INT. CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, SAN GABRIEL - NIGHT
MOMO shows up.
His eyes SCAN the room.
A HAND waves from a table.
Jack's sitting alone.
           MOMO                  JACK
       Where's--        She canceled last minute.
TEN MINUTES LATER
Both men sip tea.
                            JACK
                I saw your stuff...
He lays A PRINTOUT.
                           It reads:
                BEAT CHINA!
                WIN AT ALL COSTS
                TABLE TENNIS KILLER TIPS
                MOMO AND MIMI
                TABLE TENNIS CHANNEL
                            JACK
                    (looks him in the eye)
                Why did you beat the drums and bells
                of war against China?
                           MOMO
                Cuz the China National Team
                is the team to beat. Like "Beat
                LA"...
Jack shakes his head.
                           MOMO
                    (looks him in the eye)
                It's nothing but a sign of recog-
                nition and respect.
                            JACK
                But this, I don't think so. You
                have a better explanation?--
                           MOMO
                Dude, it's just a marketing...
                            JACK
                Sounds very personal to me--
                           MOMO
                Sounds oversensitive to me.
                            JACK
                Suggestive campaign--
                           MOMO
                Your perception is so jacked up,
                Jack...
MIMI's boyfriend GETS UP.
Signals him for the restroom.
MOMO looks around.
TWO MINUTES LATER
Jack comes back and sits.
POURS tea for himself.
For MOMO.
                           MOMO
                Thank you.
                            JACK
                MO, did you know that it takes
                more than one cold day for the
                river to freeze three feet deep?
MOMO is not registering.
                            JACK
                In ten years, the rest of the world
                may be able to reach CNT's level
                today. But keep in mind that by
                then, CNT will be light-years ahead.
                So how do you wanna beat that?
                           MOMO
                Dunno.
                            JACK
                Did you know the fact that the
                world never has enough talents,
                but CNT never has enough spots?
                How do you wanna beat that?
                           MOMO
                Beats me.
                            JACK
                Did you know the fact that in
                Rio twenty sixteen, at least
                forty four players were born
                in China? How do you wanna
                beat that?
                           MOMO
                You're saying those imports
                are actually CNT rejects?--
                            JACK
                Did you know the fact that
                qualifying for the CNT is
                harder than winning the
                Olympics? How do you
                wanna beat that?
                           MOMO
                I know how.
Jack CHUCKLES.
                           MOMO
                If it's played fair and square.
                            JACK
                          (sits back)
                Tell me about it.
                           MOMO
                Jack, did you know one thing
                your folks are really good at?
                Like no other people in the
                world...
He PAUSES.
                            JACK
                I'm listening...
                           MOMO
                Faking.
                            JACK
                          (flushing)
                That's rude--
                           MOMO
                But true. Your folks also stole
                our technology and got away
                with murder. So how do you
                wanna beat that?
                            JACK
                MO, did you know what your
                folks are really good at? Better
                than all other nations in the
                world...
He PAUSES.
                           MOMO
                I'm all ears...
                            JACK
                Bullying.
                           MOMO
                          (flushing)
                That's crude--
                            JACK
                But true. Your folks became
                rich because of slavery and
                conquest. Also, got away with
                murder. Right me if I'm wrong.
                           MOMO
                Ugly forms of nationalism
                and dominance have no
                place in sports, Jack.
                            JACK
                But MO, you must also admit
                the fact that we constantly
                have unmatched pool of
                extremely high level players--
                see MIMI?
                           MOMO
                What about her?
                            JACK
                She picked up her first paddle
                at three. Trained at her parents'
                facility every single day of her life.
                Still, she wasn't good enough to
                make the team at her university.
                           MOMO
                Really? She never told me--
                            JACK
                Of course she didn't. In China,
                there are players her level in
                every corner of our streets.
                           MOMO
                You're being rude.
                            JACK
                I'm being honest.
They fall silent.
Sip tea.
MOMO gives him the restroom signal.
MOMENTS LATER
MOMO pulls his chair.
POURS tea into Jack's cup.
And his.
                            JACK
                Thanks. By the way, why did
                you wanna partner with her?
He SIPS his tea.
                           MOMO
                Cuz MIMI's a good player and
                a popular YouTuber.
                            JACK
                You like her?
                           MOMO
                         (red-faced)
                Who doesn't?
Jack chuckles.
                            JACK
                How do you feel about her?
                           MOMO
                My feeling is none of your
                business.
Smiling, Jack nods.
                            JACK
                You're in love with her...
                           MOMO
                A threat?
                            JACK
                A question.
                           MOMO
                    (looks him in the eye)
                Every breath.
The two alpha males SQUARE OFF.
                            JACK
                      (half-whispers)
                You're being rude.
                           MOMO
                I'm being honest.
Jack SIPS his tea.
                            JACK
                      (half-whispers)
                You slept with her...
                           MOMO
                I never touched her.
A MINUTE LATER
INT. CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT'S RESTROOM
MOMO pulls out his phone.
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                MIMI, where are you at?
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                MOMO! How are you? At home.
                Jack canceled dinner
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                Btw, did you let him read my
                script?
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                Never. Why?
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                Never mind. Dinner yet?
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                Not yet. Why?
TWENTY MINUTES LATER
EXT. MIMI'S PORCH
The door OPENS.
BAREFOOT.
A ROSEATE DRESS.
LIGHT MAKEUP.
And A SMILE.
Making MOMO spellbound.
                            MIMI
                      (half-whispers)
                Hi...
                           MOMO
                      (half-whispers)
                Hi...
                            MIMI
                      (half-whispers)
                It's been a while...
He nods.
Hands her a white plastic bag.
                           MOMO
                Beef bowl and chicken bowl.
                Buy one get one free...
                           (smiles)
                            MIMI
                          (takes it)
                MOMO, please come in.
                           MOMO
                I'd love to. But it's kinda late.
                You're going out?
                            MIMI
                No. Why?
                           MOMO
                You smell nice. And look nice.
He gives her a smile.
Smiling, she lowers her face.
                            MIMI
                         (whispers)
                Thank you.
Reluctantly, he waves her goodbye.
                           MOMO
                G-good night, MIMI.
BOTH seem to want to hug but STOP.
                            MIMI
                H-how's Hazuki?
                           MOMO
                Doesn't say much lately.
Lower their heads.
They fall into silence.
                           MOMO
                MIMI...
                            MIMI
                MOMO...
                           MOMO
                Bon appetit.
She's not responding.
                           MOMO
                      (half-whispers)
                After you...
Waving goodbye, she shuts the door.
In SLOW MOTION.
INT. MIMI'S LIVING ROOM
She's standing behind the door.
LOOKING THROUGH its peephole.
INT. MIMI'S ROOM - LATER
Two bento boxes on her desk.
A receipt on her laptop's keyboard.
With the customer's name on it, "MOMO AND MIMI".
INT. MOMO'S ROOM - NIGHT
His iPhone LIGHTS UP.
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                MOMO, are you already home?
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                MIMI! Yes, I'm home. Thank
                you for thinking about me
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                I am glad. I forgot to say thank
                you for the meal
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                My pleasure. As always
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                Good night
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                MIMI...
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                ?
                       MOMO (TEXT)
                Wanna kick ass again with me
                this weekend in OC? Feels like
                forever
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                Oh, I will ask
INT. MOMO'S ROOM - DAY
The iPhone BUZZES.
                        MIMI (TEXT)
                MOMO, I'm sorry but I can't.
                I will play Open Singles this
                time
INT. TABLE TENNIS CLUB, FOUNTAIN VALLEY - NIGHT
Spectators SWARM the Open Singles final.
MIMI versus an East Asian boy, age 15, a modern chopper.
She loops the ball to the NET.
Smashes it OFF the table.
0-2 and 9:10, all for the boy.
MIMI hangs her head.
                       AN UNKNOWN
                      SPECTATOR (O.S.)
                           (shouts)
                Time out!
All heads TURN.
MOMO emerges from the crowd.
Nods his head to the umpire.
ALL EYES are on him.
                           MOMO
                          (to MIMI)
                Please come here.
She puts her paddle on the table and RUNS to him.
He HOLDS her shoulders.
                           MOMO
                         (whispers)
                MIMI, look at me!
                   (points to his own eyes)
                It's not over 'til it's over!
He LEANS IN toward the side of her face.
His lips TOUCH her left ear.
                           MOMO
                         (whispers)
                Your arms and legs are longer
                than his. Loop far right, far left.
                Make him stretch out his arm and
                his legs. Where's the tiger mama
                I used to know?!
SLOW MOTION:
Suddenly, MIMI HUGS MOMO TIGHT.
The crowd GASPS.
MOMO HUGS MIMI TIGHT.
She WHISPERS into his ear.
He RAISES his face.
His eyes FREEZE.
Witnessing Jack in the crowd.
WATCHING.
END SLOW MOTION.
LATER
INT. JACK'S WHITE TESLA SUV
QUIET.
In the passenger seat, MIMI is crying.
Jack's looking on.
Offering a tissue to her.
She shakes her head.
A KNOCK on her window.
She LOOKS OUT.
Smiling, MOMO is SHOWING her a brown bag.
She rolls down her window.
Takes it in.
Finds TARO BREADS, COCONUT WATER .
She LOOKS OUT again.
Finds NO ONE.
