Original subtitles

[No animals were harmed in the making of this program]

[Episode 9]

The same symptoms. It's infectious to people.

We have to isolate the sick.

Sir.

This...

It spreads to people.

The cattle plague spreads to people.

Move them, quickly now!

Sir.

All of them.

This can't be.

Rinderpest spreading to people? It's impossible.

Don't you believe your eyes?

Look at him. Same symptoms, same disease.

My lord.

It's true. The same symptoms as the others.

The cattle disease? It's being passed onto people?

I can't say for sure.

[Baek Kwanghyon]

More records, we need more.

This isn't ordinary rinderpest. Not if it infects people.

Deliver this without delay.

My lord.

It's not rinderpest. It infects animals and people alike.

A cattle plague that afflicts people?

Cowpox and tuberculosis can spread from cattle. This may be similar.

Cowpox? As in, smallpox?

Yes, Sire.

Hurry it up.

Sir.

Administration, with us.

Sir.

As you see, the disease spreads from cattle to people.

Icheon is right next door. We must stop it before it reaches the capital.

Can the college spare any staff?

Five doctors, ten nurses.

The clinic?

Twelve doctors, some twenty nurses.

We'll send them first.

I'll oversee everything from?

No, I'll go.

The clinic serves the people. It should be me.

What? Ko Juman is going?

Yes, sir.

What about you?

You need to observe this for yourself.

The clinic serves the people. I could hardly insist.

What's he up to?

Is he trying to use this to take control?

- Pack the needles. - Yes'm.

- And herbs. - Yes'm.

Catching cowpox from cattle.

You ever hear of that?

No. But it can't be lethal.

Smallpox is plenty lethal.

But it's cowpox. It's not that bad.

No, it's worse. Cattle are different from us.

There's no telling how it will affect people.

But Lord Ko will know.

He knows everything. It's that so?

Yes, that's so.

Are you familiar with this disease?

No, it's a first.

I've heard of it, but never seen it.

If you haven't, then no one here has.

Will it be all right?

We can only hope it's not worse for people.

Stopping it among the cattle is the first priority.

Get all the relevant archives to the doctors.

My lord.

What is it?

Horse doctors?

Two of us, sir.

Come with us.

What is this?

What's going on?

Where are we going? I didn't do anything.

Move out.

Well? You can see it for miles around.

Quite a sight. But it will take time to build up a clientele.

What a worrier. Trust me. Our day will come.

I dreamed last night our clients were raining cats and dogs.

. . . kids . . .

You horse quacks?

Welcome.

See? The banner is bringing 'em in.

Welcome. We've only just opened.

The two finest horse doctors in the capital, that's us.

There are two of you?

Just so. The gentleman here and myself.

Good. Pack your bags.

Huh?

Well? Pack your bags.

Your Highness.

The pup you asked for.

He's definitely sick?

Yes, he's a market stray.

Well done. He can look at the cat only so much.

I want you to rescue strays every day. Understood?

Your Highness? Every day?

You refuse?

Never, Your Highness.

That's it, woof-woof, just you wait.

You'll have the best vet in the capital looking at you.

Your Highness.

You're alone? Where is he?

The stable stewards were all called to Icheon to treat the cattle.

What? That's terrible.

Yes, quite so.

Will he be all right? Isn't it dangerous?

No, not again.

It's dying no matter what I do.

My hand, I've got it.

I've got it.

It can't be, not me.

It's so fast. Incredible.

No.

Pull yourself together. You'll be all right.

I can't die like this. Save me. I won't die like this.

Die? Who's dying? No one is dying.

You, there, send for a doctor.

Any doctor will do. Go!

Save me.

Hey, hey!

Doctors are coming. From the capital.

Lord Ko.

How are the patients?

Twenty out of a hundred are critical.

More are infected every hour.

It spreads faster among cattle?

Thirty-two head dead so far.

One of the stewards just developed symptoms.

- The patients first. - Lord.

That way.

Kwanghyon.

Sir. Jabong.

Kwanghyon, you're here, too?

What are you two doing here?

Don't ask. Force labor. If I'd only waited one day to put up the banner.

Cowpox is spreading to people? Is that right?

Yes, so it appears.

But it's odd.

How so?

It's too fast.

What?

It spreads too quickly.

