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01x10 - Episode 10

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Nine Puzzle". Aired: May 21, 2025.*
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Jo I-na finds her uncle m*rder*d beside a puzzle piece but can't explain her presence.

01x10 - Episode 10

Post by bunniefuu »

Mr. Kwon.

Mr. Kwon! Mr. Kwon!

[frustrated groan]

[alarm beeping]

-[flatlining]
-[Ena] What's going on?

-Hansaem? Hansaem!
-[nurse] Doctor, this way!

He's in cardiac arrest!

-Step aside, sir.
-Confirming cardiac arrest.

-Beginning CPR.
-Get me epinephrine!

-Check the intervals.
-[nurse] Here you go.

[doctor] Check his EKG.

-[frustrated sigh]
-[nurse] No change in rhythm.

[♪ theme music]

Nine Puzzles

I told you no one had access
but hospital staff.

Another missed opportunity
to see the k*ller's face.

Since we've publicized the puzzle,
I'm sure tips will start coming in.

[Ena] But for now, let's head to DBC.

[♪ suspenseful music]

[soft grunt]

[engine revving loudly]

[indistinct chatter]

That was delivered via courier.

We don't know who it was sent by though.

So the courier had been requested online,

and then you find this
and some cash at the drop point?

Yes.

Thanks for your cooperation.

[in Korean] Thank you.

[in English] You know where Jungho was
the day after Yoonsu Do's m*rder?

The One City.

There was nothing in his phone records
to prove that,

but location tracking shows

that his phone was within 200 meters
of the building.

When I called Jungho to let him know
that Yoonsu Do had been discovered dead

and the cause was an insulin overdose…

that's where he was.

[clicks tongue]

The day after Yoonsu Do died,

the day he hid the handkerchief.

Exactly.

Why did Jungho go there?

Do you think the handkerchief's owner
was in the building then?

[breathes deeply]

And we've come full circle,

back to The One City.

[engine revving]

[g*nsh*t effect]

[Ena] The k*ller…

they knew that Sangbeom Kwon
was an avid hunter.

They even had a shotgun ready for him.

This fits the exact pattern we've seen,

so why didn't they k*ll him this time?

Leaving the target behind

without confirming his death?

I can't think
of a good explanation for it.

[g*nsh*t effect]

Jungho Yang was the unknown variable.

The k*ller hadn't anticipated
that he'd intervene

to disrupt the plan.

He's definitely not an accomplice.

So, why?

Why didn't the k*ller
finish both of them off?

[g*nshots effect]

They must not have wanted
Jungho Yang to die.

They tried to save him.

The reason they couldn't k*ll
Sangbeom Kwon then

has something to do with Jungho.

So what's behind that?

How are Jungho and the k*ller connected?

"Puzzle: DBC Newsroom"

[Dongsu]
Do we have the autopsy results yet?

The report confirmed it.
It was a poisoning.

It appears
that someone got a hold of his IV

and then swapped out his meds with poison.

The k*ller likely disguised themself
as hospital staff

and slipped into the IV room

and switched it out there.

They really know what they're doing.

They probably have some medical expertise.

To start, request names
and photos of medical staff

-at Yangcheon Hospital.
-Yes, sir.

Someone must have noticed a person
not included in those photos.

Compare them with everyone
on the CCTV footage.

Right.

Is Dr. Hwang around?

I'm sorry, you missed him.
He just stepped out.

Actually, could you tell me…
Was he here two days ago?

The clinic was closed until yesterday.

Hmm…

I wonder when he'll be back. Hmm.

He's not answering his phone.

I'll go inside and wait for him.

[attendant] Uh, he…
he did say he'd be back soon.

[sighs]

[Ena] "H…"

As in… Dr. Hwang?

[♪ pensive music]

[Hansaem] Someone with medical expertise

who knows Ena Yoon…

and has connections to The One City.

Four people came down to Jeju to see me.

Aside from you, Curry Kim.

Chief Hogeun Hyeun, Captain Jungho Yang,
Dr. Seungjoo Lee,

and…

Inchan Hwang.

Inchan Hwang.

Seungjoo Lee.

