(Summer of 2013)
- I'll major in violin. - I'll quit violin.
What?
I'll quit violin.
I'll major in violin.
What kind of plot twist is this?
As soon as you left the army, you'll quit playing...
and become a luthier?
Yes.
Okay. Good luck, I guess.
Song Ah, instead of finding a job, you'll major in music?
Yes. Good luck to me too?
No, not to you.
Are you insane? No way.
Why not? Wish me luck too.
I want to study music.
I want to play the violin.
You can't do that. Ask anyone in the street.
"I studied business at Seoryeong University,"
"and I want to study the violin now."
Who would wish you luck?
What stupid idiot would agree to that?
Don't ask me to.
Shall we go now?
I say yes.
You'll be a stupid idiot?
Don't say what you don't mean...
for fear that I'm upset.
It's your decision.
Chae Song Ah's decision and no one else's.
I know just how hard...
you think and worry before you make a decision.
I'm always on your side.
Getting into the music department,
studying, and your future career...
It won't be easy.
But I'll root for you.
Thank you.
Did you find a violin tutor?
Not yet.
The lessons cost a lot,
and I haven't told my parents yet.
How about me?
What?
How about me?
Though I'm not sure how reliable I am.
I'll work hard to teach you.
If you don't mind learning from a post-army music major.
I trust you.
I hope you teach me well, sir.
(Episode 2: Poco a poco, Slowly, gradually)
You go ahead. I'll go separately.
Why? I'll drop you off.
No, I'd rather take a bus.
I have some time to kill. Go ahead.
Okay, then.
See you.
Take care. I'll call you.
I'm taking the subway. I'll call.
- It was nice to see you. - Bye, Dong Yun.
Bye.
- Let's go. - Okay.
Then, I'll see you around.
Hey, Park Joon Young.
How long has it been?
Why did you make me come here?
I knew you'd come to get me.
Did I make you wait? My luggage took a while.
It's okay.
Why tell me to come to the airport...
if we're going to come here?
I know.
Let's eat something first.
Shall we grab something from downstairs?
- Sure. - Hang on.
Hey, Min Seong.
What? You're where?
- Congratulations. - Congratulations.
That was awesome.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Give me some beer too.
- Watch the glasses. - Be careful.
- So much alcohol. - Thanks.
Song Ah.
- You're the last to come. - Song Ah.
Sit here.
Why couldn't I reach you? I kept calling.
Sorry. CEO Yoon, congratulations.
Thanks.
Song Ah, scold him for me.
He ignored all my congratulatory texts...
and sent a reply only after he landed in Incheon.
I said I'm sorry. I was preoccupied.
I knew you'd come straight here from the airport,
and called the others.
What a great ex-girlfriend.
Are you two getting back together?
Why not? You made a nice couple.
Are you cursing me?
I live right here. Where else would I go?
- That's true. - I guess.
It makes sense.
- Let's eat. - How much did we order?
- Did you have dinner? - Not yet.
This is a new menu and it's delicious.
I missed the Han River, Seoul, and Korea.
Is it nice to be back?
Of course it is.
I'm done with my studies and Jung Kyung came back with me.
And you're here too.
Has it been seven years since you came back?
To rest and not perform, yes.
Did you sell your place in Berlin?
I rented it out. I'll go back one day.
And I don't have a lot of furniture.
What about the piano?
Right. You returned Jung Kyung's piano before moving to Berlin.
Doesn't it feel weird to let someone else live in your home?
It's not my home. I rented it too.
Where is home for you?
You moved to Seoul alone in seventh grade.
Your parents' place won't feel like home anymore.
I don't know.
When I'm on tour, I sleep somewhere new every night.
It must've been tough on you.
Get all the rest you need for the next year.
Have fun at university.
And date someone.
Be true to your identity as a returning student.
A Seoryeong University professor?
How many are they hiring?
One for strings.
Just one?
Then instead of a violin major,
they could hire a viola or cello major.
Yes.
Did all of your US applications fall through?
Yes.
It's so nice to have you back.
