The Diarist

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. BEDROOM - 01:30

6. 
   

7. Sitting by the bed, PETER stares intently at his diary on his mobile.
   

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O): The date is not right...

10. 
    

11. Peter checks his entries.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Hmm, I might have forgotten to write my diary one night.

14. 
    

15. Peter wears a puzzled look.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's odd. I've been writing my diaries every night for the past 10 years.

18. 
    

19. Reflecting.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Why would I have forgotten?

22. 
    

23. Checking his entries.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, there's no entry on June 15, 2024. What happened that night?

26. 
    

27. Act 2

29. FLASHBACK

30. 
    

31. INT.YIN YUE RESTAURANT - 20:15 (June 15, 2024)

32. 
    

33. Peter, his WIFE, elder SON and DAUGHTER-IN-LAW are having dinner. Peter's wife helps Peter with some food.

34. 
    

35. PETER: Why are you so nice to me tonight?

36. 
    

37. WIFE: Tomorrow is Father's Day.

38. 
    

39. PETER: Ah, I see...I'll have an appointment at HKUST (GZ) tomorrow at 9:30 am.

40. 
    

41. Later, Peter asks for the bill.

42. 
    

43. SON: I'm paying.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O): As my son insists, I take the privilege as his father.

46. 
    

47. INT. BEDROOM - 23:15

48. 
    

49. Having set his mobiles' alarms to 06:00, Peter goes to bed.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O): Let me think of nothing so that I'll fall asleep quick.

52. 
    

53. END FLASHBACK

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): That's how I was distracted - too focused on my Guangzhou trip hours later.

56. 
    

57. Peter begins to write his dairy of his day on June 15, 2024.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I've been keeping a diary since I was a teenager.

60. 
    

61. Pausing.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It has always been a way for me to reflect on my day and organize my thoughts.

64. 
    

65. Recalling.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Even on the eves of exams, I'd still squeeze the time further to write my diaries.

68. 
    

69. Recalling.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But when I became a lawyer, the demand of my job made it very difficult for me to keep up with my daily routine.

72. 
    

73. Pausing.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I ceased to be a diarist, but I felt very bad about it.

76. 
    

77. Pausing.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I know many others have a more relaxed approach to life.

80. 
    

81. Pausing.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But for me, I believe the level of my success depends on my level of discipline.

84. 
    

85. Pausing.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Upon retirement at the age of 60, I made sure to pick it back up.

88. 
    

89. Pondering.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As I've missed an entry, what else might I've forgotten!

92. 
    

93. Pausing.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd):  Am I experiencing some burnout?

96. 
    

97. Pausing.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): This isn't like me at all!

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS.

104. 
     

105. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "The Diarist ..." to a draft.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O): My diary serves as a tool for introspection, allowing me to process my experiences, emotions and decision-making.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Taking time for self-reflection can lead to greater self-understanding, personal growth, and a gift to myself.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My consistent routines have transformatory power, allowing me to have a sense of continuity in my life.

116. 
     

117. FADE OUT

118. 
     

119. THE END