Three people get into Yeon-Joo's car :
Yeon-Joo (driver), Soo-Bong (front passenger), Soo-Bin (back passenger).
The car starts and drives away.
The back door of Sang-Deuk's Van opens, Young-Sik gets out.
In the van, Sang-Deuk is about to close the door.
He sees that Young-Sik remains motionless, with puppy dog eyes.
- | (whispering) Don't stand here, you idiot, we'll get noticed. |
- | (whining) Why me again... Please, boss... |
- | Now, you have the time and the tools you need. |
- | No excuses! Ksss, ksss! (waves his hand, meaning "piss off") |
- | Shoo! Pay back your debt! (closes the door) |
- | ... (downcast, sighs) |
The street is deserted, until...
... Young-Sik appears, hidden behind the fence's back wall.
He glances at the street, then hides again.
- | (plaintive) I'm already on file, he can't ask me that... |
(decides hesitantly) |
- | (looks at the street) Nobody... |
Young-Sik comes out of his hideout. He walks down the street, looking innocent.
- | (sentenced to death face, sings) Pom~pom~pom... |
(arrives at a tin can, next to the fence) |
(scans the area with panicked rabbit eyes, "no-one here") |
Awkwardly, he climbs on the trash can, then on the fence.
Flat on the fence, his foot is about to leave the trash can.
- | (gets stuck, out of breath, loses balance) Arrrgh... |
CRASH-KLANG! He unintentionally kicks the trash can lid, knocking it off.
BLING-BLING-BLING... The lid bounces off the ground. Huge noise echoes in the street.
- | ... !!! (panic!) |
BARK! BARK! In the distance, a dog barks. BOW-WOW... Elsewhere, another dog answers.
Young-Sik lets himself be swept away on other side of the fence.
- | ... (silent howling) |
Young-Sik crashes like a bag of messy arms and legs in the garden.
- | Gniii... (groans in pain) |
He has neither the courage nor the strength to get up.
He crawls on all fours to the house's back, staring at the ground for fear of looking elsewhere.
- | We monitor the area, and wait for them all to leave. |
(worried) |
- | (dangles a key with an electronic device) What you brought from my home is a master key. |
- | Not sophisticated enough to open the main door, but there is also a back door. |
(apprehensive) |
Standing up, Young-Sik looks at the back door, worried.
: | What a joke, maybe their back door is made of the same wood. |
: | I should leave, and pretend it wouldn't open. |
: | No! He's so stubborn, he'd be able to check it himself. |
: | And I'd take a shitload in my face... |
- | After all, the hard part is done. |
Young-Sik turns the master key in the lock.
SLATCH. Immediately, the door unlocks with a latch sound.
- | Oh! ("isn't that too easy?") |
Young-Sik enters the house.
He walks a few steps, in a corridor lined with shelves of books.
: | One second! |
: | What if this shack isn't empty? |
- | Boss, are you sure you saw Kang Ta leave? |
(distracted, busy fiddling with the master key) |
(insistent gaze, answer me!) |
- | (mumbles, evasive) Mmmyeah... |
: | He didn't seem sure of himself. |
: | (slowly turning his head) What if I came face to face with... |
- | AAAAAAAAH!!!!! (terror!) |
Two inquisitive and threatening eyes stare at Young-Sik.
Young-Sik jumps up and crashes into the opposite wall of the hallway.
Kang Chul's eyes go from "real" to "image" on...
... an extension of "W" volume 4 cover!
- | (sweating) Oh, my poor heart... |
- | Oh Sung-Moo was really disturbed to draw such scary covers. |
- | Hurry, I want to leave this nightmare house as soon as possible. |
Young-Sik arrives in the open space, combining graphic studio, kitchen, library and sofa.
: | This is probably where there is the most traffic, the ideal place. |
He approaches the tables where are the graphic tablets.
He pulls a crude, old-fashioned radio transmitter from his pocket, about ten centimetres long.
: | It looks like a military surplus from the Korean War. |
: | Where to hide such a junk? |
He approaches the device from a table.
The device slips out of his hands and jumps to land on it, without bouncing.
: | It's a stroke of luck that this table is metallic. |
Young-Sik retrieves the transmitter.
Then he sits on the floor, and moves under the table.
: | Here, it should be fine. He said that this gadget has a wide hearing range. |
He fixes the transmitter on a trestle beam, well wedged and well hidden.
