The Handmaiden (아가씨)

You little brats, beat it!

Hey!

It should have been me!

I should be the one going to that Jap's house.

You'll miss the train.

Hurry.

PART ONE

Kouzuki Noriaki

Go back to sleep.

We're still far from the house.

Pleased to meet you. I am Okju.

This property has three buildings.

A Western-style wing by an English architect

and a Japanese wing form the main house.

Not even in Japan is there a building combining two styles.

It reflects Master's admiration for Japan and England.

Next is the annex

which Master had furnished as a library.

Last, the servants' quarters.

As the Lady's handmaiden, you won't sleep there.

You may eat her leftover food,

but tea leaves go to the kitchen girls.

Used soap is for the steward.

Anyone caught pilfering is expelled that day.

I'm sure you wouldn't dare, Tamako.

Huh.

"Tamako" is you. Your name Okju in Japanese.

We live in the Japanese style here.

Speak Japanese to the Master and Lady.

- Call me Sasaki. - Yes, ma'am.

I don't trust new servants.

Even if they make a good impression,

if the house burns down, they'll run away with a manuscript.

The Lady's routine is simple.

Taking a walk, or reading for Master.

Among the richest men, Master is the greatest book lover.

And among book lovers, he is the richest.

His ties to the colonial government even let us use electricity.

In such a home,

you know what's expected of a maid like you?

Don't be alarmed at the blackouts.

I sleep in here?

Miss Hideko wakes easily on account of her nerves.

She's behind this door?

Shh!

Mother!

Ah!

Mother!

Mother!

Miss!

Miss, are you all right?

Junko! Is that you?

Junko was kicked out, Miss. I'm the new girl.

Seems you had a bad dream.

You see that big cherry tree?

My aunt went mad and hanged herself there.

Sometimes on moonless nights,

my aunt's ghost

dangles from that branch.

Here, drink up.

When babies cry, my auntie feeds them a spoonful of sake.

Sweet bird, sweet bird

My sweet bluebird

What scent is this that fills my nose?

- What? - Coming back from the toilet,

I saw a light going down the hallway.

That's it! They're meeting in her room.

Or else it's the ghost of the cherry tree?

Those fuckers.

This is Tamako.

I am at your service. Miss...

A reference letter from Lady Minami, my last mistress.

So is this place to your liking?

The sun scarcely ever shines here.

Uncle won't permit it.

Sunlight causes books to fade.

One could never grow fond of such a dreary place.

Not a good liar, are you?

We look a bit alike.

Are you also an orphan?

- Uh... - I'll take my leave.

Whereas in my case, my aunt and Mrs. Sasaki

showed me how the love of a mother...

isn't worth a thing.

My head aches before every reading practice.

Would you read it to me?

Pardon?

Oh, how kind of her.

Lady Minami said such nice things about me!

Is that so?

You're a Japanese lady, why don't you speak Japanese?

I'm sick of it.

The books he makes me read are all Japanese.

So read that for me.

"Dear Miss lzumi Hideko,

"Count Fujiwara said you're looking for a maid.

"Maids are like

"a spoon..." No...

"Are like chopsticks..."

Is it a spoon?

I don't know how to read, Miss.

Not at all? What about Korean?

This is your name.

Can't you read it?

Reading can be learned,

and I don't care if you curse or steal.

But don't ever lie to me. Understood?

Yes, Miss.

My mom.

She's beautiful, quite the charmer!

And me? Am I "quite the charmer"?

Everyone says I can't compare to my mother.

Count Fujiwara said...

So you've met the Count?

Pardon?

No, I never met him...

My aunt! I heard it from my aunt.

She was his nanny.

What did the Count say about me?

He said your face...

Every night in bed he thinks of your assets...

Your face.

Why in bed, I wonder?

What's with your foot?

I've nowhere to go.

I've just stayed in this house since coming to Korea at age five.

But in new shoes, even well-trodden paths feel fresh.

The ones from here

up to here should fit you.

Why not the prettiest ones? Like these?

Time for reading practice.

I'll go alone.

Miss? But rain is falling.

At noon, come knock on the door.

Promise?

See you at...

What's this?

My new handmaiden.

The snake, the snake!

You mustn't pass that point.

Be warned!

The snake marks the bounds of knowledge.

He has the habit of licking his plume when he thinks,

otherwise he's someone clean.

What kind of servant would hog the umbrella like you?

Pardon?

Miss!

Miss!

These books make me sink.

They bore me to death.

Do you read so many books?

You'll become a professor in no time then.

I'm sorry.

I won't do it again.

Pardon.

The Count?

Today?

That's why you insisted on a bath.

My aunt, when she heard a guest was coming,

dropped everything and bathed her baby, Miss.

Nothing made her happier than when guests praised her baby's scent.

You are my baby, Miss.

Auntie gave the babies candy during baths.

To teach them that bath time is sweet.

What's wrong?

One of my teeth is sharp. It keeps cutting me.

So this was the scent.

All smooth.

Welcome, sir!

You are too kind to greet me this way upon my arrival,

when the journey has left me so unkempt.

Now your tedium is over.

I'll ensure your painting lessons are stimulating.

This must be Okju.

At your service, milord.

You know if you fail, it'll put me in an awkward position?

A decent bone structure for a Korean...

So, are you carrying out your duties faithfully?

Thank you for your recommendation.

You chose a perfect servant for me.

You wouldn't want one who's too stupid. I did my best.

Take good care of our dear Lady.

Take this.

Count Fujiwara asks Miss Hideko to kindly allow her maid Tamako

to be sent to his Lordship for a brief errand.

- Did you call for me, milord? - You may enter.

Do you think you can fool me with this?

Who do you take me for?

You think I'm Tamako, a poor Korean handmaiden.

But my real name's Nam Sookee.

Raised by Miss Boksun, top purveyor of stolen goods.

I was able at age five to tell a real coin from a fake.

Then learned to forge stamps from Gugai,

and studied pickpocketing from Kutan,

but these babies will never learn such useful skills.

Abandoned as newborns,

we'll wash and feed them, then sell them to Japan.

Such meaningful work.

Instead of starving, they grow up gentlemen and ladies.

Kutan only breastfeeds her own kid. I wouldn't be so miserly.