Mom?
HAYAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
Why am I…
"In accordance with the ideology of 'Making the world better, '
we must respect and trust in one another."
"Father, when the son of Hwanin arrived long ago…"
Ms. Jung Da-eun.
Ms. Jung. Oh no, you're bleeding.
Ms. Jung, we need to stanch this. Alcohol swabs, please.
We'll put your IV back in.
It's okay.
Shall we go?
JUNG DA-EUN F/27 YEARS OLD
Ms. Jung Da-eun, how are you feeling?
Am I in the closed psychiatry unit?
Yes, you are.
There must have been a mix-up. What am I doing here?
Your guardian gave us her consent to have you admitted under protective admission.
A protective admission…
It means I won't be able to leave of my own free will.
I am leaving, so please process my discharge.
If the doctor decides that you need treatment and protection,
that would make it hard for you to leave.
Ms. Jung, it's time for you to have some tests.
We'll start by giving you an EEG test,
which will stimulate you visually to observe your brain's reaction,
and we'll check for organic changes in your brain with an MRI.
You'll also be given a psychological test.
All I wanted was to get out of this place quickly.
As for the how…
How was your relationship with your classmates?
…I know that better than anyone else.
What were your parents like?
My dad passed away when I was little.
Giving quick responses.
So, ever since, my mom raised me on her own.
She had to work, so I was with my grandma a lot.
It's not like she had a choice.
It was hard enough for her to be the breadwinner.
I don't know
if I can bring her these.
When is my mom coming?
She's coming for a visit tomorrow.
Really?
Really.
So don't you worry. Here.
I don't want to eat.
You should eat some. You'll need to take your meds, after all.
That's what I used to tell my patients.
Then, let's start out with your medication.
But…
it's all strange.
I'm afraid I can't leave until I see you take these.
I know. That's a nurse's job.
I'm sorry, but I'll have to check if you've taken your meds.
Well, let's see if you've taken it.
Very good.
Taking the meds would be
admitting I'm a patient with a mental illness.
ROOM 302 HAYAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
You've been assigned to a four-person room.
We'll be going over your belongings briefly at eight,
so we'd really appreciate your cooperation. Just a second.
Hello there. Hello.
She seems restless and overly expressive.
Typical symptoms of mania, it seems.
But what brought you here? What do you have?
Want me to guess?
Definitely mania.
Let's not get involved.
Depression, right?
Slit your wrist? Your boyfriend cheated on you?
What antidepressant are you on? Zoloft? Alpram? Lexapro?
How much longer do I have to stay in here?
DAILY DOSE OF SUNSHINE
MYUNGSHIN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Whoa, what is it?
That patient seems to be awake.
I am done sharing a room with that woman!
She doesn't sleep but stands there like a lamppost all night long.
God, I was too scared to even look in her direction, okay?
Just so you know,
Ms. Song Ae-sin isn't one to cause others harm.
She also stinks, you know.
For God's sake, it makes you wonder if she even washes her hair.
The least you nurses can do is take off that hat of hers!
Whatever! Just get me a different room!
I'm afraid that won't be possible. Hospital policy, ma'am.
If we put you in a new room, everyone else will ask for it too.
You know we can't run a hospital that way.
Please understand, ma'am.
Unbelievable.
Just wait till I get out.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I'm never coming back to this hospital.
What happened?
You know Ms. Song Ae-sin with schizophrenia?
Yes. What about her?
I mean, it's not like she's never been here before.
Last I checked, she wasn't doing this badly.
Apparently, she struggled to swallow the amisulpride pill due to its size.
So they found a fistful of those pills inside her bag.
That's why she's gotten so much worse. My goodness.
I'm sure it's rough for her guardians as well.
Managing meds for a family member with schizophrenia can't be easy
when you have a job.
If she took her meds and managed her symptoms,
she'd function a lot better.
Someone has to monitor and take care of her,
but that's the hardest part for the families of patients.
If it becomes a chronic condition, it gets so hard to manage.
