Mercy for None (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

1
- [blade thrusts]
- [man grunts]
[Hui-chan panting, grunting]
[suspenseful music playing]
- [Hui-chan cries out]
- [body thuds]
[moaning]
[attackers clamoring in panic]
- [attacker 1] This way!
- [attacker 2] Come on!
[attackers clamoring, panting]
- [attacker 3] Let's go, man!
- [attackers shouting indistinctly]
[blade clatters]
[Gi-seok sighs]
[dark music playing]
[blade slicing]
- [both grunting]
- [blade slicing]
[blade scraping]
[blade clatters]
[dark music continues]
[Gi-seok grunts]
[both grunting]
[Gi-seok cries out]
[masked man grunts]
[grunts]
[Gi-seok moans]
[masked man grunts]
- [flesh squelches]
- [Gi-seok moans]
[Gi-seok grunts weakly]
[Gi-seok choking]
So you understand…
Once I pull this knife out,
you're gonna die.
[Gi-seok choking]
- [coughs weakly]
- [blood trickling]
[choking]
[panting weakly]
Son of a bitch.
The hell am I supposed to do
with all this?
Jesus Christ.
Hey, this is Han Seok-yun
from the Special Investigation Unit.
We've got a homicide case. The address…
[opening theme music playing]
MERCY FOR NONE
119 AMBULANCE
[man 1] Okay, keep it coming!
Keep it coming!
Now turn it around! Yeah, okay!
[rescue vehicle beeping]
Okay, just set it down, all right?
Be careful.
That's it. Yeah, set it down.
[indistinct chattering]
Think we can finish up soon?
Looks like everything's been washed away.
[man 1 sighs]
[man 2] I wish we could. Unfortunately,
they want the body retrieved,
even if it takes all day.
[man 1 sighs]
[man 2] I'm guessing
it's about the inspection.
[radio beeps]
[man 3] Body found in the water
near Jara Island. Report received.
All right, copy that.
Let's go, guys. Come on, we're leaving.
[man 1] We're heading to Jara Island!
Get the crane out.
- [man 2] Get those barricades out!
- [man 1] Let's move.
[suspenseful music playing]
[running footsteps approaching]
[water splashing]
We're on our way. He's in bad shape.
Get everything ready.
Once we arrive, he'll need treatment.
[engine revving]
[Seong-cheol] The accident happened
right after he killed Gu Jun-mo.
Should I look into it further?
[cell phone vibrating]
[Bong-san] You know why I'm calling,
don't you?
I need to see you now.
[pensive music playing]
I'm sorry about what happened to your son.
I take it you're the one
who killed Gi-jun, right?
Yes, I ordered it.
What would you have done
if you were in my shoes?
If your boy's murderer
was still out there?
I would want nothing but revenge.
Right.
So if you already knew,
then why did you do this?
Han Seok-yun was paid
to rig Nam Gi-seok's case.
So, I traced the money back.
It led me to a shell company
that your corporation created.
TRANSACTION HISTORY
SENDER - JW GALLERY
You wanna know what I think?
I think…
you were never planning
on letting Gi-seok inherit your company.
I'm guessing your plan
was to kill him and pin it on Jun-mo.
You baited Gi-jun
so he'd kill Jun-mo for you.
And he fell for it.
Getting rid of Gi-jun
was all that was left.
Then you could hand over all of it
to that precious prosecutor son of yours.
That's ridiculous.
Who do you think I am,
some kind of supervillain or something?
[laughing]
That's right.
That's the Ju-woon I know.
Even after all these years
working together,
you still don't know me at all!
Wrong.
I know you better than anyone.
And now,
it's just me and you.
One of us has to die for this to end.
[ominous music playing]
[men chattering indistinctly]
Since it's come to this,
let's take them out.
Wait a minute.
Do you think it's wise
to go to war with another family now?
[scoffs] Do you have a proposal?
Tell me what you think we should do, then.
Just sit here and wait?
Gu Bong-san has lost his mind.
Words won't get through to him.
We need to prepare for what he'll do.
BONGSAN HEADQUARTERS
[Bong-san] How's everything going?
I contacted everyone available.
They know where to meet us.
BONGSAN GANG BASE
- Where's the chairman?
- Relax. He's on the way.
And why are we meeting in here?
Hong Hyeon-seok said that
it needed to be somewhere private
to stay off Juwoon's radar.
He really said that?
But since when are we afraid of Juwoon?
I mean--
- [man 1] Who the hell are you?
- [all clamoring]
- [man 2] Stand against the wall.
- [man 3] We're from Prosecutors' Office.
[door bangs]
[man 4] Wow, they all came here,
after all.
You're all under arrest
for solicitation of murder and assault.
You'll get the rest of the details later.
