Nine Puzzles (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[dramatic orchestral music]
[clanking]
[beeping]
[door lock beeps]
[door lock chimes]
[music fading]
Uncle.
Uncle?
-[wind howling]
-[rain pattering]
[wind howling]
[squelches]
[unsettling music]
[electricity buzzing]
[tense music rising]
[theme music]
Nine Puzzles
[indistinct chatter]
[officer 1]
We'll sweep the outer perimeter.
Start taking statements.
Team 3, go the other way around.
[officer 2]
This is a police investigation.
-Yes, sir.
-Follow police instructions.
-This is a police investigation.
-[siren wailing]
Hey, stay here, control the scene.
Hey! Any security footage?
No, sir. We only just got here.
We don't have it yet.
[commander] Round up any CCTV
and dashcam footage covering this area,
-and look for any witnesses.
-Yes, sir.
Have you looked into
getting the power back?
Focus on finding witnesses first.
Ena, come this way.
Give me something to work with.
Have we discovered the means of entry?
Be methodical. Don't overlook anything.
[inspector 1]
Stabbed in the carotid artery.
As for the time of death…
about 9:00 p.m.
-He was killed an hour ago?
-Mm-hmm.
[sighs] Shit.
-[sighs]
-Uh, did you know the victim?
[inhales deeply]
He's the ex-station chief. Donghoon Yoon.
[commander] He was my supervisor.
This is one hell of a first case.
Got your hands full, rookie.
[inspector 2] All right,
horizontally… 340.
Vertically…
[inspector 3]
Hey, can I get some light here?
[inspector 4] Over here.
[inspector 3] Uh, I don't see any prints.
Nothing here either.
Have you checked the bookcase?
[inspector 4] Yeah. Nothing.
[inspector 3]
It's weird there's no prints.
I'll do another sweep.
[inspector 4] Yeah, let me help you.
[commander] I'm sorry about this,
I know it's hard.
It's just so we can catch the one
who did this quickly, all right?
Do you remember what time it was
when you arrived home?
[sighs]
Uh…
Did you notice anything
that seemed out of the ordinary, like…
Uh…
Ena?
Uh… I mean, is there anything
that stood out to you, more or less?
Why do we have to do this now?
I don't remember anything…
after I went in the house.
Can't remember?
It was only a few hours ago.
Right.
Uh… [sighs]
Well, how about this?
Let's talk about what you were doing
on your way back to the house.
You do recall
coming home from school, right?
What can you share with me about that?
What time did you leave school?
Around eight o'clock.
[mellow piano music]
[commander] When did you get home?
[Ena] I took the bus home.
[bus engine rumbles]
-[Ena] Guess I got home around nine?
-[bus doors closing]
[commander] After that?
[Ena] I opened the gate
to enter the front yard.
[beeping]
Then entered the code to open the door.
[beeping]
I opened the door.
And after that, I can't recall.
[exhales deeply]
Um, then…
where does your memory start back up?
Let's pick it up there.
Our housekeeper lady was suddenly there.
I heard her calling out my name.
And I noticed I was standing in the den.
And then…
I remember seeing my uncle lying dead
on the living room floor.
That's all, I guess.
Crime scene photos
The victim's body, the crime scene
Six months ago,
the girl bought a three-piece set of awls,
then one of them was used to kill him.
Then there's a 13-minute gap
between when she got home
and when she called the cops.
Uh, no signs of a break-in
and no indication of a struggle.
Points to the killer knowing our victim.
Motive, some kind of dorm conflict?
And that's why you think she did it?
Yeah.
You don't have any hard evidence though.
-[detective] Huh?
-Look here.
That would give her about 10 minutes
to do it.
You really think it's possible?
It's not impossible.
Had she taken a shortcut from the bus stop
instead of the route she claims,
she could've shaved off 8 whole minutes.
21 minutes would be enough.
[sighs]
All right. Fine.
Why don't you go and talk to her then?
[pensive music]
The victim, he didn't resist,
not even a little bit.
Despite the horrible pain he was in.
You said that you arrived home
at around nine, right?
Yeah.
The victim, Donghoon Yoon,
he was your uncle.
You know he was stabbed to death
with an awl.
And you're aware that…
only your fingerprints were found
on the awl that killed him, right?
