Original subtitles

It was around February a couple of years back.

There was a call about a homicide.

It took place in one of the rooms at a motel in Sillim-dong.

When I got to the scene, Inspector Yang was already standing there.

I definitely saw him pick up something that looked like a lighter,

but he hid it as soon as he saw me.

I checked the evidence log later, but there was no lighter.

That's when I got suspicious.

So I started looking into him.

Dongyeong Yang, it turns out,

had been destroying key evidence in multiple cases.

He also blackmailed suspects, shaking them down for money…

ALL RECORDINGS

…in exchange for his silence.

Could you get any more corrupt than that, Inspector Yang?

That testimony is worthless. You drugged him to get it.

I'd need solid evidence, of course.

I know an agency that has good investigators.

I asked them to look into the cases that Lee mentioned,

and they confirmed everything.

Tell me,

did you really not know that Min and I were working together?

Weren't you focused on him 'cause you knew?

Min was working with another surgeon. Seok Jeong, wasn't it?

Why would you do it?

Working where I do, that hospital, it's monotonous.

In all honesty, I was afraid I would get stuck there for life.

However, Min helped me out.

He found me cases that were stimulating.

It was perfect.

You know, if I hadn't killed that nurse at Gwanggyo Temple…

things wouldn't have escalated this far.

Wow.

So, what now?

What do you want?

You're gonna keep investigating.

Then you catch me.

HYPER KNIFE

I'm afraid Dr. Choi won't be joining us tonight.

He won't?

Why?

Does he think he's too good for a place like this?

Well, that's not it exactly.

He's been planning this for a while, down to the very last detail.

Everything from the timing, to the location,

and, of course, choosing who will be involved.

Tell him he'd better just get down here right now if he wants to live.

I'll take care of everything.

You can't perform the surgery here with this equipment

-or with these people either. -You can think that all you want.

Anyone else couldn't, but that's exactly why I'm doing it.

Ceralib-A. He's self-medicating. This completely screws things up.

Ceralib-A could cause unknown complications during the procedure

that we just have no way to predict.

You're ill-equipped here. You can't handle it.

For how long?

When did he start taking this?

Last year.

After he was diagnosed at my hospital, that's when he started.

You should have told him no!

Come on, really? You know how stubborn he is.

HANUL SUNGSIM HOSPITAL

What was he thinking?

Is he insane?

Damn it.

I'm gonna go see Dr. Choi.

-Okay. -I'll go with you.

You stay here!

You're gonna keep investigating.

Then you catch me.

SERGEANT KIM WONPYO

SPEAKER

What?

You asked me to call you in two hours, Inspector.

Is something wrong?

No, no, no. Nothing's wrong.

I'm returning to the station now.

Dr. Han, is Ceralib-A really that dangerous?

It's a painkiller designed for terminal cancer patients.

It's effective, but it has a lot of severe side effects.

Our biggest concern is we'll have to figure out

how to keep him under anesthesia.

It makes things difficult.

You're kidding.

How could he do this to Ms. Seok? What's wrong with him?

The thing is, manufacturing was halted because of all the side effects.

- How did he even get it? - Who cares about that?

Now that I think about it,

he was surprisingly healthy on the ship for someone with cancer.

He performed surgery and everything.

I guess that the Ceralib-A got Dr. Choi through it

in spite of his condition.

Excuse me. You have a moment?

I understand that Dr. Choi has devised his own plan of action.

I get it, but what exactly is the plan here?

Dr. Jeong and I will operate on him a month from now at Yeonshin,

over in the new annex's operating room.

Is Dr. Jeong on board with this? Does she know the arrangement?

I explained it to her earlier.

And if you're interested, Dr. Han, I'd like you to join us.

-Are you serious? -Well, of course.

You're a team, after all.

Dr. Jeong, she left a while ago to see Dr. Choi.

Let's wait till she's back. We'll talk this through.

Um, I don't think she'll be able to talk to him. Not before the surgery.

As it turns out, Dr. Choi has run away. He's trying to avoid her.

"Run away"?

Shit.

Now that she knows about the Ceralib-A,

Dr. Jeong will wanna move fast and get him into surgery right away.

Yes, of course she would want to.

That's why he left. He wants to wait it out.

Delay the surgery. That's what he decided to do.

You mean he's…

I do. He's trying to make his condition a lot worse.

He still wants the surgery though, right?

Of course.

Hold on.

So he's purposefully making his condition worse before the surgery?

