Original subtitles

(Episode 1: Life is a box full of chocolate bon bons)

(December 24, 2004)

How dare you cheat on me?

I'll show you how horrifying the consequences are

when you insult Kim Sam-soon, third daughter of a rice miller!

Tonight, you die... And I live...

I'm calling from Room 1025.

Could you send up a bottle of Chateau Laubade 1974

and some dishes to go with it?

Thank you.

Who is it?

Room service.

What the?

What are you doing here?

Were you with another woman last Christmas, too?

No, I was at my father's company anniversary party...

What about Christmas the year before?

I was at my father's company anniversary party then as well...

I can't help that it's on Christmas Eve.

Then why are you here now and not at your father's party?

You must've forgotten that it's Christmas Eve.

I hear that young people suffer from dementia as well.

Didn't you always tell me that catechin in green tea

is good for preventing dementia?

You should drink a lot of green tea from now, you bastard!

- What's wrong with you? - What's wrong with me?

Think of what you did, you bastard!

Sam-soon, you're not yourself at the moment.

You're being irrational over a small misunderstanding.

Calm down!

Compose yourself or you won't be able to stop this violence.

Take a deep breath.

Follow me... Breathe in... Breathe out...

Cut the crap, you bastard.

How can you use such foul language?

Don't you know that the language you use reflects who you are

and how you live?

So if you keep on using vulgar words like that...

Shut up, will you?

What happened to you?

Who made you to become so vulgar and violent like this?

I'm going to kill you.

Excuse me.

If you're not going in, could you step aside please?

Who is it?

Room service, Sir.

Sam-soon.

Get up.

Are you going to sleep here? Get up. We should talk.

I can't get up.

Shall I help you get up?

I can't! I'm too embarrassed, you bastard!

I'm so embarrassed.

When did you know?

About a month ago...

How did you find out?

I saw a message on your phone.

Did you trace the call, too?

But why didn't you say anything for a month?

I didn't know how to bring it up...

You lied to me for a month.

You checked my phone behind my back, traced my calls

and didn't give me the slightest hint.

You even followed me all the way here today.

What can a woman do when her man seems to have changed, huh?

I know you've changed.

Your cell phone is always off, you don't answer my calls,

never reply to my messages and you don't even see me saying

that you're busy all the time.

Last month, we hadn't seen each other in 23 days.

And even for that, I had to go to where you were.

But you got angry that I visited you without calling.

You used to like it when I surprised you like that.

And today's Christmas Eve.

What am I supposed to do when you leave me alone on a day like this, huh?

I'm just supposed to sit around and wait for you to call?

- So do you feel betrayed? - Yes.

- Do you resent me? - Yes.

- I guess you can't trust me anymore. - No kidding.

- Things can't be the same anymore. - Of course.

Then let's break up.

I didn't want to break up like this, but I guess there's not much I can do.

I admit that I was indifferent and inconsiderate.

I'm sorry. I don't want to make excuses.

Do you find me repulsive now?

- No. - Then do you love her?

- No. - Then why?

Tell me, you bastard! Why are you breaking up with me?

I hope that you realize that swearing at me just

because we're breaking up is irrational.

You used to like it!

You told me to swear as much as I wanted, you bastard!

You said that it turned you on, you bastard!

Lower your voice! This isn't the Concorde Square!

I can't even see straight right now. Tell me why. Tell me right now!

Everyone knows how intelligent you are,

so don't use fancy words!

Don't use metaphors or figures of speech!

Cut the crap about philosophy, logic, and astronomy

and just tell it to me plain and simple!

I can't right now.

Your body full of raging hormones is making you violent and irrational.

Let's talk when we can behave like two civilized people.

Sorry that I can't see you home.

Did you even love me?

For 3 years... You never once told me that you loved me.

Did you ever love me?

I loved you. I loved a girl with chubby cheeks...

I loved a girl that visited every bakery in Paris with a dream

to become the world's best patissier.

I loved a girl that was ambitious, passionate, and full of life

and who always smelled of sweets.

But that's as far as my love goes.

I can't explain to you why my love ends there.

I'm sorry that that's the extent of my love.

Hyun-woo, don't forget me. I don't mind dying,

but I can't bear the thought of myself being erased from your memory.

