FADE IN:
EXT. HKUST - SUNSET
As he approaches an open-air car park, PETER sees the sky taking the shades of orange.
PETER (V.O.)
What a beautiful sunset!
He stops to take a photo of it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
My life now is like the
setting sun. I went up,
and now I go down...
But is that right?
FLASHBACK
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Sitting among LADIES and GENTLEMEN at a long table. Peter contributes.
A beat.
The wall clock registers 17:10. LADY#1 leaves. Later, GENTLEMAN#1 .
PETER (V.O.)
Fair enough. The conference
meant to end at 17:00.
GENTLEMAN#2 leaves.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, he's a very busy person.
Peter and those staying behind press on.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
I stayed until the conference
was adjourned sometime
after six.
FLASHBACK
INT. GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT (1988-1991)
The wall clock registers 18:30. Conference PARTICIPANTS at a long table. Peter (34), as the secretary, sits next to the CHAIR (late 50s), presenting a paper.
Lengthy discussion among conference participants.
CHAIR
Any other business? I
go round the table.
The Chair looks at the participants one by one as they shake their heads sideways.
CHAIR (Cont'd)
Good. The meeting is
adjourned.
The wall clock registers 20:30.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
That was the period
when I helped reform
the Law Relating to
Copyright. I had dozens
of evening meetings.
And then I returned
to my office and
carried on working.
FLASHBACK
INT. GOVERNMENT OFFICE - DAY (1998)
SOMEBODY comes to Peter's office.
SOMEBODY This evening's meeting
is on!
PETER
If I may ask why the meeting
begins at 18:30?
SOMEBODY
That's the time when those
reaching out should have
returned to the office. We
can take stock of the
developments, strategizing
what we should do next.
PETER
I see!
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That was the time when I
was the Deputy Secretary
for Constitutional Affairs,
deconstructing the Urban
Council and the Regional
Council. Yes, I didn't have
the time to have lunch too!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Were they meaningful?
I helped create a new
copyright regime which
is still being applied. As
to the deconstruction of
overlapping institutions,
who would give credit to
by-gone bureaucracy?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
They were my jobs and I
got paid. Now, I'm doing
something as a volunteer.
Light fades.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Oh, the sun has already
set. So quick... But I find
time to be good as I'm
still doing good! Let me
have more of this on
another day!
FADE OUT. The End