The Best Gift

FADE IN.

EXT. ESTATE GARDEN - DAY

PETER is waving goodbye to over a dozen RELATIVES. Peter's SISTER (68) approaches him.

SISTER

(Passing Peter a small packet)

Thousand-year egg

pies! A special gift

to you!

PETER

(Accepting the packet with big smiles)

Thank you! Thank you!

PETER (V.O.)

If my sister wouldn't

bring me the pies, I

won't buy them. More

importantly, I feel

her heart and her

wish of my happiness.

FLASHBACK

INT. VILLAGE HOUSE - NIGHT (1970)

Peter's sister (19) is coming home with her BOYFRIEND (20) carrying a packet.

SISTER

They're thousand-

year egg pies - a

specialty from a

Yuen Long cake

shop.

Peter (16) and his BROTHERS (13, 11, and 8) are anxious to try them. Having had a small mouthful of a pie, Peter nods.

PETER

Pretty delicious!

END FLASHBACK

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

We ate anything

those days...

Pausing.

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

My sister got married

in 1971. She took

care of her first

daughter. But her

second, third and

fourth baby daughters

were taken care of

by my Mom as she

wanted to work.

I lobbied my Mom

to support my

sister every time.

Pausing.

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

Years later, my

sister had her son

and life for the

family became

rosy.

Pausing.

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

Now, she has two

grandsons. The male

lineage of the village

family has been secured.

Pausing.

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

Now, my sister and my brother-

in-law have a 18 members-

strong family.

INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY

Peter, his WIFE and their SON enter.

PETER

I'll have a thousand-

year egg pie!

WIFE

Is that right? We've

just come back after

lunch.

Peter nods.

PETER (V.O.)

I appreciate very

much my sister's

special gift.

Remembering.

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

My sister's calligraphy,

both English and Chinese

are beautiful - as

beautiful as her heart.

Oh yes, many young

men wooed her before

she got married.

Peter's wife has a microwaved thousand-year egg pie prepared for him.

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

My sister's gift to me

was neither big nor

expensive. But a

gift from the heart

is the best gift of all.

It really makes me

happy in the New

Year!

Peter enjoys the thousand-year egg pie joyfully. FADE OUT.

THE END

#TheBestGift