AGAIN MY LIFE
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MIRAE MOTORS The drama is so cleverly adapted from the novel to the screen
that it is almost impossible for the amazed viewer to figure out what would
happen next.
Episode 5 starts with the protest of the Mirae Motors employees
against the liquidation of the company. Kim Hee Woo recalled in his previous
life that Mirae Motors was sold to a foreign company but it was liquidated
due to employee-management conflict. It was not a fond memory. The powerful Cho Tae Sub,
who also witnessed the protest, wanted meet Kang Man Chul of the Progressive Labour Party. Han Ji Hyun updated him on the
opposition leader of the minor party, who was at the protest camp at the Pyeongtaek
factory.
The powerful politician, a vile snake, pointed out to Kang Man Chul, a former pro-North NL
activist, that it was ironic that he had sent his son to Harvard instead of the
best college in Pyongyang, North Korea. Cho, who wanted to control and tame the
opposition suggested bipartisan cooperation and Kang Man Chul readily agreed to end the strike to focus on
economic recovery.
Kim Hee Woo soon learnt that Mirae Motors’ strike had ended.
He was mildly shocked that there was a change in the direction in the winds. The future had unfolded differently and veered off in a different direction from the past. It was unexpected that the Chunha conglomerate had moved
with speed and purpose to acquire Mirae Motors. It occurred to Kim Hee Woo
that the ambitious Cho Tae Sub, supposedly a kingmaker, was himself after
the prized Presidential position. A chilling thought. THE HONG IN PYO MURDER CASE
A departure from the manhwa is that Park Sang Man’s father, having
broken into Hong In Pyo, his best friend’s house, had killed him because he had been
cheated of his money.  
Although the older Park denied
the murder allegations against him, the police arrested and indicted him based
on his fingerprints found on the murder weapon, a knife. Kim Hee Woo, experiencing a great burst of energy, took an
interest in this case. He personally promised Park Sang Man that he would prove his father’s innocence. The
grateful Park Sang Man promised the
future prosecutor that he won’t miss school. The method of recruitment of Park
Sang Man in the drama differed from that in the manhwa. The story in the drama is more dramatic.  The case captured Kim Hee Woo's full attention. The effortlessly charming undergraduate broached the murder case with his senior, Jang Il Hyun, who glibly dismissed his concerns. Pointing out that the evidence seemed too perfect to be true, Kim Hee Woo showed Jang the clothes that Park Sang Man’s father wore that day. It was a shocking revelation that there was no evidence of blood stains. The shrewd but sly Kim Hee Woo further emphasized that the case was riddled with controversy. Kim Hee Woo recalled that the murder was his first case as a prosecutor in his previous life. His analytical
skills, and ebullient personality won the day. Jang Il Hyun soaked up the information provided by the undergraduate.
Upon realization that the blunder on the part of the police, Jang Il Hyun reinvestigated the case.
The senior prosecutor interrogated Hong In Pyo’s wife, the main suspect. Producing her
bloodstained shirt, he accused her of having an extra-marital affair. In the
presence of her ex-lover, a witness to the murder, she was forced to admit to
her crime.
Jang was surprised Kim Hee
Woo seemed to know the details of the case. Kim Hee Woo, Choi Kang Jin and Jang Il Hyun drank in celebration of the latter's success. Park Sang Man, who was fortunate to have met Kim Hee Woo, reunited with his
father. In his previous life Park Sang
Man had slogged for 10 years through the mire of evidence, information,
misinformation and disinformation to prove his father’s innocence. The next day would be the turning point in Kim Han Mi’s life. Kim Hee
Woo, her mentor and teacher, gave her special encouragement at the start
of her CSAT’s exam, another departure from the manhwa. Passing Kim Han Mi his
lucky pens and a handkerchief of deep significance, the charming Kim Hee Woo wished her luck. His choice of words was telling; she was
just a friend and could never be more than that.
