What Remains

1. Act 1

2. 
   

3. EXT. LIVING ROOM - 13:30

4. 
   

5. Grey sky outside. PETER sits at the piano, his fingers resting on the keys. An empty plate and a glass of water sit on a nearby table.

6. 
   

7. He plays a few bars of a simple, melancholic piece. The notes are clear, precise. He stops, considering the online tutorial in front of him, then plays the passage again, a little slower.

8. 
   

9. He glances at the phone time: It's 14:00.

10. 
    

11. PETER (V.O.): That's enough for now. Plenty more time when I'm back.

12. 
    

13. He stands, grabs a small swim bag from a chair, and heads for the door. As he reaches for the handle, he stops. His brow furrows.

14. 
    

15. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Wednesday.

16. 
    

17. He shakes his head with a small, self-deprecating smile.

18. 
    

19. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The pool nearby is closed for cleaning now. I can't wait for the evening session as I've a dinner date with my wife.

20. 
    

21. Pausing.

22. 
    

23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Kowloon Park. That'll do.

24. 
    

25. He exits.

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. INT. KOWLOON PARK SWIMMING POOL - 15:15

30. 
    

31. Entrance. Profoundly quiet. Peter arrives.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): Closed on a Wednesday afternoon?

34. 
    

35. Then, he spots a notice taped on a stand:..temporarily closed due to power failure. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

36. 
    

37. Peter reads it twice. He lets out a long, slow breath. He closes his eyes for a second.

38. 
    

39. A furry of IMAGESe, brief and stark, flash in his mind. Not real footage, but the essence of it: dust, chaos, the frightened faces of children in a war-torn street. The sound of a distant, low rumble.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A closed pool is an inconvenience, A closed border is tragedy. A closed hospital is a death sentence. I've lived long enough to know the difference.

42. 
    

43. He opens his eyes. The frustration on his face softens, replaced by acceptance. He pulls out his phone, scrolling for a number.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I try not to waste another trip.

46. 
    

47. He dials.

48. 
    

49. PETER (to phone): Is the pool open this afternoon? Yes? Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.

50. 
    

51. He hangs up.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After the swim, I may do some research in the court library.

54. 
    

55. A new purpose in his step as he heads out.

56. 
    

57. INT. SUN YAT SEN MEMORIAL PARK SWIMMING POOL - 16:30

58. 
    

59. The air is thick with the smell of chorine. Peter swims towards the pool wall. Three MEN are standing at the shallow end, their conversation loud enough to carry.

60. 
    

61. MAN#1: It's a complete disgrace. Every single day, more destruction. The world just watches.

62. 
    

63. MAN#2: Some people are protesting here and there, but what does it change? It feels hopeless. Like power is the only language anyone understands anymore.

64. 
    

65. MAN#3: That's the truth of it. No rules, not law, not human life. Just might. Whoever has the biggest stick gets to make the rules.

66. 
    

67. Peter looks at them, then down the calm water. He continues to swim, swallowing the sound of their lament.

68. 
    

69. INT. COURT LIBRARY - 17:30

70. 
    

71. The clock on the wall tells the time. Peter enters. He grabs a white book from the shelves and reads it at a long table. He's the only library user. Later, he checks the time: 17:57.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.): Goodness.

74. 
    

75. He quickly and quietly closes the white book, places it on a nearby cart for re-shelving. He grabs his swim bag and walks briskly towards the exit gate.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I wouldn't cause any inconvenience to the staff members here.

78. 
    

79. As he approaches the turnstile exit, he sees three female staff MEMBERS standing near, their eyes fixed on him.

80. 
    

81. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They don't look hostile, just intensely curious.

82. 
    

83. He passes through the turnstile. The members watch him go until he disappears through the main door.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They don't know these walls once held the Law Reform Commission secretariat, that I worked very late here as a Senior Crown Counsel from 1988 to 1991.

86. 
    

87. EXT. QUEENSWAY GOVT OFFICES - 18:00

88. 
    

89. Peter descends the escalator into Pacific Place.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) : Resilience isn't a roar. It's a man at 5:57pm, closing a book he will open again tomorrow.

92. 
    

93. Pausing.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Meanwhile, I'll have dinner with my wife in 30 minutes at Causeway Bay.

96. 
    

97. Peter takes a deep breath.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can't stop the war. But I can swim. I can research. I can have a date. In the absence of power, there remains presence.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:30

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads a photo of a white book to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): Between 5:30pm and 6:00pm, the library holds its breath. Between the war and the swimming, so do I.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The world is ruled by might now. I recall a time when it was governed by principles of civilised nations. Yet, I still hold on to what remains of that order.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): At the end of the day, after three pools and one war, and a library that has forgotten me, I find solace in a date with my wife. This is the only victory I need,.

116. 
     

117. The END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT