FADE IN:
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Watching TV and working on his computer, PETER pauses. We hear an ANCHOR reporting.
ANCHOR
Personal details of almost 1000
North Korean defectors were...
stolen in South Korea...these
defectors were called as the scum
of the earth...
PETER
Although I've never been to North
Korea, I've a recent close encounter
with a young and bright North Korean
girl - in Shanghai!
FLASHBACK
EXT. TRAVELLING - NIGHT
Peter is inside a salon car. A MAN (70) drives and also talks to someone over the phone.
MAN
(To the phone)
...Let's go to that Goali restaurant
for dinner...
PETER (V.O.)
What a pleasant surprise...
Arriving at the main entrance of a hotel, the man parks the car in front of it. Above its revolving door, we see a plate in Chinese: "Tao Mao Hotel". A DOORMAN approaches.
MAN
(Delighted)
Peter from Hong Kong!
Peter gets off the car. A WOMAN (55) then emerges from the revolving door and welcomes Peter.
INT. PYONGYANG CAFE - NIGHT
Three GIRLS (20s) in colourful Korean costumes wait conspicuously at the lobby. One girl leads Peter, the man and the woman inside the cafe. A dim lighting design scheme adds to the ambiance of the cafe. They choose a cosy spot.
GIRL
(To Peter in Mandarin)
Are you from Shanghai?
PETER
(Indifferent)
No.
The girl leaves.
MAN
They're from North Korea.
PETER
(Surprised)
From North Korea?
PETER (V.O.)
Not Chinese, touting the
Korean catering business...
It's not easy for North Koreans
to work abroad to earn
foreign exchange for their
country.
The girl returns with the menus. Peter looks at the menu pictures.
PETER (V.O.)
This paper-wrapped dish
sounds and looks interesting
and the price is reasonable...
WOMAN
What would you like to have?
Pointing at a dish picture, Peter hesitates.
PETER (V.O.)
Well, the price is not per dish,
but per person. As my host
will pay for the bill, let them
decide.
Peter flips through the menu pages again.
PETER
You do the order.
The woman does the order.
A beat.
The girl puts dishes on the table.
PETER
(To the Girl)
So you're from North Korea...
GIRL
Yes.
MAN
They're university graduates...
PETER
Which university did you go?
GIRL
I went to PyongYang Business
University. All my colleagues,
including backend staff and
food are from North Korea. We
don't put MSG in our dishes.
PETER
(Nodding)
You speak fluent Mandarin.
Did you learn Mandarin as an
undergraduate?
GIRL
(Shaking her head sideways)
No. I only learn Mandarin
when I'm placed here...
PETER
How long did it take for
you to learn the language?
GIRL
About three months.
PETER (V.O.)
She's young and bright...
I'd like to take a photo of
her, or with her...but... I
believe it is inappropriate.
Peter leaves the cordial exchanges at that.
END FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY
Using his phone, Peter researches.
PETER (V.O.)
People speak high of the
Pyong Yang Cafe, but not
the hotel. They're right.
He writes a review. He inserts photos of the cafe. We see him rating it with five stars.
PETER (V.O.)
Let me see if there's a business
university in North Korea.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
There's one. It's in Pyong Yang.
... Wow, there're over 300
universities in North Korea!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Those working for the country
must be treated as working class
heros or heroines in North Korea.
Naturally, those who defect are
scum of the earth. It's a love-
hate contrast!
Peter looks solemn.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Perhaps, it is better to be hated
for what you want to be, than
to be loved for what you don't
want to be.
Peter looks relaxed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
How sweet she was...
Peter looks other-worldly.
FADE OUT. The End