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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Unveiling Mars

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. STUDY - 16:30


  4. PETER wakes up from an afternoon nap.


  5. PETER (V.O.): I dreamt I was somewhere...


  6. Aimlessly, Peter begins to have screen time.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, this article I'm reading is about discoveries in Mars.


  8. Recalling.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I had my first lecture on Space Law in 1986, Prof Bin Cheng remarked that the subject wasn't about the law of the Martians.


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Space law is about binding standards that regulate human activities in Space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.


  12. Researching.


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But law can be quite dry, like the Moon (about 356,000 km away) and Mars (about 225 million km away).


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS


  16. As Peter researches on discoveries on Mars, we see on screen: Curiosity rover finds new clues to Mars' waterly past.


  17. PETER (V.O.): In supporting life, water is vital, equilibrium is necessary.


  18. FLASHBACK


  19. EXT. DEEP WATER BAY - 11:00 (Earlier)


  20. We see Peter swimming from one floating platform to another.


  21. PETER (V.O.): Realizing my aqua aura results from regular swimming in sea waters, I enjoy my hobby more.


  22. INT. JAPANESE RESTAURANT - 13:30


  23. Plates of sashimi and sushi are on the table. Peter and his WIFE enjoy food from the sea.


  24. PETER (V.O.): The food is unlikely to have been contaminated with high level of radioactivity, I hope.


  25. END FLASHBACK


  26. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having exercised and eaten a lot are right conditions for an afternoon nap.


  27. Following Peter to read another article on Mars, we see: ...first tangible evidence... the ancient climate of Mars had such regular, Earth-like wet-dry cycles...


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Mars' sell-by date has long gone. Heaven is now on Earth.


  29. Pausing.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Who designed the Curiosity Rover's robotic arm and did the rock analysis?


  31. Researching and reading.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's Jack Matijevic, a NASA engineer. He oversaw the development and integration of the robot's robotic arm and the instruments it carried.


  33. Reading.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He was also actively involved in the examination of rocks and the characterization of Martian rocks, helping to interpret their composition and geological history.


  35. Reading.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, Jack Matijevic died unexpectedly on Aug 20, 2012 at the age of 64.


  37. Peter looks concerned.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What are the possible reasons for working men in their 60s to die unexpectedly?


  39. Researching and reading.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Cardiovascular events, cancer, respiratory conditions, infectious diseases, neurological conditions, accidents...


  41. Exhaling a deep breath.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The list is long. I've got to be careful.


  43. We follow Peter to continue the research.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After Matijevic's passing, a rock on Mars was named as "Jack Matijevic" on Sept 27, 2012 and a hill the "Matijevic Hill" on Oct 5, 2012.


  45. Sighing.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The late Jack Matijevic didn't know about all that!


  47. Recalling.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was with Govt, I recommended in confidence individuals who had made significant societal contributions to be honoured.

  49. Recalling.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But when they were honoured, I observed that they had never thought about me as the one who was instrumental in the process.


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. STUDY - 22:30

  53. Instructing his assistant in All_The_Photos, Peter types on screen: Create a Pixar animation style image about the discovery of the Matijevic Hill and the Matijevic Rock by the Curiosity rover. Within seconds, an animated image appears.


  54. PETER (V.O.): That humans on Earth can learn something about the past and present of Mars is thrilling.


  55. Gazing at the animated image.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Recognizing and honouring the significant achievements of individuals should be done during their lifetime so that they'd know.


  57. Pondering.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Apart from sharing my creative stuff to all, what more legacies might I leave behind for future generations?


  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END















































































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