FADE IN.
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
PETER sits side by side with his WIFE, who is checking something with her computer.
WIFE
Our younger daughter
is returning to Brighton
and will be in London
later in the day.
Peter nods.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Peter and his ELDER SON are chatting.
WIFE
We'll skype at 9 pm.
PETER
With our elder daughter
and younger son?
WIFE
Yes.
PETER
Can our younger
daughter join us
in UK?
WIFE
No.
FLASHBACK
EXT. UNITED KINGDOM - DAY (late September 2019)
Peter, his wife and the younger daughter are motoring and having a great time in Oxford, Southampton and Bournemouth..
END FLASHBACK
Peter looks at the table clock.
PETER (V.O.)
It'll be 10 pm in Japan
and 11 pm in Australia.
It's 9 pm. Lines connected. We see two images of a YOUNG WOMAN and a YOUNG MAN appearing on a computer screen. Peter's wife grabs KAJI, the family pet, to join the gathering. Peter and his elder son are on the sideline.
YOUNG WOMAN
(Proudly showing her background)
Here's my new home.
What you see are all
Japanese standard
facilities.
ALL
How orderly and nice!
YOUNG MAN
(Looking very tired)
It's hell here.
PETER
(To Wife)
What a contrast! One
is smiling all over and
the other...
WIFE One has just settled down
in Japan and the other has
been downunder for nearly
two years already.
ELDER SON
(To Young Man)
Stay focused - Another
year will be another
hell.
FLASHBACK
EXT. AUSTRALIA - DAY (Early July 2019)
The young man drives Peter and his elder son along the Blue Mountain region. They also watch the opera "Madama Butterfly" at the Sydney Opera House together.
END FLASHBACK
PETER
But when you make
the grade, you'll be
very proud of what
you've gone through.
FLASHBACK
INT. HOME - DAY & NIGHT (1981-1985)
Thick law books by his side, Peter (27-31) with tired eyes, studies hard.
END FLASHBACK.
PETER
(To Young Woman)
I'll pay you a visit
later in the month.
But I won't bring
you the soft drinks
you like as I want
to travel light.
Occupying a prime position in the gathering, Kaji shows no interest to what is going on.
WIFE
It's obvious that she
can hear their voices.
ELDER SON
Perhaps, she's too
short-sighted to see.
PETER
Perhaps, she can't
understand why they
don't have any scent.
PETER (V.O.)
But for us, to be able
to have such a gathering
is heart-warming.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
We're in fact very
happy that they're
away from Hong
Kong!
A beat. The family wave goodbyes before the screen goes dark.
FADE OUT. The End