Happy Days
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Feb 13, 2021
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
Peter is watching a Wild West film.
PETER (V.O.): I want to make films and creativity as the motifs of my 2021 Chinese New Year days.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For decades, the Cheung family and extended members have been gathering together on the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year. But this year, we've to break from our good tradition.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Watching films at home is a way for me to adapt to the change.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):When I was in my teens, I watched a lot of Wild West films. I thought cowboy characters like James Bond were charismatic.
As the film ends, Peter taps to watch the DVD's bonus content.
Act 2
INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just then, I immerse myself in the dramatic and acting aspects of the film.
Peter is watching with interest.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was made in 1969, it's only now I know how the film was made and the personnel behind the work.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The screenplay writer did many years of research before writing the original screenplay.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Initially, only one studio wanted to buy it and the author had to do a little rewrite.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, it won the Best Original Screenplay award.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The film's cinematography stands out, depicting the mood subtly rather than shooting an explicit reality. It won an Oscar too.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And so was the film's theme song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.
The bonus content comes to an end.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To make a difference requires lots of intellectual effort. But I believe people enjoy the creative process. The incidental recognition is the bonus.
Peter watches a TV channel showing sea lives.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Last Feb, immediately after the Chinese New Year, I made my tour to Hokkaido.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The pandemic has already begun but not the travel restrictions. As my plane landed late at New Chitose Airport, I stayed at a nearby Hotel for the night.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While I was having breakfast the next day and looking out of the windows, I saw a direction sign to the Chitose Aquarium.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So I visited it and captured some video clips. Some of them have gone into my song Happy Valentine's Day - the 2020 edition.
Via his laptop, Peter surfs YouTube, finds his music video and watches it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Composing a song isn't easy. One has to have the right mood.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my original lyrics, I treated Cupid as Valentine. That wasn't quite right and so I rewrote a little and made the 2020 edition.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since last Feb, the circumstances have been such that I've to suspend my monthly travel hobby.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've missed 12 trips already.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those travelling days were also happy days.
Act 3
INT. FLORIST - EVENING
Peter is examining the roses on display.
PETER (V.O.) : Although love lives in the heart, and always will, I believe roses have become symbols of love, particularly on Valentine's Day.
Peter picks up a big red rose.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is one good enough? No one would mind to have lots of love. Let me buy 9 smaller ones to make a perfect 10.
Peter pays happily at the cashier.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter's FAMILY is having dinner.
PETER (V.O.): For decades, I've never had a dinner at home on the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year.
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
The TV is playing the film Beauty & the Beast. We hear: True love will win the day...
PETER (V.O.): I watched this romance/musical with my wife in cinema in early 2017...Even a beast character can become charming...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd) : It's now the season of love. To love and be loved make happy days.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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