The Weight of Words
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 08:00
Moring light filters through the curtains. PETER sits on a sofa. A phone in his hands. He scrolls through a FB feed with a slow, deliberate swipe. He stops and stares at the Chinese characters.
PETER (V.O.): 命裏有時终須有，命裏無時莫強求。(What's destined will come. What isn't, don't force. )
He reads them silently. His lips moving slightly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What's destined...
He looks out of the window.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're the song' s hook.
He researches online.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, the lines are from an old poem: 竹篱茅舍風光好,道院僧堂終不如;命裏有時终須有，命裏無時莫強求.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Hmm...the effect of the words is different from the lyrics.
Act 2
EXT. BUS - 09:45
Peter sits by the window. The landscape outside shifts from dense urban blocks to greener and more open spaces.
PETER (V.O.): 命裏有時终須有，命裏無時莫強求. It sounds deterministic...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is it really a cage? A lifelong sentence?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Do I just...wait?
He shakes his head slightly, a small, sad smile touching his lips.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No, I've never just waited. I've built, I've tried. I've poured myself into things...
He has his phone out again. He types into the search bar: 命裏有時终須有，命裏無時莫強求. Is this proverb deterministic?
He reads the results, his expression thoughtful.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It is not just about the outcome. It's about the preparation.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): One has to have the value to be creative and the capacity to do.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to whether there's support or opportunity...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Despite one's preparation, the world may just shrug.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The recognition...it can just be a ghost.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All these years, I've been sharing creative quotes in my docudramas, pointing to the light in words.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'd have been singing the truths, not just pointing to them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I'm somewhat limited by my lyrics-I want them raw and real.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And because of that, they aren't very poetic.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I stand by my words and lyrics, letting them carry their weight.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I refuse to let noise plug empty space in any song.
Peter takes a deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's why my composing has crawled along like a snail.
The bus hisses to a stop. Peter steps off.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When will my next number be complete?
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:15
Peter uploads an image to a draft on his laptop. It shows a mailbox displaying a "wet paint" notice, warning that ignoring the weight of words means one must face the consequences.
PETER (V.O.): Words read are easily forgotten; a lyric sung become a scar on the soul. I don't remember what I read; I remember what I hum.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I spend my life writing footnotes to the universe, when I'd be writing the chorus. The world ignores the words but can't help to sing along to the hook.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wisdom floats on paper, but it sinks deep when set to melody. To sing a truth is to make it undeniable.
The END
FADE OUT
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