Just cooperate for now.
- All right, let's go.
- [man 5] Hey, get those guys first.
- [man 6] You realize what you're doing?
- [man 7] Let go!
[man 8] Wait. I'm curious…
How'd you know we were here?
[exhales] Oh, you've gotta be kidding me.
[slams box on table]
Everyone's been arrested.
It was a complete ambush!
HONG HYEON-SEOK
DIRECTOR, BONGSAN
Prosecutors knew where they'd be.
Arrested everyone at the meeting.
[slams table]
Lee Ju-woon.
He ratted us out, that bastard.
Sir, we really should go now.
[tense music playing]
[tires screeching]
- [officer 1] Gu Bong-san!
- [officer 2] He's in here!
[tires screeching]
[officer 3] Ah, shit!
[reporter] While an investigation
into the Bongsan Group is ongoing…
PROSECUTION SERVICE
…authorities announced
they will focus efforts
on locating Chairman Gu Bong-san,
who has gone into hiding during the probe.
If you'd only waited
a little while longer,
you could've gotten Gu Bong-san as well.
You need to work
on your timing in the future, eh?
Now, I heard from the investigators
you moved on them
30 minutes earlier than planned.
Why'd you do that?
Did your father tell you to?
[man scoffs]
Perhaps he thought that would be enough
to protect his friend?
[man chuckles mockingly]
I put you in charge,
and then you go and do this?
Get ready,
'cause your ass is about to get fired.
You can never trust these damn flunkies.
You wanted me to make my own way.
I recall you saying that. To pick a side.
Well, this is my answer.
Huh. You're starting
to scare me a little, kid.
[Geum-son] After Gu Bong-san,
it's my father's turn.
SEARCH WARRAN
JUWOON INC., JU-WOON'S RESIDENCE
You think you're ready?
I do.
Ever since I became a prosecutor,
I've been ready for this.
[tense music playing]
- [Yeong-do] Chairman Lee.
- [Ju-woon] Mm?
Next time,
I'd appreciate it if you called me first.
I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Eh?
[chuckles softly]
Now, just a minute.
For some time now,
I've let you decide
where and when we would meet.
Now, is that really fair?
Well, now… you sound frustrated.
Yeah.
See, I recall you
telling me that
only I could see this thing through.
That 11 years ago,
I didn't have much of a choice.
You said it would be different now.
Yeah,
I do recall saying that.
Then why don't I have a choice
this time either?
[inhales] Mr. Kim, tell me why you did it.
Or, I mean… Cha Yeong-do.
Just a minute.
You think I'm the one that
went after Bongsan?
No, not Bongsan.
You know, the other thing.
I realized that the money
had started leaking out of my account,
and that it ended up with Han Seok-yun,
of all people.
And not long after that,
Gi-seok was killed.
Then by chance, Han took it
and managed to close the case
in no time at all.
As far as I know, there's only one person
who could've done this all by themselves.
So now I'm asking you.
Why did you do it?
I think you're missing something
really vital here.
Putting together a shell company,
finding the right cops to bribe,
rigging a case like that…
and so on. Yeah?
There's one other person
capable of doing all that
besides me at the Prosecutors' Office.
Why're you so convinced
that it's someone from the outside?
Could it be that…
the truth is too painful
for you to accept, so you ignore it?
If I find out
you dragged my son into this,
I'm gonna smash your goddamn head open.
I remember someone saying that
as people get older,
they tend to believe
whatever makes them feel good.
[laughing]
Well, then… have a nice day.
You take good care of yourself.
Oh, I will.
[music fades out]
- [doctor] Did you have lunch?
- [woman] Yes.
[ominous music playing]
[sighs]
This is Gi-seok's.
Here, just like you asked for.
And here's… the key to his car.
I've changed the license plate,
so you don't have to worry
about being tracked.
[Yang-sik] Cheers.
[Seong-won exhales] It feels so good
to have Gu Bong-san out of the picture.
It's his fucking son, that little bastard.
He's the one
who put us through all this shit.
Exactly. What a little asshole.
Oh, by the way,
do you think Lee Ju-woon's son
took down Bongsan all by himself or what?
[laughs] Who knows?
It could've been that Lee Ju-woon
actually told him to.
Or maybe he wanted to impress his daddy.
[laughs]
Who the fuck cares, at this point?
That's not important to us now.
[both laughing]
That's right.
- Listen, Yang-sik.
- Yeah?
[swishing drink in mouth, exhales]
I don't want us
to start overthinking things, okay?
- What do I say?
- [Yang-sik] Right.
The strongest person
is the one who survives.
- Mm-hmm.
- Just look what happened to Nam Gi-jun.
He put this life behind him a while ago,
and he should've stayed out.
