Father By Shiyan Feng
INT. HALLWAY-SMALL RESTAURANT - JILIN - CHINA- 4PM JEFF WANG(52), talks to a WAITER. The restaurant is empty, only the room behind them has guests in it. JEFF Here’s 100RMB.You come back later and tell them I’m a friend of your boss.You are going to give us a 100RMB discount. Understand? WAITER Sure. Jeff returns the room. There are 6 MEN sitting around the table, like Jeff, they are all drunk. MAN 1 Jeff, Come here.I have to drink with you. It’s been years since last time we met.You are indeed a friend. The waiter enters the room,with a check in his hand. Jeff holds a glass of beer. JEFF We are all old friends. Words are not enough to express myself. I’ll finish my beer first. Jeff drinks up his beer. The other men follows him. JEFF This one is on me.I know their boss, there will be a discount. Jeff takes the check. They keep drinking. INT. JEFF’S CAB- CONTINUOUS Jeff drives through downtown,drunk. He stops at MAN 2 who waves hand for his cab. The man gets on. JEFF Where are you going? MAN 2 Jiang Nan.
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2.
JEFF I can’t go that far.I can drop you at River Bridge.You still want to go? The man looks around.Many people wait for cabs on the street.Not many taxis are empty. MAN 2 That’s fine. Jeff starts the car. He hums an old Chinese song,Tian Mi Mi, which was popular in the 1980s. MAN 2 Are you drunk? JEFF Mind your own business. The passenger is unhappy.Jeff doesn’t pay attention to him. He lights a cigarette. The passenger frowns. MAN 2 Could you kill that cigarette? Jeff stops the car. JEFF Get out. MAN 2 What? JEFF I said, GET OUT! STREET The passenger gets out of the car. Jeff drives away. EXT. PETER’S SCHOOL GATE - CONTINUOUS PETER(12) waits at the gate with his TEACHER, MISS LEE(26).The gate is closed. Peter is the only child left. Jeff pulls over in front of Peter and Miss Lee. Jeff rolls down the window. JEFF Let’s go.
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3.
PETER You are late. JEFF Be quick. Peter glimpses at Ms lee and gets on the cab. MS LEE Mr.Wang, I think we need to... Jeff doesn’t wait for her to finish her words and drives away. INT. JEFF’S CAB - CONTINUOUS Peter stares at Jeff. PETER You are late again. JEFF Leave me alone. I tried my best. PETER Did you drink? JEFF It’s none of your business. Peter looks at Jeff drives the car. PETER Can I learn driving someday? JEFF Concentrate on your study first. Jeff turns on the CD player.It is the old song Jeff hums. INT. LIVING ROOM - JEFF’S APARTMENT - NIGHT It’s very simply decorated room.Jeff sleeps on the couch.He snores loudly.Peter is on the phone.He lowers his voice. PETER Hi sister.Yes,he’s sleeping.Can I meet you this this weekend?He won’t be at home anyway.Okay, Bye.
4. Peter hangs up the phone.He checks with Jeff. He’s asleep.Peter walks to the table in the middle of the room with his schoolwork on it.He hesitate a bit and returns, covers Jeff with a blanket.Peter sits at the table.He draws a car on a piece of paper. EXT. BUS STOP - 7AM Peter rushes to catch the No.18 bus. He has a bread in his hand, doesn’t have chance to eat it. He squeezes in the very crowed No.18 bus. INT. SMALL GROCERY STORE- 9AM Jeff talks to the shopkeeper, SAM. SAM YU XI?(A Chinese cigarette brand) JEFF Yes. SAM How’s your business? JEFF It’s Okay,can’t earn much. SAM I have to congratulate you. Jeff smiles although he doesn’t know what does Sam mean. SAM Sophia was a little girl last time when I saw her.It’s so fast. She’s going to get married. JEFF What are you talking about? SAM Sophia,your daughter.You don’t know? Sam hands a wedding invitation card to Jeff. JEFF Of course I know! Jeff grabs the invitation card and reads it.He tries to be calm. (CONTINUED)
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5.
