Coffin Chapter One (no beta): One Bad Day
[The screen cuts to a black screen and the sound of a crying baby; we then hear a voice over of SEONG GI-HUN]
Hey, hush, little one, hush β¦ I know you miss your eomma; I miss her too. I understand that things seem a bit grim right now, but you need your rest. I remember when my little girl was your age, she struggled to sleep too. So, I would tell her fairytales, and her favourite was the story of Heungbu and Nolbu. I must admit that this story can be a little scary, filled with wild beasts, wicked demons, crazy shamans, and an evil, greedy emperor who rules over a faraway island with an iron fist. But donβt worry! This story is also filled with brave heroes and, at its heart, a stubborn joker who outsmarted the devil! ... and I promise that this story has a happy ending.
INT β The Seongβs apartment, Bulgwang-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul - Day
[The screen sudden flashes to a blaring digital alarm clock reading: 4:56 and a hand slamming it off.
GI-HUN rolls on to his back, exposing his faded David Bowie t-shirt β light grey background with a big red and blue lightning bolt, and in English, βWe Can Be Heros, Just for One Dayβ- and a pair of red gingham track suit bottoms.
Next to him is his snoring five-year-old daughter, GA-YEONG, wearing bright yellow pyjamas β her shirt has a sun wearing sunglasses, next to a raincloud and a rainbow β lying flat on her back and hugging a cuddly, brown horse toy.
The last person in the bed is his wife, KANG EUN-JI, wrapped in a grey blanket with her back facing away from the others; she groans as she rises and rubs her eyes.]
Gi-hun, did you forget to shut off your alarm again?
[GI-HUN literally rolls out of bed and lands on his side of the bed with a thud, before popping back up like a jack-in-a-box; his short but thick black hair sticking out all direction like the tentacles of a squid.]
I didnβt forget β¦ Iβm going into work today; I picked up some extra shifts.
You canβt be serious β
[GA-YEONG snores loudly, cutting her off. EUN-JI looks at her before hissing at GI-HUN, her voice quieter.]
You canβt seriously be working on Red Day! You promised to take Ga-Yeong to Seoul Land Amusement Park; sheβs been looking forward to that for months.
[GI-HUN steps outside of their tiny bedroom and into their equally tiny apartment.
He walks past the worn-down shelves that sag under the weight of textbooks, all with cracked spines and dog-eared pages. Nearby, a weathered wooden kitchen table, its surface marred by countless scratches and stains, hidden beneath a blizzard of old exam papers, study notes, and unpaid bills. The kitchen itself is equally chaotic, with a sink overflowing with piles of dirty dishes, used glasses, and scattered utensils.
The area in front of the kitchen serves as both the living room and dining room. It features a makeshift arrangement with a small television perched on a rickety wooden table, flanked by an aging DVD player and a stack of outdated magazines. In front of the television is a cluster of mismatched pillows is spread haphazardly across the floor.
GI-HUN steps into the bathroom, careful not to bump into the stacked drier and washing machine as he strips off his pyjamas before pulling back the plastic curtain of the periodic table and he steps onto the tub, careful to balance himself on a safety mat with cartoon rubber duckies wearing umbrella hats. The faint sound of water trickling fills the air as he prepares for his routine. He closes the curtain just as EUN-JI walks in and pulls it back, exposing GI-HUNβs foam-covered body.
GI-HUN shrieks and he covers his chest and stares at EUN-JI scandalously before pulling the curtain back.]
We have a child together, I have seen you naked! Seeing you naked it is what started this!
Yeah, you love me β couldnβt resist once you got a taste *makes loud kissing noise*. I donβt even know why youβre mad. Look, since not a lot of parents are gonna show up today, the boss offered me extra money. Plus, itβs not like we can say no to money, with you going back to school and taking a bunch of tutoring classes - those arenβt exactly cheap by the way. Iβm just picking up the slack, Ga-yeong canβt sleep in our bed forever!
Oh, so youβre saying itβs my fault!
I didnβt say that, when did I say that!
You know that once I pass my Civil Service Exams, more doors are going to open for me, so stop trying to make me out as a bad partner.
Donβt go putting words in my mouth β I never called you a bad partner, I think itβs great that youβre working so diligently, my wife the super genius, you gonna knock that exam out of the park.
So, what, youβre just going to leave me alone with an upset five-year-old?
Go to my motherβs; she adores both you and Ga-yeong, she even said marrying you was the smartest thing Iβve ever done in my life.
Thatβs not saying a lot.
Besides, sheβs been looking for an excuse to take Ga-yeong to the Bulgwangsa Temple for ages. And do you honestly think I donβt want to go to? That I would rather go the factory than an amusement park?
[EUN-JI huffs in annoyance, opens the drier and pulls out GI-HUNβS grey factory jumpsuit and folds it onto the toilet.
