EPISODE 40
Mi-Ra exits the gate, carrying her tablet, dressed as a bride.
An uncertainty flashes her mind!
She looks back at Kang Chul in the garden.
They share a last, intense gaze.
Then Mi-Ra leaves...
A few steps down the street... when--
VERTIGO! She staggers, stops walking.
A panic attack. She remembers...
She looks at the gate, needing to reassure herself.
| : | He's there, just behind. And he'll be with me in half an hour. As ever, forever... |
After an eternity together, the slightest separation is unbearable.
Kang Chul feels dizzy. Blurred, whirling vision.
For fear of falling, he leans on Do-Yoon.
| - | (??) President Kang? (worried) |
| - | It's nothing, just two seconds... (breathes and comes to his senses) |
The essential woman he's always lived with is no longer here.
An unspeakable feeling that the world has become unnatural.
A few streets away, Mi-Ra stops walking. A sudden idea.
She fumbles on her, searching without finding...
|
| : | (amused) If I ever had a smartphone, it stayed in Imagination. |
PFWOM... Mi-Ra disappears in a puff of shadow...
A poor suburb: dilapidated houses, shacks, vacant lots.
WOMPF... Mi-Ra materializes in a puff of shadow.
In the distance, she sees a large shack and the pink Cadillac parked out front.
Two modern shadow killers stand guard nearby.
(The shack corresponds to Sung-Moo's house in the Crossover.)
|
| - | YAH !!! (beckons them over) |
The killers come running... then wait for her orders.
|
| - | (opens hand) Smartphones. |
A killer pulls out two smartphones:
One labeled "Real" and the other "Crossover".
WOMPF... Mi-Ra materializes in a puff of shadow.
She calls on the smartphone "Real".
|
| - | Send me a car. |
(Shortly after, once the car arrived.)
Two modern shadow killers in the front seat.
Mi-Ra in the back, suffering from the lack of Kang Chul.
She regularly watches for him in the rearview mirror, but...
... she sees Yeon-Joo walking towards the limousine.
|
| - | (annoyed) Tssss.... |
Yeon-Joo arrives two steps away from the limousine.
A modern shadow killer steps out and opens the back door.
| - | ??! (surprised, stops) |
The killer threatens her, like "you won't go anywhere but in this car".
But he doesn't need to force her. Yeon-Joo is determined, and...
... She looks inside:
In the back seat, Mi-Ra is vindictive.
|
| - | It's time I make you disappear, Oh Yeon-Joo. |
|
| - | !!! (surprised) ..... (then frightened) |
The Shadow Killer pushes Yeon-Joo into the limousine...
... in the seat opposite Mi-Ra.
|
| : | She wants to kill me? ... |
But Mi-Ra speaks serenely, and almost without arrogance.
|
| - | (smiles at her joke) I mean, disappear from my husband's life. |
|
| - | ... !!!! ("my husband?!", stunned by her nerve) |
|
| - | You didn't think I'd kill you or sequester you, mh? I'm a gentle, loving wife now. |
|
| - | ...... (disturbed because...) |
Yeon-Joo detects compassion in her, and would have preferred contempt!
|
| - | My husband certainly tried to explain, but you wouldn't understand. And now you've come to see me, because you prefer the plaster method. |
|
| - | ... What?! |
|
| - | Ripping off a plaster with a sharp blow. It hurts for a short while, but it's less painful than a plaster torn off slowly. |
|
| - | .... |
|
| - | .... |
|
| - | "Your" husband? ... Don't dream, Moon Mi-Ra. |
|
| - | .... ?? |
|
| - | It's a misunderstanding, which will be short-lived. |
|
| - | (?) .... You don't realize the situation. (remembers...) |
|
| ~ | While you've spent two lame years with him... |
Under a pile of clothes, she picks up the watch she'd been hiding.
She looks at the time they've spent here: "18 250".
|
| - | ... We've loved each other for ages. You're nothing to him now. |
|
| - | It doesn't matter how long! 50 days of truth is better than 50 years of lies. |
|
| - | (jaded) Heol... (to herself) I'm learning that I'm in a shallow relationship now... |
|
| - | What proof of love did you get? None!! We've been through a lot together. We risked everything for each other. But you?!! A trivial, sordid, sterile affair. You're unable to build anything. |
|
| - | (wearily) So that's why you've come... to vent your resentment on me. |
|
| - | I'm only certain of one thing. You've been lying from the start. I don't know how you got him under your spell, but it'll soon finish. |
|
| - | (raises her eyes to the sky) Yes-yes-yes, I'm the only bad guy, and he's got nothing to do with it. |
While Mi-Ra is talking and distracted, Yeon-Joo slips her hand into her bag.
|
| - | Perfect! Stay on that if it helps you best. Have you finished? |
|
| - | Yes, it finishes now. |
Yeon-Joo pulls a PISTOL out of her bag and aims it at Mi-Ra!!!!
|
| - | That's what I came for. |
|
| - | !!!! |
|
| (remembers...) |
|
| - | You won't have custody of my son in the company of a murderess. I'M TAKING CHUL-MOO TO MY MOTHER NOW !!!! |
|
| - | !!! |
Yeon-Joo gets up and enters the house, angry.
|
| - | (sad) You'll grow up with your mommy and daddy... together. |
She slips her hand under Kang Chul's pillow...
... and pulls out one of the many pistols he hides in the house.
She stares at the pistol, tragic, ready to commit the worst.
Mi-Ra stares at Yeon-Joo's finger on the pistol's trigger.
|
| (distressed, thoughtful...) |
| (looks in the mirror of the sinks, concentrates) |
SLOW MOTION: PFWOM... A puff of shadow around her, THEN... she disappears.
|
| : | It's not instantaneous like Butterfly Girl. There's a delay! (doubt) How long? Could a shot-- |
|
| - | (guess what she think) You won't have time. |
|
| - | (!!) ... What do you hope by threatening me? |
|
| - | ...... |
|
| - | ...... |
|
| - | ... I'm going to kill you. |
|
| - | ... !!!!!!! |
Do-Yoon helps Kang Chul to his feet.
BOM!!! Wang Shin punches him in the stomach! Violent!!!
Kang Chul flinches, clutching his stomach, breathing hard, remembers...
Without Chul-Moo! Just her handbag.
Her face: obsessed, tragic, a cold murderous desire.
Kang Chul has never seen her like this. His intuition rings "mortal danger".
He staggers towards the street. Hurry! Prevent her from committing a folly!
Mi-Ra's fear intensifies as she observes Yeon-Joo:
Fixed eyes, tense breath, adrenalized, as if hypnotized...
... a calm, tragic air revealing that she's determined to kill.