[phone ringing]

[ringing continues]

This is Hangang Police Station.

[inhales sharply] Hello?

[sighs] If you're not talking,
I'm hanging up.

[unknown caller]
I'm calling about the puzzle…

that was on the news.

Yes?

Uh…

[rain pattering]

[♪ suspenseful music]

Sir, do you know something about it?

What makes you so sure that the k*ller…

is the one who's been sending the pieces?

Sir, I'll come meet you

-wherever you are--
-[line cuts]

Hello? Hello?

What?

What is it?

[sirens blaring]

[officer] Over here!

It's this one. He made the call from here.

You know what to do.

Get CCTV footage
from the surrounding area.

-Get it quick.
-Yes, sir.

-C'mon, let's move.
-CCTVs, let's go.

I'll start looking over here.

-You guys go that way.
-Hey, let's start over there!

-Tell me when you find something!
-[Lt. An] Yes, sir!

I'm gonna concentrate on this area.

There should be cameras over there.

[beeping]

[switches clicking]

[Ena] "H."

[rain pattering]

[phone ringing]

[Hansaem] Inchan Hwang knows
something about the k*ller.

Because Inchan is the one
who… drew the pictures.

So you're saying he's the k*ller?

He just called the station himself
and asked if the puzzle

really was connected to the murders,
so I'm thinking…

if he were the k*ller,
he wouldn't do that.

What if Inchan Hwang…

drew those illustrations for someone else?

For someone else?

All this time, I just assumed
the k*ller had made the puzzle themself.

That's why I came all the way
to Inchan's house.

Hey, why would you go there alone?
We should've gone together!

[sighs] In any case, this isn't the place.

It doesn't fit.

In the same way
Captain Yang's home just didn't fit.

I know it's not the k*ller's home.

[Ena]
I started receiving the puzzle pieces

after Miyoung Lee's m*rder.

I only shared what happened that night
10 years ago with two people.

Inchan Hwang…

and Seungjoo Lee.

Nice to meet you.

My name is Ena.

Welcome, Ms. Yoon.

Dr. Hwang's told me a lot about you.

[Ena] The person who tries to save me,

who pulls me up when I'm drowning.

I happened to be in Jeju.

Dr. Hwang had a seminar,
so we came right away.

I just heard about his patient
who was "swallowed by darkness."

Is that what's happening to you?

[Ena] And the person who knows me…

better than anyone else.

Those dreams… still having them?

Guess it'd be weird if I wasn't.

I pressed the keypad combination
for the front door.

Then I stepped on this puzzle piece.

And then the power came back on and I saw…

my uncle lying there on the floor.

It always ends there.

Something must have happened that night.

I just can't remember anything.

The question keeping you up isn't
if you're the culprit or not, correct?

I believe the real questions
bothering you are…

"Who k*lled my uncle that night?"
and "Why'd this happen?"

You must answer these questions
for yourself.

[rain pattering]

[♪ suspenseful music]

[door creaking]

[♪ intriguing music]

[inhales sharply]

[sighs]

[exhales sharply]

It was over 10 years ago.

Seungjoo asked me
to draw something for her.

It was just an illustration.

But it wasn't a puzzle.

And I know Seungjoo…

I don't believe she would k*ll someone.

Seungjoo wouldn't do that to Ena,
I'm sure.

This puzzle piece. What does it mean?

[sighs]

[breathes nervously]

I don't really know what it means either.

She just asked me to draw it for her.

Is she really the k*ller?

[sirens blaring]

All right, move in. Hurry up! Let's go!

[♪ suspenseful music]

Violent Crimes Unit 2

[Lt. An clears throat]

This city's covered with security cameras,

so how've you still not tracked her down?

Are you gonna let her k*ll someone else?

[breathes deeply]

[phones ringing simultaneously]

Hangang Police Station
Investigative Headquarters.

-Hangang Police Station Headquarters.
-[phone ringing]

Dongsu Tae here.

What do you mean missing?

Assemblyman Kim?

[Dongsu] Where?

All right, listen up.

You're familiar with Assemblyman Kim?

Former Land, Transport,
Infrastructure Minister?

