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01x04 - Episode 4

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Manipulated". Aired: November 5, 2025 – present.*
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It follows an ordinary man, Park Tae-jung, whose life takes a drastic turn when he is wrongfully accused of a heinous crime and sent to prison.

01x04 - Episode 4

Post by bunniefuu »

[theme music playing]

[clock ticking]

[sighs]

[Taejoong] Thirty minutes left.

All right, you're all set.

I really appreciate it.

Go get some rest.

IT WILL BE OVER IN 30 MINUTES

SENDING MESSAGE

Thanks for everything.

SPORTS FIELD

CAFETERIA

[pants]

Oh, sh*t.

[electrical buzzing]

Our power just went out.

You guys good? Seems like a short circuit.

I'll check it out.

[beeps]

OFFICER'S OFFICE

ID CARD

STORAGE ROOM

I'll need civilian clothes.

SUPPLY STORAGE ROOM

TOP, PANTS, WATCH, HAT, ETC.

-[beeps]

-[door unlocks]

CELL BLOCK A

CELL BLOCK B

-[beeps]

-[door unlocks]

Oh, sh*t.

[breathing heavily]

[high-pitched ringing]

[panting]

[sighs]

How much longer should I wait here?

He could have been joking, right?

Well

whether he comes out or not,

I'm worried sick.

[panting]

[Taejoong] I have to find a way

to sneak in there

and utilize the ventilation ducts.

[grunts]

[grunts]

Huh?

What is this?

[sighs] Seriously?

Who left this out?

sh*t! What the hell's

wrong with these guys?

-[clanging above]

-What's that?

Huh?

RESTRICTED AREA

There's something up there?

-[shaft clanging]

-[breath trembling]

Dammit, Cheolhwan, I told him to round up

the guys to catch those rats.

They're all over the place.

[whispers] Oh, sh*t.

Oh, come on.

Huh?

[car approaching]

Mr. Noh?

[panting]

-[high-pitched ringing]

-[breathing heavily]

[panting]

Good to see you. How you doing?

Oh. Hello, Officer Yang.

Hi.

-I'm just You know

-You're here to see someone?

Yeah, I, uh I missed the window

to schedule a visit.

Oh, really?

Oh, dear.

[loud thud]

[grunts]

I'll handle it for you.

-Come on.

-Oh, no, no, don't worry about it.

I'll just

I'll come back tomorrow and do it.

-[cell phone vibrating]

-Oh, just a minute.

[panting]

[cell phone vibrating]

Yes, Chief.

[Namjoon] Hey, idiot.

Weren't you on duty this morning?

Yes.

The inmates left

the cleaning tools down there.

Rats running around the vents.

Next time, make sure they tidy up

after themselves and turn off the lights.

[cell phone beeps]

Ah, you can't trust that as*h*le

with anything.

[switch clicks]

[Cheolhwan sighs]

-It's not easy dealing with these inmates.

-[chuckles]

Yes, yes, of course.

-Hop in.

-No, it's fine, really.

I'll just come back tomorrow, okay?

-Are you sure?

-Yes, yes.

All right. Well, in that case,

I can give you a lift into town.

No, I drove, so I have my car.

-Ah.

-Well, I'll be going now.

-Have a safe trip back.

-Thank you.

[chuckles nervously]

-[high-pitched ringing]

-Ah, sh*t.

CIVIL AFFAIRS SERVICE

[breathing heavily]

FOOD SUPPLY DELIVERY TIME

MAIN GATE

4:00

Sir, are you all right?

Is it your first time visiting?

I have a grandson who's locked up in here.

Gu Jiyong, that brat.

He put us through hell.

[woman sighs]

[woman sighs]

[glass breaking]

Don't forget to take your ID back

when you're ready to leave.

Number 242, please come get your ID card.

[woman] Oh, yes.

[container thuds]

Oh, no! What am I going to do now?

-[officer] We told you before.

-I'm so sorry.

You're not allowed to bring food in here

but you decided to anyways?

[conversation continues indistinctly]

[panting]

[heart beating heavily]

[high-pitched ringing]

[high-pitched ringing]

[engines revving]

[coach] All right, keep your lead.

They're on your tail. Nice block.

Watch your side, left side.

-Let me know today's lap time later, okay?

-Yes, sir. I'll do that.

Okay

Hey, come here.

What if you add

a special item to the race?

Huh?

Like, maybe you push a button and then

banana peels fly out onto the track?

Then the drivers will start freaking out.