- | Ah! And this time... |
With a grinning smile, Young-Sik turns on the device's activation switch.
Yeon-Joo's car drives down an avenue in Seoul.
- | Soo-Bin, you have an overflowing imagination. |
- | I assure you Seonsaingnim, I went to shower to sober up. |
- | I was so drunk I went there fully dressed! |
- | You saw it, I was soaked from head to toe. |
- | I know what I saw, there was some kind of interference in the air. |
- | Soo-Bong was not here, and suddenly he was here. |
- | Soo-Bin, you know I'm a doctor. |
- | I examined you, and you had a nasty bruise on your head. |
Soo-Bin puts her fingers on the bandage Yeon-Joo made to her head.
- | This type of injury is accompanied by dizziness, visual disturbance... |
- | ... or even memory problems in some cases, yes. |
- | You don't have to worry, it's very common! |
- | yeh... (forced smile) |
- | But why does Soo-Bong look like this? I've never seen him so skinny... |
- | I spent the whole night sweating, worse than if I were in a sauna. |
- | Ah ah! I won't be caught again! |
- | Next time, I'll drink beer instead. |
- | (to Soo-Bong) We'll live here, I'll bring some clothes for you. |
Yoon Soo-Hee is about to leave and notices Soo-Bong.
- | Who is it, Oppa? |
- | A student. |
Soo-Hee doesn't bother with Soo-Bong, and leaves.
(watchs her leave) |
- | Do you know her? |
- | In a way, she's my first love... |
- | Do you want to stop? |
- | (breathless, speeding up) No, I'll hold on. |
- | It's not good to force it. |
- | If you come to training already exhausted, it will be counterproductive. |
He waves at Soo-Bong to stop running, then hands him a bottle of water.
- | Drink in small sips. |
- | Thank you, Hyung. (take a few sips) |
- | I feel like I'm below everything. |
- | I'll never get back in Ren-Bo's esteem. |
- | You should have more confidence. |
- | Look at Kang Chul, the author had made him inexperienced with women. |
- | While you, you have already lived a love story. |
~ | My romance with Moon Mi-Ra was a disaster. |
- | Don't worry and focus on training. |
- | To please women, just have your hair done with gel, and wear a shirt. |
- | Ah ah! It's decided, this time! |
- | I'll stop wearing kid's T-shirts and fake glasses. |
(smile) |
- | Still no episodes published. "W" stayed on its end. |
- | That's a pretty good sign. |
- | An important thing for tomorrow. |
- | You'll have to convince Jang Soo-Bin and your publisher to continue the Manhwa. |
- | Seonsaingnim, "Butterfly Girl" is successful. |
- | Couldn't we continue the manhwa? |
- | So you had that in mind from the beginning. |
- | You were also in on it, Yeon-Joo... |
- | No Seonsaingnim. But afterwards, it would allow us to catch up. |
- | (bitter) Catch up on that... Catch up with Soo-Bong's crap. |
- | A scenario as structured as a drunkard's puke. |
- | Seonsaingnim, are you still stuck on this? |
- | Since time immemorial, I thought it was ancient history... |
(contained anger, takes a breath of air) |
(turns her head towards Soo-Bong, teeth clenched, murderous gaze) |
- | (whines) How to fix the plot, now that Ren-Bo regrets her marriage? |
- | How to reconcile her with Park Sin-Moo, and conclude this quickly? |
- | That's why it's better to bounce back on the new story, Seonsaingnim! |
- | Why are you eating your blood? |
- | There must be a loophole... |
Soo-Bin releases her smartphone to reread the episode.
On the screen, all the chapters up to 121 have an "Read" marker.
But the top of the list shows a marker "New" for a chapter 122!
- | What? There's another episode after that?! |
(same face as if there were a train accident in front of her) |
(same face as sitting on a big nail) |
- | Omo! |
~ | Soo-Bong drawn in the story?! |
¤ Ep04 - Ren-Bo saying her age, text bubble: "20 years old".
~ | 6 years before ?! |
¤ Ep04 - Ren-Bo flying over the purple thuyas hedge, towing Soo-Bong.
~ | Ren-Bo flies?! |
¤ Ep05 - Soo-Bong kisses Ren-Bo in the river.
~ | She... She kisses Soo-Bong?! |
¤ Ep05 - Sin-Moo drops his flower bouquet.
