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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Upward Mobility

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 06:00


  4. PETER is checking something in thick files.


  5. PETER (V.O.): I'm appearing in court in a few hours...


  6. Researching with his smartphone.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I endeavour to do the best I can.


  8. Reflecting.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As an old man, do I still have to work this hard?


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've got used to it. And I'm still learning.


  12. Pausing.


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Maintaining my status wealth, I feel privileged.


  14. Act 2


  15. FLASHBACK


  16. INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT (Last Sunday)


  17. Over dinner, Peter chats with his SON and his WIFE.


  18. PETER (To Son): When did you return from UK?


  19. SON: Hours ago...

  20. PETER: Oh, I thought you're in Hong Kong for the past week.


  21. SON: I worked the Hong Kong time.


  22. PETER (V.O.): Like me, he's very hardworking. For the past years, he has uplifted himself a lot.


  23. PETER: Yesterday, while having a conversation with your grandma, I lost my temper.


  24. We see surprising faces.


  25. PETER (Cont'd): Talking about money again, she said she did pay school fees during the family's hard times.


  26. Pausing.


  27. PETER (Cont'd): But the harder thing for my siblings and me was that she scolded us every time for that.


  28. WIFE (To Peter): Come on! Forget about that!


  29. PETER: It's really hard to forget, as it's about schooling and not playthings.


  30. Pausing.


  31. PETER (Cont'd): To support myself, I wouldn't miss any part-time working opportunities.


  32. Pausing.


  33. PETER (Cont'd): But a teacher born with a silver spoon remarked that I had no spirit as I didn't take part in extracurricular activities.


  34. SON: Among your siblings, only you've some upward mobility.


  35. Pausing.


  36. SON (Cont'd): If you didn't have quality education, you wouldn't have acquired knowledge and skills necessary for upward mobility.


  37. PETER (V.O.): I was fortunate that I went to a Govt school for matriculation. Or I might not be able to join civil service.


  38. Pausing.


  39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I wouldn't have had the opportunities to get civil service training scholarships.


  40. Pausing.


  41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Without financial assistance and job security, I wouldn't be able to overcome barriers and achieve some upward mobility.


  42. SON (Cont'd): People who have inherited wealth or influential network can move upper still.


  43. PETER: True...


  44. SON: What a father has achieved impacts on the children a lot.


  45. PETER: Yes, Dad had a humble beginning. We didn't have a choice to be born with a silver spoon.


  46. END FLASHBACK


  47. MONTAGE OF PETER'S ACTIVITIES TODAY


  48. A. Court. Day. Peter is very busy in conducting a trial.


  49. B. Study. Evening. Peter responds to a notice about appointment as a Panelist.


  50. C. Study. Night. Peter examines a thick file and prepares papers.


  51. END MONTAGE


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. BEDROOM - 10:30


  54. Having input the prompt: "Upward Mobility" in an AI art generator, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.


  55. PETER (V.O.): Education is the gateway to upward mobility and equality.


  56. Thinking.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Honoring the dignity of every person, ethical institutions should promote upward mobility.


  58. Pondering.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Shared prosperity builds solidarity among peoples.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END











































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