Trip Preparation

FADE IN.

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - MORNING

PETER wakes up.

PETER (V.O.)

I feel strong.

He takes a look at the table clock.

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

It's nearly 10 o'clock.

I couldn't believe it

has taken me so long

to readjust myself

from my Canada trip.

FLASHBACK

INT. STUDY - DAY (MARCH 2019)

Peter picks up a call.

CALLER

Somebody from HKU

gave you a call...

Peter calls somebody, chats and ends the conversation.

PETER (V.O.)

Yes, a trip from Hong

Kong to Victoria has

to be planned. The

first time my late wife

and I went to Vancouver

was in 1989. We left

our hotel room vacant

to stay in a friend's

home. We didn't see

much about Vancouver.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.)

I travel monthly for leisure.

I don't have America or

Canada in my mind. I know

how tiring it can be.

Pausing.

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

Let me first explore the

appropriate timing to

visit my friend in Victoria.

Last time when I was in

Vancouver, I thought

our friend in Victoria

could join us for dinner.

When I was in Seattle in

2007, I thought if I could

make a day ferry trip to

Victoria.

INT. STUDY - DAY (JUNE 2019)

Peter checks his mails.

PETER (V.O.)

My friend confirms that

the convenient month

for us to meet in Victoria

will be in October. It isn't

the peak season and I

might be able to see

Autumn leaves.

Peter begins to surf the web.

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

Let me check my diary,

book my air tickets and

hotels. I meant to have

a couple of lunches and

dinners with my friend

and share our life stories

for the past 30 years.

Pausing.

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

Should I fly business

class? It seems that I

must make a connecting

flight. Which hotels

should I stay?

Peter surfs the web again.

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

It seems that the price

of advance booking for

flights and hotels are

not that flexible. As they

affect me only, I had

better wait.

EXT. MIYAKOJIMA - NIGHT (AUGUST, 2019)

Souvenirs shop. Peter walks around.

PETER (V.O.)

There's nothing meaningful

to me or to my Canadian

friend. Only the pristine

water at the beaches here

are good.

INT. ENGLAND - DAY (SEPTEMBER, 2019)

Bourough Market. Peter, his WIFE and YOUNGER DAUGHTER shop around. Peter sees and points at some special cheese from Croatia.

PETER

We 're in Croatia in 2017

but we didn't buy anything

edible from there. I'll buy

these special cheese as

gift to my Canadian friend.

They buy a lot and leave happily.

INT. ENGLAND, DAY (SEPTEMBER, 2019)

Having surfed the web, Peter looks unhappy when talking to his wife.

PETER

I've found out that all diary

products bringing into

Canada has to be declared.

I don't want to go through

the process.

INT. STUDY - DAY

Peter checks his mail inbox.

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, my friend is taking

guitar lessons and hasn't

got an electric guitar yet!

Let me buy him a Traveller

electric guitar.

INT. TOM LEE MUSIC - DAY (OCT 4, 2019)

Quiet. Peter walks up to 1/F, looks around and talks to a STAFF.

PETER

Do you have Traveller's

electric?

STAFF

They're all placed behind

you.

Turning around and seeing a couple of compact and stylish guitars on display, Peter's eyes beam.

PETER (V.O.)

A red-coloured one! I

thought I'd be lucky to

buy a black one. It's

the latest colour model.

Grabbing a red Traveller's guitar, Peter strums it a few times.

PETER

Good, I buy this one.

EXT. NATHAN ROAD - DAY (OCT 4, 2019)

Carrying the Traveller guitar on his shoulder, Peter waits at a bus stop. He only sees human traffic - hundreds of people in black walking towards the same direction.

PETER (V.O.)

The bus service might

have been suspended.

There's no taxi in sight

either. The worst scenario

is to take a Marathon

walk home.

Peter touches the guitar on his shoulder.

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

I still feel good though,

as I've done my most

important trip preparation!

END FLASHBACK

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

When did I fly out?

Peter checks his phone calendar.

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

Yes, I flew out on Oct

18, 2019 and arrived in

Victoria the same day -

even a few minutes

earlier.

Peter surfs the web again

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

Hong Kong is 16 hours

ahead of Victoria ie 16

time zones, whereas my

body clock can only

adjust 1-2 time zones

per day. No wonder!

FADE OUT. The End

#TripPreparation