When the Stars Gossip (2025) s01e06 Episode Script
Episode 6
1
WHEN THE STARS GOSSIP
These are the images
of Ms. Na's eggs fertilized
with Mr. Choi's sperm,
now divided into 16 cells.
They're your seven grandchildren, sir.
We'll select the three healthiest ones
with the highest chance of success
and implant them in her uterus.
Min-jeong, are you feeling better now?
Yes, Father.
I'm taking good care of myself.
I'm perfectly healthy.
Now I can die without any regrets.
Aren't you going to say congratulations?
This belongs to a human.
Is it a morula?
Wow, a morula?
Yes, it's a human morula.
Dr. Lee, turn off the lab's power.
We need to disengage the locks.
- Okay.
- Wait.
At least give me a chance
to explain first.
Have you lost your mind?
Open it.
Is this it?
Excuse me.
Unbelievable.
Is this…
Is this an actual human morula?
Congratulations, Min-jeong.
Thank you.
Once the morulas arrive,
I'll get you the best team of doctors,
way better than Gong Ryong.
Just trust me.
All right.
Chairman.
Ryong hasn't done anything up there.
End things with him.
I can't accept just anyone into my family.
Dad!
Kang-su is the one who did all the work.
Marry him instead.
A human egg has never been
brought up to the space station.
Just how did you bring these up here?
Whose are they?
They were donated by an egg bank
for experimental purposes.
They were meant to be used
for the infertility research where
I compared sterile fruit flies to humans.
I hid them under the holders
for the fruit fly vials and snuck them in.
What about the sperm?
The sperm.
Did you use your own?
I stole one of Santi's samples.
The sperm are yours.
What, mine?
You used my sperm?
I experimented with the frozen sperm
that you always keep in the freezer.
So these embryos… These…
These morulas.
They're all my babies?
I know the situation is bad,
and I'm sorry. I know I broke the rules,
but just think about it.
Santi's sperm can't fertilize eggs
on Earth
due to their abnormal morphology
and genetic defects,
but I made it happen here.
Isn't that incredible?
Shut up! You don't even deserve
to be called a scientist.
What's wrong with
a scientist stretching his imagination?
Someone had to try it sooner or later.
You've all been dying to know
if people who can't get pregnant
can have children in space!
I know you wanted to try it too.
Let's be honest, Commander.
You spend every day
with those damn mice asking,
"Did they bump uglies today?"
"Will they do it today? Tomorrow?"
"Has the vaginal plug formed?"
You never take your eyes off them
so you can make it possible for humans.
Haven't you been itching to skip
the mice and try this yourself?
I'm discarding these.
You're discarding them?
Santi, I have to discard these.
Sorry.
I'll discard them
and report this to MCC right away.
Dr. Kang, stay here
and wait for instructions.
Commander.
Commander.
Damn it.
What do we do now?
I know you're laughing
and celebrating on the inside, you jerk.
Hey.
The morulas are 400 km away
from their mom's uterus.
At least one of them has to make it there.
It doesn't matter who created it.
Damn.
What are you…
What are you going to do?
Commander.
Commander!
Those are human lives.
These are just cells.
The nuclei met and divided. That's it.
Life begins from the moment
a sperm meets an egg.
You're talking about the future.
Right now, these are
nothing more than balls of 16 cells.
A morula is essentially a person.
It's already a living thing.
Save your sentimental ob-gyn talk
for when you're back on Earth.
You're at a space station.
You don't know what this means here,
so stay out of it.
You thought it was amazing
when a fruit fly gave birth.
How can you destroy human lives
just because it's against the rules?
Fine, let's say you're right,
and these are human lives.
Yes, please.
These cells carry a type of energy
that doesn't exist on Earth.
No one can predict how they will develop
when this unidentified energy
goes to Earth.
Who's to say whether they'll become
a cancer mass or a mass of life?
Space is full of radiation
and unknown cosmic rays.
Even if you froze these cells,
they'd still be completely exposed
to unpredictable risks.
It's not like they'd be protected
by a buffer like a mother's womb.
They must be destroyed.
Facing those risks
is the fate this life-form was born with.
That's not something
we can decide on our own.
They have to face their own fate.
Let's let them decide
their own destiny, okay?
Commander.
What…
Wait a second.
You can't be serious.
You want to crush these human lives
like medical waste
and shoot them into space?
You want to let Dr. Kang play God
and create human life here?
He stole a teammate's sperm
and shoved it
into some random woman's eggs.
These could turn into cancer or mutants.
He put us in grave danger.
He thought
he could create humans like God,
and he was conquering his fear.
He was just being arrogant,
justifying his actions like that.
Dr. Kang completely disregarded
space ethics.
Let go of me.
Science is for humanity.
Do your ethics really mean more?
Your experiments with mice
to get them to mate, get pregnant,
and give birth
are all for human benefit, aren't they?
Let go.
You're trying to make it possible
for humans to have sex, get pregnant,
and give birth in space too.
It's about finding a way for humanity
to continue across generations
beyond Earth.
Think of these living beings
as the starting point for that.
The beginning of it.
Natural conception or not,
they're still human beings
who could survive all the radiation
and unknown rays
and be born despite the obstacles.
Please see it that way.
These morulas will soon
develop into blastocysts,
and unverified blastocysts
cannot enter Earth
under any circumstances.
No!
We'll load it onto the spacecraft below
with the other waste
and burn it up in the atmosphere.
Murderer.
Excuse me?
You murderer.
Murderer!
Say that again.
You're a murderer.
And you're two-faced.
Murderer!
I regret ever falling for you
or feeling my heart race because of you.
I regret risking my life
to save someone like you.
I should've just let you die.
I'll never try to save you again.
I didn't know
you were so cruel and heartless.
