NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW
Stop! Stop!
What do we do? Oh!
Hurry, hurry! She's… Oh God. Oh no.
Let's go, Mr. Heo.
You don't want Mr. Kim to see you here. We should go.
I'm sorry.
I had no idea this would…
All I wanted
was to prove I was telling the truth.
Stop the car, please.
I'll walk from here.
Thank you for giving me a ride.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Tell me the truth. Don't even think about lying to me.
Did you really have no idea, or were you keeping it a secret this whole time?
Sorry?
Keeping what a secret?
You didn't tell me who Se-yun's dad is! Now, why not?
I can't believe you didn't know.
Wait a minute.
What are you talking about?
He's Kim Su-hun, the writer.
Kim Su-hun, the writer?
Kim Su-hun?
So he's a famous author, I guess.
No wonder.
But I don't know the names of many authors.
What is it?
So he's Kim Su-hun. So what?
Is that important right now?
Oh my God. It was always you, Kim Su-hun.
Mom.
Oh yeah. That's right.
Oh, hi, Mun-oh.
You're skipping class too?
Uh… here.
What's this? Hmm?
How did you know? I love this poet.
Oh my gosh.
Hey, Mun-oh, thanks so much for this.
Um… I'll see you later, okay?
Hmm?
- Eun-joo. - Hey, Su-hun!
What a surprise.
Good to see you. Where are you headed?
Oh…
I want you to clear your mind.
Nothing's more important to me than how you feel.
For our family, your peace of mind is everything.
Kim Su-hun, you asshole.
How could you, when you have Eun-joo?
In real life, we don't call everything that happens
an "inciting incident," right?
But in literature,
uh, there's always some kind of event
that impacts the main characters' actions throughout the story.
In other words, it's an event that sets the story in motion.
It is key that it be intrinsic.
Intrinsic to…
the characters' complex, uh,
inner conflicts.
Um… I'm sorry.
Uh… conflicts, uh…
Hold on. Where… where was I?
I'd like to talk to you.
You little brat.
Why are you always sitting
back in the last row?
I have an idea.
It's so you can daydream,
instead of listening to the lecture, isn't it?
It makes it easier to see.
It lets me see everything without… being seen.
Well…
And listen, about last night,
I need more information.
The woman who was M… Min-hui…
Uh, Seon Min-hui, was it?
You know, the woman who was hit.
And, uh…
Kim Su…
Uh, Se-yun's father.
What has he been doing since?
How did he react?
What?
You don't wanna talk?
What is this? I was there too, wasn't I?
If you can't talk to me about this, who can you talk to? You called me.
She died, you know.
Sh… she died?
The police… called and said she died.
In the end…
So after all…
By the way, is Kim Su-hun a friend of yours?
How well do you know him?
Huh?
I don't know him well.
I've heard of him. He's a well-known writer. Nothing more.
Why are you lying?
What?
I know you two are friends.
Se-yun told me Mr. Kim came for a special lecture, and afterwards,
you hosted the conversation.
Yeah.
So you can't host a conversation with someone unless you're friends?
Look, he and I happened to go to the same school.
We're not friends.
Anyway,
why are you asking me that?
Well, it's just that he…
Just that he, what?
I can't tell what kind of person he is.
At first, I really liked him. But now, I don't know.
He's acting like it's just another day,
like last night was nothing.
But that's not the only thing about him. Here. I wrote it all down.
It's all in here?
Oh, I guess…
this'll be my last one.
That's what you said.
You said no more lessons.
And that was before last night.
I'm working at the corner store soon, so…
Sorry about everything.
Thank you, Mr. Heo.
Wait. Uh… Uh…
Okay, well, uh…
When the boundary between beauty and horror is blurred,
everything is thrown into question.
This morning,
the world didn't make sense anymore.
What? She didn't come to work yesterday either?
Without notice?
I had no idea.
I kept calling her too.
I called her three times yesterday, but she didn't answer.
I think she's angry at me for telling her off about smoking.
That's an awful way to behave.
After I went out of my way to try and smooth things over with her.
Yeah, well, there's no use trying to be nice to people like her.
I've had enough of her attitude.
Yeah, let her quit, then.
Like I said, she's not worth stressing out over.
I'll give her her notice tomorrow.
Unless…
You don't think she's already quit, do you?
What are you doing?
Uh, nothing.
Hey. Are you ready to go?
