Chapter 333
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 333
Chapter Title: On the Edge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even after Director Jeffrey called cut, the silence pressing down on the set remained.
Everyone was stealing glances at Davis Garrett and Seojun. They were especially worried about Seojun.
The two actors' improvisation had passed by like a whirlwind, too fast for anyone to process, but a concern began to bubble up: what if he hadn't been acting? What if he had been genuinely terrified?
Just then, the crumpled figure of Seojun slowly rose to his feet. Everyone watched his every move, their eyes blinking.
‘Maybe I put a little too much into it.’
Seojun stretched his slightly stiff body and stood up, a small smile on his face. But for all the strain, it had been one of the most thrilling acting experiences he’d ever had.
He took an excited step forward, then tilted his head, puzzled by the quiet that lingered on set even after the scene was over.
“? Aren’t we going to monitor the take?”
Seeing Seojun not just fine, but practically glowing with delight, Andrew Walker’s eyes widened. He rushed over and wrapped Seojun in a tight hug.
“Jun, you’re the most amazing person in the world! You’re incredible! The best!”
The emotions he’d felt watching the improv were far greater than this. It was frustrating that he could only convey it with such simple words, but Andrew Walker did his best to express just how amazing Jun was.
“Andy. Wasn’t I a little amazing, too?”
Davis Garrett, who had initiated the improv, asked with a grin.
“Davis, you were amazing too!”
“...Somehow, it feels like I got half the adjectives Jun did...”
Milan Chellen and Vanessa Olson laughed.
Just as the staff was marveling at the cheerful atmosphere, a stark contrast to the storm that had just passed,
“First.”
Director Jeffrey, the writer and director of this film, spoke up.
“Let’s have a talk.”
Someone swallowed hard.
* * *
The actors, the planning team leader, and Director Jeffrey huddled together in front of a monitor, reviewing the footage that hadn’t even been designated as an NG or an OK take yet.
Perhaps because it was a full shot, the moment the other three actors broke character wasn't noticeable. No, everyone’s attention was so captivated by Seojun and Davis Garrett that there was no room to notice anything else.
Even the planning team leader, who had been nervously bouncing his leg, worried that the entire future filming schedule might be upended, found his gaze stolen.
Director Jeffrey's eyes kept drifting toward the faces of Seojun and Davis Garrett on the screen.
He desperately wanted to capture their faces in a close-up. Every glint of light in their eyes, every strand of trembling hair, their heaving breaths, the changing color of their skin, the sweat trickling down.
Which was to say, he didn't want to discard this scene.
“Trauma...”
Director Jeffrey nodded at Davis Garrett's explanation and asked a follow-up question.
“Then in the previous scenes as well...?”
Director Jeffrey recalled the occasional ad-libbed actions and lines. They hadn’t been major deviations, but hearing the reason now, it all made sense.
“Yes. If Jun hadn't played along, I was just going to act it out on my own, with the setting that he was a retired soldier with ‘a little’ trauma remaining, but...”
Davis Garrett looked at Seojun with a smile and continued.
“After filming today, it seems it would be fine for him to be a retired soldier in a more ‘on the edge’ state.”
At Davis Garrett's words, Director Jeffrey fell into deep thought.
“I think I get the gist of it.”
“I see.”
Seojun and the other two actors also understood the motivation behind Raymond Wish’s actions.
‘Well, I’ll have to act as if I don’t know any of this, of course.’
In any case, they had a direction.
Andrew Walker watched the actors and the director discuss, his eyes sparkling. After only doing plays with friends his own age, filming a movie for the first time was full of wonders.
The huge, magnificent sets. The amazing filming equipment. The professional staff. There were plenty of astonishing things, but what shone brightest among them all were the actors.
“Davis. Do you have anything else in mind?”
At Director Jeffrey’s question, Davis Garrett stroked his chin.
“Well, I do have a concept in mind...”
Everyone leaned in, listening intently to Davis Garrett’s words.
“If it’s just trauma, he’ll lose his mind, so it would be good to create a control device.”
“A control device?”
Davis Garrett smiled at Seojun’s question and answered.
“A reason for Raymond Wish to endure his trauma and escape. Honestly, if Raymond loses it and goes on a rampage, everyone dies.”
Ooh.
Everyone nodded at Davis Garrett’s words.
“Have you thought about what to use as the control device?”
At Director Jeffrey’s question, Davis Garrett smiled at Seojun.
No, he wasn't looking at Seojun, but at the Lee Hyunwoo who existed beyond him.
“Family. What do you think?”
At Davis Garrett’s words, everyone’s gaze shifted from Seojun, then back to Davis Garrett.
“Originally, Raymond Wish’s family escapes early on thanks to him, right? Then Raymond gets isolated trying to save someone else.”
The actors nodded at Davis Garrett’s words.
Director Jeffrey, who understood Davis Garrett’s point a step ahead of the others, widened his eyes.
