The trial begins, and both sides put everything on the line to win. Our underdog team’s unexpected antics may buy them some time, but Wusang is a practiced hand when it comes to playing dirty. Our leads will have to stay on their toes in order to best Wusang and take down Babel whose real chairman is getting tired of their interference.
EPISODE 6
Inside the courthouse, Yeon-jin “accidentally” runs into the judge and spills water all over him. Attorney Han and Myung-hee are acquainted with the judge and chat with him before the trial. He good-naturedly complains about always cleaning up after Babel and assures them this trial won’t be a problem for them.
Everyone gathers in the courtroom – which is having a water leak problem – and from the gallery, Vincenzo watches Cha-young nervously gulp water. The tenants declare that they’ll refuse to rise for the judge out of principle … and stand immediately when he enters. Judge Heo slips spectacularly and lands flat on his back thanks to the plastic covering the floor because of the water leak.
After Judge Heo is helped to his seat, the trial begins. Myung-hee argues the fault lies with the plaintiffs for failing to follow safety protocol. Cha-young struggles to make her remarks and asks to take medication for her recent anxiety disorder. And then she collapses. Joon-woo hops up in concern while Myung-hee and Attorney Han scoff.
Of course, this is all part of Vincenzo’s strategy. But rather than postpone the trial, Judge Heo orders that they’ll resume after a doctor examines Cha-young. Since Plan A didn’t work, Cha-young hops up as Vincenzo advised her – startling Joon-woo who’d been crouching beside her – and they move to Plan B: a power outage facilitated by Young-woon.
The tenants protest that those in the gallery can’t hear properly if the mics aren’t working, and Cha-young asserts that they can’t proceed without a stenographer. Judge Heo orders the stenographer to get her laptop so the trial can recommence.
Vincenzo gives Cha-young a thumbs up, and they move onto Plan C: chaos. Cha-young starts her rebuttal, giving the signal. Cheol-wook opens his coat and releases HORNETS. Yes, he was hiding hornets in his coat. *Shudders*
Everyone hears the buzzing and starts panicking which only gets worse when Hee-soo loudly announces that they’re deadly hornets. Everyone clamors to get out (to a remix of “Flight of the Bumblebee”) but Myung-hee refuses to budge and stares in disbelief at Vincenzo’s smug face.
Vincenzo had gotten the idea when Cheol-wook brought them a hornet drink (don’t even want to know what that is) his father made. In a two-part plan, Cheol-wook and Yeon-jin had smuggled in the unconscious hornets, and then Yeon-jin had spilt honey water all over the judge earlier. Oh, no. Unfortunately, Cheol-wook got some honey water on his pants, so Judge Heo isn’t the only one stung.
When Judge Heo returns to his seat after the chaos, half of his face is swollen. He can barely open his mouth enough to announce the trial is adjourned for a week, and then he passes out. Cha-young gives a jaunty wave to Joon-woo and a glare to Attorney Han before sauntering out with Vincenzo.
Outside, Myung-hee chastises Cha-young for making a mockery of the law which Cha-young thinks is rich coming from her. Cha-young takes offense to Myung-hee’s accusation that she’s playing the justice warrior; Cha-young only wants to take down Babel and Wusang for being despicable.
Cha-young joins Vincenzo and Joo-sung, and they smile and wave to the exuberant tenants. Cha-young laughs about the hypocrisy of Myung-hee who she nicknames “Zumoogi,” a Zumba dancing imoogi (legendary serpent). Pfft. She wants to go for lunch, but Vincenzo claims he has somewhere to be.
Wusang can’t believe they were beaten by such ridiculous tactics when they’re the experts in playing dirty. Attorney Han takes his anger out on Joon-woo while Myung-hee opens a window and screams hers out.
After learning that Yoo-chan would visit Kyung-ja on the last Tuesday of the month, Vincenzo decides to go in his stead. She’s grateful he came, but he clarifies it’s only this once. She should rely on family or friends from now on.
Vincenzo asks if she has a husband or children. Kyung-ja raises her eyes to meet his as she says no. He wonders how she’s lived to have no one by her side. Kyung-ja says life is rough, but Vincenzo scoffs that’s just an excuse. She acknowledges her life has been full of excuses and apologizes. Vincenzo tells her to save her apology for the ones who most deserve it.
Kyung-ja stops him from leaving and asks if this the last time they’ll meet. Vincenzo says he’s leaving soon. “This isn’t my country.” She looks him in the eye and says goodbye. Her eyes fill with tears when he leaves.
Vincenzo smokes a cigarette and recalls meeting his adoptive parents for the first time. Named Joo-young then, he’d sobbed that he had to wait for his mom because she’d promised to come back for him. In the present, a tear falls down Vincenzo’s face.
