Close Encounters
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 30, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
Looking out the window, PETER sees an object on the laundry racks.
PETER (V.O.): What's that gray object?
Discreetly, Peter gets closer to the window.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a flying one. Not just one, there're two.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Do they belong to the partridge family?
The birds seem to notice Peter's taking a photo of them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's a little cool morning rain. Our unused laundry racks have become their temporary sanctuary.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're welcome. I won't disturb them.
Exits Peter.
Act 2
EXT. ROADS - LATER
Stopping his car after a dark brown Mercedes coupe, Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): Was the car in front the same one I followed days ago? I didn't remember its registration no. The colour is the same.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I saw it had minor scratches on the trunk and a dent on its rear bumper molding. If I was the owner, I'd have them made good.
Peter then focuses on the car's rear body parts.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Yes, it's the same car. I believe our morning routines are similar.
At a road fork, the cars go different directions. Peter then sees in front of his car a fast Porche in a distance, cutting lanes with rear left indicator light flashing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Was it the same car I saw around here the other day? I recognise its distinctive rear light bar.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Yesterday night, I was watching on TV the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It was in 1977 when I first watched the film in cinema. The science-fiction was phenomenal then.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Why the close encounters as depicted were of the third kind?
INT. STUDY - LATER
Phone in hand, Peter researches.
PETER (V.O.): "Close encounter" is an event in which a person witnesses an unidentified flying object (UFO).
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Close encounters of the 1st kind is visual sightings less than 500 feet or 150 meters.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Close encounters of the 2nd kind is a UFO event in which a physical effect is alleged eg leaving physical or chemical traces.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Close encounters of the 3rd kind is one in which an animated entity is present eg as a pilot or passenger of a UFO.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So the sequence of the film follows the close-encounter sequence - the 1st kind sightings, then the 2nd kind physical effects, before reaching the climax of the 3rd kind ie animated entity is present in the mother UFO.
Peter continues his research.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Since 1947, there've been more than 80,000 reports of strange objects in the sky. The alleged shapes, movements and maneuvers are different.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The common cases of mistaken identity are weather balloons, cloud formations, drones and Venus.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Humankind is very imaginative. I believe the species is quite alone in this lonely planet.
INT. KITCHEN - STUDY - LATER
Peter checks out the laundry racks.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, they're still there. I love their choice.
Peter returns to his study, working on his laptop.
Beat.
Peter looks out the window.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the sun has come out and it's warm now.
Peter goes to the kitchen to check the birds.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, the birds are gone, having lingered close to my home for hours. They're welcome to be back though.
Act 3
INT. PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL - AFTERNOON
Peter swims, thinking at the same time.
PETER (V.O.): Real close encounters, whether by chance like the birds or due to routine eg cars are interesting. Fake ones are fakes.
INT. KITCHEN - LATER
A wet-haired Peter peeps out the window, looking happy.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the birds are back!
,
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd):I love these close encounters of a special kind.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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