Movies & Memories
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 14, 2024
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
Focusing on the TV screen, PETER and his WIFE are about to watch a movie.
PETER (V.O): Can this be our new lifestyle?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My wife has no plan to work in retirement.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Our children has grown up and they aren't living with us.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): We used to watch movies mostly in flight.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. FLIGHT CABIN - DAY (Two days ago)
Both Peter and his wife are tapping the screen in front of their seats
PETER (V.O): Any good movies to watch?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Ah, "Napoleon"...See if I can get a sensory-rich experience about his relationship with Josephine.
Watching.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The scenes about them are captivating...
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK (1971)
INT. WALDO CINEMA, TSUEN WAN - DAY
Peter is with GIRL#1 and GIRL#2. Getting in their row of seats, they see a GROUP of boys and girls sitting a row behind staring at them.
PETER (V.O): Oh, they're our classmates...
Then, Girl#1 quickly takes a seat, Peter follows and then Girl#2.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): OMG, I am sitting between them!
We see the film title appearing on screen: Waterloo.
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): After 1971 public exams, I wanted to invite my dancing partner to watch the movie "Waterloo".
Watching.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My home didn't have a phone. But I had the courage to go to her home direct.
Watching.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Upon arriving, I realised that her girlfriend was there, and they meant to watch the same movie too. So we went together.
Watching.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, Napoleon is being exiled to the island of Elba.
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. TEACHERS' ROOM, PAK KAU COLLEGE - DAY (1974)
Classroom setting. SHARON (19) sits in the front while Peter (20) at the back. Sharon turns to talk to Peter.
SHARON: Cheung Sir, both of us teach English, do you know a sentence that can be read in reverse?
PETER: No.
SHARON: Napoleon says: "Able was I, ere I saw Elba". "Ere" is an archaic term meaning "before".
PETER: That's mind-blowing!
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): We didn't know we'd become husband and wife in five years.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): We thought we had all the time in the world, but she died 13 years later.
Seeing end credits, Peter taps the screen,
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me see if I've time to watch another movie...Ah, "A Bookshop in Paris"
Peter taps "Play".
PETER (V.O): My wife and I have already fixed our trip to Paris in July. I'd better refamiliarize myself with it, in particular the language.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I learned French in my 20s and 50s, but I still can't speak French.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:00
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Movies & Memories..." to a draft.
PETER (V.O): Movies have the power to inspire and educate. They can transport people to different times and cultures.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The movies trigger my memories of long-gone moments. I miss not just the memories but also the persons and the feelings.
Visualizing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While I don't have the resources to make feature movies, I've been documenting what's in my head and blood in my scripts.
FADE OUT
THE END
Comments