EPISODE 39: The Hidden Truth
**SCENE START]
INT. ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OFFICE - DAY
The office is a testament to wealth and success. LEE MIN-HO (50s), Hyun-woo's father, sits at his large, polished desk. A nervous junior partner is presenting a new project, but Min-ho's attention is elsewhere.
Suddenly, his secretary buzzes him.
SECRETARY (V.O.) Sir, a Ms. Lee is here to see you. She says it's a personal matter.
Min-ho's face hardens. He knows a legal firm by that name.
LEE MIN-HO Send her in.
The door opens, and MS. LEE (30s) enters. She's confident and composed, holding a sleek black folder. She doesn't introduce herself but gets straight to the point.
MS. LEE Mr. Lee, I've been retained by your son, Hyun-woo, to discuss a matter of grave concern to your family.
Lee Min-ho's composure shatters. His face fills with a mix of fury and disbelief.
LEE MIN-HO My son? What has he gotten himself into?
MS. LEE (She places the folder on his desk) He's gotten into this. My client has provided me with a detailed file on the bribery scandal from twelve years ago, the one involving the city council and your firm's bid for the new business district. The documents, the payoffs, the names. It's all here.
Lee Min-ho's face pales. He stares at the folder as if it's a bomb. He looks up at her, his voice a low, strangled whisper.
LEE MIN-HO This is impossible. We covered all of our tracks.
MS. LEE (She smiles a cold, professional smile) Not all of them. My client knows that this information is being used to threaten him. He doesn't want money. He doesn't want a public fight. He wants you to handle this, for the sake of your family's future.
Lee Min-ho stares at her, a silent fury building in his eyes.
[SCENE END]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - DANCE PRACTICE ROOM - DAY
Hyun-woo is with the other members of ECHO. They're on a break, sprawled on the floor, exhausted from practice. Hyun-woo is just sitting, staring at his phone. The screen is blank, but he's waiting.
His phone rings. It's an unknown number. He knows who it is. He walks to the corner of the room to answer it.
HYUN-WOO (Into the phone) Hello.
LEE MIN-HO (V.O.) Hyun-woo. What do you think you're doing? I get a lawyer calling me at my office, threatening my business? I have a new family now! You're going to destroy everything!
HYUN-WOO (His voice is low and firm) I'm doing this to protect you. And your family. They're using your past to get to me. This isn't about me anymore.
LEE MIN-HO (V.O.) I offered you money! You could have anything you want! Why are you so hell-bent on this path?
HYUN-WOO (A sad, hollow laugh escapes his lips) Because it's not about money, Dad. It's about family. You had a chance to choose me once. Now, you have a chance to choose your new family over a man who's going to ruin you.
The line goes silent. Hyun-woo hangs up, his shoulders heavy. He looks at his friends, who are watching him with concerned expressions.
JAEHYUN (Quietly) Hyun-woo... what's happening?
Hyun-woo just shakes his head. He can't tell them. He can't put them in the line of fire.
[SCENE END]
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
The alley is dark and dirty. A man in a tracksuit, the ally of Director Lee, stands with a phone pressed to his ear.
ALLY (His voice is low, furious) He hired a lawyer. The kid is fighting back. He's a smart one. He's not just an idol; he's a player.
A voice on the other end is calm and cold.
DIRECTOR LEE (V.O.) I told you, his arrogance is his greatest weakness. He thinks he can fight us. We'll show him what real power looks like. Go to the media. Not with a rumor. With the truth. Release the story about his father's scandal. All of it. The public needs to know who he's related to. And make sure everyone knows that the lawyer he hired is an idiot who is just trying to start a big show, and it will fail.
ALLY (A chilling smile on his face) Consider it done. We'll make his father pay for his son's mistakes.
[SCENE END]
INT. STARLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - DANCE PRACTICE ROOM - LATE NIGHT
The five members are still practicing, but Hyun-woo's movements are stiff and robotic. He's distracted, his mind replaying his father's words.
Min-su stops dancing and walks over to him.
MIN-SU Hey, you're off. You okay?
Hyun-woo shakes his head. The others gather around him. He feels his walls begin to crumble.
HYUN-WOO (His voice is a whisper) I can't do this. I'm putting you all in danger. I'm a liability. I should just… leave.
The other four look at each other, their faces filled with worry. Taeyang walks over to him.
TAEYANG (Softly) We're in this together. No matter what.
Seung-ho and Jaehyun sit down next to him, and Min-su sits in front of him. They don't say a word. They just sit with him, a quiet, reassuring presence. They are a family, and they are not letting him go.
[SCENE END]
INT. HYUN-WOO'S GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
Hyun-woo is home. He's on the couch, staring at the TV. The news is on. The news anchor's face is serious.
NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.) In shocking news, a prominent Seoul architect has been accused of a massive bribery and cover-up scheme. The accusations, which have surfaced in a shocking new report, involve...
Hyun-woo's phone buzzes. He looks at the screen. It's a news notification. The headline reads: ECHO'S HYUN-WOO LINKED TO FATHER'S FINANCIAL SCANDAL.
The truth is out. The very thing he tried to prevent has now become a public firestorm. He's not fighting a rumor anymore. He's fighting a full-blown scandal. He looks at his phone and sighs.
FADE OUT.
[SCENE END]