From Zero to Hero
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Dec 29, 2020
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - EVENING
Sitting behind his computer, PETER looks relaxed.
PETER (V.O): Good, the unfinished business is now done.
Phone in hand, Peter sees a FB Messenger notification.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Am I by chance free to talk? From my relative in LA?
Worrying.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is anything wrong?
Looking perplexed, Peter types: Yes? Then, his mobile begins to ring.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How come I can't take the FB Messenger calls?
Checking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I see. I haven't allowed the App's access to my microphone. This is my first time taking a FB Messenger call.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - LATER
After a conversation in English, Peter ends the call.
PETER (V.O.): News isn't good.
Peter checks LA to HK time with his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's some time after 2 am. It's a serious matter.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I fly to LA?
INT. SITTING ROOM - LATER
Peter is talking solemnly to his WIFE and SON.
PETER: Do you think if I can fly to LA during the pandemic?
Pausing.
SON: You might be able to fly in...
WIFE: But you'll be subject to strict quarantine upon your return...
PETER (V.O.): I've fixed some court appearances. There're other pending ones. I owe my professional duties to my clients.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): My voluntary work for HKUST is quite heavy too. There're lots of meetings coming up.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And during the pandemic, I've to take care of the well-beings of myself and those near me.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Practically, we could only keep in touch digitally.
Sighing.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - LATER
Sitting in bed, Peter types texts in FB, WeChat and What's App.
PETER (V.O.): Apart from words, I believe music can help.
Peter finds a YouTube link.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Just hours ago, I've listened to a "Butterfly Lovers" ErHu Concerto. It'd be emotionally soothing.
Seeing a FB Messenger notification, Peter reads it.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Thanks for my relative's supplementary information. No worries. I've been discreet in my communications.
Peter checks LA time again.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, its around 6.00am. My relative might not have slept at all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I'm in distress too. Let me do other things to distract myself.
Peter answers some Quora questions on his phone.
Act 3
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - MORNING
Peter checks the LA time on his phone.
PETER (V.O.): It's around 7pm, perhaps the right time to make a call.
Peter makes What's App calls. No replies. Peter then makes a WeChat call. We see an image on screen, waving at Peter. Peter waves back, speaking in Cantonese.
PETER (To phone) : Hi Uncle, I hope you can hear me...But I can't hear you...
Peter checks his phone icons.
PETER (V.O.): They're OK. Perhaps, my uncle hasn't turned on the microphone of his WeChat. We haven't done any video calls before.
Seeing an incoming What'sApp call, Peter takes it.
PETER (To phone): Uncle and Auntie, I can hear both of you now!
They chat smilingly.
PETER (V.O.): Sharing our stories as to how we went from zero to hero is always gratifying.
Beat.
PETER (To phone): Let's get in touch like this from time to time!
They end their video call.
PETER (V.O.): Given the circumstances, I'd love to maintain the relative normalcy as long as we could.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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