FADE IN.
Act 1
EXT. HONG KONG POST - DAY
PETER and his WIFE are at the entrance of a branch. They see lots of PEOPLE inside.
WIFE: I want to make some enquiries.
PETER: I'll wait outside.
Later, his wife comes out.
WIFE: I now know the requirements concerning the e-express option to post parcels overseas. As they don't have the boxes, we've to source or make them.
PETER: What do you want to post and to whom?
WIFE: I just want to post some noodles to our elder daughter in Fukuoka.
Peter's nodding.
PETER (V.O.): Yes, my wife asked me to bring the noodles to her in my March travel. But my flights were cancelled, not to mention the quarantine restriction.
PETER: I'm not sure the stationery nearby has the boxes that you've in mind...
WIFE: That gift shop?
PETER: Yes.
Act 2
EXT. STREETS - DAY
WIFE: I recall there's another one nearby. It looks like a wholesaler, selling all sorts of stuff.
PETER: Oh, yes! That should be a better choice. What we want are just boxes of the right sizes, right?
WIFE: Yes.
They stop at the entrance of a stationery.
PETER: Here we're.
INT. STATIONERY - DAY
Peter sees some A4 paper boxes deposited on the floor.
PETER (To Wife): Would these A4 paper boxes serve our purpose?
His wife measures one with a soft tailer tape measure.
WIFE: Yes.
PETER: Then we can buy boxes of A4 paper to get the boxes.
WIFE: No. We've lots of unused A4 paper at home.
They walk around the stationery, Peter in one section and his wife in another section.
PETER (V.O.): They don't sell cardboard boxes.
PETER (To wife): Have you seen anything that you want?
His wife shakes her head sideways.
WIFE: I'll ask the shopkeeper if the stationery has any cardboard for making boxes?
Peter sees the shopkeeper taking her wife to an inconspicuous corner to examine some paper-like stuff and his wife doesn't seem to be interested.
PETER (V.O.): If we can't find anything that we want in this large stationery, there's hardly any chance that we can source what we want in the other small gift shop.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know my wife wants to get it done the quickest possible and in a cost-effective fashion.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Of our three children who all are overseas, our elder daughter is the one who has decided not to come back to Hong Kong as she doesn't want to jeopardize her studies and her career development plan.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I can't bring the noodles to our elder daughter and my wife can't go herself, what a loving mother can do is to post the noodles.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's her expression of motherly love. Apart from some ideas and manual labour, I can't assist any further.
Peter looks blank.
Act 3
INT. STATIONERY - CONTINOUS
Then, Peter sees his wife holding three A4 paper boxes and going to the cashier smilingly.
WIFE: The stationery has empty A4 paper boxes and would sell them at HK$5 each. So, I'll buy three.
PETER: Surprise, surprise! Shopkeepers might throw them away in the old days. Now, the domestic supply chain is vibrant and needs boxes.
WIFE: Another customer buys six! All want to post supplies to their loved ones overseas!
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter watches his wife putting noodles inside the boxes.
PETER: Can't our elder daughter buy these Japanese noodles in Japan?
WIFE: Some flavours such as Satay are available in Hong Kong only.
Peter watches his wife weighing the weight of the noodles in each box.
WIFE: I've to ensure the weight in each box is less than 2 Kilos.
PETER (V.O.): I can see and feel my wife enjoying the process very much.
INT. HONG KONG POST - DAY
With Peter holding the boxes, his wife places the box one by one on a weighing balance in front of a counter staff and pays.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Coming out of a Hong Kong Post branch, Peter's wife types on her phone.
PETER: Have you sent a message to our elder daughter?
Nodding, Peter's wife shows Peter a phone message with a sticker.
WIFE (smiling heartily): You see, our elder daughter has just sent a hugh love sticker!
PETER (V.O.): That's what motherly love is all about! It doesn't have to be acquired or deserved.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And we've also had many happy hours together making this happen.
Peter smiles.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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