You studied for long enough.
Help with the foundation now too.
Excuse me, then.
Goodnight, Mother.
Sleep well.
Goodnight.
When you've sorted things out,
let's talk about the foundation, okay?
Jung Kyung...
will apply to teach at Seoryeong University.
Why? She won't teach in the US?
It's not that she won't. She didn't get any offers.
We thought she'd get at least one.
Seoryeong University won't be easy either.
But still,
I'm so grateful she's back in Korea with me.
It's been so long since we've been under the same skies.
Weren't you under the same skies in the US?
New York and Indiana?
That's 1,100km apart. The distance from Seoul and Tokyo.
I guess.
- Take care, Min Seong. - See you.
Bye.
- Song Ah. - Yes?
We were all against you going back to school to study music.
But now you're doing the best.
You live doing what you want.
I'm jealous.
Each time I have to swipe in for work...
There were things I wanted to do at one time.
Weren't there?
You're a civil servant who's guaranteed a job until retirement.
Don't complain to a self-employed CEO and a long-time student.
Your taxi's here. Get in.
Get home safely.
How will you get home?
I'll manage.
- Let's get you home. - Good for you, Song Ah!
You're doing great, friend!
Watch your head.
- Take care. - Bye.
She has no idea how I feel.
I'm not doing well at all.
Shall we go? Let's fix your violin.
Okay.
I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your New York recital last month.
My plane got delayed.
Jung Kyung said she couldn't go either.
Are you upset that neither of us went?
Forgive Jung Kyung. She was sick.
Then has it been a while since you saw her last?
Yes.
I went to see Jung Kyung as soon as I landed at the airport.
She looked terribly pale.
She gets bad migraines.
She was all dressed up.
But she couldn't make it.
I cared for her all night and left early in the morning.
I had to travel to LA.
Did you go straight to the airport after?
Yes.
If you'd landed 1 or 2 hours earlier,
we could've met at the airport.
I know. It's a pity it didn't work out.
Yes.
It didn't work out.
You were shocked, weren't you?
You wouldn't have expected to see us fly in together.
Jung Kyung didn't know you'd be at the airport.
This is called a 2-birds- with-1-stone surprise!
I feel so happy I'm delirious.
What's wrong?
Do you feel nervous to play in front of me?
It's me, so you don't have to be.
You haven't forgotten that when you said you'd study music,
only I supported you wholeheartedly, right?
Right.
How could I forget that?
So why feel nervous?
Relax and play.
It's open.
- What? - It's bust open.
Give it to me.
It's cracked here.
So the sound leaks out instead of filling the body.
I know you haven't been practicing,
but don't you feel bad about not knowing it's bust open?
I do.
Who would know about your instrument if not you?
They all have a soul.
They've been around for centuries.
Don't let it think that they met a bad owner.
Okay. Sorry.
I love you.
Say it three times.
Profess your love...
for your violin.
Say it three times.
Say it right into the f-hole.
So it can hear it all over.
I love you.
Song Ah, congratulations on getting into the music department.
I hope you become a great violinist in four years.
PS, poco a poco.
Let's take it slowly, gradually.
Good luck.
Let's start the meeting.
- Okay. - Okay.
I don't want to.
- Song Ah, let's go. - Okay.
Are you keeping in touch with Joon Young?
About using the room.
He hasn't called me since.
Really? I guess he's taking a break.
This afternoon...
My gosh. Ms. Im.
- That really hurts. - Ms. Im.
- Hang on, Ms. Im. - It really hurts. What should I do?
- Ms. Cha. - Sit back down.
I talked to Ms. Im.
She needs to be admitted, so I told her to relax.
She's due the end of this month, so she's on maternity leave now.
She'll be okay, right?
Who will take over from her?
The doctor said she doesn't have to worry.
Let's get back to work and discuss her duties later.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Hey, Hae Na. - Yes?
Director Nah's granddaughter plays the violin. Do you know her?
Yes. Lee Jung Kyung.
As a kid, she was called the next Sarah Chang.
