ushernet Chapter 5
Chapter 5
“Director, I want to do this.”
“...”
As soon as Director Ko Dong-guk stepped into the office, a headache began to form. Arguing with this guy always ended the same way; with stomach cramps by evening.
“Jong-soo, there’s still a week left in the contest. What makes you so confident already?”
PD Kim Jong-soo thrust the script forward, his eyes gleaming.
“Director, just take a look at this script before saying anything. Nothing else matters. No one else could write like this.”
“I heard it’s from a rookie. Don’t you want to manage the risk?”
“That’s exactly why it’s perfect. With this writer’s talent and my experience, we’ll make something incredible.”
Director Ko Dong-guk sighed, rubbing his temples.
“How many rookie writers have you seen fall apart once the real work starts? What if they can’t deliver scripts on time?”
Kim Jong-soo didn’t miss a beat. “That’s where I come in. I’ll keep them on track.”
“Fine. Let’s say the script is good. What kind of actor is going to take a chance on a rookie’s work?”
“We’ll compete with quality. There are plenty of top actors who choose projects based on the script.”
Ko Dong-guk shot him a sharp look.
“And Kim Seung-yeon?”
“...”
“What are you going to do about Kim Seung-yeon?”
At the mention of the star writer, Kim Jong-soo hesitated. It was no secret that Kim Seung-yeon had submitted to the contest. Her signature style was unmistakable, and everyone knew what that meant:
-”I’m Kim Seung-yeon. You’re not giving me the grand prize? Good luck handling the fallout.
Trying to stay composed, Jong-soo spoke up, albeit awkwardly.
“It’s a blind contest. We can’t be sure—”
“Are you kidding? Everyone knows it’s Kim Seung-yeon’s writing!”
Jong-soo bristled at Ko Dong-guk’s retort.
“Then she’s practically announced herself, hasn’t she? What’s the point of calling it a blind contest? It’s not fair!”
“Life’s not fair, especially in broadcasting. You should know that by now.”
“Why are you suddenly changing genres on me? This isn’t noir. Look, just read the script!”
Finally losing his patience, Ko Dong-guk slammed his hand on the desk, then clenched his jaw, reigning in his temper. His voice lowered, almost coaxing.
“Jong-soo, why are you trying to disrupt what’s already settled?”
“...”
“We’re talking about Kim Seung-yeon. You know what her name means in this industry.”
Jong-soo’s lips twitched, unable to form a quick response.
“You’ve been in this game long enough to know the weight of her reputation.”@@@@
“I know, Director. Kim Seung-yeon is a star, no question. Her skills are top-tier, and her grudges are just as legendary.”
“Exactly. So why risk it? Do you want another flop with single-digit ratings?”
Jong-soo’s voice dropped. “We should still focus on the essence...”
Fire sparked in Director Ko Dong-guk’s eyes. Jong-soo, although rattled, pushed on.
“Isn’t the contest supposed to be about fairness? A chance for new voices?”
“Can’t you just drop it?”
“This isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about doing what’s right.”
Ko Dong-guk snatched up his mouse, waving it furiously.
“That’s a wireless mouse, Director. It won’t reach me from there.”
“I know that, you idiot! Just play along and pretend to cower!”
Jong-soo cracked a slight smile. “Director, just read it. I’m telling you, we’ve got a monster rookie on our hands.”
Director Ko Dong-guk gently set down the mouse and rubbed his temples again.
“What if it’s not as interesting as you say?”
“Come on, I’m telling you, it is interesting!”
PD Kim Jong-soo thumped his chest in frustration.
“It’s so damn good, I don’t even know how to explain it!”
“Oh really?”
“Want a prediction? By the time you hit page ten, you’ll be thinking, ‘Hmm, not bad.’ By halfway through, your heart’s going to start racing.”
Jong-soo ran a hand over his face, pausing theatrically before continuing with wide-eyed enthusiasm.
“You’ll be wondering, ‘Where the hell did this writer come from?’ And by the time you finish, you’ll say it yourself.”
“Say what?”
“‘Get the writer’s seal immediately!’”
Director Ko Dong-guk chuckled at Kim Jong-soo’s over-the-top performance.
“Really? Not ‘File an incident report right now?’”
“Why would I need to write one?” Jong-soo asked, blinking innocently.
“For insolence, disrespect, intimidation... take your pick.”
“Director, I’ve been at this for 14 years. I already requested them yesterday. We’ll have them before the contest deadline.”
Whether the writer had more scripts ready was still uncertain. But in this business, only those prepared could seize the moment. PD Kim Jong-soo could only hope that the mysterious “Kyukyu” was one of those people.
* * *
The Next Day
“Holy...”
PD Kim Jong-soo stared at his inbox, eyes wide. He checked the attached files again just to be sure.
It was only yesterday that he had sent the request for more scripts. Now, just one day later, writer Kyu-kyu had responded with something incredible.
A total of sixteen episodes.
From the pilot to the final episode.
“Unbelievable.”
Kim Jong-soo had expected a few additional scripts, given the quality of the first one. He knew that even if Kyu-kyu didn’t win the contest, companies would be scrambling to sign them.
At best, he had hoped the writer had five episodes ready. He’d even settled in his mind for three. Enough, at least, to convince Director Ko.
But this?
‘Who writes a full series when the project hasn’t even been greenlit?’
It was either a sign of arrogance, an insane level of confidence, or sheer grit. Any way you sliced it, this was almost impossible.
PD Kim Jong-soo opened the file for Episode 2 with an eager expression.
It was late at night, and the office was deserted.
As he scrolled through the script, he found himself absentmindedly counting the ceiling tiles.
“This is it... This will be a hit...”
His body trembled with excitement.
All his earlier doubts had been unfounded. The mysterious writer ‘Kyukyu’ wasn’t just holding up as the series progressed; they were getting better. The character dynamics grew more intricate, and the characters themselves seemed to leap off the page, full of life.
“Phew...”
Letting out a long breath, PD Kim Jong-soo quickly forwarded the scripts to Director Ko Dong-guk’s email.
[Transmission complete.]
Then he typed out a message:
[Director, I’ve sent you the additional scripts for Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju. Check your email.]
After double-checking, he fired off one more text.
[Warning: Clear your schedule!]
. . .
The next morning, for the second day in a row, the office door flew open with a loud bang.
“Kim Jong-soo! Come here! No, forget it, I’m coming to you.”
“Yes, Director!”
Director Ko Dong-guk stormed over to PD Kim Jong-soo’s desk, his excitement barely contained.
“The writer... what’s the writer’s name?”
PD Kim Jong-soo hesitated, then mumbled, “It’s... Writer Kyukyu.”
“Kyukyu?”
“Yes, Writer Kyukyu.”
Director Ko paused, eyebrows furrowed.
“Why that pen name?”
“It’s catchy, don’t you think?”
“Kyukyu...” Director Ko murmured the name a few more times, then shook his head. “Who cares? Whether they’re a man, a woman, a goblin, or a mountain spirit, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we need to lock down this once-in-a-lifetime rookie!”
Kim Jong-soo grinned, glancing at the Director. “Did you read it all?”
“I stayed up all night.”
“And? What did you think?”
Director Ko Dong-guk stared off for a moment, then answered in a calm, steady voice.
“I laughed, I cried, I got mad, and then I celebrated. All in one night.”
PD Kim Jong-soo pumped his fists in triumph.
“See? I told you it would work!”
A story that could make you feel all the highs and lows of life. What more could a drama ask for?
Director Ko glared at him.
“Alright, it’s a winner. Contact the writer and secure the rights immediately.”
Kim Jong-soo squinted, pretending to hesitate.
“But didn’t you say there’s still a week left in the contest?”
Director Ko scoffed. “How long have you worked here and still don’t get it?”
“I’m just playing it safe in case you ask me to write an incident report.”
“Do you want to lose this masterpiece over word games?”
After reading through thousands of scripts in his career, Director Ko knew a diamond when he saw one. Contests like these were meant to sift through piles of mediocrity, hoping to find something half-decent. But here, they’d stumbled across a rare gem.
“There’s no way a better script will come in. Get their seal. Whatever it takes!”