~ | Park's flower bouquet spread on the ground?! |
- | (screams) It's a nightmare!!!!! |
- | So I was right! |
- | Both of you have made a baby in my back. |
- | Such a long episode out so fast, you had everything ready beforehand! |
- | (crying) Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo. |
Soo-Bong pitifully tries to stammer something...
- | Seon... Seonsain... |
... but without success.
Soo-Bin then awakens all her anger, despite the crying.
- | There will never be a sequel to "Butterfly Girl", do you hear me? |
- | Whether I can catch up with this fiasco or not! |
- | If necessary, I'll cancel the series without notice! Just an errata pointing out a publishing error! |
: | She'll never want to continue this manhwa. |
: | What are we going to do? Otoke? |
The weather is overcast, grey.
- | I'm so tired of being unhappy... |
- | No, you have to explain yourself! |
- | Besides, you may be involved in a case with a man's death! |
- | ... (big tears fit) |
PLUFF! There is a small light puff, and Fairy Spark appears.
- | Ren-Bo, don't despair! |
- | Spark... I missed you. |
- | I'm so afraid that Soo-Bong has drowned. |
- | How could he have? |
- | Remember, the water wasn't deep enough. |
- | Even in a shallow river, you can drown. |
- | You fell from very high in the water. |
- | Don't you think if he had to drown, it would have been then? |
- | Soo-Bong, are you all right? |
- | Yah! It worked! Wow! |
- | He seemed to know how to swim, and that amused him. |
- | So, you see? |
- | What can I do now? Otoke? |
- | Get some height! |
- | Height? |
(stops walking, looks at the trees above) |
FLAP-FLIP-FLAP! She flaps her wings, flies and lands on a huge branch, high up.
Fairy Spark, at first surprised, becomes dismayed.
FLUFF! The fairy disappears into a brief cloud of light.
(sad and thoughtful, holding her knees) |
(recluse and afraid, holding her knees) |
Ren-Bo, a small child, is curled up on the ground, in a corner of the yard.
A mean child invective her.
- | Yuck! You're gonna ruin our appetite all year long, you cockroach. |
He throws the handful of worms at Ren-Bo's face.
- | Eat this, instead of making us throw up in the canteen! |
- | ... (starts to cry again) |
- | She spread her wings in the toilets. |
- | The other schoolgirls came out screaming. I have complaints from the parents! |
- | Ren-Bo, you know you shouldn't do that! |
- | (small, fearful voice) They had hung something on my back. |
- | (desperate and disgusted) Lord, our daughter is a monster. |
- | Don't worry, darling, I made an appointment at the best hospital. |
- | Surely they can do something to help her... |
- | ... (deep distress, tears and moans) |
The weather is getting darker, with heavy grey clouds.
In the foreground, the butterfly stirs in the chrysalis and pierces it with a leg.
He wants to go to her, but he glances worriedly at the other boys, and wisely refrains.
Finally, the group of boys disperses, and Park runs to catch up with Ren-Bo.
- | The others see only one thing, your awful wings. |
- | I'm so ashamed. |
- | But despite that, you are very pretty. |
- | You have the most beautiful face, among the girls in the school. |
- | That's nice of you to say that, Sin-Moo. |
- | I don't often hear people say nice things to me... |
- | ... (tears) |
- | Promise me to forget those horrible wings that ruin your life. |
- | How could I promise that? |
- | They will hang on my back and my life forever. |
- | As useless as I am... |
- | Because I will also make you a promise. |
(surprised) |
- | I will study so hard, that I will be the greatest surgeon in this world. |
- | And for sure, I'll get rid of those wings safely. |
(vague hope) |
- | You look so wonderful... Wow! |
- | Uh, I mean.... Your wings... your wings are beautiful, it's amazing. |
- | (unbelievable) My wings... beautiful? |
(doubt and sorrow) |
In the foreground, the butterfly struggles to get out of the chrysalis and pops its head out.
- | Is it your... imaginary friend? |
- | She really exists, you know... |
- | You have suffered too long in your life. |
- | To avoid turning mad, those who suffer must believe in something. |
- | This symptom will disappear, when you get better. |
(unconvinced) |
- | I can appear and disappear, like Fairy Spark! |
- | You know Fairy Spark?! |
- | But... how? |
- | Oh ! |
With a fun vengeful look, Ren-Bo notices that Soo-Bong is looking at the little fairy.
