Rhythms of Routines

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1 

5. INT. LIVING ROOM - 09:30

6. 
   

7. Sitting at a cosy desk, PETER is surrounded by seven handheld devices, each displaying a different language learning session on the Duolingo app.

9. PETER (V.O): Learning seven languages in the morning has become my routine for over 200 days.

10. 
    

11. Peter balances his attention across the screens, switching between devices with ease.

13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): To maintain my Duolingo streaks, my multilingual adventure takes about 90 minutes.

15. Pausing.

17. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Today, I want to return to my NT home, go to the management office to renew my resident car permits.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But visiting Alfred in Tung Wah Hospital has become my new daily routine. I can only do it either from noon to 1pm, or from 5pm to 8pm.

22. 
    

23. Pausing.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As to my daily swimming, I can do that in Sun Yet Sen public swimming pool in Sheung Wan, or in the Golden Bay at Gold Coast.

27. Act 2  

29. EXT. STREETS OF HONG KONG - 11:45

31. Fruit store. Peter is buying something. When he puts his hand inside a pocket, he discovers something.

33. PETER (V.O.): Where has my pair of goggles gone?

34. 
    

35. Peter checks his other pockets.

37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No, I might have mislaid it or dropped it.

38. 
    

39. Carrying a bag of fruit, Peter walks towards the Tung Wah Hospital.

41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I could swim without the goggles, but it wouldn't be comfortable; I could buy a new pair, but it's time-consuming.

43. INT. TUNG WAH HOSPITAL - 12:30

44. 
    

45. Surrounded by monitors, ALFRED sits up in bed. In the presence of Alfred's WIFE, Peter chats with him while Alfred works on his words and phrases.

46. 
    

47. PETER: Don't worry...your eyes sparkle today.

48. 
    

49. ALFRED'S WIFE: He smiles whenever you're here.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.): Seven days in a row now, I mean to support Alfred, and to care the carer.

52. 
    

53. INT. KITCHEN - 14:15

55. Listening to the finance radio, Peter is having Prawn noodles.

57. PETER (V.O.): It takes about an hour to drive to Gold Coast. My swimming would take another hour. And today is Christmas Eve, would the management office close early?

59. Grabbing his mobile, Peter files his application online.

61. PETER: Done! I can collect them tomorrow if I want to...

63. Having tapped "Apple Fm" on his mobile screen, Peter presses the power buttons of a pair of Sony Bluetooth speakers. We hear oldies music with extra bass.

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My routine of listening to oldies this way has been disrupted by other routines.

67. Later, Peter checks the clock and looks out of the window.

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I fear I might get hypothermia if I go swimming in the sea now.

71. INT. PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL - 16:45

72. 
    

73. Peter glides through the water with a rhythmic stroke. He kicks his legs in a steady beat, creating a gentle splash that matches the rhythm of his breathing.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.): I accidentally strained my neck just before my first visit to Alfred. The pain continues to subside.

77. INT. STUDY - 18:00

79. Peter sits on a sofa with a stack of envelopes piled high beside him.

81. PETER (V.O.): My routine to open letters has also be delayed for weeks as I've my monthly travel routine and other newer routines.

82. 
    

83. Peter begins to open the envelopes and check the contents, decluttering many.

84. 
    

85. INT. STUDIO - 19:45

86. 
    

87. Sitting before an old Clavinova, Peter hesitates to put his fingers on the keys.

88. 
    

89. PETER (V.O): I haven't kept to my routine of practising the keyboard at least once every two days.

90. 
    

91. Having played a few jazz chords, Peter pauses.

92. 
    

93. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've already forgotten the other chords of a ballad.

94. 
    

95. Grabbing his iPad Mini, Peter taps an online jazz piano tutorial.

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've to relearn it, section by section, as there's no point to practise the wrong chords or notes.

98. 
    

99. As his playing become rhythmical again, Peter gets a Whats App message from his wife: Where are you? Time to walk our pet...

101. Act 3

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:00

105. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled: "Rhythms of Routines...." to a draft in his laptop.

107. PETER (V.O): Routines have structure and predictability.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

111. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While routines are necessary, they need not be stifling.

113.  Reflecting.

115.  PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Balancing between order and freedom in life, I try to create rhythms in routines.  

117. FADE OUT

119. THE END