Tsunami Height

FADE IN.

INT. SWIMMING POOL - DAY

PETER swims leisurely.

PETER (V.O.)

During my recent visit to

Sendai, one of the things

that shocked us was the

tsunami height at

Matsushima.

FLASHBACK

ROOM, RYOKAN, SENDAI - NIGHT (December 21, 2019)

Peter, his WIFE, SON and DAUGHTER are discussing.

PETER

I suggest we just

walk to the tourist

spots to save the

trouble of parking.

Wife is checking her phone GPS.

WIFE

We might waste

half an hour. Let's

drive to check it

out.

EXT. MATSUSHIMA ROADS, SENDAI - NIGHT

Peter drives a white Alphard with the family on board.

PETER

The public car parks

are closed, although

it's only sometime

after 5.00pm.

Others are observing.

PETER (Cont'd)

Let's see if we can

find a restaurant

with car parks.

A beat.

PETER (Cont'd)

It appears there's

a vacant lot in

front of that tea-

house by the sea.

WIFE Yes, let's park there

and check it out.

EXT. SANTORI CHAYA RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Having parked the car, the party examines the menu displayed on a stand outside.

PETER

This's actually a

seafood restaurant

and they serve

oysters!

WIFE

Great! Let's go inside!

INT. SANTORI CHAYA RESTUARANT - NIGHT

The party sits on the 1/F by the window. They're the only customers. It's dark outside and there's nothing to see. Peter is checking something with his phone.

PETER

Some reviews say

that people would

queue up and want

to sit right here to

enjoy the sea view...

Finishing their meal, they go downstairs. Then, they see a paper notice on the wall.

PETER

Oh, it benchmarks the

tsunami height of 2011!

The ground floor of this

restaurant was largely

flooded.

FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK

EXT. SAN MARINO, LOS ANGELES - DAY (March 11, 2011)

Private swimming pool. Peter (56) is swimming butterfly style. A GENTLEMAN (50s) comes out from the bungalow.

GENTLEMAN

I heard water splashing

and thought the tsunami

are reaching here!

EXT. PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE, BRITISH COLUMBIA - DAY (Oct 22, 2019)

Peter is strolling along the beach with his FRIEND (60s) and his FRIEND'S WIFE (60s).

FRIEND'S WIFE

Remember the 2011

earthquake in Japan?

Tonnes of debris there

washed into the ocean

reached here years

later...

As Peter nods, he looks in the direction of Japan.

END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK

EXT. RYOKAN CAR PARK - DAY

The LADY PROPRIETOR (60s) is seeing off Peter, his wife, son and daughter. Peter shows her some phone images, depicting the ryokan and his 5-star rating. She is surprised.

PETER

I've published my review

in Google Maps!

LADY PROPRIETOR

(Enlightened)

Thank you very much!

Pausing.

LADY PROPRIETOR (Cont'd)

The 2011 tsunami

didn't reach here.

Peter nods.

PETER (V.O.)

So this ryokan is safe

to stay in Matushima.

END FLASHBACK

INT. STUDY - NIGHT

Peter is working behind the computer.

PETER (V.O.)

Let me check how high

was the 2011 tsunami.

After researching with his phone, Peter looks shocked.

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

Oh my god! The highest

was 40.5 meters. And it

travelled at 700 km/h for

up to 10km inland. The

residents of Sendai had

only 8-10 minutes of

warning. And since then

there've been over

13,000 aftershocks!

Peter's nodding.

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

The lady proprietor

assured us that we

had made the right

choice to stay not too

close to the shore!

Reflecting.

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

How far can one go in

8 -10 minutes, even

with a car and during

the day?

FADE OUT. The End

#TsunamiHeight