is the Japanese spirit ♪
♪ Honed and sharpened for 2,000 years ♪
[man 1 in English] We need you to come with us, Mr. Lee Sang-guk.
[man 2] Long live the emperor!
[all] Long live the emperor!
The emperor!
[Gwang-il] Long live
the emperor.
-[gentle music playing] -[soldier 1] Talk now!
[Gwang-il] "My dear Hee-shin…
[distant screaming]
…my heart aches at the thought of going such a long time
without seeing you."
"Time spent without you is meaningless to me."
[soldier 1] Talk, you bastard!
[distant groaning]
-[woman moans] -[Gwang-il] This is good.
A credit to the Tokyo Imperial University.
[distant scream]
I don't know what to say.
"The day I fell in love with you
is the most precious memory I hold."
"You are the only reason I care to exist in this world."
-[distant scream] -It's really good.
However, Hee-shin is a nationalist.
I can't go saying she's the only reason that I breathe. Say the emperor as well.
Rewrite it, beginning here.
"Memory I hold."
Sir.
[distant screaming]
[man 1] Start talking!
[man 1 breathing heavily]
Sit here and complete the modifications.
Yes, sir.
He hasn't said anything yet?
Yes, sir. Mouth is shut.
[Gwang-il] So, Uncle.
Who was Jang Seok attempting to join up with, huh?
The man transporting?
[shuddered breathing]
[distant screaming]
I'm always amazed by you, Uncle.
[Sang-guk groans]
Are those screams you hear bothering you, Uncle?
[screams] You hear those shrieks? Those are your men being tortured, see.
Apparently, you told them the operation would go ahead as planned
despite the fact that we'd captured Jang Seok already.
That means the one that you hired to be your courier
will be in Changchun on the day anyway.
[breathes heavily]
Your man is who?
Just explain to me how you're going to collect all those funds.
Just tell me, Uncle.
He's gonna be caught regardless, so why not let your nephew do it?
Helping your only nephew succeed would also benefit you.
Right?
[tense music playing]
-You… -[gasps]
-[Gwang-il] Bring me the chili powder. -[man 1] Yes, sir.
[Gwang-il] Leave it to a Lee to be this stubborn.
Your lungs are weak to begin with.
How long do you think you can endure this?
What will happen if you don't make it?
If you don't…
-I'll shed tears, Uncle. -[music swells]
-[Sang-guk moaning] -[Gwang-il] What's your plan?
Give up your treacherous scheme!
-[moaning, gasping] -[Gwang-il] You won't? Keeping quiet?
You just wanna croak here?
Speak already.
Spit it out, jackass. Tell me!
-[Tae-ju] I'm done with the letter, sir! -[gasping]
-[unsettling music playing] -[Gwang-il breathing heavily]
[kettle clatters]
[Gwang-il breathing heavily]
"The day I fell in love with you
is the day I hold most dear of all."
"Today, the next, and all the tomorrows ahead of us,
you shall remain the one in my heart."
Good work.
Hear, hear, Tokyo graduate.
[Sang-guk] Ga…
Gando.
-[unsettling music playing] -[Sang-guk moans]
Back up. What was that?
Ga…
The Gando Line… [gasps] …Railway funds.
Gando Line Railway funds?
[Gwang-il] Hey, Get him down!
[Sang-guk grunts]
[Sang-guk moans]
[Sang-guk gasps]
[Sang-guk groaning]
The Gando Line, what about it?
Are you gonna steal that money to fund your rebellion?
[unsettling music continues]
More water.
Water, please.
Water? Water, you said?
That's good. Tae-ju, get some water.
[slurping]
[gasps]
Now tell me who your person is.
[cup clatters]
[Gwang-il sighs]
[tense music playing]
[gun cocks, gunshot]
-[gun clatters] -[body thuds]
[unsettling music playing]
You brought your gun with you in here?
Sir, I didn't expect a situation--
You call yourself a soldier? You, a soldier?
You brought a gun? A gun in here? You bastard!
-How dare you do that? -[man 1] Sir, stop!
Let go! Let go!
Let go of me, you asshole!
[Gwang-il breathing heavily]
[chain clinking]
[breathing heavily]
[music swells, fades]
[man 1] Hey, you good?
[breathing heavily]
[match strikes]
[blows]
Gando Line Railroad construction funds.
The 5th in Changchun.
We know no more than that?
