Right After Casting Ends
While researching various materials on Savant Syndrome, Woojin had once watched a documentary about a certain man. The protagonist was a Savant Syndrome patient with the ability to recreate a cityscape he'd glimpsed for just twenty minutes from a helicopter with 100% accuracy in a drawing. None other than Stephen Wiltshire, the British genius painter and artist.
Diagnosed with autism at age three, he entered a special school at five. That's when he began drawing landscapes, and a teacher who noticed his extraordinary talent submitted his works to an art competition, bringing his abilities to light.
What had particularly shocked Woojin in the documentary was that Wiltshire, who started seriously drawing cityscapes from age eight, didn't begin speaking until he was nine. In other words, while most people learn language first after birth, for him it was drawing.
Humans are social animals, and communication through language is at the core of our essence. To think he'd expressed that fundamental drive through drawings without words—it had made Woojin realize early on that Wiltshire viewed the world from a profoundly different perspective. But no mere description could fully capture the joys and sorrows he'd felt.
"Writer, did you perhaps base the young man character on the real-life Stephen Wiltshire?"
Woojin couldn't hold back his curiosity during character analysis and messaged Ma Seol-ah right away.
"Yes, exactly. You spotted it right away!"
She confirmed it immediately, adding that the young man in Saw the Pheasant? was a fictional version of the real Wiltshire, but with his mental age fixed at 6 to 8 years old. This made his communication skills and social abilities even lower than a typical Savant Syndrome patient.
From a strictly medical viewpoint, some details might not hold up perfectly, but she explained it fell within the realm of dramatic license, which was entirely acceptable.
Woojin agreed with her. As long as it wasn't outright false or misleading, he had no issue with character setups that served the story's flow.
With the writer's intent in mind, he'd mapped out his character analysis. Separate from his work in the virtual world—this was real-world script breakdown, while beyond the diary lay the underdrawing process.
A week flew by in a blur.
And now, at this very moment!
The massive wall before him was finally filled with a sketch of some city's panorama. He didn't know which city, but if it was a real place, the level of detail was so precise it could pass for a photograph traced exactly.
The exhaustion that had weighed on his body and mind after a grueling week melted away like snow in spring sunshine. Seeing the fruits of his sweaty labor filled him with pride, no matter what.
Catching his breath in front of the grand artwork, Woojin wore a smile that was half excitement, half faint worry. "Now, I wonder what's next."
The thrill came from finally wrapping up the arduous task that had let him indirectly feel the frustration of a young man unable to communicate due to his injured arm. Now he could meet the young man character himself, right?
The worry? "Don't tell me this is just the beginning..." The underdrawing might still be only halfway to completion, with a long road ahead. Surely not coloring too? Wiltshire's works in the documentary had mostly been black-and-white.
The virtual world was always full of "surely nots" that bit him in the ass, but this once, Woojin decided to trust in "surely not" as he slowly stood.
That's when it happened.
- Tap tap.
"...?!"
Something tugged at his pant leg from behind—like fingers poking.
Woojin whipped around, eyes wide. His gaze dropped to a little boy looking up at him, head tilted.
Hold on. This felt familiar somehow?
Come to think of it, it was just like the first time he'd met William in England.
The boy looked no older than six, eight at most—the age etched in the young man's inner world.
"Hi?"
"..."
Woojin bent down and scooped the child into his arms. The boy nestled silently against him.
"How old are you?"
"..."
"What's your name?"
"..."
The boy said nothing, just sucked on his fingers while glancing around from Woojin's embrace.
Oh, maybe my barrage of questions is bothering him.
Woojin stroked the boy's back and turned toward the massive wall. The child kept his face buried in Woojin's chest, still as could be.
Then, ever so slightly, the boy lifted his head. His eyes locked onto the sketch filling the wall, sparkling with sudden interest.
Just like when William in England had received the ice cream Woojin bought him.
"..."
The boy still wordless, he wiped his fingers on his lips—smack smack—and darted his eyes this way and that. Woojin quietly followed his gaze across the wall.
Time passed like that, not insignificantly.
The boy never tore his eyes from the drawing; Woojin waited patiently in silence.
How much time went by?
"......."
- Snap!
Suddenly, the boy thrust his arm straight ahead.
