If It's Thursday...
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 7, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDIO - 11:00
PETER is playing the piano.
PETER (V.O.): A work meeting scheduled today has been postponed to tomorrow.
We hear piano music: The Theme from a Summer Place.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Practice makes perfect.
Peter plays the piano chords of "Free as a Bird".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's always room for improvement.
On his iPad Mini, Peter taps online piano tutorial lessons.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Perhaps I'd learn how to make songs sound more colourful.
Selecting one, Peter watches attentively.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Amazing stuff.
Act 2
INT. RESTAURANT - 14:45
In a corner, Peter is having dumplings and noodles in soup.
PETER (V.O.): I've thought about managing my cars or going to the beach today.
Peter sips a honey drink.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's no hurry actually. And I may have to follow up another small matter.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday, I watched on YouTube the 1969 film: If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium.
Eating.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's a romantic comedy filmed in locations in London, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Brussels, Rhine, Venice and Rome.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The film's song carries the same title too...
We see on Peter's phone screen:... If this is Wednesday, this must be Rome. If this is Thursday, this must be Montrose...
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The leading actress was Suzanne Pleshette - quite an idol in the 1960s.
Eating.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But I was fascinated by a scene, depicting a singer singing a psychedelic folk song in a hostel.
Drinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Later, I found out the singer was Donovan. He once shared a finger-picking guitar style with the Beatles.
Peter finishes his tea set.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I heard about Suzanne Pleshette's film "A rage to live", but had not seen it.
INT. STUDIO - 15:30
Remote control in hand, Peter searches YouTube on TV: A rage to live.
PETER (V.O.): Ah, free HD full movie is available.
Peter presses "Play". After the colourful MGM logo, we see the black-and-white Panavision moving images.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's a 1965 Hollywood film.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The 1961 "Westside Side Story" and the 1964 "633 Squadron" were already colour films.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In the 1960s, I wouldn't pay to see black-and-white films.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Never mind. I just want to admire Suzanne Plesette in her prime more, out of curiosity.
Tapping an AI drawing app, Peter inputs instructions.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Let me create an AI drawing in cubism form, depicting a beautiful woman in colour and in black-and-white.
Checking one of the AI drawings, Peter looks pleased.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I knew Suzanne Plesette died in 2008 at the age of 70.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): She was 17 years older than me. I'm 69 going on 70.
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 21:00
Grabbing his smartphone, Peter taps the HKJC app and makes his "MARK SIX" bets.
PETER (V.O.): If it's Thursday, it's my day in the week.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Old stories and films take me back in time, reminding me of the days in the bygone era.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): They also motivate me to keep fit and to continue to be creative in my own way.
FADE OUT
THE END
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