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FADE IN.

EXT. STREET, WESTERN DISTRICT, HK - DAY

Walking along, PETER is attracted to a non-conspicuous congee store.

PETER (V.O.)

I believe I might be

able to get the kind

of minced beef congee

here. I've some fond

food memories...

FLASHBACK

INT. STREET STORE, HUNG SHUI KIU, NT - DAY (1964)

Peter (10) is using a spoon to stir the raw minced beef in a bow of hot congee.

PETER (V.O.)

Apart from the beef

ball dim sum, I love

the minced beef

congee.

Finishing his congee, Peter pays HK$0.2 to the OPERATOR.

END FLASHBACK

Peter steps inside the store and makes his order. When the congee is served, Peter looks excited. He then uses a spoon to stir the raw minced beef in a bow of hot congee a bit before taking a photo.

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

Yes, this is the style.

I can't find similar in

upper-class congee

restaurants. I haven't

had something like

this in Hong Kong for

a long time.

Swiftly, Peter enjoys his congee.

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

It's just HK$17 and so

the profit margin should

be low because of the

rent. But this simple

congee is what I love.

Pausing.

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

When I was young, my

needs are physiological.

I knew staying hungry

was no fun.

Pausing.

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

The next time I come

here for my dental

appointment, I must

have it again.

INT. STUDY - DAY

Waking up from an afternoon nap on a sofa, Peter checks a new phone notification.

PETER (V.O.)

It's a new requested

question: Why have so

many people emigrated

out of Hong Kong to

US when it's such a

developed place?

Pausing.

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

That's a good question.

As a disinterested

observer, I believe the

other man's grass is

always greener, or

the moon is fuller in

foreign countries.

Pausing.

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

I've never had the

urge to immigrate. I

feel my genuine link

is with Hong Kong. I

was born and raised

here. Hong Kong is

home and I have to

capture, create and

deliver value to sustain

Hong Kong as a

fortune place. It's my

moral duty.

Pausing.

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

To immigrate is to

disengage. If we don't

do good for Hong Kong,

how can it thrive?

Peter begins to type on his phone. Later, he sees a diary alert: Departing for Tokyo at 02:00 tomorrow.

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

To visit a place from

time to time for leisure

is different from domiciling

there. Japan is a good

place to live and so their

passports, rather than

others, are the strongest

in the world.

A beat.

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

I'm a bit hungry. Let me

go downstairs to buy

a chicken pie. It has

been my favourite since

my teens.

FLASHBACK

INT. VILLAGE STRUCTURE, TIN SUM, NT - NIGHT (1970)

A MAN (20) carrying a small box returns with Peter's SISTER (19). Peter's PARENTS (late 30s), Peter (16) and his three younger BROTHERS are at home.

MAN

I've bought some chicken

pies.

Peter and the brothers take their shares from the small box.

PETER (V.O.)

Wow, so delicious!

END FLASHBACK

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

Although the Lucky

Restaurant that made

those chicken pies

closed decades ago,

perfect substitutes are

available from cake

shops in Hong Kong.

Reflecting.

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

Later, I fell in love,

bought family homes

and settled down, got

the esteem as a legal

professional, and did

good for Hong Kong.

Reflecting.

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

Although the sun might

shine brighter on the

other side, I'm so thankful

with what I've got.

Pausing.

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

Immigration is never on

my agenda. How can I

afford not to have my

minced beef congee

and ...oh yes.. I've got

to buy my chicken pie.

Exits Peter.

FADE OUT. The End

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