Above the Brow
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 18:45
PETER relaxes in a massage chair, a remote control in his hand. On the TV screen, Gere and Lopez are lost in a dance.
PETER (V.O.): In 2005, I watched this movie "Shall We Dance" seven times during my long return flight from the East Coast to Hong Kong.
Peter's eyes lock onto Gere's feet. His left foot shifts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since swimming has become my daily routine, I've no time and energy left for dancing.
We see the dance on screen, smooth and fluid.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife and I used to dance quite well.
Peter leans forward slowly. Elbow on knee. Back straightens.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A good dancer must maintain a proper dance posture.
Peter then touches his bandaged forehead, as if it were a button that won't press.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's quite itchy.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. RESTAURANT - 19:15 (Yesterday)
Peter and his WIFE sit at a table, joined by their elder SON and DAUGHER-IN-LAW.
SON & DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Happy Father's Day!
PETER: Thank you. Thank you.
Soon, his wife, son and daughter-in-law decide to order a "Happy Father's Day" set. Peter nods in agreement.
PETER (Cont'd): The stitches in my forehead are out. The skin held.
WIFE (to daughter-in-law): When can I apply the scar removal sheet on his forehead?
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Wait a few more days to allow the skin to heal completely. And the ban on daily swimming continues.
WIFE: Until August...
PETER: But my daily swim is essential for my health.
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Seawater poses significant infection and healing risks. There're other forms of exercises, like running.
PETER: I can run, but it's hard on my joints...
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Rewatching the movie reminds me how much I loved dancing before.
Peter's wife joins him to watch the movie.
WIFE: Has the dancing competition scene been shown yet?
PETER: It's about to start...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): We participated in dancing competitions as well. My wife partnered our younger son, while I danced with our older daughter.
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In one competition, my wife and our younger son won gold, while our older daughter and I earned silver.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was very encouraging!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a result, my wife and I took dancing very seriously when we performed as a couple.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We had many late night dancing parties, and my wife complained a lot that my footwork wasn't as good as hers.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And later, she remarked that dancing with me wasn't as fun because I couldn't lead her like the instructor did.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When we stopping dancing as a couple, I quit altogether.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife continued dancing with people dancing better me, but eventually she stopped due to work commitments.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Surprisingly, this helped salvage our relationship.
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:45
Peter adds an AI drawing titled "Above the brow..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): Everything I suppress settles above the brow.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Swimming was my rhythm. Dancing was my pulse. Now all that is left is a line above the brow.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): True adaptation often unfolds in the quiet corners of my life - I may dance again in the park during the day, alone.
FADE OUT
END
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