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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

4000 Weeks

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. DINING ROOM - 8:45


  4. Breakfast on the table. PETER sees the focused KAJI.


  5. PETER (V.O.): Kaji may think that were already late for breakfast.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.): Our precious time is ticking away.


  8. Peter looks out of the window dotted with raindrops.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a gloomy day. But my schedule is flexible.


  10. Before going to work, Peter's WIFE walks past to make a remark.


  11. WIFE: Our pet has rainstorm anxiety. Try to give her company.


  12. Peter doesn't respond.


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How can I make today meaningful?


  14. Act 2


  15. INT. STUDY - 10:00


  16. Listening to stereo music with extra bass sounds, Peter is reading answer requests from Quora.


  17. PETER (V.O.): Everyday, I've got no less than 30 answer requests.


  18. Pausing.


  19. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I sense that those posing questions want to learn and change.


  20. Pausing.


  21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'd do the knowledge transfer right away so that they don't have to learn the hard way.


  22. Reading.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's a one on how to squeeze the time to finish a day's tasks. I do feel uncomfortable if I can't complete my daily tasks.


  24. Recalling.


  25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Learning from my teacher in Chinese Literature, Ms Chow, I've been addressing outstanding tasks without delay.


  26. Pausing.

  27. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Moreover, I'd worry if what I've done in the past is good enough for the future.


  28. Pausing.


  29. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is my existential time anxiety - as I know my finite time on Earth is slipping away.


  30. Pausing.


  31. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sometimes, I'd procrastinate on tasks. I feel it's my innate attempt to control time.


  32. INT. RESTUARANT - 14:30


  33. While enjoying a plate of escargots baked with garlic butter, Peter is also having screen time.


  34. PETER (V.O.): Oh, there's a book entitled "Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use it". It highlights that time is finite, and we've to accept it.


  35. Pausing.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our acceptance of it would mean that we appreciate time more, but this would put more pressure on our time anxiety.


  37. Pausing.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How long is 4000 weeks? A lifetime?


  39. Peter does the mental calculation.


  40. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In stock market analysis, there's the reference to 52 weeks - that's almost a year.


  41. Peter eats some garlic bread.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To live to 100 years is about 5200 weeks. Yes, 4000 weeks is the average life span.


  43. Thinking.


  44. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having few hundred weeks remaining, have I spent my time well?


  45. Peter drinks some water.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For work, I've done enough; family and friends, I can do more; hobbies and travels, I think time is never enough.


  47. Peter looks enlightened.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's never enough because I'm a time-limited being in a world of virtually unlimited inputs.


  49. Reflecting.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Understanding this, I may be able to control my time anxiety.


  51. There's nothing left on the plate.


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. BEDROOM - 23:00


  54. Peter is in thoughts.


  55. PETER (V.O.): Like those posing answer requests to me, I don't stop questioning myself.


  56. Pausing.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Soothing others socially is easy; but self-soothing is difficult, as it's personal and subconsciously exaggerated.


  58. Pausing.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I accept that I can't stop time, making it go slower or faster. But I can focus on the present.


  60. Pausing.


  61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me continue to shape my future.


  62. Kaji joins Peter in bed.


  63. THE END






















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