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Cho-Cho-San 望穿秋水

Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS

FADE IN:

INT. PLANE - NIGHT

Gazing by a window seat, PETER looks for something. We see from the window pane an illuminated sign "Nagasaki".

PETER (V.O.)

Okay, I finally landed in Nagasaki.

FLASHBACK

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT (1962)

Relaxing in bed with a notebook in hand, Peter's MOM (29) teaches Peter (8) to learn the hand-written words. We see the title: 望穿秋水 (meaning: Deep Anticipation) and hear Peter repeating after her Mom's pronunciation of it : wang chuan qiu shui. And they begin to sing verse by verse...

PETER (V.0.)

Sounds nice...

INT. STUDY - DAY (2011)

Peter (56) surfs Youtube. He watches some Beatles' clips.

PETER (V.0.)

...Yes, my favourite Rock & Roll...

But there're Chinese oldies

that appeal to my ears too...

Peter keys in 望穿秋水 and a couple of images appear. He chooses one. The video clip begins to play and we hear a karaoke-style song. Peter watches once, twice and thrice.

PETER (Cont'd) (V.O.)

How come I've a very special

emotion? Am I moved?

INT. STUDY - NIGHT (2011)

Peter (56) surfs the web and keys 望穿秋水. He touches on one of the images. The video clip begins to play and we hear the singing in Japanese"He san Nagasaki..."

PETER (V.O.)

Er... It's a Japanese song? Let

me check who composes it.

He surfs the web.

PETER (Cont'd) (V.O.)

Oh, yes, its written by a Japanese

中山正夫. It seems that the

Japanese lyrics are about Madame

Butterfly (Cho-Cho-San) in Nagasaki.

The Chinese lyrics were written by

陳蝶衣...

Peter remembers something.

PETER (Cont'd) (V.O.)

Oh yes, I had a good chat with

Chan the night when he got

CASH's lifetime achievement

award... he was sitting next to

me... and that was in 1996!

A pause.

PETER (Cont'd) (V.0.)

He also wrote the lyrics of

南屏晚鐘...He's gone now...

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT (2011)

With a pad in hand, we see Peter (56) learning Japanese characters.

INT. OFFICE - DAY (2011)

Peter chats with a LADY (49).

PETER

Somebody told me that you

speak very fluent Japanese...

The lady smiles.

PETER (Cont'd)

I'm learning Kanji and Kana...

just to sing a Japanese oldie...

INT. CORRIDOR - DAY (2011)

The lady sees Peter.

LADY

I've something for you.

She gives Peter a sheet with handwritten English letters.

LADY (Cont'd)

Just follow the transliteration

to sing.

Peter bows to express his appreciation.

EXT. ATOMIC BOMB DOME - EVENING (JAN 2018)

Peter and Peter's WIFE are busy with their cameras getting the right perspectives.

PETER

Now, we're in Hiroshima, we

should also visit Nagasaki.

PETER'S WIFE

I don't think I've the time...

INT. STUDY - NIGHT (MARCH 2018)

PETER (V.O.)

My mileages are expiring...

To Nagasaki? Even though I've

to fly domestic from Narita

and Haneda to and fro? The

Airports are 70 km apart!

Hand in cheek.

PETER (Cont'd) (V.O.)

What I'm waiting for?

Nothing ventured, nothing

gained.

BACK TO PRESENT

Peter checks his watch.

PETER (V.0.)

It's 9 o'clock already...

INT. BUS - NIGHT

Peter gets on board. We see the electronic clock at the top of the windscreen registering 9.14. When it turns to 9.15, the bus moves.

EXT. NAGASAKI SEASIDE PARK - NIGHT

Peter strolls.

PETER (V.O.)

Here's the harbour when

Japan opens itself to the West...

EXT. GLOVER GARDEN - NIGHT

19thC Western settlement commanding a stunning view of the Nagasaki harbour. Peter is a lone soul in the lit-up environ.

INT. GLOVER GARDEN - NIGHT

We see displays about Madame Butterfly.

PETER (V.O)

Have I waited for over 50

years to come here? To

have my own romantic story?

Peter looks at photos depicting Madame Butterfly.

FLASHBACK

INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT (1992)

Peter's MOM (60) talks to Peter (38) passionately.

MOM

I dreamt that your wife transformed

into a butterfly. And today I

saw a beautiful one flying

around...

END FLASHBACK

INT. BANK OFFICE - DAY

A female MANAGER (late 30s) chats with Peter.

PETER

I wouldn't let my work

interrupt my monthly travel.

My time is running short

and is therefore very

valuable.

MANAGER

So you'd even travel alone?

Peter nods indecisively. After some hesitation, he takes out a wallet from his jacket pocket. He then picks out an identity card with a cut corner, places it near his heart and shows it to the manager...

FADE OUT. The End

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