Original subtitles

[The locales, characters, agencies, and incidents in this drama have no relevance to real life.]

[Episode 1]

Credit

When I look back, it was a really strange night.

You are off course and will be redirected.

Searching for your route.

It's rare for one thing after another to go wrong like that.

The damn weather, crazy navigation,

and a broken cell phone.

[KSAC - Yoon Hae Joon]

That's when it appeared in front of me.

[2021]

In it, I found instructions for a time machine.

That's right, the time machine in novels and movies.

What's this?

I worked in the press department for seven years.

For someone who worked with facts, it seemed too fantastical.

I did not give a damn about becoming the main character of such a fantasy.

But there was a variable.

That darn curiosity.

[2021]

[3089]

[3089]

[Seoul 3 Mo 0508]

The year 3089.

What did I see out there?

That is not what is important.

It's what happened after.

[2021]

[2037]

[Seoul 3 Mo 0508]

What did I see out there?

What was it that I saw?

What did you see there?

Not sure.

Anyway, my life also completely veered off course after that.

Since I'm sitting here rambling to you guys.

He seems like a crazy man, Oppa.

Don't you feel bad for him? Let's just listen to his story.

Are you holding onto what I gave you earlier?

Yes.

I will pay for it later, so eat whatever you want.

- See you in 15 minutes. - Okay.

We tell ourselves to make it a great village filled with kind people.

More teenagers are using hallucinogenic substances

From inhaling glue and butane gas to varnish and benzol.

They're now new hallucinogenic substances.

[Increase in use of hallucinogenic substances]

[My Perfect Stranger] [Episode 1. Chance Meeting, 1987]

You all worked so hard

taking good care of the elders.

- Let's sit down. - Goodness!

Have a drink.

Attention! Everyone!

As you all know, our Woojeong Village

has been selected consecutively for five years as a crime-free town!

Clean water and peaceful neighborhoods!

Isn't this a wonderful place to live? Isn't that so, everyone?

Yes!

Let's drink to that!

He acts as though he has won an award.

He always likes to step forward. That moron.

- Gosh. He looks good up there. - Yeah, right.

The person responsible for making this place a great place to live in!

That lantern in our village that everyone respects!

I introduce to you Principal Yoon Byeong Koo, also the chairman!

Oh, no, no. Why are you doing that? I told you not to!

Don't do that!

Say a few words!

Thank you!

There is nothing I did.

First. It is due to all the good-natured Woojeong villagers here.

Second. Just like their parents, our kids are raised so well...

I don't think so.

It's because you hardly know each other but trust blindly that you are faced with a tragedy.

What is he talking about?

What?

In about thirty seconds, after you hear shouting in the mountains behind there

you will see six juvenile delinquents fleeing in different directions.

They have all inhaled glue and three of them are girls from this town.

- What is he talking about? - Our kids sniff glue?

No way!

A reporter who already obtained this information is on his way here now.

- R-Reporter? - What? Reporter?

He will arrive in five minutes, so we have four minutes and thirty seconds.

We have to take care of this within that time.

Who the heck are you? You look like an outsider.

How dare you say such a ridiculous thing about our town?

Woojeong High School 12th grade, Class 1, Kim Hye Kyeong.

T-That's my second child's class.

- Same class, Yi Eun Ha. - Our Eun Ha?

Our cute baby?

- Also, same class, Park Yoo Ri. - Wait...

That is my granddaughter.

Are you all going to be okay?

According to the laws regarding the use of hallucinogenic substances...

- W-What was that sound? - What was it?

- W-Was that a person's voice? - Yes.

Thirty seconds have passed already.

Since it concerns our children,

let's believe him.

It is not me.

I did not do anything.

Drink.

The water here is still clean.

But... who are you?

You almost fell over the cliff over there

and ended your life at the age of 19. I am the one who changed that.

Wow.

You are so good-looking!

Hey!

- Hey, you! - This crazy wench!

You crazy girl! What have you done?

- Oh my god! - Come to your senses!

This girl...

Pull yourself together!

Dad! It hurts!

Go faster!

- What are you doing? - Grandma. Grandpa.

What are you doing?

