Echoes of Yesterday
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Dec 19, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2023
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDIO - 10:00
Relaxing on a sofa, PETER is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O): I meant to have a car re-tested today, but the testing centre has no vacancy.
Checking phone emails causally, Peter sees festive greetings.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): As I'm free now, why don't I try to compose a festive tune to reciprocate?
Peter picks up a 12-string Fender acoustic guitar near him and plays a few chords.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Performing my KT (Knowledge Transfer) song at HKUST yesterday, I was thrilled.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): What should the hook line of the tune?
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Time flies over us. Does it leave any shadows behind?
Act 2
INT. LECTURE THEATRE, HKUST - 14:15
Humming a tune, Peter, in a three-piece suit, is greeted by a STAFF at the foyer.
PETER: Hi Joe! Thank you again for facilitating my performance yesterday!
JOE: Now, all OKT (Office of Knowledge Transfer) know who you're! Here's your name tag.
As he is greeted by other STAFF, Peter acknowledges them and smiles graciously.
JOE (Cont'd): We've arranged a special seat for you.
Later, we see Peter sitting with a VICE-PRESIDENT inside the theatre.
PETER (V.O.): I'm just the vice-chair of HKUST's KT Committee.
After opening remarks, the MC first invites Peter to join the photo session.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm wearing a three-piece suit just because today is cold.
Phototaking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Apart from supporting OKT, I wish to learn from the talks how Mainland Chinese tech enterprises are being led.
Seated again, Peter follows the talks.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): They sound very good, but I've very big negative returns in investing in Mainland Chinese stocks.
Later, before leaving a reception, Peter goes to chat with TIFFANY, who stares at his outfit.
PETER: Tiffany, thank you again for your great help yesterday!
TIFFANY: Yesterday, you looked like a performer, and today...
Peter smiles modestly, appreciating her observation.
INT. STUDIO - 18:30
Strumming a few chords, Peter sings a little and stops.
PETER (V.O.): The tune and the lyrics now seem not as good as I first thought.
Putting aside the guitar, Peter checks phone emails.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, a very good friend has sent me his festive mail and greetings.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I usually respond with something creative.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But my new tune isn't good enough. I've to refine it and I don't know when that's done.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): How about responding with an AI poem in Chinese? I've been using AI since Spring this year.
Prompting a language model many times on his smartphone, Peter doesn't look satisfied.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Are poems like echoes asking shadows to dance?
Peter prompts the language model again.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Lingering sounds of echoes are generally found in emptiness and hollowness.
Reading his very good friend's festive email and greetings again.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But echoes of old hearts are different.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Would echoes roll from soul to soul, and grow until the twelfth of never?
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 20:00
Peter prompts an AI bot in his smartphone to generate a drawing entitled "Echoes of Yesterday"
PETER (V.O.): My yesterday's perfornance at HKUST has motivated me to write another new tune.
Checking an AI drawing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I believe thoughtful and meaningful communication is better than conventional or expected one
Checking another AI drawing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): On literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, I'm willing to invest time and intellectual effort to create them authentically.
FADE OUT
THE END
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