D-Day: Episode 7

by dramallama

Our disaster response team begins to come together thanks to the crafty work of our politician, who taps into different sources of motivation. For Director Park, it’s his success and his hospital’s stability. For the rest, it’s the lives of injured civilians. Hye-sung’s guilt over his lost patients continues to haunt him, as does Chief Kang’s guilt over losing her son. It’s a living nightmare — one that they can’t escape in their dreams or reality. But we’re also given a nice break from individual post-disaster grief with some lighter moments in this episode, as we begin to explore some love-hate pheromones in the air.

 
EPISODE 7 RECAP

Echoing voices of the Han River Mirae Hospital patients haunt Hye-sung as he rides by a crumbled building. Guilt filling his eyes, he dismounts his motorcycle, takes off the blood transport cooler, and starts digging through the cement.

Then from behind, a masked man hits him with a wooden plank and tries to steal the motorcycle. Hye-sung gets back up to fight the man, but he gets hit right on his chest injury. He squirms in pain, and crawls over to the cooler to save it from getting stolen. The man looks at him curiously and rides away.

Hye-sung lies flat on his back with the cooler next to him. Looking up at the stars, he reaches into his pocket and takes out the whistle, given to him by the little girl. He blows the whistle as he sees shooting stars pass through the night sky, but he’s met with silence.

Then from afar, the sound of a motorcycle approaches. It’s the man who stole Hye-sung’s bike. He recognized the sound of the whistle and asks where Hye-sung got it.

At Mirae Hospital, Director Park checks on Minister Suk’s improving condition and tells Woo-jin that Hye-sung need not return to the hospital. Woo-jin looks at him accusingly, and Director Park clarifies that he doesn’t wish any harm on Hye-sung, who’s traveling the dangerous night roads to retrieve blood. He just doesn’t think he’ll be needed, since he presumes their hospital will be forced to close soon.

He reminds Woo-jin of his obligation to take care of this patient and advises that he take extra precautions to ensure the Minister’s stability.

Dae-gil lays in a bed by Min-chul, providing his blood in the blood transfusion. But Ddol-mi doesn’t see any significant improvement in Min-chul’s vitals and regrets not stealing some of the blood when she could. Her complaining gets on Dae-gil’s nerves, and he tells her to be noisy elsewhere.

Ddol-mi doesn’t lose an opportunity to set Dae-gil in line and goes straight for the neck. Taking advantage of his vulnerable state, she pins him down and tells him about the legendary Jung Ddol-mi from Busan. She reminds him to treat her like a sunbae and walks out.

Nurse friend is amused by Ddol-mi’s gruff behavior, but Dae-gil clearly disapproves of her rough attitude towards him. So-yul gives her psychiatrist input that it seems like Ddol-mi is just trying to be friendly. She’s in an unfamiliar hospital with unfamiliar people, so it makes sense that she’s expressing her discomfort by being unruly towards him.

So-yul then compliments Dae-gil for being a true friend and offering his blood for the transfusion. She calls him good guy, and that builds his ego back up.

Outside, Ddol-mi paces back and forth looking for any sign of Hye-sung’s return. She’s joined by So-yul, who tells her that Dae-gil has a soft side — he’s not all that bad. Ddol-mi nods in agreement and explains that the orthopedic department has a lot of rough guys, so she’s just a reflection of that. They worry about Hye-sung’s whereabouts, but also bond about his crazy recklessness. Ddol-mi jokingly wonders if he’s actually a little crazy mentally.

Then they hear the sound of a motorcycle approaching. It’s Hye-sung, sweating and unconscious, strapped to the man. Ddol-mi desperately yells for a stretcher and tries to wake Hye-sung. As they wheel him into the ER, Ji-na is stopped by the motorcycle man, who asks about his daughter, Na-ri. Ji-na tells him that she’s safe, and he breathes a sigh of relief.

When Sister takes the blood cooler to Min-chul, she tells Chief Kang about Hye-sung. She runs over to check up on him, as does Woo-jin when he hears about Hye-sung.

Based on the X-rays, it doesn’t seem like Hye-sung has suffered any major fractures or head injuries. Although his chest injury isn’t too severe, Woo-jin suggests that they suture it properly to avoid risk of tetanus. Just as he’s about to treat Hye-sung, Chief Kang and Woo-jin are summoned by Director Park. Ddol-mi ensures Woo-jin that she can treat Hye-sung. Ji-na takes note of their friendly interaction.

Motorcycle Dad finds Na-ri and expresses his sense of relief that she’s safe and relatively uninjured. Na-ri explains why Hye-sung had her whistle, and her father realizes that he hurt his daughter’s savior’s savior.

