1. When It's Too Late
A Short Film
Written by
Liza Lee Shishido
Copyright (c) 2022
(404) 969-6928
lizashishido@gmail.com

2. INT. HATA HOUSE - NIGHT
Living room. Dimly lit. Curtain-less window faces the
backyard. Porch light on. An older man -- MR. HATA (mid-
70s) -- stands with his back to the window. His daughter --
SKYLER (early-30s) -- sits on the couch in the living room,
reads something on her phone. She scrolls...
A video plays... SHOUTING can be heard -- protesters march,
fists raised. A few signs and banners are in focus -- "END
VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS" and "NO PLACE FOR HATE" and
"PROTECT OUR ELDERS" are among many...
Skyler hesitates, her thumb hovers over the screen. She lets
out a shaky sigh, glances through the window at Mr. Hata.
SKYLER (V.O.)
He used to tell me I have it better
than he ever did...
MONTAGE - BIKE RIDE - DAY
6-YEAR-OLD SKYLER sits on the ground with a bloody knee,
tears flow down her eyes. Bike on its side next to her. A
YOUNGER MR. HATA towers above her, stony-expressioned.
MR. HATA
almost a growl
( )
Get up.
MONTAGE - TYPICAL MISTAKE - EVENING
PRETEEN SKYLER stands in front of a mirror, horrified as she
tries to flatten blunt bangs that she clearly cut herself.
Mr. Hata crosses his arms in the doorway, a disapproving
shake of his head. Skyler and Mr. Hata make eye contact --
Skyler deflates as Mr. Hata purses his lips.
MONTAGE - PROM NIGHT - NIGHT
TEENAGE SKYLER sits on her bed, dolled up for prom. She
glances at her alarm clock -- 10:17 P.M. She removes her
earrings and tosses them aside.
SKYLER (V.O.)
But sometimes I just wished he'd tell
me it'd be okay.
Tearfully, Skyler looks through her doorway as Mr. Hata
passes.

3. MONTAGE - PACKING FOR COLLEGE - DAY
With her back to the door, Skyler packs up clothes into a
cardboard box. Mr. Hata stands in the doorway, arms crossed.
MR. HATA
You're lucky.
Skyler straightens up, turns. A quick furrow of her brow.
Before Skyler can utter a word, Mr. Hata turns on his heel.
SKYLER (V.O.)
slightly exasperated
( )
Or maybe just elaborate...
MONTAGE - HATA HOUSE/PRESENT - NIGHT
Skyler rises from her seat picks up the hat on the adjacent
couch -- a VIETNAM VETERAN hat.
MONTAGE - VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL - DAY
A dreary day. A few pedestrians. Cars sit at the stoplight
as preteen Skyler and Mr. Hata cross the street. Mr. Hata
wears a stony expression, almost a scowl.
MOMENTS LATER --
Skyler and Mr. Hata stride granite panels, flowers and
wreaths distributed sporadically as they pass.
SKYLER (V.O.)
Just so I wasn't left to wonder...
They come to a sudden halt. Mr. Hata's expression softens
for a split second. A tear forms in his eye -- he clears his
throat. Skyler stares up at her father... his expression
hardens again.
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. SKYLER'S BEDROOM - FLASHBACK
Mr. Hata glowers at teenage Skyler as they stand face-to-
face. Mr. Hata raises a hand -- Skyler flinches.
SKYLER (V.O.)
Why he was like that.
END MONTAGE
2.

4. INT. HATA HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
Skyler gazes back at Mr. Hata through the window. She
crosses the living room, slides on a pair of slippers then
exits through the back door.
EXT. HATA HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Mr. Hata glances at Skyler -- his cheek is bruised.
SKYLER
Hey, Dad.
She extends the hat to him. He takes it from her, puts it
on. The family dog runs up the steps. Skyler bends down to
pet it. A beat, she straightens up. Hesitantly, she looks at
Mr. Hata as he puts on his hat. A beat, he meets her gaze.
MR. HATA
What?
SKYLER
Are you doing okay?
Mr. Hata furrows his brow and nods fervently.
SKYLER (cont'd)
Are you sure? Because --
MR. HATA
Skyler -- it's not your job to worry
about me.
He quickly opens the back door and lets the dog back into
the house. He slips off his shoes. Skyler gapes --
MR. HATA (cont'd)
Are you coming in?
Skyler hesitates -- Mr. Hata closes the door. Skyler sighs.
INT. HATA HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Mr. Hata wipes off the dog's feet. Skyler enters the house,
takes off her shoes --
SKYLER
Dad --
Mr. Hata walks away from Skyler, steps onto the pedal for
the trash can to throw away the napkin.
3.

