ReturnHomeSafe
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 15, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 06:30
In bed, PETER takes off his eye mask.
PETER (V.O.): I've slept for a few hours - better than staying awake all night.
Peter goes to the toilet.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My biological clock is still 8 hours behind Hong Kong time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today, we've to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulations by having our first mandatory PCR tests in one of the community testing centers.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And my Medical Surveillance Reference no. is like my new identity card no. now.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I'll continue to self-monitor my daily RAT and my twice-a-day temperature checks.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. HEATHROW AIRPORT, LONDON - 06:00 (4 Nov, 2022)
Passport control. Peter, his WIFE and their younger DAUGHTER appear before an OFFICER who is checking their passports.
OFFICER: ...Take off your face masks.
PETER: Oh, yes.
After some exchanges with the officer, the unmasked family go through. Then, they go to the baggage reclaim section.
PETER (V.O): No one is wearing any face mask.
Quiet green channel. The unmasked family exit.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No Covid surveillance procedure at all.
Shuttle stop. The unmasked family soon get on board a shuttle.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We'll have to get used to not wearing face masks in public.
INT. ALAMO CAR RENTAL - 07:00
Upon arrival, the unmasked STAFF greet the family.
PETER (V.O.): I'm adapting to the change.
INT. SERVICES, MEMBURRY - 09:15
Some SOULS. NO ONE is wearing any face masks. The family enter Starbucks, do their orders and take a corner table. We hear a few coughing sounds.
PETER (V.O.): We don't need to scan any QR code to record our visit. It's possible that customers having Covid are among us.
As the family is eating and drinking, Peter looks nervous.
INT. SERVICES, EXETER - 12:15
PEOPLE everywhere. Coughing sounds. We see ONE wearing a face mask. Peter talks to his wife in front of KFC.
PETER: I think it unsafe to eat in here. Let's buy takeaways and eat inside our hired SUV.
WIFE: I share your view!
Peter and his wife resume wearing their face masks.
PETER (V.O.): I'm not sure if we're a little late in taking this remedial action.
Car park. The family are eating and drinking inside a black SUV.
PETER: I can understand the relaxed attitude of the locals here. If they get Covid, they generally suffer for a few days.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): I believe the odd one wearing the face mask is still having Covid. If he was in Hong Kong, he'd be compulsorily isolated at least at home.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): If we get Covid here, apart from the suffering, we can't fly home and would be stuck in a foreign country.
MONTAGE OF THE FAMILY'S RAT ROUTINE
A. A two-storey house. St Ives. Nov 5 - 6, 2022. The family see negative results.
END MONTAGE
INT. TRAVEL LODGE, BOURNEMOUTH WATERFRONT - 08:00 (Nov 7. 2022)
Solemnly, Peter is about to take his RAT.
PETER: Even if I get Covid, I won't miss our daughter's congregation today!
END FLASHBACK
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:00
We hear radio news about relaxation of the restrictions on Prevention and Control of Disease from Thursday.
PETER (V.O.): Today is Tuesday. LeaveHomeSafe aside, ReturnHomeSafe is also important.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Home is where I feel safe, trusted, and loved. But my 9-day unmasked travelling experience in England (except brief moments at Exeter) make me feel our home is sick.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having fortunately returned, done PCR tests at the Airport and got negative results, we still have to undergo another 3 PCR tests...
Peter looks tired.
THE END
.
FADE OUT
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