The Journey

Screenplay: The Point

2009-03-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

written and edited by Esther Chin Li Yie and Cameron Victor Hill.
Thought and Writing, WMU.

notes: This screenplay is written from a real life experienced with most scenes dramatized and edited to fit into the story. Some names are changed too.

SCENE 1

IN INTERNATIONAL AIRPLANE

ESTHER’S VOICE: This is where I want to be…

LIGHTS UP

ESTHER sitting in an airplane next to the window staring dreamily out into darkness.

PASSENGER 1 is seated next to her.

PASSENGER 1: (Snorts loudly)

ESTHER VOICE: (As ESTHER looks over with a scowl) (Slightly annoyed) I take that back. I’ve been on this plane for over twenty-four hours now. I’m tired, I’m smelly, I have to pee and if this woman drools one drop, her next in-flight meal will be a knuckle sandwich. No, indeed I would rather be anywhere but here. Where I really want to be is on the ground in the U.S.A. That is where I’m going. I always knew I wanted to be here too. Since I was nine years old.

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE 2

TO BUSY MAIN STREET IN DISNEYWORLD

LIGHTS UP

YOUNG ESTHER standing with MOM and DAD while looking around curiously.

ESTHER'S VOICE: I remember when I was nine years old, twelve years ago, when I first stepped foot in this foreign land with my parents I knew instantly that it wouldn’t be the last time.

YOUNG ESTHER: (To Audience) I will get what I want.

ESTHER’S VOICE: Even the air, full of excitement in the bustling Main Street of California’s Disney Land, agreed with me. Most notably the slight fog that marked my breath in the morning air.

YOUNG ESTHER shivers as the family walks down the street enjoying the sights.

Young Esther looks up at the sky for a moment.

ESTHER’S VOICE: It wasn’t like on T.V. There was no snow. It was cold enough though. Malaysia is hot and humid all the time and it gets sickening. It was refreshing in California. I remember thinking; “this is where I want to be.”

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE 3

AIRPORT

LIGHTS UP

CROWD continues wandering hurriedly though the background has changed to an airport terminal. ESTHER is standing stage left with bags.

ESTHER: (To audience) So here I am. I told you I'd get what I want.

ESTHER is almost pummeled by a particularly large American as she takes in the scene.

ESTHER: Shit! People are so big here. Why don't they watch where They're GOING? (shouts the last part after the large man).(Sighs and continues) Sorry. You should know that I'm not a patient person. People think I'm innocent but they are usually surprised when they get to know me. I tell you now I don't really care what you think because if you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best. By the way, that's Marlin Monroe. I like her.

ESTHER walks away and stands in line for customs.

BEN enters stage right while talking on his cell phone.

BEN: Yes... Yes baby. No, I'm not staying. I just need to drive him into town. Ok, I'll call when I'm back. Bye. (Notices that ESTHER has finished checking in and turns to greet her.)

BEN: Hey. (Leans in to kiss ESTHER as she leans away)

ESTHER: Was that your girlfriend?

BEN: One of them.

ESTHER: (Matter-of-factly) I hope she's well. (Pats BEN on the head) You should stick with her. Come, take me to the car.

BEN rolls his eyes and leads quickly away.

LIGHTS OUT.

ESTHER'S VOICE: That's Ben. We used to date but he doesn't subscribe to monogamy. Suffice to say the car ride to Sandusky was less than thrilling. I promise you won't hear much about this guy. He's not what you'd call dramatic gold. Let's fast forward.

SCENE 4

DORM

LIGHTS UP

ESTHER enters her new dorm through a door in the hallway running up the middle of stage center.

ESTHER'S room mate SARA is sitting on her bed staring at her I.D.

SARA: (without looking up) Hey, I'm Sara. Welcome to Cedar Point. Let me see your I.D.

ESTHER: (A little exasperated) Huh? Hold on... (drops her luggage) Here. What do want it for?

SARA takes the I.D. from Esther and examines it as Esther begins to unpack.

