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Steps Forward

  • Writer: Peter K F Cheung SBS
    Peter K F Cheung SBS
  • Jan 14
  • 3 min read

Updated: Feb 1

FADE IN

  1.  

  2. Act 1 

  3.  

  4. INT. STUDY - 20:30

  5.  

  6. Smartphone in hand, PETER smiles at the screen.


  7. PETER (V.O): I've just completed all my daily Duolingo streaks.


  8. Peter rubs his eyes.


  9. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I used to complete this by 11am, but today...today is different.


  10. Tapping the Health app, Peter checks the step count: Today, 12,554 steps; Average, 20,968.


  11. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, today, I've taken fewer steps than I usually do. The past weeks have been all about walking to see Alfred.


  12.  Pausing.


  13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I didn't see Alfred today, as he had a medical appointment in Queen Mary Hospital.


  14. Pausing.


  15. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): However, I drove approximately 100 km today.


  16. Act 2  

  17.  

  18. FLASHBACK


  19. EXT. PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL - 10:15 (Today)

  20.  

  21. Peter swims with surprising agility for his age, gliding through the water effortlessly.


  22. PETER (V.O): I take exercising my body as an essential part of my daily routine.


  23. Swimming breaststrokes.


  24. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Having worked for over 40 years, I retired at the age of 60.


  25. Swimming free style.


  26. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Having completed my sanitization period as required for senior civil servants, I've been working in retirement as a Barrister and a HKUST Council Member.


  27. Peter leaves.


  28. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): At age 70 now, I think I should retire from my retirement.


  29. INT. CAR LICENSING OFFICE - 12:30


  30. Counter. Peter hands over the paperwork (including a time-limited roadworthy certificate) to a STAFF.


  31. PETER (V.O): As a senior citizen, I just walk in and join the short queue.


  32. Getting the licence, Peter smiles.


  33. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a small thing, but I still have a sense of accomplishment.


  34. Recalling.


  35. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Last Nov, my wife and I forgot to take a flight from Tokyo to Tottori.


  36. EXT. TO LO HARBOUR HIGHWAY - 15:15


  37. Peter is driving his WIFE in a silver Previa in the fast lane.


  38. PETER (V.O): Recently, I've watched lots cockpit video clips.


  39. Daydreaming.


  40. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I envision the open road as a runway...


  41. Peter checks the readings on the dashboard and then the mirrors.


  42. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But planes don't have rear mirrors!


  43. MONTAGE AT PETER'S NT HOME LATER


  44. A. Driveway. Having started the engines of his dust-covered Eunos 30X and SMART Pulse, Peter washes them.


  45. B. Studio. Before a Yamaha piano, Peter plays a jazz ballad and then "A Summer Place", rather smoothly.

  46.  

  47. END MONTAGE


  48. INT. ELDERLY HOME - 17:45


  49. Hallway. Peter and his wife walk closely beside their Mum (93), offering her ready support if needed.


  50. PETER (V.O): My Mum can still remember me at times, but she has forgotten her daughter-in-law of over 30 years.


  51. Their Mum moves slowly but purposefully, the supporting frame providing stablity as she takes each step forward.


  52. MUM: Here's my room...but my premises elsewhere are a lot better and bigger...


  53. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My Mum can walk about 40-50 steps without any problem.


  54. Recalling.


  55. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Alfred has to relearn walking. Walking half of my Mum's steps would pose a challenge for him.


  56. RETURN TO PRESENT


  57. Act 3

  58.  

  59. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS

  60.  

  61. Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Steps Forward..." to a draft on his laptop.

  62.  

  63. PETER (V.O): In every moment, there're three options: to step forward or backward or stay put.

  64.  

  65. Thinking.

  66.  

  67. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): No matter my pace, whether fast or slow, I'm taking steps every day toward reaching my objectives.


  68. Reflecting.

  69.  

  70. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I believe every step forward brings me closer to achieving something greater and more fulfilling than where I'm now.


  71. FADE OUT

  72.  

  73. THE END


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