She played with the New York Philharmonic.
We had the same tutor for a while...
when she returned to Korea in middle school.
She was famous because she was pretty and got good grades.
Why do you ask?
Just because. So she's a great violinist then.
She used to be.
Right now, it's hard to say.
She returned after her mom died in an accident.
Since then, she still plays better than her peers,
but not half as good as people expected her to.
Not all child prodigies do well after they grow up.
Lots of people become ordinary, like Jung Kyung.
And even if she is ordinary, she's still a very good violinist.
- Hello. - Hello.
You came early.
Here.
- Here you go. - Thank you.
I'm Nah Moon Sook of Kyunghoo Cultural Foundation.
(Nah Moon Sook)
It's nice to meet you.
("Seung Ji Min's Popularity Continues to Soar")
Gosh. Seung Ji Min sold more than 200,000 debut albums...
in Korea.
That's incredible.
It's a bit sad though.
When Park Joon Young won...
second place in the Chopin Competition,
people went crazy since he was the first Korean to win an award.
But after Seung Ji Min won first place in the same competition,
- it's a bit... - A bit what?
He doesn't stand a chance now.
That's why they say ranks are so important.
Even if there wasn't a first place winner that year,
he still only got second place.
I know that too.
So before Park Joon Young gets too old...
to participate in more competitions,
he should participate in another competition.
The Tchaikovsky Competition next year, or...
"The Tchaikovsky Competition"?
Why would he take such a crazy risk?
What if he participates and comes in 3rd instead of 2nd,
or even fails to win an award?
I'm just saying, as a fan.
Rather than waiting for him to win the Tchaikovsky Competition,
I recommend you become Seung Ji Min's fan.
What?
I'll be going then. Go get some coffee.
- Buy us coffee. - Next time.
I have work to do too.
- I'll buy you coffee. - No, thanks.
Why are they all leaving suddenly?
I started working as my father's secretary.
After he passed away,
the company was passed down to me and I've been working since.
I don't know music that well.
After retiring 15 years ago...
and establishing the cultural foundation,
I tried studying music...
since I was the director and all, but gosh.
I doubt I know as much as you.
I'm just someone who buys you food like today.
For the performers who make good music...
and staff that work hard behind the stage.
I'm someone who wants to treat you to a decent meal.
So whenever new members join our foundation,
I always make time to share a meal.
So I can ask you to work hard for our foundation.
Please work hard for Kyunghoo Cultural Foundation.
("Seung Ji Min, the first Korean to win the Chopin Competition")
("Seung Ji Min's Concert Tickets Sell Out in Just Two Minutes")
- We're back. - Hello.
Ms. Cha, we're back.
Did you meet the director? Have a seat.
I want to talk about your work allocation.
What is the matter with my bangs?
Hae Na will be working with me then.
I wonder if Ms. Chae Song Ah will do well.
Can she handle being the liaison for Joon Young's piano trio?
Do you need my help?
Don't worry. Mr. Park, you know me.
I've been doing my bangs for 10 minutes!
What do you do all day?
Well...
I go on walks and read books.
What about practice?
I heard you practice at the foundation office.
Yes, sometimes.
About that night...
That night...
when I performed in New York.
Yes. What about it?
Change seats.
The sun is too strong, so scoot over.
I'll get three iced Americanos since it's hot out.
Shall I...
get married?
What?
I've been seeing Hyeon Ho for a long time.
Shall I get married?
Are you serious?
No, it was a joke.
Jung Kyung.
But...
When I said I was going to marry Hyeon Ho,
I thought you would congratulate me.
What's with the face?
Why...
did you do it that night?
No particular reason.
I was glad to see you. That was all.
I guess I lived in the US for too long. I went overboard.
Okay.
But don't mess around like that ever again.
It's not funny at all.
I spilled some.
I should've checked the lid.
Thank you.
Shall I...
get married?
Are you serious?
- Can I get you to sign this? - Sure.
- What's your name? - Carina.
Carina?
- Here you go. - Thank you.
She's Anna from Moscow.
Oh, Anna?
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Thank you for coming. - Thank you.
Hey, are you a fan of his?
If you want, I can get you his autograph.
Please sign this for me.
- Okay. - Sign it for me.
Yes, I'll sign it for you.
Thank you.
Jung Kyung.
She said later...
that she felt jealous.
She didn't like seeing him somewhere...
she couldn't be.
That's why she wanted to check.
Whether she was still...
an important person to him.
Jung Kyung!
Joon Young, you're here too.
Did you sleep well?
Yes.
- Did you have breakfast? - No.
I'm starving.
She's in the hospital?
Is she okay now?
Yes, fortunately.
So your liaison will be...
I'm sorry I'm late.
You're just on time.
Ms. Chae Song Ah will take over.
- Nice to meet you. - Hello. Same here.
I hear you all happened to meet this past weekend.
It was meant to be.
- I hope we get along. - I do as well.
I'll let you get on with the meeting.
Oh, right. Can you stay for dinner?
I made reservations.
I was hoping to treat you all since it's been a while,
but something else came up.
I thought of postponing the dinner,
but since you're all here, you can take Song Ah instead.
We'll do that. Thank you.
I'll eat out with you another time.
Go ahead with the meeting then.
- See you. - Bye.
Have some coffee.
I didn't know what you'd like, so I got iced Americanos.
- Thanks. - Thank you.
Your coffee is...
I spilled it on the way. It's fine.
- Drink this instead. - It's okay.
You don't drink coffee because it makes your heart race.
Don't you drink coffee?
- There's Solomon's seal tea... - No, no.
- I drink it now, sometimes. - Really?
He wouldn't even eat chocolate because of the caffeine.
It doesn't matter.
You're so sensitive.
Song Ah.
We first played together in eighth grade.
Jung Kyung had just moved back from the US.
I fell in love at first sight and got so nervous.
I couldn't talk to her,
so I dragged him along when he wasn't interested.
I used music as an excuse...
and asked her to enter the school chamber music competition with us.
But she refused right away.
That was so mean of you.
She told me not to bug her, that I was annoying.
My first love is marred with wounds.
But in the end,
we played together...
in the competition.
How did you manage to persuade her?
I don't know. Why did you suddenly change your mind?
I don't remember.
I see.
Do you remember?
No, I don't either.
What? The three of us sound like idiots.
Idiots.
It's late. Let's go home.
Where else should we go?
All right. You can begin now.
What is this? Do you think I'm Stevie Wonder?
Show us if you're as good as him.
Mr. Park, do you accept song requests?
I will.
Song Ah, if there's anything you want to hear, ask him.
Me? It's okay.
Go on, ask him.
Since you're now a member of our team.
This may be your last chance,
so just ask him.
Schumann's "Träumerei".
I heard you play that piece by coincidence.
That song from Schumann's "Kinderszenen"?
Right, Jung Kyung.
Did you say you got your name from that piece?
Did your mother like this?
That's not true. I got my name from my mom's name.
I see. Sorry.
Anyhow, Joon Young liked Schumann since he was young.
But I've never heard him play "Träumerei".
Well, then.
Mr. Park, please play Schumann's "Träumerei"...
from his collection, "Kinderszenen".
- You can play another song... - I'll play it.
Listen carefully,
since I'll never play it again.
Listen carefully,
since I'll never play it again.
I love you.
I know. Of course I do.
Go back to sleep.
Jung Kyung.
I love you.
I love you so much.
Mr. Park is at the hotel with the conductor,
so Hae Na, you can go there and come back with him.
- He might need a hand. - Okay.
Joon Young said he'll be coming to Hannam-dong on his own.
Right, Song Ah.
Yes?
I want to give the conductor Joon Young's album,
but we don't have any left in the office.
Can you go buy it?
Sure.
- Song Ah, look at that. - What?
Seung Ji Min's photo is posted almost everywhere we go.
I guess Park Joon Young is done for.
What if Park Joon Young came back since he failed abroad?