SARA: (A bit surprised) Oh man, this is a good picture. Mine looks like I'm about to sneeze. (Waits for a laugh and doesn't receive one) So you're Esther? I'm Sara, like I said

ESTHER: Yeah... (takes her picture I.D. back and looks out the window) This place looks like a prison.

SARA: Yeah, seriously. What's with the armed guards?

ESTHER: I don't know and I don't really care. Have you seen the guys?

SARA: (Giggles) Uh-huh.

ESTHER: You know we don't have blond hair in Malaysia. This is so different. I mean, the sun is out, but it's cold.

SARA: Yeah, welcome to Ohio. What made you come work at Cedar Point anyway? Don't tell me it was for the blond guys.

ESTHER: No. I don't really know. I always wanted to come back to the U.S. ever since I was first here when I was nine. This just kind of fell into my lap I guess.

ESTHER flops down on an empty bed as the rest of the roommates file in. They begin to speak

Mandarin Chinese to each other and Esther looks over only when she hears her name. THE GIRLS

and SARA look at her expectedly. Esther shakes her head to indicate that she does not

understand them. The Girls continue chatting and Esther rolls over to rest.

ESTHER gets up, annoyed, she walks to the door, opens it and goes across the hall to the bath room

where she rinses her face and stares at herself in the mirror for a moment.

ESTHER: This is shit. I don't even know what I'll be doing here for work. I hope I get enough hours. ...Maybe I made a mistake.

ESTHER walks out of the bathroom and into her dorm where she lies down.

Stage lights dim and a spotlight shines on Esther for a moment until eventually all lights fade out.

ESTHER'S VOICE: I'm here just for the money, nothing else.

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE 5

EMPLOYEE CENTER

GUY: So... are those space pants?

LIGHTS UP

...with a dramatically antagonizing sound, as if to reveal a torturing scene.

GUY is leaning pretentiously against a wall talking to ESTHER who has

her chin in her hands and is staring out into space.

Her expression says, “not again”.

GUY: Because...

ESTHER halts his speech with a hand and looks at him slowly.

ESTHER: Walk away now. Bye-bye.

GUY, looking shot down and a little confused as to what to do, walks away.

ESTHER turns to SARA who is listening to a boom box with headphones.

The Employee Center is outside and it is overcast and gray out,

though warm and slightly breezy. SARA rolls her eyes at Esther.

SARA: That's the 2^nd guy you've rejected today. And he was cute! What's the matter with you? Don't you want a cute American boyfriend?

ESTHER: Fist of all, I want a cute American date. A boyfriend implies some sort of seriousness. Secondly, these guys are all the same. Black hair, short and the personality of a bag of rice.

SARA: I wish I could get as many dates as you've rejected since we've been here.

ESTHER: Maybe you would if you didn't sit around all day listening to... (picks up a CD case)...Hymns?

SARA shrugs

CAM: 'Scuse me...

ESTHER turns quickly and knocks the headphone cord out of the boom box.

Hallelujah begins playing and the sun shines down on

CAM who is standing at the employee center. Esther and SARA scramble

to stop the music. Cam is slightly amused. He is a tall, blond young man.

CAM: Yeah, uh, are those free? (points to the plasticware container)

ESTHER: (Disappointedly) Of course.

CAM grabs a rather large handful of plasticware, smiles and leaves.

SARA looks at ESTHER expectedly.

ESTHER: Him? He's a moron.

LIGHTS OUT

SCENE 6

EMPLOYEE CENTER 2

LIGHTS UP

ESTHER arrives at work via stage right and SARA is already there

SARA: So, how's Cam? Did you two go out again last night?

ESTHER: He's good... (looks at audience) (To audience) OK, I suppose I should fill you in. I still think he's a moron, but a smart one. He can be quite lame at times, but he's overall witty and articulate. We've been seeing each other for a few weeks. At first I just kind of liked that there was this tall American chasing after me, but then I realized he could make me laugh too. (Cheesy music begins to play) He gave me a ride to work once and I saw a little more than what was on the surface. (Slowly moving to stage center) He's youthfully exuberant and it's infectious...

SARA: (Music stops) Infected? I knew you should have had him tested.

