FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON-EVENING
PETER is relaxing on a sofa corner, doing a Zoom meeting with his iPad Mini.
SOMEONE (From iPad): Hi Peter, every time I see you on Zoom, it appears that your space is pretty comfortable.
PETER (To iPad): You're right. It's actually very comfortable.
SOMEONE (From iPad): Is someone doing foot massage for you too?
Peter smiles, looking at the thick books that support his stretched legs.
PETER (V.O.): Apart from the sofa corner, my study/studio is filled with law books, files, guitars and amplifiers etc.
The meeting transacts its business.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My challenge has been how to make my space/sanctuary look and function better.
The meeting continues into the evening.
Act 2
INT. MALL - MORNING
In a lifestyle store, Peter is checking some foldable storage boxes.
PETER (V.O.): They can hide some of my seldom-used stuff.
Picking up two sets, Peter pays at the cashier.
INT. STUDY - LATER
Having set up the storage boxes, Peter fills them up in no time.
PETER (V.O.): The mitigation isn't noticeable. I've got two more boxes.
Peter begins to re-arrange his stuff.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The look and feel might be a little different. But they don't solve my space problem.
After clearing and cleaning a round rug, Peter takes a photo of it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is the only time when I can see the whole rug without anything on it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've so many stuff that the sofa corner is my only space that I feel comfortable.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) Cont'd): I was only a minimalist when I didn't have earning capacity. Since working full-time, I've been a hoarder.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For the past couple of weeks, I've bought 2 blue-ray disk players and got a number of blue-tooth mobile speakers.
Peter counts with his fingers.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): One XB43, two XB33, one XB13 and four XB01. Two of the XB01 are still unopened...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I bought my first blue-tooth speaker many years ago when the gadget was new. But I haven't used it until recently.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then I found technology has advanced a lot in between. I want to make good what I've missed.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They're also symbols as to how I'd reward myself after hard work.
Peter puts the thick books and files in the middle of the round rug.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After a lapse of three years and out of the blue, the matter revives unexpectedly.
Peter grabs other books and files.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These are junior Barristers' survival kits. But now they help refresh my memory.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I need the items to support my professional work and my emotional needs. Decluttering for me is really hard.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Or, am I letting the excuse become a sanctuary for my hoarding?
Act 3
INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON
Attending a webinar from his sofa corner, Peter dozes off. Later, he wakes up.
PETER (V.O.): I don't doze off easily.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I must be feeling the stillness and peace in my stronghold here.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My sofa corner is a place where I can retreat.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's just like Doremon's Anywhere Door, leading to somewhere.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My sanctuary is actually inside me.
Pausing.
.PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's my inner space to rest my heart out and to take care of my soul.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Peter K F Cheung SBS
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