Yeah. That's exactly right.

But wait. That doesn't make any sense at all.

He's deliberately doing all this…

to die on the table?

Good. You're here.

What's going on?

We received a call just after midnight.

And who called it in?

It was a woman. She wanted to be anonymous.

Whose building is this?

-Actually… -What?

It's Dr. Choi's place.

KOREA CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

He's already cleared out.

Wow, he did that fast.

You got yourself pretty worked up yesterday.

Are you feeling a little better? Can we talk?

Tell me.

He wants to die on the table. I wanna know why.

Does it mean he wants to die in my hands? Is that it?

You're right.

She has to fail.

Fail at least once to experience it. So she learns from it.

Are you saying that she's never had a failure in any surgery?

Mmm. Not that I know of.

That's why I need to break her down now.

What kind of teacher would even do such a thing?

Shit.

So he breaks me down. What then?

She has to feel the weight of a death, sit there and cry.

Realize there are things surgeons can't do.

Bear the full agony of it.

And what if she succeeds? What if she doesn't lose you on the table?

This surgery is definitely going to fail.

I'm going to make sure it does.

Are you all right?

Why did you get involved in any of this?

Do you want to fail too or something?

Dr. Choi is the one who thinks you're gonna fail. I don't.

I'd be a fool to bet against you.

You can pull this off, can't you?

YEONSHIN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Not bad, right?

I've never been in this new building. It looks good.

The surgery will be conducted completely in private with no observers.

And we've made arrangements.

Dr. Uyeong Ha will be the only other person scrubbing in

from Yeonshin Hospital.

Dr. Ha won't actually be participating in the operation. He's there in name only.

You'll be the one performing the surgery.

Yeonshin should do well here. It's good business.

A joint project with Boston Medical School.

It's full circle. I'll be operating in this place again.

Didn't you want to come back?

Not sure.

Well, I'm excited. I don't know why.

What?

Why did he bring you into this whole mess? That's the thing I'm wondering right now.

Well, perhaps, Dr. Choi thought it'd be good for you

to throw some healthy competition into the mix.

After all, everything he does is for your benefit.

Wait, do you really think you're my competition?

Yeah, well, for what it's worth, that's what you do for me.

You may not know this, but I'm kind of a big deal too.

Okay, so what's your plan?

Arterial revascularization after the tumor is out?

Can't use the superficial temporal artery.

Ceralib-A weakened it, so it's most likely compromised.

Then what?

That means we'll have to use his saphenous vein.

So using a leg vein for cerebral revascularization?

Not a bad idea. All right, let's do that.

Wait, what? You're not even surprised?

About what? Going with that should do the trick.

But you should be a little surprised.

It's never been done before, using the saphenous vein for this.

If that's what you wanna focus on, go ahead.

Anyway, we can't wait a month to do this.

We don't have the time to be sitting around that long.

Go get ready and I'll bring him here.

He won't even return my calls. You won't be able to find him.

You know how stubborn he can be.

He'll be here. Get ready!

Ah. Thank you very much.

-What can I get you? -Iced latte…

-Oh. Whoa, whoa, whoa. -Oh, watch out!

I'm sorry.

Hey. Careful, careful. Yeah, yeah. Keep going.

Yeah. That's it. That's it.

NAMYANGJU-SI, GYEONGGI-DO

I'm a good friend of Dr. Choi's, so you needn't worry.

You can take this with you.

And please, if Seok Jeong is ever in trouble, call my number.

Trust me, I can be useful.

Ah, you're awake.

Have you talked to Ms. Seok at all?

I still can't reach her. I'll try after breakfast.

You seem pretty laid-back for someone who's on the run.

Hmm.

All I had were books when I came to Seoul at 17.

I knew of this area, though I never thought to come.

Right over there, that's where my school was.

Pretty close, no?

What have I been doing?

I heard that the police were called to the warehouse earlier.

They're quite busy, aren't they?

You can use this one for now.

-It's secure, right? -Yes.

Is something wrong?

Dr… Dr. Choi.

It's going to be fine.

It's going to be fine.

Where in the hell did you go?

Dr. Jeong. You're out late.

DR. CHOI SET TO WIN ICHIDA AWARD FOR 10TH YEAR

You have to find him. Can you do that?

You made a promise that you'd help me, right?

You said you would repay me.

Have you gotten any sleep?

If you have an ounce of decency, you'll remember this.

I saved your damn life.

It's late. You should go to bed.

