And Now, He Can Cook

FADE IN:

INT. RIBS & BURGERS, ZETLAND - DAY

Cosy environment. PETER and his younger son ZENO (20) know what to order. The CASHIER (30s) let them have a bucket of cutlery and sauces together with a numbered flag. They then settle at a table.

PETER

Mom relayed that since

we came here last Sept,

you haven't come here.

Zeno nods.

PETER (Cont'd)

It's quite a walk from the

University.

Barbecued pork ribs with fancy chips are put on the table.

Zeno cuts the ribs as Peter gets the chips. They then enjoy their meal.

ZENO

It's really delicious!

Peter licks his fingers.

PETER

What should we have

for dinner tonight?

ZENO

Before we came, I've

checked that our suites'

kitchen is fully equipped.

We can go to Coles to

buy something and cook

at the suite.

PETER (V.O.)

I've never thought about

father and son cooking

our dinner. That's a good

idea!

INT. COLES, ZETLAND - DAY

A chain supermarket. Zeno gets a basket.

ZENO

Australian meat is pretty

inexpensive.

At the meat section fridge, Peter has his eyes on the frozen T-bone steak.

PETER

Let's have T-bone steak.

MONTAGE OF PETER'S EXPERIENCE AS A HOTEL WAITER

A. EXT. RESTAURANT, CASTLE PEAK HOTEL - NIGHT (1969)

Sea view. Wearing a bow tie, Peter (15) takes order at a table.

CUSTOMER

(Looking at the menu)

Two T- bone steak. Medium.

PETER (V.O.)

Wow, very few customers

order T-bones...

B. INT. KITCHEN, CASTLE PEAK HOTEL - NIGHT (1969)

A COOK (20s) cooks the T-bone steak near the stove, as the CHEF (50s) and Peter observe from a side table.

PETER

(Curiously)

Why the T-shaped bone

make a difference?

CHEF

The cross-cut combines a

section of strip steak and a

piece of tenderloin - nearly

the best of beef.

Peter nods.

END MONTAGE

.

PETER (V.O.) I haven't seen Zeno for

months. Let's celebrate.

INT. MERITON SUITES, ZETLAND - NIGHT

Zeno is preparing the T-bone steak and vegetables.

FLASHBACK

INT. KITCHEN, CASTLE PEAK HOTEL - NIGHT (1969)

The Chef is preparing the T-bone steak and some chips.

INTERCUT AMONG ZENO, THE CHEF AND THE COOK.

Zeno seasons the T-bones.

The Chef puts some pepper on them.

Zeno begins to cook the T-bones, boiling some vegetables at the same time.

The Cook begins to cook the T-bones, frying chips at the same time.

END FLASHBACK AND INTERCUT

Peter continues to observe Zeno's cooking.

PETER (V.O.)

He's rather skillful.

FLASHBACK

INT. KITCHEN - DAY (1969 - 1973)

Peter seasons pork chops and chicken wings. Peter cooks different kinds of sea food dishes.

EXT. DAI PAI DONG - NIGHT (1974)

Waiting for food at a table, Peter is attracted by the roadside cooking - food slide onto a plate after a wot's flame.

END FLASHBACK

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) I was quite a good cook.

But I stopped cooking

after joining civil service

at the age of 20.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

At the age of 20, Zeno has

already learned a lot -

ballet, painting, figure ice-

skating, piano... And now,

he's reading medicine.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

I've never shown him

how to cook. And now,

he can cook.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

He wants to make a dinner

for me. I won't intervene.

Peter helps put the cooked food on the table. They cling glasses. Peter smiles in his heart.

FADE OUT. The End

#AndNowHeCanCook