Smallpox spreads fast as it is, but this is worse.

Definitely smallpox.

Fever, rash, pustules, all the symptoms.

We know that. It's cowpox.

But it's too fast.

My lord?

When did the stewards get here?

Never mind the other patients. The stewards caught it within a day?

My lord, it's cowpox. People have no immunity so it acts faster.

There's never been a case of cowpox in humans.

It's just smallpox, my lord.

Now, now, move it along. These are medicines from the capital.

It's just a matter of time till we stop it.

Sir, have the capital doctors said anything?

What?

It's strange. The symptoms are similar, but it spreads so fast.

I'm concerned it may be a different disease?

That's enough of that. Watch that mouth of yours.

My lord.

What? "Different disease?" I swear.

You don't even know smallpox when you see it.

Move.

No.... no...

Come quick. It's time.

Hang on, almost ready.

When is Lord Songha coming?

He arrived yesterday. He's playing polo.

What if he's even more handsome?

I just hope he smiles at me today.

- Me, too. - And me.

You're such giggle girls.

He's worth it. Come on.

Coming.

You and your girls. All they see is you.

They see the cash.

Yeah but you treat 'em like dirt.

Not just them. All the ladies.

You sure you're a man?

Enough, enough. A drink.

No, let's talk first.

Right. Let's talk about the state exams.

What?

You'll take top honors, but what about us?

We used polo an excuse to get some help.

Listen to you.

Hey, hey, have you heard?

Rinderpest has hit Icheon.

Really? Will the exams be postponed?

You wish. Not on your life.

Wait a minute. Did you say rinderpest?

Jinyong packed for a long trip yesterday?

Yes, young master?

You raise animals? In the royal stables?

Mm. Father doesn't know. He would just worry.

Jinyong, can you do that?

Why not? Nurses work there.

I swear.

The little fool must be there.

Go to the palace and ask my father what's going on in Icheon.

Say I sent you.

Yes, my lord.

Coming through, coming through.

Oh dear, oh dear.

Please stay with us, please...

Send for the doctor. Go get her.

Huh?

His life depends on it.

Doctor, doctor!

Stay with us. Just a little longer.

Save me. I want to live.

And you will. You can beat this.

Report.

One of our first patients. He's getting worse.

It's too late. There's nothing we can do.

Nothing? How do you mean?

He's alive. He's still alive.

Doctor.

Wait... wait...

. . . wait . . .

He's dead.

We couldn't save him.

Our first fatality.

Now it begins.

It's not use. They won't listen. It's no use.

Someone died, a patient died.

Come quick, hurry.

Nurse.

He died. He was the first.

Now it begins.

Now the dying begins.

Ma'am, another mask.

Me, too, I only have two left.

Morons, there's only so many.

But I need it. Gimme.

- And me. - And me.

One a piece.

Why are you acting like this?

Eunbi, Aejong, Migeum... I can't...!

Hold it, hold it right there.

Jabong...

They'll kill you if they catch you.

Let go. I'll die if I run, I'll die if I stay.

I'm running. I don't want to die here.

Listen to me. No one can leave.

Well? Stop them.

Sir.

It's time. We have our orders.

My lord.

So quickly. They died so quickly.

Inju, any thoughts?

Still think this is smallpox?

It happened to me a long time ago.

I held someone's had then, too, but I couldn't help.

Mister, hang on.

Kwanghyon went for medicine.

Then you'll feel better.

My friend and I tried to save him.

In the end I lost my friend, too.

The closest friend . . . I ever had.

Never again, I thought.

I'll never lose someone again.

So I studied medicine.

But it happened again. All I could do was hold his hand.

And lie about getting better.

Don't be discouraged.

We'll find a way to beat this disease.

But how?

I've never seen anything so fast.

Even Lord Ko is helpless. So how...?

Smallpox that kills so fast... How...?

Wait.

The doctors have never seen this before?

You just said it hits so fast, and that's odd, right?

Right?

What if it is?

I knew it.

This isn't smallpox.

I can't leave it alone.

No, I can't.

Whatever happens to me, I have to try.

Try what? What are you saying?

Wait.

What? Dissection?

Yes, open up the cadaver and examine the viscera.

We may learn a different cause of death.

Now hold on, are you insane?

You can't just tear into a cadaver.

Horse doctors do, when circumstances require it.