I wish for your happiness.

I love you, Hyun-woo... was what you thought I'd say, right?

Ergh!

Look straight into my eyes.

I'm going to follow you wherever you go.

I'm going to show up in your dreams every night and torment you.

Do you know how much I cried over you?

Well now, it's your turn.

It's your turn to cry.

I'll show you how painful sleepless nights are.

Why didn't I think of this before?

You'll regret abandoning me for the rest of your life.

You're asking me if this is love?

Well, I'm sorry, and goodbye.

I loved you like crazy, once, you bastard!

What's the use?

You get caught up in the daily chores of life

and you forget your parents after they pass away.

Even married couples become total strangers after a divorce.

What makes you so special that I should hold on to you?

There was once a time when I felt like the world revolved around me.

I felt like I was walking on air

and my stomach would always be filled with butterflies.

I liked that feeling.

It was euphoria for me to be able to love.

One man gave me such happiness and then took it away.

I'm not crying because I lost him.

I'm crying because I can no longer feel love.

I'm crying because I've lost faith in love.

I'm crying because I've come to realize that perhaps

love doesn't have much meaning at all.

It's taken.

It's taken.

It's taken.

Are you deaf? I said it's taken!

I just broke up with my boyfriend, so give me a break, will you?

Leave me alone!

Darn it!

Gasp!

What do you think you're doing?

Are you a pervert?

Or are you breastfeeding in the men's room?

If a man comes with another woman on a day like this, then it's over.

Next time, don't confront him and ask for an explanation.

Just give him a good kick in the shin and end it.

There're plenty of men out in the world.

And they're all pretty much the same.

Of course, the same goes for women as well...

I know you've changed.

Your cell is always turned off, you don't answer my calls,

you never reply to my messages and

you don't even see me saying that you're busy all the time.

Wow, how blind can she be?

Isn't it obvious when a man doesn't answer your call?

Don't you agree?

You seem to enjoy the work that you're doing now.

Who works because they enjoy it?

You've got to make a living, right?

I see. But when are you going to take over the hotel?

I hear that your mother's starting to lose patience.

Let's break up.

Looks like the guy is dumping her.

Do you find me repulsive?

Isn't it obvious?

Then do you love her?

That's really none of your business.

Then why?

You used to like it when I swore!

You told me to swear as much as I wanted, you bastard!

You said that it turned you on, you bastard!

You know what people say about you?

They say that you're rude, cocky and arrogant.

If you don't want to go on blind dates, settle it with your mother.

Don't waste other people's time like this.

Did you ever love me?

In three years... You never once told me that you loved me. Did you love me?

Good morning, Sir.

Good morning, Sir.

Good morning, Sir.

Good morning.

Good morning, Sir.

Good morning, Sir.

Good morning.

It's not a good morning actually. Henri...

He left for Paris this morning.

His mother suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

When is he coming back?

Well, that's the problem. He's not coming back.

What are we going to do about today's dinner?

Hello.

Hello.

My name is Kim Sam-soon.

Yes, our manager's waiting for you.

Your father passed away.

And you're the youngest of three sisters...

The only family asset is the house you live in...

To whom is the ownership directed towards?

Oh, the house... It's under my mother's name.

Your mother... I see.

You graduated Soongyi Girls' High School

and you completed a course at Le Cordon Bleu...

What is this place?

It's a cooking school in Paris.

Its tradition goes back 100 years.

I completed the course in baking.

Whatever the case, you're a high school graduate, right?

And your income... Is zero.

Well, yes. I'm taking a break at the moment.

But I'm a specialized cook, so I won't have a problem finding a job.

Ms. Kim Sam-soon... Nice name.

What about plastic surgery?

I'm 100% natural.

What were you thinking!

How could you not get plastic surgery with that face?

What? What kind of shoddy company is this?

Well, you have to admit you're not a great catch.

It's a movie titled Funny Pink.

There's a line in the movie.

It's easier to get hit by an atomic bomb than to find a boyfriend at the age of 30.

I believe it's one of the finest lines that a movie

has ever produced in the past 100 years.

No other line has described an old maid better than this.

Go home, wash your feet and watch this movie.

Don't even dream of getting married!

