top of page
Search
  • Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Sophisticated-But-Simple

  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - DAY


  4. Listening to a rock-and-roll song Hang On Sloopy, PETER is researching.


  5. PETER (V.O.): It was a number 1 hit in 1965. A simple tune with two verses.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Anyone who has heard the song before can remember the melody...


  8. We hear repetitive bass patterns.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And of course the bass riffs too.


  10. Enjoying.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My extra-bass speakers boost the sound. They should be simple to play.


  12. Grabbing his white electrical bass, Peter begins to play.


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): With sound, sight and touch, I feel life's sensuous pleasure.


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. STUDY - LATER

  16. Turning on YouTube on a wide-screen TV set casually, Peter sees the opening image of a movie.

  17. PETER (V.O.): It's a Clint Eastwood film...


  18. Watching movie scenes and ads intermittently.


  19. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The opening scene isn't captivating. And the ads are just too disruptive. I give up.


  20. Touching a remote-control button, Peter sees on screen that an orchestra is about to perform. He listens to the Intro.


  21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's A Fistful of Dollars.


  22. Watching and listening till the end, Peter stays tuned.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, it's For a Few Dollars More.


  24. Peter stays tuned.


  25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, it's The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.


  26. Peter watches attentively.


  27. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They use a variety of musical instruments not commonly seen in classical orchestral performance.


  28. Focusing.


  29. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even a solo guitar player has a significant role to play.


  30. Peter continues to watch and listen attentively.


  31. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And the wah-wah-wah sound is so special. It's quite timeless to me.


  32. Peter appreciates the conductor's techniques.


  33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sophisticated-but-simple musical pieces appeal to me than works labelled in numbers and keys of old masters.


  34. After hearing the popular distinctive melody, guitar solos and harmonic human voices, Peter sees a still image of Clint Eastwood on the TV screen.


  35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the 1960s, I watched lots of Hollywood movies with the western/action/drama genre.


  36. Pausing.


  37. 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.


  38. FLASHBACK


  39. EXT. HUNG SHUI KIU, NT - DAY (1965)


  40. 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.


  41. END FLASHBACK


  42. 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.


  43. Recalling.


  44. 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.


  45. Peter then sees on the TV screen another recommended clip: Scott McKenzie's San Francisco.


  46. FLASHBACK


  47. INT. COLLEGE - NIGHT (1970)


  48. 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...


  49. RETURN TO PRESENT


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those were the days. Fond memories though.


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. STUDY - LATER


  53. A hand-on-cheek Peter is thinking.


  54. PETER (V.O.): Is simplicity the essence of all elegance?


  55. Pausing.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But simplicity isn't simple.


  57. Pausing.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As an elderly now, I've thought deep about life; and I've a variety of insight on issues.


  59. Pausing.


  60. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After eliminating all the insignificant ones, I've retained only the essentials.


  61. Pausing.


  62. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just be myself.


  63. FADE OUT.


  64. THE END



2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page