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The Animals

Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS

FADE IN:

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY

Sunrise. PETER checks phone messages.

PETER (V.O.)

So many opinions about

the current unrest in Hong

Kong. Somebody calls the

shots and others would

obey like trained animals.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Indeed, humans are animals.

The main difference between

humans and animals is that

humans are rational beings.

Humans can compute and

correlate ideas. Humans

can conceptualize and

represent the abstract in

words and in other media.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Like most other animals,

humans are social. Humans

need to cooperate to survive,

particularly in hostile

environment.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

But there's no lack of foolish

humans in society. Their

genes might not be right, or

they might be taught irresponsibly.

As a result, their decision-

making skills are poor.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

But foolishness can be

made good with knowledge

through studying, learning

and experimenting. With

accumulated and verifiable

knowledge, rather than

taking someone's opinions

as truth, they can become

wise too.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Sadly, some foolish humans

never learn from their mistakes,

making the same poor

decisions again and again.

They just hope the result

would be different.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Albert Einstein says:"Insanity

is doing the same thing, over

and over again, but expecting

different results."

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

When humans become anti-

social, uncooperative and

their decision-making capacity

is consistently poor, it'd

seem that despite their looks,

they're just the animals.

FLASHBACK

INT. CINEMA - NIGHT (1966)

Peter (12 ) is watching a pop-music documentary on screen. The master of ceremonies introduces the British pop rock group: The Animals! Then, we hear introductory guitar riffs of the song: The House of the Rising Sun. It looks as if Peter has been hypnotized.

PETER (V.O.)

I love the folk rock song -

the pleasing guitar riffs,

the soulful lead vocal,

the exciting electric organ

part and the band's

performance are all very

captivating!

END FLASHBACK

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Their first good impression

has never left me. They're

the Animals, but distinctly

smart.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

When I was in my teens,

I was naive too. I just

wanted to become a

guitarist in a band. But

realizing I was going

nowhere, I refocused

on my studies, including

my pursuit of Philosophy.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.)

I studied Logic, Theory

of Knowledge, Ethics

and Political philosophy,

among others. My goal

has been to acquire wisdom.

I won't fool myself, or let

others take me as a fool,

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

People are generally

skeptical about Philosophy.

They think they can do

without it, particularly in

a city like Hong Kong.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

But the general lack of

good decision-making

skills at all levels might

well be one of the root

causes of the never-

ending civil combats

between the authority

and the governed, and

among the people in

Hong Kong.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

As it takes time for the

Hong Kong society as

a whole to become wise, what a Hongkonger can

do meanwhile is to keep

his/her house in order!

Ding! A notification. Peter reads a phone message.

PETER (V.O.)

A relative of mine who

wasn't wise several

weeks ago has become

wise now!

Peter looks hopeful.

FADE OUT. The End

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