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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Life's Little Celebrations



FADE IN

  1.  

  2. Act 1 

  3.  

  4. INT. BEDROOM - 11:00

  5.  

  6. The sunlight streams through the curtains. Sitting up in bed, PETER glances at the clock in disbelief.

  7.  

  8. PETER (V.O): Oh, I've missed my morning routines; and today is Boxing Day.

  9.  

  10. Grabbing one of his mobiles, Peter taps the Duolingo app and begins to complete a lesson in Spanish.

  11.  

  12. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Done...French now.

  13.  

  14. After 10 minutes, Peter completes a French lesson. He checks the time.

  15.  

  16. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's what I can do now, I'll catch up with other five languages after lunch.

  17.  

  18. Peter jumps out of bed, scrambling to get dressed smartly.

  19.  

  20. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): 31st years ago today, I married again.

  21.  

  22. Act 2  

  23.  

  24. INT. MINATO, WANCHAI - 12:45

  25.  

  26. Elegant Japanese design. Subtle sounds. Warm atmosphere. Peter and his WIFE are seated in a nicely arranged table.

  27.  

  28. WIFE: We'll order the Kaiseki set.

  29.  

  30. PETER: Yes, a little celebration of our 31st wedding anniverary.

  31.  

  32. Before savoying the courses, they takes photos of the small, artfully crafted dishes.


  33. PETER (V.O.): 31 years ago, she was 25% younger than me.


  34. Smilingly, they take a selfie together.


  35. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Now, I feel our positions in life are quite similar...


  36. Pausing.


  37. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Early this year, she retired...but I'm still working in retirement.


  38. INT. STUDY - 15:00


  39. Peter focuses on his two iPad Minis.


  40. PETER (V.O): I must sustain my Duolingo streaks.


  41. Practising.


  42. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Among the seven languages I'm learning, I find Portuguese and Korean most difficult.


  43. We see a mix of frustration and determination on Peter's face.


  44. INT. LIVING ROOM - 16:00


  45. Peter sees his wife chatting with their SON, who coughs at times.


  46. PETER (V.O): My wife is markedly happy that our doctor son returned from Sydney last night.


  47. Pausing.


  48. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But during his holiday break here, he'll go snowboarding with his friends in Hokkaido.


  49. Recalling.


  50. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Just before his studies in medicine, I took him to Niseki. He picked up snowboarding in a day.

  51.  

  52. Pausing.


  53. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Now, he wants to get a recreational pilot licence.


  54. Pausing.


  55. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My wife wants to do the same as she had the air-traffic control background.


  56. MONTAGE OF PETER'S ROUTINES


  57. A. Tung Wah Hospital - 18:00. Peter visits the bedridden, frail, but bright-eyed ALFRED. Alfred's WIFE is by his side.


  58. B. Sun Yet Sen Public Swimming Pool 19:15. Peter swims his laps hurriedly.


  59. END MONTAGE

  60.  

  61. EXT. MTR CABIN - 20:15


  62. Scrolling through his mobile, Peter reads intensely a post about health span v longevity.


  63. PETER (V.O.): Health span...not just living longer, but living better.

  64.  

  65. Pausing.


  66. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I've visited Alfred daily, nine days in a row. Alfred's wife has been visiting him for over six months, twice a day.


  67. Pausing.


  68. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They really have lived for better and for worse.

  69.  

  70. Act 3

  71.  

  72. INT. BEDROOM - 22:00

  73.  

  74. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled: "Life's Little Celebrations...." to a draft in his laptop.

  75.  

  76. PETER (V.O): Love isn't about the years, it's about cherishing each other every single day.

  77.  

  78. Thinking.

  79.  

  80. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The distinction between health span and longevity reminds me to prioritize quality of life over mere lifespan.

  81.  

  82.  Reflecting.

  83.  

  84.  PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My wife, our son and me have a nice dinner - family is where life begins and where love never ends.

  85.  

  86. FADE OUT

  87.  

  88. THE END



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