Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl It was especially shocking when the mother jumped off the building . She was referring to the ending scene in The Sound of Wailing . The mother had left her life behind in order to reunite with her baby . It was quite detailed and realistic, wasnt it? Thats not all there was to it . That scene was the pivotal point in the book . It hit hard with reality in a story that had been mostly emotional, Soo Jung added scoldingly at Sang Youngs light-hearted remarks . The Sound of Wailing is not a book that is nice and friendly by any means . It heads toward destruction full throttle, and content like that tends to be heavy and burdensome . Yet, The Sound of Wailing is a little different . Rather than taking others burdens, it makes the readers reflect on themselves . Thats how the readers are able to get into the book without feeling wronged or ashamed . Sang Young and Myung Joo nodded quietly . I did pay particular attention to that scene . Im relieved to hear that the message got across, Juho said calmly . While eating, the four continued in their conversation about writing . Like any writer, Soo Jung was catching the most minute of details in Juhos work . It was obvious that she had carefully studied the flow, the chemistry between characters, the meaning of their dialogues and the properties of the sentences . Juho was quite impressed by her . Wow, it seems like you catch every little detail there is when you read . Thats amazing! She waved her hand in denial . I usually dont go that deep with other books . I just thought that I should be familiar with your works as I was writing the script for the movie . With that, she took something out of her bag . It was a book . I have four more of these raggedy books at home, she said proudly and handed the book over to Juho . A bird on a white background . It was Trace of a Bird . Upon opening it, Juho discovered that the entire book was filled with her notes, giving it a textbook-like appearance . That gave him an idea of how much time and intention she had put into writing the script . Now that Im looking at something like that, Im starting to get more curious about the script . Then, Id be more than glad to help . I happen to have it on me . Would you like to take a look? She moved her hand as if she had been ready to reach for the bag at any minute . However, Juho respectfully declined . No, thank you . Itll take away from the experience when I watch the movie, he said as he returned the book to Soo Jung . After getting the book back, she remained quiet for a little while . She was being more cautious . As Juho waited patiently for her, she carefully brought up the question that had been burning in her mind . I heard that you had made it a condition that we surpa.s.s the original . Id say its more of a wish than a condition . You really are different, Mr . Woo, Soo Jung said as she chuckled light-heartedly . Am I? Yes . If I were in your position, Id go after wealth and fame . Thats the condition for success . That is true . She felt relieved that Juho was still smiling . Depending on the person, it could have been a sensitive subject to discuss . Also, there was a sense of affirmation in Juhos answer . Frankly, Im not any different . Juho believed that he was no different from any others, and a perplexed look appeared on the couples faces . Are you saying that surpa.s.sing the original equates to more benefit? Wait . Youre not talking about some sort of bigger picture here, are you? Like the book selling more once the movie comes out, bringing wealth and fame? Juho shook his head . Not at all . Most people want wealth for their livelihood: to live just a bit more comfortably . Right? Right . Im exactly the same . Her light eyes blinked rapidly behind her gla.s.ses . Looking at her eyes, Juho reminisced about the days when he had had to survive through the winter without money or fame . He had starved and s.h.i.+vered in the cold . Yet, he had lived on despite the misery and discomfort . Those days had been filled with tears and laughter . He had been incapacitated by the alcoholism . He hadnt been able to feel anything . He had vomited stomach acid instead of his emotions . His organs no longer functioned properly due to the alcohol . He had hallucinated often . Unfortunately, his own hands had prevented him from putting that experience into writing as they shook uncontrollably . Even a short sentence had proven to be a challenge . It had been no different from death . . and Ill keep writing . Now, he wrote freely, just as his young self in the past . I want to be moved by a movie that surpa.s.ses my work . When that happens, Im certain that Ill be able to write something even better than what Ive written so far . In that case, wouldnt you have to work with a better director? Who would that be? Soo Jung remained silent . She couldnt answer . Could a famous director who was widely recognized be considered to be a better director? If not, an award-winning, perhaps? Im confident that Im working with the best director there is . Juho thought back to the day when Sang Young came to meet him at the publis.h.i.+ng company . Sang Young had been confident, and that had been apparent in his words . It had been possible that he had been making empty promises, but he hadnt let up in that moment at least . Such a person had a lot to offer . The kind of success Im after isnt always found in results . Besides, I received something from Mr . Ju . You did? The mothers cigarette in The Sound of Wailing . That was yours . Eh? Well, I was able to write a decent book, thanks to you, so Id say Im halfway from reaching my goal . While Sang Young sat there with a perplexed look, Juho added, So, I look forward to working with you for the next half of that journey . Silenced filled the room, and Soo Jung was taken aback by Juhos att.i.tude . He sounded as if his life depended on writing . It was an obsession—an obsession toward success . While he was after something that was far from conventional, the core of it was exactly the same as of any human being: to live . People couldnt survive without money or acknowledgement from others . Yet… If I dont write, I start to fall apart from within . The room was filled by Juhos laughter . Though it might have sounded like he was joking light-heartedly, Soo Jung realized the sincerity behind his words . This is great! Juho said as he brought a piece of sas.h.i.