FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDIO - 16:30
Holding a Hofner Violin Bass, PETER practises different bass lines.
PETER (V.O.): I believe I've got the six formulas on blues.
Peter then checks his phone and reads a Quora answer request: What do you think about the mind game?
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It sucks.
Browsing his avatar stickers on screen, Peter selects the one with the letters "SUS" and replies.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I hate the exploitative element.
Peter then reads another Quora answer request.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How to make your team more effective, have sound decisions and take ownership of responsibilities?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A common leadership and management issue that doesn't bother me anymore.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
EXT. PARKING BAY - DAY (Earlier)
Waiting inside a New Beetle, Peter is watching a TEDEd video clip with the caption: How playing an instrument benefits your brain.
PETER (V.O.): I love the animated art.
We hear: Do you know that every time musicians pick up their instruments, there're fireworks going off all over their brains?...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Playing an instrument is equivalent to a full-body workout?...Making music sets the brain alight?
We hear: Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Disciplined, structured practice in playing music strengthen brain functions?
We hear: ...Allowing messages to get across the brain faster...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Solving problems more effectively and creatively?... Musicians often have higher level of executive functions...?
Finishing watching, Peter looks enlightened.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's the best game for my mind!
RETURN TO PRESENT
Peter refocuses on the phone screen.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But the mind game here refers to a course of psychologically manipulative behaviour intended to gain advantage over others.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Office politics in the sense of struggle for prestige is one type of mind games.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But when the players consciously fake them as strong management, I know how embarrassing and frustrating it can be.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It may also be that players of mind games aren't fully aware of what they're doing eg being mean for no reason.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And they may have got addicted to mind games.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But victims may start playing back via passive-aggressive behaviour such as inaction, and play better - the problem the other Quoran is facing.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even if the players win the games, they'll lose their relationships...though they may not care.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But in worst cases, there may be fatal or legal consequences. I'm not kidding.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S RECOLLECTION
A. Funeral parlour, 1998. Peter attends the funeral services of a young man.
B. Lecture theatre, 2018. Citing court cases, Peter tells the audience the stories about the litigants' transactions.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, mind games have already been so predominant and deep-rooted here and there.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Mind games people play are part of the economic, social and cultural life worldwide.
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - CONTINUOUS
Peter touches his white hair.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Gaining wisdom, I strive to desist from playing or reacting to mind games.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know well I shouldn't waste my life on mind games.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even if life is but a mind game, the game I've been playing with my mind is to make it more creative.
Taking the piano seat, Peter plays the Beatle's song "Let It Be".
' THE END
FADE OUT
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