SUPER:
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE CHINA NATIONAL TEAM (CNT)
HAS RULED THE TABLE TENNIS KINGDOM LIKE A GOD.
ACCORDING TO THE IOC, THE CNT'S "DOMINANCE SCORE"
IN THE SPORT IS THE HIGHEST OF ANY NUMBER AT 63.9--
EVEN TEAM USA'S BASKETBALL SUPREMACY ISN'T CLOSE AT 42.9
INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, WEST HILLS, CALIFORNIA - DAY
A banner above reads:
"EAST-WEST LA OPEN - SUMMER 2019"
                     SPECTATORS (O.S.)
                         (chanting)
                Mimi jiayou!
SLOW MOTION:
A PAIR OF PINK TABLE TENNIS SHOES swings forward.
LONG LEGS.
MINI SKIRT.
CAMI TANK TOP.
LONG NECK.
EAST ASIAN's perfect face geometry. Defiant and raw emotion.
PIXIE HAIRCUT.
She's MIMI, age 21.
Behind her is Jason, age 19. Similar look.
TWO CAUCASIANS follow.
MOSES and SARA, 23. A match made in heaven.
SUPPORTERS cheer.
The umpire PUTS UP the scoreboard.
2-2 at 12:11.
Sara tosses the ball, SERVES it to Jason.
He RECEIVES it.
Moses SLAMS Jason's high return.
Ball HITS the net.
Gets STUCK.
Suddenly, it bounces TWICE across.
Spectators GASP.
MIMI and Jason GLARE.
Umpire RAISES arm to winners.
Sara EMBRACES Moses.
END SLOW MOTION.
A MINUTE LATER
Moses and Sara sip coconut water on the bench.
                           MOSES
                      (half-whispers)
                We got lucky.
                            SARA
                      (half-whispers)
                I know right?! We're down zero two.
                Came back one two, two two. And
                then the net saved our ass.
                           MOSES
                      (half-whispers)
                I feel bad for them.
COURTNEY, a black male player in his late 20s, approaches.
                         COURTNEY
                Yo! Can't believe y'all beat them.
                MIMI's real solid and popular too.
The champions TURN and STARE at each other.
Back at him.
                         COURTNEY
                You ain't know? She's on YouTube.
INT. MOSES' ROOM - NIGHT
On the screen, MIMI's face lights up. Her eyes sparkle.
Waves her paddle in a black NIGHTIE-LIKE OUTFIT.
                            MIMI
                Hi guys! MIMI here... Today
                I'm gonna talk about topspin.
Smiling, Moses BRINGS his face closer to his iMac screen.
His eyes GLOW.
                           MOSES
                   (whispers to himself)
                GMO...
INT. TABLE TENNIS CLUB, ROSEMEAD - DAY
At the table, Moses and Sara practice their backhands.
Suddenly, Sara's hand CATCHES the ball.
Her eyes ROLL to Moses' right.
Making him turn his head.
In a black core tank and mini skirt, MIMI's approaching their table.
                            SARA
                           (to her)
                Hey, long time no see.
                            MIMI
                Yeah right. You guys beat us
                yesterday.
                           MOSES
                          (to Mimi)
                We got lucky--
                            SARA
                           (to her)
                Wanna hit?
She tosses the ball to him.
                            MIMI
                           (to her)
                You're finished?
                            SARA
                I'll take a break.
She walks away.
Holding a paddle, MIMI takes her spot.
                           MOSES
                I'll practice with you. I'm
                Moses. You're MIMI, right?
She smiles.
They start with basic forehands.
                           MOSES
                MIMI, I'm truly sorry for yesterday.
                            MIMI
                It's okay.
                           MOSES
                I still feel bad. We all know
                you're the better player.
                            MIMI
                You are very kind--
                           MOSES
                You're very sweet--
             MOSES                    MIMI
         (smiles to her)           (smiles to him)
     Thank you.              Thank you.
                            MIMI
                You two together?
                           MOSES
                Hmm?
                            MIMI
                She is your girlfriend?--
                           MOSES
                Who? Sara?
He CATCHES the ball with his hand.
They STARE at each other.
                           MOSES
                No.
In the corner, Sara's sipping water.
WATCHING them play.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER
Moses and Mimi sit together by the table.
He takes out A BIG BOTTLE of coconut water.
Smiling, hands it to her.
                           MOSES
                For the winner...
                            MIMI
                          (takes it)
                Thank you.
                           MOSES
                And for the runner up.
He opens A SMALLER BOTTLE of coconut water.
She smiles shyly.
                            MIMI
                Why do you like coconut
                water so much?
                           MOSES
                How do you know?
Her cheeks suddenly BLUSH.
                           MOSES
                Whoa, you're blushing. But
                no worries. It's a good sign...
                            MIMI
                A good sign?
                           MOSES
                I heard people who blush easily
                are more trustworthy, empathetic,
                and...
                   (gradually looks away)
                            MIMI
                      (holds her gaze)
                Hmm?
                           MOSES
                Romantic.
His cheeks are BLUSHING.
                            MIMI
                You are blushing too.
Both SMILE. LOOK AWAY.
                           MOSES
                Are you a student here?
She nods.
                           MOSES
                Where?
