The Manipulated (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

[theme music playing]
The Manipulated
Now we have in an Arleli piece
with the starting bid at 2.3 billion won.
Do I hear 2.4?
We have 2.4 billion.
2.5?
2.5 has been phoned in. Now, 2.6?
From the floor, 2.6, by bidder number 40.
Now do I hear 2.7 billion won?
[crunches]
[beeping, whirring]
Yes, we have an online bid
coming in at 2.7 billion won
by bidder number 56.
Now, do we have 2.8?
Yes. Thank you, bidder number 39.
Now, Arleli pieces
always fetch high prices
as they're highly sought after.
With every auction,
their genius as a sculptor
is reflected by these record prices.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity
to own a part of history
with this piece
from Arleli's "Wailing" series.
With that in mind,
do I hear 2.9 billion won?
[crunching]
We've received 2.9 from online.
That bidder now holds
the highest bid at 2.9 billion won.
Now, can we ask for three billion? Anyone?
We have three billion won
from bidder number 39 on the floor.
Since things are heating up,
I think it's time
to raise the bid increment
up to 500 million won.
3.5 billion.
Do I hear 3.5?
3.5 billion won.
[beeping, whirring]
Yes, from the online bidder.
The online bid stands
at the highest at 3.5 billion.
Do I have four?
[sighs]
Although it's a little unorthodox,
considering the high value
of a sculpture like this,
our bidders might need
extra time to decide.
So we'll take a five-minute break
and be back momentarily.
[indistinct chatter]
[cell phone vibrating]
CHAIRMAN SHIN MYUNGHO
Is there anything else I can get you
instead of the art sculpture?
Something that has a set price
so I don't have to bid for it?
[Yohan] Let me ask you this, Mr. Chairman.
How much are you willing to pay
for your son's innocence?
[sighs] See?
It's impossible to set a price, right?
[distorted] I don't want anything else.
If you want your request to be fulfilled,
all you have to do
is bring me Arleli's piece.
If you refuse
consider your request denied.
[cell phone beeps]
[sighs]
[auctioneer] Without further ado,
we will resume the auction.
We left off at 3.5 billion won.
Do I hear four billion?
And we have bidder number 39
with four billion won.
Our online bidder, do I have 4.5 billion?
-There it is. 4.5 billion
-[crowd murmuring]
from online bidder number 56.
To our guest on the floor,
do I hear five billion?
You need five billion to stay in the race.
And we have five billion.
Once again,
the floor now has the highest bid.
To our online bidder,
do I hear 5.5 billion?
And we have it. That is 5.5 billion won
from our online bidder.
The highest bid is yours.
[chuckles softly]
To our guest. Six billion?
Six billion. Bidder number 39,
I'll ask one last time.
Do I hear six?
This piece can be yours for six billion.
-Do we have it?
-[breathing heavily]
Going once.
[breath trembling]
Thank you, sir. Now, 6.5?
Our online bidder? Do I have 6.5?
No?
If we don't hear from you,
we'll call it three times and close.
Final chance.
-Going once.
-[panting]
Going twice.
You hit your limit, haven't you?
That's no fun.
[auctioneer] Sold to bidder number 39
on the floor for six billion won.
Congratulations, sir.
-[applause]
-[operatic music playing]
[sighs]
[engine revving]
[door closes]
[door opens]
[light footsteps]
Yes, Mr. Chairman. I received it.
Ah, right.
I forgot to mention this earlier.
The scapegoat who went to prison
for your son?
He's dead now.
He shoved pages from a Bible in his mouth
and managed to suffocate himself.
Didn't I tell you?
I promised to make
this incident disappear.
So now your son was never involved,
but I'm sure it's still bothering him.
Why don't you two take a vacation?
Building the data center
is a key national initiative.
It would be good PR for us.
We must do everything
in our power to win this bid.
[man] Will this land acquisition costs
exceed our budget?
By about 30 percent.
[man exhales] It's too high
of a risk to go through with it.