He's just gone missing
in our jurisdiction.

Could Assemblyman Kim be…

the next puzzle piece?

"Muryong Kim"

"Former head of Hangang-gu"

"Former Minister of Land,
Infrastructure, and Transport"

When I first started profiling the k*ller,

you know what kind of home
I was envisioning?

A place that's as neat and tidy
as a hotel.

With no furnishing or anything
besides the fixtures that came with it.

A space with only the bare essentials,
and nothing more.

But her place was a complete opposite.

[clicks tongue, inhales sharply]

She did a great job
of hiding her true self.

[sighs] We need to find out

who the real Seungjoo Lee is.

That way, we can figure out
where she is now

and who the remaining victims are.

I need to talk to Inchan again.

The illustration on the puzzle,
how did you know I drew it?

You hide the same initial
in all of your artwork.

Why'd you help her?

You must've known what she was up to.
You lived together.

I didn't know any of this.

I promise I didn't know about it.

You saw it yourself.

Our living areas
were entirely separated, right?

And I didn't…

Then why did you both live
and work with her?

Do you have some kind of crush on her?
That's the only plausible explanation.

From the first year of medical school

up until today…

Seungjoo was the only person on earth
who knew my secret.

I'll tell you in the interest
of clearing up suspicions. I'm…

[sighs]

I am…

[Dr. Hwang sighs]

…different from most other guys.

I'm a h*m*.

Yeah.

My relationship with Dr. Lee
isn't what you thought, Ms. Yoon.

Anyway…

Seungjoo and I…

we spent our residency
at the same hospital.

After she opened up the clinic
at The One City building,

Seungjoo suggested
that we run it together as partners.

[breathes deeply]

Why did she choose
to open the clinic here?

I never bothered to ask her about it.

But it's the… the nicest
and most upscale apartment building

north of the Han River.

So I thought that was the reason.

Did Dr. Seungjoo Lee…

ever talk about a detective
by the name of Jungho Yang, by chance?

Jungho Yang?

Jungho Yang… No.

No, never.

[Dr. Hwang] You know…

[inhales sharply]

She was visited a few times by the police
when we were in school though.

That was the first time
somebody came looking for Seungjoo.

And since she was talking to the police,

there were rumors amongst the students.

Some said it was about an ex,
others said it wasn't.

Some said a patient was suing her.

Well, anyway…

Around that time,

Seungjoo decided
to take a year off of school.

A year off?

Do you know why?

I really can't say for sure.

Is there anyone else who might know why?

Do you know anyone that Dr. Seungjoo Lee
could have been close with

or someone who knew her well?

[sighs]

Seungjoo doesn't have any friends.

I think her closest acquaintance

is Ms. Yoon.

[sighs]

Nari Nam, do you know her?

She's a patient of ours.

She's a sergeant, I believe.

Sergeant Nari Nam?

Well, she and Seungjoo went
to the same middle school.

She began coming to our clinic
very recently.

Well, she said
that she wouldn't have been comfortable

being treated by someone she knew,
so I saw her instead.

[Ena] We'd like to ask you a few questions
about Seungjoo Lee.

What sort of person she was,

if she was ever involved in any incidents,
that kind of thing.

[♪ suspenseful music]

Well, I wouldn't say
that we were actually close.

We were in the same eighth-grade class,

but she was a little unapproachable.

She hardly ever talked to people,

and she had a certain vibe.

But one thing I still remember about her…

there was a field trip.

Whoever didn't go on the trip
had to stay at school

and study on their own.

I think me and Seungjoo

were the only two students
who stayed at school.

That was the first time we talked.

I asked if she chose not to go on the trip
because she wanted to study…

and she said she didn't want to go
to an amusement park.

It was an amusement park?

Yeah.

She said she'd been left at one
when she was seven.

Her mom abandoned her there,
and she lived in an orphanage afterward.

[chuckles]

To be honest,
I was a little taken aback by that.

Seungjoo just brought the story up
so nonchalantly.

So I remember telling her…

"But if you go back
to that amusement park,

you might find some clues
about your mother."

Seungjoo stared back at me and said,

"Do you know what I would do
if I ever did find her?"