                            MIMI
                USC. Transferred from China.
                           MOSES
                Wow. When did you come to
                the US?
                            MIMI
                Three weeks ago.
                           MOSES
                You live around here?
                            MIMI
                Monterey Park.
                           MOSES
                           (smiles)
                Got a car yet?
She shakes her head. Smiles back.
                           MOSES
                Okay. Until then, I'll show you
                around. To make up for yesterday.
                Please, I'd feel bad.
From a distance, Sara continues WATCHING.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER
INT. MOSES' CAR (MOVING SLOWLY)Â
His finger points toward a square on her right.
                           MOSES
                That's the Myanmar Community Â
                Club. Few tables but tons of free
                foods on Sundays. Beers too...
Smiling, she lowers her face.
TEN MINUTES LATER
They pull into a parking lot.
He STOPS the car.
                           MOSES
                This is one of the oldest ping
               -pong clubs in LA.
In the STILL of his Prius, MIMI's tummy GRUMBLES borborygmus.
Moses glances at HIS OWN tummy.
                           MOSES
                Uh oh, feeding time.
MIMI looks out her window.
RED-FACED.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER
EXT. IN-N-OUT BURGER, EL MONTE
Moses and MIMI sip icy water.
                           MOSES
                Mimi, are you busy today?
She shakes her head.
                           MOSES
               Mmm, there's a new ping-pong
               club in Orange County. But it's
               an hour from here.
FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATER
EXT. INTERSTATE 5 - MOSES' CAR (MOVING)Â
Normal Sunday TRAFFIC in the freeway.
The car passes "DISNEY WAY" exit.
INT. MOSES' CAR (MOVING)
He turns and smiles at MIMI.
                           MOSES
                You've been to Disneyland?
She shakes her head.
                           MOSES
                I'll take you next time. God
                willing--
                            MIMI
                Moses, please don't say that
                word.
                           MOSES
                God? Why?
                            MIMI
                I'm scared.
A MINUTE LATER
She turns to him.
                            MIMI
                I like your car.
                          (smiles)
                Very quiet...
                           MOSES
                It's hybrid. This was my Thanksgiving
                gift from mom. Wait, did you hear that?
                            MIMI
                Hmm?
                           MOSES
                My car just replied...
                           (smiles)
                It likes you back. Very hot...
She turns away.
BLUSHING. SMILING SHYLY.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER
INT. TABLE TENNIS CLUB, FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Club full of players and spectators.
MIMI and Moses watch a match.
A Vietnamese guy across the table, 40s, WAVES him OVER.
                     VIETNAMESE MAN
                   (gives him a fist bump)
                Hey dude, where's Sara?
Moses shrugs.
                     VIETNAMESE MAN
                         (whispers)
                You dumped her for that--
                           MOSES
                She just landed from China, man.
                I'm trying to be a good host here--
                     VIETNAMESE MAN
                           (laughs)
                I know I know. You'll make
                a great host for her.
                         (whispers)
                But Mo, I heard dating women
                from China is tough--
                           MOSES
                         (whispers)
                Dude, it's not a date! Not
                happening--
                     VIETNAMESE MAN
                           (grins)
                Oh, come on. Men and women
                can never just be friends.
                Especially when both are hot.
                You wanna bet with me?
INT. THAI RESTAURANT, STANTON - NIGHT
"TRULY MADLY DEEPLY" is playing in the background.
Moses JOINS his hands.
Mimi's WATCHING.
                           MOSES
                Itadakimas...
                            MIMI
                Japanese?
                           MOSES
                I studied Japanese. It's saying
                grace. What is it in Chinese?
                            MIMI
                      (shakes her head)
                We don't have it. We just say,
                man man chi. It means, please
                eat slowly.
They start digging.
                            MIMI
                Why do you like Japanese?
                           MOSES
                I like the culture. Especially the
                women. They're so adorable.
                But I don't like their men.
                            MIMI
                Why?
                           MOSES
                Cuz they're not as adorable?
Both CHUCKLE.
He LEANS IN.
                           MOSES
                         (whispers)
                I watched your channel.
                            MIMI
                Really? How was it?
                           MOSES
                Liked. Subscribed. Hit the bell.
                            MIMI
                          (sweetly)
                Oh, Moses. Thank you so much.
                           MOSES
                You can call me Mo.
                            MIMI
                     (points to his nose)
                Mo? Momo?
                           MOSES
                     (points to her lips)
                And Mimi...
They LAUGH together.
                            MIMI
                You know what mimi means
                in Mandarin?
He holds his breath.
                            MIMI
                Mimi means secret.
                           MOMO
                So you're a girl of secret?
                            MIMI
                And you know what momo
                means?
He brings his face closer.
                            MIMI
                Unspoken... mmm, love and
                affection.
                           MOMO
                So you and I mean the secret
                of unspoken love and affection?
They both SMILE SHYLY.
LOOK AWAY.
TEN MINUTES LATER
They sip tea.
                           MOMO
                MIMI, what made you wanna
                create the channel?
                            MIMI
                I signed up after breaking up
                with my boyfriend.
                           MOMO
                You moved on already?
                            MIMI
                           (grins)
                Now I'm young, free, and single.
                           MOMO
                Wanna start a new channel
                with me?
