Reset, Recovery & Remembered
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Oct 2, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
Staring at his laptop screen, PETER looks frustrated.
PETER (V.O.): This laptop is just a few months old but it isn't functioning smoothly. The screen is black most of the time. What a disappointment!
Peter surfs the web with his phone.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I've to reset it.
Seizing a window of opportunity on the screen, Peter clicks the reset icon.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Okay, it's being reset to factory settings. It takes time. I've to wait.
TV Breaking News. As the anchors speak, we see closed captioning on screen: President Trump tests positive for coronavirus.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is it fake news? Not a surprise at all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although the White House has been taking a defiant attitude against it, COVID-19 has no fear of anyone.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Other people in authority wish him speedy recovery, knowing COVID-19 is a life-threatening disease.
Checking his laptop.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ah, the reset is done.
Act 2
INT. SWIMMING ROOM - DAY
Peter is putting his pinky finger against the pool side jacuzzi.
PETER (V.O.): I haven't played guitars for a couple of days. My pinky finger has become painful due to repetitive stretched positioning. And possibly, I'm getting old.
Peter swims again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Incidentally, my shoulder pain that was with me weeks ago has largely gone.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe I hurt it while searching for a coupe's seatbelt to fasten and while paying tolls at tunnel gates. All coupes have low ground clearance.
Peter switches from freestyle to backstroke.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My recovery has taken over a fortnight of daily swimming therapy.
Peter does a few butterfly strokes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel good that I can swim butterfly style again.
Peter takes a rest by the pool wall.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday at the National Day reception, the gentleman I bumped into was responsible for the relocation of the Maritime Museum from Stanley to the Central Harbour Front.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): With capital and support, a museum could be upgraded and relocated.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But for humans, there aren't spare parts, not to mention any upgrade or rejuvenation.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And also yesterday, Emmanuel Macron dashed hopes for COVID-19 vaccines to be available by March-April 2021.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Months ago, the fat Boris Johnson cheated death at the age of 56.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Donald Trump is 74 and is overweight. Scientifically, his death risk isn't low.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): COVID-19 pays no regard to high position of authority. No one can talk COVID-19 away.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What's ironic is that one of the most powerful persons on earth is now at the mercy of the invisible but deadly COVID-19.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Would Donald Trump take hydroxychloroquine?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His young wife's recovery shouldn't be a problem though.
Peter leaves the pool.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Checking his phone screen, Peter is having a mooncake.
PETER (V.O.): A Quoran asks me this question: What do you think will be remembered of 2000-2020 in a millennium?
Smiling,
PETER (V.O.): While some events of the past 2 decades might be significant to us, would those living in the year 3020 care?
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.): Just put ourselves into their shoes, would we remember anything of 1000 -1020?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All human tensions are due to the lust of some for riches, power and glory. All came to nothing with the passage of time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm glad that I'm still experiencing life by learning something new of the human conditions and reflecting on the past, for each day that I've earned.
Finishing the mooncake, Peter begins to work on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It functions like brand new. But no humans can be reset.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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