- What is this? - What happened?

- Pay attention! - Look here!

Do you want me to push you?

You are the one who coaxed the kids to sniff glue.

You can pretend to be in danger there.

But other kids were the ones in real danger.

I don't want to help a punk who almost got two perfectly fine kids killed. So just say the word.

I will push you over.

Who the hell is that asshole?

You'd better get lost!

[Two teenagers die from sniffing glue]

Oh, wait! Wait! What's going on?

Goodness!

- Goodness! - Oh, thank goodness!

- Oh, my gosh! - They're okay!

Is life difficult because your mom is different from others?

What?

What the hell do you know...

Even if you're different like this, your mom only lives for you.

So don't ever do this with other kids. Got it?

I am tired of this, too.

Even without you, I have a lot of people to save in this town.

- Goodness gracious! - Wow!

- Oh, my goodness! - You are a hero!

Thank you! Thank you!

[Two teenagers die from sniffing glue]

[Selected Five Consecutive Years as Crime-Free Town]

Let me go, Dad!

This little wench!

This is news on serious social issues of recent days of juvenile delinquents.

We heard that students are sniffing glue at this location.

Geez, where are they talking about?

- Get a hold of yourself! - Gosh!

We do not know how to thank you.

It just happened once.

For young students, instead of pushing them away,

we need to hold them close and guide them.

Isn't that our duty as adults?

Oh, my goodness! I feel as though you peered into my heart.

But how did you know all that?

The thing about 30 seconds and five minutes...

- You even knew the exact times! - I know.

- Wow! - Mister!

Young Ho! Young Soon!

You dropped this earlier when you left.

Oh, I did?

[Teacher Certification]

It could've been terrible.

It looks like I dropped this.

Oh! My goodness!

Teacher Yoon Hae Joon?

You are a teacher?

Oh, yes.

He is moving from Seoul to our town.

Oh, really?

Oh, in that case, by any chance, have you found a new position here?

No, not yet.

There happens to be a position open at the school I run.

- Oh, really? - Yes.

What a coincidence!

I teach Korean!

- Oh, yeah! - Yes!

That is how my pretend life started there in 1987.

[Classroom]

[Korean]

- I see him! - There!

- Move! - Go! Go!

Go! Go!

♫ If there's anything you want, I'll give it all to you ♫

I became a teacher I never desired to be before.

♫ I'll lead you only down the flower path, so just come to me ♫

I even moved into a house in a rural town I never wanted to live in before.

♫ Your gaze that is like the starlight has stolen my heart ♫

♫ I hope it becomes a fateful moment ♫

[1987]

[Seoul 3 Mo 0508]

I spent an entire month like that.

[Year 2021, Seoul] Why did I have to take it that far, you ask?

The serial murder case in Woojeong Village in 1987.

Back then, thirty-four years ago, the people you killed were still alive. Over there.

No, I did not kill them.

I know.

What?

That's why I am going there to find the real killer.

That is how you and I will both live.

What do you mean?

You will be released tomorrow morning.

I will see you in Woojeong, then.

I will let you know the meaning of it all.

So until tomorrow morning, be sure to stay alive.

[1987 Woojeong Serial Murder Case Culprit Commits Suicide During Imprisonment]

[1987 Woojeong Serial Murder Case Culprit Scheduled to be Released Tomorrow]

[Capturing Today. Seeing the World. News Weekend.]

[News Weekend]

[Editor-in-Chief] Yoon Young, where are you?

You are on your way, right?

I know it's your day off, but she only wants you.

I am almost there.

I knew I couldn't take a day off anyway.

[Mom]

What now?

Another video? What is it?

You know...

It's from when you were little and sang so cutely.

I am afraid I will lose that old recording.

So you can transfer it to a USB or something, right?

Okay, I will do it next time.

You said you would do it over a year ago.

Not like I am not doing it on purpose.

Are you still busy these days?

It must be so tough for you.

But you will come home today even if it's late, right?

Today?

Do we have to make a big deal of Dad's birthday every time?

Has he ever brought flowers on your birthday?

We're lucky if he even comes home.

You always make dinner, and it ends up being just the two of us!

