Arrivals
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Sep 13, 2025
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 22:00
PETER sits by the bedside. His fingers dance across the keyboard as he types.
PETER (V.O.): Just last night, after a whirlwind trip, my wife and I arrived from Osaka while our son returned from Sydney.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It wasn't a coincidence; it was all carefully orchestrated by my wife.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our son's flight departed from Sydney before we had our brunch in Osaka.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Later, when we're at the Kansai Airiport lounge, my wife discovered that cup noodles were available...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We ended up the last passengers to board the plane...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. HONG KONG AIRPORT - 22:15 (Yesterday)
Baggage claim conveyor #5. Peter and his WIFE arrive.
WIFE: Our son isn't here...
His wife checks her phone.
WIFE (Cont'd): Oh, he has gone to conveyor#18 to collect his irregular size luggage...
Pausing.
WIFE (Cont'd): You go and find him; I'll handle our luggage at the baggage claim for arrivals from Osaka.
Conveyor #18. Locking his eyes on a handsome young man, Peter gently taps him on the back.
PETER: Welcome home, Son.
SON: Hi Dad, I'm still waiting for my irregular size baggage. Where's Mom?
PETER: She's retrieving our baggage from the designated conveyors for arrivals from Osaka.
Pausing.
PETER: It's fantastic that you obtained your private pilot licence in Australia before returning to Hong Kong for good.
SON: I was lucky.
PETER: How many hours have you logged in the air?
SON: To ensure my success, I've logged over 100 hours flying various aircraft types with multiple instructors...Here comes Mom.
Peter's eyes dart from his son to his ecstatic wife.
MOM: Hi, Captain! Have you taken your girlfriend flying yet?
SON: Yes, it's a bit frightful for her since the aircraft is small...How was your experience at the Osaka Expo?
MOM: During our Expo visits, we explored the fewest pavilions this year...we weren't able to make a single reservation.
Arrival hall. Peter pushes a luggage cart stacked high with suitcases while his younger son carries a suitcase and an over-sized bag beside him.
PETER (V.O.): Our son has brought home all his belongiings including his fencing equipment.
His wife checks her phone.
WIFE: I've booked a big car for all our luggage from Osaka and Sydney.
Car Park 1. After loading their luggage into the back of an Estima, Peter sits in the front passenger seat while his wife and son occupy the middle seats, chatting non-stop.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, our son needs to report to the hospital tomorrow for some housekeeping matters.
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Starting this coming Monday, he'll begin working as a doctor in Hong Kong.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On the same day, I'll accompany my client to attend a screening interview.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife and I will depart for Wakkanai this Tuesday and we haven't fixed our itinerary yet.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is a series of departures. But we live for arrivals.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Peter uploads an image, depicting his possible dream to fly to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Every arrival is a silent promise to the self: the past chapter is closed, but the story is never over.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We don't arrive to rest. We arrive to begin again with the wisdom of the journey behind us.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home isn't a place I leave, but a feeling I arrive back into.
FADE OUT
END
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