Chapter 7: Foot in the Door
A massive set in Gyeonggi Province. Amid the bustle of crew members hustling back and forth with gear, lights, and cameras, the staff glanced over at the newly unrolled 20-meter green screen.
"Lee Tae-gyu—just judge his acting for now, okay?"
"If we just drag in anyone, what's the point of this private audition? I searched him up, and there's not a single line of credits."
"His acting is insane. And his ad-libs are killer."
"No way."
"Why not?"
The tense atmosphere between the main PD and the writer had been brewing since morning.
"The casting list is already locked in. You can't pull this now—it's overstepping. Are you ignoring the casting director or what?"
Well, securing actors who fit the roles was indeed the casting director's job. Especially for a private audition like this.
"Can't you just give him a number for the audition room? Watch his performance, and if he's not it, we pass him then."
"No."
"Hey, I'm the writer here!"
"Then hurry up and write. You've still got the back half to finish, writer-nim."
Truth be told, there was no real need for the writer to shut down the PD so hard in their usual dynamic. Writers recommending actors for auditions was commonplace, the backbone of any drama.
But there were two reasons the staff didn't bat an eye at the scene.
"Still—"
First, Kwak In-ho was a writer who'd earned the "has-been" label after tanking several projects in recent years.
Second, the relationship between Writer Kwak and PD Ji wasn't your standard writer-PD setup.
"Bro, cut it out! You promised not to meddle with casting this time!"
They were close on a personal level too.
That's right. PD Ji Cheol-geun, who'd helmed the direction of Kwak's hit Inferno of Distrust and climbed the ranks in broadcasting for a hot minute, had become tight with him like real brothers afterward.
"You promised in front of the division chief—why go back on it?"
"Can't you just sneak it in for me?"
"This is a private audition—names of recommenders go in the production report. What then?"
"We can fudge it as a clerical error."
"The making-of footage will catch it all on camera! Why risk getting busted later?"
"If the ratings pop off, even the chief can't complain—"
"Want ratings? Finish the back-half script already!"
PD Ji Cheol-geun's voice rose sharper. He wasn't usually this pissed, but memories of what he'd taken from DK Entertainment's CEO Do Yoon-seop regarding this blockbuster role bubbled up.
Better not get tangled and screw things up.
Kwak In-ho, the writer. Ji knew all too well the ghost stories about that eccentric who'd bulldozed PDs and casting directors at his own 'debut' role's casting call, where he should've been grateful just to squeeze in.
Foot in the door. Once you gave him an inch, he'd pry the whole thing open—that personality was no secret.
"It's been ages since we worked together—don't be like this."
"Ah, fuck, In-ho hyung! That's why people keep calling you an oblivious has-been!"
"·········!"
The air around them froze.
Damn it. He hadn't meant to go that far, but the irritation exploded.
Whatever. He'd long abandoned dreams of retiring as CP at SBC Drama Division anyway. And with his move to DK Entertainment half-confirmed for next year, this project was his exit ramp.
"You think I'm a pushover? Still see me as that kid mooching soju off you?"
"Hey."
"Get your head straight—you're not in a position to pull this! Everyone's buttering you up, saying it's gold, and you think it's actually good? Nah! Turn your back, and they're all pointing fingers!"
Frankly, even with the back half unfinished, he knew this script was solid.
But.
Thieves get jumpy at their own footsteps for a reason.
"Hold up—hyung, you didn't take any payoffs, did you?"
"What?"
"You've been struggling lately. Don't tell me... kuh!"
"You crazy bastard!"
In an instant, PD Ji Cheol-geun toppled from Kwak In-ho's flying fist. The two tumbled to the dusty floor, grappling like wild animals, as swarming staff pulled them apart.
"Writer-nim! This is too much!"
"Hey, grab the writer!"
"PD-nim too! Hold the PD—what are you doing!"
Amid the chaos of separating them, beet-red Kwak In-ho and Ji Cheol-geun screamed at each other.
"Can't tell shit from piss, huh?"
"Wow, some 'brother'!"
"After all I've done for you—"
"Look at this! Still stuck in the past, all alone! You're over forty—how long you gonna whine about the glory days?"
Face stinging from the punch, Ji Cheol-geun's rage boiled over. Words sharper than fists flew at the huffing Kwak In-ho.
"You climbed even once since then, hyung? All flops! If you love bombing so much, open a noodle shop, fuck! And every core role in those—you shoved your kids in there!"
"Those kids acted great!"