Maybe the sabbatical is just an excuse.
To be honest, although he's pretty good at the piano,
he's popular thanks to his looks.
If he was a bit uglier, no one would know him.
It's Mr. Park.
Yes, Mr. Park. Yes.
Hey, wait... Wait...
Ma'am.
Wait, why is this beeping? I have to go.
Ma'am, you didn't pay for that.
I'm sorry.
Oh, gosh.
There's a moment when we suddenly realize something.
I have never enjoyed participating in competitions.
I always lost weight...
and suffered from insomnia.
Nevertheless,
I had to keep participating for two reasons.
First, I had to win the prize money to support my family.
Joon Young, your dad really didn't mean to...
stand surety for that person.
After coming to Seoul alone to study at an art school,
I had to make a living for myself.
And the other reason was...
the one person who lent her hand...
(Withdrawal Request Form)
when I was about to give up.
The money that was given to me as a scholarship...
was the price for a young girl's grief.
(Jung Kyung Seon)
I hated the fact that her tragedy...
became my fortune,
but I wanted to continue playing the piano...
and I didn't want to go back home.
So I...
decided to become friends with her.
I hoped...
that would make me feel a bit better.
Let's do the chamber music competition together.
After that,
(Award, Grand Prize)
I began participating in competitions endlessly.
So that person who helped me...
would feel proud.
("Nah Moon Sook of Kyunghoo Cultural Foundation...")
("Overcomes a Tragedy and Begins a 'New Tomorrow'")
However, after the last competition where I came in second,
I realized how unbearable it was to leave my home...
and fall asleep alone every night...
in another hotel room.
After pouring all my energy out on stage every night,
I came home and thought about her,
(Graduation Ceremony)
and about my other friend as well.
Was this emotion friendship,
Joon Young.
sympathy,
or a sense of being indebted?
The more I thought about it, the more it frightened me,
so I tried to ignore it.
But I realized it at that moment.
That I...
loved her.
But to be honest, I always knew how I felt.
But I had already realized I couldn't express it.
I was looking forward to my sabbatical for several years,
but everything got messed up from the beginning.
What if Park Joon Young came back since he failed abroad?
Maybe the sabbatical is just an excuse.
He's popular thanks to his looks.
If he was a bit uglier, no one would know him.
Hey, wait... Wait...
The things that I knew but chose to ignore...
because I didn't want to face reality...
are starting to show one by one.
What will be waiting for me next?
Young In said that little kid is amazing.
I wonder how good she is.
She said that?
Yes, she said she's really talented.
I heard she's Professor Song's student too.
Professor Song always knows how to choose the cream of the crop.
I hope she turns out better than me.
I'm not sure about that.
But I doubt she'll turn out prettier than you.
What are you saying?
(Violin, Yang Ji Won)
(Piano, Park Joon Young)
(Park Joon Young won second place in the Chopin Competition...)
(and is actively performing in Europe and the US...)
Joon Young, you're here.
Yes.
- Did you eat? - Yes, a little.
I told you to eat properly.
You haven't met Ji Won, have you?
- No. - I'll introduce you.
Why is this so hard?
How's your migraine?
What?
You suffered so much when you were in New York.
Do you know how worried I was?
You were so sick that you couldn't even go see Joon Young...
I did it.
Did Joon Young say that?
What?
That I didn't go see his recital?
The only person who knows how to read music...
is Song Ah.
Song Ah.
Yes?
Could you turn the pages for me?
Have you ever done page-turning?
No, it's my first time.
It's okay.
Even if you make a mistake, I've memorized almost everything.
Give her some more specific tips.
You must've done this often when you were in school.
I'm not sure if this will be useful,
but you need to feel the pianist's breath.
Gosh, that's so vague.
Well, it's a bit difficult to explain in words.
Song Ah, you know what I mean, right?
Yes. I'll try it.
Is this something that only musicians get?
Then you two figure it out.
Let's see...
Did he say I didn't go?
Am I wrong? Did you go?
No, I didn't go.
I didn't see Joon Young.