Director Park creates a new game plan for the hospital, which prioritizes the hospital over the patients. He tells Chief Kang to hold back on using their new blood supply because they will gain nothing from treating more patients. He wants to capitalize on gains over any losses, even in this emergency situation, and Chief Kang protests that they’re doctors. They’re supposed to treat patients. But Director Park argues that the hospital is more important to him. Without preserving the hospital, they can’t achieve any of their dreams. Their top priority is Minster Suk.

While Ddol-mi treats Hye-sung, she takes a good look at his body. She admires his pecs and six pack, giving them a nod of approval. While she’s poking at his body, Hye-sung wakes up and catches her in the act. HA.

Shocked and mortified, Ddol-mi makes her way out of the room, Hye-sung jokingly warns her that if she doesn’t treat his wound, her actions would be considered sexual harrassment. She turns back around to silently suture his cut. He watches her and complains about her crooked stitches, and she just yells back at him to stay quiet. There’s a strange tension between the two, as they both shift their eyes to avoid eye contact.

As Hye-sung puts his shirt back on, Ddol-mi tries to sneak out. But she’s caught again, and Hye-sung chases her down the hall with his shirt wide open, discontent with the stitches. She hides in a room and tries to escape when the coast is clear. But he’s right behind her and chases her again, telling her to take responsibility for his ugly stitches.

Ddol-mi locks herself in a bathroom stall and scolds herself for touching Hye-sung’s body. She’s completely embarrassed and takes a moment to wallow in her mortification.

Hye-sung checks up on Min-chul, who’s doing much better after the blood supply restock. He tells Dae-gil about his epic motorcycle skills and notices the band aid on his arm from the blood transfusion. Dae-gil says that both he and Ddol-mi gave blood, and Hye-sung wonders aloud if that’s why Ddol-mi’s hands were shaking.

Dae-gil tells Hye-sung about a person waiting for him outside the ICU, so he heads out to meet this guest. It’s Na-ri’s father, and he immediately drops to his knees when Hye-sung greets him. He apologizes for hurting his daughter’s savior’s savior and asks for proper punishment.

Hye-sung drops down to his level and asks for clarification on who he is. When reminded, Hye-sung simply thanks him, saying that he arrived safely at the hospital with the blood supply and took a nice long nap thanks to him. Hye-sung returns to the ICU, and the man gets back up, utterly confused by what just happened.

Chief Kang dreams about her son, yelling for his mother. She wakes up in cold sweat and starts to cry out of helplessness and fear.

The fire department, led by Captain Choi, arrives at Mirae Hospital with their load. They’re stopped by security, and Director Park asks what they’re doing here. Captain Choi received an order to set up a temporary base at Mirae Hospital, but Director Park has yet to receive that request and orders them to return. Mirae Hospital has no room for them.

Then from behind, Ja-hyuk arrives with his entourage. He wipes off sweat and explains that walking took longer than expected. He greets Director Park and Captain Choi, and he orders that Mirae Hospital open their space for the fire department. As the appointed head of disaster relief efforts, he asks Director Park to cooperate.

Director Park refuses, so Ja-hyuk pulls him aside to put it in a language that makes sense to him. He knows about Minister Suk’s situation and advises Director Park to save face by acquiescing to the orders. Director Park asks if Chief Kang told him, and Ja-hyuk clarifies that he had no contact with her. More important than how he found out is what they’re going to do going forward.

Chief Kang calls out to Ja-hyuk, and he runs over to check up on her. Director Park asks for Chief Kang’s input on the emergency plan, and Ja-hyuk urges him to comply with their requests to receive government aid. Director Park argues that he finds government assistance distrustful, but Chief Kang thinks differently. She reminds Director Park that she’s been given authority in the hospital’s disaster plan, and she asks Ja-hyuk for confirmation about resources coming their way.

Director Park still refuses to receive aid, so Ja-hyuk pulls him aside again. Speaking in his language, Ja-hyuk offers to move Minister Suk to a safer hospital and ensures that Director Park will reap the benefits of saving their beloved minister. He isn’t one to stop with the director of one hospital, now is he? Director Park lets slip a sleazy smile, and Ja-hyuk takes that as an agreement.

The media is all over the scene now, and the reporter excitedly greets Ja-hyuk in his heroic role in this disaster. Ja-hyuk shifts to focus to Director Park and cheers to keep everyone’s spirits up.

Chief Kang returns to her office, followed by Ja-hyuk. He hugs her from behind and expresses his relief that she’s safe. She starts to cry and tells him that she lost Dong-hwa the day of the earthquake. He freaks out and asks her why she’s not still looking for him, and she explains that her aimless searching would be no use. If she leaves, Director Park will shut down the hospital, putting all the patients’ lives at risk.

She asks herself, “Am I a mother? Am I a doctor?” She doesn’t know where to go from here, and she cries that she wants to escape. Ja-hyuk pulls her close and comforts her, promising to find Dong-hwa.

