Song of the Bandits (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

1
16 YEARS AGO, 1904
Hey.
Is she here? The woman you've been
fond of for over ten years?
What about you?
She's here.
Anyway, we both have to confess
our feelings today, no matter what. Okay?
I'm going to go say hello to people.
You go over there and dance.
"Dance"?
Just shake your body!
I'll be right back.
Oh, and remember.
Today's the only chance we've got.
-Go!
-Wait
This must be your first war.
Sorry?
Yes, this is my first time here.
I do not know
how you have ended up all the way here,
but I hope that your gun and sword
will not be pointed toward the weak
and our compatriots.
I'll bear that in mind.
What is your name?
It's Lee Yoon.
I hope that you will come back alive,
Mr. Lee Yoon.
SONG OF THE BANDITS
Miss,
Mr. Lee Gwang-il called to say
he is meeting with Mr. Lee Sang-guk.
Okay. Thanks.
This is Nam Hee-shin
from the Joseon Railway Bureau.
I would like to speak to Major Miura.
You must be surprised
that I asked to see you.
I apologize, Uncle.
I should have visited you more often.
It's all right.
It happens when you're busy.
I know it's much overdue,
but thanks to you,
I am now betrothed to Hee-shin.
These days, I feel like
I'm the happiest person in the world.
-Thank you, Uncle.
-Please!
I have been assigned
to the 19th Division Command in Nanam.
Did you know?
So I've heard.
I wish you all the best.
Have you sorted out everything here?
Yes. I have almost wrapped things up.
There is this man, Jang Seok,
a rebel that we captured a few days ago,
and he confessed
who the ringleader of his gang is.
Why did you do it?
Why have you lied to your family
and associated with the likes of him?
I understand where you're coming from.
Recovering a fallen country
Yes, it's splendid.
I suppose it looks noble in a way.
But, Uncle,
it's been ten years since Joseon fell.
This land is Japan's now.
So stop those pointless efforts
and join me.
Gwang-il.
I have been wanting to ask you
and your father for a while now.
Where will it be next?
When the Japanese invaded Ganghwa Island
and Joseon neared its end,
you and your father took Japan's side.
Everything in this world
is like a flower, you see.
No flower stays red for ten days.
I'm telling you, Japan will also
run out of luck someday.
Then I'm sure you and your father
will say the same thing.
"Japan is on the path to ruin,
so join me."
When that happens,
which country do you plan on siding with?
Do you have somewhere in mind?
Uncle.
You must keep up with the new age.
Joseon's fate is over.
Gwang-il.
Do not let your chase of the new age
blind you from the flow of history.
The new age may make wrong decisions,
but history never does.
History will not fail to properly evaluate
your current actions in due course.
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
We need you to come with us,
Mr. Lee Sang-guk.
Long live the emperor!
Long live the emperor!
Long live
the emperor.
Talk! Now!
"My dear Hee-shin."
"My heart aches at the thought
of not being able to see you for a while."
"Time without you is meaningless to me."
This is good.
A proud graduate
of Tokyo Imperial University.
Thank you, sir.
"Falling in love with you
was the most precious event in my life."
"You are the only reason
I exist in this world"
It's all good,
but Hee-shin is quite patriotic.
She can't be the only reason I exist.
It has to be His Majesty.
Fix the part after
"the most precious event in my life."
Yes, sir.
Talk, you scum!
Start rewriting the letter here.
Yes, sir.
Has he still not said anything?
No, sir. He hasn't.
Uncle.
Who was the man
Jang Seok tried to rendezvous with?
Was it the carrier?
You're admirable, Uncle.
Do you hear those screams?
Do you hear them shrieking?
They are all your men, you see.
Apparently, you told them the operation
would be carried out as planned
and that Jang Seok's arrest
will not stop it.
This means that your carrier
will show up in Changchun
on September 5th.
Who is that man?
How do you plan on obtaining the funds
for the independence movement?
Tell me.
He'll be captured anyway,
so why not let your nephew catch him?
It would be good for you as well
if your only nephew becomes successful.
Right?
Bring the chili powder.
Yes, sir.
Stubbornness runs in our family, huh?
