Finding Success
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 26, 2024
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
Surrounded by a textbook and work sheets in Korean, PETER is studying, seeking his WIFE's help from time to time.
PETER: Your help is really instructive...
Peter then notices his wife's eyes are glued to the screen of her laptop.
PETER (Cont'd): What has got you Darling?
WIFE: The Transport Dept now says our elder daughter has already submitted the documents needed for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence...
PETER: So it recognizes its red tape like excessive documentation, inflexible procedures, bureaucratic delays...
WIFE: With our daughter's authorization, I can complete the process for her...While visiting home, she went to the Dept twice but without success.
Peter's wife is in thoughts.
WIFE (Cont'd): But I won't queue up for hours to get a walk-in slot...however to secure an appointment, the earliest available slot is 70 days away.
PETER: Anyhow, it's certain that it'll be our third and last visit. More importantly, you've done a great service to the public by lodging the complaint.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. LIVING ROOM - 15:00 (Today)
Peter and his wife are having a chat with their elder daughter online.
DAUGHTER (from a device): I'm learning to write in Korean a personal statement on job application...I've to detail how I was raised.
PETER & WIFE: Interesting.
DAUGHTER (from a device): The way you two have always fought you believe in has been inspiring me all along...
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
EXT. PETER'S FAMILY HOME, TIN SUM SAN TSUEN - DAY (1969)
A big CLP TEAM is fixing hardware as Peter (15) and some NEIGHBOURS watch.
PETER (V.O): I've written a letter in English to the general manager of CLP, seeking his help so that the electricity supply can support a refrigerator.
FOREMAN: With the equipment upgrade, any household in the area can use a refrigerator now.
PETER & NEIGHBOURS: Good!
FOREMAN (to Peter): What's your father?
Peter is evasive.
PETER (V.O): He thinks my Dad initiated the exercise.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Finding success, I was encouraged to do the next thing.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I wrote to the general manager of the telephone company, asking why my applications for telephone service were rejected.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The telephone company replied that if I managed to have the landowners' consent to erect telephone poles in their private lands, they'd do it.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Enclosed in the company's reply were site plans that the landowners needed to endorse.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The company was quite helpful as the names and addresses of the landowners were stated in the site plans.
MONTAGE OF PETER VISITING THE LANDOWNERS
A. Somewhere in Hong Kong, Peter knocks on a door, explains the situation and LANDOWNER#1 signs a document.
B. Somewhere in Kowloon. Peter knocks on a door, explains the situation and LANDOWNER#2 signs a document.
C. Somewhere in NT. Peter knocks on a door, explains the situation and LANDOWNER#3 signs a document.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): They're all very kind to me and I'm still grateful to them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And I've been the telephone company's subscriber for over 50 years.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Although we don't use the telephone service anymore, I'm still subscribing to the line.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:30.
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Finding Success" to a draft.
PETER (V.O): No matter how difficult life may seem, there is always something we can do and find success.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Determination and persistence run in my family. They empower us to overcome challenges.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And we know the struggle we are in today is developing the strength we need for tomorrow.
FADE OUT
THE END
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