Ch.252Same Name, Different Feeling

About 7 years ago.

When Kim Donghu cleared High Dream 2.

“…”

Lee Minha felt like his world was collapsing.

Though he didn’t show it to anyone outwardly.

Inside, behind his pale complexion, time seemed to have frozen.

“Donghu…”

To be honest, he had been somewhat arrogant.

When the first one was so successful, and they offered him the lead role for the second.

He naturally thought Donghu would accept without hesitation.

But that prediction missed the mark completely.

From that point on, Kim Donghu suddenly began to soar like mad.

Then a few years later, as if Korea was too small for him.

He casually traveled abroad, freely displaying his talent.

And each time, Lee Minha’s standards for a lead actor grew higher.

“It’s not that! My standards aren’t high! I actually only have one criterion!”

“Kim Donghu?”

“Yes! That’s right! Donghu! I… I want Donghu to take my script again… and act, you know? Act in it.”

The day Lee J jumped out of the script.

Lee Minha was still tied to that day.

Lee J playing the piano, pouring out his hatred.

He desperately wanted to see that scene again.

But at the same time, he was afraid.

‘What if I get rejected again? What if… if I’m refused again?’

Unlike during High Dream.

Now Kim Donghu was being flooded with scripts.

In that situation, would his script—already rejected once—be chosen?

It was hard to imagine.

So writer Lee Minha worked hard to refine his script.

To write a scenario so powerful it couldn’t be rejected.

He wrote various works, gained diverse experiences.

And finally, what emerged was The Pianist.

“I did it! I did it!”

When he completed the script.

Writer Lee Minha first distributed this script to domestic broadcasting stations.

“Isn’t this too cruel? We can’t do this with just a few setting adjustments, sorry.”

“We’d like to do it if possible, but… I’m sorry.”

“How about something in the romance genre instead? I see you have a bit of that, maybe if you develop that more…”

Not getting satisfactory answers, he immediately turned to OTT platforms.

Actually, at this point, writer Lee Minha wanted to go with Netflix.

After all, he judged that they had more users at the current time.

But.

“I don’t find it very interesting. Even though you say you have Kim Donghu in mind for the lead.”

Netflix, which he thought would surely accept, coldly rejected him.

“I think it could work with some adaptation? We’ll sign the contract on the condition that the orphanage and children’s scenes are not shown.”

Disney, feeling that Netflix was being too rigid on this point, readily accepted.

After that, everything went smoothly.

If there was one concern, it was whether Kim Donghu would participate.

So Lee Minha sent the draft script with an “oh well” attitude.

Not one tailored for mass appeal.

The initial version of The Pianist, created with the most brutal feel in mind.

While including the most intriguing settings in the email.

And the result was.

“We got a reply from Veritas! He says he’ll do it!”

“Really? That’s crazy! Unbelievable!”

It was a huge success.

+++++

Right after sending the email agreeing to do it.

As if he’d been waiting, I received a call from writer Lee Minha.

Since it had been a long time since we spoke.

After exchanging greetings, we immediately started discussing business.

“Oh, this is just a draft? Originally… Yes, yes.”

And that’s when I learned that the The Pianist script I received was just a draft.

I was told the revised version would unfold with a somewhat more toned-down flavor.

-I’m sorry, really… I just wanted to get your attention somehow.

“Haha.”

-If I didn’t do this, Donghu wouldn’t look at my script…

“…”

He’s still using quite an old meme.

‘No, was this the right one to use in 2020?’

“Sorry, I pulled this aggro just to show you this” was still trending at that time.

Rather, that line perfectly reflected the current trends.

-Anyway… there won’t be any scenes with children at all, just keeping the killing parts.

“Oh, so they’ll just be mentioned?”

-Yes, since all the people being killed are adults anyway.

And when I finally heard that the cannibalism would also be removed.

I realized what the writer’s intention was in sending the draft script.

‘He wanted me to properly understand the background setting.’

Not just ending with what was written in the script.

He wanted to convey the detailed settings.

That must be how he wanted to elevate the quality of the work.

After continuing the conversation for a while.

As the discussion was wrapping up.

-Oh, right. For piano consultation… Chairman Edward Park has agreed to help.

“What?”

Words I never expected struck my ears.

+++++

“Ohohohoho!”

The day the “MEET” music video was revealed to the world.

Edward Park wiggled his hips in delight.

Some might say it’s unseemly behavior for a fifty-year-old.

But he didn’t care much.

“Donghu’s performance always makes my ears tingle with excitement.”

Because there was something more important in front of him.

To put it bluntly.

Kim Donghu’s performance was the very ideal that Edward Park pursued.

