International Women's Day

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. EXT. PARK - DAY

6. 
   

7. Entrance. Rainy. Peter jogs on a track.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): I've a love song in the context of Spring weather like this. Yesterday, I came up with a short and quick piece on International Women's Day.

10. 
    

11. FLASHBACK

12. 
    

13. INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY (March 8, 2020)

14. 
    

15. Peter checks his phone chat-group messages.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.): Oh yes, today is International Women's Day. In my life, I've come across many wonderful-outstanding-marvelous-adorable-nice WOMEN.

18. 
    

19. Reflecting.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I studied law, at least half of my classmates were women.

22. 
    

23. INT. KITCHEN - DAY

24. 
    

25. In pajamas, Peter' WIFE is cooking while Peter's watching.

26. 
    

27. WIFE: These are the noodles that you brought back from Japan.

28. 
    

29. PETER: Oh, I've forgotten about that.

30. 
    

31. INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

32. 
    

33. After finishing their noodles, Peter's wife serves a dessert.

34. 
    

35. PETER: That's nice.

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She does all that all the time. But today is International Women's Day. What can I do in a day in a year? I don't have a festive song on the Day.

38. 
    

39. Phone in hand, Peter surfs the web.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As always, the main theme of the Day is about forging a gender-equal world. I think I've got a line that is rhymed...

42. 
    

43. Act 2

44. 
    

45. INT. STUDY - DAY

46. 
    

47. Playing the guitar a few times, Peter takes a pencil to note something on a sheet of paper.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.): Let me write the thematic and rhymic Cantonese lyrics first, then the English lyrics, before cooking up the tune.

50. 
    

51. Peter amends his draft a couple of times.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Let me now structure my song.

54. 
    

55. Peter strums his guitar a few times, plays some solos and jots down a few notes.

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) (Shaking his head sideways): No, they don't sound right. But if I give up now, I won't have any song. And the next time is next year.

58. 
    

59. Peter continues to strum his guitar and jots down something. Then, he steps on a pedal and we hear some soft-rock rhythmic beats.

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I had better record the raw tune or else I'll forget it.

62. 
    

63. Having tapped a "record" button on his iPad Mini screen, Peter begins playing the guitar and singing, first in English and then in Cantonese. He stops abruptly a few times to tap the "retake" button and starts all over again. At the end of one take, he taps the "stop" button and then the "accept" button.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This take is acceptable. Anyway, time is tight. I've to insert the visuals and then the subtitles. I must finish this before going out for dinner.

66. 
    

67. IPad Mini in hand, Peter edits his music video attentively.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is it!

70. 
    

71. Peter then taps an "upload" button to YouTube, copies the link and shares it to the public.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While the tune and lyrics can always be better, my concern is to show my timely support of the International Women's Day, in my raw but real way.

74. 
    

75. EXT. BUS - NIGHT

76. 
    

77. Peter checks his phone messages.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're some appreciative feedback.

80. 
    

81. Having tapped a link attached to one message with the caption: International Women's Day, Peter puts his phone near his ear.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Did I write and record this song? It sounds terrible! How come it sounded acceptable to me hours ago?

84. 
    

85. Act 3

86. 
    

87. Peter reads other messages.

88. 
    

89. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This message is interesting. My music friends notice the mixing towards the end of the song. It's my experimental song, mixing my chamber music with some pre-recorded electronic ones.

90. 
    

91. Checking other messages, Peter looks enlightened.

92. 
    

93. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, in mainland China, the social media circles call the International Women's Day as "the Goddess Day"! That makes the Day more agile! And I love that!

94. 
    

95. END FLASHBACK

96. 
    

97. Act 3

98. 
    

99. Peter jogs towards the Park's exit.

100. 
     

101. PETER (V.O.): Well, I like the ending of my music video too. Although my new song isn't wonderful, outstanding, marvelous, adorable or nice, I've achieved something that I wanted to do. Next time, I'll improve the song.

102. 
     

103. Reflecting.

104. 
     

105. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I didn't start writing a song celebrating International Women's Day, I would only have had another lazy Sunday afternoon yesterday. And, as I've started, I'm quite sure I'll have a better version of the song next year.

106. 
     

107. Reflecting.

108. 
     

109. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, a lot can happen in any day in a year. Let me keep up with my creative momentum.

110. 
     

111. Peter exits.

112. 
     

113. INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY

114. 
     

115. Checking a phone email, Peter raises an eyebrow.

116. 
     

117. PETER (V.O.): A Happy International Women's Day to me? Today?

118. 
     

119. Peter reads the other details.

120. 
     

121. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh yes, I joined McDonald's Mother's Club earlier as it hasn't got any Father's Club. And in US, today is International Women's Day.

122. 
     

123. FADE OUT.

124. 
     

125. THE END.