Yeah.
Is it also true that you were arguing
with your uncle about your dorm?
Yeah.
And you were arguing over an inheritance.
Is that true?
That's not true.
Really?
Did you kill your uncle?
Let me ask you again.
Did you do it or not?
You're the only one who was home
at the estimated time of death.
[sighs]
I really don't know.
Seriously.
Damn.
Pretty darn convenient.
Mister…
I'm done talking tonight.
Can I go home now?
[dog barking in distance]
[barking continues]
[dramatic classical music]
[electricity buzzing]
[squelches]
[echoing stab]
[dramatic classical music continues]
[siren blares]
[indistinct chatter]
-Are you gonna catch him or what?
-Huh?
There's something I forgot.
Here you go.
It was on the floor in the den.
[Ena] I think the killer left it behind.
[intriguing music]
10 years later
[wind gusting]
[Ena screaming]
[screaming, laughing]
[screams]
-What's wrong with her?
-Is she laughing?
-[crowd murmuring]
-[Ena screaming, laughing]
Huh. Again?
How many times are you gonna jump off
before you're done?
Why do you like it so much?
It doesn't get old?
Every time I jump off,
it feels like I'm gonna die.
And that makes me feel super good.
Fair enough.
[screaming]
[Ena laughing]
[engine revving]
[laughing heartily]
Huh?
It's not funny to you?
Isn't it ridiculous?
She murdered her husband
and puts a Bacchus bottle cap on the spot.
Guess she did that
'cause the field was too big.
I mean, she can't plant
sweet potatoes there anymore.
[Ena laughs heartily]
Uh, what part of that is funny?
The Bacchus bottle cap or the potatoes?
Don't you like listening to my stories?
I guess not.
You're kinda lame.
When we first met, you were young and fun,
but now you've gotten old.
[soft scoff]
[breathes deeply]
I didn't think
that I'd never remember anything.
Those dreams…
Still having them?
Guess it'd be weird if I wasn't.
I pressed the keypad combination
for the front door.
Then I stepped on this puzzle piece.
And then the power came back on and I saw…
my uncle lying there on the floor.
It always ends there.
Something must have happened that night.
I just can't remember anything.
You know…
you might not remember
'cause there's nothing there.
[gasps]
Whoa!
You really have grown old.
You didn't talk like that back in the day.
Yeah.
I'm just trying something new
since you keep telling me
you can't recall.
You're a terrible shrink.
Your defense mechanism's getting worse.
Not only do you blurt out
whatever comes to mind,
you began bungee jumping.
Bungee jumping is bad?
I've given it some thought.
I think…
it could be a sign of regression.
It always happens to you
around this time of year.
Have you been socializing lately?
Do you… still have trouble interacting?
Oh, I'm doing great.
[rueful piano music]
[sighs]
Well, actually, I'm not great.
It's like when I'm hanging out and stuff,
I'm not bothered by anything.
Then when I'm back home,
I go over every detail.
"Why did I act that way?"
"What if they all hate me
because I did that?"
Like that, you know?
Honestly, I'm scared.
I don't wanna go back… into that house.
-Have a nice day.
-[colleague] Ms. Yoon.
Will you be attending the exhibition?
We'll see.
[colleague] Get home safe.
[door closes]
[upbeat music]
[indistinct chatter]
[patron] I wanna try the chocolate one.
[baker] Here you go. Enjoy.
A meat pie to go for ya?
I heard this place was hot.
Guess people don't just come for the buns.
[soft chuckle]
It's been a while, Ms. Yeom.
-Do I know you?
-You changed your nationality.
I wanna know what made you decide
to come back to Korea
after being away for 10 years.
[detective] Ah.
[in Spanish] You're her husband,
aren't you?
I know you very well.
-Hey… Stop!
-[in Spanish] Who the fuck are you?
-I'm police!
-Who sent you? Speak, damn it!
[both grunting]
-[puffs]
-[groans]
I'm police.
-Police?
-Okay.
-Calm down.
-Police officers don't have tattoos!
-[detective] Calm down!
-[clicking]
Calm down. Relax.
-[grunts]
-[metal clanking]
[panting]
[breathing heavily]
[in Spanish] Calm down.
I think he really is a police officer.
I am a police officer.
[detective in English] Okay?