Revenge?
I mean, who was he kidding? Seriously.
It's true he's tough as hell.
But what good is that if you're dead?
Right, right. What a jackass!
[both laughing]
- [footsteps approaching]
- Ah, that fucking asshole.
I gave him a second chance,
I let him live,
and then that jerk goes and dies somewhere
for no good reason.
- [laughing]
- [Yang-sik clears throat]
Give us the room, please.
- [Yang-sik] Sorry?
- Just for a minute.
Uh, sure. [clears throat nervously]
What the fuck? Thank God.
You really snuck up on me there.
Sit down.
So who killed me?
Mm, what's that?
I want their name.
[dark music playing]
Come on, Gi-jun. How would I know that?
You're alive, aren't you? Huh?
How the hell could I know who killed you?
I mean, how's that even possible?
Then find out.
I'm not asking you.
This is your chance to live.
What about Chun-seok and Byeong-ho?
THE LATE CHOI BYEONG-HO
THE LATE KIM CHUN-SEOK
[Seong-won] I was going to handle it
my usual way, but it didn't feel right.
So I cleaned them up
and gave them a proper funeral.
It cost a pretty penny, though.
Over 14 million, and…
Actually, forget it.
I don't think that really matters.
That's not important.
[sighs heavily]
Those damn fools.
What did they do all this for,
just to be cool? [sighs]
Why couldn't they have learned
how to play nice with each other? Jeez.
[Gi-jun sighs]
[music fades out]
[Geum-son] You're here.
[headphones clatter]
Mm, is there anything you'd like to say?
What, about Bongsan?
There was nothing I could do.
The higher-ups had it planned for a while.
All I did
was what I was told.
Recently, you met someone, yes?
Yeah, I did.
Cha Yeong-do.
Yeah, "Mr. Kim."
What did he tell you?
I'm sure he made you
a job offer of some kind.
[uneasy music playing]
Did he promise to help you
take over my place? Is that it?
[scoffs]
Oh, come on.
What are you--
You've always said that I don't…
belong at your company.
I've never forgotten that.
But I completely understand.
So honestly, I don't know
what you're even talking about right now.
I try to focus on doing
the best job that I can. That's it.
Of course,
there isn't going to be any change
as long as you're here.
Isn't that what you've said?
[Ju-woon sighs heavily]
Rest up.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[music fades out]
["American Zen" by Naomi August
playing through headphones]
But I'm stuck on Monday ♪
And sleep… ♪
- [car engines revving]
- [bodies thudding]
- [tires screech]
- [man 1] Juwoon!
- [men shouting indistinctly]
- [blades slicing]
[ominous music playing]
[man 2] Sir, it's Juwoon. They're here.
[Hyeon-seok] You should get outta here.
[Ju-woon] Ever since Chairman Oh died,
I've been a bystander.
I've always let other people
make the big decisions.
I thought that was the best way
to avoid getting my hands dirty.
But now I realize
I couldn't have been more wrong.
My hands are just as dirty
as everyone else's.
I just didn't see it.
Therefore,
since I'm already involved in this,
maybe it's best
if I dirty my hands one last time.
- [door slams]
- [man 3 grunts]
- [blade slices]
- [man 3 groans]
[men clamoring, shouting]
[blades slicing continuously]
[ominous music continues]
[Hyeon-seok] I'll stop them.
Go with him.
- [blades slicing]
- [men grunting]
[blades thrusting]
[men grunting, shouting]
[man 4] I got you!
[blade thrusting repeatedly]
[grunts]
[blade slicing]
- [blade thrusts]
- [man 5 groans]
- [blade thrusts]
- [Bong-san groans]
- [blades slicing]
- [man 6 groaning]
[screams]
Come on!
Who wants more?!
[Hyeon-seok panting]
[man 7] Hold on.
[exhales]
[breathing heavily]
[grunting and shouting continue]
[door slides open]
[dark music playing]
[Bong-san panting]
[Ju-woon] Mm.
I'll handle this myself.
[Seong-cheol sighs]
- [Bong-san breathing weakly]
- [pensive music playing]
Sorry about all this.
Yeah? Well, don't be.
It was always gonna come to this.
It's just our nature.
[blade thrusts]
- [Bong-san moaning]
- I agree, we're quite similar.
Like you,
I would do anything to protect my son.
You understand?
[Bong-san moaning weakly]
You keep this going,
it won't be long before they kill you too.
[Bong-san crying out weakly]
[blade squelches]
[panting]
[body thuds]
[dark music playing]
[exhales]
[pipe clatters]
[man 8] Let's move out.
Wait, really?
They killed the chairman?
[Yeong-do] Right, right. Good work.
Just like I said,
you'll be the head
of the Bongsan Group from now on.
