Original subtitles

DEAR X

ALL CHARACTERS, PLACES, AND EVENTS IN THIS WORK ARE FICTITIOUS

CHILD ACTORS WERE FILMED WITH GUARDIANS PRESENT

Ah Jin.

Help me.

You've woken up.

It would've been better if you hadn't woken up at all.

Seeing you alive wasn't part of my plan.

Dad.

You understand me, don't you?

Even if you don't, there's nothing I can do.

You're the one who made me this way.

Think of this as your punishment for ruining my childhood.

Repay me...

with your death.

Dad?

Goodbye.

I hope we never see each other again, not even in Hell.

EPISODE 4: NO TURNING BACK

The bag.

- Could you also check the bathroom? - Excuse me.

ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY SEONGSIM HOSPITAL

The patient is awake.

Thank you.

Are you saying that your father, Baek Seon Gyu

died because Choi Jung Ho attacked him?

Yes.

I see.

Baek Ah Jin claims that you hit Baek Seon Gyu with a baseball bat.

Is that true?

That baseball bat is also yours, correct?

The bat's mine...

but I thought he was a stalker.

You knew he was a stalker even in the dark?

A man wearing a beanie was choking Ah Jin.

I charged at him, and in the scuffle

I swung the baseball bat without even realizing it.

I swear I didn't mean for that to happen.

A beanie?

A man in a beige beanie was stalking Ah Jin.

When I saw him in that beanie at Ah Jin's yesterday

I thought he was that stalker.

We didn't find a beanie at the scene. Are you sure you're not mistaken?

I'm telling you the truth.

He was wearing a beige beanie.

It was the same one that Ah Jin's stalker wore.

A beanie?

I never saw anything like that.

I don't know what Mr. Choi saw.

You saw him bleeding after you hit him with your bat

and you just ran home. That's what you did, right?

Ah Jin!

You son of a bitch!

My father lunged at Mr. Choi with a pair of scissors.

And Mr. Choi was holding a bat.

Hey.

Are you okay?

Shit.

Mr. Choi.

Don't.

What are you saying?

Stalker or not, the man is losing a lot of blood.

Mr. Choi!

Please don't.

That man isn't my stalker.

He's my father.

He's my father.

That man is my father.

Your father?

There was no way of knowing

what my father would do when he woke up.

Mr. Choi, go home for now.

I'll... I'll handle this mess.

You should go. Please leave.

Do you want to make things worse?

Leave now!

I can call for help after you leave

so go.

Go!

It's just...

It's...

Ah Jin...

I thought making him leave...

was the right call.

So it's true you fled the scene of the incident, correct?

Yes.

I panicked at the time.

A reasonable person wouldn't have fled the scene in that situation.

By then, the victim must've been incapacitated.

I honestly don't know

why I did any of that.

It felt like

I was under some kind of spell yesterday.

As if I were a puppet in someone's master plan.

Let's not make this complicated. Keep it simple, okay?

Baek Ah Jin became an orphan at the age of 20

because of you.

If you witnessed a crime, you should've reported it.

Not played the hero.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Sir.

Thanks.

BAEK SEON GYU, MALE, AGE 48

Baek Seon Gyu's estimated time of death

is between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on the 19th.

Meanwhile, you called for help

at 3 a.m.

Why didn't you call for help right away?

Oh, dear. Let me help you.

I...

I passed out when my father beat me up.

I called for help

as soon as I regained consciousness.

After that, I passed out again.

Goodness.

No matter what you did, he had no right to lay a hand on you.

Seriously...

There's something wrong with people these days.

You rub them the wrong way, and they lash out, even kill.

You never thought about running away?

Detective.

Yes?

I'm exhausted right now.

Do you have any more questions for me?

Hello?

Yes, I'm the lead detective.

Who?

PB Agency, CEO Im Seung Yong?

Hold on.

I see.

- Hello, sir. - Hello.

- I come bearing good news. - Hello.

He's Im Seung Yong, CEO of PB Agency.

Mr. Choi might be signing a new contract.

- Sergeant Ham, a minute? - Yes, sir.

Choi Jung Ho hit him with the bat. He confessed.

But he's claiming it was self-defense.

- It was her. - What?

He beat her constantly. Of course, she wanted him dead.

I'd want him dead if I were her.

She's got the clearest motive.

What more reason do you need?

What looked like an impulsive killing

by a former baseball player making a comeback

turned out to be something else.

A tragic story about a girl

who was driven to kill her father

after enduring years of abuse.

Baek Ah Jin will get off because of extenuating circumstances.

