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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Drumming Through Time

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 07:00


  4. Sitting up in bed, PETER's eyes beam with a sense of purpose.


  5. PETER (V.O.): Eureka! I've got it. I'll be the drummer.


  6. MONTAGE OF PETER'S DAYDREAMING


  7. A. Studio. RICKY, the master, plays electric guitar solo.


  8. B. Studio. ANDREW and CHONG, mentees, play electric/acoustic rhythm guitars.


  9. C. Studio. While HUNG plays electric bass guitar, DOROTHY plays the keyboard.


  10. D. Studio. STEPHEN, ALIANA, CATINA, DORA and GUESTS sing "Do Good for You and Me", "Untold Story" and "Are We in Love?" etc, all written by Peter.


  11. E. Studio. Peter, another mentee, plays the drums.


  12. F. Recital hall. Sometime in 2024, around 100 PARTICIPANTS are having creative fun.

  13. END MONTAGE


  14. Act 2


  15. FLASHBACK


  16. INT. HOME - DAY (1968)


  17. Peter (14) is playing an acoustic guitar with a thick neck and unattractive appearance.


  18. PETER (V.O.): I bought it with my first month's wage of $30 as a private tutor.


  19. Peter strives to press down the strings on frets.


  20. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The height of strings above the fretboard is too high.

  21. We hear muddy sounds with little resonance.


  22. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Both the design and quality are poor, but this is what I can afford.


  23. EXT. TAI TONG, YUEN LONG - DAY


  24. Carrying his acoustic guitar, Peter and his CLASSMATES go picniking.


  25. HENRY: Peter, can I carry the guitar for you?


  26. PETER: But you don't play the guitar...


  27. Getting the guitar from Peter, Henry puts it atop his shoulder, looking self-assured.


  28. PETER (V.O.): Henry is larger than himself now.


  29. INT. SHUNG TAK COLLEGE - DAY


  30. X'mas variety show. Peter sees a DRUMMER in a band setting the bass drum, the snare drum, the toms, mounting the hi-hat, positioning the ride and crash cymbals and placing the drum stool to suit him.


  31. PETER (V.O.): Wow, a lot of hardware. I can't even afford to buy a pair of drumsticks.


  32. EXT. CASTLE PEAK HOTEL - DAY (1969)


  33. Cafe. In a waiter outfit, Peter (15) focuses on one of the CUSTOMERS.


  34. PETER (V.O.): Oh, he's the drummer...he's rich.


  35. Staff quarters. Peter chats with a COOK (20s).


  36. PETER: What brings you here?


  37. COOK: I've to pick up a survival skill...I was a drummer.


  38. Peter looks perplexed.


  39. INT. HOME - NIGHT (1974)


  40. Inside a converted pigsty is an extraordinary set of white sparkling drum kits.


  41. PETER (V.O.): I bought it for $1500, the whole of my first month salary as a civil servant.

  42. RETURN TO PRESENT


  43. INT. STUDIO - 19:15


  44. Prompting an AI drawing bot, Peter types "Drumming Through Time" on phone screen.


  45. An animation drawing appears.


  46. PETER (V.O.): A drummer without drumsticks?


  47. As Peter sends his prompt again and again, more drawings appear on screen.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The bot lacks knowledge of drum and cymbal arrangements etc.


  49. Thinking.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): AI isn't that intelligent!


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. BEDROOM -21:00


  53. Working before a laptop, Peter inserts an AI drawing to a draft.


  54. PETER (V.O): AI isn't all powerful. For certain tasks, there's still value in human knowledge and experience.


  55. Opening a WhatsApp video clip, Peter sees himself playing a Gibson acoustic guitar and singing "Do Good for You and Me" while RELATIVES respond happily.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe my original trilingual songs and instrument accompaniment can unite and bring joy to all.


  57. Pausing.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Okay, in a forthcoming party, I'll volunteeer to entertain participants to foster connection, uplift spirits and create memorable experiences.

  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END


























































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