I made your favorite, seasoned dried radishes.
The chili powder is nice and spicy, so it tastes great.
I made some braised eggs too.
I'll leave them with the nurse, so just ask for them whenever you eat.
Mom.
Why did you have me admitted to the closed unit?
What?
I'm being treated like a patient in here, just like everyone else.
They're monitoring if I'm eating, taking my pills, everything.
Why should I have to go through this?
I'm not even that sick.
Da-eun.
You are sick.
I'm…
just terrified
you might end up dead.
Dea…
I'm not going to end up dead, okay?
I didn't feel like eating and I had no energy,
so I stayed in bed for a while. That's what made me a bit depressed.
Right, so it can't hurt to fix those issues while you're in here.
What about the hospital?
My sick leave will be over soon.
I called the head nurse and extended your sick leave.
She said not to worry about a thing and just focus on treatments.
What? Mom…
Mom, did you tell her
that I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital?
Why did you do that? I'll be leaving soon anyway!
Mom, you're totally overreacting, you know that?
Da-eun.
This isn't easy for me either.
Mom, I can recover at home. Please?
Da-eun, just hang in there. Do as I say, okay?
Just…
get me out of here, please!
Excuse me, ma'am.
I'm going to go talk to the nurse for a bit.
- I'll be right back. - Mom.
Mom, please…
- Let me help you with that, ma'am. - Thank you.
What exactly should I do?
Don't try to do anything for now.
And stop giving her predictable advice.
If you demand someone pick up a spoon when they can't,
that would be violence, no?
Hey.
God, I'm at my daughter's house. Yup.
Goodness! Of course I'm coming.
Right, I get it.
Jesus, how does a girl not have so much as a 10,000-won bill?
She works at a university hospital, for God’s sake.
GIFT CERTIFICATE 50,000 WON
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON HWANG DAE-IL
AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN LEE SEON-JEONG'S FAMILY
Oh my, he's not your run-of-the-mill doctor, is he?
That brat. She's good for something after all.
Hello.
I'm Nurse Min Deul-re's mother.
Would you like me to call her over?
Oh, no.
Isn't there a doctor named Hwang Yeo-hwan who works here?
Hello, ma'am.
I'm Hwang Yeo-hwan.
And I'm Deul-re's mom.
I apologize for not having introduced myself properly before.
Well, my Deul-re's rather shy.
Oh, right.
Did you get to see Ms. Min?
"Ms. Min"?
Oh, right. That's how I address her.
Calling your girlfriend "Ms. This" and "Ms. That" must be pretty awkward.
Oh, she is your girlfriend, right?
Yes, she is, ma'am.
Oh, I was afraid Deul-re might never find herself a man,
given how much she takes after me. So naive and pathetic, that girl.
So imagine my surprise at her finding herself such a fine doctor.
You're so out of her league.
Excuse me?
Oh, you've been to our house, right?
Oh, sure.
Then you must have seen how she's living.
Gosh, I hadn't seen her for a while,
so this is the first time I've seen her living conditions.
What are your thoughts?
Of course I feel terrible about it.
Then, after the seminar…
If your girlfriend had ten million won, she could move somewhere nicer.
As her boyfriend, you can help her live somewhere nicer, can't you?
You're a doctor, making a lot of money.
- So… - Mom.
Oh my, Ms. Min.
- Come with me. - Why?
- I said come with me. - Why?
Ms. Min.
- You brat… - We'll talk later.
- See you again. - Yes, ma'am.
Ouch!
You're hurting me, you brat!
Why were you talking to Dr. Hwang?
Your boyfriend's a doctor. Why go on living like this?
Your fortunes are yours to make. No one'll hand them to you.
What did you say to him?
I felt bad about your living conditions,
so I asked him to chip in just a smidgen, ten million won.
Mom!
What?
Haven't you
done enough to make my life miserable?
You became a nurse, thanks to me, and now you have a doctor boyfriend.
So your mom has every right.
"Mom"?