Sometime we examine an animal's viscera...

...when we don't know the cause of death.

That way we can save other animals.

Doctors can't do it with people, of course.

But we can.

It's one way we differ from doctors.

But will it help?

What do you hope to learn?

I may just learn that it's not smallpox.

Listen, can you give me a hand?

Huh?

There. That's where the cattle are buried.

People are starving. They'll even eat sick cattle.

That's why they posted guards.

Why sneak around? Just ask.

I wish I could. But they won't listen to me.

So if you could manage to...

lead them away...

Huh?

- Yes? - Yes...

Erratic pulse, poor temperature.

Pardon?

Tsk-tsk-tsk. I worried about you standing guard over dead cattle all day.

You should get yourselves looked at.

Yes, right away.

Well? Come on, c'mon-c'mon-c'mon.

Thank you.

I won't forget this.

You should go now.

It wouldn't do for you to be caught here.

Well? Go on.

I'll help.

Huh?

Two can work faster than one.

True, but, I mean, shoveling...

Did you forget? I'm strong.

I can help.

Come on. I'll help.

If you find something, it will save lives.

Well? Chop-chop.

All right.

I've got to say it.

You're some kind of shoveller. Were you a cow in your past life?

Better than being a crab.

You digging with your mouth?

Huh?

Well? You going to talk them out? Get to shoveling, crab-boy.

You worked all your life. I'm sorry to do this to you in death.

But you will help others to live. I'm sorry.

Will you be all right? It's a lot worse than you might think.

I've studied medicine. I can study this.

More, I want to.

All right. Here we go.

All right?

Fine. Don't worry about me.

The small intestine. Some 140 feet in length.

That long?

Twenty times the length of the cow.

People are the same.

The large intestine.

And... the stomach.

The liver.

The heart.

So that's what they look like.

Cows have four stomachs.

This is the first.

We can tell what she ate last.

Uh-oh.

What? You see something?

Hemorrhage.

Look, signs of bleeding inside the stomach.

And damage... the damage is considerable...

We have to open her up, too.

The same indications?

Then...

Poison. They've eaten something toxic.

I'll tell the chief steward. You inform the doctors.

I will.

It's not smallpox. The cattle and people are eating something.

We have to find what it is.

Move 'em out, let's go.

Let's go already.

Move 'em out, right over there.

C'mon, move it along.

What are you doing? What's happening?

We have orders to slaughter the sick cattle.

What?

They're killing people, aren't they?

Kill the cattle, problem solved.

No. It's absurd.

Who? Who gave the order?

Lord Yi Myonghwan, before we came here.

If it hurts people, kill the cattle first.

But we can't be sure it came from the cattle.

We can't just slaughter them.

We can't? This is smallpox. What else do you need?

Pardon me, my lord.

Wha??

It isn't cowpox.

Please rescind the slaughter order.

Wh-what?

It's not from the cattle.

It's something toxic that both people and cattle are consuming.

That's why it spread so fast.

Aren't you a new horse doctor?

Yes, Baek Kwanghyon, sir.

I have dissected the dead cattle.

Dissected?

They have considerable stomach damage.

It's more likely to be some poison than cowpox.

He's right. I saw the stomach damage myself.

- How dare you? - Wait.

You dissected the animals?

Yes, my lord.

It's quite common when searching for the cause of death in animals.

Where is it?

My lord.

Show me. I want to see.

I see.

Definite signs of bleeding.

But this is a cow.

Whatever it ate doesn't necessarily apply to people.

People are strange.

Do you doubt your own eyes?

Smallpox doesn't act this quickly.

But if it's cowpox...

No.

It's very likely some toxic substance.

Halt the slaughter and suspend patient prescriptions.

Sir.

My lord.

Inform the staff that any food, water,

even soil shared by animals and humans...

is to be investigated immediately.

Understood?

My lord.

You're Baek Kwanghyon?

The horse doctor with a gift for acupuncture.

Sir?

Well done. And thank you.

You've taught this old man something.

I look forward to more.

Nurse. Nurse.

Well?

Lord Ko ordered the slaughter stopped.

Anything consumed by animals and people is to be investigated.

Really?

Really.

That's good. I'm glad.

Sorry. I got carried away.

No, I understand. Any excuse to hold my hand.