Meanwhile, Chef Baek serves a couple of food bloggers who try to get a free meal in exchange for a good review. While he’s chopping onions and crying, Team Leader Ahn gets a call from Director Tae ordering him back to the office.
On his way back, Vincenzo sees Monk Jeokha dragging a massive wooden cross down the street and gets coopted into helping bring it to Geumga Church. Once they’re done, Vincenzo asks for advice about getting rid of the anger inside of him. Monk Jeokha tells him the only way to win is to fight the anger.
At Wusang, Myung-hee and Attorney Han listen in to the broadcast from the hidden microphone she placed in the plant she gifted to Jipuragi. So far, she’s only heard footsteps and music. This time, they’re greeted with loud zombie noises.
Vincenzo guessed the purpose of the plant from the start; it doesn’t require being watered much and is a favorite for wiretapping. So, he put the plant in Larry’s dance studio. Cha-young finds Vincenzo’s know-how suspicious, but he claims it’s “common sense.”
Cha-young is surprised when he mentions he’s looking at a place for the tenants. He intends to keep his promise and move them for free. She looks downcast at his comment about leaving soon, but before she can say anything, they’re interrupted by an eccentrically dressed Joo-sung who’s prepping for his second date. When Vincenzo excuses himself, Cha-young runs after him and suggests they grab drinks.
Director Tae is rightfully angry at Team Leader Ahn for his extracurricular spy activities, but after scolding him, he hands him two files: requests from both Babel and Wusang for a background check on Vincenzo. Team Leader Ahn promises to handle the requests personally.
Team Leader Ahn gets all emotional when Director Tae tells him to charge the company and stop using his own money for his investigation; he knows Team Leader Ahn is still paying off his mom’s hospital bills.
Elsewhere, Vincenzo and Cha-young have drinks, and Cha-young thanks him for visiting Kyung-ja on her dad’s behalf. She’s surprised when he says no one needs to visit her anymore and changes the subject. How is she going to get him Geumga Plaza?
Cha-young insists on knowing why he wants it so she can come up with a plan, so he draws up his chair beside her and leans close to whisper about the 1.5 tons of gold hidden underneath the building. Cha-young busts out laughing and says shameless lying is his drinking habit. She flounces off to pay the tab, leaving him fuming.
That night, Vincenzo takes the electric tester Young-woon procured for him and sneaks into Nanyak Temple when everyone is out. Team Leader Ahn does his spy squint and follows dramatically, leaping unnecessarily into hallways to avoid getting caught. He finds Vincenzo kneeling on the ground and crying from accidentally shocking himself with the device.
Team Leader Ahn, the sensitive soul, assumes he’s praying and crying in penance and must’ve come to Korea to make amends. Vincenzo is upset to find the explosive system in working order – had it been inactive, he could’ve dug the gold out rather than having to demolish the building.
The tenants celebrate their courtroom success with dinner at Chef Baek’s. Monk Chaeshin thanks them for helping Woo-young who will soon begin chemo. They’ve heard that Vincenzo is looking for a building for them, and they unanimously agree to accept his offer and move out.
Everyone is startled to find Gilbert, the homeless man who hangs out nearby, peeking in the window. He enters the restaurant and asks for food in exchange for important info that could change their lives.
That night, a conflicted Team Leader Ahn fills out his report. He’s obligated to supply accurate information, but Vincenzo’s penitent form makes him hesitate. He decides to hold off until further observation.
At Wusang, Joon-woo looks over a report detailing Vincenzo’s varied charity works – he’s even pictured with the Pope. Attorney Han and Myung-hee look over the same intel. Vincenzo is a supposed human rights lawyer and philanthropist who has gotten death threats for his legal protection of Mafia victims. Ha, is this the report Team Leader Ahn sent?
While the Wusang team heads to brief Chairman Jang, Cha-young and Vincenzo prep the plaintiffs for their testimony and questioning on the stand. Vincenzo estimates a 40% chance of winning. Their next steps are finding a doctor willing to testify for them and going after Babel’s witnesses.
At Babel, Joon-woo gives the briefing which begins with a Star Wars style opening crawl about “Babel’s secret:” the original chairman had two sons. Chairman Jang blinks nervously while Attorney Han and Myung-hee turn in shock.
The eldest was born to the chairman’s wife, but his second son was by his secretary. And who is that son? “It’s Chairman Jang!” Joon-woo announces to the tense room. He then begins describing the “perfect” eldest son, and a picture of him populates the screen as he announces he’s the true owner of Babel.
Proving unhinged behavior runs in the family, Joon-woo forces Chairman Jang to participate in his little victory song and dance. After his bizarre show, Joon-woo takes his seat at the head of the table. Attorney Han immediately begins sucking up while Myung-hee treads cautiously. Joon-woo heard that Myung-hee wanted the prosecution office, so he tells her to get him a list of the people he needs to buy off.
