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Real Comfort

Writer's picture: Peter K F Cheung SBSPeter K F Cheung SBS
  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. SITTING ROOM - 23:30 (Yesterday)


  4. Picking up a car key. PETER speaks to his WIFE.


  5. PETER: I'm driving the car up.


  6. WIFE: Let's go to the car park together.


  7. PETER (V.O.): Ha! Like me, she can't wait. Our son will finish his 14-day isolation at mid-night.


  8. EXT. AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIMSHATSUI - 23:50


  9. Roadside. As Peter continues to wait at the driver's seat, Peter's wife gets off.


  10. WIFE: I'm going to walk our son here from the hotel he doesn't like.


  11. It's 00:10. Mother and SON appear with baggage.


  12. SON: This 1-minute walk was the first exercise I've done in the past 14 days. Can I drive Dad?


  13. Peter leaves his seat swiftly.


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. ROADS-STREETS - 00:15


  16. While Peter's wife acts as the navigator in front, Peter relaxes in the middle row of a 8-seater.


  17. PETER (V.O.): How nice! I didn't sleep well last night. I should be in bed now..

  18. PETER: Son, you can drive your car anytime. I've filled up the tank.


  19. Later, they arrive in a street lit up with orange lights from lamp posts.


  20. SON: What a familiar and warm sight!


  21. PETER (V.O.): It's great that he's now back and can stay home for a fortnight or so.


  22. As mother and son enter a block's lobby, Peter drives the car away.


  23. INT. SITTING ROOM - 09:15


  24. Appearing, Peter sees son playing the piano.


  25. 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.


  26. INT. DINING ROOM - 10:30



  27. After breakfast, Peter's wife puts three postage boxes on a cart.


  28. PETER: You're posting them to our elder daughter?


  29. WIFE: Yes! Christmas presents!


  30. PETER (V.O.): She enjoys doing that. The younger one got a new computer.


  31. PETER: Do you need my help?


  32. WIFE: No, you stay home.


  33. Father and son begin to engage in some deep conversations.


  34. INT. STUDIO - 11:30


  35. Having turned on an internet radio, Peter looks at a pair of extra-bass bluetooth speakers in blue and in red.


  36. PETER (V.O.): I've never used the speakers' "party" mode. Now's the time.


  37. Having researched with a smart[phone, Peter hears music from both speakers.


  38. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): First party since I bought the speakers.


  39. Peter adjusts the speakers' positions and volume.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wow, music to my years!


  41. FLASHBACK


  42. INT. STUDIO - 19:30 (Yesterday)


  43. On his way out, Peter stops to listen to a Beatles' number: Help!


  44. PETER (V.O.): Oh, apart from the melody, the lyrics of this oldie are now resonating in me.


  45. 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...


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When the song Help! was released in 1965, I was 11 years old. John Lennon was 25.


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How could he tell the feeling of those who aren't young anymore.


  49. Pausing.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): John Lennon was shot dead at age 40 on Dec 8, 1980. He should have stayed home in Liverpool.

  51. Peter opens up the door.


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. SITTING ROOM - 22:30


  54. PETER (V.O.): Home is a place or feeling of belonging.


  55. Pausing.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home is where the heart is.


  57. Pausing.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home is also where we make sweet dreams.


  59. Pausing.

  60. FPETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For real comfort, there's nothing like staying at home.


  61. Mother and son, and later Peter skype at home.


  62. FADE OUT


  63. THE END










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