2. Merry Christmas Charlie 2017

26 Nov 2017

MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLIE (MCC)

DRAFT #3

STORY OUTLINE

CHARACTER PROFILE

SCRIPT

Suggested Duration: 

30-45 min

SYNOPSIS

CHARLIE struggles with running his father’s old, rundown coffeeshop and looking after his father (broken leg due to car accident), overseas studies (scholarship), financial difficulties, personal life and friendship. As Christmas draws near, he feels overwhelmed and is not sure what lies ahead.

Please consider:

Producing a video/DVD for the story and mix a video screening with live stage performances (song/dance by the youth, children). Preparations can be minimised and you can cast real actors if volunteers have issues with rehearsals, time, memorizing, stage fright etc. Also, quality of video will be better (MCA is hard to watch on DVD as it was produced for stage) - it’s a good way for people to keep a copy or share with their friends. DVD can include Pastor’s messages and cast/crew interviews in the DVD too - a practical, watchable souvenir.

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Suggested title: MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLIE (MCC)

DRAFT #3

LOGLINE / SYNOPSIS

CHARLIE struggles with running his father’s old, rundown coffeeshop and looking after his father (broken leg due to car accident), overseas studies (scholarship), financial difficulties, personal life and friendship. As Christmas draws near, he feels overwhelmed and is not sure what lies ahead.

Suggested Duration of Play/Musical: 30-45 min

Characters: 

Charlie - Main, studying overseas on scholarship, 24 yrs

Poon Huat, Charlie’s father, owns a coffeeshop, 60 yrs

Friends - 

Zac, 24 yrs - friend from secondary school, helps his family’s construction business

Sean, 24 yrs - friend from secondary school, works as property agent

Audrey, 24 yrs - friend from secondary school, works as property agent

Rui Ling, 24 yrs - friend from secondary school, cancer patient, stage4

Other Cast

Smelly Cat hahaha!!

Story outline:

(HOME) Friends meet to help Sean and Audrey move into their new home. They also meet and catch up with an old classmate, Rui Ling, who has cancer and they are amazed and inspired by her positive outlook and mindset.

(COFFEESHOP) Rui Ling helps out at Charlie’s dad’s coffeeshop. Charlie quarrels with his dad - Charlie wants dad to sell the coffeeshop but his dad refuses to sell.

(HOME) Charlie goes to Sean and Audrey for help to sell the coffeeshop and they propose another plan for the coffeeshop. They hope Poon Huat will agree. Meanwhile, Zac gets into trouble with his family, especially his father.

(COFFEESHOP) Poon Huat & Zac (We youngsters have plans too, trust us?)

(COFFEESHOP) Charlie and Rui Ling (dilemma, choices are tough)

(COFFEESHOP/CAFE) 3 years later, they celebrate Christmas and Charlie’s return at the newly renovated Coffeeshop.

--------------

MCC 2017 Characters:

Charlie - Main

Poon Huat - Charlie’s Father

Charlie’s Friends - Zac, Sean, Audrey, Rui Ling

Charlie - Main, studying overseas on scholarship, 24

Future career 

not as important as looking after father and father’s coffeeshop

Possibly not convinced that his studies is a passion. 

He took the scholarship because it was an opportunity available and it has a career mapped out for him

Doesn’t think too far ahead until at a crossroads where he chooses to give up scholarship/career to help dad 

Challenges, Difficulties:

financial issues due to dad’s accident injury and coffeeshop business, 

Dad’s run-down Coffeeshop needs money and resources to keep it going

dealing with grumpy, injured dad (car accident, broken leg)

Finding his own way in life while dad still in the habit of telling him what to do

Coffeeshop

Family business had financially paid for Charlie’s education and lifestyle

Charlie grew up working at the coffeeshop with father

Poon Huat, Charlie’s father, owns a coffeeshop, 60

Stereotyped chinese, traditional single dad

Works hard, owns coffeeshop

Not comfortable with changes and dealing with fast paced/changing world

Friends with Zac’s parents/family

Charlie & Friends - 

All are single and not in any serious relationships. 