[in Spanish] I'm not here…
I'm not here for you.
Calm down. Calm down.
[in English] What else is there? Um…
And…
[in Spanish] Be careful. Okay?
Be careful.
[in English] All right, Ms. Yeom…
do you know what day it is today?
I have no idea.
Today…
is the 10th anniversary of the murder,
Ms. Ena Yoon's uncle,
Superintendent Yoon.
-[scoffs]
-So let me ask again.
Why did you return to Korea?
I left Korea
because I didn't like it here,
and then returned because I missed it.
Good enough for you?
Your husband is
a Venezuelan national, right?
With a drug-related criminal record?
[sighs, clicks tongue]
If it's okay with you,
could I speak with you a little about
Ms. Ena Yoon and that day 10 years ago?
[detective] Did you notice anything off?
Maybe something she said?
[rain pattering]
[Ms. Yeom]
I didn't really think anything of it…
but she said something
as she was leaving our room.
That I was her alibi.
[popping]
You know who she is?
I know all too well.
[cell phone buzzes]
[detective] Hello?
Well, well.
Haven't seen you in a while, right?
So, uh, what brings you here today?
[Ena] Oh, you guys were slacking off.
I was worried, is all.
Wear a bib next time at lunch.
You've got kimchi on your shirt.
Hmm? [exclaims]
[Ena] And stick to three beers max, okay?
You can't handle more than that.
[gasps] Wow!
The detective who can't catch the criminal
took the longest lunch break?
[sighs]
Your timing couldn't get
much better than this.
Your roommate's back in town.
[detective] Coincidence?
She's back in town?
What did she say?
Why are you so curious?
You guys not in touch?
[sighs, groans]
You should buy new clothes.
You're out of date. Seriously.
[sighs]
Donghoon Yoon
Born August 25, 1969
Died October 25, 2013
[chuckles]
Donghoon…
If you hadn't quit the force…
you probably wouldn't be dead right now.
Damn it.
If it hadn't been for that night…
It was a bad way to go.
[clicks tongue, inhales sharply]
Hey, I wanna know…
out of all the police stations nationwide,
why did you come back to Hangang Station?
Out of loyalty to a dead guy?
I know, right?
Out of all the places to get transferred…
That's life, huh? Ironic.
[birds squawking]
There's a guy that works for you…
Hansaem Kim. Do you remember him at all?
He was the one investigating that case
back then.
He was just a rookie.
Hansaem Kim?
He's a loose cannon.
The kid may have a few screws loose,
but he's not crazy.
He's a decent guy
once you get to know him.
Wait a second.
Does that idiot still think
Ena's a suspect?
[inhales deeply]
Yeah, I guess he does. [exhales deeply]
After all, every one of Ena's
family members ended up dead.
Her mother, her father,
and even her only uncle.
[commander]
I'd say that's a little unusual.
Donghoon Yoon
[engine revving]
Seoul Metropolitan Police
[beeps]
[exhales sharply]
[elevator chimes]
[elevator doors closing]
[beeping]
You transferred
to Public Affairs on 12, right?
[elevator chimes]
[cell phone buzzing]
Captain, where are you?
I'm at the office. No one's here.
[captain] What do you mean?
Did you forget again?
I told you to come
to the scene right away.
Hurry up and get over here.
-[distant siren wailing]
-[people murmuring]
-[Ena] Hi.
-You're here.
-Hey.
-Hello.
Here.
Do you think I'm pretending
not to remember anything?
-No.
-No.
No for me too.
[Ena sighs] That's good.
That's a relief.
Mm, so…
why haven't you caught the guy yet?
They only found the parents
and the older brother's prints,
which puts the parents
at the top of the list,
but proving they actually did it
is turning out to be a challenge.
[Ena sighs] Hmm-hmm-hmm.
I can see why.
Trouble is, there are
no signs of a break-in anywhere,
and I assume there are no acquaintances
with much of a motive to do it.
Family, friends from class,
and maybe a tutor.
That'd be everyone
a 10-year-old knows, right?
Why would anyone kill a 10-year-old?
They were so blinded with rage
that they wildly stabbed the victim
over and over again,
but after that,
the murder weapon
was cleaned and returned.
[captain] Why would they do that?
Got any idea?
And what calmed them down again?
