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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Queuing Up

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 00:45


  4. As PETER is checking emails with his laptop, his WIFE enters.

  5. WIFE: I've tried to make an appointment with the Transport Dept. But the earliest slot will be in late Nov...


  6. PETER: We're flying out in early Nov. I'll apply for you in person tomorrow.


  7. WIFE: How long would you have to queue up for it?


  8. PETER: About an hour, I believe.


  9. His wife then passes him a completed form, two photos and other supporting documents.


  10. PETER (V.O.): As a self-employed, my time is more flexible than my wife's.


  11. Peter shuts down his laptop.


  12. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, first thing tomorrow morning.


  13. Act 2


  14. INT. BATHROOM - 09:15


  15. Peter is using the toilet.


  16. PETER (V.O.): It may be hours before I can have my next opportunity.


  17. INT. TRANSPORT DEPT - 09:30


  18. Arriving in an office, Peter sees different queues. He talks to STAFF#1.


  19. PETER: Which queue is for applying International Driving Permit?


  20. STAFF#1: If you haven't made an appointment, it's the queue at the corridor outside.


  21. Seeing around 30 PEOPLE queuing up, Peter joins at the end.


  22. PETER (V.O.): I'm prepared for that.


  23. Soon, Peter becomes ahead of many OTHERS. A COUPLE with a crying BABY gets Peter's attention.


  24. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe they're just my family, wanting to have a motoring holiday elsewhere.

  25. Peter then hears a MAN asking STAFF#2 who is monitoring the queue.


  26. MAN: What's the waiting time?


  27. STAFF#2: About 2 hours, I believe.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well, I can prepare my cases better.


  29. While having screen time, Peter and a WOMAN in front of him would monitor the infrequent motion of the queue ahead.

  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But we're still queuing up outside the office.


  31. Two hours later, Peter is still waiting at the corridor.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It seems that the queue is served at the tortoise pace. Fortunately, I don't have the urge to go to the toilet.


  33. Later, Peter is allowed to queue inside the office.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've become nervous now. What if something is missing in my wife's application?


  35. Peter checks and checks the papers in his bag.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should be OK.


  37. Later, when Peter is ahead of all the others, he sees STAFF#3 put a "Not in service" sign at the counter.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But the counter is the only one serving the queue. I know now why the queue isn't moving.


  39. Pausing.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I've waited for that long, I don't mind waiting for a few more moments.


  41. Finally, when Peter gets a green booklet with his wife's photo on it, he checks the time.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's the result of a three-hour queuing up. Is it supposed to go like that?


  43. Pausing.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I always aim not just to meet but to exceed customers' expectations.


  45. Recalling.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I worked as a waiter in my teens, I stood waiting for a 12-hour day. I had only two 30-minute meal breaks in between.


  47. INT. SITTING ROOM - 22:45


  48. Returning, Peter passes the International Driving Permit to his wife.


  49. WIFE: How sorry I'm to know that happened to you...


  50. Peter smiles.


  51. PETER (V.O.): It's good that I can still make it at over 68.


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. BEDROOM - 22:45


  54. Peter works on his laptop.


  55. PETER (V.O.): I'm quite an orderly person. I form my own orderly queue for my pursuits, even if I'm the only one.


  56. Typing.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today's queuing up is a good rehearsal for resuming my travelling.


  58. Thinking.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In order to succeed, I must believe that I can and act to make it a fact.


  60. THE END

  61. .

  62. FADE OUT


















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