Yes, sir.
[unsettling music playing]
A nameless, unknown person
is going to rob the railway's assets
and then haul it
to Changchun on September 5th.
[train horn blows]
[unsettling music intensifies]
[chuckles]
[train horn blares]
[music swells, fades]
And we know no more than that.
[pensive music playing]
If it's Gando Line money getting robbed, then
what's at risk are the Joseon Bank funds being sent to Myeongjeong.
Myeongjeong means…
that my Hee-shin is near to the epicenter.
-[cigarette thuds] -[shoe smashing]
There's no choice.
We need to go.
We should go?
Sir, we aren't officially transferred.
Should I sit here and wait until then to protect the country and girl I love?
Get everyone ready.
We'll go there ourselves…
to catch and dispatch those shits.
-[dramatic music playing] -[train horn blaring]
[brakes squealing]
[dramatic music stops]
As soon as we depart, we're no more than strangers.
We'll go our separate ways, then meet here once the job is done with.
The plan--
We will stop by Changchun and return to Gyeongseong.
-Am I right? -Yes, right.
I trust that you'll remember your role if they catch you?
You don't say a word,
and you die alone.
Understood?
Yep, completely.
Got it.
Let me pick your brain real quick.
You can, as long as it's brief.
Sure, brief.
I can do that.
You always such a great stuck-up little bitch, princess?
[intriguing music playing]
[chuckles] I did what I could to keep it short, huh?
I'd hate to keep you too long, milady.
[intriguing music continues]
[horse snorts]
I'll take this horse.
[sighs]
Spare change is yours.
-[man 1] What the hell's this? -[prods horse]
[man 1] Hey, she shorted us! Come back! Get back here!
-[man 1] Hey, come back here, you bitch! -[prods horse]
-[man 1] Come back! -[prods horse]
[music fades]
The railway sent you, yes?
You wouldn't be Ms. Nam Hee-Shin, would you?
That's right.
Oh, excellent. Superintendent Ōoka is my name.
My job is escorting you to Myeongjeong.
This way.
-[pensive music playing] -[indistinct chattering]
[music swells, fades]
Ah.
You're here.
I would have happily gone to meet you at the train station.
Apologies.
That's why I didn't reach out beforehand. Why go to that length?
It's not like I'm worth greeting.
The steps you were to take, I'm assuming they're already taken?
On my oath. I brought on a few men that are reliable.
I made your commands clear to all of them.
Great. Well done, then.
The greater number in the loop on this,
the better our situation.
[woman] Enjoy the food.
[slurping]
Rumor traveled
regarding the leader of Group 1, Kim Tae-seon.
Unfortunate. I was sorry--
You're sorry, why?
He didn't follow through for his client and let the target disappear.
A person like that deserves to die. Do the job you're paid to do, you know?
He was a scumbag.
That's not something you'd permit to happen?
Letting a target escape like Tae-seon did.
-[unsettling music playing] -[chuckles]
Hey, seriously,
you better not imply that.
I kill all my targets.
Seriously, if I allow my target to live, I die instead.
It won't happen. Don't be troubled.
Don't be troubled when there's no basis to be, you know?
Merely see to the things I asked.
Hwang Sam-deok, worry that he gets here to me.
I was actually just making ready to head to Hoeryŏng shortly.
Hwang Sam-deok and I shall talk and return with good news, miss.
On my word.
I will get going, then. Goodbye.
[Eon-nyeoni] So long.
[match strikes]
[music fades]
[Ōoka] Your first time in Myeongjeong, ma'am?
Yes, it's all brand-new.
More energetic than I thought.
It's idyllic.
Is that right?
Glad to hear you say it.
In Gyeongseong, a lot of citizens
believe Gando is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now I'm here,
I think the Joseon who said so were right.
Sir, if I may, has your station here been long?
Roughly ten years now, miss.
Ten years.
That's a really long stay.
It sure is.
I can't wait until the day I am sent home.
The empire can rot in hell for all I care.
Co-Prosperity Sphere too.
[Yoon] What are you on about?
-Why would the rumor have spread? -Beats the shit outta me.
200,000 won cash being moved by the railway.
Every gunslinger in the area knows about it.
Who the hell is running their mouth?
Bandits spring out anywhere a score can get had.
Fuck's sake.
[sighs]
[Ōoka] Ms. Nam, it's market day, so the car can't go any further.