And her hand holding the gun isn't shaking!
|
| : | (icy shock) She's put herself in a trance to be able to do it. Unless I convince her, I'm dead in a minute. |
|
| - | .... (no longer herself) |
|
| - | If... If you really do this... If you kill me... ... Kang Chul won't forgive you. He'll never take you back! |
|
| - | This doesn't concern you anymore... And I don't care. |
|
| - | (!!!) ... We hardly know each other. But you hate me already? To the point of revenge?! |
|
| - | No, I love you. (cynical grin) |
|
| - | (?!) ..... What the... |
|
| - | You care too much about your petty self. (dismissive) Pretentious even in death... |
|
| - | (!!) ... (about to piss her pants) But... then... why... |
|
| - | I just want to end the manhwa. |
|
| - | (desperate cry) I want to end the manhwa too!!! |
|
| - | Finally? Perfect... So you're ready to sacrifice yourself. |
|
| - | (!!) ... (pleading) Wait... Kang Chul has a plan to end the manhwa! |
|
| - | (ironic, but broken voice) AaAah... My wonderful husband has a plan to end the manhwa. |
|
| - | We've thought about it for ages, in Imagination. (sobs, pitiful) ... It will work!!! |
|
| - | NO. You'll manage to make it fail. (ruthless) While my plan is reliable... |
|
| : | (stupefied) She never wanted to negotiate... !! |
|
| - | ... Once you're dead, Ren-Bo will easily end the manhwa. Here, in a few seconds, all our troubles are over. |
|
| - | ....... !! (can't think of anything to say, horrified) |
|
| (concentrates, because...) |
Yeon-Joo has kept the conversation going because killing in cold blood is too difficult.
But she's already made this irrevocable decision. The drama must be fulfilled...
|
| - | Any last words, Moon Mi-Ra? |
|
| - | (crying) You can't be a murderer, Oh Yeon-Joo. You'll go to prison. Think of your son. I beg you, STOP IT. |
|
| - | ..... (tragically indifferent) |
|
| - | ... (desperate) |
|
| - | I'd pray to God if I were you, but that's fine. (adjusts gun aiming Mi-Ra, firms finger on trigger) |
|
| - | ... !!!!!!! (eyes bulging, terror, imminent death!) |
Close-up on the gun... as Yeon-Joo pulls the trigger:
POW! POW! She fires twice !!!!
POW! POW! Two flashes at the rear. Two gunshots!
pow! pow! A distant sound of gunshots...
... that only Ren-Bo can hear, waking her up.
| - | ... ?? |
|
| - | ... !! ("gunshots?", hurries) |
|
| - | I'm telling you, Unnie, it sounded like gunshots. |
| - | (working) Maybe you were dreaming? |
|
| - | No, no! I wasn't dreaming! |
|
| - | (annoyed) I don't know! Maybe you have acute hearing. Did you hear the neighbor's TV ? |
|
| - | Aaah yes... Come to think of it, I have acute eyesight too. Otherwise I'd be flying into every obstacle. Hi hi hi! |
|
| - | That's good. |
|
| - | Hey, as soon as we get to Seoul, I'll show you a looping show between buildings. However, I don't think I can carry you. Maybe with Wang Shin. |
|
| - | Tsss... Go to bed now. I've got work to do. |
All is quiet. Nobody around. The heavy silence following a terrible drama.
A modern shadow killer exits from the front of the limousine.
|
| - | ... ??? (joins the killer, worried) |
The killer opens the back door of the limousine. Kang Chul looks in.
|
| - | ...... ?!!! |
|
| - | (screams) NOOOO !!! AAARAAAAHHH !!! |
EMPTY ! No one here... No sign of struggle, damage or blood...
In the reflection of her eyes, a dark spear gradually grows...
| ~ | Your turn to die, Oh Yeon-Joo. |
|
| - | What happened? |
|
| - | ... Here, in a few seconds, all our troubles are over. |
|
| - | ....... !! (can't think of anything to say, horrified) |
As Yeon-Joo prepares to kill, Mi-Ra thinks hard...
A shadow killer gives Mi-Ra two smartphones.
|
| - | Wait here until I bring them back. |
The killers nod "yes".
|
| : | They're a stone's throw from the limo, but in the Crossover. |
|
| ~ | Summonings need corresponding locations, but... |
PFWOM... She disappears in a puff of shadow.
The toilets have a half-modern, half-Joseon design.
|
| ~ | ... These two toilets are not precisely at the same spot! The process adapts to the logic of the place!!! |
|
| : | By focusing, I can summon these shadow killers here??! |
|
| - | I'd pray to God if I were you, but that's fine. (adjusts gun, firms finger on trigger) |
|
| - | ... !!!!!!! (eyes bulging, terror, imminent death!) |
Mi-Ra has to go all in, NOW !!!
She focuses and a cloud of summoning shadow occurs.
POW! POW! Yeon-Joo fires twice!!!
In front of the gun, a shadow killer takes both bullets at point-blank range.
|
| - | ???!!! |
Fffff... The dead killer evaporates in a cloud of shadows and behind...
... The Queen of Darkness instead of Mi-Ra, her abdomen glowing red.
|
| - | !!!!! (tries to shoot but--) |
SPROTCH!!! At thought's speed, the shadow arm bursts forth and--
Closes on Yeon-Joo's hand and the gun. Yeon-Joo, !!!
PFWOM... Yeon-Joo and the Queen of Darkness disappear in a puff of shadow.
Kang Chul is now worried about Yeon-Joo!!!
|
| - | ("quick, going in the Crossover") ... Ren-Bo! |
He fumbles on him... No smartphone to call her!
He runs to Sung-Moo's house.
A giant shadow finger is about to gouge Yeon-Joo's eye...
... from the hand of the Queen of Darkness' shadow arm!
|
| - | Of course, after what you've just put me through... ... your death will be slow and painful. |
But she withdraws the shadow finger.
The shadow hand grabs Yeon-Joo and moves her against the wall.
|
| - | Hold her. |
Three shadow killers are in the shack.
Two of them grab Yeon-Joo's arms and immobilize her.
The Queen of Darkness brandishes the shadow arm like a cobra, fingers splayed.
|
| - | Let's see if I can avoid a vital organ. |
|
| - | (cries) ... Aggh... no... |
Wossh!! Shadow fingers stretch out to pierce Yeon-Joo.
|
| - | AARAAAHHH !!! |
skot-skot-skot! The fingers puncture the wall around her instead.
Like a sadistic circus show.
|
| - | .... !! (gasps, shakes) |
|
| - | I'll show you what you'll look like in five minutes. |
The shadow hand grabs the third shadow killer, lifts him...
... moves him over Yeon-Joo, who stares anxiously at him, and--
ZWROTSH!!! The shadow hand crushes the killer, who implodes into organ mush...
... falling on Yeon-Joo, like a rain of blood and shattered bones.
|
| - | (horrified) RAAAHHHHHHHH AHHHH !!!! |
Fffff... The killer's organic remains vanish in a cloud of shadows...
... including those soiling Yeon-Joo. Her clothes become clean.
|
| - | (begs) Stop... STOP IT !! |
|
| - | (approaches) Why? |
|
| - | ... If you hurt me, Kang Chul won't forgive you. |
|
| - | Are you sure? |
|
| - | (doubts) ..... (horrified to doubt) Will he forgive that his son no longer has a mother? |
|
| (doubts, cloud of light in her eyes) |
SWROMPH! Shadow Turbulence, The Queen of Darkness becomes Cha Yu-Sun.
|
| - | The reason I'm going to spare you, Oh Yeon-Joo... ... is that I don't stoop to your level. |
|
| - | (reassured) ..... (apprehensive) |
Mi-Ra has lost all reason to be gentle and compassionate, so...