I asked if it was okay if I liked you.
I take it all back!
Good.
I'm so over you.
I can't stand you.
That's what I wanted.
I thought space was like a womb,
but it's a tomb, isn't it?
Not a place of creation…
but a place of death?
Seoul?
Astronaut Kang Kang-su created embryos
using unauthorized human eggs and sperm.
The embryos, which developed into morulas,
were immediately discarded
as per protocol.
This is all a result of my negligence.
I will take responsibility and step down.
Kang Kang-su.
You have violated bioethics
and put humanity in danger
with unauthorized experiments.
You caused chaos at the space station
and brought dishonor to all astronauts.
Effective immediately,
you're dismissed from Expedition 3.
You're no longer a fellow astronaut.
The final disciplinary action will be
determined upon your return in three days.
Now, Commander Eve, you said
you'd resign to take responsibility,
but I'm ordering you
to continue your duties as commander.
That will be all.
KOREA SPACE AGENCY
Don't do it.
Dr. Kang Kang-su can take over.
If you get caught,
it could jeopardize Dr. Kang's work.
Geez, what the…
Why are you taking that apart?
I thought he was using this
to work on fruit flies, but he wasn't.
Who knows if some other lunatic
will try to do the same thing?
But what about me?
I was given assignments.
Come on, the eggs are already gone.
All I need to do is observe
the motility of the frozen sperm.
I need this, Commander.
I told you to stop all ongoing projects.
Commander.
Commander!
Wait, Commander.
Use the microscope here in the main module
if you need to observe sperm motility.
It's under CCTV surveillance.
Hey!
I paid 70 billion won to be here.
I'm a VIP, all right?
Why do I have to tiptoe around
and ask for your permission?
That's equipment
for the biological module.
Why are you locking it?
That means I can't use it.
DONG-A
From now on, you'll need my permission
to use this microscope for ICSI.
Everything from setup to usage
will be recorded 24-7 on CCTV.
Tourist or not, there are no exceptions.
Damn it.
CHAIRMAN CHOI JAE-RYONG
Hey, pour her a glass.
Yes, sir.
Father, I'd rather not drink.
We've got to celebrate.
You won't be able to drink for a while.
Right, I'll just have a sip then.
You're better than my own daughter.
Once you have the baby,
you can run the hospital.
I'll make you the director.
You don't even want to eat with me now?
Listen, make something
that the vice chairwoman likes.
Yes, sir.
If you marry Kang-su,
you can be vice chairwoman.
Build up the company
and pass it on to our precious morula.
I bet the morula will be sharp as a tack,
just like your brother.
You'll run MZ Group for the next 30 years,
and then the morula
will take over for another 30.
Does that sound fair?
I'm not marrying Kang-su.
I'm offering you
the next 30 years of MZ Group as a gift.
Sir, Dr. Kang Kang-su
is on the phone for you.
Oh, really?
Make it a video call so we can all talk.
The chairman would like
to switch to video call.
Have you frozen them?
- Mr. Chairman.
- The portable freezer I gave Ryong
was specially designed
to block radiation and harmful rays,
and it can easily pass through
the Earth's atmosphere.
Take it from Ryong
and bring the morulas back in it.
Impressive, don't you think?
The IOU could learn
a thing or two from us.
I'm sorry.
What?
The seven morulas…
have all been destroyed.
What?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
Did you get caught?
It's over.
How much do they know?
What about Ryong? Is he okay?
I lied and said the eggs
were donated for experiments,
so they don't know
they were Dr. Na's eggs.
You were so sure of yourself!
Did you lose the rest of the eggs too?
Gong Ryong still has a few of them,
but I can't use the microscope.
It's been moved to the main module
and locked up in a rack.
It's under 24-7 CCTV surveillance,
and nothing can be done in secret.
There's nothing I can do.
Are you…
Are you telling me to give up right now?
There's no other option. I'm sorry.
Who did it?
Who killed my grandchild?
Who is it?
Your commander?
Dad!
I'll call you later.
Sir.
Dad.
CHAIRMAN CHOI JAE-RYONG
They didn't even get to live for a day.
- Who did this?
- Dad.
Take him to the hospital now
before things get worse! Hurry!
- Dad!
- Bring them to me, damn it!
I'm going to kill
all those bastards up there!
I'm going to kill them!
- Father.
- Sir, are you all right?
- Dad!
- Father.
Stay with me, sir.
Dad, we're almost there.
Just hang in there, okay?
Dad.
FLAVORS OF THE MOUNTAIN, SEA, AND SKY
Hey, it's raining.
Oh, goodness!
I wish it had started raining sooner.
The weather's perfect
for mung bean pancakes and makgeolli.
Rainy days make me think of my exes.
I wonder if our Ryong
is eating well up there.
Ryong!
What a jerk, right?
Kang Kang-su.
I know you have his lottery ticket.
The one that won the jackpot last year.
I'll talk with Santi
before he goes back in three days.
How about we split it three ways?
Someone like Kang-su
doesn't deserve that money.
He's not even on the team anymore.
What… What about my sister?
You've got a month to claim it.
Santi is the only one
who can do it in time.
You found the ticket,
I'm the only one who can convince him,
and Santi is the one who can go
to Houston and collect the cash.
But your sister?
She's not doing anything.
In…
In any case…
In any case, let's split it four ways.
Dad.
I know it's hard,
but you have to accept it.
Let's call Ryong.
Please stop.
Min-jeong, call Ryong.
He still has three eggs.
That ICSI microscope.
Tell him to steal it if he has to.
He might get caught too if he does that.
What then?
Min-jeong, call Ryong.
He'll listen to you.
Call Ryong.
- Father.
- Do it now.
Kang-su said
they can't do it because of the cameras!
