Long Suffering
FADE IN.
EXT. ROAD, AIRPORT - NIGHT
Sitting in a bus, PETER, in thick clothes, checks his phone.
PETER (V.O.) For the past week in
Canada, I've been
suffering from jet-
lag. Let me check
the wedding events
I've to attend tomorrow.
Finding in his What's App a photo depicting a red card, Peter reads the small prints.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
(Nodding)
I'll get out of bed at
around 08:30 tomorrow-
no matter what.
INT. MTR STATION, ADMIRALTY - DAY
Peter sees uniformed GURKHAS regulating human traffic.
PETER (V.O.)
(Nodding)
That's a good move to
prevent vandalism.
Seeing a team of three POLICEMEN, Peter takes a photo of them.
PETER (V.O.)
It's only right that they'd
patrol and maintain law
and order.
EXT. CAINE ROAD - DAY
In a 3-piece suit, Peter gets off from a bus and sees a Church.
PETER (V.O.)
Oh, it's so near. I was
here before,driving
the bride to a wedding
ceremony in the early
1990s.
Checking a pedestrian lane, Peter nods.
PETER (V.O.)
Yes, I recall I parked
my car on the lane to
facilitate my passengers
and had nearly driven
down a staircase. It
was a close call.
INT. CHURCH - DAY
A PRIEST is conducting a wedding sermon. Peter is among the PARTICIPANTS.
PRIEST
...A marriage is a long
suffering...If there's any
problem, the fallback's
to return to the Lord...
Hymn singing. As wedding ceremonies end, photo sessions begin.
PETER (V.O.)
The groom is much taller
than his parents... Yes, my
younger son is taller than
me too.
INT. HOTEL - DAY
In a round table sit about 10 LADIES and GENTLEMEN. GENTLEMAN#1 chats with Peter.
GENTLEMAN#1
We saw you at the Church
then...the long suffering...
PETER
(Shrugging his shoulders)
Oh you're there. The
priest did assimilate a
marriage to a long suffering.
Peter gestures that he does not wish to comment further.
PETER (Cont'd)
You play electric bass with
only your thumb, right?
Gentleman#1 nods.
GENTLEMAN#1
When you've the inspiration
to write songs, would you
record them first?
PETER
Oh yes, but I've to refine
them many times.
Sitting away from Peter and Lady#1, Lady#2 intervenes.
LADY#2
Your style is simple and
direct...
Peter looks bewildered.
PETER (V.O.)
This's the first time we
meet.
Seeing Peter's look, Lady#1 remarks to Peter.
LADY#1
(Loudly)
I shared your song "Mid-
Autumn Festival" with her.
Peter is enlightened.
LADY#1
(Quietly to Peter)
She's suffering from
cancer.
PETER
(To Lady #2)
Thank you for your
kind remarks!
PETER
(Quietly to Lady#1)
She looks Okay.
PETER (V.O.)
The guests in this table
are mostly sopranos and
altos. Great to hear some
endorsement. My song's
message is uplifting too.
We then hear other LADIES and GENTLEMEN in the table, sharing their stories in encountering the people in black.
PETER (V.O.)
Hong Kong has been
suffering in pain. The
little things I can do
to help stop it is to
become an Internet
public opinion warrior.
Desserts are being served.
PETER
(To Gentleman#2)
Do you know if there's
any public event today?
GENTLEMAN#2
Not today, but tomorrow.
As Peter nods, he checks the phone time: 15:00.
EXT. MTR STATION - DAY
As he is approaching a closed entrance, Peter sees a notice that it is being repaired due to vandalism.
PETER (V.O.)
How disgusting!
EXT. TRAIN CAR - DAY
Peter checks the Quora App in his phone.
PETER (V.O.)
Here's a brainless question
from a British girl asking
about the time difference
between Hong Kong and
Thailand.
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Thailand time is one hour
behind of Hong Kong. Let
me insert a photo to make
a difference.
Peter finds a photo, depicting a scene when a BRIDE in her tailing dress and her FATHER were about to enter the main Church door.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Let me entitle this photo
as "Behind", and make
my answer with depth.
After inserting the photo to his draft answer, Peter types: Philosophically, time is unreal and so there is no difference between Hong Kong time and Thailand time...
PETER (V.O.)
Time is a human creation.
If to live or to get wedded
is to suffer, one still has to
survive and thrive in a
meaningful way.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
If one, including Hong Kong,
has to suffer long for anything,
then the one'd gradually
become the best version!
FADE OUT. THE END