Perfect yet meticulous.

Sensitive yet making listeners comfortable.

That exquisite harmony drove people crazy.

Should it be called the performance of a beast in a suit?

‘Only Donghu can deliver a performance that instills both tension and ecstasy in people.’

So he listened to “MEET” whenever he had time.

And prayed that someday he could hear that performance again, like at the graduation ceremony.

Had his prayers been answered?

“Piano consultation… and for Donghu’s performance!”

He was so happy he could cry.

Watching Donghu’s performance in real-time right before his eyes?

Of course he couldn’t resist.

As the first filming day for The Pianist approached.

Edward Park felt alive.

After waiting for so long.

Finally, the first filming day for The Pianist arrived.

Edward Park could see Kim Donghu standing quietly in the studio.

‘Huh.’

Kim Donghu’s skin, tanned during Tarzan, had returned to its original color.

Black hair neatly swept back.

Dark eyes beneath, and a firm body supporting it all.

Covering that body was a suit, like a restraint.

Like a final control device to prevent the worst situation.

It gripped Kim Donghu’s body tightly and wouldn’t let go.

‘And… everything around is dark, with just one piano.’

Ever since people heard Kim Donghu would play the piano.

They knowingly or unknowingly created this kind of atmosphere.

A device to draw attention to Kim Donghu alone, you could say.

But there was one difference from the productions he’d seen before.

‘I see an enormously large chandelier.’

An obviously expensive chandelier was precariously positioned above the piano.

As if made to embody an angel.

The chandelier, the epitome of splendor.

Was softly casting its light down on Kim Donghu.

As if an angel were delivering a revelation from heaven.

“His name is Do Gyu, a Korean-American character.”

Writer Lee Minha, who had approached without notice, pushed up his glasses and explained.

“He’s set up as a very famous pianist, but he has various compulsions… so he always plays like that in the morning.”

“A routine, I see.”

“Yes, exactly. But rather than simply playing, I wanted some special element.”

“What kind of special element?”

“Something that doesn’t match the atmosphere… I want to use the brightest piece for a solo performance in a dark room, but I can’t think of anything suitable.”

So I wanted to ask for your advice.

Upon hearing this, Edward Park was puzzled.

“But why is he performing in Korea?”

“The set construction isn’t finished yet, it’ll take about 4 months.”

“Ah, so you’re just filming the performance part first?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since we can’t completely stop, we’re starting with filming what we can using CG and props.”

The performance is part of that too.

As soon as he heard this, Edward Park realized what he needed to do.

“Donghu! It’s been a while, but shall we start with the performance right away?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Then how about Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major? First movement.”

As soon as Edward Park finished speaking, Kim Donghu fiercely sat down at the piano.

‘The Pianist… Do Gyu is a character with compulsions he himself doesn’t recognize.’

Compulsions he’s aware of and those he isn’t.

A character bound by countless societal gazes.

A monster created by past pain and present solitude.

What kind of performance does such a monster give?

Lighter and fresher than anyone else.

He prefers joyful performances.

Because he doesn’t know what’s wrong.

Because he truly believes what he’s doing is salvation.

When children kill ants out of curiosity.

There’s no complex intention behind it.

A one-dimensional desire to do so.

That alone is their motivation and what triggers their happiness.

And the same goes for Do Gyu.

Therefore, in a dark room without a single light.

The song that spreads is nothing but cheerful.

Happiness spreads across Do Gyu’s face as he performs.

It couldn’t be otherwise.

For someone who believes people have innate destinies.

This moment of doing what he must do would be ecstatic.

As the performance continued.

‘Ah… this is truly maddening.’

Edward Park found it increasingly difficult to hold back his welling tears.

Donghu’s performance, which he had dreamed of, right before his eyes.

‘Indeed, happiness is not far away.’

That’s what Edward Park thought.

++++++++

Meanwhile, at the same time.

“The champion’s side rejected extending the rematch period. At this rate, the fight is in 5 months.”

“…”

There was another Edward with completely different emotions.

He was Edward Maxwell, the former WBC Heavyweight Champion.

“Damn it! Crazy! Is this for real?! So I have to fight in 5 months?!”

Until he saw that video, he honestly thought it was carelessness.

But after watching a certain video.

He concluded it was definitely not.

“He lifts over two thousand pounds! Is he even human?!”

Is that right for a boxer?

He vented his anger, but the target of that anger didn’t exist.

Time passed quickly, and 4 months later.

The day of the WBC Heavyweight Championship rematch approached.

“How many rounds do you predict?”

“I’ll end it in the first round. I don’t have time to play around anymore.”

Kim Donghu’s trash talk was just a bonus.