Chapter 12 …A Fresh Start (3)
A neatly handsome man wrapped the courtesans in his arms and walked inside.
For a moment, Writer Choi blinked.
“Hmm?”
“How is it?”
When there was no answer, Director Kim grinned and asked again.
“What do you think?”
“You’re saying that beggar just now… is this… the same person?”
“I was surprised too, you know?”
At Kim’s words, Choi looked back at the screen. The beggar scene, followed by the courtesan’s young master scene.
Maybe because the beggar scene wasn’t a close-up, it was hard to believe they were the same person.
“Why keep rewinding it?”
“Isn’t it just because it’s far away?”
“Nope, it’s like that anyway. Anyway, thanks to this guy…”
“Let’s keep that.”
“Huh?”
Choi’s words left Director Kim puzzled. Choi continued:
“The undercover beggar role.”
“…That?”
Kim made an awkward face. The “undercover beggar” was just a nickname for the role. The current plot only required obtaining information in the brothel, but originally, it wasn’t so simple.
Normally, this role involved disguises—appearing as a beggar to gather information, then taking on other personas.
The problem was that the actor had to convincingly play several different appearances, all the same character, yet look distinct enough to create a twist in the story.
The challenge: it had to be a young male actor, but few actors could pull off such a complex performance. Even if the age restriction was lifted, capable actors were rare.
Moreover, such actors weren’t cheap, even for supporting roles. And even if the role was performed, viewers might notice immediately. The twist relied on the disguise going unnoticed until the final reveal.
After much back and forth, the final decision was to tweak the synopsis instead.
“Ah, Choi, why are you bringing up something we decided not to do?”
“You said the role was good too, Director.”
“Yeah, that’s why I suggested using it for a couple of minor appearances per episode, but you refused.”
“I’ve used similar concepts in other works, but here, viewers have to be genuinely surprised later!”
“I get it, but do you think this guy could handle it?”
Choi hesitated, then cautiously spoke:
“Can we at least try it briefly? Just a little adjustment. It won’t take up much screen time. Just give it a shot. Actually, this episode isn’t really a single-role scene anyway…”
“Well…”
“You said it was a minor role.”
Director Kim pondered, seeing Choi unable to let go.
“The script?”
“I can tweak it slightly, maybe for the episode after next.”
Kim licked his lips. The part Choi mentioned in the earlier synopsis had real potential for fun, but it was abandoned due to practical challenges. Now, seeing it again, he was tempted.
Besides, drama is all about the writer. Choi had already hit success with two previous works and stayed loyal even for this third one. Listening to Choi here made sense.
“I just worry about making it tough for you.”
“No, I said we’d just take a bit from the original and apply it partially.”
“Then contact the actor first.”
“Okay! I’ll go revise the script!”
“Alright. Let’s make it work!”
Excited, Choi left, and Director Kim turned back to the footage.
“Hmm.”
Now, making it work was his job.
Sizzling!
“In the flower garden, flowers live together~ On the grill, pork belly sizzles~”
“Can’t you just grill quietly?”
“Nope, nope, owww~”
“Hey!”
“Hey~ yiya~ grill it like this~ live life like this~”
Splat!
Maybe too excited. Should have stopped before the “hey.” Still, only got hit once, as if they understood my excitement while grilling meat.
The rooftop table, the grill, the feast of grilling! A scene I’d always dreamed of.
“Gamdong!”
“Hey!”
“I-I’ll grill the meat!”
“Stop repeating first-person!”
“This is my first time doing this!”
“Ah… really.”
Ah, the first-time effect. When you say this, the helper does it perfectly. They probably regret poking me for being noisy just now.
But this was indeed the first time. How often would a beggar get to grill meat peacefully?
Sometimes I had joined folks at construction sites, grilling meat on barrels at night. Rarely, I’d eat it as a treat, mostly pork shoulder or neck instead of belly.
So this home-party-style grill was completely new.
“Ch… I must endure!”
Ah, almost ate it. Today, I’d eat it well-done! Properly cooked!
“Why is it falling off?”
“Fighting my instincts.”
“….”
Don’t give me that incredulous look. I hate this version of myself too.
“I usually eat rare. Today, I want to eat it properly grilled.”
“…No one’s going to steal it. And there’s plenty.”
