Good News from Tokyo
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Oct 11, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 09:00
Waking up, PETER checks a digital clock.
PETER (V.O.): I can sleep very well during quarantine.
Peter looks out of the window and sees fine weather.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Last week, I checked the weather forecast and knew today would be fine.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I meant to visit an outlying island today. Now, I've to remind myself I can't go anywhere.
From the radio, we hear: Japan has today lifted its restrictions on foreign tourists.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I can visit Japan without a visa now.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But it's unlikely that my wife and I would go. And it's also uncertain if our elder daughter would return home.
Act 2
INT. SITTING ROOM - LATER
Having done their RATs, Peter's WIFE begins working on her laptop while Peter on his smart phone.
PETER (V.O.): Let me learn something by answering requests on Quora.
Peter reads one: What is the main objective of Max Weber management theory, and how does it differ to Henri Foyal's management theory?
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG, I did decades of management without knowing these theories. It's time to catch up.
Having done his research, Peter types his answer.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Max Weber pioneered bureaucracy, while Henri Foyal was the father of management. I didn't deviate from the norm or the practice.
While disposing of requests swiftly, Peter stops at one.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This question on power is framed in a convoluted way. But it reminds me of Hohfeld's four elements...
Researching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Power v Liability; Privilege v Immunity... the Hohfeldian Incidents named after Westley Hohfeld (1879-1918)...
Calculating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, he died young, but left a jurisprudential legacy.
INT. BEDROOM - LATER
PETER (V.O.): Let me see if I can cook up some spoken Cantonese lyrics.
Peter jots down some words on his phone notes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's really hard to write rhymed and meaningful ones.
Peter edits and edits.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Not perfect at all. Another dry run.
Picking up a black and white electric bass guitar, Peter plays the bass lines of the oldie "Stand By Me".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While playing them, I 'd learn to write simple but resonating riffs.
Later, Peter picks up a flute to blow the theme melody of "Butterfly Lovers".
FLASHBACK
EXT. MUSIC DEPARTMENT, HKCU - DAY (1976)
Car park. Waiting inside a metalic blue Ford Capri, Peter (22) hears someone practising flute and blowing "Butterfly Lovers".
PETER (V.O.): Music to my ears! I wish I could also be a music student here.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm having lots of hiccups - just a little bit better than yesterday.
Resting and recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whenever I went to Tokyo before the pandemic, I liked to row in the lake in Ueno Park before flying home.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I didn't mind travelling alone. Now, I prefer to travel with my wife.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Meanwhile, our elder daughter in Tokyo is still awaiting the result of her application to read Korean in Seoul National University (SNU).
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Workwise, she has already tendered her letter of resignation.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23:00
Smiling, Peter works on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Earlier, we've good news from Tokyo that SNU has asked our elder daughter to pay the tuition fees.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My children have passion and purpose. Struggling hard and smart, they've progress.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Personal growth is focused on progress, not perfection. A little progress each day adds up to big results.
The bedside digital clock displays "23:45".
THE END
.
FADE OUT
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