The firefighters enter the hospital, but their dirt and grime won’t be washed away any time soon. The hospital has restrictions on water use, so they’ll have to do with the wipes. Sister fans herself, muttering under her breath about the smell.

Ddol-mi opens a door right on a napping Hye-sung, and he gets up grabbing his stitched chest wound. Worried about the stitches, Ddol-mi lifts his shift, but Hye-sung accuses her of ulterior motives. She’s offended by his teasing and offers to grab an iron to smooth out his ugly wound. Getting quieter, she admits that she’s not great at suturing but was genuinely worried. Noticing that she’s upset, Hye-sung says he was just joking around.

Ddol-mi tells him that the firefighters are setting up their base outside, so Hye-sung heads out to find his brother. He sees Woo-sung working diligently from afar and grabs extra water bottles for him. Hye-sung approaches his brother with the water. When asked about their mother, Hye-sung ensures him that Mom is safe on the 5th floor. He assures his brother that their mother will wake up soon, so he should be safe and not get hurt.

Woo-sung expresses his distress and relief, thinking that his mother didn’t survive the Han River Mirae Hospital collapse. He cuts his feelings short and gives Hye-sung a cold reminder that none of this qualifies him as his older brother.

Ja-hyuk walks around the hospital with the media trailing him. He greets the patients and asks how they’re recovering. Most of them seem optimistic, but a few express their dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of action. They insult him as he walks out, but Ja-hyuk keeps it classy and bows upon his leave.

Woo-jin storms into Chief Kang’s office to express his disapproval for her actions. She’s heard everything she’s about to hear from Director Park, so she tells Woo-jin to hold his tongue. He and Woo-jin are similar that way. He asserts that she’ll have to take responsibility, and she readily accepts this truth.

Woo-sung finds his mother’s hospital room and sits by her bedside. Holding her hand, he tells her that he won’t get hurt and begs that she wake up soon.

Ddol-mi visits the firefighter tents with charged devices and greets a familiar face, Captain Choi. She requests a walkie-talkie from them to maintain contact during their dispatch. Captain Choi compliments her resourcefulness, and she thanks him for recognizing her smarts. She says that tall dumb people don’t really know this. Captain Choi agrees and adds that bald people are better. Ha.

Hye-sung watches Ddol-mi doze off by a patient and smiles. As she falls further into sleep, she also falls off her chair, and Hye-sung runs towards her. She gets right back up, and he orders her to follow him, leading her to the sleeping quarters.

All the doctors are spread out in their slumber, and Hye-sung tells Ddol-mi that she should sleep. He took a nice nap while she was dressing his wound, so she should rest for just 3 hours so that she can work for 30 more hours. Sounds healthy.

Hye-sung also gives her a red bean treat and canned coffee from his stash, and Ddol-mi recognizes it as the food that Dae-gil offered her, which she then offered to Hye-sung. Making the connection, she’s embarrassed that she offered the food back to Hye-sung. Before he leaves, he tells her that she’d also make a good surgeon.

Smiling at the compliment, Ddol-mi settles into bed. She then thinks about how and why she’s still in Seoul, suffering without food or sleep. Closing her eyes, she tells her mom and dad that she’s okay. When she turns over to look at the bottom of the top bunk, she sees Hye-sung’s graduation picture. She comments on how he was tall even back then: “What did he eat to grow that tall…” Then she closes her eyes and falls asleep.

Ji-na takes care of Hye-sung’s mother, massaging her arms. She tells her that Hye-sung is doing well: He’s passionate and puts patients first.

Hye-sung wanders through the hospital’s dark hallways and comes upon a storage closet. He trips over the IV poles and lets himself lay on the ground. He thinks back to the lives he’s lost: his father, a surgery patient, and the men stuck under the Han River Mirae Hospital rubble. He cries in remorse.

Hye-sung checks on his mother and finds Ji-na asleep on the bedside table. He takes off his gown and puts it over Ji-na, looking grateful for her care.

In the hospital lobby, Mr. Kang tells the tale of his escape from the subway tunnel. He paints himself as the hero (rightfully so), claiming to have led the exodus of subway riders to safety. Another patient notifies the group that the broadcast has turned back on, so everyone gathers around the TV.

Ji-na wakes up and smiles when she finds Hye-sung’s robe on her. She goes to find Hye-sung in the resting quarters, but she’s disappointed to find Ddol-mi sleeping in his bed.

Meanwhile, Hye-sung sleeps on the chairs in the ER. He’s woken up by Chief Kang, who tells him to take a break. He asks about assistance coming their way, and Chief Kang confirms this with a smile. He teases her about her rich and successful fiancé, and she responds by saying he doesn’t need any rest, seeing that his humor is back. Their conversation is interrupted by the nurse calling them to watch the broadcast.

