A Useful Tool
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 24, 2023
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - 09:00
PETER opens the door for a HK Gas STAFF.
PETER (V.O.): I'm staying home today so that the old meter can be replaced.
Soon, an OFFICER appears at the door.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He needs to get some stuff from me today to get a case better prepared.
Later, after seeing them off one by one, Peter focuses on his smartphone screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm waiting for a reply from a learned friend.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We need to file a paper to court. The deadline is today.
Peter looks rather nervous.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY (Yesterday)
Referring to a desktop printer, Peter speaks to his WIFE.
PETER: Is this new printer working?
PETER (Cont'd): The one in my study refuses to print most of the time.
WIFE: It refuses to connect. I haven't the time to contact the dealer to fix it.
WIFE (Cont'd): You should go back to your chambers and ask secretaries to help.
PETER (V.O.): It's my last resort, as it's time-consuming to travel.
END FLASHBACK
Checking his incoming emails, Peter sees one from the hkaic@adndrc.org.
PETER (V.O.): An appointment notice as a Panelist in a domain name dispute.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was in the domain name dispute settlement context that the "hiredkiller12" threatened to take my life in early 2020.
Typing a reply.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What is good about the task is that everything is done on-line. I don't need to print anything to fax.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ha, I mustn't forget to issue my decision within 14 days.
Then, Peter sees a WhatsApp message.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ok, the learned friend has come back. I can accept the track changes in the file, print a copy and fax it to court.
Working on his laptop, Peter clicks "Print" and then focuses on his printer.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG, it's naughty again!
Checking, Peter sees a "No toner" message.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're toners. New ones too! Should I go back to my chambers?
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me restart my old laptop and see it might tame the printer.
As the old laptop has restarted, we see and hear the printer printing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's still a useful tool.
Later, we see Peter scanning the printouts and faxing them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Met one deadline.
Then we hear his phone ringing and "CAT Office".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's nice to hear from them.
Engaging in a phone conversation, Peter checks his phone calendar.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's good that I haven't fixed my July travel yet.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I want to research further coming Monday before my mid-week court appearance.
Peter then sees an incoming email: University Council Gentle Reminder.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, yes, I've a full day Council meeting coming Monday...
Act 3
INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Peter works on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): I reckon that I can get side-tracked with other responsibilities.
Clicking a "case file for Panelist", Peter begins to read texts and draft on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Reminders serve as a useful tool to help me remember important tasks, events or deadlines.
Continuing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Apart from staying organized and on top of my commitments, reminders and start working help reduce my stress and anxiety too.
FADE OUT
THE END
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