Love Survives
Scene 1
Classroom
(Miss Wong is handing out the exam paper to students in the classroom.)
Wong: (angrily) I am so disappointed with your English test result. You
have to work much much harder next time. (All students look very upset.)
Remember, the Parents Day is coming next Sunday. Remember to tell your
parents about that.
Students: (Noisily) Oh, my God!…
Jackie: (Looking at Nick with a wicked smile) : Hey, Nick, your big time has
come. Will your father come to see the teacher? I am sure after he’s seen
your report, he’ll give you a big gift…haha…
(Nick stares at Jackie rudely. At the same time, the school bell rings. Nick
storms out of the classroom and slams the door shut.)
Scene 2
Nick’s home
Nick’s father: (Bangs the door and slumps onto the sofa rudely) Nick, give
me a beer.
Nick: (Gives his father the beer carefully) Dad…, the Parents Day is coming
next Sun…day. Would you come to meet my class teacher?
Nick’s father: (Loudly) What? (Nick draws back in fear.)
Nick: My class teacher wants to meet you.
Nick’s father: What the hell is it for me to see your teacher! Don’t bother
me with all these troubles! (Walks back to his bedroom drinking the beer.
Nick stares at his father’s back angrily)
Scene 3
In the classroom on the Parent’s Day
Wong: (Softly) Mrs Ng , your son is very clever . I am proud of him.
Mrs Ng :(Happily ) Thank You！
Wong : Peter, I need your help. Will you help me ?
Peter : ( Curiously ) Of course, what can I do for you, Miss?
Wong: (Quietly cough) I hope that you can help Nick with his schoolwork.
Peter: (Hesitantly) Um…Does Nick know … about this? (Miss Wong
interrupts his speech)
Wong: Don’t worry, Nick. I will tell him. (Smiles at Peter)
Peter: Um…Ok…I’ll do my best to help him.
Wong: (Happily) Thank you so much, Peter. Mrs Ng, thank you for
coming.
(Mrs Ng and Peter leave.)
(Nick and his father come in and sit down.)
Wong: Mr Lee, welcome. I’m Miss Wong, Nick’s class teacher.
dad is yawning and that makes Nick feel embarrassed)
(Nick’s
Mr Lee: (Slouchily) Good morning, Miss Wong
Wong: I’m sorry to say I am very disappointed with Nick’s result this term.
Frankly speaking, he’s failed in all subjects…
Mr Lee : (Angrily) What! Failed in all subjects? (Turns to Nick ). Nick,
where is your brain? (Sadly) Why ? My son is so silly!
Wong : Mr Lee , don’t worry. I will arrange the student who is the first in
class to help Nick.
Nick : (Astonished) First in class..? No！ Miss Wong！ I don’t need any
help！
Mr Lee : (He hits Nick on the head with his hand) Shut up！
Wong : Um… Mr Lee , please don’t hit Nick (Mr Lee puts down his hand
and looks embarrassed) Nick, Peter will help you to do revision from next
Monday after school. (Nick and his father leave the classroom and go to the
corridor )
Scene 4
Corridor outside the classroom
Nick : Peter！ First in class? Hum！I don’t want…(With disdain in his eyes)
(Nick’s father is so angry to hit Nick with his fist and interrupt Nick’s
self-talk.)
Mr Lee : Stupid！Silly！You are just like your silly mother！(Nick’s dad
keeps hitting Nick but Nick just endures the pain in silence.)
(At that moment, Peter and his mother are coming and see Nick’s dad hitting
him. Nick’s dad stops the physical abuse at once.)
Peter: Hey, Nick！ (Drags Nick to one side of the corridor.) Are you OK?
Did it hurt? Are you all right? (Peter asks with concern.)
Nick : It’s none of your business！(Nick pushes Peter and runs away.)
Scene 5
Nick’s home (Midnight)
(Nick is sleeping soundly in his bed. Nick’s father opens the door and tiptoes
near Nick’s bed. He brings along a blanket.)
Nick’s father (In a whispering voice): Are you all right, son? You must be
feeling very cold. You don’t have enough sheets on you. You need this one.
(He covers Nick’s body with the blanket.) Dear Nick, sleep tight. Good
night.
