01x06 - Episode 6

[bunniefuu]

[discordant, suspenseful music playing]

NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW

[music continues]

Are you suggesting

that I should fabricate the truth?

-[Mun-oh] What? Where'd you get that?
-We don't have evidence.

You want me to pretend
I saw Mr. Kim k*ll Min-hui.

I wasn't at the hospital.
I didn't see anyone or observe--

Enough! Just shut your mouth!

[breathing agitatedly]

You weren't at the hospital,
but you know what happened there.

It's not lying if you know the truth.

And the truth is,
Su-hun went to meet the letter-writer.

He basically admitted
to committing the crime

when he showed up
to discuss the security footage.

That's what counts.

And you were at the park
to witness that yourself, Lee Kang!

[music abates]

Hey. Why are you so quiet?

Because I wouldn't be writing
about my own experience.

This would be the opposite
of what you've been telling me.

All this time you've been teaching me,
you said a writer must be objective,

that we have to depict reality as it is.

This is real, and you can write it.

You're not concocting evidence or lying.

You're just taking a little
creative license to round out the story.

That's all.

Artistic liberty is not fraud.

You don't need the whole truth.

This is when a writer needs to decide
if this truth is important.

[Kang] I don't know, Professor.

What's the point
of putting that out there?

The world needs this story.

Kim Su-hun has gotten away with m*rder.

An author has a duty
to go where the story leads.

[Kang sighs]

I know.

But I'm afraid I can't.

I don't have the energy to finish it.
I'm too worried about my dad.

[breathes shakily]

He's not doing so great,
and he really needs me.

Would you mind being the one
who puts the final touches on the story?

You mean, I would write it?

[uneasy music playing]

Why wouldn't you?
I'm not the author here. Come on!

[Kang] But you are an author,
a published one.

Please do this
or it'll never get finished.

I'm begging you, sir.

Finish my story. Please.

Wait a second!
Hey! Hey! Don't be an idiot!

-Lee Kang, don't you dare hang up on m--
-[line clicks]

b*stard! Who the hell
do you think you are?

God dammit!

[breathing heavily]

[groans]

[shouts]

[breathing heavily]

[whimpers]

[breathing softens]

What did he say?

I should finish the story?

[somber, contemplative music playing]

[breathes agitatedly]

I…

need to finish the story.

[breathing softens]

I'm the author now.

[music rises, abates]

I had trouble understanding
what the writer was attempting to say.

Honestly, I thought,

why would you bother writing
without saying anything?

There's nothing wrong with that, you know?

But most of all, you should

revisit how to write good sentences.

[jazzy, percussive music playing]

-[breathes heavily]
-[music abates]

Son of a b*tch.

Kim Su-hun, are you ready?

[exhales shakily]

Because I'll show you no mercy this time.

[kinetic jazz playing]

[keyboard clacking rapidly]

[music intensifies]

[breathing excitedly]

[breathy indistinct muttering]

[manic laughter]

[keyboard clacking]

[music swells]

[music abates]

[children at play shouting in distance]

[passing motorbike rumbles faintly]

[music fades]

NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW
BY HEO MUN-OH

[coughs]

[coughing]

[inhales deeply]

[coughs]

[exhales groggily]

[grunts]

[groans]

[sighs]

[groans]

[exhales deeply]

[soft, wistful piano music playing]

[sighs] Oh God.

I didn't imagine it.

I did it.

I finally did it.

Heo Mun-oh.

My second novel.

[breathes heavily]

[cell phone vibrating]

[vibrating continues]

[grunts]

[sighs]

-[grunts softly]
-[vibrating continues]

[chuckles softly]

[vibrating stops]

Oh, well, look who it is.
Calling at the crack of dawn after you--

-[Kang] Professor!
-You hung up--

[Kang] I've been trying
to get a hold of you for hours!

If you keep yelling like that,
I'm gonna hang up this instant.

You've got some nerve, kid--

[Kang] Do you know
how many times I've called you?

What?

LEE KANG


Thirteen? What's going on?

[breathing anxiously]

It's crazy.

Promise you'll try not to lose it
when you hear what I'm about to say.

You know the last scene
at the hospital we talked about?

Well, that scene isn't how it ends.

