FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 22:30 (Yesterday)
PETER is watching a show on TV.
PETER (V.O.): The show for the Greater Bay Area is quite exceptional.
We see on screen a beautiful ARTIST#1 singing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Pretty good. She's my former classmate.
We see on screen a purple-haired ARTIST#2 singing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): We met in a public function and I remarked on her purple hair highlights...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, that's about 20 years ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Although I've to appear in court tomorrow, I still prefer watching it.
Act 2
INT. COURT ROOM - 10:45
Peter is cross-examining a WITNESS. We see the AUDIENCE having their eyes on Peter.
PETER (V.O.): I'm doing my best to elicit evidence through questioning.
INT. PEPPER LUNCH - 13:00
A hot plate with food before him, Peter stirs, mixes and sizzles his way to a meal.
PETER (V.O.): When the case first began, I only had appetite for a hamburger.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now, what remains to be done is to take the verdict after lunch.
Sampling vegetable juice and salads.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I believe I've done a good job in prosecuting.
Having finished the main dish, Peter samples a melting Haagen-Daz ice cream.
INT. COURT ROOM - 14:30
As the BENCH appears, we see her giving a special look at Peter.
PETER (V.O.): That doesn't look like a good cue...
Later, we hear the bench saying: ...The benefit of the doubt belongs to the defendant. I acquit the defendant.
We see Peter looking a little lost.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I thought I had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Yes, my role is to assist the court to arrive at the truth and to do justice according to law.
INT. MALL - 17:30
Peter is buying something.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I like to buy something to reward myself when a trial is over.
INT. STUDIO - 18:00
Peter is playing the piano badly.
PETER (V.O.): Am I still thinking about what is guilty beyond reasonable doubt?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's a legal standard of proof required to validate a criminal conviction.
Playing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It means to the extent that there's no reasonable doubt in the mind of reasonable person.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In other words, it's beyond "perhaps", "suspected", "possibly", "probably", "likely" and "highly likely".
Playing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's better to let 10 "guilty" men escape than that one innocent suffer.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In preparing for a trial, I sometimes feel that I myself is under trial.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23:30
We hear easy-listening music.
PETER (V.O.): No matter how positive I'm, there're times when I'd feel a little lost.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): To every emotional issue, there're three options to resolve them: leave it, accept it or change it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I've left mine for awhile. I'm accepting it. I'll change for the better.
Peter taps a tour agency app on his smartphone.
FADE OUT
THE END
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