There's no way it can be done
without a microscope.
- It's over.
- Shut it.
We…
should give up.
I'm not giving up.
I won't.
If you don't stop, you'll get Ryong
and all of us in serious trouble.
Please.
Please come to your senses, Dad!
Please…
There are only three eggs left now.
I have to succeed tonight, no matter what.
I'm going back in three days,
and they'll need three days
to become morulas.
Tonight's my last chance.
Turn left, please.
Give it up.
You don't even have a microscope.
I did get a couple of pipettes
from the biological module.
Hey, what are you going to do
with just the pipettes?
You still need a microscope
to attach them to
for one to hold the egg
and the other to inject sperm.
It's like a needle without the syringe.
Really? I had no idea.
Thanks for telling me, buddy.
- You jerk.
- Hey, that's cute.
How can I turn myself into a microscope?
You can't.
For God's sake.
This damn zero gravity.
I thought it'd work
if someone held on to my legs.
Hey, since you don't have a microscope,
why not get someone to hold
each of your legs and arms?
Yeah, get four people to hold you still.
Go make an announcement.
"Hi, I'm trying IVF again."
"Can somebody hold me up?"
- Hold on.
- "Who wants to help me? Raise your hand!"
Hey, wait. Be quiet.
Dude, if you pull this off
without a microscope,
I'll give you a Nobel Prize myself.
It's impossible
without a microscope, Ryong.
Hey!
He keeps disappearing
in the middle of calls.
Where am I?
What do you mean,
all we have to do is hold his legs?
What'll the tourist do
if we hold his legs?
He won't say.
What, does he think we're stupid?
Why should we hold him
if he doesn't tell us what he's gonna do?
We're gonna do it no matter what, okay?
We hold his legs, we get 500 billion.
Sweet deal, right?
Let's do it.
Should we call him?
Spacewalk suits don't have any joints,
so we move really slowly.
Moving even 0.00001 mm makes your heart
feel like it's about to burst.
It's like dying in a jointless prison.
What are you doing?
Come with me for a second.
Is it impossible to move in this?
Pretty much.
Why?
We'll keep your legs still and secure,
so keep your promise.
Of course.
I won't say a word about it.
I'll take it to my grave.
No.
I want to know
why you need us to hold your legs.
I need to know.
I don't care if the prize
is 500 billion or 5 trillion.
In pari delicto.
You want us to dance,
you gotta show us your hand.
I will do the same thing
that Kang Kang-su did.
What the…
- What?
- What did you just say?
Santi.
What Kang Kang-su said
back there was a lie.
It's not your sperm.
Fuck!
It was my patient's sperm,
as crooked as yours.
I came up to space
at the request of a mother
who desperately wanted a baby.
Because her husband's sperm
have a genetic defect,
it would be impossible to get pregnant
if it wasn't for zero gravity here.
No matter what baby is born,
a responsible mother
who will raise the baby with love,
is waiting.
This is insane!
I'm out.
I can't do it.
Didn't you see what happened to Dr. Kang?
You're basically asking us
to risk our lives here.
We could easily lose our jobs
as astronauts like Kang-su did.
I'm not asking you
to do the procedure yourselves.
Just hold my legs down
like when I operated on the mouse.
I'll turn a blind eye
to the lottery ticket,
if you guys will turn a blind eye
to what I'm about to do.
No, I'm not doing this.
Me neither.
Are you kidding me?
So you'll just give up the 500 billion?
Okay.
Let's say we do it.
What about the ICSI microscope?
Mr. Gong, you can't perform an ICSI
without a microscope.
When you move your hand by one centimeter
with the joystick and manipulator,
the needle only moves by one micrometer.
Is it really impossible?
If you hold my legs completely still,
I will…
I'll turn my body into a microscope.
There you go.
I thought space was like a womb,
but it's a tomb, isn't it?
Not a place of creation…
but a place of death?
He was at death's door, but he made it.
Look at this guy gobbling up the food.
He seems to be back to full health.
What do we do now?
Eve.
What?
Yeah, I know.
He's eating like a champ.
And pooping like one too.
Yeah. Lucky little guy, right?
He's doing really well today.
Right?
Should we try pairing him up?
He's probably over his mate
back on Earth by now.
Yeah? Which one should we pair him with?
Let's see. Who's the best…
Who's the best match?
When Male Mouse 1 was
still hung up on his mate on Earth,
was there any particular female mouse
he had trouble with?
Well…
Yeah, this one. Female Mouse 3.
Male Mouse 1 bit her pretty badly.
So, I guess not her.
She's the perfect match.
I told you, he bit her.
It's probably
because she kept coming on to him
while he was still
heartbroken over his mate.
That means Female Mouse 3
was the most forward with him.
Are you sure?
Same goes for humans, right?
When it comes to sex and pregnancy,
I'm the expert.
He's right.
Mouse 3 did throw herself at him.
I saw it.
You saw how the fruit fly
gave birth in front of me.
They must've known an ob-gyn was watching.
I'm telling you.
They can sense who I am instinctively.
Okay, I'll trust you on this then.
Okay. Come here, girl.
All right.
- Commander.
- Be gentle.
I guess we have a long night ahead of us.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Min-jeong
Happy birthday to you
Ready? One, two, three.
All right.
Thank you. I love you.
Let's be happy. Love you.
Love you too.
Thank you, Dong-hun.
Let's do it.
I wanna hold his legs.
Screw space law.
Santi.
A mother's waiting for her child.
It's a loving couple.
Plus, I can claim the prize
when I get back to Earth in three days.
Let's do it.
My heart withers in space.
It becomes smaller and smaller.
It might just disappear.
I can't do it.
Fine.
You two stay here.
I'll help Mr. Gong all by myself.
