A Free Lunch
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jul 14, 2022
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 10:00
Files in hand PETER is about to read them.
PETER (V.O.): I've to attend a Council meeting at HKUST at 2.30pm.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Exercise my mind aside, I want to exercise my body at Silverstrand Beach before that.
Peter checks the clock.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I wouldn't have time to have a proper lunch.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can bring to the beach two chicken pies and one lemonade.
Looking pleased, Peter studies the files.
Act 2
INT. MALL - 11.45
Walking towards a bakery, Peter checks a phone message.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, I've sold a lot of shares?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh yes, I did the order yesterday.
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY (WEEKS AGO)
Reading a letter, Peter looks shocked.
PETER (V.O.): I don't know I've to pay an annual insurance premium.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've invested all my idle money in stocks. I don't want my wealth manager to sell me further insurance proposals to me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How should I overcome my cashflow problem?
Peter taps his smart phone and checks his bank accounts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't want to disrupt my other longer-term investments.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I solve the problem from source? Just sell some of my stocks?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But that would disrupt my buy-and-hold experiment for a year.
INT. STUDY - DAY (YESTERDAY)
Peter is adding a stock into his Investment Portfolio on screen.
PETER (V.O.): I treat this stock as independent from my investment experiment.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But if this short-term speculation can resolve my cashflow problem, it has to appreciate at least 200% in days!
Seeing a financial news on screen, Peter reads it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The author suggests that just by buying stocks when the prices are low may not be strategic these days.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That has been my investment habit since mid-Sept 2021. I haven't sold any stocks even when prices are high.
We see Peter placing some "Sell" orders on screen.
END FLASHBACK
Peter checks on screen the details of a lot.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I bought the lot on Jan 26, 2022 at $79.1. It's about 1% of my investment. I've now sold it at $80.
Calculating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I mustn't forget all the trading expenses incurred.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I gain a profit in this realisation, it may just be good for two chicken pies.
At the bakery, Peter pays for two chicken pies.
Act 3
EXT. SILVERSTRAND BEACH - 13:30
Leisure ground. A wet-haired Peter is enjoying chicken pies and lemonade.
PETER (V.O.): I feel very happy today as I've resolved my cashflow problem in good time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've sold stocks for the first time; and I'm having a free lunch.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Like anything, get the experience first, the money will come later.
Having checked the phone time, Peter leaves.
THE END
FADE OUT
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