FADE IN
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - 10:30
Sitting on a sofa, PETER scrolls through FB posts. He likes one, featuring two happy women posing together.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, a relative is so happy - she has reunited with her high school friend after lost of nearly 30 years of friendship.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She remarks that her friend hasn't changed. Probably she herself too.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Making time for each other, they had a 5-hour lunch together, re-establishing their closeness.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): With mutual commitment and understanding, it's apparent that they've rebuilt their friendship.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been thinking why good friends can become strangers.
Act 2
INT. STUDIO - 16:00
Peter is practising the piano.
PETER (V.O.): For about a year now, I've been learning to play the piano. But I left keyboards idle for decades.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my teens, I was passionate about singing hit songs and playing the guitar.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S MEMORIES OF STAGE PERFORMANCES (1968-1970)
A. College variety show. On stage, Peter (14-16) is singing "It's Nice to be With You", "The End of the World", and "Just a Little" with the backing of a BAND.
B. Somewhere in NT. Peter and BANDMATES are rehearsing songs in English and in Chinese late into the night.
C. College variety show. On stage, Peter is playing the guitar backing other PERFORMERS singing on stage.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I spent many days and nights with my bandmates of "The Meteors" and "Peters & Nelson".
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After Xmas 1970, I changed my priority and refocused on my studies.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After graduation, friends and I moved to different schools or workplaces. We didn't maintain regular contacts.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While studying Housing Management at HKU in the late 1970s, I had a good friend as we shared the value to do better in anything.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We were so close that we supported each other wholeheartedly in our respective weddings.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Probably because I was too focused in my career advancement, our friendship faded and was lost - for over 25 years now.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've thought about re-connecting, but I couldn't find him in social media. Does he like to engage socially now?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I recall a reunion lunch with a HKU classmate about 10 years ago.
FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT, CENTRAL - 13:00 (2013)
Elegant atmosphere. Fine linens and sparkling tableware. Peter (58) and his FRIEND occupy a table for two. But we see their cool demeanours.
PETER (V.O.): About 30 years ago, we chatted about anything daily, endlessly.
Drinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But now, I find it hard to identify any shared values, interests and activities.
Eating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm different, and so is she. I don't have any sense of familiarity anymore.
We feel the uncomfortable silence hanging over the table.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We've grown apart, becoming total strangers to each other.
END FLASHBACK
Act 3
INT. SITTING ROOM - 23:00
Having input the prompt: "Embers Remembered" in an AI art generator in his smartphone, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.
PETER (V.O.): Embers symbolize the lingering memories, shared experience and emotional connection that still exist even when the friendship has ended.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's natural to reminisce about the past. But friendship evolves over time, I'm adapting to the change.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Rather than attempting to re-create the unrealistic exact same experience, I'll focus on the present and build new memories.
FADE OUT
THE END
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