It's a national project, so we need
to consider more than cost alone.
It won't matter what it is
if it bankrupts the company,
We can't afford to pursue this.
[man] Come on,
what information are you looking at?
-Are we looking at the same data?
-[indistinct arguing]
-[man] Are you shitting me?
-[cell phone vibrating]
[argument dies down]
Yes?
We've been compromised.
I think we need cleanup.
Okay.
Send in the cleanup crew.
Just buy it. Pay whatever we have to.
-[line ringing]
-[man] Mmm-hmm.
[cell phone vibrating]
Yes, understood, sir.
The Manipulated
Ready for another round?
I think I'll pass.
[all scoff]
You guys hear the same thing I did?
He's got balls today.
Wow.
Did I hear you say
that "you'll pass"?
Like you have a choice?
-"Think I'll pass."
-[all laughing]
[Jaedeok] Look at his face.
This guy here
has an important match tomorrow.
I'm not asking for much.
Just help him warm up.
Take the beating like a good boy.
[groaning]
You little shit. [groans]
-[inmate 1 groaning]
-[Jaedeok] Come on!
[inmate 2 screams]
[inmates exclaim]
[grunting]
-[inmate 1] Come here, bitch!
-[grunts]
-Ah!
-[inmate 2] You're fucking dead.
[groaning]
[breathing heavily]
From now on,
don't fuck with me.
[inmates murmuring]
ELECTRONICS REPAIR SHOP
Ah! Ah, shit.
My head's killing me.
That's what you get for last night.
Why do you always fight when you drink?
But I wasn't the one who started it.
We'll get you checked out after I'm done.
I don't have the money for that.
[distant commotion]
[shutter opens]
[sighs]
[register rings]
Fucking empty again.
[Eunbi exhales]
Isn't that shit outdated?
[Noh Yongsik stammers]
Well
Ah.
[scoffs]
Aren't you precious?
Taking pictures together.
It's like you're family.
Sorry, I
I placed an order for gimbap
but I haven't paid for it yet.
Shit.
If you find God in prison,
are all of your sins forgiven?
[shutter closes]
[Seona] Jeez. What took you so long?
[softly] Okay.
Hey.
My head's feeling better.
Let's get some food instead, yeah?
Tteokbokki? Or jjajangmyeon?
Tofu?
What?
[sighs] Nothing.
[bike revving]
[thuds, creaks]
[chuckles softly]
-[gasps]
-[priest coughs]
[Noh Yongsik] Oh, jeez. [laughs]
You scared me, Father. Come on in.
Why do you have guilt
written all over your face?
Oh, it's nothing.
Do you have a moment to talk right now?
Sure.
I'm here about Taejoong.
Has there been some kind of accident or
This is mine.
Don't tell me something happened to him.
[inmate] Hey, what the hell
are you looking at?
Eat your food.
-[scrubbing]
-[inmate 2 whimpering]
[grunts, whimpers]
I swear I'll pay you back.
[sobs] It's just that I need a little
more time. Please have mercy on me.
[echoing] From now on,
don't fuck with me.
Ah, fucking shit.
[inmate] Where you going, sir?
[Deoksu] To take a piss.
The vibe is so tense in here.
Everybody's barely
touching their food today.
You're clueless, aren't you?
-Didn't you hear what happened?
-No. What?
The boss got spanked by 2802.
Really?
-He got beat up?
-Yeah.
All he could do
was take it like a little bitch.
That's why he's been hiding
behind his thugs.
I guess we should take advantage of that
and eat our food in peace for once.
It's nice.
With them gone.
The food tastes better.
-It really does.
-[both laugh]
[grunts]
-[blows landing]
-[inmates groaning]
[groaning]
[inmates clamoring]
[grunting]
Hello, sir.
[Gangjae] What's going on?
-Deoksu is inside.
-[Deoksu grunting]
[Gangjae] It's so fucking noisy.
[blows landing]
Hey, Etch-a-Sketch. [screams]
[inmate] Look who it is.
