Fan Fiction |
by ianne
Asleep, Shan Cai was having a dream. She suddenly woke and sat up on her bed.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
It’s that dream again, the dream where Dao Ming Si tells me, “Let’s go back to Taiwan together.” And like always, I wake up at that very moment.
She gotets out of bed and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. When she closed the refrigerator door, she saw Lei.
SHAN CAI
Lei! You scared me. Ei, why are you up so early?
HUA ZE LEI
I’m not.
Lei showed her what time it was.
SHAN CAI
Whoa! It’s almost noon! How long have I’ve been sleeping?
HUA ZE LEI
Longer than I had, that’s for sure. Are you ok?
Shan Cai walked to the living room. Lei followed. They sat adjacently on the sofa.
SHAN CAI
I … you know what, it’s nothing. I really just must have overslept.
HUA ZE LEI
Are you sure?
Shan Cai got into deep thought.
HUA ZE LEI
Shan Cai, don’t worry. Everything will be all right in the end.
SHAN CAI
How do you know that?
HUA ZE LEI
When times are rough, denial is the easy answer.
SHAN CAI
We both do have great denial systems.
(laughs, and then became silent)
But what happens if we ran out of time?
HUA ZE LEI
(beat)
Then I will make time stop.
Shan Cai looked at lei.
SHAN CAI
(sarcastic humor)
Yeah right, you do that.
Shan Cai hit him with a throw pillow and Lei shielded himself. Shan Cai threw him a couple more pillows and Lei begged her to stop.
EXT./INT. LEI’S APARTMENT – DOOR
Knock on door. Shan Cai answered and saw Dao Ming Feng’s right hand man, Yu Tian.
YU TIAN
Miss Shan Cai, will you please come with me? Madam wants to meet you.
INT. SOME OVER-PRICED RESTAURANT
Shan Cai and Dao Ming Feng sat across each other from the table. Shan Cai was extremely nervous and wondered why Dao Ming Feng sent for her. Dao Ming Feng exuded a deadly calm.
DAO MING FENG
Miss Shan Cai, I’m glad you came.
SHAN CAI
Why am I here?
DAO MING FENG
You have been in New York for quite some already. Don’t you miss Taiwan?
Shan Cai didn’t know what Dao Ming Feng was getting into, so she opted not to answer.
DAO MING FENG
Your parents, do you know how are they doing?
SHAN CAI
(panics)
My parents? Did you anything to them?
DAO MING FENG
Miss Shan Cai, you relax. If staying in a dump you call house is what’s alright for you, then they are ok.
SHAN CAI
Why am I here then?
DAO MING FENG
I heard you took care of Ah Si’s father. Although he didn’t need your care, we’re not ungrateful. Just like before, you can ask one favor from me.
SHAN CAI
Thanks, but I don’t need a favor from you.
DAO MING FENG
Surely you can come up with something. Ah Si is staying in New York to be president of Dao Ming Corp., you are going back to Taiwan. Surely you didn’t come to New York for nothing and leave without taking anything with you.
SHAN CAI
I told you, I came to New York to see Dao Ming Si. And I know I’d be leaving with his love for me. This maybe difficult for you to believe and accept, but I really do love your son.
DAO MING FENG
If I believe or accept that, it doesn’t matter. I will not have you as my daughter-in-law.
SHAN CAI
I know I did and said things to you in the past to make you resent me, and you were the same. I am willing to apologize for my part. I hope you accept my apology, and hope that one day, you will learn to accept me. That’s what I’m going to ask of you.
EXT. STREET IN SOHO - DAY
Shan Cai walked down the street somberly. She snappeds from her reverie when her cellphone rang.
SHAN CAI
Hello?... Hua Ze Lei?
LEI
I saw a depressed girl that passed by and I can’t help but ask her to join me for coffee.
SHAN CAI
What depressed girl again?
Shan Cai looked around and she spotted Lei waving at her from a coffee shop she just passed by.
SHAN CAI
Mr. Hua Ze, be careful what you say or you might not have a cute girl to join you for coffee.
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE - DAY
Lei and Shan Cai were at a table and drank their coffee in comfortable silence.
LEI
Shan Cai, let’s go back to Taiwan.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
Why? Why the words I dreamt of hearing from Dao Ming Si, I hear from Lei?
LEI
Shan Cai, you can stay here with Ah Si if you want to, that’s your decision.
SHAN CAI
I’m going back to Taiwan.
(beat)
But Lei,you should go to France.
LEI
Why?
SHAN CAI
Go after Jing. I want you to be happy, ‘coz that’s what you had given me.
LEI
You know me, I’d be miserable if I were happy.
(beat)
I’m content, that’s more than being happy. And that’s what you had given me.
SHAN CAI
No, what I gave you is an escape.
LEI
What’s wrong with escaping?
SHAN CAI
Lei, you have been my clutch since always. And sometimes, I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.
LEI
You don’t. I told you, I’d always be a good friend who will always be there for you.
SHAN CAI
And I have always wondered why you never get tired of helping me. Now I know why. You made me your escape.
LEI
Escape from what?
SHAN CAI
Escape from Jing. You see through my pains so that you don’t have to see through yours. In your mind, your story with Jing might be over. But in your heart, it never was.
