Crank-Up
Long time no see.
Ha Moo-young looked around the Plague filming set with a smile. He'd only been away for a short while, but damn, it felt good to be back!
Dust still swirled in the air, and the crew was still sweating it out under the blazing sun.
"Oppa!"
"Yuna!"
The sweat-drenched kid spotted Moo-young and came running. Surprisingly, she'd grown a bit taller since he'd last seen her—enough to notice right away.
"Whoa, what? How'd you get so tall?"
"My hands got bigger too, right? Check it out."
"Whoa, impressive."
Time really flies for kids. Covered in fake blood, Yuna clung to Moo-young and just rested her forehead against him. She tried to smile brightly, but she couldn't quite hide the shadow in her eyes.
"Today's the last one, right?"
"Yeah. The real last one."
It was the crank-up for filming and the movie's finale. Script-wise, it was an open ending. Amid the hellish chaos of people tearing into each other, the kid was left all alone, and only after a long time did the government open the gate. The film ended with the sound of soldiers rustling.
"Thanks for coming, oppa."
Unlike Louis's clear death, no one knew if Johnny survived. She might have hidden away somewhere and clung to life desperately. The kid seemed to have made up her mind about that ambiguous part.
"I was kinda scared for today."
Her interpretation: Johnny dies. Director Jin Kyung-mun's direction to "think it over yourself" was, in a way, pretty cruel. It had led the kid to choose "death."
Moo-young stroked Yuna's head.
"What are you talking about? Of course I had to come."
It was a meaningful day. Just as they'd started the movie together, they'd end it together too. And above all, just as Johnny had witnessed and comforted Louis's death, he'd do the same for her.
"Moo-young! You made it?"
"Hey, long time no see."
"Saw you on the news. All kinds of crazy stuff going on? You okay?"
"Of course. That's all in the past now."
Moo-young exchanged greetings with the familiar staff. The director, assistant director—everyone welcomed him warmly. Hyeo-jeong was there too, after a while. Her face had some red marks, but makeup covered them naturally.
"Sunbae, hi. Feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks to you. Heard you went through hell adjusting the schedule? Thanks."
Hyeo-jeong took a sip of iced coffee as she greeted him. Hell? Nah—he'd gotten some great scenes out of it and scored an officetel too. Moo-young just smiled brightly.
"You here?"
Hye-jun waved lazily from nearby. Heat had him with an ice pack over his eyes, head tilted back. He looked like he might melt like ice cream any second.
"Oppa, you're staying till the end, right?"
"Yeah. Shooting wraps up this afternoon, yeah?"
It was lunchtime now. He had plans to head to Enbin's dorm later, so plenty of time. Yuna let out a small sigh of relief.
"Yuna! Over here!"
"Coming! Be right back, oppa."
"ND filter ready!"
"Final path check. How many seconds from A to B?"
"Fifteen seconds on cue—too long?"
Moo-young settled behind the camera to watch. A massive crowd scene was about to unfold. How would the chaos he'd only imagined from the script come to life?
"Oppa, watch closely."
Before standby, Yuna grabbed his hand and pleaded. Louis smiled brightly, as if to say don't worry. Johnny murmured,
"Because just like I was there at your end, oppa, you'll be there at mine."
With that, the kid dashed into the dirt field. Wind kicked up, blurring her silhouette. Under the harsh sunlight, Yuna standing alone looked heartbreakingly solitary.
Great minds think alike.
Words weren't needed; they just got each other. Moo-young grinned wide and waved.
Being a crowd scene, the number of stuntmen and extras was record-breaking. Tension gripped the set as everyone held their breath at the assistant director's command.
"Alright, sub-camera shot—action!"
"Ready—!"
At the director's call, everyone took position. Moo-young peered at the screen from behind the viewfinder. The crane rose, shrinking people to specks.
"Action!"
"Arrrgh!"
"Aaaah!"
Nearly a hundred people charged in arcs, swinging blades. Blood and screams erupted everywhere. In the center, only Johnny stood dazed, watching it all.
"Okay! Cut!"
"Next, just Johnny's face!"
"Back to positions and wait!"
"Toss bloody rags here! Towels over there!"
It reminded him of insects following nature's laws. Black-and-red figures moved in perfect sync along their paths.
"Ready!"
After a reset, the megaphone blared again. Johnny twisted, looking not at the lens but at Moo-young. Staff and gear filled the space between them, but it didn't matter. Their eyes met—that was key. But something was off in her gaze.
"Action!"
"Arrrgh!"
Hye-jun, eyes bloodshot, charged at Yuna with a blade. Madness filled his black pupils—empty. The dolly tracked fast beside him.
Slash!
