Whispers of Time
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Aug 30, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. FERRY TO CHEUNG CHAU - 10:45
Cloudy. At an aisle seat, PETER is glued to his smartphone.
PETER (V.O.): I've an urge to read the late Ronald Fung (馮兩努) 's work on "The Revelations of the Three Kingdoms (三國啟示錄).
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've no problem in remembering Ronald's voice including his tone, pitch and cadence.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Around 30 years ago, we talked a lot when he was persuading me to accept his proposal.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Apart from his voice, I can also remember his demeanours and personality.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel like he's whispering his words in my ears.
Act 2
EXT. TUNG WAN - CHEUNG CHAU - 12:30
Sunny. Having swum around the swimming area, Peter climbs up onto a floating swim platform with orange slip-resistant surface.
PETER (V.O.): Orange reflects positivity, enthusiasm and determination.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're the values that Ronald disseminates throughout his work.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His use of language is accessible, concise and straight forward.
Facing the beach, Peter focuses on a red dot - his bag.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He'd highlight the pronunciations of difficult words and explain technical terms.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The mood conveyed throughout the work is playful though serious.
Facing seawards, Peter sees fish jumping.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He'd write about a historical event and share his insight as to how it's relevant in modern day struggles, whether for money, fame or power.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ronald told me that while working in Canada, he experienced office politics even among low-level operatives.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In his work, he'd create suspense, luring readers to continue reading.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Overall, he guides readers towards a deeper understanding of themselves and the real world around them.
Peter raises his hands to shield his face from the rays.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From the preface, I note his work was done in Dec 1992.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): During that period, it was hell to me emotionally.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I thought I had to live to support my three-year old son.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ronald would think that it's my son who supported me to live.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's already wise in his late 30s.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's only now that I've the time to read one of his works.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Weeks ago, while decluttering, I've considered throwing away the notes he wrote me a year or two after closing my investment deal.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Immersed in a whirlwind of emotions blurring between the past and the present, I'm glad that I haven't decluttered them yet.
We see dark clouds beginning to obscure the sun.
Act 3
EXT. FERRY FROM CHEUNG CHAU - 13:45
Having input the prompt: "Whispers of Time" in an AI art generator in his smartphone, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.
PETER (V.O.): Reading Ronald Fung's work now, I'm listening to his gentle and fleeting whispers.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Time represents the passage of moments, the ebb and flow of beings' existence.
Peter is deep in thought.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Through the stories one leaves behind, one might transcend time and live on metaphysically.
FADE OUT
THE END
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