[dynamic music]
[roars]
[clucks]
MY DAUGHTER TURNED INTO A NUGGET
-[woman] Your daughter? -[Choi] Huh?
Why call a chicken nugget your daughter?
Uh, I'm just, uh… I really love nuggets.
I do. I love them. I…
But th… there's one nugget that I love the most.
Wait. How do you know so much about nuggets?
She's the blogger I told you about.
The best food columnist in Korea. Hongcha.
-[onlooker] What's happening? -Why's your stomach flat?
Do you have abs now?
This is humiliating!
-What's wrong with you? -Are you kidding?
Your belly was so beautiful.
Jesus Christ. Do we have to listen to this? Who is she?
She's my ex-girlfriend. We broke up three years ago.
[snorts] But she's out of your league.
Don't lie to him with those puffed-up lips.
-It was two years ago, not three. -Don't talk about my lips, okay?
And that third year… was when you refused to accept that we were through.
You can't decide to break up on your own.
-When one falls out of love, it's over. -Asshole.
Seriously? Who fucking cares? Come on.
You… you said you know something about my daughter?
Being an expert on Baekjung Nuggets,
she'll say that she does.
[Choi gasps]
You still read my blog, don't you? Any feelings left?
No. I can respect you as a blogger, but that's it.
-Okay, so-- -You asshole!
-Asshole! Yes, he's an asshole. -Asshole?
-Come on! -Maybe you still have feelings!
You're right! Because you're the most perfect-looking guy in the whole world!
[onlookers gasp]
[man scoffs] What?
Your fingers were like fatty pork intestines.
[pig oinks]
Your dark red lips resembled duck gizzards.
[duck quacking]
And your belly fat bulged over your belt like an oversized hamburger.
-But now you're as skinny as a twig! -Ugh.
This is not you!
-This is! This is me! -It's not! This is not you! You! Not you!
Who cares? Come on! What are you doing?
[Hongcha] You and I were good together.
Uh…
Huh?
Don't. Please. Don't flash back.
[breathing shakily] Stop it. Stop it!
Uh, don't flash back!
-[server] Sure. Just a moment. -[Baek-joong] Excuse me?
-Can I have one naengmyeon? -[server] Sure.
Oh, excuse me, sir.
We're almost a full house. Would you mind sharing your table?
As a thank you, I'll give you a free dumpling each.
-Uh, no worries. I don't mind at all. -[server] Thank you.
Excuse me. You're by yourself, right?
This way.
-[Hongcha] Thank you so much. -What would you like?
-I'd like one naengmyeon, please. -[server] Okay.
[Baek-joong sighs]
Thank you very much.
Oh, my pleasure.
[slurping loudly]
[gentle music plays]
-You must really like Pyeong-naeng. -Mmm, I do.
But the Pyeong-naeng's a bit different here.
Bit different?
It's usually made with buckwheat and flour.
This is made with buckwheat and sweet potato starch.
-You know your stuff. -Yes. [chuckles]
How about we make a bet on that?
-What? -On the ratio.
Suyuk's on the loser.
Sounds good.
Hmm…
It's chewy enough that I can't cut it with my lips.
Six to four? Six buckwheat, four sweet potato.
I'll say seven to three. Seven on buckwheat.
[chuckles] Seven to three…
Excuse me.
It's 70% buckwheat and 30% sweet potato.
-[Baek-joong] Aaah. -[Hongcha chuckles]
Thank you very much.
Could we get half a plate of suyuk?
-[server] Okay. -[Baek-joong] Thank you.
Aah, I lost that one. [chuckles]
I'll pay for the suyuk.
I knew the answer, actually.
Oh, did you? [chuckles]
Ah, it seemed a bit chewier for that ratio.
Huh?
Hong… Hongcha?
-That Hongcha? -You know me?
I'm your fan! [laughs]
-This is crazy! Hongcha! -[both laughing]
Wow, this is unbelievable.
[Hongcha] You were a man so pure and clean.
Like Pyeong-naeng broth, with a scent of meat.
You blinded my eyes with that pure look and intoxicated me with that strong scent.
Okay, so… so he smells like meat.
All right, okay. Uhh…
[Hongcha] But that didn't last long.
[gasping]
Oh, don't, please! Uh…
Ah, don't flash back.
Open your eyes. Please.
-[Hongcha] Baek-joong, is it… -[Baek-joong] Yes?
-Mint chocolate? -[Baek-joong] Yes.
-Why? -Nothing.
