FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. STREETS - 00:30
Raining. Driving a Toyota Previa, PETER sees his WIFE waiting in a covered area. He stops the car to pick her up.
PETER (V.O.): This is the second time we set off after mid-night to pick up part of the family from a quarantine hotel.
Soon, his wife gets a call.
WIFE (to phone): Oh, you've already checked out? We're coming from home to your hotel. Wait for us in a covered area...
PETER (V.O.): My wife has been under the impression that quarantine hotels are particularly busy after midnight.
Peter drives steadily.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our younger daughter can't wait further to return home.
Peter checks traffic conditions.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've to remind myself that even if we're in a rush, I've to drive safely.
Act 2
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINOUS
Driving, Peter is in thoughts.
FLASHBACK
EXT. MOTORWAYS, ENGLAND - DAY (Late August 2019)
Peter is driving a black MB, with his wife, younger daughter and baggage on board.
PETER (V.O.): Over 20 years ago, my wife wanted to have a third child, preferably a daughter.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was happy to assist. We had our second daughter 10 months later. It was a dream come true.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And now she's about to begin her undergraduate studies.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We won't be seeing each other until summer 2020.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.): Then came COVID-19. We're all very concerned about the UK situation.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We managed to have our younger daughter going home just before the traffic restrictions.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From April 2020 to Sept 2021, we paid all the overseas expenses while our daughter stayed in Hong Kong doing her online studies.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To go big again, our younger daughter left for UK to do her final year studies on campus.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yearning for our younger daughter's return, my wife talked about countdown very frequently.
EXT. ROADS - 01:00
Hotel sidewalk. Arriving, Peter's wife sees DAUGHTER waiting with three baggage by her side.
WIFE: There she is!
PETER: Yes.
Soon, they begin uploading the baggage.
DAUGHTER: This one is over 30 Kg.
Together, they lift it and place it inside the boot of the car.
WIFE (to Daughter): How could you do that by yourself when leaving UK!
PETER (V.O.): It's the thought of going home that made it light. I knew it as I experienced the same in 1987.
All set, Peter drives off. Peter's wife turns her head to talk to daughter sitting in the middle row.
WIFE: Did you leave home in mid-Sept last year?
PETER (V.O.): I can tell from her tone that she's very happy - there's no other love like a mother's love for her child.
DAUGHTER: Yes.
PETER (V.O.): That's when I began learning in stock investment. And now I've learnt a lot.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Naively, I hope I can change the world for my children.
Act 3
EXT. STREETS - 01:30
Junction. Peter makes a turn towards an estate.
PETER (V.O.): We're going home, where the heart is.
Parking bay. The rain has stopped. Peter, his wife and daughter work together to unload the baggage from the boot of the Previa.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) : We bought this car in 2000. It has taken all my children to go big or go home.
Peter takes a photo of the car.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It isn't just four wheels with an engine. It's part of the family.
THE END
FADE OUT
Comments