JEFF Yes. I helped them design this. SAM Congratulations!You are such a lucky guy.You don’t have to pay for anything. Now she’s a big girl. Jeff looks uncomfortable. SAM Actually I need to ask you a favor. You mentioned you have a friend works in the train station.Can you ask him to buy me a ticket to Beijing.You know it’s close to New Year... JEFF Sure. Sure. Sorry I have to go. INT. JEFF’S CAB - CONTINUOUS Jeff drives on the street smoking a cigarette.Some PEOPLE waves hand on the street. He doesn’t stop. He pulls over along the river and takes out his phone. There’s a picture of 6 year old Peter and a 18 year old GIRL on the cell phone screen.They smile happily.Jeff dials a number, it’s shows SOPHIA on the screen. No reply. EXT. PETER’S SCHOOL GATE - DUSK Peter waits at the school gate.Ms Lee stands by him.She looks in distance. Peter waits until Ms Lee doesn’t pay attention and runs away.Ms Lee can’t catch him. INT. SMALL RESTAURANT - EVENING Jeff wakes up among many empty beer bottles with cellphone in his hand.It’s dark outside.He puts money on the table and stumbles out. INT. JEFF’S APARTMENT- EVENING Peter eats a bowl of instant noodle.The phone rings. PETER Dad? Where are you?
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6.
JEFF I won’t come back tonight.I left some money on the table. TRAIN STATION Jeff is in a long line in front of the ticket window. A MEN asks him if he’s in line. Jeff answers him while Peter is still on the phone. JEFF Yes, I’m in line. (TO PETER) Call me if you need me, Okay? Jeff hangs up the phone. JEFF’S APARTMENT Peter finishes his noodle. He takes out his car drawing from his text book. He imitates as a taxi driver. PETER Hi. Where do you want to go? Downtown? Okay. Peter imitates driving. EXT. TRAIN STATION - NIGHT He takes a sip from his small rice wine bottle. He hands a cigarette to MAN 2 in front of him.Man 2 rejects. JEFF When do they begin to sell tickets? MAN 2 6AM, I think. JEFF It’s really hard, huh. MAN 2 We have no choice. A young MAN, man 3 approaches Jeff. MAN 3 I can wait for you,500RMB per ticket.
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7.
JEFF Go away. Man 3 goes to another PERSON in line. Jeff looks at him walks away.There are many banners hang around the train station. One of them reads: Don’t buy tickets from scalpers. The other one reads:Punish scalpers severely without mercy. INT.JEFF’S APARTMENT - MORNING Jeff enters, finds Peter is about to leave.Jeff puts a pancakes on the table. JEFF Eat this before you go. Peter doesn’t touch the pancake. PETER Can you pick me up today? JEFF I don’t know. Peter leaves and shuts the door loudly. Jeff sits on the couch. He calls Sophia, no one picks up the phone. EXT.SHABBY NEIGHBORHOOD - NOON Jeff buys a lunch box from a small food stand. He walks towards 3 other TAXI DRIVERS. He crouches with them and opens his lunch box. MAN 4 How’s your day? JEFF It’s Okay, not bad. What about you? MAN 4 Like usual. MAN 5 Jeff, I heard your daughter is getting married. JEFF Yeah... Yes.
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8. MAN 4 Really? Congratulations! JEFF Thanks.
Jeff wants to quit the conversation.He turns back from them. MAN 6 I heard a wedding ceremony cost a lot,is it true? JEFF It’s Okay... MAN 5 Of course it’s cost money.My neighbor’s son married last month. They spend 30000 RMB,I heard people usually spend more than that. MAN 4 But you don’t have to worry,Jeff. Sophia’s mom will take care of it. JEFF Of course not.I’m her father. I’ll pay for everything. MAN 6 That must be a lot. JEFF It’s no problem for me. The other men stop talking and eat their lunch.Jeff absorbs in thought. INT.GROCERY STORE - AFTERNOON Jeff gives one train ticket to Sam. SAM Thank you so much.You are amazing. JEFF I just asked my friend.It’s easy. SAM I know how hard it is to get tickets these days. The scalpers are selling them 5 times more than their price.
9.
Jeff thinks a bit and leaves the store. EXT. ATM MACHINE- AFTERNOON Jeff insert his ATM card. After entering the password, his account shows up. There are 3,000RMB in the saving account. INT. JEFF’S CAB - AFTERNOON Jeff calls Sophia, no one answers. He dials another number. JEFF Hi Xiaohui,this is uncle Wang, Sophia’s father. Do you have her number? Great.I’ll write it down... EXT. SCHOOL GATE- DUSK Peter walks with his friend, Ming. Peter stops at the gate. MING You are not leaving? PETER Ms Lee won’t let me go until my dad comes. MING Is he coming? PETER I don’t know. MING Come with me.I’ll ask mom to drop you at home. PETER Really? MING Sure. Come. Peter goes with Ming.
