FADE IN
Act 1
Taking the piano seat and grabbing his mobile, PETER sees a WhatsApp message.
PETER (V.O): It's from Emily.
Peter then sees colourful and whimsical drawings of him playing the guitar.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): These're wonderful. She has already done her part.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I'll autograph them for the audience joining the Institute's function this Saturday afternoon.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But I haven't finished composing my song for her Institute yet.
Peter types his response on screen, sends it and soon gets a feedback.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, today is just Monday...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDIO - 09:30 (June 14, 2024)
Mobile in hand, Peter is typing on screen.
PETER (V.O): As I've committed to composing a song for Emily's Institute and to perform it during the Institute's function on June 29, I'd be prepared.
Typing Chinese characters.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As the song's messages should center around the Institute's value, work and identity, the song has to be lyric driven.
Editing some Chinese characters.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And it'll be Cantonese, as it's a tonal language, with different tones conveying different meanings.
Editing some Chinese characters.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Cantonese is my mother tongue.
Peter then reads or sings in Cantonese.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Once the Cantonese lyrics are done, I've the melodies as well as the tonal variations of Cantonese create the natural musicality.
Editing some Chinese characters.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As the Cantonese lyrics aren't that colloquial, they might largely be the Mandarin lyrics, although Mandarin is also a tonal language.
Writing English lyrics.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In 1987, I got a Final Diploma in Legal Translation from the Institute of Linguists.
Editing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Unlike Cantonese and Mandarin, English is a non-tonal language.
Editing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But incorporating Cantonese tones into English lyrics may sound unnatural.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Furthermore, the name - the Hong Kong Institute of Legal Translation - is mouthful.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And I've not been able to resolve the challenge...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Last night, I accompanied my wife to watch a concert. I had hoped to get some inspirations.
Peter begins to hit the piano keys.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But the performers were just performing popular songs, either in English or in Cantonese.
Playing the verses of his song.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I know of nobody who would compose trilingual songs.
Searching for the right notes.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The chorus about the Institute only sounds OK for the Cantonese and Mandarin versions, but not the English one.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Does the Institute use an acronym?
Peter researches and sees "HKILT".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Good...and HKILT is bilingual, not trilingual...
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 22:00
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Melodies for HKILT..." to a draft.
PETER (V.O): Writing an institute-focused song has more constraints than writing a love song. I always exercise my best endeavours.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Simplicity and conciseness can be more effective than complex elements. Thus, a bilingual song with the use of acronym is a way out.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Persistence and adaptability are keys.
FADE OUT
THE END
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