“Then I will finish the script and come back; Siwoo, will you look at it and reconsider?”
“Ha, Writer Han…?”
Startled by Han Yu-ju’s sudden declaration, Cha Il-nam turned toward her.
There she sat, resolve already firm and speaking with confidence.
“While I am writing, Senior, make sure you secure Nam Yeon-su? This is me, Han Yu-ju. Can you not trust me?”
Unlike Cha Il-nam, who had practically given up, Han Yu-ju’s will blazed.
At her spirited words, I opened my eyes wide and watched her.
“No, no, no. Does that mean casting cannot finish until the whole script is done; what about the reading and the other schedules…?”
“Producer Cha can adjust those; you saw my script; without Siwoo this drama is worthless; you admitted that.”
So that was it; they must have been even more impressed by RUN than I thought.
Growling in his throat, Cha Il-nam pondered, then finally nodded.
“Fine, all right.”
“Senior!”
“Hey, PD Cha, are you okay? Won’t you be fired for this?”
Even Kim Sang-cheol stared, surprised by the bold decision.
Ignoring him, Cha Il-nam calculated, then spoke with grim resolve.
“I will withdraw the initial schedule approval and reset casting and provisional shooting dates.”
“Thank you. I will finish the rest of the script quickly.”
Han Yu-ju nodded sharply, revived, However, it was only for a moment as Cha Il-nam’s shoulders sagged.
“Sigh. How hard will the bureau chief chew me out now.”
“I am counting on you, Senior.”
“We have four episodes. How long for the rest?”
“Fifty days.”
“Cut it. One month.”
Han Yu-ju’s eyes flew wide open but she slowly nodded; there was no other way.
“Okay.”
Mother and I exchanged glances. Apparently, things were settled.
After they had gone this far, one encouraging word seemed polite.
“Then I will wait. Please contact me when the script is complete.”
I hopped down, took Mother’s hand, and stepped out of the office.
“See you next time, both of you, and Director.”
I remembered to bow to Kim Sang-cheol as well, then closed the door.
Click.
After Han Siwoo left with his mother, Cha Il-nam exhaled a long sigh and sprawled on the couch.
“Is he really six? I have never had a meeting like that with a child actor.”
“Indeed; it felt like talking with an adult,” Han Yu-ju said.
Kim Sang-cheol merely smiled meaningfully, as though he had expected this.
“I told you he was no ordinary kid.”
“I will hurry and write… Thank you for today, Director. Next time, I will come to see a play.”
“Do not overwork yourself; bring the finished script when it is ready.”
Han Yu-ju rushed out; Cha Il-nam still showed no sign of moving.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
“…Buy me dinner, Hyung.”
Kim chuckled and jerked his chin toward the door.
“All right, let’s go.”
“So here, the tempo is extremely fast?”
“Yes. You traded rapid lines with Grandma Bella in RUN so well.”
“Oh, that style. Sounds fun.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Then what about this scene?”
I was meeting Kang Yong-hwi in an empty practice room.
Mother had gone to Father’s chicken shop. Later, I would go home with Uncle or Mother would return.
With the script of ‘Five Teachers and One Pupil’ spread out, I brainstormed with Kang.
Since he had written the script himself and would direct, he answered anything without hesitation.
“When do you plan to stage it?”
I looked up at him, eyes sparkling.
“You… can you really do this piece?”
“What? Are you not doing it?!”
“As long as you can, we start as soon as the present show ends.”
Excellent.
“Nearly finished, right?”
“Exactly. So we could open in late March. But Siwoo, did you not meet TV people today?”
“I did.”
“And they would not cast you?”
“I refused.”
“Why?”
“The script is only this much; the writer promised to finish it first.”
I pinched thumb and forefinger to show the thin stack.
“Wow. Dramas normally shoot without endings.”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Yet she promised; amazing.”
I nodded.
“So who will play these roles?”
Kang listed his planned cast; I trusted his choices.
“Director, do you know Nam Yeon-su?”
“That child actor? Yes, he’s talented.”
Rival, perhaps. Interesting.
We spoke on until rehearsal time; I stayed behind reading, then my phone buzzed; time to greet guests.
“Jessica!”
I ran outside Bisangcheolddo 777 and called. Jessica, standing with Jo Yi-su, turned and smiled.
“Siwoo!”
“You are early.”
“Better early than lost.”
“It has been long since I came to Daehakro too; I might have wandered.”
English chatter in the street drew glances. Clearly it’s a foreigner and a child speaking fluently.
I hurried to the entrance of Bisangcheolddo 777.
“Shall we continue inside?”
“Good.”
“Ah!” I halted on the stairs, spun, and beamed.
“Welcome to Bisangcheolddo 777!”
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