They'll crash, or maybe

their cars might explode.

[chuckles] Yes, that sounds like fun.

I'm not playing around.

I'm sorry.

-[man] The lap time. We got a new record!

-What is it? Great!

-[all cheering]

-You shaved off a second. You hear that?

A full second!

Let's go! That's what I'm talking about!

[all cheering]

Great job! That was amazing!

It's a new record! One less second!

Sir, our new record is 1.3 seconds.

We'll rank at the top this season

for sure.

If we manage our condition and avoid

any major accidents, victory is ours.

[chuckles softly]

Isn't it more fun

when there are some accidents, though?

[chuckles] Uh, if our drivers

were to get hurt on the racetrack,

then we'd be in serious trouble.

I thought you were serious about winning.

We are. We're here to win.

The whole team has been working hard

and giving their best, just for you, sir.

I doubt you're giving it your all

if you're this worried about accidents.

If you want to be victorious,

you have to be willing to risk everything.

[sighs, chuckles nervously]

But, sir, if there is an accident

out there

and one of our drivers gets k*lled,

how would we recover from that?

[inhales sharply]

Ah! The problem is clear now.

-[laughing]

-It's not a problem, sir.

You don't think their lives

are worth sacrificing.

We're done here.

[woman] As of today,

we are no longer your main sponsor.

[coach] What?

[engine starts, revs]

[birds chirping]

You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master.

Seems I've been focusing

on all the wrong things.

Now I've finally found the real deal.

I'm glad to hear that.

May I ask what it is?

[chuckles softly]

[imperceptible]

[both laughing]

Sounds like fun, right?

That's exactly what I would expect

from you.

Which means I need a list of clients

connected to the Ministry of Justice.

I'll get the list

and bring in a foreign security agency.

Nanny, you're the only one

who understands my vision.

[laughing]

[indistinct radio chatter]

Hey, open the door. Now!

What about the study?

Did they seize everything?

[man on phone] Yes, sir.

Oh, son of a b*tch!

Just hole up somewhere.

Keep this to yourself.

-Understood.

-I'm hanging up.

Warden, it's the--

-Ah, just tell me later.

-No, he's already later.

No, I think we'll talk right now.

-[gasping] Commissioner.

-You look like you're falling apart.

-Is this job too much for you?

-To what do I owe this surprise visit?

All of you

get out!

-You, have a seat.

-Yes, sir.

Hey.

Hey. What are you doing?

Wow. Did you get these awards

just for housing all those prisoners?

-[chuckles] Yes, that's right.

-That's admirable.

I thought they were just

a drain on our taxes.

-Who

-Oh, this is--

Why don't you go and drink some coffee?

Uh, yes. I'll come back later.

Listen to me. Whatever this gentleman

orders you to do, don't argue with it.

Just do it.

-What?

-I'll go now.

KOREA CORRECTIONAL SERVICE

GUAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

I heard you have the most

violent criminals in the country here.

-Yes, but who are you?

-[door closes]

Who do you think I am?

[clears throat] I beg your pardon, sir,

but may I ask what your relationship is

with the commissioner?

Oh, none at all.

I don't really know him.

[scoffs] What do you mean by that?

I don't know the Commissioner General,

but I'm friends with the person

who got him appointed.

I have many friends, you know.

Ah, I see.

So, what brings you here?

Well, is this awkward for you, having to

show respect to someone younger like me?

Remember what the commissioner told you.

[sighs] To take care of you

during your visit.

That wasn't it.

The commissioner told me

I should agree to anything you ask.

That's not what he said.

He said to do

whatever you ordered me to do.

[chuckles softly]

Take a look at this.

PROPOSAL FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Doesn't it sound like a fun idea?

-Sure. However this is--

-Oh, I almost forgot.

-How should I say this?

-Here.

I didn't have time to wrap them.

I was in a hurry today.

And I don't like to waste time.

Each is worth 200 million,

if I had to guess,

I'll give you five more

if all this goes well.

[scoffs]

It seems like you've been working

really hard trying to get rich.

But you use public funds

to invest in crypto

and bought coins from a bunch

of scammers by mistake.

Right?

And you left all the money you pocketed

in your study.

So it was easy to take from you.

Who told you about that?

Didn't I already mention?

I have a lot of friends around.

As for the stuff they confiscated,

would you like them returned to you?

I can make it happen.

Or maybe, you care about

these inmates after all.

No, I don't get attached to the inmates.

Well, that's good to hear.

