Cold Call
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. MTR TRAIN - 16:30
The carrage sways gently. PETER sits near the doors. The train annouse in Cantonese, then English then Mandarin. He sees a WhatsApp notification with a bouquet image.
PETER (V.O.): The bouquet for Emily has been placed in her hall.
Peter types: Thank you very much.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's the result of my effort yesterday.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I didn't know if the florist I used before would deliver the bouquet to the venue in NT.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Instead of using other substitutes, I made enquiry with the florist. The answer was positve.
Peter takes another look of the image.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Quality service.
Act 2
INT. FUNERAL HOME - 17:15
Emily's hall. Against the far wall, a framed photo of Emily (60s, intelligent eyes, warm smiles). The bouquet from the florist sits on a side wall - striking, simple. Peter stands before the photo and bows. The FAMILY returns the compliment. LAWRENCE steps forward.
LAWRENCE: You must be Peter.
PETER: Yes.
LAWRENCE: I was one of the participant's when you spoke at Emily's functions....you may not recognize me.
PETER: It was so sudden...
LAWRENCE: Yes, I've been thinking about Emily so much these days.
PETER: Me too...she sent me happy greetings during the Chinese New Year...
LAWRENCE: These are her sister Mrs Fung and her brother David.
Peter bows slightly.
LAWRENCE (Cont'd): Emily talked about Peter a lot. He was the IP Dept head and wrotes songs for her.
Peter blinks.
MRS FUNG: Oh yes, I watched your MVs.
LAWRENCE: And Emily would draw Peter's portrait to reciprocate his contribution.
PETER (V.O.): She's a thoughtful and talented soul.
Mrs Fung steps closer.
MRS FUNG: How did Emily come to know you?
PETER: She cold-called me.
FLASHBACK
INT. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPT - DAY (Early 2014)
Director's office. Stacks of files on his desk Peter is reading a minute. The intercom buzzes.
SECRETARY (from intercom): A Dr Poon is on line two. She says she's from Open University.
PETER (to intercom): Sounds like a stranger to me...about what?
SECRETARY (from intercom): She says she wants to talk about IP - on the legal translation front...Should I take message?
PETER (V.O.). IP is lawyer's law...and I'm a qualified legal translator - holder of a final diploma on legal translation from the Institute of Linguists.
Peter reaches over and presses the brinking line.
PETER (to phone): Peter Cheung's speaking.
EMILY (from phone): Thank you for picking up. I'm Emily...
PETER (to phone):: ...what exactly are you asking me to do?
EMILY: (from phone): Come talk to my audience about how to translate iP nomenclature so it actually makes sense to a Chinese-spreaking reader.
PETER (V.O.): It should create public value.
PETER (to phone): When would you want me?
RETURN TO PRESENT
Peter exhales slowly.
PETER (Cont'd): Yes, she just cold-called me.
PETER (V.O.): Emily didn't know me. She called me anyway. That's not optimism. That's courage.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:45
Peter uploads an image to a draft on his laptop. It depicts a neatly arranged hotel desk with a telephone and stationary.
PETER (V.O.): The design of the telephone in a hotel in Fuchu has eye appeal and I knew there won't be any cold calls from it.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A cold call is the ultimate act of translation: converting fear into hello.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Emily taught me that you don't need an invitation to change someoe's life. You just need a reason to call.
The END
FADE OUT
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