“Let’s isolate the family. Instead of them being completely saved, what if we create a situation where, like ‘Lee Hyunwoo’s’ family, it’s unknown whether they’re alive or dead? That gives Raymond Wish a reason to escape as quickly as possible.”
Davis Garrett's suggestion sent Director Jeffrey’s mind spinning.
It wasn't bad.
No.
It was great.
The anxiety of his family being in danger and the confusion stemming from his trauma.
And the desperate urgency to suppress it all and go save his family would collide.
‘Then Lee Hyunwoo, who triggers his trauma, would constantly get on his nerves.’
Would they continue to clash like that?
‘Or else...’
A tingle of an idea.
Director Jeffrey scratched his head furiously as a new development felt like it was just on the tip of his tongue.
“...Then we’ll have to reshoot.”
The planning team leader said with a groan, and Director Jeffrey nodded.
“For now, I think we’ll just need to reshoot the part where Wish’s family gets isolated.”
“...For now...”
To the planning team leader, there was no phrase more terrifying than that right now.
* * *
“Ready, action!”
I didn’t know how long we had been underground.
The survivors found a relatively spacious area to take a brief rest while on the move, each finding a spot to settle.
In Raymond Wish's hand, the compass inside Ian Weaver's old watch spun around and around, pointing north.
While Raymond Wish was examining the passageway in the direction they needed to go with his flashlight, Cynthia Lindbergh's eyes were busy scanning the products buried in the walls. Among the items, crushed beyond recognition, one brand appeared with high frequency.
Cynthia Lindbergh, who had been an information desk employee at the Galleria Mall, wracked her memory and recalled the location of that brand’s store.
“This brand is on the 3rd floor of the central area.”
“...So we’re still in the central section.”
Raymond Wish let out a heavy sigh.
Jackson Miller was more speechless at the fact that items from the 3rd floor were here. He instinctively looked up at the ceiling. He couldn't even begin to guess how much of it had collapsed.
Ian Weaver, who was next to Cynthia Lindbergh, cautiously made his way over to Lee Hyunwoo.
He had started walking with the group at Jackson Miller’s urging, but whenever they paused, Lee Hyunwoo would curl up in the most secluded corner.
“Hyung. Do you want some of this?”
A little while ago, everyone had shared the snacks from Ian Weaver’s bag to replenish their energy, but Lee Hyunwoo had been the only one not to eat. It seemed to have bothered the boy.
“...”
“This is really good...”
Despite Lee Hyunwoo’s cold reaction, Ian Weaver came back to him time and time again.
In the darkness.
Lee Hyunwoo was trying his best to breathe normally. They were all good people, and he didn't want to be a burden, but his broken body wouldn't listen to him.
Ian Weaver looked at the curled-up Lee Hyunwoo.
Seeing the older boy who resembled his mother, Ian Weaver quietly leaned his body against Lee Hyunwoo’s.
A warm presence snuggled up beside Lee Hyunwoo.
The small body and its gentle warmth made Lee Hyunwoo feel as if he was about to burst into tears.
* * *
Raymond Wish took in ragged breaths, as if suffocating.
No one knew whose trauma was deeper: Lee Hyunwoo’s, formed just hours ago, or Raymond Wish’s, which had festered for years.
But.
Raymond Wish had overcome it, time and again.
So... he would endure it this time, too.
Ignoring his trembling hands, Raymond Wish squeezed his eyes shut.
He tried not to look at Lee Hyunwoo, the trigger for his trauma.
Watching Raymond Wish and Lee Hyunwoo try so hard to avoid each other, Jackson Miller and Cynthia Lindbergh’s hearts grew heavy.
* * *
Director Jeffrey scratched his head furiously.
“I thought it was going to explode...”
“Haha.”
Davis Garrett laughed, his gaze shifting away as if to avoid Director Jeffrey's eyes.
“I thought he was going to have a seizure...”
“...Haha.”
Seojun also laughed awkwardly, avoiding the director’s gaze. His evasion was less practiced than that of Davis Garrett, who had been through this many times.
“The plan was for Lee Hyunwoo to have a seizure when Ian got close, and that seizure would in turn set Raymond off...”
Director Jeffrey pressed his forehead.
“Things aren’t going according to plan.”
“If it went according to plan, would you call it improv?”
“You always have a way with words.”
At Davis Garrett’s shameless remark, Director Jeffrey let out a chuckle. Seeing this, Seojun and the other actors’ eyes widened. They had thought he was a meek and timid director, having accepted Davis Garrett’s revisions without question, but now he was starting to show his true colors.
The planning team leader, who had witnessed Director Jeffrey’s more vulnerable side, stood with his mouth agape in disbelief. Director Jeffrey himself seemed surprised by his own words, his eyes wide.
Milan Chellen and Davis Garrett burst out in cheerful laughter.
“Our director has a personality!”
“I like it! Please speak comfortably!”
The teasing was palpable, and Seojun, Andrew, and Vanessa Olson couldn't help but chuckle along.