Right?

What?

Ugh. Down, boy.

In light of today's events... I'll let it pass.

Let's visit the patients.

It won't be a lie this time. They really get better if they hang on a bit longer.

- This one. - Sir.

- And this one. - Sir.

My lord, he's just some horse quack.

You're halting treatment based on his word?

If he sees clearer than us, of course.

My lord.

Stop whining and find the source of the disease.

"Horse quack?" You should be ashamed.

Well, now, talking to someone of my position that way?

What will you do now?

Send word to Lord Yi immediately.

My lord.

Wait and see, Lord Ko. We'll just see.

Discontinue treatment.

Until we know better, we'll treat the symptoms with radix,

ringworm blood and bugbane.

Yes, sir.

My lord, perhaps we could continue to treat for smallpox?

I agree with your diagnosis, but if you're wrong...

Yes, it's my responsibility, that's true.

But we'll discontinue treatment.

Smallpox treatment is quite taxing.

It may very well kill our patients.

And I refuse to be responsible for that.

My lord.

So you feed your leftovers to your cattle?

Yes.

The doctor says it's not smallpox.

Does that mean we'll live?

You can treat it?

Yes, we can. Bear with it a bit longer.

Sorry for the scare.

Don't worry now. I figure out what you're eating and fix you right up.

This trough, too.

Here. All of this.

And here, all this wet straw as well.

Kwanghyon.

Sir.

From the trough in our cattle shed.

This, too.

Sir, who is this?

Is that Jabong?

Look at you.

He's scared he'll catch something.

Look at you. It's not an epidemic.

That won't help. Take it off.

Really?

Really. And even if it were epidemic...

What's this? It's disgraceful.

Plague or not...

- C'mere you. - No, don't, no!

- Don't take it off. - Pathetic.

What's pathetic? Maybe it's a plague.

M-m-maybe...

So it's not cowpox, it's something else?

Lord Ko changed his diagnosis and discontinued treatment?

Yes. But I believe he is mistaken.

I'll go see for myself.

No, no.

Better to wait.

Sir?

If Lord Ko fails, let him fail big.

What I mean is, if things get worse...

you will look that much better.

I'm not sure what you mean.

Never you mind.

You're a doctor. You wouldn't like knowing.

We can't lose power over the medical colleges.

The power of the royal physician must rest in our hands.

You sent for me?

Yes. Lord Jung is making long-term plans.

Find out what they are. Help if you can.

He may need it.

Yes, sir.

My lord, a slave has been waiting at residence. Your orders?

Oh? All right.

What took so long.

Your pardon. His lordship is so busy it's difficult to see him.

Busy? How so?

It's not rinderpest after all.

People are dying.

What?

My lord, the exams are in two days.

You can't just leave.

Don't worry, I'll be back with Jinyong by then.

Not a word to my father, understood?

My lord.

Kang Jinyong, you little fool, of all the places...

Nurse. What are you doing?

Well water from a nearby ranch.

It got missed in the dark.

Here.

This is man's work. Why you gotta show us up?

Your color is off.

I'm fine. I haven't been sleeping lately.

I'll get back to the patients.

[Seafood Palace]

What the...?

Closed. Let's go.

So much for that.

Now I've seen everything.

Lady Greedy-ship closes her doors.

Money is one thing, living another.

I prefer the latter.

Huh?

What? You heard about Icheon.

People are dying over there.

They are?

Pak Jubyong sent me a note.

They're keeping it hush-hush, so watch it, he said.

Well, now...

That's bad.

I understand it's spreading fast.

So if we have customers? It may spread here.

Well now that's... even worse.

They've already had riots.

More may die. They're scared to death.

Wait.

Kwanghyon is there.

I hope he's all right.

Chef. What are you doing?

Polishing, ahem. Polishing.

Disgusting.

This is the water source. It most likely starts here.

We're out of tonic. Shall I get some more?

I doubt it. That's the last.

What? The last?

There's no more medicine?

Stand aside.

Who are you?

I have to get in. Stand aside.

No. Not without a pass.

Just for a while.

Please.

No, I can't.

- Look. - Orders.

Find anything?

Anything toxic, I mean?

No, not yet. But we will.

You have any idea what you've done?

Now cattle and people are both dying. Thanks to you!

What?

It can't be. It can't.