Why? Why did they do that?
'Cause it's a force of habit.
[Ena humming]
The mom sure is a tidy person, huh?
I'll bet she hates having people over.
[Ena]
First place in the mathematical Olympiad.
Took gold in an English competition.
The deceased victim was a younger sibling
who excelled over his older brother.
The older brother labeled
every one of his possessions.
Judging by the lilt of his handwriting,
he seems dejected
and suffers low self-esteem.
He wanted to assert ownership
over his possessions.
The older brother,
who discovered the body, said…
he opened the front door,
took his shoes off,
and headed straight for Junseo's room
to find his brother
had been stabbed with a knife.
He called his parents to tell them
that his brother had been stabbed
with a sharp object.
After that, he called the police.
Terrified, he exited the house
to wait for the police to arrive.
At first, he referred
to the victim as Junseo,
but then began referring to him
as his "younger brother."
He went out of his way
to call the knife "a sharp object."
It's rare for someone to switch up
their form of address in a sentence
without a good reason.
So why did he do it?
Could it be that he subconsciously wanted
to distance himself from the victim?
[Junseo's brother]
And then my mom rushed into Junseo's room,
looking like she had seen a ghost.
-And my dad's eyes were already red.
-[echoing wails]
He had the exact same expression
during my grandpa's funeral.
[Ena] He only gave
a brief testimony of the case,
but he went to great lengths
to give a detailed account
of his parents' reactions.
Could his little brother's murder
matter less to him
than his parents' reaction to it?
An older brother who refers
to his own room as "Junseo's room."
And parents… who openly played favorites.
I vote the older brother killed him.
[colleague] What?
I'm heading out now.
See you guys at the office.
"Bitcoin"
[detective 1] Ugh,
who's making our valued rookie
run all these stupid errands, huh?
-What if he runs away?
-Oh, I didn't know I was valued.
Since when was that a thing, guys?
[chuckles]
Uh, earlier, that woman who was in here.
Is she really a cop who killed someone?
[detective 2] You can't be a cop
and have a murder record.
She's an analyst for the Seoul
Metropolitan Police. Lieutenant Ena Yoon.
Ena Yoon? You're kidding me.
Isn't she the niece
of the murdered Superintendent?
How do you know that, rookie?
Oh, come on, sir. That case is famous.
I heard about it
while I was in the academy.
Anyway, could you stop
calling me "rookie"?
I'm too old for that.
What are you so upset about, huh?
You joined the force so late.
Fuck! Stupid shit is falling again.
[detective 1] God dammit.
[detectives] Sir.
Our suspect in the net café case
retracted his testimony.
[detective 1] What?
He's now claiming
that he didn't do anything.
He says an accomplice
committed the murder.
[detective 1] Well, that sucks.
We busted our asses on that case.
What a load of shit.
So what are we going to do now?
We just prove
he didn't have an accomplice.
Don't jump to conclusions yet.
All right, Lieutenants Ro, An, and Choi,
I want you to dig into this accomplice.
Kim and I will operate
under the assumption that he acted alone.
-[detectives] Yes, sir.
-[cell phone buzzing]
Ena Yoon
Think this might look good on you
Think this might look good on you
[Ena]
There's strawberry cake in the fridge.
Coffee's on the table.
There's one Americano
and a cappuccino too.
Thanks as usual.
Hmm, she treats us better
than the department does.
Thanks for the drink.
You must have a lot of storage space
up there, Lieutenant Yoon.
You remember everyone's favorite coffee
and you also know which floor
everyone in this building is on.
I heard you pressed
everyone's elevator buttons again.
What good is that when she can't remember
anything that actually matters?
She's right. You should stop pressing
everyone's buttons like that.
Why do you say that?
'Cause people will think she's a weirdo.
She is a weirdo.
Being a weirdo
and being perceived as one are different.
Hey, you changed your makeup.
What were you doing?
What are you saying? Nothing's changed.
[colleague clears throat]
Oh, uh, we got candles.
Is it someone's birthday?
Oh, is today that day?
[breathes deeply]
I don't know what day it is,
I'll just put them all on.
[cell phone chiming]
That's the Investigation Team.
They wanna know
when they'll get their report.
Mm… Ena, you might like to know that
the older brother is on the suspect list.
