"NO OTHER CHOICE" (2025)

CREDITS fade in and out slowly to the piano solo from the ANDANTE MOVEMENT OF MOZART'S PIANO CONCERTO No. 23.

The sweeping orchestra joins and the SCREEN surges with turquoise sky and clouds tinged with warm colors.

The CAMERA BOOMS DOWN and the face of YOU MAN-SU (early 50s) rises into frame as he flips eels on the barbecue grill for the Sunday roast. He has a natural mustache and rosy cheeks. Sweat beads on his forehead and the bridge of his nose from the heat.

Feeling a faint breeze brushing through his hair, Man-su lifts his gaze and looks around his garden, murmuring -

His charming, well tended garden is part of an old, but neatly fixed up two-story western style house.

The petals of the crape myrtle tree in the garden flutter in the breeze, and TWO LARGE DOGS are eating from their bowls nearby.

Man-su's gaze lingers on his son, SI-ONE (13), sitting at the outdoor table, eyes fixed on his tablet computer, before drifting to his wife, LEE MIRI (40s) -- a lively, playful woman full of laughter -- coming over with a large plate in her hands.

Man-su takes another eel out of a box and lays its long snake-like body on the grill.

Man-su moves the grilled eel pieces onto the plate.

Man-su plays a boxer getting knocked out and collapses at the mere touch, all complete with a groan and a hand stretched out, looking for help -

Determined not to laugh lest it encourage him a habit of making lame jokes, Miri grabs the plate and turns her back on him. Miri calls out to the second floor of the house.

Miri distributes the eels on the smaller dishes for each family member, as Man-su heads inside the house. Si-one glares at the unfamiliar dish served in front of him. Next to him sits one of the dogs, waiting to be fed.

RI-ONE (9), sitting alone with her cello on the second-floor terrace, practices the same short phrase over and over again when Man-su comes up.

Man-su sets her cello down on the table, then lifts his daughter into his arms.

THE MOZART PIANO CONCERTO NOW PLAYS FROM THE SMALL PORTABLE SPEAKER.

At the outdoor table, Miri pulls out a chair to sit down, but finds a gift box underneath.

She opens the box to find a pair of high-end dance shoes. The corners of her mouth turn up -

Man-su comes back out to the garden, carrying Ri-one in his arms.

Man-su hides his smile and sets Ri-one down beside her brother. Miri shows her daughter the shoes.

Man-su pats Ri-one on the shoulders and returns to the grill.

Neither of the siblings touch their eels. Miri quickly puts on the new shoes.

She walks over to Man-su and gives him a hug from behind.

Miri sends Man-su a mischievous glance. The confident smile on his face makes her feel good.

Miri pulls her husband away from the grill and starts to dance to the music. Her new shoes step around daintily.

Man-su's not into dancing, but he does it for his wife. Holding hands, the couple turns in circles. The dogs join them. Mid-circle, Man-su lets go of Miri's hand, and walks over to the table.

Finally, the entire family, including their dogs, has converged around the table. In that short time, Si-one is won over by the taste of the eel. Ri-one only eats the sausages.

From an ice-bucket, Man-su pulls out a half bottle wine and tops up Miri's glass. He gives the bottle a quick sniff, then sets it down. There's only a bottle of coca-cola in front of him. As he's about to pour it into his glass, Miri takes the bottle from his hand and pours it for him.

Man-su then notices a piece of paper inside the eel gift box.

It's a thin sheet of paper with a subtle green color and a printed message that reads: "Thanks for your hard work and years of dedication to Solar Paper."

He holds it up to the sunlight to observe the quality of the paper and then gently rubs it between his fingers, savoring the texture.

Man-su smiles and stands up, taking Miri's hand and pulling her toward the garden just as she reaches for the wine bottle.

He puts his arm around Miri's waist and gestures to his kids. Si-one and Ri-one roll their eyes, 'not this again'. Regardless, Man-su keeps gesturing, beckoning them over. Miri does the same, smiling.

The kids give in and come into their mom and dad's arms, but there are smiles on their faces. The dogs also push in between the legs of their human family. Man-su looks up at the sky. The sun sets slowly. Man-su feels pretty happy with his life.

'Well, we could do one minute...' The family stands completely still in a huddle, just breathing in and out.

During these thirty seconds, the sun has dipped a little lower and it gets a little darker.

A rotor begins to spin at full force, pulling pulp into a violent swirl.

OVERWHELMING NOISE OF THE MACHINES RUNNING.

The factory floor is full of giant machines stretched out in a long line, like steel dinosaurs crouching down in a row.

From the wet ends where the pulp is fed, along the mesh conveyor belts of the forward drive to the massive rolls of the press section, Man-su walks along the production line and checks that there are no issues.

Man-su spots a YOUNG WORKER (early 20s) in the sweltering dryer section, working without a hardhat. He walks over and places the hat on the young worker's head.

Man-su grabs a frozen water bottle and sends it up in a bucket to an ELDERLY LINE WORKER (late 60s), working high above in the mill.

Man-su walks over to a console in the middle of the production line. He checks the documents on a clipboard and adjusts the dials on the console.

On one wall hangs a large old wooden signboard that reads: "STOP! THINK! ACT!"

A weathered, BEARDED WORKER (40s) puts his hand on the thundering roller, running his fingers over the drying pulp. Man-su taps the roll with a mallet to check its condition. The two veterans exchange looks.

DAY

Standing next to a mountain of logs destined to soon become pulp, Man-su rehearses his speech in front of his three colleagues with cigarettes in their mouths. Man-su shouts to be heard over the NOISE OF THE TRUCKS passing by -

The workers applaud. Excited by the support, Man-su eagerly tries to continue with his speech, but can't remember his next sentence. He looks down at the palm of his left hand. After taking a peek at the keywords he had written on it ("job for life", "old shoes," etc.), he regains his confidence, and continues in a belting voice -

A truck passes close by, and Man-su is forced to shout louder.

The other two also nod in agreement. Man-su quite likes this evaluation.

Man-su hurries over from the wood yard. His colleagues follow him too.

The MILL MANAGER (60s) and the AMERICANS walk out from the mill. Next to two waiting black Escalades, the Americans take off their guest hardhats before getting in the cars.

Man-su takes the return box for the guest safety gear from the nearby MILL MANAGER'S ASSISTANT and takes it to the Americans himself. Keeping his eyes on one of them, the HEAD OF HR, Man-su grabs the INTERPRETER by the elbow and speaks urgently --

He is about to gesture cutting his own neck with the blade of his hand, but hearing the Interpreter translate the first sentence, the Head of HR wears an awkward expression and cuts him off -

With his guest hardhat still on, he hurries inside the waiting car. Man-su doesn't back down, continuing his speech until the door closes.

The two Escalades leave.

After the Americans are gone, Man-su just stands there, perplexed, holding the return box. The Mill Manager turns to Man-su, worried -

The Bearded Worker and the Elderly Worker exchange a look, gripped by a sense of foreboding. Only the Young Worker doesn't quite understand what's going on and looks puzzled.

Man-su regards the manager with a vacant look in his eyes. He's trying to figure out the meaning behind the question.

Man-su stands with a troubled look on his face.

Man-su snaps out of his daze. Miri holds Ri-one's cello case as she stares at her husband. Man-su quickly puts a smile on his face.

Man-su snatches the cello from Miri and loads it into the backseat of her Kia Sorento. The mother and son and the father and daughter hug each other. Man-su hugs his kids tighter and longer than Miri does. Ri-one is wearing her backpack in front, making it hard to hug her closely.

Once Si-two and Ri-two run back to the dog house, Man-su locks the gate.

The son gets in his father's car, and the daughter gets in her mother's.

Man-su hops into the driver's seat of his Hyundai Grandeur sedan, and stares blankly as his wife's SUV departs.

Man-su sits among THIRTY ODD FRESHLY FIRED MEN of Solar Paper, which include the Bearded Worker and the Elderly Line Worker.

A banner adorning a wall reads: "YOU'VE STOPPED, SO... THINK! THEN ACT!"

Dressed like an evangelist, a female INSTRUCTOR (30s) with long straight hair is speaking to the class in a soft, gentle tone. She has dealt with this situation countless times before.

She approaches Man-su, puts her hand on his shoulder and nods as if to say she understands everything. Man-su seethes.

INSERT - With a loud shout bursting out, Miri swings her racquet, her eyes focused, her feet quick.

The Instructor's breaths stir his hair. Man-su is tormented inside.

Miri smashes the ball with all her strength, but it hits the net and falls. She lets out a big groan as she stomps her feet. Miri has a competitive streak.

The Instructor holds up a stack of cardboard signs. The topmost cardboard reads: "I am".

The men echo back her words. She rips off a strip of sticker tape on the cardboard to reveal the rest of the words written after "I am": "a good person."

The men chant in unison. The Instructor sends Man-su a glance, urging him to participate. Man-su ends up joining in.

Finally satisfied, the Instructor moves on. The next signboard reads: "Losing my job".

Man-su, curious what words might follow, watches on.

The Instructor rips off the tape to reveal the words.

The Instructor throws away the signboard. Man-su chokes up. The third cardboard starts with the words: "My loving family".

She repeats the words twice, tapping her temple this time. The men follow her lead with more fervor.

The unemployed men are intensely curious. The tape gets peeled off to reveal the words: "will support me fully as I seek new opportunities."

The men swallow their tears. The Instructor now taps her forehead, and the men follow along as they repeat the chant in loud voices. Man-su is now as sincere as anyone else.

Man-su stands in a secluded spot against a window, with earphones in his ears, anxiously waiting for someone to pick up the phone on the other side of the call.

In the classroom, a chorus of men murmur their self-hypnotic affirmations, following the lead of the instructor.

Man-su looks down at his left palm. He flinches as Miri actually answers the call.

Unable to continue with his words, Man-su clenches his teeth -- his mind draws a blank. He looks down at his palm again, where his handwritten notes in red read: "Hired in 3 months".

With earphones in and her brows furrowed, Miri sits on a bench next to the court, listening to Man-su.

On the court, OH CHIN-HO (early 40s) practices serving on his own, sneaking glances at Miri.

Miri, who becomes stronger in times of adversity, puts on a cheerful smile.

Man-su appears teary-eyed on her cellphone screen.

The door at the back of the room opens slightly, and Man-su enters after ending his call.

Wiping away the remaining tears, Man-su tiptoes back to his seat, observing the men around him.

They all go hard at it. Man-su joins in too, adding his voice to the chorus of men.

INSERT - Miri hangs up the phone and drops her head low, her brave attitude from talking to her husband just now all but gone. A concerned Chin-ho approaches her, studying the look on her face. Miri raises her head reflexively, staring blankly at Chin-ho for a long moment before dropping her head again.

He speaks louder, and taps his temples faster with both hands. He's more confident. He's going to make it. We see a smile blooming on his face.

ECU of veins bulging on the temple, pulsing as his fingers tap on them. We hear the SOUND OF HIS HEARTBEAT.

SUPER: 13 MONTHS LATER

Wearing a staff uniform, Man-su walks to a display shelf carrying a heavy box on his shoulder and sets it down.

Man-su's now clean-shaven face makes him look more vulnerable than clean. He grimaces and massages his cheek near his molars, as if he's developed a toothache.

At the sound of his PHONE RINGING, he checks the caller ID and answers surreptitiously, glancing around to see if the MANAGER, who's checking stock at a distant display shelf, is watching. He lowers his voice -

Man-su turns to the Manager in the distance.

From a distance, in the loading dock, we see the tiny figures of Man-su pleading and his manager lecturing him. Their voices are lost in the NOISE of delivery trucks coming and going.

The Manager points at Man-su's chest and his legs. In response, Man-su takes off his uniform and hands it to the Manager, who takes it and leaves.

Now in only his underwear, he's about to put his shoes back on when he hears female employees approaching. Man-su quickly hides behind a truck. Man-su hangs his head low, seething. Then the truck drives away, leaving him exposed with nowhere to hide.