That simple line made my eyes water. Especially the part about no one stealing it—heart-melting. And the abundance? Double the impact!
Gamdong looked at me incredulously.
“Is this a reason to cry?”
“It’s my expression of emotion.”
“Geez.”
Despite the tongue click, the smile on their lips wasn’t unpleasant. I felt like we could do this often.
“Hmm? Director calling…?”
Gamdong picked up the phone, suddenly shifting to a socially polite, almost obedient voice.
“Yes, Director! Is there anything you need?”
I made a wrap for Gamdong while they took the call.
“Here… eat while you talk.”
Gamdong opened their mouth for the bite while on the phone. One wrap, three pieces of meat. Something I’d always wanted to try.
“Eh?”
“Sorry, just one piece.”
As Gamdong spoke, I put back two pieces. Right, I should have asked first. Then, coolly, I held the phone to make eating easier. Gamdong… you’re an angel.
[Oh, this role was in the original script.]
“Well…”
[We’re not adding it right away, just trying it out. Can we bring him tomorrow?]
“Possible.”
[Good. I’ll send the script in advance, let him memorize a bit. Minor role lines are fine, but he needs to adjust to historical tone.]
“Yes, understood.”
[Even for a fusion drama, historical vibe is needed.]
“Yep! I’ll relay it.”
[Good, contact me when ready.]
“Yep!”
Gamdong smirked, phone down.
“Not a comic, really.”
These sudden role assignments felt like something out of a webtoon.
“Think he’ll like it?”
Gamdong glanced at Suhan, grinning while grilling meat.
“Why weren’t you eating?”
Even being cautious, this view wasn’t bad…
“Finished eating, now grilling new ones!”
Okay, new grill, I can forgive that.
“Do you want to visit the set today?”
“Anything else?”
Gamdong relayed Director Kim’s message.
“What do you think?”
“Of course!”
“Really?”
“Money involved, right?”
Gamdong chuckled at the simple answer. Honestly, it was a role any agency would fight for.
“And we’ve done this before, right?”
“Besides the beggar role…”
“Acting. You said you always had to act—pretending to be hungry, poor, dying if sick.”
“Ah, come on!”
“Eh-hei. But this is different, right? Acting to survive, not just acting to stay alive. Feels different, huh?”
“Yeah… I guess?”
“And begging never earns applause. But this? If done well, immediate reactions! Comments feel real, 3D!”
Suhan’s eyes lit up like a child with a new toy, chattering endlessly.
“From the start, applause all around. Feels like performing in front of kindergarten or family. I loved it!”
“Indeed.”
“Brings back that feeling, want to hear it again and again.”
Crazy.
“Why did Gamdong tear up? Which part was emotional?”
“Meat acting!”
“What acting? Not even over charcoal.”
“Stealing the meat!”
“Sorry!”
Anyway, this guy is amusing to watch.
“Soju call?”
“Cheers!”
Hmm…
When was it…? There was an interesting newspaper article I brought for warmth. At the World Expo, people were exhibited as curiosities. By 1958, at the Brussels Expo, Congolese people were displayed and even had bananas thrown at them. Less than a century ago. My memory is good.
Why bring this up now? The situation feels similar. Then, spectators treated them like animals.
“Do you want to eat?”
“Yes.”
Hmm… I’m the banana now. Even closer. Anyway, the makeup crew, director, and staff were observing and giving feedback.
“The vibe feels different from last time… handsome, but not distinct? Makeup changes his image? Why did he look so different on screen?”
“Right. Now the beggar disguise is redone, yet it feels like the courtesan’s young master’s disguise shows. Is it because we know? What do we do?”
Next to me, a new face. Writer. Drama is all about the writer, Gamdong said. In fact, the writer can outweigh the director on set. So, I must perform well.
“Will do my best!”
“Ah… last screen looked really… beggarly… right?”
Eh-hei. That’s what you wanted? Wallet out. Instantly, inner beggar mode activated!
“Uh… huh?”
Oops! My skill isn’t rusty. Searching pocket like for a wallet, then freezing—heart flutters. Rustle. Hmm?
“Uh… just as a good-luck gesture for today, a bowl of soup? Go eat that.”
Director Kim, expression blank, handed me 10,000 won. My skills weren’t rusty. Catching anything counts, right?