ESTHER: (Annoyed) His Exuberance is Infectious. He's not infected. You're not even supposed to be able to hear this. (SARA continues working in the background.) (Music continues)

ESTHER: (Looking up) No, the music is too much. (Music stops abruptly). (To audience) There. OK. Like I said, his excitement made me excited and I started to feel comfortable. I'm more comfortable with him than I've ever been in my life. I tell my friends back home that I've fallen in love and they cannot believe it. They say, 'Esther? In love? That doesn't fit' and I must admit that I'm surprised as well. To be honest I did not want this to happen. I know I must leave him at the end of the summer and that thought brings me closer to tears the more I see of him. We have not really discussed it but I just do not know if I can take it. (Music begins slowly again as ESTHER stares wistfully into the distance)

ESTHER: (Looking up again) Cut it out. You're not helping. (Walks back to behind the counter still looking a bit sullen.)

SARA: What's the matter? You look like I do when I read my work schedule.

ESTHER: It's nothing. Just something I've been thinking about lately. It's nothing.

CAM enters stage right. ESTHER smiles as if she cannot help it.

CAM: Hey sweetie. You doing OK?

ESTHER: Yeah, why?

CAM: You looked really distracted and sad just a minute ago.

ESTHER: Yeah, I'm OK. I've just been thinking that's all.

CAM: Anything I can help with?

ESTHER: Maybe we can talk tonight?

CAM: Of course, do you work until close?

ESTHER: Yeah.

CAM: OK, I'll meet you here.

ESTHER: M'kay, bye.

CAM waves goodbye to ESTHER and SARA and exits stage left. Sara and Esther disappear into the

small shop behind the counter as the lights slowly dim to show the passage of time into the evening.

Cam re-enters stage left and waits. He takes a seat on a nearby picnic table.

CAM: (To audience) Hey. How's it going? You guys work here too? Ah, it's not important. Listen, I have a question for you. When a girl says 'can we talk', is that always a bad thing? See, I've been seeing this really sweet girl who works here at the Employee Center. We've been seeing each other for a while and I've just completely fallen head over heels for her. I'm sure she feels the same way it's just.... well she's from Malaysia. (Music starts) When we're done working here, she'll have to go back home and I'll have to say goodbye. I don't know if I can take that. I feel like I should save myself now, but I just can't. Every time I think about it, I come back to the same conclusion: I'm not ready to give up yet.

(Pauses) (Hears something) Do you guys hear music? (Music stops) (Shrugs)

ESTHER enters from behind the counter as CAM stands.

CAM: (To audience) I'm sure we'll figure it out. Thanks for listening guys. (Playfully) Now get lost will ya? (To ESTHER) Hey sweetie! (CAM and ESTHER embrace)

ESTHER: (As CAM and ESTHER begin to exit stage right) You know I was thinking today.

CAM: Uh-huh.

ESTHER: I've always wanted to study in the U.S. (CAM stops walking as ESTHER continues to exit stage right)

CAM: (Surprised) Really? (Thumbs up to audience) You know... I live in a college town. (Exit stage right)

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE 7

CAM AND ESTHER WALKING BY LAKE ERIE

LIGHTS UP

Lights up to show CAM and ESTHER walking together while holding hands. Sounds of the surf can be

heard and the two are obviously troubled. Some time passes before either of them speak.

CAM: It won't be too bad.

ESTHER: You always say that.

Both are quiet again for a moment.

ESTHER: I just don't want things to change. (About to cry) I'm scared. 3 months is a long time.

CAM: I know baby. (Pause) I'm scared too. (Pause again and turns to ESTHER. Both stop.) Look. I love you. If this is what I have to go through to have you, then I'll do it gladly.

Both fall silent again as they watch the water.

ESTHER: You know there is still a possibility that I won't be able to come back. What if my dad can't afford to send me to college here? What if I cannot get accepted? What if...

CAM: (Interrupting) Listen. You can ask what if this and what if that until you can't speak anymore. Ask this. Ask, what if it works. What if you actually can come back and we actually get to be together. It cannot hurt to try. We'll just take it one step at a time. Keep our eyes on our feet. If we just keep walking, we'll get there before we know it.

