
FADE IN:
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
PETER picks up the soaked stamps from a cup of water and paste them on a lid to dry.
PETER (V.O.)
Stamp collecting
was one of my
favourite childhood
hobbies.
FLASHBACK
INT. STATIONARY STALL - DAY (1964)
Checking packets of used stamps on display, Peter (10) takes out the few coins he has from a pocket.
PETER (V.O.)
If I skip to buy my
morning bread for
a week, I can buy
those colourful
stamps...
Peter focuses on one particular packet.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, just go for it!
I'd bear my hunger.
INT. VILLAGE DWELLING - DAY (1964)
Peter carefully inserts his colourful stamps into clear plastic pockets of the pages of his stamp-collecting album.
PETER (V.O.)
I bought stamps with
their perforations
separated neatly. If
the whole ink chop mark
is on a stamp, which is
rare, it's a must-buy
for me - if I had the
money.
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. VILLAGE DWELLING - DAY (1964)
Peter (10) uses a pair of scissors to cut plastic straps before inserting them into the soles of plastic sandals.
PETER (V.O.)
When I get work and do
it at home, I can earn 70
cents in a month.
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
I've bought many stamps
from Malaya featuring
someone together with
trees, plants and houses.
Hong Kong stamps
featuring just the Queen's
profile are mundane.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Some countries, I don't
know where they're,
published large colourful
stamps with topical themes.
Are they fake stamps?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
I'll need a bigger stamp-
collecting album. It costs
HK$2. It means I'll have
forgo two-weeks'
morning bread.
EXT. VILLAGE ROAD - DAY (1964)
Under the mid-day sun, a TEACHER leads a group of PUPILS including Peter, walking towards a public road. Peter chats with his CLASSMATES.
PETER
I'm very hungry! What
can I do?
SOMEONE
Just bear with it before
you get home. Meanwhile,
swallow your saliva!
PETER
Yes, you're right!
Peter swallows his saliva.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
Later, I was attracted
to pop music.
FLASHBACK
EXT. ROAD - DAY (1964)
Jukebox rock and roll music from a Chinese tea house nearby. We hear: Can't buy me love! Love! Can't buy me love! I'll buy you a diamond ring...
PETER (V.O.)
The music's so appealing.
But I don't like the Cantonese
"行快D啦!" version.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.)
Even so, I've never thrown
any colourful stamps away.
When I was a village boy,
I longed to get mail from
afar.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I thought about having
international pen pals but
had never had one!
MONTAGE OF PETER'S STAMP COLLECTING HISTORY
A/ INT. OFFICE, CENTRAL - DAY
Peter (30s) cuts out used colourful stamps from envelope before placing them in bins.
B/ INT. OFFICE, WAN CHAI - DAY
Peter (40s) stores used colourful stamps still attached to fragments inside a small box.
C/ INT. OFFICE, WANCHAI - DAY
Peter (50s) presents a set of stamps as souvenirs to visiting guests.
D/ INT. SOUVENIR SHOP, LUCERNE - DAY
Peter (60s) buys a few small packets of used stamps.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Peter takes a close look of the wet stamps.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
Hong Kong stamps have
been topical and colourful
for many years now. Is
stamp collecting still
relevant as a hobby in
the 21st C?
Peter serfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Postage with stamps -
a British creative idea
in 1841 was followed by
the United States in 1847
and Canada in 1951. The
first Hong Kong stamps
were issued on Dec 8,
1862.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I was feverish about stamp
collecting only 102 years
later. Let me return to my
childhood hobby, and see
if I can live to witness the
200 years history of the
postal service innovation!
FADE OUT. The End