FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Crowded. PETER and his WIFE are having dinner.
PETER: Just then, a friend says hello to me. As he is based in Shanghai, I told him that I got a death threat from a Shanghaiese, just because I was tasked to determine a domain name dispute involving the criminal who wanted the status quo.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): He also said that his business operations are now primarily online. I'm wondering if I should do some online serious knowledge transfer on IP by producing some short films.
A WAITRESS (20s) serves them with lamb chop and fish spaghetti.
PETER (Cont'd): They look good!
Peter takes photos of the food.
PETER (Cont'd): The proof is in the eating.
Peter samples his food.
PETER (Cont'd): Delicious!
PETER (V.O.): IP is lawyers' law. I've to make it comprehensible to the laymen. I need to cook up some sound bites.
Peter eats and eats.
PETER (V.O.): I had better write some screenplays before shooting the short films...quite a lot of things to do.
WAITRESS: Tea or coffee?
PETER & his WIFE: Coffee, please.
WIFE: The coffee here is very good...
Peter nods.
PETER (V.O.): I've done a lot today intellectually and physically. I shouldn't have many problems in falling asleep.
Act 2
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter lies in bed.
PETER (V.O.): I'm not sleepy but I should sleep now or I'll be exhausted tomorrow.
We hear midnight news.
PETER (V.O.): About the scenes of my educational films, should I shoot them in my study or in scenic places in Hong Kong?
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've to anticipate the expectations of my audience. Would it be too hard for them to digest if I say if they want to get rich, they've to engage in intensive intellectual activities?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How can I make it simpler? What would be good examples?
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I target mainland Chinese, but my Putonghai diction and pronunciations aren't good. Yes, I've to insert subtitles...in simplified Chinese characters too...how to do it?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, I want my short films to have some background music. Which are the ones in my repertoire that would be appropriate? I've to record them too...
We hear the one o'clock news.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, I'm not sleeping but am engaging in intensive intellectual activities in bed!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nevermind, I've to think about such matters anyway. The less I think about the time, the less sleeping pressure I give myself.
Peter rolls over in bed many times.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It must be the effect of the nice coffee. I regret I ordered and took it.
Peter takes a deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I sleep just for the sake of it. There's the urge in me to get things done - the quicker the better.
Peter gets an eye mask from a side drawer to cover his eyes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've tried not to rely on it these days, as I've comparatively fewer stresses, worries, and excitement.
After many rolling overs in bed, Peter lifts his eye mask a bit to peep.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh my god, I see some daylight! I haven't slept at all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As the day has begun, I've to accept my insomnia.
Peter takes a deep breath.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - DAY
Relaxing on a sofa, a tired Peter picks up his phone.
PETER (V.O.): A friend asks me to respond to a research questionnaire. Let me get it done quickly.
Peter taps and types on the phone screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Done!
Then, Peter sees other notifications.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Thanking me and saying hi? Pretty bad today physically, not to mention the recent death threat scare.
Peter taps his phone screen to reply and the other side responds swiftly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She's smart. She reckons the value of domain names in the cyberworld. Is my story a good intro to intellectual property?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): I'm very tired but I can't stop myself from engaging in intensive intellectual activities. Let me have lunch first and see if I can have a long nap in the afternoon.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
An eye-masked Peter is lying in bed.
PETER (V.O.): Why can't I have a nap? I'm worried that I might be able to fall asleep easily tonight...
Peter surfs the web on his phone and studies some small prints.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was excited yesterday night. I did imagine the scenarios. I was very concentrated and wasn't relaxed at all.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I had better not to think about tomorrow or insomnia starting from tonight.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter and his wife are having dinner. Peter finishes his meal.
PETER: I had long days. I'm going to bed now.
Exits Peter.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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