“Where’s Daniel?” Man-shik PD exclaimed, looking around the set.
“He should be here now so we could get this over with!”
It seemed like he wanted to go home, too. All the more reasons to get this over with in one take!
Daniel finally went out of the tent, still appearing flustered. However, as soon as he stood in front of the cameras, his persona changed. He looked extremely focused.
“I’m going to say this once,” Man-shik PD exclaimed, his voice already hoarse. “So, everybody listen!”
“While Daniel is walking through the dark streets, you would come out of the alleyway with a beer bottle in your hand,” he said, pointing at Zeno. “You provoke him based on the script and hit him on the shoulder. The two of you have a scuffle, but Daniel does not retaliate, staying true to his changed nature. Daniel falls to the ground, clutching the teddy bear he bought for his sister, so you grab his watch instead. Got it?”
“Got it, director,” Daniel said with a professional smile.
Zeno merely nodded.
“Just make it as realistic as possible,” he said for the last time before going behind the cameras.
At this point, the set had settled down. It was clear that most if not all, were tired from the long day of shooting. From his peripheral vision, he could see a couple of bystanders, along with Daniel’s fans, watching the scene.
“Sounds?”
The soundman gave Man-shik PD a thumbs up.
“Cameras ready?” he asked.
“Rolling!”
“Slate!”
The assistant director walked toward the frame with the slate.
“Insert Scene 1 Shot 1 Take 1,” then he snapped it close.
“Action!” Director Man-shik screamed, and the act finally began.
In the dimly lit streets of Yongsan District, a tall, lean man wearing a suit walked with a teddy bear in one hand. 1
“Finally,” Beom muttered. “After six long years.”
His eyes were fixed on the pink teddy bear. “Would Hayoon still like this one?” he asked, referring to his sister. She was six years old when he was arrested, so she was much older now.
He looked up at the sky, the cameras zooming in on his sentimental eyes.
The hurt and longing in them were highlighted very well on the small screen.
“Good,” Man-shik muttered. “He’s improved a lot.”
The hair and make-up artists held in their squeals as they watched Daniel do his magic.
Zeno watched the scene and recalled the time he had to fulfill the mission of a drunkard. He had seen plenty of times on television how actors portrayed the addiction.
They had slurred, nearly incomprehensible speech and their gait was too unstable. They also portrayed them to be addicted to the act of drinking and, consequently, doing something reckless.
However, in Zeno’s perspective, it wasn’t the drink they were addicted to. It was the emotional liberation that came with it. It meant shedding the layers of inhibition, fear, and self-doubt that were caged in their sober lives.
Drunkenness, in this sense, became a metaphor for raw, unfiltered humanity.
In fact, he nearly got hooked on the feeling! However, he was more dedicated to the mission and in the process, he had learned a lot.
When embodying this state, the key was to channel that fearlessness. A drunk person doesn’t overthink. They act on impulse, driven by desires and emotions that were often buried under societal expectations.
With that, he stumbled out of the alleyway, a beer bottle in his hand. Beom does not stop walking, still looking at the precious teddy bear for his sister.
Without any warning, the drunk man slammed the beer bottle on the brick wall, causing some of the staff members to shriek.
Man-shik PD watched with narrowed eyes before raising a finger high in the air, telling them to keep silent.
Daniel, too, was shocked by the sudden noise. That wasn’t on the script! However, the director hadn’t called ‘cut’ yet, so he kept his composure.
“It’s my lucky day! This fuckass world actually has something good in store for me,” Zeno said, sounding drunk but still understandable.
The assistant director frowned as he gazed at Zeno. “Did this guy drink anything beforehand?”
He actually appeared drunk!
Beom pursed his lips. “Have a good day, sir,” he said, sticking to the script. He bowed before continuing to walk.
However, the drunk man was having none of it. He swiftly walked to Beom and held onto his shoulder, forcing the suited man to face him.
Daniel was shocked once again. Why was this guy so strong? He tried his best to push the drunk man away.
“I’m not looking for any trouble,” Beom said. There was an edge to his tone that indicated he was holding back.
“Give me your money,” the drunkard said with a small smirk. Daniel’s breath got caught. For a second, it felt like he was in real danger.
“Oh, and that pink teddy bear, too,” he chimed. “My daughter would like it. Maybe then, she could forgive me.”
The latter statement should have been said sleazily, but there was a softness to Zeno’s tone that made Man-shik PD raise his eyebrows.
“Is this alright, director?” the assistant asked.
“Keep rolling,” Man-shik said, his eyes still focused on the scene.
“What do you say, huh? So we can both go on our ways,” the drunkard suggested, his grip tightening, making Beom wince.
‘Why is he taking this so seriously?’ Daniel thought. ‘Is he really just a beggar?’
“I can’t do that, sir,” Beom said, sounding restrained. “You’re drunk. You should head home to your family.”
With the mention of his family, the drunk man’s eyes changed. Man-shik PD nearly stood from his seat. He gestured to one of the cameramen to get a closer shot of his expression. Then, he stared at the small window of that particular camera and gasped.
His gaze wasn’t that of pure anger! It had a vulnerability.
This was also another lesson Zeno had learned from his 19th mission. The fearlessness of drunkenness was often a mask for deeper insecurities.
Without any warning, he punched Daniel’s shoulder. However, the sound was too loud.
Those watching from the sidelines were surprised. Did he just hit him for real?
Acting scenes will be in italics! Inner dialogue and reactions while in the scenes will remain in normal font.