Original subtitles

WHEN THE PHONE RINGS

A GOOD FRIEND TO MEET

ALL CHARACTERS, LOCATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INCIDENTS DEPICTED IN THIS DRAMA ARE ENTIRELY FICTITIOUS

[door lock beeping]

3 YEARS AGO, WEDDING DAY

[somber music playing]

[phone vibrates]

[Sa-eon] That bedroom is yours from now on.

I won't be going into that room.

I'll use the room near the entrance,

and I don't want you in here either.

[sighs]

-[somber music continues playing] -[birds chirping]

Did you not read my text?

I told you there was no need to prepare meals.

I don't know when I'll leave work, so don't wait up.

What if…

-I had told you back then… -[door opens]

that I felt at ease with you in this house…

that I was glad you became my wife,

and that I couldn't sleep a wink because of you…

[music crescendoes]

Hong Hee-joo,

do you like being married to me

or not?

If you don't hate it,

how about we slowly…

get to know each other better?

[music intensifies]

Instead of dedicating it to hatred and revenge,

if I had dedicated my life

to love and happiness with you…

I'm now paying the price

for not doing that,

Hee-joo.

[panting]

EPISODE 11

[both coughing]

[music ends]

[coughing]

I can't find Hee-joo! We were together.

-[In-a panting] -[Sa-eon] I'll find her.

Hee-joo!

Hee-joo! [coughing]

Hee-joo!

[phone vibrating]

UNKNOWN CALLER

[ominous music playing]

[kidnapper] Paik Sa-eon.

I'll kill her.

I'm really going to kill her.

Your wife.

Hee-joo, don't worry. I'm coming.

-I'm coming right now. -[Hee-joo] Don't come.

[voice shaking] I told you.

For once,

I want to protect you.

Just remember this.

I love you…

so very much.

Hee-joo.

I love you.

[engine revving]

[dramatic music playing]

You crazy bitch! Again with that?

[Hee-joo] Do you remember?

Once you start, you see it through to the end.

That's what you said.

Since I started it,

I'm going to end it.

I'll make sure you never make him suffer again!

[tires screeching]

-[metal crashing] -[line disconnects]

Hee-joo…

Hee-joo!

[tense music playing]

NO VEHICLE ENTRY

[panting]

-[sighs] -[phone vibrating]

[music ends]

-Hello? -[Detective Kang] We found it.

You said you found it. What did you find?

I don't see the car.

Well…

It seems the car

was going very fast at the time of the accident.

It hit this guardrail and went straight down.

[somber music playing]

[Detective Kang] Also,

we found this

at the scene.

[exhales]

I think…

we should start the search.

What happened?

Where's Hee-joo?

[In-a] Did the car…

fall down there?

No way.

-Hee-joo! -[Il-gyeong] Honey, calm down.

Calm down, honey. Will you start the search right away?

[Il-gyeong breathing heavily]

Why did you spare him and let this happen?

Bring that bastard to me right now!

What the hell are you saying?

Who says I spared him?

Your father tricked me.

That sly old fox!

That's enough!

What's the point of blaming anyone now?

Since when did you care about your children?

Don't you know you brought this upon yourself?

[Yeon-hui] You can find Hee-joo, right?

[crying] Please, find her. Hee-joo…

Hee-joo.

Hee-joo…

[intense music playing]

My mother didn't come.

What?

Yes, we checked them all.

We don't see her.

We checked all the mourners' dashcams,

but Professor Shim Kyu-jin wasn't on any of them.

The back gate cameras are for real-time monitoring,

so they weren't recording.

I understand.

[line disconnects]

[intense music playing]

[car door beeps]

NO RECORDED VIDEOS

[sighs]

[line connects]

[Detective Kang] Yes.

The dashcam footage from Professor Shim's car

has been deleted.

Seize and recover it, and check her phone and location data

to find out where she was during the accident.

Okay, I'll request a search warrant first.

[car door beeps]

[music fades]

What are you doing here?

What are you doing?

