EPISODE 38
Behind the living room windows, colored flashes. Intense, stroboscopic.
(Mi-Ra and Kang Chul's teleportation battle, seen from inside.)
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF...
They hold shoulders, sizzling with color interference and shadow.
Around them forms a swirl of ink, colored arcs, shadowy streaks.
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF...
An interdimensional hurricane roars around them. Reality is shredded!!!
No matter, they glare at each other, determined to surpass any limits to prevail.
KZT! WOMF... KZT! WOMF-- WHEN SUDDENLY--
SHRSHHH.... Energy is siphoned into their silhouettes, without them seeing it.
They resume their normal appearance, unaware that the interdimensional storm is over.
They try to teleport, but don't trigger any color interference or shadow puffs.
Now they sense that something abnormal is happening...
Darkness... Total silence... They look at each other, confused...
Then, little by little... fearing it... they look around...
... THE NOTHINGNESS.
| - | ... !!! |
| - | ..... |
Mi-Ra stops worrying about nothingness, and worries about Kang Chul, but notices...
... although he's mortally wounded, strangely enough, he's not bleeding or in pain.
|
| - | Your wounds...?! |
|
| - | No importance here. |
|
| - | ...... (closes her eyes and sighs, relieved and grateful) |
|
| - | ..... (touched that she cares, but bitter) |
|
| - | This... Is this the place you told me about? (frightened) IMAGINATION ?!! |
|
| - | (thoughtful) ... "W" and the "Crossover"... ... two destinations impossible to reach at the same time. |
|
| - | And no valid destination for me and Do-Yoon... So by default... That brought us to Imagination!!! |
|
| - | Imagination is definitely the default destination. |
|
| - | And how do we escape from here?!! |
|
| - | A portal... ??? (looks around) A portal to the real world. |
|
| - | (like "what bullshit") A portal? |
|
| - | .... (astonished by her scornful tone) |
|
| - | ..... (defiant look, "do it, I'm waiting") |
|
| - | (closes eyes, concentrates) A portal will appear, I see it in my mind... |
But nothing appears in nothingness...
|
| - | (mocking) MwoAh ah ah! ... Dumbass, where do you see a portal here?! |
|
| - | ... !! (shocked by her aggressiveness) |
|
| - | THERE'S NOTHING !!! |
|
| - | SHUT UP !!! Let me concentrate!! (closes eyes) |
|
| - | ... !!! (annoyed because...) |
|
| - | If you kill Ren-Bo, there's no more promise between us!!! |
| - | (!!!) ..... Scumbag!!! |
A cold anger grows in Mi-Ra, while Kang Chul concentrates...
|
| - | No portal will appear! We're stuck here!!! |
|
| (looks around... admits failure) |
|
| - | (snarling) It's your fault! |
|
| - | (stern) It's both our fault. |
|
| - | NO !!! Only your fault! I was just about to resolve the situation. |
|
| - | WHAT ?!! By killing Ren-Bo?! |
|
| - | You idiot. You knew it was her or me. Or did you lie to yourself, like a coward?!! |
|
| - | ... !!! (shocked by the insult, but doubts) |
|
| - | You have no excuse for this. |
|
| - | You think I had a choice?!!! |
Mi-Ra, increasingly contemptuous and angry...
|
| - | She obviously means more to you than I do. The truth is, you don't love me. |
|
| - | Love?! Sacrificing someone innocent is love?!! |
|
| - | YES !!! When you really love, you're READY FOR ANYTHING !!! Even KILL and bury a corpse in secret for the one you love! |
|
| - | ... !!! |
|
| - | Only, you're UNABLE TO LOVE like that. You're that kind of lukewarm guy. All restrained, just half-hearted. A soft, disgusting mop. |
|
| - | ... !!! (deeply hurt) |
Kang Chul should keep his cool, but this woman could drive even Buddha crazy.
|
| - | Why didn't you stay with your boring wife? It was perfect for you, this mundane, comfortable life. A SLOW SUICIDE OF THE SOUL as liked by trash who've ABANDONED the idea of meeting true love. |
|
| - | ... !!! (increasingly angry) |
|
| - | Or simply, you're the WORST BASTARD and you manipulated me to get me finish my manhwa. You never loved me and I WAS TOO STUPID TO LOVE A SHIT LIKE YOU !!! |
|
| - | ... !!! (can't take it anymore and--) |
Spaf!! Kang Chul slaps Mi-Ra!!! A slap more humiliating than brutal.
|
| - | !!!! |
|
| - | Finally, you've never stopped being what you really are... |
|
| (hand on cheek, gasps in disbelief) |
|
| - | ... An egocentric criminal combined with a self-service whore! |
|
| - | !!!!!! (in a flash--) |
She tries to slap Kang Chul. But--
Snap! He grabs her wrist first!
|
| - | (!!!) ... (exasperated) |
SWROMPH! Mi-Ra becomes the Queen of Darkness.
About to use her super-strength to slap him...
|
| (lets go of her wrist) |
|
| - | ... !! (reaches out to strike) |
|
| - | .... (stares at her, calm and determined) |
|
| - | ... (hesitates) |
|
| - | See? I can also tell any bullshit to hurt. |
|
| - | ... (doubt) |
Mi-Ra doesn't realize it, but in her twisted mind, she's provoked his anger...
... to see just how hurt he is. To get an irrefutable proof of love. So adorable!
|
| - | (points to nothingness) ... Look... LOOK !!! |
|
| - | ... ??! (looks) |
|
| - | Can you see where we are?!! |
|
| - | ... (shakily lowers hand) |
|
| - | So we need to calm down now!!! |
|
| - | Yeah, I'll calm down on my side. Because seeing your face isn't helping! |
The Queen of Darkness turns and walks away.
Kang Chul, ... !!, his intuition sounds the ALARM.
|
| - | (worried) Wait! |
Kang Chul tries to grab her wrist, but...
... he just grabs nothing, ... ???
Kang Chul, !!!, catastrophized, when he understands...
... She's not accelerating through space. Space is expanding!