So we'll draw attention using Choi Jung Ho.

That'll give him a way out, and we can wrap up our case.

It's a win-win situation, okay?

Sir, but that's...

Come on.

It'll be fine, so grow a pair.

Hey.

What's a young girl like her going to do anyway?

Keep an eye on her.

Don't let her run.

Yes, sir.

Reporter Kim, you picked up fast.

Do you know Choi Jung Ho, the baseball player?

Yes, the guy who retired because of Kwak Eun Hyeok.

That's the one!

Right. You won't believe this.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Please come by the station later to give a brief witness statement.

What will happen to Mr. Choi?

Mr. Choi keeps insisting it was self-defense.

But he admitted to the assault.

He'll go to trial

and if he's unlucky, he could end up doing time.

I'm sorry about your father.

I hope you get well soon. Take care.

No, we're framing it as an accidental homicide.

So just build a story around that.

You're the first person I called with this scoop.

Exactly.

VITAMIN DRINK

The personal details of Baek

the victim in the Nojeong-dong Rooftop Murder Case

have spread online, drawing public attention.

After serving five years in prison, Baek was released in 2016.

Unable to find a steady job

he visited his daughter's home, where he was killed.

Choi, a former baseball player now being questioned

for Baek's murder

allegedly attacked him at his daughter's house.

The daughter worked part-time at Choi's cafe...

ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY SEONGSIM HOSPITAL

Ms. Baek, hold on a moment.

Please come to the station with us.

You are now a suspect in the murder of Baek Seon Gyu.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

You have the right to an attorney.

What are you suggesting?

We'll spin it as you taking justice into your own hands

after being set up by that part-timer.

We'll flood the media with that angle.

If the court rules it as self-defense

you might dodge jail time.

Then...

What about Ah Jin?

The part-timer?

She'll probably do time.

Why are you worried about her? It's your ass on the line!

Don't complicate things.

She has no one to turn to, so I feel bad for her.

But another charge on her record won't affect her life.

Not you, though.

You're trying to make a comeback, and doing time will ruin your life.

I've even settled things with the lead detective.

Fortunately, with the new evidence found at the scene

that girl is now the prime suspect

which works to our advantage.

The detective said he'd make her confess

before he hands her over to the prosecution.

So don't worry.

Le Na?

Le Na!

Hyang I turned herself in and said it was her fault.

You're just here to give a statement, so watch what you say.

What about the dash cam and the CCTV?

What if I get caught?

That's been taken care of.

There wasn't anyone around, so no one saw the accident.

Be grateful Hyang I got there before the police did.

The reporters haven't caught on, so we can keep this quiet.

- Don't mess this up, okay? - Okay.

- There you go. - Okay.

Goodness.

Can you smell alcohol on me?

Why do you keep getting into trouble?

Come here.

Here. Take this.

Listen.

If people find out about this

you'll be dropped from Director Cheon's movie.

And you'll never set foot in this industry again.

- Got it? - I hear you, okay?

Don't worry about Jung Ho. He'll be fine.

How are the executives taking this? Is Mr. Kang still in Seoul?

Really? Okay.

She's stunning.

Let's have a look.

- She's beautiful. - I know.

Put your phone in the basket.

I need your phone.

I can't believe this.

Don't stare at her like that.

You're making it so obvious.

This is the only time I'll get to see her.

- Look at how small her face is. - Have a seat.

Sit down.

So you admit it was your poor driving that caused the accident, correct?

Yes.

Ms. Kang, what were you doing at the time of the accident?

I was passed out drunk.

Ms. Seok, are you sure you were the one behind the wheel?

Yes.

Could you excuse me for a second?

Le Na was asleep in the back seat.

I crashed the car on the way back from picking her up.

Ms. Seok.

If it turns out you're lying, you could face charges.

I know.

Detective, you should take this call.

Hello?

Chief.

Yes.

Noted, sir.

Do you want an autograph?

- Have a nice day. - You too.

Good job.

Ms. Baek, follow me.

This is the text message you sent Baek Seon Gyu.

"I'll give you the money. Be at my place by 8 p.m."

A witness stated that you sought help from Choi Jung Ho

saying you were a victim of stalking.

Goodness.

On the day of the incident, you called and texted Choi Jung Ho.

"Mr. Choi, I need to stop by my place to grab a few things."

"What? Right now?"

So tell me. Why did you lie?

You said you never saw a beanie, right?

Some fibers, believed to be from a beanie

were found in your toilet.

FIBER SAMPLE

All you've got are your hunches.

Not really.

It's called reasonable suspicions.

