Five Hundred Miles
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- May 5
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 08:00
Soft grey light filters through thick curtains. A digital clock by the bedside: 08:00 May 4, 2026. PETER lies on his back, eyes open.
PETER (V.O.): May 4th again.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I chose May 4th, 1989 as my Nissan 200SX's delivery date.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): My international driving licence expired a few days ago. Let me apply for a new one as I'll be travelling again next week.
Nodding.
PETER (Cont'd): After breakfast, I'll go swimming. When my routines are done, I may go to the community center to get my Tentanus booster.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That should be a good May 4th.
Act 2
INT. LICENSING OFFICE - 15:15
Cashier. Peter pays and receives a light green booklet with a date chop: May 4, 2026
PETER (V.O.): It's valid for one year.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): May 4th makes it easy for me to remember the expiry date.
INT. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER: 16:00
Crowded. Peter waits outside the injection room.
NURSE: Chit no. 9.
Peter shows his chit and his ID card. He follows the nurse as she leads him into the room.
NURSE (Cont'd): Third Tentanus booster.
The nurse preps a syringe.
NURSE (Cont'd): You studied in a Catholic school? Nun gave you your Christian name?
PETER: In 1966, I got into a Catholic secondary school. Admission required a Christian name. I didn't have one.
NURSE: Men of your age in Hong Kong - unless they went to Catholic schools - they don't have Chrisitian names.
PETER: There was this band - Peter and Gordon. I liked their version of "Five Hundred Miles". Either name worked for me. But Peter appears first in the duo's name. So.
NURSE: Before I administer the shot, say your name.
PETER:...Peter.
The nurse administers the shot.
PETER (V.O.): I feel like a walking fossil of an era...she reminds me of something.
FLASHBACK
INT. NARITA AIRPORT - 16:45 (29 April 2026)
Check-in kiosk. An ANA ground STAFF is helping Peter and his WIFE to get the luggage tags and attach them to their luggage.
PETER (V.O.): I must confess - I'm always clumsy with attaching adhesive luggage tags to my luggage.
Peter looks at her name tag.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Akeda, it says.
PETER: Thank you Akeda san.
Akeda is surprised, but delighted.
PETER (V.O.): Probably no one do that. They say "thank you" to the air. Not to the person.
They part.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Have I made her day?
RETURN TO PRESENT
The nurse finishes tapping the cotton ball.
PETER (Cont'd): And what's your Christian name?
The nurse steps back, smilingly.
NURSE: I'm not going to tell you.
PETER (V.O.): Why not? I'm the kind of man who would remember that. Maybe she's not sure she deserves that.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:30
Peter uploads an image to a draft on his laptop. It depicts a light green Suzuki kei car parked on a grassy field in front of blooming cherry blossom trees.
PETER (V.O.): Today, I recall 1966, 1989, and Spring 2026, when my wife and I drove around 500 miles from New Chitose to Hakodate and back.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I thanked Akeda by name. It's my small act of return. She deserves it.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I got the nurse's initial on the immumization record, but I don't know her name. Perhaps, not every connection requires full disclosure. Sometimes the unresolved moment is the point.
The END
FADE OUT
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