FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD - DAY
After helping his WIFE getting her baggage into the car boot PETER pulls off. Sitting in the front passenger seat, his wife checks her phone.
WIFE
Well, they will stage a
a protest around my office.
After my court hearing
tomorrow, I might not be
able to return the office.
Peter's eyebrows rise in surprise.
PETER Work at home then...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
I considered teleworking when I was a department
head. Due to the service-
wide implications, I couldn't
take it further. Now the
exception can be the norm.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
As Government has become
a weaker party in the
recent confrontations, Hong
Kong protesters can do
whatever they wanted to do
without regard for the
impact of others.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Thinking, Peter keys his computer.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
Even the Police has
difficulty to protect themselves.
Unlawful assembly is quite
legitimate now. The law
should be abolished as
selective enforcement is
worse.
Peter sighs.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Inaction by those in authority
and shy away from the limelight
can't be a way to prevent a
bad situation from becoming
worse!
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter is watching BBC World.
PETER (V.O.)
It's about South Korea's
Gunnam rocked by rape
scandals.
An INTERVIEWEE (face not seen) speaks from the TV screen: He overpowered me. I feared I might die. I gave up and lay there like a dead body.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
Is appeasement strategic
in conflict situations? It
signifies one accepts as
the weaker party and
will continue to be bullied
by the stronger one. The
weaker party has to accept
whatever the stronger
party demands. Appeasement
encourages the the
opponent to be coercive
and adopts it as the party's
dominant strategy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
The Hong Kong protesters
have demonstrated their
willingness to act rashly and
irrationally, whether they're
pushed or not. Their present
dominant strategy will
continue to win, like what is hypothesized in Game
Theory.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
As to how to prevent a
bad situation from becoming
worse, the key is to do
the right things quickly.
Political appointees should
respect the system under
which they're appointed
to resign as they've failed
to deliver, minimizing Hong
Kong's societal cost.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It wasn't long ago Teresa
May resigned but she's
still in office until there's
a successor.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I don't believe one can't
resign if there's the will.
It's not a crime, not to
mention extradition!
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But persons who have
been exercising just
authority and expect
obedience don't know
how to lead when there's
civil disobedience.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd)
What they've experienced
are against their knowledge
and instinct. They can't be
uplifted and transformed
overnight. It's inevitable
that their indecision and
and lack of leadership will
turn the situation from bad
to worse.
Peter opens the door which is covered by a translucent plastic sheet like a traditional Japanese door.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I've nothing to hide. The
workmen outside did
that to prevent dust
getting into my premises. I know they're installing
something in the lift lobby.
It'd be scary if they're
preparing something sinister.
FLASHBACK
INT. HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL (2005)
Marty Linsky (60s) does autographs for a line mature students including Peter (51) in a book entitled: "Leadership On The Line: Staying Alive Through The Danger Of Change."
PETER (V.O.)
He wrote to me personally
and I was persuaded to
attend his Executive Program.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
The authors say in the
book that leadership is worth
the risk as its goals extend
beyond material gain or
personal advancement.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I've been exercising leadership
without formal authority. A
person vested with high authority
doesn't mean s/he can lead.
The political appointees
have proven they're mere
followers. They're being led
by Hong Kong protesters!
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
What a shame!
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter and his wife watch late news as they're having dinner. We see and hear protesters' making their stories.
PETER
Not a word from any
Political Appointees?
FADE OUT. The End
e