Underneath the Passtion: Episode One

Underneath the Passion
Episode One: A Wild Encounter

Walking silently through the yellow sand, a young woman (Charmaine Sheh) clutched a basket of produce tightly. As the wind gradually picked up, she began to pick up her pace. She fixed her cloak as the wind blew harder than ever. In the distance, a small town crept into her vision, growing bigger as she approached it.

As she approached the town, her eyes scanned for a spot on the streets to sell her produce. The streets were littered with merchants, and places were scarce. Spotting a place with shade, she quickly attempted to claim the spot as her own, but another person, a man, was also rushing for the spot. She lifted her head to speak to him.

"Please get out of my place," she said, trying to retain herself.

The man (Raymond Lam), holding his own basket of produce, looked up. "Miss, I spotted this place first. Working is a man's job. You're just a woman, what do you know?"

She glanced at him with weary eyes and said, "More than you."

"Well, I spotted this excellent spot first, and no one, especially a woman, can stop me from taking it. Go back home and let your husband do the selling."

Tears began to blur her vision, but she remained calm. "I will not - "

At that exact moment, the little village erupted in chaos.

"They're coming, they're coming!" The villagers began to run in all directions. The man suddenly grabbed her hand and started looking for cover.

He scanned the village and muttered under his breath, "So soon, I thought the government could do better than this..."

"What are you doing?" She yelled, trying to free her hand from his grip, but all was in vain.

"Do you want to die a horrible death?" He screamed back, and pulled her into a house with him. Unfortunately, he tripped over a rock and they both fell flat on their faces.

"How could you trip on a rock?" She dusted the sand off her face and clothes. "What's happening? Why do we have to hide?"

He glared at her for a second, and then responded. "For your information, I just saved your life, so don't comment on my stupidity. Secondly, have you been living under a rock for the past few years? The Japanese are here!"

"The Japanese?"

" 'Tin ah!' " He cried out in desperation. "Okay. The Japanese are invading China, so it's best to avoid them. I heard the nasty rumours about what the Japanese men do to Chinese women.."

"Okay.." She eyed him wearily. "So, what do you go by?"

"Lee Bo Yi," he said casually, "How about -"

A dark shadow suddenly appeared, and gunshots were fired. "FREEZE, AND SHOW YOURSELVES!"