It's fine. I can walk.
That's the hotel where you'll be staying.
I'll carry this.
No need. It's okay.
I will go alone from here. I'll take a look about town.
Are you sure?
Well then, should you need anything,
please don't hesitate to reach out at any hour.
Till then.
[car door closes]
Transport schedule hasn't changed?
I thought because of the rumors…
Those rumors are spreading among bandit bastards,
so don't worry about that right now.
Okay? Worry over us instead, huh? There's Jang Ki-Ryong.
And every bandit and their mother will come after that money.
How do we shake them and keep it for ourselves? Goddamn it!
I'm going to beat the hell out of the person who spread that rumor, I swear.
Or just kill them.
It wasn't Choraeng-yi, right? Right?
No matter how hard I consider it, it's what my gut's saying!
Oh, give it a break. Choraeng-yi is a good kid, you know.
Why are you continually suspecting him? He's very loyal.
I'm not really. Okay? I know Choraeng-yi pretty well, but--
Yoon.
[melancholy music playing]
[Eon-nyeoni] Yoon!
[man] What was that?
-Yoon, wait! -[children laughing]
Oh!
Oh, you little punks didn't get to eat again?
[melancholy music continues]
[Yoon] Strangely, I always seem to think of her here…
because she was my first in a few respects.
[melancholy music continues]
The first noble to ask my name, not who I served.
The first noble to smile and hold my hand in hers.
And the first person who
brought me sincere joy
just by looking me in the eyes the first time I felt like that, yeah.
Though she must've forgotten me now.
[Choong-soo] So,
you miss her a lot, don't you, Yoon?
[Yoon] I do regret it a bit with how much longing I've ended up with.
I should've gone to see her more.
[music fades]
[gun clicks]
[Eon-nyeoni] But if you ever happen to run into me again in the future…
[brooding music playing]
…then I really will have to kill you.
You're actually here. My goodness.
-[gunshot] -[people clamoring]
[tense music playing]
-[man 1] What was that? -[man 2] Was that a gunshot?
[man 3] What now?
Trouble again? Seriously?
[man 4] Not again.
What are you doing here?
I could ask you also.
You said you would die five years ago, so why are you alive?
[tense music continues]
[gunshots]
[gunshots continue]
[tense music subsides]
[Eon-nyeoni] Shit.
[unsettling music playing]
[tense music playing]
[both grunting]
[grunts]
Shit balls.
[gunshots]
[Seon-bok] Move aside!
[tense music playing]
[people shouting]
[door rattles]
[tense music stops]
-[dramatic music playing] -[Eon-nyeoni grunts]
[sighs]
[gun chamber clicks]
[Eon-nyeoni] Come out. Come out!
[music fades]
[breathing heavily]
[Eon-nyeoni] Come out while I'm being generous.
[tense music playing]
[gun cocks]
[grunts]
Shit!
[gun cocks]
-[Eon-nyeoni gasps] -[music fades]
My next one won't be a warning shot. Drop your gun already.
Then everything becomes simple. We don't have to make this complicated.
Huh?
This is no sweat for you, huh?
-Just go down quietly, jackass. -[unsettling music swells]
[acoustic guitar music playing]
Yoon, she get ya?
Bitch, who is she?
[soldiers rhythmic marching]
That's my little brother you're shooting at, bitch! How dare you?
You're one crazy, reckless bitch, aren't you?
You goddamn rotten harpy!
[Eon-nyeoni] Got yourself a big sister since before, huh?
For a man who wanted to die, you've been pretty busy.
Seon-bok, it's nothing too major. Please don't put yourself in the middle.
I can't just go and back out. You know she's shooting at you, right?
So I have a thought that I'll put enough holes in her to make a beehive.
-Got a death wish, bitch? -God!
That ancient lady just won't stop the swearing, will she?
Hey, old lady!
-Old lady? -We know each other?
[Seon-bok] I know your kind, brat!
You're stupidly fearless and attack without knowing who you're up against.
Now you're about to pay for it by dying at these hands.
Unreal.
[sighs] That old woman really made me wanna kill her in a short amount of time.
So I'll make you regret it!
[people shouting]
-[unsettling music playing] -[sighs]
Shit.
[Ōoka] Fall in!
Hold position.
You are disturbing the peace of our town and are causing
serious physical and psychological damage to others right now.
