FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 10:00
Smartphone in hand, PETER reads a Quora answer request.
PETER (V.O.): What would be the most likely reason for the end of the world? How could we divert it and survive it?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): For those who grew up during the cold war between Western and East bloc, fear of nuclear catastrophe was common.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When I was a kid, I feared the same, although I lived far from the potential conflict zones.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Whether we can divert it and survive it depend on those who are vested with the authority.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): They've to use their power wisely.
Act 2
INT. ROADS - EVENING
Peter is walking uphill, finding his way.
PETER (V.O.): Where's the community vaccination centre? I knew it wasn't convenient or I wouldn't get today's early appointment.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When vaccination was available, I thought I shouldn't assume the risk. Later, I was persuaded to take the preventive shots.
Peter walks towards a hall.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Hong Kong's "dynamic zero COVID-19" policy was pretty successful until recently.
Peter arrives at the centre.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): That I can take my 3rd shot today is quite a privilege.
Later, Peter leaves the centre and walks past an estate block.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, its name is Long Peace (長安). How nice!
Peter captures a photo of the signage.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Chang'an 長安 (modern-day Xi An) used to be the capital of Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In early 1993 when I had no sense of direction, my parents, my son and I visited Xi An.
INT. STUDY - 19:30
On TV, the President of EU is speaking:... we shouldn't depend on Russian gas...
PETER (V.O.): That's one of EU's interest.
Then, we see and hear the Ukrainian President speaking on TV emotively:.. today could be the last day of many Ukrainians...
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Before the armed conflict, he was remarking defiantly that Russia would only understand the language of might.
Later, we see images on TV standing up and clapping their hands. Then, an TV anchor remarks: ...Should he be saved?
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Days ago, a former US Ambassador to NATO remarked on TV that Ukraine was of little national interest to US.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The Ukrainian President also said on TV that he was target no.1.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): If that's the case, Russia sees him as answerable, responsible and accountable for the circumstances.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Has he led Ukraine in the right direction?
INT. DINING ROOM - 20:30
Peter and his WIFE are having dinner.
WIFE: Do you know Ukraine is applying for EU membership?
PETER: That's the wrong direction. We we'll hear more EU rhetoric.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): Russia wants a demilitarised Ukraine and European countries to stop hosting US nuclear weapons.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): But people in conflict zones don't know if they'd live the next moment even in conventional warfare.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 23:00
Peter is watching world news.
PETER (V.O.): I hate any armed conflict. Life is precious.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): While few can stand a long war, some can't stand long peace either.
Sighing, Peter views his answer to the Quoran's request.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): To help the Quoran to divert and survive his fear, I said the most likely reason for the end of the world was solar evolution.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The reason being that the Sun had consumed half of its energy to shine. As we can't control nature, what we can wisely do is to live healthily.
The TV continues to broadcast rhetoric.
FADE OUT
THE END
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