The Arithmetic of Enough
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 02:00
A dim bedside lamp casts long shadows. PETER lies awake in bed.
PETER (V.O.): For the past few hours, I've been contemplating a new sofa for my NT home after getting rid of the old set.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But do I need a new one?
He throws off the covers.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've a lot of furniture in my NT home, including another sofa I rarely use.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't need new things - I need to use what I've.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've the urge to simplify as quickly as I can...but not today, I've got professional work to do.
Act 2
INT. LIVING ROOM - 09:00
Peter looks tired as he sits on the sofa with a mobile in hand.
PETER (V.O.): I must be so excited about unraveling the myth of "more" that I can't sleep.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even though I'm tired, I need to keep my Duolingo streaks alive.
Opening Duolingo on his mobile, Peter begins to maintain his Duolingo streaks.
EXT. TUEN MUN HIGHWAY - 13:15
Torrential rain. Peter's Toyota crawls through. Windshield wipers thrash.
PETER (V.O.): They miror my internal chaos.
Driving very carefully.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I leave very early to avoid any delays on my way.
EXT. CAR PARK, CAFETERIA BEACH - 13:45
Pouring rain. After parking his Toyota, Peter reclines the seat to rest.
PETER (V.O.): When I was a kid, I liked to play at the beach here.
After a moment, Peter sits up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's so comfortable that I might fall asleep. It's best to head to the Centre early.
INT. IMMIGRATION CENTRE, CASTLE PEAK BAY - 14:15
Leaving an interview room with his INTERPRETER, Peter gestures to an Immigration OFFICER.
OFFICER: The Screening Interviewing Officer hasn't arrived yet.
Peter waits in the waiting room as his Interpretor leaves. We hear a clock ticking.
PETER (V.O.): The Screening Interview is scheduled at 3:00pm. It's already 3:30pm, and there's no sign of the Interviewing Officer.
Soon the Interviewing Officer appears and greets Peter.
INTERVIEWING OFFICER: Where's my interpreter?
She looks around and then makes a call using the official line.
INTERVIEWING OFFICER: He's coming.
PETER (V.O.): That means her interpreter isn't here yet.
Waiting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm mature enough not to raise a fuss, but there's a chance I might receive a parking ticket for expired meter time.
EXT. ROADS TO URBAN AREA - 17:00
Peter is driving while lost in thought.
PETER (V.O.): I've overbought, overplanned and lost sleep to trivial regrets.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sometimes, the clutter isn't in the house; the clutter actually lives in my mind.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While "Enough" may be found in reverence for intrinsic value, I've been accumulating
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not good at arithmetic (let alone the arithmetic of enough).
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:15
Peter uploads an AI drawing titled "The Arithmetic of Enough" to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): The essence of mathematics isn't to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple. The arithmetic of enough strips excess to reveal essential solutions.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Data isn't information. Information isn't knowledge. Knowledge isn't wisdom. Enough resides in wisdom, beyond mere calculation.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is a math equation. In order to gain the most, I've to know how to convert negatives into positives. "Enough" is an equlibrium between gains and losses.
FADE OUT
END
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