Chariots of Fire
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- May 21, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 10:30
Smart phone in hand, Peter checks a Quora answer request.
PETER (V.O.): How important is grit in achieving goals?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The three essential elements to succeed are (1) value, (2) capacity and (3) support.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having the courage to resolve challenges ie grit goes to value. It's a necessary conditions but not a sufficient one.
Inserting an image of a leaning tree trunk being supported by a few stakes, Peter types his reply.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Without adequate capacity and support, the will to survive isn't good enough.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a species on Earth, we're still evolving.
Act 2
INT. SIITTING ROOM - 14:30
PETER is watching TV news.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the composer of the Academy wining-score to the 1981 film "Chariots of Fire" died. He was 79.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I remember the instrumental music, but I don't even know the composer's name.
Peter surfs the web with his smart phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's Vangelis, a Greek composer and producer of electronic and progressive music.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wow, he was known for using electronic instruments like a one-man, quasi-classical orchestra, composing and performing on the first take.
Having mined the instrumental music "Chariots of Fire" from the web, Peter listens to it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Basically, a simple verse and a simple chorus. Repetitive yet memorable.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 1981, the electronic sound gave a feel of modernity to a story set in the early 1920s.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And in 1981, I was still working as a Government Land Executive in Tuen Mun, resuming land to extend the Highway.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Developing my career, the Government required me to study Land Administration in the Hong Kong Polytechnic every Wednesday.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before June 1981, my personal focus was to sit my Lond U degree exams in Philosophy as an external student.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Earlier, I won a 4-year Government's Legal Training Scholarship with a condition subsequent ie the Law School of HKU would admit me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my HKU admission application, I had the grit to write my own reference, sit the written and oral exams to compete with the young and bright for a place.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're Chariots of Fire in me.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A few days ago, Michael Sze, a former senior civil servant died at the age of 76.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When he became Secretary for Civil Service in 1994, he would meet with directorate officers, including me. I was impressed that he knew my back story and his spiritual support was comforting.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When he became the Executive Director of the Trade Development Council in 1996, we met in a social occasion and he'd praise me for dealing well with the mass media.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I was in my early 40s, and now, I'm in my late 60s.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): As to the biblical meaning of Chariots of Fire, I don't believe angels ride on them to protect humans or to take them to heaven.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23:00
Going to bed, Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): Our value comes from within. We listen to our inner voices - our real selves.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe, under cosmic design, every species is created for a purpose.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Suffering setbacks or enjoying successes, there's fullness to be found if we plays our due role.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We should at least have grit to make and ride on our Chariots of Fire to make things happen.
Peter puts his smart phone aside.
THE END
FADE OUT
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