5. SKYLER (cont'd)
Dad! Stop!
Mr. Hata looks up suddenly, his expression a mix of anger
and surprise. Skyler surveys him with a knitted brow.
SKYLER (cont'd)
I'm sorry... I -- I didn't mean to
yell at you. I...
Skyler looks down. Mr. Hata tosses away the napkin.
SKYLER (cont'd)
I'm worried that --
MR. HATA
And I told you not to.
He returns to the living room. Skyler pursues him.
SKYLER
But I am...
Mr. Hata sighs, turns around --
SKYLER (cont'd)
I'm not a kid anymore. You can't
treat me like -- like I'm too stupid
to --
MR. HATA
I never said you were.
SKYLER
I know that. I'm just saying... I'm
old enough to notice the shit that
happens to you.
Mr. Hata raises a brow.
SKYLER (cont'd)
I'm old enough to know that certain
things bother you.
chokes up
( )
I'm old enough to worry about what
happens to you because of other
people.
Mr. Hata surveys her. Skyler sniffles, wipes away a few
tears. Mr. Hata crosses his arms.
MR. HATA
points at his face
( )
This isn't that bad.
4.

6. He begins to walk away again -- Skyler stops him --
SKYLER
What's that supposed to mean?
MR. HATA
I was in the army, Skyler. I've seen
a lot worse.
SKYLER
I know, but...
MR. HATA
Come here...
Mr. Hata guides Skyler to the couches. They sit next to each
other, Skyler sits sideways to face Mr. Hata.
MR. HATA (cont'd)
I've told you a lot of stories...
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA - FLASHBACK - 1964
Gas station in rural Georgia. A 19-YEAR-OLD MR. HATA exits a
car with his friends -- all white boys his age.
SKYLER (V.O.)
Yeah, I remember some...
The white boys laugh, walk ahead. They beeline toward the
side of the building labeled "WHITES ONLY." Two of the boys
turn and grin at Mr. Hata --
MR. HATA'S FRIEND
Better go in that one!
The boys guffaw as Mr. Hata stops in his tracks, anxiety
floods his expression as he glances at the other side of the
building -- "COLORS ONLY."
INT. HATA HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
Skyler's arm twitches as if she wants to reach out toward
her father --
SKYLER
That's not how you told it before.
MR. HATA
I know.
5.

7. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN VIETNAM - FLASHBACK - 1965
Mr. Hata and a few other Asian U.S. Army soldiers gather
around a cast iron pot. One of them rations out scoops of
rice. Several white soldiers stand around behind them.
WHITE SOLDIER #1
How many Gooks do you think you can
kill?
WHITE SOLDIER #2
More than you.
The two soldiers laugh loudly. Mr. Hata looks up at the
other Asian soldiers -- one of them glowers, takes a step
toward the white soldiers; another stops him --
Another white soldier walks by and snatches a bowl out of
Mr. Hata's hands and throws it across the camp.
INT. HATA HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
SKYLER
What the fuck?!
Mr. Hata gives Skyler a chastising look, slightly amused.
SKYLER (cont'd)
Sorry.
a beat
( )
That's definitely different than the
way you told me when I was a kid...
but...
MR. HATA
You still want to know?
SKYLER
nods
( )
Of course...
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN WASHINGTON D.C. - FLASHBACK - 1967
Sunny day. Mr. Hata and one of his friends from the gas
station walk down the street. Mr. Hata pauses to dig into
his pocket, his friend keeps walking -- two men suddenly
appear and tackle his friend. Mr. Hata breaks into a sprint
as the men begin to pummel his friend --
Mr. Hata's friend grunts as he absorbs the blows. Mr. Hata,
much shorter than the two assailants, struggles to stop
them.
6.

8. MR. HATA
What are you doing?
MAN #1
This piece of shit is a murderer!
He emphasizes his point with a kick.
MAN #1 (cont'd)
Why are you trying to help him? He
made a living off killing people.
Mr. Hata staggers slightly.
MAN #1 (cont'd)
He killed people like you.
A conflicted expression unfolds across Mr. Hata's face --
shocked, hurt, angry, scared...
MAN #1 (cont'd)
He's a monster. A racist.
Mr. Hata gapes slightly. His friend stares up at him with
fearful eyes, almost begging... Mr. Hata backs away...
INT. HATA HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
Mr. Hata looks down at his lap. Skyler scans his face.
MR. HATA
I never wanted you to be scared...
Mr. Hata wears the same hardened expression he had at the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial... Skyler's eyes begin to glisten.
SKYLER
Dad...
Skyler reaches out to touch her father's hand --
SKYLER (cont'd)
I wish I hadn't been scared to ask
you sooner...
REVEAL -- Mr. Hata isn't there. All of what she just heard
never happened...
She stares at her phone -- the headline above the video
reads: "PROTESTS CONTINUE FOLLOWING ATTACK ON LOCAL ASIAN
MAN" -- a photo of Mr. Hata as the video of the protest
ends. Skyler locks her phone, her reflection in the blank
screen --
7.

9. SKYLER (V.O.)
There's so much more I wished I
knew...
She stands...
SKYLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
But it's too late.
REVEAL family members standing throughout the house. All
wear black.
FADE TO BLACK
8.