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Unspeakable Joy

Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS

FADE IN:

EXT. NOOK ANNUPURI - DAY (DEC 12, 2018)

A GROUP in ski gear waits for their ski lesson. PETER and ZENO return to base carrying their snowboarders. A GIRL (24) stares at Peter and his snowboarder.

PETER (V.O.)

(Catching her stare)

I used to have that envy look.

Skiing is easy. Snowboarding

is hard.

FLASHBACK

INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT (DEC 9, 2018)

Open baggage on the floor. Peter has sleepy eyes. With a pad in hand, Zeno checks something.

ZENO

What'd be the arrangement on

the morning of Dec 11?

PETER

I meant to fix something tomorrow

evening when we arrive at the hotel.

To go from one spot to another in

snowy Niseko is hard.

Zeno does not look persuaded.

PETER (Cont'd)

We've to depart in less than six

hours. There's no difference to

fix something now, or while we wait

for departure at the airport. Get

some sleep first.

Peter walks towards the sleeping room.

INT. HONG KONG AIRPORT - DAY (DEC 10, 2018)

Waiting by a gate, Peter watches video clips on tips for snowboarding beginners. He then shows Zeno an image on his phone screen.

PETER

An advert pops up... Cantonese-

speaking instructor in Niseko...

Not cheap... but the point of

contact can be our hotel.

Zeno looks anxious. We see passengers queuing to board.

PETER

Perhaps, we book while we wait

at the New Chitose Airport for

the bus to Niseko.

ZENO

No. Let's do it now.

Phone in hand, Zeno keys in information as he queues, boards and sits inside the cabin. Peter passes him a credit card.

ZENO

No need right now, as they've

to check if any instructor is

available.

PETER

Good.

INT. NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT - DAY (DEC 10, 2018)

Peter and Zeno are at the arrival hall. Zeno checks his phone.

ZENO

They've replied. No instructor

will be available tomorrow.

INT - HOTEL RECEPTION - DAY (DEC 11, 2O18)

Peter and Zeno approach a RECEPTIONIST.

PETER

Do you know where we can

rent snowboarding gear and

join a beginner's class?

RECEPTIONIST

Oh, there's one, just several

minutes walk from here. Suitable

for beginners.

Both Peter and Zeno look happy.

EXT - NOOK ANNUPURI - DAY (DEC 11, 2018)

Peter takes photos as he walks. Zeno focuses on a premises. We see a signage on its wall: "Niseko Annupuri - Ski & Snowboard School".

INT. RENTAL SKI SHOP - DAY (DEC 11, 2018)

MONTAGE OF PETER AND ZENO IN SNOWBOARDING GEAR

A/ They change to water-proof jackets and trousers.

B/ They learn to strap up their snowboarding boots.

C/ They put on their helmets and strap up their goggles.

D/ They go to the School desk trying to enrol.

E/ We hear: "Morning lessons all full".

F/ We see a paper stand with words: Afternoon lessons. Come back at 12:30.

G/ A COUNTER STAFF shows them a notice in English - we see clearly the word "...DANGEROUS..."

H/ Peter and Zeno get their snowboards with their name-stickers on their backsides.

END MONTAGE.

PETER

We've to learn the skills ourselves. Shall we watch the video clips inside

or on the slope?

ZENO

I've already watched them yesterday

night...

Pausing.

ZENO (Cont'd)

We had an indoor session at Kwun

Tong years ago but have never

practised the skills in real snow...

PETER

Okay then, you teach me...

They go out.

EXT. ANNUPURI SLOPE - DAY (DEC 11, 2018)

Struggling, Zeno straps up one boot on the snowboard. And then Peter.

They then try to get around with one foot locked to the snowboard and one free foot on the snow.

They walk uphill. And for Peter clumsily. He breathes heavily too.

They then try one-foot riding on a gentle slope.

They then strap up both of their boots on the snowboards. Having stood up, Zeno begins his heel slide slowly down the slope. Still sitting on the snow, Peter takes out his phone and films it.

Zeno walks uphill and approaches Peter.

PETER

I can't stand up at all!

Zeno is thinking.

ZENO

Would you ski instead...

PETER

No, we've rented the gear

for two days. We know we

can't change...

ZENO

But you'd miss the skiing fun...

PETER (V.O.)

(Shaking his head sideways)

It won't be fun for me if we go

skiing and snowboarding

separately.