Supernatural inflation is pushing her away from him!
|
| - | (horrified) MI-RA !!! |
He runs towards her, but her silhouette shrinks faster.
|
| - | MI-RA !!! MI-RA !!! |
|
| - | (motionless, looks at her arm) (?) The darkness of this place is darker than my shadow form. |
She hears Kang Chul's voice, "MI-RA !!! MI-RA !!!", (??) coming from far away.
|
| - | MI-RAAAAAA !!!! |
He sprints like mad, but it's too late...
... Now there's nothing but nothingness. She's too far away... or somewhere else.
|
| - | (turns around) ... ???!! |
Icy shock! She realizes... He's no longer here, there's only nothingness!!!
|
| - | Kang... Kang Chul? |
A growing terror twists her guts. She retraces her steps.
|
| - | Kang Chul!! KANG CHUL !!!! |
|
| : | An absurd place with unknown variables... ... inexistent time and infinite space... How to find her? |
A dreadful situation, like he's never experienced before.
|
| : | Are we separated forever here? |
Like a cleaver, the horrible truth crashes down on him. His blood runs cold.
|
| - | No... no... (fatal anguish) |
|
| - | (searches in vain) Kang Chul... Where are you? Answer me!! |
She stops for a moment...
... but to escape the growing torture, starts searching again.
|
| - | (reaches out in the void, like blind) Don't leave me alone in this void. I BEG YOU !!! |
|
| - | (waves hands vainly in the void) Mi-Ra... Mi-Ra... Where are you? Come back!! |
He's lost his rationality for the moment...
|
| - | (crying) Boo hoo hoo... I'm alone. Alone here... forever... Boo-hoo... |
She's unable to endure the horror, and distress paralyzes her thoughts.
So she bends over, shivers, continues to sob... and after a while...
(??) Mi-Ra sees a human figure gradually emerging from nothingness...
|
| - | (hopes, stands up) Kang Chul?! |
... But it's her uncle Moon Beak-Soo!!!
|
| - | !!! (breathless, instantly terrified) |
| - | My little Mi-Ra, I won't be as tender as usual. |
He's unhurt, but...
SBRATSH! The shadow arm rips off his arm!!!
|
| - | aRAAAhhAAAaaa... |
The shadow arm grabs his torso.
She places her hand on his wound and...
|
| - | Your punishment is far from over. |
... Fffff... luminous vapor, she heals the bleeding to prevent a quick death.
|
| - | I must punish you for the suffering you've caused me. (cruel smile, approaches her) |
SWROMPH! Shadow turbulence, Mi-Ra becomes the Queen of Darkness.
Red light in the abdomen. SPROTCH!!, Shadow arm springs up and--
VROOTSH!!! pierces Beak-Soo's belly through and through.
|
| - | (crazy) YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST DEALING WITH MI-RA, SCUM ?!!! |
Then... Svrach!! SSkrOtsh!! Svraash!!! Skratsh!!...
The shadow arm pierces every inch of Beak-Soo! Shreds him completely!!!
|
| - | (hysterical) DIE !!! DIE !!! DIE !!! |
Guts and flesh explode! Severed limbs fly! Blood spurts!
Once there's only a mush of crushed organs and bones on the ground...
... the organic remains of the massacre disappear, returning to nothingness.
SWROMPH! Shadowy turbulence, the Queen of Darkness becomes Mi-Ra.
The adrenalin of fear fades... Panting, she calms...
A sepulchral male voice comes from behind her.
| - | You'll be punished for this too. |
|
| - | (turns around) ... !!!!! (fright shatters her soul in thousand pieces) |
It's Beak-Soo, in shadow shape identical to the Queen of Darkness!!!
Smoldering luminous eyes, body shrouded in shadow dust, but...
... much more massive!!! In comparison, Mi-Ra is the size of a child.
SPROOTCH!! A tentacle of shadow springs from his abdomen and--
Wraps around Mi-Ra's neck, gags her mouth.
|
| - | MrrMMhh!!! (screams in terror, but cry muffled by gag) |
For unknown reasons, Mi-Ra is unable to become the Queen of Darkness.
The tentacle lifts Mi-Ra, strangled, and brings her close to Beak-Soo.
|
| - | Now, you're gonna be as nice as usual. |
Scratch! Beak-Soo rips off Mi-Ra's blouse.
|
| - | MRHH MMHRR !!! (absolute terror, eyes wild with tears) |
As Beak-Soo looks down at the bare skin of her shoulders with satisfaction...
... Poc! The barrel of a Beretta 9mm pistol sticks to his temple and--
POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW!...
Kang Chul fires point-blank at Beak-Soo's head.
POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! A frenzied firing... He's enraged!!!
Exploded skull, brain mush, shadowy blood eruptions.
POW! POW!... Click! Click! No more bullets. Beak-Soo has been decapitated!!
The monstrous shadow body collapses and vanishes into nothingness...
No more tentacle. Mi-Ra falls to her feet, wobbly.
She looks at Kang Chul, feeling like waking from a nightmare.
A time to accept the unhoped-for, overwhelmed with gratitude.
|
| - | (broken voice) Is... Is it you? (touches his cheek) |
Kang Chul's arm is still outstretched, pointing his pistol in the void.
His hand is shaking. Still nervous. He looks at Mi-Ra sadly.
|
| - | Come... Come... |
|
| (rushes into his arms, and embraces him as tightly as possible) |
|
| - | I won't let anyone hurt you. Not even yourself. |
|
| (cracks, the shock was too violent) |
|
| - | Don't leave me. Don't ever leave me again... |
|
| - | (bursts into tears) Boo hoo hoo... |
|
| (moved, tenderly caresses her head) |
|
| - | (cries) I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I'm sorry for everything. |
|
| - | We're here, together... That's all that matters. |
|
| - | I love you with all my heart and soul!!! |
Mi-Ra continues the hug. Kang Chul kisses her on the head.
But in front of him, in the nothingness... a carpet appears on the floor.
Kang Chul, ...??, it looks familiar, but before he recognizes it...
... A pretty 9-year-old brunette girl appears on the carpet!
|
| - | (!!) ... Who is it? |
|
| (??, stop hugging, looks...) |
Now the little girl is holding a pink rabbit in her arms.
With a pencil, she draws on a large sheet of paper on the carpet.
|
| - | (?!) This is... ME !! |
Child Mi-Ra stops drawing and looks at them strangely.