What did she say she'd do?

She said she'd k*ll her.

That she'd rip her to shreds.

Seungjoo Lee was abandoned
when she was seven.

She lived in an orphanage
for the rest of her childhood.

Could she've been
in the same orphanage as Jungho?

Let's go look into that.

There must be a link between those two.

What's certain is that 10 years ago,
when Seungjoo Lee was still a med student,

Jungho went to see her,

and Seungjoo probably planned
these murders after that.

That's how it seems.

"It's all my fault."

He said that.

He said this all started because of him.

That it wasn't that kid's fault.

"Looking for missing child"

[director] I've been doing this
all on my own for 32 years.

I've found 827 children.

An old guy like me's gotta do it
because the government sure as hell won't.

"Seungjoo Lee"

[director] Let's see…

Between the years 1995 and 2000,

there were no missing girls
named Seungjoo Lee.

There's one boy though.

Ah, uh…

How about children who went missing
at Dream Land?

I'll have a look.

"Dream Land"

Ah…

There's no record of a child by that name
going missing at Dream Land.

Not during that period of time.

Oh.

There's one of a seven-year-old girl
named Seol Lee.

"1995_Seol Lee_F_7 YO"

"Seol Lee"

"Went to amusement park with mother
and went missing"

[Ena] She might have had
a different name then.

An amusement park.

A girl who went missing at Dream Land.

Seven years old.

About 20 years ago.

"Location of disappearance:
Dream Land, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi"

"Shindonga." "Seojin."

"Guardian: Namsuk Lee
Seojin Diner, Shindonga Market Unit 204"

[indistinct chatter]

So was he cremated?

His body's still in the morgue.

It's just because…

Jungho told me what he wanted.

He asked to be cremated
and scattered somewhere sunny.

He always hated the cold.

When he was a kid, one winter…

his mom threw him out of the house
with no shoes.

-He couldn't forget how cold it was.
-[Hansaem sighs]

I just remembered that story.

[Jungho's friend sniffles] Anyway…

what is it you wanted to ask?

[sniffles]

[Hansaem]
Did this girl ever stay at this orphanage?

Her name is Seol Lee.

She also goes by Seungjoo Lee.

Not sure.

Don't think I've seen her before.

You mentioned, Jungho told you
he became a police officer

because he wanted to find someone,

but you couldn't tell me who
because it was personal.

I need you to tell me now though.

That person's name is Seungjoo Lee,
isn't it?

[sighs]

Oh, that…

Right.

No point in keeping it a secret.

I don't know what her name is.

But the person Jungho was looking for,

her mother owned Seojin Diner.

That's where Jungho used to be employed.

Seojin?

Seojin Diner?

It was a diner located in Shindonga Market


It was razed and then
The One City was constructed there.

Can you contact the owner?

She died in an accident 20 years ago.

You might be too young to remember it.

It was a pretty major incident.

[Jungho's friend] Jungho nearly died too.

[♪ somber music]

[car door opens, closes]

[♪ soft tense music]

[rumbling]

[machinery rumbling]

-[machinery whirring]
-[engines revving]



Shindonga Market

Over my dead body!

[indistinct chatter]

[demolitionist] Is that a bag of candy?
You gonna share it with your grandma, huh?

-Could be for his girlfriend, never know!
-[laughter]

You about to eat?

Hey, let me join you, man.
I haven't eaten anything all day.

Yeah?

Hey, don't be so scared.

Why would I bother beating you up?

What do we got here?

Hey, just relax, lemme carry it for ya.
Hey, whoa, whoa… easy.

Hey…

I've got a question for you.

Those geezers in there, they've all got
one foot in the grave already,

but what does a young guy like you
stand to gain by hanging around?

Get a real job
and make some money, kid. Hmm?

Hey, I already have a job.

I do make money.

"Compensation agreement notice"

They're giving us 30% more
than their original offer.

It's too good to pass up.

Listen,


plus another 15 million?

This is an incredible deal
they're giving us, Auntie.

Also, I set some nice clothes aside
for you

when I was getting rid of my inventory.

As I've already said,

compensation isn't what I'm looking for.