No hurry or pressure to get married.

Grounded, matured, practical and motivated young adults - more so after reconnecting with old classmate, Rui Ling who has cancer

Friendship highly valued

Zac, 24 - friend from secondary school, helps family’s construction business

Wants to help Charlie as he has the money (well-to-do family) and connections (renovations) 

offers to pay for Charlie’s studies (what scholarships don’t pay for)

offers to personally manage the coffeeshop renovations with minimal profits (first project run independently from family business)

Torn between friends and family when father goes against him dumping all his time and money on Poon Huat’s coffeeshop, earning minimal fee 

Father is more afraid of Zac quitting and doing a shoddy job if he is managing the project alone, and feeling afraid for charlie and poon huat if zac fails this task - no confidence that Zac can do the work

Father believes Zac had such a good life that he is unable to work for a living

Zac wants father to give him the freedom and the trust to work in his own way/style and prove his worth as the next boss in the family business, that he has more to offer than being the Boss’s son

Sean, 24 - friend from secondary school, property agent

Audrey, 24 - friend from secondary school, property agent

Sean and Audrey are both single with savings from selling properties

Not in a serious relationship together or with other people

Career minded - ambitious and highly driven property agents

Independent, unconventional

prefer westernized ways for living arrangements - ie prefer to move out to live on their own rather than live at home with parents like other locals

New home is an “investment” and not a “home”

Sean 

- easy-going, doesn’t mind simple life, loves games (xbox/online/ps4), also has issues with father over differences in lifestyle choices and values

Audrey 

- good cook, willing to spend money on good appliances or pay for anything that she can use to enjoy her life. Wants to earn money to live “well”, empathetic, good friend

Rui Ling, 24 - friend from secondary school, cancer patient, stage4

Outlook and mindset focused after being diagnosed with cancer

Humourous and easy going, very likeable, pleasant

Possibly Charlie’s love interest - but not enough stage time to develop this part of the story

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SCRIPT

CHILDREN’S CHOIR

VIDEO MONTAGE TO INTRODUCE CHARACTERS

Super Text:

CHARLIE, 24

Studying Overseas (Scholarship)

POON HUAT, 60

Charlie’s father, 

Raised Charlie by running his own Coffeeshop

Charlie’s Secondary Schoolmates...

ZAC, 24

Family owns a Construction Business

SEAN and AUDREY, both 24

Property Agents, singles,

Shares a Private Property (for investment)

and

SMELLY CAT

Rescued by Charlie

Looking for a loving family

--------------

1. SEAN & AUDREY’S NEW HOME

Charlie and Zac are helping their friends, Sean and Audrey, move into their new home. The guys move the furniture and Audrey stops decorating the Christmas tree to make coffee in the kitchen and check on her roast chicken. 

Radio is on and they sing and dance to the tune. 

(song and dance - eg. Happy - Pharrell Williams, ref: https://youtu.be/ZbZSe6N_BXs )

CHARLIE (VO)

Time flies. 

Not long ago, Audrey and I were 8 

and playing catching at the playground. 

Then we were friends with Zac and Sean 

in Secondary School. 

After school, NS, and more studying, 

we took on a chunk of responsibilities... 

Family duties for ZAC. 

Career for SEAN and AUDREY. 

And, for me, i’m on a Scholarship, 

studying overseas - programme includes 

an exciting Career path mapped out for me… 

Can you imagine… 

a boy who grew up helping my dad 

sell coffee having a future like that?

And my friends...

ZAC, my best bruh, takes on a job in 

his family’s construction business 

- as the big boss’s son! Drives a BMW, 

eats well, sleeps well, lives in a big house… 

good life.

SEAN and AUDREY, both happy singles, 

are property agents and business partners... 

took a huge loan, combined their savings 

and bought this house despite downturn in economy. 