More furniture appears, a sofa, an armchair, a shelf with sports trophies.
|
| - | ... !!! ("my parents' apartment") |
Corpses appear. Kang Chul's family!
Kang Chul, ... !!, trembles, feels the same emotion as when...
Finally, the faceless killer emerges from nothingness, holding a pistol.
|
| - | ... !!! (shaken, loses touch with reality) |
The killer points his pistol at Child Mi-Ra's head.
|
| - | ... !!! |
The faceless killer's words materialize as text in the void.
| - | Your new family, Kang Chul? |
Kang Chul, !!!, points his pistol at the faceless killer and--
Click! Click! He shoots, but no ammo left!!
POW!!! The faceless killer coldly guns down Child Mi-Ra...
|
| - | NOOO !!! (forgot he's in Imagination) |
|
| (ready to react) |
... Then he points his pistol at Kang Chul.
SWROMPH! Shadow turbulence, Mi-Ra becomes the Queen of Darkness.
|
| - | Your turn now. |
A red light in her abdomen, and at the speed of thought--
SLOW-MOTION:
SPROTCH!! The shadow arm gushes out and--
ZRATSH!!! rips off the faceless killer's arm.
Shadow fingers puncture every part of the killer's body.
His leather coat is shredded, there's nothing underneath, and...
... All that remains of the faceless killer are a few fluttering shreds of clothing.
Carpet, furniture and corpses disappear... back into nothingness...
Shocked by emotion, Kang Chul falls to his knees.
|
| - | Agh...... (silent tears...) |
|
| - | (kneels down, hugs him) It's over... It wasn't real... |
|
| - | I love you too... Since the first kiss. |
|
| (moved, strokes his head) |
They comfort each other for a few seconds, then...
... Mi-Ra stands up, takes Kang Chul's hand and helps him to his feet.
They look at each other, worried but reassured to be together.
|
| - | How do we escape from here? |
|
| - | I don't know. |
|
| - | Are we trapped here forever? |
|
| - | !!!!!!! (looks behind her, frightened) |
|
| - | !!! (worried by his fright) |
Slowly, Mi-Ra turns around, afraid to do so...
... In the distance, so big it seems close, THE EYE OF THE NARRATOR !!!
| - | Of course you're trapped here forever. |
|
| - | !!! (terror!) |
|
| - | !!! (terror!) |
No yellow frame. Just the Narrator's eyes and mouth surrounded by nothingness...
... far away, but so immense that it dominates space, haloed in negative luminescence.
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra are so small and derisory compared to this power.
In fearful reflex, they take a few steps back... but have nowhere to go.
So they stop. He takes her hand, squeezes it tightly. They have to face the Narrator.
|
| - | Moon Beak-Seo and the faceless killer... ... Did you like my gifts? |
|
| - | (trembling voice) He's not real... He can't be... Not here... |
|
| - | I can't be more real than here. The place where I was born. My reality. Coming from beyond Imagination. Out of nothingness by my own will. |
|
| - | It doesn't matter... He can't kill us. |
|
| - | ... (hopes) |
|
| - | That's true, but since you're here forever... ... I must torture you, for such is the fate of characters. |
Nothingness disappears, replaced by a burning desert. Sand dunes to infinity...
... And tearing through a paper-dirty yellow sky, the Narrator's face on the horizon!
|
| - | Commence now... your eternity of suffering!! |
The Narrator shines like the sun.
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra are stunned by the heat.
|
| - | (turns around, takes her by the hand) Let's go... Let's not give him our attention... |
|
| - | .... (clutches his hand, ready to endure anything if he's with her) |
Later... Kang Chul and Mi-Ra stagger along, their feet stuck in the sand.
It's so hot that the air blurs their silhouettes. The ground shimmers like a mirage.
Sweating, their lips are withered, their mouths parched.
Behind them, in the sky, the Narrator smiles cruelly.
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra walk down a dune, to the shade.
The Narrator can no longer see them, but...
... he glides into the sky, and faces them again.
|
| - | Why run away from me in a world where I am God?! |
No more shadow, the burning sun that is the Narrator consumes them.
|
| (determined, turns around, forces her to follow him) |
|
| (overwhelmed, embraces his hand, follows him) |
|
| - | What stubbornness! But I know why you have the arrogance to ignore me. |
They walk away. Kang Chul thinks painfully, his mind hampered by suffering.
|
| - | It's because you're together. ... Let's see your agony when you're alone! |
A sinister wind blows the grains of sand...
|
| - | ... !! (fright!) |
|
| - | ... !! (fright!) |
Frrrrrr... The wind becomes a sandstorm!! Strafing their skins.
|
| - | MMRGGH !! (screams without opening his mouth) |
A tornado of sand strikes between Kang Chul and Mi-Ra...
... pushing them in opposite directions.
|
| - | RGGHMM !! (screams without opening her mouth) |
They hold hands, as hard as they can.
Frrrrrr... Sand whips their eyes. Blinded!
They scream, desperately trying not to let go, but...
... little by little, Mi-Ra's hand slips out of Kang Chul's.
|
| - | RRRGGHW !!!! |
|
| - | RWGGHMM !!!! |
A violent gust and-- their hands let go!!!
They are separated, unable to see each other.
Kang Chul, desperate, waves his arms in vain.
Frrrrrr... He's swept away by the cyclone, when...
WOSH!, a blackish limb breaks through the sand towards him.
Kang Chul feels something wrap around his chest.
He touches it and recognizes...
... the shadow hand of the Queen of Darkness!
He's pulled through the tornado to her!
She embraces him, protecting him from the sand.
Frrrrrr... Despite the tornado redoubling its violence...
... The sepulchral voice of the Queen of Darkness overcomes the sound of the wind.
|
| - | You were right, this can't be the REAL Narrator!!! |
|
| - | ... !! (hope) |
Soon, he's gone. She desperately searches for him in the gusts...
¤ She flees into the sand dunes that have become a burning desert.
Every step is difficult, sinking into the sand.
¤ The blue sky turns a pale, dirty yellow.