10.
INT. JEFF’S CAB - CONTINUOUS Jeff approaches Peter’s school. He sees Peter and Ming gets into a GRAY CAR. He horns and pulls over behind it. IN FRONT OF GRAY CAR. Jeff walks towards Peter. JEFF Peter, what are you doing? MIN’S MOTHER We are going to take him home. Who are you? JEFF You are taking my son! Jeff speaks out rudely. Peter stops him. PETER Dad! (TO MING AND HIS MOTHER) Thank you for offering me the ride. JEFF Come with me! Jeff pulls Peter’s arm and drags him into his cab. Jeff starts the car. INT. JEFF’S CAB - CONTINUOUS Peter looks outside the window silently. JEFF We are going to have dinner with your sister tonight. PETER Sophia? JEFF Have you heard from her these days? PETER No.
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11. JEFF Don’t go with the others next time. I AM your father[U+FF01] PETER I thought you won’t come.
INT. SMALL RESTAURANT- CONTINUOUS Jeff, Peter, and SOPHIA(24), a pretty young lady sit around a table. Jeff is in the middle of Peter and Sophia. 3 dishes in front of them.Jeff has two beer bottles on his side. JEFF When did you change your number? SOPHIA It’s been 3 months. The WAITRESS puts another dish on the table. JEFF I should have dinner with your fiance next time. Sophia doesn’t reply. JEFF Your mom wants to keep this from me. It’s impossible.I’m your father. You are carrying my blood. SOPHIA It’s not her. JEFF I know it’s her. Keep this. Jeff gives Sophia a stack of money. SOPHIA What’s this JEFF Money for your wedding. SOPHIA Mom will take care of it. JEFF It’s not the same.This is mine. Jeff forces Sophia to take the money. (CONTINUED)
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12. SOPHIA Dad.I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the wedding, but...
Sophia takes a look at Peter, Peter is staring at her. SOPHIA But my fiance’s family doesn’t know you. And I don’t want them to know. Sophia takes a deep breath and finishes her words. JEFF What do you mean? Sophia leaves without taking the money. Jeff is shocked. Peter looks at him.Jeff finishes his beer in the glass. JEFF Eat. Peter picks his chopstick. He keeps checking Jeff. INT.JEFF’S LIVING ROOM - MIDNIGHT Jeff grabs many drawings from Peter’s room. They are all cars. JEFF You are not focus on you schoolwork, just draw these trash every day? Jeff throws the drawing on the floor. Peter holds his tears. JEFF You want to be a taxi driver?Like me? How much money can you earn from this? You are so hopeless. Peter keeps silent.Jeff slams the door and leaves. EXT. STREET -CONTINUOUS Jeff smokes a cigarette and clams down. He calls home. PHONE RINGS in JEFF’S LIVING ROOM Peter wipes his tears and collects the drawings on the floor. He picks up the phone. (CONTINUED)
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13.
PETER Sister? Yes, it’s me... The line is busy. Jeff hangs up the phone. EXT. TRAIN STATION - MIDNIGHT Jeff waits in line for tickets. There are more banners of "Punishing scalpers" in front of the train station. EXT.TRAIN STATION- MORNING Jeff leans against the fence.He sells tickets to people who pass him with very low voice. JEFF Need tickets? Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou.Need tickets? Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou. He sees two MEN takes another WOMAN who’s a scalper away by force. The MEN looks like undercover cops.Jeff walks away. EXT. STREET -AFTERNOON Jeff buys a lunch box and waits for green light at the cross road. A wedding convoy pass by. The convoy is consists of more than 20 high end cars. Some PEOPLE around Jeff take picture of them. Jeff lost in thought. INT.JEFF’S LIVING ROOM - EVENING Jeff and Peter sit around the table and having dinner together. The TV is on. JEFF How’s your day today? PETER It’s Okay. Peter is still mad at Jeff about the drawing. He replies without making eye contact with Jeff. JEFF You want to have some juice?
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14.
