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Father, the Daughter You Threw Away Is Queen

Ep. 1 · The Betrothed They Took

한국어
A dark prison corridor. Only the trailing hem of a ceremonial robe catches the torchlight — gold and white peony embroidery.
A hand lifting the hem. / Beyond the bars, the silhouette of a bound middle-aged man sitting. His face is in darkness. — Taesik: "You… really…"
A woman in ceremonial robes seen from behind. Her back is straight. Her face is not shown. — Yeonhwa: "Father."
White space. One small speech balloon in the middle. — Yeonhwa: "The daughter you threw away—"
A black band. — One month earlier
Title card · establishing shot — Ep. 1 · The Betrothed They Took
The Yun merchant house from outside. Tiled roofs, the main hall at the top of high stone steps, workers carrying bolts of silk across the morning yard. / A small room at first light. Beside the paper window, Yeonhwa sews a navy robe. — The great merchant house of the capital, the Yun. I am its eldest daughter. After Mother died, the sewing of this house became mine.
A navy ledger beside the sewing basket. / Sol-i opens the door carrying a tea tray. Yeonhwa looks up. — What Mother left was a paper of needles and one ledger. Sol-i: "My lady, were you up all night again?" Yeonhwa: "It's the robe he'll wear at the wedding. It's almost done."
Yeonhwa lifting the betrothal hairpin out of a small box. / (memory · faded color) Yeonhwa's hand pushing a string of silver coins across; Doyun with his eyes lowered. There is no paper in frame. — The hairpin he gave me the day we were betrothed. It was also the day I paid off his debt for him. It was years of wages, but I did not grudge it. He was to be mine.
A servant bowing outside the door (seen from behind). / Yeonhwa presses the hand holding the hairpin to her chest, hoping a little. — Servant: "Eldest lady, the master calls for you in the main hall." At last, he means to set the wedding day.
Yeonhwa crossing the yard toward the main hall at the top of the high stone steps, from behind (low angle). / Wedding chests stacked beside the steps — red wrapping cloths, bolts of silk. Servants carrying them. — Father was always up at the top of those steps. Wedding gifts…? Mine have not even been made yet.
A hand reaching the door ring of the main hall. Laughter leaking from inside. — a soft laugh
The door open. Inside the bright hall, Doyun and Chaeryeong sit close together, holding hands. In the doorway, Yeonhwa is only a shoulder in the dark foreground.
Doyun's face. A line prepared in advance; his eyes avoid Yeonhwa. / Yeonhwa's fist closing around the hairpin. — Doyun: "This is the woman I will marry."
Yeonhwa from the front. She does not cry. A dry voice. / Chaeryeong pressed against Doyun's arm. A sweet smile. — Yeonhwa: "Since when?" Chaeryeong: "He wanted me from the beginning."
Father's shadow on the closed paper door — a voice from outside. / Yeonhwa turns only her eyes toward the door. She understands. — Taesik (outside): "Chaeryeong's wedding goods are ready as well. Congratulate them." Father knew. The chests in the yard had been Chaeryeong's from the start.
Yeonhwa speaks without looking at the door. Her voice cracks on "congratulate." / (hands) Chaeryeong's hand reaching over Yeonhwa's fist — she takes the flowered head of the pin. — Yeonhwa: "You take my marriage, and I congratulate you?"
(hands) She snatches it in one motion. The fist is pulled along, then springs back empty. / Chaeryeong sets the pin above her ear and pats it. A satisfied smile. — snatch Chaeryeong: "You could just give it up, sister."
Yeonhwa looking down at her empty right hand. / Yeonhwa takes a step closer. Doyun turns his head away. — Give it up. In this house that word only ever came back to me. Yeonhwa: "Say it looking at me."
Yeonhwa near full figure, facing front. It is a question, but she does not lift the end — an interrogation. / Doyun's jaw tightening, still not letting go of Chaeryeong's hand. An excuse. — Yeonhwa: "Have you forgotten the debt I paid, and the promise too?" Doyun: "I must marry Chaeryeong to save my family."
Yeonhwa understands the arithmetic. Dry, almost amused. / Doyun with lowered eyes, a man tidying up something already finished. — Father's fortune follows Chaeryeong. There was never a share coming to me. Yeonhwa: "So in the end, property over people." Doyun: "Try to understand."
(hands) An empty palm slowly opening. — The place where the pin had been was empty. Strangely, my hand felt light.
A declaration. Yeonhwa with the light from the door behind her. — Yeonhwa: "Then today I will choose a husband too."
Chaeryeong's smile stops completely. The hand touching the pin goes still. / Yeonhwa's back as she opens the door and walks out. Light pours in.
The wall outside the Yun gate. Late afternoon sun. A ragged man sitting against the wall lifts his head toward the sound. / Inside his dusty collar, a small jade ring on a neck cord. — At that same hour, outside the Yun gate
The eyes of the man who has looked up. They are not a beggar's eyes. — I did not know then who the man under that wall was.
End card. — End of Ep. 1 / Next — Take the Man, Pay the Debt

End of Ep. 1 · The Betrothed They Took

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