The Pulse of Life

FADE IN

2. Act 1 

4. INT. BEDROOM - 01:45

6. Having swiched off the lights, PETER lies in bed.

8. PETER (V.O): My wife and I have flown back from Seoul two hours ago.

10. Recalling.

12. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It was very nice that we also travelled to Busan with our elder daughter and son-in-law.

14. Recalling.

16. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): There, the mothers tried their Korean costumes for the wedding feast to be held in March next year...

18. Pausing.

20. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): While the excitement lingers, there're time-sensitive tasks awaiting me in just a few hours.

22. Peter feels the plush comfort of his pillow.

24. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I hope to have few hours of sleep before the rush begins.

26. Act 2  

28. INT. CLINIC - 09:45

30. Softly lit. Filled with medical equipemnt. NURSE#1 approaches Peter.

32. NURSE#1: You haven't eaten anything in the last eight hours, right?

34. PETER: Yes.

36. Later, NURSE#2 prepares to draw Peter's blood.

38. NURSE#2: Just relax and look away...

40. Later, Peter helps himself to a blood pressure machine and gets the readings- SYS:126 mmHg, DIA: 63 mmHg and PUL: 54 bpm.

42. PETER (V.O): While my blood pressures are within the normal range, my heart rate is at the lower side.

44. Researching with his smartphone.

46. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Due to heart efficiency, althlets and individuals in good physical condition may have lower heart rates...Am I one?

48. Reading.

50. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The natural aging process can affect a heart's electrical system, leading to slower heart rate...

52. Pausing.

54. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I hope for the best...and I must go swimming when my tasks scheduled for today are done.

56. EXT. MTR CABIN - 11:15

58. Seated. Peter is listening to the chats among three WOMEN sitting nearby,

60. WOMAN#1: I'm 75. I'm still working...

62. WOMEN#2-3: You're still working?

64. WOMAN#1: I like to dress in red, but you two prefer wearing plain.

66. Women chatting.

68. WOMAN#1 (Cont'd): The teaching during our secondary school days shaped us. We can't be bad!

70. More women chatting.

72. WOMEN#2-3: Do you have any regrets about your political career in Canada?

74. WOMAN#1: Yes...I was only the Minister of International Trade...

76. INT. CHAMBERS - 12:00

78. Peter chats with a fellow COUNSEL.

80. PETER: We've done a lot for Hong Kong. I'm practising the minimum...I'm living my bucket list.

82. COUNSEL: I've waited for the day to do mine...to find my permanent resting ground...I don't want to be cremated...

84. PETER: Just do it then.

86. PETER (V.O):...I treat every day as my last one.

88. INT. RESTAURANT - 18:15

90. Before Peter and his WIFE are two steaming bowls of pho.

92. PETER: Apart from completing my Duolingo streaks, I've also gone to the HK Bar Asso to renew my membership, re-arranged the auto-pay of my mobile subscription, got back my coupe from the repairer...

94. As they continue to eat, Peter brings up his heartbeat reading.

96. WIFE: Hmm...you should seek your doctor's advice.

98. PETER: I will, in a fortnight...meanwhile, I've resumed swimming in the sea (despite the red flag).

100. Act 3

102. INT. BEDROOM - 21:30

104. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled: "The Pulse of Life..." to a draft in his laptop.

106. PETER (V.O): Life is a journey marked by experiences, relationships and cycles that flow into one another.

108. Thinking.

110. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): They all contribute to a sense of ongoing existence without clear beginnings or endings.

112.  Reflecting.

114. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My being is transitory, and when I'm gone, the very pulse of life will live on.

116. FADE OUT

118. THE END