Your father, Baek Seon Gyu

died of a massive hemorrhage caused by a skull fracture.

And you claimed Choi Jung Ho hit him.

But the victim was hit more than once.

There are signs of multiple blows to the head.

There was a time gap between the second and third blows.

Both times, he was struck with a blunt object.

You and Choi Jung Ho were the only two people there.

And he said he fled the scene after hitting your father once.

Ms. Baek.

What you've said so far doesn't add up.

You still call this a hunch?

Detective.

Can I get a glass of water?

Sure.

Get her a glass of water and coffee for me.

Sorry?

Seriously? She has no respect for me.

Unbelievable.

NOJEONG POLICE STATION

Just like you thought

Baek Ah Jin is being held on suspicion of murdering her father.

They see the abuse from her father as a clear motive for murder.

It might be best to hire a lawyer and push for a lighter sentence.

It won't mean anything unless she's cleared of all charges.

Then, what do you plan to do?

There's a strong chance she killed her father.

Please don't tell Grandpa.

Please.

Sure, my lips are sealed.

All right.

I'm really sorry...

What?

Can you get the female officer?

I think I just got my period.

Oh, right.

Just a second.

- Hey. - Yes?

Where is she going?

Her period just started.

- Her period? - Yes.

Detective, wait.

Have you checked my phone?

No. Why?

Can't you check the photos and the voice recording?

PROPERTY STORAGE

Choi Jung Ho hit him with the bat. He confessed.

But he's claiming it was self-defense.

It was her.

He beat her constantly. Of course, she wanted him dead.

Baek Ah Jin will get off because of extenuating circumstances

So we'll draw attention using Choi Jung Ho.

That'll give him a way out, and we can wrap up our case.

It's a win-win situation, okay?

I've already told you. It's not someone on our team.

Right.

Okay, got it.

What was that about?

That was my friend from Internal Affairs.

He keeps probing for something.

Did someone take another kickback?

Gosh, are you okay?

Damn it.

Here you go.

Why did you drink that so fast?

- What is this? - Not so fast.

What's the rush?

Can we check your car?

Seriously?

VITAMIN DRINK

You've been pocketing a lot of things

so I can't say I'm surprised.

My mom gave me a box of those.

Want one?

In my 15 years on the job

I've never once taken anything from anyone!

Give that back.

It was from his mom.

He's a disgrace to government workers everywhere.

No wonder the country's in a rut.

A total waste of taxpayers' money.

VITAMIN DRINK

That was close.

Who the hell tipped them off?

You probably thought this would get me replaced

and clear you of the charges once a new detective took over.

Nicely played, I give you that.

How dare you come after me?

I'll do everything I can

to convict you of this murder.

You got that?

Here.

I haven't had a proper meal in a while.

Why's that?

I had to go somewhere, and I'll be leaving again.

- Where? - Somewhere.

Did you hear the news?

That jerk Baek Seon Gyu is dead.

Really?

That's awful.

I can't shake the feeling

- that she... - Mom.

The rolled omelet is delicious. Can I get some more?

What's with you?

It's not like you to come home just to have dinner with me.

You've always gone out of your way to help Ah Jin.

I just came to see you. What's wrong with that?

Besides, she's got nothing to do with us anymore.

VISITATION ROOM

I heard you were backed into a corner.

How about I get you a good lawyer?

Maybe you don't need one.

The charges may be dismissed before you even need one.

I know every favor has a price.

Are you pretending to help me

so you can profit off me later?

I heard they're trying to coerce a confession out of you.

They're only doing that because they can't prove I did it.

I heard you wanted to go to law school.

Seems like you know a thing or two.

All I'm saying is...

I'm innocent.

If they hand you over to the prosecution

there's nothing more we can do.

Why take that risk?

You'll probably need time to think.

The boss wakes up before 6 a.m.

so that should be plenty of time.

Mr. Choi's right.

Ah Jin had a stalker recently, so he was worried about her.

I think I saw the guy in the beanie with Ah Jin at the convenience store.

The guy you saw...

Was it him?

According to Jo Yoo Sik

Baek Ah Jin had a stalker just like Choi Jung Ho said.

Turns out it was Yoon Jun Seo, the one she called the cops on

who tried to hurt Baek Seon Gyu two days before the murder.

And?

She reported him to the police to protect her father.

So why would she kill her dad a few days later?

If she really wanted her father dead

she could've just let Yoon Jun Seo do it.

Why would she protect him then, only to kill him later?

Wait, Jo Yoo Sik did say this.

