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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

"Grounded at Kai Tak"

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - 21:00


  4. As PETER types "Ground at Kai Tak" in the search bar of his phone, we see on screen: Grounded at Kai Tak: Chinese Aircraft Impounded in Hong Kong, 1949-1952.


  5. PETER (V.O.): It's my friend's latest publication. His book on Hong Kong Tenancy Law was first published in 1985.


  6. Scrolling up the screen, Peter sees a Youtube video clip.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's his book talk on Feb 16, 2023. I missed that.


  8. Peter taps the "Play" arrow. We see and hear the Moderator doing the introduction.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He's one of those who interviewed me in my HKU Law School admission interview back in 1981.


  10. Listening.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My friend used to teach me Property Law in the early 1980s. In the 2000s, he agreed to be my wife's pupil master.


  12. We see on screen a Gentleman with a tie speaking.


  13. Act 2


  14. FLASHBACK


  15. INT. JAPANESE RESTAURANT - NIGHT (DAYS AGO)


  16. Peter and his WIFE are having dinner with their FRIEND and the FRIEND'S WIFE. Peter engages his friend, his wife their friend's wife.


  17. PETER: Apart from flying to Hong Kong to give your book talks, any plan to fly elsewhere?

  18. FRIEND: No.


  19. PETER: After flying to UK last Nov, my wife and I flew to Seoul in Jan. Days ago, my younger son and I flew to Sapporo.


  20. FRIEND: Days ago, we visited Fanling. The place triggered my memories. I've become nostalgic about Hong Kong.


  21. FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK


  22. INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - DAY (2021)


  23. Peter and his wife are having lunch with their friend and the friend's wife.


  24. FRIEND: We're leaving Hong Kong for good. We don't have anything to miss.


  25. END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK


  26. PETER: You miss the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong?


  27. FRIEND: No. I'm okay with a quiet life.


  28. PETER (V.O.): Yes, his previous residences in Hong Kong were in the quiet parts of NT.


  29. FRIEND (Cont'd): Do you know there were talks about a possible Ping Shan airfield?


  30. PETER: No. I've never heard of it.


  31. FRIEND (Cont'd): It was never built...another airdrome site at Sheung Che, Pat Heung was also considered.


  32. PETER: Is it the same as the Sek Kong Airfield?


  33. INT. STUDY - DAY (THE NEXT DAY)


  34. Peter is reading texts on screen.


  35. PETER (V.O.): When WWII ended, a preliminary ground survey was done for a possible Ping Shan airfield.


  36. Reading.


  37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The planned runway would pass through Tin Sum...That's where I lived from 1960-1983.


  38. Reading.


  39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If the proposed Ping Shan airfield was built, I wouldn't have lived in Tin Sum and won't be nostalgic about the place.


  40. Researching.


  41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can't find any objective documentary evidence about the proposed Sheung Che airdrome site.


  42. Reading.


  43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I read that Tang Pak Kau supported the Govt to construct the Sek Kong Airfield.


  44. Recalling.


  45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Through the father of my brother-in-law, Tang Pau Kau's son Tang Kin-sum recommended me to teach in Pak Kau English College in Kam Tin.


  46. Pausing.


  47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's how I got my first full-time job in 1973 at the age of 19.


  48. Recalling.


  49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I had been grounded until 1979, when I flew for the first time from Kai Tak to the Philippines.


  50. RETURN TO PRESENT

  51. We hear from the screen: I just want to wet people's appetite... I stop here.

  52. Act 3


  53. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS


  54. From his Photos App, Peter selects an aircraft image.


  55. PETER (V.O.): I took the photo at the Kai Tak Runway Park. Those aircraft grounded at Kai Tak before I was born must look very old.


  56. Pausing.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To me, "Grounded at Kai Tak" tells the story that nothing is worse than being grounded when one has good plans.


  58. Thinking.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When adversity strikes, one has to be calm. So stay grounded before one can press on, strongly.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END






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