FADE IN
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - 11:00
Having answered some Quora requests, PETER reads another.
PETER (V.O.): What exactly is nostalgia, and what is its practical use?
Peter checks the Quoran's name and thumbnail photo.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He requests my answers frequently. I believe we're of the same generation.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nostalgia may be troubling him.
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Greek, "nostalgia" literally means "the pain from an old wound".
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Doesn't nostalgia refer to the present feeling that the past was perfect?
Act 2
EXT. ROADS - 15:00
Exiting from a pet garden, Peter and his WIFE are walking KAJI, the family pet.
FLASHBACK
EXT. PADDY FIELDS - DAY (1964)
Exiting from a foothill, a black dog that looks like a baby bear is leading Peter (9) and FAMILY walking along a path.
PETER: "Baby Bear" is a very good dog. He knows the way to and from late Grandpa's tomb.
FAMILY: Yes, very loyal too!
We see "Baby Bear" wearing no harness and having no leash. Later at home, Peter and family give it a good treat.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.): "Baby Bear" liked to go here and there on his own. But one day, he didn't return home.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was too painful for us to speculate what had happened to him.
Noticing Kaji is unwilling to walk, Peter's wife picks her up and puts her inside a dog carrier cart that Peter is pushing.
INT. SITTING ROOM - 15:45
Clicking Disney+ on the TV screen, Peter is watching: The Beatles: Get Back: Episode 3.
PETER (V.O.): The footage were shot in late Jan 1969. I was aged 15 and a Form 3 student.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my College, classes in Form 1 and Form 2 were either all boys or all girls.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, I was feverish about hit songs. Doing private tuition, I spent my first month salary of $30 to buy a guitar. Soon, I attempted to write my first song "Don't Treat Me Cruel".
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Days before X'mas 1968, boys and girls in class managed to persuade some teachers not to teach but let volunteers sing.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I volunteered. One of the songs I sang was Petula Clark's "Kiss Me Goodbye". I should have sung Matt Monroe's "Walk Away".
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And in the College's X'mas singing contest, I sang the Monkees' song "It's Nice to be With You" backed by a live band. I didn't get any prize..
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Jan 1969, I was still daydreaming about what songs to sing in class.
Refocusing on the TV, Peter hear:...they've not yet decided whether to do the rooftop performance or not.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If they don't feel like doing it, no one can force them - they're the Beatles.
From TV, we see and hear Ringo's remarks: I'd like to do it...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And so, they did unannounced last live performance on the rooftop at 3 Savile Row, London.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 1970, I became a band member to support the College's X'mas singing contest. We spent days and nights to rehearse.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But before the showtime, I was so nervous that I hid in a corner. Fortunately, Nelson, my bandmate, found me in time.
On TV, we see the Beatles playing "Don't Let Me Down" and "Get Back" when the POLICE also appear at the rooftop.
Act 3
INT. SITTING ROOM - 20:00
The TV is still on. Peter is thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): The Beatles: Get Back Episodes 2021 recreated the collective memories of the Beatles' fans.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For some of the video clips in Episode 3, I first saw them in the Beatles' 1970 documentary "Let it Be" in Kong Wah Theatre in Yuen Long in 1971.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): John Lennon was killed in 1980 and George Harrison died in 2001. I'm now aged 68.
On his smart phone screen, Peter see an upvoted Quora answer on nostalgia.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's echo that the practical use of nostalgia is to let us get the missed alternative bittersweet taste once more.
THE END
FADE OUT
Comments