I know you have weak lungs.
How are you going to endure this?
You could die from this, you know.
If that happens
I'll weep for you.
What's your plan?
What exactly are you scheming?
No? You're not going to say anything?
Are you just going to croak here?
Tell me.
Tell me, you son of a bitch!
What is your plan?
I finished the letter, sir!
"Falling in love with you
was the most precious event in my life."
"Today, tomorrow,
and for as long as I live,
I will only love you."
It's good.
Well done, Tokyo graduate.
Ga
Gando
What did you just say?
Ga
Gando Line railroad funds
Gando Line railroad funds?
Hey, let him down!
What about the Gando Line funds?
You're gonna steal that money
to fund the independence movement?
Water.
Give me some water.
Water? You want water?
Okay. Tae-ju, get him some water.
Now tell me who the carrier is.
Did you bring a gun in here?
Major, I didn't expect a situation like
Are you even a soldier?
Are you? You dare bring a gun in here?
You call yourself a damn soldier?
You brought a gun in here!
Let go! Let go of me!
Let go of me, you asshole!
Hey, are you all right?
The Gando Line construction funds.
September 5th, Changchun.
That's all we have, right?
Yes, sir.
An unidentified person
will steal the Gando Line
construction funds
and transport the money
to Changchun on September 5th.
So that's all we know.
The construction funds for the Gando Line
will be sent from the Hoeryŏng Branch
of Joseon Bank to Myeongjeong.
If it's Myeongjeong
it might even put Hee-shin in danger.
There's no other choice.
We should go.
Us?
But we are not officially transferred yet.
Do I need to wait until I'm transferred
to protect the woman and country I love?
Get everyone ready.
We will go ourselves
and catch and kill those bastards.
The moment we leave the station,
we are strangers to each other.
We split up and then meet back here
once the job is done.
And then
We will stop by Changchun
and return to Gyeongseong.
-Right?
-Correct.
You know what you have to do
if you are caught, right?
You must die alone. Don't sell me out.
Do you understand?
I know that already, yes.
But can I ask a question?
You can, but make it as short as possible.
Make it short?
All right.
Have you always been
such a rude little shit?
You told me to keep it short.
So I summed you up nicely, you know.
I'll take this one.
Keep the change.
What? This isn't enough.
Get back here and pay up!
Stop right there!
Come back, you fucking thief!
Stop!
Are you Ms. Nam Hee-shin
from the Joseon Railway Bureau?
Yes.
I am Superintendent Ōoka
from the Japanese Consulate.
I will be taking you to Myeongjeong.
This way.
Welcome.
I'd have picked you up
if you had let me know in advance.
I apologize.
This is why I didn't contact you.
You don't have to pick me up.
It's not like I'm someone important.
You took care
of what I asked you to do, yes?
Of course.
I hired a few reliable hands
and instructed them as you ordered.
Good. Well done.
The more people know about it,
the better it is for us.
Enjoy the food.
I heard the news about Kim Tae-seon,
Group 1's leader.
It was quite unfortunate.
How is it unfortunate?
He didn't fulfill the request
and let the target live.
People like that deserve to die.
Why would you get paid and skip the work?
Like a real scumbag.
You've never done
something like that, right?
Letting your target live, like Mr. Kim.
Give me a break.
Don't even say such a thing.
I kill my targets no matter what.
I will die if I don't kill them,
so how can I not?
Don't you worry. It has never happened.
So you should stop worrying over nothing
and just do what I asked.
Make sure to bring Hwang Sam-deok to me.
I was just about to head to Hoeryŏng
for that, actually.
I will talk to Hwang Sam-deok
and bring back good news, ma'am.
I will get going, then. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Is this your first visit
to Myeonjeong, ma'am?
Yes, it's my first time.
It's livelier than I thought.
And peaceful.
Is that right?
I'm glad to hear it.
In Gyeongseong, there are a lot of people
who consider Gando the land of hope.
Now that I'm here,
I think they might be right.
How long have you been
in Myeongjeong, Superintendent?
About ten years, ma'am.
Ten years.
That's a long time.
It has been a long time.