GI-HUN walks out of the bathroom in his uniform, enters the kitchen and goes to the fridge; it is covered in GA-YEONGβS crayon drawings and cartoony magnets. He opens the door, pulls out two big bentos lunchboxes and puts them into his red worn-out backpack. GI-HUN then stuffs a homemade Bungeoppang[1] into his mouth with the fish tail sticking out of it. He makes his way to the door, and EUN-JI looks out the window and sees dark clouds in the distance.]
Looks like a storm is brewing, you better bring an umbrella
[Mouth full of food, GI-HUN muffled in agreement as he ties his shoelace from his old, worn down, leather working boots and puts on a dark grey cap on top of his head. EUN-JI meets him at the door and GI-HUN turns to her and quickly hugs EUN-JI]
I β I am sorry about all this. I would love to spend the day with you and Ga-yeong
[GI-HUN walks out of their apartment, pass the elevator doors with a crooked βOUT OF ORDERβ sign hanging by a single piece of tape. He jogs down the stairs and out of the apartment building, before quickly making his way across the uneven pavement. His shoes scuff against the gritty surface as he approaches his battered car, paint faded and the body was dented, looking like it had seen better days.
He reaches for the worn handle and fumbles with the keys. The cute mini Bungeo-ppang and green soju bottle keychain jangled softly before he unlocked the door and slipped inside. GI-HUN looks at his messy dashboard - he made the mistake of leaving GA-YEONG unsupervised in the car with stickers β it is covered in orange flowers, sparkly stars, and rainbow butterflies. GI-HUN was too busy fiddling with the radio to notice EUN-JI walk up to the passenger window.
EUN-JI loudly knocked on the window, causing GI-HUN to jump. He then rolls down the window.]
Meongcheong-i[2], you left this behind β¦ have a good day.
[EUN-JI slides GI-HUNβs umbrella through the window]
[GI-HUN drives through the neighbourhood while the radio plays the upbeat, American country music Bad Moon Rising[3]; Gi-hun taps his fingers on the steering wheel and bobs his head, not understanding the lyrics:
I see the bad moon arising
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers overflowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
As GI-HUN drives through Bulgwang-dong, he watched the landscape change around him.
The charming, traditional Korean buildings with their intricate designs and vibrant colours, gradually melted away. In their place, sleek modern skyscrapers rose high into the sky, their glass facades reflecting the storm clouds gathering in the sky. The streets became wider, filled with contemporary life, as cafes, shops, and busy pedestrians replaced the quiet charm of the past.]
EXT β Dragon Motors Factory - Day
[GI-HUN drives past a billboard of a smug, overly polished man in an expensive suit; his teeth were unnervingly white and perched atop his head like a crown was a clean and white hard hat. Across the bottom of the billboard in bold letters were the words: FAMILY TOGETHER β HERE AT DRAGON MOTORS, SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY!
He parks in the parking lot and turns off the music, just in time to hear a cloud clap of thunder. GI-HUN quickly jogs towards the factory, just as the rain began hammering into the fractured concrete, a few stubborn dandelions are sprouting in the cracks. Dragon Motors looms ahead, a hulking behemoth of concrete and steel. The air vibrates with the relentless sounds of grinding metal and pneumatic hissing.]
INT β Dragon Motors - Day
[GI-HUN steps into an industrial locker room lined with grey lockers, and it is washed in a stale, artificial light. In the far end of the room sits an overflowing trash bin next to an empty vending machine. He walks over to his locker and unlocked with the code (0608) and places his bag inside, and puts a dirty white hard hat onto his head.
Suddenly PARK JUNG-BAE excitedly slams his hands onto GI-HUNβs shoulders.]
Hey! What are you doing here?
{GI-HUN playfully slaps JUNG-BAEβs shoulders}
Boss offered me extra money
Well glad to see you anyway, I thought I had to spend today alone.
Yeah, not a chance, and I made youβre favourite
I knew there was a reason I kept you around; just like in our military service, I was lucky to have you as my bunk mate since your Eomma generously packed you snacks and your care packets were packed with homecooked meals - my parents didnβt even send me one single letter.
Perks of having an Eomma who runs the best Sijang store in Seoul! She was certainly surprised to see me as skinny as a rake, but you were round as a dumpling β looks like somethings never change!
{Pokes JUNG-BAEβs stomach}
You make it sound like I was taking advantage of you! I kept punks off your back. And for the record, fat bodies are packed with energy and act like natural padding for organs and joints - so yeah, Iβm actually in better shape than your bony ass!
[JUNG-BAE and GI-HUN playfully slap at each other while they walk out of the locker room.]
Well, it is thanks to this βbony assβ that you even have this job, it was all thanks to my connections -
Oh yeah, itβs good to have friends in high places
You laugh but it actually took a bit of sweet talking to convince the hard asses to hire you. They werenβt too keen about hiring a marine discharged for, and I quote, βBad Conductβ β which you never explained by the way.
