If I Can Dream
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 2, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
Having checked his phone's mails, a wet-haired Peter finishes typing.
PETER: (V.O.): Okay, I've dealt with serious matters. See if there's any interesting answer requests from my Quora fans.
We see on screen: What was your childhood dream job? Did you achieve it? How do you feel about it?
PETER: (V.O.) (Cont'd): My childhood dream job was a very humble one.
FLASHBACK
EXT. BUS (MOVING) - DAY (1964)
DRIVER#1 drives. Holding a bar and standing close to driver#, Peter (10) watches him steering the wheel, stepping on the clutch and changing gears, switching on the indicator lamps from time to time.
PETER: (V.O.): I believe I know how to drive.
EXT. BUS (MOVING) - DAY (1966)
Driver#2 drives. Sitting in the only passenger seat in the front, nearly parallel to driver#2, Peter (12) watches closely every action of driver#2.
PETER: (V.O.): Handling a bus requires a lot of skills and attention. Serving the public is good. A classmate's father is a bus driver.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 2
INT. STUDY - LATER
Peter looks at the answer request.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My childhood dream job was just to become a bus driver.
Recalling.
PETER: (V.O.) (Cont'd): None of my family members had a driving licence. Being a bus driver should be able to feed a family.
'
Pausing.
PETER: (V.O.) (Cont'd): I thought that was the only way I could have a car to drive. So my ambition then was just to be able to take a bus-driving seat.
Peter looks at the answer request again.
PETER: (V.O.) (Cont'd): I didn't achieve it though. I got my driving licence alright, but I'd never applied for the job.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Days after I got my driving licence in 1976, I bought a used sports car. Since then, I've been owning and driving private cars.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to my feeling...
Peter seems to have recalled something.
On his phone, Peter searches: Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream. A video clip featuring Elvis Presley then comes up. Peter tapes on it.
After a rock intro, we hear Elvis singing: There must be lights burning brighter somewhere. Got to be birds flying higher in the sky more blue. If I can dream...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I simply can't dream big when I was a child.
We continue to hear:...Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true, oh why...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I heard the song over the radio in 1968. But this is the first time I watch his video clip.
We continue to hear:...We trapped in a world that is troubled with pain. But as long as a man has the strength to dream, he can redeem his soul and fly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He looked so young. How old was he then?
Scrolling down the screen, Peter taps on the Elvis Presley link.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He was 33 in 1968. In the 1960s, I watched nearly all his movies. He was quite my teenage idol.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From poverty to fame, he epitomizes the American dream.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 1977 when I heard that he had died, I couldn't believe it. How can the "King" die? At the age of 42?
Peter takes a deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm 66 already.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): Years ago, when I saw recruiting adverts of bus drivers, I did think about making my childhood dream come true.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): But I wasn't qualified anymore. I wasn't aged 60 or below.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whenever I can, I'd drive my wife to work, like a chauffeur,
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And then I would manage my cars. I ran a car's engine this morning and took another one to the car repairer this afternoon.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I also won't miss my daily swimming, hoping that I'll have the strength not just to dream, but to optimize my lifespan actually.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Living a life like that at the age of 66, have I redeem my soul somewhat?
Peter types his answer on the phone.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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