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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Bonds of Generations

Updated: Oct 25, 2023

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 09:30


  4. Waking up, PETER checks the time.


  5. PETER (V.O.): Today is Chung Yeung Festival - a public holiday.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): For the Cheung families, it's a day when we come together to sweep the graves of our ancestors and honour them.


  8. Pausing.


  9. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): My late Dad used to take the lead.


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): My Mum used to be keen. But now, her cognition has become dysfunctional.


  12. Pausing.


  13. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Wheelchair-bound also, she'll miss the opportunities to show her gratitude to our ancestors on site.

  14. Act 2


  15. MONTAGE OF THE CHEUNG FAMILIES SWEEPING GRAVES AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO ANCESTORS


  16. A. MEMBERS sweep and clean the graves, removing weeds and wild plants.


  17. B. Offering flowers, fruit and food, Members light incense sticks.


  18. C. Having written down the names of recipients, Members burn paper incense sets.


  19. D. In front of three graves and in prayer poses, they bow and show their respect.


  20. END MONTAGE


  21. PETER (V.O.): While I remember well my late Grandpa, my late maternal Grandma and another late Grandma, I believe few of those junior to me can remember them.


  22. Peter takes a look of his WIFE.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They didn't even know she's their granddaughter-in-law.

  24. Peter takes a look of his SON.


  25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They didn't live long enough to see their great-grandson.


  26. FLASHBACK


  27. EXT. PETER'S FAMILY HOME - DAY (1962)


  28. Garden. Peter (8) sees his distressed maternal GRANDMA coming home.


  29. PETER (V.O.): Oh, Grandma is crying...


  30. GRANDMA: Your grandpa has died...


  31. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Dead? He just got an unknown inflammation in one foot...


  32. Pausing.


  33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So our caring Grandma is the only one at Grandpa's deathbed.


  34. END FLASHBACK


  35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Years later, my other Grandma died. And in 1972, my maternal Grandma died.


  36. FLASHBACK


  37. INT. PETER'S FAMILY HOME - DAY (1972)


  38. Bedroom. Hearing his maternal Grandma (70) moaning in bed, Peter (18) goes to see her.


  39. PETER (V.O.): She must be suffering from something. But there's nothing I can do.


  40. Later, Peter sees his maternal Grandma cooking in the kitchen.


  41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She always cooks for the family...


  42. END FLASHBACK


  43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Unlike my other grandparents, I always feel my maternal Grandma sacrificed the whole of her life for us.


  44. Peter takes a look of a SISTER-IN-LAW.


  45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ming-ming was actually our neighbour. See what could she remember.


  46. PETER: Ming-ming, can you remember anything about my grandparents?


  47. MING-MING (pointing at one of the graves): I can only remember your maternal Grandma.


  48. Pausing.


  49. MING-MING (Cont'd): I remember her grabbing the garden's chain-link fence to support herself, waiting for his son and grandchildren to come home.


  50. Pausing.


  51. MING-MING (Cont'd): She led a hard life.


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. BEDROOM - 22:30


  54. Working before a laptop, Peter is in thoughts.


  55. PETER (V.O.): I think it important to express appreciation for the sacrifice of our ancestors.


  56. Typing natural language in his smartphone, Peter instructs his 文心一言 assistant.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): See if she can depict "how can Chung Yeung Festival strengthen the bonds of generations".

  58. As his AI Assistant draws and draws, Peter selects one that is colourful and pleasing to look at.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our ancestors' legacy lives on through our actions. It's my responsibility to carry it forward for future generations.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END


































































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