If they remade this movie today, they would change the age 30 to 40.

Don't you know that these days 30 is the same as 20 in the past?

You should get your facts straight before you talk!

That's only women's wishful thinking.

Men haven't changed much since 1988.

Women should be young and pretty!

Oh, really? Don't men age? Huh?

Don't you think it's pathetic to meet young women

when all you've got to show is your fat belly?

Have some dignity, will you? And what?

You think I'm fat? Okay, so I'm fat.

I make chocolates and cakes for a living!

No wonder I'm fat!

And you blame me for being unemployed?

It's the people running this country who put the economy in this state!

Huh?

After a short discussion, we've come to a conclusion

that we should register you as a special member.

What do you mean?

It means that we'll set you up on blind dates until you finally meet your match.

Umm... But don't such conditions require more money?

Of course. But marriage is a life-altering decision.

It's worth the investment.

Well, how much is it?

It's nine hundred, and ninety-nine dollars.

Oh... Oh... They're really out to rip you off, aren't they?

Gosh...

What? They want me to invest a thousand dollars

in a species that's hopelessly immature?

Yeah, right! In your dreams!

You want to buy cakes from the hotel bakery?

His mother suddenly passed away.

And it seems that he won't be coming back.

He was pretty homesick while he was here.

I'll just use the hotel bakery until we find a new patissier.

Our bakery ranks within the top five.

That's in terms of quality as well as price.

I'll have to bear with smaller margins for the time being.

No French restaurant in this country apart from those

at hotels uses a French chef.

No, there's one in Itaewon.

It's a small bistro, but the chef and even all the assistants are French.

People in your business say that they can't make ends meet like that.

But you're using a French patissier to bake just cakes and bread.

No wonder people are laughing at you.

What do you mean just cakes and bread?

That's like kimchi in France. I don't make fake food.

Stop being so arrogant! You can't afford it!

Your net profit is way too low compared to the amount of sales.

President Kim's granddaughter is getting married next week.

With the eldest son of Kiryong Construction.

It's the girl you turned down last year.

I don't have to go, do I?

When are you going to get married?

Mi-joo starts school next year.

She at least needs an aunt to take her to school.

Don't worry. I'm going to take care of her.

I'll take her to school, participate in PTA meetings,

and do everything that a mother's supposed to do.

So stop setting me up on blind dates.

Get married if you don't want to go on blind dates.

I don't have much more time before dinner. Get me the bread.

I told you before, I can't help you if Chris says no.

Chris likes me. Just give him a call, okay?

Oww!

You're a poor excuse for a son!

When are you going to get your act straight? Come and work at the hotel!

Ouch...

What do you think people will say when you run a small

French restaurant when you're the only one

I have to take over my five star hotel?

That you rent rooms and I sell food.

What? How dare you speak to your mother like that!

- You fool! - Ouch.

You think you'll be young forever?

Stop hitting me, or else...

What? Or else, what?

What are you going to do? What, huh?

Ow...

What else are you going to do? What, huh?

How dare you threaten your mother like that!

Let go of me! Let go! You little brat!

President Na, I never realized how much you've aged.

You're shorter than before, too.

Hey!

They say a woman that's unlucky in marriage is unlucky with her children.

At least you're lucky with money.

I can't stand you! How'd I end up with a son like you?

I came out between your legs. That's how...

Get married within this year!

Call Chris for me.

I'm going to tell your brother about everything!

Say hi to him for me.

Everything's okay with Mom, right?

She's just getting old.

But when are you going to stop riding cabs?

If you're afraid to drive, then get a driver...

I'm fine. Cabs are rather convenient...

You worked at Nantes from 2003 until December, 2004.

Why did you quit your job there?

It's a rather big restaurant and with good pay.

Well, what can I say... It didn't quite fit in with my values.

What value?

To prepare dish is part of a chef's life.

I believe that in order to make a great cake,

your life itself should be of high quality, too.

And so for me, leaving work for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve

in order to protect your love is quite acceptable.

A woman who has lost her love cannot make a sweet cake.

So you didn't go to work on the busiest day of the year

to spend time with your boyfriend?

And so you got fired. Is that right?

Well, no... It wasn't just to spend time with him.