They moved out from their parents’ 

homes to live here, despite protests from family. 

Said they’ll move back home and sell this 

property when the price and time is right. 

People say we are the Millenials 

and we bruise as easily as strawberries… 

We’re supposed to be lazy, spoilt, 

selfish, self-centred, entitled… 

seriously? Aren’t all humans like that?

After the furniture is all in place, the boys gather around the sofa to take a rest. They take out their mobile phones and gets busy texting away. 

Audrey serves everyone freshly brewed coffee...

CHARLIE

Wah, machine-made coffee!

AUDREY

Good right? 

(Charlie nods in agreement)

ZAC

I still prefer Charlie’s father’s coppee!! 

AUDREY

Glad i bought that machine!

SEAN

Aiyoh!! Please don’t remind me how 

expensive that machine is... and it takes up 

space in the kitchen! but it’s what Audrey wants!

AUDREY

It’s worth every dollar we paid… life is short. 

We should enjoy it!

SEAN

i would be happy with instant 3 in 1 coffee!

AUDREY

Instant, your head lah! Doesn’t mean we’re “Millenials” 

we want every single thing instantly!

CHARLIE

I want instant money, 

instant success, 

instant fun fun fun,

instant solutions to my problems... 

Wrong meh? And Why cannot?

(Everyone reacts)

SEAN

Charlie, you’re dreaming! 

Since when is life that easy?

ZAC

When?... When we were kids!!

SEAN

Childhood not counted la!

ZAC

Secondary school days??

SEAN

… with piles of homework, stupid exams, 

study study study, tuition, pressure from 

parents to get 200% grades…?

ZAC

Oh. i forgot about that. 

BUT, wasn’t secondary school days fun anyways?

EVERYONE

NO!

ZAC

Still better than working life?

EVERYONE

NO!

ZAC

How is working life better 

than being young and in school?

CHARLIE

Work got money what!? 

You prefer exams or money?

ZAC

Chey, if you put it that way, 

who wouldn’t want money?

Then maybe retirement with money 

is better than school and working life?

EVERYONE

NO!

(Zac reacts, confused)

SEAN

Old already, got health problems 

and other “old people problems”, so poor thing. 

Even if you’re rich and successful, being old is no fun!

CHARLIE

Ha! Retirement is too far away, 

no need to think about it now! 

Anything can happen, any time. 

Walk across the road, bang! and you’re dead. 

Or who knows, stand anywhere random 

and get struck by lightning... 

ZAC

Choy!!

CHARLIE

Want to enjoy or live your dream, 

better do it now!

AUDREY

Eh Charlie, how’s your dad?

CHARLIE

Same. Grumpy, difficult, stubborn. 

And he was like this even before he got old 

and had that car accident. Haiz, 

because of that stupid accident, 

my life is now upside down!!

AUDREY

Isn’t his broken leg getting any better?

CHARLIE

Doctors say he needs surgery. 

And that leg makes my dad very angry. 

So hard to live with him now...

EVERYONE

Aiyoh…

CHARLIE

And running his coffeeshop drives me crazy! 

I don’t think i can return to my studies in 

Australia any time soon. My so-called 

career is over before it’s even started, ha!

ZAC

Ah? Are you giving up that Scholarship? 

CHARLIE

Yup. Isn’t that exciting?

ZAC

Aiyoh, how could you throw 

that all away? And... your dad?

CHARLIE

Yup. Yup. MORE trouble with Dad. 

Funny how you sound like my dad!

ZAC

Funny how I get along better with 

your dad than my own dad!

SEAN

Haha, don’t need to be old to have problems!

AUDREY

Last week, i wished my client 

a happy birthday. He was 40.

ZAC

Was?

AUDREY

Yep. Yesterday, i went to his funeral. 

Heart attack. Death on the spot. Gone, just like that. 

EVERYONE

Aiyoh…

AUDREY

Oh, and, remember our classmate, 

Rui Ling? Just turned 24, like us... got cancer… 

EVERYONE

Aiyoh!!