[The two men quickly found themselves in the industrial floor β the beating heart of the factory; a sprawling space that was dominated by looming assembly lines where unfinished car frames stretched into the distance like skeletal remains of some mechanical beast. Machines roared to life, their metallic jaws clanking and whirring as they stamped, welded, and assembled with mechanical precision. Sparks erupted in fiery arcs, casting fleeting glimpses of orange and white against the grimy walls.
The air itself throbbed with noise - a deafening symphony of grinding metal, hissing hydraulics, and the relentless clatter of machinery; shouts pierced the cacophony as workers strained to communicate over the din, their voices raw with effort. Even though it was Red Day, the factory was alive with the moment of deadeye workers moving as if they were those old-fashioned tin soldier toys with their keys wound tight.]
[Two worker speed walks past GI-HUN and JUNG-BAE]
Manager Kim Yeong-sam[4] is on the warpath again.
[GI-HUN and JUNG-BAE quickly scramble to look busy, their movements stiff and unnatural, as if they were actors in a poorly rehearsed play. But it was too late β YEONG-SAM had already noticed them.
YEONG-SAM marched towards them, his tie dangles loosely around his neck, and his white suit shirt was rolled up to his elbows, exposing his forearms. YEONG-SAMβS usual slick back hair was tousled, as if he had run his hands through it one too many times for one morning.]
Oh, hello there sir, didnβt see you there β and can I just say what lovely weather weβre having
Can it Seong! I need one of you nun-chi eop-da[5] to fix a busted electrical pipe upstairs.
[Both JUNG-BAE and GI-HUN groan loudly]
This dump is falling apart; damn, why canβt these rich pricks ever hire professional to fix it up?
This isnβt even in our job description
Your job is whatever I tell you to do! Now I donβt want to hear anymore complaining and I donβt care who does it as long as it gets done!
[YEONG-SAM walks off to yell at another worker; both JUNG-BAE and GI-HUN groan in annoyance.]
That damn pipe is a death trap
[JUNG-BAE stares GI-HUN knowingly]
Why do you think I want to?
Youβre way better at this sort of stuff then I am! I mean look at my thick meat hands, no way could these sausage fingers fit in the pipe β but your thin spidery hands could!
Iβm sorry, did you just compare my hands to a spider?
Iβm more of a hammer and youβre more like a scalpel; you're better at things that need precision and a lighter touch.
Alright, alright, alright β how about this; letβs play Rock Paper Scissors Minus One? Loser fixes the pipe!
[JUNG-BAE throws rock and scissors while GI-HUN counters with scissors and paper - sealing his fate.]
Better luck next time! And donβt use the elevator; it's on the frits. I donβt trust it.
[Grumbling and muttering under his breath, GI-HUN lungs up the metal stairs. Each step clanged beneath his worn-out boots and his fingers tightened around the rusted railing.
By the time he reaches the narrow metal balcony overlooking the factory floor, GI-HUN was gasping for air and grips the railing for support; it is held tighter by duct tape and a pray. He leans forward, watching the workers below, moving like a colony of hardworking ants. He stood there for a moment, absorbing the chaotic environment. His eyes fell on a loose screw on the floor, partially hidden in grime. It caught the dim light, a small sign of defiance in an oppressive setting. GI-HUN crouched down and picked it up, feeling its insignificance, much like his own.
Without thinking, he flicked the screw like a coin and with a soft plink, it disappeared over the side of the platform. GI-HUN watched as it fell in a lazy arc, and for a moment, it was free.
It didnβt have to obey the rules of the factory. It didnβt have to work. It just ... fell.
The screw hit the factory floor somewhere in the distance, lost in the noise. GI-HUN exhaled, his breath shaky. He wiped his hands on his pants, leaving streaks of dirt. The moment passed. Reality crashed back in. He is still here. Still just an extra insignificant ant.]
All in all, it's just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall[6]
[We then see GI-HUN from behind, wearing a cheap grey factory jumpsuit β the kind designed for function rather than comfort. He is tinkering with the wires of a long metal pipe when a sudden explosion throws him back in slow motion, his hair obscuring his face. The flames from the explosion transform into a flurry of orange and yellow butterflies, while GI-HUNβs right arm and leg dissolve into red butterflies.]
[1] Sweet red bean paste-filled pastry shaped like a fish
[2] Means βfoolβ or βdummy,β
[3] 1969 song by Creedence Clearwater Revival
[4] Player 226, the one that was friends with player 100 and got his ass handed to him by Cho Hyun-ju
[5] Means βClueless,β literally βyou have no sense/awareness.β
When to Use: When someone fails to pick up on social cues or hints.
[6] Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC BUT HORRIBLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THERE ARE COMPANIES OUT THERE LIKE THIS!
Gihun is just trying to take care of his family and the universe pays him back like this π and Jungbae and Gihun being such good friends!!!
