ROOM TRANSCRIPT
STEREO: airplane touching down
“Welcome home ladies and gentlemen,
the temperature now is 32 degrees celsius...”
(Singlish and Australian)
(Pilot continues to speak but in background)
“The local time now is 7.30 in the evening. Please remain seated
until the fastened seat belt sign is turned on. Please also check your seat pockets
To ensure that you have taken all your belongings with you. Once again, it was
A pleasure to have you on board. Thank you and have a pleasant week ahead.”
STEREO: walking to passport gates, beeping sounds
(Pilot stops)
luggage belt, struggles to lift heavy luggage, luggage lands on floor
STEREO: tram, mrt train sounds melt into one soundNot able to distinguish between the other
STEREO: bedroom door knob twists, door creaks open from afar
STEREO: clock ticks softly in background, footsteps coming closer to listener, someone getting down to the floor, getting comfortable sitting down. Toaster clicks, clock ticking becomes louder Toaster pops the crispy bread out
1. Green Toast
I cannot help but believe now
that there exist various forms of green things on toast.
(sound: butter knife on toast, gentle clink of knife on glass plate)
Kaya toast has to be Number 1.
But that avo toast?
Oh, so different from that sugar, egg, and coconut extract I’ve known all my life.
What would Grandma think if she knew I spread avocados on my toast?
That fruit, is a luxury.
(sound: crunchy bite into toast)
The kaya toast is such a favourite, there are even chainstores opened that specialise in them.
Yakun kaya toast, toast box, fun toast…
(sound: crunchy bites into toast accelerates into)
(sound: kopitiam ambience, dreamy)
Served with two soft boiled eggs, stirred into perfection with soya sauce and a little bit of white pepper if you fancy.
Not forgetting a cup of traditional coffee
Which we order in codes like
Kopi - which is coffee
(sound: clink of spoon stirring in cup)
Kopi O - coffee with sugar, no milk
Kopi siew dai - coffee with less sugar
Kopi Peng - Iced coffee
(Sound: zooms back into reality with kopitiam sounds in background, sound of humidity)
“Auntie ah, Kaya Set A. Er.. Kopi O Siew Dai da pao Peng”
(Sound: basket of two eggs knocking one another, cashier opens)
(Sound: sound of Melbourne cafe, cashier closes in background, “Here’s your change. Next please”, light music bossa nova)
Hey, how are you going? Could I have smashed avo on toast please. And ice latte with soy milk. Here’s my reusable coffee cup. Thanks. (with a smile)
2. Tiger Balm
(sound: lamp clicks and switches on, dragging chair, table squeaks, weight on chair)
(Music, like from an old cartoon)
The day Baby tiger was born
Mama tiger, Papa tiger, Aunt tiger, another Aunt tiger and Grandma tiger
All leaned in and peered at the little gift that just arrived.
(chuckle, smooches, adoring sounds) “Smells like baby!,”
Grandma chuckled and rubbed little cub with her face.
Years went by and little cub was not little any more.
She grew in wisdom and stature
And discovered her little gift in
“THE SOMERSAULT”. (exaggerated sound effect)
Now, you must understand that in Paw Paw Villa,
Mama tiger, Papa tiger, Aunt tiger, another Aunt tiger and Grandma tiger
Did not do “THE SOMERSAULT”.
It is a good gift bestowed,
But also very unfamiliar to Paw Paw Villa.
Home, however, was too small to do the somersaults.
So Baby tiger ran beyond Paw Paw Villa,
And discovered the skies just over yonder.
She knew instantly, that yonder was where she must go.
Grandma insisted Tiger Balm came along with her.
“But I don’t like the smell!”
“But I have no use for it!”
Now it smelt like
Grandma and her care.
Her concern in a little bottle of white ointment.
(sound: tiger balm opening, someone smelling then transit into Letters)
3. Hanging Letters
(Casette tape, record button clicks)(clears throat, bittersweet tone)
Yesterday
I walked into Australia Post and sent a letter back home.
Yeah, I could call, I could video call easily...
But I guess some words are better said on paper?
If I cried while writing it,
The paper would crease a little at the part.
If I ran out of ink,
You’d see where I had to pause and change a pen.
I found myself being so careful with writing it,
Maybe because I know you’ll take extra care reading every stroke and word -
Just to live and relive a moment with me.
(Sound: deep breath)(sound: block 293, street… #)
Anyway I paid for my stamps -
My first handwritten letter in 10 years
A proof that you are there
And I’m here.
4. Useless Umbrella (Suitcase)
(sound: unzipping of suitcase, violent waving of clothes to unwrinkle them, plopping of clothes)
Every item packed is a decision made.
(sound: clipping of umbrella, crackle of ice gem packaging)
Sometimes not by you, but others.
(sound: zips zipping)
We can make silly decisions,
Because they are not marked by experience.
Like the useless umbrella.
(sound: opening umbrella)
(news reporting vibe, radio crackle)
Shortly after arriving in Melbourne,
I noticed that the umbrella is not an umbrella at all.
No, it is a hoodie, ah… a brisk walk, mm… a briefcase.
(sound: umbrella to make the sounds of hoodie, walk and briefcase)
We can also make rational decisions,
Because they are marked by memories.
Like ice gems and lemon puffs.
(sound: grandma attempting to feed a baby, baby chuckles, crunch)
5. Books and Bed
To have a place to lay your head is a special thing.
(sound: someone relaxing, sheets ruffling, someone getting comfy in bed)
Whether you had to pay for it each week, the comfort of knowing that a third of your time - 8 hours a day, is taken care of.
(sound: breathe out)
Like a book on a shelf in a store.
Even if the store was tucked away in a corner of the city,
it still belonged.
Even if no one knew you and you knew no one.
(sound: sheets ruffle, as if narrator tosses around briefly)
For 8 hours a day,
You belonged.
I have been collecting books.
From secondhand bookstores, book exchange corners
To the cardboard boxes outside the school library.
I would bring them home and lay them nicely.
Now they belonged.
They belonged to me.
But each night
And come morning
I realise all over again
That to have a place to lay your head is a special thing,
But it doesn’t mean I belong.