FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
PETER checks his phone notifications.
PETER (V.O.): A Quoran asks me if I'm enjoying staying home with my family right now? If yes, how?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The answer is affirmative. To elaborate the how, I've to explain the situation I was in before the pandemic and what is missing in my life.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Not many people are born with a silver spoon. When my spouse and I had all the time in the world, we wanted to earn and possess as much as possible.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just for cars, I've been owning more than one car since 1978. I thought I treated them like my children. But when I've children, the cars are just pleasure vehicles.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now, I only fear that I might regret letting my old cars go. But I know I can't keep them forever.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We're always racing for the next moment - to think and plan ahead. But the current pandemic can shorten a person's life to weeks or even days.
Act 2
INT. MINI - STUDY - DAY
Staring at his shut computer, Peter taps on his phone screen.
PETER (V.O.): I recall there's another Quoran question that I initially thought having not much to say, but now I've got a deeper message to share.
Peter scrolls down the phone screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here it is: If you had known your last trip was going to be your last trip for a while, what would you have done differently?
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.): As I always race for the next moment, I anticipated the possibility that my Feb trip to Hokkaido might be my last trip for a while. So, I maximized every possibility and wouldn't have done anything differently.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since my retirement, I've become age-conscious. I have read quite a lot obituaries, feeling sorry for those who died young.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're just too many things beyond our control. If I've to choose flying business class between outbound flights and homeword bound flights, I would choose the former.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I prefer to enjoy first, not knowing if I would actually take the return flights.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But in my last Feb trip to Hokkaido, I did make a different arrangement in flying business class home. I thought I might want the enhanced baggage allowance.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a result of that, my wife asked me to bring home Japanese rice etc.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And after Hong Kong's panic buying, the supply of rice etc has returned to normal. We don't really need a lot of stuff.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Soon, the social distancing measures began and my working wife has been homeworking. I like that as she can sleep away her travelling time.
MONTAGE OF THE WORLD OF PETER AND HIS WIFE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
A. 10pm. Peter and his WIFE begin to have dinner.
B. Midnight - 2:00 am. His wife watches soap dramas alone.
C. 2.00 am - 4: 00 am. His wife's doozing off.
D. 08:15 am - 08:20. Alarms begin to ring.
E. 08:45 am. Peter sees his wife driving to work.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was very concerned about her health. Now, she should have caught up with her chronic lack of sleep.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Furthermore, she used to have regular social gatherings on Saturdays and Sundays. The precautionary social distancing measures have suspended that and we've more time together.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Furthermore, our younger daughter has returned home from UK. We're delighted that her COVID-19 test result was negative. And she has served extended quarantine time.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But just then, my wife has gone back to the office to work. And days ago, she worked non-stop all night long to beat a deadline.
Peter suppresses his lips.
Act 3
INT. MNI - STUDY - CONTINOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our pet also adds a lot of joy to my family.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, my wife cooks nice dishes and makes nice desserts too.
Peter starts his computer.
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
The TV is showing soap dramas. Peter and his wife smile to each other at sequential breaks.
PETER (V.O.): Unlike the fictional stories, that we're enjoying life now is real.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before my 30s, I began my race slowly and steadily. In my mid- 30s, I was on the fast track.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I didn't get first as timely as I should like, there're lots of obstables for the right person to be in the right place.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now. I'm about to finish mye race and wouldn't care about my position. But I want to finish strong.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's fortunate that the pandemic has slowed us down to take time to enjoy where we're at the moment.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe I've everything I need.
FADE OUT.
THE END
