Calm Facades
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 08:15
Tranquil stillness. Soft sunlight. PETER wakes up in a sofa.
PETER (V.O.): Actually, there's no hurry to wake up.
Grabbing his smartphone, Peter reads posts and images aimlessly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday morning, I took my wife's car lift and I went swimming in Deep Water Bay.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I meant to have lunch with her. But she was so busy that she had errands to run during lunch time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I ate alone in Tim Ho Wan. There, I had an interesting non-verbal communications with a woman sitting opposite to me.
Focusing on the Poe App on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I shared how we put up calm facades with my AI "Assistant".
Act 2
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
We hear door bell ringing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our maid's signals that breakfast is ready.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've thought about eating out. But Kaji, the family pet, wouldn't be happy if we don't share breakfast.
INT. SITTING ROOM - 08:45
Appearing, Peter sees nobody except Kaji and the MAID.
PETER (V.O.): Ah, my wife has already gone to Wang Tau Hom Clinic. Her COVID appointment is at 9:30am.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I went through the process myself in late May this year.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I got Covid, I moved to the study/studio. It's a separate unit on the same floor of our residential block.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was our family's quarantine unit for our returning children when there weren't Covid -19 jabs.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Seeing my wife not wearing a facemask in public, I've warned her that Covid is still in the air.
MONTAGE OF SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
A. Dining room, Peter shares breakfast with Kaji.
B. Studio. Peter plays the piano.
C. Sitting room. Peter talks to his WIFE who is working on her laptop with medications beside her.
D. Park. Peter jogs before going to a restaurant.
END MONTAGE
INT. STUDY - 14:00
Peter is having screentime.
PETER (V.O.): Yesterday, I did good preparations for my court appearance tomorrow.
Then, Peter sees an incoming mail with attachments.
PETER (V.O.): I've got an additional client?
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's more effective and efficient if I go back to my chambers now and visit the law library.
MONTAGE OF SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
A. Chambers. Peter gets papers from a SECRETARY.
B. Law library. Peter reads small prints in thick books.
C. Chambers. Later, Peter gets more papers from the secretary.
END MONTAGE
EXT. SWIMMING POOL - 20:00
Peter swims quickly.
PETER (V.O.): Chaos pierces through calm facades.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 23:30
Having input the prompt: "The Calm Facades" in an AI art generator, Peter sees a cubist image appearing.
PETER (V.O.): Facades can calm me and excite me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): More importantly, calm facades should make me think about my true emotions.
Peter looks at the papers beside him.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I won't allow the rollercoaster of events to overpower my intelligence.
.
FADE OUT
THE END
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