PETER No. The news plays in TV. NEWS REPORTER The New Year is approaching. Many scalpers wait all night at the ticket window and sell scalped tickets with higher price. The police decide to punish severely this year. The TV shows people waiting at the ticket window at night. Peter looks at Jeff. Jeff turns off the TV. INT.WEDDING SERVICE COMPANY - MORNING Jeff enters the door. A SALES MAN helps him. SALES MAN How can I help you? JEFF How much is your wedding arrangement package? The sales man gives him a catalog with prices. SALES MAN As you can see here. The range is from 10000RMB to 100000RMB. Jeff reads the catalog. JEFF What about just the wedding convoy. SALES MAN It depends on what cars do you want. The sales man helps Jeff to get into another page. INT. JEFF’S CAB - MORNING Jeff counts money. There are 9000RMB. He counts again and tries to find more money from his pockets. It’s still 9000RMB. He looks worried. Jeff calls Sophia. No one picks up the phone. Jeff holds the money, thinks.
15.
EXT. CAR DEALER - CONTINUOUS Jeff drives his cab into a car dealer. EXT. PETER’S SCHOOL GATE - DUSK Jeff and Peter walks to the bus stop. PETER Where’s your car? JEFF I want to get a new one. Peter looks at Jeff doubly. INT. SMALL RESTAURANT 1 - EVENING Peter eats quietly. Jeff keeps calling people. JEFF Hi Becky, How are you? Do you know Sophia’s new number? Thanks. Jeff hangs up the phone. PETER Did you sell your car? JEFF Eat your dinner. PETER Are you trying to collect money for my sister? JEFF You don’t have to worry. When you get married.I’ll have money for you too. PETER What if she doesn’t want money? JEFF Then what do you think she need? Jeff becomes upset. He drinks beer.Peter looks at Jeff sympathetically. He hesitate a bit.
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16.
PETER Dad. I know where they are... Jeff looks at Peter surprised. INT. RESTAURANT 2- ROOM 220 Sophia, STEVEN(28), YI(50) and STEVEN’S PARENTS sit around the table. Steven holds Sophia’s hands while Steven’s parents talks to Yi. Jeff and Peter enter the room. Sophia and Yi are surprised when sees Jeff. She stands up. Steven’s parents follows Sophia’s sight and see Jeff. JEFF Waiter, give me some beer. STEVEN Mister... JEFF You should call me Dad. Steven looks at Sophia, confused. Jeff sits down in the middle of Steven and Sophia, facing Steven’s parents. SOPHIA Why are you here? PETER I’m sorry sister, but dad was drinking and ... STEVEN’S FATHER What’s going on? SOPHIA Yes, he’s my father. Jeff takes out a stack of money puts on the table. JEFF Here’s the money. I have 50000RMB for your wedding. SOPHIA Dad!I told you I don’t need it. JEFF I know you thought I’m poor. Your mom is richer than me. But I’M your (MORE) (CONTINUED)
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17.
JEFF (cont’d) father. The money should comes out of MY pocket. SOPHIA Dad! YI Jeff. You are drunk. JEFF Shut up! I know you are keeping this away from me! STEVEN’S MOTHER Should we leave? SOPHIA No. Dad,I think you should go. PETER Sister, dad sold his... JEFF Take the money! The waiter brings some beer. SOPHIA I told you I don’t want money! JEFF I know I didn’t take care of you these years. But the money can make up anything. Give me your glass. Jeff asks Steven to drink with him. STEVEN I can’t drink. JEFF You will be my son. You should drink. Steven’s parents look worried. Peter tries to stop Jeff, but he can’t. YI Don’t do this Jeff.
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18.
SOPHIA Dad, stop. JEFF I’m not asking you. I’m asking my son! SOPHIA Stop it! I told you to stop! Sophia gets angry and throws her glass on the floor. The rooms get quiet. SOPHIA You, take your money, and leave here! Sophia shouts at Jeff. Jeff drinks beer. He doesn’t move. SOPHIA Okay, I’ll go. Sophia leaves the table. SOPHIA Why you can’t understand I don’t need your money? I never did! Sophia leaves. Everyone sits quietly embarrassed except Jeff. He keeps drinking beer as if nothing happens. Peter looks at him. EXT. STREET - MIDNIGHT Jeff staggers on the street, hums the song. He can’t keep balanced. Peter goes to support him. JEFF Do you still want to learn driving? Peter doesn’t reply. JEFF I’ll teach you. I’ll teach you. Then you can drive your own wedding car when you get married. I’ll teach you...