Gimme a second. Everything's just about done.
No complaining either. Understand?
That's right, you, Kim Se-yun.
- Mm. - Just say "it's delicious" and eat.
What's wrong?
Oh, nothing.
For the time being, I'll be cooking most of the meals.
And we can order in too, just until we find a replacement.
Hey. Min-hui's quitting?
When? Where is she?
She's most likely sulking because she got told off.
We haven't heard from her since.
What is it? You okay? Are you sad to see her go?
No, not really. It's all good.
No, Kang, it's okay. Eat your breakfast. I'll answer it.
She's got it.
Hello?
What?
What did you say?
What?
Wha… what do you mean?
Oh. Oh no.
- Oh, honey. It's terrible. - What's going on?
Honey, M… Min-hui, she was…
Min-hui got… It was… Wait.
Early this morning…
Min-hui? What about her?
Kim Su-hun here.
Yes. What's going on?
Y… yes, go ahead. I'm listening.
Was it about… Min-hui?
Is she okay?
She died in a car accident?
In the ER?
What do you mean she has no family?
Oh, well, we don't really know a lot about her.
Oh!
Yun.
- Sweetheart. Yun. Sweetie. - Please call when you find out.
Thanks.
It's okay.
- Not this number. Call my cell. - Yun, you're okay. Huh?
Yun.
Yes. My number is…
Lift up his… My sweet boy. Hold up his head, please.
- Yun. Yun. - 2, 4, 3, 5, 1, 1, 7.
Yun.
Listen to my voice.
Yun, breathe. Okay?
Oh!
Like you learned at the hospital. Breathe.
That's right. Good. Rub his hands.
Oh.
Is he okay?
Shouldn't we take him to the hospital?
Why would we go to the hospital for that? He was just a little shocked. That's all.
You gave him a sedative.
A good sleep is all he needs right now.
Leave him alone, honey. Come on.
That boy's always been too sensitive for his own good.
I thought sports would toughen him up, but he hasn't changed at all.
Are you okay?
Not really.
I feel awful, to be honest.
I keep thinking about how badly I treated Min-hui.
I shouldn't have let her just leave like that.
My goodness. Don't be silly, honey.
You don't have anything to feel guilty about.
It's okay.
There's so much we can't control.
When the boundary between beauty and horror is blurred…
Hmm?
…everything is thrown into question.
Was there malice in that smile?
Hatred in his heart?
"Malice"?
Malice.
Malice? What does he mean by that?
Have a good day.
Hello.
Professor.
Another like this, please.
Uh… how'd you know I worked here?
You said you worked at a corner store, and this one is closest to campus.
Is there something you wanna say?
No, I was just heading home, and needed cigarettes.
What are you laughing at?
Because when you lie,
it's so obvious.
Hmm.
What do you wanna talk to me about?
That is why you're here.
I wouldn't mind, if you want.
First of all,
about…
…stopping our lessons.
I was angry. I didn't really mean it.
But what do you think?
Would you care if our lessons ended this way?
Well,
I would love to continue.
I want to keep writing too.
There's just one thing. You know Mr. Kim.
And you know him personally. Maybe that'll feel awkward.
That's true.
It's not entirely devoid of ethical considerations.
While we're not friends,
he's not a complete stranger either.
However, to help you with your studies,
I think continuing our private lessons together
is the right thing.
For you and for me too.
Anyway…
Writers need to show…
courage, and so… I'm ready for it.
As long as you're all right with it, Professor.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
You know, with Mr. Kim,
I'm less and less concerned about what he's like.
It's a lot more important to learn what I can from you.
Nice to see you being more appreciative.
That's a very good attitude.
If you bring that throughout our work… Hmm?
…you'll see real progress. I know it.
Listen.
Su-hun doesn't need to know anything about me, all right?
If you mention this,
our lessons together, if you tell him about any of it, we're done.
I know, Professor.
I understand.
I don't trust him anyway.
I don't even wanna talk to Mr. Kim now. As you know from reading my paper.
All that said,
I wanted to ask you something.
When you talked about blurred lines and hatred.
I'm not sure, really.
I just wrote what I felt as clearly as I could.
Listen. Like I told you before, don't jump to conclusions.
If you're gonna use a word like that, you need to have a rationale for it.
- Rationale? - Well, you said he was having an affair.
Then you said he was laughing after he found out she died?
- That makes no sense. - You think I'm lying to you?