There's an even scarier one,
and I think it's happening right now!

[soft, uneasy music playing]

W… w… what are you talking about?
You're not making sense.

-[tires screeching]
-[engine revs]

[dramatic music playing]

-[tires screech]
-[passing car horn honks]

[engine revs]

[car horn honks]

[Mon-oh honks horn]

Move it! Come on! sh*t!

[tires screech]

[engine revs]

[nearby car horn honking]

[music continues]

[Kang] I woke up really early, and I saw
that I missed a call from Se-yun.

SE-YUN


I had a bad feeling, so I called him back.

[automated voice] The person you are
trying to call is not available. Please…

[music abates]

[foreboding music drones]

[Se-yun breathing shakily] Kang! Kang!

[banging in background]

[hushed] Kang. Kang!

Kang…

-[breathes shakily]
-[banging on door]

It's Se-yun. Are you listening?

-[banging intensifies]
-[gasps]

[rattling violently]

[banging]

It's my dad. He's trying to k*ll us.

-[banging]
-[gasps]

[door handle rattling]

[sobs] He's planning to start a fire
to burn the house down.

He's burning the house down?

With her in it?

He's murdering his wife and son?

[Kang] The end of the message
is horrifying. It chilled me to the bone.

[rattling]

[handle clatters outside]

[suspenseful music playing]

[Su-hun breathing heavily]

[huffs deeply]

[music intensifying]

[cell phone clatters]

[Se-yun gasps]

[Se-yun breathes shakily]

[music peaks, abates]

[Su-hun breathing heavily]

Is that…

[heavy, shaky breathing]

[Se-yun screams]

[dull thud echoes]

[tense, intriguing music playing]

[Kang] That sound
is the last thing I heard.

[Mun-oh's breath trembles]

[sighs] I don't know
if they're still alive.

[sobs] I'm so scared, Professor.

[sniffles]

[sobbing]

[grumbles] I think he found out
that Eun-joo knew what he's been up to,

and he can't let his secret get out.

[sighs] He's desperate.

He stands to lose everything.

[Kang] I'm going to the house.

But it'll take me a while to get back
to the city, so I was hoping you could

do me a favor and go there yourself,
maybe before it's too late.

Yes, of course. I'm going.
Just text me the address.

[tense music continues]

You measly f*cking coward.

You'd rather k*ll your own family.

You can't stand the idea of failure
so you do this?

[tense music continues]

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

[gasoline splashing]

[music intensifying]

[music abates]

[breathes heavily]

[sighs]

[exhales]

[softly] Yun…

Where's Se-yun?

[whimpers softly]

[shallow, ragged breathing]

My son.

My son.

Where is he? I wanna see Yun.

[sobbing]

Where is my son?

Tell me he's all right.

Tell me you didn't. [cries]

I'm begging you.

Tell me you didn't.

[sobbing]

How could you?

How can you k*ll your own flesh and blood?

[wails] He is our child!

-[Su-hun] Get off!
-[crying]

[Su-hun grunts]

This is your fault.

-[Eun-joo groans]
-Why couldn't you just leave it alone?!

I'm doing this to protect us.

[coughs]

[strained gulp]

-[both breathing heavily]
-[mournful music playing]

[Su-hun sighs]

[lighter clatters]

You left me no choice.

If you'd kept the secret…

[labored breathing]

[choking]

[straining] …we could have
kept pretending our family had it all.

[grunts]

[mournful music continues]

[muted soundscape]

Su-hun, I'll k*ll you!

If my Eun-joo dies in that fire,
I'll k*ll you.

This isn't how the story ends.
I won't allow it.

This is not how her life ends.

[music fades]

This is not her story.

[inhales sharply]

You will not k*ll my Eun-joo.

[dramatic music playing]

EMERGENCY SERVICES

-[tires screech]
-[engine revving]

[gasps]

[tires screech]

[passing car horn honking]

[car horn blares]

[cop 1] What the hell?

Come on. Let's go.

-[dramatic music continues]
-[tires screeching]

[approaching police siren wailing]

[cop 1 over PA] Black sedan,
license ending 6904, stop your vehicle.

6904!

Pull over immediately!

