FADE IN:
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY (Feb 5, 2019)
Holding to his mobile, PETER relaxes on a sofa.
PETER (V.O.)
My six-day solo trip using
Sapporo as a hub is coming
up...
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY (MARCH 17, 2018)
Paper and pencil in hand, Peter engages in a phone conversation with someone.
PETER
(To the phone)
Good, I'll depart on Feb 8, 2019,
can I return on Feb 11?
SOMEONE (O.S.)
(From the phone)
No seat on that day, the earliest
available one is Feb 13, 2019.
PETER
Okay, I take it. It's a 6-day
trip, HK-Sapporo-HK.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Apart from the Sapporo
Snow Festival, how am
I going to spend my days
in cold Hokkaido? I know
how it's like...
FLASHBACK (JANUARY 21, 2016)
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Having breakfast with his elder son PLATO, Peter studies Google Maps.
PETER
We're just waiting for
our flight back to Hong
Kong tomorrow. I'd like
to visit the Maruyama
Park. It should be a 4-
hour walk. Now is 10am,
I'd be back in the hotel
before darkness falls.
Plato looks nervous.
PLATO
It's snowing outside...
PETER
Don't worry, I've my
mobiles and Google
Maps to guide me.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Walking along snow-covered roads, Peter braves the snow falls.
PETER (V.O.)
My mobiles have gone
dead. It's just too cold
for them. Everywhere
looks the same - white.
It's my endurance test.
Then, Peter sees a snow-covered mountain-like structure at a distance.
PETER (V.O.)
Right! That resembles
the shape of the Park's
iconic structure. I'm
dying for a bowl of
Ramen there!
EXT. PARK ENTRANCE - DAY
A snow-covered drop-gate with a snow-covered CLOSED sign. Deep snow dwarfs lamp posts. Peter sneaks in along the line of lamp posts.
PETER (V.O.)
I've walked three hours
to arrive here. I must
leave my trace, even
though that may mean
my pee...
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Peter walks in the direction of faint lights.
PETER (V.O.)
It's 4.30pm and the sun
has set.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
I feel light-headed. I've
been in the cold and
haven't had anything
since breakfast...
Later, his eyes beam. An illuminated "KFC" SIGN is in sight.
INT. KFC - NIGHT
Enjoying fried chicken, wings, side dishes and hot chocolates, Peter notices a pool of water on the floor under his table.
PETER (V.O.)
Oh, my frozen trousers
have melt. They aren't
stiff anymore!
Taking out his mobile devices, Peter restarts them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) Oh, they work again!
END FLASHBACK
Peter surfs the web and finds something.
PETER (V.O.)
Five best Hokkaido Snow
Festivals 2019?
He reads on.
PETER(V.O.)(Cont'd)
Sapporo Snow Festival is
no. 1. Oh, there're three
venues. It'd take more than
a day and a night to check
them out.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
The Asahikawa Winter
Festival is no.2.
Peter checks the Hokkaido map.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, I've seen its aquarium
as a package tourist... and
have driven past it...I'll take
public transport this time...
It'd be another full-day trip.
Peter reads on.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
Otaru's Snow Light Path
Festival is no. 3.That's
easy, as I was there twice
last year. I'll enjoy my
day and night there on
Feb 12, as the Sapporo and the Asashikawa
Festivals will end on
Feb 11.
EXT. ROAD - DAY (Feb 9, 2019)
Peter walks past the Odori Park.
PETER (V.O.)
I don't want to see the
the no. 1 now. Let me
see the no.2 first.
INT. BUS - DAY (Feb 10, 2019)
Packed. Peter sits in a jump seat.
PETER (V.O.)
I'm glad that I can get
on board.
The bus goes at low speed on snowy highways.
INT. 7-11 - DAY
Eating snacks and drinking coffee at a side table, Peter charges his mobiles.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
The 2-hour trip has become
a 3-hour one.
Peter surfs the web and reads a review.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
One can finish visiting
the Festival here in 15
minutes! Is that right?
EXT. ASASHIKAWA STREETS - DAY
Ice and snow sculptures are everywhere. Peter looks pleased.
PETER (V.O.)
The ambiance is great!
EXT. ASASHIKAWA WINTER FESTIVAL - EVENING
Sunset. People leaving.
PETER (V.O.)
I want to see both the
evening and night view.
I can't stay long in the
cold. My hands are
already numb.
Having walked around and taken some photos, Peter hides inside a hut built with snow bricks.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd) It's relatively warm, but
still cold...
Getting out from the snow hut, Peter walks towards a shuttle bus with digital display in Japanese.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Free shuttle bus to somewhere.
Never mind where it's going,
it's warm inside, I'll just use
Google Maps to find out where
I'm.
EXT. BUS STOP - NIGHT
Getting out of the shuttle bus, Peter looks happy.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
My first time here! The train/
bus terminal is exactly the
place I want to go.
EXT. BUS - NIGHT
Peter sits comfortably in a bus with few passengers.
PETER(V.O.)
I'm not in a hurry to
take the train. The bus
fare is 100% cheaper.
What a cost-effective
and enjoyable day out
in Asahikawa!
FADE OUT.
The End