Soul Dance

FADE IN.

Act 1

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY

PETER wakes up.

PETER (V.O.): I slept well. I dreamt away my grievances. And I wake up.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm thankful for that. Today is Monday. To avoid Monday Blues, I should think about what to do next right away.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me first drink something, do my morning exercises...

EXT. PARK - DAY

Peter is strolling, holding his phone and staring at it as if he is dancing with his shadow.

PETER (V.O.): Social distancing lets me have more free time. I want to relearn dancing, by myself this time. Let me start with Tango.

Starting with his right foot, Peter takes three walks forward and a side drag, counting slow, slow, quick-quick, slow at the same time.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In order to dance better together, I think I've to take the lead and teach my wife or partner how to dance as well. It takes two to tango.

Starting with his right foot, Peter does three walks back - back with the right, back with the left, back with the right, then do a side with the left before dragging the right leg to the left leg without closing the feet.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I've cancelled my March-May travels and have no plan to fix others, I aim to return to dancing, not as a hobby to pass time, but as a performing art.

Peter notes that SOMEONE taking a picture of his actions from a distance.

Act 2

INT. STUDY - DAY

Checking the DVDs inside the shelves, Peter rearranges their orders and takes out a few.

PETER (V.O.): We hoarded quite a lot and haven't had the time to watch them.

Peter opens a pack.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Did I buy the film Casablanca in the DVD format? Let me see if I can play it on my computer.

FLASHBACK

INT. STUDY - NIGHT

Working behind his computer, Peter looks frustrated.

PETER (V.O.): Why can't I play the DVD on my computer? It worked before...

Remembering.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Around this time last year, all my IT devices were running intolerably slow. I reset them all.

Peter surfs the web on his phone.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've deleted the VLC media player and need to download and reinstall it.

Peter types and clicks on his computer.

END FLASHBACK

After inserting the DVD inside the DVD RW Drive, Peter is delighted to see moving images and hear sounds.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Great! It works now.

Peter watches the film from beginning to end.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I love the theme song As Time Goes By, particularly the ending hook - the fundamental things apply...

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I previously watched this film on TV at night, I didn't quite catch the plot. Now, I've got it.

Reflecting.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The story ending is quite unexpected - if a sentimentalist loves somebody deeply, it's really hard to let go.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But from the screenwriting perspective, twists and turns are necessary to get the dramatic effect. The screenplay won an Oscar in 1943.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday afternoon, I watched the Japanese version of Shall We Dance? It was the first time I watched the film from beginning to end. I lost my patience in previous occasions.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to Holywood's adapted version, I watched it seven times, while flying back from Boston to Hong Kong in 2005...

Reflecting.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was the film that inspired me to learn to dance.

MONTAGE OF PETER'S SPARK IN DANCING (2005-2011)

A. VIDEO STORE. Peter buys a pack of VCDs on dancing.

B. HOME. Following the moving images, Peter imitates the actions, causing lots of laughter from his FAMILY.

C. CLUBHOUSE. Peter and his WIFE are learning to dance in groups.

D. RESTAURANT. Peter and his wife watch others dancing.

E. DANCE HALL. Peter and his wife dance at a dancing party.

F. DANCE HALL. As they dance, Peter and his wife notice SOMEBODY mimicking their steps.

G. DANCE HALL. Peter and his wife watch dancing competitions.

H. DANCE HALL. Peter, partnering daughter, and his wife, the son, compete in competitions and get silver and gold medals.

END MONTAGE

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After years of feverish dancing, we became very demanding of each other. We often quarrelled over dancing techniques and steps. I didn't lead that well when compared to our instructor.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And we became very busy with our work and had to give work priority over our hobby.

Reflecting.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It has been many years since I last danced...Our children stopped dancing because of public exam pressure. My wife carried on by herself in groups, but has also stopped because of work pressure...

Act 3

INT. STUDY - NIGHT

On the floor, Peter is clearing documents and files.

PETER (V.O.): Apart from practising dancing steps in the park, I need to practice indoors as well.

Pondering.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me clear up the stuff that I placed on the floor. I now have a new use of floor space.

INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT

After switching on the bedside radio, Peter goes to bed.

PETER (V.O.): What a fruitful Monday! Let me dream better and look forward to another day. I want to make my heart sing and my soul dance.

FADE OUT.

THE END