Final Shot and Justice Beckons
Two days later, in the Outwardly Gentle, Inwardly Strong office.
“Whoa…”
Ra Ho-chan, the director, flipped meticulously through the storyboard book Woojin had brought, his mouth falling open in awe. Not only had it captured the three sequences forming the scene in perfect sketches, but everything was organized so clearly at a glance. It was astonishing enough that he'd conceptualized the entire scene in just two days, but to prepare a storyboard book of such professional quality on top of that.
“Did you do this all by yourself, Woojin?”
Ra's eyes widened as he asked.
“No, I discussed it with my family and put it together.”
Woojin glossed over it smoothly. It wasn't entirely untrue. 'When was the happiest moment in Father's life?' He'd talked a lot about it with his mother and sister too. That must have formed the basis for what manifested in the virtual world.
“Who drew the pictures?”
“That… my sister did.”
Ah, that was a big lie. …Just in case, he'd have to get his story straight with Baek Woo-hee. Still, it was a natural enough answer to slide by.
Ra nodded and said, “We can just go with exactly what you envisioned, Woojin!”
The short meeting continued. Woojin laid out his thoughts without holding back. Ra jotted down notes diligently, his enthusiasm visibly blazing.
A moment later.
“Perfect. We'll stick with the first-person perspective, but this time instead of handheld, we'll use a Steady Cam.”
The protagonist's moment of greatest happiness in life. For the audience watching to feel that same joy and peace, the frame needed to be steady and fixed.
“Yes, Scene 31 needs the most stable shot possible above all.”
Like Scene 24, the initial plan for Scene 31 with handheld was scrapped.
The location was set for Woojin's current home. The white interior design matched the storyboard perfectly.
“For the partner role…”
“Mal-geum-sae.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
Ra and Woojin nodded in unison.
The heroine of Burnt and Hidden Marks was undeniably Yoon Mal-geum-sae, no matter what anyone said. And in Hidden Marks, the extension focused solely on Woojin, she was the actress who could sync with him best. Plus, her image aligned strikingly with the 'Baek Seong-ho's her' that Woojin had seen in the virtual world. Even though it was just one scene, anticipation built for what new side she'd reveal.
“We'll have all the equipment and props ready by tomorrow.”
Ra wrapped up and relayed instructions to assistant director Yeo Min-seok.
With the storyboard and detailed scene list set, all that remained was the shooting date.
“How much prep time do you need?”
Ra left the decision to Woojin.
“Day after tomorrow works fine.”
Woojin answered in a low, steady voice.
* * *
Until now, the only visitors to his home had been family and Jun-an hyung.
“This place is amazing!”
“Cheongdam-dong class, for sure…”
A full twenty people poured in. Everyone momentarily forgot about shooting prep, bustling around to peek at every corner of the house. Woojin's nest surprised them. It wasn't as flashy as they'd imagined.
“Haha, nothing special, right? At home, I don't really do much besides read scripts.”
Woojin spoke softly, and Ra along with the rest of the cast and crew nodded. What was it? Simple. It embodied minimal life in one word—a model of pared-down living. In contrast, Woojin wore a constant, pleased smile. This space, where he'd spent solitary days bathed in sunlight or moonlight streaming into the living room, now brimmed with vibrant energy for the first time. The usual silence and quiet were giving way to lively buzz.
“When's the piano arriving?”
“They're bringing it up from downstairs now.”
The piano, set to play the pivotal role in today's shoot, was also the priciest prop. The crew handled it with care, and Woojin pitched in to help. Along with the piano, ingredients for the cooking scene were quickly set up.
Before shooting began, “Everyone, have some food before you go!”
- Whoaaa.
Even the wonders of Mount Geumgang come after a meal. Woojin ordered Chinese delivery out of pocket for the whole directing team. It felt like a housewarming on moving day. After today's shoot wrapped, they'd have a proper blowout at the upcoming wrap party. But today bloomed its own fresh stories. No one said it outright, but the final shoot didn't quite feel real yet. Like any set, crank-up brought a mix of relief and regret. No matter how used to it you got, memories of months of shared hardships didn't fade. Still, the project ending didn't erase the precious bonds formed through it. Let the wistfulness turn to anticipation of future reunions.
“Shooting starts!”