Feeling a strange sense of ease yet also embarrassment, Director Jeffrey cleared his throat.
“Ahem. So, what happens next?”
“...Well, who knows?”
At the director’s question, Davis Garrett and Seojun scratched their cheeks. Milan Chellen and Vanessa Olson burst into laughter again, while the planning team leader clutched his forehead.
“For now...”
Director Jeffrey opened the script and checked the scenes for the day. His eyes and the pen in his hand moved faster than ever before. It was a far cry from the passive figure who had simply accepted Davis Garrett’s opinions until now.
“Without touching the other characters’ lines or actions too much... let’s delete from here to here. And let’s pull this line over here...”
Davis Garrett and Seojun also put their heads together.
“I think it would be fine to leave my lines and Jun’s blank.”
“Instead of leaving them completely blank, how about we set a general direction? Like, is the intensity going to be high-high-high, or high-low-low?”
Everyone nodded at Seojun’s suggestion, until,
“...Though I have a feeling it’ll get thrown out the window anyway.”
Everyone burst out laughing at the planning team leader's worried comment.
Watching the situation from a distance, An Daho scratched his cheek.
“I never thought I’d see last-minute script pages in America...”
* * *
In the suffocating darkness.
Relying solely on the light of a flashlight, Lee Hyunwoo’s condition grew progressively worse.
On top of the major tremors, he now started having seizures at the sound of rubble being cleared by the survivors to make a path.
“Aargh!”
In the heavy silence, the only sound was a sharp scream that grated on Raymond Wish's nerves. It was like a gnat buzzing relentlessly around his ear.
Tick, tock.
The three other survivors watched Raymond Wish, a ticking time bomb, their senses on high alert. Even Ian Weaver, who had been stuck to Lee Hyunwoo’s side, held his breath. But there was one boy who had no capacity to think of others.
“Aaaaargh!”
Bang!
Raymond Wish exploded.
With a terrifying, menacing aura, he lunged forward, but Jackson Miller and Cynthia Lindbergh stood in his way. Ian Weaver quickly shielded the seizing Lee Hyunwoo with his own body.
As if the three people in front of him were invisible, Raymond Wish screamed in a voice that sounded like it would tear his throat apart.
“Please... please just shut up! It keeps ringing in my head, I feel like I’m going crazy!”
Rage and frustration poured out of Raymond Wish’s entire being.
But he was still holding back.
He remembered the first day he had returned home after retiring.
Remembering how he had torn his house apart because of his trauma, he swallowed the lump of blood rising in his throat. This place was already narrow and dangerous; he knew what would happen if he lost his mind and went on a rampage.
“We don’t have time... for this...!”
Raymond Wish tore at his own hair as if having a seizure himself. In his anguish-filled state, there was no trace of the reliable man they had first met.
Raymond’s desperate voice barely reached Lee Hyunwoo’s ears.
“My family is in the food court... I have to go save them...!”
Family.
Lee Hyunwoo’s breath caught.
Along with the warmth of the child covering him, it was as if his ears had just popped.
“So... so please...”
Raymond Wish, the most threatening of the survivors, curled into a ball as if begging the weakest, Lee Hyunwoo.
His body trembled, oblivious to the sharp pieces of rock on the ground cutting into his skin.
“...Just be quiet...!”
Silence fell.
Only the sound of Raymond Wish’s and Lee Hyunwoo’s sobs seemed to echo in the space.
Ian Weaver realized that the trembling of the older boy he was holding was subsiding.
A mumbling voice could be heard.
“...So... sorry... I’m sorry... I’m really... sorry... Sorry... I’m sorry...”
With a faint light returning to his dark eyes, Lee Hyunwoo apologized over and over through his tears. After apologizing again and again and again, he finally managed to force out his own words.
“I’m sorry... I... I can’t control it... I’m really sorry... I’m sorry...”
*Hic... sob...*
Hearing the indistinguishable sobs, Jackson Miller and Cynthia Lindbergh squeezed their eyes shut.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault.
* * *
“Cut, okay!”
Director Jeffrey, who had been staring at the monitor with glistening eyes, shouted. The actors, who had been giving their all, stretched their stiff bodies and immediately prepared to film the bust shots.
The planning team leader, who had been watching the monitor with the director, let out a low groan. These were scenes he didn't want to throw away a single frame of, but they were so different from the original script.
“I can’t even predict how this will end anymore. Can you, Director? My head feels like it’s about to explode.”
At the planning team leader’s words, Director Jeffrey smiled faintly.
“Yes. For some reason, I feel like my head has been cleared, and ideas are just pouring out.”
At the bright voice, the planning team leader looked at Director Jeffrey.
The director’s eyes glistened as he smiled, his expression incredibly bright.
So bright it was almost scary.
He knew he shouldn't be thinking this, but,
‘...He looks like he’s lost it.’
The planning team leader’s eyes darted back and forth, watching Director Jeffrey exit the set with an incredibly light-footed step.
‘Nah. It’s probably just my imagination.’
#