In the middle of the sky, like a giant sun, the face of the Correspondent!
|
| - | A dream!!! This comes from a dream I had. |
Protected by the Queen of Darkness, Kang Chul can speak without swallowing sand.
|
| - | (shouts) This dream and my own fears, but... |
|
| - | Are Kang Chul and Do-Yoon with Wang Shin in "Butterfly Girl"? |
|
| - | No, Moon Mi-Ra. |
|
| - | Where are they then? In the real world? In "W"?! |
|
| - | Kang Chul can't go to "W" from your world. And only you could send them to the real world. |
|
| - | ..... So you don't know where they are?! |
|
| - | I don't know. It's as incomprehensible as the rest. |
|
| - | (shouts) The Narrator may be born in Imagination. But he doesn't know this place. He can't go here!! |
Kang Chul presses his forehead against the Queen of Darkness's.
|
| - | Breathe deeply!! Close your eyes, plug my ears ! (puts his hands over her ears) |
She puts her hands over Kang Chul's ears.
Glued forehead to forehead, concentrated, for a few seconds...
... the wind eases, the sand disappears, the horizon darkens.
When they open their eyes, all that remains is nothingness...
SWROMPH! Turbulence of shadow, the Queen of Darkness becomes Mi-Ra.
They look at each other, panting, recovering from their emotions, then...
... a mutual smile... Kang Chul strokes her cheek.
|
| - | Was it an illusion or was it real? |
|
| - | Both. |
|
| - | (!!) ... How long will we be here? |
|
| - | I don't know. Imagination won't let us go. I can teach you to breathe through your belly. |
|
| - | (relaxes) Mwoarf! Can't you think of something more absurd to say? |
|
| - | A relaxation method to be used regularly. We need to control our fears so as not to materialize them. Once slowed down to three breaths per minute, the brain changes state. Discursive thoughts and disturbing emotions cease. |
|
| - | Ooh. Mmh-mh. (quotes) The mind is a dirty pond of suspended particles... ... and becomes limpid once these particles rest at the bottom. |
|
| - | (!) ... Finally, you're an expert on the subject? |
|
| - | Hum.... Well, not really... I've tried everything... including this, for a while... (sighs) ... I don't know if it helped... I'm afraid it didn't. |
|
| - | (confident) It will help you. That's how I found you earlier. |
|
| - | (remembers) ... When you shot... my uncle? |
|
| - | Yes, the more I worried about losing you, the more you disappeared. |
After a moment, he opens his eyes and sees... Mi-Ra clutched by a shadow monster!!!
|
| ~ | When I realized that, I relaxed and found you right away. |
|
| - | ....... |
Later... Kang Chul and Mi-Ra relax. Deep belly breaths.
Mi-Ra has her hand on Kang Chul's wound. Luminous halo, she heals him.
|
| - | Now would be a good time to have a "HAMMER" discussion, but calmly. |
|
| - | Mwoaf... (takes out her smartphone) Go ahead. (looks at him mockingly, "using a smartphone here...") |
He concentrates and a smartphone materializes in his hand.
|
| - | (smiles, shows the smartphone) Impossible to materialize a portal, but it works for other things. |
|
| - | ... (impressed) |
He writes a message and sends it.
Ting! Notification on Mi-Ra's smartphone.
|
| - | (!!!) ... What??! The network picks up HERE ?!!! |
|
| - | (mocking smile) Narrative laws... (wink) |
|
| - | (?!!) ... (reads message with "HAMMER" emoticon) |
|
| ~ | For our last fight in this place. |
|
| - | (calm) I already know what it's about... |
|
| - | (calm) So... Why did you want to kill Ren-Bo? |
|
| - | (sad) Because one day she'll have to kill me to end the manhwa. There's no other choice, it's her or me. |
|
| - | No, you're both protagonists. There's no confrontation between you. There must be another way. Make common cause, fulfill your objectives. |
|
| - | You have to go there and wish for the end, to trigger "FINAL CHAPTER". |
|
| - | (scornfully) What a stupid fucking idea. And what happens next? |
|
| - | (annoyed) A happy ending. You become friends with Butterfly Girl, and the story ends. |
|
| - | You've already suggested it, but it won't work. |
|
| - | ("mystery") ... Why not? |
|
| - | (sighs, stares sadly into space) It's enough for Ren-Bo to conclude her love story. |
|
| - | ... (nods) |
|
| - | ... (looks at him sadly) |
|
| - | ... (tragic intuition) |
|
| - | But the Queen of Darkness has nothing to conclude. |
|
| - | ... !!! |
|
| - | (painfully) That's... My manhwa was designed that way from the start. |
| - | Why doesn't she take absolute power?! |
| - | (shakes hands) Aaah, no, no. If she did that, there'd be no more story. |
¤ Later:
|
| - | (opens arms) She has no ambition for world domination. (arms to the sky) Her only goal is evil for the sake of eviiiiil!!! |
|
| - | (nods "no" several times)... It's crazy... It's insane... To use all that witchcraft... In such a childish way... Without purpose... |
|
| - | My manhwa has no story, no character development. I made it that way so I could extend it indefinitely. |
|
| - | ... !!! |
|
| - | Just the Queen of Darkness killing heroes, until the author dies. |
|
| - | (!!) ... (thoughtful) ... |
|
| - | ..... |
|
| - | W imposed a goal on the faceless killer. Two of us could finish. But the Queen of Darkness has no goal and-- |
|
| - | And she's... I am... the main protagonist. |
|
| - | Killing Ren-Bo allowed you to survive, but not to end the manhwa?! |
|
| - | (sobbing) ... I know. At first, I didn't want to end it. But you convinced me. Only even when I wanted to, I realized I couldn't. |
|
| - | A manhwa that would go on forever. What the Narrator wants, until he destroys everything!! |
|
| - | I KNOW !! (cries) ... But I couldn't see any solution... ... I had to go on, survive until-- |
|
| - | We'll find a solution. |
|
| - | ... ?!! (painful hope) |
|
| - | (confident) In W, I was able to free Yoon Seo-Hee from a similar situation. Make her give up her goal. It's just the opposite, to give a goal. |
|
| - | Is there any point now? We're stuck here... |
|
| - | .... |
|
| - | What's to become of us? Grow old and die here? |
|
| - | We won't age. Our organisms are no longer subject to physical laws. |
|
| - | (??!) ... We'll stay alive... for centuries? More? |
|
| - | Potentially... Eternity. |
|
| - | (!!!) ... What will we do if that's the case?! |
|
| - | We'll live here... And we'll live happily. |
|
| - | (frightened) ..... (then, strangely... smiles hesitantly) |
Mi-Ra looks at him. He's so confident... A feeling of eternal love grows in her...