The camera eased back behind his shoulder as he swung wildly. Johnny watched calmly. A life that had lost everything, now rushing to its end. Yuna's eyes reddened.
Bang!
Then black screen.
"Cut!"
Did that bullet pierce Hye-jun's head, or was it chaos from nearby fighters? Unknown. Hye-jun collapsed, panting from the run.
"Great work!"
"Nice one. Good job."
"Woo! It's really over! Thanks for everything!"
Staff hugged and clapped, celebrating the finale. Words couldn't capture the grind—night shoots daily, covered in dust, sweltering heat...
"Yuna?"
But Yuna stood frozen, lost in thought. Moo-young knelt to her level.
"What's up?"
"Something wrong?"
Director Jin Kyung-mun too. Yuna gripped Moo-young's hand and mumbled, voice tinged with tears.
"Before shooting, I thought Johnny dies."
"Yeah? And?"
"But seeing Moo-young oppa—no, Louis—makes me think no. If she dies like this, Louis would be too sad."
Worried about leaving her alone, but hoping for her happiness. That made death impossible.
"Sorry, director."
The take was perfect, but her mindset had shifted—she wanted a redo. With staff cheering, though, it felt awkward.
"Hmm..."
The director checked the viewfinder and tilted his head. Open ending, so no big issue. Act however as an actor—interpretation was up to the audience.
"But her expression turned out so good, I like it."
"Um, but—"
Yuna grumbled like she had a stomachache. Moo-young met her eyes again and smiled. That odd gaze earlier—this was it. Inner conflict.
"Hey, Yuna. You know?"
"What?"
"Life doesn't go as planned. Even if you thought Johnny dies, no one knows what comes after. And you changed your mind right at 'ready,' right?"
"How'd you know?"
Yuna's eyes widened. Even Jin Kyung-mun, glued to the monitor, hadn't caught it.
"Her eyes shifted. She realized later, but I saw it—the moment her resolve changed. So on film, Johnny's already decided to live."
Yuna's eyes went huge. She mulled it over, savoring his words. Yeah, kinda? Jin Kyung-mun waited patiently.
How much time passed?
"Yeah, probably."
"Of course."
Yuna beamed up at Moo-young. Now it was truly over! Jin Kyung-mun clapped for her, thanking her.
"Our lead. Great work all this time."
"Thank you, director."
"Everyone, applause!"
"Great job! Yuna, you did it!"
"Director, thank you!"
Thunderous cheers flushed Yuna's face. Reality hit—done—and she started sniffling.
"Uh..."
"Crying! Hey, you crying?"
"Uncle, shut up!"
Hye-jun's teasing broke the dam. Tears poured as she wailed, burying into Moo-young's arms.
How hard to anchor a film as child lead?
"Aigoo, why cry on a good day."
Moo-young patted her, smiling. From the opening ceremony—unreal back then—to this end.
Schedule-free Hye-jun showed with coffee.
"All done? Moo-young, long time."
"Hi, sunbae."
"Alright, group photo time."
"Extras too, gather up."
"Wide shot, even wider!"
Bloody folks clustered, fists up. "Plague Box Office Hit!" banner strung front.
"One, two, three—yell 'Plague Fighting!'"
Stills team hustled everywhere. Amid positioning, Yuna sobbed adorably.
"One, two, three!"
"Plague fighting!"
Click! Click!
Everyone grinned, marking crank-up. Not truly over—editing, sound, CG, promo ahead. But for now, done!
"Great job, Yuna."
Last take dragged, but Moo-young's persuasion wrapped it clean. Yuna squeezed his hands.
"Thanks, oppa. For being Louis."
They hugged tight, lingering. Jin Kyung-mun addressed via megaphone.
"Thanks for trusting me. Wanna drink now, but editing team's turn. Sorry."
"Boo! Director!"
"We'll sync schedules for a big dinner soon. Thanks!"
Clap clap! He bowed, doffing his cap.
"Oppa, where you off to now?"
"Me? Meeting a friend."
"Who?"
"Enbin."
Enbin's name snapped Hyeo-jeong's head around. Pure instinct.
"Hyeo-jeong, you missed that coffee truck, right? Enbin sent it."
"Huh? Why from Enbin?"
"Friends with Moo-young? Got close filming YouTube."
Mouth agape in awe. Industry's small—Zero Team superfan Hyeo-jeong played civilian for image.
"Oh, really."
Moo-young looked fresh. She eyed him, ears perked. What with Enbin today? To director's question, Moo-young bullshitted.
"Heading to his dorm. Introducing members. Got stuff to discuss."
Instead of "learn singing." Truth: trade skills. Acting for vocals. What each needed.