ESTHER: (Crying) I'm still scared.

CAM: I know.

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE 8

AIRPORT

ESTHER'S VOICE: You know, it's the memories of the past, perseverance in the present and the hope for the future that keep us alive.

LIGHTS UP

CAM is standing inside an airport terminal as the CROWD hurries around him.

He is standing behind a metal bar, staring intently at an automatic sliding door.

He waits for quite some time before they open to reveal a crowd of people that walks past.

He keeps waiting for another long moment until finally it opens again.

Another large crowd comes out and at the end of it is ESTHER.

She walks into the terminal, not seeing CAM at first.

She circles around stage left as CAM circles stage right.

They finally see each other from across the room and hurry to embrace.

ESTHER: This is where I want to be.

ESTHER'S VOICE: I told you I'd get what I want.

LIGHTS OUT

THE END

Memoir: This is where I want to be

2009-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

by Esther Chin Li Yie, edited by Cameron Victor Hill
Thought and Writing, WMU.

This is where I want to be.

I smiled.

Looking out the window… pitch black. I could see nothing except colorful lights everywhere. The peaceful scenery gave me a very comforting feeling. I had been sitting for nearly a day now, getting up once in a while to go to the bathroom. I felt so agitated over the constrictions and lack of personal space. I felt as if I were an inch away from getting up and punching the lady next to me in the face, to stop her snoring and drooling, once and for all. I closed my eyes as I adjusted myself to the little seat so that I could be in a more comfortable position. Before I knew it, the announcement was made and I felt my ride end with a little bump on the ground. Hesitantly, I made my way out with the others, dragging my luggage behind me; nervously into the summer atmosphere. It was the summer of 2008.

* * *

I remember when I was nine years old, twelve years ago, when I first stepped foot in this foreign land with my parents and I knew instantly that I would be back someday. It was a gut feeling I had, a decision I made and a goal I set.

I will get what I want.

Even the air at Disneyland, California agreed with me. The fog that came out from my mouth every time it opened told me so. I shivered. The weather was chilly but I could not see snow anywhere. That was not how the television described winter in America. Still, it made me happy just by pulling my pink jacket closer to my body. I was young but that didn’t stop me from being sick of the hot and humid weather in Malaysia.

This is where I want to be.

I smiled.

* * *

I stared out at the unfamiliar sight of space filled with big people. Almost everyone in the airport was a head taller than me with blond hair, big blue or green deep set eyes, tall nose and they speak in an accent that I could not understand when they speak fast.

They look rather the same to me, as though if placed together, they would blend into the background easily. The immigration process happened like a swift motion if compared to the twenty hours of the almost unbearable plane flight I just endured. The sweat on my palms felt sticky as I griped the handle of my luggage tighter and my eyes rested upon the ‘Exit’ sign. I gave a hard push on the door, which somehow seemed heavier than usual doors.

Stepping out, I looked around to see any recognizable faces but failed. Suddenly, I wished that I had not come here all by myself.

* * *

The flight was a tiring nightmare and it didn’t help that I had to sit another round in the car as my friend and I drove down to Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio. Arriving there, I felt nervous and excited at the fact that I would be working at America’s largest theme park. A lot of things were going through my mind as a cheeky smile swept across my face when the camera for the photo I.D. flashed. Do I look alright? Are any cute guys looking my way? What will I be working as? Will I get enough working hours? The wind from the lakes swept me up in the moment as I was waiting in line for my turn to try out the uniform. It was midday and the sun was high up. It felt weird to be cold.