... she'll explain herself to Yeon-Joo as Cha Yu-Sun.
Being increasingly contemptuous, arrogant, disdainful, haughty.
|
| - | Apart from spawning a baby for my husband, you have nothing left to offer him. |
|
| - | ..... (annoyed, "to retort or not to retort?") |
|
| - | What?! What's that glare? |
|
| - | Can you at least give him a child? And be able to raise it? |
|
| - | (!!) ... Before that... A responsible person makes sure to have a solid couple. I've had plenty of time, whereas you're a caricature of irresponsibility. You believe in fairy tales, in inevitable happiness at the end, as if it were self-evident. |
|
| - | (suffers) ... ("she presses where it hurts") |
|
| - | You've always been a dreamy, incompetent fool. Bad intern, while I easily passed business studies. |
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | A mediocre drawer, while I'm the best in the world. An ordinary woman, while I'm the sublime Queen of Darkness. |
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | Oh yes, too... You're hideous, a rat's head stuck on a peg... ... while my beauty is said to be divine. |
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | (takes a strand of her hair) Brown hair... it's so yucky. |
|
| - | .... !! |
Except for the hair, every line hurt Yeon-Joo badly.
There's some truth to it, and she fears the moral torture will continue.
|
| - | (snide) Nothing to say, Oh Yeon-Joo? |
|
| - | ..... (devastated) |
Cha Yun-Sun sees defeat in her eyes.
|
| - | Tcham! As if Kang Chul would be satisfied with an ordinary life, with an ordinary person. But if it's any consolation, know that he never really loved you. |
|
| - | ... !!!!! |
|
| - | You were lost in your fangirl delusion and transfixed with admiration. He granted you contractual dollhouse romance, since he didn't know what love is. Then he used you to feel like he'd become a real character. |
|
| - | (cries) ... You'll lose him soon... Something based on deception will never succeed. |
|
| - | Really? (proudly shows her wedding ring) ... Imagination has blessed our love. That's proof of a higher caliber than disappearing into a dingy police station. |
|
| - | (!!!) ... (broken voice) The perfect place for an imaginary love. Nothing you've experienced there has any existence. |
|
| - | You have a very vivid imagination. You take your dreams for reality. |
|
| - | ..... (in hell) |
Cha Yun-Sun's ability to morally wound is superhuman.
She feels it's time to deliver the coup de grâce.
|
| - | Your unhealthy, obsessive imagination... ... That's the craziest thing about you, Oh Yeon-Joo. |
|
| - | ... (afraid to hear) |
|
| - | You created Kang Chul, didn't you? When you were a child... Then your father made him the hero of W. The man he wanted to be. |
|
| - | .... ?!! (tortured) |
|
| - | (cruel smile) Kang Chul is the incestuous son you had with your father!!! Who you then married! Mwah ah ah, you're so fucked up in your mind!!! |
|
| - | .... (eyes bugging out, "it's true") |
Cha Yun-Sun puts her mouth to Yeon-Joo's ear.
|
| - | (antics) Oops! Sorry, stepmother... My words sound sharp, but... ... being a bitch instead of a killer, that's a hell of an improvement! |
|
| - | !!!!! (freaks out) |
In this despair, Yeon-Joo has a burst of hatred and--
Gnap!! She bites Cha Yu-Sun's ear, to the point of blood!!!
|
| - | (backs away) AAAAHH !!! (pain!) |
|
| - | (hysterical) YOU SLUT !!! RAAHH !!! YOU FUCKING WHORE !!! AAAAHHH !!! |
|
| (rips the headband off a shadow killer) |
|
| - | (unchained) I WILL KILL YOU !!!! RAAAAHHH !!! I WILL KILL YOU !!!! AAAAH-- |
|
| (places headband over Yeon-Joo's mouth) |
|
| - | (gagged) MHRRHHHH.... |
Cha Yu-Sun holds hand over her mouth to gag her.
She approaches from inches away, eye-to-eye, detestable.
|
| - | I didn't want it to come this far... ... but since you're forcing me, let's talk about intimate matters. |
|
| - | (eyes bulging) mhrrh... mrrhhh.... |
|
| - | I was so surprised the first time we made love. My poor man had been neglected for so long by an austere woman... ... just used to the breadboard position, once a month! |
|
| - | (mad) MRRHHH... MRRHHH.... |
|
| - | Really, even a dog isn't treated this way. He was hungry, overflowing with fantasies you can't even imagine... ... and I had the pleasure of satisfying them all. |
It's more than Yeon-Joo can bear and--
Mwblgl... A stomach spasm, about to vomit.
Cha Yu-Sun stops gagging her and--
BleWAarGL... Yeon-Joo pukes on her own chest.
When Mi-Ra said she wouldn't kill Yeon-Joo, she lied...
... This is Psychological Murder!
FSHA! Light flash. Ren-Bo and Kang Chul appear at the end of the room.
|
| - | ?? (turns around) |
|
| - | !!! (sees Yeon-Joo alive, relieved) |
|
| - | ?!!! (worried, "she looks bad") |
|
| (signals to the shadow killers) |
The killers release Yeon-Joo.
|
| - | (sad) What have you done to her? |
|
| - | (sighs) ... (looks away) |
SWROMPH! Cha Yu-Sun becomes Mi-Ra.
Kang Chul leans over her, forcing her to look at him and answer.
|
| - | (softly) So? |
|
| - | ..... (must speak) I made her understand that... (lowers head) (guilty) ..... I didn't like her attitude... but I didn't hit her. |
|
| - | Hey... (lifts her chin, tenderly) ("she was harsh") After all this time, we're over it. |
|
| (looks at him with sorry eyes, and love) |
|
| (looks at her with understanding, and love) |
|
| (disgusted that he's so nice to her) |
Then Kang Chul turns to Yeon-Joo.
He's about to speak, but changes his mind.
|
| (looks in disgust at the vomit on her) |
|
| (ashamed, pathetic) |
|
| - | .... (looks at her sternly) |
|
| - | .... (devastated) |
|
| : | (harsh) You would have really killed her. I cannot forgive that. |
|
| - | .... !!! (crushed heart and soul) |
Kang Chul's harshness and silence are worse than Cha Yu-Sun's vexations.
Her moral suffering is so unbearable that... she faints...
Snap! Kang Chul catches her before she falls.
|
| - | Ren-Bo, take us back. |
|
| - | ....... (looks sadly at Yeon-Joo) |
|
| - | REN-BO ! |
|
| - | ..... (glares at him with killer eyes, red wings) |
|
| - | .... (surprised by the intensity of her anger) |
SHAF! Ren-Bo, Kang Chul and Yeon-Joo disappear! Light flash.
Under a bright sun and serene blue sky...
... Kang Chul's red sports car parks in the parking lot.
But it's Do-Yoon who exits, carrying a bag!
On the third floor, the facade of Mi-Ra's apartment is destroyed.
In a hole instead of a window, Kang Chul waves "hi".
Do-Yoon also waves and walks towards the building.
