A Good Day Out
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 8, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Phone in hand, PETER hesitates.
PETER (V.O.): Should I ring my Mum, telling her my plan to have a day out with her tomorrow? The main agenda is to do a statutory declaration in the Yuen Long District Office though.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In her 89 years of age, she has never done a statutory declaration before. She'll worry.
Peter puts aside his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'd better leave it till tomorrow.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter shuts down the laptop in front of him.
PETER (V.O.): Time to call Mum now.
After a telephone conversation, Peter packs a few things and leave.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She doesn't have to do any voluntary work today. We can have something in a restaurant before going to the District Office.
EXT. ROADS - DAY
Peter is driving. The car radio is on. We hear: ...new coronavirus cases in Hong Kong...
PETER (V.O.): Had I known that, I might not have a day out with my Mum today.
Peter drives on.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Peter is reading an email.
PETER (V.O.): The tax agency requires my Mum and I to file a statutory declaration within a month ie by mid April 2020.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is the social distancing time. It's life risky just to meet the bureaucratic demand.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me see if they can do away with the red tape. If not, they should extend time.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Apologetically, they extended time initially to end July 2020, and further extensions weren't unforeseen.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Days ago, I thought time was about right for me to take my Mum to transact that.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Peter and his MUM are having tea.
MUM: I've my daily meals here.
Peter nods. A WAITRESS (40s) comes to take order from Peter.
MUM (Proudly): He's my eldest son.
A beat.
Peter pays at the Cashier. The CASHIER (40s) stares at Peter.
MUM (Smiling): He's my eldest son.
PETER (V.O.): My Mum is really proud of me.
EXT. DISTRICT OFFICE - DAY
In the compound, Peter and his Mum are looking around.
MUM: I recall after purchasing our lots in Tin Sum Sun Tsuen in 1959 and 1962, we came here to do the registrations.
PETER: I worked in the offices here from 1976-1980, doing squatter control in the Yuen Long District. This old place looks new to me now.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): And that was over 40 years ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And we can't delegate others to do the statutory declarations for us.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And, we can still do it.
Act 3
INT. DISTRICT OFFICE - DAY
After declaring before a COMMISSIONER (20s) the truth of a statement, Peter and his Mum get back some signed papers.
PETER: Done!
EXT. DISTRICT OFFICE - DAY
As they leave, Peter takes a few photos,
PETER: Do you want to walk around in Yuen Long?
MUM: We'd better go home.
INT. HOME - DAY
Lots of stuff.
PETER (V.O.): I believe I got my Mum's hoarding DNA.
PETER: Just let me have any stuff that you would like me to have.
After some checking, his Mum lets Peter take three big bags of stuff away.
MUM: Give me a call when you're home.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) (Nodding): I'm 66 already.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Working behind the computer, Peter checks his phone.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, I've accidentally taken a photo of the shadows of Mum and me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's actually a good day out.
Peter inserts the photo to a blog post.
THE END
FADE OUT.
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