Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Turning Six
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The year had turned to 2007.
Nothing particularly special about it.
With RUN still playing to packed houses, it was the same old routine of practice and performances day in, day out.
But today seemed like it would be a little different.
Fwoom.
I fiddled with the rubber band around my neck.
Today was January 15th, a Monday.
No show on Mondays, but we still came in for practice.
Good morning!
I headed to the big practice room at the Gwanghwamun Cultural Center without a second thought.
And right away, a staff member dragged me over and plopped me down here.
Complete with this ridiculous party hat on my head.
Ugh.
In two days, on January 17th, it would be my birthday.
Id never mentioned it, but it looked like the RUN team knew about it anyway.
A staffer had plunked the birthday party hat on my head, saying they were throwing me a celebration.
Im already six years old, and I have to wear this?
It felt kind of infuriating.
Especially since my mind was anything but a kids.
But despite my thoughts, my little body was buzzing with excitement, legs jiggling away.
Hmph. Well, I couldnt very well ignore their effort.
The practice room was usually empty for acting drills, but not today.
A long table had been set up in a big circle.
I sat right in the middle, waiting for everyone.
Separate from being the lead in the show, today I was the real star.
Bang!
Happy birthday!
How long had I been sitting there patiently?
The door flew open, and in came the staff and other actors.
To our belovedSiusbirthday! Happy! Birthday!
At the center was Yoo Jung-seok, holding a lit cake, with Noh Young-hee beaming beside him, and the rest of the cast crowding in behind.
Even the staff joined in, singing brightly as they took seats around the table.
Siu! Blow out the candles!
Fwoo.
Waaah!
Happy birthday, Siu!
I puffed out all six candles in one go, and the staff went wild.
Phew, the popularity of this body.
I picked up the cake and flashed an adorable expression for the staff shoving cameras in my face.
Mom always melted at a look like this.
Whoa, too cute. Siu.
Siu, Siu. Different pose.
Like this?
At the staffers suggestion, I held the cake up with both hands and gave a big grin.
They clutched their hearts and toppled over the table one by one at the sight.
Happy birthday, Siu.
Thanks. Jessica.
Jessica and Joy Soo showed up next.
I beamed back at their birthday wishes.
No practice today. Were celebrating Sius birthday, and weve got some great news, so were throwing a party.
Huh? What news?
Good news?
What is it, Director?
Everyone listened to Joy Soos translation and turned to Jessica.
Jessica lifted up an English newspaper and several Korean ones with a confident smile.
Ahem, its really great news, so Ill read it. Everyone pay attention!
I spotted Joy Soo facepalming beside her at Jessicas shout.
Whats going on? I looked up at her.
Rainbow Pictures RUN Korean production is breaking records with sold-out shows every day, riding high on success. This has reaffirmed the stunning talent of director Je-si-ca B-ra-un and unearthed a Korean treasure named Han Siu. And...
Ah, looks like some great press on the RUN show.
The staff who didnt know much English just blinked at the stream of words.
Joy Soo and I, who understood perfectly, stared blankly at Jessica.
At her reading praise after praise for herself with utter delight.
Heh heh.
I nearly burst out laughing.
Jessica emphasized her own name as she read on.
Impressive in a way.
I was floored by her boldness in reciting her own accolades without a hint of shame.
Come to think of it, Joy Soo had looked off earlierprobably not the first time Jessica pulled this.
The RUN production achieved another sold-out triumph in last Fridays second ticketing round. All eyes are on what path this blockbuster show will take next.
Having read the entire long article on the show, Jessica looked at her team with satisfaction.
This is from an American paper covering Broadway. And there are tons more like it. Of course, its even hotter here in Korea.
Jessica, face alight with excitement, unfolded a Korean paper too.
It featured a huge photo of the Gwanghwamun Cultural Center building and faces of Jessica, me, and the leads.
Self-praise through and through, but oddly, it didnt make her look obnoxious.
Shed undeniably steered the show to success with her skills.
It just made you nod along.
The staff and actors, hearing Joy Soos rough translation, nodded as they looked at Jessica.
So, to share this happy news, how about a little party with everyone? Lets have fun today!
Everyone cheered and whooped at Jessicas final words.
Weve got so much to celebrate todaySius birthday and the second ticketing sold out!
I knew itd do well, but this is beyond expectations, right?
The actors buzzed with excitement, chattering away.
In the midst of it, Noh Young-hee approached slowly, holding a neatly wrapped gift.
Happy birthday, Siu.
A birthday present.
And hers was just the start.
This too. Happy birthday, Siu. Six years old now?
