Nothing Foreign
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 14, 2021
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - MORNING
After seeing his WIFE leaving home, PETER appears.
PETER (V.O.): Let me entertain one answer request in Quora before I resume working.
Peter taps his phone to check.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): "Why do statistically unlikely events scare or make people panic?" That's the question.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Statistical improbability is based on past events. Future events may happen to anyone.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Due to our survival instinct, negative events impact on our brains more than positive ones.
Peter types on his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We won't go panic for not winning a no-harm lottery, but we're scared to go in any harm's way.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. BEDROOM - MORNING (Earlier)
Peter is observing his wife sleeping in bed.
PETER (V.O.): She should be alright. We've something foreign in our bodies.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm going to take my 2nd jab coming Friday afternoon. Another challenge...
END FLASHBACK
Peter begins to work on some files.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've done the substantive work months ago. Today's conference is the last one. I'm going to claim my fees.
EXT. KOWLOON BAY - AFTERNOON
Sunny. Walking past a pedestrian flyover, Peter in a suit stops to capture an image.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, there's a cruise ship moored at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. I haven't seen such a sight for over a year now.
Peter observes the construction works in the vicinity.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, we need to build our future.
INT. MEGABOX - AFTERNOON
Peter is shopping.
PETER (V.O.): Every time I've finished a job nearby, I'd come here to buy something to reward myself.
Peter sees many shoppers.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well, today is Wednesday, July 14...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's something special about the date...What's it?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh yes, it's the Bastille Day in France. In July 1987, I was studying International Protection of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just then, I have closed a Human Rights case. An economic migrant has to find other ways to stay in Hong Kong, China.
Picking up some items.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Who doesn't like a place that's nothing foreign? Some may want to leave, but Hong Kong, China, will never leave them.
Paying at the cashier.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those who are born in Hong Kong have their stories set here. Nothing foreign has decided how we should live.
Carrying a bulged brief case now, Peter leaves.
EXT. ESTATE SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT
Peter begins to swim.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the water temperature is similar to hot springs. But I don't like the mismatch.
Having massaged his knees at the pool-wall jacuzzi, Peter leaves.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Phone in hand, Peter checks his Quora notifications.
PETER (V.O.): Here's another answer request that I must answer. The Quoran asks me what is my biggest motivation for staying alive?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If people know the chances of their being born in the shape and form they're, they should treasure every moment of their lives.
Peter surfs the web with his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The chance is 1 in 400 trillion+! Life is really people's treasure.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Every little things in our lives are great!
Peter types his answer on the phone.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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