You know, every day
I look at all these girls
again and again
to collect semen samples
to send back to Earth
all because I want to have children.
It's the same thing with Fantasia.
What's the difference?
I'm tired of looking
at these damn magazines.
I know my wife would love this.
I know Emma would want me
to help Mr. Gong.
I don't understand.
Why isn't he here yet?
Wow, he got everything ready.
Jesus!
Santi, Dr. Lee.
What are you doing in that?
You can barely move in that suit.
- It makes you really slow.
- Exactly.
If I wear this,
my hands will be slow
when I move the pipettes, right?
When I move one centimeter,
I actually move one micrometer.
Wow.
Hey, where's Mina?
Ladies! Wake up already.
Goodness.
I knew you were drinking too much.
I ground the mung beans.
You prepare the chives.
Kim Je-deok faces off against
number one in the world, Brazil's…
Oh, my gosh. I have to tell him.
Mr. Gong.
Where is he? Hello?
Where did he go?
How about now?
Is it still shaking?
They're much steadier now.
Good, just like that.
Ladies, let's eat rice with fried eggs
and the side dishes we have for breakfast.
- Sounds good.
- Okay.
Kim seems to be in great shape today,
and his balance looks excellent.
- Ten points!
- Ten points.
He's off to a great start.
He's in top form…
- Wow.
- He got the sperm.
You really are a human microscope.
It's amazing.
Now, I'll hold the egg with the pipette.
At least the egg is bigger.
- Come on.
- Come on.
You're good at everything else,
but you suck at frying eggs.
- Switch with me.
- You do it.
Oh, we're all gonna die.
But you barely moved your hand.
How could the pipette shake so much?
The first egg is dead.
We only have two more left.
Let's try again.
You did it! Toma!
I'm going to have a heart attack.
Now, this is the real deal.
I'm injecting the sperm…
into the egg.
All right. Let's eat.
Kim needs to take a moment
- to gauge the wind and compose himself.
- Yes.
His left arm holding the bow
must stay as still as a block of metal.
It cannot move.
He's holding steady,
thinking about the position and direction.
If he keeps this up, he can do it.
I know he will.
Hold steady, keep the tension,
and stay focused until the end.
Now, he needs to take a bold shot.
Oh, seven points!
- Shoot.
- Oh, man.
The sperm is outside the egg.
My goodness, the second egg died too?
I have to
inject the sperm right into the middle…
Right into the middle of the egg.
Oh, Mina.
Have you seen Mr. Gong?
Okay! He got the sperm.
One egg left. Let's do it.
Mr. Gong?
No, I haven't seen
Mr. Gong anywhere, Commander!
No?
Commander.
Why would Mr. Gong be there, Commander?
Commander.
Have you seen the tourist?
Nope. Maybe he's gone home
since you've been so harsh on him.
Why are you guys up so late?
Well, I'm just checking, and he's packing
since we're going home soon.
Checking and packing this late?
Yup.
Have you guys been drinking again?
I'm onto you, you know.
I'll find it.
Farewell drink or something, huh?
I let it slide once, but not twice.
I know it was you.
You can drink anytime
when you get back, Santi.
Commander!
Commander!
Yeah, you're right.
Booze? Yeah, we had some.
We know it's not allowed,
but we were feeling so lonely and tired.
We just took one shot.
I'm sorry. We shouldn't have.
It's just that the station feels so cold.
But I know you're going to make this place
nice and warm.
I believe in you.
Where the hell did he go
this late at night?
Everyone, go to sleep.
- Now.
- Okay.
Good night.
You guys are killing me!
I'm glad you're here, Mina.
Good job, Mina!
Where is he?
They look like they might actually do it.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh!
No way.
You somehow managed to get the sperm.
But even if you did,
are you sure you can inject the sperm
straight into the egg
with those thick gloves on?
They're smaller than a speck of dust.
I can if you'll help me.
So you're saying,
instead of moving the pipette,
you'll move the egg
with the culture medium
and align it with the tip of the pipette?
Yes, place it in a straight line
between the pipettes.
In a straight line.
Stop.
The egg is aligning
in the center of the culture medium.
If you breathe, the droplet will move.
This is the last egg.
The sperm has to go
right into the middle of the egg.
Everyone.
I need you to hold your breath.
Hold your breath.
Okay.
One.
Two.
Three.
Now, this is his final shot.
Kim Je-deok
must believe in himself until the end.
Yes, he should stay focused
until the last moment. He can do this.
That's right. It's his last arrow!
Stay calm.
You got this.
Off it goes!
I…
am going to save you no matter what.
- Bull's-eye!
- Ten points!
- Ten points!
- He's amazing!
It was a perfect shot! Just incredible!
Kim Je-deok stayed calm under pressure
until the very end…
Damn!
Holy cow!
How is this possible?
You're so…
I'm starting to get scared of you.
It's all up to you now.
You can do it.
Where have you been?
Come here, quickly.
Do you hear that?
It's the male singing to court the female.
Can you hear his serenade? Come on.
What sound
did you say this was?
It's the male courting the female.
It's pretty loud.
I know, right?
Think they'll do it now?
What?
GUEST APPEARANCE BY KIM JE-DEOK
GONG RYONG'S 6TH DAY
WHEN THE STARS GOSSIP
When we're back on Earth
and standing on solid ground,
let's go out for meals, movies,
and walks, just like everyone else.
This doesn't feel right.
I'm going to do whatever it takes
to bring you a morula.
You're lying.
- Just with your hands? No way.
- Dr. Kang!
Kang Kang-su, you son of a bitch!
Oh! Look at this!
The tourist is trapped
in the observation module alone?
- I'm still here!
- Close the hatch right now!
I am not leaving him here alone!
