Ignorance Is Bliss

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 22:00

6. 
   

7. Watching TV , PETER is thoughts.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): A Quoran's answer request has been lingering in my mind.

10. 
    

11. Recalling.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In light of the pandemic and the armed conflict, she asks me if ignorance is bliss?

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If one isn't aware of an unpleasant situation, one can't be troubled by it.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm quite a believer, regarding my health.

22. 
    

23. Pausing.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But isn't that a detestable state of mind?

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. FLASHBACK

30. 
    

31. INT. DINING ROOM - 08:30 (Today)

32. 
    

33. Having breakfast with KAJI, the family pet, Peter reads: "The Daily Drucker".

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.): He observes that profit isn't the purpose of a business, but rather a test of its validity.

36. 
    

37. Pausing.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been running two small businesses - my private practice and stock investment.

40. 
    

41. INT. CHAMBERS - 17:00

42. 
    

43. Appearing, Peter presents a cheque to a SECRETARY.

44. 
    

45. PETER: My rent. Just you're in?

46. 
    

47. SECRETARY: The chambers' head is also here.

48. 
    

49. Recalling.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.): In late Feb, I had a chat with the chambers' head. Days later, he disclosed to dozens of chambermates that he had got Covid.

52. 
    

53. Pausing.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Good to know that he's back now.

56. 
    

57. Later, Peter chats with the CHAMBERS HEAD.

58. 
    

59. INT. MALL - 17:30

60. 
    

61. Standing before an ATM, Peter is depositing a cheque.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.): I know I've a little profit in my practice.

64. 
    

65. Waiting for processing.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to my stock investment, I haven't sold any of the shares that I own yet.

68. 
    

69. Getting a pay-in slip.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I don't use the Yahoo!Finance App to monitor the performance of my stocks, I won't know exactly how much I've lost.

72. 
    

73. Checking his smartphone.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But now, the financial information is updated, just marginally delayed.

76. 
    

77. Reading some numerals.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today, I lose 6.67% less. But I'm still losing a lot.

80. 
    

81. Leaving the ATM.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never bothered to check how much I've lost in my other investments like realty.

84. 
    

85. Smiling.

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Ignorance is bliss.

88. 
    

89. Peter walks past quiet shops and closed cafes.

90. 
    

91. EXT. MTR - 18:00

92. 
    

93. Crowded cabin. Peter is surrounded by other PASSENGERS.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.): I don't know if COVID is in the air.

96. 
    

97. Recalling.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Earlier, I had a marathon Zoom meeting from 09:30 to 14:30.

100. 
     

101. Smiling.

102. 
     

103. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I didn't know there was an item of business about me!

104. 
     

105. END FLASHBACK

106. 
     

107. Act 3

108. 
     

109. INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS

110. 
     

111. .The TV reports:... unprecedented 2-day surges of the Hang Seng Index...

112. 
     

113. PETER (V.O.): Unprecedented? I don't know about that. Ignorance isn't voluntary misfortune.

115. Pausing.

116. 
     

117. PETER (V.O)(Cont'd): But problems stem from ignorance. They can be embarrassing if not risky.

118. 
     

119. Thinking.

120. 
     

121. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To know what we don't know is the best, as we can get prepared to deal with challenges in life.

123. Peter types his answer in Quora.

124. 
     

125. FADE OUT

126. 
     

127. THE END