FADE IN:
INT. STUDIO - DAY
Four guitars on a sofa. Holding a 12-string acoustic guitar, PETER watches a video clip on his computer screen. We hear: ...campfire guitar...strumming...one...two-and;...and four-and...Peter strums a little.
PETER (V.O.)
There's a ghost strum at three.
I've never done that before...
Peter continues to strum.
PETER (V.O.)
I've got the strumming pattern.
I don't need to do the ghost
strum. It's the same as...
FLASHBACK
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY (1975)
An upright piano at a corner, Sitting in a sofa next to a GIRL (19) holding an acoustic guitar, PETER (21) watches her strumming.
GIRL
...down...,down-up...up,
down-up; down...down-up...
The girl then passes the guitar to Peter to try.
PETER
(Strumming slowly)
Down...down-up...up.
down-up; down...down-up...
up, down-up...
PETER (Cont'd)
The third beat is difficult.
GIRL
Practise more...
Peter practises and practises.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I acquired the skill from
Sharon.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
How nice it was to recall
the loving feelings. She
was doing her first year
in music at Chung Chi
College.
Checking the time, Peter stops strumming.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
As Peter rolls over in bed, he wakes KAJI, his pet, up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I didn't sleep that well
last night.
Ding! Peter checks his smart phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It seems a music friend
from afar couldn't sleep...
Peter checks the message.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) Oh, he compares my
traditional Duanwu song
with her daughter's 21st
century digitally-assisted
song.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Hearing his latest trends
is an ear-opening experience
to me - quite like my first
time hearing rock and roll
music in the midst of
Cantonese operas.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It's beyond my imagination
that I've the guts to show
my musical stuff to the
masters - all because of
their encouragement.
FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT ROOM - NIGHT (2011)
Keyboard and guitar sounds. LADIES and GENTLEMEN including Peter playing and singing before rolling cameras. Peter looks ecstatic.
PETER (V.O.)
Music professors would
sing and play my songs!
Hands clapping.
PROFESSOR
Peter's songs are structured.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
What's structure?
PETER
Professor, what are good
songs?
PROFESSOR
Songs that people like to
hear.
INT. STUDIO - DAY
Sitting on a sofa surrounded by guitars, stands, amplifiers, handheld devices, Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
How to write good songs?
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Just write more?
We hear Paul McCartney's voice from an iPad: There're no rules.
Peter reads an article.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
You've to have discipline.
You need "seat time"...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, many of my songs
came about after a while.
END FLASHBACK
Ding! Ding! Peter checks his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Oh, another tip from the
professor...Add a particular
sound - a percussion or
natural call...Okay, I'll
bear that in mind!
INT. STUDIO - DAY
Peter checks his phone again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Here 's a passing remark
that I didn't know... in Chung
Chi, the class was known
for its balance - 6 boys and
6 girls.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Six pairs. Sharon died
young. I've tried to be
her, participating in music friends' gatherings. I want
to keep my dear wife's
stories and spirit alive.
Picking up his 12-string acoustic guitar, Peter strums the campfire guitar pattern.
DAYDREAM SEQUENCE
EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT
Campfire. Softly, Peter strums a guitar pattern as SHARON silently watches nearby...
FADE OUT. The End