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Echoes of Yesterday

Writer's picture: Peter K F Cheung SBSPeter K F Cheung SBS

Updated: Dec 20, 2023

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDIO - 10:00


  4. Relaxing on a sofa, PETER is in thoughts.


  5. PETER (V.O): I meant to have a car re-tested today, but the testing centre has no vacancy.

  6. Checking phone emails causally, Peter sees festive greetings.


  7. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): As I'm free now, why don't I try to compose a festive tune to reciprocate?


  8. Peter picks up a 12-string Fender acoustic guitar near him and plays a few chords.


  9. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Performing my KT (Knowledge Transfer) song at HKUST yesterday, I was thrilled.


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): What should the hook line of the tune?


  12. Thinking.


  13. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Time flies over us. Does it leave any shadows behind?


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. LECTURE THEATRE, HKUST - 14:15

  16. Humming a tune, Peter, in a three-piece suit, is greeted by a STAFF at the foyer.


  17. PETER: Hi Joe! Thank you again for facilitating my performance yesterday!


  18. JOE: Now, all OKT (Office of Knowledge Transfer) know who you're! Here's your name tag.


  19. As he is greeted by other STAFF, Peter acknowledges them and smiles graciously.


  20. JOE (Cont'd): We've arranged a special seat for you.


  21. Later, we see Peter sitting with a VICE-PRESIDENT inside the theatre.


  22. PETER (V.O.): I'm just the vice-chair of HKUST's KT Committee.


  23. After opening remarks, the MC first invites Peter to join the photo session.


  24. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm wearing a three-piece suit just because today is cold.


  25. Phototaking.


  26. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Apart from supporting OKT, I wish to learn from the talks how Mainland Chinese tech enterprises are being led.


  27. Seated again, Peter follows the talks.


  28. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): They sound very good, but I've very big negative returns in investing in Mainland Chinese stocks.


  29. Later, before leaving a reception, Peter goes to chat with TIFFANY, who stares at his outfit.


  30. PETER: Tiffany, thank you again for your great help yesterday!


  31. TIFFANY: Yesterday, you looked like a performer, and today...


  32. Peter smiles modestly, appreciating her observation.


  33. INT. STUDIO - 18:30


  34. Strumming a few chords, Peter sings a little and stops.


  35. PETER (V.O.): The tune and the lyrics now seem not as good as I first thought.


  36. Putting aside the guitar, Peter checks phone emails.


  37. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, a very good friend has sent me his festive mail and greetings.


  38. Pausing.


  39. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I usually respond with something creative.


  40. Thinking.


  41. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But my new tune isn't good enough. I've to refine it and I don't know when that's done.


  42. Thinking.


  43. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): How about responding with an AI poem in Chinese? I've been using AI since Spring this year.


  44. Prompting a language model many times on his smartphone, Peter doesn't look satisfied.

  45. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Are poems like echoes asking shadows to dance?


  46. Peter prompts the language model again.


  47. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Lingering sounds of echoes are generally found in emptiness and hollowness.


  48. Reading his very good friend's festive email and greetings again.


  49. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But echoes of old hearts are different.


  50. Pondering.


  51. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Would echoes roll from soul to soul, and grow until the twelfth of never?


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. STUDIO - 20:00


  54. Peter prompts an AI bot in his smartphone to generate a drawing entitled "Echoes of Yesterday"


  55. PETER (V.O.): My yesterday's perfornance at HKUST has motivated me to write another new tune.

  56. Checking an AI drawing.


  57. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I believe thoughtful and meaningful communication is better than conventional or expected one


  58. Checking another AI drawing.


  59. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): On literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, I'm willing to invest time and intellectual effort to create them authentically.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END


















































 
 
 

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