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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Striking the Right Note


  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. LIVING ROOM - 11:00


  4. Sitting at the piano, PETER repeats playing the intro of a musical piece.


  5. PETER (V.O): I just can't strike the right notes this morning.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): For the past month or so, I've been so focused in learning foreign languages. No wonder my playing has suffered.


  8. Frustrated, Peter stands up and retreats to the sofa.


  9. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me do something else.


  10. Peter has an idea.


  11. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, why don't I attempt to compose the lyrics of a new song that I've to perform next month.


  12. Peter begins composing.


  13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, the trilingual lyrics again, Cantonese - English - Mandarin.


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. LIVING ROOM - 12:00


  16. Peter chats with his WIFE.


  17. WIFE: I've just done a quick catch-up of IU's songs.


  18. PETER (V.O.): My elder daughter managed to buy three tickets of IU's world tour concert in Hong Kong, but not in South Korea.


  19. PETER: When will you join our visiting daughter and our son-in-law-to-be for tonight's concert?


  20. WIFE: Soon. They're trying Cha Chaan Teng stuff. We'll go shopping at Gateway before an early dinner.


  21. PETER: So, I'm by myself soon.


  22. WIFE: Go to watch the Doraemon drone show at TST.


  23. PETER: And where should I dine alone?


  24. WIFE: Go to your favourite restaurant and have roast goose San Hui style!


  25. PETER: Yes. And I'll go swimming in Silverstrand Bay this afternoon.


  26. INT. SILVERSTRAND BAY - 16:00


  27. Cloudy and rainy. Peter swims in the waters. As he climbs up onto a floating platform, Peter looks refreshed.


  28. PETER (V.O): I feel good now, Doing my daily learning of seven languages is heavy-going.


  29. Peter lies flat on the platform.


  30. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Most of the time, I use my hand to cover my face, But now, I just let raindrops falling on it.


  31. INT. LIVING ROOM - 17:30


  32. Peter sits back at the piano, finger dancing across the keys.


  33. PETER (V.O): Yes, I'm satisfied.


  34. EXT. AVENUE OF STARS, TST - 19:00


  35. Promenade. Standing among the CROWD, Peter glances at the cloudy sky.


  36. PETER (V.O): Wanting it won't rain, I've no umbrella with me.


  37. Tapping the Duolingo App on his mobile, Peter does language practices.


  38. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Some raindrops are falling on my head now. The 10-minute Doraemon drone show will only begin 30 minutes later.

  39. .

  40. Peter continues his language practice.


  41. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Even if it rains, I won't retreat.


  42. Later, we hear the crowd shouting: 5,4,3,2,1! And the show begins.


  43. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I love Doraemon because my wife and my children love it.


  44. The show soon finishes.


  45. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's sensational!


  46. Immediately, we hear crowd-control announcements.


  47. SOMEONE: If I drop money, I couldn't pick it up. It's so packed!


  48. EXT. MEI HIN RESTAURANT, CAMERON ROAD - 21:00


  49. Peter enjoys a plate of roast goose and noodles.


  50. PETER (V.O): It has taken me over an hour to arrive here. I've never seen so many people in TST before.


  51. As Peter taps a Facebook post that includes images of a graduation ceremony featuring a young man in his cap and gown.


  52. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My doctor son now only began his study when I was 63.


  53. Act 3


  54. INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:30


  55. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Striking the Right Note ..." to a draft.


  56. PETER (V.O): I am struggling to balance my musical passion with my newfound language obsession.


  57. Thinking.


  58. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Exercising some efforts, I've regained some focus and satisfaction.


  59. Reflecting.


  60. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): There's so much to learn out there. I love to think that even mistakes and delays can be wonderful.


  61. FADE OUT


  62. THE END



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