You don't even deserve to be called a mom.
Do you know what you raised me to be?
I get anxious if someone tells me that they like me,
and I start wondering why anyone would like me…
and start doubting whether I deserve the affection.
Do you know why?
Because I've never been loved before.
That's why I don't know how to love someone either.
Why I starve for attention I don't know how to get.
Listen.
How is that my fault? It's all because you're a loser.
Was it so hard…
to care for me and love me?
Idiot. Why?
I'm your daughter. I'm your child.
Why did you look for my flaws instead of strengths?
For things I did poorly instead of well?
You could have adored me
even if I wasn't the perfect child you wanted.
Then give me some money.
I'll adore you all you want if you give me money.
You won't even need to remind me.
Don't meet Dr. Hwang ever again.
I'm breaking up with him.
God, that ungrateful brat.
I'm bored.
Nothing ever happens here.
The only thing I can do
is think.
CONSULTING ROOM
- Welcome. - Long time no see.
Wow.
Here.
Hey, it's your hands this time?
You used to pull on your sleeves before.
That's why they were always in tatters.
I was over it, but looks like I'm back at it.
What did Hwang Yeo-hwan say?
- Did he say it was OCD? - Yes.
Caused by what, exactly?
Well, who knows? I sure don't.
Is it because of that patient?
Who?
Ms. Jung Da-eun.
Well…
How is she?
We tested her, and she is being treated.
Seems to be struggling a bit though.
Please take good care of her.
What is she to you?
Don't pry about that stuff.
I have a pretty good idea, but just to make sure.
So I'll let my imagination run wild?
What are you talking about? It's not what you think.
I'm just visiting because I had a question, okay?
If I visited her, would it help with her recovery?
I'm sure most hospitals have a similar policy,
but for psychiatry in particular,
there's a good reason for allowing visits only from immediate family.
So, that's a no?
I wouldn't want it if I were a patient either.
It's hard to let others know about your pain and suffering
unless you're really close to them.
Besides, the people here
are more susceptible to trivialities.
You're right.
Right.
I shouldn't have come here. Thanks for the tea.
Whoa. Hey, now you're hurting my feelings.
So, you didn't miss me at all or anything?
Not even a bit?
- I'll buy you soju. - And snacks to go with it.
You and your snacks. Fine, I will.
What? What is it now?
Ji-an.
- Please take good care of her. - Okay.
She clearly means a lot to you,
so I'll do my best.
Thank you, Dr. Heo.
Ms. Jung. What can I help you with?
I need to speak to the doctor.
I was told that you asked to see me.
What is it that you wanted to say?
There is something I haven't mentioned to you.
What might that be?
I'm a nurse.
A psychiatric nurse at Myungshin Univ. Medical Center.
So I know my symptoms and treatments better than anyone else.
This protective admission is unnecessary.
I'd like you to talk to my mother again so I can be discharged.
I know you're a nurse, Ms. Jung.
It can happen to anyone,
but people in the medical profession
tend to have a particularly hard time with self-observation.
They knew I was a nurse all along, yet treated me like a patient.
To them, I look no different from the other patients.
This isn't allowed. I'll take this.
You've checked this bed, right?
No, I haven't checked that one yet.
I'll do it then.
Ms. Jung Da-eun.
What's this?
You're supposed to take your pills, not stash them away,
Ms. Yoon Ji-seon.
It's because they don't work on me.
Then you should tell your doctor and switch to something else.
I'm telling you, I don't need all those pills.
Why do you keep pushing pills on someone who doesn't need them?
Wow, that's nice.
Why don't we try some brighter colors?
- Brighter colors? - Yes.
Why aren't you drawing?
Do the therapy right, and you'll get discharged soon.
I don't think it's likely for you.
You skip your meals, spend all day in bed, and never do what you're asked.
You might not ever get out.
See that woman there?
She was a lawyer before coming here for depression.
I heard you were a nurse.
Being a big shot outside means nothing in here.
We're all just mental cases anyway.