Poor thing…

Life is sooooo short…

AUDREY

… stage 4...

(silence, long pause)

ZAC

Damn you, cancer!

Life sucks!

EVERYONE

YES!!

SEAN

YOLO!!!

EVERYONE

YES!!

SEAN

Selfie time!!

(They take a selfie and upload it to social media as #LifeSucks!)

(Performance - sing & dance)

SEAN

Haha! So fast got 20 likes already!

ZAC

How come you got so many friends?

SEAN

I said “likes”, not “friends”. 

Nobody takes social media seriously la. 

We all know real life is more important!

ZAC

But play games more important than real life right?

SEAN

*tsk* Of course la! So? 

Challenge you... after dinner?

ZAC

On! I’ll crush you this time!

SEAN

Only thing you’ll crush is your ego!

AUDREY

Anyone wants to accompany me to 

visit Rui Ling? I’m going tomorrow…

(A few hands go up)

SEAN

Audrey, i think our dinner is getting burnt… 

in that expensive built-in oven you bought...

AUDREY

Oh no….!!! My roast chicken!!

SEAN

Your cooking is always good, 

so i don’t understand why you 

want that expensive oven!!

AUDREY

(comes out with the roast chicken)

I like what! Got money spend first. Must enjoy life!

CHARLIE

No money also must enjoy life!

ZAC

Yay FOOD!

(takes selfies, photos of the food 

and posts them on social media - SFX of posts, slides?)

Food makes me happy!

(doorbell - Sean goes to the door)

SEAN

Eh? HELLO!! Rui Ling! 

Hey everyone, Rui Ling is here!

RUI LING

Hello!! Oh Hello!! Long time no see!

Wah!! Congrats! New home!! 

I just had to self-invite to come see it for myself.

AUDREY

Glad you came!! Welcome to our house! 

Come, Rui Ling, join us!!

They greet Rui Ling and enjoy a meal together. They take many photos too.

(song and dance here? Maybe Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill” )

CHARLIE 

(NARRATION)

So, we caught up with Rui Ling.

Cancer, stage 4. Damn you cancer!! 

Why don’t you just inflict cancer on evil people? 

Why do you always torture the good people?  

Funny thing. Rui Ling seems happier 

than any of us. She also makes us laugh, 

she tells us great stories. 

In between those horrible treatments, 

she’s been travelling and doing things she loves, 

spending time with people she cares about… 

she’s living the life we all dream about... 

she’s so alive… for now.

And she’s volunteered to help me at the coffeeshop.

--------------

2. CHARLIE’S DAD’S COFFEESHOP 

Charlie is busy serving customers. Rui Ling is helping him. She gets along with many customers as she’s very cheerful and likeable. Charlie’s dad limps into the shop and inspects the place.

POON HUAT

Ah Boy! Boy Ah! Why isn’t this table fixed yet?

CHARLIE

Pa! Why are you here? 

You should be at home. Your leg…

POON HUAT

And who’s that?

RUI LING

Hello Uncle, i’m Rui Ling. Charlie and i 

were classmates. I’m here to help Charlie today.

POON HUAT

(speechless)

Oh… thank you… 

POON HUAT

Ah, Rui Ling. i don’t think Charlie needs help. 

Go on, sit down and enjoy some coffee or tea. 

(to Charlie) 

Boy! Make one cup for Rui Ling… 

(to Rui Ling) 

what would you like?

RUI LING

Tea please… thank you Uncle!

POON HUAT

(shouts to Charlie) 

one tea…

(to RUI LING) 

Charlie’s just being lazy and spoilt... 

I raised him in this very coffeeshop, 

there’s no reason why he can’t run it all by himself. 

See? I know he can do it...

CHARLIE

(serving tea to Rui Ling)

Pa, why don’t you rest at home?

POON HUAT

You know why!! So boring! and stay home, 

do nothing, as if i’m useless like that. 

