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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Fading Reflections

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 08:30


  4. Waking up, PETER is in thoughts.


  5. PETER (V.O.): My Mum is going to have an operation today. I hope all's fine with her.


  6. MONTAGE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER'S MUM YESTERDAY


  7. A. Home. Peter's MUM (92) falls twice.


  8. B. Home. Peter's SIBLING#1 appears and calls "999".


  9. C. Chatgroup. Every member follows the developments closely.


  10. D. Road. Accompanied by SIBLIINGS#1 & 2, an ambulance takes Peter's Mum to the A&E of a hospital.


  11. E. Hospital. Having an X-ray of her bones, Peter's Mum is hospitalised. SIBLINGS#2 &#3 report to all.


  12. END MONTAGE


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm going to visit my Mum in the hospital in the evening.


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. HOSPITAL WARD - 18:30


  16. Dressed in a hospital gown, with intravenous lines in arms and oxygen tubing attached to her nose, Peter's Mum in bed is surrounded by Peter's SISTER, BROTHER-IN-LAW and NIECE as Peter appears.


  17. SISTER: Mum, see who is visiting you?


  18. MUM (confused): Who's this man? He looks like Peter.


  19. Staring at his Mum by the bedside, Peter's face falls.


  20. SISTER: He's Peter!


  21. Peter takes off his cap, exposing his white hair.


  22. MUM: Oh yes, I recognize him by the colour of his hair.


  23. PETER (V.O.): I'm her eldest son and haven't dyed my hair.


  24. Later, when Peter is alone with his Mum, NURSE#1 appears with a cup of medication.


  25. NURSE#1 (To Peter's Mum): Do you remember you've had a surgery today?


  26. MUM: No...Peter is my son...


  27. NURSE#1: Do you feel pain then?


  28. MUM: Yes.


  29. NURSE#1: Then you've to take the medication.

  30. NURSE#1 (To Peter): You can help your Mum take it.


  31. Peter then adjusts the bed position so that his Mum can sit upright comfortably to be spoon fed with the medication with water.


  32. PETER (V.O.): This is my first time doing this. She has been taking care of herself before her falls yesterday.


  33. Later, Peter's SON in a black suit appears. We see Peter's Mum's eyes lighting up.


  34. MUM: You're Peter's son! I miss you very much!


  35. We feel a spark of recognition within Peter's Mum.


  36. PETER (V.O.): Her emotional outburst is unusual this time.


  37. MUM (Cont'd): I watch a lot of TV episodes about men in black in court.


  38. PETER (V.O.): My Mum and my Dad took good care of my son when he was a baby.


  39. Recalling.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's my belief then that the grandparents' love for the grandson far exceeded the best maid in town.


  41. Later, at work stations, we see Peter and his son enquiring with NURSE#2 who is checking some records.


  42. NURSE#2: The operation has been done. The patient is under observation. It seems the patient has a cognitive issue...


  43. PETER: Yes...when will my Mum be discharged?


  44. NURSE#2: Within a fortnight, usually.


  45. Later, NURSES#3 and 4 approach Peter's Mum's bed, stating: Time to change diapers.


  46. PETER (V.O.): My Mum is surely in good hands.


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Mum, as well as my siblings and I, have to accept the new normal.


  49. Reflecting.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nothing can last forever.


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. BEDROOM - 23:00

  53. Having input the prompt: "Fading Reflections" in an AI art generator in his smartphone, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.


  54. PETER (V.O.): Reflections refer to memories and the recollection of past experience.


  55. Pausing.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They can become hazy with time due to ageing and cognitive decline.


  57. Pausing.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe my Mum and all those who care are experiencing the bittersweet nature of our interactions.


  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END



























































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