You haven't been crying.

You don't know whether your son is alive or dead right now,

yet you didn't come to the scene

or cry.

You're something else.

Why…

should I cry?

[dark music playing]

Your father, Paik Jang-ho,

said my son fell into the water

and drowned when he took him fishing.

We searched the entire lake, but the boy was nowhere to be found.

I struggled in agony,

not knowing whether my son was alive or dead,

beating my chest as I cried and cried again.

Whenever I heard that a body had been found washed up,

I ran barefoot to the scene.

I already did that

more than enough 20 years ago.

And now,

isn't it your turn…

to experience that pain?

[You-ri] Since Spokesperson Paik Sa-eon's press conference…

4 DAYS SINCE THE ACCIDENT

…search operations have continued,

but Ms. Hong Hee-joo has not been found yet.

Rescue authorities have announced plans

to expand the search area downriver.

NEXT NEWS. HOUSING LEASE SCAMS HAVE…

What's going on? Why did she stop?

You-ri, keep going!

[inaudible]

Dear viewers, we earnestly ask for your cooperation.

Please lend your attention and support

-so Hong Hee-joo can return… -[sighs exasperatedly]

…to her family's arms as soon as possible.

[mellow piano music playing]

You think it'll be okay?

I'm fine.

I still have a lot of energy left.

No, the weather.

Ah.

They said it won't rain.

Surely the sky won't turn against us.

Let's pray. [chuckles]

I'm not religious. I've never prayed this much.

[You-ri chuckles softly]

Me too.

By the way, when are you going to ask me?

About what?

Whether or not I knew Hee-joo was Paik Sa-eon's wife

and why I didn't tell you if I did.

You told me to hear it for myself.

Were you talking about Hee-joo?

Yeah. I'm sorry.

Why would you be sorry?

Hee-joo should apologize.

"Did you have fun fooling me all this time?"

"You really went too far." I'll confront her.

I will get an apology from her.

Hee-joo's in big trouble.

She's really going to get it.

[You-ri chuckles softly]

Hey, you know what?

Hee-joo can talk too.

She can… what?

She talks really well.

She's got a great voice too.

[scoffs]

Wow.

[laughs in disbelief]

This won't do.

-Step on it? -Yeah.

Let's find Hee-joo quickly.

I need to find her

and hear that voice for myself.

[Sang-woo sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

VOLUNTEER GROUP

Shall we gather around?

[volunteer] Okay.

Let's get started for today.

Everyone, please stay alert,

be careful, and stay safe.

-Let's begin. -[volunteers] Okay.

HONG HEE-JOO PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE INTERPRETER

[Jin-e cries]

Ms. Han…

[Jin-e] I'm so sorry.

Something got in my eye.

[car approaching]

There they are. Over here.

Sorry we're late. You're all here today as well.

Thank you for your help.

I should be thanking you.

[voice shaking] You are all stepping up like this,

and I'm so grateful.

By the way, where's Sa-eon?

Yeah, he's normally at the scene.

He received a call and left only a little while ago.

To where?

We don't know. He left in such a hurry.

EVIDENCE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, ON-SITE EVIDENCE

[Detective Kang] Please check

if it belongs to Hong Hee-joo.

[somber music playing]

ON-SITE EVIDENCE

[Detective Kang sighs]

Downstream from where these were found, there's a dam.

She hasn't been found even after searching this area…

[sighs] So the chances of survival--

You can tell me…

when her body is found.

[Detective Kang] Excuse me?

You can save that…

for when her body is found.

We still need to search more.

What about the search warrant?

We still don't have it?

I just got a call about that.

It was rejected.

It's hard to prove the charges with just suspicions or statements,

and as you well know,

she is the wife of the leading presidential candidate.

She's also the prime suspect.

[tense music playing]

Request the warrant again.

There's a way to get it.

[music fades]

Twenty-four years ago,

my son went to the lake with his grandfather

and never came back.

[inhales deeply] We were unable to find his body,

and we couldn't…

accept our child's death.