Miri talks on the phone as she tears open an envelope.

Holding the phone between her shoulder and ear, Miri reads a Mortgage Default Warning. Her expression darkens.

On one side of a long table sit the interview team -- a stern faced CHINESE CEO (30s), an INTERPRETER (20s), a Korean HR MANAGER (40s) and CHOI NAMGU (40s).

Man-su sits across from them, red-faced. He feels a sudden toothache, and his hand reflexively goes to his cheek but he barely manages to stop it midway. He then glances at Namgu, who adjusts his eyeglasses.

The Interpreter translates the Chinese CEO’s question.

Man-su crosses his right leg over his trembling left leg, to steady it.

Man-su raises a hand to his cheek from the toothache, then adjusts his tie to make the gesture look natural --

Feeling his trembling has settled, Man-su puts his right leg back down and sits up, making fists with his hands, placing them neatly on his knees.

His left leg shakes again. As he speaks with speed and energy, he tries pressing down on his leg with his fist, but fails to stop the shaking. He crosses his right leg on top, stops the shaking leg, and plants it back down.

Finally, it's the question he's been warned about. Namgu gives him a surreptitious nod. Man-su answers with confidence, as if he's been waiting for it -

The answer startles everyone. Namgu's mouth drops open. Man- su waits for a beat, then smiles.

After the interview, Man-su exits into the hallway with a grimace. Namgu follows.

They arrive at a fork in the corridor. A middle-aged man in a gray suit like Man-su's -- a man we'll meet again later named GU BUMMO (50s) -- stands in the interviewee waiting room with a nervous look on his face. He taps his neck with four fingers, muttering a chant.

Namgu stops and extends his hand toward Man-su for a shake.

Man-su turns and walks away. Nearby, Bummo keeps murmuring to himself.

Chock full of various plants and gardening tools, this greenhouse is Man-su's little kingdom.

Along with the colorful flowers, there are many bonsai trees.

ON SCREEN:

A video plays, showing a YOUTUBER (20s) interviewing CHOI SUN-CHUL (50s) against a backdrop of a mountain of logs at the paper mill's wood yard, with the subtitle: "Choi Sun- chul, Line Manager at Moon Paper".

A subtitle flashes on the video: "6 hours 17 minutes later..."

The video is playing on Man-su’s laptop as he watches at his desk. Upset with envy, Man-su slams the laptop shut.

He moves to the bonsai he's working on, and focuses on wrapping thick copper wire around the pine branches to change their growth direction.

ECU of a branch: as Man-su pulls the wire, the branch bends. He tightens the wire excessively - making a CRACKING SOUND as the wire digs into the branch.

Man-su, his face turning red from the effort, tightens it so much that he breaks the branch completely. He lets out an involuntary curse, then senses someone and looks up.

Through the glass, Si-one is watching him. He stares blankly at the unfamiliar expression on his father's face for a beat, and then makes a hand gesture indicating eating.

On the dinner table, there's seaweed soup with just seaweed and a few meager side dishes. Si-one looks disappointed as he picks at his food, peering repeatedly into his tablet computer. Meanwhile, Ri-one draws very colorful and complicated patterns in her sketchbook.

Man-su is suffering from his toothache. He squeezes his chin, having trouble eating. But even so, it is Man-su who helps Ri-one with her meal.

It's only after completing a block of patterns that she reluctantly opens her mouth to the spoon Man-su's been holding.

Miri bustles between the dining room and the adjacent kitchen, chattering in a loud voice. She is over-enthused to the verge of delirium.

Man-su's eyes widen. Si-one finally looks up from his tablet -

INSERT - Miri's Kia Sorento and Man-su's Hyundai Grandeur

INSERT - Exterior view of Man-su's house

INSERT - A dense apartment complex, buildings in endless rows

Completely shocked, Man-su feels the toothache flare up again.

Miri hands Man-su the Mortgage Default Warning, and he reads it: "If the overdue principal and interest are not repaid within three months from the date of this notice, please be advised that, in accordance with the loan agreement, foreclosure proceedings on your property may be initiated."

Man-su's gesturing at him and her emphasizing the "we" isn't so convincing for Miri. Man-su is on the verge of tears.

Man-su becomes speechless.

INSERT - The piano, the living room table, two chairs, TV, curtain, carpet, and Miri's racquet

Si-one opens his tablet again. Man-su gives him a glare.

We hear the Netflix "TU-DUM". Si-one gets up from his seat and heads to the stairs, watching a TV series. Ri-one follows her brother like a puppy.

Si-one stops with his foot on the first step. He turns, appalled. Ri-one also turns with the same look on her face.

Man-su is also nervous. Miri takes a deep breath, then declares with a determined look on her face.

The two dogs are packed into the backseat of a taxi belonging to Miri's father -- where their crates have also been laid down.

Man-su and Miri console Si-one and Ri-one, who are hugging the dogs tight, and won't budge.

Feeling sorry for the kids, MIRI'S MOTHER (late 60s) says to them -

Miri clenches her teeth and fights back her tears as well. Miri's parents give Man-su a disapproving look. MIRI'S FATHER (late 60s) sneezes.

Miri's parents get into the car.

The car pulls out. Through the rear window, the dogs stare back longingly at their old owners.

Almost immediately, another car drives up to take the spot, followed by yet another. Man-su, Si-one and Ri-one turn to look, dumbfounded - 'what now?'

A FEMALE REAL ESTATE AGENT (40s) steps out of the first car and hollers -

From the big, foreign make car parked behind the realtor's car, a big middle aged man, LEE WONNO (early 50s), steps out. Surprised to see him, Man-su turns to his wife and whispers.

Wonno's wife, EUNMI (40s), and their son, DONGHO (14), follow him out of the car. Eunmi gives Miri a warm greeting, as does Dongho to Si-one and Ri-one.

Miri links her arm with Man-su's and puts on a gentle smile befitting an affectionate wife as she greets their guests.

Man-su and Miri lead the real estate agent, Wonno, and Eunmi into the room.

Wonno mimics a putting motion. Man-su mumbles something unintelligible and slips away, towards the stairs.

Eunmi cozies up to Miri, linking arms. Miri is on the verge of tears now that people are actually in her house, intent on buying. But Miri is the type of person who smiles even bigger in times like this.

Wonno peeks into every corner.

IN THE DINING ROOM -- Inside a glass display cabinet, on the most visible shelf, sits Man-su's Pulp Man of the Year trophy.

On the shelf above, there is a wooden box with a glass top, secured with a small combination lock. The velvet-inlaid box contains a North Korea Type 64 pistol, a Medal of Military Merit, a dog tag, a photo of Man-su's father in military uniform, and a Vietnam War Service Certificate.

Man-su is changing into his dress pants when the tour barges into the room. He zips his pants frantically.

Miri quickly tidies up the rumpled bed. The real estate agent points to the window and turns the visitors' attention away, speaking in over excited tone -

Man-su runs away. Miri watches her husband leave with a pitiful look, then turns her head, which makes her meet eyes with Wonno, who is standing right in the middle of the room.

Wonno plops down on the bed, making the springs bounce. Even when he meets eyes with the owner of the bed, Wonno smiles without getting flustered. He strokes the sheets on the bed, his gaze unwavering and lustful. Miri stares right back at him, putting on a polite smile, holding her ground.

Man-su walks out of the house. Si-one squats on the ground next to the doghouses and talks to himself. Man-su stops in his tracks, weirded out.

From inside the doghouses, WE HEAR MUMBLING VOICES. Man-su approaches one of the doghouses, and peers inside to find Dongho sitting in it, talking to Si-one.

Dongho's eyes meet with Man-su, and he gestures towards the neighboring doghouse. Man-su takes a look to find Ri-one inside, with her eyes swollen from crying.

Man-su is kneeling on the tiled floor, holding out his resume and a cover letter. With the entrance blocked by Man- su, MOON PAPER MILL MANAGER (60s) paces around inside the toilet, distressed.

Sun-chul, passing by the toilet, stops in his tracks at this strange scene. The mill manager is relieved at the sight of his savior.

Man-su stiffens at the name, "Sun-chul".

Man-su hangs his head low, not wanting to show his face to Sun-chul, who seems to have everything as far as Man-su is concerned. Feeling sorry for Man-su, Sun-chul lets out a big sigh, then without any hesitation, pushes in from Man-su's righthand side. Man-su is pushed against the wall to his left by the sheer force of Sun-chul's legs.

Overwhelmed by shame, Man-su submits limply to Sun-chul's shoving. Sun-chul extends his hand towards the mill manager.

The mill manager quickly slips out through the narrow path Sun-chul created.

Sun-chul's interest shifts to Man-su, and he bends to look at Man-su's face. With amazing agility, Man-su raises his arms to cover his face.

Sun-chul tries to pull down Man-su's hand, but Man-su flaps his arms and desperately pulls away. Unable to bear the sight of Man-su's distress, the Moon Paper mill manager leaves.

Sun-chul straightens up, looks down at Man-su and speaks gently.

Sun-chul leaves the toilet as he speaks, his voice growing distant -

Man-su, lying down in a miserable heap, stands up. He barely manages to pull himself together and leave the bathroom, only to bump into Sun-chul in the hallway. Their faces are now fully exposed to each other. Man-su's mind goes blank.

Sun-chul raises his hand quickly and Man-su clenches his fist, thinking the other man is about to hit him. But Sun- chul actually tries to slip a 50 dollar bill into Man-su's hand -- which Man-su pushes away and refuses. Sun-chul remains composed as he finally succeeds pushing the money into the breast pocket of Man-su's jacket. Sun-chul taps the jacket pocket --

To save Man-su from feeling embarrassed, Sun-chul quickly leaves.

Man-su sits at the bar alone -- it's early hours, and there are no other customers. The sunlight streaming in through the large, blue tinted window illuminates the interior.

Man-su's eyes are glued to his phone playing an Instagram video of Choi Sun-chul: boasting the country house living he's been dreaming about.

In the video, Sun-chul stands before a massive rock engraved with the island's name.

Man-su scrolls to the next video, showing the street address plaque next to the main gate.

Man-su glares with bloodshot eyes. In another video, Sun- chul chops firewood with an ax in the backyard.

Next in the feed is a clip of him sipping whisky from his flask. Watching it, Man-su swallows hard, almost tasting it.

Suddenly, the video stops, and a video call signal appears, startling Man-su. The caller ID reads: "Ms. Wife".

Man-su answers the call, putting on a cheerful face. Miri seems to have made the phone call while hanging the laundry.

Man-su holds up his glass for her to see.

Flustered, Man-su stammers and then shows an empty apple juice bottle. He proves his innocence by pointing the phone camera in all directions around him.

The view outside the windows indicates we are at a super high floor.

Ri-one sits alone in the living room, cradling her cello in her arms. She draws a short, flicking stroke across one string. She uses her left hand to give the string a long vibrato, and then leans in to listen.

Ri-one presses down on another string and plays another spiccato. She quietly listens to the sound reverberating.

Standing awkwardly in the corridor leading to the bedrooms, Man-su and Miri talk with the CELLO TEACHER (50s). She begins in a firm tone.

Man-su and Miri are relieved. Miri stares at the teacher inquisitively as she asks -

Man-su helplessly pokes his head around the corner to look at his daughter. Ri-one still repeats the same actions.

Since the last time, the piano and the large table in front of the sofa have disappeared, making the space look even more bare.

Ri-one wears her headphones and sits on the floor, watching a video of a cello performance on the TV.

Still dressed in the clothes he wore outside, Man-su lies on the sofa with his smartphone held out in the air.

In contrast to his lazy posture, Man-su's unblinking eyes glare at the phone.

Ri-one scoots closer and closer to the TV.

Man-su pushes his face closer and closer to his phone screen, looking into Sun-chul's eyes.

WE INTERCUT between the faces of the two men as if they are sitting together face to face in the same place.