I got one too!
Yes! Thank you!
In the joy-filled practice room, I played the star to the hilt.
From Noh Young-hee on, I got countless gifts from the actors and staff, smiling happily all the while.
Ahh, reincarnation is the best.
To think I get days like this.
That I deserve joys like this.
I grinned at Jessica, who insisted on popping champagne.
She met my eyes and grinned back wide.
No, sunbae. Why wont this work? Its fun!
In a KMB broadcasting station conference room.
PD Cha Il-nam pressed his temples against the headache from his college hoobae, writer Han Yuju, yelling right off the bat.
Ah, this is the company! Han Writer, tone it down?
Seriously... Fine, PD Cha. Why wont my script fly? You admit its fun, right?
Softened a bit by the company reminder, Han Yuju shoved the stack of papers at him again.
The bold voice belonged to Han Yuju.
Shed won grand prize in the short drama category at KMBs 2004 contest.
Since joining KMB, shed penned five shorts, but none had blown up or gotten much attention.
Stuck in drama division without a proper debut hit, she was sidelined.
Couldnt just ditch a grand prize winner, though.
And her pitches were always solid.
Tough to get scheduled, thats all.
Cha Il-nam saw her as a talent too good to waste.
Who said its not fun? It is! But 16 episodes? Hard to slot.
Frustrated, he snapped at Han Yuju.
He knew.
How well his college hoobae wrote, how entertainingly.
Problem was, her stuff was subtle, not the sensational hooks the brass lovedtough to stretch into 16 eps.
One breakout hit, and she could write what she wanted.
But Han Yuju was as stubborn as she was talentedno compromise in sight.
This time, shed retooled with a new 16-ep script...
Yet it carried the same old issue, locking them in standoff.
I read it in one go. Great pitch, dialogue, opener. Its good.
Good, but?
Not stimulating enough!
Ah, sunbae. Does drama have to be stimulating? Makjangs on its way out. Thisll hit big as 16 eps, I swear?
Tempting pitch.
In a drama market flooded with over-the-top shock, something fresh might draw viewers.
But from pitch to casting to slotting? Rocky road ahead, plain as day.
Ah, Han Writer... You think I dont get it? Its fun! But why not second go? Debut with something else,
Cha Il-nam floated an alternative gently.
Predictably, Han Yujus face hardened the moment he spoke.
You know I hate compromising.
Sigh... What am I gonna do with you.
He knew.
Thats the issue.
She only had her college sunbae to hash this out with, so here she was.
Han Writer. You know this path leads to the same old nothing.
...
Such a waste of a good story. What goods it if we like it? Brass calls it untrendy. Even solid actors pass cause no buzz potential. Pretty faces desperate for debut jump on it instead. Then what?
It flops. Like always.
Han Yuju murmured glumly.
Exactly. Theyve got looks, no chops. Your scripts need emotional depth they cant deliver.
Good direction could...
Han Writer. The actors who nail writers and directors intent are the ones I mentioned. You know better.
So what do I do...
No answer. None.
Cha Il-nam sighed deeply at the dead end.
Script gold, but no talent to bring it alive.
One hit, and A-listers would line upbut no compromise meant vicious cycle.
Look at this one. Great story, but who acts it?
Worse, this script featured kid brothers throughout all 16 eps.
Deeper, funnier than her shorts.
But who plays kids like that?
Adult roles already starved for talenttwo kids? Dream on.
Theres Nam Yeon-su! Nam Yeon-su!
...Yeah, her actings top-notch. But easy casting?
Youve got the director connection. Didnt you work with Yeon-su last year and get close?
...Sigh. Fine, say we snag Yeon-su. Then the little brother? Needs to be younger.
Nam Yeon-su was the once-in-decades prodigy, 8 years old.
Even if she nailed the brother role perfectly, wheres the kid to match her as the younger sib?
Koreas big enough! Im not giving up this script.
Fed up with Cha Il-nams endless no way, Han Yuju bolted up.
Hey, Han Writer!
Ill find em or die trying. Well talk then. Got it? Dont ditch this!
Han Yuju clutched her script and stormed out.
Find em, sure. Just find... Huh?
Muttering, she headed for the elevator when a poster caught her eye.
Gwanghwamun Cultural Center RUN ShowKMB Staff Special Discount.
RUN... wasnt that the one with kid leads?
Han Yuju spun back to the conference room.
PD Cha!
Whoa, you scared me. What, back already?
Eyes wide, startled Cha Il-nam asked.
She thrust out her hand.
Lemme have the staff card.