Your dad is busy. That's why.

Doing what?

Drinking and fighting with other people?

Oh, don't be like that!

I'll prepare many delicious dishes. Like your favorite, japchae.

Don't go through the trouble. I'm not going.

I'll send some money. Go out and buy some clothes, and walk around.

Don't be so frustrated and rewatch old videos.

Bye!

So you're asking why all the murderers in my novels are women?

Well, I'm not sure...

But I guess it's not strange that an old woman is writing novels?

As some men in the world commit murders wherever they are,

some women commit such hideous murders as well.

Of those cases, I choose to write about certain stories I know more about.

Then, shall we ask the next question?

This is the first novel released in 1987 titled "Small Door."

Out of all your books, this is the only one where no murderers appear.

There it is. Your favorite novel, Yoon Young.

Yes. That's the novel I love to hate that dragged me into this hell.

You wrote this when you were merely 19 years old.

Isn't it boring to talk about the past?

More than that, I would like to introduce the most important person to me right now.

Over there, in the back.

Do you see the gorgeous woman standing there?

She's my editor-in-charge, whom I mentioned earlier and my soulmate.

The main reason for my success is thanks to her hidden efforts!

Thank you.

Damn it! Who came up with all those questions?

I can't even write these days, and he dares to ask such moronic questions!

Why the hell did he bring up that old novel and start blabbering?

I've got many books that sold over a million copies, and he's still bringing up that book!

Gosh, you're talking about it like it's someone else's book.

Out of your fans, do you know how many became followers since that first novel?

Among them, I am that number one fan.

If it weren't for your lines from the novel, I'd be...

Hey!

Do you think I want to listen to your story?

Shall we go to the workroom?

Gosh, I need to relieve my stress.

Yes?

My daughter! What?

We will leave now.

What a rude girl.

Who asked for money? I just wanted to see her face.

Do you think I'm watching videos because I don't have money?

Geez.

Goodness...

Whoa, expensive!

Hello.

You waited a long time. I'm sorry.

- Would you show us size 36? - Okay.

- What about the restaurant? - I made a reservation at the place across the street.

It'll be perfect timing if you go as soon as In Ah arrives.

I sent a location link to Professor Park.

Did you read the introduction I sent you?

Can't you see my dark circles?

I stayed up all night reading because it was so good!

What a relief.

I guess it won't get shredded this time.

You're dissatisfied with my sentences.

Oh, no! What are you saying...

The responses are good only when you edit it...

so I don't really have complaints, either.

Editing is something anyone can do.

Of course. Everything originated from you.

Give them to me.

This novel will do really well. I have a good feeling.

They say good shoes take you to good places.

Then, where are you planning to go in those shoes?

Don't push!

It's a 50% sale!

Mom?

- Let go! - Oh, my gosh!

It's like street bargain shopping.

What's all the fuss over such cheap items?

- I'm sorry. - It's fine.

Such pathetic lives.

- How much is this? - I need size 39.

You shouldn't lose your dignity even if you don't have much.

Before you get old, keep that in mind.

Mom!

Hey!

Unni, have you been well?

What are we eating? I'm so hungry.

You must be starving following my mom around.

Your dad must be waiting. Let's hurry.

Let's go, Unni. Let's catch up after we eat.

- Oh, it's cheap! - Let me see!

- Gosh, don't push! - Let's see.

Geez...

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Oh, my gosh! Are you crazy?

Aren't you scared? There are cars coming!

So you couldn't hear me calling?

Oh, I was calculating in my head how much I spent today.

Okay! Don't be mad.

I'm not mad.

Oh, good! Try these on.

What is it?

Quickly. If they don't fit, I need to exchange them.

Should I put them on for you?

No, no! Ow!

Oh, gosh!

- I said I'll try them on later! - Gosh...

- Put them on. - Oh, okay! I'll do it.

- Is that good? - Yeah!

They fit perfectly. Right?

Is it because my daughter is pretty?

There's light beaming from the shoes!

They say you have to wear good shoes to go to good places.

There's no such a saying. That's stupid.

Hey! These were not cheap!

I didn't buy them from where you saw me earlier. I bought them at an expensive store!

