top of page
Search

Concerto Funebre

Writer's picture: Peter K F Cheung SBSPeter K F Cheung SBS
  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON


  4. An iPad Mini on a stand, PETER is participating in a Zoom meeting. Then, he sees on his phone Messenger an unread message.


  5. PETER (V.O.): Who's messaging me?


  6. Tapping Messenger, Peter reads the message.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh My God, Uncle Jimmy has passed away two hours ago!


  8. Pausing.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What was I doing then?


  10. FLASHBACK


  11. INT. LIFT - EARLIER


  12. Peter is inside a lift. As the door opens on a floor, he sees a MAN in white full protective gear entering.


  13. PETER (V.O.): Is he a COVID-19 patient?


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. LIFT LOBBY - LATER


  16. Getting out of the lift, Peter sees TEAM 1 waiting for the man's briefing.


  17. 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.


  18. INT. MALL - LATER


  19. In a fast-food restaurant, Peter gets his takeaway lunch box.


  20. INT. LIFT LOBBY - LATER


  21. Peter sees TEAM 2 disinfecting public areas.


  22. PETER (V.O.): The smell is so strong, no virus could survive.


  23. INT. SITTING ROOM - LATER

  24. Peter briefs his FAMILY.


  25. RETURN TO PRESENT


  26. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I didn't know something worse had happened in LA.


  27. Peter sighs.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Mom-in-law passed away two days ago. Life and death are a package deal.


  29. After typing short messages, Peter refocuses on the Zoom meeting. He contributes from time to time. Later, the meeting ends.


  30. 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.

  31. Tapping his phone's Photo icon, Peter finds a video clip.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's the video clip I produced in July 2018.


  33. As Peter watches the clip, we see all smiling faces.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was just 2 1/2 years ago.


  35. Peter then checks his phone calendar and diary.


  36. 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.


  37. Pausing.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We talked happily about many things, particularly how he rose from zero to hero.


  39. Pausing.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We shared the same trait. We struggled to make a difference.


  41. Pausing.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But Uncle Jimmy was more courageous than me. Without any connection, he made his American dream come true.


  43. Recalling.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even he himself was amazed by his courage then.


  45. Pausing.


  46. 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.


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He inspired me to buy a Mercedes. And it was only months ago that he bought a Porsche Panamera.


  49. Pausing.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I called him Uncle, he was actually just 10 years older than me.


  51. Recalling.


  52. 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.


  53. Pausing.


  54. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But, I thought he was in very good hands in a specialist hospital.


  55. Peter sighs.


  56. Act 3


  57. INT. KITCHEN - LATER


  58. The radio is on, playing classical music.


  59. PETER (V.O.): Let me take some honey to sweeten myself.


  60. We hear the DJ speaking:... the next number is Hartmann's Concerto Funebre...


  61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never heard any Concerto Funebre.


  62. As the Concerto ends, we hear a big round of applause.


  63. INT. STUDY - LATER


  64. Peter works on his laptop.


  65. PETER (V.O.): The Concerto Funebre isn't music to my ears.


  66. Peter types and types.


  67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm expressing and releasing my emotions, preserving my memories.


  68. Thinking.


  69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've few idols. Uncle Jimmy is one of the few.


  70. Peter sighs again.


  71. FADE OUT.


  72. THE END


4 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Into the Deep

FADE IN Act 1   INT. LIVING ROOM - 12:30 PETER stares at his laptop, with a weathered face and determined eyes. PETER (V.O.): I've...

Kaji: The Unseen Bond

FADE I N   A ct 1   INT. HOME - MORNING   Cozy. KAJI sits by the front door. KAJI (V.O.): My world revolves around the Pack Leader and...

Comments


  • Facebook Social Icon
  • Twitter Social Icon
  • LinkedIn Social Icon

+(852) 6819 8258

Fortune Chambers, 2305, Tower Two,

Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway, Hong Kong 

©2017 BY PETER KAM FAI CHEUNG. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM

bottom of page