FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. CARPARK - DAY
A masked PETER sees his WIFE boarding a cyber-green beetle.
PETER (V.O.): How happy I was to be at home with my wife for the past couple of weeks!
MONTAGE
A. INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY. Waking up, Peter looks at his wife who is still fast asleep.
B. INT. STUDY - DAY. Peter types on his computer.
C. INT. RESTAURANT - DAY. A table for two: Peter and his wife.
D. INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY. Peter's wife types on her computer as Peter sits close to her.
E. INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT. Peter and his wife dine opposite to each other, chaired by KAJI, their pet.
F. INT. SITTING ROOM/SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT. Peter's wife relaxes on a sofa watching TV, while Peter is listening to music in bed.
END MONTAGE
As Peter's wife drives off the parking lot, Peter exits the basement car park.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
Peter reclines against the bed back as we hear door knocking and phone alarms. Peter's wife wakes up and gets out of bed.
PETER: Come back early today.
WIFE: I've told the maid that we'll have dinner sometime after nine.
Peter looks disappointed.
WIFE: There're just too many things that I've to catch up.
Peter nods.
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
Peter is making a call. We hear from Peter's phone a recorded response: The swimming pool is closed from Jan 29 until further notice.
PETER (V.O.): I haven't swum since the Chinese New Year...
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Watching two tortoises crawling here and there, Peter touches their heads lightly at times.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe they recognize me, like my touching and so they wouldn't retract their heads.
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Peter and his wife chat as they have breakfast.
PETER: Have you seen my sister's photos taken with artic lights in the background?
His wife nods.
PETER (Cont'd): When shall we go?
WIFE (dismissively): After my retirement.
PETER: When will you retire?
WIFE: My plan is to retire in 2023.
PETER: Any thought to return to private practice after that?
WIFE (seriously): No way! I am not a workaholic like you!
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.): I retired over five years ago. I have worked regularly from 15. I'm still doing this and that...
WIFE (Cont'd): There're many other things that I would feel happy to do after retirement - photography, ikebana etc.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The happy thing I happened to do after retirement is my monthly travel. But now, because of the coronavirus scare, I might not be able to sustain that!
Peter takes a deep breath.
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
Peter leaves to join his wife to go out.
END FLASHBACK
Act 3
EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY
Waiting, Peter stretches his hands and legs. Then, he sees an approaching cyber-green beetle with a waving hand out of the driver 's window. He waves back before seeing his wife driving past him.
PETER (V.O.): Happiness is a direction.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I shouldn't expect too much happiness though. Such thinking should make me happier.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Happiness is in us. Let me continue to clear up the mess in my study so that I'd have better space to do whatever I feel happy to do, at home!
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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