Quarantine
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Feb 29, 2020
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
PETER is watching TV news about the coronavirus outbreak.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, Hokkaido has declared a state of emergency over coronavirus. Residents were advised to remain indoors. Would countries impose quarantine on persons who have been there? I was there earlier this month.
MONTAGE
A. Feb 1, 2020, at a Chitose hotel. Wearing a mask, Peter was received by a masked reception STAFF#1.
B. Feb 2, 2020, at a Sapporo hotel. Wearing a mask, Peter was received by a masked reception STAFF#2.
C. Feb 3, 2020, at an Otaru hotel. Wearing a mask, Peter was received by a masked reception STAFF#3.
D. Feb 4, 2020, at the same Chitose hotel. Wearing a mask, Peter was received by a masked reception STAFF#1.
E. Feb 5. 2020, at Airline check-in counter. We hear a STAFF#4 asking Peter: Have you been to Wuhan recently? And Peter replies: No.
END MONTAGE
Peter checks a calendar.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Today is the last day of Feb and I don't have any coronavirus symptoms.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I'm concerned about the general situation in Japan as I'm visiting Kumamoto from March 25-27, 2020. I want to meet up with my elder daughter there and see the cherry blossoms there. It's my March travel, 2020.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter's WIFE chats with Peter over dinner.
WIFE: When you come back from Japan, and if you're subject to any quarantine in Hong Kong and can't fly to the UK during the Easter holidays, I'll go alone nonetheless!
PETER (Upset): Of course, the priority is to see our younger daughter there.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.): But I very much want to travel with my wife too!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Let me check my itinerary.
Peter taps his phone calendar and does finger-counting a few times.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Security Bureau's security alert on Japan now is yellow, ie signs of threat. As the alert isn't red ie significant threat, no quarantine in Hong Kong upon return from Japan is required.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Assuming the worst scenario, do I have a 14-day window to undergo the quarantine in Hong Kong before I fly to London?
Peter taps his phone calendar and does finger-counting a few times again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm returning to Hong Kong in the late evening of March 27, 2020, and my London-bound flight departs on April 10, 2020, at 01:00.
Calculating.
If the counting is based on a daily basis ie beginning at 00.00, I couldn't catch my flight at the Airport in time. But if it is based on the 24-hourly basis there's a chance that I can make it!
Having taken a deep breath, Peter goes to the fridge to get something to drink.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But what if UK imposes a 14-quarantine for travellers arriving from Hong Kong? I can decline work, but my wife can't! Oh my god!
Act 3
Peter takes another deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're just too many eventualities that are beyond our control...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Right, we just have to adapt to the developing situations. The measure of intelligence is the capacity to change.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I can't change my mindset, how can I have the capacity to influence others to change?
Peter leaves the study to join his wife in the sitting room.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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