Bubbles Under Water

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 09:30

6. 
   

7. As he taps his phone screen, PETER hears loud drilling sounds.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): OMG, I've got to leave here.

10. 
    

11. Peter gets up from the sofa.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I go swimming in the pool downstairs?

14. 
    

15. Peter checks his swimming bags.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me drive to bays nearby.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife will be on leave in the afternoon, preparing for our younger daughter's return to UK.

22. 
    

23. Exits Peter with his swimming bag.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. EXT. SILVERMINE BAY - 11:30

28. 
    

29. Swimming leisurely, Peter sinks himself beneath the water surface.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): The water is so clear.

32. 
    

33. Peter arrives at a floating platform. As he grabs the submerged ladder, Peter sees a few fish.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's good to be attentive.

36. 
    

37. FLASHBACK

38. 
    

39. EXT. ISHIGAKI WATERS - DAY (June 2019)

40. 
    

41. Doing scuba-diving in the clear water, Peter sees a school of colourful fish.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.): I'm at one with them.

44. 
    

45. EXT. MIYAKOJIMA WATERS - DAY (August 2019)

46. 
    

47. Swimming along a beach, Peter sees colourful fishes.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.): They're so many of them - so agile and free.

50. 
    

51. END FLASHBACK

52. 
    

53. After observing them for a while, Peter climbs up the empty platform.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's so exclusive.

56. 
    

57. Lying on the platform, Peter uses his hands to cover his face.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The other day, a colleague thought I was a golfer. A regular swimmer has face tan too.

60. 
    

61. Pausing.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel my skin burning.

64. 
    

65. Getting off the platform, Peter swims to the other one nearby. Staying close at the ladder, Peter sees underwater a school of very small fish gathering.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here must be their sanctuary; the bigger ones must be beyond the sea.

68. 
    

69. Carefully, Peter tries to touch them with his hands.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're just 10-30 cm away from me.

72. 
    

73. Gently, Peter tries again.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Trust me. I'm your friend.

76. 
    

77. A small fish has its fin barely touching Peter's elbow.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The closest encounter! The best thing happens by chance.

80. 
    

81. Peter blows out bubbles underwater.

82. 
    

83. INT. BATH - 13:00

84. 
    

85. Observing two tortoises in a pool of water, Peter massages their shoulders one by one.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.): I feel they like my massage as they can't do it themselves.

88. 
    

89. Then, one tries to bite Peter with its toothless mouth. And the other follows suit.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're agile. I feel their tough and pointy edges.

92. 
    

93. Exits Peter.

94. 
    

95. INT. AIRPORT - 21:30

96. 
    

97. Departure gate. Seeing their YOUNGER DAUGHTER turning her head, Peter and his WIFE wave goodbye to her.

98. 
    

99. WIFE: We're empty nesters again.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. STUDY - 22:45

104. 
     

105. Peter is in thoughts.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): Suddenly, I remember a line in the film Finding Nemo: "Uh, Dad, you can let go now."

108. 
     

109. Pausing.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, my wife and I have fewer troubles.

112. 
     

113. Pausing.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, whatever troubles we have are just bubbles under water.

116. 
     

117. We hear music from the TV.

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT.

120. 
     

121. THE END