The F Minor Intro
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 53 minutes ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. NOODLES SHOP - 15:30
A large bowl Chive Dumplings Noodles in Soup is in front of PETER.
PETER (V.O.): I finished my December travel yesterday and just completed my daily swim.
As he eats, he scrolls through Facebook feeds on his smartphone. Then his chopsticks freeze mid-air.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What? In memory of Greg So?
Peter looks unsettling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Has he passed away?
Peter explores the latest news on the web and then reads a headline: Former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Greg So, passes away at 67.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's four years junior to me.
Peter checks his WhatsApp chats.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The last time we exchanged New Year greetings was in 2021. We first met in receptions when he was an Undersecretary.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. RECEPTION - DAY (late 2011)
Greg chats with Peter.
GREG: You know my predecessor suddenly resigned for health reasons. There's no proper send-off.
Peter nods.
GREG (Cont'd): Now, she's pretty okay and I want to host a farewell party for her.
Peter nods.
GREG (Cont'd): You sang in a colleague's farewell party. Would you sing again?
INT. STUDIO - LATER
Peter reaches for a guitar, settles it on his lap. He strums an open C chord. It sounds full, pleasant and obvious.
PETER (V.O.): All I need is a catchy tune that all can sing along in Mandarin, Cantonese or English.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've to be discreet in composing the lyrics.
Struming the C chord again, Peter is singing in Mandarin and then Cantonese.
PETER:快樂的生活,冇人會嫌多...
Peter strums the sequence: F, C, G7 and then repeats the progression and sings in English.
PETER (Cont'd): Let's get together!
Then, we hear Peter singing the first line of the song: :快樂的生活,冇人會嫌多, Let's get together!
Focused, Peter continues to compose the other parts of the verse and the chorus.
MONTAGE OF THE FAREWELL PARTY WEEKS LATER
A. Strumming his guitar, Peter sings his song: 快樂的生活,冇人會嫌多, Let's get together!...
B. Following Peter's lead, the former and current SECRETARIES and GUESTS all sing: 快樂的生活,冇人會嫌多, Let's get together!...
C. The room is charmed. Peter's eyes meet Greg's across the room. A shared triumph.
END MONTAGE
INT. AIRPORT VIP ROOM - DAY (2012)
Privileged. Greg and Peter chat.
PETER (V.O.): I‘ve got a melancholic love song titled: 無缘/情未了/Untold Story, but I think its Intro can sound better.
GREG: I play the piano. Consider incorporating the F minor.
Peter nods.
PETER (V.O.): It's an invitation to see the world through Greg's ears for a moment.
RETURN TO PRESENT
INT. LIVING ROOM - 16:30
Peter plays a Talman denim blue acoustic-electric guitar connected to an amplifier. We hear the intro: C C7, F Fm...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): F minor is the sound of a story left untold.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The most haunting intro isn't written for an audience; its the private melody that plays in my mind when I read a name in the news.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:00
Peter uploads a photo of his playing the F minor chord on the piano to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Life is in the major keys. But understanding resides in the F minor Intro.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can measure life in years, or I can measure it in the moments that resonate.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My song "無缘/情未了/Untold Story" has a silent collaborator. The Intro gives Greg away.
END
FADE OUT
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