It was to protect my love.

So did you succeed in protecting your love?

No, we broke up.

I see, I'm sorry.

It's okay. Oh, this is mango mousse cake.

I thought this would be the best way to show you my skills.

I'm sorry, but we're looking for an assistant.

You're too experienced.

And we can't pay you as much. I'm sorry.

I see.

I'm too experienced at one place,

and lack experience at another.

Life is so difficult, isn't it, Kim Sam-soon?

Are you going in or not?

Ouch! Hey... Watch it... My hair...

Stay still. Your hair's caught in my shirt.

Be gentle, will you? Stop pulling.

I said to stay still.

It hurts.

Jeez, stay still...

Why are you shouting at me?

Shut up and stay still.

What? Did you just tell me to shut up? Huh?

Hey... Hey... Stop it...

Could you get me a pair of scissors?

Are you crazy? Are you nuts? Did you just ask for scissors?

You better not cut my hair!

Doesn't anyone have a pair of scissors?

Forget the scissors. I'll just undo it. Okay?

I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry.

Wait stop!

Don't you dare cut my hair. If you do, I'll sue you!

Agghhhh!

You don't work here, right? Sue me if you want. I'll sue you, too.

Did you get my message, Chris?

I got it, but I can't do it today. I can start it tomorrow though.

That won't do. We barely made it through lunch. Come on, Chris.

I'm sorry. It's impossible. It's not like I can give you the goods from our deli.

Come on, Chris. Just enough to cover dinner. That's all.

I can't.

Oh my God.

I really can't stand rude and cocky bastards like you!

I made it myself, so it's a bit expensive but I won't charge you for it!

Enjoy the cake, you bastard!

He should know better than not

to mess with Kim Sam-soon's hair.

I hope you die in hell, you bastard!

Darn it! You're dead the next time I see you! Darn it...

Eek! I wasn't talking about you, Sir...

There's this cocky bastard...

I'll leave you to your business then... Bye...

You are a lost cause.

Have you forgotten what happened last Christmas?

You want to go through it again?

What are you doing?

Are you breastfeeding in the men's room?

Oh my God! That bastard...

There're plenty of men out there?

There're plenty of women out there, too...

How am I going to get my shot with anyone if I just sit back and watch, huh?

Hold on... He seems younger than me.

How much experience does he have to dare lecture me, huh? That cocky...

Hey.

Why the heck is he following me? Huh?

Hey, wait up...

Hey, wait up...

Taxi, stop!

To Buamdong, please. And hurry, please!

Do you want me to go over the tunnel or under the tunnel?

Over the tunnel! Come on, hurry!

Ugh!

Can we talk?

Sir, why aren't you driving? Let's go...

Get off for a minute. I need to talk with you.

Sir...

Are you getting in or not?

What the heck do you think you're doing? Get off right now!

Where's this madam headed?

Madam? Did you just call me madam?

Does that really matter?

Of course it matters! It matters all right!

It's sad enough that I'm getting old and getting another wrinkle every day!

You dare to call me madam on top of that?

Let's go where this young lady is headed.

Sir, I refuse to ride with a stranger.

We're not strangers.

The cake that you smashed in my face... You really made it?

You followed me just to ask me that?

Did you really make it yourself?

Why do you care anyways?

I don't have time to joke around. Did you make it yourself or not?

Yeah, I made it myself.

Do you bake cakes for a hobby?

No, it's my job.

You're a patissier?

How do you know that?

Not many people know about it.

Where do you work right now? At a bakery? At a hotel?

Or do you have your own shop?

Well, you see... I'm a bit frail... So I'm taking a break at the moment.

Take this.

No, why should I?

Just take it. You won't regret it.

No.

You'll regret it if you don't.

You'll regret it if you don't get off right now.

Sir, will you stop right here. This man is getting off.

Ow, stop it! Let go of me!

What the heck do you think you're doing?

Why don't you at least take a look at it?

Why should I?

Do you know how important hair is to a woman? And you...

Jeez...

(President Hyun Jin-heon)

Bring your resume to my office by 3 p.m. tomorrow.

And bring some cakes and cookies that you made. The more the better.

I don't like people being late. So come on time. It's at 3, okay?

Hey!

