FADE IN:
INT. HOTEL EMISIA - NIGHT
A male reception STAFF (30) checks in PETER.
STAFF
You'll stay here for three
nights...
PETER
(Nodding)
Have I paid already?
Having checked the monitor again, the staff nods affirmatively.
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY
PETER works on his mobile.
PETER (V.O.)
Hotels in Sapporo are so
expensive during the Snow
Festival.This one is one
train station away from
Sapporo and charges at
250% of its normal rate...
Can't be cancelled ...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Okay, I'm going, no matter
what.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Having lunch with a GENTLEMAN(65), Peter answers a call.
PETER
(To the phone)
No, I've to decline the brief.
I won't be in Hong Kong.
PETER
(To the Gentleman)
Matters like this happen.
It's my routine to travel
at least once a month.
END FLASHBACK
The staff presents Peter with a colourful coupon.
STAFF
Here is a coupon from
nearby restaurants.
FLASHBACK & MONTAGE
A/ A female reception STAFF (20) checks in Peter and presents him with a colourful restaurant coupon.
B/ Finding the restaurant, Peter steps inside, does the order and presents the restaurant coupon to WAITRESS#1.
C/ Checking the bill, Peter notices the price for one item is "Yen: 0".
RETURN TO PRESENT
A small image on the coupon caught Peter's eyes.
PETER (V.O.)
A free bowl of Salmon
Roe Rice? That's my
favourite...usually not
cheap...I've faith in
Japanese food ethics.
Peter pockets the coupon.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Covered with deep snow, dotted by idling taxis. Peter waits at a pedestrian crossing with the restaurant coupon in hand.
PETER (V.O.)
Finding a place on a map
is very different from finding
it at the scene, especially at
night, at sub-zero temperatures
and on slippery icy surface.
When the light goes green, Peter carefully walks across the road awkwardly. Then he sees his target restaurant.
PETER
Yes, that's it!
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Inside a partitioned room, a waitress receives Peter. He points at images of Sirloin Steak and Soft Drink on the menu and presents the restaurant coupon pointing at the Salmon Roe Rice image. When he is served with the food and drink later, he takes photos of them.
PETER (V.O.)
Well, they all look very
good, particularly the
Salmon Roe Rice.
Checking his phone image of Salmon Roe Rice and comparing it with the one depicted on the coupon, Peter looks very pleased.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd) My shot is better!
Quickly, Peter finishes the food and drink on the table. Later, when he checks the bill in Japanese he finds an item at"Yen:0"
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
What is free is just as good
as others. I must write a
good review and come
again if I can!
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Enjoying a green-tea ice cream, Peter checks Google Maps.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
The restaurant isn't even
listed. Let me be the
first one to write it a
review and give it 5
stars to help it grow
its business.
Peter taps his Google Maps account. We see under Peter's account: "971 reviews and 833, 294 views".
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Inside a partitioned room, WAITRESS#2 receives Peter who orders by pointing SWIFTLY at menu images of Sirloin Steak and Soft Drink. He also presents the restaurant coupon pointing at the Salmon Roe Rice image.
EXT. OTARU STATION - NIGHT
Peter waits at the snow-covered platform.
PETER(V.O.)
Should I go back to the
same restaurant for the
third time? The Royton
Hotel I'm staying is far
away from it...
FADE OUT.
The End