 
Park Sang Man and Kim Han Mi both sat for the CSAT and passed it.    Kim Han Mi was thrilled to learn of her acceptance
into Hangang University. Kim Seok Hoon her domineering father, ordered
her not to choose any major related to the media or government, and threatened
her that if she did not comply with his orders, he would 'send her off to Timbuktu'. The Deputy Chief Prosecutor
was fearful that her future career might jeopardize his reputation. In
defiance of her father, she signed up for the Journalism and Media course at Hangang University. Kim Hee Woo, knowing that her choice of a career as a reporter would be an
asset to him, encouraged her. She was grateful that he didn’t give up on
her. He reminded her to repay him after becoming a full-fledged
reporter. Upon arriving home, Kim Hee
Woo was greeted with the sad news about his military enlistment. His father advised
him to get it over with and then complete the bar exam. Kim Hee Woo didn’t want any fuss so he kept quiet about the military notice until the very last minute. Kim Gyu Ri and Lee Min Soo, teased him that they would pass the bar exam before him and he would be their subordinate. Kim Hee Woo was startled to learn that Kim Hee Ah was also leaving home; she would be studying abroad.     It was useless to hang onto the money Woo Yong Soo gave him while he was in the military. The money would lie dormant for 2 years so Kim Hee Woo requested that the former real estate tycoon invest the money in
something profitable while he was away. The real estate man suggested investing in Banpo and Kim Hee Woo responded with a cute munchkin smile.
Reminiscing about his life, Kim Hee Woo was determined to change the past. Like the Phoenix, he had risen from the Prosecution-Political ashes and came back from the dead. He is now stronger physically and mentally, more powerful and wiser. The
Phoenix is a symbol of Rebirth. As its former life comes to an end in a show
of flames, a newer and better life is born from the ashes.
The upbeat OST Till The End by Yoo Sung Eun stirs the heartbeat. As it picks up
speed and works steadily to a tumultuous beat, it’s difficult to stay calm.
Adrenalin races through the veins. TILL THE END Again My Life OST Part 4 Yoo Sung Eun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKfQpM6B7sk Bidding his sad parents a tearful farewell, Kim Hee Woo performed the
necessary Korean cultural ritual of paying respects to his parents –
prostrating in front of them.
 Upon leaving his home, the young man was startled to discover a sulky Kim Hee Ah waiting for him. She was
hurt that he didn’t inform her of his imminent departure. He retorted
that she didn’t tell him either. Both were sad and heavy-hearted. It was Autumn.
The yellow and brown leaves were everywhere. Many leaves have fallen to the ground.
It was a melancholic parting of ways for Kim Hee Ah; she was miserable and crestfallen. But, Kim Hee Woo was unemotional and detached.   The audience know that it is Kim Hee Ah who is warm-hearted enough to make the conceding gesture of meeting him to bid him farewell. Were her nerves screaming at him for not returning her love? Her heart must be hammering against her ribs. Kim Hee Woo was unmoved. Focusing on his mission, he got his priorities straight and had to distance himself from affairs of the heart. Juggling love matters and his mission would only serve to distract him from the dangerous mission of bringing Cho Tae Sub to justice. Trapping the evil and loathsome politician would consume all his energy. He would stop at nothing to gun for the destruction of evil and ensure peace and justice for his people. But, did he war with himself about every love decision he made?
Would his secrets keep him alone for the rest of his life? It was a forgone
conclusion that he would not allow himself the luxury of romancing Kim Hee Ah. One can imagine how love
would wreak havoc on his life. Love was off limits unless it became part of
his mission. The change in this part of the adapted story makes their
farewell very romantic. The young lady linked her arm with his and despite
his objection, she instructed him to keep walking. She disclosed that other
than her father, he was the first man she linked arms with. She let the fact
sink in.
Only men who were dumb would fail to understand her message. She had finally opened her heart and told him her feelings; she indicated that she was in love with him. Her voice betrayed her misery. There was yearning in her heart but she had to let it go. His heart was heavily guarded against intrusion. When they reached her car and her bodyguard, he looked at her impassively; he held out his hand and they formally shook hands like strangers. He wished her a safe journey and then parted ways. There were tears in her eyes. Did he feel for her? He stared briefly and emotionlessly into space and then stared at her receding back as she boarded her car. He gazed placidly ahead, his face, slack and expressionless. He turned and never looked back. The audience feel sad for her. They would love to unpeel the layers of secret thoughts in his mind. There must be a lump in everyone’s throat. 7 YEARS LATER The story skipped 7 years ahead. Kim Hee Woo had passed his bar exam with flying colours. It was
shocking that the cream of the law graduates had requested to be
posted to the rural Gimsan Branch of the Gangwon District Prosecutors’
Office.