Walking over from the kitchen, Miri grabs the cushion Ri-one is sitting on, and pulls it back and back, pulling her away from the TV. Ri-one is so immersed in watching the cello performance on screen, she doesn't even realize she's being pulled away.

Miri arrives at the sofa and squeezes herself next to Man- su. Man-su plays the video again. Miri lifts one of Man-su's arms and uses it as her pillow.

Miri finds Sun-chul annoying.

Man-su snickers. Then he gives a bitter smile. Finally, a belated glow of realization dawns on him.

On Sun-chul's face: cheerful, laughing, cheeks red.

He must have made some funny joke -- his TEAM MEMBERS howl with laughter.

Sitting at the bar, Man-su steals glances at Sun-chul through the mirror behind the bartender.

The bar is buzzing with lunchtime CUSTOMERS. Sun-chul sits by the window, lunching with his team. He drinks whisky while his team members drink draft beer.

The bartender takes out a bottle of Springbank whisky with a name-tag that reads "Choi Sun-chul". He then pours it into three Glencairn glasses. Man-su watches with envy.

A winding alleyway, cramped with houses standing wall to wall with each other. Sun-chul swings his arms in wide circles and whistles as he walks. He's full of energy.

Man-su follows behind, looking almost as if he's entranced.

Up and down, right turn then left, Sun-chul expertly navigates the narrow paths. He swiftly descends some steps, then turns a corner to disappear from view.

Man-su turns the corner behind him to find Sun-chul standing right there in front of him, and quickly turns away.

Man-su gets back on the steps and climbs up. Arriving on the rooftop of a house, he climbs onto a doghouse, setting off the dogs -- they rush out and bark at him. Man-su looks down at Sun-chul, who is talking on the phone. He is pleading with someone.

Man-su notices various small and large pot plants on the doghouse.

Talking on his phone, Sun-chul takes a couple of steps forward nonchalantly. Above him, Man-su's hands appear over the rooftop edge, holding a small pot. If it falls, it'll be a direct hit.

His eyes shut, Man-su is about to drop the pot - then stops. He opens his eyes, rethinks it. The pot's too light to do any real damage. He sets it down, grabs a bigger one. Then an even bigger one. He puts that down too. His feet shift as he searches for the pot with just the right size.

He switches to the largest pot with lots of red chilis hanging on the stalks and lifts it high above his head.

Man-su's lips are dry, and his eyes are bloodshot. Water trickles down from the hole in the pot base onto Man-su's forehead - it must have been watered not long ago.

Behind him, the LANDLADY (70s) steps out to see what Man-su is up to. His arms tremble from nervousness and the weight of the pot. He just stands there like that for a while, unable to make a decision, then his eyes widen as a realization hits him. His gaze shifts from Sun-chul to the distant sky.

Another beat of contemplation. Man-su's arm weakens and the pot gets lowered slightly.

Sun-chul pockets his phone and resumes walking, and Man-su just lets him go.

Man-su slowly turns to look, but he's so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't even seem to register the landlady. He turns back to face forward.

We see him from his back as he gently sets the pot back down in its original place and mutters to himself.

Man-su's knees give out and he plops to the ground. His mouth hangs open, and his eyes are filled with terror.

His eyes fall on a distant landscape that he hadn't noticed before.

From MAN-SU'S POV: The top of a chimney pumping smoke.

Man-su slowly rises, gradually gaining confidence.

MAN-SU'S POV: A river winding like a snake, leading to the sea, a harbor with piles of logs, the massive structure of a factory with its corrugated metal roofing ablaze in the waning sunlight, and the letters painted vertically on the chimney reading -- "MOON PAPER".

There is a scary determination in Man-su's gleaming eyes as he gazes at his ultimate destination below.

Then, after a more fair self-evaluation --

Man-su takes a moment to muster his resolve. Then he turns, points to the potted plant, and speaks to the Landlady -

Man-su places the potted plant on the workbench, and takes out an old model flip phone from the shopping bag. He looks at the Pulp Men phone number he already searched on his smartphone, enters the number on the flip phone and hits the call button. As he waits for the person on the other side to pick up, we see a plastic model box in the shopping bag.

The printed letters on the box read: "North Korea Type 64 Pistol" -- above the picture of a pistol that looks identical to the one we saw in the dining room display cabinet.

Ara pours the coffee into a thermos and sets a hairpin made of cotton cloth in her hair -

Bummo giggles. Ara holds her nose. Bummo takes off his t- shirt and pants, then drops them on the floor.

Incredulous, Ara hurries out the door, not wanting to see Bummo for one more second. As she leaves, she picks up the magazine delivered at the front door and throws it inside. It flies far and hits Bummo squarely on the head -- Ara has good aim and strength. Impassive, Bummo picks up the magazine.

Bummo takes a big gulp as if he's swallowing some medicine.

Ara storms out, slamming the door behind her. Sitting in his underwear, Bummo silently tears open the envelope, takes out and starts reading the Pulp Men magazine.

CLOSE ON: AD PAGE -- over which we hear Man-su reciting the copy with as much energy and wit as he can muster.

Holding his potted chili pepper plant, Man-su talks into the CAMERA -

The room is quiet. Reading Man-su's advert, Bummo's pupils find focus. He straightens his head and his back. He gulps, gets to his feet, then takes off his underwear.

INSERT - Water pours from the shower head toward the lens.

OVERHEAD SHOT OF THE DRAIN - Bummo pours out a bottle of soju into the kitchen sink.

Bummo's hair is still wet from the shower. He has changed into clean pants and t-shirt. On the counter next to him sit several soju bottles already emptied. His eyes are swollen and the skin around his nostrils is red -- he must have been crying.

Dressed for work, complete with his factory work jacket, Bummo enters the room and switches the audio equipment on.

He puts the needle on top of an LP, then picks up a sheet of premium typing paper from a neat pile. He rubs the paper between his thumb and index finger, appreciating the quality of the weave, then holds it up to the sunlight.

CLOSE on the vivid texture of the smooth, high quality paper while the letters are being typed, practically engraved deep into the thick finish: "My name is Gu Bummo."

On the back of his jacket, printed letters read: "NAMSUN PAPER".

Man-su walks out of the post office with a large stack of maybe a hundred unopened envelopes in his arms, and proceeds towards his car where Ri-one sits inside waiting for him. His car is a gray Hyundai Elantra -- an old used car, of course.

Through the front passenger seat window, he hands the envelopes to Ri-one. He then walks around the front and gets into the driver's seat.

Ri-one flips through the envelopes, reading aloud the recipient names -- they are all addressed to "Red Pepper Paper HR". Man-su starts the car.

Man-su opens the envelopes he picked up one by one, taking out the resumes and cover letters from within. Man-su studies them one by one. Marking with a red pencil, underlining and circling words, he looks like a teacher grading papers.

CLOSE ON the red marked highlights: a PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY here, a SUMMA CUM LAUDE there, this one won an industry AWARD, this one is fluent in JAPANESE, and so on.

Man-su finishes grading -- he picks four high scoring candidates, then gathers the remaining resumes and cover letters to set aside. Man-su reviews the final four candidates' documents again, but the decision is too difficult. Man-su GROANS from a toothache that throbs like high-voltage current through his jaw.

After much deliberation, he gets an idea: he retrieves his own resume from the drawer and mixes it with the final candidates. Man-su objectively compares the five people including himself and ranks them -- his ranking fluctuating between number four one moment, number two another as he does. Eventually, he settles on third place.

Above him are "Gu Bummo" and "Go Sijo". He compares the two and ranks between them as well. With a red pencil, he marks the rankings on their photos, writing a large "1" on Bummo's face and a "2" on Sijo's.

He adds number four and five's resumes to the rejected pile, then takes the stack, dumps it into a pot outside the greenhouse, and sets it on fire.

Man-su assembles the plastic model of a "North Korea Type 64 Pistol".

INSERT - Inside the dining room display cabinet, an identical-looking pistol sits in the glass top wooden box. Man-su unlocks the box, and swaps the the real handgun with the plastic model toy gun.

Man-su opens the model gun box. Inside, there's an interview page ripped from an industry magazine that features a large photo of Sun-chul. Man-su writes '3' on Sun-chul's photo and places the other two resumes on top.

The first target, Bummo's face, is on the top.

The CHIRPING of birds fills the quiet suburb.

With his car parked on the street, Man-su surveys the house through binoculars. He notices an unseasonably leafless pear tree - dying from pests and disease.

MAN-SU'S EMOTIONAL POV: CLOSE on one of the only few leaves left on the tree -- only the leaf's veins remain, like fish bones. Twelve-spotted leaf beetles eagerly gnaw at the last remnants of the flesh, making TERRIFYING SCRAPING SOUNDS.

Man-su gazes at the tree for a while, then notices the security camera installed outside the entrance. He sighs in frustration.

Man-su parks his car on the side of a secluded road, and gets out.

He looks around, then proceeds to climb a hill behind Bummo's house.

Man-su crosses over a small hill, covered in autumn leaves. He reaches a vantage point overlooking the back of Bummo's house, and takes out his binoculars.

There's a security camera here too.

He then notices a man in a dark brown leather rider jacket, whom we'll later come to know as LEE CHUN-OH (early 30s), climbing out of the window -- and not through the door -- of Bummo's house below. The man picks up a motorcycle helmet from behind a potted plant.

Man-su quickly checks him out with his binoculars and compares him to the photo of Bummo he brought. But he looks different, much younger. Not only that, he looks around and heads towards the back hill, but he walks in a strange direction. He takes cautious steps, as if walking on an invisible rope, and takes a roundabout zigzag route that is not the shortest path.

Man-su checks the security camera and notes the direction and angle in which the camera faces. Now he understands the man's actions -- he's also someone who is not supposed to come into this house.

The young man climbs the hill. Man-su quickly leaves before he gets too close.

Man-su notices his daughter on the swing. Ri-one kicks the ground lightly with one foot, to swing back and forth at the exact same angle. Dangling from the top of the swing, a small Bluetooth speaker plays a CELLO SOLO PIECE.

As Man-su walks up to her, her face moves away, then comes closer again as she swings. Man-su inches further towards her as he speaks. Man-su holds up both hands and opens his palms. Ri-one pushes her dad's palms with her feet, as if she's giving him a high five with them.

Man-su takes out his binoculars. He looks into the upstairs music room -- with shelves full of vinyls and high-end audio equipment. But he finds no one inside.

Man-su hears a NOISE from below and ducks behind some bushes.

Bummo strolls up from the house. He uses a wooden walking stick to tap rocks as he walks. He passes by Man-su. Man-su quietly stands up, aiming his pistol at him. As his gun- holding hand starts to tremble, he raises the other hand to grip it tight. Now both hands shake.

A bead of sweat trickles from his eyebrow into his eye. He wipes the sweat with his sleeve and blinks his eyes. He then wipes his sweaty palms on his clothes.

MAN-SU'S POV: the handgun's front and rear sights line up with Bummo's back.

Bummo spots a mushroom and crouches to pick it.

Reflexively, Man-su crouches right down and hides. Bummo looks back, and Ara appears waving her walking stick. She has her long hair tied up, wears a wide-brimmed hat, a full skirt, and a pair of leather boots. Rushing to catch up with her husband, she has a blush on her fair cheeks that is quite seductive.

She shows Bummo a rolled up picnic blanket under her arm -

As if to say, "You know what I'm gonna do, stop teasing," Ara slaps Bummo on the back. It's only a light slap, but Bummo exaggerates his reaction as he staggers and groans. Ara giggles heartily and links her arm with his.

The playfulness lasts only briefly, and Bummo returns to his stolid face. Ara, with her mouth open, walks as if drinking up the sunlight hitting her face.

Far behind them, Man-su, stooped at the waist, nimbly zigzags, then ducks and dives as he follows.

Ara doesn't like Bummo's anxious attitude. She stops and screams -

Bummo stops in his tracks. Ara pinches her cheek -

She catches up to him in quick steps, takes his arm and they resume their walk.

