a day of sunyou
Spring, 2026
One of a thousand springs...
Characters
sunyou
Chaejung
Jiyong
Technician
boma
Mother
Visitors
Scene 1
(Fade in)
Morning.
sunyou wakes up. She lies still, staring at the ceiling.
(Sound of birds chirping outside)
She throws off the covers, stretches, and rolls out of bed. She opens the window to take in the view, letting the morning sun wash over her. Eyes closed, she feels the cool air against her skin.
(Fade out)
Scene 2
(Fade in)
The kitchen, filled with soft natural light.
Chaejung is busy at the stove, sautéing mushrooms and onions. sunyou pours herself a glass of water.
Chaejung laughs as she talks about a pair of cute socks her boyfriend gave her last night.
Chaejung: (Laughing) I’m serious, that’s what he said … Anyway, sunyou, I made some mushrooms. Want some? sunyou: Sounds great. I’ll toast some bread.
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
The sound of cutlery clinking. The savory scent of sautéed vegetables.
Chaejung and sunyou sit across from each other, eating.
sunyou mentions boma’s project, which she’s starting today, and talks about the rehearsal from yesterday morning.
sunyou: I think Jiyong’s grandmother is looking at me differently now. Is it because Jiyong and I are getting closer? Maybe "family" isn't just a word after all… I don't know, just a thought.
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
In the tidy kitchen, sunyou swallows a painkiller for her cramps.
(Fade out)
Scene 3
(Fade in)
sunyou stands before an open drawer, picking out her outfit. Her phone rings—it's Jiyong. She falls back onto the bed, laughing as they talk.
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
sunyou falls asleep on the bed.
(Fade out)
Scene 4
(Fade in)
Around 1:00 PM A Gallery.
A telephone technician stands in the middle of the room, checking her phone. boma enters, carrying a telephone set.
boma: Hi, you're here for the installation, right?
Technician: Oh, yes. Where did you want it?
boma: The line comes in upstairs, so I want to run a long cable all the way down here.
The two head upstairs. boma watches the technician's slightly hunched back.
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
As the technician takes off her hat, revealing a head of grey hair.
(Fade out)
Scene 5
(Fade in)
sunyou sits in the front seat of a bus, wearing a khaki trench coat and listening to music. She applies some Laneige lip serum and opens her book.
Didier Eribon, "A Woman's Life, Old Age, and Death," page 73.
A breeze drifts through the open window, catching her hair.
(Fade out)
Scene 6
(Fade in)
Around 3:00 PM
sunyou walks down a street bathed in a wide, warm, pale-yellow glow. She steps into a gallery with large glass windows.
She picks up a brochure, sets her bag down on the stairs, and pauses to read. Then, she begins to walk through the exhibition.
A phone rings.
The moment sunyou recognizes the number on the screen is from her mom, she freezes as if time has stopped, staring at the screen.
A wave of bewilderment spreads rapidly, and a scalding breath—something between sorrow and rage—surges up from her chest. Her grip tightens around the phone as her other hand clenches, and despite a violent urge to smash the phone to pieces, she finds herself drawn by a dizzying,
sinking force—as if the ground is giving way—to answer the call.
She ducks behind the silver curtain by the window, hiding herself away as she picks up the phone.
sunyou: … Hello?
…
(The sound of muffled sobbing on the other end)
sunyou: Why are you calling me… now?
(Silence)
(sunyou fights back tears, her voice tightening with sudden resentment toward her mother’s wordless crying)
sunyou: Why!!!
…
Mother: No… I just wanted to see how you were. I missed you. Your uncle said he wanted to see you, too.
(Mother breaks down further)
sunyou: I said I can’t go! (Tears start to fall) What is this? Why are you even calling? Out of nowhere, just to cry into the phone because you “miss me”? (Continuing through angry, shaky breaths)
I am not going back there.
…
(Tears continue to stream down her face)
sunyou: You have no idea what my life is like. Do you have any idea what I’m going through, trying to handle everything on my own? And if this is why you called, then don’t bother. I’m probably never going to see you again. No—I’m hanging up. I’m never going to end up like you. I won’t even let myself think about it. (Wiping away tears, her voice rising in frustration) Why!!? Why did you call? Huh? Do you even care… what’s happening to me… right now? (The confusion and hurt take over as she continues to cry) You never even tried to understand.
…
(Voice cracking, barely able to get the words out)
sunyou: I can't send you any money.
(sunyou breaks down, sobbing)
sunyou: And… I’m pregnant.
…
sunyou: I really wish you hadn’t called.
…
(The mother’s sobbing continues on the other end)
…
Mother: Oh… I see. Congratulations… Oh, my god… What am I supposed to do, when I can’t even help you? (Sobbing) I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I actually called to send you some money. I’ve been saving up. Once I send this, I won’t reach out to you anymore. (Continuing through her tears) … sunyou. I killed your father. I’m so sorry. I’m at your uncle’s house now. Bringing a life into this world… it’s not easy. You have to call your uncle, okay? I don’t think I can stay by your side. … They say it might be considered self-defense. I’m so scared… sunyou…
(Mother continues to wail)
The mother’s sobbing is relentless. sunyou stands paralyzed, tears streaming down her face in total shock.
…
Visitors in the gallery are visibly shaken, having overheard the entire conversation. A few quickly head for the exit. From a distance, Jiyong captures her on a camcorder.
…
Finally, sunyou wipes her face with her hands and a napkin. She tries to steady her breathing.
sunyou: … I understand. You did the right thing. I’ll call you soon. I’m coming to uncle’s tomorrow.
She hangs up. She stands there, vacant, for a long moment. She drops the crumpled napkin on the floor and walks out of the gallery.
…
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
sunyou walks.
The tears won't stop. But as they fall, she feels a strange, new freedom in every breath. It’s as if her mind is being scrubbed clean. She keeps walking, long after the sun has gone down.
…
(Fade out)
Scene 7
(Fade in)
Around 6:00 PM Inside the gallery. The window is bathed in a golden glow.
A visitor swipes a single yellow napkin from a tissue box.
The silver background reflects the sunlight and shines fiercely.
(Fade out)
(Fade in)
Around 10:00 PM
The phone rings. It’s a customer service call about a broken blender.
(Fade out)
Scene 8
(Fade in)
Inside the studio.
A clear day. The winter chill that had been lingering in the shade of the tree drifts through the window, carried by a warm breeze.
sunyou is busy priming a canvas with gesso.
(Fade out)
- END -
