The Handmaiden (아가씨)

You little brats, get lost!

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 designed by an English architect...

...and a Japanese wing form the main house.

Not even in Japan is there a building combining the 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 and oil are for the steward.

Anyone caught stealing is expelled that day.

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

"Tamako" is you, by the way. It's your name Okju in Japanese.

Everything in this household is Japanese style.

Use only Japanese to Master and the Lady.

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

I don't trust new handmaidens.

Even though they greet you politely,

they are always the first to take scrolls and run away when there's a fire.

The Lady's routine is simple. She takes walks or reads 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 should 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? - Sh!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Miss!

Miss, are you alright?

Junko! Is that you?

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

You must have 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?

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 alike.

Don't you think?

I'll take my leave.

My late aunt

and Mrs. Sasaki

tried very hard to teach me of a mother's love.

But not really.

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 Izumi 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.

She's my mother.

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've 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 when I was 5.

But in new shoes, even paths I always take seem different.

The ones from here

up to here should fit you.

Why don't you pick something prettier? Like this one.

It's time for reading practice.

- I'll go alone. - Miss?

But it's raining.

At noon, come knock on the door. Okay?

See you at--

This is...

My new handmaiden.

The snake, the snake!

You mustn't pass that point.

Be warned!

The snake marks the "bounds of knowledge".

He has a habit of licking the pen when he's thinking hard.

He's not a dirty person.

What kind of a handmaiden uses the umbrella for herself?

Pardon?

Miss.

Miss!

Miss.

I don't have an upset stomach. It's okay.

It's because the books are so boring.

You must read a ton of books.

You must be so knowledgeable.

I'm sorry about the prank.

I won't do it again.

Forgive me.

The Count?

Today?

No wonder you insisted on a bath.

When my aunt heard a guest was coming,

she dropped everything and bathed her Baby Miss.

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

You are my Baby Miss.

Auntie gives babies candy during baths

to teach them how sweet bath time is.

What's wrong?

One of my teeth must be sharp. It keeps cutting me.

So this was the scent.

It's smooth now.

Welcome, sir!

You are too kind to greet me like this 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 introducing her.

You found the perfect maid for me.

It was tough looking for one that wasn't chubby.

Take care of the lonely lady.

Here.

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.

You tried to fool me with a fake coin.

How dare you?

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

But my real name is Nam Sookee.

Raised by Miss Boksun, top purveyor of stolen goods.

I was able to tell a real coin from a fake when I was 5.

Then learned to forge stamps from Gugai,

and 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.

What meaningful work.

Instead of starving, they grow up to be rich gentlemen and ladies.

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

I wish my breasts gave milk. I'd breastfeed all of them.

Count!

I'll tell you the story of an interpreter,

who bribed his way into translating for high officials.

After helping Japan annex Korea, he got rights to a gold mine.

Now he wants to turn fully Japanese.

So he gets naturalized,

marries the daughter of a fallen Japanese noble,