The couple reaches a narrow clearing. Man-su also settles behind a tree not too far away. Bummo takes the blanket from his wife, spreads it out, sits down, and takes their packed lunch out from the basket.

FLASHBACK: YOUNGER BUMMO flicks his zippo lighter and his face is illuminated in the darkened theatre. He is smiling. YOUNGER ARA is mesmerized.

Ara lights her cigarette, as she speaks to herself, dreamy -

FLASHBACK: Younger Bummo slowly pulls back from Younger Ara after a kiss.

Bummo takes a big bite of a fried chicken. He takes out his phone and checks to see if he got any text or email from Red Pepper Paper.

FLASHBACK: Younger Bummo's right hand cups Younger Ara's face. His thumb gently caresses her lips.

Man-su winces -- the look on his face says, "Ah, that's the wrong name!" Without fail, Bummo also catches it -

Like an actor going for take two after fumbling the line, Ara tries again in the same tone as before -

Man-su touches his lips. Not only does he feel satisfied the error has been corrected, such a plausible metaphor brings a smile to his lips.

Checking he's received no text or emails from Red Pepper Paper, Bummo feels defeated. Bummo tears into the drumstick, grease dripping down his chin. Watching him, Ara's good mood is spoiled. As she follows her chain of thoughts, she finds herself getting worked up.

Man-su feels like he's been hit hard on the back of his head -- especially at the words, "Neglect me, and I'll break." She might as well have been talking about him.

Bummo rushes like a madman past Man-su back to his house. Man-su wants to follow, but Ara's presence keeps him rooted to his spot.

Ara springs to her feet, grabbing and throwing stones in a fit of rage.

A couple of the stones hit Bummo on the back, and although he cries out in pain, he continues to run, hunched over.

A female patient sits in the dental chair, waiting.

Miri is surprised to see that the female patient is Eunmi. She's also surprised.

Miri puts a mouth mirror in Eunmi's gaping mouth. Eunmi's speech gets garbled because of the dental mirror -

Then Chin-ho walks in. He puts his hand gently on Miri's shoulder -

Miri swiftly vacates the dentist's seat for him. Eunmi looks back and forth between Chin-ho and Miri.

Ara is alone, fuming. She holds a paperback book and reads it aloud as she walks slowly. This is her personal anger management technique, of sorts -- practicing lines from an Oscar Wilde play. The dialogue feels translated, and her acting is very exaggerated, old school.

Suddenly, a snake, scared by her, skitters in Man-su's direction. He freezes, screams, and gets bitten.

Alarmed, Ara raises her stick to protect herself. But as Man-su falls yelling, she rushes over to help.

Maintaining her composure, Ara rolls up Man-su's left pant leg and pulls down his sock to reveal the wound.

Ara hoists Man-su's leg, making his upper body fall back.

She takes a fruit knife out of her picnic basket, uses her lighter to sterilize the blade.

She cuts a small X over the wound with it. Ara then puts her mouth on the wound and starts sucking.

Man-su is flustered and pushes her away. While Ara spits, he tries to grab his own ankle and suck the venom out, but he is not flexible enough. As he struggles -

Ara calmly grabs his ankle again. She bends over and resumes sucking. Man-su leans back awkwardly, blinking his eyes.

Suddenly, his phone RINGS -- the caller ID reads: "Ms. Wife". Startled, he quickly answers the video call.

Ara picks up the wooden walking stick Bummo left behind. She whacks it against the rustling brush.

Man-su takes the walking stick from her.

Man-su lies on the edge of the bed in his boxers and a T- shirt, one leg raised high as he looks at his phone.

MAN-SU'S POV: On his phone screen, instructions read, "Keep bite lower than heart," "Don't cut, or suck out poison." Man-su swears in frustration, lowering his leg.

From behind the translucent en-suite bathroom door, we hear the sound of a hairdryer.

Man-su fiddles with his phone, and a moment later, music starts to play through a small Bluetooth speaker.

Miri steps out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, with steam trailing behind her. Her face glows as "LOIE" BEGINS TO PLAY.

Miri sits on top of the lying Man-su, then tugs his hand, pulling him to his feet. The two fall into a natural embrace and start swaying to the rhythm.

The look in her eyes wonders how her husband will respond. The two hold hands.

Miri is touched. They let the music take them away -

It's this married couple's long running in-joke -

Pretending to be upset, Man-su lets go of her hands. Miri grumbles, pretending to be even more upset.

Finding him adorable, she hugs him.

Miri takes the opportunity to say what's been sitting on her mind -

Man-su gets overly worked up, his pride hurt. Miri tries to soothe him.

Man-su and Ri-one sit side by side at the dining table. Man- su uses a nail file to smooth out the calluses on the tips of Ri-one's left fingers (from practicing the cello).

Miri runs down the stairs with a necktie in her hand, wearing a dress with the sash trailing behind her like a tail.

She plants a quick kiss on Si-one's cheek as she comes to the table, then straddles Man-su's lap. She undoes his drab tie -

Man-su's Elantra is parked in the same spot as the day before. He has pulled on chest-high, orange colored fishing waders. He's also wearing an oven mitt on his right hand, which looks like it's stuffed full with its strangely huge bulge.

Feeling sufficiently protected, Man-su holds up the walking stick Ara gave him as well.

Man-su walks uphill. Another day on the job. He disappears into the autumn foliage. His orange outfit might as well be camouflage.

From inside, through a window -- we see Man-su coming down the hill, carefully following exactly the particular route the young man in leather riding jacket took before.

Man-su tiptoes up the stairs, holding out his mitten clad right hand in front of him. He hears the voices of a man and a woman making love from within the bedroom, and stops in his tracks.

Today is not the day. Feeling defeated, about to turn to leave, curiosity sparks within him.

Through the crack in the door, Man-su's eye appears.

MAN-SU'S POV: A couple having sex -- we see the back of a man, and limbs of a woman lying down. On the man's muscular back, there's a large tattoo of a motorbike. His dark brown leather rider jacket is draped over a chair.

Not wanting to see anymore, Man-su backs away from the door. Man-su somehow feels betrayed and hurt. He leans against the hallway wall, seething.

Man-su gazes at a framed picture of Bummo on a shelf inside the display cabinet in the hallway: In the snapshot from a 'Paper Day' commemoration ceremony, Bummo is smiling at the camera, holding a trophy in one hand and a bouquet in the other.

Man-su drives past Bummo's house.

As he drives past an oncoming car, he gets a glimpse of its driver -- it's Bummo. Man-su gets flustered.

He makes a sharp U-turn and slows down as he approaches Bummo's house.

Beyond the trees, near where Man-su's car is parked, we see Bummo's car back into a parking spot. Man-su takes out Bummo's resume and looks for his phone number. We hear the sound of a car door opening and closing, then Bummo appears from behind the trees.

Man-su scurries to a corner of Bummo's yard, where he can see Bummo walking toward the house, and crouches low as he frantically calls on his flip phone.

Bummo stops in his tracks, cocks his head, then answers the phone. Not even giving him the time to say hello, Man-su launches into it -

Man-su panics as Bummo starts walking toward the house again. Man-su yells out as Bummo reaches for the door lock.

Excited, Bummo turns to his car, but halts in his tracks -- he thinks his attire is too casual.

Bummo hangs up and rushes into his house. Man-su is at a loss. His head drops, phone still in hand.

Man-su observes Bummo's breakdown in detail. He feels helpless, not knowing what to do.

Finally, Bummo manages to calm down a bit as he gets up and sits on the dirt ground. He brushes the dust off his clothes and then takes out his phone to check for a text message from Red Pepper Paper. Ara's photo on his phone wallpaper is killing him.

Of course, there's no message. He dials the number from the call he received earlier.

Listening to his flip phone vibrate, Man-su watches Bummo with a pained expression.

Bummo ends the call helplessly, and looks up at the sky, contemplating his next move. He casually dials another number. He speaks as if nothing's the matter --

After the call, Bummo becomes expressionless. Gathering his strength, he stands up and walks to his car.

MAN-SU'S POV as he drives: Miri, Ri-one and Chin-ho stand side by side on the curb. They look like a perfect family.

Man-su's car pulls up.

While Miri helps Ri-one in the backseat and buckles her up, Chin-ho loads the cello.

Chin-ho's leather jacket reminds Man-su of Chun-oh. Man-su finds him immediately unlikable.

Chin-ho opens the passenger door for Miri. She frowns at what she sees. Man-su must have finished a whole bucket of chicken by himself. Dirty napkins, oil drenched wrappers, a pile of chicken bones on the passenger seat, and Man-su with his lips smeared with grease. She glares at the mess and her husband one by one, then picks up the trash as she gets in the car.

Chin-ho snatches the trash from Miri's hand.

Chin-ho gestures for Man-su to lower the window. But Man-su keeps the window closed, and shouts -

Miri shoots a glare at her husband for saying the doctor's name wrong. She shuts the door, and speaks to Chin-ho in a loud voice, enunciating each syllable for Man-su to hear -

Man-su quickly pulls out. Rather, he tries to, but as he steps on the accelerator, all we hear is the LOUD VROOM of the engine spinning without moving the car. Ri-one is startled, and covers her ears with her hands as she yells -

Man-su's face turns red from embarrassment.

He puts the car in gear, and the car finally moves off. Ri- one keeps repeating, "Vroom!"

Ri-one settles down, and Man-su turns to Miri,

Man-su drives with his eyes fixed ahead and lips pursed - sulking. Miri laughs in disbelief and frustration.

CHO YONG-PIL'S "RED DRAGONFLY" STARTS PLAYING --

Man-su groans from his toothache as he raises the shoulder strap of his fishing waders.

The door opens quietly, and Man-su enters.

CU on a snake slithering through piled-up autumn leaves.

Ara, out on her daily walk, notices the snake pass by just in front of her and realizes that she forgot her walking stick.

Listening to the CHO YONG-PIL SONG, Bummo is stretched out on his recliner with his eyes closed.

Man-su looks down at the poor, vulnerable man.

Ara opens the back door and enters. She grabs her walking stick from an umbrella stand. But just as she is about to go back out, A SUDDEN HIKE IN THE VOLUME OF THE SONG "RED DRAGONFLY" TO A THUNDEROUS LEVEL stops her in her tracks.

Ara looks up at the second floor and furrows her brows.

Bummo opens his eyes to find Man-su take his hand off the volume dial. Bummo stares at this strange man who extends his right hand enwrapped in a bulging oven mitt.

Bummo says something that can not be heard under the music. Man-su furrows his brows, then turns one ear towards him. Bummo SCREAMS -

ENSUING DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN ARE SUBTITLED.

Man-su has now heard the words, but can't understand what they mean. He cocks his head to one side.

Man-su stands two steps away from Bummo. He glares at Man- su's huge right hand, and unwittingly holds out his own right fist, too - like boxers fist bumping before the fight begins.

The two men scream at the top of their lungs, to overcome the deafening volume of the Cho Yong-pil song.

Man-su realizes he's being mistaken for Ara's lover.

Bummo points at Man-su's oven mitt -

Man-su decides he'll play along. He takes off layer upon layer of mittens on his right hand -- off comes the oven mitt, then a ski mitten, then a Santa mitten, revealing a layer of plastic cling film wrapped around his entire hand including the pistol.

Watching on with curious eyes, Bummo starts to chuckle at the sight of the handgun. He must be having trouble accepting the reality of the situation.

FROM ARA'S POV: as she peeks through the slightly open door -- we see Bummo sitting upright in his recliner, and the back of Man-su standing face to face with Bummo.

Man-su is unaware that Ara has arrived, and she hasn't seen Man-su's gun. Only Bummo has seen both.

Ara looks at her husband with shock and fear in her eyes. From the look on her face, Bummo realizes that his wife is not in cahoots with this man.

Ara looks around and disappears into the hallway.

Man-su unwinds the plastic wrap around his hand and pistol, then shoves the plastic in his pocket along with the mittens.