I just need them
to let me have my diner here

until I find my daughter. That's all.

[Miyoung sighs]

Hey, you know…

If she wanted to come home, she would've.

She's been gone for 10 years already.

You think she'll come back
if you keep running the diner?

Miyoung.

You might have an easier time
leaving your store

because you haven't been here long.

But this is my place of business.

I've been running this diner
for 20 years, okay?

That money isn't enough for me
to open a new diner.

The other owners say

if we all hold out,
they can't start construction.

[frustrated groan] You don't get it!

You really believe that?

The court's already ordered
that the evictions be enforced.

It's only a matter of time
until they throw you out of here.

[sighs]

What is it?

You trying to get first claim
on an apartment?

Seojin Diner

[Miyoung sighs]

Pathetic losers…

-Hello, sir, how are you?
-[Chimok] Hey, you good?

-What'd she say?
-[sighs]

I can't get through to the diner b*tch.

The owners of units two and three
are united against it.

So what do we do?

Ah, these g*dd*mn beggars.

How much more do these people want?

You're the head of demolition.

Can't you just bulldoze this whole place?

If it's legal,
there shouldn't be any problems.

Hey, hey.

This isn't the '80s anymore,
we'd be in pretty hot water

-if we did that.
-[phone ringing]

Ah, sh*t, I don't even wanna know

how much these f*ck are costing us.
[sighs]

[gasps] You crazy? We're in public.

Just get over here.

-Ugh… Get off!
-What?

Miyoung's on the association's side now,
isn't she?

Yes.

Some people said

she was paid off
to take sides with the association.

[sighs] God.

She's been meeting with all the merchants

to get signatures from everyone.

Ugh, unbelievable.

Oh, and after everything
I've done for her.

[Namsuk sighs, clicks tongue]

[Namsuk] Jungho.

Why don't you leave now
and find a new job?

I don't think it's right for me
to keep you here.

You should save yourself.

[sighs]

I can't do that to you.

You piece of sh*t!

So what, how much more time
do you need then?

Hey, Yoonsu, I'm sorry. I just…
I just need a little longer.

God, you dipshit.
I thought you could handle this!

You're f*cking incompetent!

Hey!

Do you have any idea how much interest
I'm paying every day, huh?

If you don't finish it this week,

I'm not paying you the balance
or any incentives, got it?

Huh?

Answer me, you f*cking idiot!

You think you're gonna get paid
for doing a sh*t job?

Come on, Yoonsu.

Don't you think you're being
a little bit harsh, man?

I've been working
my f*cking a*s off for you.

Look, kid.

If it were me, back in the old days,

I would've easily chased them out
and knocked it down, okay?

[frustrated sigh]

If I'd known
you'd be this f*cking useless,

I'd have done it myself!

Why hire a shitty subcontractor?

I'm done talking to you.

Yoonsu, come on.

[sighs]

sh*t.

[♪ suspenseful music]

[Chimok]
I'm shutting the whole thing down today.

So pay me the rest of what I'm owed.

Also, you should give the police a call.

Ask them to look the other way.

[merchants clamoring]

[metal clattering]

You guys ready?

[all] Yes, sir!

Let's go!

[demolitionists clamoring]

[merchants screaming]

Now get in there and drag them out!

[all] Yes, sir!

-[all clamoring]
-[objects clanking]

[rattling]

[indistinct screaming]

[all clamoring]

[all screaming]

[hissing]

-[merchant 1] How dare you! How dare you!
-[thwacking]

[clamoring continues]

Get out of here! Hurry!

What you waiting for? Get up there!

Let's go, let's go…

[clamoring intensifies]

[thwacking]

Gimme that. Gimme.

[liquid splashing]

[merchant 2] Please help me! Help!

[merchants clamoring]

Everyone taken care of over there?

-Yeah, all done, sir.
-Let's go.

-[metal clanging]
-[thwacking]

[glass shattering]

-Get out!
-Come on, you dumb b*stard!

-[groaning]
-[screaming]

[groaning continues]

What do you think you're doing?
You lousy scum!

[Jungho groaning painfully]

What are you guys doing?

