慈禧太后的秘密

Chapter 871. Sequence 13

“I never knew things would actually turn out like this,” Heewon said.

His eyes moved quickly as they skimmed through the script.

“She wrote like she was in a daze and ended up creating a full-blown story alright.”

Maru put down the script. The persistence of the master craftsman that would not tolerate her work being moderate as well as her pride as the trendsetter to go ahead of the flow of the trend was fully reflected in her writing. His domestic labor at Eunbin’s house two days ago was repaid in the form of good writing. If the plot was like this, he would more than welcome it. He would have to see the viewers\' responses to be sure, but the contents of the script were something that the viewers who enjoyed episodes 7 and 8 would definitely welcome. Maybe even the people who were swayed by Bigfoot’s logic might be shaken. It may come off as an old-fashioned sermon from the older generation, but Eunbin’s writing skills did wonders to change that.

“I think it’ll be good as long as the acting can bring out the flavor. Try working things out with senior Hyunjin.”

“I will. I don’t want to kick away the food prepared for me.”

The staff who were waiting on the set started moving. It seemed that Yoonseo, the tardy girl, had arrived. She flashed past in front of his eyes while wearing a fancy outfit.

“She’s a real busy one alright. She’s probably so busy that even two bodies wouldn’t be enough.”

Heewon dusted his knees and stood up.

“It’s about time I get going too.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks, I’ll be needing it. I can smell all-nighters coming up. You saw that the director came wearing a hoodie, right? She always puts that on when she stays up at night.”

Just as Heewon said, many people had to prepare to stay up the night on days when Jayeon came wearing a brown hoodie with the word ‘Dream’ printed on it. As the drama went past its midpoint, the shoot became more like a live event. This was the case even with a drama like ‘Doctors’ where the script had already been created beforehand. Edits in the script that reflected the current trends, as well as inserting scenes because of various advertisements, and schedule adjustments of various actors – all of these problems would pile up and would hasten everything towards the end.

“Looks like I’ll also be going home late if things go wrong.”

Maru checked the script once again. There were multiple different scenes in multiple locations. It seemed that they would have to move the shoot at least four times. His part might end up getting delayed, making him have to wait hours before shooting 30 minutes and then waiting hours again. After all, the order of scenes was decided first by the schedule of the main actors, then by the location. The circumstances of a minor actor weren’t even worth considering.

“Let’s go home together while breathing some fresh night air.”

Heewon left the place for makeup. While he said that Yoonseo was busy, Heewon was just as busy as well. Maru knew of three events that Heewon had to participate in just yesterday. He must have gone home in the middle of the night before waking up still in the middle of the night to come to the shoot. He could tell that the ‘live’ episodes had begun just by looking at the faces of the actors. Everyone seemed to have declared war against fatigue. Yoonseo, who disappeared into the waiting room, came back while repeatedly apologizing. From how she was wearing a fancy outfit when she came here, it seemed that she came here immediately after an event. It was probably one in the countryside as well. She probably came back to Seoul while sleeping in the van. When Heewon and Yoonseo finished preparing themselves, the actors who were waiting all gathered in one spot. Yoonseo kept bowing down towards a senior actor many years older than her. Thankfully, the senior actor was known to be rather gentle, so he consoled her instead. If it was a picky actor instead, the set might have been flipped upside down by now.

“Let’s begin quickly. We’ll need to speed up since we’re late.”

The shoot began after restricting access to the hospital’s main entrance. Although they used manmade sets for the ER unit, they couldn’t use a set for the huge entrance of the hospital. People started flocking when large cameras and shiny lights were installed. It was the staff who became busy. Despite knowing that there was a shoot, an elderly tried to cross in front of the camera and got into a quarrel with a staff member. Meanwhile, the actors calmly continued their act. The period of time between ‘cut’ and the next ‘shoot’ became shorter. They had less allowed time since the shoot started late, so the director was probably nervous as well.

“This has become a huge mess.”

It was Hyunjin. She said those words as she looked at the man who was shouting while asking why they blocked the entrance.

“You’re early. Wasn’t your part after lunch today?”

“I didn’t want to daze off at home, so I came. I also wanted to try going through the script with you too. But why’s the atmosphere like this?”

“Miss Yoonseo was late. They should’ve started shooting at 7, but it’s already 9. There are more visitors coming to the hospital as well. I think everyone’s sensitive because there especially seems to be a lot of people in the audience with loud voices today.”

As soon as he said those words, a motorbike came towards the hospital with loud engine noises. It passed right through before any of the staff could stop it. A man wearing a vest that said ‘quick delivery’ on it hurriedly entered the hospital. Hey! Do your work properly! – the assistant director shouted at the staff in charge of controlling vehicles.

“Looks like we won’t be laughing if we create an NG today.”

