The Leak from Above & The Leak from Within
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- May 30
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 10:45
Cloudy outside. PETER sits on a sofa, working on his Duolingo streaks while KAJI, the family pet, joins him.
PETER: Do you sense the rainstorm coming?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): As I'm afraied of lightning, I should go swimming in a covered pool now.
INT. LOBBY - ESTATE STREET - LATER
As Peter steps out of the lift empty-handed, the CARETAKER remarks.
CARETAKER: It's raining.
PETER (V.O.): I'm okay with light rain.
Peter walks down the estate street and realizes it's pouring dogs and cats.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I wait under cover or head back home to grab an umbrellla?
Act 2
EXT. PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL - 11:15
Holding an umbrella, Peter arrives.
PETER (V.O.): The morning session closes at 12:00.
As Peter pats his handbag, he looks frustrated.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, where's my wallet?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While at home, I took out my wallet to find the card number needed for mobile banking.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I must have accidentally misplaced it.
Retreating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I must take the risk to swim in Golden Bay.
EXT. GOLDEN BAY - 14:00
No rain, No lightning. Clear water. Just a few SOULS around,
PETER (V.O.): The sea doesn't care if I'm 71 or 17. It only asks: Can you float?
Peter's arms cut through saltwater, the only sound his rhymic breathing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A few good butterfly strokes bring me joy
EXT. ROADS TO NT - 14:15
Peter is driving.
PETER (V.O.): Here comes the rain again.
While waiting at traffic lights, Peter checks WhatsApp messages.
PETER (V.O.) (Con'td): A brother wants to hire a lawyer to settle family matters...Oh, my wife asks me to call back.
We hear car horns from behind Peter. He engages the first gear slowly, turning on WhatsApp's speaker mode.
PETER (to phone): I'm driving.
WIFE (from phone): We'll talk later.
PETER: No, I'm anxious to hear what the doctor says, I'm on handsfree speaker mode.
PETER'S NT HOME - 14::45
Car park. As heavy rain pours down, Peter and the TRADESMAN seek shelter under it.
TRADESMAN: There're leaks in the roof's gutter.
PETER: Yes, I can see them. Please replace it with a durable one for me.
PETER (V.O.): Rain exposes. Finds every weak point, every rusted pipe...just like time does.
Peter checks a WhatsApp measage from his wife::...I'm perfectly okay...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But she'll be hospitalized tomorrow.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The storm outside is loud, the storm inside is louder.
Backyard. Peter holds an umbrella to shelter a gas SPECIALIST from the rain. The specialist, focused and skilled, tightens a metal pipe connection with a sturdy wrench.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Not all storms are in the sky.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:00
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled "The Leak Above & The Leak Within..." into a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): The leaks never truly stop. There'll always be problems to fix - water and gas leaks, family worries and aging.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) Cont'd): As time becomes more finite (whether in a day or a life), conscious management and calculated risks become crucial.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): True responsibility means working hard today to make someone else's tomorrow easier.
FADE OUT
END
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