So…

we couldn't register his death.

Then, one day,

at the fishing spot my son used to visit,

we met a child who had grown up there without parents or even a name.

He's the Sa-eon who's with us now.

Sa-eon was the same age as our son,

and to us,

it felt like fate.

-[suspenseful music playing] -[siren wailing]

-Is it this way? -Yes.

I'm Jang Hyeok-jin with HBC. I have a question.

Why didn't your biological son search for his parents,

and why is he seeking revenge against Spokesperson Paik Sa-eon?

You can ask questions later…

It's fine.

I'll answer your question.

Among people,

there are rumors that my son threatened Spokesperson Paik

and made death threats.

But they are not true.

My son has not been in a sound state of mind

since the lake accident--

The blackmail and murder threats are not true?

There's audio of your son's voice and phone conversation recorded

on the spokesperson's dashcam during Hong Hee-joo's kidnapping.

That's not all.

There are testimonies linking him

to the Sinil Childcare Center abduction and murder cases.

Shall we hear it?

[Do-jae] I first saw him

near the Presidential Office last year.

What is that?

A statement from the suspect's accomplice. Let's listen further.

[music fades]

It was the first time

I'd seen someone with such animosity

toward Paik Sa-eon.

[kidnapper] Damn it!

[guard] Get him out of here.

[kidnapper] Paik Sa-eon, get out here!

Paik Sa-eon!

What's going on?

[guard] That man kept insisting on meeting the spokesperson,

trying to barge in without permission.

Let go of me, bastards!

[kidnapper panting]

I'll be back.

I promise!

I'll kill Paik Sa-eon myself!

[dark music playing]

[Do-jae] I wondered, "Is he a victim too?"

"Will I be able to make use of his hatred?"

I followed him around for a few days to see if we shared the same goal.

That's when

I saw him head to an important location.

An important location?

[gate rattling]

He knew where the orphaned children and my brother had gone missing.

That's why…

-I was sure he was a victim like me. -[camera shutter clicking]

Who are you?

Why do you want to take revenge on Paik Sa-eon?

He said he grew up at the fishing spot.

Paik Jang-ho

brought the bodies of the victims his grandson had killed

to the owner of the fishing spot…

Take care of it!

[reporters murmuring]

[Do-jae] One day, because he saw his grandson's face,

Paik Jang-ho tried to drown him.

Since then, he's been living in an impaired state.

He said he wanted revenge

on the Paik family for making him that way.

It was all a lie, though.

[reporters murmuring]

Sure. Take it.

The police already have it.

[Ui-yong] Now, everyone!

Two people are missing at the moment, and their fate is unknown.

Right now,

we shouldn't be swayed by baseless rumors or fake news…

How can I help you?

Are you Shim Kyu-jin?

I am.

I'm Detective Kang Hyeong-cheol from the Violent Crimes Unit.

You're under arrest as a suspect in a murder case.

[reporters gasping, murmuring]

What are you saying?

-[aide] Wait! -[Kang] Shim Kyu-jin…

You have the right to remain silent

and the right to an attorney.

Anything you say

can and will be used against you in a court of law.

-Take her. -[aide] Move!

-[officer] Move aside. -[aide] Wait!

[all clamoring]

[sighs]

HEE-JOO

SPEAKER

[automated voice] The phone you called is turned off.

You'll be directed to voicemail.

Additional fees may apply after the beep.

[line disconnects]

[sighs]

[melancholy music playing]

I…

[sniffles]

wanted you to live a different life from mine.

To live without hardship,

marry into a wealthy family,

wear beautiful clothes, and indulge in luxury.

That's the life I wanted for you.

I thought it was for your own good, but…

But no matter how hard I try,

I can't remember it.

[crying] I don't think I ever saw it.

Your smile, Hee-joo.

[sobbing]

[door opens]

Why are you doing nothing?

You should be doing something!

-Why? -[Il-gyeong sighs]

Are you afraid that stepping forward will expose the deal you made

with Chairman Paik 20 years ago?

