FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 04:00
Waking up, PETER checks the bedside clock.
PETER: Oh, I wake up again after one round of sleep.
Pausing
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I know that as I age, I tend to experience fragmented sleep with frequent waking during the night. I've reduced sleep efficiency.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Another possibility is that I've been exposed to alarming or distressing messages earlier and my mind wants to process them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Earlier, I was shocked to hear that Mum said she had met with my late Dad recently.
Act 2
INT. RESTAURANT, HUNG SHUI KIU - 15:30 (Yesterday)
The FAMILY is having afternoon tea. We can barely hear Peter's MUM muttering to herself. A BROTHER talks to Peter.
BROTHER: Mum says that after a long absence, she has met up with Dad.
PETER: Oh, Mum has forgotten Dad passed away over 10 years ago?
BROTHER: For decades, Mum liked to scold Dad. Mum must be missing that.
PETER: But Dad used to take good care of her of everything.
BROTHER: Mum couldn't quite remember my wife, although they've been mahjong partners for decades.
BROTHER (Cont'd): But Mum often mentions "Ah Fai"...
PETER (V.O): I just assume Mum recognizes me.
RETURN TO PRESENT
INT. LIVING ROOM - 11:00
Peter researches with his mobile.
PETER (V.O): Mum has an age-related memory loss. She can forget Dad's passing even though that was a significant life event.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Mum creates false memories (that she has met Dad recently) to fill in gaps in her recollection.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): When Dad was around, she felt secure and comfortable.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Her fabricated memory provides a sense of familiarity and reassurance in her current state of confusion.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Maintaining the false memory help Mum avoid the emotional pain of remembering of Dad's death.
INT. STUDIO - 12:30
Sitting before a piano, Peter plays "A Summer Place".
PETER (V.O): I'm creative but I haven't created any false memories yet.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): These days 32 years ago were the most difficult days of my life.
We hear dissonant sounds.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I began accompanying Sharon by her bedside in the hospital, both day and night.
Peter starts all over again.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The first time I listened to this musical piece live was when Sharon playing it for me at her home in the summer of 1974.
Playing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Playing the musical piece, I think I've internalized my late Sharon in me.
INT. LIVING ROOM - 19:45
Peter sees his WIFE and younger DAUGHTER going out with KAJI, the family pet.
PETER (V.O.): They're going to a relative's family hot-pot dinner. I'm not joining them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Today, I had brunch with them and then we went to pay tribute to my late mother-in-law together.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In the Columbarium, I've noticed that some couldn't live to 70.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:30
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Sands of Time" to a draft on a laptop.
PETER (V.O): The sands of time can't be stopped whether I will it or not.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): What has been lost may yet live in memories, even if some are created to fill in gaps in recollection.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While I may have more or less time than others, it's what I do with my time that makes the difference.
FADE OUT
THE END
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