I need more time. I need to buy the materials...

And I have to find a place where I can bake...

Where do you usually bake?

A friend runs a baking school.

Tomorrow's the weekend.

The school has classes on weekends, too?

But still... I need time to find the materials.

There are some materials that are really hard to find.

Just bake with what you can find. That's real skill.

Hey, hold on...

How old are you?

You seem a bit young... I was just wondering if you're some kind of conman.

Did you just laugh at me? Did you?

No, I didn't.

Yeah, you did. You laughed at me.

There you go again.

Let's go, Sir.

Hey!

That cocky punk!

Thank you.

Did you edit your photo?

Yes.

Just leave it the next time... You look like a different person.

Your name is Kim Sam-soon... You're pretty old.

So?

I mean... Never mind... Carry on.

You graduated Soongyi Girls' High School, and graduated Le Cordon Bleu...

You worked for 2 years in Paris as an intern...

Why didn't you go to college after going to Paris to study baking?

I had poor grades in high school.

Then how did you learn French with that brain?

There are three things in the world that speak a universal language.

Music, art and food!

But why did you come back? You could've stayed in France and built your career.

My father passed away. He suddenly had a heart attack.

I'm positive that he doesn't remember me.

There's no reason for him to pretend that he doesn't remember me.

Please, don't let him remember me...

But that's weird. Why isn't he laughing at my name? Everyone else does...

This is classic chocolate cake...

Madeleine, macaron, bon bons...

They're all very simple.

Yes, I didn't have time to find other materials.

I made ones that you can make with materials that you can easily find.

I was given very short notice, you see. It would've been nice if I had more time...

Oh, no... That's not what I meant.

Many people these days focus too much on elaborate decorations

and forget what's really important.

I don't think that's desirable. I like your style of baking.

Thank you.

Oh, and the box for the chocolates... It seems unique. Did you make it yourself?

Yes, I believe that the chocolates I make should be put in boxes that I make.

Is there a special reason?

A box of chocolates carries a person's life.

Have you seen the movie Forrest Gump?

In that movie, Forrest's mother always used to say

that life is like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you're going to get.

Don't you remember?

I haven't seen it.

You should see it some time.

Well, becoming a patissier was sheer coincidence for me.

I went to a used book store and I chose a book...

And it happened to be about French cookies.

If it was a book on a chicken sexer,

then I would probably be a chicken sexer by now.

Things change according to the choices that you make. Things change a lot.

Were the chocolates you chose all good up to now?

No. Some were nice but some weren't.

But there's nothing I can do about that.

The box is mine and I have to eat all the chocolates in it.

The only difference is when I will get to eat each one.

But I think I've changed over time.

I used to try anything before,

but now I hesitate before choosing a chocolate.

Now I know that some have bitter rum inside.

If I have a wish, that would be that

I've already eaten all the bitter rum chocolates

during the past 30 years and that there aren't any left.

Just the fact that you have realized that

probably has already cut down the bitter chocolates by half.

Hopefully...

Does anyone have any other questions?

Huh? No, that's all.

Okay, good. Let's work together.

Work starts at 10 a.m. and finishes at 10 p.m.

But I think that baking starts much earlier than that.

I'm sure you're familiar with the hours.

They're from 7 to 6. And sometimes overtime.

3 to 5 in the afternoon is when you get to have a break

and prepare for dinner.

You get every 3rd Monday off

and you get another day off during the month taking turns.

Payday is the 25th.

We'll decide after 3 months whether we'll hire you as a regular employee.

Hold on.

Yes.

I have a condition.

A condition?

Yes, I have a condition.

If it's about being a temporary worker, let me explain.

Our restaurant only makes authentic cuisine.

Mr. Lee may be Korean, but he used to work in five star hotels

all over the world for 15 years before we scouted him.

Take a seat.

Our patissier was French, too. But he left due to personal reasons.

I know that you studied in France, too,

but I don't think that's enough.

Are you finished?

You'll be satisfied with the pay. We're not stingy over pay.

Are you done?

Let's give it 3 months. We'll decide whether you'll be a regular worker or not.

You mean you can fire me if you find it necessary?

If you don't meet our standards.

Okay, fine. Now can I speak?

I want you to start tomorrow.

