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Cards Story 5

Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS

FADE IN.

INT. HOME TRAVEL PERMIT OFFICE - DAY

Queuing at a kiosk, PETER sees a WOMAN (50) in front of him, following an audio-guided step-by-step procedure. We hear: Please place your old card...

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, I don't have my old

card. I lost it. Am I queuing

right?

As a female STAFF (50s) walks near, Peter enquires with her, showing a chit in his hand.

STAFF

Let me help you. The

bar code of your chit

can tell the difference.

The staff takes Peter's chit and has it read by the kiosk reader. As a card comes out from a kiosk slot, the staff passes it to Peter.

STAFF

Here you're.

Holding the card with his image, Peter looks rather unprepared.

PETER (V.O.)

So efficient...It's certain

now that I can fly to

Beijing coming Saturday.

Yes, I'll fix my e-channel

access when I'm at the

entry counter there.

As he puts the card inside his wallet, Peter looks confusing.

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

Oh, the design and the

colour schemes of my

new Hong Kong ID

card and my new Home

Travel Permit Card are

strikingly similar...

Never mind, I carry

both all the time. It's

either one or the other.

INT. STUDY - DAY

Peter has his eyes glued to the computer screen.

PETER (V.O.)

I never like to do any

financial management,

particularly online. I

tried to arrange the

auto-pay of one new

credit card online. I

thought it was OK.

Later, I got a no-good

message. I'd to pay

in person instead.

But I've to learn to

use online banking

more.

Peter types on his computer to fill in the blanks of some questions...

PETER (V.O.)

What? Too many failed

attempts? I've to reset

my security questions

and answers again!

Peter takes a deep breath and begins filing in the blanks on the screen again. Then he sees a notification in red.

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, I've to pick new

security questions and

my answers have to be

different?

Looking at a list of suggested questions, Peter looks lost.

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

What is my favourite food?

I eat anything, and I don't

have an answer for that...

Pausing.

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

Have I been very boring?

Putting his fingers on his lips, Peter continues to study the questions.

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

The number and the name

of the road where I was

raised? Too long an

answer to type each time.

The last time I chose my

favourite subject in school,

but my typos render my

answer wrong most of

the time... I'm already a

senior citizen...

Pondering.

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

Who was my best friend in

school?

Peter is taken aback.

MONTAGE OF PETER'S BEST SCHOOL FRIEND ENGAGEMENT

A. EXT. YUEN LONG, NT - DAY (1970)

Road. Peter (16) jumps to sit at the back of a bicycle which his FRIEND (17) is riding.

B. EXT. SCHOOLS, KOWLOON - DAY (1971)

Summer. His friend (18) accompanies Peter (17) going to one school and another, getting information and admission application forms.

C. INT. HOUSING ESTATE - DAY (1975)

A family home. Peter (21) visits his friend (22) and they chat and chat.

D. EXT. CAR PARKS, TIN SUM SAN TSUEN, NT - DAY (1980)

His friend (27) arrives in a white Nissan. Peter (26) shows to his friend his Toyota and Honda parked there.

END MONTAGE

PETER (V.O.)

Oh, that was the last

time we got engaged.

Peter counts with his fingers.

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

It was 39 years ago.

How come we've lost

contact?

Reflecting.

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

Yes, from 1980-1981,

I prepared for my BA

degree examination

and studied Land

Administration at HK

Polytechic. And then,

I began my law studies

at HKU...and now I'm

65!

FLASHBACK

INT. CONSULTATION ROOM - DAY

Peter talks to a DOCTOR (49).

PETER

A fortnight ago, I lost

my wallet...

As the doctor listens, he diagnoses.

DOCTOR

You've packed into

your life many things.

You tend to recall

things selectively,

ignoring something

that might be of less

importance to you.

Peter nods.

PETER

Yes, to the extent

that I even wouldn't

care about my wallet!

Peter sighs.

END FLASHBACK

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) Okay, let me use best

school friend's name as

one of my security answers.

Having typed and typed, Peter looks satisfied. Then, Peter surfs the web.

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

I couldn't find him. I

just wish that everything

is fine with him and his

family!

Looking at his new cards, Peter takes another deep breath.

FADE OUT. The End

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