Fine.

If you can't do it, I will.

This tragedy between our two families.

The world deserves to know why it happened.

Will doing that…

change anything?

What will change if we do nothing?

You saw what happened when you did nothing

after losing your son 20 years ago!

[Il-gyeong sighs]

[Yeon-hui] Honey! [gasps]

What does this mean?

What's wrong?

PAIK UI-YONG'S WIFE ARRESTED FOR MURDER

What… For murder?

Who did this wench kill?

[tense music playing]

She didn't, right?

Not Hee-joo, right?

[Il-gyeong gasps]

[breath trembling]

[music fades]

[Kyu-jin] So,

has a body been found or something?

-What body? -You said it was a murder charge.

Didn't you take me here because I killed someone?

Before that,

are you prepared to lose your badge?

I could get you fired for defamation or abuse of power

if I wanted to.

Have we found a body?

Do you think you're here for murder

of the missing Hong Hee-joo?

[eerie music playing]

[music intensifies]

Do you admit to the murder charge?

How…

did you get this?

[Sa-eon] Grandfather's signet ring.

He gave it to me a few days before he passed away.

A few days later,

I returned it to him.

I told him it wasn't right

for me to take it then.

[ominous music playing]

That's when the video was taken.

Right before Grandfather passed away,

that moment of truth.

BACKGROUND CHECK SHIM KYU-JIN

[music fades]

[Jang-ho breathing heavily]

[Jang-ho] Kyu-jin.

You've gone through a lot…

living as my daughter-in-law.

Now…

you're asking for forgiveness?

Forgiveness?

Are you talking about…

the sin of sending your son to his death

with my own hands?

There's one more.

The sin…

of replacing my son with yours.

So…

you knew all along.

[Kyu-jin] I didn't at first.

As soon as my son died, you brought an orphan

and shoved him into my arms, telling me to raise him as Sa-eon.

But as I watched that child become more and more like you,

I saw

how lovingly you gazed at him

and how proud you were of him…

I couldn't help but know.

The joy and glory that comes with raising a child should have been mine,

but you enjoyed it instead of me.

No.

I spared you the pain

and tragedy you would have faced

if your child had lived.

[somber music playing]

Until the very end,

you still won't ask for forgiveness.

[exhales]

[sighs]

Then,

I'll do it for you.

[music intensifies]

Forgive me, Father.

-[Jang-ho struggling] -[EKG machine beeping]

[EKG machine flatlines]

[music fades]

People…

tend to tell the truth

when the final moment comes.

That's why I kept this.

For the moment

when your lifelong secret finally comes to light.

[Kyu-jin] You are…

indeed Paik Jang-ho's son.

So you'll make me pay the price for killing your father.

I didn't record it for him.

I've been saving this for the day

the ugly truth of this family is exposed.

But I never imagined

I'd have to use it

not to ruin someone

but to save someone.

Mother.

Now, tell me.

Where's Hee-joo?

What did you do with her?

The police already have your phone and dashcam.

It'll work in your favor if you confess before the evidence comes out.

You know that better than anyone.

[tense music playing]

OVERALL PROGRESS

CONNECTING TO ACQUISITION PROCESS

But…

I'm curious about something.

Fine.

Let's say I had her kidnapped.

But what you really want to find isn't her body,

it's her alive, isn't it?

So tell me.

Is there any reason I should keep her alive?

I'm not keeping her as a hostage,

so why would I keep her alive?

If it were you, would you have bothered keeping her alive?

[tense music continues playing]

[music intensifies]

[phone vibrating]

Yes, Professor. I found them.

[breathes heavily]

What should I do with Hee-joo?

What?

I understand.

[line disconnects]

[Sa-eon] If it were you,

you would've kept her alive.

For me.

For you?

[Sa-eon] You said it before.

The pain of not knowing whether he was dead or alive,

struggling, pounding your chest, crying and crying.

Whenever a body was found floating in the water,

you ran barefoot in that agony.

You said it was my turn now.

