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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Without Memories?

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 07:30


  4. Waking up, PETER checks the time.


  5. PETER (V.O.): I believe I don't have to go to court today.


  6. INT. STUDY - 07:45


  7. Having checked some papers, Peter looks content.


  8. INT. LOBBY - 15:00


  9. Going out, PETER has a letter in hand.


  10. PETER (V.O.): Today is already July 5. A pay-rise news makes me remember that I haven't posted my paycheck to my gardener yet.


  11. Pausing.


  12. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nothing is missed or lost if we remember it. But how?


  13. Act 2


  14. INT. STUDIO - 15:30


  15. Having played some bass lines, Peter looks at his white Yamaha electric bass guitar.


  16. PETER (V.O.): With my wife's financial support, I bought it and other musical gear in 1987.


  17. Remembering.


  18. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She'd play the piano. I'd play the bass. We'd sing together.


  19. Pausing.


  20. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The guitar is still visually stimulating.


  21. Remembering.


  22. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Years ago, the guitar's pick-ups were out of order and I had them made good.


  23. Staring at the guitar.


  24. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Among my electric bass guitars, I love this vintage one the most.


  25. Pausing.


  26. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It triggers vivid and heartwarming memories.


  27. Pondering.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But it seems that we can't control our memories and select what to keep or let go.


  29. Researching with his smart phone.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our brains tend to remember moments that we think are important.


  31. Reading.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We can consciously pay more attention to moments that we want our brains to remember.


  33. Remembering.


  34. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): By repeating their names whenever I greet them, I've been able to remember the names of three receptionists at HKUST's Business School.


  35. Pausing.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Similarly, the more often I share with others of what I know, the stronger that knowledge would be in my memory.


  37. Pausing.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I also capture lots of photos of moments that I think important so that my brain might select to remember the backstories.

  39. INT. LOBBY - 20:00


  40. Going out, Peter takes a look of the CARETAKER.


  41. PETER (V.O.): He isn't the very friendly one who'd open the door and chat with me.


  42. Recalling.


  43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Months ago, he suddenly disappeared. I heard that he had an acute medical condition and had undergone an operation.


  44. Pausing.


  45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He hasn't returned to work ever since. I hope he's alright and the choice is a good one.


  46. Pausing.


  47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've read that there's the possibility that we might fabricate our memories, wanting to believe something different has happened.


  48. Pausing.


  49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We'd mix them, just like clicking "Saving as" of new files in the computer memory disk.


  50. Act 3


  51. INT. SWIMMING POOL - 20:30


  52. Peter is swimming free style.


  53. PETER (V.O.): We're nothing more than the sum of our memories. What would our identities be without memories?


  54. Swimming backstrokes.


  55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whether good or bad, memories make us who we're and impact on how we think, act and feel.


  56. INT. BEDROOM - 23:00


  57. Peter goes to bed.


  58. PETER (V.O.): I remember I only need to appear in courts days after tomorrow.


  59. THE END


  60. FADE OUT


















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