The Shelf Life of Love
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 5
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 05:15
Darkness, save for the weak glow of a digital alarm clock. PETER gently rises from bed.
PETER (V.O.): Today is the final day to file my tax return.
Sitting by the bedside, Peter boots up his laptop and shifts through a stack of receipts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sooner I complete it, the better. I've a professional engagement in the afternoon.
Peter works with quiet concentration.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And I want to go swimming before that.
Dawn light begins to seep through the curtains.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've reviewed the journal entries and completed the profit and loss account, as well as the balance sheet.
Peter enters various figures in the tax return form.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Done!
Act 2
INT. BEDROOM - 10:50
Sitting by the bedside, Peter completes a Duolingo streak.
PETER: It's time for my swim.
Peter's WIFE opens a hanging shelf to check its contents. Not paying attention, Peter bumps into the corner of the shelf door.
PETER: Oh!
Peter groans and covers his forehead with his hands. In the next moment, both he and his wife notice blood in his hands.
WIFE: OMG! You're bleeding heavily...Maid! Get me a towel! Quick!
Peter's wife then applies pressure on Peter's wound.
WIFE (Cont'd): Hold this. Press hard. Don't let go.
Peter obeys weakly, his eyes wide with shock and pain.
WIFE (Cont'd): I need to call an ambulance.
Peter's wife dials 999.
WIFE (to phone): Ambulance, yes, my husband, he hits his head on a shelf. Forehead wound, significant bleeding...Yes, conscious but dazed...
Peter's wife hangs up, immediately grabbing another clean towel, replacing the saturated one,
PETER: I've to attend a screening interview with my client at 2pm today. I need to inform the Secretariat of my emergency and cancel the engagement promptly.
Grabbing his smartphone, Peter makes a few calls. Soon after, the PARAMEDICS arrive.
MONTAGE
A Hospital triage - 12:00. Bandaged, Peter receives his first dose of ADT for tetanus prevention.
B. Hospital waiting area - 15:50. We hear Peter's name being announced over the public address system.
C. Doctor's station - 15:55. As the DOCTOR removes Peter's bandage, blood streams down his eyes and cheeks.
D. Nurse room - 16:05. A NURSE carefully stitiches Peter's forehead wound with four precise stitches.
END MONTAGE
INT. BEDROOM - 17:30
Resting in a clean bed, Peter looks restless.
PETER (V.O.): Because I didn't take care of myself, I've caused a lot of inconvenience for those relying on me. I need to inform them about my availability to reschedule the screening interview.
Peter sits up and begins to type on his smartphone.
INT. DINING ROOM - 21:00
On phone screen, we can see Peter's elder son and daughter-in-law having FaceTime call with him and his wife.
PETER (V.O): I can sense their deep concern.
Chatting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My carelessness has caused pain and suffering to everyone who loves me.
We hear: ...There'll be no swimming for a month after healing...
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But swimming has been a part of my daily routine!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): A shelf corner, ignored for years, re-writes my day in a painful vivid way.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): For the first time, I truly understand what it means to take care.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:15
Peter adds an image of himself with bandages on his forehead, taken after his hospital discharge to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): The shelf drew blood. My wife's hands drew love.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): A corner cut me open, yet it also binds us together.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The Shelf Life of Love? Infinite.
FADE OUT
END
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