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  • Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Breaking Points

Updated: Dec 1, 2023

  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 21:00


  4. Seeing his WIFE returning, PETER looks surprised.


  5. PETER: Home now?


  6. WIFE: I've lots of work to do, but a chronic complainant has been botherig me all day.


  7. MONTAGE OF WHAT PETER HAS DONE EARLIER


  8. A. After court work, Peter immediately contacts a plumber.


  9. B. At home, Peter watches the plumber replacing pipes under the sink.


  10. C. Having paid the plumber, Peter cleans the floor.


  11. D. Peter contacts the management and a uniformed STAFF appears to take photos of the bathroom condition.

  12. END MONTAGE


  13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The chronic complainant worries that water will flood her apartment and the lift shafts during the night...


  14. Act 2


  15. FLASHBACK


  16. INT. COURTHOUSE - 10:30


  17. Peter is prosecuting. We hear the DEFENDANT requesting an adjournment.

  18. DEFENDANT (to the bench): I've just got a message that my son feels sick in school...


  19. PETER (V.O.): Prioritizing family obligations over other things is important.


  20. Later, during a break, Peter chats with his ASSISTANT.


  21. PETER: You've just begun your career. But for me, I don't want to work until I die.


  22. INT. CHA CHAAN TENG - 13:15


  23. Smartphone in hand, Peter is reading an article about Charlie Munger.


  24. PETER (V.O.): A good friend shares it with me. I now understand that I invested at the wrong time and my investments are too diversified.


  25. Nodding.


  26. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'll restrategize when circumstances permit.


  27. Pausing.


  28. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He has lived 99 years. I believe there's a correlation between wealth and long life.


  29. As a plate of Fried Vermicelli with Sliced Beef is put on the table, Peter sees a message from a brother.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What's the matter?


  31. Peter reads the message and attachments.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're about unpaid bills relating to our mother's home.


  33. Recalling.


  34. PETER (V.O.): Probably, there wasn't enough money in my bank account for the auto-pay to go through.


  35. Peter types: I'll settle them after work.


  36. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our old mother is cash-rich. She never spends any but enjoys keeping money in bank accounts.


  37. Then, Peter sees another message: Your current bank account is overdrawn.


  38. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG, I don't know about that at all!


  39. As his smartphone rings, Peter hears: "Wealth Manager".


  40. PETER (to phone): Yes, what's happening? I haven't issued any cheques with that account.


  41. MANAGER (from phone): Oh, your financial insurer has been debiting money from that account...


  42. INT. STUDY - 19:00


  43. We hear: Henry Kissinger dies aged 100...


  44. PETER (V.O.): In his teens, he attended school at night and worked in a factory during the day.


  45. Pausing.


  46. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the 1970s, he changed the world for a while. At age 100, he still strived to shape US-China relations.


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What I want to learn from him is how to live to 100 years with style.


  49. Thinking.


  50. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No matter how strong people can be physically and mentally, there're breaking points.


  51. RETURN TO PRESENT


  52. Act 3


  53. INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS


  54. On Peter's smartphone screen, we see an animated AI drawing entitled "Breaking Points".


  55. PETER (V.O.): In life, there're multiple moments or factors leading to breaking points.


  56. Pausing.


  57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe I can bear the overwhelming demands and pressures I face. I strive to keep control too.


  58. Pausing.


  59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I like to think that breaking points are opportunities for me to rebuild myself the way I wish I had been all along.


  60. FADE OUT


  61. THE END































































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