All right, see ya.
[pen clicks]
Well, he got what he deserved, all right.
GU BONG-SAN
GU JUN-MO
[pen clatters]
LEE JU-WOON
NAM GI-SEOK
LEE JU-WOON
[Seong-won] Someone from Juwoon called.
They said they were taking down Bongsan,
and I should come clean up the mess.
It's strange, isn't it?
Lee Ju-woon doesn't usually
do things like this.
People change.
Killing Gu Bong-san like that…
What is he protecting?
[cell phone vibrating]
Who's this?
[knocking on door]
[suspenseful music playing]
Aha…
How long has it been, my friend? Huh?
Oh…
Anyway, how're you keeping in here?
Of course.
I knew you wouldn't go down so easy.
I suppose you'd like
to ask me some questions, right?
Tell me…
were you the one who tried to kill me?
[dark music playing]
Like you killed Chairman Gu?
There's someone you don't know about.
If you're the one who set the stage
for how we handle things now,
he's the one
who's been keeping the balance
and steering it ever since you left.
We've called him "Mr. Kim" in the past.
[Chairman Oh] Mr. Kim!
Introduce yourself.
Ah… It's very nice to meet you.
[Ju-woon] This was the guy that
Chairman Oh brought in from the police.
He was someone
that could give us inside information.
We could also rely on him
to cover up any of our illegal activities.
VETERANS' APARTMEN
Now here's the thing.
In the beginning,
Mr. Kim didn't ask for much.
- Oh, hi. How are you doing?
- Hi.
[whistling]
- [Yeong-do] Just getting home? See you.
- [woman] Oh, hello, good to see you.
[Ju-woon] Even after Chairman Oh's death,
this guy didn't cut and run.
He stayed loyal.
[Yeong-do continues whistling]
[Ju-woon] He continued to work
with me and Bong-san,
and for that, he was handsomely rewarded.
MR. KIM'S SECRET OFFICE
I mean, he made more money
than he ever did back in Oh's time.
[Yeong-do laughing softly]
[sighs]
[Ju-woon] But unfortunately,
all that extra money
wasn't enough for him.
He knew everything about us,
including our weak spots.
And he used that knowledge
to control us from behind the scenes.
Anyways,
it was because of his interference
that we were able
to keep the peace until now.
And then…
one day, I had a realization.
I thought to myself, what if…
you weren't the one who started this?
What if, instead,
it was Mr. Kim who's behind all this?
Because it always bothered me.
I knew the official story.
But how did Gi-seok find out
about Oh's son 11 years ago?
[Gi-seok, on recording] All right…
so if I kill Chairman Oh's son, then--
[Yeong-do] Whoa,
I never told you to kill him.
All I'm saying is…
he's going after your brother now.
You understand? All right.
It was Mr. Kim who told Gi-seok his plans,
all of it.
You don't believe me. I understand.
But please,
listen to what I'm telling you.
He's been pulling the strings again.
He's the one who killed Gi-seok.
Then, once again,
he dragged you into this.
Just like he did before.
I was really planning
on handing over the business to Gi-seok.
But now that Gi-seok is gone,
there's no one in the group
that I can trust.
So, I've decided…
that I want you
to run the business after me, Gi-jun.
And I have to refuse,
just like I did once before.
I need you to help me.
Where can I find that man?
I'll arrange for you to meet.
[cell phone beeps]
[line ringing]
[cell phone vibrating]
DIRECTOR LEE JU-WOON
INCOMING CALL
Yes, Chairman?
Right now?
SEOUL METROPOLITAN POLICE
[Yeong-do whistling]
[humming]
[car beeps]
[humming stops]
[suspenseful music building]
MERCY FOR NONE
[music fades]
So, uh, why'd you choose me?
I'm not Bongsan's only executive.
[Yeong-do] Mr. Hong,
let me ask you this question first.
What do you think about Juwoon?
Who do you think is the right person
to take over for Lee Ju-woon?
Well, I'd say Nam Gi-seok, but he's dead.
Park wouldn't work. He's too old-school.
So, if you rule out everyone else,
it has to be Choi Seong-cheol.
You are correct.
That's exactly why I chose you. All right?
[uneasy music playing]
I ruled out everyone, but you remained.
[chuckles softly]
Go ahead.
[knocking on door]
You can come in.
It's been a while.
[Hyeon-seok chuckles]
You know that we know each other?
Oh, really?
I wasn't aware you two had history.
You know,
even though he wasn't on your list,
there is someone else
who may be able to take Ju-woon's place.
[footsteps approaching]
Ah, here he comes.
[uneasy music continues]
All right.
Are you ready for this, Geum-son?
[music intensifies]
[intense music playing]
[music fades]