Awl (송곳)

The story begins on a certain day in June, 2003.

Episode 1 / Inevitably, there is a man who comes through.

A man like an awl.

Hey, you!

Is he dead?

He's been like that since yesterday.

And for two days you didn't do anything?

I figured he was a bum.

Bums can be left to die?

People here have no heart.

Am I the only one who lives around here?

What are you yelling at me for?

He is opening his eyes.

Hey! Are you OK?

Are you homeless?

Told you he was bum.

Have you eaten anything?

Have you?

Maybe he is a mute.

He seems a bit retarded, if you ask me.

Hey, watch your mouth.

Is this joking matter to you?

I mean,

Were you going to take his box?

Wh, what? No! what do you take me for?

That's it. You were.

What a mean neighborhood!

I said I wasn't!

That's absurd!

What a cold, cruel world it has become!

So cold.

Are you hungry?

Do you want to go eat?

Yes.

You can speak, eh?

So, you got laid off without a pay after working there for six months?

I damaged the delivery motorcycle.

Are you saying that you paid for the damage with your wage

or you never got paid at all?

I, um

never got paid.

But you see, my boss was really upset about the bike.

Where is that restaurant?

I can't. He said he'd kill me if I show my face again.

No, he can't.

What's the point of living if you can't even get paid?

Hello. Welcome.

Chung-su!

One, two,

How many people are there in the back?

Three. Why?

This guy worked here for six months?

That's correct.

How many employees are there?

Besides the boss, we have six people working here.

Okay.

Who the hell are you?

Ah, you are the boss!

I told you I'd kill you if you come here again.

What the hell are you doing here?

He came to collect his back wages.

Back wages?

Who the hell are you?

How do you know him?

I just met him on the street this afternoon.

Look at this clown.

That punk is the one who should be paying me for all the damage he's done here.

Get the hell out of here before I call the police.

Ah, law enforcement?

You like the law, eh?

Violation of the labor law article 36. Up to

3 years in prison or $20,000 in fine.

Labor enforcement rule: the annual rate of back wage is 20 percent.

It's so inhuman to follow the law literally.

Let's forget the interest.

Assuming that he’s got the minimum wage for six months

Let's see,

$7,000 would settle this.

$7,000?

I heard my new haircut made me look like a softie

but this is too much.

Get the hell out of here!

Crazy old man!

I was trying to show some respect for an old man.

$7,000?

On top of the business being slow,

this nut job comes in here

Don't stop me! Hey, hey

I said, let go!

I thought you were a reasonable man,

I really didn't want to do this.

Yes, boss. what's going on?

You know a restaurant called "The Great Wall"?

I do. We go there for a company happy hour.

You think I have no one to call?

Don't go there.

What?

The diner, don't go there anymore.

Don't order delivery either.

That’s the only Chinese restaurant around.

Are you talking back?

No, I am just saying.

Hello? Boss? Mr. Koo?

Who was that?

It’s Mr. Koo. He told us not to go to The Great Wall anymore.

Then don't.

Is it going to kill you?

What about my coupons?

Dump them.

Just two more coupons, I get one entree for free.

It's such a terrible waste.

Told you to dump them!

Yes, boss.

Ah, yes. I know that place.

We did our opening ceremony there.

Don't go there anymore.

Whatever you say, boss.

I will relay the message.

The Great Wall?

Why, their sweet and sour pork is good.

Don't go there?

The Great Wall?

They really fell out of your favor, huh?

Yes, Hanjin Electronic.

What else can I do?

I'd like to cancel an order.

I won't go there anymore.

I got it.

Okay, okay. I won't go. I will see you Tuesday.

Okay.

Let's see.

Who else...

Excuse me, boss?

You are the boss, not I.

Sir!

I will pay. I will pay him.

Here.

Put it in your backpack, you don't want to lose it.

Thank you. Thank you sir.

As long as you know.

Don't ever forget about me.

Ah, wait. Wait for a second please.

Please take this.

What?

A commission?

Yes, sir. Although it's not much.

How old are you buddy?

Twenty four, sir.

Aren’t you too young to be out in the world by yourself and get robbed?

Hey, buddy.

Quit playing adult and take care of yourself, okay?

Bye now.

Take this.

Call me if you need any help.

We help you get paid. Labor Law Consulting Center Chief Consultant Koo Ko-shin

Fourmis Mart.

Are you planning to break the rest too?

I am so sorry.

I had pain in my knees.

We've got only got an hour left.

Will you be able to finish before the manager comes?

Let's go!

Let's go...

What are you doing here? It's okay. I am fine.

Go back to your section. What if your boss sees you?

Excuse me, I still need this.

I am sorry.

Hey, don't worry about that and come over here.

We've got to finish here first.

What do you want me to do?

Organize this box. Like this.

Oh, my god!!

Kim Jung-mi. I told you not to order around the employees from the sister market.

Why can’t we help one another when it’s busy?

We used to do it all the time when Mr. Choi was here.

It doesn’t matter what you did in the past. It's against the rule.

The promoters are not our company employees. I told you before.

He used to be in the army. That's why he's so uptight.

Can you imagine how his subordinates would have felt?

Why else would he have left such a stable job in this economy?

I wonder how he ever got a girl to go out with him.

Still, he’s so good looking.

It takes a more than a pretty face to have a relationship.

A man should know how to be romantic.

When he’s with a girl, I bet he’d be like this. Hey Young-sun.

Come here. Hold my hand.

Lie down. Kiss on my lips three times. Stat!

Who's going to date such a square?

Make sure to check the freshness often and get rid of old stuff.

What else?

Jun-cheol! Those mackerels,

There has been a complaint that you cut too much of flesh when you cut off the head.

The heads are really big so I've been trying to cut near to the gills.

I am not blaming you! Just letting you know that there have been some complaints.

And then

Jung-min.

Sir! You called me?

There has been another complaint.

Complaints are inevitable but you’ve been getting one every day for two months now.

It's your makeup.