Mi-Ra is on the phone.
|
| - | You have to finish this in less than two hours. |
| - | (worried) My Queen, are you in danger? Will you disappear? |
|
| - | Just in case... |
|
| - | I will. In less than two hours! |
She hangs up, leaves the room...
Mi-Ra enters the living room, where Kang Chul smiles at her.
Everything is destroyed here, Do-Yoon's black sports car blocks the entrance.
She looks at the mess with a sigh, remembers last night...
She carries her tablet under her arm.
As she puts her key in the lock...
|
| - | (amused) Oh, you're in for a surprise! |
|
| - | ??! |
She opens the door and--
|
| - | !!!! |
She sees Do-Yoon's car at the end of the hall.
Behind it, the living room is ravaged, with a large hole in the facade.
|
| - | How could anything so crazy have happened?! |
|
| - | Hyung has a flying car. We'll clear it in the morning. |
|
| - | ("incredible") Heol... We've been in Imagination forever... ... and you never mentioned this detail?! (jaded) It's all Kang Chul... |
|
| - | (looks at the car) So, how will you clear this up? |
|
| - | Mmmh... (raises finger) |
vlam... The front door is opened by a shadow killer, introducing Do-Yoon.
Gling-Gling! Do-Yoon dangles the keys of Kang Chul's car.
|
| - | (smiles) Just now. (grabs the keys and pockets them) |
|
| - | ... ?! |
|
| (nods in greeting to Mi-Ra) |
Do-Yoon hands the bag to Kang Chul.
|
| - | (?!) Is there anything to pull a car in this? |
|
| (smiles at her) |
|
| (smiles, knows but says nothing) |
Kang Chul pulls a grotesque, colorful pistol out of the bag, looking like a sci-fi toy.
|
| - | ("so derisory") Tcham... ! |
Kang Chul sets the gun selector to an ant icon, then...
shrrrrnnn... He shoots a yellow laser beam at the car.
The whole car turns a yellow halo and--
SHRINKS!!! to the size of a miniature car!
|
| - | !!! |
|
| - | (picks up the figurine) Follow me. |
He goes to the hole in the facade, followed by Mi-Ra and Do-Yoon.
Kang Chul throws the car figurine outside...
... it falls to the grass, three floors below, and--
SWELL!!! The car grows to normal size!
|
| - | (??!) ... What if the car had fallen on its roof? |
|
| - | Oooh, impossible. My car is a magical object. |
|
| - | Technically, it's rather a scientifically fanciful object. |
|
| - | Absurd. What a crazy life. |
|
| - | In a couple of hours, it'll become an ordinary life. (shows the gun) And this toy will be annihilated. |
|
| - | (looks sadly at his car) And my lovely jewel too... |
|
| - | ....... (looks at the gun, pensive, indecipherable) |
|
| - | ...... ("what is she thinking? mystery") |
|
| - | Since everything here is demolished... (naughty smile) ... Let's go to the bedroom. |
|
| (easily guesses what she wants) |
|
| - | (embarrassed) Um. On this, gotta go. My last ride in this car. Are the keys in it? |
Kang Chul takes out the keys of Do-Yoon's car and Gling-Gling! dangles them.
Do-Yoon reaches for them, but Kang Chul closes his hand on the keys!
|
| - | (smiles) I'll keep them. The car is for me! |
|
| - | (!!) ... President Kang! What-- |
|
| - | (takes out a USB key and hands it to him) Take this instead. |
|
| - | ... ?! (takes USB key) |
|
| - | ... ??! (remembers, this morning...) |
... Kang Chul sitting at a table, typing something on a laptop.
The USB key is stuck in the laptop!
|
| - | (to Mi-Ra) This won't take long. (wink) |
FZTT! Colorful interference, Kang Chul and Do-Yoon disappear.
|
| - | ..... ?? |
(The equivalent of Mi-Ra's apartment in W.)
Large and vacant, with white sheets covering the furniture.
KZTT! Colorful interference, Kang Chul and Do-Yoon appear.
|
| - | (?!) ... W ?! |
|
| - | I need you here. The details of your mission are in this key. (points USB key) |
Do-Yoon connects the USB key to his smartphone and reads the beginning... (we can't see)
... his eyes widen in disbelief. What he reads is shocking, outrageous!
|
| - | President Kang, this is criminal! We risk 20 years in prison with such a-- |
|
| - | Do it!!! |
|
| - | (can't refuse) ... I don't understand. In two hours the manhwa will be over, so why? |
|
| - | Just in case... |
Intimate atmosphere. Mi-Ra is sitting on the bed, dressed in a sexy silk bodysuit.
Kang Chul is sitting next to her. He kisses her on the neck, but...
... He notices that she's sensitive and has lost the lightness she had a few minutes before.
|
| - | ..... (looks at him, worried) |
|
| - | ..... (detects her torment) |
|
| - | Once "FINAL CHAPTER" is triggered, it's impossible to leave the Crossover. |
|
| - | (hand on her cheek) Hey... You'll be fine. You'll have time to check that our plan's working beforehand. |
|
| - | If it goes wrong, what-- |
|
| - | Cancel and come back. Don't start anything until you're sure. Then we'll find another solution. |
|
| - | ..... (vibrant gaze) |
|
| - | I don't want you to take any risks. You know how much I love you. |
|
| - | (tragic eyes) ..... Then make love to me, like you've never done before. |
|
| - | (runs his hand through her hair tenderly) ... Attentive to every gesture, every caress, every look? |
|
| - | (sadly) Yes, make me love as if it were the last time. |
They share a long, deep look, intense in love...
Then, gently, he kisses her...
Close-up of a candy pink heart. Romantic theme music.
The view recedes... The heart is the logo of a poster on the wall "On the traces of love".
| ~ | "On the traces of love", part two. |
Two female hosts at the microphone, in a radio studio:
IN-NA (30s), the famous love advisor, stands in front of a desk with a big red button.
DEUK HEE (30s), the presenter, is talking...
|
| ~ | With In-Na, your favorite love advisor... ... welcoming our listener Myung-Ji. |
The radio show is in a smartphone screen, held by...
... Ren-Bo, watching the show, sitting at the main table with Wang Shin.
| ~ | So, Myung-Ji, your boyfriend met this other girl. Do you know her? |
At the other end of the table, Soo-Bong and Yeon-Joo are working on their tablets.
