FADE IN:
INT. MERITON SUITE, ZETLAND - DAY
A one-room suite with a balcony. PETER, PLATO and ZENO relax in different sofas.
PLATO
Here's much better.
PETER
We've checked in here
multiple times. It's a 40-
minute walk to UNSW
and a 15-minute walk to
the Green Square Station.
I stayed my first night
here.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd)
We'll walk you to the
Station before 7.00pm
tonight to go to the
Airport.
PLATO
It's my day 3 here. Where
to go Zeno?
Zeno thinks.
PLATO
Run out of good places
to go already?
ZENO
We can go to the Wild
Life Sydney Zoo, and
then to Watsons Bay, if
you like.
EXT. WILD LIFE SYDNEY ZOO - DAY
Sunny afternoon. A sea of people are queuing before the ticketing counters.
PETER
It's Sunday today...
We shouldn't waste
our time waiting...
PLATO
Let's just go to Watsons
Bay.
PETER
(Nodding)
Since our Sunday public
transport fees have been
capped, our ferry trips
would be free!
EXT. CIRCULAR QUAY, SYDNEY - DAY
Blue sky. Father and sons sit at a ferry's open deck. As the ferry leaves the quay, they begin to see a magnificent view of the Sydney Harbour.
FLASHBACK
EXT. SYDNEY HARBOUR - DAY (1995)
Blue sky. Peter (41) and his WIFE are enjoying a cruise in a pleasure boat with dozens of GUESTS.
PETER
(To Wife)
Our conference host
is very hospitable.
They chat with other guests.
END FLASHBACK
PETER
Now, I'm enjoying the
ferry trip with my two
sons. Just as good!
Peter captures the spectacular view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
EXT. WATSONS BAY - DAY
Sailing boats. Harbourside town with a nice beach. Father and sons begin their Watsons Bay walk.
PETER We've to get back in good time to catch the
ferry back so that Plato
won't miss his flight.
PLATO
Don't worry! Just enjoy,
we can take Uber back
to Zetland. Here isn't
an island, it's just a bay.
They see the Tasman Sea and pass through the Hornby Keeper's Cottage.
PETER
This Cottage reminds me
of the First and Last House
at Land's End. I first went
there in 1987. The last time
we went together was in
2004.
ZENO
The first and last house?
PLATO
It depends on the perspective.
Looking from the west, it's the
first house in England; from
the east, it's the last.
PETER
You're there. Remember our UK motoring trip to find
Thomas the Tank Engine?
Zeno tries to remember. Peter takes a photo of the Cottage with the distant city skyline in the background.
Having walked past the Hornby Lighthouse, they return to the Lady Bay Beach.
PETER
I know what to do the
next time I visit Sydney.
As they queue up at the quay, the sun begins to set.
EXT. FERRY - DAY
They sit by the port side.
PETER
We can take photos of the
lit-up Sydney Opera House.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd)
Having been to Sydney,
Canberra and Melbourne,
I think Sydney still has
an edge overall.
Plato and Zeno hear Peter's remark.
PETER (V.O,)
Which Australian city is
the first or the last in
my view doesn't really
matter as I'm flying
back to Hong Kong
tomorrow.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But for my sons...it's
up to them to be the
captains of their souls!
INT. GREEN SQUARE STATION - NIGHT
Carrying his baggage, Plato says goodbye to Zeno and Peter.
PETER (V.O.)
Plato has given invaluable
peer support and guidance
to Zeno.
EXT. MERITON SUITES, ZETLAND - NIGHT
Zeno and Peter part. Peter watches Zeno walking farther and farther away in a dimly-lit street.
PETER (V.O.)
He's a young man now...
How come Zhu Ziqing's
"Back Shadow" came up
to my mind? FADE OUT. The End