Back to School
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 26, 2021
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 04:40
Waking up, PETER sees light and hears sounds in the sitting room.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, my younger son hasn't slept. He has ample time to rest during quarantine in Sydney.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife and my elder son have taken leaves to see him off. And I won't schedule anything this Monday morning.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having done his research-based learning for the past 10 months back home, he can't delay to learn his hands-on clinical skills in hospitals.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before that, there weren't any COVID-19 vaccine. Now he has got two jabs. We don't have to worry too much when he goes back to school.
Act 2
EXT. ROADS TO AIRPORT - 06:00
Driving his Previa crossing the Tsing Ma Bridge, Peter is in thoughts.
.
PETER (V.O.): The last time I drove past here was Dec 2019. My family had an adventurous motoring tour in Japan.
Peter notices something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Where has the toll plaza gone? No need to pay road tolls for good?
EXT. AIRPORT TERMINAL 1 - 06:30
Just a few taxis in the unloading area.
PETER (V.O.): What an unfamiliar sight.
After his WIFE, SON and a FRIEND getting off with the baggage, Peter observes the entry points to terminal buildings.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It seems that there aren't any access controls.
EXT. Terminal 1 Car Park - 06:35
Driving his car, Peter arrives at the access road.
FLASHBACK
EXT. Terminal 1 car park - NIGHT (August 14, 2019)
Arriving at the access road, Peter sees many cars and PEOPLE-in-black waiting.
PETER (V.O.): Chauffer-driven get-a-way cars? Not a single uniformed security staff is around.
Peter drives past them very carefully and discreetly before entering the pay car park.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't want to give them any excuse for anything. I need to keep safe. I still have to pick up my family.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When we finally got inside car, we still felt like people on the run.
Peter parks his car pretty close to the lifts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the past, I wasn't able to park in such a convenient location.
The sun rises as Peter walks towards the Departure Hall.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was right. No more access check points. I like that.
Arriving at the CX check-in counter, Peter watches his SON being served from a distance.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His booked flight was cancelled a week ago. Our long-time travel agent strive to mine a ticket .
Later, we see their Son waving goodbye from the prohibited area.
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - 08:20
Peter and his WIFE are having tea.
WIFE: If our son couldn't secure the ticket, the available ones would be in Dec, wasting this academic year.
Pausing.
WIFE (Cont'd): When I knew from our travel agent there was one very expensive ticket available, I felt like I had won Mark 6.
PETER: Then, the air ticket wasn't expensive at all.
Checking phone notifications, they see the message: Taking off now. Peter quickly responds with an emoji while his wife types: Safe Flight. But they see no response.
INT. STUDY - 17:10
Checking a chatroom on his phone, Peter sees someone typing.
PETER (V.O.): Has he landed?
Peter sees the message: Thanks. Just landed safely. After responding, Peter remembers something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, I've forgotten to attend a Zoom pre-meeting meeting at 17:00.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Peter turns on the air-conditioner.
PETER (V.O.): It's winter in Sydney now. Yesterday, I gave our son his birthday gift in advance.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): During his break back home, a lot has changed for the better, including a Bill to create a pathway for non-locally trained Hongkonger-doctors to practise in Hong Kong.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our son is the only Cheung family member who has some ability and skill to undertake the educational challenge.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): The inside of his School houses his tomorrow. And his tomorrow depends on what he has prepared for it today.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Comments