|
| - | Let's materialize a home where life is sweet! |
|
| - | (teasing) Finally, you like this place? |
|
| - | Let's just enjoy this place fulfilling all our desires. |
Smack!! She kisses him briefly!
|
| - | Could we change the decor regularly? But let's start with a villa by the beach. |
|
| - | Not something sinister like your manhwa?! |
|
| - | Tcham! No. (points) Opposite, the ocean and the setting sun. (points to the sky) A beautiful orange sky. Palm trees and-- |
|
| - | We can't do that. |
|
| - | (?!!) ... Of course we can?! |
|
| - | If we do this, we'll forget where we are. Until the day we materialize our fears. |
|
| - | So it has to remain sinister like my manhwa?! |
|
| - | I'm afraid so. Just some scenery. We must never lose sight of this nothingness. |
He removes his wedding ring and stows it inside, then goes to Mi-Ra.
She concentrates, eyes closed, and...
... A sumptuous bed materializes. Cushions, silk sheets.
|
| - | (takes his hand, smiling mischievously) Let's inaugurate it!!! |
|
| - | (surprised) ... !! (smiles, likes the idea) |
She pulls Kang Chul onto the bed, caresses him, kisses him.
The view recedes. We see them further and further away... undressing...
... Then too small to see the details of what they're doing, but we guess...
|
| - | I thought time didn't exist here?! |
|
| - | The time we feel exists. As I've created this clock, it will show us that time. |
|
| - | (looks at emptiness) It doesn't work. |
|
| - | ("as expected") We had to try anyway. |
They are watching the horror film "A Nightmare on Elm Street" on a cinema screen.
In the picture: Freddy, the disfigured killer living in nightmares. Hat, razor-sharp fingers.
|
| - | (reproach) Is this the only kind of movie you've ever watched in your life?! |
|
| - | (!!) At least I've watched movies! |
|
| - | A killer from a nightmare. Is it smart to watch such horror here? |
|
| - | (annoyed) Shh!! Enjoy the movie... (turns his head towards the screen) |
... Freddy, the disfigured killer of "A Nightmare on Elm Street".
|
| - | I told you this was a bad idea!! Who's imagining him?!! You or me? |
|
| - | It doesn't matter. |
SWROMPH! Mi-Ra becomes the Queen of Darkness. Red light in the abdomen.
|
| - | Yah!! (turns her chin towards him) ... No need, just breathe. |
|
| (luminous vapor in eyes) |
Freddy goes towards them, threatening, waving his razor fingers...
|
| (calms down, abdominal breathing) |
... Freddy evaporates into nothingness.
|
| - | (smirks) You didn't have to go all-out. (wink, arrogant smile) |
SWROMPH! The Queen of Darkness becomes Mi-Ra.
|
| - | Your real superpower is to be super annoying!! |
Many manhwas, books on arts, painting, cinema and so on.
He opens a book on photographic art. On the page, a black-and-white photo.
A skilful composition, close to the aesthetic of "Queen of Darkness".
|
| - | (astonished) It's perfectly clear. Do you remember these books by heart? |
|
| - | (examining the photo) No... Imagination completes it... ... Extract what I've forgotten from my unconscious? |
|
| - | Probably... I won't be short of reading material. |
Mi-Ra examines another, smaller bookcase.
Business, electronics and computer books. Disappointment!!
|
| - | (reproachfully) You've never read at least one novel?!! |
|
| - | Aaah... I haven't had the time. |
|
| - | (picks up a computer book on the C language) Deadly dull, incomprehensible and totally useless here. You really have no culture. A NERD in a pretty wrapper! |
|
| - | ... (offended, but used to it by now) |
On the table, she regularly consults the computer book on the C language.
|
| - | (taking a look) I thought it was deadly boring? |
|
| - | (staying focused) Yes, but it's just... ...... to pass the time!! |
|
| - | ... ?? (amused, "she's lying so badly") |
... Mi-Ra, concentrating, typing lines of code on the computer.
Increasingly angry, facing an insurmountable difficulty.
|
| - | Fuck, Fuck!!! But FUCK !!! |
Crash!!! She destroys the keyboard by hitting the screen.
|
| - | (amused, knows this kind of annoying obstacle) Do you want me to help you? |
|
| - | NO !!!! |
A new keyboard materializes on the table.
A cascade of error messages appears.
|
| - | RAAAAAAHH !!! There's no way it's NOT working!!!! SHIT !!! |
Kang Chul comes to watch, while she returns to the code page.
|
| - | (amused, points to screen) Oh, you forgot to increment that variable in the loop. |
|
| - | (hysterical) NOOOOO !!! DON'T TELL MEEEE !!!!!!!! |
|
| (mocking, "ouch... a catastrophe is happening here") |
|
| - | Agrrh... (annoyed to correct what he showed her) |
Click! She clicks on "execute" and...
... A game of "Tetris" comes to life on the screen!!!
|
| - | (overjoyed, shakes head) YaaaaAAAAHH !!!! I DID IT !!! |
|
| - | (teasing) Weeks for that? All you had to do was materialize it straight away!! |
|
| - | (gritted teeth) Are you kidding me?! Really, God gave me the most annoying man in the world!! |
|
| - | ("what a nerve") And me, the woman with the most infernal temper!!! |
|
| - | (calms down, smiles) ... Come on. (waves finger at him) |
|
| - | ... ?? (approaches) |
Smack! She gives him a short, tender kiss.
Her shot misses and her hand jumps with the recoil.
|
| - | Shit, I didn't think it was that shaky. |
Tenderly, Kang Chul steps up behind her...
