Unwrapped

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. BEDROOM - 10:00

6. 
   

7. Winter light filters through linen curtains. PETER watches his WIFE, sleeping.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): My wife has an owl-like nature. Before her retirement, she slept very little, and I often worried about how she could cope with her morning work.

10. 
    

11. A small, peaceful smile touches his lips. He grabs one of his smartphones, and puts a pair of over-ear headphones around his neck.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I want to keep my wife company, but I don't want any social media noise that might disturb her sleep.

14. 
    

15. He pulls on a wellcut wool coat.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today is Boxing Day, marking our 32nd wedding anniversary. We won't celebrate with grand gestures. I'd buy my wife a bunch of roses.

18. 
    

19. The stylish headphones are now over his ears.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I bought my headphones some time ago, and increasingly, I find joy in isolating myself in my personal soundscape, especially in public settings.

22. 
    

23. Peter heads to the main door.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. MONTAGE OF PETER'S ACTIVITIES

28. 
    

29. A Mall. Peter picks up a beautiful bouquet of roses.

30. 
    

31. B. Living room. Peter diligently maintains his Duolingo streaks in seven languages.

32. 
    

33. C. Public pool. Peter completes is daily swim, practicing all four strokes.

34. 
    

35. D. Restaurant. Peter enjoys his soup noodles with dumplings and red bean ice.

36. 
    

37. END MONTAGE

38. 
    

39. INT. BEDROOM - 15:45

40. 
    

41. Peaceful. Peter's wife is still in bed. A smile creeps across Peter's lips as he watches her stretching lazily.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.): I've grown accustomed to her owl-like nature - sleeping little at night but indulging in sleeping during the day.

44. 
    

45. INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

46. 
    

47. Following an online tutorial, Peter strums a reggae pattern on his denim-blue acoustic guitar.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.): I bought this guitar while I was attending the BIP Asia Forum early this month as I love the denim blue colour on both the top and the headstock.

50. 
    

51. Pausing.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Do I have anything new to unwrap on this Boxing Day?

54. 
    

55. Peter opens a bag and pulls out a sealed, slightly dusty high-end guitar cable.

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.): The "new" thing, years old.

58. 
    

59. With deliberate pleasure, Peter unwraps it. Peter plugs one end into a Fender Telecaster with the protective plastic still intact on the pickguard, the other into a Vox amplifier. He strums a chord, into a relaxed reggae rhythm.

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The sound is clean. It's easier with an electric guitar.

62. 
    

63. After playing two of his love songs with the reggae rhythm, Peter stops.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I actually want to learn more on Jazz piano improvisation.

66. 
    

67. Peter lays the guitar down gently. He clicks an online tutorial, sits before the piano and plays the slide notes of the jazz gospel riffs.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Improvisation is fun!

70. 
    

71. While Peter plays the piano, his wife prepares the dinner.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The real love song isn't the one I'm playing. It is the silence she lets me have in order to learn it.

74. 
    

75. INT. DINING ROOM - 20:30

76. 
    

77. The table is an elegant feast. Soup. Wagu steaks, King crabs. Vegetables. Bread. Olive Oil. Peter and his wife look content.

78. 
    

79. WIFE: The eating is the best experience. Better than any unwrapped box.

80. 
    

81. A comfortable silence as they begin to eat.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.): I won't crave for possession, but the patience to master my passions.

84. 
    

85. Pausing.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A thing in a box stays perfect, sterile. A skill in my hands is messy, and alive.

88. 
    

89. Pondering.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):  But I often wonder if I'm being a good husband and setting a positive example for my wife.

92. 
    

93. Pondering.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):  I also find myself questioning whether I'm being a good father, setting a positive role model for my children.

96. 
    

97. Pondering.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Or am I just someone trying to keep it all together?

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:15

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads a photo depicting a red and black product box labeled "Instrument Cable" with a partially visible guitar graphic to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): Unwrapped is the state of a life being lived, not just possessed.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Joy isn't delivered. It's discovered, patiently - in the things I already have but have never truly used.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I spend my life wrapping myself in roles - partner, parent, provider. Doing very little work now is the slow act of unwrapping the person I still am.

116. 
     

117.  The END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT