Real Comfort
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Dec 11, 2021
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - 23:30 (Yesterday)
Picking up a car key. PETER speaks to his WIFE.
PETER: I'm driving the car up.
WIFE: Let's go to the car park together.
PETER (V.O.): Ha! Like me, she can't wait. Our son will finish his 14-day isolation at mid-night.
EXT. AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIMSHATSUI - 23:50
Roadside. As Peter continues to wait at the driver's seat, Peter's wife gets off.
WIFE: I'm going to walk our son here from the hotel he doesn't like.
It's 00:10. Mother and SON appear with baggage.
SON: This 1-minute walk was the first exercise I've done in the past 14 days. Can I drive Dad?
Peter leaves his seat swiftly.
Act 2
INT. ROADS-STREETS - 00:15
While Peter's wife acts as the navigator in front, Peter relaxes in the middle row of a 8-seater.
PETER (V.O.): How nice! I didn't sleep well last night. I should be in bed now..
PETER: Son, you can drive your car anytime. I've filled up the tank.
Later, they arrive in a street lit up with orange lights from lamp posts.
SON: What a familiar and warm sight!
PETER (V.O.): It's great that he's now back and can stay home for a fortnight or so.
As mother and son enter a block's lobby, Peter drives the car away.
INT. SITTING ROOM - 09:15
Appearing, Peter sees son playing the piano.
PETER (V.O.): Yes, he hasn't played it since July this year. Three weeks ago, we thought that he could only play it again next Nov.
INT. DINING ROOM - 10:30
After breakfast, Peter's wife puts three postage boxes on a cart.
PETER: You're posting them to our elder daughter?
WIFE: Yes! Christmas presents!
PETER (V.O.): She enjoys doing that. The younger one got a new computer.
PETER: Do you need my help?
WIFE: No, you stay home.
Father and son begin to engage in some deep conversations.
INT. STUDIO - 11:30
Having turned on an internet radio, Peter looks at a pair of extra-bass bluetooth speakers in blue and in red.
PETER (V.O.): I've never used the speakers' "party" mode. Now's the time.
Having researched with a smart[phone, Peter hears music from both speakers.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): First party since I bought the speakers.
Peter adjusts the speakers' positions and volume.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wow, music to my years!
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDIO - 19:30 (Yesterday)
On his way out, Peter stops to listen to a Beatles' number: Help!
PETER (V.O.): Oh, apart from the melody, the lyrics of this oldie are now resonating in me.
We hear the Beatles singing: When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in any way. But now these days are gone, I am not so self-assured. Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the door...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When the song Help! was released in 1965, I was 11 years old. John Lennon was 25.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How could he tell the feeling of those who aren't young anymore.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): John Lennon was shot dead at age 40 on Dec 8, 1980. He should have stayed home in Liverpool.
Peter opens up the door.
Act 3
INT. SITTING ROOM - 22:30
PETER (V.O.): Home is a place or feeling of belonging.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home is where the heart is.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home is also where we make sweet dreams.
Pausing.
FPETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For real comfort, there's nothing like staying at home.
Mother and son, and later Peter skype at home.
FADE OUT
THE END
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