Drop your weapons immediately and surrender.
I take it that you are unwilling.
Then I must order summary judgment.
Men, open fire if they have not come out by the count of ten. Understood?
[all] Yes, sir!
-[tense music playing] -One.
-Two. -Yoon, what now? Yoon!
Three.
[Yoon] What will you do now?
You wanted me dead. Now you're dying also.
-[Ōoka] Four. -This is all your fault, bitch.
Five. [exhales]
Lock and load, gentlemen.
[whimpers]
So what now?
[Ōoka] Six.
You plan to walk out?
Or do you prefer to be killed here?
[sighs]
You decide.
[Ōoka] Seven.
You and I aren't done yet.
I intend to kill you, however long it takes.
Sure.
I'll wait for you,
however long it takes.
I won't die until then.
Eight.
[Ōoka] Nine.
[music swells]
[Ōoka] Ten.
-[Ōoka] Everyone! Hold fire! -Wait, hold up!
[footsteps approaching]
[people murmuring]
[Ōoka] So it was you, Lee Yoon.
[handcuffs rattle]
[Ōoka] Cuffs. Right. Take them.
Start walking.
Is this all?
[giggles] Not quite!
Hi! There is one more! Hello! Seon-bok is here!
[Seon-bok] Ah! You must not have seen me.
Hello, sir!
Maybe you need glasses.
Shall I get you a fetching set? [laughs]
I'm very sorry. [laughs]
[Seon-bok] Oh fuck, my back hurts. [grunts] Shit.
[groans]
[watch ticking]
[Eon-nyeoni] Hey.
So why aren't you dead?
It's a bit complicated.
I don't care if it's complicated. I'm gonna be executed, thanks to you.
In the guild I'm part of,
their procedure is to kill anyone who lets a mark go. You--
[sighs]
I guess it's complicated for me also.
[sighs]
Anyway,
you had better keep a low profile for now.
Don't wander, and don't let my boss see you.
[unsettling music playing]
[knock at door]
-[officer 1] Who is it? -[man 1] Hello.
So sorry to interrupt.
If it's all right, could we have some privacy?
[officer 1] What is this about?
[man whimpering]
-[man 2] Sir! -[man 3] Sir!
Who the hell is that?
If you would. Thank you, gentlemen.
Yes, sir! Please excuse us.
[music fades]
[unsettling music playing]
[shuddered breathing]
What do we think?
Does he look like he's guilty,
or is he innocent?
The general is asking you a question.
He thinks that you could be responsible for a rumor about 200,000 won
coming from Hoeryŏng.
Is he correct?
[shuddered breathing]
[exhales]
[tense music playing]
So who have you told?
Did you tell the consulate officers all about it?
[shuddered breathing]
You still could though.
Then do you intend to change that?
[shuddered breathing]
I want guarantees.
Do you warrant our trust?
[shuddered breathing]
[laughing]
You know, I'm willing
to believe
you're telling the truth.
The general wants to say your heart is trustworthy.
Thank you so much, please.
This is the right thing, trusting in me.
-[exhales] -[music fades]
Hmm.
I'm afraid there is one thing.
The general cannot trust your tongue.
[unsettling music playing]
[shuddered breathing]
[loud clattering]
[man screams]
[man whimpering]
[whimpering]
[man screaming]
[screaming in pain]
[muffled screaming]
[screaming continues]
-[sighs] -[man screaming]
[screaming continues]
[paper rustles]
[paper crumpling]
General.
[unsettling music playing]
Were you listening?
You will forget
all you overheard.
Only then do you survive.
[unsettling music continues]
Stop running your damn mouth, all right? Huh?
Or do you wanna come in here?
[chuckles]
Time to go.
[sighs in relief]
[sighs]
[Eon-nyeoni] Frustrating, isn't it? You wanted to take the money and run.
Huh. But they all want a piece now.
[scoffs]
Hey.
So I'm thinking,
you really should go ahead with your strategy…
so I can shoot you that day.
Two birds with one stone.
Or, to put it more plainly for you, I'll be taking the money.
[laughs] Perfect, huh?
[Ōoka] Simply release them?
We cannot do that.
Maybe you'd prefer me to order our guests be executed publicly?
Yes, preferably.
It would go a ways in maintaining the public order, sir.
But you need to consider this.
If we kill a Joseon in Gando,
all that'll do is create ten, nah--
Another 100 insurgents.
