Martoons

Today: Mr E’s wild story continues .  .  .

Cast of characters

Mr E

Mr Go

Scene: Mr E’s bank, Chinju

*

Next day at E’s bank, the foreigner waltzed in as he had before.

Making sure to nod and wave to several of the cuter tellers and bank staff, he then walked right over to E’s office.

His door was always open and even though E Manager was buried in paperwork, he put everything down as soon as he saw the foreigner.

He stood up and bowed Korean style.

“Ah, yeah, anyong hasseyo (hello),” E said. “Did you have a good time last night?”

“I have a good time every night,” the foreigner said. “Look, I’m in a hurry. I’m looking for investors for my new film.”

E was surprised. “I think you really like filming. So, what is your film about?”

* What do you think the film is about? *

“It’s about Korea’s great nightlife. Hey, look at these great shots,” and he gestured that E look into the viewfinder.

The foreigner pushed play and the video rolled.

E’s eyes popped out as he watched a virtual highlight real of the crazy things the three of them had done during their last few nights out.

In one snippet, Mr Go was so drunk he kicked over a temporary traffic barricade.

In another, he scurried onto a small construction site and toppled over a pile of bricks.

In yet another, he urinated on a police car.

* Is Mr Go going to get into some trouble? *

E quickly saw where this film was going and handed the camera back to the foreigner.

“I think most of this subject matter is – how you say – off the record? How can you make a movie from this?”

He chuckled uncomfortably.

“Maybe you would be sued.”

“Come on,” the foreigner said, “You guys saw me filming for the last few nights and did nothing to stop me.”

“Maybe you must make sure the people being filmed know it is ‘on the record’.”

The foreigner waved him off. “When you’re around a filmmaker everything is on the record.”

* Is this true? *

He now watched the viewfinder studiously. “I heard Mr Go’s fiancée Miss No is wealthy. Do you think she’d invest in this? I’ve already made an appointment to visit her institute in one hour for a special pre-screening.”

E still wasn’t sure if the foreigner was for real but it was better to err on the side of caution. “Excuse me. One moment please.”

He made a quick phone call from his desk.

Seconds later he held the phone receiver up for the foreigner, whispering, “It’s Mr Go.”

* Do you think the foreigner was ‘for real’ about his film? *

The foreigner continued peering through the camera’s viewer.

“I’m not taking phone calls right now. Could you take a message?”

E spoke to Go briefly and then muffled the receiver. “He says he has to meet you and in the meantime do not show that video to anyone!”

* Is the video going to stay between them? *

That night the three re-convened at their favorite raunchy soju tent.

“Very, very sorry for the problem,” Go said as he received the videotape from the foreigner and shook his hand.

“I have reconsidered my decision: Your sister will work for me.”

“You are a gentleman and a scholar, Sir,” the foreigner said.

Go excused himself to go outside to the blue rocket.

Nature was calling, but he also had to get rid of the evidence.

Out he went. 

E said to the foreigner, “I admire how you’re helping your sister get her job back. It is very virtuous for you to come all the way here to Korea to plead her case. You must really, really like her.”

The foreigner scoffed and lit up a cigarette. “Actually, I strongly dislike her.”

* Then why is he helping her? *

*

Tomorrow: Get a hint of the foreigner’s ulterior motive.