The Head of the Clan
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 9:15
A silver of morning light cuts across the room. PETER lies in bed. He opens his eyes, clear and awake. He turns his head to look at the digital clock by the bedside.
PETER (V.O.): In bed by 1:15. Eight hours. Right on the dot.
Quickly, Peter jumps out of bed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I want to complete my daily swim before sweeping my ancestors' graves.
MONTAGE OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
A Golden Bay - 10:15. Peter swims a quick, brisk lap to the far edge of the swimming area.
B. Hung Shui Kiu. -11:05. After loading their belongings into the back of the car, Peter's BROTHERS and SISTERS-IN-LAW climb into his 8-seater Previa.
C. Base of Nipple Mountain - 11:30. The group works together to clear the path blocked by fallen trees from the recent typhoon, making their way to the ancestors' graves.
END MONTAGE
Act 2
EXT. PETER'S ANCESTORS' GRAVES - 12:00
The group is sweeping around a family graves. Peter takes a look of the grave in the middle.
PETER (V.O.): My grandpa, Cheung Nam, the head of the clan, died in 1962. My youngest brother was born in the same year.
Peter sweeps the grave on the right.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My non-maternal grandma, Wong Yau, followed in 1969.
Peter watches his brothers sweeping the grave on the left.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My maternal grandma, Lee Sei - whom the family unanimously regarded as having sacrified the most - died in 1971.
Brother KEUNG talks to Peter.
KEUNG: So, Dai Kor (Big Brother), just you? The boys aren't coming?
Peter doesn't stop sweeping, but his shoulders' tighten.
PETER: They've other priorities. My wife will be joining us. Later.
KEUNG: Yes...work...
There's also the silent judgment in the air. A moment later, SING, a newphew, jogs up the path, slightly out of breath.
PETER: Hi Sing, you've made your way here?
SING: Some of the old roads are blocked due to land resumption, so I climbed over them.
PETER: Good great-grandson!
SING: Where's Ah Pao?
Peter forces a casual tone, the same excuse feeling thin.
PETER: Your cousin has an arrangement with his wife. You know how it is.
SING nods, accepting it more easily than Keung did.
PETER (V.O.): Born in 1984, Sing naturally knows nothing about his great-grandparents firsthand. But he's here.
The family arranges offerings, lights incense and bows in respect.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The ritual is concluding...
Peter glances towards the path.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's no sign of my wife!
Peter pulls out his mobile phone and dials.
PETER (to phone): We're finished. Where're you?
WIFE (from phone): Oh...no, sorry. I'm still in bed.
Peter closes his eyes, a wave of embarrassment and frustration washing over him.
WIFE (cont'd from phone): It's my fault. I'll meet you all at the restaurant in Hung Shui Kiu later.
Peter hangs up and turns back to his family, forcing a smile.
PETER: There's no need to wait for my wife. The alarm couldn't wake her up. She'll meet us at the restaurant.
The brothers and sisters-in-law exchange a look but say nothing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The de facto head of the clan doesn't wear a crown of gold, but a yoke of expectations.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The weight of tradition is heaviest on the one who must ensure it doesn't crumble.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The title "head of clan" used to be a command. Now, it's often a question.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM -22:30
Peter uploads an image of the ancestors' graves to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): We sweep the graves not just to honour the dead, but to give the living a place to remember.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm trying to conduct an orchestra that's quickly forgetting the old songs.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A true head of the clan isn't the one who demands the most obedience, but the one who fosters the most belonging.
FADE OUT
END
Comments