The day I leave here
can't come soon enough.
To hell with the Great Empire of Japan
and the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Who cares about that?
What do you mean?
-How do the mounted bandits know about it?
-You fuckin' tell me.
"The Gando Line construction funds
of 200,000 won will be transported."
Every gunslinger in the area
knows about it.
Who is running their mouth?
How does every bandit here know about it?
Damn it.
Ms. Nam, it's market day today,
so the car can't go any further.
It's all right. I will walk.
That's the hotel you will be staying at.
Let me take your bag.
No, it's fine.
I will go alone and take a look
around town while I'm at it.
Are you sure?
If there's anything you need,
please let me know anytime.
Well, then.
The transport schedule
hasn't changed, right?
The rumor might have alerted them.
The rumor has only spread
among mounted bandits in Gando,
so that's nothing to worry about.
Hey, you should be worrying about us!
From Jang Ki-ryong to those lousy bandits,
everyone will be after the money.
How could we possibly shake them off
and take the money?
Bloody hell.
If I get my hands on the son of a bitch
who spread the rumor, they're dead.
Are you sure it's not Choraeng-yi?
That prick is the only one I can think of.
My gut tells me it's him.
Will you stop doubting him?
He's a good, warm-hearted kid.
He's loyal, too, so stop doubting him.
I'm not doubting him, all right?
I know Choraeng-yi well, but
Yoon.
Yoon.
Hey, don't push me.
Yoon!
Hi.
Did you kids starve again today?
It's strange how she comes to mind
whenever I'm here.
She was my first in everything, you see.
She was the first member of the gentry
to ask my name and not my master's,
hold my hand, and smile.
And she was
the first person to make me feel happy
just by looking at her.
But I'm sure she doesn't remember me.
So,
does your heart ache as well?
I regret it a bit.
If I had known I would miss her so much,
I would have seen more of her.
But if you ever happen to run into me
in the future
then you will really die.
You bastard. It really is you.
What was that?
Was that a gunshot?
What is going on?
Myeongjeong is indeed a dangerous place.
What brings you here?
What brings me here?
You said you would die five years ago,
so why are you alive?
Fuck.
Move!
Come out.
Come out!
This is your last chance, asshole.
Next time, I will hit the mark.
Drop your gun and come out.
Then things will get simple.
Let's not complicate things.
All right?
This is what you call simple?
Shut up and die, asshole.
Yoon. Are you okay?
Who the hell are you?
Why were you shooting
at my brother, bitch?
What a ballsy, reckless bitch you are.
Hey, you damn rotten bitch!
You got yourself a sister?
You did all sorts of things
for a man who was ready to die.
It's nothing, so stay out of it, Seon-bok.
You'll only make it messier.
How can I just stay out of it
when that bitch is shooting at you?
I'm gonna cover that bitch
with bullet holes.
Damn bitch. You have a death wish?
Gosh, that old woman just won't stop
with that foul mouth of hers.
Hey, missus!
-"Missus"?
-Do you know me?
Sure, I do, bitch!
You're a foolhardy bitch
that doesn't know who she's up against.
Now you're going to die at my hands
and rot to death.
Unbelievable.
Wow, that old woman makes me really
want to kill her with only a few words.
I'll make you regret
Shit.
Fall in!
Stand by.
Right now, you are causing
serious physical and psychological damage
to others.
Drop your weapons immediately
and surrender.
I take it you are unwilling to do so.
Then I shall enforce
a summary judgment on all of you.
Open fire if they do not come out
at the count of ten!
Understood?
Yes, sir!
One.
-Two.
-Yoon, what do we do? Yoon!
Three.
What will you do now?
You tried to kill me,
and now you'll end up dead too.
Four.
This is all on you, bitch!
Five.
Everyone, load your rifles.
What should we do?
Six.
Drop the guns here and walk out?
Or die here?
You decide.
Seven.
This isn't over just yet.
I will kill you, whenever that may be.
Sure. I'll be waiting.
Whenever that may be,
I'll stay alive until then.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
-Everyone
-Wait!
Hold your fire!
So it was you, Lee Yoon.
Are these two it?
No!
Yes! There is one more!