Gimsan, located in a beautiful picturesque coastal area, was
the place where troublesome prosecutors were exiled to. The warm reddishness
of the road to Gimsan contrasted with the cool blue colour of the sea and the
blackness of the rocks that lined the road. The red speaks of Prosecutor Kim Hee Woo’s fiery
enthusiasm, the cool blue denotes the calm and languidness of those at the
Prosecution Office in Gimsan. The black foretells of the dark criminal
underbelly of the rural town. THE HANDSOME AND CHARISMATIC PROSECUTOR Stepping out of his car, the determined prosecutor, framed in the bright sunlight, looked grim and resolute. Kim Hee Woo did not say a word. His face says it all. A face full of resolve. The accumulated wisdom of the past and of hindsight seemed collected on his face. He was an old soul in a young, vibrant body. He stared at the words emblazoned on the Prosecutors’ building – Gangwon District Prosectors’ Office, Gimsan Branch Office. His eyes took on a fierce and stubborn determination; his eyes were those of a Tiger. His solemn looks send chills down one’s back. Kim Hee Woo was about to meet another tiger – an ex-tiger who had lost his teeth and claws.
   
THE LETHARGIC CHIEF  Reporting to Branch Chief Jeon
Seok Kyu, the handsome long coated prosecutor was not in the least
flustered by the nonchalant reception of the branch head. However, Jeon Seok Kyu’s curiosity got the better of him; he was suspicious that Kim Hee Woo, who topped the bar exam, had chosen the laid-back and tranquil outpost to start his career. To Jeon Seok Kyu's astonishment, the newly-minted prosecutor declared that his mission was to take the branch chief back with him to Seoul.  It seemed that the place was quiet and there weren’t any criminal cases to speak of. Jeon Seok Kyu was a has-been ‘tiger prosecutor’, a toothless tiger. Being a stubborn and rebellious prosecutor, he was a nuisance to the higher-ups. In order to suppress him, he had been posted to the quiet, sleepy seaside town. Those who had landed there were lulled into a sense of false security and nonchalance. Kim Hee Woo found himself shooed off without ceremony to look for his own office. Investigator Oh Min Guk had been assigned to assist him. The other Prosecutor at the office was Ji Sung Ho. He interrupted the babbling of the investigators who were assisting the prosecutors. The gossipmongers basked in the indolent and unhurried lifestyle of the office. 'The Branch Head was living proof' of that lifestyle.
 To Investigator Oh Min Guk's shock, the new prosecutor got down to business straight away and requested him to collect all the criminal, civil, and accident cases for him to review. One becomes aware of the atmosphere of the Gimsan Prosecutors’ Office. The residents of the office seemed like lotus eaters; they were lethargic and had no motivation to do anything. Gimsan reminds one of the story of The Lotus Eater by William Somerset Maugham. It gets inspiration from Homer’s The Odyssey. The lotus eaters refer to a group of people who
idle their time away doing nothing but to eat lotus seeds. This causes them
to be in a state of stupor and contentment.
In The Odyssey,
Odysseus and his Greek warriors in their journey around the Mediterranean Sea,
stopped at an island. Some of them, who had consumed the seeds of the lotus
plant, were drugged and refused to continue on their journey. They became
indolent, self-indulgent and lackadaisical; they wanted to live a lazy, idle,
slow, relaxed, languorous and comfortable life. They refused to do any work, did not
care about anything else and did not want to return home.     When Kim Hee Woo, Jeon Seok Kyu and Ji Sung Ho went out for drinks, the Town Mayor, the Chief of Police, an Assemblyman and a gang leader were there.   Jeon Seok Kyu seemed like a doormat; he was compelled for the sake of niceties to have a
word with them. They took the opportunity to humiliate him. The assemblyman poured
a drink in his used, dirty bowl and forced Jeon Seok Kyu to drink it up. Kim Hee Woo was infuriated as he
watched the indignity that the branch prosecutor was subjected to.
Ji Sung Ho commented that Jeon Seok Kyu was neither fish nor fowl when it came to politics. After being exiled to Gimsan, his wings had been clipped. The Branch Chief appeared to be of indefinite character and did not answer to any description. He had kowtowed to the local scoundrels and turned a blind eye to their criminal activities.
