FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 10:00
Relaxing on a sofa with a smartphone in hand, PETER is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): This evening, I've a dinner engagement.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The guest of honour is a visiting music friend from Canada.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The dinner was arranged two months ago. Let me check the particulars of the venue.
Peter checks WhatsApp messages.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): A friend on dialysis suggested the accessible venue.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Other music friends living aboard can only envy this gathering in Hong Kong.
Act 2
INT. SWIMMING POOL - 17:00
Locker. Having retrieved his belongings, a wet-haired Peter checks phone notifications.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the friend on dialysis is feeling unwell. Playing safe, he wouldn't join.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): He's downbeat.
Peter sees more WhatsApp messages.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Lots of words of support.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Becoming old or sick is a fact of life. And he's a wise man.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Vivien has also responded from Berlin.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the friend on dialysis remarked that those who are still working shouldn't overwork themselves.
Peter types his response on screen: True, our time has become very valuable.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's the scarcity principle.
Seeing a remark on screen, Peter looks wide-eyed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Thinking of me?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, we haven't met for a long time.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The last time I met Vivien was when she returned to Hong Kong to attend his father's funeral.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S MEMORIES
A. Vivien's home. 1975. Peter (21) and SHARON (20) chat with Vivien and her PARENTS.
B. Restaurant. 1980s. Peter and Sharon are having dinner with GUESTS including VIVIEN and her FATHER.
C. Peter's home. 1992. Vivien & her young SON pay Peter a visit.
D Office. 1996. Vivien's father pays Peter a visit, showing him some magnets.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): During Sharon's CUHK days, she had two close girl friends - Vivien and "10-cent coin".
Reading another WhatsApp message.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, Vivien has spent a fortnight with "10-cent coin" in a Greek island and has related to her about the development of late Sharon's son!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've lost touch with "10-cent coin", respecting her privacy.
INT. RESTAURANT - 19:30
Peter meets up with his music FRIENDS.
FRIEND FROM CANADA: "10 - cent coin"! I can still remember her joyful look...
.
PETER: Good to maintain the time-in-a-bottle impression!
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 22:30
Typing natural language in his smartphone, Peter instructs his 文心一言 assistant.
PETER (V.O.): See if she can visualize my articulation of "Strings of Friendship" and draws something that harmonize collective memories.
As he sees an AI drawing, Peter saves it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe it has done its best to represent lasting bonds that withstand the test of time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The power of friendship transcends distance and time. Absent friends are never forgotten, and their presence is still felt.
FADE OUT
THE END
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