[siren wailing]

Police? I'll lead you right to it.

You're gonna have to hit the gas!

I'm not pulling over, okay?

This is gonna destroy your life,
you sick f*ck!

Everyone's gonna see you
hauled away in handcuffs!

[cop 1 over PA] 6904, pull over!

That's an order.

This guy's nuts. Let's get closer.

[cop 2] Yes, sir. Gladly.

[dramatic music continues]

[siren wailing]

-[ambulance siren wailing]
-[horn honks]

[tires screech]

[woman] I don't smell any smoke.

-[tires screech]
-[man 1] Whoa.

[Mun-oh pants]

[neighbors chatter indistinctly]

[panting]

-Move! Move!
-[woman shrieks]

[neighbors murmuring]

[Mun-oh] Move!

[panting heavily]

[man 2] Doesn't seem to be anyone here.

[fireman] We'll wait a few minutes.

-When did--
-Why aren't you inside? Huh?

Why are you all standing out here? Huh?

Hello, sir. Are you the one
who called in the fire?

I did. But who cares?

Why aren't you in there putting it out
instead of asking questions?

Break down the damn door!
That man's in there now!

He set the whole place on fire
with his wife and son inside!

Hey! Kim Su-hun!

You sick b*stard! I won't let you do this!

-Open the door! Open the door!
-[fireman] That won't work.

And there's no fire.
We don't smell any smoke.

[man 3] What's going on?
We were called for multiple injuries.

-Oh.
-[approaching siren wailing]

It's likely a false alarm. Sorry.

Are you sure…
you don't have the wrong address?

You idiots!

You need to get in there!
Someone's gonna die if you don't!

-Go in!
-Why didn't you pull over, huh?

-We've been chasing this guy.
-Let us in, crazy as*h*le!

[cop 2] That's enough.
You own the car with the 6904 plates?

Do you know
how many infractions you're in for?

I wanted you to follow. I need help.

You need to get in there.
Open it! Break it down!

Don't just stand there! Do something!

There's still time to save her.
You have to save her.

I can't let her die!
I have to save Eun-joo!

[whimpers] Hey!

Break it before he kills her!

It's Kim Su-hun.
You know who he is, right?

This is his house. Okay?

That crazy b*stard is nothing like
the guy you see on television.

He's in there k*lling his own family
because they know. He is!

Save them and arrest him!
And break this damn door down!

You need to get in there!

-Break this down before it's too late!
-Sir, enough.

-[Mun-oh] You won't get away with this!
-[cop 2] Calm down.

-Calm down.
-Do not resist, sir. Calm down.

-I need to save her. Let me go!
-[Se-yun] Prof. Heo? What's going on?

[pants]

Sir?

What's wrong? Why are you at my house?

[footsteps approach]

-[Su-hun] Mun-oh?
-Huh?

Heo Mun-oh?

You're Heo Mun-oh, from school.

[breathes shakily]

Why are all these people here?

[uneasy, discordant music playing]

[soundscape muffles]

[echoing faintly] Is something wrong?

He doesn't look so good.

[breath quivers]

[Eun-joo echoing faintly] Mun-oh…

Why are you here?

[suspenseful music playing]

[gasps]

[frenetic jazz playing]

[exhales shakily]

Perhaps we should go inside

while you discuss the situation
with our son's professor?

[music abates]

[Mun-oh breathes shakily]

[uneasy, discordant music resumes]

[Mun-oh breathing shakily]

[music fades]

[slow, listless music playing]

[muffled soundscape]

[listless music continues]

-[tires screech]
-[trailing car honks horn]

[tires screech]

[breathing heavily]

[uneasy, discordant music playing]

LEE KANG

[line ringing]

You need to pick up.

Pick up your phone, Lee Kang.

You think I'm playing?

Answer when I call you, dammit!

Pick up, you sh*t!

[line ringing]

You sent me on a wild goose chase!

-Eun-joo was just fine.
-[automated voice] The person…

[uneasy music continues]

[cell phone vibrating]

PROF. HEO MUN-OH

[vibrating continues]

[line ringing]

-[tires screech]
-Lee Kang!

[music ends]

Wait there!

[soft, whimsical music playing]

Hey! I'm talking to you!
Where are you going?