What's this? You've found nothing?

See?

All the stewards are working on it.

We checked water, wells, troughs, leftovers at every house.

And we found nothing even remotely toxic.

That can't be. It must be something.

Something consumed by people and animals.

Enough.

Are you blind?

Your nonsense has made things worse.

Dissection? Did you think we hadn't thought of that?

Nothing at all?

No, nothing that would cause these symptoms.

What did I tell you? This was pointless.

Treat for smallpox before it's too?

Search again.

It must get something.

Start all over again.

We have a more pressing problem.

We've been treating the symptoms till we found the source.

We're out of ingredients.

What?

Ringworm blood and bugbane are nowhere to be found.

Tonic, please.

We don't have any.

- Please. - All out.

- Please. - All gone.

We need medicine.

All out.

What do you mean, no ringworm or bugbane?

No shipments are allowed in.

The medicines were handled as you ordered.

Fine. Leave us.

My lord.

Will it be all right? If we cut off their medical supplies...

It's just for a day.

But if someone dies during that day...

That would be a shame. They should have treated for smallpox.

It's Lord Ko's fault for making the wrong decision.

R-right.

That's why Yi Myonghwan should be in charge.

Ah, yes.

The country and the royal house need a true medical man.

Let's go. This is serious. His Majesty should be told.

Reports indicate the head of the clinic has failed to treat this disease.

Yi Myonghwan should be sent immediately, Sire.

Hang on, hang on.

H-he's dead.

Another one is dead.

You still refuse to treat for smallpox?

This is on your head.

My lord.

N-no...

Poison.

The hemorrhage was cause by toxins.

It's here. Somewhere in this village we'll find the poison.

I knew it, I knew it.

Kwanghyon, you said it's not a plague? We're safe?

He's looking now. Be patient.

They looked everywhere and found nothing.

It's the pox, the pox I'm telling you, and Kwanghyon don't know nothin'.

Sir.

Kwanghyon.

I need your help.

There's something I need to know.

Your Majesties.

- Sukhwi. - Princess.

What are you...?

Your Majesty, is it true what people are saying?

People are dying in Icheon?

Please. Are the rumors true?

Yes, it's true. The situation is quite serious.

Many lives have been lost.

Your Highness.

What about him? He's in danger.

I won't have it. Go get him.

Huh?

You deaf? Go get him, I said.

Your Highness, please.

It can't be done.

Then what can? He may die.

Should I just sit back and watch?

Your Highness.

Please.

Just for a minute.

I understand, I do, but our orders are absolute.

But...

But I can deliver a message.

Sir.

Sir, trouble.

Report.

The situation has gotten worse.

More patients are dying and they're flooded with new cases.

What?

Prepare a report to the throne.

Sir.

Make way. Make way.

Nurse.

Jinyong. Jinyong.

What is it?

Nothing. Don't worry.

Nothing? As pale as you are?

Here, here, what were you looking at.

What are you..?

It's not that. Don't worry. I'm just tired.

Don't be a fool.

You have a fever.

All the same symptoms.

I was wrong. I must have been.

It is a plague.

You haven't eaten anything local.

You've only eaten food we brought from the capital.

No, I've had water.

Water.

It must be the local water.

Something is in the water.

Look at the water I carried over, look...

No.

I was wrong.

Like a fool I placed everyone in danger, even you...

It's smallpox and I've...

No. I don't believe it's smallpox.

Don't give up.

You have to keep looking.

Jinyong.

Nurse, nurse.

- Jinyong. - Nurse, nurse!

Jinyong.

What happened?

She fainted.

Jinyong, wake up.

Jinyong, Jinyong.

Hello.

Doing all right?

Jinyong.

You're a doctor?

No, a horse doctor.

I'll look after her. Get the doctor. Go!

Go on!

Translated by D. Bannon Subtitles provided by MBC

What happened to here? Will she die?

How is she?

I need to tell him something.

You remember what I said. Don't give up.

I'm not giving up.

Don't you, either.

Don't worry. I'm here now.

It's driving me crazy.

I know we can find it.

I don't think you're wrong. I think you can save us.

I must. I have to see him.

Without it we might as well let them die.

That won't happen.

- Absurd. - My lord.

No. I won't leave this alone.

I don't care what anyone says.

You're the horse doctor?