After a long day, back at the apartment provided for me, I could hear the sound of people talking behind the door. I was about to use my key for the first time when my roommate opened the door. It shocked me when I saw a room full of Chinese girls that were my age, speaking in Mandarin. I shook my head to indicate that I did not understand what they were saying. I anticipated that I would have a hard time talking to them but luckily enough some of them spoke good English. I dragged myself into room D, the one right at the end of the hallway. There was no one in there. I dropped my luggage on the floor as I looked around the small dusty room. I felt a sharp pain in my throat as floating dust particles tickled my nose. The stuffiness of this room bordered on being painful. It was bad enough that the room looked like it was falling apart; even the surroundings of the apartment were fenced. Damn… this place looked like a jail; I thought to myself as I jumped into the remaining vacant bed to rest my tired body. I slept like a baby until the next morning, totally ignoring the noise outside.

My first day of work was spent making hamburgers at Round Up, a small kiosk on the midway. I stepped into the back door and observed while my supervisor searched for my name in the schedule list before assigning me a task. I frowned. I expected to see a view of beautiful blond hairs walking around but instead, they had black hair and small eyes, just like me. And where are the cute guys? Those that were there looked underage, to me. *sigh* Round Up was a medium size stall that sold chicken fingers, fries and hamburgers. Some of my co-workers looked like they knew what to do but most looked lost. I did not enjoy this setting and it made me queasy with nerves to watch. They were dropping fries into oil, bringing frozen burgers out from the freezer, the cashiers worked fast, and taking orders from people that had been waiting in line for the past fifteen minutes. It was noisy, especially when the cashiers were shouting their orders. The stall was messy, the floor was greasy, and people were running around doing what they were supposed to do. Later, I found out that I wasn’t the only person that was working there for their first day.

It was not long before my boss at work transferred me to work at the Employee Center at the back of the park. It was a place I called ‘mine’. This mini stall at a fairly secluded section of the park was the reason I woke up every morning. Day in and day out, I cleaned, did the inventory, served my customers, endlessly prepared and cooked cheeseburgers, fries and hotdogs and at the same time be in front of the cash register from nine in the morning to nine at night with an hour break. Six days a week, I was there, serving the employees that worked at Area Three. I ran the stall by myself for about four months until my contract ended. I knew everything that had to do with the stall and my customer’s eating pattern so much so, that I would have the food prepared for them right when I saw them waiting in line to order their food. I was happy to serve my customers; I loved the compliments I got from them.

“You’re amazing, Esther.”

“You rock the Employee Center.”

“This place falls apart without you.”

“You’re the best!”

“You should get the Corner Stone award! You deserve it.”

And, fair enough, I was awarded the Corner Stone pin, which I had to wear at the collar of my uniform, and had my picture up in the ‘Employee of the Month’ frame. Despite all that, I was still cheap labor like the rest of my fellow black-haired companions and bored of the routine job. That was when I met the guy who worked in the games area next to my stall.

I first noticed him when he began taking plastic ware from my area. He would always ask, “Can I have these?” I didn’t know what to make of him, but I found him quite attractive. There were so many times when I would just stare at him when I had no customers waiting in line. I just could not take my eyes off him. He was tall, had blond hair, brown eyes and a quaint smile on his face. The girls back in Malaysia would be so jealous if I told them about him. Unlike back at home where most guys were petite and not to mention, all of us have black hair and had either dark brown or a lighter shade of brown color eyes. In my world, he really stood out. Not only was he good looking, he was witty too. His sarcastic jokes made me laugh and I found myself being fonder towards him each time he comes and buy food from my stall.

He finally asked me out.

When people say that music is what feelings sound like, they are right.

“It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope,” the introduction of the song “The Call” by Regina Spektor rang in my ears every time I think about our first date. Time doesn't move in a circle. It moves in a line; always forward and never repeating. But if there was ever one time in my entire life that I could loop over and over, it would be our first date together. I felt so happy from the beginning to the end; I could live that day for the rest of my life. I remember I would watch him and what he did... he was obviously excited and I could feel myself being drawn to him. I was hoping he would like the bright orange shirt I wore that day.

That first kiss... I will never forget it for the rest of my life. It was like a lightning strike to me. It was like I was shocked when my lips touched his. The kiss was so delicate I felt vulnerable. I expected a quick peck. I just wanted to lean in and kiss him quickly to say that I really liked him. I was so surprised when he kept kissing me. My face flushed red I'm sure, because I remember feeling it. I completely melted right there and I knew that he had me. My whole body got warm and it felt so good to be so close to him. I had never felt this kind of feeling before. It was the touch of luck. I had finally found my dream guy. I felt like I had finally hit the jackpot. He was funny, he was dashing and he was kissing me! I felt golden.