What are you staring at? [grunts]
[all grunting]
-[inmates groaning]
-The fuck's he looking at?
[Deoksu] Calm down, kids.
Gangjae The Dickhead.
Did you have a nice vacation?
Long time no see.
Why did you come back here?
Just to suck dick?
Looks like you're still
getting your ass kicked.
You've gotten weak, old man.
[both laughing]
[Namjoon] What's going on?
Come on, break it up. Step away.
What's this?
You two again. [sighs]
These animals.
You want to dig his grave?
You can dig yours while you're at it.
What? Am I gonna get a time out?
Follow me.
Quickly. The warden's waiting.
Come in here.
Fucking trash.
This is supposed to be a fight club.
Why isn't there any fighting?
I didn't set this up
so you could make some pocket change.
Listen, you need to have patience, sir.
Scouting good talent takes time, you know.
Yeah. And I heard you got
your ass kicked in the process.
[scoffs] So the rumor
has already gotten to you.
I'm the warden. I know everything.
There's another rumor
making its way around.
And I hope you enjoy
that one just as much.
That's actually why I came to see you.
Restrain yourself.
We had a kid kill himself,
and now it's become a major headache.
[sighs] Shit.
It's nothing out of the ordinary.
The timing's bad.
One slip up is easy
to sweep under the rug,
but two becomes a management issue.
So what do you expect me to do?
Sit back, relax and enjoy the sun?
I've had enough of your complaining.
Stop pouting like a little kid.
That's a gift.
It's a list of new inmates arriving soon.
Two of them are white collar.
They committed financial crimes
and their stashes were never found.
Their pockets must be loaded.
I assigned them to your cell.
So suck them dry.
Sounds like something you'd be into.
-Hey.
-You cut your hair.
Yeah. [chuckles]
Is it weird?
No, it looks nice.
Have you been to the commissary?
They added so many new things
since my time here.
Oh, so instead of seeing me first,
that's where you went?
Oh, and while I was there,
I bought the best supplements
with the most vitamins for you.
-Make sure to take them every day.
-How's your repair shop?
-Is everything going well?
-Mmm-hmm.
It's really taking off.
Do you want some spending money?
Father came by.
He visited me at my store
saying he was worried about you.
I see. That's why you're here.
But judging by that smile, you seem fine.
Is there anything going on with you?
-What do you mean by that?
-For example
you might be hearing a voice questioning
what the point of life is
when you're caged up like this.
And maybe it's not worth living.
Never crossed my mind.
That's good to hear.
And there's no one giving you
a hard time, right?
Right.
I spend too much time in my garden
and I'm really getting sick of the view.
But now I'm ready for something different.
What are you implying?
Taejoong.
Don't be stupid.
Hey, listen, Mr. Noh.
I swear I'm innocent.
I'm getting out of this prison.
[Jaedeok] You're not going to let
Park Taejoong get away with this, are you?
All those assholes
are talking shit behind our backs.
My hands are tied.
The warden told me to back off.
So I'm gonna.
[blows landing]
[grunting]
Jiyong.
[grunts]
[panting]
I might have to hold back
but I can't bring myself to tell you to.
So go and have some fun for me.
I won't let you down.
MURDER SUSPECT APPREHENDED
SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
CRIME SCENE PHOTOS
All right. Time to get to work, everyone.
CELL BLOCK A
SUPPLY STORAGE ROOM
[Taejoong] I'll need civilian clothes.
Security key cards for door access.
[Chajoong] There's nothing new
going on with Block 7.
And zero to report
with the workshop as well.
Got it.
[Taejoong] The guards change
shifts at 3:30.
That's when I need to make my move.
Zone B has the door
that leads to the outside.
I have to find a way to sneak in there
without the guards noticing
and utilize the ventilation ducts.
END OF VISITING HOURS
16:00
Visitation hours end promptly at 4:00 p.m.
And that's when
the food supply truck comes too.
So four's when my window closes. [gasps]
[lock clicks]
Let's save the introductions for tomorrow.