While Man-su delays, Ara returns, holding a Paper Man of the Year trophy in the shape of a paper roll. She sneaks up behind Man-su.

Man-su levels his gun at Bummo.

Ara slowly moves her fully stretched arm to gauge the distance. The tip of the trophy almost grazes the back of Man-su's head. She takes a step forward -- she is now within striking range.

Bummo gains confidence. Preparing for a big swing, Ara raises her arm behind the back of her head.

Ara freezes. Man-su finds Bummo's pathetic lack of self awareness annoying and laughs bitterly -- he wanted to put off pulling the trigger as much as possible anyway. Ara also lets out a snicker at her pathetic husband -

Man-su finds Bummo too similar to himself, which disgusts him. Frustrated, Man-su waves his gun in the air as he struggles to find the right words.

Bummo looks utterly shocked -- his mouth drops open and tears roll down his cheeks. Turning the table and making Man-su the one who's flustered.

Man-su finds him even more loathsome and gets angrier. Ara on the other hand, becomes intrigued by the strange turn of events.

Ara lowers her trophy holding hand, lost in thought.

Man-su turns his head, sees Ara and freezes. He stands dazed, then pulls the trigger in the moment of confusion.

The bullet hits Bummo in the shoulder.

A stunned silence.

Ara SCREAMS and swings the trophy, hitting Man-su in the temple and knocking him down -- he drops his pistol.

Ara goes to pick up the gun.

Man-su crawls towards the gun, and Ara jumps at him. While the two wrestle on the ground, Bummo -- closest to the pistol -- flops on the floor and picks up the gun. He points the gun at his wife, entangled with Man-su on the floor -

Man-su and Ara, still tangled together, freeze. Ara climbs on top of him and starts to strangle Man-su. Bummo trembles, gun aimed at his wife. Ara is flabbergasted to see the barrel pointed at her. The tormented wife and husband glare at each other. Seizing the moment, Man-su kicks Ara off him.

Bummo flies back and thrashes on the floor, screaming. Ara, fallen on his gunshot wound, unknowingly presses it as she tries to get up, searching for the gun.

Bleeding heavily, Ara crawls toward the gun. Man-su goes after her. As Man-su pulls at Ara's sweater, it stretches to reveal her shoulder. Her skirt gets hiked up over her thighs. Writhing in pain, Bummo struggles to get up.

Ara and Man-su lock one way, and then the other. Panting and grunting, Ara manages to grab the trophy and takes a swing. It smashes Man-su on his back. She then lunges for the pistol. All three reach for the gun that's slid under the display cabinet.

BANG! The shot goes off, fired by someone -- they all flinch for a second, then scramble for the gun again.

As Ara picks up the gun, Man-su dashes out of the room. Ara and Bummo get to their feet. Bummo holds out his palm to Ara -

The back door flings open and Man-su runs out. He looks back to see Bummo pursuing him.

Man-su darts across the backyard towards the back hill, but at the SOUND OF A GUNSHOT, he howls and falls, thinking he is shot. Checking his body in panic, he turns around to see Bummo collapsing with a new gunshot wound to his back.

Man-su is frozen on the spot.

Ara dashes out with the gun in her hand. With disheveled hair, she doesn't even think about wiping the blood off her nose. She looks down at her husband, lying on the ground groaning, unable to understand why his wife would go to such lengths.

Eyes welling up with tears of anger and resentment, Ara stomps her feet and waves the gun as she argues -

Bummo dies. Ara, in a daze, mumbles incoherently -

Ara stops talking and looks down. She then suddenly jerks her head up, spotting Man-su. She has a vacant look in her eyes and blood trickles down from her nose.

Man-su is scared shitless.

Man-su staggers away, blood dripping from his temple. He struggles to run in the chest waders he's wearing.

Ara chases after him, brandishing the gun, screaming.

Man-su barely manages to make it out of the woods and jumps into his parked car, quickly starting the engine and driving off.

Ara, visible in the side mirror, catches her breath as she glares down the road.

Having successfully escaped, Man-su lets out a sigh of relief. He opens the glovebox and checks his smartphone. 10 missed calls from Miri. To make matters worse, the low fuel warning lamp lights up.

Si-one and Dongho sit at the computer, brewing up some scheme.

On the monitor: images of smartphones and their prices.

Ri-one clings tightly to Si-one's back. With her eyes closed, resting her chin on her brother's shoulder, she looks quite comfortable.

Si-one's phone RINGS, and he answers on SPEAKER MODE.

Man-su's Elantra gets refueled at a rundown gas station by the quiet roadside.

With his phone propped on his shoulder, Man-su takes off his fishing waders and tosses them in the trunk. He has wads of bloody tissues matted to his temple.

Si-one shrugs his shoulder to wake his sister, her chin still resting on it.

Ri-one opens her eyes and looks at Si-one's phone.

Man-su listens to his daughter's voice over the phone.

Suddenly scared, Man-su puts the gas pump nozzle back in place -

It's the Halloween dance party hosted by "Ginger & Fred Dance Academy". Members of Miri's dance club, each flaunting glamorous and creative costumes, waltz around on the floor. Except for Miri, who stands without a partner.

She is dressed as a Native American princess in a buckskin miniskirt, wearing the dance shoes Man-su bought her as her birthday gift and a beaded headdress. She is with Chin-ho, dressed as a brave, complete with war paint on his face, and two nurses -- including MIN-JI -- dressed as Native American maidens.

The four of them stand next to a makeshift cocktail bar, just watching other people dancing.

Man-su's jaw drops weakly. His mouth agape, Man-su looks incredulous at his own memory lapse.

Miri sways slightly to the rhythm without realizing it. Eunmi, fully annoyed, walks over and stands next to her. Chin-ho, who has been quietly observing Miri's gloomy expression as she was watching the dancing couples, grabs her elbow -

Miri gently pulls her arm away and turns her eyes back to her dance club members.

Miri looks around cautiously, conscious how dancing with this man might appear, but she takes Chin-ho's hand and they head to the dance floor. Eunmi looks at them with surprise.

Man-su rushes in, dressed in a blue British naval uniform with braided epaulets, holding a tricorne hat in one hand. A STAFF MEMBER behind the reception desk gestures toward the doors on her left.

Man-su quickly sets the hat on his head.

Just as he tries to open the dance hall door, someone pushes the door open from inside. A woman dressed like a CHINESE FAIRY darts out of the hall as if she's fleeing, followed by Wonno dressed as a bullfighter.

Man-su ends up hidden behind the large door, and watches as Wonno grabs the woman's wrist, trying to calm her down. The look on Man-su's face indicates how pathetic he finds Wonno.

There's a long line in front of a PHOTOGRAPHER taking Polaroid photos for the guests.

Bursting in through the queue, Man-su immediately spots Miri dancing and his face blanches.

Miri and Chin-ho make a great pair.

Even as she twirls around, Miri keeps glancing at the entrance, but when she actually spots Man-su, she becomes infuriated.

A WAITER offers a tray of cocktail glasses to Man-su.

Tempted, Man-su smacks his lips but waves his hand to say no, then sets off towards his wife. In an attempt to appear inconspicuous, he shakes his body like he's dancing. Swaying and weaving, he wades through the crowd, getting closer and closer to Miri.

Deciding to provoke her husband, Miri deliberately laughs happily towards Chin-ho. Chin-ho's face lights up with joyous surprise, then disappears as he twirls, revealing Miri's face over his shoulder -- her eyes are closed, she's in heaven.

Man-su trembles with jealousy and turns away, at which moment Miri opens her eyes, subtly scanning the surroundings, but her husband is already moving away.

Panting heavily from hastily climbing over the hill, Man-su hides behind a tree. He looks down into Bummo's backyard with his binoculars:

Ara and Chun-oh sweat profusely as they dig a hole. Next to the hole lies Bummo's dead body wrapped in a blanket. But Man-su's focus is on his pistol, which lies discarded next to the corpse.

LATER --

Rain falls.

In the music room, Ara and Chun-oh sway to a SPACED-OUT TRIP-HOP BEAT. Ara shifts from crying to laughing to screaming -- she's a complete mess.

CAMERA PANS to the backyard, revealing Man-su, maniacally digging up Bummo's grave.

Miri shakes her body to FAST MUSIC. She dances hard but she doesn't look too excited. Chin-ho, Min-ji, and the members of her dance club surround her.

A roadside sign reads: "Welcome to Gujong City."

Man-su's Hyundai Elantra races along the highway. He is having quite a hectic day. The mud-covered handgun sits on the passenger seat.

Miri enters the dark room. The empty bed is faintly visible.

She throws her handbag (fringed leather, "Native American") on the empty bed and sits at her dressing table. She gazes blankly at her pale, moonlit reflection in the mirror. Then, Man-su's voice frightens her:

The door to the dressing room is open -- Inside, in one corner behind the open closet door, Miri finds Man-su crouched on the floor. His wet hair glistens in the darkness, his eyes gleam.

Miri turns on the lights. Squinting at the bright light, Man- su looks small and miserable.

Miri's jaw drops as she sees all the drawers pulled out and clothes strewn everywhere in the closet.

Man-su lunges at her like a bullet out of a gun -- he pulls up her skirt and clutches her panties, screaming -

Miri, suppressing a scream, tries to push Man-su off. They start to wrestle.

Now on the floor, Miri uses both feet against Man-su's chest to throw him back. Man-su tumbles to the floor, and Miri stands up.

Sprawled on the floor, Man-su scoffs at the suggestion. Miri misinterprets it as an admission, and shakes her head in despair.

Man-su's face contorts in shame. Suddenly, he lets out a series of barks like a dog.

Without a moment's hesitation, Miri takes off her panties and throws them at him. Man-su brings them to his nose, but now that he is smelling them, he realizes the ridiculousness of his actions and feels ashamed. Miri lunges forward, grabs her husband's head with both hands and lifts him. She bends down and brings her nose to Man-su's mouth, then smells his breath. This clears up Miri's misunderstanding as well.

Man-su tries a different tack --

Man-su looks up and stares blankly at her, not getting it.

Man-su glares intently, trying to evoke sympathy -

Immediately, Miri's eyes sparkle as if to say, "gotcha!"

Man-su doesn't know where to begin. Feeling overwhelmed, he hangs his head low, on the verge of tears. He gets up.

Unaware, he mimes pulling a trigger. When Miri flicks on the light, he lowers his hand quickly, startled.

Anguished, Miri smiles bitterly, one corner of her mouth curling up -

Feeling unjustly accused and out of frustration, Man-su SMASHES his head against the wall! Hurting his temple again, Man-su screams in pain and writhes in agony for a moment, then rushes out.

Lights flicker on, and the greenhouse glows like a glass box.

As Man-su enters, he strips off the John Smith costume and slams it down on the floor.

Conscious of surveillance cameras, Man-su pulls down the visor of his baseball cap to obscure his face -- he's even wearing a pair of glasses. His attire is also more vibrant than usual. Man-su sweats profusely as he pretends to browse shoes in one corner while repeatedly checking the writing on his palm ("drink with colleagues", "work talk"). He looks at GO SIJO (50s) from a distance through the wall mirror.

Sitting down on one knee, Sijo assists a picky looking YOUNG MALE CUSTOMER (20s) put on shoes. Next to him we see three pairs of shoes that have already been tried on.

Wearing his fourth pair, the customer stands up and examines himself in the mirror from different angles. He walks around, while Sijo watches anxiously.

The door opens, and in walks YENI, a middle school girl in her uniform with a painting storage tube slung around her shoulder. Sijo is glad to see her, but is conscious of the customers and speaks in a low voice -

Seeing the girl wearing her backpack in front of her, Man-su is reminded of his daughter and becomes emotional.

Sijo looks out the door -- YENI'S TWO FRIENDS bow politely. Man-su unconsciously eavesdrops on their conversation.

Sijo quickly pulls out his wallet, hands his daughter a 10 dollar bill, gestures for her to leave, and heads to the counter -

Yeni waves him goodbye and leaves. Sijo gives her a small wave back. Man-su observes all these details without missing a beat.

