
FADE IN:
.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
Checking his group chats, PETER sees members leaving RIP messages one after another.
PETER (V.O.)
I won't say RIP as that
presupposes alternative
existence after death.
A dead person doesn't
live after death in any
way, as far as living
beings can experience.
INT. - STUDY - DAY
Peter works on his computer..
PETER (V.O.)
In remembrance, I've
documented my interactions
with the deceased and my
sentiments. I feel good
that way.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
A double-decker bus is about to enter the Hong Kong Port Passenger Clearance Building. Sitting at the front row of its upper deck is Peter - the only passenger. Freely, he takes photos.
PETER (V.O.)
Let me live my day again
without any disturbance.
INT. BUS TICKETING COUNTER - DAY
Receiving Peter is a GIRL (20s) who observes Peter''s face and front hairline.
GIRL
(Curiously)
Do you pay full or half
fare?
PETER
(Smiling)
Oh, full. I'm not yet entitled
for that. Thank you for asking.
GIRL
$65 then.
PETER (V.O.)
I'm not young by any
measure...
INT. ROADS IN MACAO - DAY
A pink casino shuttle. Peter sits at a front-row passenger seat.
PETER (V.O.)
Well, wifi connections
are good.
Notification sounds one after another. Peter checks the phone messages.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Many other words of
condolences. Emotional
self or group therapies.
He then checks a mail.
PETER(V.O.)(Cont'd)
Oh, Judge Mayo died
too? Several days
before Michael? He was
...82...I appeared before
him in one of my early
High Court appearance.
That was in...1988.
FLASHBACK (Summer, 1980)
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
Peter (25) is being interviewed by a 3-member PANEL. A side panelist (40s) with a name plate "D K LAM, Chief Land Executive" speaks.
LAM
(Playing tough)
You study philosophy...
logic...what's that all
about?
PETER
(Keeping cool)
I give a simple example
of deductive logic:
All men are mortal.
I'm a man. Therefore,
I'm mortal.
LAM
(Maintaining toughness)
What do you mean by
"mortal"? I don't understand
. at all!
PETER
Let me try again: All
men will die. I'm a
man. Therefore, I'll
die also.
Dead silence.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
And I became a Land
Executive...I heard
that even when he
was suffering from
cancer in his 50s, he
would insist finishing
unfinished businesses.
He died later.
INT. SLOT MACHINE AREA - DAY
Sitting behind a slot machine, Peter, in thoughts, pushes a button like a robot.
PETER (V.O.)
Life is like playing
a slot machine.
You don't know
how fortunate or
unfortunate you
can be. If it happens,
it happens.
Later, he stops pushing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Luck is not on my side
today.
EXT. TSIM SHA TSUI CLOCK TOWER - NIGHT
Colourful phoenix lanterns everywhere. Peter finds angles and takes pictures.
PETER (V.O.)
When I was a boy, I
made lanterns. These
are really beautiful.
They light up my
day!
FADE OUT. The End