I'm curious though.
What unit did you work in?
- Don't be upset. Please calm down. - Don't touch me.
- To help you relax... - Don't touch me!
Let's get you to the seclusion room.
Let go! Let me go!
- Please hold her. - I said let go. Let go!
You'll hurt yourself, Ms. Jung.
I wanted to
thank you for that day.
If it hadn't been for you, I would've been so lost.
Not at all.
Are you
fond of Da-eun?
Yes, I am.
Quite a lot.
Thank you for being fond of her.
No, I should be the one thanking you.
You can tell me if you'd like to visit her.
No, it's fine.
But why not?
I don't think seeing me will help with her recovery very much.
I'd like to give Ms. Jung all the time she needs to heal.
I guess Da-eun did okay with her life.
She's managed to surround herself with many good people.
Only because she's a good person herself.
You're right.
My daughter truly is a good kid.
She's been a caring, helping person ever since she was little.
She's always been a warm, kind,
tenderhearted, and selfless child.
After her father passed away, leaving behind nothing but a house,
I held that little one in my arms and didn't know where to begin.
But she was a good daughter who never gave her mom any trouble.
She had such a smooth upbringing with no issues up until now…
She really did.
I wonder what kind of old wounds were festering in her gentle heart…
and what could have caused her…
to come down with such an illness.
It's because
she's just too good of a nurse.
She is?
She focuses on others more than on herself
and grieves for others' pain more than her own.
Whatever hardships she faces, she lets out the good and swallows the bad.
And when events she can't fathom transpire,
she ends up blaming herself.
That's how she finds the answer.
Going forward,
I just don't know how I'm going to help her heal.
Don't try to do anything in particular.
Well, just agree with whatever she says.
You know what Ms. Jung usually says.
"Whoa."
"No way!" "Seriously?" Words like that should do.
- "Whoa." "No way!" - That's right.
A doctor friend of mine told me
that the most important thing is support from family.
Refrain from criticizing her,
give her all the time she needs, cheer her on, and have faith in her.
Of course.
No mother would give up on her daughter.
I heard you got worked up during therapy.
I made a mistake.
Any idea what might have caused it?
I'm just so irritated with everything,
and I can't stand other people talking to me.
What might have caused those feelings?
I'm not like the others here.
Why do you think that?
I'm a psychiatric nurse.
Although I am a little depressed,
I don't think it's so bad that I should be in here.
But spending some time away from the outside world
could help a lot with your treatment.
From what I can see, you don't look too well,
and I'm sure you felt helpless before you came to the hospital.
I'll admit I did feel that way at one point,
but I'm certain that everyone has the wrong idea about me.
- Is that what you think? - Yes.
It's not that serious,
but I think everyone's thinking too much of it.
What do you mean by "too much of it"?
They think I might end up dead.
What makes you think they think that way about you?
Because I had an accident on the day I came here.
Do you remember what happened?
Of course I do.
That day, at the crosswalk…
Da-eun!
I didn't dodge the incoming traffic.
So, apparently, my mom got scared.
But that happened in just a split second.
I never had any intention of killing myself.
So that's how you view those events.
CHARGED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC
It's a bit different from what I heard.
What do you mean?
Your mother told a different story on the day she accompanied you here.
I'm sure my mom exaggerated the whole thing.
I guess you really don't remember.
Try to remember again.
Try to recall how you ended up coming here.
What do you mean, how I ended up coming here? I just…
Da-eun.
Da-eun, snap out of it, please.
Da-eun! What's going on with you?
Da-eun!
Shit, are you trying to get yourself killed?
I'm sorry, sir.
Let go! Let me go.
- Let go. - Ms. Jung.
Let go! Let me go!
Ms. Jung!
- Let go! - Snap out of it!
Let go!
Ms. Jung,
you came into our ER in an ambulance.
You were sedated right away.
And with your guardian's consent, you were admitted for protection.
Da-eun.
You are sick.
I'm…
just terrified
that you might end up dead.
Do you remember now?