Peter looks determined. He puts his hand forward to grab the edge of his snowboard and manages to get up. After a few heel slides, he falls.

PETER

How can I get up easier?

ZENO

You roll over...

Zeno sits down, lays back, drags his leg and rolls over. Peter follows his example.

PETER (V.O.)

Glad that I can still row

over!

They practise the skills a couple of times. Then Peter bumps into skiis and snowboards placed upright around a restricted area at the fringe of the premises. Peter enters the restricted area to refix them.

ZENO

Just leave them... upright or

down doesn't really matter...

INT - SANKO RESTAURANT - DAY (DEC 11 2018)

A panoramic view of the Annupuri slope. Peter is having chocolate. Zeno, a big bowl of ramen.

ZENO

Snowboarding consumes a

lot of energy.

PETER

Then, let's rest and book an

an afternoon lesson before

we go again.

EXT. ANNUPURI SLOPE - NIGHT

MANABU (42) dressed in blue uniform with the sign "NASS", teaches Peter and Zeno patiently, the basic skills that they have tried on their own earlier. Their execution under tuition is less rough than before.

MANABU

Let's take the chairlift up.

Peter buys the passes from a counter. They slide to the gate in a one-foot sliding way. First stop at the preloading zone, second stop at the loading zone, and when the chairlift comes, they sit and drop the safety bar.

Having chatted with Zeno in Japanese, Nanabu turns to Peter.

MANABU

Father and son...

PETER

Zeno is 20. I'm 64.

MANABU

(Suppressing his shock)

I'm 42. Taught snowboarding

for 22 years...

Approaching the off-loading zone, Peter looks nervous.

MANABU

One...get off the chair, two...

free foot to step on the snowboard

...three... forward slide...One!...

Two!...Three!...

Peter falls, lying as low as he can to avoid the revolving chairlifts. Manabu pulls him to safety, a chairlift edge hitting his helmet a bit.

Strapping up both feet on the snowboard again, they do heel slide and toe slide. Peter and Zeno fall in a controlled manner. They then go straight downhill and do heel slide, toe slide...

A beat.

PETER

(To Manabu)

We'd like to have another

two-hour lesson with you

tomorrow afternoon.

MANABU

Okay!

EXT. ANNUPURI SLOPE - DAY (DEC 12, 2018)

Peter and Zeno are practising. A loud sound from the fringe of the premises distracts their attention. We see big chunks of snow falling off from the roof of the premises onto the restricted area.

PETER (V.O.)

Oh My God! What a blind spot

I have!

A beat.

ZENO

Manabu told me that skiers often

get lower limb injuries while

snowboarders get upper limb

ones.

PETER

At least we can walk...

RETURN TO PRESENT

Meeting up with Manabu, they begin their third-hour lesson.

MONTAGE OF PETER'S IMPROVEMENT ON GETTING OFF THE CHAIRLIFT

EXT - CHAIRLIFT TERMINAL - NIGHT

A/ Arriving at the off-loading zone, Peter gets off without falling and does one-foot sliding clumsily.

B/ Arriving at the off-loading zone again, Peter gets off without falling and does straight down sliding.

END MONTAGE.

EXT. ANNUPURI SLOPE - NIGHT

Peter looks relaxed and slides faster than before. He falls. Instinctively, he uses his right hand to catch his body.

As Peter does not get up immediately as before, Manabu approaches him.

PETER

I feel a little numbness on

my right wrist.

MANABU

You need some rest?

PETER (V.O.)

I knew I could only get up

with the full strength of my

upper limbs. My minor strain

might get worse if I fall again.

I actually want my son to learn

more as we've only an hour

left.

PETER

Yes. Just teaching my son would

be fine.

MANABU

That's OK with you?

Peter nods. Manabu slides down with Zeno and they disappear in the valley.

INT - NOOK ANNUPURI - NIGHT

Peter checks his phone at a sofa. Manabu and Zeno return.

MANABU

(To Peter)

You don't know how well your

son has done!

ZENO

(Excited)

MANABU took me up to a higher

slope five times longer than the

one nearby...

EXT. ANNUPURI SLOPE - NIGHT

Father as photographer and son as performer, we see Zeno snowboarding smoothly from uphill down the slope - from a life-size snowboarder to become a tiny black dot in the valley. Peter is stunned. The background music we hear speaks of the unspeakable joy of the father and of the son.

FADE OUT. The End

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