Then you've got nothing to lose.

This is an opportunity.

You can either agree to it

and become a very rich man,

or maybe you'll lose everything

and they'll fire you.

-[sighs]

-If you're out, tell me now.

I'll find someone

to take your place easily.

Oh, no, I can do it, sir.

Tell me what you want done.

[chuckles softly] Now we're talking.

You can authorize your inmates

for work outside the prison, right?

Yes, that's right.

Inmates should be selected

according to the conditions

listed on the last page of that file.

Violent offenders,

murderers, robbers, etcetera.

And if you're short on people,

anyone who pisses you off

will be just fine.

We'll take them.

The game gets interesting

when there's variety.

You got that?

Understand?

Yes, sir. I'll take care of everything.

I'll leave it to you

-Have a safe trip.

-[door closes]

[mouse clicking]

[indistinct chatter outside]

And grabs a change of clothes

at 3:30.

[sighs]

B.

Zone B, huh?

[exhales sharply]

MECHANICAL ROOM

[grunts]

[panting]

[woman speaking indistinctly]

CIVIL AFFAIRS SERVICE

MAIN GATE

[sighs]

Right out through the main gate.

[chuckles]

[Taejoong groans softly]

Oh, you're awake.

It's a good thing

that Father found you in time.

If he found you any later, you'd be dead.

[gagging]

[continues gagging]

Who made you eat it?

Or did you eat it on purpose?

What do you mean?

We found huge amounts of warfarin

in your blood.

-[groans]

-You swallowed rat poison.

You know that supplement you took?

All that Vitamin K3 acted as an antidote.

It bought you some extra time.

You should thank whoever got that for you.

-They ended up saving your life.

-[grunts]

[groaning]

[retching]

Park Taejoong.

[retching]

You all right?

[sighs]

I heard a lot of stories

that you went out the main gate

dressed in plain clothes.

Some are saying it was an escape attempt.

Others say you collapsed

after eating food mixed with rat poison.

Who knows what's true?

[Taejoong groaning]

I do know that something isn't adding up.

I don't think

you'd poison yourself like that.

Someone else did this.

They must have really wanted

to put you out of commission.

I should have kept

a closer watch on things.

I won't let this happen again,

I promise.

[grunts]

And another thing.

If those rumors are true,

that you changed clothes,

used the blind spots to reach the gate

and even managed to get outside,

escaping does seem possible after all.

Nobody ever thinks of

just walking out the front door,

so I'm sure that's the weakest point here.

[grunts]

I treated you too humanely, 2802.

You think you're too humane?

Is that your idea of a joke?

Wow.

I'm really hurt to hear you say that.

You'd be surprised to hear

what people really think.

As soon as you recover,

the investigation will start.

Ah.

Noh Yongsik requested a visit.

Maybe some other time.

Please give him this message.

Thank you for saving my life again.

Is that some kind of secret code?

It's just a word of thanks.

Anyway

out of everyone here,

you probably say thank you the most.

I guess that means

you must have been a good man outside.

[retching]

You're telling me

Taejoong really said that?

Yes, that was it. Word for word.

He said,

"Thank you for saving my life again."

If that's some kind of secret code,

then I don't get it.

You don't know what it means either, huh?

Maybe it's not a code at all.

It was a jailbreak.

Jailbreak.

That as*h*le.

So that's why he said he was busy.

Yeah, I heard that the priest

brought him in from outside,

but the guards are keeping it quiet

because they're scared

of getting reprimanded.

He was passed out.

Apparently he ate rat poison.

Is that for real?

That's what they said

over at the infirmary.

So I bet it's true.

That as*h*le tried to escape

while he was dying?

[men chuckle]

Tell me, why the hell

would he poison himself?

I mean, that sh*t'll k*ll you, right?

My old dog ate it and dropped dead.

[all laughing]

This shithead is awfully clever, isn't he?

Right now, I'm sure he's up to something.

A few of our guys decided

to switch to Do Gangjae's side,

and I'll bet you it's because

of that sh*t-head Park Taejoong.

[banging on gate]

[guard] Quiet in there. No chatting.

Look at you.

If you aren't here to let me out, just go.

I'm in no mood for small talk right now.

I've heard what the other inmates

are saying.

The way you keep messing with inmate 2802,

makes you look like a scared dog

that's been backed into a corner. [laughs]

[chuckles]

[clears throat]

PROPOSAL

I'm gonna let you out now.

Just don't cause any trouble.

Got it?