He saw Baek Ah Jin with the stalker, but she wasn't scared of him.

And it didn't look like he was trying to hurt her.

Weird, right?

Wait, stop the video. Can you blow this up?

Play it again.

Freeze.

That's not enough to run facial recognition.

Really? Could we get another angle?

If you see anyone that looks like him

- give us a call. - Sure, I'll call you.

NOJEONG POLICE STATION

Two days ago, you were arrested for assaulting Baek Seon Gyu.

That bastard was evil.

What's your relationship to Baek Ah Jin?

We used to be siblings, but now we're complete strangers.

I've been stalking Ah Jin.

And that Baek Seon Gyu?

I called the police on him when I was a kid

and had him locked up.

He held a grudge against me ever since.

He also used to beat Ah Jin all the time

and extorted money from her.

So what's your point?

Where did you go after you got out of lockup that day?

I went to see Baek Seon Gyu at the motel where he was staying.

AFFORDABLE ROOMS

Why did you go see him?

SAVE MOTEL

To get back at him.

Here you go.

I fell asleep after drinking this, and when I woke up

the CCTV had been tampered with and the receiver was gone.

Around what time?

I don't know.

I don't remember what happened after that man got here.

Is this him?

Yes, it is.

He asked about the guy in Room 305.

After drugging him, I intended to kill him

once he passed out.

You see, I meant to put sleeping pills in his drink.

HANSOL MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC

But he wasn't there.

That's why I went to Ah Jin's house.

What was she doing when you entered the house?

She was passed out on the floor.

- Help me. - But that devil was still breathing.

My first thought was to kill Baek Seon Gyu.

I wanted to make sure he wouldn't get in my way again.

And I wanted to make sure he never hurt Ah Jin again.

I hit his head with the baseball bat.

Are you saying you hit him with a baseball bat

while he was down?

Yes, I hit him.

So tell me.

Why did you decide to turn yourself in now?

What?

What do you mean?

Is that not allowed?

Well...

You are allowed to come forward.

Ms. Baek.

- Open it up. - Sure.

Come with me.

This way, please.

You're free to go.

What?

You were lucky your stalker came forward.

My stalker?

You must not have known.

Yoon Jun Seo was at your house the day of the murder.

While you were passed out, he broke into your house.

He attacked your father, who was still alive then

and delivered the fatal blow.

What are you saying?

Yoon Jun Seo confessed.

So you're free to go.

DOING OUR BEST TO SERVE THE PEOPLE

STARS ONLY SHINE ON THOSE WHO LOOK UP AT THEM

Ah Jin.

Ah Jin.

You're the one who made me this way.

It's over now.

Ah Jin.

Ah Jin?

Mr. Baek.

Mr. Baek?

Focus.

Jun Seo.

How far would you go for me?

Answer me.

How far would you go for me?

SAVE MOTEL ROOM 305

I'm from Room 305.

Here you go.

HANSOL MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC

AUTOPSY REPORT

- Hello? - Detective.

- Hello, sir. - I think I know when

the guy with the energy drink came by the motel.

It was at 1:12 a.m.

I must've dropped my clock when I passed out.

The battery fell out, so the time had stopped.

Why did you lie?

You said you went to Baek Ah Jin's house

after realizing Baek Seon Gyu wasn't at the motel.

But the timeline doesn't add up. It's the other way around.

After finding Baek Seon Gyu dead at Baek Ah Jin's house

you went to his motel room.

You made it look like you killed him.

She's not the girl you stalked.

You fabricated the evidence so you'd take the fall

just so Baek Ah Jin could walk free.

Is Ah Jin okay?

- She was released, right? - Mr. Yoon!

Ah Jin did nothing wrong. She's had it rough.

What are you doing? Are you kidding me?

She's had a rough life, okay?

So please!

Please don't pin this on her.

I love her, okay?

Her father found out about it, so I killed him out of rage.

Why are you taking the fall for something you didn't do?

There's proof that Baek Ah Jin called Choi Jung Ho out

to have Baek Seon Gyu killed.

Even if she didn't swing the bat, it's still a serious crime.

This isn't something you can cover up with your lousy lies.

No.

Ah Jin wouldn't have done that. She's just a poor girl.

Let go of me. Let go!

I killed him! I killed that bastard!

Don't you feel bad for Ah Jin?

- Hold still! - I killed him.

I killed him!

I killed him.

He's out of his mind.

We're closing it as a blunt-force homicide by Choi Jung Ho

and turning it over to the prosecution.

What? What are you talking about?

We need to question Baek Ah Jin again.

NOJEONG POLICE STATION

I bet you're hungry.

