FADE IN.
Act 1
EXT. ROADS TO HKUST - MORNING
Traffic jam. PETER waits restlessly behind the driving wheel. He sends an email.
PETER (V.O.): The traffic reports have never covered this stretch of the road.
Arriving at a car park, a waiting STAFF directs Peter to park.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I didn't expect I'd be a few minutes late.
PETER: Thank you very much indeed!
The staff then escorts Peter to a Conference room. An in person-and-Zoom MEETING has just started.
PETER: My apologies!
PETER (V.O.): I didn't join the previous one as I had to appear in court. I worried about another clash.
Minutes confirmed.
PETER (V.O.(Cont'd): Fortunately, I was in court last Friday and will appear again day after tomorrow.
Act 2
EXT. SILVERMINE BAY - AFTERNOON
Leaving the hilltop car park, Peter walks down to the beach leisurely.
PETER (V.O.): This small bay is paradise found.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my teens, I studied the Bible. My college was a Catholic one. I passed the subject alright.
Peter sees a butterfly flying by.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my late teens, I studied English Literature. The poem I studied was John Milton's Paradise Lost.
Peter focuses on the butterfly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The poem is about the Fall of Man, about Satan's temptations, about Adam and Eve, and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
The butterfly rests on a railing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The teacher spent a lot of time teaching Paradise Lost but I never liked it. I chose to study a novel which is less fictional to me.
Peter then captures the butterfly's posture with his mobile.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before its transformation, it was a caterpillar.
Later, Peter swims towards a floating platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To me, a paradise isn't just a garden, it must have a beach and its sanctuary is only one swim away.
Lying on a rocking-and-rolling platform, Peter has his chest facing the sun, using his hands to cover his face.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sun is about 150 million km away from me. The sunshine I'm enjoying was emitted from it 8 minutes ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's powerful though, as I've forgotten to put on my sunblock cream.
After awhile, Peter jumps into the water from the platform ladder.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't know how high platform divers can cope with the weight of water.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can cope with a little, losing myself a bit in the moment too.
Peter swims to another floating platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This time, I'll have my back facing the sun.
Peter watches his own head shadow.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My back is feeling the heat as if I'm having a sauna. I'll have to jump into the cold water soon.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was travelling in Japan and having hot baths, I like to do that.
Peter jumps into the water from the platform ladder again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel comfortable in my own skin, literally.
Having swum around the Bay's swimming area, Peter returns to the beach to pick up his bag and other belongings.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the time on the toll-on-the-pole should have already run out.
After changing, Peter walks up to the hill-top car park hastily.
Act 3
EXT. ROADS TO URBAN AREAS - LATER
Driving and thinking.
PETER (V.O.): Just another visit to paradise, where every moment was pleasurable.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It may be that paradise isn't a location but a state of mind depending very little on outer experience.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before my retirement, I was like in a traffic jam and didn't know if the way would lead to paradise.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since I've become an elderly, I've much of it, knowing and loving myself better.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I was a little late, paradise is found!
: FADE OUT.
THE END
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