We need to talk! Stop right there!

-There was no fire! Hey! Get back here!
-[frenetic jazz playing]

You little sh… [grunts]

[Mun-oh grunts]

[grunts]

[panting]

[grunting breathlessly]

Wait!

[panting heavily]

[music abates]

[panting wearily]

[uneasy music playing]

[whimpering breathlessly]

Where the hell is he?

[heavy breathing slows]

[clasp clacks]

[keypad beeping]

[door trills]

-[door trills]
-[shoes clatter]

You packed?

Are you going somewhere?

[clock ticking]

[sighs softly]

Lee Kang? He was here earlier, is that it?

[sighs]

And you two enjoyed a bottle?

Together?

He was alone here with you?

What did he say?

Why did he wanna see you?

I deserve an answer!

What did he say?

What did that little sh*t tell you?

He's crazy! You can't believe
a word that he says!

[Hyeon-suk rummaging]

He didn't show up by accident, did he?

This was planned, wasn't it?

It wasn't for a lesson. I know that.

Your smile.

Are you smiling at something he said,

or something you two did?

[breathes shakily]

Did you invite that kid in for a drink
and then into your bed?

[laughs]

[laughter subsides]

[breathes shakily]

This is… [chuckles awkwardly]

This is some kind of joke, right?

Kang isn't a kid. He's a young man.

Yeah. So?

[gentle, dreamy piano music playing]

[ethereal lilting vocals]

How can he be so ungrateful?

A woman like you deserves to be cherished.

[music intensifies]

[Hyeon-suk] Feel free
to imagine what went on.

-[music ends]
-Paint a picture in your head.

That's what you do, isn't it?

[gasps softly]

What did you do?

Where's this coming from, Hyeon-suk?

[breath trembles]

-Since when have you been--
-It's been a while.

Kang reached out on his own.

Because he was worried
about your obsession with Eun-joo.

[gasps softly]

[soft music playing]

[murmurs softly]

[gulps]

[breathes shakily]

He lied.

Mentoring was just an excuse, I see.

[scoffs] He used you, Kang.

Both of us.

You could barely call them lessons.

I realized pretty quickly the professor's
interest in my story wasn't normal.

And he chooses to ignore
the story that matters.

You're not the woman
he wrote his book about either.

I always knew that.

[sighs] I just let it slide.

Put it down to creative license.

Are you scared?

Why did you want me to know these things?

[chuckles softly]

-I'm not sure.
-[music ends]

You tell me.

[expectant music playing]

[Hyeon-suk] We met
a few more times after that.

We established a genuine connection.

-[music fades]
-[scoffs] Jesus.

That piece of sh*t got you
to listen to his lies? Huh?

Did you have sex?

That's what you're asking?

That's what caught your attention?

Kang is a bright one.

You don't know which story really matters.

You have no idea how good you've had it.

Well, what story matters to you? Tell me.

No need.

Our stories are going their separate ways.

I'm confused.

Of course you are.

Put in simpler terms, I'm out.

I don't have the patience or the desire.

I want a life where I decide what counts.

[despondent guitar music playing]

[high heels clatter]

[footsteps departing]

Don't go.

-Jo Hyeon-suk.
-[front door opens]

[door trills]

Don't go.

[door trills]

[inhales deeply]

[huffs shakily]

[despondent music continues]

[softly] Don't do this, Hyeon-suk.

[tearfully] I can't live without you.

Don't do this.

[groans]

What's happening?

I lost my wife.

-[music fades]
-[cell phone vibrating]

What have I done?

[sniffles, sobs]

[vibrating continues]

[sighs]

[vibrating stops]

Yeah?

[Hyeong-jong] Mun-oh! Thank God!
I'm glad you answered my call.

Have you seen the forum yet?

It's really something else.

That's for students.

What's going on?

[Hyeong-jong] Well, I'm not sure
I should be the one to tell you this.

Maybe… um…

Just tell me what's on the forum.

Spit it out.

So… Okay, maybe just a little
to give you an idea here. Uh…

"Prof. Heo Mun-oh forced me
to write defamatory content

regarding the author Kim Su-hun."

