Be a Good Person

Peter K F Cheung SBS
Mar 19, 2023
2 min read

FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. ROADS - CENTRAL to TAI PO - 13:30
Inside a coach, two STAFF ask PETER at the same time.
STAFF: Have you been to the monastery?
PETER: No. And you two?
STAFF: No.
PETER (V.O.): They've better things to do. I've no inclination to visit religious statues and buildings anywhere.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a colleague is hosting the tour, I join to support and to check out the premises.
Later, we see the upper part of a white Guanyin statue in a distance.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's where we're heading to.
Act 2
INT/EXT. MONASTERY - 14:30
Cinema. Peter and the GROUP watch a short film about the monastery.
PETER (V.O.): I love the film's photography.
Buddha hall. They see some monks praying.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was a primary school pupil, I did that occasionally, wanting something good to happen.
They see some monks performing rituals.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I never like religious rituals. I witnessed lots of that here and there.
In a corner, Peter sees offerings on a small table.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just a bowl of tofu and a bowl of plain rice.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The idol being worshipped doesn't have to practise fasting though.
Then, Peter and the group hear singing or chanting inside chambers.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): By singing or chanting religious hymns or mantras, can those practising them get connected with higher power?
Guanyin precinct. Peter and the group look up at the giant Guanyin.
GUIDE: It's 76 meters tall. It's always clean because of its fluorocarbon coating.
PETER (V.O.): I see - science is at work.
Museum. Peter and the group see rock or bronze statues of different looks and sizes.
GUIDE: They're bought at auctions...
PETER (V.O.): Many of these were made 1500 years ago...
GUIDE (Cont'd): Believers would risk their lives to save them in emergencies...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Weren't they the protectors of believers?
Later, following the group, Peter chats with the Guide.
PETER: Are you a Buddhist?
GUIDE: Yes, And you?
PETER: Yes, me too, but not of a religious kind.
GUIDE: I once studied in a Buddhist school...
PETER: Me too. Do you do the rituals?
GUIDE: Yes.
PETER (V.O.): She's a guide here. I'm just a visitor.
They arrive at a coach loading bay.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In one human race, there're many religions. Compassion is the common denominator.
Peter boards a coach.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Difference in religious opinions shouldn't be a reason not to have any friendly relationship.
Peter waves goodbye to the guide.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But religious conflicts anywhere can be the cruelest conflicts of all.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're still the dangerous problems in the world today.
Act 3
EXT. ROADS, TAI PO to CENTRAL - 15:00
The coach is passing the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park .
PETER (V.O.): Religion doesn't have to make, build or worship anything. Self-actualization is the key.
The coach is passing through a tunnel.
PETER (V.O.): Like animal training, religion is doing what one is told, no matter what's right.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.): Morality is doing what's right, no matter what one is told. Be a good person is what matters.
FADE OUT
THE END

Be a Good Person

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