As soon as Sijo goes into the storage room, the customer changes into his own shoes and heads for the door. Man-su shoots him a glare, finding this situation unbearable.

Man-su also opens the door to leave, already taking a step outside, when a voice calls him back.

Man-su stares at Sijo, reading the desperation in his eyes -- no choice but to bring back the foot that's stepped outside the door.

Man-su walks back in with his head bowed deeply, sneaking a glance at the notes he has written in his palm, unable to remember any of the lines he had prepared. Reaching at some decision, he looks up directly at Sijo and speaks -

Sijo heads to the children's shoe section. He squats down to pick out shoes, disappearing from sight behind some shelves. But his voice is audible as he speaks -

Man-su is so happy he doesn't have to lie. Sijo returns with a pair of black children's shoes -- holding a shoe in each hand -- and offers them to Man-su.

As he speaks, tears well up in Man-su's eyes, and he gets flustered.

Two-lane road overlooking the sea, with almost no traffic. Man-su's car is parked on a semicircular shoulder space for turning.

Man-su turns off the ignition, and turns on the hazard lights. The orange light flashes onto the surrounding trees.

Man-su opens the hood and nervously takes out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He lights one up and takes a deep drag. His head spins. It doesn't help steady him. He tries the technique he learned at the employment training. He starts tapping his carotid artery -

A car appears in the distance. Tense, Man-su stares straight at the approaching vehicle. The car switches on its hazard lights and pulls into the shoulder space. The driver pokes his head out -- it's Sijo. His car is, coincidentally, an Elantra as well.

Before Man-su finishes his sentence, Sijo turns off the ignition of his car, gets out, and immediately leaps into action. He rolls up his sleeves and then dives into the engine compartment of Man-su's car.

INSERT - With a red pencil, Man-su circles the words "I'm a machine repairman" on Sijo's cover letter.

Using the Maglite Man-su has prepared, Sijo gets down to work.

Man-su circles around to stand behind Sijo.

He raises his pistol, and pulls the slide. He repeats raising and lowering the gun until Sijo yells --

Stretching his back and turning around, Sijo sees Man-su's gun aimed at him and cocks his head in confusion. Man-su is shaking as he glares at Sijo.

Sijo realizes this is no joke. Man-su can't bear his gaze and covers his eyes with his left hand, pressing the tip of his gun against his chest. He pulls the trigger. But all that follows are EMPTY CLICKS.

Panicked, Sijo pushes Man-su off and tries to run. He barely takes a couple of steps, before Man-su successfully fires his gun. Hit in the back, Sijo falls like a log.

Man-su's legs give out from under him and he collapses.

THE KIM CHANG-WAN SONG, "YES, LET'S WALK," STARTS.

SERIES OF JUMP CUTS:

- Man-su opens the trunk of his car.

- Man-su covers the corpse he placed in the trunk with a blue tarp.

- Man-su rips off the dash cam.

- Man-su runs to his car, gets in, and drives off.

- CLOSE ON a single bullet casing left on the ground.

A WIDE SHOT of the entire house. It's raining.

The upstairs master bedroom is brightly lit. The window to Si-one's room opens, and Si-one sneaks out, wearing a raincoat and carrying a large-but-empty-backpack. He climbs down the drainpipe, and quietly leaves the house on his bicycle.

Si-one's bicycle appears from around a street corner.

A boy in a yellow raincoat stands next to his own bike, waiting for Si-one.

Si-one screeches to a halt, and smiles.

The boy in the yellow raincoat returns the smile -- it's Si- one's friend, Dongho. The two bicycles start to ride side by side.

The Elantra drives through a town where it's not raining. Man-su, driving with a lifeless expression on his face, turns up the radio volume -- KIM CHANG-WAN'S VOICE GETS LOUDER.

Dongho punches the security code on the digital door lock keypad attached to the back door. Si-one is on the lookout.

WIDE ANGLE of the shopfront from across the street: The back door opens and two beams of headlamp lights break the darkness. Si-one and Dongho go into the storage room.

As the raindrops start to fall, Man-su turns on the wipers.

Gushing wind and rain. Lit from behind, the two bicycles speed along the road like mad.

A police car gives chase with its SIREN blaring.

The bikes split at an intersection. The police car follows Dongho.

THE SOUND OF THE RAIN ABRUPTLY STOPS.

Man-su's car arrives in the quiet neighborhood. All the lights in Man-su's house are off.

MAN-SU'S POV: Si-one's bicycle lies haphazardly on the ground, its wheels caked with mud.

Man-su picks up the bicycle. He gauges the distance from the house and picks a corner. He begins to dig into the wet ground with a shovel.

Miri is asleep.

The sky is faintly lit as starlight fades. Man-su yawns while shoveling tirelessly.

Ri-one is asleep.

Dawn is breaking. Exhausted to the point of collapse, Man- su's legs give out. He stumbles as he tries to climb out of the now fairly deep hole.

Si-one is asleep.

Man-su stops shoveling and climbs into the hole. He lies down and looks up at the sky, which has already become bright.

His family will wake up soon, but the hole isn't deep enough yet. He is unbearably tired. A ROOSTER CROWS. Man-su lets out a sigh and closes his eyes.

"YES, LET'S WALK" FADES OUT.

Man-su's sleeping face shakes.

Man-su wakes up. Miri is shaking him. Seeing Miri's face filled with concern, but also anger, Man-su quickly sits up on the sofa.

In the direction Miri points -- TWO UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS stand in the yard, looking this way through the window.

Still in last night's clothes, Man-su rises to his feet. He thinks they've finally caught on to him, but he remains surprisingly calm -- he's imagined this moment countless times.

Miri goes upstairs. Man-su turns to the window, revealing his back crusted with dried mud.

Man-su steps out, hands held in front, ready to be handcuffed.

Holding Ri-one's hand, Miri exits the house, looking like she might break into tears any moment. She brings out a glum-faced Si-one. The officers walk past Man-su and seize Si-one's arms.

Man-su turns and sees the officers holding his son.

The officers take Si-one, and Miri and Ri-one move past Man- su. Man-su watches them leave, then turns to the hole he dug. Anxiety grips him.

MAN-SU'S POV: We see the half dug hole with the handle part of the shovel poking out from it.

He follows them out, then freezes at the sight of -

MAN-SU'S POV: a small bit of blue tarp sticking out between the trunk lid and the car body.

As the police car pulls away with Si-one in the back seat, Miri hurriedly opens Man-su's car door, getting Ri-one to sit in the backseat.

Conscious of what's in the trunk, Man-su freezes. Miri, feeling choked up and frustrated, hastens him -

Seeing Man-su still just standing there hesitating, Miri gets in the driver's seat herself. As soon as Man-su sits next to Ri-one, Miri drives off - the tarp still poking out.

With a dead body in the trunk and his son taken by the police, Man-su is completely disoriented.

Miri keeps calling Eunmi, but as she doesn't answer, vents her frustration on her husband -

Feeling unfairly blamed, Man-su starts to ask why but thinks better of it.

The two uniformed officers escort Si-one up the steps toward the entrance, casting long shadows on the steps.

Breathlessly catching up with them, Man-su calls out from behind them -

The uniformed officers nod, and wait at the top of the steps. Man-su wraps his arm around Si-one's shoulder and says -

The veins popping in Man-su's glaring eyes make his intentions clear. Si-one gets it, but he's still scared.

Man-su holds out his clenched fist, but Si-one, lost in thought, doesn't notice the gesture for a fist bump. Man-su awkwardly lowers his hand. Miri walks over to them, holding Ri-one's hand.

Man-su quickly grabs Si-one's head firmly and pulls it to his -- maybe too hard -- making their foreheads BUMP. It hurts, but Si-one bears it.

Man-su looks straight into his son's eyes, and whispers quietly but firmly, with sporadic grimaces from his toothache -

Man-su lets go of his head. Si-one turns to look at Miri, who has heard everything from right behind him. She nods at her son.

Looking in the mirror, Miri takes off her jacket. We start to hear the SOUND OF RI-ONE PEEING.

Miri takes off the bra under her sweater.

Man-su raises his chin high, and mumbles like an actor memorizing lines.

He writes down keywords that come to mind on his palm with a red pen. His palm is covered in red.

As Miri puts on lipstick, Ri-one flushes the toilet and exits her cubicle, letting out a big yawn. Miri picks Ri-one up and leans her over the sink to wash her hands.

Ri-one is asleep inside the Elantra.

In the distance, Miri and Wonno stand in a shadowy corner, talking. Wonno speaks with a cigarette in his mouth, with resentment --

Wonno scoffs, but Miri knew this -- determined, she takes off her jacket as she planned. Wonno glances at the nipple area of Miri's tight fitting turtleneck sweater. Miri speaks in a calm, confident voice -

Flustered, Wonno glances back and forth between Miri's eyes and her chest. But he notices Man-su walking towards them from behind Miri, and straightens up. Wonno acknowledges Man-su, as if to signal his arrival to Miri -

Man-su walks past Miri, who folds her arms to cover her chest, and stands in front of Wonno.

Miri looks at the cigarette and the lighter being passed around, and asks Man-su incredulously –

Miri doesn't like his coercive tone and the way he shamelessly smokes. But she pretends not to mind -

But Man-su gives Wonno a look that says, "Please tell her it's not okay." Miri stands a step behind Man-su and unfolds her arms. She places one hand on her hip, and straightens her shoulders, staring directly at Wonno. Even though he hasn't done anything wrong yet, Wonno feels unnecessarily cowed in front of Man-su, blinking nervously.

A beat of silence.

Finally, Man-su decides to resolve the matter in front of his wife. His expression changes, and his tone becomes firm.

But Wonno is overwhelmed by Man-su's assertive non-stop barrage of words. Nevertheless, he tries to get the upper hand somehow by stepping closer. He's taller, and Man-su has to tilt his head back to look at him.

Wonno raises his fist, Man-su calmly looks up. Wonno trembles, unable to swing nor bring down his fist. Looking at his blanched face, Miri decides it's game over and she puts her jacket back on.

Man-su starts to turn to leave, but remembers something and looks back at Wonno -

Man-su climbs up into the attic through the ceiling hatch.

He lets out a sigh at what he sees and pulls the cell phone boxes toward him.

He passes down to Miri all the cell phone boxes Si-one had hidden in there.

Man-su finds a pack of Marlboro Menthols and a lighter -- he surreptitiously pockets them.

Man-su dumps the stolen goods into the hole he dug early in the morning. Miri watches beside him, looking concerned.

Man-su covers the loot with soil. Miri helps, taking the gardening glove he hands her. Miri finds her husband dependable.

Ri-one practices pizzicato on her cello. No melody -- just PLUCK, PLUCK, PLUCK. Next to her sits Miri, reading a comic book. She looks up frequently to check on Ri-one.

All is peaceful and safe.

Si-one waters an apple sapling. Man-su crouches beside him, watching. There is another freshly dug hole next to them.

Man-su frowns, struggling to look toward the sun.

MAN-SU'S POV: Si-one scoots over, shading the sun for him.

Then Man-su remembers something. THE CAMERA PANS, following him as he moves sideways, crouched.

He takes out the pack of Marlboro Menthol and the lighter from his pocket and hands them to Si-one.

Man-su enjoys playing the cool dad; and Si-one enjoys being treated like an adult. He takes the pack of cigarettes and pockets it. Man-su holds out his fist. Si-one raises his and they bump fists.

Man-su walks inside the greenhouse. The exterior glass wall reflects the back yard landscape. TIME LAPSES -- and sun sets on the landscape. As night falls, the reflection of the exterior landscape disappears, revealing the interior: Man- su, smoking a cigarette, covers the glass walls of the greenhouse with a tarp.

Si-one, lying in the bed, springs up. He reaches into the pocket of the pants hanging on a clothes rack and takes out the pack of Marlboro Menthols.