Since you're a psychiatric nurse,
you'd know that suicide attempts
and suicidal ideation are serious symptoms.
How are you feeling now?
I don't know.
I'm just so confused.
When patients with depression
experience a sudden increase in suicidal impulses,
they occasionally end up storing distorted memories
or not remembering them at all.
Recovering all of your memories is a good sign.
We could say you've taken a step towards recovery.
Here you go.
Thank you, ma'am.
Hello.
Don't mention it.
We're just glad that he's made such great progress.
It's all thanks to you and all the nurses.
Oh, not at all.
I'm a patient with depression who attempted suicide.
That's why I'm here
at the psychiatric hospital…
just like the many patients that I've crossed paths with.
WORDS THAT HELP ME LIVE
You're unwell, Ms. Jung.
Your voice, your expression, your eyes, everything about you has changed.
Don't you see?
So…
let's go see a doctor.
Put off taking care of others and take care of yourself now.
I am
sick.
I thought I was different from them.
Although we wore the same clothes,
slept in the same space…
and ate the same food,
I…
Believed that I was the only one who wasn't sick here.
Being a big shot outside means nothing in here.
We're all just mental cases anyway.
What do you want?
I'd like to apologize.
I must have given you a good fright last time.
I'm sorry.
What a surprise, you struck up a conversation.
Not too high and mighty to talk to me?
Always that same expression. I wish I could show you a mirror.
A mirror? What for?
You look the most depressed of all of us.
You're right.
I look the most terrible here.
Strangely,
it's easier to point out flaws in others than in ourselves.
So we're blind to our own flaws.
That's what the doctors and nurses are for. To see flaws for us.
If your physician says you're sick, your insides are in pain.
If your ENT doctor says you're sick, your ears, nose, or mouth are in pain.
And if your psychiatrist says you're sick, your mind is in pain.
You're right.
I didn't know such a simple concept.
MYUNGSHIN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Hello?
It's me, Deul-re's mother.
Oh, hello, ma'am.
I'm at the hospital right now. Can we meet for a minute?
- Right now, ma'am? - Yes.
And don't tell Deul-re.
Okay, ma'am.
Given the patient's history, let's keep an eye out for a few days.
Oh, okay.
Hi.
Deul-re doesn't know, does she?
I didn't tell her.
Well, what brings you here?
The money I asked for last time, can I get an update?
I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.
But you did. What do you mean by "pretend"?
You're just saying you won't do it.
Yes, that's right.
You know something?
My Deul-re
has been so fond of me ever since she was a kid.
Boy, was she an obedient daughter!
She never did anything I disapproved of
or went out with people I advised her not to.
Should I tell her about this?
Pardon my manners, but let me say one thing.
Okay, what is it?
I've…
always wondered.
Well,
when Ms. Min first turned me down…
she said dating her would be like landing in a pile of crap.
I didn't quite understand
why someone as amazing as her would say something like that.
But now that I've met you, ma'am, I think I finally get it.
What did you say?
Goodbye, ma'am.
I'm afraid I won't be seeing you off.
I'm sorry you had to go through that with such a horrible person.
I'm just…
so ashamed, Dr. Hwang.
- Ms. Min. - Dr. Hwang.
Let's stop seeing each other.
Say that again.
Let's end things here.
I didn't like you all that much,
nor did I want this to last anyway.
This relationship's starting to bore me…
so let's just consider it a fling.
But why won't you look at me?
Why do you keep avoiding me?
Why do you keep saying things you don't mean?
Then what do you expect me to do?
My mom, she's not the kind of person to give up just like that.
If you keep dating me, you'll have to keep seeing my mom.
I don't want…
you to be there with me to take care of my mom.
I have
no intention of taking care of your mother with you,
nor do I have any intention of breaking up with you.
Thanks to you…
I've learned what it's like to dream.
But I need to wake up now.
Someone like me…
was never meant to have a dream.
So…
- Let's not make this worse and break up. - No.
Your mom is your illness.