And that cat of yours is driving me crazy. 

Hurry up and get rid of it!

RUI LING

You have a cat?

POON HUAT

No. 

CHARLIE

Haha. ya, just rescued a stray kitten, 

looking for someone to adopt.

POON HUAT

Nobody wants it.

CHARLIE

It likes you pa… maybe we should keep it. 

(goes off to serve a customer)

POON HUAT

Chey… stupid cat, sleeps on my bed, 

follows me everywhere…smells bad…

(to Rui Ling) 

You want?

RUI LING

Errr…..

CHARLIE

Rui Ling cannot la, Pa… 

(Zac walks in...)

ZAC

Hello Uncle! Eh, hi Rui Ling! 

Charlie? Hey Charlie! One coffee please!

POON HUAT

Eh Zac, today no need to work?

ZAC

Shhhhh… 

Uncle, please don’t tell my father, 

he won’t understand! And sure, i’ve got 

a LOT, a lot, a lot of work to do! 

This is my coffee break. Plus, i miss your coffee!

POON HUAT

Haha all you youngsters, 

rather relax than work hard.

ZAC

Uncle!! Cannot say like that! 

We youngsters work very hard you know!! 

But then hor, work forever have one. 

Cannot finish. So we have to make sure 

we take our breaks and take care of ourselves. 

You see, when we die, we never ever say 

we regret we never finish our work. 

Right or not, Uncle?

POON HUAT

(amused)

Ha! Mr smarty pants! And since 

you put it this way… then it makes some sense! 

Ok, time for me to work. Enjoy your coffee! And tea!

ZAC

(gets his coffee and joins Rui Ling)

Eh Rui Ling? Aren’t you helping out here?

RUI LING

Uncle won’t allow me to do anything…

ZAC

Haha! Typical Uncle.

RUI LING

Such a nice father. Charlie’s so lucky.

ZAC

Think so? Actually, the 2 of them quarrel a lot. 

Many years already! Charlie’s father is quite 

traditional and thinks Charlie is lazy…

RUI LING

 ...Lazy and spoilt? Ya, that part i already 

heard from Uncle himself haha!!

A coffee cup breaks on the floor. Everyone turns to see Charlie and Poon Huat quarreling.

POON HUAT

(Shouting)

WHY must i sell? And you’re 

going back to school. NO QUITTING!

CHARLIE

Why not? We need the money.

POON HUAT

We’ll have to work harder. 

CHARLIE

It’s not about hard work!

POON HUAT

Then? 

CHARLIE

We’ve talked about this so many times 

and there isn’t any other way. 

Sell this coffeeshop, Pa… 

POON HUAT

You’re WRONG!

CHARLIE

Ya. I’m always wrong! I’m out of here...

POON HUAT

You’re walking away? Is that all you know? 

Stop being a quitter, Charlie! 

Charlie! Hmmph!!

Charlie storms off, Zac follows him, Rui Ling stays behind and doesn’t know what to do.

POON HUAT

And get rid of that stupid cat! You hear me?

--------------

3. SEAN & AUDREY’S HOME - TALKING BUSINESS

Audrey serves coffee to Sean and Charlie.

SEAN

Uggh, Zac is late… he’s always late…

AUDREY

Nevermind, we can discuss first. 

Come, Charlie, let’s talk business…

(beep! She looks at her phone) 

Aiyah, Zac can’t make it... 

Now then say… 

(beep!!) 

oooh… Zac just quarrelled with his father… 

not good...

CHARLIE

(sighs) 

Story of our lives… 

SEAN

Well.. my dad started talking 

to me again. So far, so good… 

CHARLIE

Yay! Congrats!

SEAN

Don’t say too soon!! Sure quarrel again… 

CHARLIE

How come?

SEAN

Because… i think... he thinks... 

i’m not... normal...

CHARLIE

Hahahahaha! Why? 

Did he walk into your closet? 

(Sean glares at him)

AUDREY

Hahaha! I know right, Sean’s closet secret! 