Sanggi, prepare a room for her.

PHYSICAL THERAPY INJECTION THERAPY

Good evening.

Dr. Hyeonho Han?

Who are you?

I'm friends with Dr. Choi. He's told me a lot about you.

Dr. Choi.

Dr. Choi!

Dr. Choi.

Don't worry, sir.

Dr. Jeong doesn't know. It's okay.

Oh, I feel much better now.

Dr. Choi, just lie down.

Stop being so difficult. Give up on the surgery.

Why? Did Seok say she doesn't wanna do it?

Of course she wants to do it. That's not the issue.

That's right.

If you're this sick,

no surgeon in the world can save you.

Not even Dr. Jeong.

Do you really want to spend all these days suffering?

All the way up to the last minute, till the operation? Say that you don't.

I'll look after you, Doctor, up to the end. So, please.

Volunteering for bedpan duty, Doctor? Are you sure?

I had a mentor, you know. I took care of him till he passed away.

I can manage your pain. I'm an anesthesiologist.

I'll take good care of you.

You won't suffer, I promise.

That's very kind of you.

-You're an excellent doctor. -It's a doctor's duty.

We help those in our care face their final days with dignity and peace.

Our duty. It should be, for all doctors.

However…

…Dr. Han…

there's something that you don't get.

Not everyone wants peace when they reach the end of their lives.

There are those who are looking for something else.

Don't interfere.

If I'm to die, then I'll do it my own way.

The body of Detective Lee from the Special Investigations Unit

was found in a warehouse in Yangpyeong around 8:00 a.m. yesterday.

Based on the fingerprints collected at the scene, in addition to

DNA analysis of the skin tissue found under the victim's fingernails,

we are officially issuing a wanted notice.

It is for Deokhee Choi, owner of the warehouse.

Park, the nurse who was murdered and buried

at an abandoned temple,

Lee, the detective who disappeared while investigating the case,

and Min, a black market surgery broker.

For all three victims,

Dr. Deokhee Choi, a neurosurgeon at Yeonshin University Hospital,

is a wanted suspect on charges of murder and corpse concealment.

While Dr. Choi is still at large and believed to be evading capture,

the police have declared his apprehension their top priority

and are committing all available resources to his arrest.

Ms. Seok has been looking for Dr. Choi day and night.

She hasn't even stopped to sleep or anything.

I was hoping you knew where he was. I'm worried.

The news, have you watched?

Yeah.

Don't worry about it.

It's safe to say Dr. Choi won't get caught by the police.

He's arranged a deal of sorts.

He's really sick, though. What if he's home alone and passes away?

Unless Dr. Choi changed his mind and kicked him out, he's fine.

Dr. Hyeonho Han should be there right now.

Are you sure?

So he's definitely with Dr. Choi?

Yeah. She told me not to tell anyone, though.

Oh, geez.

-Hey. -Yeah.

Mr. Kim.

If I send you a phone number, can you trace it for me?

Whose number?

Hyeonho Han. He's a doctor that I need to find right away.

I'll do it.

Though it's hard to tell right now,

I do hold beliefs as a doctor.

Principles to live by.

I would tell myself, never kill anyone in the OR.

That ruins the one place I hoped I would remain innocent.

Like a new white gown, just sewn, never worn.

I wanted to keep it that way.

Did you end up killing a patient too?

Well, I was so angry then. And I wasn't thinking straight.

I was fortunate. Seok stopped me.

After that, I was filled with all this guilt.

Totally humiliated.

To the extent that I just couldn't face her.

So I kicked her out.

I just thought, "I can't stand seeing you, so get out of here."

She was on her knees and begging me to let her stay.

And I knew… I knew what the hospital meant to her.

I was her teacher, yet I felt she had bruised my ego.

So I crushed her.

If you feel guilty about what you did to her,

then you shouldn't do this to her now.

Why?

She'll never get another chance like this one.

Should the surgery fail, then what? It could traumatize her for life.

You think she'll ever operate again?

So you're a bird pushing his own chick off of a tree or something?

If that's what it takes to make her cry.

She has to cry for what?

Just what the hell is wrong with you?

You have to understand that as a surgeon,

Seok is at her peak right now.

Her confidence is through the roof.

She's only content when she's in the OR, working.

Nothing in the world is more fulfilling to her than that.

But here's the thing.

You see, for surgeons like the two of us, there is no next level.

Dr. Jeong is already a good enough surgeon.