Uh… "Blinded by jealousy,

he fabricated information
and made-up scenarios

with the intention
of destroying Mr. Kim's reputation."

And it continues with,

"Once I called him out on it,
he tried to bribe me to keep quiet."

"He offered to get the test questions
for the coding competition

to me in advance."

"When I refused, he quit tutoring me,

and he stole my work
and claimed it as his own."

That's it in a nutshell.
And it was posted anonymously.

They also mentioned
they're uploading a copy

of the recently finished novel
as evidence of your wrongdoing.

This is nuts.

Views are skyrocketing
as I'm reading this,

and so are the comments.

It's spreading like wildfire.

Is this a prank? Is there…

Is there any truth to this crazy claim?

[Mun-oh breathing anxiously]

[disconnect tone]

[tense music playing]

My novel.

Where's my story?

It should be here.

I know it's in here.

[breathes frantically]

Where is it?

Don't tell me he took it.

Was he in here?

[huffs] How dare you come in here
without permission, huh?

You think you can steal it?

[automated voice] The person
you are trying to call is not available.

-To leave a message, press one.
-What?!

Steal from me! You lying son of a b*tch!

[cell phone trills]

[automated voice] The person
you are trying to call is not available.

-To leave a message, press one.
-Answer the phone!

You lousy f*ck! That was my work!

Damn you! That was my novel!

[exclaims] You stole my work! You b*stard!

It's my work!

You don't deserve it!

[grunting breathlessly]

Lee Kang.

Is that even your name?

How could you do this?

How could you do this to me?

-I taught you to write!
-[music ends]

Today, we have shocking updates
on the story,

which started with serious allegations
that Prof. Heo Mun-oh

of Yeonseo University in Seoul,
forced one of his students

to write a novel slandering
best-selling author Kim Su-hun.

[girl] I feel so bad for…

[newscaster] Today, the novel was posted
in its entirety on the same online forum,

adding more fuel
to this rumor-filled fire.

Causing particular outrage is the fact
that Kim Su-hun is depicted

as a philandering,
bloodthirsty psychopath.

[despondent guitar music playing]

[boy] He can't even write his own work.

What a loser.

[students chattering indistinctly]

TRASH BELONGS IN THE TRASH CAN!

[music rises]

[sighs]

[newscaster] In response,
Mr. Kim's legal representative stated

that they are preparing a lawsuit,
as the novel can be considered

a deliberate attempt
to defame their client's reputation.

Meanwhile, Yeonseo University
has called Heo Mun-oh

before the disciplinary committee.

Public attention is focused on
how they will handle this situation.

[woman 1 sighs]

[music fades]

[man 1 scoffs softly]

So you're saying
this student deceived you?

[scoffs]

Do you think that excuses your behavior?

You're the one in a position of authority,

and your excuse is this measly letter
outlining your lack of responsibility?

[woman 1] How do you intend to repair
the damage your actions have caused

to our reputation?

Your unethical behavior
has put the university

under heavy and negative scrutiny
in all media.

[sighs]

[man 2] For most of your time here,
you've had an excellent record.

But recently,
you've cancelled several classes

and stopped attending faculty meetings.

Moreover, you are accused of stealing
test questions from a colleague

in order to help a student cheat.

There's no excuse for that.

What you did is not only unethical
but absolutely ill*gal. It's theft.

[woman 1] Prof. Heo,

you took Lee Kang under your wing.

You mentored this student.

You claim you don't have
his contact information.

And Mr. Kang has asked
for a leave of absence

due to the stress of the situation.

[sighs]

[sighs]

[man 2 sighs]

All right.

If we accept the idea
that you were lied to and deceived

by the student you chose to mentor,

would you care to explain

why he did it?

Because there must be a reason.

[somber piano music playing]

[inhales shakily]

[softly] I wish I could explain.

But I don't know what motivated him.

All I did was try to teach him.

[breathes shakily]

[music fades]

[clock ticking]

[cell phone vibrating]

[exhales dazedly]

[vibrating continues]

[sighs]

[vibrating stops]

[clatters]

[sighs]

[cell phone vibrating]

[sighs]

[grunts]

-[sighs]
-[vibrating continues]

[vibrating stops]

You have the wrong number,
so get lost and go f*ck yourself!