He pops one in his mouth, turns the light off, then quietly opens his window and climbs out.

Si-one climbs outside, up onto the roof and walks on the roof-tiles all the way to the edge. He settles in a cozy corner, complete with an ashtray with a lid, it's his secret smoking spot.

He lights a cigarette, takes a deep drag, and exhales. Watching the smoke disperse in the air under the full moon, his attention gets drawn to the greenhouse, which is lit from within.

His dad, in his chest waders, stands in the middle of the greenhouse with his arms crossed, surveying his surroundings. The walls of the greenhouse are covered with tarps, wooden boards, cardboard boxes, and anything else he could get his hands on.

He seems satisfied that all four walls are well covered, but from Si-one's position, some parts of the greenhouse can be seen through the glass roof. Man-su didn't think to cover the ceiling.

As a wooden panel falls off from a glass wall, we get a glimpse of something resembling a person lying face down.

Man-su rushes over to reattach the panel, then he switches on a small electric saw and stands quietly, looking down below for a long while.

From here, Si-one's rooftop spot, we can't see what Man-su is looking at.

Man-su looks down at Sijo's dead body, which has been stripped down to his underpants. Man-su just can't bring himself to do it. He turns off the chainsaw and sets it down on the workbench.

Lighting a cigarette, he thinks for a long while, and then grabs copper wire used for bonsai.

He folds the arms of the dead body, and starts wrapping them with the wire.

The morning has broken, but it's still heavy with fog.

The coffee bean sack is buried deep in the big hole. Man-su covers it with some soil, and then plants an apple sapling on top of it. He feels a toothache and sticks his fingers deep into his mouth.

CU INSIDE THE MOUTH: his fingers wiggle the rotten molar back and forth.

The Middle-aged Detective looks around, taking in the house. With the curtains, the wall-mounted TV and the single-seater recliner sold off, the space appears larger.

Miri listens in from behind the dining room wall.

The Middle-aged Detective turns his eyes to Man-su. Man-su, thinking he might have answered too quickly, regrets it. The Young Detective writes down Man-su's words in his notebook –

Man-su gives him a questioning look. The Young Detective turns to look at his senior -

Man-su trails off, not even able to finish properly. The Middle-aged Detective shows no sign of being convinced as he just stares. He then gestures for his junior to make notes quickly.

Man-su gulps.

Man-su nods, to show he completely understands what the guy must have gone through. He senses this turn of events could provide him with a way out.

The two detectives examine the call history on Sijo's mobile phone inside a zipper bag. They notice several missed calls from the same number.

As they scrutinize the call history, the phone RINGS - making the middle-aged detective jump in surprise.

The Middle-aged Detective answers the phone, waiting for the other person to speak first.

At the Papyrus building we saw earlier, the HR Manager -- the one who interviewed Man-su -- walks while talking on the phone.

BACK AT THE SHOULDER SPACE, the Middle-aged Detective stands in one corner, talking on the phone. The CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION TEAM MEMBERS search the area around Sijo's car.

The two detectives examine Go Sijo's mobile phone. As they scroll through the call history, they come across the name "Gu Bummo". The Middle-aged Detective stops scrolling, and looks at the Young Detective with a triumphant look on his face. The Young Detective's face lights up as if to say, "Nice one!" The Middle-aged Detective points to his head with his finger.

Miri's ears perk up, and before she knows it, she's on her feet, blocking the glass display cabinet from view. Man-su's mouth drops open.

The Young Detective picks up a shell casing with his latex gloved hand and holds it up to the sunlight.

Man-su, anxious with fear, pretends to be scared for another reason -

Man-su and the two detectives step out the door.

The Middle-aged Detective leads in front. Walking behind him, the Young Detective hands his business card to Man-su.

As they cross the yard, the Middle-aged Detective notices the doghouse and finds something odd. Ri-one's legs are sticking out. We hear the SOUND OF SOBBING and a CELLO SOLO PIECE coming from within.

Both detectives turn around abruptly. Man-su smiles awkwardly at his own lame joke. The Middle-aged Detective turns back -

The detectives leave. Man-su grabs Ri-one's ankles and pulls her out -- Ri-one's tear-streaked face emerges from the doghouse.

Through the living room window, we see Miri inside, looking out at her husband with a hint of doubt.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Man-su writes some lines for his next interview on the palm of his hand -- "25 years / 25 minutes". The ferry ramp drops. Man-su's car drives off the ferry and onto the island.

NIGHT

He passes a road sign with the silhouette of a water deer. Nearing his home, he slows down, and is about to make a right turn -- when suddenly a man jumps in front of his car.

The man's face, ghastly white in headlights, belongs to Man-su.

Sun-chul STOMPS ON THE BRAKES, irritated.

Carrying a large sports bag, Man-su walks up to the driver's window with a cheerful smile on his face. Standing next to the tuned up car with huge wheels, Man-su seems small.

He says something, but it SOUNDS MUFFLED behind the glass -

Sun-chul just laughs. Man-su gives Sun-chul a glimpse of the Springbank bottle, and Sun-chul smiles from ear to ear. He shifts gears and starts to drive his car slowly, gesturing for Man-su to follow. Trotting alongside the large car, Man- su continues to talk -

Sun-chul turns a corner and parks in front of his house.

Sun-chul rolls up the driver's side window, turns off the engine, and swings the door open -

Si-one does the dishes. Miri sits on the living room couch, and Ri-one sits on the floor in front of the plastic table.

Finishing her tea, Miri heads to the kitchen. Ri-one keeps drawing her complex patterns without touching her food.

Miri sets the empty mug in the sink. Si-one turns to her, looking like he has something to say. She gives him a questioning look to say, "what?", but Si-one turns away.

Miri returns to the living room and looks at what her daughter is doing. Miri sighs, and then yells -

Miri takes her seat on the sofa again and looks at Si-one. When their eyes meet, Si-one quickly turns away. Miri speaks to Ri-one in a gentle voice —

When Sun-chul isn't looking, Man-su dumps his whisky into a bowl on his lap. As soon as Sun-chul's glass is empty, Man- su promptly fills it again. The bottle of Springbank is almost empty. Whenever there's a chance, Man-su offers Sun- chul large pieces of sausage on a fork.

Sun-chul's speech is slurred, and Man-su only pretends that his is too, but he is genuinely excited by the shop talk.

Sun-chul laughs heartily and Man-su sighs with relief. Sun- chul's glass gets filled up by Man-su.

Ri-one is working on another abstract drawing.

Out in the backyard, crape myrtle tree branch has cast a shadow on Miri's face. She turns her gaze from Ri-one in the brightly lit living room to Si-one, sitting on the swing with his head hung low.

Sun-chul takes two cigars from a wooden box and offers one to Man-su. Man-su takes it.

Feeling a pang of conscience at his words about dying, Man- su is unable to say anything back and just blinks. Sun-chul lights the cigars -

Looking up high above, Man-su blinks his eyes. This is an unexpected hope -- maybe he can get a new job without any more blood on his hands! Trying to hold back his tears, he swallows hard and then turns back to Sun-chul.

Sun-chul's voice is insincere as he pours drink for Man-su. Man-su's hope fades again.

FADE OUT:

It's dark and quiet. Miri walks to the display cabinet in the dining room. She unlocks the combination lock on the wooden box and takes out the hand gun. But it feels too light. It's plastic.

Shocked, Miri struggles to breathe.

Man-su picks up a paper sample that Sun-chul has placed on the table. Like a true connoisseur, he rubs it between his fingers and holds it up to the light. He clicks his tongue...

Man-su raises his glass, but Sun-chul doesn't -- he gets to his feet.

Sun-chul turns away.

With his plans foiled, Man-su urgently moves to plan B.

Maintaining his gaze on Sun-chul slowly staggering away, Man-su slowly pushes his right hand into his pocket. As Man-su rises to his feet, he pulls out his gun, taking aim.

Sun-chul wobbles to the fridge and opens it. He peers into it for a beat, then abruptly turns his head this way.

Man-su quickly sits back down and plays the innocent.

Sun-chul returns with two bottles of beer. He pours two glasses full to the brim, and fills two shot glasses with whisky. He drops the shot glasses into the beer.

Man-su watches the process nervously. As his legs start shaking, he presses down firmly with his fists to steady them.

Man-su gets up and takes the glass, but hesitates. Sun-chul waits with his own glass raised.

Man-su closes his eyes. He taps his carotid artery with his right hand, and chants in a low voice.

INSERT - Miri sits alone on the swing. It's dark and quiet.

Sun-chul yells --

Having finished his ritual, Man-su opens his eyes.

He lifts the glass to his lips, takes one sip, but does not swallow. Sun-chul glares at him intently. There's no way out of this. Man-su closes his eyes again, and chugs the rest of the glass.

Man-su's glass tips horizontally, and the shot glass inside flips.

The two alcohols mix in a potent blend on their way into Man-su's mouth. His Adam's apple yo-yos as he gulps and gulps.

A sudden rush of forgotten pleasure.

INSERT - Man-su's house. The empty swing sways gently.

Satisfied at last, Sun-chul empties his glass in one gulp as well. He uses his right elbow to give himself two strong taps on his flank, then sits down on the floor, stretching out his legs.

Man-su's head rises again, transformed, red-faced, eyes bloodshot. Man-su lets out a hearty, "AAAHH", as he cracks a broad smile.

Man-su rummages through the drawers and comes back with a pair of pliers.

He shoves them into his mouth and pulls out his rotten molar, SCREAMING.

Man-su empties the remaining whisky into his bloody mouth -- he looks demonic. Sun-chul's mouth drops open.

Man-su bellows --

Man-su slings his sports bag over his shoulder, pulls a bottle of vodka from it and dangles it alluringly in front of Sun-chul as he walks backwards.

Sun-chul erupts into boisterous laughter as he stands. He staggers in a drunken stupor and falls on his ass. Laughing again, he gets up and follows Man-su out.

Man-su walks down the stairs with his sports bag, Sun-chul trailing behind.

Miri steps out of the house and crosses the yard towards the corner where her husband planted a sapling of an apple tree. She holds a shovel in her hand.

Logs blaze brightly in the fire pit. The vodka bottle is nearly empty already -- the result being Sun-chul, completely drunk, staring blankly at the fire.

Man-su sits beside Sun-chul, also blankly fire gazing.

Sun-chul can't make out a word of what Man-su is mumbling. He hunches over, closes his eyes, and mumbles to himself -

Miri is digging up the ground. Once the roots of the apple tree sapling start to appear, she pulls it out and lays it down.

Sun-chul lies on his side, asleep, his whole body wrapped in tarp except for his head.

Next to him, Man-su is hard at work, digging a hole in the ground.

Miri continues to dig. The hole has become quite deep.

Man-su is breathing heavily as he digs. The hole is already quite deep, and his knees are below the ground.

Covered in dirt and sweat, Miri finally uncovers the coffee bean sack buried deep in the ground. She looks back at the house. Just in case the kids might be watching.

MIRI'S POV: of the upper floor, with the lights off.

The door opens a crack and a silhouette enters. Approaching a low shelf in one corner and gazing down at the bonsai placed on it, is Si-one.

FROM SI-ONE'S POV: we see a miniature pine forest.

We leave the POV to see that the person looking down at the bonsai is now changed to Man-su.

FROM MAN-SU'S POV: we see a miniature Si-one sitting on a moss-covered rock in the miniature forest.

Si-one looks up to see: a towering pine tree with its branches draping over his head, and a giant Man-su, several times larger than the pine tree, looking down at him.

Man-su's expression is chillingly cold. Frightened, Si-one flicks on his phone flashlight, aiming it at Man-su's eyes.

Miri moves to another spot, turning her back to the house, and then switches her flashlight on.

Taking a deep breath, she gathers courage and kneels down to sweep the dirt off the top of the sack with her hands. She's afraid to see what might be inside it.

