The 4:45 Smile
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 8, 2025
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 04:45
Darkness. PETER is awake, clear eyed. He takes a look of the bedside digital clock.
PETER (V.O.): 4:45, not bad.
A soft, genuine smile spreads across PETER's face.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've dreamed; I must have slept.
Peter is profoundly relieved.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): At 11:30 pm last night, my instructing solicitor was still in contact with me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I rarely go to sleep before midnight as I immerse myself in writing my daily screenplay,
Peter gets up, grabs his briefcase and exits the room.
Act 2
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Bright. Peter's WIFE is working on her laptop.
PETER (V.O.) My wife is owl-like, and I often wondered how she managed to cope while she was working.
Peter pulls out a thick white book from his briefcase and reads the fine print.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - 11:30
Peter savors apple juice while JOHNNY sips his black coffee.
PETER: Our diligence paid off - we even got costs.
Johnny offers a tired smile.
JOHNNY: I took two sleeping pills last night, but I still couldn't sleep, my mind racing through every worst-case scenario.
PETER: You mustn't work so hard.
JOHNNY: I love it. I do.The thrill of it. I won't retire.
INT. CHAMBERS - 12:00
Entrance. Peter takes a look of the wall-mounted nameplates.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, those who are senior to me have retired.
Peter gets inside and deposits the white book with a SECRETARY.
INT. TIM HO WAN - 13:00.
Crowded. Peter enjoys dim sum.
PETER (V.O.): When my wife was still working, we used to come here quite often. Now, I visit specifically to reward myself for a job well done.
INT. BEDROOM - 14:30
Peter lies on top of the made bed. He closes his eyes.
PETER (V.O.): Am I able to get a quick lap?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But my mind is still active.
Having done Duolingo lessons, Peter changes into swimming briefs.
INT. DINING ROOM - 20:30
Peter, his WIFE and their SON are having dinner.
PETER: A question for the doctor. My instructing solicitor took two sleeping pills last night and still couldn't sleep. How does that work?
SON: They're not an off-switch. Anxiety can be a powerful stimulant. If your brain is in overdrive, sometimes the medication just isn't enough.
Pausing.
SON (Cont'd): It isn't a failure of the pill, it's a testament to the stress.
WIFE: I hate that. I promised myself the day I retire, that was it. No more cases.
PETER (V.O.): Working in retirement, I've to work harder.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My eyes take longer to read the fine prints. My brain taks a moment longer to find the right word.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So, I prepare more. I double-check everything.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):Excellence in one's later years isn't about inate talent, but about the conscious, disciplined effort to compensate for a natural decline in sharpness.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Peter uploads an image of the front of a barrister's chambers to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): With age, the mind may slow, but the spirit can still flash with the lightning-quick joy of a 4:45 smile.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The 4:45 smile is the quiet space between a night of dread and a day of duty. It's a moment of pure unclaimed peace.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): More importantly, the 4:45 smile is the signature of a professional who has already won the only battle that matters: the one against the chaos within.
FADE OUT
END
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