I said I had a condition.

What is it?

Well... I would like you to call me Kim Hee-jin.

I want my name to be Kim Hee-jin instead of Kim Sam-soon.

It's not like it's going to cost you anything.

All you have to do is introduce me as Kim Hee-jin.

You can do that, right?

Why do I have to do that?

Why?

Why do I have to call you Kim Hee-jin instead of Kim Sam-soon?

Would you like it if I called you Sam-shik?

If my name was Hyun Sam-shik and not Hyun Jin-hun,

of course you should call me that.

But unfortunately, my name is Hyun Jin-hun.

I know that.

-Then why do you insist on the name Hee-jin? -You're making fun of me, right?

Why would I make fun of you?

Jeez...

Okay, then... Let's do this. If you don't like the name Sam-soon...

You can use any other name except for Hee-jin.

What do you mean except for Hee-jin?

You can choose any name besides Kim Hee-jin

and Kim Sam-soon.

Now why should I do that?

You don't need to know why.

No, my name has to be Kim Hee-jin. And it goes the same for me, too.

You don't need to know the reason why it has to be that name.

I don't like repeating myself.

Same here. Call me Kim Hee-jin or find yourself another patissier.

Your choice.

Okay, fine. I'll quit. Whether a regular or a temporary worker,

you find yourself another patissier.

Kim Hee-jin... Kim Hee-jin.

Yes, Mr. Hyun?

Why does it have to be?

Why does it have to be, what?

Why does it have to be Kim Hee-jin?

You're curious?

Yes, I am.

I'm curious as to why you're so curious.

It's personal, so I can't say.

Well, it's personal for me, too, but it's not like I can't tell you.

But I'll tell you after I become a regular worker, okay?

It's too much to drink alone. Would you like some?

Sure, thanks.

Do you know how they measure the clarity of water

when they check water quality?

They put a 30 cm round white disk in the water and

measure the depth until it can't be seen.

Do you know how deep the world's clearest lake is?

How deep?

It's a lake called Lake Mashu in Japan. It's 41.6 meters deep!

The second deepest is Russia's Lake Baikal. It's 40.5 meters deep.

But it turns out that you can't measure the clarity of a person's heart.

All you can do is make a rough estimate...

That's the conclusion one comes to after a divorce.

But what did you do in the States for 3 years?

Well... I realized many things.

Particularly?

That I should become a great doctor.

Are you a doctor?

No! I'm still a med student.

Wow, that's so cool. So you went abroad to study?

Well, not exactly... But that guy keeps on staring at us.

I know. Don't you want to know which one of us he's looking at?

Good luck!

Hello, my name is Yoo Hee-jin.

You seem to keep staring at us.

So?

We were just curious as to which one of us you're interested in.

Jeez... I stared at you because you were so loud.

Don't you have any manners?

- Sit. - Oh, gosh.

Goodness, I'm so embarrassed.

Be quiet, be quiet.

You really surprised me.

I never thought you'd really go and ask.

Gosh, I'm so glad to be back.

When I left 3 years ago, I never thought I'd be able to return.

Did you run away from a debt?

Gosh, how did you know?

Welcome back.

There he comes, shh!

Let me introduce a new member of the crew.

This is Kim Sam... Kim Hee-jin, our new patissier.

Awesome!

They're so cute! Just wait... I'll be sweet to you all.

10 years isn't that big of an age difference after all.

Thank you for the warm welcome. My name is Kim Hee-jin.

I'm glad to have this opportunity to work with all of you. Thank you.

How old are you?

Is age that important?

Of course. How else will we know how to address you?

I'm 30.

30 times 2 is 60. You're two years older than me. You're the eldest of us all.

Let's all welcome our eldest sister.

(Kim Hee-jin)

Here I come!

Yes, I am.

Aren't you sick and tired of blind dates?

I want to get married.

Why?

You really have to ask me that?

So tell me about your dream guy.

He's not my boyfriend.

Are you seeing anyone these days?

I told them that I was going to propose and asked them to help me out.

You were looking at me funny...

Just let it go, okay, old lady?

What? Old lady?

Who's Sam-soon?

That would be me.

How long are you going to keep teasing me?

You have no right to treat me like that!