The Drama Begins & The Se (1/2)

Nineteen Minutes xitslisax3 104190K 2023-11-03

A/N: "Italics"= lines from Nineteen Minutes, the script

A/N 2: When you see Mi Young said, Jaemin said, Ji Yong said, or Seung Hyun said, that is Tiffany, Taecyeon, GD & TOP saying their characters' lines. Seeing as this is a script reading, all actions associated with the delivery of the lines are skipped over, whereas in the actual filming, the idol actors would've been performing such actions.

Example, "YAH!" Seung Hyun barked, kicking the bed.

In reality, this is merely TOP saying his lines as his character, Seung Hyun and is not actually kicking the bed. When filming comes, however, he will be saying the same line, only this time, there would actually be a set with a bed on it and he will be kicking it. But as of right now, we are in the script reading world and not the acting world, so... treat those actions as merely stage directions.

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"We won't be going over the entire script today as I have specifically arranged it so that this script reading will consist of the leads and part of the supporting cast. Treat this as practice before the official script reading with the entire cast." Kim PD said, acknowledging the idols. "I want to see your interpretation of the characters and whether or not you have a grasp of your role."

The cast nodded tentatively.

"Okay then. We'll start with Tiffany. Just pick a scene you feel comfortable doing. Those who are in the scene with her, do join in." He nodded at Tiffany to begin.

Tiffany nodded and flipped through the manuscript, her eyes stopping at a passage. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and spoke.

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"Why am I still here?" Mi Young whispered.

"It's for your own protection."

She scoffed. "My protection or his?"

"He's doing this because he loves you and wants you to be safe from future threats."

"Right. And he would know that I'm safe, how?" She retorted sarcastically. Jaemin opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off. "Never mind. Don't answer that. I don't want to know how everyone's been going around behind my back, secretly updating him about my life."

"Mi Young — "

"Don't call me that! It's Stephanie. My name is Stephanie, not Mi Young. I will not be using the name that man gave me."

"Why are you being so stubborn? He's doing this for your own good. You don't know him and haven't tried to get to know him."  He replied calmly, clearing trying to reason rather than berate her.

"I'm stubborn?" She pointed at herself, her voice rising with each word. "What does he know about "my own good"? He knows nothing about me." She spat angrily.

"It's not true. He — "

"Save it." Mi Young interrupted harshly. "Don't make excuses for him. I don't want to hear it. It may have been a long time ago, but I will never forgive him." She looked at him, eyes burning with hatred.

He sighed heavily. "Mi Young..." He ignored the dirty look she gave him. "He's your father."

"He killed my mother!" She yelled, hands curling into fists.

He winced. "Your mother's death was ruled an accident. It had nothing to do with your father."

She laughed hollowly. "Oh, but it had everything to do with my father."  She stared at him with haunted eyes.  "She died because of him."

His expression softened. "I know it was painful, but you can't keep holding onto your hatred. It's killing you, Mi Young."

"Better to die of my own free will than to die by his hand."

"Stop it!" Jaemin slammed a hand down at the table, startling her. "This is not like you. What brought this on?"

She stared at him, eyes full of sadness. "Today is the 15th anniversary of my mother's death."

"Ah, shit. I'm sorry..." He whispered, no longer angry at her.

"It's okay. No one expects me to remember. But how can I possibly forget? What kind of father ships his daughter to LA right after her mother died? What kind of husband doesn't show up for his wife's funeral?"

"He could've been busy..." He defended lamely.

She stared at him. "Tell me, Jay. How old were we when we moved to LA?" Mi Young asked softly.

"You were five and I had just turned six. Why?"

"And in the seventeen years that I've lived with you, have you seen my father visit?"

"No, but —"

"Exactly! I haven't seen him once. Not even when mother died. I'm entitled to being angry. Why should I give him the time of day when he never once made time for me?" She retorted angrily.

"Mi Young, please. He's the only living relative you have left. Don't push him away." Jaemin pleaded anxiously.

"Just stop. Don't defend him. You'll just make me hate him more. My mother and I were so insignificant that given the choice between his work and his family, we'd always lose. My father may still be alive, but he doesn't exist in here." She tapped her heart. "I love wholeheartedly, but my heart does not have room for those who can not do the same."

