
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