FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. DINING ROOM - MORNING
Having breakfast, PETER notes a number of phone messages.
PETER (V.O.): A barrister friend is asking if I'm OK, having read about the spread of COVID-19 on the estate where I'm living.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Days ago, I accompanied my wife to have a COVID-19 specimen test. I did mine too and got a negative result.
After typing on his phone, Peter sees a follow-up message.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Shall we have tea later? ...Why not, I shouldn't be spreading the virus.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I didn't have the negative test result, I'd hesitate.
Peter continues to check his messages.
Act 2
INT. DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here's another one from my CEO friends, asking me to take care.
Peter finds an image from his phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, this is the Intelligent Disinfection Station that has been placed at my block lobby. I've been disinfecting myself 360 degrees with that. That's how I've been taking care of myself.
Peter inserts the image to a reply.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Pipeline vaccine aside, I'm concerned about the safety and efficacy of antiviral drugs too. Let me research on that.
Surfing the web with his phone, Peter studies an article.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The article is from Harvard Health. A convenient way to prevent COVID-19 infection or to recover better is to have Vitamin D stuff eg sunshine, diary products and fatty fish.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been having them. I've more then. This is the second thing I can do.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's speculated that COVID-19 was spread in a block on my estate due to the chimney effect. So, I've already closed all windows facing the lightwell.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Further, my family have two separate units, facing different directions. We can be flexible in our living arrangement.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In fact, we've used one unit for self-isolation when our children studying overseas returned home.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife used to complain that our units weren't satisfactory as they're separated. I took a different view, as I wanted my private study and music room.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've never thought about the flexibility can be for health reasons too.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yesterday, my sister broke the news to me about how COVID-19 was spreading on our estate.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Later, I went downstairs and saw the media gathering at the entrance of the subject block. Going to the estate mall, I walk past that block everyday.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): One last resort for my family is to live in our NT house. We did that during SARS 2003.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was very scary then. I speculated that there might not be another year for my family.
Peter takes a deep breath.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Fortunately, I was very wrong.
Act 3
INT. DINING ROOM - LATER
Peter continues to check messages.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here's another kind reminder that I should take care from a solicitor friend. He and his wife visited my home nearly 30 years ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): Oh yes, I need to reschedule my dental appointment. I knew government dentists wouldn't see me if the estate where I'm living has people infected with COVID-19.
Peter then engages in a phone conversation.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From the public hygiene angle, it's important to break the infection chain.
Peter jots down some details before ending the phone conversation.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Relatively speaking, COVID-19 is less scary. Most people who become ill should be able to recover.
Peter's WIFE appears.
WIFE: My employer requires me to do a second COVID-19 testing. I've already fixed an appointment. Can you drive me to the venue?
PETER: Yes, no problem.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.): Meanwhile, I'm grateful for all the warm regards from my friends.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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