A huge collection of shoes!

CHARLIE

That’s all? You quarrel over things like that?

SEAN

I don’t know what he wants. 

Wants me to be independent, 

but cannot agree for me to live here on my own. 

Wants me to be responsible, 

but against me being a property agent. 

He says property agents are shady salesmen. 

but I think that property agents help people 

find good homes at the right price. 

I like the idea of helping people.

CHARLIE

You do seem shady sometimes haha!!

SEAN

I’m not shady!! I’m … motivated! 

He’s always telling me what he wants. 

Everything is him him him, he wants…

CHARLIE

(sighs) 

My dad always think he’s right and i’m wrong. 

Won’t listen to reasons. Hate it.

SEAN

And I don’t know which is worse… 

quarrels or the silent treatment...

CHARLIE

Both sucks. Why do we keep 

fighting with our dads?

SEAN

Maybe we’ll know IF we ever become dads!!

AUDREY

Aiyah... Tell me which family never fights?

(finally sitting down, sipping coffee)

Ok… i’m listening...

CHARLIE

So what do you think about the selling price 

of my dad’s coffeeshop? Good? 

Can you 2 be my property agents?

SEAN

Property market quite bad.

CHARLIE

Aiyoh, then how? I have sleepless 

nights thinking of our debts! 

And if we keep this old run-down coffeeshop, 

sooner or later, we have to pay for more 

and more repairs and do more and more renovations.

What’s worse is… my Dad is so stubborn!

AUDREY

Sean and i have been talking about it. 

I have a proposal… 

Now that times are bad, 

instead of selling the coffeeshop...

(Video cutaway as Audrey continues…VO?)

What if… Sean and i... help you rent out 

half the coffeeshop space and get the 

new tenants to pay for the full renovations 

for the whole shop? 

Zac says he could personally take care 

of the renovations and give us a special price. 

The coffeeshop is quite spacious and 

can accommodate about 2 tenants. 

Your dad can relax and stop selling food, 

just focus on selling his coffee and tea 

if he still wants to work. I’ll take up one space 

as a tenant and Sean could help rent out the other. 

I’ve been wanting to open my own cafe 

for a long long time now! So i’m thinking, 

maybe i can run a small roast chicken 

take-out shop there. 

We can’t afford to buy and open a shop

 of our own. But we can still afford rent 

and payments for the renovations… 

And maybe... we can convert 

the coffeeshop into a cafe… 

Like cafes at Tiong Bahru or Katong estate, 

your father’s coffeeshop sits in a similar 

vibrant and upcoming neighbourhood. 

That property has huge potential.

(End of Video)

SEAN

What do you think? 

What would your dad say?

CHARLIE

Hmmm… well… He’d say he HATES 

that cat, the cat changed his life.

SEAN AND AUDREY

Say what? Huh? (pause)

CHARLIE

(frustrated)

He’s old! He hates changes!

SEAN AND AUDREY

(laughs)

AUDREY

Oooh that cat is so adorable! 

Sean... can we…

SEAN

Ewww, NO…!!

AUDREY

(to Charlie)

We’ll try to help him change his mind.

SEAN

And, (points to Audrey) she’s promised 

not to buy any expensive equipment for the shop!! 

Otherwise, i wouldn’t dare invest in her 

roast chicken business!

CHARLIE

(unsure)

Uhhh…

AUDREY

Ha! Cat got your tongue haha!!

SEAN

(pointing at his laptop/ipad screen)

Ok, look at the figures… 

(points) today’s selling price… 

(points) here, renovation estimates... 

and monthly rental, 2 tenants...

CHARLIE

(looking excited, speechless)

SEAN

See Audrey… told you, 

Charlie loves this idea! 

AUDREY

Yay! My idea is that impressive!

CHARLIE

Are you sure? You’ll dump all your money 

into that old coffeeshop??

AUDREY

This idea’s better than you selling 

the coffeeshop or me buying my own shop. 

