Concerto Funebre
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jan 21, 2021
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON
An iPad Mini on a stand, PETER is participating in a Zoom meeting. Then, he sees on his phone Messenger an unread message.
PETER (V.O.): Who's messaging me?
Tapping Messenger, Peter reads the message.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh My God, Uncle Jimmy has passed away two hours ago!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What was I doing then?
FLASHBACK
INT. LIFT - EARLIER
Peter is inside a lift. As the door opens on a floor, he sees a MAN in white full protective gear entering.
PETER (V.O.): Is he a COVID-19 patient?
Act 2
INT. LIFT LOBBY - LATER
Getting out of the lift, Peter sees TEAM 1 waiting for the man's briefing.
PETER (V.O.): He isn't the patient. He's a management staff. But someone in our block might have been infected with COVID-19.
INT. MALL - LATER
In a fast-food restaurant, Peter gets his takeaway lunch box.
INT. LIFT LOBBY - LATER
Peter sees TEAM 2 disinfecting public areas.
PETER (V.O.): The smell is so strong, no virus could survive.
INT. SITTING ROOM - LATER
Peter briefs his FAMILY.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I didn't know something worse had happened in LA.
Peter sighs.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Mom-in-law passed away two days ago. Life and death are a package deal.
After typing short messages, Peter refocuses on the Zoom meeting. He contributes from time to time. Later, the meeting ends.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Uncle Jimmy's family and mine last met in Hong Kong in 2018. They're so nice to pay us a visit. Everything was good then.
Tapping his phone's Photo icon, Peter finds a video clip.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's the video clip I produced in July 2018.
As Peter watches the clip, we see all smiling faces.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was just 2 1/2 years ago.
Peter then checks his phone calendar and diary.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):Having learned from his doctor daughter, I had video calls with Uncle Jimmy on Dec 29, 2020 and again on Jan 3 2021, just before my several court appearances.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We talked happily about many things, particularly how he rose from zero to hero.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We shared the same trait. We struggled to make a difference.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But Uncle Jimmy was more courageous than me. Without any connection, he made his American dream come true.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even he himself was amazed by his courage then.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Uncle Jimmy wasn't just an entrepreneurial pharmacist, an excellent husband and father, he also danced and sang very well.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He inspired me to buy a Mercedes. And it was only months ago that he bought a Porsche Panamera.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I called him Uncle, he was actually just 10 years older than me.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I called again on Jan 10, 2021, I was talking to Auntie only. Uncle Jimmy had already been hospitalized.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But, I thought he was in very good hands in a specialist hospital.
Peter sighs.
Act 3
INT. KITCHEN - LATER
The radio is on, playing classical music.
PETER (V.O.): Let me take some honey to sweeten myself.
We hear the DJ speaking:... the next number is Hartmann's Concerto Funebre...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never heard any Concerto Funebre.
As the Concerto ends, we hear a big round of applause.
INT. STUDY - LATER
Peter works on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): The Concerto Funebre isn't music to my ears.
Peter types and types.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm expressing and releasing my emotions, preserving my memories.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've few idols. Uncle Jimmy is one of the few.
Peter sighs again.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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