"Never your fault, right?!"
"What was I supposed to do when they got swapped mid-run for old DUI and bullying scandals?!"
"Forget that—what's with Lee Tae-gyu? How much he pay you?"
"You tell me—why can't you even call him for audition? Scared my pick'll outshine Kim Hwan?"
The unrelenting fury cracked open the tiniest gap in the airtight audition for the Odaepak role, leaving no room for outsiders.
"·········Fine!"
And just like that.
"Fine! Bring him! Lee Tae-gyu or whoever—call every damn one you want! I'll show everyone your has-been ass loud and clear!"
"You'll eat shit for this—sure about it?"
"Playing games? Bet something then! Gotta have some conscience if I'm taking it."
"Bet! What'll it be?!"
"Then—"
The acting showdown was set: mystery man Lee Tae-gyu versus rookie idol-actor Kim Hwan.
Vroooom—
A large van speeding down the highway.
"Yes, got it. Yeah, ad-lib heavy, sure sure."
The road manager finished his call from the driver's seat. Kim Hwan, lounging in the back, spoke up.
"Who was that?"
"Oh, PD Ji Cheol-geun from Monster City this time."
"What'd he want?"
"Said they might have you do ad-libs at the audition, so study the role more and practice hard."
"What? Isn't it fixed already?"
"Probably just for show. Show off your usual skills like always."
"Ha, my regular image is total opposite of Odaepak."
"What're you on about? You fit Odaepak perfect."
"Come on, I'm such a straight-arrow guy. Right, noona?"
The stylist in the passenger seat turned at his cutesy tone, chuckling.
"Noona thinks Hwan fits Odaepak totally too?"
"Pfft. What, noona? Hurts the clean-living man's feelings."
"Kek."
"Says he's hurt."
"Huh?"
"Noona."
"Yeah?"
"I'm hurt, I said."
The van's mood chilled instantly. The stylist's eyes widened in shock at Kim Hwan's stare through his sunglasses.
She fumbled, face apologetic.
"S-sorry, Hwan-ah. I was just joking—"
"Think you're on my level 'cause you dressed me in some rags a few times?"
"Hey, Kim Hwan."
"Fun, right? Riding around with a hot celeb, acting buddies. Leeching off someone else's life and cracking jokes."
"Watch your mouth."
Even as the road manager warned from the wheel, Kim Hwan just grinned mischievously at him.
"Hyung, ain't it pathetic? Some people value joking with celebs more than chances to fix their shitty lives."
"Hey."
"That noona snapped a ton of selfies at the rest stop earlier? Bragging about working with a celeb must be her life's peak. That's why she can't escape her boring-ass existence."
"Cut it out, you punk!"
Tears welled in the stylist's eyes, trickling down as sobs echoed from the passenger seat.
"How's this? Suits you?"
"Sniff... h-huh?"
"Kidding, kidding! Noona, ad-lib practice! See?"
Kim Hwan reached over, wiping the smudged mascara from her cheek with a smirk.
"Hehe, why cry! Love ya—kidding, you know? I always said I wanna try a total psycho role like Odaepak, win or lose. Gotta shake off those weird fangirls who simp just for the face."
"Apologize."
"Hyung's getting all serious again. You said practice ad-libs earlier."
"Hey."
"Fine, fine—sorry, noona! My bad for real. Next rest stop, we eat something yummy, yeah?"
The road manager sighed inwardly.
Hope that damn punk slips up at this audition.
But he knew that wish wouldn't come easy.
This industry ran on talent above all.
"Till the rest stop, wanna see Odaepak style? Just thought up some gambling addict ad-libs!"
Too bad—this guy was born with real acting chops.
Step—
Lee Tae-gyu stepped out in front of a rundown motel in Gangwon Province. Lunchtime had long passed.
Damn it all—he'd been hit with stomach cramps the whole train ride until midnight arrival, crashing straight into a motel near the station.
No more LA ribs for a while...
He staggered forward on unsteady feet.
Thud, thud.
He'd come to hunt dokkaebi fire for the role, but the LA ribs ambush had been brutal. Only now did the surroundings properly register.
Thud, thud.
To get there, grab a cab around here.
Lee Tae-gyu hunkered down on the sidewalk uphill, past the mountain path.
He stopped.
Across the way loomed the station he'd left yesterday.
SABUK STATION
That's right.
Lee Tae-gyu had arrived at dawn yesterday.
"Hoo."
The holy site for traditional gambling addicts—Gangwon Land Casino.