Humbled By The Infinite
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 19, 2024
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
Sitting in a sofa, PETER scrolls a chat group message on his mobile.
PETER (V.O): Another human-centric post on humility and perspective.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me share something different.
Peter mines a video clip via YouTube.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's it. Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot.
As Peter taps "Play", we see on screen the Earth is quickly turned into a pale blue dot by the immensity of space.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And that's home.
And we hear the narrator saying:.. every human being who ever was, lived out their lives...
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The universe is also vast in time, making the Earth and the entire history of humanity seem fleeting and insignificant in comparison.
Act 2
MONTAGE OF PETER'S STRUGGLES WHEN YOUNG.
A. Castle Peak Hotel, 1969-1974. Peter (15- 20) works as a part-time waiter.
B. Shing Tai Dyeing Factory, Tsuen Wan, Summer 1971. Peter (17) works as a factory worker.
C. Yue Wo Tong, Lau Fau Shan, 1970-1973. Peter (17-19) works as a part-time waiter.
D. Lido, Repulse Bay, Summer, 1973, Peter (19) works as a bar-tender.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): To support myself, I always worked on holidays. Life was tough.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): When my bright peers couldn't offer any meaning of life, I helped myself by studying Philosophy.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I liked Cosmology as I wanted to know about my role, if any, in the Cosmos.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And Metaphysics too, as I was concerned not only with the nature of things that exist, but also the nature of things that might not.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S CAREER DEVELOPMENTS
A. Housing Dept, 1974 -1980, Peter (20-25) works as a Housing Assistant.
B. Lands Dept, 1980 -1981, Peter (26) works as a Land Executive.
C. Law School, HKU, 1981-1985, Peter (27-31) studies as a Government Legal Scholar.
D. Attorney General's Chambers, 1985-1991, Peter (31-37) works from the rank of Assistant Crown Counsel to Senior Crown Counsel.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): During my career developments, I tried to be human-centric by delivering more public value.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But when I stared at the night sky, I couldn't ignore the fact that I'm a part of this larger, interconnected system.
A Facebook feed has caught Peter's attention.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, that rich man will turn 101 this year. It's a great privilege.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Carl Sagan, who narrated the Pale Blue Dot video clip, died at the age of 62.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And here I'm, still alive and well, at the age of 70.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Unlike my younger days, I don't feel lost now, but I'm still questioning my place in the cosmos.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Being an instance of intelligent beings on Earth, I'm truly being humbled by the infinite.
Contemplating.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yet, it seems that all humans are empowered to make a difference on Earth.
Copying the video clip link, Peter sends it to the chat group.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I hope the clip would help viewers see the world, and their own lives in a really new and humbling light.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 20:45
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Humbled By The Infinite ..." to a draft.
PETER (V.O): My background was such that I had to struggle with life's challenges even when I was very young.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Learning the cosmic scale of the universe helped me realize that my personal problems were really small in the grand scheme of things.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In the vastness of space and time, I'm no more than a floating dust particle in the pale blue dot.
FADE OUT
THE END
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