Hop in.

- Please enjoy. - Thank you.

The country we live in is a place

where the people without power can't clear their names

or protect what's theirs.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KIM SU IL

The lead detective tried to railroad your case.

It was settled faster than I expected.

Now you know.

This is what it means to have power.

That power?

You can have it too.

I'll help you.

Yoon Jun Seo will be released in a few days.

Please let me know what I can do to repay you.

Yoon Jun Seo.

Stay away from him.

Why should I stay away from him?

What's that got to do with my contract with your agency?

Ah Jin, you're going to be incredibly famous.

I'll make sure of it.

Your actions, your clothes

and even the words you absentmindedly say

will have tremendous influence

enough to move hundreds of billions in capital.

However, once you become famous, people will dig up this case again.

And your relationship with Yoon Jun Seo

will come to light.

Not only will it reveal your relationship

but it'll also bring to light the past you wanted to bury.

And that's when you'll realize

that the relationship you had was toxic to both of you.

I'm only trying to make sure that doesn't happen.

Did that answer your question?

I was going to cut ties with him

even if you hadn't told me to.

NOJEONG-DONG ROOFTOP HOUSE MURDER 1

That was too dangerous.

You could've died.

I didn't, and I broke free from my shackles.

That's all that matters.

Was that really the only way?

That's why I told you to stay out of it.

This is exactly why I didn't tell you.

If I'd told you my plan, you wouldn't have gone along with it.

Is that why you used him...

to kill your father?

I didn't ask him to, nor did I force him.

He came to your house to help you.

He risked his life to help you.

He made his own choice.

You basically forced his hand.

You set it up so he'd make that choice.

Do you feel bad for him?

Is that why you're yelling at me?

I'm sorry to say this, but I only pity myself.

I only feel sorry for myself.

I never got to have a normal life like other people.

Ever since I was little, I spent every day wondering

when I'd get kicked out or how bad the next beating would be.

So why should I care about other people's pain?

I'm tired of what this world keeps throwing at me!

Ah Jin.

Ah Jin, sit down.

I promised I'd make up for my mom's sins

by never leaving your side.

That was your mother's debt to pay.

But I want so much more than that.

Please don't be like this.

Ah Jin, please.

I'll make you happy, just like everyone else is.

Ah Jin, please don't do this.

Ah Jin.

Jun Seo.

Don't kid yourself.

You've never once protected me.

If you had been serious about protecting me

you would have killed him

before I took matters into my own hands.

Go tell him.

Tell Choi Jung Ho the truth.

I can't wait to see his face when he finds out he was used.

You...

You're going to pay for this.

What you did was unforgivable.

I won't get what I want if I live the way you do.

Don't get in my way

and don't ruin my life.

For all the pain you've caused

you'll be miserable for the rest of your life.

Every day of your life will be empty and exhausting.

You might be miserable for the rest of your life.

Because I...

Because I know that...

I can't leave you.

I have to share your punishment when that day comes.

You may be right.

But you don't know how I feel...

because you haven't walked in my shoes.

You're not me...

so you'll never understand.

Your kindness

will put me in danger.

You're too kind.

And to me, that's a shackle, just like my father.

You keep dragging me down.

What are you getting at?

I'm saying this is goodbye.

Ah Jin.

I'll climb to the top, where no one will dare stand in my way.

I want to be reborn at the very top.

Where you're headed could be the loneliest...

most miserable place there is.

I don't care.

It's not like I even know what happiness is.

If she ever finds happiness...

it'll come at the cost of someone else's pain.

That illusion of happiness

will never last.

I'm certain of it.

If there is a god, I'd like to ask him this.

"Why is it

that I love...

someone so cruel?"

Baek Ah Jin, the rising star, turns heads

in the film and entertainment industry.

Baek Ah Jin, the new face of global fashion brand Hadere...

The up-and-coming icon...

Actress Baek Ah Jin tops brand image rankings.

Baek Ah Jin's name has become a cultural phenomenon.

A cultural powerhouse shaping an entire generation's

- vibe and taste... - At the Berlin Film Festival...

She is gaining global attention through her acting.

She's been turning heads even in the global market.

- Winning Best Actress... - Tonight

her name outshines every trophy out there.

How much more of a global sensation will she become?

I spent every night awake

and every day drowning in my own tears.

I tried to let it all go

to forgive and move on.

However, you chose to be silent.

Yet he lived on.

And I...

I alone escaped your judgment

leaving me to suffer in this agonizing Hell.

DEAR X

Subtitles by Hye Lim Park