[grunting]
I was gonna make it quick for you.
Who sent you?
Does it matter?
Come on, I want to hear you scream.
"Someone help!"
"Someone save me!"
Let's get on with it.
Okay.
[both grunting]
[guard] Roll call!
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs]
[Taejoong] There's one final obstacle
that I need to overcome.
Keep eating.
Okay.
All this shit you're doing
having fun?
Does it look like I am?
Let's give it a rest.
If you stop now,
I'll forgive everything
you've done to me so far.
Forgive me?
Who the fuck do you think you are?
I should ask for forgiveness?
[inhales] Let's see.
You know, that's not gonna happen
just because you want it to.
Tell you what?
If you want me to ask for forgiveness,
why don't you chop your dick off
and then go fuck yourself?
Then I'll consider it.
Wasn't your little sister sexually abused?
It was you, wasn't it?
You don't have to lie.
You enjoyed it, didn't you?
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
Ah!
-[grunting]
-[groans]
[guard] Hey! Back up!
Stop right now!
Come on!
[guards grunting]
Taser! Taser! Taser!
[Cheolhwan] What the hell's going on?
Move!
Lay him down on the ground.
What happened?
[Deoksu groaning]
You okay?
[groans softly]
Yeah, I'm fine.
Let's get you to the infirmary.
No, it's okay.
I'm all good. But this guy
I think he might need a visit there.
And that takes care of him.
He seems like fun. [chuckles]
So the inmate
who assaulted you was punished.
Solitary confinement.
Although
if you think that's too lenient,
you can bring it up
to the Ministry of Justice.
It's not that serious.
I can't seem to figure you out. Hmm.
What will it take for you
to raise a complaint?
Maybe you never will.
Here.
I don't know if this is
what you requested.
I asked for a green sponge
and they gave me that.
No, this is perfect.
I want to decorate the chapel
with some flowers.
Oh, sounds nice.
What's the point of flowers,
if you can't share them.
I can get you anything else you need.
-Just let me know.
-Thank you, sir.
Oh, right.
I saw that you applied
for cleaning duty in Zone B.
We can't transfer you
unless there's an opening.
But the way I see it,
Zone A is easier to clean anyways.
It's best to stay there.
What's this?
I'm running errands for Officer Yang.
Really?
-Go on.
-Yes, sir.
Lights out soon.
Hey, should I be ready for round two?
Nah, don't worry.
After you slapped the shit out of me,
he just said to monitor you. So, yeah.
Why did he send you?
Is there a reason?
I'm good at ambushing people,
but with you, well,
we both know how that turned out.
[inmate] I wish I didn't have to work.
-Seriously.
-Let's get this over with.
-We should get going.
-[quiet laughter]
Go ahead. I need one more.
[sighs wearily]
Making a living is hard in here, too.
[screams]
[panting]
Where's inmate 7423?
Any volunteers for Zone B?
Sure. I don't mind, sir.
CELL BLOCK B
[blows]
You got here earlier than expected.
Welcome.
First round of vaccines for 250 inmates.
Right.
Come with me.
These are the inmates scheduled for today.
Medical records are separated.
We can proceed whenever you're ready.
I'll let them know.
[door opens and closes]
2802 - PARK TAEJOONG
-[exhales]
-All right, everyone, listen up.
We've got vaccinations today.
Head to the infirmary after lunch.
Hurry up, you guys.
Come on, move out.
All right, go.
-[beeping]
-What's that?
What are you hiding?
You know you can't take that. Hey!
Why are you still working?
We can't eat yet because of you.
Sorry to make you do this.
Are you sure you're okay skipping lunch?
Yeah. I won't have time
if I don't do it now.
It started making weird noises recently,
and I can't figure it out.
I'll have it fixed
by the time you finish lunch.
I'll bring you a burger for your trouble.
After you eat, go get vaccinated.
-Okay. Sounds good.
-Hmm.
Thanks, bud.
[guard] Let's go.
[electric saw whirring]
Hey, you done?