Jeon Seok Kyu reminds one of Bird Fish, and also, Sky and Water, the creative works of MC Escher. He was not a bird or a fish nor is he of the the sky or the sea.
BIRD FISH M C Escher  SKY AND WATER M C Escher
Kim Hee Woo knew that the senior prosecutor had not lost his true spirit of a prosecutor and
wanted to return to Seoul. Jeon Seok
Kyu advised him to quietly finish his term in Gimsan and leave, but the latter
argued that the purpose of being in Gimsan would be defeated. Kim Hee Woo would inform him of his
superior of his plans once he had put everything together. It was unsurprising that the uninterested Jeon
Seok Kyu did not object to what his passionate subordinate wanted to do. The young prosecutor
would face no obstruction from him as there didn’t seem to be work for him to do. The office gossips were astonished that Kim Hee Woo was hardly around in the office; on some days he didn’t even turn up. They erroneously thought he was as impassive and lethargic as their chief. But, 2 towering piles of case files related to the Yuchae Gang soon landed on Investigator Oh’s desk. He was instructed to reorganise the cases, which were related to local gangsters who ran nightclubs before he went home. Kim Hee Woo argued that the way the cases were closed was highly questionable and had decided to reinvestigate all those cases. Though the young prosecutor would be working outside the office for a few days, he wanted to be updated on the progress of the work and instructed Investigator Oh to send all the reorganised cases to him through email.
When Kim Hee Woo
visited Woo Yong Soo, the old man jokingly
grumbled about Park Sang Man who
was working for him. Kim Hee Woo
had requested the tycoon to keep him by his side while he was training to be
a prosecutor. There were plenty of grounds for complaint. Unlike Kim Hee Woo, Park Sang Man was always talking back, short-tempered and disrespectful
of elders (him). But the prosecutor soon realized that they had a loving
relationship. While Park Sang Man
was mischievous and playful, it was obvious that he doted on the elderly man.
It was time for Kim Hee Woo to relieve the old man of Park Sang Man. Park Sang Wan, a computer engineering graduate who was on a scholarship
at the Hangkuk University, was excited at the prospect of going an interesting mission. He was given the responsibility to withdraw some cash. During the stakeout in
the car outside the Gimsan Billiards Club, nothing escaped Kim Hee Woo’s
sharp eyes. A man had bribed the bouncer at the club and was allowed to enter. Kim Hee Woo also bribed the bouncer of what he perceived was a gambling house. The prosecutor and his sidekick were escorted into a billiards room with blue felt tables and red and yellow billiard balls on them. Red. Blue.
Yellow. Primary colours of the Colour Wheel.  
They were then walked through a door which led to a passageway full of mannequins adorned with suit jackets. A button was pressed and a secret door opened to reveal a gambling den, an illegal casino. The floor was covered with dizzy
black zig-zag stripes. Kim Hee Woo’s eyes shone with delight.  He bought 10,000 dollars chips but got chips worth only 9,000
dollars, the difference paid for the service charges. Various expressions on
Kim Hee Woo’s face make the audience smile.  Kim Hee Woo’s eyes were focused on the lady dealer at the
table. After losing money, Kim Hee Woo bought more chips. During the
gambling process, he studied the face of the woman as he tested her by
changing his choices several times. There were subtle changes in her
expressions. When he got up to go, he held out his hand and secretly passed a
note to her. The next day, Kim Hee Woo
instructed Investigator Oh to study
the files, narrow down the cases where the police had missed something and
email him his findings. He strode off triumphantly while Investigator Oh was
left to moan over his sad fate. At the appointed time, Do
Hwa Jin, the dice dealer of the illegal gambling den, joined Kim
Hee Woo at a restaurant. Probing for evidence and facts, Kim Hee Woo persuaded
her to give him information on the criminal wheeling and dealing of the Yuchae Gang who operated the gambling house. That night, Jeon Seok Kyu
was woken from his slumber by Kim Hee Woo. The young prosecutor, who revealed
that he was about to bring down the Yuchae
Gang and expose their illegal gambling activities, requested for police
backup. He proceeded with the surprise raid despite his superior’s
protest. Had the older prosecutor harboured and misgivings about such
operations, it was then that he voiced them. He told his subordinate that he was
flying blind straight into danger. Confident of himself and his strategies, Kim Hee Woo allayed the fears of Park Sang Man, who like Lee Min Soo, also jokingly proposed to him. To the younger man, Kim Hee Woo was such a handsome and cool prosecutor. In fact, the dreamboat prosecutor, Kim Hee Woo, was the most charismatic, gorgeous, suave and sophisticated man in the prosecution world.  Catching everyone in the illegal casino by surprise and red-handed, the prosecutor put everyone in the gambling den under arrest.         When the criminal leader threatened to throw him into the ocean, he revealed the reason why the prawns in Gimsan were plump and tasty. They fed on human corpses. Kim Hee Woo smirked and playfully
leaned his head forward to listen to his threat.             When Kim Hee Woo made a call, there was a sudden power outage. He took the opportunity to beat up some criminals in the dark.   The fight which was dizzying, perfectly matched the black and white zigzag patterns of the floor of the illegal casino, which seemed to be moving before one's eyes. One might be overcome by a dizzy spell while watching the giddy lightning punches and dynamic kicks of Kim Hee Woo.