Subtitle translation by: Yoonjung Song
WHEN THE STARS GOSSIP
These are the images
of Ms. Na's eggs fertilized
with Mr. Choi's sperm,
now divided into 16 cells.
They're your seven grandchildren, sir.
We'll select the three healthiest ones
with the highest chance of success
and implant them in her uterus.
Min-jeong, are you feeling better now?
Yes, Father.
I'm taking good care of myself.
I'm perfectly healthy.
Now I can die without any regrets.
Aren't you going to say congratulations?
This belongs to a human.
Is it a morula?
Wow, a morula?
Yes, it's a human morula.
Dr. Lee, turn off the lab's power.
We need to disengage the locks.
- Okay.
- Wait.
At least give me a chance
to explain first.
Have you lost your mind?
Open it.
Is this it?
Excuse me.
Unbelievable.
Is this…
Is this an actual human morula?
Congratulations, Min-jeong.
Thank you.
Once the morulas arrive,
I'll get you the best team of doctors,
way better than Gong Ryong.
Just trust me.
All right.
Chairman.
Ryong hasn't done anything up there.
End things with him.
I can't accept just anyone into my family.
Dad!
Kang-su is the one who did all the work.
Marry him instead.
A human egg has never been
brought up to the space station.
Just how did you bring these up here?
Whose are they?
They were donated by an egg bank
for experimental purposes.
They were meant to be used
for the infertility research where
I compared sterile fruit flies to humans.
I hid them under the holders
for the fruit fly vials and snuck them in.
What about the sperm?
The sperm.
Did you use your own?
I stole one of Santi's samples.
The sperm are yours.
What, mine?
You used my sperm?
I experimented with the frozen sperm
that you always keep in the freezer.
So these embryos… These…
These morulas.
They're all my babies?
I know the situation is bad,
and I'm sorry. I know I broke the rules,
but just think about it.
Santi's sperm can't fertilize eggs
on Earth
due to their abnormal morphology
and genetic defects,
but I made it happen here.
Isn't that incredible?
Shut up! You don't even deserve
to be called a scientist.
What's wrong with
a scientist stretching his imagination?
Someone had to try it sooner or later.
You've all been dying to know
if people who can't get pregnant
can have children in space!
I know you wanted to try it too.
Let's be honest, Commander.
You spend every day
with those damn mice asking,
"Did they bump uglies today?"
"Will they do it today? Tomorrow?"
"Has the vaginal plug formed?"
You never take your eyes off them
so you can make it possible for humans.
Haven't you been itching to skip
the mice and try this yourself?
I'm discarding these.
You're discarding them?
Santi, I have to discard these.
Sorry.
I'll discard them
and report this to MCC right away.
Dr. Kang, stay here
and wait for instructions.
Commander.
Commander.
Damn it.
What do we do now?
I know you're laughing
and celebrating on the inside, you jerk.
Hey.
The morulas are 400 km away
from their mom's uterus.
At least one of them has to make it there.
It doesn't matter who created it.
Damn.
What are you…
What are you going to do?
Commander.
Commander!
Those are human lives.
These are just cells.
The nuclei met and divided. That's it.
Life begins from the moment
a sperm meets an egg.
You're talking about the future.
Right now, these are
nothing more than balls of 16 cells.
A morula is essentially a person.
It's already a living thing.
Save your sentimental ob-gyn talk
for when you're back on Earth.
You're at a space station.
You don't know what this means here,
so stay out of it.
You thought it was amazing
when a fruit fly gave birth.
How can you destroy human lives
just because it's against the rules?
Fine, let's say you're right,
and these are human lives.
Yes, please.
These cells carry a type of energy
that doesn't exist on Earth.
No one can predict how they will develop
when this unidentified energy
goes to Earth.
Who's to say whether they'll become
a cancer mass or a mass of life?
Space is full of radiation
and unknown cosmic rays.
Even if you froze these cells,
they'd still be completely exposed
to unpredictable risks.
It's not like they'd be protected
by a buffer like a mother's womb.
They must be destroyed.
Facing those risks
is the fate this life-form was born with.
That's not something
we can decide on our own.
They have to face their own fate.
Let's let them decide
their own destiny, okay?
Commander.
What…
Wait a second.
You can't be serious.
You want to crush these human lives
like medical waste
and shoot them into space?
You want to let Dr. Kang play God
and create human life here?
He stole a teammate's sperm
and shoved it
into some random woman's eggs.
These could turn into cancer or mutants.
He put us in grave danger.
He thought
he could create humans like God,
and he was conquering his fear.
He was just being arrogant,
justifying his actions like that.
Dr. Kang completely disregarded
space ethics.
Let go of me.
Science is for humanity.
Do your ethics really mean more?
Your experiments with mice
to get them to mate, get pregnant,
and give birth
are all for human benefit, aren't they?
Let go.
You're trying to make it possible
for humans to have sex, get pregnant,
and give birth in space too.
It's about finding a way for humanity
to continue across generations
beyond Earth.
Think of these living beings
as the starting point for that.
The beginning of it.
Natural conception or not,
they're still human beings
who could survive all the radiation
and unknown rays
and be born despite the obstacles.
Please see it that way.
These morulas will soon
develop into blastocysts,
and unverified blastocysts
cannot enter Earth
under any circumstances.
No!
We'll load it onto the spacecraft below
with the other waste
and burn it up in the atmosphere.
Murderer.
Excuse me?
You murderer.
Murderer!
Say that again.
You're a murderer.
And you're two-faced.
Murderer!
I regret ever falling for you
or feeling my heart race because of you.
I regret risking my life
to save someone like you.
I should've just let you die.
I'll never try to save you again.
I didn't know
you were so cruel and heartless.
I asked if it was okay if I liked you.