- I saw it with my own eyes. - No, I don't think you're lying.
All that I'm saying is there isn't enough evidence
to lead us to assume that he hated her.
The first thing to do is to ask questions.
What were the events that led to the accident?
Okay.
So I should
investigate what happened.
That's what I'm talking about.
In literary terms…
this is… real-world research.
This way, you'll be able to add realism to your story.
Oh.
My heart is pounding right now. Hey!
Okay, so… uh, you're telling me to go back to the hotel and ask questions, right?
- Hold on. Sit down. - Okay.
Stay calm, now, Kang.
Don't get all worked up, especially right now.
Right. I don't work tomorrow, so…
Sounds good.
I'll be off.
You can come too, if you want.
Me?
Why would I want to do that?
Why not?
Afraid of losing face, or what?
"Losing face"? No, come on. I have plans. That's all.
What? I have plans. You think I'm lying?
You free tomorrow?
If you aren't doing anything,
I was thinking we could go for a walk or catch a movie.
I'm trying to…
You know, I'm…
…asking you out on a date.
Damn it! My car keys!
Where are they? Where?
My car keys! Oh God!
Professor, I just got back from the hotel.
If I start my assignment now,
I should be able to send it to you in two hours.
Wait till you hear what I found out.
He asked you out on a date?
Yesterday, completely out of the blue.
He asked me to go to a movie with him.
But I thought it would be boring, just us, so I asked you to come along.
You didn't invite us so you could brag about your date?
Brag? Oh, please.
Ugh, you're so annoying.
He can't even hear me when he's on it.
Anyway, we go on dates all the time. You're not the only ones.
Isn't that right?
Honey, answer me.
What was that? Hmm?
He's been acting weird lately.
It's been over two hours. Where is your assignment?
Things he hasn't done before? Like what?
Well, he's slept over in my room.
Oh my God!
Oh, wow!
Look at you, Mun-oh! That's great! Wow!
No, no, no. This is great.
So that's why Hyeon-suk is getting prettier.
- That explains it, huh? - What?
What do you mean, "getting prettier"? I've always been pretty.
Yes, you've always been beautiful.
Yeah. Mun-oh…
…for goodness' sake, be good to Hyeon-suk. Don't start neglecting her again.
- Wait. Neglecting? - Yeah, like before.
You know, when you kept miscarrying.
- Sweetheart! - And then during IVF too.
What's that got to do with anything now?
Well, Mun-oh was never around.
Mun-oh, do you know how lonely and miserable she was back then?
Jeez, honey.
What's with you?
Did I say anything that wasn't true? That's how it was.
Even though you were…
I just sent you my assignment. Sorry for the delay, Professor.
…more worried about Mun-oh than yourself.
- Oh, dear. - He was in some kind of slump.
I'm… going to the restroom.
Oh, sure. Okay.
- Oh, man. Um… - I told you he'd be like this.
But you insisted on marrying a writer.
Hey! You made him leave because he's embarrassed.
How could you say that in front of him?
That's ancient history! He's better now!
The bloodstains on the pavement had been completely washed away.
Mm… I'm not sure.
I can't remember every single guest who comes through here.
And even if I could, I can't give out our guests' personal information.
The car accident had nothing to do with the hotel.
Still, why do you ask?
What's this about?
Nothing. Thanks very much.
Uh-huh
Are you ready?
Here it comes
One, two, three, four I'm already out the door
Five, six, seven, eight I ain't got no time to wait…
Excuse me.
Huh?
- Just a minute. - Yeah?
Have you ever seen this person?
Was he a guest?
No, I don't think so.
Uh, do you know him?
I've never seen him before.
- Hit you like a hammer - Yep!
- No, sorry. - Got you like bang, bang, bang
I'm not sure.
Whoa! Sorry.
Sorry about that.
Uh, you're not allowed in here.
Uh…
The exit is here. Follow me.
I know that.
Lee… Lee Kang?
You're Lee… Lee Kang, right?
Yeah.
Jae-sik?
- You little shit. How you been? - It was unbelievable luck.
If I hadn't run into Jae-sik…
It's good to see you.
…the truth would have stayed buried forever.
I met Jae-sik
last summer.
"Lee Kang."
Senior year?
You wanna go to university? Aren't the entrance exams coming up?
I'm just saying, you should be studying, not wasting your time here.
Hey. What's that you're studying?