Then the lights came on again. The gangsters came out in full force in the billiards room. Like a tiger, he thundered and sprang at them. Adrenaline spiked as he beat up all the gangsters. Punching them and throwing himself on a billiard table, he effortlessly rolled over it and instantly leapt to his feet. When giving them flying kicks, he executed them at an incredible pace; it was too fast for the human eye to follow. Being resourceful, he took a long billiard cue stick and whacked them with it. Punches flew and the prosecutor deftly rolled over the billiard table again. It was one man against multiple assailants. By the time Investigator Oh and Park Sang Man arrived, Kim Hee Woo had already floored all of them. He had emerged as the top fighter. Ooo.... so manly!
 https://twitter.com/i/status/1524114930227572736
https://twitter.com/i/status/1520407847145680897 The room, filled with the billiard tables, was a sea of blue.  They moved resolutely towards the secret office of the Yuchae Gang, which was next to the chip trading counter. Inspector Oh was tasked with collecting the prosecution boxes while Park Sang Man, with his amazing technical skills, hacked the computer. They intended to seize all the physical files, ledgers and compare the data on their computers with the ledgers. With that, they would be able to crack the vast web of criminal activities. Hearing a shout, they rushed out. Kim Hee Woo confronted Lee Hyun Seok
who had beaten up Investigator Oh. Lee Hyun Seok was part of the reason why the prosecutor had sacked the place. Kim Hee Woo declared he wanted to recruit Lee Hyun Seok and use his fighting skills for a good cause. He challenged the younger man to a fight. Should the prosecutor win, the younger man must work for him. The fight scene between Kim Hee Woo and Lee Hyun Seok, though brief, is exciting. The prosecutor's flying kick is so
stylish and powerful that it send electric waves all over the place. Kim Hee Woo
overpowered Lee Hyun Seok, who passed out. The former informed Park Sang Man
that Lee Hyun Seok would be his bodyguard in the future.   Kim Hee Woo’s voiceover emphasizes, “Lee
Hyun Seok, at this rate will be the number one fighter in a couple of years.