NIGHT

Sun-chul is buried under ground, except for his head -- sticking up like a harvest-ready cabbage. The edges of the tarp stick out from the ground around his shoulders. He's been preserved so that not a single speck of dirt comes in contact with his body or face.

Wearing surgical gloves, Man-su is now completely sobered up. He takes out a funnel he brought with him -- when his phone RINGS: It's a video call from Miri.

Man-su sees blood on his face on the phone screen and quickly wipes it away. He turns off the video as he accepts the call. He takes out a bloody cotton ball from the hole left by the extracted molar in his mouth.

Man-su speaks quickly, while Miri responds calmly.

Miri paces back and forth.

Caught off guard, he hesitates before managing a response -

Miri shuts her eyes tightly, then opens them again -

Man-su, turns at the sound of a GROAN. Looks like Sun-chul is waking up.

Miri hears Sun-chul's groan, she is shocked --

Man-su turns on the video, trying to assert that he's not up to anything bad.

Miri is surprised to see Man-su's face swollen on one side with the missing tooth.

Smiling, Man-su waves goodbye, then quickly hangs up. Blood dribbles down from his open mouth. He quickly puts the cotton ball back in his mouth and wipes the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

Sun-chul awakens. He thrashes about, but with his body buried he is unable to extricate himself.

Man-su inserts a funnel into Sun-chul's mouth, then forcefully stuffs small chunks of sausage down the hole. Petrified, Sun-chul stares up at Man-su with bulging eyes.

As soon as Sun-chul starts to retch, Man-su swiftly removes the funnel and tightly wraps Sun-chul's head with plastic wrap until his head looks like a cocoon.

Sun-chul vomits, but the puke is trapped in his mouth because of the plastic wrapping.

Si-one screams and thrashes about. Miri rushes in and sits by his bedside, shaking him awake. Si-one opens his eyes and Miri hugs him.

Miri looks at Si-one quietly, pondering what to do.

Si-one and Miri sit together at Si-one's secret smoking spot. He gives his mom a confused look.

Miri purses her lips and nods once. Si-one wants to believe her words. Miri studies her son's face.

The mother and son look down at the two apple trees below.

As if they've just teleported, Si-one and Miri are already down from the roof, standing in front of the apple tree. Si- one looks down at where the body was buried.

Relieved to see her son responding so innocently to her haphazard improvisation, Miri nods vigorously -

Miri barely manages to fight back her tears. Si-one strokes the apple tree leaves -

Miri tries to smile at her son.

Sun-chul's body, wrapped in a tarp, lies on the ground. Man- su scatters leaves over the freshly filled hole.

Man-su wipes his fingerprints off everything he's touched, stuffs what he can into his bag, and arranges the place to look as if Sun-chul was drinking alone. Then he remembers to grab the blood-stained pliers and his molar too.

Man-su lays the dead body on the bed -- the body is only wearing underwear and a T-shirt, with plastic wrap still around the head.

Wearing surgical gloves, he holds a pair of scissors and snips the plastic wrap around Sun-chul's head: the puke has been trapped by the plastic and it fills Sun-chul's mouth and nose.

Man-su scatters some empty bottles, a tumbler, some leftover sausages and a fork around the body. He also turns on the TV.

After finally wiping down the front door handle, he opens the door to leave.

As if the two worlds are joined at the door -- the door opens and Man-su walks in.

Miri, ready for work, sits blankly on the couch. Her makeup is meticulous, her clothes without a single wrinkle. But her face is devoid of any emotion except fatigue.

Man-su notices Miri's gaze on his swollen cheek, and opens his mouth wide. Miri peers inside, furrowing her brows at his condition but avoids mentioning it.

As Man-su stretches out his arms and moves to hug his wife, she reflexively leans back slightly. Before things get even more awkward, Man-su quickly scoots to her and gives her a tight hug. Miri flinches for a moment, but once she's nestled in his familiar arms, she doesn't resist. Man-su, urgently and desperately –

Miri tries hard to hide her fluctuating emotions, and tears well up. Sensing something is off, Man-su tries to pull away so he can look at his wife's face. But Miri hugs him tight, not letting him. Man-su, unaware of her intention, smiles happily.

Miri pulls away, abruptly standing up to hide her tears. Man-su sits still, not wanting her to leave but not looking up at her. His one arm stays wrapped around her, just as he was holding her.

With the laughter of men -

We see THREE INTERVIEWERS -- including the Mill Manager Man- su met in the toilet -- laughing heartily. Man-su must have successfully pulled off a joke just now.

Behind his composed demeanor befitting someone who has overcome a huge ordeal, we glimpse his resilience. Man-su switches to serious mode.

Carrying their backpacks, Si-one and Ri-one step out of the Elantra. Miri gets out of the driver's seat.

Then, the children's eyes widen in surprise.

Miri glances at her wristwatch.

CU on Man-su's wristwatch. Man-su can't help smiling at the thought of his children.

Si-two and Ri-two run toward Si-one and Ri-one. The two children and two dogs tumble and roll around together. Ri- one starts crying.

Interviewer 1 nods in agreement, then suddenly -

INSERT - Ri-two licks Ri-one's tears.

INSERT - Miri's parents stand in the front yard, watching with warm smiles -- they look pleased. Miri enters the yard and looks down at her children, but the expression on her face isn't all happy.

Man-su nods his head as if trying to convince himself.

Miri stands in front of the glass display cabinet. She looks tense as she watches Man-su and the detectives sitting on the couch, drinking tea.

Man-su is bewildered, but after searching his memory, recalls -

A dramatic pause. Then the Young Detective shows a photo on a tablet computer –

The photo is the 'Paper Day' commemoration photo Man-su saw at Bummo's house. In this photo of seven people, Bummo, holding a trophy (which was used to whack Man-su's head) in his left hand and a bouquet in his right, appears to be the main subject. But now, we also notice Sijo in the background on the right.

Ara has changed her style. She's wearing simple make-up and clothes. She's stage-ready. Quite the 'widow agonized by the loss of her husband'.

Ara nods. The two detectives look at each other.

With sparkling eyes, the Young Detective explains to Man- su -

Ara's eyes well up.

She lets the tears she managed to conjure up roll down her cheeks undisturbed.

Ara's eyes widen. A beat of silence ensues, while she quickly racks her brain - and then she gives a cautious nod.

Admiring his own sharp questioning, the Middle-aged Detective asks -

The Young Detective hands her his tablet computer. It displays a page with photos of about fifty different handguns. Ara zooms in and scrolls through the pictures, eventually points to one with her finger, then looks at the detectives, speaking cautiously -

The two detectives check. Sure enough, it's the North Korea Type 64 pistol.

The Middle-aged Detective looks back on the process of his deduction falling into place, and finds it enjoyable all afresh. Man-su wonders where this story is going.

INSERT - Ara nods.

Man-su is bewildered by the absurdity of the situation.

But to the two detectives, it looks like Man-su is impressed to the point of being speechless at their skills of deduction.

Miri stares intently at her husband.

CLOSE ON Miri -- standing in a daze.

Man-su stands in the middle of the yard, holding an umbrella. He stares at his wife, her feet planted near the crape myrtle tree.

Miri acts normal and smiles.

Si-one stands next to her holding an umbrella over her head.

Ri-one commands Si-two and Ri-two -- the three of them wear identical raincoats.

As if taking care of an unpleasant chore, Miri walks over and stands in front of her husband. Si-one follows her with his umbrella like a bodyguard.

How much he wanted to hear those words! Tears well up in Man-su's eyes. He looks at each member of his family, and declares cheerfully -

MIRI SI-ONE

(waving her hands) (waving his hands) No. No way!

Man-su is taken aback by his wife and son's reaction. Miri tries to pick up the pieces --

Her words are cryptic, but Man-su just laughs it off.

Man-su searches his wife's face for clues -- There's a smile, but her eyes are determined. Man-su is about to ask her for her reasons, but thinks better of it and looks away.

He notices Si-two and Ri-two, who smell the earth under the apple tree (where the body is buried). Seeing Man-su's startled expression, Miri also turns her gaze towards the apple tree. She points and speaks sternly.

Si-two and Ri-two scramble into the doghouse. Man-su relaxes and heads towards the gate.

Man-su turns back. Miri calmly observes her husband's face, which quickly lightens up -

Man-su nods in agreement, and then walks over to Ri-one. He bends down to give her a hug but stops, worried he might get his clothes wet. Stooping awkwardly, he holds out his hand instead and waits for a high-five.

Driving, Man-su reflects on the farewell he just had with his family.

As Man-su's car leaves the driveway, Miri and Si-one close the gate.

From high above, Man-su's house looks small beside the blocks of townhouses.

Luxury cars of townhouse residents drive in front of, and behind him.

A radio forecasts the weather.

Ri-one climbs the stairs, water dripping from her raincoat. She goes into her room. Si-two and Ri-two follow her in.

Miri cleans the muddy footprints of Si-two and Ri-two with a mop. Si-one, now changed into his school uniform, comes downstairs carrying a backpack.

Si-one hears something and shushes his mom. He listens intently to discern it's the SOUND OF A CELLO.

The mother and son stand motionless as they listen.

We follow a long trail of wet footprints on the floor. The SOUND OF A CELLO echoes through the empty space, growing nearer.

Looking at her sketchbook placed on the music stand, RI-ONE PLAYS A PIECE BY MARIN MARAIS on the cello. The intricate patterns drawn in the sketchbook turn out to be Ri-one's version of sheet music. Ri-one bows without hesitation, dancing her fingers dizzily on the fingerboard.

The depth of her sound is uncanny.

Si-two and Ri-two sit quietly, listening attentively.

INSERT - Man-su, driving to work.

Miri stands in front of Ri-one's room.

Si-one walks his bike across the yard, turning his head to glance back at the house.

Frozen outside Ri-one's room, Miri listens intently.

Si-one looks spellbound by Ri-one's cello performance.

Miri presses her ear to the door, listening.

The floor is soaked with water. Suddenly, Ri-two gets up and shakes, splashing water everywhere.

As Ri-one plays, the door opens quietly. Miri peeks in. Ri- one turns her head slightly toward her mom, then drifts back into the music. Miri sits in the doorway, half her body inside the room, watching her daughter close her eyes and smile.

CELLO MUSIC CONTINUES. Man-su sits in his car, driving.

Si-one rides his bike along the street, and joins Dongho, who's been waiting in front of his house. The two boys ride side by side and speed away.

The traffic starts to become congested.

Man-su leans forward, and looks up at his new workplace.

FROM MAN-SU'S POV: the giant factory looms closer, its chimneys rising high above.

AERIAL ANGLE ON: a string of cars, like small toys, moving slowly along the road, spattered by droplets of rain. Like an army of ants on the march, dozens of cars funnel their way to the gates of the factory.

Other than Man-su's car, most of the vehicles on the road are trucks laden with timber and waste paper.

Darkness.

THE MECHANICAL HUM NEARLY DROWNS OUT THE CELLO.

Man-su enters wearing a 'Moon Paper' jacket. He turns on his tablet computer. As he presses a button on the management app, the lights flicker on sequentially, illuminating the vast space. Here, Man-su appears tiny, as if he's been squashed by the overwhelming size and noise of the machines.

There are no workers, only robots moving back and forth. Man-su surveys the machines. He's finally here.

Is he happy? Disappointed?

Second floor. Man-su, tiny against the massive machines surrounding him, walks up the stairs and into the distance. Man-su taps a roll of paper with a mallet -- a satisfied look on his face.

Robots move in to stamp and slice horizontally through the paper rolls. Man-su walks along a path lined with jumbo rolls waiting to be transported. As he peers at his tablet and looks around, unsure of what to do next, the lights begin to flicker out, starting from the far end.

IMAGINATION)

THE FACTORY NOISE CONTINUES — THE SOUND OF THE REFORESTED AREA IS MUTED.

Logging robots fell trees and instantly cut them into specified lengths.

THE ANGLE WIDENS TO REVEAL vast stretches of land laid bare with only tree stumps remaining. A robot works alone at a steady pace.