The news shows Seoul, destroyed by the earthquake, and the news anchor comments on the resemblance of the city to the Korean War times. They report on the combined forces of the fire department and Mirae Hospital, curing Director Park’s interview. He watches from his room and follows along, repeating his “inspirational” interview. His assistant looks mildly irritated by the Director’s narcissism, but he affirms the director’s great interview anyway.

Hye-sung walks outside, seeing the patients lined up under the tents. A family sits together to eat, and the little girl runs toward him to share a piece of her food. He smiles at the gesture and looks out in the distance, taking in the state of their disaster once more.

Ddol-mi finds Ji-na and asks if she knows where Hye-sung is. Ji-na doesn’t know, but Ddol-mi spots Hye-sung’s gown by her side. She awkwardly asks Ji-na to let her know when he shows up, but he shows up right then. Ji-na thanks him for letting her use his gown as she slept and leaves Ddol-mi and Hye-sung to share an awkward moment before heading off to the ICU.

As Ddol-mi checks Min-chul’s vitals, Hye-sung sneezes multiple times, one landing right in Ddol-mi’s face. He says that they should schedule a follow-up surgery soon, but Ddol-mi says that Hye-sung doesn’t seem to be in the best condition to perform surgery. He insists that he’s fine, but she knows he’s catching a cold. She scolds him for taking off his gown and makes him rest up.

She drags Hye-sung to his bed and gives him the same instructions he gave her. Before she leaves, she tells him that she’ll request a better suturing job from Woo-jin and apologizes for her incompetent job. He tries to tell her he was joking, but she leaves before he can.

Ddol-mi checks on Min-chul, and Sister sniffs around her. Initially, Ddol-mi thinks it’s because she smells — she hasn’t been able to wash up, after all. But Sister tells her that she smells like pheromones. She smells like Brother’s pheromones. As she walks out, she whistles a teasing tune.

In his dream, Hye-sung floats on the Han River witnessing the destruction of the earthquake once again. He’s reminded of the men stuck under the hospital rubble, calling out to him for help. He suffers through the nightmare until he opens his eyes, settling back into reality.

Woo-sung arrives in the firefighter tent with updates for Captain Choi. The shipment of resources have arrived, but more importantly, he has an envelope about a small boy wearing a green shirt by the mart.

Chief Kang frantically runs through the hospital and arrives at her office. Captain Choi is waiting with the document and asks her to identify the body found at the mart parking lot. Chief Kang refuses to believe that it’s Dong-hwa, but Captain Choi urges her to confirm the identity so that they can proceed.

After taking a moment to collect herself, Chief Kang approaches the table to check if the body is indeed her Dong-hwa.

 
COMMENTS

I’m desperately hoping that it’s not Dong-hwa because life would be so unfair if Chief Kang got the worst of both worlds. Her conflict over her roles as a doctor and a mother was so poignantly depicted, and I admire her strength to be present in her job as a doctor despite the pain of losing her son. It seems like she’s been able to compartmentalize her two roles well, but now that they’re so intrinsically intertwined, I wonder how she’ll respond to whatever news comes her way. We can see the stress taking a toll on her, but she’s a headstrong character who’s absolutely necessary to keep the hospital functioning as it is now. She’s sticking to her responsibilities because she recognizes her importance in that role. But I doubt that her guilt will ever fade away. It’s not as easy as turning off a switch because she has a conscience that carries the burden of unfulfilled obligations.

Most of the show’s plot has been based on convenience, as seen with the coincidence of the motorcycle thief’s identity being Na-ri’s father. But I don’t care as much about the story’s development as I do about the character moments. It’s the culmination of the small moments that create the story. I did appreciate some progress in the disaster relief plot, however, because it seemed to be going nowhere without our instigator, Ja-hyuk. Thankfully, he seems to be a trustworthy politician who knows his constituent’s demands and how to smooth talk a corrupt doctor to cooperate with humanitarian efforts. Who knew such politicians existed?

I’m invested, not necessarily because the story is realistic or accurate, but because there’s an interesting clash of ideologies, most of which aren’t blatantly wrong (ahem, Director Park). Woo-jin is still an enigma to me, and I would consider him more fearful than misguided. He understands that Director Park’s approach is calculating and dehumanizing, but he follows that model anyway because he fears… something. Probably a scarring moment in his past that has everything to do with Hye-sung’s mother, since again, everything in this show’s story relies heavily on coincidence.

Ha, I love the Hye-sung and Ddol-mi’s relationship. They’re pitted against each other but care for each other because they’ve been by each other’s side since the beginning of the disaster. It’s funny to think they started out completely hating each other because now I would just compare them to bickering siblings, which I guess are mortal enemies? We’re given more of Ddol-mi’s side of this budding romance, and I absolutely love the awkwardness she initiated. I loved her feisty sass already, and her development as a doctor was already enough to make me enjoy her character. The pheromones are just another addition to the party.

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