Swim. Checkup. Repeat.
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 07:45
Soft morning light filters through the curtains. PETER stirs awake, glancing at the bedside clock.
PETER (V.O.): I've managed to get about six hours of sleep, which should be sufficient for a 71-year-old man.
Peter sits up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've a routine checkup with Dr Lam this afternoon. We'd have a good chat.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Maybe I should go swimming before that.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I love swimming because it provides a full-body workout and presents various technical challenges to master.
Act 2
EXT. SILVERSTRAND BAY- 11:30
Cloudy. A few SOULS.
PETER (V.O.): Since my last checkup with Dr Lam 20 weeks ago, I've been swimming daily.
Peter sets his swim bag on the sand and wades into the water, moving with steady, rhythmic strokes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been following my Facebook feed on swimming and have realized several ways I can improve my technique.
Peter glides smoothly towards the floating platforms.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The world is quite silent but for the rhythm of my breath.
An annoucement echoes across the beach: Don't swim alone...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know the risks associated with swimming without support.
FLASHBACK
INT. MINA, MINA BEACH, HOSHINO RESORTS, TOMAMO - 18:30 (May 11, 2025)
Artificial. Quite a number of GUESTS. Peter is floating on the water, scanning them.
PETER (V.O.): Where is my wife? She said she wanted to do standup paddling.
Later, Peter spots his WIFE wearing a life vest, paddling while sitting down on her board.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): This is the first time I've seen her doing water sports in 20 years.
Peter swims towards his wife, but a buoy line stands between them.
PETER: Hi there! I've been looking for you.
WIFE: Paddling is limited to this section of the beach.
Peter then sees his wife standing up on the board, trying to paddle.
PETER (V.O): She has already given up ice skating and skiing as she struggled with balance.
PETER: Very good!
In the next moment, Peter watches his wife loses balance, tumbles into the water, and reemerges gripping the upside-down board.
PETER (V.O): It looks like my wife couldn't flip the overturned board. Let me swim over and help!
Lifing the buoy line, Peter swims towards his wife and flips over the overturned board.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It seems my wife has no intention to pull herself over the board.
Peter attempts to touch the bottom but fails.
WFE: Help me back to the shallow water first!
PETER (V.O): Oh yes, my wife hasn't swum for over 20 years.
As Peter is pushing the board and his wife, a lifeguard hurls a life ring toward them, narrowly missing Peter's head.
PETER (V.O): What a close call!
His wife then snatches the ring and is pulled to safety.
RETURN TO PRESENT
INT. FAMILIES' CLINIC- 14:30
Peter helps himself to a blood pressure and pulse monitor, and prints out his health data.
PETER (V.O): While my blood pressure reading is excellent, my pulse is elevated, probably due to stress...
Later, in a consultation room, Peter hands over his health data report to Dr LAM.
PETER: Dr Lam, I've turned 71. Thank you so much for taking great care of me for over 10 years.
PETER (V.O): I've decided not to burden him with my relationship issues. I don't want to relive those difficult times.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:30
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Swim. Checkup. Repeat..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): The sea doesn't care how old I'm. It only asks if I'll show up. Routine is the tide I build against time.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Over 10 years' of checkups, and the sea is still my best physician. I trade swimming for longevity. Health is a practice.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): How I live each day is how I live my life. Routine is my lifeline.
FADE OUT
END
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