Listener Myung-Ji is not in the studio. We hear her answer by phone:
| ~ | She's a colleague from work... my department manager... ... A REAL BITCH !!! ... (sobbing) I don't understand. |
|
| - | But bad women know what they want! So get off your butt, instead of crying!!! |
| - | It's true they have a femme fatale charm. |
|
| ~ | And you didn't suspect anything? |
|
| ~ | No... or maybe... I don't know... ... I felt he was distant... But everything was fine. |
|
| - | Pfwoo! Not seeing that... What an idiot! |
|
| - | Some women are born blind. |
|
| (!!!, hurt) |
| (catastrophized, "aren't those two idiots paying attention?!") |
|
| ~ | And how was your relationship? Did you get along well? Did you talk to each other? |
|
| ~ | Sometimes we argued... but like everyone else! We didn't need to talk to understand each other. A real symbiosis! We just had different hobbies, but without disturbing each other. He's the man of my dreams! |
|
| - | WHhhaAat??! She never considered he was the wrong man?! |
|
| - | A couple with no dialogue. Might as well be reincarnated as a dog. |
|
| (!!!, outraged, suffering growing more and more) |
|
| (gestures to Ren-Bo, "shut up, shut up") |
|
| - | ?? (doesn't understand) |
|
| ~ | Alas, Myung-Ji, the lack of communication or interest in the other... ... makes that sometimes, gradually, the most beautiful love fades away. |
|
| ~ | So, In-Na, what's your verdict? |
|
| ~ | (serious) There's no more... (presses big red button) |
Jingle sound: SHhhrrrlll..., Super-deep male voice: "Trace of love", with echo.
|
| (!!!!!, stabbed in the heart) |
|
| - | PFwah Ah ah!! I love it when they do that! (serious) "There's no more..." (imitates jingle) ShhRrrPpLplpl... |
|
| - | (amused, imitates deep voice with echo) "Trace of LOVE... Love... love..." |
|
| ~ | He'll never come back. But don't be sad, Myung-Ji. For both of you, an eternal relationship would be hell. |
|
| ~ | Boo hoo hoo... boo hoo hoo... boo hoo hoo... |
|
| (tortured to death, holds back from crying) |
|
| (gets up and snatches the smartphone from Ren-Bo's hands) |
|
| - | Oppaaaaa! (Aegyo sulk) |
|
| - | (turns off radio, returns to seat) Ah! I must... I must call... Hu... Hyung Kang. |
|
| - | ??! |
|
| (destroyed, but has respite to breathe) |
Soo-Bong pretends to call. Smartphone to his ear. Drawing with other hand.
|
| - | Hyung Kang? ..... Yes yes...... Everyone's fine here...... |
|
| - | Yah! Ask him how long he'll stay at Mi-Ra the witch's home! |
|
| - | Just a second, little angel, he's got something to tell me... |
|
| - | Hu-humm, what an irresponsible, concupiscent man. |
|
| - | He's always been a stubborn cad! But now he's drilled himself a new asshole to fart twice as much. |
|
| - | I used to think highly of him, but he disappoints me lately. |
|
| - | I don't understand what he sees in that woman... (light, anecdotal) Well ok, she's super beautiful, and sexy, and charismatic, and rich, and smart, and 'oh?' she's a Queen, AND supposedly the best drawer in the universe. |
Ren-Bo is too stupid to realize that she's morally murdering Yeon-Joo.
|
| (eyes bulging, about to go mad) |
|
| - | And now invincible with a sword... ... without even using her awesome superpowers! |
|
| - | And obviously VEEEEERY good at kissing. But apart from that??! Nothing! Terrible temper. |
|
| - | She's just bad-- |
|
| - | (mad) RAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!!!!! |
|
| - | (startled) Ahb-b-b!!! |
|
| - | (startled) Ohoh!!! |
Yeon-Joo gets up, snatch!, rips the power cable from her tablet.
She takes the tablet and the power cable, puts her stylus in her pocket...
... and goes furiously to the bedroom, to work in peace!
|
| (watches her leave, "what a misfortune") |
|
| - | What's the matter with her, all of a sudden?! |
|
| - | (dismayed) ...... ("the girl I love has a few flaws") |
Yeon-Joo sets the tablet on the desk, plugs it in.
She sits down but doesn't turn it on, just stares at the black screen...
... the reflection of her pathetic face, distorted with exacerbated suffering.
Sadly, she raises her hand and caresses Kang Chul from a distance.
Today, she suffers more than when he lost his memory.
Lost in her moral pain, she cries... then looks up...
... as if waiting for a miracle, she remembers her last hope...
(Last night, after the confrontation between Yeon-Joo and Mi-Ra.)
Kang Chul carries a fainting Yeon-Joo.
He puts her to bed... covers her with a blanket...
In his crib, Chul-Moo stirs.
| - | Agah... Potty. |
Kang Chul smiles nostalgically: he can be a father, after so long.
He doesn't notice Yeon-Joo wake up. She sees his nostalgia.
He takes Chul-Moo from the cradle.
|
| - | (happy) Daddy... Potty! |
|
| - | I'll take you, my little hero. |
He removes Chul-Moo's panties and places him on a potty.
Yeon-Joo raises her hand, caresses Kang Chul from a distance, while her tears flow silently.
Proot!! Chul-Moo poops in the potty!
While Kang Chul cleans him up and fits him with panties...
... He talks to his son, who probably can't understand.
|
| - | (sad) Dad's sorry. |
|
| - | No! |
|
| - | I'll do everything I can to make things right with your mom. |
|
| - | Mom! |
Yeon-Joo is torn, seeing the happiness that was theirs, now destroyed...
|
| - | You're grown up and smart already. So you'll have to take good care of her too. |
|
| - | Bla-ble-bla... |
|
| - | Go on sleeping now. |
He puts Chul-Moo in the cradle, covers him up.
As he's about to leave, near the bed--
Kang Chul, ?!! ... Yeon-Joo has grabbed his wrist!
|
| - | Don't go... |
|
| - | Oh Yeon-Joo, let's not fight now. Not in Chul-Moo's presence. |
Yeon-Joo has a terrible feeling that he's a stranger, every time he calls her "Oh Yeon-Joo".
|
| - | (broken) We won't argue. Just listen to what I have to say. |
|
| - | ..... (accepts with a sigh, "painful") |
Kang Chul kneels beside the bed. Their faces close, they speak in low voices.
|
| - | This woman is a murderer. So I'm certain of one thing... ... It's impossible for you to be attached to her without her manipulating you. Kang Chul could never renounce his family and his ethics for a criminal. |
Kang Chul finds that Yeon-Joo is outdated...
... She has no idea how long he loved Mi-Ra in Imagination.
|
| - | From now on, you can't lecture anyone on criminal matters. And as for the rest... |
|
| - | ... (guilty) |
|
| - | You think you know me when I didn't know myself? I wasn't aware of it until I met her, but she's my reason for living. |
|
| - | !!!!!! (wounded to the point of convulsing) |
|
| - | ... !! (worried, sorry to have said that) |
|
| - | ..... (maximum suffering) |
|
| - | (with compassion) .... For you it was yesterday, but for me it was... (abandons sentence, "bad idea right now") |
|
| - | ....... (dizzy, desperate) |
|
| - | The reason I agree to talk with you is our son. For his future, we need to get along. And I don't want you to suffer unnecessarily, so you can be a good mom to him. |
|
| - | (hangs up) Remember what she swore (tell...) |
|
| - | What are you planning? |
|
| - | I'm going to destroy you, your family and your bitch of a wife. On every level of your life. |
Yeon-Joo feels her guts twist, so tragic is it:
He's lost and manipulated, acting against his own good, against their rightful love.
|
| - | What's happening today is the method she's chosen to destroy us. |
|
| - | Oh Yeon-Joo, it's outdated since a long time. |
She looks at him with wide eyes vibrating in tragedy, as if speaking to him telepathically...