I take it all back!
Good.
I'm so over you.
I can't stand you.
That's what I wanted.
I thought space was like a womb,
but it's a tomb, isn't it?
Not a place of creation…
but a place of death?
Seoul?
Astronaut Kang Kang-su created embryos
using unauthorized human eggs and sperm.
The embryos, which developed into morulas,
were immediately discarded
as per protocol.
This is all a result of my negligence.
I will take responsibility and step down.
Kang Kang-su.
You have violated bioethics
and put humanity in danger
with unauthorized experiments.
You caused chaos at the space station
and brought dishonor to all astronauts.
Effective immediately,
you're dismissed from Expedition 3.
You're no longer a fellow astronaut.
The final disciplinary action will be
determined upon your return in three days.
Now, Commander Eve, you said
you'd resign to take responsibility,
but I'm ordering you
to continue your duties as commander.
That will be all.
KOREA SPACE AGENCY
Don't do it.
Dr. Kang Kang-su can take over.
If you get caught,
it could jeopardize Dr. Kang's work.
Geez, what the…
Why are you taking that apart?
I thought he was using this
to work on fruit flies, but he wasn't.
Who knows if some other lunatic
will try to do the same thing?
But what about me?
I was given assignments.
Come on, the eggs are already gone.
All I need to do is observe
the motility of the frozen sperm.
I need this, Commander.
I told you to stop all ongoing projects.
Commander.
Commander!
Wait, Commander.
Use the microscope here in the main module
if you need to observe sperm motility.
It's under CCTV surveillance.
Hey!
I paid 70 billion won to be here.
I'm a VIP, all right?
Why do I have to tiptoe around
and ask for your permission?
That's equipment
for the biological module.
Why are you locking it?
That means I can't use it.
DONG-A
From now on, you'll need my permission
to use this microscope for ICSI.
Everything from setup to usage
will be recorded 24-7 on CCTV.
Tourist or not, there are no exceptions.
Damn it.
CHAIRMAN CHOI JAE-RYONG
Hey, pour her a glass.
Yes, sir.
Father, I'd rather not drink.
We've got to celebrate.
You won't be able to drink for a while.
Right, I'll just have a sip then.
You're better than my own daughter.
Once you have the baby,
you can run the hospital.
I'll make you the director.
You don't even want to eat with me now?
Listen, make something
that the vice chairwoman likes.
Yes, sir.
If you marry Kang-su,
you can be vice chairwoman.
Build up the company
and pass it on to our precious morula.
I bet the morula will be sharp as a tack,
just like your brother.
You'll run MZ Group for the next 30 years,
and then the morula
will take over for another 30.
Does that sound fair?
I'm not marrying Kang-su.
I'm offering you
the next 30 years of MZ Group as a gift.
Sir, Dr. Kang Kang-su
is on the phone for you.
Oh, really?
Make it a video call so we can all talk.
The chairman would like
to switch to video call.
Have you frozen them?
- Mr. Chairman.
- The portable freezer I gave Ryong
was specially designed
to block radiation and harmful rays,
and it can easily pass through
the Earth's atmosphere.
Take it from Ryong
and bring the morulas back in it.
Impressive, don't you think?
The IOU could learn
a thing or two from us.
I'm sorry.
What?
The seven morulas…
have all been destroyed.
What?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
Did you get caught?
It's over.
How much do they know?
What about Ryong? Is he okay?
I lied and said the eggs
were donated for experiments,
so they don't know
they were Dr. Na's eggs.
You were so sure of yourself!
Did you lose the rest of the eggs too?
Gong Ryong still has a few of them,
but I can't use the microscope.
It's been moved to the main module
and locked up in a rack.
It's under 24-7 CCTV surveillance,
and nothing can be done in secret.
There's nothing I can do.
Are you…
Are you telling me to give up right now?
There's no other option. I'm sorry.
Who did it?
Who killed my grandchild?
Who is it?
Your commander?
Dad!
I'll call you later.
Sir.
Dad.
CHAIRMAN CHOI JAE-RYONG
They didn't even get to live for a day.
- Who did this?
- Dad.
Take him to the hospital now
before things get worse! Hurry!
- Dad!
- Bring them to me, damn it!
I'm going to kill
all those bastards up there!
I'm going to kill them!
- Father.
- Sir, are you all right?
- Dad!
- Father.
Stay with me, sir.
Dad, we're almost there.
Just hang in there, okay?
Dad.
FLAVORS OF THE MOUNTAIN, SEA, AND SKY
Hey, it's raining.
Oh, goodness!
I wish it had started raining sooner.
The weather's perfect
for mung bean pancakes and makgeolli.
Rainy days make me think of my exes.
I wonder if our Ryong
is eating well up there.
Ryong!
What a jerk, right?
Kang Kang-su.
I know you have his lottery ticket.
The one that won the jackpot last year.
I'll talk with Santi
before he goes back in three days.
How about we split it three ways?
Someone like Kang-su
doesn't deserve that money.
He's not even on the team anymore.
What… What about my sister?
You've got a month to claim it.
Santi is the only one
who can do it in time.
You found the ticket,
I'm the only one who can convince him,
and Santi is the one who can go
to Houston and collect the cash.
But your sister?
She's not doing anything.
In…
In any case…
In any case, let's split it four ways.
Dad.
I know it's hard,
but you have to accept it.
Let's call Ryong.
Please stop.
Min-jeong, call Ryong.
He still has three eggs.
That ICSI microscope.
Tell him to steal it if he has to.
He might get caught too if he does that.
What then?
Min-jeong, call Ryong.
He'll listen to you.
Call Ryong.
- Father.
- Do it now.
Kang-su said
they can't do it because of the cameras!
There's no way it can be done
without a microscope.