Oh, to be a civil servant?
Oh, Jae-sik.
I'm just getting started.
This is my third time taking it. Fuck me, huh?
Holy crap. Yeonseo University?
Wow! You're smart, huh?
What about you? You a civil servant yet?
Not yet.
I'm still trying.
- Putting me down? - No way. Never.
You were always so cool.
Really?
Yeah, well, I mean, working here, it's not bad, anyway.
Oh yeah, the car accident. What is it you wanna know?
Well, I mean, I'm not sure.
It's kind of a long story. I know her, the woman who got hit.
Ah, really?
You knew her?
Yeah, I feel sorry for her.
I wish I knew what she was doing here before.
Hmm.
But nobody knows anything.
You know,
I bet I know more than anyone else here.
Seriously?
I…
saw what happened to her.
I was on my way home from work.
Let go!
Hey. Don't you walk away from me.
I have nothing to say to you.
I recognized them right away. No doubt about it.
- Especially… the guy. - Min-hui!
What? Scared?
Just you wait. You'll be sorry, I swear!
- 911! Call 911! - Holy shit.
Call an ambulance!
That man you saw,
who was he?
That man
was a regular in our premier suite.
A regular in the premier suite?
Kim Su-hun?
He came three or four times a month.
Always the same room.
But the weirdest thing was,
he would order room service.
Always high-end wine and cheap ice cream, every time.
What? Cheap ice cream?
- Why? What for? - I don't know.
I don't think I wanna know.
- I'm on a level - Good evening. Room service, sir.
Where time is ticking away from me
Thank you, sir.
You little devil, you got nothing…
The outfits were different every time.
One day, a nurse costume.
The next, a bunny rabbit.
Sometimes even… a schoolgirl uniform.
Hi, Ms. Choi.
Ah, no.
I'm on a trip.
No, just me. Without the wife this time.
Not yet. I'm not writing.
I don't have anything down.
See, he's a pretty famous author.
He probably thought I wouldn't know.
- Yeah. - An author?
Yeah.
Why would a famous author do that?
With a wife and everything.
Guys like that are the worst.
They might act normal, but they're really perverts.
So I guess that's what he was doing here that day, before the accident.
- No. - Shit.
That day
was different.
A bit suspicious, actually.
Suspicious?
Yeah.
What I heard from his room was unusual.
Now, I wasn't trying to listen in.
What did you hear?
What I heard…
WIFE
What I heard was both of them…
PARK HYEONG-JONG
Ugh! What is this? What are you doing?
Yes, Mr. Park? What is it?
Mun-oh, where are you? Come on. What's taking you so long?
What? Where do you think? What is it you want?
Mun-oh, do you know who's here with us right now?
Do you know who just showed up?
I have no idea.
Well, who is it?
Oh, good idea.
Can you take it? You have long arms.
- Here. I'll set it up. - One, two, three.
- Ah, Mun-oh! - Hey, Mun-oh.
Here we are again, huh?
Good to see you.
What brings you here?
Surprised to see him, Mun-oh?
He was having dinner with the president of a publishing house,
and I saw him on his way out and asked him to join us.
The president? Good for you.
Hey, why were you in the bathroom for so long? What were you doing in there?
I even tried calling you.
I wasn't in there that long.
Uh, anyway, I hope I'm not interrupting your night out.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no. - No, not at all.
To tell you the truth, this is exciting.
Meeting you really made my night, actually.
Totally. I mean, it's always an honor to…
…well, have you join us.
He hasn't stopped talking about you ever since your lecture.
He's been bragging that he met an amazing author.
Going on and on about how he knows you.
That's great.
I didn't see your lecture. I had no idea you gave one until just now.
He's always been like that. Quiet, keeping his cards close.
In fact, I didn't even know that you two went to university together.
Oh, is that so? Eun-joo and I were just talking about you the other day.
Eun-joo?
Yes, my wife went to university with us too, but one year behind us.
Ah.
You two talk about me?
H-How's Eun-joo doing these days?
She's doing well.
And our son Se-yun is going to Yeonseo University now.
He's in your writing class. That's why your name came up.
Ah, I see.
I didn't know that.
So… what was my husband like in school?
Pretty taciturn back then too.
He would always sit behind everyone, in the last row, watching.
It made me a little nervous.
- But that's Mun-oh's way. - So you haven't changed at all, Mun-oh.
