FADE IN.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Seeing a new notification on his phone screen, PETER reads it: Beyond the current coronavirus scare, what should people know about the Chinese City of Wuhan?
PETER (V.O.)
I was in Wuhan once,
in mid-March 2015,
had great moments and
fond memories of it.
I joined a package
tour then and the main
purpose was to see
the Sakura blossoms
there...
FLASHBACK
EXT. COACH - DAY (Mid March, 2015)
Peter (61) sits inside a packed coach. It's raining, cats and dogs. A tour GUIDE (30s) at the front makes an announcement.
GUIDE
We've arrived at
the Sakura garden.
TOUR MEMBERS
It's raining...
GUIDE
Yes, but we've other
scheduled visits to
make. Alight! alight!
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
The rain died down
after a while. I was
soaked, and the
pink blossoms looked
pitifully weak.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
When we visited Wuhan
University on another
dry day to see the
Sakura blossoms, the
emotions were different.
FLASHBACK
EXT. WUHAN UNIVERSITY - DAY
Sakura Way. People are everywhere. Peter chats with the guide.
PETER
How come there're so
many cherry trees in
the University?
GUIDE
When Wuhan was under
Japanese occupation,
they converted the place
into a military hospital
and planted many
cherry trees here.
Pausing.
GUIDE (Cont'd)
But they all died after
WWII... It was in 1972
when China and Japan
became friends again
that the seeds of these
cherry tress were
planted here again.
Nodding, Peter finds angles to capture the Sakura blossoms.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
In responding to the
the requested question,
my focus would be on
Wuhan's Sakura blossoms.
Peter types on his phone.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Seeing a What'sApp message on the phone screen, Peter taps a link and reads it.
PETER (V.O.)
These're black and white
photos of Wuhan... Oh,
Hankow used to have
foreign concessions.
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
There're 5 - UK est. 1862;
France est. 1886; Russia
est. 1886; Germany est.
1895; and Japan est. 1898.
Peter taps and scrolls up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Oh, in 1927, two women
were sentensed to death
because they protested
against foreign invasions!
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
How could the authority
then treat patriots like that -
capital punishment
for people who loved
their country!
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
This is more scary than
any coronavirus. Such
human scares are not
unreal. They live inside
some humans.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That was then in Wuhan.
Now, there 's no more
political slavery in
favour of foreign masters
in the Mainland.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Internationally, the
seeds of peace and love
planted grow. There're
no permanent foes.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I love to see the Sakura
blossoms anywhere.
They're light as feathers -
one moment they look
beautiful, and within
a fortnight, they fall.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Nothing beautiful last
long - except the beauty
of the heart!
FADE OUT.
The End