FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 09:30
Smartphone in hand, PETER sees Chinese New Year Eve messages.
PETER (V.O.): Before summer 2017, I've composed quite a number of festive songs and produced music-videos.
Peter searches YouTube video clips with iPad Mini#1.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While the music and lyrics of this song Near Year's Coming are evergreen, the visuals are out.
Peter taps iMovie with iPad Mini#2.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But once the music-video project was exported, it's hard to re-import the original version for updating.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can re-record the sound recording of the published music-video and update the visuals.
Playing iPad Mini#1, Peter uses iPad#2 to re-record a song. He then inserts some visuals, subtitles and the main title: New Year's Coming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've got another festive song in mind too.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. VILLAGE HOUSE, WONG UK TSUEN - NIGHT (1970s)
A banquet. Sitting around a table with other GUESTS, Peter (20s) sees on the table one large wooden pot, covered with cooked prawns, abalones and a chicken.
PETER (V.O.): Is the puhn (pot) the same type used for washing utensils?
Seeing others using chopsticks to reach into the pot, Peter joins them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well, the underlying layers include fish, squids, pork and other vegetables.
Peter picks his choice of ingredients (Choi).
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's definitely food deluxe, but I'm not sure about their flavour.
Peter tastes them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't quite know what to expect.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But eating Puhn Choi, I can feel the clansman lifestyle.
END FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT - 15:00
Cashier. Queuing after a CUSTOMER, Peter overhears her order.
PETER (V.O.): She has ordered a Puhn Choi to be picked up in the evening.
Later at a table, Peter is having Wonton Noodles.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even when there're underlying works ie a sound recording and sufficient footage, the editing of a 53-second music-video has taken me over 120 minutes.
Peter is enjoying his Red Bean Ice.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I feel gratified as I can reciprocate well-wishers with something that I'm identified with.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Chinese New Year Eve used to be a hectic day for my family.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a working day but we'd go back to Hung Shui Kiu to have dinner in a restaurant in the late evening.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We gave up having Puhn Choi at my Mom's home, as it'd mean a lot of arrangement for her and other family members.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since all restaurants would close during dinner time, we won't go back to Hung Shui Kiu tonight.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Instead, our elder son would come home to dine. The other children are overseas.
INT. STUDY - 16:00
Smartphone in hand, Peter copies a YouTube link and attaches it to mails or messages. He gets quick feedback.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, a friend's son liked my music video.
INT. DINING ROOM - 20:30
Peter, WIFE & SON are having dinner.
PETER (V.O.): One of the greatest lesson I've learned during the pandemic is that even routines are good!
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 23:30
Replying to phone messages, Peter looks pleased.
PETER (V.O.): I've found my old music-video: Full Pots (盆滿砵滿).
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While memories are often made around the dining table, my old music-video has become an imperfect substitute.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me use that as the theme for my New Year Eve blog screenplay then.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nothing is too full to celebrate the Chinese New Year!
THE END.
FADE OUT
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