The Diarist
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 26, 2024
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 01:30
Sitting by the bed, PETER stares intently at his diary on his mobile.
PETER (V.O): The date is not right...
Peter checks his entries.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Hmm, I might have forgotten to write my diary one night.
Peter wears a puzzled look.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's odd. I've been writing my diaries every night for the past 10 years.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Why would I have forgotten?
Checking his entries.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, there's no entry on June 15, 2024. What happened that night?
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT.YIN YUE RESTAURANT - 20:15 (June 15, 2024)
Peter, his WIFE, elder SON and DAUGHTER-IN-LAW are having dinner. Peter's wife helps Peter with some food.
PETER: Why are you so nice to me tonight?
WIFE: Tomorrow is Father's Day.
PETER: Ah, I see...I'll have an appointment at HKUST (GZ) tomorrow at 9:30 am.
Later, Peter asks for the bill.
SON: I'm paying.
PETER (V.O): As my son insists, I take the privilege as his father.
INT. BEDROOM - 23:15
Having set his mobiles' alarms to 06:00, Peter goes to bed.
PETER (V.O): Let me think of nothing so that I'll fall asleep quick.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's how I was distracted - too focused on my Guangzhou trip hours later.
Peter begins to write his dairy of his day on June 15, 2024.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I've been keeping a diary since I was a teenager.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It has always been a way for me to reflect on my day and organize my thoughts.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Even on the eves of exams, I'd still squeeze the time further to write my diaries.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But when I became a lawyer, the demand of my job made it very difficult for me to keep up with my daily routine.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I ceased to be a diarist, but I felt very bad about it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I know many others have a more relaxed approach to life.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But for me, I believe the level of my success depends on my level of discipline.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Upon retirement at the age of 60, I made sure to pick it back up.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As I've missed an entry, what else might I've forgotten!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Am I experiencing some burnout?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): This isn't like me at all!
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS.
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "The Diarist ..." to a draft.
PETER (V.O): My diary serves as a tool for introspection, allowing me to process my experiences, emotions and decision-making.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Taking time for self-reflection can lead to greater self-understanding, personal growth, and a gift to myself.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My consistent routines have transformatory power, allowing me to have a sense of continuity in my life.
FADE OUT
THE END
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