The brief meal ended, and as always, Yeo Min-seok's call opened the shoot.
“Take care of me well, Mal-geum-sae.”
Woojin, strapped into the Steady Cam rig, smiled at Yoon Mal-geum-sae.
“You too!”
She clenched her fist tightly. Acting as lovers alone with Woojin thrilled her to no end. And facing him now, an inexplicable certainty grew in Yoon Mal-geum-sae. She felt she'd shine brighter and more beautifully than ever in the footage he was capturing himself. His gaze, fixed on her just before Ra's cue, was anything but ordinary. What was it? That look held emotions no single word like love or affection could capture—it brimmed with every expression of love in existence.
Ahh.
Yoon Mal-geum-sae let out a short sigh inwardly. Eyes you couldn't help but fall for. If a man confessed love with those eyes in a real situation, no premise of acting, she'd never refuse—it flashed through her mind.
“Scene 31, take 1.”
- Clap.
While lost in that enchanting reverie for a moment, the slate snapped.
“Action!”
With Ra's booming call, “I love you.”
Woojin… no, 'Baek Seong-ho's' single utterance pierced her heart.
- Thump thump.
It wasn't just Yoon Mal-geum-sae. The moment everyone on set heard those weighty three words, the same thought struck them all.
That's the realest of the real.
Soon, “Me too.”
She beamed back.
* * *
From Burnt and Hidden Marks to Hidden Marks, the firefighter's life. The day Woojin put the finishing touch on four months of marathon filming with Scene 31. Another person wrapped their relentless schedule just as intensely: writer Kim Soo-rim.
- Clap.
“Whew.”
She stretched, lifting her hands from the laptop keyboard. On the screen glowed:
‘Justice’ 1~20 Final.hwp
The full script of her next work, soul poured into it over nearly a year, complete.
“I can't even look at it anymore. Ugh!”
Even as a veteran drama writer, creation's agony always stirred the same feelings. The white page now nauseated her after endless revisions that seemed never-ending, finally birthing the final draft. But a few days later, the itch for a 'new work bug' would creep in. Addictive as any drug.
- Ring ring.
She immediately dialed someone.
“Hello? Yes, PD-nim. It's Kim Soo-rim.”
The recipient was tvKR Drama Department head Park Min-jae.
“I just finished the final script revisions and sent it. It'll be quite different from what I sent before.”
The click of a file opening and Park's voice came through the phone—he was checking the script she'd sent right away.
Kim continued, “And I heard some very welcome news—Baek Woojin wrapped his movie today.”
For her next project, two key prerequisites loomed in her mind.
'Baek Woojin's movie shoot ends.' She'd basically torn the script apart waiting for just this—and today, it was done. Next up…
“How's Lee Kang-sik?”
Park paused at her question.
Actor Lee Kang-sik. Unrivaled top actor among those in their mid-50s and beyond. Hero of Company Man, Ryu Chang-min's film that first entered Korea's long-feature competition. Once hailed as Korea's method acting master, his skill universally acclaimed.
But:
Early 2005. Sniper shot from then-top director Yang Jong-hyun. Named directly, Lee held his own press conference to rebut. It ended with Yang's apology, but public opinion solidified: weren't actors' fees too high? Lee took the brunt as the named target.
It didn't end there. The next year, 2006, the government announced cuts to the screen quota system mandating theaters show domestic films a minimum number of days:
In protest, Lee returned his Culture Medal and vanished from entertainment. Debuting in film with a filmography entirely movies, he'd never done drama—always ranked #1 in 'actors we want to see in dramas.' Now, after six years of growing pains, he was poised to return. And Kim wanted him as co-lead in Justice.
“Do you think it's possible? Him doing drama.”
“What?”
Kim's eyebrow arched slightly at that. Normally, actors should request her based on her name and script quality. Lately, though, 'Baek Woojin' seemed mentioned more than 'Kim Soo-rim.' Just her imagination? Whatever. Securing the actor she wanted was satisfaction enough… Since meeting Woojin, she'd unconsciously learned to yield a step.
“Let me know the results after tomorrow's meeting.”
The call ended. Kim placed her hands back on the laptop keys.
- Tap tap tap.
tvKR's Wed-Thu drama Justice. The final script was delivered to Woojin.