FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
After a nap on a sofa, PETER opens his eyes.
PETER (V.O.): Let me first finish my unfinished businesses.
Having signed on the computer scree, Peter inserts a file to a mail and clicks SEND.
PETER (V.O.) : Done! Just one more outstanding matter to do.
Having studied some texts on his phone, Peter types: Approved.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All done! Days ago, I watched some great moving images of old Hong Kong in 1954. They were from a Hollywood film: Soldier of Fortune.
After typing Soldier of Fortune on his phone, Peter watches a trailer. We hear from the phone that the movie was filmed "in modern Hong Kong,"
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The movie featured Clark Gable and Susan Hayward. When I was a kid, I heard of their names.
Peter surfs the web further.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a rescue cum love story in the Hong Kong setting. But what comes up to my mind right away is Deep Purple's song Soldier of Fortune.
Peter taps on a tag on his phone screen.
Act 2
INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINOUS
After the introductory guitar riff of a blues rock ballad, we hear a male singer singing: I have often told you stories about the way, I lived the life of a drifter waiting for the day. When I'd take your hand and sing you songs then may be you would say, come lay with me, love me and I would surely stay.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, its a 1974 song - a critical year of my love stories. The lyrics have them all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before that, I had heard Deep Purple's Black Night. I thought the band was creative, pioneering heavy metal music. I liked the new genre too, but didn't know how to do it.
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDIO - NIGHT (1970)
Primitive. Playing electrinc guitar, Peter (16) is rehearsing with two BANDMATES (17). They play English and Chinese hit songs of the 1960s.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I didn't even know how to play the guitar properly, not to mention writing music and lyrics.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But everything is relative. While very few could spot the many mistakes that we made, I believe most could feel our passion and admire us.
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those were the days.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And while I was quite blue in 1974, it was a pleasant surprise to hear their number Soldier of Fortune.
Tapping on a forward arrow icon, we hear the song again...: But I feel I'm growing older, and the songs that I have sung, echo in the distance like the sound of a windmill going round...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I now fully feel what growing older means.
Peter sighs as the song ends.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We aren't fighting for other institutions for advantages. We are actually fighting or struggling for our fortune against adversity, like what is happening to world right now.
Peter takes a deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Incidentally, what happened to the Hollywood stars in the movie?
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, Clark Gable died of a heart attack at the age of 59. And Susan Hayward died of brain cancer at the age of 57.
Peter makes a palm on cheek poise.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is what happens to us - we may get what we don't ask for, whether we like it or not, and it can't be undone.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well, I'm already a senior citizen. As long I'm alive, my memories of the old and modern Hong Kong story in which I've played a role will be with me.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Peter relaxes on the sofa, watching the TV or his phone screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's great that my domain name dispute decison was finally issued yesterday. I'm always very serious about my role in any context.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was scheduled to appear in court this morning, but the court wouldn't open for business.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're actually insignificant matters particularly in the autumn of my life.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I enjoy documenting my fond memories and would like to think that they might live on.
Peter picks up a guitar nearby and do a few harmonic strums.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Both the past and the present twist and turn with each other into the future.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a character playing my own role, all I need doing is to open my heart and continue to act naturally.
Peter rubs his eyes.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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