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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

This Old Man

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - 08:30


  4. Dressed in a black suit, PETER exits.


  5. PETER (V.O.): I've to see my clients at around 09:00.


  6. INT. LIFT LOBBY - CONTINUOUS


  7. Appearing, Peter sees a WOMAN waiting.


  8. PETER (V.O.): She's my new neighbour. I greeted her before but she didn't acknowledge my existence.


  9. The woman takes a glance of Peter before looking away.


  10. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I wear casually. This's the first time she sees me dressing in a suit.


  11. Pausing.


  12. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Would she be thinking about what's this old man?


  13. Act 2


  14. INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - 09:00


  15. Peter is interviewing CLIENTS.


  16. PETER (V.O.): Are they pleased that they're represented by this old man?


  17. INT. COURT - 10:30


  18. Crowded. Peter is submitting before the BENCH.


  19. PETER (V.O.): Would the judge wonder why this old man is still practising?


  20. INT. STREET - LATER


  21. Leaving the court house, Peter looks very pleased.


  22. PETER (V.O.): Treating the cases as my last ones, I managed to turn them into exceptional ones.

  23. INT. MTR CABIN - LATER


  24. Not very crowded. A seated WOMAN sees the white-haired Peter standing.


  25. WOMAN (gesturing): Take my seat...


  26. PETER (acknowledging politely) : No need, thank you all the same!


  27. PETER (V.O.): She's most kind. Very few offer seats to this old man.


  28. Pausing.


  29. PETER (V.O.): I take it that many know I've to stand to speak in court...


  30. Pausing.


  31. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I can swim non-stop for 45 minutes...


  32. Recalling.


  33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, my mind has suddenly drifted back to my childhood days.


  34. FLASHBACK


  35. INT. CHEUNG FAMILY HOME IN CENTRAL - DAY (1959)


  36. Peter's elder SISTER (9) is leading Peter (5) to sing.


  37. SISTER & PETER (singing lively): This old man, he played one. He played knick-knack on my thumb. With a knick-knack paddywhack, give the dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. This old man, he played two...


  38. END FLASHBACK


  39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My sister could sing "This Old Man" from one to ten. But I couldn't.


  40. Pausing.


  41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And even now, I don't know what "knick-knack paddywhack" means!


  42. EXT. LIDO BAY - 17:15


  43. While grabbing the ladder of a floating platform, Peter sees small fish swimming around him.


  44. PETER (V.O.): Wonderful! They aren't afraid of me.


  45. Then, we see Peter's eyes widening in surprise and moving his hand to rub his nipple gently.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, one of them has mistaken my nipple as its prey.


  47. Momentarily bewildered, Peter climbs up onto the platform.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These small fish are still curious about this old man.


  49. Later at the beach, Peter checks WhatsApp messages and sees images of an old man.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This old man was my late wife's music professor...He's playing 91...


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. STUDY - 23:00


  53. Having input the prompt: "This Old Man" in an AI art generator, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.


  54. PETER (V.O.): For some, age comes alone. There're others who grow wiser with the years.


  55. Pausing.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Getting older, I reckon how many things aren't worth wasting time on.


  57. .Reflecting.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the autumn of my life, I begin to love myself more and want to make age a rhythmic and cubist art.


  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END





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