St Michael's Mount
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 22, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. SILVERSTRAND - 14:45
Beach. Gloomy weather. PETER appears in swimming gear.
PETER (V.O.): I've just had a brainstorming-cum-lunch session at HKUST.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday this time, I could only see the court room and tense people.
We hear a beach broadcast: The red flag has been hoisted...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not just a beachgoer. I plan to exercise myself in the swimming area, investing in my health.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although the waves are said to be big here, they're relatively gentle when compared to those in St Ives, Cornwall.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're many surfers in Porthmeor Bay...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. PORTHMEOR BEACH CAFE, ST IVES - 13:00 (Nov 5, 2022)
Grey sky. Panoramic view. Peter, his WIFE and their younger DAUGHTER are having seabass, grilled seabream and prawns.
PETER: How nice it is to have a seafood lunch by the sea!
Peter watches surfers riding on the top of a wave. Some fall.
PETER (V.O.): I've never surfed. If I fall into the water, I'd have no problem to surface again.
WIFE: After lunch, we'll go to Tate, St Ives. And if we've time after that, we'll try the scenic St Ives Bay Line.
PETER: Good plan. Have you checked the train schedules today?
WIFE: I don't know why I couldn't find any information, although the planned strikes were cancelled.
EXT. TRAIN STATION, ST IVES BAY LINE - 15:55.
Quiet. Peter, his wife and their younger daughter are reading a notice: No train service from this station today due to short notice of cancellation of strikes.
PETER: Their "can't do" mindset impacts on us. We won't come again.
WIFE: Yes, we've to leave early in the morning to see St Michael's Mount. And then, we'll drive to Bournemouth.
EXT. SHORT-STAY CAR PARK, MARAZION - 09:35
Opposite St Michael's Mount. Windy and wet. Getting off their black VW Tiguan, Peter, his wife and their younger daughter see TOURISTS walking on the beach.
PETER: It appears that we can walk from here to the causeway leading to the tidal island.
EXT. CAUSEWAY, ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT - 09:55
Dotted with seaweeds on its sides. Peter, his wife and their younger daughter take photos and videos happily.
PETER (V.O.): It's only now I understand what's a causeway - very different from the Causeway Bay in Hong Kong.
EXT. ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT - 10:00
Arriving at the castle entrance, they see a notice: The castle is closed today.
WIFE: Perhaps the rising tide doesn't permit it.
PETER: The courtyard shop and toilets are still open.
Having done their shopping, they walk around the courtyard. As rain begins to pour, they hide inside the toilets.
PETER (V.O.): I'm content that it doesn't pour all the time - one third of the sky is blue.
10:55. Finding Peter the only person filming at the courtyard, a STAFF talks to him.
STAFF: You've to leave now. We're closing at 11:00.
PETER: Oh yes! Thank you very much!
EXT. CAUSEWAY, ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT - 10:55
Peter, his wife and their younger daughter follow dozens of TOURISTS returning to Marazion. We see the rising tide is about to reclaim the causeway.
PETER: It's like an exodus. What a sight!
WIFE: There's no ferry service today.
Then, they see a handful of other TOURISTS attempting to walk towards St Michael's Mount. The uniformed STAFF prevent them from doing so.
PETER (V.O.): They may not know the window of opportunity is actually very short.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
EXT. SILVERSTRAND - CONTINUOUS
Having blown a cyber-green buoy, Peter connects it to his waist.
PETER (V.O.): Travel makes me modest. I see what a tiny space I occupy momentary in nature.
We hear a broadcast: the beach red flag has been hoisted...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Setbacks are just signposts on the causeway to success.
Peter enters into the water.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even if the plan one starts out with doesn't work, one should stay positive.
Peter dashes against an incoming wave.
THE END
FADE OUT
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