She's good enough?

Seok is the best there is, just like me.

You're wrong. I'm not trying to push her off a tree, but to help her fly higher.

Help her soar beyond my own limits. Do more than I ever could.

She has to reach higher than anyone ever has.

What if that's something she doesn't actually want?

She needs to lose a patient and break down, cry in despair.

Only then can she reach her true potential.

She has to…

She has to want so desperately to save someone and fail.

Feel that agony.

She needs to face that horrible moment,

to lose all faith in herself and never want to hold a scalpel again.

That's when.

I know it. I know what I did to her was wrong.

That's why even if she doesn't want it,

I need to give her everything that I can.

I need to.

Oh, geez.

Why the hell didn't you tell me she gave you her card?

Uh, 'cause she told me I wasn't allowed to tell anyone.

What a good doggy you are for her. You never do what I tell you.

That's not true.

Idiot.

So I stayed off of their radar 'cause of a deal he struck?

Yeah, he's gonna take the blame for all the charges.

Apparently, he's got something on Inspector Yang, so they both agreed to it.

Those two are insane.

I get it, but he's going through all this trouble so you don't go to prison.

Can't you just let him protect you?

Hey, who was the one who killed the nurse?

It was you.

So why should he be the one to take the fall?

Come on, he's gonna die anyway.

So you want me to just say, "Hey, Dr. Choi,

since you're gonna die anyway, thanks for taking the rap for everything I've done"?

Is that what you want?

Who the hell does that? Huh?

But there's nothing you can do. He already made it happen.

That's just great.

What the hell was he doing here anyway?

How the heck should I know?

She just said they met here yesterday. That was all.

It's your first time here, right?

It's a nice day out. Really bright.

Are you kidding?

Look, Deokhee Choi was your recommendation.

You brought him to the scenes and paid him with tax money.

And you did it without knowing he was the culprit all along!

So sorry, sir.

I'll catch him. No matter what it takes.

Are you positive about that?

Weren't you the one who opposed the public wanted notice?

Are you even sure you want to catch him or not?

I can't keep looking the other way

just because you happen to be close to retirement.

Yang, I have a question for you.

If you don't have any integrity,

shouldn't you at least have some sense of shame?

He is a very sick man. Is this really necessary?

This is Deokhee Choi.

Hello. My name is Doobong Kim.

Yes, Dr. Han has told me all about you. You were Seok's patient, isn't that right?

That's right. Thanks to her, I'm still alive.

I'd like to talk to you for a minute.

Uh, do you want to come out or should I come in?

You can relax a bit. I may be a gangster, but I do have a few principles.

So, let's talk.

I guess Seok sent you to bring me back, huh?

Why the hell do you keep calling, huh?

We've got nothing to say to each other.

So you two made a deal, huh? You and Dr. Choi.

He didn't tell you about it then?

I thought you were in on it.

The only thing I know is that he's taking the fall for all of it.

No, he's not just taking the fall. He basically confessed to everything.

He told me he only has a month to live,

and he'll call me right before he dies so I can be the one to catch him.

That way, the cases won't get dropped right away.

Not until he dies, at least.

-There's no way he's gonna die. -What are you saying?

He just needs surgery. He's not gonna die!

He's getting surgery during all this?

Yeah. Guess who's doing it? Everything's ready to go.

Hey.

Don't do it, okay?

Don't do what?

Don't give him the surgery.

Dr. Choi and I,

the two of us had an understanding.

Just let him die.

That was your deal. I didn't agree to it.

He's not gonna die.

Dr. Deokhee Choi has to die

so I can live.

Detective,

I'm the one who killed the nurse, all right?

What is wrong with you? You really don't know shit.

Now what are you gonna do?

What if I walk down to the police station

and talk all about the deal the two of you had?

Anyway…

don't you dare touch him, got me?

Even if you can catch him,

just stay away.

Are we clear?

That inspector guy looks really angry.

I really couldn't care less.

What's with you? I don't like this.

I just got a text.

They found Dr. Choi. Let's go.

I FOUND DR. CHOI DEOKHEE

She's young and has her whole life ahead of her.

I'm dying anyway, so why shouldn't I take the fall for her?

Seok's struggling to accept my death now…

…but as time goes by,

she'll end up appreciating what you've done.

Hmm.

I can tell you're not gonna change your mind. You're dead set on this.

Hard to argue with you.

Let go!

Shit.

Are you crazy?

Come on, I just wanna break one finger.

