Hakchon-line Synopsis

line 1

- Synopsis

Time: A chilly November day, from early morning until night.
Place: Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni 588, and the distance between on Line 1.

Act One
Scene 1, Seoul Station Plaza
Fairy, a young ethnic Korean woman from Yenbian, China, comes to Seoul in search of a man called
"Swallow," whom she met at Mount Baektu in Manchuria. As she arrives in Seoul at 6:09 in the morning,
she sings of her first impressions of the city. [ 6:09am, Seoul station]

Scene 2, Under Seoul Station
Fairy wanders down into the subway station connected to Seoul Station, expecting to find fellow ethnic
Koreans from China. Perhaps because they've been kicked out for street peddling unapproved
medicines, all she finds are foul smelling beggars and wanderers. Red Pants, who seems somehow
familiar, sings of her disgust for the life she lives.[ I curse you, Daylight!]

Scene 3, The Platform at Seoul Subway Station
When they met in China, Swallow told Fairy to look for him in 588 when she comes to Seoul. Once in
here, however, she finds the people to be cold and indifferent. While waiting for the subway, commuters
sing of the difficulties of daily life of the common citizen. [Gotta Wait]

Scene 4, On the Subway between Seoul and Cheongnyangni stations
By now Fairy is riding along Line 1 in the direction of Cheongnyangni. Passengers sing of the idle
thoughts typical of bored commuters. [The Other Side]

Scene 5, 588
Finally at 588 Fairy finds that the place is far different from Swallow's description. 588 is a red light district
with an unusually high concentration of brothels often with little more than curtains for privacy.
There she meets Cheolsu, an orphaned pimp fathered by an American soldier, and Rag, an old prostitute.
Early in the morning though it still is, two soldiers arrive at 588 in search of pleasures and end up singing
with the prostitutes of the momentary and indulgent "love" felt by brothel patrons. [When Love Blooms]

Glasses rescues Fairy from a moment of danger when the men at 588 mistake her for a prostitute.
Glasses pretends to not have full use of one of his legs, and sings on the subway to earn what money
he can. Rag deeply admires Glasses and is using drugs, so when Glasses treats her coldly as he
goes out to sing, she tries to kill herself by cutting her wrist. Fairy ties Rag's wrist in her scarf.
Cheolsu notices that Fairy is pregnant, and, feeling sympathy for her, tells her to go wait at the food cart
in Seoul Station Plaza operated by "old lady pock face" while he looks for Swallow.

Scene 6, On the subway between Cheongnyangni and Seoul Stations
While returning to Seoul Station, Fairy witnesses firsthand some of the many bizarre sights common on
Line 1. A subway peddler sings of the value of his wares [.It's Cheap], and Earthworm, the Garbage
Woman, and Sergeant Kim (one of the soldiers from 588) each sing about their own lives.
[Lovers without names]

Scene 7, Food Cart (Seoul Station Plaza)
Glasses is singing a song at Old Lady Pock Face's food cart. [9. Song of Seoul]
"Pointer," a thug and pimp, tries to entice Fairy into going to Uijeongbu, the home of his crime organization
and where he intends to sell her into prostitution. Though full of profane language, Old Lady Pock Face is
very warm at heart, and sings of the pleasures of living until one's old age. [It's great to be alive, honey]
While still at the food cart, Fairy meets Red Pants, and remembers that she is swallow 's aunt. Fairy
asks if Red Pants knows where Swallow is. Right then the food cart patrol arrives and the scene turns
into a fight. [Security Patrol Tango]

A television crew arrives to report on a tour of the subway for foreign dignitaries led by the Seoul Mayor's
Office, who explains among other things which subway lines were constructed by foreign contractors.
[Line 1]

Fairy cries as she overhears Cheolsu and old lady pock face talking about Swallow.
He is actually Red Pant's lover.

(Ten Minute Intermission)

Act Two
Opening
Passengers sing of the convenience of the subway and the sights to see while riding.
[13. Come ride the subway]

Scene 8, On the subway Seoul to Cheongnyangni stations
Shocked after discovering the true nature of the relationship between Swallow and Red Pants, Fairy has
nightmares about all that has happened to her since arriving in Seoul as she rides along the subway
deep asleep. Rag boards the car, looking for Glasses, and sits down across from fairy. Right then a group
of rich widows from Gangnam on their way to a bargain sale of imported products get on the same car,
and scold her for sleeping on the subway. They sing of glorious years past when their social rule was
unquestioned and of how rich they still are today. [The ladies of Gangnam]
Rag consoles Fairy when she tells about her situation and begins crying,
[You're beautiful even when you cry]
When a young girl and her mentally-handicapped younger brother is begging passengers for money,
Pointer and his assistant "F U C K" discover Fairy and try to kidnap her to Uijeongbu. She is saved when
the mentally-handicapped child suddenly gets very resourceful.

Scene 9 On the subway between Cheongnyangni to Seoul stations
When the train enters City Hall Station, the train stops suddenly and the lights go out. Glasses runs in,
terrified. He's followed by Cheolsu who claims that Glasses has killed Rag. Though until now Glasses
has pretended to not have full use of one of his legs, he suddenly tells Cheolsu of his true and full identity.
Glasses has finally asked Rag to sleep with him, but in response she smiles and jumps in front of the
subway train, killing herself. Glasses has all along been acting out Rag's fantasy about him, and had to
kill herself when the fantasy was shattered. Cheolsu and Glasses sing of their longing for Rag.
[Now she's gone]

Scene 10, Under Seoul Station
The community of people who congregate are on their way to Rag's funeral. Red Pants has finally found
Swallow, and has already beaten him to a pulp. Swallow shows himself to be just the gigolo he always
was, saying he has no intention to bear any responsibility for the child Fairy is pregnant with.
Fairy is distraught, but still manages to comfort Glasses, who is now deep in dispair over his lost love
for Rag. [Duet]
Garbage Woman smiles as she watches Fairy and Glasses comfort each other as they head towards
Rag's funeral. It's a full moon, and the stars are shining.

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