[quizzical music plays]
[gasps]
[slurping]
[gulps]
-Hmm. -[man] Here's your tangsuyuk.
[Baek-joong] Thank you.
-Enjoy. -[Hongcha] Thank you.
[giggles]
-Whoa! -[Hongcha gasps]
[bowl clatters]
Sorry, I did it before I realized.
[Hongcha] Tangsuyuk is a dish where you pour the sauce,
made with starch water, vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce, over fried pork.
[sighing] Okay.
If you don't pour the sauce on, then it's not tangsuyuk.
-It's just some fried pork. -[sighs] I hear you.
-What we ordered was tangsuyuk. -I said I hear you.
We'll pour the sauce on, okay?
[gentle music plays]
[Hongcha sighs]
[screaming]
Hongcha! Hongcha!
[gasping]
Don't touch me! [panting]
Don't get angry over this!
I am not angry, okay?
I am petrified.
-Pineapple on pizza isn't that scary! -It's pizza.
Pizza and pineapple.
You did it on purpose, didn't you?
Are you saying that I harassed you by ordering a pizza?
Then why did you order it before I arrived?
You've never done that before.
You know what? Forget it.
-You creep me out. -Creep you out?
[Hongcha] You let me walk away, just like that.
You bastard.
You pretended to be someone who appreciates Pyeong-naeng by yourself.
But then you eat mint chocolate, dip your pork, and get fruit on a pizza.
You're so uptight. You don't acknowledge diversity!
If diversity means creating something wrong,
spreading controversy, and confusing people,
I'm going to destroy it.
Mint chocolate
will never be destroyed.
It's already popular!
[scoffs]
This is why I couldn't let you go so easily.
[groans]
Your devastatingly firm attitude.
Nice attitude!
Ugh! Now, please.
Please, just tell me now!
Why do you keep saying that?
You said that wasn't my daughter!
Oh, I did.
Does that mean you can tell which one of these nuggets is my daughter?
I can, but…
-Actually come to think of it, no. -What?
I won't get involved with someone who thinks their daughter's a nugget.
[whimpering]
He's insane! Can't you see that?
[man] Oh my God, what's he doing?
[gentle music plays]
I still like mint chocolate.
-And I dip my tangsuyuk. -Then it's just fried pork!
I know. And I still enjoy
pineapple on pizza as a topping.
But the ordeal I'm facing is not simply a matter of taste.
It's a matter of a human life and human dignity.
I… I can't tell you everything.
But… we need your help. Please.
Help us.
I didn't want to hear that love story of yours,
but I had to listen to it.
I mean, the entire fucking thing.
So please.
Help me! [sobbing]
[both whimpering]
[sighs]
[music fades]
[gasps] Ah! Th… this one?
[gasping]
Unlike other nuggets that have a touch of yellow because they add peanuts,
this one…
Why does it seem a little pale?
Oh?
She was cold. Min-ah gets cold very easily.
-Are you sure? -Are you doubting me?
No, it's just… this is really important, that's all.
I'm not doubting you.
[sniffs]
All right.
That's definitely the one. But I can check the smell as well.
-[Baek-joong gasps] Thank you. -Oh! Much appreciated.
-[Choi] Careful! Be gentle. -[Baek-joong gasps]
Baekjung Chicken Nuggets have a subtle scent of perilla oil.
But this one doesn't.
[sniffs]
-Did you make this one? -Huh?
How come I can smell mint chocolate on this?
-[gasps] -Mint chocolate? Why… why…
Oh! Here, here. In… in here.
-Min-ah. -[Choi] Gently. Be careful!
What is it, Mr. Ko?
No, she's right. -Min-ah also likes mint chocolate.
[gasps] Min-ah. Min-ah!
Thank you. Thank you, ma'am.
I don't know how to repay this favor.
[Hongcha sighs] Just pull yourself together.
I will. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Goodbye.
Do you still
write music?
I do.
I've been uploading them on YouTube.
-That's good. -What?
Nothing. See ya.
I got an offer from EXchange.
If you're interested, let me know.
I'm good.
[siren wailing]
[chuckling]
How unbelievable is this?
Min-ah's mom passed after giving birth. I brought her up alone.
She's my everything. But still, I couldn't tell her apart.
I asked a total stranger to find out which one she was.
And there's nothing I can do but believe what I was told. [laughs]
I'm in love with Min-ah.
-Huh? -Sorry if this surprises you.
But I'm telling you
because I want to tell you that you will not be alone.
