FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
Pullling off his quilt, PETER carefully bends his back to get up.
PETER (V.O.) : Well, getting up without back pain is auch a pleasure! I used to take it for granted.
Peter puts his feet on the ground.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Today is Easter Monday. Except for SARS 2003 and the COVID-19 pandemic now, today in the past has been our last day to get sensuous pleasure overseas.
Peter goes to the sitting room.
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
PETER (V.O.): The pandemic is changing the world. The humankind strives to adapt to the change - the fittest, rather than the most powerful, will survive.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I strive to make myself physically fit, have hurt my back, rendering me unfit for the time being.
Seeing breakfast is put on the table, KAJI, his pet, escorts Peter to the dining room.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
When Peter throws bits of bread in the air, Kaji catches and consumes them in no time.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We get mutual pleasure in this morning routine. Kaji is so obedient and needs not be overpowered.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I had and still have some power over somethings but I always think that I don't need them, as I believe in my leadership.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday night, it was very satisying to hear the chats between my two sons during Facetime...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
SON#1 is talking to SON#2 on the computer screen.
SON#1: How's the situation downunder?
SON#2: They're very slow to adapt to the change. It was just a week ago that some people began to wear facemasks.
SON#1: My colleagues too.
SON#2: How's your investmnt?
SON#1: The financial rescues here and there has mitigated the damages. It's highly unlikely that such market intervention is sustainable though. Few deliver values during lockdowns.
SON#2 on screen nods.
SON#1: The world's institutions might break down and people will find others to blame. I speculate that hate crimes will rise.
SON#2. This is actually happening here. The police made arrests.
SON#1: The criminals or the victims?
SON#2: If any victim is arrested, I'll fly home without any hesitation!
END FLASHBACK
Peter finishes his breakfast.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To stay at home soil should be safer.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But in Hong Kong, there were hate crimes and discriminatory practices against the same race just due to different political beliefs.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Anyway, it's high time the humankind reflected deeply, adapted to the new world order and uplifted themselves.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The pandemic calls for worldwide collaboration to work out worldwide solutions.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): At the practical level, we are global citizens. At the biological and historical level, we are the same humankind despite the different colours of our skin, eyes and hair.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But people or peoples do put their own interests over the others.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Does the humankind recognize the need to break the vicious circle, like breaking the spreading chain of the diease?
Peter forces a smile.
Act 3
INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINOUS
TV news reports stories. One is about Boris Johnson thanking health staff for saving his life. Another is about a Chinese medical expert opining the herd immunity strategy was century-old.
PETER (V.O.): That one can breathe shouldn't be taken for granted. I have thought deep who I really am and what really matters to me.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Every individual is in control of his/her thoughts and actions. What really motivates humankind to live?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is it just sensuous pleasure or power to dominate?
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As an opportunistic elements of the humankind in the 2020 pandemic, we will decide the humankind story we want to tell - an orientation that is beyond ourselves, but of the humankind.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Have we now found the meaning of life?
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today is quite a bright Monday for me.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
Music from a bedside radio. Peter is rolling over in bed.
PETER (V.O.): I don't feel the stress in my back anymore. It seems that I've renewed myself. I also find meaning in continuing my role as a creative element of the humankind.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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