[Namsuk] Jungho, Jungho!

[Chimok] You stubborn f*cking b*tch.

This is all your fault, lady.

You should've signed on the dotted line
when we asked nicely.

Why wouldn't you listen?

[Namsuk] You're an animal!

You're an animal, that's what you are!

[Namsuk screams]

[loud thump]

[squad leader] None of you do a thing.

Just stand by and watch. Understand?

[all] Yes, sir!

-[merchants clamoring]
-[loud thwacking]

[indistinct screaming]

[gasps]

[Namsuk] No, I'm never leaving!

You can't make me!
I said I'm not going. I won't!

-[Chimok] Damn it!
-[Namsuk] Just k*ll me…

[Chimok] You really wanna die here?

-Let's go!
-[Namsuk crying]

-I'm not going!
-Let's go, let's go!

-Are you out of your f*cking mind?
-[grunting]

[metal clatters]

[Namsuk screaming]

[strained grunts]

[demolitionist] Chimok, we gotta go!

Why is this thing so f*cking heavy?

[Jungho groaning]

[demolitionist] Damn it, come on!

[Chimok] Let go, you crazy b*tch!

[demolitionist] Let go, lady!
The f*ck is wrong with you?

[Namsuk groans]

[demolitionist]
We're gonna burn alive in here!

Chimok, let's get the f*ck outta here!

We gotta go!

[both grunting]

[both panting]

Seojin Diner

Hello, director, it's Yoonsu.

You're seeing this?

Honestly, you didn't need
to be so extreme.

[snickers]

Well, the faster we can get it done,
the better.

"Yacht Owner
We'll make that dream come true"

Those fireworks we set off,
that won't be a problem, I hope?

I mean, we did come up
with a nice little story for it.

I gave the boys at Hangang Police Station

and the district office a heads-up,

so there shouldn't be any issues.

That's great to hear.

They're on the same page.

They'd like to see this wrapped up soon.

-[sirens blaring]
-[indistinct police chatter]

[exhales deeply] It's really such a shame.

Well, this one diner owner was asleep
when it happened

and wasn't able to get out in time.

I received that report as well.

Nothing for you to worry about.

There were a lot of
Molotov c*ck thrown,

and that place was
one big fire hazard anyway.

I guess you gotta pay a small price
if you want to build a masterpiece, huh?

[chuckles smugly]

Hang on a minute.
Let me call you right back.

Hi, sir. Go ahead.

[official] God… [sighs]

Whose idea was this?

Things happened so fast.

Thanks to them, Hangang-gu
will finally have a landmark.

[chuckles]

I won't forget this when I'm the mayor,
and then a minister.

Anyway, I know this is good for me,

but it's even better for you.

You'll be a billionaire, Chief Yoon.

Congrats.

Yes, thanks very much. [chuckles]

"Prosecutor Sangbeom Kwon"

[Sangbeom] Yes.

Yes, we'll say we have no right to indict
and get the case dismissed.

Oh, no, it's nothing. [chuckles]

"Fire death at Shindonga Market"

[chuckling]

Oh, for dinner?

Ah, yes, thanks very much.

Yeah, sounds good.

I'm not too picky.

[Ganghyun] Last month, Ms. Lee,

the owner of a diner
located in Shindonga Market,

started a fire with a Molotov c*ck.

She was unsatisfied
with her compensation for redevelopment

and wanted first claim
on a unit in the new building.

As a result, many employees of the company

that was carrying out a legal demolition
were injured,

and in the blink of an eye,
the market was reduced to ashes.

We are repeatedly seeing
one person's greed

undermine the redevelopment
of an entire city.

How long will we sit back

and allow the tragedy
of anti-redevelopment terrorism to go on?

"The arsonist may be gone…

but who will bear responsibility…

for what she's done?"

[horns honking in distance]

[sirens blaring in distance]

[door lock clicks]

[door lock clicks, chimes]

[♪ dramatic classical music]

[door opens]

[♪ uneasy music]

[footsteps]

[Dr. Lee] Ena.

Can you turn around?

[♪ music intensifies]

[breathing shakily]

[♪ closing theme music]