... He wraps one hand around her, the other guiding her hand.
|
| - | (in her ear) Inhale and hold your breath before you shoot. |
|
| - | (excited by his romantic touch) ... Mmmh... (sexy breath-holding) |
POW!!! She shoots the bull's-eye!!
|
| - | Wow! WOOHOO !! Did I do that?! |
|
| - | (amused) Almost. |
Perfect movements, like choreography!
|
| - | (shocked) Damn, I can't believe you're learning this so fast. |
|
| - | (teasing) Learning is my main quality. (wink) |
Tzing! Tzang! Tzing! They continue training.
|
| - | Wow! I've figured it out. It's like using a pencil basically. |
|
| - | (nods) You're a fast learner too. |
|
| - | Let's celebrate! |
|
| - | (?!) ... How? |
Ting! They clink their glasses of champagne. Take a sip.
|
| - | It's strange... We don't need to sleep or eat. But why does it taste so good anyway? |
|
| - | Do you like my food? |
|
| - | Mmmh... Perhaps we could materialize a five-star chef? |
|
| - | (amused) Narrative laws save us from fatigue and hunger, but not from pleasant sensations. So it's better to live normally, to keep our grip on reality. |
|
| - | Mwha ah! And above all, to enjoy it! |
|
| (smiles, "the woman I love is excessively hedonistic") |
Ten meters away, in nothingness... a human figure materializes.
|
| - | ... ?!! (gets up, goes to see) |
Finishing materializing... Oh Yeon-Joo!
|
| - | !!! (disgusted) |
Mi-Ra looks at Kang Chul briefly: His eyelids flutter, he's dreaming.
| - | ... ??! (looks around, doesn't understand) |
|
| - | (in a low, hateful voice) How dare you disturb our happiness. |
Mi-Ra materializes a pistol with silencer in her hand.
|
| - | (?!) Wait, what-- |
VOP! Mi-Ra kills Yeon-Joo with a bullet to the forehead!
Yeon-Joo is shot in the forehead and collapses.
Mi-Ra goes to his bedside, hiding behind her...
... Yeon-Joo's corpse vanishing into nothingness.
|
| - | (?!!) ... Did I have... a nightmare? |
|
| - | (puts hand to his forehead) We shouldn't sleep. It might summon up things... horrible things. |
|
| - | It was stupid to try. |
|
| - | ... (tender smile) |
|
| (fascinated) |
|
| - | (theatrical) To beee or not-to-beee... That's the question. |
|
| - | Mwah ah ah ah!!!! (mocking) And you wanted to be an actor?!? |
|
| - | ... !! (offended) |
|
| - | Let me take care of your artistic education. |
|
| - | (sullenly) And I'll take care of your moral education. |
|
| - | (playfully) Let's make love now!!! |
|
| - | Ttt-Ttt-Ttt (Paf! slaps her butt) |
|
| - | Woo!!! (amused, excited) |
She smiles at him, goes to the bed. He follows, smiling.
|
| - | Mmmhh... Let's do THAT again, exactly the same way. |
Even if we can't see the details... They're naked under the sheets.
Kang Chul stands up. (we can only see his shoulders)
He goes to the clock and reads: "230 days".
|
| - | We've been in this bed for a month!!! |
|
| - | Mwah! So what??! It's perfect like this! |
|
| - | We should do something else once in a while! |
|
| - | (on cloud nine) MwwwOOO-kay. |
... Mi-Ra finishes drawing a warrior on horseback.
|
| - | (admiringly) How do you do it, without a model? |
|
| - | Photographic memory. |
|
| - | (?!) ... Is that why you never sketch beforehand? |
|
| - | No relation between the two notions. It's because I have the perfect gesture. |
|
| - | (!!) ... But what about proportions? |
|
| - | Innate three-dimensional visualization. I can extrapolate any angle. Only one person in a million can do that. |
|
| - | (!!!) ... (teasing) Aren't you the best draughtswoman in the world? |
|
| - | (serious) In Korea for sure. And for the world... |
|
| - | ... ?! |
|
| - | Yes, you're right, but I was too modest to admit it. |
|
| - | ... (dismayed by her pretentiousness) |
|
| - | (looks at him seriously then...) Mwah ah ah!!! |
|
| - | Aaah... ah ah. (laughs but, "does she really mean it?") |
Classic painting! Canvas, palette, brushes, pigment pots.
|
| - | (fed up) Shouldn't you take a break? |
|
| (in a trance, can't hear, keep painting) |
|
| - | (takes the brush from her fingers) Mi-Ra!! You've been on this for a month without eating! |
|
| - | (??!) ... Since there's no need here? |
|
| - | Will you continue like this without taking care of me? |
|
| - | .... |
|
| - | .... |
|
| - | (sighs) Aaah... Are you bored, my poor love? Why don't you learn to paint? |
|
| - | ... !!! |
Resolute, he lifts her into his arms. Towards... The bed!
|
| - | Mwah ah ah!! (excited) |
... The view recedes, swirling.
Farther and farther away...
... the island of life with a few pieces of furniture fades into nothingness.
The impression of a very long time...
In Kang Chul's hand, a sledgehammer materializes and with it--
BRASH!!! He destroys the clock!!
The debris and the sledgehammer disappear into nothingness.
|
| - | Why did you do that? |
|
| - | It's been five years. We'll never leave here. Evaluating the time of eternity is useless. |
|
| (takes his arm to comfort him, smiles as "it's better this way") |
|
| - | Are you coming? |
|
| - | (rummaging in a closet) Just a sec. I'm looking for a swimsuit. |
|
| - | (suspicious, then pretends to grumble) Since when do you use a swimsuit... |
She doesn't answer. She rummages under a pile of clothes...
... and finds an object she's hidden there: A watch!
