FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 09:30
Checking WhatsApp message, PETER sees "Double Ninth Festival" forever wishes.
PETER (V.O.): I've written many festive songs but I don't have one on the Double Ninth Festival.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was only yesterday that I fixed with my siblings today's tomb-sweeping.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While there's concern about the current pandemic infection, I've the strong desire to maintain and sustain the Cheung family's good tradition.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If we didn't act on the Double Ninth Festival, we might also omit any action on the Ching Ming Festival.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And then, we celebrate the day just because it's a public holiday for no particular reason.
Act 2
EXT. BASE, NIPPLE MOUNTAIN, LAM TEI - 12:15
Cheung family graveyards. The FAMILY is sweeping the tombs diligently.
SISTER-IN-LAW: Something is crawling at my back.
Brother#1 checks and helps.
BROTHER#1: Oh, it's an ant. We've disrupted their nest on the ground.
Peter checks the ground and sees ants fleeing. He then sees some are already crawling on his arm. He forcefully blows them off.
PETER: They're over 1mm long.
BROTHER#1: There wasn't any ant the last time we came.
PETER: If we didn't come, they'll establish a colony.
BROTHER#1: As I still can, I love to come, as always.
PETER: Good thinking!
Later, BROTHER#2 puts burning incense sticks before the three tombs.
PETER (V.O.): The one at the center is my Granpa's. He died 60 years ago when I was eight. My youngest brother hasn't turned 60 yet.
Brother#1 talks to Brother#2.
BROTHER#1: Do you remember anything about our grandmas?
Brother#2 looks at the tombs on the sides.
BROTHER#2: Nothing...I only remember how I played.
PETER (V.O.): True. Kids' inner peace is the easiest type of existence.
Later, Peter's SON and a NEPHEW help with the burning of the incense.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're the fourth generation of the Cheung family in Hong Kong.
Later, Peter and Brother#2 help their MUM (92) leaving the cleaned site.
EXT. COLUMBARIUMS, TSUEN WAN - 13:30
Peter cleans his late Dad's plaque as his son is watching.
PETER (V.O.): My Dad died in 2011 at the age of 79. When he retired at the age of 60, he helped bring up my son.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe my children should have a good memory of him.
INT. MANO, THE QUAYSIDE - 20:00
Peter, his wife, his son and son's GIRLFRIEND are chatting over dinner.
GIRLFRIEND: We may visit the Kwun Tong Promenade afterwards.
PETER: On Kwun Tong Promenade, we've a story to tell.
SEQUENCE OF THE STORY
A. Fun fair, 2007. Their younger DAUGHTER (7) gets a small goldfish in a game.
B. Fish tank 2008-2009. Watching the goldfish swimming is the family's favourite pastime.
C. Fish tank 2010. The family notices the goldfish losing appetite and balance.
D. Goldfish store 2010. Peter's wife seeks help from a proprietor but without success.
E. Fish tank 2010. After floating upside down for a while, the goldfish finally dies.
F. Kwun Tong Promenade, 2010. The sad family does the goldfish a solemn burial at sea.
END SEQUENCE
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23:00
PETER (V.O.): My family does good deeds near at home, we also go far away to burn incense.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's my family's big traditional value to remember our ancestors' fading existence.
Hoping.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let the Cheung family's life force rise up like the incense in our sight.
THE END
.
FADE OUT
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