It's Seon-bok!
Oh, you didn't notice me!
Sir!
I think you need a pair of glasses.
Would you like me to get you a pair?
Sorry!
Fuck, my back hurts.
Hey.
Why are you still alive?
It's a long story.
I don't care. Go ahead.
I'm about to die because of you.
The thing about my organization
is that it kills anyone
who doesn't get the job do
It's a long story for me too.
At any rate, you better hide
and live quietly until I come kill you.
Don't wander around
and let my boss see you.
-Who is it?
-Well
If it's not too rude to ask,
will you give us some privacy?
What's this about?
Sure!
Who is that?
Please. Thank you, sirs.
As you wish. Please excuse us.
Are you the man
who said stuff about 200,000 won
being sent for the railroad?
My general wants to ask you,
are you the one spreading the rumor
that a railroad fund of 200,000 won
will be transported from Hoeryŏng?
Did you tell the cops?
Have you also told
the policemen here at the consulate?
Are you going to tell them?
Then
do you plan on telling them in the future?
Can I trust you?
Can we trust you?
I trust your intention.
But I can't trust that mouth of yours.
The general trusts your intention.
Thank you!
Thank you for trusting me!
However,
he said he cannot trust your mouth.
General.
Did you hear it?
Forget what you just heard
if you want to live.
Stop talking nonsense and just go, okay?
Or get in here and fight me, will you?
Let's go.
Frustrating, isn't it?
You wanted to take it for yourself,
but all kinds of people
are trying to take a piece.
Hey.
I really do hope
that you will come to steal that money.
So I can just kill you that day.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Or, in other words,
the best of both worlds.
Nice, isn't it?
You want them released?
We cannot do that.
Are you saying we should execute them
in front of the whole village instead?
Yes, sounds good.
That would help with keeping order
in the village as well.
If we kill one Joseon-born
in this current situation,
there will be ten
no, a hundred new rebels.
If that happens,
that just means more work for us to do.
Superintendent Ōoka.
Why don't we take the easier path?
Sir,
then what about my work?
What happens to my job?
"Maintain public order in Myeongjeong
and the North Gando area,
where the Japanese Consulate General is."
"That is your duty!"
"If you carry out your duties
exceedingly well,
I'll send you home in two years."
Weren't those your very words, sir?
You said it ten years ago.
We can do as you say from now on,
but not this time.
Release them all.
That is an order.
No.
Sir!
It's an order for the country. Just obey!
Why do you complain so much? Why?
Will you please just do it?
An order for the country, you say?
The Great Empire of Japan. The Greater
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Is that what you're speaking of?
As someone who worked in this barren land
for over ten years because of those words,
there is only one thing I can say to you.
Take all of that nonsense
and feed it to the dogs!
Excuse me!
What?
Feed it to the dogs?
What did you just say, you traitor?
Hey.
Did you come for the money too?
Did you come back here for the 200,000 won
worth of railroad construction funds?
Why else would I come here?
To a sleepy little town like this.
Don't get all scared
and change your plans, all right?
We have to meet that day
and deal with our unfinished business.
No point in wasting more time.
Don't get too greedy
and just go back to Gyeongseong.
You don't want to risk your life.
Hey.
You're a funny one, aren't you?
Who are you to tell me what to do?
Well, you're funnier, bitch.
This young punk has no manners
or respect at all.
I bet she's a damn lowborn bitch.
Missus.
Will you stop calling me a bitch?
I have a name. It's Eon-nyeoni!
Whatever, you're a bitch.
Once a bitch, always a bitch, bitch.
Seriously, I should do something
about that dirty mouth of
If you do the job,
you have to fight us
and the men we just saw in there.
That puts you in danger.
Are you worrying about me
or threatening me?
Or is this a threat
under the guise of worry?
You said you're going to kill me someday.
Then you have to stay alive until then.
It's none of your business
whether I live or die or do whatever.
Worry about your own life.
You're in a pickle, you know.
So, you're not gonna give it up?
Would you?
We have no choice, then.
Let's just do what we're good at.
Sure.
Well, let's do that.
Although I'm not sure
what it is that you're good at.