EPISODE 28: Five Stars
**SCENE START]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - RECEPTION - DAY
JAEHYUN (18), a bright-eyed boy with a nervous smile, and TAEYANG (18), a quiet, reserved boy with a confident slouch, stand awkwardly in the lobby. They look around at the sleek, minimalist decor. This place is different from the other agencies they've visited.
JAEHYUN (Whispering) Do you think they'll pick us? I heard they're building a new group.
TAEYANG (Without looking at him) They already picked us. The only question is if we're going to fit in with whoever they've already found.
A company EMPLOYEE approaches them with a clipboard.
EMPLOYEE Jaehyun and Taeyang? The CEO is ready for you. Follow me.
They walk down a pristine hallway, the silence feeling heavy. They pass practice rooms, hearing snippets of music and dance. Their future is behind one of these doors.
[SCENE END]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - PRACTICE ROOM - DAY
HYUN-WOO, MIN-SU, and SEUNG-HO are stretching in the large, mirrored room. They've been waiting for a while.
MIN-SU (Sighing) How long are we going to have to wait for them? We have a debut to prepare for.
SEUNG-HO Just be patient, Min-su. We're a team now.
MIN-SU (Scoffs) A team of three. Now we're going to be a team of five. What if they're not good? What if they can't keep up?
Hyun-woo looks at his reflection. He remembers the faces he saw on the internet. He knows they are good. He knows they are a perfect fit.
The door opens. The EMPLOYEE walks in, followed by Jaehyun and Taeyang. Both new boys are a mix of nervous energy and quiet defiance. They scan the room, their eyes landing on Hyun-woo.
Jaehyun gives a nervous smile. Taeyang gives a small, almost imperceptible nod.
The CEO walks in behind them, a stern look on his face.
CEO LEE (Clapping his hands) Gentlemen. This is your group. The five of you will debut together. On the left, we have Jaehyun, our main vocalist, and on the right, Taeyang, a gifted dancer. I've given you a day to get to know each other. Now start practicing.
The CEO turns and leaves, leaving the five boys in a tense silence.
Hyun-woo steps forward, a calm, confident air about him that feels strangely out of place on his young face.
HYUN-WOO (He smiles warmly) My name is Hyun-woo. This is Min-su, our main rapper, and Seung-ho, our vocalist. Welcome.
He turns to Jaehyun.
HYUN-WOO Your voice is incredible. I heard you practicing in the music room at the academy. I think it can fill a stadium someday.
Jaehyun's eyes widen. He hadn't been practicing in the music room for long, and no one had ever heard him before.
HYUN-WOO And you...
He turns to Taeyang.
HYUN-WOO ... you dance like you're fighting for your life. That passion, that rebellious spirit... it's exactly what this group needs.
Taeyang's eyes narrow. How could this stranger know that about him? He's never danced in front of anyone but himself.
MIN-SU (He crosses his arms, looking suspicious) What, you a fortune teller now?
HYUN-WOO (He laughs softly) Something like that.
[SCENE END]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - PRACTICE ROOM - LATER
The five boys are going through a basic choreography. It's a mess. Min-su is trying to add flashy, unnecessary moves. Jaehyun and Seung-ho are out of sync with each other. Taeyang moves with a fluid grace but stays in his own world, refusing to cooperate with the others.
Min-su stomps his foot in frustration.
MIN-SU This isn't working! We're all over the place.
Hyun-woo looks at them, taking in their individual talents and their collective flaws. He claps his hands together, his voice firm.
HYUN-WOO Alright. Take a break. We need to do this differently.
He walks to the front, taking charge. He doesn't tell them what to do; he shows them.
HYUN-WOO Min-su, that flashy move... it's for the chorus. Save it for the climax. You'll get more attention that way.
Min-su blinks in surprise, then nods, a hint of respect in his eyes.
HYUN-WOO Jaehyun, you and Seung-ho have different styles, so don't try to mirror each other. Try this...
He shows them a subtle motion with his hand, a small change in their stance. They try it, and it works, creating a perfect balance between their two styles.
Finally, he turns to Taeyang. Taeyang looks at him with a defiant stare.
HYUN-WOO (Softly) We're a team, not five solo dancers. Your moves are incredible, but they need to tell a story with the group. Let me show you what I mean.
Hyun-woo begins to dance, but he doesn't use any complicated moves. He uses simple, fluid motions that connect with the music and tell a story. He dances toward Taeyang, then steps back, inviting him to join. Taeyang watches for a moment, then, slowly, he starts to move, joining Hyun-woo's dance. The other boys watch, mesmerized. The movement is fluid and powerful, a silent conversation between them.
The song ends, and Hyun-woo stops. He looks at the other four boys, a small smile on his face.
HYUN-WOO (He breathes out) The first step is always the hardest. But we're in this together. We're a team now.
Jaehyun, Min-su, and Seung-ho look at each other, a new understanding between them. Taeyang gives a small, almost imperceptible nod to Hyun-woo. They are not rivals anymore. They are a group.
FADE OUT.
[SCENE END]