A Free Lunch

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 10:00

6. 
   

7. Files in hand PETER is about to read them.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): I've to attend a Council meeting at HKUST at 2.30pm.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Exercise my mind aside, I want to exercise my body at Silverstrand Beach before that.

14. 
    

15. Peter checks the clock.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I wouldn't have time to have a proper lunch.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can bring to the beach two chicken pies and one lemonade.

22. 
    

23. Looking pleased, Peter studies the files.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. MALL - 11.45

28. 
    

29. Walking towards a bakery, Peter checks a phone message.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): Oh, I've sold a lot of shares?

32. 
    

33. Recalling.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh yes, I did the order yesterday.

36. 
    

37. FLASHBACK

38. 
    

39. INT. STUDY - DAY (WEEKS AGO)

40. 
    

41. Reading a letter, Peter looks shocked.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.): I don't know I've to pay an annual insurance premium.

44. 
    

45. Pausing.

46. 
    

47. 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.

48. 
    

49. Pausing.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How should I overcome my cashflow problem?

52. 
    

53. Peter taps his smart phone and checks his bank accounts.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't want to disrupt my other longer-term investments.

56. 
    

57. Pausing.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Should I solve the problem from source? Just sell some of my stocks?

60. 
    

61. Pausing.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But that would disrupt my buy-and-hold experiment for a year.

65. INT. STUDY - DAY (YESTERDAY)

66. 
    

67. Peter is adding a stock into his Investment Portfolio on screen.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.): I treat this stock as independent from my investment experiment.

70. 
    

71. Pausing.

72. 
    

73. 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!

74. 
    

75. Seeing a financial news on screen, Peter reads it.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The author suggests that just by buying stocks when the prices are low may not be strategic these days.

78. 
    

79. Thinking.

80. 
    

81. 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.

82. 
    

83. We see Peter placing some "Sell" orders on screen.

84. 
    

85. END FLASHBACK

86. 
    

87. Peter checks on screen the details of a lot.

88. 
    

89. 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.

90. 
    

91. Calculating.

92. 
    

93. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I mustn't forget all the trading expenses incurred.

94. 
    

95. Pausing.

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I gain a profit in this realisation, it may just be good for two chicken pies.

98. 
    

99. At the bakery, Peter pays for two chicken pies.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. EXT. SILVERSTRAND BEACH - 13:30

104. 
     

105. Leisure ground. A wet-haired Peter is enjoying chicken pies and lemonade.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): I feel very happy today as I've resolved my cashflow problem in good time.

108. 
     

109. Pausing.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've sold stocks for the first time; and I'm having a free lunch.

112. 
     

113. Pausing.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Like anything, get the experience first, the money will come later.

116. 
     

117. Having checked the phone time, Peter leaves.

118. 
     

119. THE END

120. 
     

121. FADE OUT