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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

A Virtual Ceremony

  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - 09:00


  4. PETER in T-shirt and shorts, is working behind his computers.


  5. PETER (V.O.): My old computer has got a sticky key and has been typing itself!


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've got useful precedent files in its storage. It's so frustrating that it hinders my work schedule.


  8. Pausing.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While waiting for the old one to behave, I'd better do some solid work with my new laptop.


  10. Peter checks emails and attachments.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, those instructing me were still working in the small hours of the morning to get something to me!


  12. Pausing.


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We're all busy like ants. But what are we busy about?


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. BATHROOM - 11:30


  16. Peter is shaving.


  17. PETER (V.O.): The need to wear a face mask in public has changed my routine.


  18. Peter checks his face.


  19. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I only shave when it's necessary. I'm going to join a virtual ceremony in half an hour.


  20. Taking off his T-shirt, the barefoot Peter changes to a short-sleeve shirt.


  21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me have fun and put on a bow tie.


  22. Seeing himself in such an outfit, Peter smiles.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can only dress like this just because I can determine the video angle.


  24. INT. STUDY - 11:45


  25. Smartphone in hand, Peter checks a meeting link.


  26. PETER (V.O.): Oh, it isn't Zoom; it's a Tencent meeting!


  27. Pausing.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm a shareholder of Tencent. But I haven't used its VooV meeting App before.


  29. Checking.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I need to download the App first.


  31. Having tapped screen icons, Peter hears some sounds.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Connected, but I'd better use my iPad Mini.


  33. After some screen tapping on his device, Peter sees moving images.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The App is quite user-friendly. I've joined a virtual ceremony on time.


  35. Peter checks other PARTICIPANTS on screen.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel equality of opportunities. The windows depicting VVIPs, VIPs or ladies and gentlemen are the same.


  37. After hearing some ceremony music, a MC on screen begins to speak. We hear someone chatting from the background.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can hear them disturbing the solemn ceremony; but I couldn't see them. Can someone mute them?


  39. Someone speak on screen. Peter gestures clapping but makes no sounds.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday, while I was watching the performance of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in the Shaw Auditorium, I clapped hard.


  41. Thinking.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The virtual ceremony is being officiated by VVIPs in the Hong Kong SAR and Shenzhen.


  43. Watching speaking screen images.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Without the need of travelling, busy people can find time to support the occasion.


  45. Peter hits the keyboard of his laptop a few times.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Multitasking is also possible.


  47. Later, the background chatting is gone.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Good.


  49. After every action item on screen, Peter puts his hands together.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not a donor. But I can clap, with or without sounds.


  51. Peter researches with his smartphone.


  52. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the donor's stock price is near rock bottom.


  53. Act 3


  54. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS


  55. The ceremony ends. Peter is in thoughts.


  56. PETER (V.O.): Perhaps, making lots of profits isn't the goal. In any event, I'm going to invest in the donor's stocks.


  57. Having done his order, Peter refocuses on his work.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I used to think there's no place like the office. My study at home is quite like an office now.


  59. Pausing.


  60. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I miss the office's Helpdesk. People who can fix all the IT issues for me so that I can add value quick.


  61. FADE OUT


  62. THE END












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