Scene 6
Classroom
(Although Nick doesn’t want Peter to help him, they still start the revision
together on Monday.)
Peter: Do you understand what I mean?
Nick: …(In silence, he is staring at Peter.)
Peter : Hey！Please pay attention！You must work hard because you have
to catch up. If you have any questions about homework…just ask me.
Nick : Shut up! I don’t need your help！Don’t feel pity on me. (Nick strikes
Peter with his fist. Miss Wong comes in and sees what Nick’s done to
Peter.)
Miss Wong : Nick! What are you doing?
Nick: Nothing！(Nick looks ashamed.)
Miss Wong : I saw you hit Peter . (Miss Wong looks at Peter) Peter, did Nick
punch you ?
Peter : No . It is just a joke . Nick wants to play with me. Ha Ha …I’m OK.
Miss Wong, nothing serious has happened. (Peter is smiling honestly.)
Miss Wong: Ok, fine. If you two ever fight again, I’ll punish both of you.
(Miss Wong leaves the classroom)
Nick: (surprised) Why do you lie to Miss Wong? If you tell her the truth,
you don’t need to teach me anymore. And you’re very welcomed to do so.
Peter: Um… maybe you are right…but I won’t do it because you are my
friend. (Peter smiles to Nick)
Nick : (Ironically) Friend！Are you kidding?
I’m the worst student in class
and you are the best. You want me to be your friend. Are you crazy? I
don’t believe you！Leave me alone!
(When Peter is about to leave the classroom, Miss Wong suddenly comes
back, looking serious)
Miss Wong: (Speaking fast) Nick…your father just has a traffic accident and
is sent to the QE Hospital. (Nick is shocked) Peter...can you go to the
hospital with Nick?
Peter: Sure…no problem. (Peter seizes Nick’s hand. They leave school
quickly and take a taxi to the hospital.)
Scene 7
QE Hospital
(Nick and Peter rush into the hospital only to find that Nick’s father is still
unconscious in the ICU after the operation.)
Peter (Stops a doctor ) : Excuse me, what is the situation of this patient
now ?
Doctor: He is still in a critical situation. Tonight is an important time for
him . If his condition doesn’t improve, I think you have to prepare for the
worst. He may not be able to survive.
Peter: (Looks at Nick worriedly) Nick…Don’t worry . Your father’ll be fine.
(Nick doesn’t say anything. He seems to be in a trance.)
(Peter stays with Nick and buys some food for him. When they sit together
in the waiting room.)
Nick: My mother died when I was young. My father takes care of me but he
is not a good father….I hate him. He always gets drunk and rowdy, even
abuses me. I actually hate myself sometimes. I want him to leave me.
But when I heard that he has an accident, I suddenly find that I don’t want
my dad to die. He is my only family in the world. If he survives, I must
try hard in my studies and won’t let him down again.
Peter: (Pats Nick slightly on his shoulder) I believe your father must be
proud of you and he’ll be OK. Do you know I envy you very much? (Nick
looks at Peter in surprise) My father left me and my mother. I’ve never
seen him since I was born. He is an irresponsible father. I think your father
indeed loves you but only that he is too serious and he doesn’t know how to
communicate with you.
(Since that night, Nick and Peter have developed a new understanding of
each other. They begin to respect each other genuinely and become much
better friends.)
Scene 8
In a public football court three months later.
(After a football match, Nick and Peter sit on the floor, drinking water in
large gulps.)
Peter: Nick, Miss Wong told me that you’ve improved a lot in your studies.
Nick: Be careful, my friend. My next target is to be the first in class. Ha ha...
Peter: I am looking forward to that day. Is your dad doing much better
now?
Nick: (Points to Peter’s back) You see….
(Nick’s father waves his hand and looks very well.)
Peter: (Smiling) Nick, you look great today.
Nick: I feel great, too. I’m happy to have my father back. He’s found a
new job already. There’s no more beating or spanking. I feel so good
with my family now. I also have a good school life because of you and
Miss Wong. I really don’t know how to thank you both. The only thing I
can do is to do my best in my studies. Now I have to rush with my dad.
We’re going to Alan Tam’s concert. (Nick stands up and walks up to his
father)
Nick: (Turning to Peter saying loudly) Peter, thank you!
~The End~