Hyunjin pointed at Jayeon who was sitting in front of the monitor. She took off her headphones in annoyance before standing up and calling for the assistant director with her finger. He could tell she was visibly angry even from a distance. Whenever Jayeon said something to the assistant director, Yoonseo’s face became dark as well.

“Senior, do you think we should go through the script together in the back?”

They couldn’t do anything to improve the shoot even if they watched. Practicing their scene and reducing their mistakes during the real run would be a more practical way of helping them out. They moved away from the people who were shooting videos with their phones above their heads.

“People are flocking.”

“It must be all over social media right now.”

Don’t take photos, don’t spread them around – despite the staff shouting until their voices became hoarse, news about the shoot was bound to spread through the internet.

A clearing next to the parking lot was rather empty. Maru sat on the bench. It was surprisingly quiet now that they were a little away from the set.

“Shall we begin right away?”

“Wait a bit. I’ll read it one more time.”

Hyunjin was someone who had the tendency to not look at the script during practice, while Maru was the opposite. Hyunjin read the script while moving her lips slightly and eventually said that she was ready.

“I’ll read the directives. Let’s go over everything once and then do it again without the directives. Let’s take it calmly for the first run. Are you okay with that?”

“Good.”

Maru fixed his eyes on the script. For the first read-through, he took things lightly. He read both the directives and the lines and inputted the detailed situation into his brain. Although many things would change once they actually started the shoot, having a clear picture would still allow him to react accordingly.

“Morning, in front of the hospital. Bigfoot sees Hyunjin while coming out of the entrance with a cup of coffee. His lips twitch in dissatisfaction after looking at her. He turns around. Hyunjin sees him. She calls out to Bigfoot, but Bigfoot keeps walking without stopping. Hyunjin follows him, feeling flabbergasted.”

Hyunjin said her line.

“Am I the only one who saw the other? Also, I called out to you.”

“I was too out of it because I’m so tired. What is it?”

“I thought about it and it just annoyed me. It’s like I’m in the wrong here, right? Even though I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Indeed. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then why do you look like that? You look like you stepped on shit because of me.”

“I do? I’m just tired. Don’t misunderstand.”

“I’m saying it because it doesn’t look like a misunderstanding. Also, I’m here to correct what you said before.”

“What I said before?”

“I’m sure that in your eyes, I look like a flower raised in a greenhouse, who was raised without any deficiencies. And that’s why you asked me if I ever worked in order to study, and you told me that you could have studied when you worked. Yes, you’re right. I’ve never been unable to study because of monetary problems. In fact, I was sent to good cram schools and received luxurious tutoring. But so what? It has been annoying me ever since then. Why do I have to be looked at like that by you? I was definitely born in a better environment than you. So, shouldn’t I use that to my advantage? Or what, did I have to give up my own rights and study just like you because there are people like you who have to work in order to study?”

“I didn’t say it like that.”

“Yes, you did. Back then, you looked pitiful, and I looked like a really bad girl. But I thought about it. Did the fact that I was born as the child of a wealthy class ever cause you harm? Is it a sin that we started off differently?”

Maru looked at Hyunjin through the corner of his eyes. She was bringing out her emotions now. She seemed to have forgotten that they should calmly do the read-through for the first run. Her cheeks were twitching.

“Don’t act like a victim. You couldn’t say a word to the head doctor, but you could talk to me like that. And what? Both you and I tried hard? Don’t try to be the good guy. Don’t justify yourself. If you were wronged, then go against it. You hid your tail between your legs because you have to take hints from above? That sounds like the most pathetic excuse I’ve ever heard. If you had no choice but to do that because you are weak, then sure, live like that forever. Get looked down on, and get everything deprived from you. You just hate people like me to console yourself, saying that you had no choice.”

Hyunjin finished her line while moving her arm diagonally as though to shake off something. After saying a long line, she took a deep breath as though she had just done a full sprint.

“Did I go overboard?”

“No, I liked it. I also like the way you spoke like a high-class lady speaking in a scolding tone.”

“I just found myself getting absorbed while I was speaking. I liked Bigfoot’s lines, but saying Yoomin’s lines made it feel different.”

“That’s just how much you were absorbed.”

“You’re making me blush.”

“Let’s continue. Since we’re at it, let’s continue right to the end and come back to it afterwards.”

“That sounds good. I’m going to stand up.”

“I’ll stand up as well. Should we go over some motions as well?”

“Just a little.”

Maru stood up with the script.

“Bigfoot finishes the coffee in his hand in one go. He crushes the paper cup and throws it away in annoyance. Hyunjin snorts as she looks at the paper cup, as though she found it petty. Bigfoot stares at Hyunjin and goes up to her. Hyunjin stays there without falling back.”

He gave Hyunjin a signal through his eyes. She turned around with her arms crossed and spoke,

“What? You still have something to say? Or are you going to make excuses again? But hey, I don’t think that you’re pitiful anymore. I don’t care what you think about me. I will not stand any damage to me, even if it was given to me by someone above me.”