Right.

I did.

That wouldn't have been enough for you.

You would've gone even further.

You would have looked for a way to torment me,

the son of Paik Jang-ho,

until the very end.

[music fades]

-[door opens] -How's it going?

-We have security footage. -Pull it up.

[Detective Kang] The one on the right.

Zoom in.

You haven't eaten anything for days.

Are you planning to starve to death?

Why?

[sighs]

I could've had you killed.

Instead,

I brought you here and saved your life.

So why are you trying to die?

Because I know what you're up to.

What I'm up to?

What's that?

He's probably searching for me like crazy right now.

One year.

Two years.

And then, after about ten years…

he'll probably give up,

thinking I'm dead.

He'll just come to accept it.

[melancholy music playing]

Then, one day, after more than 20 years have passed…

You want him…

…to eventually find out,

after all these years…

…that his beloved, whom he thought was dead, was actually alive.

Then, I'll mourn the days we couldn't be together.

Filled with regret

and sorrow,

he will beat his chest in despair.

[crying] For me,

you would've prepared that final pain.

If it were you.

We found Hong Hee-joo.

[intense music playing]

-Check the address and move quickly! -[officers] Yes, sir!

SEONGNANG POLICE STATION

[sirens wailing]

PROFESSOR SHIM KYU-JIN ARRESTED FOR MURDERING PAIK JANG-HO

-[music fades] -[sighs]

[Kyu-jin] If…

anything happens to me,

take care of the rest, Mr. Min.

[dramatic music playing]

[music intensifies]

Save my son.

[music slows down]

And…

kill her.

-[siren wailing] -[dramatic music playing]

Please…

Hee-joo, hold on. [exhales sharply]

[breathing heavily]

[engine accelerating]

-[Mr. Min] Ms. Hee-joo! -[gasps]

[music fades]

Run away.

Hurry.

NO ENTRY

[groans, pants]

[somber music playing]

[Hee-joo] If it was for you,

I thought I wouldn't mind dying.

[siren wailing]

[breathing heavily]

[powerful song playing]

[Hee-joo] But…

I miss you.

I wasn't afraid of dying,

but the thought of never seeing you again was terrifying.

[song continues playing]

[bangs on door]

[kidnapper] Are you outside?

Who are you?

Open the door. [banging on door]

Open it.

Open it right now!

Do you

want to play with me?

Let's play.

There's a lot of fun stuff here.

Let's play with these.

Let's play!

[banging on door]

[drill whirring]

[kidnapper grunts]

-[kidnapper sobs] -[whirring stops]

[door rattling]

[kidnapper cries]

-[drill whirring] -[banging]

Stop!

When I get out of here,

I'm going to kill you!

[sobbing] Open it! Open the door!

-[song ends] -[sighs]

[gun cocking]

-[kidnapper] Open the door! -[Ui-yong] Open it.

[kidnapper] I'm going to kill you when I get out of here!

-Open it! -I saw everything.

You two exchanged glances.

[officer 1] Don't move!

[officer 2] What are you doing?

[aide] What are you doing?

[Ui-yong] Something felt off, so I followed you.

-Who knew you'd come here? -[kidnapper] Open it!

[banging]

[Ui-yong] Who knew you'd hide him here?

[kidnapper] Open the door!

[Ui-yong] Now.

I will pay

for my actions myself.

-[kidnapper screaming] -[Ui-yong] Open…

that door.

-[kidnapper] Open the door! -[banging]

[Hee-joo panting]

[gunshot]

[breathing heavily]

[gasps]

[dark music playing]

[Ui-yong grunting]

-[both grunting] -[gun cocks]

It's been a while, Father.

What's this for?

Are you going to shoot me?

[Kyu-jin] He…

takes after you a lot.

[Mr. Min] Mr. Paik!

It was great to see you.

Goodbye.

Father.

[gunshot]

[gasps]

[whistling]

[breathing heavily]

[whistling continues]

[Hee-joo gasps]

Sis.

[tense music playing]

Sis!

