FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 09:30
Checking emails on his smartphone, PETER taps one.
PETER (V.O.): I've been claiming my daily free credits from NightCafe Studio. I can use them to create something amazing if I like.
Peter checks his Photos App.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since I've been creating imaginative art works via algorithms, I've taken less documentary-style photos to tell my stories.
Checking a pile of letters, Peter sees one with a $2.2 stamp on it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It has been my practice to keep the used stamps. I was passionate about stamp collecting during my primary school days.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've booklets of stamps too. I post my invoices to those instructing me and cheques to my gardener.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday, my long-time gardener and I linked up in person.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
EXT. PETER'S NT HOME - 16:30 (Sept 6, 2023)
Sitting room. Having an ice lolly, Peter sees a van parking on the roadside.
PETER (V.O.): Who is it?
Later, we see the GARDENER at the front gate, calling "Mr Cheung".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's my gardener.
Peter sees the gardener holding a stamped blue envelope in his hand.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Great! He has got the cheque in my letter.
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. CENTRAL POST OFFICE - 10:00 (Sept 4, 2023)
Holding a blue envelope in his hands, Peter sees the stamps promos being displayed in panels.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These miniature works showcase intricate designs and craftsmanship.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I stopped buying stamps for collection a long time ago. But my wife is still an enthusiast, probably for the stamps' investment potential.
Then, Peter sees metal postboxes with signages of "Air" and "Surface".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not posting my letter by air...
After inserting his letter into the "Surface" postbox, Peter hears a clean and sharp echo.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it seems my post is the only one...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But why nobody is posting "Surface" mail?
Peter then sees the third postbox with the signage of "Local".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG! I've forgotten the traditional way of sending a mail overseas by a slow boat...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the digital age, emails, instant messaging and social media have become the dominant means of communication.
Frustrated, Peter goes to talk to a counter STAFF.
STAFF:...We'd take care of that.
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
The Gardener returns the opened envelope to Peter.
PETER (V.O.): His practice is to put his receipt inside and leaves it in my home's postbox.
GARDENER: If you need any other help, just call me.
PETER (V.O.): It's good to see him. I forgot when was the last occasion.
Peter takes a look of the used $2.2 stamp on the envelope.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I keep this one? I've lots of them.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been arguing with myself that a stamp's symbolic and cultural significance is diminishing.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 23:00
Having input the prompt: "Beyond the Links" in an AI art generator in his smartphone, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.
PETER (V.O.): Within my stamps, photos and AI drawings, I've stories to tell.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Thus, my artistic collections aren't silent, I endeavour to share something broader and deeper about living.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To evolve with the times, I reckon AI drawings + stories are more engaging and valuable than similar works, and I attempt to set the trend.
FADE OUT
THE END
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