"Just give him a chance. Please —" She raised a hand to cut him off.

"Stop. This is enough. I've known you since I was in diapers, Jay, don't make me hate you too." She looked at him, eyes filled with disappointment.

He sighed heavily, not wanting to fight with her. "Alright, I won't force you. Just promise me that you'll give it some time. Please."

"We'll see."

He nodded, knowing that it was better than an outright rejection.

"Anyway, what are we going to do today?"

"We were supposed to —"

Ring! Ring! Ring!

She glanced at him and nodded her chin towards the direction of the sound. "Go pick it up."

He grimaced, but did as he was told. "Yeoboseyo."

"Jaemin ah?"

Recognizing the voice of his boss, he straightened immediately. "Yes, sir. It's me. What do you need?"

"I need to speak to Mi Young."

"Yes, sir. Right away."  He turned and gestured for her to come to the phone.

She eyed him warily. "Who is it?" He said nothing, simply holding out the phone. "Yeoboseyo?" Mi Young answered, annoyed.

"Mi Young." Came a voice she hadn't heard since she was five years old. "It's me. Your father."

"I know." She spoke, her tone frosty.

"I know we haven't spoken in a long time —"

"Spit it out. I don't have time for pleasantries." She interrupted coldly.

"Alright. I'm calling to tell you that someone's going to come pick you up."

"MWO?!"

"Mi Young, it's time for you to come home."

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"Okay, cut!" Kim PD cut in, his voice sharp.

Tiffany jumped slightly, startled. She glanced at him, wondering if he interrupted because she made a mistake. She fingered her manuscript nervously and waited for him to speak.

"Tiffany."

She straightened and looked at him. "Deh?"

"Good job. Intonation and emotions were good, but watch your expressions. I hear the feelings in your voice, but I'm not quite seeing it on your face. Work on that." Kim PD replied, looking down at the notes he made.

"Kamsamnida, PD-nim. I'll work harder." She nodded respectfully.

"Taecyeon, a little more emotion during the delivery of your lines. Be firm." Seeing him nod, Kim PD turned to Ji Yong and gestured for him to begin.

Nodding briefly, Ji Yong straightened in his seat and flipped his manuscript to a scene. Catching TOP's eyes, he tapped the page, signalling that he'd be in it. Seeing TOP's head bob slightly in acknowledgement, he began.

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"Yah!" Seung Hyun said loudly, kicking the bed. "Yah, wake up!" 

Ji Yong groaned, but made no move to get up.

"YAH! Kwon Ji Yong! I'm not doing this every single day. It's not my job to wake you up. YAH!" He barked, pulling the covers off the bed.

"Aish, chincha! This little bastard —" He muttered under his breath. "YAH! I'm not your keeper. Yah! Kwon Ji Yong!"

"Shikkeureo."

"Mwo? Yah! Who do you think you are?!" He moved to jerk Ji Yong up by his shirt when his hands were blocked. Glancing down, he met a pair of cold, empty eyes.

"Hajima."

Seung Hyun hastily raised his hands in the air, indicating that he was backing off. "Okay, okay. Relax. You're up. It's cool. It's all good." He rambled nervously.

Ji Yong rolled his eyes and flipped over on the bed. "Just shut up. You're so noisy."

"Well, if you wanna be late for class, that's fine with me. Just don't yell at me when seonsaengnim fails your ass. How many latenesses do you have again?" He drawled mockingly.

"MWO?! What time is it?!" Ji Yong shot up, glaring at him. "Aish. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He got up and hastily threw on some clothes, stopping when he noticed that Seung Hyun wasn't doing the same. "You're not coming?"

He shook his head. "The boss gave me a last minute assignment. I'll be flying to LA. Freaking lame ass assignment. "Scope out the target", he said." His voice rose an octave, imitating their boss. "Che. What am I? His watchdog?"

Ji Yong laughed. "Have fun hunting. Oh, and good luck." He said, saluting him mockingly.

"Good luck? When have I ever needed that shit?" He scoffed, waving him out. "Take your shitty good luck and get out."

Ji Yong smirked, but quickly frowned when he glanced at the clock and realized he had less than twenty minutes to get to class. "Aish!" And ran out the door.