FADE IN
Act 1
INT. DINING ROOM - 21:00 (YESTERDAY)
The MAID is preparing the table as PETER checks the phone calendar.
PETER (V.O.): If my silver coupe isn't under repair, I'd go back to my NT home tomorrow.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Last Friday, I had a dim-sum lunch with a couple. Although I've been cleared of Covid for nine days, they're still worried I might infect them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me go about this Monday differently. It's the right time to plan.
Peter's WIFE appears.
PETER: Darling, shall we have a dim-sum lunch together this Monday?
Having checked her phone calendar, Peter's wife nods.
Act 2
EXT. ROADS/CAR PARK - 09:15
As a passenger, Peter watches his wife driving a New Beetle swiftly.
PETER (V.O.): Decades ago, I trained her how to drive. Now, her driving skills and judgment are better than me.
Later, his wife parks the car in a Govt car park.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I used to work here in the mid-1980s. As a Crown Counsel then, I wasn't entitled to park here.
WIFE: Where would you go before lunch?
PETER: I'm going to a beach on Island South.
EXT. REPULSE BAY - 11:00
From the bay water, Peter climbs up onto a floating platform.
PETER (V.O.): Elderly tend to go to Deep Wave Bay. I come here for a change.
Peter lies flat on the platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My best time alone.
After repeating his actions on the other four floating platforms, Peter swims back to the beach.
EXT. BATTERY PATH - 12:30
Sitting in a bench, Peter is taking a selfie.
PETER (V.O.): My Dad took a photo of us right here in the late 1950s.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We're living in Central and my Dad was a newspaper photographer.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was the best time of my family.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life for us became difficult when we moved to NT in 1960.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The only good time for my parents was to go "Yum Cha" in the morning.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Grandma didn't go yum cha by herself. Very occasionally, she might buy and take home Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whatever she had, she'd always share it with me.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But most of the time, we could only share congee with lard and soy sauce.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I saved 25 cents - good for one Fried Sticky Rice Dumpling - I'd go to the restaurant to buy one - just for myself!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Looking back, it was my worst time.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I was always hungry.
Act 3
INT. TIM HO WAN RESTAURANT - 13: 15
Crowded. Peter's wife washes the eating utensils with hot water.
PETER (V.O.): Nothing brings people together like food, especially dim sum.
Later, STAFF put on their table Steamed Shrimp Har Kau and Siu Mai, Steamed Flour Rolls stuffed with Meat and Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If we don't have time for small things, we don't have time for other big things.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having dim-sum time with my Darling is the best time.
For the three Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings on a dish, Peter takes one and passes the other two to his wife.
FADE OUT
THE END
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