The gesture shattered the long silence, startling Woojin into staring at him. The child in his arms pointed at one spot on the wall.
What is it?
"Where are you pointing, buddy?"
Woojin asked softly, smiling.
The boy's fingertip trembled slightly, tense with effort.
Woojin followed the silent finger with his eyes.
...Sorry. Couldn't pinpoint it exactly.
So Woojin approached the wall, still holding the boy. As they drew nearer, the child's head and gaze followed his pointing finger, inching up up along the wall.
Still fixed on that one spot.
Unable to locate it precisely, Woojin decided to nudge gently without making him uncomfortable.
"Where is it, huh? Tell our little captain?"
"..."
"We're on the same team—can't you show your uncle too?"
Woojin drew out his words playfully, jiggling his arms with the boy in them. Wobble wobble.
A faint smile crept onto the boy's face. No sound, but it was the first smile he'd shown.
Yes!
Woojin inwardly cheered at the upturned lips. He felt a deeper bond forming, greater intimacy with the child.
The cute little voice—at last!
Anticipation swelled.
And...
"..."
Failure.
No voice from the boy after all.
...Needed more time, it seemed.
* * *
He decided to approach the boy slowly and carefully.
In stark contrast, real-world tempo had no choice but to be lightning-fast.
June 17th, Monday.
The official rehearsal schedule for Saw the Pheasant? kicked off.
First rehearsal. Brimming with excitement, he picked up Senior Lee Kang-sik.
He'd already told Jun-an hyung he'd handle things solo for the next four weeks of rehearsals, so the two headed out together.
They arrived at the practice room early in the morning—the first ones there, lights still off.
Simple reason: Both had suggested reminiscing about the Justice group lodging days. A burst of passion to properly drill vocalization and pronunciation from the start.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Senior!"
The two actors' resonances soon filled the empty room without a gap.
About an hour later.
"Ah! Hello, Senior!"
"Come on in."
"Hi!"
"Oh, Woojin junior. Been well?"
Starting with Senior Choi Yeong-do, members of Actor's Yard trickled in one by one.
The room buzzed with energy in no time.
The actors exchanging greetings wore bright, blooming smiles. The power of a "beginning," no doubt.
"Woojin-ssi, great to see you."
"Let's get close, Woojin sunbae-nim."
"Please take care of me, Woojin actor."
Stuck to Lee Kang-sik sunbae's side by default, they spent lots of time together. Maybe that's why—from auditions to now, everyone in Actor's Yard approached him warmly.
Woojin knew it too. They'd share three months of highs and lows making this show together, so some kept a polite distance while closing in gradually.
Others made their calculated approach blatant.
Myeong Se-hui was one such—early thirties, playing the young man's sister this time.
"Woojin-ssi, drinks sometime when you're free! With Kang-sik sunbae too."
She was one who wanted conversation laced with booze.
Looking closely, it was always just Woojin and Lee Kang-sik. Probably hesitant to approach the senior directly, she always phrased it like she wanted Woojin to set it up.
Woojin understood her completely. No displeasure at all.
After all, it was the next project from the duo whose fantastic chemistry had exploded ratings in their last drama. Plus, this was Woojin's theater debut and Lee Kang-sik's theater comeback—bound to draw eyes.
Naturally, co-starring meant some spotlight on her too. How desperately she must crave it.
That's why she wanted to get closer, chat casually, pick up tips or leads on screen acting.
Understanding her heart so well, Woojin returned her bold advances with friendliness. They were a team now—better to bond quick.
Curious how her lively, energetic offstage vibe would shine onstage.
After light greetings with B Team next door—
- Lee Kang-sik as the old man.
- Baek Woojin as the young man.
- Choi Yeong-do as the head doctor.
- Myeong Se-hui as (the young man's) sister.
And Bae Su-jeong and Yang Hyo-je as the lesser patient roles 1 and 2.
A Team actors gathered.
Main staff settled behind them.
"Alright, first rehearsal—let's begin."
Oh Tae-hyeop clapped to signal start, while Ma Seol-ah fixed her sharp gaze on the script.
"Quick read-through first, then discuss. Let's hear the tone."
"Yes!"
The first to open the play: Old Man Lee Kang-sik slowly delivered his lines.