- | There's no more doubt you can see her, now! |
(bleak hope) |
(pensive and dreamy gaze) |
- | If only I could do as they do... |
- | Do you know why they can fly? |
- | Because they have wings? |
- | Then you would too. |
- | (stupid question) Oh yes, that's right. |
- | It's because they're small. Morphology is everything! |
- | It's a question of adaptation to the size and weight. |
- | That's why, even with wings, a human being will never be able to do it. |
(disappointment) |
(vain hope) |
- | Ren-Bo, you can do it! |
- | I assure you that you can fly! |
- | Soo-Bong, I would have loved it so much, but it's impossible. |
- | That's what people always wanted you to believe, but it's wrong. |
Instinctively, Ren-Bo flaps her wings and grabs Soo-Bong by the jacket.
He clutches at her, both hands around her leg.
FLIP-FLAP-FLOP!
- | ... (sobs interspersed with jolts and gasps) |
(she looks up to the sky, tears in her eyes, but this time, tears of gratitude and nervous release) |
- | Soo-Bong... He believed in me enough to let me fly. |
- | Flying on my own wings... |
Yeon-Joo, Soo-Bong and Soo-Bin are sitting in an office.
Publisher Park is in front of them, with a laptop and a sheet of paper on the table.
- | I see that the team is complete. |
- | I guess you're interested in my proposal to continue "Butterfly Girl"? |
- | Sorry, Publisher Park, the manhwa will end as planned. |
- | I can only propose to conclude it as briefly as possible. |
- | Soo-Bin, please... |
- | You, shut up! |
- | And I will do it alone. |
- | These two people don't work for me anymore. |
- | I see. |
- | Is there any way you could change your mind? |
- | Unfortunately not. |
- | I am even willing to give it up if necessary. |
- | I can officially cancel the last two episodes. |
- | That's unfortunate. |
- | Yes, very unfortunate... |
- | Couldn't we just-- |
- | Shhh-Tttt! |
- | I don't know what's going on between you, and it's none of my business. |
- | I am only interested in the facts. |
- | Author Jang, it's no longer just about them or you. |
- | Look. |
Publisher Park rotates his computer screen, with the page open on the last chapter.
He scrolls a few comments down the page.
- | I could go on for pages and pages. (closes the page) |
As desktop wallpaper, Publisher Park's computer has the kiss of Soo-Bong and Ren-Bo.
- | This is what manhwa fans want, and they are always right. |
- | Our opinion does not matter. |
- | Publisher Park, the story has nothing to do with the original one. |
- | The script went anywhere, anyhow! |
- | So what? |
- | I published "W", and the last 2 volumes were more eccentric! A realistic story tipping over into the fantastic, can you imagine? |
- | People took the bait! This paradigm shift has become a case study. |
- | Because of this, "W" went from commercial success to cult manhwa. |
- | How could it be justified? What about the romance with Park Sin-Moo? |
- | Precisely! That ending frustrated the readers. |
- | At this point, the story is rebooted in an alternative way. |
- | "What if?" |
(bad feeling) |
- | It's a very bold idea. |
- | Readers love your world and want to explore it further. |
- | What if Ren-Bo had a different fate? Or what else? |
- | Readers are fond of her, and wish to keep her in their hearts. |
- | No need for logic to make their wish come true. A magic powder, and PFFFT, they accept the situation! |
(stunned) |
- | So? |
- | (tears in her eyes, broken voice) I can't let such horror happen. |
- | Please... |
- | That's out of question! |
- | ... (affected, sighs deeply) |
(he resigns himself to be resolved, embarrassed but determined) |
- | In my turn, should I force your hand? |
- | ... (starts to sob) |
Publisher Park rotates the contract sheet that's on the table.
- | We have signed for a short series, and the 6 volumes are completed. |
- | (points to the lines) On the one hand, you are entitled to royalties for this period. |
- | (PAF! hits the contract) But on the other hand, this contract states that "Butterfly Girl" will be a trademark of mine, after that. |
- | The law allows me to publish a sequel, with or without your consent. Whether you are the author, or whether Donald Trump draws it... |
- | Whatever you decide, I hope it won't affect your other series. |
- | (in tears) I won't do it, it's beyond my strength. |
(heavy heart) |
Shaking, Soo-Bin picks up her bag and stands up.
