Rigged in My Favour
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 7, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDIO - 11:00
PETER is playing the piano. We hear "The Theme from a Summer Place".
PETER (V.O.): My "Summer Place" was the Castle Peak Hotel in the late 1960s.
MONTAGE
A. Castle Peak Hotel, Summer, 1969. Peter (15) is working as a waiter.
B. As Peter is serving afternoon tea to CUSTOMERS, we hear the background jazzy ballad "Misty".
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The mood of scenes has never left me.
On his iPad Mini, Peter taps online piano tutorial lessons.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've the urge to learn to play "Misty" on piano.
Act 2
INT. CHA CHAAN TENG, SUNG WONG TOI - 13:30
Dressed in a suit, Peter is having Fried Vermicelli with Sliced Beef.
PETER (V.O.): Here's the only place I can have it.
Eating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whenever I felt like treating myself in the Castle Peak Hotel, I'd have this dish.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): At staff price, it was the only choice. Other types of noodles were for customers.
Eating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I worked in the seaside hotel until it closed its business for villa development in 1974.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Working and studying at the same time weren't easy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Looking back, I'd regret if I didn't have the experience.
EXT/INT. MA TAU KOK DETENTION CENTRE - 13:50
Peter is walking towards a boring old building.
PETER (V.O.): It used to be Housing Authority's HQ.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When I first reported duty as a Housing Assistant on 27 May 1974, I came here.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S ENGAGEMENT WITH CLIENT
A. Interview room. We see a nervous young WOMAN waiting.
B. Later, Peter, an INTERPRETER and an OFFICER join the woman.
C. Through the interpreter, Peter speaks to the woman with hand gestures.
D. Via the interpreter, the officer passes papers to the woman to sign.
E. Later, the interpreter, the officer and Peter leave, leaving the women, now looking relaxed, in the room.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I'll be accompanying her to attend a screening interview.
INT. STUDY - 18:00
Peter is in deep thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): When I was doing my matriculation, I was convinced that my existence was the result of the biological trap.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): A being-to-be has no choice to the gender or where to be born.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Once born, there's no turning back.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And few have the privilege to choose where to spend their lives.
Tapping an AI drawing app, Peter inputs instructions.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I feel like creating a cubist AI drawing about a woman and a lawyer, fantasying hopes and yearnings.
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 19:00
Peter is playing the intro of "Misty" on piano.
PETER (V.O.): I reckon I'd live life as everything is rigged in my favour, although challenges are inevitable.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Having the positive mindset, I can resolve challenges more effectively, feeling more optimistic, motivated and enthusiastic about life.
Playing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I may also attract more positive experience and people into my life, making life more fulfilling.
FADE OUT
THE END
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