Beyond the Silence
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 08:30
Hearing Kaji, the family pet, whining, Peter stirs awake and glances at the clock.
PETER (V.O.): That was a refreshing eight hours of sleep - I really needed it.
Peter takes a look at Kaji at the foot of the bed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We usually have breakfast at 07:45. She has lost her patience, waiting in silence.
Peter gets out of bed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If my wife is nearby, she usually keeps Kaji from joining me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel empathetic as Kaji hasn't eaten since 10pm last night.
Kaji guides Peter out eagerly.
Act 2
INT. SILVERSTRAND BAY - 12:30
Lying flat on a floating platform, Peter uses his hands to shield his face from the sun.
PETER (V.O.): Before coming here, I've already done my morning language learning routine.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since my retired wife typically wakes up around noon, I think I should learn something while keeping her company.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My second daily routine is to swim for my physical well-being.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When my wife does her weekly workout at the gym, I usually return to my NT home to manage the cars stored there.
EXT. SILVERSTRAND CAR PARK - 13:00
Peter climbs into a silver Eunos 30X.
PETER (V.O.): I bought it for my wife in 1995 because she loved it. However, for many years now, she has preferred the New Beetle, the second car I bought for her.
Peter starts the coupe's V6 engine.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've invested a significant amount of money to maintain it. But my wife would be happy if I sold or scrapped it.
EXT. ROADS TO YUEN LONG - 14:00
Peter sits by the window on a bus. Peter scrolls through Facebook with his smartphone.
PETER (V.O.): I need to understand the feeling of emptiness. Maybe these posts can shed some light.
Peter stops at a post titled "Empaths and Narcissists".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Empaths often attract self-centered narcissists due to their nurturing nature...
Peter's expression shifts as he reflects. He scrolls another post on advice for empaths.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Set boundaries. Recognize my worth.
Contemplating the words, Peter scrolls through a video clip on "Healing from narcissistic relationships."
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Recognize the signs of emotional manipulation. It's okay to prioritize myself.
Absorbing the information, Peter reads a comment section filled with shared experience from other empaths.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I'd reclaim my life. Why has it taken me so long to be awaken?
EXT. ROADS FROM YUEN LONG - 19:00
Sitting at the back of a bus, Peter is engrossed in his smartphone.
PETER (V.O.): Ah, here's a post on the future of narcissists.
Reading intensely.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's reassuring to understand what might happen to them in the end.
INT. DINING ROOM - 21:00
The table is set, but the atmophere is thick with tension. The MAID puts food on the table as Peter and his WIFE take their seats.
PETER (V.O.): This is the only time we face each other, yet it's just another dinner in silence.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Silence can shield us, but it can be our prison.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And if my wife isn't dining in, I'll be left only with Kaji for company.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:30
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Beyond the Silence..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): In the quiet, I gather strength, beyond it, I find my voice.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Silence my hold me captive, but beyond it, my soul can soar.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): To move beyond the silence is to embrace the fullness of my existence.
FADE OUT
END
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