[tuts]

[cell phone beeps]

[object shuffles]

[paper rustles]

[groans]

[huffs]

[huffs]

[grunts]

Mm.

[grunts]

[coughs]

[coughs]

[vibrates]

[breathes heavily]

[Kang] It's been a while, Prof. Heo.

This is Lee Kang.

I sent you an email. You should read it.

I should read it.

You've got some nerve, you lying f*ck.

[low, tense music playing]

PROF. HEO, HERE IS MY LAST ASSIGNMENT

[Kang] Dear Professor.

How have you been?

I heard you were looking
to get a hold of me.

[typing]

I figure you must have a lot of questions.

If you're reading this,
consider it as a reward for your patience.

As my last assignment,
I'm taking you back to the beginning.

[intriguing music playing]

Do you remember the first time we met?

It was 12 years ago.

Twelve years ago?

[music continues]

[Hyeon-suk] We're almost there.
Do you think you can stop sulking now?

You're the one who forced me to come here.

Don't act surprised if I'm cranky.

[tuts] You're always cranky.

You've been cooped up for weeks.
You need to get out.

You're in a rut.
Maybe you just need to change things up.

You said you don't have any good ideas,

so I thought a change of scenery
will help you get some.

I didn't realize it's close to the water.

-It's gorgeous.
-Enough.

[scoffs] It's an orphanage.
I'm not good with kids.

I'm the one working with them.
You can just sit there and read.

Or go for a walk outside.

This'll be fun. I'll buy you dinner after.

[Hyeon-suk] Oh!

-A-Are we stuck?
-[groans]

-You're kidding.
-[engine revs]

Crud.

NEW DRIVER

Honey, we're stuck in a pothole.

Hold on.

[groans]

[grunts] Jesus.

Look is what you do
when you're driving the car.

Too late now.

Let's hope it's not a flat.

[Hyeon-suk] So when one of your friends
gives the same answer as you,

you're going to put a sticker there.

This is a fun way to see
how many things we have in common.

When you complete a line with stickers,
you're going to yell, "Bingo!"

Can you guys try it?

[all] Bingo!

[Hyeon-suk] Fantastic!

Now let's try a question.
What's your favorite fruit?

-[boy] This is for babies.
-[Hyeon-suk] Watermelon, okay.

Who cares about fruit?

Can I go?

Sorry?

Do I have to do this?

No one has to do it.

You can just watch.

Or you can color
or play with the stickers.

Hmm?

[chuckles softly]

[gentle music playing]

[birds chirping]

[sighs]

[music fades]

How old are you?

Why do adults always ask my age?

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.

[chuckles]

I asked you that 'cause I'm curious.

I just turned eight.

I'm wondering why

you're not playing with the others.

Don't you like stickers?

After the games, we have to
talk about why we're here.

I don't wanna do that.

You mean, they want you
to talk about your parents?

I said I don't wanna do that.

If I share my memories with strangers,
they won't be special anymore.

[duck quacking]

Hmm. I see.

[sighs]

I have an idea.

I'd like to try something with you. Hmm?

Stand up.

You'll need to be able to see the water.

Look over there at the ducks.

You see them? Let's talk about them.

Enjoying a swim on a nice day.

-For real?
-Mm. For real.

The baby duck, we know he's the baby

because he's smaller,
and he's sticking close to his parents.

See? You sure?

[duck quacks]

That duckling is you.

The other two, the one in front,
making sure he's sticking close,

that one's the mama.

[duck quacks]

And then the bigger one,
that one's the papa.

I suggest

we try talking about this duck family.

We'll pretend

their story is yours.

-Their story?
-Mm. That's right.

Why do you think the duckling was annoyed?

Why didn't he… wanna talk earlier?

What got him

so angry and quiet inside?

-[duck quacking]
-[water splashing]

[poignant piano music playing]

[sobs]

The baby duck feels alone.

[crying softly]

His family's gone.

His parents died.

He's sad.

[sobs]

Because…

he misses them, more than he can stand.

[cries]

[Kang] Thanks to that man's kindness,

that little boy learned about stories.

Thanks to the tale about the duck family,

he was able to do something
he hadn't done in a long time.

Open up about his parents.

[boy sobbing]

The daddy duck was so strong.
His job made him like that.

[Kang] Those moments
were magical for that boy.

[boy chatters]

[Kang] For the first time
since he'd come to the orphanage,

he could talk about his mom and dad.

He wasn't afraid to share his memories.

[boy] …and mama duck.

[music intensifies]

Where would they go?

They would take rides in the dad's truck.

And they would have a huge picnic.

[music swells]

They played and laughed their heads off.

The baby duck was really happy.
He had the best family.

[children laughing]

[music abates]

Thank you again for coming.
It's so good for the children.

They're so sweet. They seem happy here.

I should be the one
thanking you for this session.

As you know, this kind of work
goes towards my degree.

You reached out just when I needed.

[door opens]

Thanks again. The children were wonderful.

[man] Thank you. I'll pass that on.

-[Hyeon-suk] Bye.
-Best of luck with your studies.

[chuckles]

Excuse me?

Oh. Hello.

I spoke to the other teacher.

The other…

Ah! [chuckles]

Um, I was just wondering
where he went off to.

You wanna say goodbye?

[yells shrilly]

[chuckles]

You're worse than the kids.

It's possible you missed your calling.

That little boy
I saw you talking to outside,

it sounds like you had a great connection.

He was hoping to catch you just now.

[chuckles] He wanted your address
so he could write to you.

He wants to stay in touch.

He said you showed him
how to make a good story.

[chuckles] Whatever you two talked about,
you made that little boy's day.

Did you give him our address?

Of course I did. He was so sweet.
His name is Lee Kang.

I don't wanna know who he is
or stay in touch.

You were pretty interested
in his story, weren't you?

I was being polite to a child.

He didn't like your thing
so he walked out.

I thought he'd be
a good character study, at least.

But he's just an orphan. It's always
the same scenario with these kids.

A car crash or some illness.

Nothing special to inspire
or make one stand out above the others.

[grumbles]

How can you be so uncaring?

How are you not inspired?

All the trauma these kids
have been through so young.

I know they've been through a lot.

All I said is that he doesn't stand out.

You need something special
for a story to really move you.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Let's go.

If he sends something,
I won't bother answering. Okay?

We're done.
You drove here, I'll drive back.

[purse unzips]

[keys jangle]

[Mun-oh sighs]

[despondent, instrumental music playing]

YEONSEO UNIVERSITY
PROF. HEO MUN-OH, KOREAN LITERATURE

[car door closes]

[door closes]

-[car engine starts]
-[sniffles]

[music continues]

[girl, faintly] One, two, three! Cheese!

Okay, Dad, your turn.

WELCOME, YEONSEO UNIVERSITY FRESHMEN

[indistinct chattering]

Do a finger heart.

[music continues]

PROFESSOR'S OFFICE, HEO MUN-OH

[boy] Aw, man. I'm never gonna
learn my way around here.

You sure it's this floor? I'm so lost.

-Huh?
-[Se-yun] Oh, Prof. Heo.

I have him for a writing class
this semester.

[girl] I heard his classes are tough.
He's old-school, been around forever.

[Se-yun] Yeah, I heard that too.

He actually went to school
with my parents.

He and my dad were in the same program,
'cause they both wanted to be writers.

My dad was better at it.

-The professor couldn't stand it.
-[girl chuckles]

He wrote one book, and since then,
never wrote another word.

But the funniest thing is
he had a huge crush on my mom.

Used to follow her around.

[tense music playing]

[Velcro scratches]

Oh. You're in YDOC too?

I've got the same bag.

[keyboard clacking]

I'm Kim Se-yun.
I just started in Library Science. You?

Hi. My name's Lee Kang.
Electronic Engineering.

[tense music continues]

[dishes clink nearby]

[chuckles softly]

-[boy 1] This place is huge!
-Yeah, I guess.

-You guys hungry? Snacks in the kitchen.
-[Se-yun] Mom loves having people over.

Yun! [chuckles]

[boy 2] Oh!

These are for you.

-Wow. It looks so good.
-Enjoy, you guys.

[Kang] By the way,
the housekeeper, Min-hui… [scoffs]

…purely a figment of my imagination.

Stay there.

