Fan Fiction |
by ianne
Behind the counter, Shan Cai was making a fresh pot of coffee and Xiao You was refilling pastries in the glass shelf.
XIAO YOU
Shan Cai, we’re quite busy today.
SHAN CAI
we’re a block away from Ying-De, so we got all these students hanging out here.
XIAO YOU
I’m glad this is working out so well. we get to work together.
Shan Cai nodded in agreement.
SHAN CAI
Yeah, on that note, Xiao You, I can’t come in tomorrow, I have be at the pub. It’s payroll, and inventory is long overdue. And a band is playing, I have to make sure they’d be able to set up.
XIAO YOU
Oh, that's okay. but aren’t you stretching yourself too much between the coffee shop and the pub?
SHAN CAI
I have to, now that Qing He has to work for his father already. Besides, I’m used to hard work.
Then Xi Men entered the coffee shop.
XI MEN
Hey diligent ladies! Busy?
XIAO YOU
Xi Men! What are you doing here?
XI MEN
Had a lunch meeting, thought I stop by here for coffee.
SHAN CAI
Oh admit it, you’re just here to see Xiao You.
Xiao You blushed and Xi Men smiled charmingly at her. He leaned over the counter to kiss Xiao You, but she halted him.
XIAO YOU
Xi Men...
XI MEN
What?
XIAO YOU
It’s embarrassing. This is a public place and Shan Cai is just beside us.
SHAN CAI
You two don’t mind me. I’d give out refills to the customers.
Shan Cai grabbed the coffee pot and poured refills in the coffee mugs of customers.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
It’s been almost three months since I left New York. As soon as I got back to Taipei, I started looking for a job. But it wasn’t that easy. With the help of Xi Men, Xiao You and I opened this coffee house.
Her coffee pot emptied. Shan Cai joined Xiao You behind the counter again.
XI MEN
Shan Cai, I'd go now, your best friend is driving me away already.
XIAO YOU
I’m not. But you got a company to run, also Shan Cai and I with the coffee house.
SHAN CAI
Right, so that we can already start paying back the loan you gave us.
XI MEN
I told you both, you don’t have to pay me back.
XIAO YOU
Yes we do. That was a business transaction. Shan Cai and I wouldn’t agree to accept your loan if you wouldn’t let us pay you back.
XI MEN
Well if you gave me a kiss earlier, I would have considered your loan paid.
XIAO YOU
see, that will make me a hooker, not your girlfriend.
XI MEN
I’m gone. Bye.
Xi Men winked at Xiao You before stepping out of the door.
SHAN CAI
You and Xi Men. Still can’t believe it.
XIAO YOU
Makes two of us. It’s one of those things you think will never happen, then it does and it’s everything I want it to be. And more.
SHAN CAI
i see. so what's that glow? is it morning after...?
XIAO YOU
It's love. it's all heartaches and drama washed away, and everything finally falling into place. Makes it all worth the wait.
Shan Cai smiled thoughtfully at that.
XIAO YOU
Shan Cai, don’t lost faith. You and Dao Ming Si…
SHAN CAI
I know. He’d be worth the wait too.I realized in life, no matter what path we choose or whichever way we journey on, all roads will eventually lead back home. I was always afraid to reach the end of the road before. But when I did, I found at the end of the road was home. So I know Dao Ming Si will be coming back.
EXT. STREET TO SHAN CAI’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Shan Cai walked on her street and she passed by Dao Ming Si’s house, the one he rented next to hers. She stopped in front and stared at the house, hoping to see Dao Ming Si. She heard noises coming from inside. Shan Cai thinking Dao Ming Si might be finally home, quickly rushed over. She shouted his name, but didn’t hear her name called back. She then saw the noise was just made by stray animals that knocked over an empty trash can in front of Dao Ming Si’s house. Sighing disappointedly, she turned away from the house.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
A week after I got back, I read about Dao Ming Si becoming president of their company from the papers. I don’t know what that meant for us. It’s a horizon we approached only to find there’s another horizon ahead of us.
EXT. SHAN CAI’S HOUSE
Shan Cai’s entered the gate, and saw the lights on her window Dao Ming Si put up for her back then. She walked in front of the window and gazed at the lights formed into the meteor necklace.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
Dao Ming Si, I’ll be waiting here for you...so when you come back, you’ll find me, just like you found me in Barcelona. I promise. But Dao Ming Si, please come back to me soon , ok? ‘coz I miss You...I miss you so much...
♫When I am alone
When I’ve thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home
And here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this..
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love♫
INT. MOVING CAR – NIGHT
Mei Zhuo was driving, Shan Cai was on passenger seat.
SHAN CAI
Sorry to bother you Mei Zhuo. But there’s an unexpected emergency at the pub.
MEI ZHUO
Don’t worry about it. We told Ah Si we’ll look after you. It’s on my way to Xiao Qiao anyway.
SHAN CAI
Send her my congratulations. I’m sorry, I can’t make it to your celebration party for her.
MEI ZHUO
We’ll miss you there. Xiao Qiao is real excited to teach music in Ying-De, and at the same time discover new talents and form her own philharmonic ensemble. I’m glad to see her this happy.