- It's over.
- Shut it.
We…
should give up.
I'm not giving up.
I won't.
If you don't stop, you'll get Ryong
and all of us in serious trouble.
Please.
Please come to your senses, Dad!
Please…
There are only three eggs left now.
I have to succeed tonight, no matter what.
I'm going back in three days,
and they'll need three days
to become morulas.
Tonight's my last chance.
Turn left, please.
Give it up.
You don't even have a microscope.
I did get a couple of pipettes
from the biological module.
Hey, what are you going to do
with just the pipettes?
You still need a microscope
to attach them to
for one to hold the egg
and the other to inject sperm.
It's like a needle without the syringe.
Really? I had no idea.
Thanks for telling me, buddy.
- You jerk.
- Hey, that's cute.
How can I turn myself into a microscope?
You can't.
For God's sake.
This damn zero gravity.
I thought it'd work
if someone held on to my legs.
Hey, since you don't have a microscope,
why not get someone to hold
each of your legs and arms?
Yeah, get four people to hold you still.
Go make an announcement.
"Hi, I'm trying IVF again."
"Can somebody hold me up?"
- Hold on.
- "Who wants to help me? Raise your hand!"
Hey, wait. Be quiet.
Dude, if you pull this off
without a microscope,
I'll give you a Nobel Prize myself.
It's impossible
without a microscope, Ryong.
Hey!
He keeps disappearing
in the middle of calls.
Where am I?
What do you mean,
all we have to do is hold his legs?
What'll the tourist do
if we hold his legs?
He won't say.
What, does he think we're stupid?
Why should we hold him
if he doesn't tell us what he's gonna do?
We're gonna do it no matter what, okay?
We hold his legs, we get 500 billion.
Sweet deal, right?
Let's do it.
Should we call him?
Spacewalk suits don't have any joints,
so we move really slowly.
Moving even 0.00001 mm makes your heart
feel like it's about to burst.
It's like dying in a jointless prison.
What are you doing?
Come with me for a second.
Is it impossible to move in this?
Pretty much.
Why?
We'll keep your legs still and secure,
so keep your promise.
Of course.
I won't say a word about it.
I'll take it to my grave.
No.
I want to know
why you need us to hold your legs.
I need to know.
I don't care if the prize
is 500 billion or 5 trillion.
In pari delicto.
You want us to dance,
you gotta show us your hand.
I will do the same thing
that Kang Kang-su did.
What the…
- What?
- What did you just say?
Santi.
What Kang Kang-su said
back there was a lie.
It's not your sperm.
Fuck!
It was my patient's sperm,
as crooked as yours.
I came up to space
at the request of a mother
who desperately wanted a baby.
Because her husband's sperm
have a genetic defect,
it would be impossible to get pregnant
if it wasn't for zero gravity here.
No matter what baby is born,
a responsible mother
who will raise the baby with love,
is waiting.
This is insane!
I'm out.
I can't do it.
Didn't you see what happened to Dr. Kang?
You're basically asking us
to risk our lives here.
We could easily lose our jobs
as astronauts like Kang-su did.
I'm not asking you
to do the procedure yourselves.
Just hold my legs down
like when I operated on the mouse.
I'll turn a blind eye
to the lottery ticket,
if you guys will turn a blind eye
to what I'm about to do.
No, I'm not doing this.
Me neither.
Are you kidding me?
So you'll just give up the 500 billion?
Okay.
Let's say we do it.
What about the ICSI microscope?
Mr. Gong, you can't perform an ICSI
without a microscope.
When you move your hand by one centimeter
with the joystick and manipulator,
the needle only moves by one micrometer.
Is it really impossible?
If you hold my legs completely still,
I will…
I'll turn my body into a microscope.
There you go.
I thought space was like a womb,
but it's a tomb, isn't it?
Not a place of creation…
but a place of death?
He was at death's door, but he made it.
Look at this guy gobbling up the food.
He seems to be back to full health.
What do we do now?
Eve.
What?
Yeah, I know.
He's eating like a champ.
And pooping like one too.
Yeah. Lucky little guy, right?
He's doing really well today.
Right?
Should we try pairing him up?
He's probably over his mate
back on Earth by now.
Yeah? Which one should we pair him with?
Let's see. Who's the best…
Who's the best match?
When Male Mouse 1 was
still hung up on his mate on Earth,
was there any particular female mouse
he had trouble with?
Well…
Yeah, this one. Female Mouse 3.
Male Mouse 1 bit her pretty badly.
So, I guess not her.
She's the perfect match.
I told you, he bit her.
It's probably
because she kept coming on to him
while he was still
heartbroken over his mate.
That means Female Mouse 3
was the most forward with him.
Are you sure?
Same goes for humans, right?
When it comes to sex and pregnancy,
I'm the expert.
He's right.
Mouse 3 did throw herself at him.
I saw it.
You saw how the fruit fly
gave birth in front of me.
They must've known an ob-gyn was watching.
I'm telling you.
They can sense who I am instinctively.
Okay, I'll trust you on this then.
Okay. Come here, girl.
All right.
- Commander.
- Be gentle.
I guess we have a long night ahead of us.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Min-jeong
Happy birthday to you
Ready? One, two, three.
All right.
Thank you. I love you.
Let's be happy. Love you.
Love you too.
Thank you, Dong-hun.
Let's do it.
I wanna hold his legs.
Screw space law.
Santi.
A mother's waiting for her child.
It's a loving couple.
Plus, I can claim the prize
when I get back to Earth in three days.
Let's do it.
My heart withers in space.
It becomes smaller and smaller.
It might just disappear.
I can't do it.
Fine.
You two stay here.
I'll help Mr. Gong all by myself.
