Into the Deep

Peter K F Cheung SBS

4 days ago3 min read

FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 12:30
PETER stares at his laptop, with a weathered face and determined eyes.
PETER (V.O.): I've thought deep in this complex domain names dispute for days.
Peter reads a draft on screen, word by word, line by line.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My reasoning is sound, I've supporting authorities.
Peter does some editing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Impartiality, clarity and accuracy matter.
Rubbing his eyes, Peter re-reads the entire draft and re-edits it at times.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I'm satisfied that it's thorough, but I'd re-read it one more time later, before submitting it to the Secretariat.
Peter suddenly coughs a little.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, I've a sore throat...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT - 20:00 (Yesterday)
Peter and his FAMILY are having dinner with RELATIVES. Lively converstations about health fill the air.
PETER: I'm older than all of you, and I don't have much health issues.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): I believe regular swimming can keep me fit.
RELATIVE: My Mom got flu just before the New Year and was hospitalized...Have you all taken the flu jab?
BROTHER-IN-LAW: I take whatever jabs.
PETER: No, I've never taken one.
WIFE: Neither do I.
RELATIVE: I got flu-like symptoms the last time I took it!
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: When vacinnated people get sick with flu, their illness is less severe.
PETER (V.O): What a doctor says is highly persuasive.
RELATIVE: Actually, you can get it free...but appointments are tight..
WIFE: Kindly let's have the information.
PETER (V.O): We can afford any reaction as we won't be travelling again until mid March.
RETURN TO PRESENT
EXT. SIVLERSTRAND BAY - 15:30
Red flag. Waves crushing on shore. Wearing a wet suit and goggles, Peter wades into the water.
PETER (V.O): I've to keep fit.
Having swum towards the outer limit with firm strokes for a while, Peter's pace has become unsteady.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Sea water seeps into my right eye, blurring my vision.
Peter uses his hand to check the right eye rim of his goggles.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It has come loose...but the water is very deep here.
Spotting a bright orange buoy bobbing not too far away, Peter swims over to it.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I need something stable to assist me in fixing the troublesome eye rim.
Reaching the buoy, Peter locks his arm around a handle and uses the other hand to fix the eye rim.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I don't want to fall into the deep.
As Peter attempts to press the rim back into place, the waves continue to rock him.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Just to maintain my balance is exhaustive, I can't fix it here.
Putting his broken goggles inside his wetsuit, Peter swims back to the shore with his eyes largely closed.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Once my feet touch the ground, I can fix it safely.
Beneath the water, Peter attempts to brush the bay floor with his feet.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): No, I'm still in deep water.
Peter tries again and again.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's only now I recognize that it's a deep water bay.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:30
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Into the Deep..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): Life's greatest lessons are often found beneath the surface.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the decision to dive into the deep.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The deeper I go, the more I uncover - not just about the world, but about myself.
FADE OUT
THE END

Into the Deep

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