|
| : | That bitch is only good at destroying everything. And once she's destroyed you, because that's what you want, I'll be the one to pick up the pieces. |
|
| - | ..... (sad to see her so sad) |
|
| : | You'll come back to me, and when I forgive you, you'll understand what love really is. Then we'll forget this odious parenthesis, and use it to build a better couple. |
|
| - | ..... (feels she's struggling to regain her confidence) |
|
| - | You're wrong, and the plan you have with her won't work. She'll never end her manhwa. |
|
| - | Then wait until tomorrow. You'll have proof that she will. |
|
| - | No, you'll have the proof of what I say. So promise me... |
|
| - | .... ?! |
|
| - | When she has betrayed you, promise to come back to me. |
|
| - | ....... |
|
| - | Promise me that we'll return to our life of simple happiness. And that we'll do everything to succeed where we've failed. |
|
| - | It's useless to promise such a thing. You don't realize what Mi-Ra and I mean to each other. |
|
| - | Don't try to escape! Give me proof of your certainty. You're sure she won't betray you, so you can easily promise. |
|
| - | ....... ("she's right") |
|
| - | It's never going to happen, is it? So if it would happen... Promise to give me back my love. |
|
| - | ... I promise... When the manhwa is ended. |
|
| - | I'll stay here with our son, to help Ren-Bo. And to help end this damned manhwa. |
|
| - | You were planning to stay no matter what, weren't you? |
|
| - | .... (sad smile, nods "yes") |
They look at each other with respect... A slight complicity reconnects.
|
| - | (looks at Yeon-Joo like a stranger) ... Yeon... Joo? (hesitating) ... Oh... Yeon-Joo? |
|
| - | No doubt you were also part of this forced destiny. Even if your father didn't design it that way, it's the result. I thought I'd chosen you... but I was wrong. |
|
| - | See you soon, my love. |
|
| - | Mmh, I love you. |
|
| - | (cry of despair) I want to finish the manhwa too!!!! |
|
| : | (looks down, desperate) There will be no miracle. Mi-Ra won't betray him, and he really loves her. |
She turns on the tablet, picks up her stylus.
But instead of drawing, she continues to reminisce obsessively....
|
| - | (cruel smile) Kang Chul is the incestuous son you had with your father!!! |
|
| - | If it had been any other woman... But not her. Especially not her! Before God, she has no right to be happy with him. |
|
| - | Yah! Ask him how long he'll stay at the Mi-Ra the witch's home! |
She doesn't want to imagine what they did, but the haunting memories continue...
|
| - | I was so surprised the first time we made love. My poor man had been neglected for so long by an austere woman... ... just used to bread board position, once a month. |
But the feeling of helplessness gradually leads her to hate.
|
| - | (fulminates, teeth clenched) Slut... Fucking slut... Whore... Fucking whore. |
She's intoxicated by the poison of jealousy, can't help imagining...
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra are making love.
By chance, their caresses are identical to...
|
| - | He was hungry, overflowing with fantasies you can't even imagine... ... and I had the pleasure of satisfying them all. |
Yet she knows that allowing herself to be hurt only increases her suffering.
But the worst part... She can't control it!
|
| - | (visceral) I hate her.... I Hate Her... I HATE HER... I hate her, with all my heart and soul! |
She hates herself too, for feeling this horrible resentment, foreign to her...
... which she thought she'd wisely eliminated after childhood, but which was just rampant.
Kang Chul and Mi-Ra making love, both reaching orgasm.
She moans sensually at length and he cries out at intervals.
|
| - | (shakes head frantically, pulls out hair) Stop!!! STOP !!! STOOOOOP !!!!! |
With crazy obsessive eyes, she focuses on the tablet, starts drawing...
|
| - | (as an incantation) Ren-Bo... I must help Ren-Bo... I must think of nothing else... help Ren-Bo... think of nothing else... think of nothing else... think of nothing else... |
Kang Chul peacefully drives Do-Yoon's car, relaxed!
He sees a police roadblock ahead and slows down.
He dips a hand into the glove compartment...
Kang Chul comes out of the gate. Mi-Ra is waiting for him here, rather than in her limousine.
|
| - | ... ??! (surprised to see her here) |
|
| - | I had to give you this. (takes out two badges) One for you, and one for your sidekick. (gives him the badges) |
He takes the badges, examines them. One has his photo, the other Do-Yoon's.
They have the NIS logo. (NIS = National Intelligence Service)
|
| - | NIS ? How did you get this? |
|
| - | I had the director of NIS under mental control. I still have a little influence over him. |
|
| - | (puts his badge away) Do-Yoon will need it tomorrow morning. |
He walks towards the house, Do-Yoon's badge in hand.
Kang Chul pulls out his NIS badge from the glove compartment!
|
| - | (smiles) Life is easy with Mi-Ra. |
Soo-Bong enters. Yeon-Joo continues to draw without looking at him.
She's in a second state, overwhelmed by suffering, her eyes tragic.
|
| - | Noona, I'm sorry to bother you but... I just want to make sure you're okay, Noona! |
|
| - | ..... (mortified) |
|
| - | I don't know how Hyung Kang came to this... ... But don't give up hope. I'm sure he'll come back to you. |
|
| - | (absent) ... Maybe..... |
|
| - | ("so heavy atmosphere, let's distract") Ah! Because of that, I just had my first fight with Ren-Bo. |
|
| - | Damn it! Didn't you see the signs I was giving you? You couldn't turn off that damn radio broadcast?! |
|
| - | Hop-ho-ho! We can't stop living either. |
|
| - | .... (admits by lowering his head, sorry) |
|
| - | And you made it worse by talking nonsense!!! |
|
| - | Pfff... It's impossible to watch every little thing we say. |
|
| - | Yes, you can! You can! You must! You know her situation! |
|
| - | (fed up, vocalizing) Yes ~ I ~ know ~ it! You don't have a monopoly on worrying about her. I'm worried too!!! |
|
| - | So watch your mouth! |
|
| - | Mpfff....... (looks away sulkily, forced to agree) |
|
| - | She's so stubborn! Nothing is ever her fault. |
|
| - | ..... (as if she had not heard a word) |
|
| - | Don't stay alone, Noona. Come back to work in the living room. They'll be careful from now on. |
|
| - | (?!) ..... (raises her head, looks at him) |
|
| - | ..... (embarrassed smile) |
|
| - | (bursts into tears) Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.... |
|
| - | ... Let's go next door, you'll feel better. (unplugs tablet) |
|
| - | (heartbreaking) Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.... |
|
| - | (puts tablet under arm) Come Noona. (puts his hand on her back) |
Crying, Yeon-Joo lets Soo-Bong accompany her.
She walks slowly, like a little old lady suffering from arthritis...
Soo-Bong and Yeon-Joo draw on the tablets.
Kang Chul enters, noticed by Ren-Bo and Wang Shin.
On the table, next to Yoon-Hee's tablet used by Soo-Bong...
