Gangnam Beauty · Season 1
[Kyung-seok and his younger sister Kyung-hee accompany their politician father Do Sang-won, who made talks with a Christian priest and a Buddhist monk in preparation for the national elections. Kyung-seok is disgusted by his father’s tactics.]
So what is our religion?
What do you think? Of course, that which is believed by more people.
[Na Hye-sung, CEO of cosmetic company Kelun Korea and Kyung-seok’s mother, delivers her speech in her company’s perfume sampling event after her conversation with Mi-rae, who reminded her of a magazine article she wrote in the past.]
Hello, I’m Na Hye-sung. [applause from the audience] I thought about what I should say to you, and thanks to a young lady I met just now, I was reminded of what I wrote in a magazine a long time ago:
[After her company’s event, Na Hye-sung invites Mi-rae for a drink and they go to the bar owned by Kyung-seok’s friend Woo-jin.]
I reread what I had written and I realized it was just full of bluff. I was talking about the trend and some other stuff that I didn’t really mean. But I came to my senses as soon as I talked to you. I realized that I’m just someone who likes perfumes more than I am a businesswoman.
[Mi-rae pours the liquor into Hye-sung’s shot glass but it was filled only halfway. Hye-sung orders for another bottle.]
I always drink my shots in one go. This is why they say it’s hard to change old habits.
I think it’s great.
I’ve aged and deteriorated in many ways, but I’m still good at drinking.
I envy you so much.
Why?
Because you’re living your dream.
[Hye-sung ponders on what she said with her head down and her smile fading away.]
Being envious… [looks at Mi-rae] …is also a sad thing. Being envious of something that is ordinary … is sad.
[Mi-rae ponders on what Hye-sung said, then the memories of her painful past return to her, overwhelming her to the verge of tears. Among the reminiscence was her attempt to commit suicide over the Han River due to the pressure driven by the insults and discrimination on the basis of her looks. She remembers how Hye-sung approached her and comforted her, saving her from her suicide attempt. Hye-sung notices Mi-rae’s teary eyes.]
Mi-rae…
(wipes off her tears) Yes… Ms. Na, I have something to tell you.
[Kyung-seok arrives in the bar to help Woo-jin and notices Mi-rae but not his mother. He passes by their table, and Mi-rae sees him. Hye-sung turns around and is shocked to see Kyung-seok, who eyes her with equal shock and with hate.]
[to Hye-sung, not knowing the relation between Kyung-seok and Hye-sung] He’s my classmate. This is—
What are you doing here?
[stands up and looks at him with longing] You’ve grown up so much.
[gives his mother one last look and turns around to leave; to Woo-jin] I’m sorry but I don’t think I can help out today. [leaves the bar]
Kyung-seok. Kyung-seok…
[turns back to Mi-rae] I’m his mother.
[Kyung-seok asks Mi-rae for a talk after class, the day after he had seen his mother and Mi-rae at the bar.]
How do you know that woman?
[keeping her first real meet-up with Hye-sung years ago a secret] I met her for the first time at the perfume sampling event that day. Our Teaching Assistant was there, too. He introduced me to her, saying she was our alumna.
You had a drink with someone whom you met for the first time that day?
Well… It happened that way by accident after the event.
Is that all?
Yes. She left right after that as well.
[Kyung-seok sighs.]
Are you okay? I was worried.
Why would you be? It’s none of your business. Don’t tell the others about this.
I won’t. Why would I tell such a thing to others?
(getting angry) You asked me not to tell the others that we went to the same school, but you revealed it first.
Well, that’s because it was my problem. It didn’t harm you either.
Are you the type who changes words like that, too? I hate those who don’t keep their promises.
I also hate those who vent their anger on others.
[Upon Hye-sung’s request, Mi-rae invites Kyung-seok for a drink to convince him to make amends with his mother. Kyung-seok keeps looking at Mi-rae.]
What?
Sorry.
For what?
For getting mad at you for meeting that person even though it wasn’t your fault.
[Mi-rae does not reply, though she is pleased to hear Kyung-seok’s apology.]
Aren’t you mad?
I have a pretty big heart.
[Mi-rae forces herself to drink more liquor, which Kyung-seok notices.]
What’s wrong?
Don’t get mad at me, okay? (beat) Do you really have no interest in talking to your mom?
Is that why you asked me to go for a drink? When you said “a big heart,” I guess you meant you’re very nosy.
I know it’s nothing compared to your situation … but I couldn’t see my dad for a while either. He was against me getting plastic surgery, so I did it secretly after telling him I was going to study abroad. And then I saw him for the first time at the entrance ceremony … but he got mad and left. When family members hate each other, it’s usually out of disappointment. (teary-eyed) He must have had a really hard time. Much more than me.
So, are you satisfied?
With what?
With your plastic surgery.
I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied…
Why not?
It’s too obvious that I did it. (beat) You made fun of me, too.
(taken aback) I did? When?
Forget it.
No, tell me. I won’t let you go until you tell me. Tell me when I did that.
That time … at the bus stop. You laughed at me. You probably don’t remember, but for me—
I do. I clearly remember it, but I never made fun of you. It wasn’t your face. It was your feet.
[Mi-rae glances at her feet. Kyung-seok chuckles softly.]
Your feet were funny. I’ve never seen anyone else dance like that. That’s why I asked you at the orientation. It seemed like you. In middle school, I only remember laughing once, and it was because of you.
[In her attempt to know and expose Mi-rae’s past, Soo-a invites one of Mi-rae’s schoolmate in middle school, Park Young-chul, to the school festival. Soo-a brings Mi-rae to Young-chul’s table. Mi-rae has been apprehensive since seeing Young-chul arrive in their department’s food kiosk, knowing he could reveal her ugly past to the others.]
You should go.
You can’t tell a customer to go.
I said, go.
What’s wrong? This is nice. It’s nice to see Kang Orc again.
[raises her voice] Hey.
Is she that “Kang Orc”?
[to his friends] She’s that “Kang Orc.”
(loudly) HEY!
[Virtually all in the kiosk turns to check on Young-chul’s table. Kyung-seok nears the table.]
Come with me.
I’m just bringing up old times. Does that piss you off?
(feigning concern) Young-chul…
I said, come with me.
(snickers) Oh, I’m scared. Kang Mi-rae, do you think you’re something now because you’re pretty?
[Mi-rae stares at Young-chul with intense dislike. Young-chul’s smirk fades.]
That’s right. I realized after I changed that you were nothing.
(taken aback) What?
You haven’t changed a bit. You still look down on people and harass them based on their appearance. Remember this every time you think of the name “Kang Orc”: to me, you’re just a piece of trash.
[Soo-a “apologizes” to Mi-rae for inviting Young-chul to the school festival.]
I shouldn’t have asked them to come. I don’t even know them very well. They came to where I work part-time, so I invited them to the festival. I didn’t know he was like that. I’m sorry.
It’s not your fault.
That’s not true. I’m really sorry. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me.
That’s okay. Don’t worry about it.
No, I will. I want to be better to you. The truth is, I was a little prejudiced about plastic surgery. “Do they want to be prettier that badly? Isn’t it just vanity?” But I understand now that some people are really desperate, that some appearances are painful to have.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Gangnam Beauty pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
