FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Staring at the wall mount speakers, PETER is thinking.
PETER (V.O.): They're part of the home theatre system. But now its DVD player cum amplifier is unrepairable. I've asked the repairer to dump it.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In my NT home, I've a comparable home theatre system
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But we haven't stayed overnight there for over 10 years.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm the only housekeeper. Whenever I go back, I've so many other things to do. Perhaps I'd bring back the DVD player cum amplifier.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, let me do that tomorrow.
Act 2
INT. NT HOME - DAY
Having pulled out a DVD player from a shelf, Peter is disconnecting the speaker cables.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the 2000s, when my Dad was still around, we would go back to NT to have Saturday dinners with my parents. After that, we'd stay overnight in our NT home.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before arriving home, our children would have gone asleep in the car. I'd either wake them up or carry them to bed one by one.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, my wife and I would endeavour to watch a film before sleeping.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When my Dad became too fragile and our children's learning became too demanding, we gradually changed our practice.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those were good old days.
Peter puts the disconnected DVD player into a carrier bag.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Having plugged the DVD player, Peter presses the "On" button. We see electronic visual display.
PETER (V.O.): Okay, there's no problem with the electronics.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me see if there's any disc inside.
Peter presses the "Open/Close" button. After hearing some noise, the disk tray remains closed.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh...
FLASHBACK
INT. NT HOME - NIGHT (2000s)
Getting close to the DVD player, Peter (50s) presses the "Open/Close" button. But the DVD player isn't responding.
PETER (V.O.): What's wrong?
Peter presses the button again and again, but the result is no different.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Hmm, let me arrange to have it fixed when I'm free.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've forgotten about the problem.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As it's already late in the evening. Let me investigate after my meeting tomorrow.
INT. STUDY - DAY
After changing from a suit to casual wear, Peter researches with his phone.
PETER (V.O.): Press "Power", "Stop" and "Open" buttons simultaneously?
Having done that to the DVD player and seeing no response, Peter continues his research.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If that doesn't work,... take it to the repairer? Let me check it out first.
Unplugged, Peter unscrews the player cover. Removing it, he sees a disk on the tray.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, this was the film we last watched. The moment has been locked for over 10 years!
Sighing.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINOUS
Shifting the disk tray manually, Peter checks the moving rings. He sees a melted and disconnected rubber belt around one.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I see - the same problem of my other unrepairable DVD player.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No matter how good are the electronics, the system is of no use when the Open/Close rubber belt is broken.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a problem that I can't fix.
After capturing the problem in photos and videos with his phone, Peter puts back the DVD player cover.
FADE OUT.'O.) (Cont'd): I'll get in touch with the same repairer. I can let him have a second bite of the cherry.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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