SHAN CAI
And I’m also happy for you two. Really. You and Xiao Qiao are spared by fate, it didn’t make things as difficult for you like it did for Dao Ming Si and me.
MEI ZHUO
I just wish there was something more we could have done to help both of you.
SHAN CAI
You guys help us plenty enough. It’s just this time, there’s nothing we could really do, except wait.
MEI ZHUO
Remember in college, he said he’d be in New York for two years but he returned in two days. He’ll find his way back. He made a promise.
SHAN CAI
Yeah, he did.
INT. F4 PUB – OFFICE
The pub was now dark, queit and empty. Shan Cai was in the office caught up in doing inventory.
MEI ZHUO, XI MEN (O.S.)
(drunk)
Shan Cai! Hardworking virgin!
Upon hearing her name, her concentration broke away from her paperwork. She stepped out of the office and saw her friends.
SHAN CAI
Hey, what are you guys doing here?
XIAO QIAO
Mei Zhuo said you were here. So we decided to follow after the party.
MEI ZHUO
We haven’t been here for a while, we thought we might as well all go.
QING HE
Didn’t we say we’d all get a drink here again when everybody’s back? And everyone’s already here, aren’t we?
Xiao You
Well, just about.
BOOTH
Everyone gathered around the table at the booth close to the dancing floor, the same place where they were during the pub's opening night.
XI MEN
Hey, son of the nouveau rich...what did you do to this place while we’re gone?
QING HE
I made it better of course. Turned this place real cool.
Shan Cai stood up to get them drinks at the bar.
JING
Lei, help Shan Cai with the drinks.
BAR
Lei walked up to the bar.
LEI
Hey.
SHAN CAI
(looks up)
Lei! You scared me. You always sneak up on me like that.
LEI
I don’t. Long time no see.
SHAN CAI
Yeah, long time no see.
LEI
How are you?
SHAN CAI
I’m…fine.
Lei saw through her evasiveness and called her out on it.
LEI
Shan Cai, you can talk to me, you know that.
Shan Cai took a deep breath and nodded.
SHAN CAI
How are you? Wait, don’t answer that. Why am I even asking? I mean, look at you. Happiness agrees with you.
Lei smiled and turned to look at Jing. Shan Cai also looked at all the other couples, and was happy for them since she had emotional investments in all their relationships. Lei returned his gaze at Shan Cai.
LEI
I know you’ll be happy too, because that’s what you have given us all.
Shan Cai looked at Lei and then they look at the rest. Mei Zhuo and Xi Men were still having a debate with Qing He about the changes he made in the pub.
LEI
I don’t know what those two are worried about.
SHAN CAI
Why, don't you share their fear of things changing?
LEI
I do. But I know as long as we have you, we’d keep what we have.
Lei carried the tray of wine goblets. Shan Cai brought the bottle of wine. With a smile, they returned to the booth.
QING HE
...we have to keep up with the competition.
MEI ZHUO
This is a pub, not a karaoke bar.
QING HE
Yeah, but other pubs put up karaoke too. They even have stand-up comics, freestyle rap contests, battle of the bands-
XI MEN
We’re not other pubs.
QING HE
But it’s real cool. Karaoke night is fun.
MEI ZHUO
But this pub carries the name F4, we have a reputation to maintain.
QING HE
And this pub is known for being hip and cool.
XI MEN
Your version of hip and cool, you mean.
QING HE
Hey, you’re the one who asked me to manage the pub. And it’s doing great.
MEI ZHUO
Yeah. But still, Ah Si explicitly told you to keep things the way they are.
QING HE
I told him about my ideas before he left.
XI MEN
And he told you not to get too comfortable.
MEI ZHUO
If Ah Si was here, you know what else he would say to you?
DAO MING SI (O.S.)
Chen Qing He – Did I ask for your opinion?
Everybody looked at the dance floor and saw Dao Ming Si standing in the middle.
GROUP
Ah Si! Dao Ming Si!
Everyone was shocked and jumped out of their seats. They came up to Dao Ming Si and pat him on his back, touching him as if making sure he was really standing there, and they were not just imagining him.
Shan Cai remained glued to her seat. She could’t stand up, or move. She could only stare at them, stare at Dao Ming Si.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
Dao Ming Si...is it really Dao Ming Si? Could it be really him standing right there, right now? Or is this just a dream? Maybe it is. I was in the office working, I might have fallen asleep. Right, I must have. Then I need to wake up. Wake up to see if he is real or just my fantasy.
GROUP
Shan Cai! Shan Cai!
Shan Cai heared her name and snapped out of it.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
I’m awake.
(looks forward)
I’m not dreaming. This is real.
Shan Cai slowly stood up. Her friends clear out from Dao Ming Si and moved aside to clear her view.
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si….
DAO MING SI
I’m home.
Dao Ming Si took a step towards Shan Cai. Shan Cai ran to him and landed in his embrace. The guys look at them with relieved smiles, and the girls were teary-eyed.
(The mobile lights were switched on. White lights reflected off the mirror ball hanging above the just-reunited couple.)
Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si stayed in each other arms. All around the dance floor, white lights twirled and spinned. Like shooting stars, they circled the just reunited couple, binding their love and their fate together.
♫Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by♫