She points a vengeful finger at Yeon-Joo and Soo-Bong.
- | You traitors! |
- | You never intended to create your own manhwa. |
- | You're just dirty thieves! |
She comes out of the office, but stays for a second on the landing.
- | (shouting) Rubbish! |
VLAM! She slams the door.
A feeling of guilt falls on the people in the office.
(lost and wet look, she sniffs while wiping her eyelid) |
(distraught, fully contracted) |
- | Author Jang is a very sensitive artist. |
- | I know her well, don't worry. |
- | I'll comfort her. I know she will get through this difficult time. |
Publisher Park takes out some contracts from his drawer.
- | Can I rely on you? |
Yeon-Joo and Soo-Bong nod agree immediately, several times.
(surprised to see him still here) |
(waves to her, desperate) |
- | Ren-Bo, I'm sorry. |
(coming closer) |
- | Forgive me, Ren-Bo. |
- | You are the last person I would want to hurt. |
(watches him sadly, with a hint of pity) |
- | I have concerns, there's a nasty gang roaming the neighborhood. |
- | Just let me take you home safely. |
- | I promise I won't tell you anything else. (opens the back door of the car) |
(moved by Sin-Moo's overwhelm, she nods agreement) |
: | If Soo-Bong didn't drown, where could he be? |
: | Is he just absent, like Fairy Spark? |
: | By the way, I never asked myself that question. |
: | Where is she, when she's not with me? |
: | Maybe he knows the answer... |
- | ... (sigh) |
: | I keep worrying about him... |
: | ... but I also feel like I miss him. |
: | I feel a void. |
: | It's like we've met before, and he knows me well. |
- | ... !!! |
- | I'm just distracted... I probably forgot to put my shoes on, when I got out. |
: | What a stunned face he made! |
(starts to smile) |
- | Ren-Bo, you have to force yourself to shake. Like when you play video games on the arcade. |
Soo-Bong demonstrates the gesture on a garden table.
- | Tac-tac-tac-tac-tac. Like this, see? |
(tender and complete smile) |
- | Then slams your teeth, thanks to a voluntary jaw cramp. |
- | Clac-clac-clac-clac-clac. Like a laughing skeleton. |
: | Right now, I was too scared to laugh. |
: | But looking back, he's so funny when he does that. |
: | (about to laugh) He looks like a comic book character. |
Sin-Moo sees Ren-Bo smiling in the rearview mirror.
Reassured, he sketches a smile too.
Ren-Bo stops smiling, she feels pain somewhere.
BO-BOOM... BO-BOOM... She carries her hands to her heart.
: | Why does that squeeze me? |
: | It beats harder than usual. |
By regular pulsations, pink slicks born at the root of Ren-Bo's wings.
They spread out and run aground on the edge of her wings, like waves.
Yeon-Joo's car moves forward in the city traffic.
Yeon-Joo is the driver, Soo-Bong is the front passenger.
- | I feel bad for Soo-Bin. |
- | But it was better this way. |
- | Her scenario would conflict with the autonomy of the manhwa. |
- | Nonna, the good news is that we are on vacation! |
- | What do you mean? |
- | The manhwa will write itself. |
- | It's gonna be relaxing for us! |
- | (sarcastic) Well, it will be relaxing to run around like crazy, to solve inter-dimensional puzzles... |
- | Speaking of running, I should go for a jog. |
- | Don't lose your fitness. |
- | Do you have a bottle of water? |
- | Under the glove box... |
Soo-Bong bends over and pokes around in the compartment.
- | (mumbling) Where did she see a bottle of water here? |
Soo-Bong straightens up, and turns to Yeon-Joo, ready to ask her.
His mouth is wide open, but no sound comes out. Jaw stuck!
His eyes widen disproportionately.
- | ... !!! (shock!) |
Next to Soo-Bong, Sin-Moo drives the car, unaware of his presence.
Soo-Bong looks at the rear view mirror, Ren-Bo is here too, sitting in the back.
Sin-Moo's bright blue sports car is moving fast.
Around the road, an unrealistic multicolored vegetation, with saturated tones.
Soo-Bong is in the front passenger seat...
Starring:
- | Joo Jin Mo is Ren-Bo's father. Excerpts from drama "Manhole". |
- | Kim Hye Ok is Ren-Bo's mother. Excerpts from drama "Manhole". |