A Retreat
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Feb 21, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 08:15
PETER gets out of bed.
PETER (V.O.): Today will be a hectic day. I've to go to a retreat. I mean to help.
Doing his routines.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've to skip the retreat's dinner, as my wife and I have a dinner appointment with a visiting couple.
Exercising.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For the past few days, I've declined a professional assignment and have been putting one aside.
Changing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my study, there's something wrong with the router. I don't have internet access.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While my silver coupe doesn't start well, I'd drive it to the retreat venue.
Act 2
EXT. ROADS TO SAI KUNG - 09:00
Wearing a beanie hat, Peter is driving his silver coupe.
PETER (V.O.): The car managed to start on my third attempt.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I don't drive it, its problem may become worse.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My MB used to have the same problem. The problem has gone away since it has been used more frequently.
EXT. GOFT ACADEMY - 09:15
As the entrance gate opens, Peter drives in.
PETER (V.O.): Years ago, a friend suggested me to join this Academy. But I was already a member of another golf club.
Observing the environment.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I bought my golf-club membership in 1996, I was feverish and wanted to be good at playing golf.
Peter parks his car not far away from golf carts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I haven't played golf for over 10 years. I'm not sure if I'd play again.
INT. HALL - 09:30
LADIES and GENTLEMEN are sitting in round tables.
PETER (V.O.): When I ran retreats for my colleagues in the late 2000s, I made the event settings flexible and activities very interactive.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A retreat is meant to cocoon participants so that they may have new perspectives.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S RETREAT ACTIVITIES
A. SPEAKERS speak to the AUDIENCE in turns.
B. Peter listens to some comments, questions and remarks.
C. At the corridor, Peter has exchanges with some COLLEAGUES.
D. Peter makes an extempore intervention.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I hope the audience is receptive to my views.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To manage and lead change is always hard.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, to not advance is to retreat.
EXT. ROADS FROM SAI KUNG - 18:00
Peter is driving his silver coupe.
PETER (V.O.): Again, the car refused to start on first attempt.
INT. STUDY - 18:30
Attempting to work on a laptop, Peter sees "no internet".
PETER (V.O.): I'll try, try again!
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23: 45
We see Peter working on his laptop with internet connection.
PETER (V.O.): The proper response to difficulty is not to retreat but to prevail.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Making a retreat so as to advance better is strategic. Otherwise, it's a waste of time and effort.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): During dinner, I shared with the couple that I wasn't keen in being good at something anymore. I'm only keen in being good to myself now.
Peter goes to bed.
FADE OUT
THE END
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