Time Waits For None
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Dec 22, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
Sitting by the bedside table, PETER presses the buttons of a mini WiFi set. Having inserted a disk, the player ejects it automatically.
PETER (V.O.): I've forgotten about the problem. That's why I haven't touched it for years.
Peter goes to bed.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - MORNING
Sitting in bed, Peter researches with his phone.
PETER (V.O.): Let me see if there's any new audio-visual products that would meet my requirement.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Bluetooth speakers? I bought one many years ago and have seldom used it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I buy a new set, I've got to dispose of this set...
Act 2
INT. STUDY - MORNING
Beside Peter is a Yamaha wireless speaker. Peter's eyes are glued to his handheld devices.
PETER (V.O.): Once the Bluetooth speaker is connected with one device. The others can't get connected.
We hear nice sounds from the Bluetooth speaker.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is it possible to connect conventional audio-visual products with a Bluetooth speaker?
Peter surfs the web with his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's possible, but I don't have a Bluetooth adaptor.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - LATER
Using a small screwdriver, Peter disassembles the mini WiFi set.
PETER (V.O.): Let me clean its optical laser head and see if it works.
After cleaning it with a soaked cotton bud, Peter inserts a disk and the player ejects it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Could there be bad contacts anywhere?
Unplugging the WiFi set, Peter examines its parts, pulling and pushing a moving part.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): That's all I can do.
Having plugged, Peter inserts a disk again. After a buzzing sound, Peter sees the disk begins to spin and the word "Load" appears on the display.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The first time it loads after many years.
Then, we hear music. Peter is ecstatic.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It seems I've fixed it.
Checking the markings at the back of the WiFi set, Peter discovers something.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, it can play DVD too. I've forgotten about it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But I haven't forgotten today, Dec 22, was my late wife's birthday.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): She complained that her birthday always coincided with the Winter Solstice day and she had to have dinner with the family.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When we were together, I joined her family's Winter Solstice dinners.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I was able to do that as my late Dad always worked the pm shift as a bus terminal captain. And the other captain preferred to work the am shift.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In the morning, my Dad rode my Mom on the back of his bicycle to and from the restaurant for tea and the market for shopping.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And today isn't the Winter Solstice day.
Peter is in thoughts.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON
Peter works on a laptop.
PETER (V.O.): I meant to go out. But I need to wait to sign out my domain name decision. The secretariat's proofreading may be completed anytime soon.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I wait, I'd better capture some value no matter what that is. Let me fix a watch's dead battery.
Using a small screwdriver, Peter uncovers the back of a watch, removing the battery.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A watch that doesn't work doesn't stall time. Time waits for none.
Seeing a Quora notification on his phone, Peter reads the answer request: In 20 years, would you still be alive age-wise?
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I can live the average age, I should have been dead for a year or so.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The answer request reminds me that whatever I can fix and want to do now, I should fix and do them.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
Sitting in bed, Peter is enjoying the mini-WiFi's audio-visuals.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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