... Kang Chul puts down a stylus with a pink cow-shaped cap.
|
| - | Hyung? |
|
| - | Yoon-Hee's stylus that I picked up at Mi-Ra's. |
|
| - | Ajusshi, it's about time you reveal your famous plan. I feel "a little bit" concerned. |
|
| - | We'll catch the Narrator off guard. |
|
| - | Ooo--Kay... And... When? |
|
| - | (looks at the clock) In a quarter of an hour, Mi-Ra will give the signal. You enter the crossover and together you immediately trigger "Final Chapter". |
|
| - | Mmh-mmh... What's next? |
|
| - | You reject Sin-Moo. Mi-Ra also accomplishes her goal. The end will come in a matter of seconds. The Narrator won't have time to react. |
|
| - | Bwaah... Readers will have a rotten last episode. Everyone will say the ending is rushed. |
|
| - | Does the Queen of Darkness have a goal? |
|
| - | She does now... (narrates...) |
|
| - | 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. |
|
| - | We'll find a solution. |
|
| - | ... ?!! (painful hope) |
|
| - | (confident) In W, I was able to free Seo-Hee from a similar situation. Make her give up her goal. It's just the opposite, to give a goal. |
|
| - | It'll be a simple, boring ending, but it'll work... ... If you're prepared to resign the role of protagonist. By default, only Ren-Bo will have to achieve her goal to end the manhwa. |
|
| - | Ending up as a secondary character... |
|
| - | No, the Queen of Darkness will remain a main character. The manhwa can't consider her less than that. |
|
| - | Won't I disappear? If it's contrary to the nature of the Queen of Darkness. |
|
| - | No, only an antagonist going against its goals would disappear. But the Queen of Darkness is a protagonist without goal. We use this flaw to our advantage. |
|
| - | .... I don't know... This is getting twisted. |
|
| - | That makes sense. What made you disappear was the struggle to ensure the supremacy of your respective worlds, not a direct fight between the two of you. |
|
| - | .... It scares me... It's too uncertain, it's too-- |
|
| - | To be safe, we'll also give the Queen of Darkness a goal. Something simple to do, that the manhwa will easily accept... |
The president and the council leader bow as she triumphantly descends the stairs.
|
| ~ | Cha Yu-Sun never wanted to be Queen. But since she has become one, the manhwa will accept what comes in continuity. |
|
| - | I'll use Do-Yoon's idea of constitutional monarchy. |
|
| - | Remaining Queen, but without seeking absolute power?! |
|
| - | Yes, that's the safest way. That's the current situation of the manhwa. You just need to express a valid motivation, and that will become your goal. |
Mi-Ra's Limousine pulls up in front of the tower. No one in the streets.
Mi-Ra looks up at the tower, her stomach in knots. Her fate is at stake, very soon.
|
| ~ | And the signal she'll send us? |
|
| ~ | It will happen like this... (narrates...) |
Cha Yu-Sun appears on a balcony a few floors above the square.
With an overpowering voice...
|
| - | Police and rebels alike, listen to your Queen. STOP FIGHTING ! |
The stunned crowd looks at the balcony, listens to her...
|
| - | (brandishes a decree) Today, I signed this decree leaving temporal power to the members of the national assembly. But I retain timeless power. |
| - | (holds up a decree) Today, I signed this decree leaving temporal power to the members of the national assembly. But I keep the timeless power. |
|
| ~ | At this moment, Ren-Bo enters the Crossover. |
SHAF! Ren-Bo disappears. Light flash.
... then his face... then a close-up of his eye. We enter it and...
|
| ~ | Of course, the Narrator will be informed. |
And finally, we arrive in front of the Narrator's face. Bewildered, angry.
|
| ~ | But it's too late. Cha Yu-Sun has just abandoned her protagonist status. |
The Narrator looks into a murky circle: Cha Yu-Sun through the rebel's eye.
|
| ~ | And as she remains a main character, the Narrator can't hurt her. |
FSHA! Light flash. Ren-Bo appears.
| - | .... ??! |
By her will, she quickly materializes in the air... "FINAL CHAPTER" !!!
|
| ~ | The Narrator won't have time to provoke an event. She has just one sentence to say to validate her goal. |
|
| - | A civilization can survive only by balancing tradition and modernity. Anyone threatening this balance will face the Queen of Darkness! |
|
| - | Go to hell, you depressing loser. I'm dumping you for good. Get out of my life. |
|
| - | .... !!! |
In the air quickly materializes... "END" !!!
|
| - | (reassured) Yes! With two possible ways, it should be ok. Even if one doesn't work, the other will! |
|
| - | If we ever get back to the real world, we'll do it this way. |
|
| ~ | Once asleep, the Narrator loses control of the people sucked into the manhwa. |
|
| ~ | And they recover their souls and faces. |
The faceless zombie's flabby skin evaporates... revealing Publisher Park's true face.
| - | .... ??! ("where am I") |
SWROMPH! She becomes Cha Yu-Sun.
PFWOM... She disappears in a puff of shadow.
|
| ~ | Just now, Mi-Ra enters the Crossover to write the decree... |
|
| - | ... By noon, everything will be finished. |
Soo-Bong and Yeon-Joo continue to draw:
Scenes of confrontation, helping the police to subdue the rebels.
Kang Chul looks at the clock, visibly confident, but hiding his concern. He remembers...
|
| - | I should go with you. |
|
| - | No. If the Narrator sees you when I'm writing the decree, he'll suspect something. |
|
| - | (distressed, stroking her cheek) Don't take any risks, if ever-- |
|
| - | You must stay in the real world to supervise the operation. If anything bad happens, you'll be my only hope out there. |
Ren-Bo waits apprehensively, remembers...
|
| - | (horrified) !!! ... If my manhwa ends, I'll never see you again?!! |
| - | That day you'll be ready, you won't miss me anymore. |
Wang Shin feels useless, looks at the guest room door, where Yoon-Hee sleeps.
Yeon-Joo watches Kang Chul. She knows him well and notices that he's tense.
Soo-Bong finishes drawing a police armored car, copies and pastes it into the manhwa and...
... when the manhwa updates, a silver shadow killer is standing in front of the police armored car!
|
| - | (??!) ... Huh? Who is it??! |
|
| (rushes to look) |
... a great shadow killer, stronger than ordinary killers.
The stripes of his uniform are gray instead of black. He wears a frightening mask.
The police armored car fires a water cannon!
The crowd disperses, but the silver shadow killer stands still.
The jet of water passes through him. A superpower of immateriality!
He runs towards the police armored car, passes through the armor thanks to his intangibility, and...
Immediately, the killer puts his hand in operator's chest and--
Srrhll... The hand becomes material, killing the operator!!!
The drawing is perfect. A graphic masterpiece!
|
| - | ... !!!! (intuition sounding the alarm, but ignores it) |
|
| - | Hyung! Where did that guy come from?! |
|
| - | ..... !! (distressed) |
|
| - | There's no yellow frame, it's not from the Narrator! |
KZZRRT... A tornado of supernatural color interference and...
... a skyscraper in the traditional Joseon style materializes.