I won’t let him live that life.” Jeon Seok Kyu finally arrived but everything was over. All the viewers expected praise for Kim Hee Woo, the centre of the prosecution storm, from the Branch Head. Kim Hee Woo’s intense and radiant eyes were bright with anticipation. Instead, Jeon Seok Kyu slapped Kim Hee Woo hard across the face.    It must be interesting for global viewers to note that
prosecutors in South Korea, unlike many countries, have outsized powers. They
have been vested with the right of both investigation and prosecution. But the prosecution is not independent of politics and cannot
investigate big cases properly without the approval of Cho Tae Sub (Episode
12).  Lee
Byung Hun’s drama adaptation from Lee Hae-nal’s web novel, together with Director
Han Chul Soo’s work of bringing it to life, shows that both are geniuses. The
drama is a sumptuous visual feast of the Kim Hee Woo's prosecution world and his incredible fighting skills. That world is
irreversibly changing with the return of Kim Hee Woo (portrayed by Lee Joon
Gi) to the past. Beautifully
directed with amazing camerawork, this episode of the drama comes to life with
the superb performance of Lee Joon Gi. Lee, also an acting genius, is a remarkable and
incomparable actor and action star. The drama provides a memorable picture of
Lee Joon Gi’s acting performance, and action and martial art scenes, which are brilliantly
choreographed by Lee Soo Min and Won
Jin, the Action and Martial Arts directors. Lee Joon Gi, as the intelligent, shrewd, sexy, charismatic and cool prosecutor
who is full of stylish confidence, is awe-inspiring. His contagious
combination of creative energy, optimism and enthusiasm, has rubbed off on the
audience. Lee is funny, playful, and
serious at the same time in some interesting scenes. With his broad range of enigmatic expressions, Lee Joon Gi has made Kim Hee Woo an iconic character. One refreshing and funny scene is the conversation between him and the gangster head in the illegal casino
scene. Lee's broad range of facial expressions is hilarious and gives the
audience a belly full of laughs. One is awed by Lee Joon Gi's action and fighting skills which has livened up every episode of the drama and spiked up the adrenalin. His brilliant lightning-like rolls and
kicks on the billiard table, flying kicks, punches make the fighting segments
magical.   Kim Hee
Woo looks like a persuasive younger brother to the unsuspecting Jang Il Hyung played by Kim Hyung Mook, when discussing about the scrapegoating of Park Sang Man’s father by the police in the Hong
In Pyo’s murder case. It was a damning expose. Kim Hee Woo, playing the
shrewd, sly, impish, artful but humble informant, sheds light on the crucial
clue - there were no stains on the murderer’s sweater. It leaves no doubt about importance of Lee's pivotal role in this segment; his sly fox expressions and funny voice have made it absolutely hysterical. Kim Hyung Mook, who plays the dumbfounded senior prosecutor, has also given an interesting performance.
Kim Hee Woo's sweet scene with Kim
Hee Ah is rife with tension. While some may like his relationship with Kim
Han Mi, they cannot deny that he is more suited to Kim Hee Ah, whom
he describes as beautiful and womanly. His detachment makes the audience feel sad. Lee Joon Gi and Kim Ji Eun have made the scene memorable.  And Kim Hee Woo's relationship with Kim Han Mi, portrayed by Kim Jae Kyung, is platonic. You
can obviously see the love in her eyes but he doesn’t see her as a woman. You
feel tears for her. Kim Hee Woo is truly a time-travelling
heartbreaker. Kim Hee Woo’s bromance with Park Sang Man, played by Ji Chan, seems to have taken flight. The playful duo, Lee Joon Gi and Ji Chan, do look cute and funny together.
One interesting aspect of Korean culture is shown here. Kim Hee Woo demonstrates respect and love for his parents by prostrating before them when he leaves for his military enlistment. His father, played by Park Chul Min, is stoic but his mother played by Kim Hee Jeong, is in tears. The two actors, who play a loving family-oriented couple, endear themselves to the audience the minute they appear on the screen.
Many viewers love the beautiful colours and picturesque, tranquil seaside scenery of Gimsan.
THE OST, Till The End, is also amazing. TILL THE END Again My Life OST Part 4 Yoo Sung Eun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKfQpM6B7sk
The director has handled the arrival of Kim Hee Woo in Gimsan well, making him look so serious, intense and grim and yet, distinguished. It’s impossible to miss Kim Hee Woo’s fierce and charismatic look of determination – the powerful eye energy and the formidable presence of The Tiger. Lee Joon Gi, who shows poise and elegance in his long coat, radiates charm, charisma and confidence in this important arrival scene.
  He stuns; he looks hot, fashionable and stylish in his long coats, even when fighting.   Lee also teaches us a fashion lesson on how to take on chilly weather with his other clothes, including jackets. He looks really sexy and hot in them. He melts the snow and heats up the temperature. Perhaps, the wardrobe department should be thanked for their perfect choice of clothes for him.    SBS’ drama, Again My Life, a masterpiece that mesmerises huge local and global audiences every week, must be the dream of every actor, director and screenwriter etc. There is no denying that Lee Joon Gi has created quite a buzz week after week with his acclaimed performance. Lee, his iconic character, Kim Hee Woo, the other members of the cast and the masterpiece drama, Again My Life are the hottest items on the Internet; they have been inundated with love, lauded with praises and have won the unstinting support of the audience. The audience thank them for making their weekends so enjoyable and exciting. |
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