FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
Listening to a rock-and-roll song Hang On Sloopy, PETER is researching.
PETER (V.O.): It was a number 1 hit in 1965. A simple tune with two verses.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Anyone who has heard the song before can remember the melody...
We hear repetitive bass patterns.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And of course the bass riffs too.
Enjoying.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My extra-bass speakers boost the sound. They should be simple to play.
Grabbing his white electrical bass, Peter begins to play.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): With sound, sight and touch, I feel life's sensuous pleasure.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - LATER
Turning on YouTube on a wide-screen TV set casually, Peter sees the opening image of a movie.
PETER (V.O.): It's a Clint Eastwood film...
Watching movie scenes and ads intermittently.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The opening scene isn't captivating. And the ads are just too disruptive. I give up.
Touching a remote-control button, Peter sees on screen that an orchestra is about to perform. He listens to the Intro.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's A Fistful of Dollars.
Watching and listening till the end, Peter stays tuned.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, it's For a Few Dollars More.
Peter stays tuned.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, it's The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
Peter watches attentively.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They use a variety of musical instruments not commonly seen in classical orchestral performance.
Focusing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even a solo guitar player has a significant role to play.
Peter continues to watch and listen attentively.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And the wah-wah-wah sound is so special. It's quite timeless to me.
Peter appreciates the conductor's techniques.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sophisticated-but-simple musical pieces appeal to me than works labelled in numbers and keys of old masters.
After hearing the popular distinctive melody, guitar solos and harmonic human voices, Peter sees a still image of Clint Eastwood on the TV screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the 1960s, I watched lots of Hollywood movies with the western/action/drama genre.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The stories are centred on a nomad cowboy wearing a Stetson hat, is armed with a revolver, riding on a horse in a vast landscape, pursuing a wanted person for money reward, or being pursued for his wrong doings.
FLASHBACK
EXT. HUNG SHUI KIU, NT - DAY (1965)
Wearing a Stetson hat, Peter (11) in school uniform, follows other PUPILS, walking from a primary school, passing by a cinema, crossing a Zebra crossing at Castle Peak Road before the procession is dismissed.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I fancied to make a living like a hitman, with my finger gun and bang-bang voice over, hitting my mark. I was simple and naive.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But there was the dilemma: In James Bond films, Bond uses silencer to shoot targets; and, he's surrounded by sexy girls. I was sophisticated and mature.
Peter then sees on the TV screen another recommended clip: Scott McKenzie's San Francisco.
FLASHBACK
INT. COLLEGE - NIGHT (1970)
Dark room. Dancing Party. When the music plays, the BOYS (including Peter (16)) waste no time to invite the GIRLS to dance. We hear: Are you going to San Francisco? Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair...
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those were the days. Fond memories though.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - LATER
A hand-on-cheek Peter is thinking.
PETER (V.O.): Is simplicity the essence of all elegance?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But simplicity isn't simple.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As an elderly now, I've thought deep about life; and I've a variety of insight on issues.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After eliminating all the insignificant ones, I've retained only the essentials.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just be myself.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Peter K F Cheung SBS
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