And the location is perfect for us, too.

SEAN

Say yes… to the dress haha!!

CHARLIE

I have no idea what my dad would say… 

i don’t mind giving up my studies abroad 

to do this. i can always resume 

studying later, once i have the cash…

AUDREY

Oh, about that… Zac said he’ll loan you 

money for your studies… so i’m not sure if this 

is the reason why he quarrelled with his dad today… 

SEAN

Uh oh…

AUDREY

Zac says you can work for him 

once you’ve graduated.

CHARLIE

Ha!! Crazy!! Work for him, Crazy right?

And what if… at the end of the day, 

we all fail to make everything work? 

You’ll lose a lot.

AUDREY

Very simple Charlie. Money lost, 

can earn back. But to live… like Rui Ling... 

is what’s important to me now… 

i can’t imagine what my life is worth 

if i died today and never done 

what i’ve always wanted to do.

CHARLIE

Rui Ling is amazing… 

so upbeat despite her illness... 

and facing possible death...

AUDREY

Indeed.

(pause)

I know, it’s a risk. But i’ll take it.

SEAN

Me too.

AUDREY

Hope Zac is still in, too…

--------------

4. COFFEESHOP (POON HUAT & ZAC)

Zac turns up at the coffeeshop to look for Charlie but finds Poon Huat instead.

ZAC

Hello Uncle! Where’s Charlie?

POON HUAT

Dunno la. Mumbled and went out 

with Rui Ling. Want coffee?

ZAC

Of course! The usual, thanks Uncle!

POON HUAT

(serves coffee)

So... what’s this i hear about your father 

being so angry with you?

You left home too?

ZAC

He’s always angry! Whyyyyy? 

What did i do wrong now?

Uncle, did he complain to you about me? 

(Poon Huat nods)

Aiyoh, why is it so bad to help a good friend? 

Why can’t i renovate this coffeeshop? 

Why is money such a big deal for him?

POON HUAT

It’s not the money. You know him better than that...

ZAC

Why can’t he trust me? Why can’t he 

even listen to what i have to say? 

I know what i’m doing. All these years he thinks 

i can’t do anything by myself. I know i’m playful... 

but i also know how to work hard.

(POON HUAT shrugs)

ZAC

Uncle, you trust me or not? 

What if i were your son? Wouldn’t you allow me 

to do what I think is right and worth it?

POON HUAT

(unsure)

Ahhhh….

ZAC

See, you also don’t trust me!!

POON HUAT

No, no, no…  It’s not about trust.

We fathers worry. That’s what we do.

ZAC

Uncle, so when your own father 

worried about you, what did you do?

POON HUAT

(sighs)

I left home. Regret it. 

Didn’t understand him then. 

And now it’s too late.

(pause)

Looks like i have to start trusting 

Charlie sooner or later huh?

ZAC

(nodding)

And I’m going to PROVE to my father 

that he shouldn’t worry about me.

POON HUAT

You so drama. Easier if i tell him la.

ZAC

And easier if i tell Charlie that you worry.

(Both laugh)

POON HUAT

By the way, Zac, want a cat?

ZAC

(Zac shakes his head)

uh... nooooo. It smells bad!

POON HUAT

Arrggh, Stupid cat!

--------------

5. COFFEESHOP - CHARLIE AND RUI LING

Rui Ling looks for Charlie at the Coffeeshop.

CHARLIE

(on the phone with dad)

Arrggh, What? Ate my homework? 

Are you sure? … Stupid cat! Ya, ok ok, Pa, 

you’re right, better bring him to the vet. 

Don’t worry, I’ll close up. Bye.

RUI LING

(bursts into laughter)

Hey Charlie! Cat trouble?

CHARLIE

Hey, Rui Ling! Yup, that cat... again.

(Rui Ling shows Charlie her paintings)

CHARLIE

Woah!! Looks amazing!! You painted these? 

Wow! I’m sure they’ll brighten up the cafe 

when reno’s done! Thanks!