These are really nice ones!

That's not what I'm...

Did I ask you to buy these?

I gave money for you to buy your clothes. Did I or not?

I have nowhere to wear them, though.

That's why! That's why, don't go around—

- This. - What?

How many times did I tell you to throw this out?

Why are you still wearing this dirty old thing over ten years old!

Look at everyone.

Who is wearing something like this today? Just look!

Geez, I shouldn't have bought that for you.

I got it. My ears hurt. Don't yell.

Are you that embarrassed?

Since you mingle with successful and smart people every day,

your mom must look like a joke to you.

Why are you talking like that now?

But for me, even if you wear dirty shoes and a scarf, I would never pretend like I didn't see you.

For me, no matter what you wear and what you do, I would never ignore you. You know that?

I won't...

I won't play with you, either.

Mom!

Back then,

if only I hadn't sent Mom off like that.

Oh, really.

Would everything be different?

I'm not going to play with you, either.

- Do you need a bag? - Yes.

I thought there would always be time to make it up to her.

[Author Go Mi Sook]

[Decline call]

[Power off]

Yes? It's mom.

Did you eat okay?

It's Mom.

Mom is...

someone who always waits for me.

Mom!

[6:59 p.m.]

[Wedding invitation for Baek Hee Seop and Lee Soon Ae]

Hello?

Yes, that's right.

But Mom...

My mom...

[Police]

There seems to be a suicide note.

Mom.

Mom!

Mom!

Before then,

had I ever imagined a world without my mom?

Mom.

Mom!

Mom!

Now in this world,

"Mom!"

Mom!

even if I call out like that,

there was no one to respond.

[Author Go Mi Sook]

[You're out. You'll have to find a new publisher.]

You still can't reach your father?

I don't know why she came here.

This place called Woojeong Village,

I've never heard of it.

It's pretty far from home, too.

[Policeman]

We still need to investigate, but...

can you take a look?

Looks like she wrote this for you.

[Dad]

Dad.

Yoon Young, is that you?

Your dad caused a mess again!

This time, I can't let it go.

Do you know how many plates he's broken?

What's going on?

Oh, my gosh! Don't do it there!

I can't stand this!

My gosh!

Could you please send me your account number and the amount?

Including all the damages up until now.

I'll send it to you now.

I was worried you wouldn't... I mean, you couldn't come.

But what a relief.

You. Who are you exactly? What did you do?

You have to ask the right questions.

Are you asking how I knew you weren't the killer from 34 years ago or

how I knew you were going to hang yourself the night before being released.

I already gave you the answers last night.

You expect me to believe that ridiculous story?

You really expect me to believe you went there and came back?

Geez.

Because I rotted away in prison for 30 years, you see me now as a fool who doesn't know the times!

Exactly 16 years from now.

That's how long I was going to work like crazy and retire early

and go fishing, read, and lead an idle life in a town like this.

To live like that was my dream.

That's the route I chose for myself.

So, the 16th year from now on...

I just wanted to see if my small and simple dream had come true.

[2021]

[2037]

But...

it didn't.

It didn't come true.

I had already died much sooner.

A year from now, the year I turn 35, I will die.

If you're asking what that has to do with you, that's because...

the culprit who killed me was the same killer in the 1987 Woojeong serial murder case.

What?

W-What does that mean...

[Bong Bong Cafe]

[Seoul 3 Mo 0508]

[Bong Bong Cafe]

[Bong Bong Cafe] This is the mark of the criminal from 1987.

This was found even at the scene of my murder.

That's why the police immediately looked for you.

But you were...

already dead before me.

That you didn't kill anyone.

That you couldn't live with the injustice anymore.

Yesterday, on the night before your release, you hung yourself in that cell.

No way... How?

How do you know?

It doesn't make sense that someone like that would kill me.

That's why I decided to believe you.

What do you think?

Can I do that?

Can we catch the real culprit?

We have to. That's why I caused the lapse of flow.

That's the only way you and I can live.

Yoon Young,

I'm sorry I said some hurtful things earlier.

I won't...

I won't play with you, either.

Ever since you left home,

Mom!

I felt like you were drifting further away from me.