[bangs on door] You understand me?

Let him out.

[Hanhee] The way you keep messing

with inmate 2802,

makes you look like a scared dog

that's been backed into a corner. [laughs]

Welcome back, boss.

Where's Park Taejoong?

The infirmary.

-[inmate 1] Why, what's going on?

-[inmate 2] What's happening?

[door opens, closes]

[breath trembling]

Doctor.

Is everything okay? I was looking for you.

I don't know anything about it.

What?

Hey, what are you talking about?

I'm not responsible for this.

So don't come at me later.

What?

Do it.

[grunting]

[groaning]

[all grunting]

Get the lights.

You f*ck!

Boss, what do you want me to do?

You guys, break it up now.

You're already in plain clothes.

Why don't you just go home?

[scoffs]

You want me to charge

all of you with obstruction?

Yeah, Go for it.

I'll be out of here soon anyway.

You little

You seem out of breath.

Must be all that rat poison.

It's a shame you're this tired already.

However, I think you'd have to drop dead

for me to get a good night's sleep again.

[grunting]

[groaning]

[screaming]

Do I make myself clear?

I want you to send the inmates out

for community service.

We'll just have to take care

of the paperwork.

[scoffs]

This is yours, if you're in.

There'll be plenty more

when the job's done.

-Oh, sh*t.

-[chuckling]

What are you waiting for? It's ours.

-[officer 1] Holy sh*t.

-[officer 2] Look at all this.

-What's wrong? Didn't you go home?

-[alarm blaring]

CRPT Support Team,

I need dispatch right now.

I repeat, dispatch right now.

Hey, what's with the siren?

CRPT?

[all sighing]

[alarm continues blaring]

What now? What have they done this time?

[alarm blaring]

[grunting]

Move it!

[screaming]

[alarm blaring]

[breathing heavily]

Disperse.

Disperse!

GUAN PENITENTIARY ANNEX CLINIC

[indistinct clamoring]

[Cheolhwan] Open it now!

[mimics chicken clucking]

[humming]

You were born in

the Year of the Rooster, right?

But roosters aren't known

for having long lives, are they?

[chuckles]

I mean, just look at you, pouring blood

all over the floor like that.

Why don't you take a nice,

long drag of this cigarette?

Come on.

You don't smoke?

Where's my lighter?

Here.

-[groaning]

-There's my lighter.

-It's so hot.

-[groans]

Feel that? Doesn't it hurt?

Oh, guess it burnt out. No, no, no.

[groaning, grunting]

[groans]

[laughs]

[clamoring continues]

Come on! Hey, get over here!

Come on!

[gasps]

[both grunting]

[clamoring continues]

Push!

[all yelling]

[panting]

Let's stop all this, huh?

It's exhausting.

Then put

that knife down my throat.

[guards shouting]

Forward, hurry.

Do it. Come on, cut my throat.

Do it. Do it.

-[knife slices]

-[groans]

[screaming]

Hey, move! Get out of the way!

[knife clatters]

[groans]

What the f*ck?

[groaning, panting]

[exhales]

[Taejin] Taejoong.

Taejin.

Listen

I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you.

Are you doing all right?

Me?

I'm okay.

And what will you do now?

I gotta get out of here

somehow.

It's dangerous.

You have to be careful.

I'll find them

and

I'll make them all pay

for what they did to you.

I promise you, Taejin.

[groans]

[grunting]

[muffled shouting]

[inmate] Hey, this isn't right!

I told you I'll change the whole setup.

[inmates and guard shouting]

sh*t.

[guard] Go straight ahead.

Don't let them get away.

All right?

Hey, what the f*ck? What the hell is this?

You lucky prick!

Get him inside

quickly.

[inmate] Where are we going?

Come on, hurry! There's no time.

Close it.

[Yohan] Let me see. We've got 12 inmates.

Aggravated as*ault, threats,

severe injury.

That's a lot of convictions.

[scoffs] What a piece of work.

YEO DEOKSU

This mod boss still has

over seven years on his sentence.

r*pe WITHIN FAMILY RELATIONS

He even r*ped his own sister?

[laughing]

[inmates and guards shouting]

GU JIYONG

DO GANGJAE

PARK TAEJOONG

The Manipulated

["William Tell Overture"

playing over speakers]

[feedback whines loudly]

[over speakers] Did everyone sleep well?

Thank you for coming.

You must be wondering where you are

and why you're here.

Well, your time begins now.

[chuckles]

This is the land of opportunity.