If so, why can’t you face her like you could with me? Because you never really moved on from her, you just got stuck with me.
LEI
Jing never needed me, you do.
SHAN CAI
Is that why you shut her off in Barcelona and here in New York? I needed you? If you only took time to look in her eyes, you’d realize that she needs you more than I ever could.
Lei recalled the time he did look at her at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
SHAN CAI
I must admit, you can’t imagine how grateful I am for you. I wouldn’t know what I would have done if there weren’t you. You have been the greatest friend. And I want to be one to you too. In order for me to do that, I have to stop you from making me your excuse. I don’t want me to be your excuse not to go to France and be with the woman you always wanted. I don’t want me to be your excuse to deny yourself the happiness that only you and Jing can give to each other.
Lei kept quiet and stared at his coffee, unable to look at Shan Cai in the eye this time.
SHAN CAI
You have the opportunity, the kind of opportunity that many people, like me and Dao Ming Si, try to find and hope for in our lifetimes but only few ever get. You are one of those few. You have the chance to be with the person that you have loved almost your entire life, and I hope you’d take it.
LEI
What about you?
SHAN CAI
If I end all my problems right now, I’d just go and get new ones. Problems are like grass, they will always be there. Whatever i have to do, i'll keep living. Because I am the weed.
INT. AIRPORT
Lei held his luggage along with his ticket and passport. Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai saw him off.
LEI
Shan Cai, thank you for making me realize these things. You always think that you owe me a lot, but you don’t. You really don’t. You have given me back ten-fold. You’re also the greatest friend, just don’t tell F4 that.
DAO MING SI
It’s ok. We’ve been friends for too long already. I wish you luck. This time, be sure to be back with Jing.
LEI
Thanks, I will.
Dao Ming Si and Lei hugged each other and said goodbye.
LEI
Ah Si, may i?
DAO MING SI
Go ahead.
Lei huggedShan Cai.
SHAN CAI
Good luck, Lei.
LEI
Good luck to you and Ah Si too.
LEI
I have to go. Goodbye.
SHAN CAI
Goodbye, Hua Ze Lei.
PARIS, FRANCE
Jing walked slowly down the street. She stopped at a closed boutique and stared her somber expression reflected on the dimly lit glass window. She wondered what was she's doing back in Paris but found no reason for her to go. She’s about to walk on when another reflection appeared. She turned around and saw Lei.
Both said nothing, but got emotional. Lei ran up to her and Jing threwow her arms around Lei. He liftd her feet off the ground as he held her tight. Tears ran down Jing’s cheeks. Lei put her down and looked at her in the eye.
LEI
Jing, come home with me.
Jing could only nod. They embraced like they’d never let go of each other again.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY – NIGHT
It was Shan Cai's last night in NYC and Dao Ming Si and her made the most out of it. They had a romantic dinner the "Tavern on the Green" restaurant. Afterwards, they took the Harbor Lights Cruise and sailed under Brooklyn Bridge, viewed the Manhattan skyline, and had a close encounter with the Statue of Liberty.
INT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING – OBSEVATION DECK - NIGHT
Shan Cai looked down and admired the view of New York at night. Dao Ming leaned against the wall, looking at her.
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si, come here! The view from here is so beautiful!
DAO MING SI
It’s already beautiful from where I’m standing.
Shan Cai looked at him to see where he was looking at and realized he meant her. Dao Ming Si approached Shan Cai and wrapped his arms around her.
DAO MING SI
Promise me you’ll wait for me. I’d be home soon.
Shan Cai nodded and stayed in his arms as they look at the view.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE – NIGHT
Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai strolled around the vibrant scene of Times Square. Shan Cai glanced at Dao Ming Si smiling then became serious. Dao Ming Si walked up to a street vendor.
DAO MING SI
Hey Shan Cai! Come here, look! We have this in Taiwan.
Shan Cai remained on her spot.
SHAN CAI
I know you’re on your way back home. I will wait for you. I’d wait for you forever.
Dao Ming Si turned, he slowly walked toward Shan Cai and kissed her.
♫Say goodnight not good-bye, You will never leave my heart behind
Like the path of a star, I'll be anywhere you are
Don't you fear when you dream waking up is never what it seems
Like a jewel buried deep, Like a promise meant to keep
You are everything you want to be, So just let your heart reach out to me
I'll be right by your side, Say goodnight not good-bye♫
EXT. UPPER WEST SIDE RESIDENTIAL AREA – DAYBREAK
Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai stand in front of each other. Her luggages were at their feet. The airport shuttle bus arrived.
DAO MING SI
I’d see you Taipei.
SHAN CAI
See you in Taipei.
Shan Cai hopped in the shuttle bus. Inside, she started crying. The shuttle bus moved forward. Dao Ming Si watched it go and then suddenly ran after it, calling Shan Cai’s name. Realizing it’s no use running after it, he stopped and sat on the road.
SHAN CAI (O.S.)
Dao Ming Si!
Dao Ming Si looked up and saw Shan Cai beside the halted shuttle bus. They ran toward each other and landed in each other's arms.
SHAN CAI
(teary eyed and hugging Dao Ming Si)
Remember our promise. I’ll wait for you forever.