FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
PETER is watching TV news. We see and hear a female ANCHOR (30s) reporting in a negative tone: ...the coronavirus first began in China...Italy is under lockdown...Then, we see a change of images and a GENTLEMAN (50s) appearing on the screen.
PETER (V.O.): The gentleman is an Assistant Director-General of WHO. He and his team have been to China to assess the outbreak situation.
After his relentless responses to the anchor's questions in an authentic fashion, the gentleman makes a remark.
GENTLEMAN (On-screen): ...We've talked and worked with people in China. They're human people...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The media narratives tend to identify China and its people are viruses - necessitates the need to clarify people's perception that Chinese are human people.
The next story is from Beijing. We see and hear a male CORRESPONDENT (30s) reporting on the screen.
CORRESPONDENT (On-screen): There's the narrative now that the coronavirus might not have been originated from China...
ANCHOR (On-screen): China will control the narrative...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Given the known characteristics of the coronavirus, it's hard to prove the origin and who was the first spreader of the coronavirus.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Both the WHO official and the correspondent show kindness - a form of humanity.
Black screen.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - CONTINOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What's wrong? My TV set or the signal transmission?
Peter checks some devices near the TV set and suddenly we hear the audio and see the visual.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh! It's the NHK World. I don't even know I've subscribed to this channel. Do I have to pay for it? Anyway, I just watch as long as I can.
We see on the TV screen surgery is being operated on an eye with off-screen remarks about an innovative surgical method to treat cataract in 3 minutes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wow, the Japanese doctor also designs his own surgical diamond- cut tools. Has he registered his designs?
On-screen, the Japanese DOCTOR (40s) is being interviewed.
DOCTOR (On-screen): I pass on my knowhow on one condition ie those who have learned from me must pass on the knowledge.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wow, his love of mankind - a form of humanity.
We see on-screen a photo of the doctor with the former 90-year old Malaysian PM.
DOCTOR (Cont'd) (On-screen): I can only do around 10,000 operations a year. There're many more patients waiting to be treated.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, my late mother-in-law had a cataract problem and that bothered her for many years.
Other Japanese stories on TV.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, this story was about yarn-making in the Iwati Prefecture. I was there last December and bought a scarf there. Right decision!
We see on-screen the Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife and I went there in January 2018. We knew how the place was like, and I can still feel our feelings then.
We see on-screen oyster farming in Hiroshima.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): We had a lot of oysters when we're there.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was in my teens, I worked as a holiday waiter in a Lau Fau Shan restaurant that was famous for its oyster dishes.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Time flies. I'm getting old and don't know if I would have further eye problems. I've been straining my eyes.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I contract the coronavirus, the risk that I've to encounter might be higher than others. Because of the quarantine, I won't be visiting Japan at least for a while...
Peter takes a deep breath.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter switches on the TV set.
PETER (V.O.): Yesterday, I first watched a highly politicized channel. Then I watched a humane one. But they're very few humane stories and I soon watched their repeats. Let me watch another channel.
Having pressed a remote control button, we see and hear another channel.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The commercial media have to survive too, and therefore their stories must meet the expectations of their audience.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If people or media are obsessed with judging China and Chinese, there's no time for them to love China and Chinese.
Working behind his computer, Peter suddenly hears people on-screen speaking Mandarin: How are you?
Peter lifts up his head to watch the episode.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's about the people in Africa learning Mandarin as they want to engage China because they're impressed with its recent economic development.
Peter nods.
EXT. CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG - NIGHT
Walking along the streets, Peter comes across masked locals and some masked non-locals.
PETER (V.O.): I'm not scared by the coronavirus but I wear masks to protect others just in case I am infected. I've a duty toward other people.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While our elder daughter wears masks in Japan as a matter of course, our younger daughter in the UK has to balanced the risk between being infected with the virus and being treated as a virus...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All peoples can be human if they try.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
Yorumlar