Forbidden Dream (천문: 하늘에 묻는다)

THIS FILM WAS INSPIRED BY HISTORIC EVENTS

CHOI MIN-SIK

HAN SEOK-KYU

Jang Yeong-sil supervised the making of the king's palanquin

As it was weak and was destroyed from use, he was questioned by the court

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Please order us to death!

Please order us to death!

Please order us to death!

Please order us to death!

Please order us to death!

FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT

All bow!

Four times!

Kneel!

Bow!

Rise!

Bow!

Read our Emperor's royal letter at once!

"Listen, King of Joseon!

Though I've given several warnings,

you've recently abolished Ming's almanac

and tried to set your own time with your self-made instruments.

How dare you neglect my orders and betray my command?

This is my last show of mercy.

If you wish to live,

stop your astronomical research at once

and destroy the instruments!

It is your duty as a tributary state!

Also,

the one who stole Ming's capabilities and made the instruments

must be sent to me at once!"

I shall give you three days!

Bring me the one who made the astronomical instruments.

Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty! -Father!

Call the royal physician!

Your Majesty!

Ming has never been so resolute.

Jang Yeong-sil must be captured at once.

Even if the instruments are destroyed,

we mustn't send Daehogun to Ming.

Daehogun is needed here.

Please!

If Yeong-sil remains in Joseon,

he can always make the astronomical instruments again.

Of course Ming would know that.

I agree.

If we surrender him to Ming, everything will be resolved.

It is not that simple.

Daehogun is a cherished subject.

His Majesty's regard for him has changed.

His Majesty has demoted him to the Maintenance Bureau.

His Majesty only did that because of the ministers following Ming's orders!

If not, our country would've been in danger!

Please do not shield Yeong-sil for personal reasons, General.

Mind what you say!

Let's capture Yeong-sil, then petition His Majesty later.

Impossible!

Sir?

Yeongsang!

Let us wait.

His Majesty will not allow our country to be in danger.

Enough.

Your Majesty.

Some ministers must be secretly communicating with Ming, sire.

-Whose subjects are they? -Hyang!

Yeong-sil...

Where is he now?

OFFICE FOR PALACE FACILITY REPAIRS

I won again.

-How about another game? -No.

I can't believe how big this is.

How will we get the wheels on?

It's all because of him.

Why blame Daehogun?

His Majesty ordered it to be made with wheels to relieve the carriers.

Still, Daehogun didn't have to build a house on it.

I could live inside it.

He's trying so hard to win back His Majesty's favor.

Mind what you say!

He'd be well above you should His Majesty call again.

Take his side if you wish, but he's been here for over a year.

I doubt His Majesty will call him again.

He went from a slave to Daehogun. What more could he want?

Anyhow, our workload has increased ever since he's been here.

-Gosh, look at all the clouds. -Sirs!

Is Sir Daehogun here?

-We haven't seen him. -Why? What is the matter?

There is chaos at the Astronomical Bureau!

All the astronomical instruments are being taken away!

-Sir! -Heavens!

Put them down!

ASTRONOMICAL BUREAU

You fools! Stop!

Stop! No!

What are you doing? Stop!

-Sir! -Stop!

How dare you touch them!

They're His Majesty's prized instruments!

Who commanded you to do this?

It's by royal command!

What?

The Ming envoy and the ministers are at the platform, sire.

It's time to proceed, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Stop!

Unless His Majesty calls, you are ordered not to set foot here!

General.

Upon false royal command,

His Majesty's instruments are being stolen, sir!

You mustn't be here now!

Run from the palace and hide at once!

I must meet His Majesty today!

Why, you! Leave immediately!

-Your Majesty! -Yeong-sil!

His Majesty commands Daehogun to enter!

Your Majesty!

It's Yeong-sil, sire!

Why the commotion?

Your Majesty!

Someone falsely ordered the astronomical instruments to be--

I gave the command...

for all of them to be burned.

I ordered it.

Your Majesty.

There is much left for you to do, sire.

I've realized everything I wanted to.

You've done enough, so rest in your old age.

My hands do not know how to rest, sire.

Then learn to rest.

Your Majesty.

Is it true an envoy from Ming has come to capture me?

Am I a thief, sire?

Were the astronomical instruments I made stolen from Ming?

How dare you!

Have I sinned in making what you dreamed of, Your Majesty?

Yes, that is your sin.

-Proceed. -Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

If it is your wish, then I'll take the blame.

But, please, sire...

Please don't stop the astronomical research, Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty! -Escort His Majesty.

Your Majesty!

It must not be stopped!

Your Majesty!

Please reconsider!

Please, sire!

Your Majesty!

If you were going to abandon me like this,

why did you tell me to look at the sky?

Please!

Your Majesty!

Please...

TWENTY YEARS EARLIER KING SEJONG'S FOURTH YEAR OF REIGN

Be careful!

His Majesty will call for them soon! Hurry!

Hurry along!

I warned you to be especially careful with this book!

With all the rain and snow on the long journey,

how could it stay intact?

How about telling His Majesty that we couldn't get the book?

Why, you!

I already informed him.

We must restore it somehow.

His Majesty has arrived!

Soaked by rain and snow, they were redrawn.

My apologies, Your Majesty.

-It must be a clock. -A water clock, sire.

How does it work?

Water falls and moves the pendulum to make a sound, sire.

It makes a sound?

Why are all these instruments on an elephant's back?

The elephant, sire?

Yes.

Well... the water bucket is heavy, sire.

It's easy for elephants to pour water, but their nose is long, sire.

And the water can't be shaken, so it is on the back...

Whatever do you mean?

Who drew this picture?

Was it you?

Your Majesty.

A man named Jang Yeong-sil drew this, sire.

Jang Yeong-sil?

I do not recall the name.

Who is Jang Yeong-sil?

Who is he?

Your Majesty.

He is a talented slave I brought from Dongrae.

A slave?

Yes, sire.

Who is Jang Yeong-sil?

Jang Yeong-sil! Step forward.

Can you explain this picture?