Sorry.
Don't they look nice together?
You need to feel the pianist's breath.
Good job, Song Ah.
Joon Young, I'm heading off.
You won't stay and watch?
I'm rehearsing with the philharmonic as a guest cellist.
Oh, right. Take care.
- I won't go far. - That's fine.
- See you soon, Song Ah. - Okay. Goodbye.
- Goodbye. - Take care.
Jung Kyung, can we borrow some black clothes?
- Clothes? - Yes.
Song Ah is the page-turner and her suit is too bright.
- Okay. - Is that your best?
Your righthand pizzicato is not loud enough.
The blisters hurt so much.
You still have blisters?
If you practiced hard enough,
your fingers would be callused by now.
Then it wouldn't hurt.
- Song Ah, does it fit? - Yes.
Your hands. Are they okay?
It suits you.
Oh, thank you.
Page-turning is tiring, isn't it?
No.
Is this the one I gave you?
Before the Chopin Competition?
Yes.
You still use it?
You haven't played this piano in a while then.
No, I haven't.
Do you want a snack?
No, I'm fine.
Drink something then.
(In Memory of Jung Kyung Seon,)
(a Beloved Daughter, Wife, Mother, and Pianist)
Welcome, maestro.
Come inside.
Today's performance was just... Bravo.
Thank you.
From what I heard today,
your Schumann must be impeccable.
You could play Brahms pretty well too.
Hey. Is that a matching couple's ring?
It is.
It's amusing how string musicians wear rings on their right hand.
- Did you meet on campus? - Yes. He's my year and plays cello.
I'm jealous.
After you graduate, will you work instead of studying abroad?
Yes. I got a few post-grad offers from universities overseas,
but I'm interested in planning events.
What about you?
- Pardon? - What will you do after graduation?
You're interested in planning concert events too, aren't you?
For now, my first goal is to graduate.
We have to do senior recitals next semester too.
What a nice breeze.
Don't...
try too hard to play...
and impress everybody.
If all the judges of a competition...
give you eight points,
then of course you might come in first.
But it could be better to get 10 points from 1 or 2,
and 6 or 7 points from the rest.
Because in that case, those 1 or 2 judges...
will go home having seen a performance they'll never forget.
Don't fear anything.
Follow your heart.
I'll take this one.
- Good job. - You too.
See you tomorrow, Song Ah.
- There are no more taxis. - No.
- Where do you live? - Seocho-dong.
- Near Seoul Arts Center? - Yes.
It's not too far from here by taxi.
It takes just as long to go by subway.
Were you...
waiting for my taxi with me?
Pardon? Well, yes.
I was waiting with you for your taxi.
- Oh, I was waiting with you. - Right.
My goodness.
I hope you get home safely.
I'd like to get something to eat.
Didn't you eat earlier?
Well, I usually find it hard to eat...
before or after a performance.
I see. Then have a good night.
Okay.
By the way.
How did you like today's performance?
- What? - Today's performance.
Did you like it?
I did.
I'm glad.
How about you?
I'm satisfied too since everyone liked it.
Not what others think.
I mean, did you like it?
I think...
the last time you played was a bit better.
"Last time"?
When you played "Träumerei" in the rehearsal room that night.
Today was great,
but strangely, I keep thinking of you playing that night.
Whenever I think about it,
it touches someplace in my heart.
I better get going.
Okay, have a good night.
I'm satisfied too since everyone liked it.
Not what others think.
I mean, did you like it?
Song Ah.
Can I sit here?
Sure... Of course, take a seat.
(Do you like Brahms?)
(We'd like to thank Kim Mi Gyeong for her special appearance.)
Do you have someone you like?
Jung Kyung went to see Joon Young's recital.
Really? She did?
Don't tell Song Ah about you and me.
Song Ah, Dong Yun and I...
I like him too.
I really like that song,
- so I don't want to hear it now. - I'm sorry.
Joon Young has never played that piece.
It was Brahms' way of finding comfort and solace.
Through music, rather than words.
Do you want to be friends?