Be Evergreen
- Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS
- Jan 28, 2020
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
INT. ELDERLY HOME - DAY
Getting out of a lift, PETER and his WIFE, both masked, see MOM#1 (93) in a wheelchair in a sitting area. Mom#1 immediately feels their presence.
PETER (V.O.)
Her sensory response
is still very good.
PETER
(Touching her hand)
Hi Mom!
WIFE
Why are you wearing
so little clothes?
Peter's wife then touches mom#1's hands.
WIFE (Cont'd)
Pretty cold. Let me get
your coat.
A beat.
As she is helping her mom to put on the coat, his wife asks mom#1.
WIFE
Do you know what day
is today?
Mom#1 looks bewildered.
WIFE (Cont'd)
It's the first day of the
New Year!
MOM#1
First day of the New
Year...
Mom#1 smiles.
MOM#1 (Cont'd)
(Feeling happy)
Happy New Year!
Good health! Great
Prosperity!
Mom#1 repeats her blessings.
Seeing some decorative green houseplants as they leave, Peter takes a photo.
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Six to seven PEOPLE gather together. Peter chats with MOM#2 (90).
MOM#2
How's your mom?
PETER
My mom's okay. She's
about 2 years younger
than you.
Taking out his phone, Peter shows Mom#2 a photo.
PETER (Cont'd)
We had dinner with my
mom on New Year Eve.
Pointing at an image in the photo, Peter remarks.
PETER (Cont'd)
That's how my mom
looks like now.
Mom#2 examines the photo image.
MOM#2
She looks very happy.
PETER
Yes, she's always very
happy, like you. It's
easy for happy people
to live to a hundred!
Mom#2 looks reserved.
MOM#2
Over a hundred years!
PETER
(Apologetically)
Yes...Yes.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
Waking up, Peter grabs his phone and taps.
PETER (V.O.)
Can people be evergreen?
Reading some small prints on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
There's a natural limit
to human's lifespan -
to live 125 years at
the most.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But the blessing to live
just to a hundred is dated
these days...
FLASHBACK
INT. VILLAGE STRUCTURE - DAY (1968)
Playing an acoustic guitar, Peter (14) is singing a sweet tune.
PETER
(With emotions)
Oh Darling, will our love
be like an evergreen tree?
Stay evergreen and young
as the seasons go...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
Fond memories. Yes,
be evergreen!
Peter then sings lively: On every branch will blossom. Dreams for me and you. Our tree of love will stay evergreen if our hearts stay ever true...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Through all that people
have gone through, life
to some, like the heart
of nature, is evergreen.
Peter smiles with dreamy eyes.
FADE OUT.
The End