A Tradesman

FADE IN.

INT. STUDY - DAY

PETER is on phone.

PETER

(To phone)

Just accept that day

for me. As to the other

day, I've to decline as

I've got voluntary work

to do.

VOICE

(From phone)

Confirmed?

PETER

Yes.

PETER (V.O.)

I give priority to voluntary

work over my earnings.

INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY

PETER, in T-shirt, shorts and flip flocks, carrying an old dark grey bag is waiting.

Having cleaned the mess on the ground, a BARBER (2Os) in black, with tattoos on his arms, signals to Peter to go to the barber chair.

Having combed through Peter's hair for a few times, the barber makes an observation.

BARBER

(Confidently)

Do you work in

construction sites?

PETER

Hmm...

FLASHBACK

EXT. ROAD - DAY

Peter is driving, SON at passenger seat.

PETER

I wanted to fix some

tomb cracks today.

SON

Why don't you ask

some tradesmen to

do it.

PETER

In the early 1970s,

I built a 2-bedroom

bungalow. If I can

do it, I want to it.

END FLASHBACK

PETER

Yeah...

BARBER

In what trade?

FLASHBACK

EXT. HILL BURIAL AREA - DAY

Wild bushes here and there. Peter's FAMILY MEMBERS are clearing and cleaning the graves. Finding a 1.5 meter tree trunk, Peter begins to strike at the wild bushes nearby and they fall one by one.

PETER

To be destructive

is quite easy. I just

strike and strike.

FAMILY MEMBER#1

It'd be good if the

rioters would come

along to liberate their

energy here.

PETER

Or to reform themselves

through labour here.

As FAMILY MEMBER#2 puts some cement and water on the cracks of a tomb platform, Peter surfaces them.

PETER

The cracks won't

fix by themselves, if

we don't cement

and resurface them.

Peter looks pleased.

PETER (V.O.)

It's constructive,

even in a small

way.

FAMILY MEMBER#3 steps on the resurfaced wet cement work inadvertently, leaving a couple of shoe prints.

FAMILY MEMBER#3

Sorry, I didn't

notice.

PETER resurfaces the cement work again like a tradesman.

RETURN TO PRESENT

PETER (Cont'd)

A cement worker.

BARBER

Ah, it's tough. I've done

it for two days and quit

for good.

Barber continues to cut Peter's hair with enthusiasm.

BARBER (Cont'd)

Then, you'd have shorter

hair.

PETER

Okay!

INT. MUSIC STORE - DAY

Peter, with short white hair, pays for an electric guitar cable and a guitar wearing belt at the counter. Peter notices that the CASHIER (30s) is rather amazed to see his shopping and then the colour of his hair.

PETER (V.O.)

Yes I'm old, but I

haven't exhausted

the creativity in me

yet. Don't belittle

one's potential.

INT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY

At a changing room, Peter is dying his hair.

PETER (V.O.)

Although I don't need

to dye my hair for

court appearance, my

wife wants me to look

young. That's understandable

and I accept that.

Pausing.

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

And I'll be seeing a

Canadian friend in 10

days. We parted in

1987...

Pausing.

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

Anyway, I do the best

I can - a construction

worker, a lawyer or a

creative guitar man!

FADE OUT. THE END

#ATradesman