That aside, he expresses his disappointment in their performance at the trial. He’s done with letting Vincenzo yank them around and instructs Myung-hee to get rid of him if she can’t beat him. Before leaving, he condescendingly pinches Chairman Jang’s cheek and tells them to look after his little brother.
Myung-hee rage throws things around her office and calls someone to announce a change of plans. Next thing we know, the treasurer of the victims’ group gets knocked out, and a bunch of money is stashed in the ceiling tiles. At the hospital, the Babel doctor puts something in Woo-young’s IV drip.
The next morning, Daechan Daily’s report that the treasurer has been embezzling funds kicks off widespread coverage. Cha-young and Vincenzo rush to the police station where they learn the treasurer confessed. The victims swear they’re being framed and beg Cha-young to help.
With this scandal, there’s no way the victims can testify as witnesses. Their only hope is Woo-young. That might be a bust too since Joo-sung calls to tell them that Woo-young is being investigated because they found traces of illicit drugs in his system.
Joo-woo walks up and tells Cha-young they want her back at Wusang. When she turns it down flat, Joon-woo grabs her arm and wonders why this case matters so much. His seriousness is out of character, but he says he’s worried about her, especially because of the way she and Vincenzo are doing things.
Cha-young warns him not to cross the line, even if he’s worried. After she leaves, Joon-woo pulls Vincenzo aside. He accuses Vincenzo of digging Cha-young’s grave and says he’s smart enough to know when to give up. Vincenzo counters it’s not about knowing when to give up but knowing when your opponent is weak.
With all the witnesses out of play, Wusang has regained their confidence in the second trial. Judge Heo arrives in the courtroom and smiles in relief to see the bee expert he requested in attendance.
The Babel doctor testifies that the plaintiffs’ claims are all lies and puts the blame on the researchers’ own bad health. When it’s Cha-young’s turn, she surprises Wusang and Judge Heo by announcing a last-minute witness.
In walks Vincenzo, accompanied by a police officer who removes handcuffs from his wrists. He smiles at the gaping Wusang lawyers and takes his place at the front of the courtroom.
COMMENTS
If nothing else, the Jipuragi team is good at throwing everyone off their game. I’m not sure how exactly they’ll use Vincenzo as a witness, but it certainly took Wusang and Babel off guard. I appreciate the scrappiness because Vincenzo and Cha-young’s antics were so absurd that there was really no way for Wusang to counter. I mean, they released hornets in the courtroom. (As someone who is terrified of hornets and bees, that scene was painful.) There’s no way they can beat a powerful, maniacal conglomerate through traditional means, so a chaotic approach that doesn’t let their opponents prepare is probably the best option. Vincenzo is a great schemer and Cha-young is a shameless performer, which makes this all work.
I’d worried that Myung-hee was going to have Woo-young killed, but I’m glad they didn’t go that far. Now that they’re getting more desperate, I wouldn’t put anything past them. Joon-woo’s patience is obviously running thin, and he’s even having a hard time maintaining his sweet front with Cha-young. He revealed himself so easily to Myung-hee and Attorney Han, and we still don’t even know why he infiltrated Wusang and continues to play the intern. Given how much he enjoyed putting on that little show to announce himself, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s doing it just for kicks. Something is seriously wrong with that family. If both sons turned out like that, I can only imagine what their father must’ve been like.
Speaking of parents, that meeting between Vincenzo and Kyung-ja was tense. They left so much unsaid, but it does seem she knows who he is. I’m glad he visited her if only because his feelings surrounding being abandoned by her clearly haven’t been resolved. While I do pity her for being falsely accused and suffering so much, I don’t think it’s Vincenzo’s responsibility to save her, especially considering that she’s actively refusing to save herself. She could’ve filed for a retrial, but she’s chosen to live out her sentence and punish herself. I can understand Vincenzo’s conflicted feelings in watching the mother who abandoned him living such a pitiful life.
Between Vincenzo’s visit with his mother and his conversation with Monk Jeokha, he showed more vulnerability than we usually see from him. It sounds like he’s trying to leave Korea more to flee his past than anything else. Fighting for the tenants and the Babel victims alongside Cha-young could help him have the strength to face his own issues, if he’s willing. I’m surprised Vincenzo trusted Cha-young with the truth about the gold underneath Geumga Plaza. They even had the workers who made the room killed to keep it secret, and now he’s just telling his crush about it. I get that he needs her help to get the building back, but I would’ve expected him to come up with a reasonable lie instead. Of course, the truth is ridiculous enough that Cha-young thought he was lying, so it didn’t end up mattering. I imagine it will all come out before long anyway. With a tight-knit community like the tenants who are always in each others’ business, Vincenzo is going to have a time extracting the gold without anyone noticing.