-I'd like to be alone, thank you. -I'll never let you be alone.
-Oh shit. -Trust me, okay?
-That's definitely Min-ah. -[Choi] All right.
-Why don't you just go home? -No. Why would I?
Hmm? It's late. It's the weekend. The labor law?
I'm not on duty anymore.
-But, uh-- -I'm here for you.
-Hmm? -We just have each other.
-Mm-mm. -Master.
-Hmm. What? -Machine master.
Machine master…
Oh!
Right. I am a master of machines.
Okay! I should make a machine that I can safely keep Min-ah in.
You're right! One to keep the optimum temperature, humidity, and safety.
I'll text you the parts and the equipment I need.
Could you go to the warehouse and get it all?
Yep!
[upbeat music]
-[Baek-joong gasps] -What?
-There's a first time for everything. -What do you mean?
-You're making a machine that's useful. -Mm-hmm.
Could you get moving and stop talking?
Yep!
[sighs]
[typing]
[upbeat pop music plays]
[bleeping and crackling]
[whirring]
[rapid bleeping]
[pinging rhythmically]
I found it.
MORE THAN MACHINES
BAEKJUNG CHICKEN NUGGET
[clattering]
[rustling]
-That's it, right? -You felt it too?
I did, too. It's the same as that rainy day.
It seems like
this time we get a chance for real.
[birdsong]
[snoring]
So what happened was,
Min-ah went into that machine,
and shouted "chicken nugget,"
and turned into a chicken nugget.
Correct.
So if we put the chicken nugget back into the machine and shout, "Choi Min-ah,"
then shouldn't Min-ah turn back into herself after that?
Who's going to shout that out?
What if the chicken nugget gets burnt or turns into a pickled radish?
[sighs]
I can't try anything that risky right now, until I figure out that machine.
I also may have said it out of frustration.
I even thought that might be a time machine.
Hmm?
How can someone who entered a building disappear without a trace?
-[gasps] -[Choi sighs]
Then Min-ah might actually be somewhere,
fighting desperately to come back to this place right now.
She really doesn't like adventure.
Or Min-ah might actually
be enjoying her stay there,
because she likes it there…
[dramatic music plays]
[choir singing in Latin]
Silver Queen, Your Highness. Time for your manicure, Your Majesty.
Come on in.
Why would she get manicured by eunuch soldiers?
-Uh… -You have a nasty mind.
I apologize. I promise you, my intentions are completely honorable.
So, what is your relationship with my daughter?
Unrequited love.
And I'm sorry for that.
You know, Min-ah isn't vain or conceited at all.
Even during her exams, she did volunteer work.
Then maybe she's watching us.
[gasps] From somewhere in a different dimension of some sort?
Stop imagining that sort of… ah…
Hmm…
[music from Interstellar plays]
[echoing footsteps]
No!
Not the machine.
[gasping]
[machine whirring]
No! Please.
[gasps]
[sobs]
Min-ah.
[whimpers]
I'll plug it in. Give me a minute.
-[echoing clatter] -Oh! The chicken nugget!
[gasps]
-[loud humming] -[sighs]
[Baek-joong screams]
[echoing sobs]
[music fades]
[soft buzzing]
Min-ah?
[sighs]
Oh.
It's the only thing that makes any sense.
I'm sorry, but I've gotta at least do something.
And I know what.
I will go into…
that machine myself.
Don't do it.
This is the only way to find out if that machine makes you turn into…
into anything you say, or if it's…
a crazy teleporting machine thing.
And how exactly are you gonna let me know?
What?
How do you think you're gonna tell me what happened if you also turn into a nugget?
Look, I'm desperate here, I'm sorry.
Stop adding to my frustration with your own problems and frustrations.
-Okay. -I thought about going in a million times.
But what if it goes wrong?
Who would turn Min-ah back into herself?
I can't take such careless risks.
[gasps]
Let's find the professor. [grunts]
Min-ah?
I'm going to do some research on Professor Yoo.
By the way, you know, the professor was studying that machine.
Do you think it was thrown out?
Should I look for people from Professor Yoo's old project management team?
-Good idea. Okay. -Okay.
[Choi] And, also,
could you get… the books on my list here?
They're hard to find. They're Professor Yoo's books.
You got it. I'll check the Internet and every book store in town.
-Okay. -[pats shoulder]
All right.
[grunts] I'll be back.
-Keep up the good work. -[Baek-joong] Sure.
I can't reveal the investigation reports to the public.