What kind of parent treats her child like that?
She is my mother…
so let's break up.
Ms. Min.
Abandon your mother.
You
deserve so much better, Ms. Min.
So I'm… going to make sure you see that.
Every single day,
I'm going to stand by you and remind you how special you are.
He was the first one
to ever tell me to abandon my mom.
I'll remind you
what an amazing person you are.
I'll help you see these things.
You're finally eating.
Da-eun, try some of the mushrooms.
They're wild mushrooms, so they smell amazing.
They're hard to get, but I found them at the supermarket.
Seasonal food is said to be good for your health.
Mom, I…
Yes, what is it? Do you need something?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I tried to kill myself.
I had no idea I was in that much pain.
It's okay.
You survived, after all.
Just promise me
that you'll keep on living.
I'll get better soon.
You do that.
This show I Have Two Husbands topped the ratings for this week.
The kid opens his eyes and goes, "Dad" to his birth father, right?
Man, I got a lump in my throat.
But then, here is a twist.
The kid's bone marrow doesn't match his birth dad's. It matches his stepdad's!
Insane, right?
Let's watch it together once you get out.
What is it?
I'm just grateful.
For what?
I know why you keep bringing up TV shows when you don't even like them.
Is that show really fun?
- You're always watching it. - Oh…
Well…
I want to tell Da-eun about it.
Tell Da-eun about it?
She might want to keep living
just to find out what happens next.
I read this interview with a screenplay writer,
who said they wanted to come up with a plot that's so compelling
that it makes people not jump off a bridge
and go home to watch the newest episode.
And I thought to myself, "Wow, I can totally see that happening."
You might think, "Did I hang my underwear up to dry?"
Or, "Did I hide my diary?"
Trivial things like that may very well stop someone
from taking their own life.
I want that to happen to Da-eun too.
I want her to keep living one day at a time,
even out of curiosity about what happens in the next episode.
It must've been hard forcing yourself to watch a show you don't even like.
It was fun once I got down to it.
Thank you so much.
Oh, you can stop thanking me.
I just feel terrible.
Listen, Da-eun.
I'm really sorry.
I didn't know any better back then.
I acted like a jerk when you were suffering.
I told you to go outside when you had no strength to go out
and said I didn't care if you died when you were having suicidal thoughts.
Thanks for saying that.
Also, thanks for getting me out of my room
and always being there for me.
Thank you so much, Song Yu-chan.
I'll be there for the rest of your life, even until you get sick and tired of me.
So, what happened next?
With what?
You said the kid's bone marrow matches the stepdad's.
Oh, right. That!
About that, the stepdad had rigged the test results.
- What the heck? - Insane, right?
- Ms. Jung Da-eun. - Yes.
Ma'am, this is my regular pill, right?
That's right.
I actually have some anxiety too.
Could I also get a prescription for Xanax?
I'll talk to your doctor to get it prescribed for you.
Great.
Very well.
And, well…
Yes, go ahead.
I'm…
What is it?
I am a bit constipated.
Could I get a digital disimpaction?
It must be the antidepressants, but I'm constipated.
Oh, constipation?
Sure.
Thank you.
Here, this way.
There, there. It's okay, Ms. Song Ae-sin.
Ms. Song.
Remember I told you that you needed to have an EEG done after lunch?
I'm afraid we can't delay this test any longer.
So we need you to take off your hat for us to proceed with the test.
This won't take long.
Let us just help you remove your hat.
Okay, Ms. Song.
I'll hold you for a moment now.
It's okay, ma'am.
It will be over very soon, so if you would just...
Don't! Stop, no. Don't!
- Please calm down. - What is it?
- Stop! - What is it?
What's going on here?
We were trying to take her hat off for the EEG, and…
- Did we startle you? Are you okay? - We should sedate her.
That's enough!
Song Ae-sin.
ALL PEOPLE, GROUPS, LOCATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS,
AND EVENTS IN THE SHOW HAVE NO RELATION TO REAL LIFE