Why did you leave me behind?

Let's play some more!

[whistling echoing]

[breath trembling]

[panting] Help. Help me…

[chuckles]

I found you.

[tires screeching]

-[exhales] -[music fades]

-[slow music playing] -[panting]

Hee-joo.

[crying]

[crying] Hee-joo.

[siren wailing]

[Hee-joo crying]

Are you okay?

Are you hurt?

I'm okay.

[Sa-eon] Let's go.

Let's go home.

It's all over now.

It's not over.

He's nearby, and he has a gun.

Get out of here.

We'll search the area and arrest him.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'm going to follow the spokesperson.

The rest of you split up and search the area.

Be careful. The suspect is armed. Request backup from the nearby precinct!

[all] Yes, sir!

[exhales]

Hee-joo, you have to stay awake.

Let's go to the hospital.

Just hold on.

-[tires screech] -[music stops]

[Sa-eon breathes heavily]

Where are you going?

Let's play.

Paik Sa-eon, get out of the car.

[tense music playing]

Hee-joo.

Listen to me.

Don't get out of this car. Stay here.

No, don't go.

Get out!

[Hee-joo] No! No…

I have to end this.

Don't come out.

[seatbelt clicks]

This is between us. Don't drag her into this anymore.

[siren wailing]

[chuckling] Do you think you won?

But…

did you…

really win?

I never wanted to beat you.

I told you.

I didn't want to take what's yours.

[kidnapper chuckles]

[ominous music playing]

Yeah.

You just

want to live happily ever after with Hong Hee-joo.

But…

do you remember what I said before?

I told you

I wanted

to see you suffer properly.

Aren't you guilty of anything?

[kidnapper chuckles]

Of course, you are.

You're the son…

of Paik Jang-ho,

a man full of sins.

What's that?

-[walkie-talkie beeps] -Suspect sighted.

Requesting backup.

[seatbelt clicks]

[inaudible]

[music fades]

[somber music playing]

[breath trembles]

[breathing heavily]

[kidnapper chuckles]

[laughing]

[sirens approaching]

[kidnapper] Yeah!

That's it. [laughs]

[sighs]

That is the face

I wanted to see from you.

Put the gun down!

-[gunshot] -[music fades]

[Sa-eon] Hong Hee-joo,

do you like being married to me

or not?

If you don't hate it,

how about we slowly get to know each other better?

I'd like that.

[gentle song playing]

I like you.

[scoffs]

What?

I've liked you

for a long time now.

Since when?

When we were kids.

Since the moment

you carried me on your back.

[sighs]

[Hee-joo] I should've told you

when you were still by my side.

I shouldn't have hidden it or kept it a secret.

I should've told you

that I've liked you for such a long time.

[both chuckle]

Merry Christmas.

It's so pretty.

[Hee-joo chuckles]

-[Sa-eon grunts] -[both laugh]

[song continues]

-[alarm beeping] -[Hee-joo gasps]

-Something's burning! -[Sa-eon] What?

[gasps]

-No! -[Hee-joo yelps]

My steak!

No!

[yelps]

Oh, no.

[Hee-joo] What do we do? [gasps]

Look at the smoke! [gasps]

-It's on fire! -It's all burnt. What do we do?

-I can't see the steak! -[laughing]

It's okay.

[song ends]

[Hee-joo] Only now,

after he's gone,

do I regret belatedly.

[melancholy music playing]

[line connects]

[automated voice] The number you called is not in service.

Please check the number and try again.

[line disconnects]

[sighs deeply]

[line connects]

[automated voice] The number you called is not in service.

Please check the number and try again.

[line disconnects]

PAIK SA-EON

[sighs]

[Hee-joo] What did he…

hear that day?

What made him…

look at me with such sad eyes?

[sighs deeply]

[music fades]

[phone vibrating]

INCOMING CALL INTERNATIONAL CALL

Hello?

Hello?

Is that…

you?

[dramatic song playing]

Subtitle translation by: Sue Mounce