Little Memories

FADE IN:

EXT. ROAD - LANDS TRIBUNAL - DAY

A bus electronic signboard displays: "The Lands Tribunal". Announcements in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. PETER leaves his seat and gets off the bus.

PETER (V.O.)

(Checking his smart phone)

It takes about an hour for

me to arrive here from my

Kowloon home.

Walking up the staircase towards an old building, PETER sees a "LANDS TRIBUNAL" plate mounted at the top of the entrance.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

When I came here to

prosecute in the Spring

of 1986, it was the the

South Kowloon District

Courts and Magistracies.

FLASHBACK

EXT. GASCOIGNE ROAD - SOUTH KOWLOON DISTRICT COURTS - DAY (1986)

Carrying a heavy briefcase box, Peter (early 30s) arrives at the courts. His watch indicates the time is 8:30.

PETER (V.O.)

As I began my journey at

6:30 from my NT home, I

arrive early. But if I start a

little late, I can be very late.

Anyway, I'm excited in my

legal practice and can't

wait!

MONTAGE OF PETER'S PROSECUTION EXPERIENCE

A/ Peter addresses the JUDGE (50s) from the bar.

B/ Peter calls a prosecution WITNESS, who testifies as EXHIBITS are presented from time to time.

C/ An INTERPRETER interprets from Cantonese into English and vice versa.

D/ After cross examination and re-examination, Peter calls ANOTHER WITNESS.

E/ The judge rules: "There's a case to answer".

F/ A DEFENDANT goes into a witness box to testify.

G/ The judge delivers his verdict.

H/ Peter applies for orders.

END MONTAGE

PETER (V.O,) (Cont'd)

I equipped myself through

preparation and hard work.

I learned most from my

setbacks. They motivated

me to do better. My

perseverance has never left

me.

RETURN TO PRESENT

INT. COURT ROOMS - DAY

Having checked the notice at the door entrance, Peter sits in the public gallery. He watches attentively an APPLICANT and a RESPONDENT at the bar addressing a JUDGE at the bench.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

They speak Cantonese.

That was what I thought should be the case decades

ago...

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

But this isn't the court I

once appeared.

Peter goes to another court room.

PETER(V.O.)(Cont'd)

Despite the new decorations

and signs, the room is

structurally the same. If my

memories serve me right,

this is it!

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Back then, I only began

my legal career. I wouldn't

know my next visit would

take over 30 years.

INT. LAW LIBRARY - DAY

Peter flips through pages of Building Management books.

PETER (V.O.)

These matters weren't

unfamiliar to me. I studied

and practised housing

management and land

administration, before

focusing on law.

For some paragraphs, Peter studies them in detail.

PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)

Those are the changes and

developments for the past

30 years or so.

Peter jots down some case names.

INT. TRAIN CAR - NIGHT

Crowded. Peter checks a phone message.

PETER(V.O.)

I'll receive the brief tomorrow?

Okay, I've warmed up myself

already.

INT. STUDY - NIGHT

Working on his computer, Peter researches. We see on his phone screen:"The new Kowloon Magistracy, an imposing structure...of the most modern design...Page 1, The China Mail, 1936, 04-14".

PETER (V.O.)

Now, it's a Grade I historical

building in Hong Kong.

Another passage:"During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, it served as the Kowloon headquarters of Kempeitai."

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

What's Kempeitai?

Peter taps the expression.

PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)

Oh, it's the "Military Police

Corps" of the Imperial Japanese

Army...

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Yes, Japanese could have

been Hongkonger's second

language!

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)

The story of the building

and the activities transacted

there won't be complete

without recalling them.

Staring at his image in a wall mirror, Peter freezes.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

Time flies. Memories don't

last forever. They only last

as long as there's someone

remembering them.

Pausing.

PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)

While some little memories

warm me up like a second

heart; some tear me apart

like a new emotion - not

sad, but empty. Query:Do

little memories add beauty

to life?

FADE OUT. The End

#LittleMemories