Being with him had been so unpredictable, surprising, sweet and sour at the same time. I may not know what true love feels like, but this is the closest I had ever been. I felt like a high school kid with her first big crush. All common sense told me, slow down and back off but each moment that I was with him was completely satisfying in every way that it felt like I could not live without him.

I was addicted and he was my drug.

Time flies when I am having fun and it didn’t take long for my contract at Cedar Point to end. In the blink of a teary eye, I went back to Malaysia. I’ve learned that goodbyes will always hurt, pictures never replace having been there, memories good or bad will bring tears and words can never replace those feelings…

* * *

“Are you alright?”

“No, smoke got into my eyes.” I replied to my mom, as I wiped the tear drop that was flowing down my cheek. I just couldn’t help it. That particular scene in the movie Cast Away; when the main character had to send the love of his life away, related to me very well as it reminded me of the day I had to leave. I was going home, back to the hot and humid country I had lived all my life. Yet, I did not want to let go of what was precious to me. We were physically apart, but still mentally and emotionally very attached. It had been a while since I came back and only talking to him over the internet just would not do me justice.

“I love you to the point of desperation. You are my beating heart and my sense of passion. I'm waiting, so hurry back.”

I sighed as his last words lingered in my mind.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, counted to ten slowly in my head and opened my eyes. My long thick, shining hair covered part of my face as I shoved it behind my ears. A lot of things were running through my mind and I had no control over sorting out the mess. I was under so much pressure and stress that sometimes I got lost in time. There were decisions that I had to make which would determine my future with him and the people around me. There were outcomes that I had to consider which would affect people around me. Getting into Western Michigan University was my only hope to be with him.

The thought of meeting him again seemed so distant. Considering the current situation, there is a very slim chance I will go back to America, or at least anytime soon. Unhappy was an understatement in this situation and so was disappointment. Sometimes, I felt as though I was so sick and tired of everything that happened around me, I wished that I was already standing at the end of this particular race.

My heart skipped a beat as I took another look at the offer letter that arrived that afternoon. I unconsciously smile to myself. There is hope, not a confirmation… but there is hope and that is good enough for the moment. I gathered my thoughts together and repeated to myself.

There is hope.

* * *

It is better to love and lost then never to love at all. It's not destiny that we met. It's fate. Fate exists but it can only take us so far, because once we are there, it's up to us to make it happen. My friends said that I’m lucky; maybe they were right. Sometimes it’s the memories of the past, perseverance in the present and hope for the future that keeps us alive. My face brightened up as I realised where I am now.

Looking out the window… pure white. I could see snow everywhere and for a very strange reason, I felt placid. I imagine myself taking a step to edge and looked down to see the world below. Silence surrounded me. There were powdery white dots floating about and from a distance along with a few mini snow tornados took place. I imagine myself falling down. I felt the rushing wind against my cold - almost frozen body and light soft snow falling on my face.
Peace.

Before I knew it, the announcement was made and I felt my ride end with a little bump on the ground. Excitedly, I pulled my pink jacket closer to my body as the cold wave hit me as I made my way out of the plane, dragging my luggage behind me. It was the winter of 2008 and I was half a world away from Malaysia.

I stared out at the familiar sight of space filled with big people and all of them still look rather the same to me. The day that I had been anticipating finally came to pass but time was just going by unusually slow. The immigration process took forever. Impatiently, I stood in line wishing that I could just jump across the gates and run towards the ‘Exit’ door. Well, I did run towards the ‘Exit’ door after my documents were finally processed and gave a hard push on the door that somehow seemed lighter than usual doors.

Stepping out, I looked around to see any recognizable faces. This time, I was expecting someone. Standing nearby was an attractive young man with blond hair and brown eyes looking at me with his quaint smile.

This is where I want to be.

I smiled.