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  • Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Tuning Optimism

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDIO - 16:30


  4. Strumming a 12-string acoustic guitar, PETER sings: HKUST, HKUST ...(lyrics in Cantonese)...Ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah...


  5. PETER (V.O): I won't make any change to the song as those who have got the MV may be practising it and we'll sing along at a party this Monday.


  6. FLASHBACK


  7. INT. STUDIO - 23.00 (Yesterday)


  8. Peter is exchanging WhatsApp messages with someone.


  9. PETER (V.O.): He's so professional. It's only minutes ago I sent him my "Ah-Ah" song for comments.


  10. Seeing on the phone screen: F I G I F I C I F ICAmI Dm I G I, Peter strums the chords.


  11. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Nice tune. I appreciate his sharing.


  12. Peter types on screen: I love the sound of the chord progression.


  13. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Taking the music-driven approach, my musical works will be more open to interpretation.

  14. Act 2


  15. INT. CAR-TESTING CENTRE - 9:30 (Today)

  16. Parking lot. Squatting by the side of a 2001 New Beetle, Peter attempts to remove a wheel cap with a car hook.


  17. PETER (V.O.): The examiner has to check if the nuts covered the cap are tight.


  18. Pausing.


  19. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But the cap is so stubborn and the hook isn't hooking.


  20. Prying a cap that is tightly clinking to the rim, Peter is in thoughts.


  21. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But I did succeed in all previous occasions. Let me try again.


  22. Slowly, inch by inch, Peter manages to create a gap between the cap and the rim.


  23. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): That's a good sign.


  24. Soon, Peter has removed three of the car's four wheel caps. He stares at the last one.


  25. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I tried this one at my car park earlier. As I couldn't pry it loose and time was tight, I came here first.


  26. Peter exerts his strength to pry and hook the last cap. Suddenly, we hear a loud "Pop"and see the cap dislodging from the rim, Peter losing his balance and falling backwards.


  27. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oops!


  28. In split second, Peter regains his balance.


  29. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Fortunately, I'm still agile. And I've done it again!


  30. INT. CAR REPAIR SHOP - 10:15


  31. Very few activities. Peter gets out of the New Beetle to talk to RICKY, the proprietor.


  32. PETER: It has failed in the test. The suspension system is defective, among others.


  33. RICKY: We'll fix them asap.


  34. INT. CAR-TESTING CENTRE - 15:00


  35. Waiting room. An EXAMINER approaches Peter.


  36. EXAMINER: It's you again!


  37. PETER (V.O.): I want to optimize my Saturday and get prepared for the future.


  38. EXAMINER (Cont'd): Your 1995 Eunos 30X has failed in the test. Its ABS system malfunctions.


  39. PETER: Okay, I'll have it fixed.


  40. PETER (V.O.): My car repairer will have more businesses from me. My small way to help microbusiness!


  41. RETURN TO PRESENT


  42. INT. STUDIO - CONTINUOUS


  43. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): This simple trilingual song is lyrics-driven.


  44. Singing: Ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah...


  45. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): This is the chorus and the master hook line. And there's inherent musicality in Cantonese!


  46. Singing: Ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah...


  47. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My "Ah-ah" song highlights knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship.


  48. Thinking.


  49. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Meanwhile, I've lots of bills to pay and my return on investment has been negative.


  50. Pondering.


  51. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I believe the tide will turn in the next couple of months. Optimism is key.


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. STUDIO - CONTINUOUS


  54. Peter prompts an AI bot in his smartphone to generate a drawing entitled "Tuning Optimism".


  55. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Despite facing challenges, I'll fine tune my mindset and attitude towards a positive outlook.


  56. As a drawing of a pretty girl appears, Peter presses "Resend".


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My "Ah-ah" song can serve as a source of hope, guiding stakeholders through their challenges and encouraging them to persevere.


  58. Repeating, until a drawing with two cars appear.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'll continue to find strength in optimism, exploring my resilience and uplifting myself further.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END






















































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