Climax (클라이맥스)

My role ends here.

I knew.

I was born a supporting character, destined to live a pre-written life,

and I could never escape the net cast by the powerful.

And in that nightmare,

my insignificant dream

would never come true.

- Stay with me. - But in that nightmare,

Stay with me!

If my exit could serve as even a tiny spark,

- from this worthless fate, - Please, stay with me!

That in itself would have been a worthy life.

No...

No...

No!

Please...

Sang Ah. Are you all right?

Working with her was both exciting and an honour.

She was also such an inspiration to me on set.

I have a question for Ms. Chu Sang Ah.

During filming, a clip from the movie

was mistaken for a leaked,

real-life hidden camera video. How did you feel when that happened?

It was tough.

But I took comfort in knowing my acting was so convincing.

And thanks to that, the movie got some free publicity.

The company even offered a bonus to whoever came up with the idea,

but I guess they got scared and never came forward.

All right, thank you for your answer.

May I ask one more follow-up question?

Yes, it seems we have a follow-up. Please, go ahead.

Thank you. One more question.

The love scene between the two women was absolutely breathtaking.

You did a great job. I enjoyed the movie.

And congratulations on making it to the film festival.

Thanks. It's all thanks to you.

And I saw in the news you got cast in your next project.

That's great.

You seem to be doing well yourself.

I'm now on the secretarial staff for Son Guk Won's campaign.

The election is almost here, so it's about to get even busier.

I see. I'll be rooting for you.

Sang Ah. We have to head out now.

Thanks for coming today.

Take care.

Sang Ah.

I have something...

I need to talk to you about.

Here are your Monday morning news headlines.

Race between Son Guk Won of the Leap Forward Party,

and Gu Hong Seo of the Creation Party

continues to heat up, but recent polls

show that Candidate Son is currently leading in approval ratings.

(The 22nd Presidential Election Candidate Debate)

Get the props ready. And put your phones on silent.

Sir, I urge you to reconsider.

People are too rational and cynical these days.

Do you really think they'll buy a sob story about an old watch?

Besides, the Creation Party won't have any proof.

We can just dismiss their attacks as a smear campaign.

Sir, just a moment.

That may get us through the moment, but it won't win us this election.

To win the election, we need a story that moves people,

and on a day like today, knowing Creation Party will attack,

if we release it at just the right moment,

your innocence and patriotism will shine that much brighter.

Right.

You'd know better than anyone what they'll use to attack us.

After all, you're the one who used to do it.

Sir.

Today will be the catalyst that ensures our momentum.

I may not trust your heart,

but I do trust that brain of yours.

Thank you, sir.

I'll give you the signal.

(The 22nd Presidential Election Candidate Debate)

Of all the presidential candidates, you have the least integrity, Son.

From the Daeyang Fund slush fund

to corporate bribes and other abuses of power.

That's just what's been uncovered. Who knows what else we might find?

Can a man like this be trusted to lead the Republic of Korea?

What about the recording from the last general election?

Wasn't that proven to have been fabricated?

Why do you insist on spreading these baseless, false accusations?

Are you going to keep denying it?

The evidence we have is enough to have you arrested.

I am sure you are lying right now, Candidate Son.

If I am wrong, I will withdraw my candidacy,

and I will give up everything I have.

So, Candidate Son, what are you willing to stake?

This watch

belonged to my grandfather, an independence fighter in the '30s.

It has been a treasured family heirloom ever since.

Do you see this bloodstain here?

If I am indeed

the symbol of corruption he claims,

a politician who would reverse the nation's progress,

then I will withdraw my candidacy for president right now.

- But... - But I...

- Every day, I look at this watch. - Every day,

- I look at this watch. - Our Republic of Korea...

- Our Republic of Korea... - I won't forget

it was founded on our ancestors' blood and sweat.

I won't forget it was founded on our ancestors' blood and sweat.

For my country, - For my country...

I have dedicated my life to serving this country.

And yet,

with these baseless smears,

if you want to slander and defame me, then go right ahead.

Because I trust the nation's people to judge what is true.

So, in that spirit, I will stake

this candidacy,

everything I own,

and

my family's 100-year legacy of patriotism.

I'll stake it all.

So, Candidate Gu. Are you ready to withdraw?

All right, hold on. Hold on.

Candidate Gu, you have used up all of your allotted time.

Now we begin Candidate Son's turn to lead the discussion.

("Presidential Debate: Son All Smiles, Gu in Tears")

(TV debate heats up over allegation barrage.)

That was so gratifying to watch.

- Congratulations. - Congratulations, sir.

Drink up.

Sir, when you mentioned the watch, viewership went over 40 percent.

You changed the narrative, burying the integrity controversy.

It was an old-school strategy, but classics always work, right?

You're a natural-born strategist and showman.

Director Lee, the debate was great. Why the long face?

If we start talking too soon about revising the insurance law,

we're just giving Gu Hong Seo's side more ammo.

Did you see the finance rumour yesterday that if I'm elected,

I'll be giving a controlling stake in WR Life to you?

You don't think the Creation Party planted that story?

Now, you listen to me, Candidate Son.

Hey! Do it right!

Candidate Son.

I'm the one who put on your arm our and got you this far.

You must've forgotten everything I had to do.

And as for steering you through the rest of this race,

it's also entirely in my hands. I hope you haven't forgotten that.

Because if I even turn the wheel,

it'll only be a matter of time before you go flying off a cliff.

Chairman Kwon

is on his last legs,

so stop wasting time.

As soon as you're inaugurated, you're to amend the inheritance law.

Figure out a new plan and come back to me.

Does she really think I'm her puppet?

Want a drink?

So

what was it

you wanted to talk about?

I'm going to get Candidate Son

to drop Lee Yang Mi.

As Lee Yang Mi's true colours show, a rift is forming between them.

Candidate Son will realise that even if he wins,

he'll just end up being Lee Yang Mi's puppet.

So I'm going to play on his fears,

and at the right time, I'll create a safety net

to replace Lee Yang Mi's funding.

But you're basically in both of their inner circles.

What are you trying to gain by taking that risk?

If I keep going like this, Lee Yang Mi will devour me again.

I can't let her ruin the moment I've worked for my entire life.

And you

can't let them walk all over you anymore either.

And I

want to win you back.

After everything that happened,

I thought I would never see you again.

But this year apart, I realised how much I'd become like you.

Even when I was hitting walls and falling apart,

I was able to endure it

because I knew you were looking toward the same goal.

I guess you're right.

I guess we really are a lot alike.

While I was sleeping and waking up alone in this house,

I was thinking the very same thing.

I was looking for it too.

A way to crush Lee Yang Mi.

There's someone I need to meet first.

I'll meet Assemblyman Choi of the Creation Party

with an offer he can't refuse.

The Leap Forward Party's strategist, who never took my calls.

To what do I owe the honour?

As I mentioned,

this has part of the testimony from a key Daeyang Fund figure.

This is the original document.

Not even Candidate Son knows this testimony exists,

so he'll have no grounds to refute it.

The fallout from this will be huge.

Had you released this last election, the outcome would've been different.

Why sit on it until now?

I was saving it for a rainy day. I'm in this for the long haul.

After all, that General Election wasn't the endgame.

You've got some nerve.

In any case, the file is password-protected.

Once we agree on a release date, I'll give you the password.