EPISODE 36: The Lie That Haunts
**SCENE START]
INT. MUSIC SHOW DRESSING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
The jubilant energy in the room has evaporated. The air is thick with shock and disbelief. The five members of ECHO stare at the phone screen, their faces pale. The news headline about the "scandal" is a gut punch.
MIN-SU (His voice a low, strangled whisper) What... is this?
SEUNG-HO (Eyes wide) This has to be fake, right? It's just a rumor.
The photo on the screen is a grainy image of Hyun-woo from his past life. A younger, more innocent face. His hands are tied in a way that suggests a physical struggle. The headline claims it's evidence of a "public altercation."
TAEYANG (Points to the photo) That's not even him now. That's... old.
JAEHYUN looks at Hyun-woo, his eyes filled with a desperate need for answers.
HYUN-WOO (He takes a deep breath, his voice steady) It's a lie. A complete fabrication. The man behind this is using a fake story from my past to try to ruin us.
Min-su's face contorts with a white-hot fury. He grabs his phone.
MIN-SU I'm going to post something. I'll tell everyone it's a lie! I'll tell them they're trying to sabotage us!
Hyun-woo stops him, placing a firm hand on his arm.
HYUN-WOO No. Don't. That's what he wants. He wants us to fight in public. To give his lie a voice.
Their manager, a kind-hearted man in his 40s, rushes in, his face etched with worry.
MANAGER Boys, the CEO wants to see you. Now.
[SCENE END]
INT. CEO'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
The CEO, his face grim, is sitting at his desk, staring at the same article. The room feels like a war room.
CEO LEE (His voice is low and controlled) I've already contacted our legal team. They're working on getting this post removed, but it's spreading fast. This is a targeted attack. The timing is too perfect.
Hyun-woo steps forward, his voice clear and confident.
HYUN-WOO Sir, I know who is behind this. A man named Director Lee from Nexus Entertainment. He's trying to sabotage us. He's doing this to discredit our debut and get his trainee, Jung Min-jun, a spotlight.
CEO Lee looks at Hyun-woo, his eyes filled with a new level of understanding.
CEO LEE (He nods slowly) He's not just an ambitious competitor. This is personal.
HYUN-WOO It is. And a statement won't be enough. He'll just come back with another lie. We need to fight back with something they can't take from us.
[SCENE END]
INT. HYUN-WOO'S GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - EVENING
The house is quiet. The TV is off. GRANDMA and GRANDPA are sitting together on the couch, their hands intertwined. They've seen the news.
Hyun-woo walks in, his shoulders heavy. He was strong for his group, but he's exhausted. He sits on the floor at their feet, his head in his hands.
GRANDMA (Her voice is filled with a deep love) We saw it, Hyun-woo. We saw the article.
Hyun-woo doesn't look up.
HYUN-WOO I'm so sorry. I should have been more careful. I shouldn't have brought this into your lives.
Grandma gently lifts his chin.
GRANDMA That's a silly thing to say. We're your family. We are with you no matter what. That boy in the photo… he was just a child. And what they're saying is a horrible lie. We know who you are. We know your heart.
Grandpa puts a hand on his shoulder.
GRANDPA You went through something terrible. And you came back stronger. Don't you ever think that we're ashamed of you. You are our brave boy.
Hyun-woo looks at their loving faces. The lie on the internet feels small compared to the truth in this room. He feels a renewed strength. He is not fighting to win back fame; he is fighting to protect the people he loves.
[SCENE END]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - DANCE PRACTICE ROOM - LATE NIGHT
The five boys are back in the practice room. They've been watching their debut video and scrolling through the comments. The negative ones are starting to trickle in, but the positive ones are still a flood.
Min-su looks at Hyun-woo.
MIN-SU So, what's the plan? We can't just sit here and let them lie about us.
Hyun-woo looks at him, then at the others.
HYUN-WOO We don't need to say anything. We're not politicians. We're artists. We have a stage. We have music. We'll use our next performance to tell our story. We'll show them the truth. We'll show them that we are unified. That we are a family.
He starts to hum a new melody, a slow, emotional tune. The other boys look at each other, their faces filled with a new kind of resolve. They don't have to fight back with words. They have something much more powerful. Their music.
FADE OUT.
[SCENE END]