Get some coffee.
Not now. I gotta go make a delivery.
What the hell is that noise?
Hey, what the fuck are you doing?
I never said you could
mess around in here.
Already finished lunch?
Well, I took a look under the hood,
and for the most part, everything is fine.
But I think the issue
is with this damper pulley,
which is why I made this. But
you might still have to replace it.
So will I be safe
to drive for long distances?
-[tool clattering]
-I think so.
The noise is gone for now,
but you should still get it
-checked out later.
-Thanks for the help.
-Here's your burger.
-Right.
Thank you.
[car door opens, closes]
-[knocks hood]
-All right. I'm gonna head back.
[engine starts]
[guard] Hey, hold on.
[door closes]
You can't leave yet.
Arms up.
Okay, go on.
Thanks again.
[breathing heavily]
What's up, man? Do Gangjae.
You better answer
when he talks to you, you fucking prick.
Why did you ruin the vibe
when we were just having introductions?
Sorry about that.
I'm a little busy right now.
You want to kill Deoksu
as much as I do, right?
[exhales]
You want to team up with me?
No, thank you.
It's embarrassing
if you refuse so quickly.
If you're not with us, you're against us.
So choose wisely.
See you around.
Enjoy your food.
[chuckles lightly]
-What you got there?
-[grunts]
Hey, let him go.
[exhales]
What an asshole!
I want him so fucking bad.
[Noh Yongsik] I don't think you truly
understand what you're up against.
In order to get here,
I had to drive over two mountains.
And when I arrived,
I had to pass through three entrances.
One of them even had armed guards
stationed in a watchtower.
I'm trying to make it
perfectly clear to you
about how impossible of a task this is.
It's not a matter of climbing
over a wall or two.
[Taejoong] I'm not climbing
over any walls.
I'm walking out the front door.
[Namjoon] Shut the door behind you.
[distant chatter]
Why the hell are you so late?
Skipped the vaccine, right?
Yeah.
You're all set.
[nurse] You're Park Taejoong?
-Number 2802?
-[inmate] Yes.
Have a seat.
Listen up.
There's a big match tomorrow
and I need you in top shape,
so I sent somebody else
to get the vaccine in your place.
2802, Park Taejoong.
Hurry up and get it over with.
I have shit to do.
I bet a lot of money on you,
so you better win.
See you tomorrow.
[sighs] Fuck me.
Hey.
Ready? It's go time.
Come on, hurry!
[inmate] Give me one more. Come on!
-Hell, yeah!
-Get out of the way.
[inmate] Officer.
If anything goes wrong,
the blame's on you.
Sir, you shouldn't worry so much.
If it goes wrong, it's my fault.
And if it goes well,
it's all thanks to you and you alone.
[scoffs] I love ass kissers like you.
I'm gonna take a smoke break
till everyone's ready.
-Okay, you got it, sir.
-All right.
[exhales]
The officers are gonna be so happy
you're part of this.
Look how jealous those guys are.
He's with us, you fucking assholes.
I told you I wasn't interested.
Well, I don't think
that's really up to you.
Don't you see?
Those fuckers won't stop
when the match is called.
You gotta win at all costs.
If you don't want to end up in solitary.
Why's he going over there?
Leave him be.
He's still on our team, right?
[both grunting]
Hey, hey.
-[grunts]
-[inmate 1] Hey!
[inmate 2] Do you even know
what you doing?
Are you fucking crazy?
The warden will kill us.
Get your ass back here, Taejoong.
Satisfied?
I won, right?
You son of a bitch! You ruined it!
I'm gonna fucking kill you!
Taejoong! Come back!
Sir, no wait.
[indistinct shouting]
Oh, there he is.
They noticed someone missed their vaccine
and realized it was you.
All right.
Please state your inmate number and name.
2802, Park Taejoong.
Perfect. Can you roll up
your sleeve for me?
Don't worry, it'll all be over
before you know it.
[Taejoong] Thirty minutes left.
The Manipulated