She secretly looks: 2700 days on the watch.
|
| - | Staying here forever... Can you accept that? |
|
| - | I accept the inevitable. Just... I'm sad I'll never see my son again. |
|
| - | (satisfied because "nothing about Yeon-Joo") ... I'm sorry. Can you still be happy? |
|
| - | (smiles tragically) With you... ... I suppose it's like being in Paradise? |
|
| - | (intense happiness) Maybe... ... There wouldn't be any other place where we could be happy. |
|
| - | ... ?! |
|
| - | Yes, I like it. I want to stay here with you, forever. |
|
| (moved, takes her chin so they can look at each other) |
|
| - | I love you. |
|
| - | (caresses her cheek) I love you too. |
|
| - | (relaxed) You were right, it's fun. |
|
| - | (serious) It's not "fun", it's essential! |
|
| - | (shows the outline of the character) I told you you didn't have the right proportions! Why do you insist on starting with the most complicated?! Just paint an apple to start with!! |
|
| - | (sighs) Aaah... Let me have fun! |
|
| - | (annoyed) We don't paint for fun!!! |
|
| - | No, Nooo!!! (points to the roof) Start here!!! |
|
| - | ..... (painful) |
|
| - | It sucks!! The colors are disgusting! You never listen to anything I tell you!! |
|
| - | (looks at his palette, full of different colors) Raah... I never get the colors right when I mix. |
|
| - | What do you expect?! Mixing everything together and getting something?! What did I tell you about the principle of colors?! |
|
| - | (jaded, monotone) Mixing all the colors gives white for the light... ... but brown for the paint pigments. |
|
| - | Voilà! So here, you're producing nothing but poo!!! |
|
| - | (pissed off) Pffff........ |
|
| - | (disappointed with the result, grayed out) Even with only two colors, it doesn't work. |
|
| - | (picks up a tube of paint: golden yellow) Golden yellow! Always add a hair of golden yellow!!! |
|
| - | Shit!! I'm sick of this, I'll never make it. |
|
| - | Be patient!! |
|
| - | (angry) I've been patient for months!! |
|
| - | Then be more patient. You've got all eternity for that! |
|
| - | ... !!! (freaks out and--) |
PAF!!! Kang Chul shoves the palette in Mi-Ra's face, like a cream pie!
|
| - | (face full of paint, spits) Ptoo! ... Seriously... You really did this to me?!! |
|
| - | ...... (mocking smile) |
|
| - | AISH !!! (empties tube of golden yellow on his head) |
They bicker, spraying each other with paint, and don't notice...
... further into nothingness, a lion and a lioness appear, bickering.
They end up laughing at this ridiculous battle...
... the lions disappear into nothingness.
Shlink-Shlank-Slink!! She retaliates several times, he parries everything.
Perfect control, incredible speed!!
Kang Chul grabs Mi-Ra's wrist holding the sword, but--
Instead of resisting, she accompanies his grip and...
... flies over him. Superhuman acrobatics! Like a superhero!!!
As she lands, SKRINGL!!! Her blow shatters Kang Chul's sword!!
Zang!! She strikes to decapitate Kang Chul!!-- But stops short against his neck.
|
| - | ... !!! |
|
| - | (relentless) There's no fucking way I'm letting you get better than me with this! (Wosh! twirls sword once) |
|
| - | (disappointed, looks at his broken sword, then arrogant...) I still have plenty of time to succeed. (wink) |
|
| - | Heol! The other day, you said it's useless. And that even in the real world, it could be printed in 3d. |
|
| - | (deep look) I don't care about your opinion, I'm gonna try this. |
|
| - | (!!) ... That wasn't MY opinion! |
|
| - | Wahooo... |
|
| - | Have I done something artistic? |
|
| - | (eyes vibrating) Yes... oh yes... |
|
| (looks at her, moved) |
|
| - | (grasps his cheeks with both hands) I'm proud of you. |
|
| - | (smiles tenderly) I love you... more than ever. |
|
| - | Ready for the new course? |
|
| - | (laconic) Let's see what you've got in store for me... |
Facing Kang Chul, a labyrinth of walls, false houses and towers.
|
| - | GO !!! (untie blindfold, start stopwatch) |
Kang Chul enters the maze, an enemy appears at a window.
POW! Kang Chul shoots him in the head.
The enemy collapses... It wasn't a dummy or a cardboard target...
... A real enemy created by Mi-Ra, via Imagination!!!
As Kang Chul progresses...
POW! POW! POW! He continues to kill dozens of enemies...
... All coming from hidden places, surprising, unpredictables.
Kang Chul's speed and precision are now superhuman!!!
SLOW-MOTION:
An enemy appears 100 meters away, behind numerous obstacles.
POW! Kang Chul shoots!! Subjective view of the bullet, passing through the obstacles...
... until the bullet kills the enemy between the eyes!!
A feat impossible with a 9mm pistol, and yet!!!!
Kang Chul can no longer hold the sheet and it falls to the ground.
The cut is so precise that it forms the silhouette of a swan taking flight!
|
| - | (amazed) Okay... I'll never be better with a sword. ... Neither will anyone else in the world now. |
|
| (smiles and Smack! kisses him on the cheek) |
|
| - | Why, after all this time, are you still a mystery? |
|
| - | Am I hiding something? |
|
| - | (nods with a smile) It's for the best. Otherwise, Eternity would be a long time. |
Eternity, illustrated by fast, blurred transitions... (song)
¤ Kang Chul using a weight machine. Much more muscular than before.
¤ Mi-Ra doing dance and acrobatic gymnastics. More supple and athletic than before.
¤ They're on a soft tablecloth filled with cushions, about to make love.
|
| ~ | Love is strange. It knows no weariness and never stops growing. |
¤ Kang Chul sculpts a gargoyle, while Mi-Ra paints a gargoyle.
¤ They stroll along romantically, creating an enchanted garden as they go.
|
| ~ | Yes. Here we can be happy, forever. This is the Garden of Eden. |
¤ They carve a statue of Perseus striking down Medusa. Smiles, tenderness.
¤ As far as the eye can see, suspended in nothingness, gardens, works of art, paintings, sculptures.
|
| ~ | So paradoxical. The empty place used to create elsewhere... ... we fill it with our creations. |
¤ Kang Chul and Mi-Ra splashing in a artificial lake, playing splash, happy.
¤ Faster and faster and increasingly blurred...
Moments of Mi-Ra and Kang Chul busy in different places, in love...
|
| ~ | The first principle able to extricate itself from nothingness is love. |
... brighter and brighter... Until a flash of pure light.
Sitting at a desk, Kang Chul types a story on the computer.
Mi-Ra checks that he can't see her and opens a cupboard.
Under a pile of clothes, she takes out the watch she had hidden.
She looks at the time they've spent here. (we can't see it)
Mi-Ra closes the cupboard.
She sits down at a drawing table next to Kang Chul.
Without looking at him, she dips a brush into a pot of ink...
|
| - | What are you drawing? |
|
| - | Something I've never done before... ... And I don't know why. |
|
| - | ... ?! |
|
| - | Us. |
|
| - | ... (smiles) |
Mi-Ra draws very quickly.
|
| - | I'm going to do the same drawing twice. One for you, and one for me. |
She changes the drawing sheet (we don't see it).
As she draws, Kang Chul looks at her...
He admires her, with tenderness... An idea occurs to him.
|
| - | Finished! |
She materializes a fan in her hand and shakes it over the drawing to dry the ink.
On the drawing: The faces of Mi-Ra and Kang Chul, looking at each other in profile.
He in white on a black background, she in black on a white background.
No lines, just shapes surrounded by light and shadow. A powerful raw energy!
|
| - | The more intense the shadow, the more intense the light. The energy is at its maximum potential and... |
|
| - | ... (admires the drawing) |
|
| - | Love too. |
|
| (moved, strokes her hair) |
Mi-Ra materializes two pouches, with a string.
She draws shamanic words on them.
|
| - | What are they? |
|
| - | I use them as talismans, to protect us and bind us together. |
She folds the drawings and puts them in the pouches.
She gives one to Kang Chul and wears hers like a necklace.
He does the same, and slips the pouch under his shirt.
|
| - | There's something else we've never done... ... And I don't know why. |
|
| - | Mh?! |
He goes into nothingness, concentrates and materializes...
... an area of lawn with a cherry tree, budding pink flowers.
|
| - | ... ?? |
|
| - | (smiles) Come on. |
|
| - | ... ? (goes to the lawn) |
|
| (kneels down and takes her hand) |
|
| - | ... ?! |
|
| - | Mi-Ra, will you marry me? |
|
| - | ... !!!! |
|
| - | (smiles) I know it doesn't make much sense here. But for me, marriage makes more sense than talismans. |
Mi-Ra can't answer, too moved. She's even suffering.
|
| - | I... I never thought... |
|
| - | ... (doubt) |
In truth, a dream buried so deep that its emergence is painful...
... but ultimately liberating. Her heart explodes!!!
A wind blows the cherry blossom petals, which rain down on them like snow.
|
| - | (overexcited with joy) yes! Yes !!! YES !!!!! |
|
| - | ... !! (surprised) |
|
| - | I love you and I want to be your wife!! |
Kang Chul stands up. He caresses her cheek.
As they gaze tenderly at each other, further away...
... in the barely-open drawer of a cabinet, an object shines:
Kang Chul's old wedding ring. The one from his marriage with Yeon-Joo.
KZZT! Colorful crackling. The ring is annihilated.
(After Kang Chul and Mi-Ra disappear, end of episode 37.)
Yeon-Joo, Do-Yoon, Soo-Bong, Ren-Bo, Wang Shin...
|
| - | ......!!! (feels something on her hand) |
Yeon-Joo raises her hand and on her finger... KZT! Her wedding ring sizzles.
|
| - | NO !!! |
They all look... KZZT! Yeon-Joo's wedding ring is annihilated.
| - | (!!) They've been ANNIHILATED ?!!! |
|
| - | NooOOoo... !!! |
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra's clothes magically change...
... into wedding costumes of regal exuberance.
He, a black suit, with a white fleur-de-lys over his heart.
She, an endless white dress, with a black fleur-de-lis over her heart.
|
| - | ?? |
|
| - | ?? |
Around them... the grass and cherry trees disappear.
Materializing: stone walls, colonnades, vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows...
... the interior of a huge cathedral!
The first time nothingness is no longer visible.
A distant wedding organ resounds.
They stand beside the altar.
|
| - | ... ?? (looks around, astonished) |
|
| - | ... ?? (amazed by the cathedral) |
|
| - | (?) Is it you who-- |
|
| - | No! Or maybe... unconsciously... ? |
Behind the altar materializes...
... A puppet dressed as a fancy priest! So bizarre.
|
| - | ... !! |
|
| - | ... !! |
skriik... With a wooden squeak, the puppet turns to Kang Chul.
His rudimentary wooden mouth clatters. A worn voice of an old gramophone.
| - | Kang Chul, do you want to take Moon Mi-Ra as your wife, to love her through all the best and worst, until death do you part. |
|
| - | ... Yes. |
skriik... Stiff-necked and jerky, the puppet-priest turns to Mi-Ra.
|
| - | Moon Mi-Ra, do you want to take Kang Chul as your husband, to love him through all the best and worst, until death do you part. |
|
| - | Yes, I do. |
|
| - | In the name of the Supreme Beyond Imagination... ... I now pronounce you husband and wife. |
On the altar materialize: Two wedding rings of gold, ivory and ebony.
Abnormally large, organic, natural-looking.
With a jerky gesture, the puppet-priest opens his hand towards the rings.
|
| (so strange, smiles at Mi-Ra) |
|
| (smiles at Kang Chul, "let's just accept it this way") |
Kang Chul takes a wedding ring and puts it on Mi-Ra's finger.
She looks at the ring, not just happy to be married...
... her expert eye judges the ring's wonderful aesthetics.
She takes the other ring and slips it onto Kang Chul's finger.
skriik... The puppet-priest turns to Kang Chul.
|
| - | You may kiss the bride. |
Kang Chul embraces Mi-Ra...
... and they begin a passionate kiss.
A very long kiss, eyes closed...
While they are sad and distraught...
... in the center of the room, a dimensional distortion occurs!
|
| - | ??! |
| - | ??! |
Then a vortex of color and shadow...
| - | ??! |
|
| - | ??! |
| - | ??! |
The vortex dissipates, revealing...
... Kang Chul and Mi-Ra kissing, eyes closed!!
Still dressed in their flamboyant wedding costumes.
|
| - | ... ?!!! (shocked, horrified) |
The cathedral disappears... then the furniture and works of art...
... as far as the infinite horizon... until all that's left is... nothingness.
But Kang Chul and Mi-Ra's alliances don't disappear!
They continue to kiss, unaware that they've left Imagination.
They embrace tighter... Kang Chul runs his hand through Mi-Ra's hair...
... as she clutches his neck, caresses his nape.
Consumed with pleasure and happiness.
|
| - | ... !!!!! (stabbed in the heart) |
Then, Yeon-Joo notices on their fingers...
... the two wedding rings of gold, ivory and ebony!!!!
|
| - | ... !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (as if sliced in half by a sword) |