I'm sorry I ever thought
I could mentor you.

-[horn honking]
-We are done!

[tires screech]

-[crash]
-[woman screams]

[onlookers gasps and scream]

-No.
-[woman] Oh my God!

[panicked chatter]

-[woman] Oh my God!
-[man] Call emergency!

[ominous music drones]

[woman] I don't know what to do.
Anyone know CPR?

[Kang] At that moment,
your words came back to me.

You said that for a story to stand out,

it had to have something special
that really moves you.

[shakily] So that woman…

Is Min-hui.

[frenetic jazz playing]

The one who's hurt?

And he's there.

-Who is? Where?
-[woman] Is that blood?

[indistinct, panicked chatter]

That's Se-yun's dad?

He's the one

you've been writing about?

[music stops]

[Kang] The accident…

[unsettling music playing]

…was a lucky coincidence.

[woman 1 pants] Mr. Kim!

-There you are. Go with her.
-Of course.

-[woman 2] Oh my God.
-Can I go with her? She works with us.

-Thank you. Thank you.
-[woman 2] Oh my God. What happened?

[frenetic jazz resumes]

[music abates]

[entry bell jangles]

Hello.

[intriguing music playing]

Professor.

While we're not friends,
he's not a complete stranger either.

However,

to help you with your studies,

I think continuing… our individual…

[Kang] From then on,
I wasn't writing the story anymore.

-You were.
-And for you, and for me too.

[foreboding, discordant music playing]

[man] Kang,

what's with that look on your face lately?

Something on your mind?
You know you can tell me.

[Kang sighs]

[gulls calling]

I'm trying to wrap up a project.

But I'm almost finished.

It sounds like a pretty big deal.

If it's stressing you out,
you don't have to come visit.

You should focus on your work.

It's my job to make sure
you're all right, isn't it?

Because you're family.

You're like my second dad.

Or like a mother hen.

[laughs]

You're so full of it.

I know you called me "the drill sergeant"
behind my back.

But kids always think
their parents don't know these things.

[laughs]

[soft, somber piano music playing]

[Kang] So…

[music rises, turns orchestral]

…how's your story these days?

[Mun-oh] Just shut your mouth!
It's not lying if you know it's the truth.

And the truth is,
Su-hun went to meet the letter-writer.

[chuckles giddily]

[breathes heavily]

[keyboard clacking rapidly]

[continues typing]

NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW

BY HEO MUN-OH

[sighs]

[Mun-oh] I finally did it.

[exhales deeply]

Heo Mun-oh…

[sobs]

…your second novel.

[sniffles]

[exhales]

[music continues]

[Kang] So…

how's your story these days?

Is it special?

[music fades]

Are you enjoying it?

[hesitates]

[sighs]

[glasses clatter]

That damn kid.

Well played.

Well played!

[manic laughter]

[sighs]

[chuckles]

[chuckling]

[laughing]

[laughter turns into weeping]

[solemn, orchestral music playing]

[groans]

You little sh*t.

[murmurs softly]

This goes back to that?

The three ducks.

[laughing]

[crying]

[whimpers]

[groans]

[crying]

[screams]

I trusted you!

[solemn music continues]

[music fades]

[exhales softly]

[low, unsettling music playing]

What do you think, Professor?

[music rising slowly]

Do you think it stands out?

[music fades]

[Mun-oh munching]

[gulps, exhales deeply]

[keyboard clacking]

[door chime jingles]

[keyboard clacking]

[footsteps approaching slowly]

Faust. Hmm.

People are still willing
to tackle the classics, huh?

You'll enjoy it more
if you look into how it was written.

How are you paying?

[keyboard clacking]

-[Kang] I know how it was written.
-[typing stops]

It evolved over a 60-year period.

It spanned most of the author's life.

[low, uneasy music playing]

[breathing shakily]

[fingers strumming on book]

I need help

to get my story out.

I could use some professional guidance.

[uneasy music intensifies]

[music abates, fades]

What's the story?

-[frenetic jazz playing]
-[scoffs softly]

-[chuckles softly]
-[music peaks]

[music abates, fades]

[Kang] It's to be continued.

[chuckles softly]

NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW

[lively, rousing jazz playing]

[music fades]