Il Ristorante
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jan 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 8
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:30 (Last Night)
Warmly lit. PETER and his WIFE chat.
WIFE: On New Year's Eve, we had dinner in that Italian restaurant in Tsimshatsui...
PETER: The food, coffee, and ambiance were superb! I gave it a five-star rating in my review on Google Maps.
WIFE: I feel like going there again.
PETER: Splendid. Shall we go tomorrow? Say, for lunch?
WIFE: Yes!
MARY, the maid, appears.
WIFE: Mary, please wake me up tomorrow at 11:30.
MARY: Yes, Ma'am.
Act 2
INT. LIVING ROOM - 10:30
Peter sits on a sofa by the window, his phone in hand. We hear a ping sound.
PETER (V.O.): I've already completed all my daily lessons in seven languages, including Italian.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife and I will have an Italian lunch today.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Italian phrase "Il ristorante" translates to "The Restaurant" in English.
INT. BEDROOM - 11:30
Sitting up in bed, Peter looks fondly at his wife's sleeping form. Mary comes in.
MARY: Ma'am, it's 11:30.
WIFE: Mmm. Yes.
Mary nods and exits, as Peter's wife falls asleep again in seconds.
PETER (V.O.): As expected.
With headphones on, Peter watches Facebook feeds.
MONTAGE OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE BEDROOM
A. 12:30. Peter checks the phone time. He looks at his sleeping wife. He scrolls through feeds featuring people playing bass guitars.
B. 13:30. Peter glances at the time on his phone before looking at his wife sleeping peacefully. He scrolls through feeds featuring people playing jazz music on piano.
C.14:30. Peter looks at the phone to check the time before gazing at his wife who is still sleeping deeply. He starts scrolling through feeds featuring people playing drums.
END MONTAGE
INT. LIVING ROOM - 14:45
Peter sits at an upright piano. He plays the jazz standard: Satin Doll. When he stops, he touches his stomach.
PETER (V.O.): I'm hungry.
He helps himself to some peanuts. He eats them slowly, one by one.
MONTAGE OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
A. Bedroom - 15:30. Peter stands in the door way. His wife is in the exact same position, lost in profound sleep. The duvert rises and falls steadily. He nods to himself.
B. Life lobby. - Continuous. While waiting for the lift, Peter types a WhatsApp message to his wife: I'm very hungry and have gone to enjoy an afternoon tea set.
C. Cha Chaan Teng - 15:45. Sitting at a small table, a bowl of Roasted Goose soup noodles is placed before Peter, followed by a hot cup of Ovaltine. He eats quietly.
END MONTAGE
INT. LIVING ROOM - 16:30
Peter's wife is on the sofa, looking sheepish. Peter returns.
WIFE: I'm so sorry. I only just got up. I saw your message.
Peter walks over. He doesn't look angry.
PETER: If now you want to sleep through a cold afternoon like a contented dog, who am I to argue? It gives me pleasure to see you rest.
Pausing.
WIFE: You should have shaken me awake.
Peter smiles.
PETER (V.O.): I can spend my life chasing the perfect meal at "Il Ristorante", or I can find perfection in the sound of my love sleeping through it.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:30
Peter uploads a photo showing a bowl of noodles with roasted goose and greens alongside a small dish of sweet sauce and a cup of Ovaltine to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): They measure love in grand gestures at expensive tables. We measure it in the hours of one of us waits, while the other one dreams.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The world has two gifts: the anticipation of "Il Ristrorante", and the grace to enjoy the roasted goose noddles when it doesn't work out. The second is the rarer recipe.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): True love isn't always a table for two. Sometimes, it's a message that effectively says: "Sleep well, I've gone to eat alone."
The END
FADE OUT
Comments