So maybe I just wanted to throw a tantrum.

♫ Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, the frogs are singing ♫

♫ Son, wife, and grandson, everyone is together ♫

♫ No one is listening when they sing through the night ♫

Lately, I think a lot about those days.

When you were little, you would sing "Ribbit, Ribbit," the frog song.

I'm going to play with you forever, Mom.

Even when you become an old grandma, I'll play with you every single day!

So you have to play with me too, okay?

That small mouth with sweet chatters, pretty hands...

No, no, no!

Oh, no!

If, by chance, I'm able to travel back in time,

I would...

definitely return to those days and hold them one more time.

Your small and pretty hands.

Yoon Young, I didn't forget.

If only I could,

I want to play with you forever until I'm an old grandma.

WIth love, Mom.

[Bong Bong Cafe]

[Bong Bong Cafe]

"Book?"

"Danger..."

Yoon Young.

Why didn't you answer Mom's calls?

Her last three calls were to you.

You just ignored her again, didn't you?

Let's go. Let's not stand here.

Let's go to your mom.

Where is Mom?

How are you going to Mom?

- Yoon Young. - Dad,

do you know why I worked hard to live on my own?

I hated seeing you and Mom together.

That's why.

You fight whenever you're together.

When you fight, you leave the house.

Then Mom waits.

I was so sick and tired of seeing that every day. That's why I ran away.

Even though I knew Mom would be alone in the end.

But Mom still said she missed me.

She said if she could go back in time,

she said she still wanted to see me like a fool.

I...

I want to turn back time, Dad.

If I could go back to the past,

I would go far back.

So that I could make Mom

not love...

you or me.

Not being fooled by a person who makes her lonely...

or tricked into having a family.

I want her to be happy by herself.

So that she will live a long life.

I will make her live.

But I can't do that.

There's no way to do that!

♫ When you are acting like that toward me ♫

That's so tacky!

♫ I also act like that to you ♫

I'll buy you something nicer. Let's go to the department store!

Expensive doesn't mean nicer.

This is perfect for me. I like it!

The color looks good on you.

My daughter is buying me this with her first paycheck from her part-time job!

With these little hands.

Gosh, I don't want her to waste her money, but she insists!

They're not little. Come on!

My daughter goes to that college over there.

She said she'd give me a tour.

Thanks to my daughter, I got to go inside a college.

- You must be so happy. - Yes!

Would there be another day like this?

♫ When I spend the time feeling empty as though everything will grow further away ♫

♫ The one who held my hand when I reached out ♫

♫ I'm sure it was my love ♫

♫ Spreading silk and satin sheets on my heart and standing by your street ♫

♫ I will welcome you with pretty candles ♫

♫ If you go down a sweet-smelling floral path, I'll become a butterfly ♫

[1987] ♫ I'll fly and rest on your heart ♫

♫ Oh, I'll become a song, become a poem ♫

♫ A song sweeter than my heart ♫

♫ Spreading silk and satin sheets on my heart and standing by your street ♫

♫ I will welcome you with pretty candles ♫

What?

Oh, no!

No, no, no!

The shoes that Mom bought for me that day... Where did they take me?

[Seoul 3 Mo 0508]

[1987]

[Hosting the 24th Seoul Olympics]

[Sun and Moon Records] [Books] [Woojeong Cosmetics]

How much? How much is it?

♫ Like someone who just left ♫

♫ Even if you disappeared far away ♫

♫ Even in a soft voice ♫

♫ Tell me, please tell me ♫

[Sun and Moon Records]

♫ Please don't make me cry ♫

♫ There's no reason to cry ♫

I'm sorry.

Are you okay?

What?

Your head is bleeding.

My shoulder can't be that strong.

That's not it. I'm okay.

Wait! What do you mean, okay?

Your face looks really pale. You need to go to the hospital.

It's not your fault. Just go.

Don't say something else later!

Oh, man. Did I work out too much?

I almost lost this. [Baek Hee Seop]

[Disco Club Moon Night]

♫ Even if you disappeared far away ♫

♫ Just like the tears I shed then ♫

♫ Lonely, even if you would disappear ♫

Just for a moment! Stop by!

