FADE IN.
Act 1
EXT. PARK - DAY
Early in the morning, PETER is jogging.
PETER (V.O.): When I don't think about tomorrow, I can fall asleep without much difficulty.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I had another problem-solving dream last night. Not knowing a latent problem, it's pretty stressful to solve it in my dream. And then I woke up early.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's no point to dwell on my dream and the aftermath. Let me do my routines earlier.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): People often think about something, or pray about something.
Remembering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I used to pray to the Buddha when I was around 10-12...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I think the best way to make something happen is to take action to solve the problem.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To act timely is the key. To contain a problem before it is blown out is a lot better than mitigating the damages.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But people, institutions including countries, often learn it the hard way.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Just when food is put on the table, Peter and his WIFE hear the phone ringing. They see on the phone screen the caller is from air ticket booking.
PETER (V.O.) (Alert): I hope there're no further hiccups with our younger daughter's air tickets back home.
Peter's WIFE picks up the call and listens seriously.
WIFE (To phone): OK, we'll call the airline in UK direct and come back to you by 10.00 pm tonight.
WIFE (To Peter): There're unconfirmed reports that the airline didn't allow passengers to board flights from Heathrow to Hong Kong, transiting in Dubai...
Pausing.
WIFE (Cont'd): If we want to play safe, they can re-arrange the flights from Heathrow to Hong Kong, transitting in Doha, departing 2-3 days later. But I don't want that as the crisis is changing fast.
Peter's wife calls their younger daughter on the phone as Peter surfs the web.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): Let me facilitate by finding the relevant information. First, the numbers to call. I heard that one could wait for hours for a response these days.
Found something, Peter sends the information.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The numbers I got weren't the direct ones. I hope our daughter in Bournemouth finds the direct one to call.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've found that the UK Government didn't impose any specific restrictions on outbound flights and the Dubai Airport hasn't restricted any transit traffic.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As there aren't any documentary evidence to support the unconfirmed reports related to us, I think we shouldn't change the flight reservations.
Tapping on his phone and sending messages, Peter sees a quick response: the staff said the same - should be fine.
PETER (To wife in Kitchen): Having exercised our due diligence, we've concluded that the available flights that we booked should be OK. Just ask the staff to issue the air tickets as reserved.
Peter's wife nods in relief.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Separately, there's a statutory declaration that my old mother and I have to make as administrators. I didn't know about this outstanding matter until recently. And the authority gave an extra month to make a return.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A month seems to be a reasonable time. But the problem is that my mother and I belong to the high-risk group during the current coronavirus scare. Social distancing is the current norm.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A lot of people in Italy are dying and I read this morning that, in Spain, they refuse to treat coronavirus patients who are above 65.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I just think or pray that we won't get infected with the coronavirus in public places? Of course not!
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I should take action by explaining the situation and ask the authority for indulgence. Life is primal.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm also worried about our younger son who is still learning clinically in a Sydney hospital...
Act 3
INT. PARK - CONTINOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, just thinking or praying can't solve identified problems.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I do think about today (Monday) a lot, as our younger daughter is scheduled to board an outbound flight from Heathrow to Dubai.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As we've done all that we can in identifying the possible problems and resolve them if there's any, we shouldn't be dwelling on them anymore. They take away our peace and waste our time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a matter of fact, a great percentage of the things that we worry don't even happen.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So, just think and act three steps ahead and enjoy the day.
Peter stops his jogging and begins to practise some dancing footwork.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Peter's wife shows Peter a phone message.
WIFE: He says that teaching in hospitals has been suspended.
PETER: That' great!
Peter smiles.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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