+mi up to his mouth . --- The table was filled with yet another series of dishes . They had been conversing for some time . Juho and Soo Jung spoke a similar language, and she knew how to put the other person in high spirits . Ive transcribed Mr . Lims book once as well . It was an a.s.signment . An a.s.signment? Yes, I was in college . This was ages ago . That was my first time transcribing, and it really was an experience . You almost feel closer to the book . Juho agreed enthusiastically . It feels like youre being probed from within . Thats a great a.n.a.logy! Juho sensed that they were about to get to the main point . While chewing his food, he looked at the man sitting on the other side of the table—a man of few words . While he acted accordingly, he never tried to plug himself in hastily . He seemed to be familiar with meetings like that . When the conversation between Juho and Soo Jung came to a brief pause, the man opened his mouth and said candidly, May I ask you a question? He had a pleasant voice that was both low and resonating . Juho had heard about how important clear enunciation was in acting . With his properly trained vocalization and expressive eyes, he seemed to possess every quality of an actor . Of course . Its about Yuns brother . He didnt beat around the bush . Juho had been previously informed that he had been the first person to ask about the brother . As long as its a question that I can answer, Ill answer to the best of my ability . Be generous with him, will ya? the director said to Juho in a whisper, but Juho ignored it light-heartedly . Mrs . Choi included the smallest of details in her script, so I can understand what kind of emotions Mr . Ju is looking for . I can picture the scenes from just reading it, and it wouldnt be strange to say that thats where my curiosity comes from . The clear interpretation in the script challenged the actors preconceived image of the character, but there was one thing that didnt make sense . Maybe it would be more accurate to say that it was different . That very thing was being reflected in the actors performance . Which scene is it? Its when the brother kills a bird . Juho remembered his old work vividly . There, was the brother killing a bird and Yun, who watched him quietly . There was a stark contrast between Yuns naive and fragile nature and his brothers ruthless and violent personality . The brother would ask his younger brother, Are you still scared? And Yun, the younger brother, would respond, Yeah . Killing the bird was the brothers way of expressing his emotions toward his timid brother, who couldnt even go outside when the sun was up . Is it rage? the actor asked, and Juho looked up at him and asked, Rage? Yes . The brother ends up killing the bird, and chucks the carca.s.s at Yun . After killing the very target of his fear, hes essentially putting whats left of it in the hands of his frightened younger brother, Yun . Now, the older brother is fully aware that Yun is afraid of birds . Yet, what he did wasnt for the benefit of his younger brother or to comfort him or to encourage him to do the same . That was the actors interpretation of the scene . The older brother would do something terrible, leaving their house tainted by the birds blood . He had brought the very thing Yun feared into his place of hiding . That place was no longer safe . The very person who knew his brothers weakness pinched him where it would hurt the most . It was betrayal . So, I acted it out, Myung Joo said as he raised both of his hands, looking like he was grasping onto something . It was the bird, trying to escape the hands that would bring its death . Juho played through the scene in his head . First, the brother would twist the birds wings . It had been a rule of sorts that he had kept whenever he commited similar acts . Without the chance to fly away, the bird would be as good as dead . Yet, it struggled to fight back, trying to walk on its two feet . It was at that moment that the brother let the bird free for a short time, as he made his way to the kitchen to look for a knife . By the time he returned, the bird was exactly where he had left it . Now, this is where the brother kills the bird, raging . His face twists into a scowl, and his jaw becomes tense . Hes fuming from his nostrils, and his breathing becomes more rigorous . The blood rus.h.i.+ng up to his head fuels his rage all the more . With that, the actor lowered his hands in a slightly awkward manner . Id read your book before it was decided that itd be made into a movie, Mr . Woo . Of course, this was before I took the role of the brother . When I read your book, I did it from Yuns point of view . That makes sense, considering that the book is written from his point of view, Juho said . Theres that, but I thought that I had done it because I had resonated with him, the actor said . In what way? With that, Myung Joo pondered for a brief time and answered in his low, resonant voice, enunciating everything clearly . Whenever I sense danger, I tend to take a step back and a.n.a.lyze the situation . I shrink and stop in my tracks, and I dont move a muscle until I have a better grasp of my opponent . The brother however, is different . Yes, he is, Juho answered after a brief pause . It was the first time he gave a definite answer . It was an affirming answer, and everyone in the room recognized it . Myung Joo clenched his hands into fists and said, He charges fearlessly toward his opponent . Those who run ahead tend to look admirable, and you start to long to be like them . For that reason, people stay by their sides and fall in love with them . I know I did, just like Yun . I see . Myung Joo redirected the conversation back on its track: the day when the brother killed a bird . So, what the older brother did comes to Yun as betrayal . Yun gets hurt, and he starts to despise his brother . Juho gave him no answer . That couldnt be his point, considering that he was the actor who would portray the brother, not Yun . What he really wanted to know was… Is he really raging? The question returned to him . Shouldnt Yun be the one raging? The two are polar opposites, responding to the same target in completely different ways . But are they, all of a sudden, both raging toward each other? A quiet, light-hearted laughter sounded from Juho .