A Chain of Love

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. HOME - DAY

6. 
   

7. Door opens. PETER appears. He focuses on the box on a table next to the door.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Oh, I see Nana reacting a little.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For over 10 years, our pet turtles have been guiding the door.

14. 
    

15. Lowering his body a little, Peter sees Nana eye to eye at the same level.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We've been observing each other's details and true character.

18. 
    

19. Observing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is life, whether in a turtle or a man.

22. 
    

23. Communicating.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. HOME - LATER

28. 
    

29. Peter is researching with his smart phone.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): I want to know more about vent prolapse in turtles.

32. 
    

33. Recalling.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The vet began by performing a complete physical exam on Nana.

36. 
    

37. Recalling.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe the material protruding from Nana's vent was her oviduct with no fecal material.

40. 
    

41. Recalling.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The vet said that he had to suture the vent with a closure to prevent the recurrence of the prolapse. But it didn't quite work.

44. 
    

45. Pausing.

47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I read elsewhere that human prolapse isn't life-threatening. Why not turtles?

48. 
    

49. Pausing.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Moreover, the blood work results gave the vet information as to what Nana was deficient in vitamins. And Nana has got them.

52. 
    

53. Recalling.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I asked the vet how could we tell if a turtle was feeling the pain, he said that was a very good question.

56. 
    

57. Recalling.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I asked the assistant about the euthanasia procedure in the case of turtles, he said it'd take a day to confirm there's no more heart beat.

60. 
    

61. INT. SWIMMING POOL - LATER

62. 
    

63. Peter begins to swim.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.): I come here not to lose myself but to find myself.

67. Recalling.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday night, I told my family I wanted to cancel the Friday 5.pm appointment at the reptile clinic.

70. 
    

71. Swimming slowly.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But my family members felt that for the welfare of Nana, I shouldn't do so.

74. 
    

75. Pausing.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since Nana's prolapse, I've found that I'm only interested in Nana's welfare, and nothing else.

78. 
    

79. Swimming slowly.

80. 
    

81. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I agree that we should reduce Nana's needless pain and suffering, I think we should also give her a reasonable chance to help herself.

82. 
    

83. Pausing.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No wound can heal within 48 hours.

86. 
    

87. Swimming freestyle.

88. 
    

89. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I must cancel the appointment!

90. 
    

91. INT. HOME - LATER

92. 
    

93. Having checked Nana's condition, Peter takes a photo of it, makes a call and then sends a WhatsApp message to the family chat group.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.): I'm convinced that Nana has the will to survive.

96. 
    

97. Over dinner later, Peter has some arguments with his WIFE and younger SON.

98. 
    

99. Act 3

100. 
     

101. INT. HOME - NIGHT

102. 
     

103. Peter stares at Nana lovingly.

104. 
     

105. PETER (V.O.): Hope is life's essential nutrient, as what love gives life meaning.

106. 
     

107. Peter touches Nana's hands gently.

108. 
     

109. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The vital link between us is a chain of love.

110. 
     

111. Peter taps Nana's head very gently.

112. 
     

113. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Love is really the heartbeat of all life.

114. 
     

115. Peter lets Nana smell his fingers.

116. 
     

117. THE END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT