Substitute for Love

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDIO - 11:30

6. 
   

7. Looking out of the window, PETER sees sunshine.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): I should go out to enjoy the sunshine.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I haven't swum in the sea for a fortnight.

14. 
    

15. Recalling.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I haven't returned to my NT home.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My mind has been preoccupied with my memories of Nana.

22. 
    

23. Peter takes the piano seat.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whenever I think about Nana now, I'd play the piano.

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. EXT. CAR PARK, GOLDEN BEACH - 13:00

30. 
    

31. Having parked his coupe, Peter reads a phone message.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): The funeral director advises that Nana may be cremated with a bunch of flowers, treats and a piece of clothing?

34. 
    

35. EXT. BAY, GOLDEN BEACH - 13:15

36. 
    

37. Peter enters the water.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.): The water is quite cold.

40. 
    

41. Peter zips his wet suit.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I mustn't make me suffer from hypothermia.

44. 
    

45. Swimming frog strokes.

46. 
    

47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I think it's very cold for Nana too.

48. 
    

49. Swimming.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Flowers are irrelevant to Nana.

52. 
    

53. Pausing.

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nana loved her regular food. It didn't occur to us that Nana should have treats.

56. 
    

57. Pausing.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nana was comfortable in her own shell. She didn't wear anything unnatural.

60. 
    

61. Pausing.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Except the Vet's dressing after her prolapse.

64. 
    

65. Swimming freestyle.

66. 
    

67. INT. PETER'S NT HOME - 17:00

68. 
    

69. Sitting room G/F. Lying down in a sofa, Peter grabs a stuff toy as pillow.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.): What's it?

72. 
    

73. Checking it, Peter looks delighted.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's actually a turtle.

76. 
    

77. Peter touches the stuff toy's soft shell tenderly.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a perfect comforter for me!

80. 
    

81. Pausing.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.): Can playing the piano and this comforter substitute the place of Nana?

84. 
    

85. FLASHBACK

86. 
    

87. INT. BATHROOM - DAY (MONTHS AGO)

88. 
    

89. Nana and Tai Kou are in the bathtub. As soon as Peter uses his fingers as baits, Nana swims/crawls towards them, sticking out her neck and striving to bite.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.): She knows that I won't harm her.

92. 
    

93. Peter lets Nana bite his thumb.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although it's too big for her, she'd try.

96. 
    

97. Peter then lets Nana bite his pinky.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's her way to communicate. I like to believe they're love bites.

100. 
     

101. END FLASHBACK

102. 
     

103. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No, it isn't possible, never ever.

104. 
     

105. Act 3

106. 
     

107. INT. PETER'S NT HOME - CONTINUOUS

108. 
     

109. Studio 1/F. Peter takes the piano seat.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.): Have I experienced telepathy?

112. 
     

113. Playing.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Science only allows us to glimpse fragments of reality.

116. 
     

117. Looking out of the window, Peter sees sunset.

118. 
     

119. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Anyhow, if there's any substitute for love, it's memory. I remember Nana's last sunset.

120. 
     

121. THE END

122. 
     

123. FADE OUT