RUI LING

I’m glad they’ve found a new home. 

(Charlie puts the paintings on the wall)

RUI LING

Never thought these paintings 

had any value or potential.

CHARLIE

Well, they flatter the eye and flatter the spirit… 

these paintings have found their purpose. 

Tea? 

RUI LING

I like the way you see my paintings! 

Yup, tea. 

CHARLIE

(making tea)

So what did the doc say?

RUI LING

Oh, the usual.

CHARLIE

Don’t you ever feel like you’re... stuck?

RUI LING

Sure. All the time. You?

(pause)

CHARLIE

I can’t decide if i should accept 

Zac’s money or quit school. 

The scholarship and career path 

is a convenient thing - many good reasons 

why i chose this… 

it’s just too bad i’m not really into it. 

Zac would be wasting his money on me 

and i don’t want him to fight with his family 

because of me. 

On the other hand, i know how 

disappointed my dad will be if i quit 

school and lose my future…

(sighs)

RUI LING

So what do you want?

CHARLIE

I don’t know. But i think i don’t really 

want the Scholarship any more. 

(pause)

CHARLIE

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

RUI LING

(giggling, pointing to Charlie’s shoes) 

I’d trade those shoes for bunny slippers!

CHARLIE

(laughing)

Sean gave me these…

RUI LING

Well, that explains it. 

Fancy shoes at a coffeeshop…

CHARLIE

I kinda like it actually.

(They laugh)

RUI LING

Oh, it’s wonderful to have a 

pair of shoes that you like.

CHARLIE

Hmm. bunny slippers… 

also made for the feet, yet different. 

I can see how bunny slippers can be like-able. 

i can see why people want them.

RUI LING

Oh yeah. It has its perks. If it fits.

--------------

6. COFFEESHOP - CAFE - 3 YEARS LATER

At the cafe 3 years later... a CHOIR sings Christmas carols at the cafe… On the walls are Rui Ling’s paintings and on the Christmas tree, a pair of bunny slippers hang among the other decorations. Everyone is celebrating Charlie’s graduation and return from overseas studies at the cafe. Maybe the MCA Cast can also be guests at the cafe party…

(Song and dance performance)

Eg. OneRepublic “I Lived” Ref: https://youtu.be/z0rxydSolwU

CHARLIE (VO / NARRATION)

Time flies. 

3 years later…

i’m back! Finally, graduated from my 

overseas studies! And it’s Christmas again! 

This time, i don’t have so many worries!! 

Sean, Audrey and Zac are doing very well today.

But we lost Rui Ling last year. A very sad day. 

(sigh) i miss her. She’s like sunshine 

and she’s touched us with her life! 

She gave me a pair of bunny slippers… 

which i like. (laughs) 

Through her, we all see things a lot clearer now… 

And Zac - because he wanted to help me, 

he got into a lot of trouble with his dad and family. 

It was like a war zone… but he still went ahead. 

He finished the shop renovations and 

loaned me money for my overseas studies…

People were so impressed with the renovations 

that word got around and Zac now 

has more renovation jobs than he can handle. 

His father was just as impressed. 

He’s especially impressed that Zac could truly 

work hard all along! Haha!! And they’ve been

 enjoying a good relationship with each other ever since. 

And now that i’m back, i’ll be helping Zac run 

his own renovation business! 

Who would have thought i’d actually work for him

… Crazy right?

As for dad, he’s happy selling his coffee and tea. 

Audrey keeps him company at the cafe 

and he’s been less lonely and grumpy since. 

He’s done the surgeries and his leg is better now. 

Also, he’s adopted the cat and spoils it 

even more than he’s ever spoilt me! 

Stupid cat!

People say we are the Millenials 

and we bruise as easily as strawberries… 

We’re supposed to be lazy, spoilt, 

selfish, self-centred, entitled… 

seriously? Aren’t all humans like that?

#LifeSucks.

#Merry Christmas Charlie!

The End