Seasons of Friendship
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
DREAM SEQUENCE
A. PETER and GUS alight from an elegant horse-drawn taxi.
B. Gus leads Peter to his cosy riverside home nestled behind the willow trees.
C. From Gus' home, Peter is delighted to see puppies diving into the river, just like ducks.
D. Peter appreciates the green motifs in Gus' home decor.
E. Upon meeting Gus' KIDS, Peter is surprised by how young they're.
F. Peter finds it unusual that Gus wears a tie even when he's at home.
G. It appears that SOMEONE in the cockloft is helping Gus with his work.
H. Although Peter enjoys staying at Gus' home, he knows he must leave.
I. Peter intends to say goodbye to Gus before leaving, but he departs since Gus isn't around.
END DREAM SEQUENCE
Act 2
INT. LIVING ROOM - 8:00
Smartphone in hand, Peter types Gus' name into a search bar.
PETER (V.O.): See if I can find Gus.
Peter clicks through a few irrelevant profiles on a social media site - a young skateboarder, a real estate agent.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nothing.
He leans back on the sofa, a deep frown on his face.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Where did you go, Gus?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the late 1990s, we're very close workmates.
FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY (1998)
Over lunch, Peter (44) asks Gus a serious question.
PETER: Why did you promote me?
GUS: I've worked with other candidates...you're different.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On another occasion, he mentioned that he had visited Zhangjieji and thought I'd enjoy the trip.
Recallng.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After his transfer to another Bureau, we lost touch.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just months after my retirement in 2014, I did visit Zhangjjeji and enjoyed the trip.
EXT/INT. CASTLE PEAK IMMIGRATION CENTRE - 14:20
Peter, now in a suit, walks through the security gates, clutching a folder of documents.
PETER (V.O.): My client has an interview to attend.
Two hours later, Peter exits.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For a split second, the concrete walls seem to be made of river stones. But the illusion snaps back to reality just as quickly.
EXT. GOLDEN BEACH - 17:30
Sunset. The sand remains golden but the sky is shifting to a shade of gray. A wet-haired Peter steps out of the bathroom.
PETER (V.O.): My dream hasn't faded. It remains clear and distinct throughout the day.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The dream isn't a clue to be solved, but a gift to be received. It's a perfect self-contained season of companionship, visiting me after all these years.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The lasting friendships aren't those that never change, but those whose memory remains evergreen through all the seasons of my life.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A closed chapter isn't a burned book. The story it told remains a part of my volume.
Walking towards a carpark.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I won't mourn the friendship that faded. I'm grateful for the light it cast on who I was becoming.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:30
Peter uploads an image of a winter sunset at Golden Bay to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Some friendships aren't for a lifetime, but for a season. And a single season, in memory, can sustain a lifetime.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A friend from a former season is a landmark on the map of my life, proving I've traveled and I've grown.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm visited in dreams by those who built a home in my soul, long after they've left my address books.
FADE OUT
END
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