You know, every day
I look at all these girls
again and again
to collect semen samples
to send back to Earth
all because I want to have children.
It's the same thing with Fantasia.
What's the difference?
I'm tired of looking
at these damn magazines.
I know my wife would love this.
I know Emma would want me
to help Mr. Gong.
I don't understand.
Why isn't he here yet?
Wow, he got everything ready.
Jesus!
Santi, Dr. Lee.
What are you doing in that?
You can barely move in that suit.
- It makes you really slow.
- Exactly.
If I wear this,
my hands will be slow
when I move the pipettes, right?
When I move one centimeter,
I actually move one micrometer.
Wow.
Hey, where's Mina?
Ladies! Wake up already.
Goodness.
I knew you were drinking too much.
I ground the mung beans.
You prepare the chives.
Kim Je-deok faces off against
number one in the world, Brazil's…
Oh, my gosh. I have to tell him.
Mr. Gong.
Where is he? Hello?
Where did he go?
How about now?
Is it still shaking?
They're much steadier now.
Good, just like that.
Ladies, let's eat rice with fried eggs
and the side dishes we have for breakfast.
- Sounds good.
- Okay.
Kim seems to be in great shape today,
and his balance looks excellent.
- Ten points!
- Ten points.
He's off to a great start.
He's in top form…
- Wow.
- He got the sperm.
You really are a human microscope.
It's amazing.
Now, I'll hold the egg with the pipette.
At least the egg is bigger.
- Come on.
- Come on.
You're good at everything else,
but you suck at frying eggs.
- Switch with me.
- You do it.
Oh, we're all gonna die.
But you barely moved your hand.
How could the pipette shake so much?
The first egg is dead.
We only have two more left.
Let's try again.
You did it! Toma!
I'm going to have a heart attack.
Now, this is the real deal.
I'm injecting the sperm…
into the egg.
All right. Let's eat.
Kim needs to take a moment
- to gauge the wind and compose himself.
- Yes.
His left arm holding the bow
must stay as still as a block of metal.
It cannot move.
He's holding steady,
thinking about the position and direction.
If he keeps this up, he can do it.
I know he will.
Hold steady, keep the tension,
and stay focused until the end.
Now, he needs to take a bold shot.
Oh, seven points!
- Shoot.
- Oh, man.
The sperm is outside the egg.
My goodness, the second egg died too?
I have to
inject the sperm right into the middle…
Right into the middle of the egg.
Oh, Mina.
Have you seen Mr. Gong?
Okay! He got the sperm.
One egg left. Let's do it.
Mr. Gong?
No, I haven't seen
Mr. Gong anywhere, Commander!
No?
Commander.
Why would Mr. Gong be there, Commander?
Commander.
Have you seen the tourist?
Nope. Maybe he's gone home
since you've been so harsh on him.
Why are you guys up so late?
Well, I'm just checking, and he's packing
since we're going home soon.
Checking and packing this late?
Yup.
Have you guys been drinking again?
I'm onto you, you know.
I'll find it.
Farewell drink or something, huh?
I let it slide once, but not twice.
I know it was you.
You can drink anytime
when you get back, Santi.
Commander!
Commander!
Yeah, you're right.
Booze? Yeah, we had some.
We know it's not allowed,
but we were feeling so lonely and tired.
We just took one shot.
I'm sorry. We shouldn't have.
It's just that the station feels so cold.
But I know you're going to make this place
nice and warm.
I believe in you.
Where the hell did he go
this late at night?
Everyone, go to sleep.
- Now.
- Okay.
Good night.
You guys are killing me!
I'm glad you're here, Mina.
Good job, Mina!
Where is he?
They look like they might actually do it.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh!
No way.
You somehow managed to get the sperm.
But even if you did,
are you sure you can inject the sperm
straight into the egg
with those thick gloves on?
They're smaller than a speck of dust.
I can if you'll help me.
So you're saying,
instead of moving the pipette,
you'll move the egg
with the culture medium
and align it with the tip of the pipette?
Yes, place it in a straight line
between the pipettes.
In a straight line.
Stop.
The egg is aligning
in the center of the culture medium.
If you breathe, the droplet will move.
This is the last egg.
The sperm has to go
right into the middle of the egg.
Everyone.
I need you to hold your breath.
Hold your breath.
Okay.
One.
Two.
Three.
Now, this is his final shot.
Kim Je-deok
must believe in himself until the end.
Yes, he should stay focused
until the last moment. He can do this.
That's right. It's his last arrow!
Stay calm.
You got this.
Off it goes!
I…
am going to save you no matter what.
- Bull's-eye!
- Ten points!
- Ten points!
- He's amazing!
It was a perfect shot! Just incredible!
Kim Je-deok stayed calm under pressure
until the very end…
Damn!
Holy cow!
How is this possible?
You're so…
I'm starting to get scared of you.
It's all up to you now.
You can do it.
Where have you been?
Come here, quickly.
Do you hear that?
It's the male singing to court the female.
Can you hear his serenade? Come on.
What sound
did you say this was?
It's the male courting the female.
It's pretty loud.
I know, right?
Think they'll do it now?
What?
GUEST APPEARANCE BY KIM JE-DEOK
GONG RYONG'S 6TH DAY
WHEN THE STARS GOSSIP
When we're back on Earth
and standing on solid ground,
let's go out for meals, movies,
and walks, just like everyone else.
This doesn't feel right.
I'm going to do whatever it takes
to bring you a morula.
You're lying.
- Just with your hands? No way.
- Dr. Kang!
Kang Kang-su, you son of a bitch!
Oh! Look at this!
The tourist is trapped
in the observation module alone?
- I'm still here!
- Close the hatch right now!
I am not leaving him here alone!
Subtitle translation by: Yoonjung Song