FADE IN
Act 1
PETER wakes up. We hear faint conversations in Korean from the living room.
FLASHBACK
INT. DINING ROOM - 21:00 (The night before)
Over dinner, Peter and his WIFE chat with their DAUGHTER-IN-LAW and elder SON.
WIFE: I'm going to watch Episodes 13-14 of "Queen of Tears" after dinner.
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: We might have to leave them to another day.
WIFE: Every time I watch the TV series, I've to re-immerse myself in the storytelling.
SON: The episodes are only released on Saturdays and Sundays.
PETER: I've begun watching the TV series too...
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 2
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINOUS
Appearing, Peter sees his wife sleeping on the sofa. The TV is on, showing another Korean TV series.
PETER (V.O.): Having retired, she doesn't have to hate week days anymore.
Peter switches off the TV.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I'm physically free today, I prefer learning foreign languages while my mind is fresh.
As Peter taps Duolingo App on his mobile, his wife gets up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Her routine is to go to bed in the morning.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S LANGUAGE LEARNING IN THE NEXT THREE HOURS
A. Peter does quiz questions in Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean with his five mobiles.
B. Peter adds languages in his mobile keyboards so that he can type answers in Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean.
C. Having secured certain scores, Peter fills in his profiles in his many language learning courses.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whether I can sustain that is moot. Meanwhile, I'll reward myself with binge-watching.
Turning on Netfix on TV, Peter begins watching Episode 8 of Queen of Tears.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Initially, I doubt if the genre would appeal to me, as I don't like to watch people crying all the time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But my wife remarked that she enjoyed watching the episodes thoroughly.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I knew she's a fan of the leading actor, and that's all.
Watching scenes with Chinese subtitles.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's not uncommon that scriptwriters fill storylines with romance and heartbreak.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Thinking about our elder daughter studying in Seoul, her fiance and future mother-in-law, I can relate them to characters in the episodes.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I particularly like scenes about gender roles, class divisions, and societal pressures, as such social commentaries can be educational.
We see on screen the title card: Epilogue.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It clarifies the suspense so that viewers can connect the dots and fully appreciate the suspenseful moments.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But viewers' expectations are deliberately manipulated to create surprise and tension.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.): The length of the TV series is about one feature film per episode. While there's a sense of progression, the pace can be more strategic.
We see the "next episode" icon on screen lighting up.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Should I watch the next episode now?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's important that I'd continue nurturing existing passions like playing the piano.
Peter goes to his studio and begin playing on piano: Around the World.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 20:00
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Melting Pot of Hearts" to a draft.
PETER (V.O): “Melting Pot” refers to a diverse society where different cultures blend together.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Linking it to hearts suggests the power of love of bringing people from different backgrounds together.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Despite differences in language and cultures, love can create a harmonious and inclusive environment that people can connect and understand one another.
FADE OUT
THE END
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