The Silent Key

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

5. EXT. BED ROOM - 06:15

6. 
   

7. As the phone alarm rings,, PETER wakes up.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): I slept well. I feel refreshed.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (Cont'd): I'm driving my younger son to the Airport before heading to my NT home.

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm determined to transform my suburbam home back into a delightful and inviting space, as my elder son and daughter-in-law like the enviroment.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): With extra time on my hands today, I'm confident that I can achieve a lot.

22. 
    

23. Act 2

24. 
    

25. INT. LAKESIDE RESTAURANT - 08:00

26. 
    

27. Peter sits at a table, a steaming cup of chocolate and a plate of eggs with salads before him. He gazes at the lake.

28. 
    

29. PETER (V.O.): During our time here from 1983 - 1985, Sharon and I made it a tradition to enjoy breakfast at a lakeside restaurant every Sunday morning.

30. 
    

31. Pausing.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since the early 2000s, my new family and I would have dinner with my Dad and Mum on Saturday nights.

34. 
    

35.  Pausing.

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And after that, we stayed over in my suburban home, followed by breakfast at a lakeside restaurant on Sunday mornings.

38. 
    

39. Pausing.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My elder son preferred to live in the suburban home to prepare for his local law exams.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After my Dad passed away, we let go the tradition. And that was some 15 years ago.

44. 
    

45. INT. PETER'S NT HOME - LATER

46. 
    

47. Peter stands in his cluttered storeroom-like sitting room, hands on hips, surveying the mess.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.): First, let me tidy up the sitting room to create a welcoming space for everyone, not just me.

50. 
    

51. Peter clears the clutter on the L-shaped sofa and on coffee tables.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even though I merely rearrange items, the sitting room feels a bit more welcoming now.

54. 
    

55. Peter gazes at a large photo of Sharon displayed on a shelf at a corner.

56. 
    

57. FLASHBACK

58. 
    

59. INT. TOM LEE MUSIC, QUARRY BAY - NIGHT (1985)

60. 
    

61. Peter (31) leads Sharon (30) to explore the acoustic guitar section.

62. 
    

63. PETER: I see a Fender stratocaster headstock on a Fender acoustic guitar. The price is reasonable, I must buy it.

64. 
    

65. SHARON: Feel free to go ahead if you like it. You've already earned your LLB and PCLL at HKU.

66. 
    

67. RETURN TO PRESENT

68. 
    

69. After heading upstairs, Peter returns with the Fender acoustic guitar. He places it in a space near the shelf.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Two years later, I earned two LLMs in International Law, but I was rejected to join the International Law Division of the Attorney General's Chambers.

72. 
    

73. Gazing at Sharon's photo.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sharon supported me during that time and encouraged me to pursue my passion for playing electric guitar, even covering the expenses herself.

76. 
    

77. MONTAGE

78. 
    

79. A. TOM LEE MUSIC - 1987, Peter (33) and Sharon (32) ordered a deep green Yamaha electric rhythm guitar, a white Yamaha electric bass guitar, a Roland guitar amplifier and a Yamaha Clavinova.

80. 
    

81. B. KORNHILL HOME - 1987. Peter strums the guitar while Sharon plays the Clavinova, and together they sing harmoniously.

83. END MONTAGE

84. 
    

85. After heading upstairs again, Peter returns with the electric guitars and amplifier, and places them near the Clavinova.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me check if they still sound good.

88. 
    

89. Peter tests the musical instruments.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But the 1975 Yamaha piano that Sharon also played is located upstairs.

92. 
    

93. Peter heads upstairs and we can hear him playing "A Summer Place" happily. Then, towards the end of the piece - click. The low F key sinks silently.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Dead? It sounded good just a few bars earlier.

96. 
    

97. Peter presses it again and again. Nothing. A long beat. His jaw tightens.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, dear...

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. BEDROOM - 22:00

105. Peter adds an image depicting the silent key to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): A silent key isn't an ending. It's a question: Will I fix it?

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The silent key is the loudest in a house. It doesn't play a note, it plays the past.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While I can't relive the past exactly, I can honour it and decide how to carry it forward - I'll fix it, no matter the cost.

116. 
     

117. FADE OUT

118. 
     

119. END