Pleased and Tired
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 03:30
Darkness. The only light comes from the digital clock on a bedside table. PETER lies awake.
PETER (V.O.): I think I've a stomach ache.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The abalone or the longevity bun, or both?
Peter shifts his weight.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My stomach feels like a lead weight.
Peter closes his eyes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): See if I can will myself back to sleep.
Then, Kaji, the family pet, jumps onto the bed, and Peter quickly drapes his hand over her fur.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The fury family member is a wonderful source of comfort.
Act 2
EXT. AIRPORT - 07:45
Pickup area. After switching off the engine of his Previa, Peter checks his phone messages before getting out.
PETER (V.O.): My younger son has already taken his bag, but I'm not sure if he knows about this new pickup point.
Peter walks down the hallway leading to Terminal 1.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No sign of him yet.
Peter's phone rings, and he answers the call.
SON (from phone}: I'm already standing next to the car.
Peter runs back to the car.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How foolish I'm to still see my doctor son, who has a private pilot licenece, as a kid.
EXT. HOSPITAL ENTRANCE - 08:30
Peter sees his son getting out of the car with his bag.
PETER (V.O.): My first morning task today is done.
EXT. GOLDEN BAY - 09:00
Grey sky. Peter stands on the beach, gazing at the outer edge of the swimming area.
PETER (V.O.): I'm unsure if I'm fit enough to swim to my usual spot today.
In his swimming briefs, Peter wades into the water. He starts with a steady frogstyle, then switches to freestyle.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Okay, I can cope.
Later, Peter swims back to shore using butterfly stroke.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel good. My second morning task is done.
INT. BEDROOM - 11:00
Sitting up In bed, Peter sets aside his handheld devices.
PETER (V.O.): I've completed all my Duolingo streaks. So my third morning task is done.
Peter lies down, trying to get some rest.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel very tired.
EXT. CAR PARK - 13:00
Peter gets into the passenger seat of a cyber-green New Beetle. Behind the wheel is his WIFE.
WIFE: Let me drive you to Fan Ling to have afternoon tea with our uncle and aunt.
PETER: I'm sure you brought along our elder daughter's wedding banquet invitation card.
INT. RESTAURANT, FAN LING - 16:15
Exit. Peter and his wife say goodbye to their UNCLE and AUNT.
WIFE (to Peter) : Great! We've delivered all our invitations.
PETER (to Wife): I feel pleased and tired...I still have to return to my chambers in Admiralty to collect an urgent brief.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This isn't a body breaking down, but a soul having claimed its day.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Don't fear exhaustion. Fear the kind of rest that comes from having done nothing I care about.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 20:30
Peter uploads an image depicting the towers that once housed his old chambers next to that of his new ones onto a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): In the quiet space between "pleased" and "tired", I can hear the faint echo of my own purpose.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The fatigue of creation is different. It isn't an emptiness, but a fullness that has overflowed.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After all, I'm just collecting stories, and "pleased and tired" is the price I pay for the good ones.
FADE OUT
END
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