An immense, sumptuous royal palace!
|
| - | And this?!!!! |
|
| - | (!!!) ..... (terrible foreboding) |
|
| - | No yellow frame. So, someone else is helping the Narrator again. |
|
| - | (tragic) The drawings are identical to those of... of... Moon Mi-Ra. |
|
| - | It's true, it's her style. And only she can draw so quickly and so perfectly. |
|
| - | (!!!!!) ... No... No, it can't be her. |
|
| - | Of course it can! |
|
| - | ??! (unsettled) |
|
| - | This is the work of Cha Yu-Sun, the Queen of Darkness... ... or if you prefer... Moon Mi-Ra! |
|
| - | (!!) No, that's impossible. It has to be someone else. Or maybe it's-- |
|
| - | For heaven's sake, pull yourself together, my friend!!! Cha Yu-Sun is an expert in the art of manipulating feelings. She had fun at it for years with me, without me seeing anything. |
|
| - | ..... !!!! (dismayed) |
|
| - | You were entranced by her legendary charm... ... And reap nothing but betrayal. |
Kang Chul looks at the clock, "12:00 am". Noon sharp! Time for Mi-Ra's signal.
|
| - | NO !!! No matter what, Mi-Ra is going to end the manhwa!!! |
On Soo-Bong's tablet, a new drawing materializes:
Cha Yu-Sun on a balcony of the royal skyscraper, facing the crowd.
She addresses the crowd, with an overpowering voice...
|
| - | Police and rebels alike, listen to your Queen. STOP FIGHTING ! |
The amazed crowd looks at the balcony, listens to her...
|
| - | Police and rebels alike, listen to your Queen. STOP FIGHTING ! |
|
| - | NOW !! She'll give the signal as planned! She just needed to change location! |
Kang Chul stares obsessively at the tablet, on which Cha Yu-Sun gradually materializes...
|
| - | ..... !!!! (eyes widening in fright) |
|
| - | (brandishes a decree) Today, I signed this decree giving me ABSOLUTE POWER !! |
"WooHOOoohh..." Clamors, the Joseon rebels howl with joy in the streets.
|
| - | !!!!!!!!!! (breathless at the sight of the tablet) |
|
| - | Now is the time for REVOLUTION !!! Fight for your Queen! Take up arms !!! Kill all who oppose my Royalty !!! |
"WAAHAAAhhh..." The rebels shout battle cries, galvanized!!
|
| - | .... !!!!!!!!!!!! (his heart stops beating on seeing the tablet) |
|
| - | ???!! (dumbfounded) |
On the tablet :
|
| - | Now is the time for REVOLUTION !!! Fight for your Queen! Take up arms!!! Kill all who oppose my Royalty!!! |
|
| - | ....... (petrified with disbelief) |
|
| - | I guess that's ruined for the final chapter... again... |
|
| - | Hyung... She really betrayed you. |
|
| - | ....... (painfully cogitating) |
|
| - | ...... (unsettled, frightened) |
Yeon-Joo should be happy about Mi-Ra's betrayal, the miracle she was hoping for...
... but it seemed so impossible that she feels deeply disturbed, almost guilty.
|
| - | No doubt about it, her drawings are very good... |
|
| - | (cynical) Drawn with the magic tablet you gave her back. I tried to stop you, because I knew what would happen. But it was no use, you just took me for an annoying asshole. |
|
| - | ....... (thinking frantically, tortured) |
|
| - | Hyung... Maybe it's true... Now Mi-Ra doesn't need you anymore... ... She's throwing you away. That's typical of her. |
|
| - | (explodes) SHUT THE FUCK UP !!! Are you all idiots??!!! Something serious has prevented her from executing our plan!!!! |
|
| - | ILLUSIONS !!! When will you take me seriously?!! |
|
| - | Ren-Bo, take me to the Crossover. I absolutely must see her! She may be in danger!!! |
|
| - | NOOOO !!! Don't go there! IT'S TOO DANGEROUS !!! |
|
| - | (doesn't listen) Afffff... (so obvious, like nothing) Ajusshi... She's dumped you... You've entered the masochistic breakup phase. But if you need definitive proof to suffer further, I'll take you... I just don't know where that awful royal building is... |
|
| - | Never mind, another place will do. |
|
| - | (puts hand on his shoulder) The interdimensional cab is ready to go! |
SHAF! Ren-Bo and Kang Chul disappear. Light flash.
|
| - | ..... !!!! (terribly worried) |
The verdant riverbank is calm, but on the other side of the river:
The Capital is in revolt. Smoke and burning buildings.
FSHA! Light flash. Ren-Bo and Kang Chul appear.
|
| (locates the scene) |
|
| - | (looks at the capital) The royal building should be somewhere in this mess... |
|
| (pulls out a smartphone with a "Crossover" label) |
She pulls out a smartphone labeled "Crossover".
|
| - | (gives him the smartphone) In case we need to contact each other in the Crossover. |
Hand shaking, Kang Chul calls out.
Tuuu.... Tuuu.... Tuuu.... Ringtones...
He waits, smartphone pressed to his ear...
... with growing, dizzying anxiety...
Cloc! It picks up!
|
| - | (!!) Mi-Ra!! What-- |
|
| ~ | I've had some wonderful times with you, Kang Chul... ... But things have changed. |
|
| - | (?!!!) ... How?!! What do you-- |
|
| ~ | You wouldn't understand. But thanks for my tablet. |
|
| - | (!!!!!) My love, explain to me, you have-- |
|
| ~ | We'd better never see each other again. |
Cloc! She hangs up.
|
| - | ... ?!!!!!!! |
Kang Chul calls her again. It picks up immediately!
But just an automatic voice: "This correspondent is unreachable".
His arms fall. He drops his smartphone. Paling at sight.
|
| - | ...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (emotional trauma) |
|
| - | .... ?!! ("ouch, that sounds serious") |
His eyes wander with incomprehension. He stammers inaudible words.
His mind searches for a reason, but there is none, so he loses all discernment.
He takes a step in one direction, then the other, lost in growing pain.
|
| - | This... How... Agh... Why... Agh... I couldn't... |
He collapses to his knees. Would she really have betrayed him?
What an awful, UNACCEPTABLE doubt!
|
| - | .... (moved by his suffering) |
|
| - | Impossible... Impossible... Agh... Agh... Not after... Agh... Agh... |
They loved each other so long in Imagination, IT CAN'T BE.
He bangs his fist furiously on the ground, in cadence with his lament:
|
| - | (Paf!) It can't be! (Paf!) It can't be! (Paf!) It can't be! (PAF!) IT CAN'T BE !!! |
The facts are obvious, he had it all wrong, but HE'S UNABLE TO ACCEPT IT.
|
| - | No!!! NO !!! Nooo!!! NOOO !!! NOOOOO !!! NOOOOOOOO !!! |
|
| (cries, puts hand on his shoulder to comfort him) |
Being separated from her for a few minutes was already unbearable, then THIS ?!!
He cowers pathetically, every fiber of his being drained of vital essence.
|
| - | (grimaces as he cries) AaaarARaah... Mi-Ra... Agghh... Mi-Ra... Mi-Ra... Aarraahhh.... Agh... Mi-Ra... Aarrahhhh...... Mi-Raaaaaaa......... |
Abysmal suffering, the foundation of his existence destroyed...