But he… claims he can't recall anything.
It's got your vibe.
He suddenly doesn't remember anything?
Guess I'll go talk to him then.
I'll tell them you're coming.
[door opens, closes]
Wallet.
[captain] Car keys.
[blows air]
[door opens]
[door closes]
I've never met a profiler.
Are you like an investigator?
No, not really. We're kinda like backup.
Right now, I'm just personally curious.
Curious about what?
I heard you can't remember things.
So?
I'm also having trouble
remembering something.
So why don't we take turns
talking about it?
I once wanted to talk to my uncle,
so I traveled by bus from my school
and went back to my house.
Junseo…
was home by himself,
so I came home right away after school.
I pressed the keypad combo
for the front door.
2-0-1-3-1-0-2-5.
I pressed the keypad combo
for the front door.
4-1-2-4-5-3-9-7.
I took my shoes off
and walked into the living room.
I take off my shoes…
and go to my brother's room.
[suspenseful music]
It was dark 'cause of a blackout.
But I could feel something warm and wet
against my feet.
I'm opening the door to his room…
There's blood.
Everywhere.
This thing happened a few days ago.
But you're using
both past and present tense now.
What do you mean?
I mean you're referring to events
that occurred on the same day
as having occurred in the past,
while other events from the same day
are occurring now.
I was…
just trying to remember.
People only tend to refer to past events
in the present tense in two scenarios.
The first,
when they're constructing a story.
Second, when they're creating details
that they don't actually recall.
Which means that your version of events…
is taking shape in your head as we talk.
No, wait.
Do you really think I'm lying
about what happened to him?
I pressed the keypad combo
for the front door.
2-0-1-3-1-0-2-5.
I press the keypad on the front door.
I mean, I pressed it.
-[keypad beeping effect]
-4-1-2-4-5-3-9-7.
I opened the door, took my shoes off,
and entered the darkened living room.
I take my shoes off
and open my brother's door.
It was pitch black in the living room
and I could feel something warm and wet
against my feet.
[squelching effect]
Inside the room… I mean, the kitchen…
-[dramatic sting]
-[gasps]
Why did you go to the kitchen?
[tense music continues]
And the blood-stained clothing…
how did you get rid of them?
Actually,
I already know where they are.
[breathing heavily]
Was your younger brother Junseo…
really dead when you found him?
[flesh squelching effect]
[breathing heavily, sniffles]
He wasn't.
[breathing heavily]
[Junseo's brother sobbing]
-[door opens]
-[Ena] I'm back, everyone.
What'd you say to the kid
to make him confess?
Nothing special, really.
The two of us just clicked.
We had something in common.
So you made it all about you
in there, huh?
Don't do that again.
Why would you tell her to stop?
That's her greatest asset.
I know, right?
Wasn't that why you took me on here?
[Ena] Am I wrong?
It wasn't 'cause my parents
owned a hospital, was it?
[soft chuckle] Yeah.
Your parents owning a hospital
is the reason.
Not like they're helping anyone now.
[soft scoff]
I'm gonna head home.
My report's on the messaging app.
Couldn't stop you if I tried.
[door opens, closes]
[indistinct chatter]
-[liquid sloshing]
-[commander] Hey, that's enough.
At the cinerarium,
I think I had a little too much whiskey.
My stomach's sour.
You went to the cinerarium?
Then you could use a drink.
Oh, come on.
I just told you
that my stomach's totally fucked.
Are you trying to poison me or something?
It's been 10 years
and we haven't caught the killer.
This drink is our penance.
So that's what this is about.
[commander sighs] All right,
let's drink till we're dead.
Donghoon, I'm sorry.
[all slurping]
Man, time sure flies though.
Can't believe it's been 10 years.
[breathes deeply]
[commander]
Even this neighborhood's changed a lot.
Of all the places we went,
this is the only one left.
How's Ena doing?
Still come by the station?
She came by today.
You've gotta stop letting her do that.
She only comes to the station
'cause you let her.
Look, all I'm trying to do
is establish rapport.
I mean, I'm still convinced that girl
was a prime suspect in this case.
It's been 10 years and I still believe it.
So I guess you're thinking
she'll slip up someday,
am I right? Is that it?
Why would someone
who inherited so much money…
choose to join the force
and then become a profiler as well?