For goodness sake,
why would you want to bring back trouble like that,
Superintendent Ōoka.
Uh, come on. Let's go down the path of least resistance.
Then, sir, what are we doing here?
How am I supposed to do my job?
Stay in Gando and impose the rule of law over Myeongjeong?
Since Gando is the location of the Japanese Consulate General,
that is your mission, sir.
"If you perform well in your duty,
then you'll return to your home within two years."
Weren't those your exact words, sir?
You said them ten years ago.
Regardless of how we handle Joseon prisoners in the future,
this is our situation.
They must be released.
[sighs]
No. I won't do it.
Why do you disobey me, the Consul General? Just listen!
My orders benefit the nation, and you're complaining! Why?
Uh, just get it done, will you?
This is for the benefit of the nation?
The Co-Prosperity Sphere and whatever else?
That's what you mean, right?
[sighs]
And all for that, I came here,
out to this deserted wasteland,
to perform my duty across almost ten years.
And now I'm done with it.
You and the empire can rot in hell.
I'll take my leave, sir.
You said rot… rot… rot in… rot in hell?
You dirty traitor! Say that again!
[footsteps approaching]
[pensive music playing]
[sighs]
[Yoon] Hey.
[Yoon] You're really here for that money?
You traveled all this way
just to rob 200,000 from a train?
Can you think of any other reason?
There's nothing special in this town.
Don't go changing your plans because of me, huh?
We have to meet that day. We have unfinished business.
Let's not waste time.
[Yoon] Go back to Gyeongseong while you have the chance.
You'll be putting your own life on the line.
[Eon-nyeoni] Hey.
Who do you think you are, huh?
You're really starting to get annoying.
You're one to talk, huh?
All you do is disrespect those older than you.
Think that bitch is a slave child or what? Sheesh.
Hey, grandma.
Quit calling me "that bitch," would you?
I have a name, you know. Eon-nyeoni.
Eon-nyeoni. This bitch. That bitch. It's all the same, you bitch.
Seriously, your mouth better get washed out with…
If you're committed,
you'll also be against that crew you just saw.
You'll be in real jeopardy.
Are you concerned or intimidating me, then?
Or intimidating under the guise of concern?
You said you're going to murder me.
Then you need to stay alive to do it.
You're really in a bad situation, you know?
Worry about yourself, okay?
My life's not your business.
You're not planning on giving up, then?
No, I'm not like that.
[Yoon] I guess there's no choice.
We'll do the thing we're best at.
[upbeat pop music playing]
All right.
Well, you're on, then.
It's just I don't know what you're best at.
♪ Rages inside ♪
♪ I know, oh, I know ♪
♪ It's born of the age of dark ♪
♪ I won't deny ♪
♪ To the hell I'll hunt you down ♪
♪ With the rattle of gunfire ♪
♪ Here we are at this madness ♪
♪ Oh, I don't give a damn ♪
♪ I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Yeah, I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, tonight ♪
♪ How do I know where you are ♪
♪ Nowhere you could hide ♪
♪ All your desire ♪
♪ Will devour yourself the end ♪
♪ Burn it down to the ground ♪
♪ Let the flame fill up the sky ♪
♪ Aim and shot ♪
♪ Yeah, you gotta hit them back ♪
♪ Rages inside ♪
♪ I know, oh, I know ♪
♪ It's born of the age of dark ♪
♪ I won't deny ♪
♪ To the hell I'll hunt you down ♪
♪ With the rattle of gunfire ♪
♪ Here we are at this madness ♪
♪ Oh, I don't give a damn ♪
♪ I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Yeah, I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Riding down the road, wild ♪
♪ I pave my own way to journey's end ♪
♪ No one left for you there ♪
♪ Tell me what you have to fear ♪
♪ Burn it up to ashes ♪
♪ Oh, I won't let you go ♪
♪ Yeah, burning like the ashes ♪
♪ Won't let you go ♪
♪ Rages inside ♪
♪ I know, oh, I know ♪
♪ It's born of the age of dark ♪
♪ I won't deny ♪
♪ To the hell I'll hunt you down ♪
♪ With the rattle of gunfire ♪
♪ Here we are at this madness ♪
♪ Oh, I don't give a damn ♪
♪ I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Yeah, I'll hunt you down tonight ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, tonight ♪
[dramatic music playing]
[music ends]