FADE IN:
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
PETER, PETER'S WIFE, CRYSTAL (22), ZENO (20), and ECHO (18) are having dinner.
PETER
(Holding his phone)
Seldom that all of you are
here. Can I take a photo?
CRYSTAL
Yes, but don't feature me
in it.
Peter puts down the phone.
PETER'S WIFE
Next Saturday is Winter
Solstice. We've go arrange
the big family dinner...
Peter is shocked.
PETER (V.O.)
Time flies!
PETER (Cont'd)
Oh yes! Where did we go
last year...
Peter's wife does the booking. Peter sends a message to a chat group. Food is put on the table.
PETER (V.O.)
I wrote a song on Winter
Solstice in 2014...wonder
if I'll have time to do a better
version of it...yes, I've been
busy...
He then slowly picks up his chopsticks.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Peter is driving. Wife at passenger seat.
PETER
Would you resume private
practice after retirement?
PETER'S WIFE
(Shocked)
Me? Work again after
retirement? No way!
Peter is not amused.
PETER'S WIFE(Cont'd)
You want to work all the time.
I don't. I want to enjoy life...
Peter is in thoughts.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter works on the computer.
PETER (V.O.)
Every time I re-read the draft,
I try to make it better. But this
is time-consuming. I've
compromised my morning
exercise and creative work!
The wall clock registers 11:30am. He hits a SEND key.
PETER (V.O.)
That's done! Many other tasks
to do today.
He opens a file, reads it, writes something and scans pages.
A beat.
The wall clock registers 15:00.
PETER (V.O.)
I'm hungry and must have
something.
He changes and goes out.
EXT. PARK - DAY
A bulldozer clears fallen trees. A cosplay girl is having a photo session. Peter in suit and carrying a brief case passes by.
PETER (V.O.)
What a break from the routine!
This is what I like!
He takes a snapshot.
PETER (V.O.)
Yes, I wrote "Winter Solstice"
around here. I've not written
a song since April this year.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Although the first half of Dec
should be a good time to work,
I advanced my winter travel. I
want to enjoy life too.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S FIRST HALF OF DECEMBER
A/ Peter gets an on-line dispute to resolve.
B/ Peter moderates in an arbitration workshop.
C/ Peter networks at a reception.
D/ Peter has dinner with friends in cosy restaurant.
E/ Peter chats with friends at a big luncheon party.
F/ Peter visits conference booths.
G/ Peter buys a guitar and plays with it near a promenade.
H/ Peter sings a song to international audience in a dining room.
I/ Peter speaks in a dynamic fashion on stage.
J/ Peter takes a car to a repairer.
K/ Peter works hard to draft something.
L/ Peter and Zeno fly to Hokkaido.
M/ Peter and Zeno do snowboarding in Niseko.
N/ Peter gets mail that he gets briefs.
O/ Peter chats with FaceBook friends.
P/ Peter and Zeno stop over at Otaru.
Q/ Peter and Zeno return to Hong Kong.
R/ Peter greets Echo's return at the Airport.
S/ Peter finalizes a draft.
END MONTAGE
INT - TRAIN CAR - DAY
Peter listens to his phone.
SOMEONE (O.S.)
(From Peter's phone) Some of my friends also
begin practising after
retirement.
PETER
(To the phone)
I'm just a door tenant...
SOMEONE (O.S.)
(From Peter's phone)
I know. You don't want to
sit in the office.
PETER (V.O.)
Precisely. I want to the
free.
SOMEONE(O.S.)
(From Peter's phone)
Try to fax me the stuff we've
talked about by four o'clock
tomorrow if you can.
PETER
(To the phone)
I'll try. But I've to be in court
tomorrow, and day after
tomorrow...
INT. SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT
The clock registers 8.45pm. Peter does push-ups dozens of times. Then he begins to swim.
PETER (V.O.)
Don't get so work up. I need
to enjoy life...
We see him swimming freestyle, breast strokes, backstrokes and butterfly style, length after length.
FADE OUT. The End