Stars for Shancai

Chapter 5

Shancai's Problem

JULIA: The stars are so beautiful tonight.

JERRY: Beautiful. Yes... Bright without the moon...

JULIA: Why don't we make a wish?

JERRY: (distracted voice) On a helicopter?

JULIA: No! On a shooting star!

JERRY: There is no shooting star out here...

JULIA: JERRY! What's up with you tonight? You're talking about stars being bright without the moon, making wishes on a helicopter and no shooting stars! The newspaper said that there would be some meteors passing through tonight.

JERRY: Hmm.

JULIA: Look! There's one!

A comet flashes through the sky. Soon, it's gone.

JULIA: Let's make a wish.

JERRY: A wish?

JULIA: A wish!

JERRY: I wish for an ice cream cone...

A flashback goes through Jerry's mind. Images of him and Shancai kissing and he remembers when Shancai said:

SHANCAI: I wished for an ice cream cone.

Jerry stops his flashback when Julia interrupts it--

JULIA: An ice cream cone? Why?

Meanwhile...

VIC: Please eat your soup!

SHANCAI: No.

VANNESS: Are you starving yourself?! Please...just eat it!

SHANCAI: No.

KEN: Look, Jerry's a jerk, but you have to move on. Even we, his buddies, want you to move on. There is no point in staying like this.

SHANCAI: I'm sorry. My stomach's just not hungry.

Later, when Vic and Vanness have gone home...

KEN: Shancai, what's wrong? Just tell me. Maybe I can help.

SHANCAI: (whispers in Ken's ear )

KEN: (eyes widen in horror)