So, uh… you met with the president of a publishing house?
- About your next book I guess, huh? - Oh no, the one after that.
My next one is in the editing stage already.
No, we got together to talk about ideas. That's all.
Interesting.
How do you usually… get your new ideas?
Huh?
What do you do to find your ideas?
It's complicated.
What?
Would you rather not say?
Just curious. That's all.
For example…
…do you travel, go somewhere new, for instance?
Or maybe…
find a way to experience new things, things that deviate from the everyday?
I've never felt the need to go that far.
I do travel a lot, though. Why?
The truth is that… he's asking you that because he's curious.
After writing his first novel, he found it difficult to write another.
Yet you've written so many. He wants to know how you do it.
Is that so?
Why would you do that?!
I said why?!
Why would you say that, huh? That I'm not able to write?
How could you say that to Kim Su-hun? Out of everyone, you chose him?
Why are you keeping all these secrets?
It's embarrassing how little I know you. You went to school with him? So what?
Why didn't you tell me?
Was it too hard to mention him after he stole the girl you liked?
- What'd you say that for? - Because isn't that her name.
Ahn Eun-joo, Kim Su-hun's wife.
What's going on? Who is that woman to you?
You said it was all in the past, but do you still have feelings for her?
I'm sick of you keeping everything secret! It's not right!
I am not keeping secrets!
It's not like that.
That means you still have a serious obsessive fixation on Kim Su-hun.
- Otherwise, you would have told me. - I'm not obsessed!
Kim Su-hun is twisted and dangerous. Do you know how sick that guy is?
I would if you told me! How the hell else would I know?!
That day
was different.
- A bit suspicious, actually. - What?
What did you hear?
Let go!
- Cut it out! - Should we call your family?
- Want me to? - You threatening me?
Keep it up. I dare you! See what it gets you.
What?
What's it gonna get me? You're pathetic!
Fine, you son of a bitch! Is that the way it is?
Then I will show everyone who you are!
I can prove it too!
- Oh yeah. Surprised, asshole? - So they were fighting?
No, no. Uh, not exactly fighting.
More like they were each making threats.
They were?
So… what was it like when you went inside?
He told me to leave the tray outside the door.
Why were they making threats? Why now?
And what was the proof she said she had?
Hello?
Ah, yes, I'll head back right away.
Okay.
- I should get back now. - Sure, bro.
- I took up your whole break. - No, not at all. It was fun.
It was nice seeing you.
- See you later. - Yeah.
Come and visit me.
- Okay. - All right? See ya.
Oh, yesterday.
- This other young guy was here yesterday. - What?
He asked me what happened just before the accident, same as you.
Who was he?
- Did he tell you? - Don't think so.
Oh yeah, he said something a bit strange, though.
He asked if it was an accident.
And was there a chance it was intentional.
Intentional?
Yeah. I thought it sounded off the mark too.
I witnessed the accident myself, after all.
And then, after he left, I thought about it all for a while.
And I realized,
what made the guy suspect it was murder, unless he'd heard the threats too?
And I know he didn't.
So, what made this guy start asking if it could have been murder?
Who is he?
What does he know?
Oh dear God.
You told me to wait, and this is all you have?
Did you think this would be enough to get rid of me?
Will you shut up, you crazy bitch?
Don't push your luck.
Enough already!
Take what I'm willing to give you and get lost, you stupid leech.
- Let go! - Cut it out!
Should we call your family?
- Want me to? - You threatening me?
Keep it up. I dare you! See what it gets you.
What? What's it gonna get me? Oh, you're pathetic!
Fine, you son of a bitch! Is that the way it is?
Then I will show everyone who you are!
I can prove it too! Oh yeah. Surprised, asshole?
Kim Su-hun.
I can't believe it.
Who are you?
What have you done?
Hurry up.
Oh, Lee Kang!
Find the other guy. The other guy.
Professor?
- What time is it? - Just listen! Find out who that guy is!
You know, the one… The one who brought up the possibility of murder.
Go to the hotel and try to get some more information.
Check the security cameras if you have to!
He's the key.
We'll find out what she had on him.
Professor, please calm down.
You're the one who told me not to get worked up.
I was gonna come and tell you tomorrow anyway…
but I think I know who that guy is.
What'd you say?
Hey, sis.
I'm scared.
Dad murdered someone.
Yeah, murdered.
I think he did it.
NOTES FROM THE LAST ROW