We play the latest hits!

We even have a live band performing at midnight.

I'm having a really tough day.

Could you please just walk by?

You had a fight with your friends, didn't you?

It must've hurt a lot. That is more reason you should party.

You have to let it all out.

Why won't people leave me alone today?

♫ The words "I love you" ♫

Are you interested? [The 3rd Family Walk Competition]

They say the prizes are pretty good!

They're giving away many prizes, so I'll take my younger sibling tomorrow.

There's a typo on those numbers, right?

What do you mean? Tomorrow?

May 10th, Sunday.

Oh! Maybe it's the fourth and not the third competition?

No, I mean 1987.

It's 2021 right now, though.

Come on. You're scaring me.

Are you badly hurt?

[May 19th, 1987, at 9:00 a.m.]

[Fire Truck] (Popular K-Pop group from the 80s)

Just go home. I won't hold you.

Is it really 1987 right now?

You really don't know we're having the 1988 Olympics next year?

Club?

You really want to go to the club?

Then, would we go to the playground at this time of night?

No, I mean...

But we are still students.

We are still students.

Hey, Lee Soon Ae, are you showing off you're the top of our class?

We can go freely when we turn 20. So what if we go a few months early?

And... you guys already got in trouble for the glue incident.

Would it be all right?

That's why we brought you.

You better say it right to my mom this time.

We spent the whole night studying at your place. Got it?

I don't really want to lie, though...

Hey!

Do we really have to take her?

Of course!

She has to be an accomplice to stick to the story.

She told the truth and said she wasn't with me last time.

My mom almost beat me to death.

How can I die before I marry my Hee Seop!

Okay.

But are we taking her like that?

Of course not. We would all get rejected at the entrance.

Oh, my gosh! This...

What do we do with this?

What do we do?

Wait a minute, so you're saying it's 1987?

If you're very sick, go to the hospital, Noona.

Don't disrupt me at work here.

Are you kidding me?

You can only push me so far.

I told you I'm in no mood to joke around.

Is this a movie set or something? What's the exact location?

So, this is Woojeong Village.

I-I don't know what you mean by a "set."

That's fine.

I can look it up myself.

W-What is that?

[Wedding invitation for Baek Hee Seop and Lee Soon Ae]

Does the internet not work here?

The internet doesn't work here?

Oh, what?

- There's no connection? - Punch what? (Sounds like "getting beat up")

What kind of town is this?

Bye, Noona! Don't come back here!

Wow, I dodged a bullet.

[Grilled Fish and Sake]

- This way, right? - Right.

Let's go!

This way.

Geez!

Look where you're going!

Yes, I'm sorry.

[Five-grain milled rice cake]

♫ Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, the frogs are singing ♫

♫ Son, wife, and grandson, everyone is together ♫

♫ No one is listening when they sing through the night ♫

Mom.

Mom.

Well... I'm sorry. I'll explain everything.

Excuse me?

You must be in shock already, but

the situation is worse than you think.

We just...

arrived in 1987 and...

there's no way...

to return.

We are trapped here.

Really?

Yes.

Don't be too scared. I'll somehow...

Then...

Really?

Well...

You're laughing?

team credits

♫ I found the meaning of life ♫

♫ Come to me, darling ♫

♫ If there's anything you want, I'll give it all to you ♫

♫ If you have any doubts, just rest your worries ♫

♫ I'll lead you only down the flower path, so just come to me ♫

[My Perfect Stranger]

Is this really true?

Mom is alive right now?

- Mom. - Gosh! What are you doing?

Are you going to hit me?

Mom, why are you being like that? Why would I hit you?

Starting right now, we're cracking down on minors!

What are you girls doing here? Come out right now!

- She's not a student at our school. - Yeah, you!

Don't pretend like you don't know!

Are you here on vacation? Why did you go into a club?

Suddenly, he just looked at me here and then...

By the way, what's your name?

I'm Baek Hee Seop.

[Epilogue]

Where are you coming from at this late hour?

Woojeong Village.

Woojeong Village?

Did you say Woojeong Village was your hometown?

Why did you go there all of a sudden?

There was...

something I needed to finish off.