No!

You shouldn't have said you were going through with the surgery.

-Sanggi. -Yes?

Call Dr. Jeong. Tell her not to come.

I think Dr. Choi is right about this.

-Okay? -Yes, sir.

I can't believe that actually worked.

Even when you were backed into a corner like you just were,

you still managed to talk your way out.

Are you absolutely certain that you have to do this?

Here.

No. Please!

- Hey. - No!

Ms. Seok.

- Hey. - Seok.

Move!

Hey.

Bastard!

Come here.

Move, you bastard!

Seok is me.

She's just like I was in my miserable youth.

I knew it the moment I saw her.

I knew what kind of life she'd had. I didn't even need to ask.

It had to have been just like mine.

The two of us are the same, you see.

We're so similar,

even in our worst failings.

If they could find DNA in our minds,

she and I…

…we'd be family.

You're with Dr. Choi right now, yeah?

Put him on the damn phone.

What?

You know Inspector Yang, right?

-Your good buddy. -You…

I'm with him right now,

although he can't really come to the phone.

So, now are you gonna come see me?

Can't you see?

This is all because you ran away and drove me freaking crazy!

Where are you?

Leave the gangster at home.

Come by yourself.

Now you've seen it for yourself. Death by Seok's hand.

You're sleeping?

Are you an animal?

What the hell were you thinking, killing a cop?

I told you I'd have the surgery, didn't I?

But you just had to be impatient and ruin things.

If you were in my shoes, you would've done worse.

I would've handled it more quietly at least.

I guess you're right.

You would, 'cause you're a timid person.

You should have the patience to wait when you need to.

Why must you be so different from everyone else?

Geez.

So what you're trying to say is,

that you want me to sit back and just watch you die.

What the hell kind of lesson are you trying to teach me here?

You are so pathetic.

You thought I wouldn't be able to find you if you ran?

Screw this stupid lesson! I don't want any of this!

Wipe your face right now.

What are you going to do?

Can you take care of this by yourself?

Can you or not?

No.

I'm gonna need you to help me, Doctor.

Stop crying. You can't cry yet.

Save it for the OR.

Dr. Choi.

I said, stop it already.

I have no idea why the hell you're doing all this!

I intend to keep my promise to you.

Don't forget what you asked for.

Everything I know, every skill I have.

Whatever I could give you, you wanted it all.

If you can't handle all of this, why did you even ask?

Well, I don't want anything else.

Just…

Just live.

All I need you to do is stay alive.

'Cause if you wind up dead,

I'll just get even worse.

I'll just go out there and kill anyone I want!

So stop running!

What the hell am I supposed to do if you run away?

What the hell do I do?

I'm not running away. I'm dying.

We all reach the final page when it's time.

Now the story of Deokhee Choi is finally ending.

There's no need to keep reading it. There's nothing more.

Nothing more?

What do you mean?

What do you mean?

I…

I need you to watch me succeed.

I need you to see just how good I can be as a surgeon!

Do you hate me that much?

Huh?

Why…

Why would I hate you?

Then why are you doing all this?

I need to give you all I can before I die.

No matter how hard I try,

I can't think of how else to do that.

I already told you.

I don't want anything else.

You've already given me more than enough.

Forget it.

-Let's go! Come with me! -No!

If you want to live, we have to go now!

-Listen to me for once in your life! -Let's go!

You idiot!

If you take another step towards me…

then you can forget about the surgery!

-Dr. Choi. -You heard what I said.

I won't do it.

If you'd rather I die here, I'll make that happen instead.

Why?

Why?

It won't be long.

Maybe less than a month.

When it's time…

I'll call you.

No more crying.

YEONSHIN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL FUNERAL HALL

RESTRICTED AREA

You're here.

Doctor, are you feeling okay?

Don't make any mistakes.

Stay in your lane.

Wanna see Dr. Choi?

Yeah.

After all this is over, you can thank me then.

I won't be failing today.

Who do you think taught me, after all?

See you after the surgery, Doctor.

Pathetic fool.

Let's get started.

Knife.

Watch it.

You know if it wasn't for me, you all would've died.

Ronda. Good girl.

That hospital is pretty famous for its neurosurgery, isn't it?

So why do they want Ms. Seok?

Well, the patient's their director,

and apparently he can't trust his own doctors.

I guess they'll have everything ready for us then.

Shall we get started?

We don't have a lot of time. Should I give him a call?

No.

He's coming.