A Morning Show & A Goodbye
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Act 1
INT. CINEMA AUDITORIUM - 11:15
Soft light from the screen illuminates a theater. A morning show plays loudly. The AUDIENCE are elderly couples. PETER and his WIFE sit in the center row.
His wife is absorbed in the film, her eyes fixed on the screen, her expression soft with engagement.
PETER (V.O.): My wife wants to watch this film, so I keep her company. It's nice to be together.
Peter sits beside her. His posture is upright at first.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The film relies too heavily on coarse language.
His eyes are on the screen, but his gaze is distant.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Its plot is predictable.
As a tender scene unfolds, his wife turns to share a quiet reaction with Peter.
Her smile fades. Peter's head has dropped slightly. His eyes are closed. A soft rhythmic breath escapes him. He's fast asleep.
His wife watches hm for a moment with annoyance. She turns back to the screen.
Act 2
INT. THAI RESTAURANT - 13:30
Cozy. Modern. Peter and his wife sit across from each other at a small table. Half-eaten soup noodles and fried noodles sit between them.
WIFE: After lunch, I'll head to the medical appointment. And when that's done, I'd swing by the car dealership.
Peter nods slowly.
PETER: You should.
WIFE: You don't want to come?
PETER: You go. Tell me what you see.
WIFE: If I do find something...the Eunos goes.
Peter doesn't look up.
WIFE (Cont'd): It's 30 years old. It's time.
PETER: I know.
He doesn't say anything else. His wife sighs softly.
WIFE: I'll call you.
INT DINING ROOM - 20:45
The dining table is set simply. Peter and his wife eat in silence that is neither tense nor comfortable - just heavy.
His wife puts down her spoon.
WIFE: I'm not going to pursue it. The car.
Peter looks up, surprised.
PETER: Why not?
His wife shrugs, a little too casually.
WIFE: Budgetary reasons.
Peter puts his chopsticks down. He looks at her. Then he takes a breath.
PETER: I'll contribute.
His wife's expression softens.
PETER(Cont'd): It's not about the money.
He struggles to find the words. He looks older now, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him.
PETER (Cont'd): When I bought the Eunos for you...30 years ago...you were so happy. You were young. You drove it like it was made of air.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): I've been holding onto it. But in the end, I've to part with it. I know that. So if you're going to buy a car...I want the younger you to buy it. For yourself.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): Let me help you make it happen.
His wife is quiet for a moment.
WIFE: You'll come with me tomorrow? To make the deposit?
Peter nods.
WIFE (Cont'd): I'll ask the salesman to call the scrapyard and arrange the Eunos to be collected.
Peter's jaws tightens. He nods again, slower this time.
PETER: I'm trying hard to adapt to the change.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 23:00
Peter uploads an image of the silver Eunos 30X parked at an angle to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Between a morning show and a goodbye, there's lunch, a dinner table and a hand held across over 30 years.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A morning show teaches me to sit through the quiet parts. A goodbye teaches me to walk out when the story is finished.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Love is sitting beside my wife through a morning show when I'm already dreaming elsewhere. Love is scrapping a car when my heart is still in the driver's seat.
The END
FADE OUT
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