Seems a little weird, yeah?
It would be a good way for her
to keep track of the case.
Could be why she's following you.
Come on, the night's still young.
Let's go somewhere else.
Why are you in such a hurry
to get out of here?
Let's get another drink.
Sorry, but there's something I need to do.
Well, Jungho, where are you going?
Your ass is coming with me
to get another drink.
I still wanna talk shit
about your boss, okay?
Sorry, I also have to be somewhere.
Appreciate it though, guys.
Thanks. For everything.
Yeah, Batman there is busy tonight.
He's gotta take care of the kids
over at the orphanage.
I'll be right back.
[commander] Where's he going?
"Taehwa Supermarket"
-[Hansaem] Three popsicles.
-Oh, sure.
What the hell are you doing?
Commander, congrats on your promotion.
You're giving me a popsicle?
Come on, we're not little kids.
[Hansaem chuckles]
You guys are no fun. We should get drunk.
[Hansaem] You got a ride?
[inhales sharply]
Have a safe trip home then.
-I got somewhere to be.
-[Jungho] Mm.
[rain pattering]
[suspenseful music]
[Hansaem] At 8:00 p.m. that night,
she leaves school without permission.
From the front gate to the bus stop
is a five-minute walk.
8:08 p.m. One hour
before Donghoon's death.
She arrives at the bus stop
and boards Bus 147 three minutes later.
[beeps]
This stop is International High School
[beeps]
[bus doors closing]
She's the only passenger on the bus.
There are five stops from school
to the one near her house.
Nothing happened during this time.
[suspenseful music continues]
[door hissing]
[Hansaem] It takes 32 minutes for her
to arrive at the stop near her house.
And no one gets off with her. No one.
8:40 p.m. 20 minutes
before Donghoon's death.
Ena's house is a 20-minute walk
from the bus stop.
12 if you take the shortcut
and shave off 8 minutes.
The timing was meticulous.
No CCTV, no witnesses, nothing.
[indistinct chatter]
[door squeaks]
Excuse me, sir. Can we chat?
[officer] Do you live around here?
Huh?
Lieutenant Kim?
What are you doing here?
I'm just checking up on something.
How about you guys? You on patrol?
We're actually on a call.
Apparently, there's a suspicious man
lurking around the neighborhood.
So, you come across anything strange
around here, Lieutenant?
No, not really.
This is a pretty quiet neighborhood,
-right?
-[officer] Oh!
It was the hat that threw me off.
That's why I didn't recognize you.
Makes you look really different.
[door lock clanks]
I called the police
'cause there was a stranger
trying to peek into our house.
Ah, you were talking about me.
Man, he's tenacious, right?
I mean, I get it,
but the dude's still obsessing
over a 10-year-old cold case.
I don't think he's completely human.
Well, they say
he doesn't make a move for no reason.
Apparently, he's quite thorough.
He's too thorough.
And that's why
he hasn't gotten a promotion
since he first started 10 years ago.
You know a guy like that
ain't gonna impress the boss. [scoffs]
-Thanks for staying late.
-Of course.
Call me if you need me?
-You sure? Okay.
-Mm.
-Drive safe.
-Good night.
[suspenseful music]
When you're in there,
can you grab me a cola? Thanks, man.
You've been drinking way too much soda,
you know? It's not good for you.
Maybe it's 'cause I quit smoking,
but I need something to take the edge off.
How about I get you a diet one, okay?
It's better than a pack of cigarettes.
[chuckles]
[engine rumbling loudly]
[engine revving]
Whoa, what the…
[tires screeching]
[distant engine revving]
[sighs] You're lucky
that I have to wait for my partner.
[engine revving]
[beeping]
-[beeping continues]
-[door lock clanks]
Uh… I was going to leave
before you got here.
[distant engine revving]
Is this Ms. Ena Yoon's house?
Yes, that's correct.
Hey, I'm Ena Yoon.
[engine starts]
Hey, you! Who sent this letter?
How would I know?
[engine revving]
[suspenseful music continues]
[Ena breathing heavily]
[panting]
Hansaem Kim
[line ringing]
[sniffles]
[automated voice] The number
you have dialed is currently--
[breathes shakily]
[line ringing]
[ringing continues]
[closing theme music]