This Old Man
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Aug 17, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 08:30
Dressed in a black suit, PETER exits.
PETER (V.O.): I've to see my clients at around 09:00.
INT. LIFT LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Appearing, Peter sees a WOMAN waiting.
PETER (V.O.): She's my new neighbour. I greeted her before but she didn't acknowledge my existence.
The woman takes a glance of Peter before looking away.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I wear casually. This's the first time she sees me dressing in a suit.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Would she be thinking about what's this old man?
Act 2
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - 09:00
Peter is interviewing CLIENTS.
PETER (V.O.): Are they pleased that they're represented by this old man?
INT. COURT - 10:30
Crowded. Peter is submitting before the BENCH.
PETER (V.O.): Would the judge wonder why this old man is still practising?
INT. STREET - LATER
Leaving the court house, Peter looks very pleased.
PETER (V.O.): Treating the cases as my last ones, I managed to turn them into exceptional ones.
INT. MTR CABIN - LATER
Not very crowded. A seated WOMAN sees the white-haired Peter standing.
WOMAN (gesturing): Take my seat...
PETER (acknowledging politely) : No need, thank you all the same!
PETER (V.O.): She's most kind. Very few offer seats to this old man.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): I take it that many know I've to stand to speak in court...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I can swim non-stop for 45 minutes...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, my mind has suddenly drifted back to my childhood days.
FLASHBACK
INT. CHEUNG FAMILY HOME IN CENTRAL - DAY (1959)
Peter's elder SISTER (9) is leading Peter (5) to sing.
SISTER & PETER (singing lively): This old man, he played one. He played knick-knack on my thumb. With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. This old man, he played two...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My sister could sing "This Old Man" from one to ten. But I couldn't.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And even now, I don't know what "knick-knack paddywhack" means!
EXT. LIDO BAY - 17:15
While grabbing the ladder of a floating platform, Peter sees small fish swimming around him.
PETER (V.O.): Wonderful! They aren't afraid of me.
Then, we see Peter's eyes widening in surprise and moving his hand to rub his nipple gently.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, one of them has mistaken my nipple as its prey.
Momentarily bewildered, Peter climbs up onto the platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These small fish are still curious about this old man.
Later at the beach, Peter checks WhatsApp messages and sees images of an old man.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This old man was my late wife's music professor...He's playing 91...
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 23:00
Having input the prompt: "This Old Man" in an AI art generator, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.
PETER (V.O.): For some, age comes alone. There're others who grow wiser with the years.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Getting older, I reckon how many things aren't worth wasting time on.
.Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the autumn of my life, I begin to love myself more and want to make age a rhythmic and cubist art.
FADE OUT
THE END
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