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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

The Weary Return


  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. LIVING ROOM - 15:45 (Yesterday)


  4. Both PETER and his WIFE arrive home with their baggage. KAJI, the family pet, greets them enthusiastically.


  5. PETER: She's so very happy!


  6. WIFE: Of course! She hasn't seen us for 11 days.


  7. Speaking to Kaji.


  8. PETER: We bought lots of stuff for you in Niigata.


  9. WIFE: The same food stuff we buy in Hong Kong costing $130 is sold at $30 in Japan.


  10. Speaking to Kaji.


  11. WIFE (Cont'd): But I'm too tired to show you right now.


  12. PETER: I feel exhausted too.


  13. As his wife settles into a massage chair, Peter goes to the bedroom.


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS


  16. Having lied down and rested in bed for a while, Peter gets up.


  17. PETER (V.O): I feel just slightly refreshed.


  18. Pausing.


  19. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While travelling, we're always on the move.


  20. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS


  21. Appearing, Peter sees his wife emptying dirty clothes from her baggage. He follows suit.


  22. PETER (V.O): Let our maid take care of them meanwhile.


  23. WIFE: We'll have a quick and casual dinner at home so that we can rest more quick.


  24. PETER: Sure! We've had lots of great eating experience for the past 11 days.


  25. INT. BEDROOM - 10:00


  26. Sitting by bedside, Peter is reading texts in the laptop.


  27. PETER (V.O): I'm the Chair of HKUST's Knowledge Transfer Committee and have important responsibilities.


  28. Peter looks at his sleeping wife at times.


  29. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I need to go through the materials thoroughly as a Committee meeting is coming up.


  30. Later, his WIFE wakes up. She then checks the time.

  31. WIFE: Wow, I've slept on-and-off for 14 hours.


  32. PETER: While travelling, you slept late and woke up early.


  33. WIFE: Yes, we enjoyed the onsen late at night and early in the morning.


  34. INT. DINING ROOM - 13:30


  35. His wife is having sandwiches as Peter appears.


  36. PETER: You're having breakfast...


  37. Recalling.


  38. PETER (V.O): She could have the orange jam she bought in Mashiko. As the bottle of jam was inside her carry-on bag, she had to surrender it to the security.


  39. Smiling.


  40. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): We did open the bottle and savor a bit of the jam...


  41. Peter talks to the MAID.


  42. PETER: Please make a bowl of instant noodles for me.


  43. PETER (to Wife): I'll have my quick lunch as a Zoom meeting with my Committee Secretary is coming up.


  44. INT. STUDY - 15:30


  45. Having finished the Zoom meeting, Peter types on screen.


  46. PETER (V.O): On second thoughts, I've got a simpler solution option...


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Now, I can discuss with a solicitor about a brief...


  49. Peter then engages in a lengthy telephone conversation.


  50. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): He wrote to me while I was still motoring in the Nikko area.


  51. Then, Peter checks an incoming email with attachments.


  52. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, I've a professional appointment coming Monday...And now is Friday evening already?


  53. Act 3


  54. INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:00


  55. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "The Weary Return..." to a draft.


  56. PETER (V.O): Gradually recovering from our post-travel fatigue, my wife and I have just walked our pet in the riverside and seaside gardens.


  57. Recalling.


  58. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While I was discharging my responsibilities, my wife reckoned that she forgot to put the iced cheese cakes she bought at duty free inside the fridge.


  59. Pausing.


  60. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I comforted her that we had already bought air tickets to visit Japan again in August. I also suggested to make an additional trip to Japan in June - my kind of work-life balance now.


  61. FADE OUT


  62. THE END



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