Unplanned, Unhurried
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 08:30
A silver morning light cuts through the curtains. Peter lies awake, rubbing his neck.
PETER (V.O.): I might have sprained my neck from swimming intensely every day.
Rubbing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Visiting the onsen every day and night for the past week may have worsened the issue.
Peter gets up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Hokkaido, my wife and I managed to chase cherry blossoms, even though they don't check calendars - they just bloom.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I planned to work on my professional tasks today, but it was cancelled yesterday afternoon due to circumstances beyond my control.
Peter goes to the bathroom.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Otherwise, I'd have to hurry to work right now.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - 10:OO
Largely empty.
PETER (V.O.): The contractor is scheduled to take possession of the premises for renovation today.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But he advised us yesterday that the work would start several days late.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If he had started on schedule, I'd have needed to clear the remaining items immediately upon our return to Hong Kong last night.
Peter taps Duolingo on his smartphone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): At my age, I don't study a language to be fluent - I study them to stay unfinished.
EXT. SILVERSTRAND - 14:30
Peter enters the bay.
PETER (V.O.): Vitality is a mindset.
Peter begins to swim.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sea doesn't care if my plans drowned- it just offers to buoy me up.
Swimming.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm enjoying some soothing saltwater therapy to relieve my neck pain.
Swimming past a floating platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sometimes the most productive thing I can do is not to do any professional work.
Peter reaches the outer limit of the swimming area.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Work will wait, but life won't.
Floating in water.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life runs smoothest when I stop checking the time.
EXT. NOODLE BAR - 15:15
Peter enjoys soup noodles with prawn dumplings.
PETER (V.O.): To keep my wife company during our May trip, I ate too much. She has a fast metabolism.
EXT. CAR REPAIR SHOP - 18:00
Peter is inspecting the repairs made to his wife's New Beetle.
PETER (V.O.): It's the car's second major repairs in two months; but it's already 24 year old.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I now treat surprises like old friends and plans like bad weather.
Peter pays FAT BOY.
FAT BOY: You've been away - where did you go?
PETER: To Hokkaido.
FAT BOY: Good for you!
PETER (V.O.): Fat Boy, when youi're my age, you'll understand.
Peter drives the car out unhurriedly,
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The older I get, the more I love anything unplanned, unhurried.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 22:15
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Unplanned, Unhurried..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): Life doesn't always go according to schedule, but unexpected free time is a gift.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Whether it's a swim in the bay, a fixed car, or a quiet moment of reflection, happiness often lies in simple, everyday moments.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): An unplanned moment is the world pressing "pause" so I might actually live.
FADE OUT
END
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