But I can promise you,
I won't stop you if you want to find out for yourself.
[panting]
[mysterious music playing]
Unit 40.
[sighs]
[cop] He would visit his sister-in-law, who had dementia,
or he went to his studio apartment.
He didn't go anywhere else, other than those two places.
[woman] Why do you wanna look for him?
Ah, I'm studying the same machine that he studied.
[woman] Ugh, I'm sick of it.
She was his only relative, so are there anything like flyers or--
What's the point of flyers? It was already on TV.
[inhales] Right, but…
The problem? The men in this family.
Huh?
Her husband was an absolute lazy bum, never worked a day in his life.
I don't know. I guess it's good he died early.
And her two sons.
The oldest one doesn't even care.
He hasn't been in touch since he became a TV star.
The younger one was a smart, promising kid.
But he followed his machine-crazy uncle around and went crazy too.
I don't know where he is now.
After all that, her condition got worse.
Oh, I see. I'm sorry.
Do you know, uh, where he'd usually go?
Laboratory, laboratory, laboratory.
He just came by now and then to check on her.
But he was broke. He blew all the money he received from the government.
Is there any other place you can think of?
Tear that lab down, dig up the ground,
and you might find him there. He has nowhere else to go, anyway.
[dramatic music plays]
[gasps]
Whew.
[Choi] Why did he go all the way there?
Hah.
[thinks] He was well-known and his case was on the news,
and there's less than ten articles about him.
People aren't interested in scientists. He must've been a lonely man.
[phone buzzing]
KO BAEK-JOONG
Yes, Mr. Ko.
Hello, Mr. Choi. I finally found
the head project manager of Professor Yoo's lab,
and spoke over the phone. Luckily, he was
my school friend's mom's cousin's
younger second cousin's teacher's first love's older brother's friend.
-You did a lot of research on all of them. -I did!
[chuckles] Uh, he said that after Professor Yoo disappeared,
researchers discarded the major materials themselves,
and a contracted company took the remaining scrap metals.
But no one had any idea about that machine Professor Yoo was studying.
If that machine wasn't classified
as inherently valuable,
and, given that it looked like a normal cabinet,
that company might have resold it as second-hand office goods
after they picked it up.
That is a good theory.
Did they give you any kind of location?
Yes, it is in
Gimpo. Should I go and check that one out just in case?
No. I'll go there. I'm close by.
Uh, text me the address, and just take care of the books on that list, please.
Okay, no problem. Huh.
[dynamic music plays]
[music fades]
[emotional music plays]
What's the matter?
What, old lady?
Oh shit.
[panting]
[yells]
[moaning]
[whimpering]
Min-ah. [sobs]
My beautiful Min-ah.
[sobs] Min-aaaah!
[yells] I'm coming for you!
[music fades]
[bleep]
Hello, everyone.
I'm Ko Baek-joong, and I'm an intern at More than Machines.
It's November 20th, 2022, 3:04 p.m.
It's been three days since Min-ah turned into a chicken nugget.
I am here recording
Min-ah's condition.
She was exposed to direct sunlight for a few hours.
She was dropped on the ground, but sustained no injuries.
The texture and moisture of the sauce, looking good.
Ah… My blood sugar is dropping due to fasting, so I'm shaking.
Still, this chicken nugget doesn't seem like food.
My sanity, normal.
Min-ah's appearance, normal.
Normal… Should I call it "normal"?
Well…
I don't even know how this song will begin. I…
I don't have a melody or lyrics yet.
I'll just go with the flow…
and express my frustration.
It has a title, though. It's…
"A Chicken Nugget Rhapsody."
[playing upbeat tune]
[plays slow melody]
[Choi] Have you seen this?
-Ah! -[Choi gasps]
-I know this. -Huh?
-Yeah, I know it. This is that thing. -[gasps]
Can you remember? Uh, did you, um, dispose of this?
-Oh, no! -[laughing]
Wait. Uh…
I didn't…
Was it taken by the second-hand store?
-I think I left it here somewhere. -Where did you leave it?
I think over there?
-[man giggles] -[gasps]
[man hums cheerfully]
[clattering]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
Oh yes. Okay, I'll be on my way! Okay!
Okay, thank you. Bye. Yep.
[mysterious music plays]
You may not be conventionally good-looking…
but you've got something going for you.
[dramatic music plays]
[whirs]
Min-ah.
[music intensifies]
[whirring]
Cha Eun-woo!
[music fades]
[silence]
[pop song in Korean plays]
[music fades]