A Good Omen

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. EXT. ROADS - DAY

6. 
   

7. Rainy. Windshield wipers are on. Traffic jam. PETER is driving a silver coupe towards Sai Kung.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Since the pandemic, this is the first time I go back to HKUST's Clear Water Bay campus for a Council meeting.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): For the past year, all optional in-person meetings have been held at HKUST's Business School at Central.

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Otherwise, we simply met via Zoom. I've got used to the new mode of communication.

18. 
    

19. Arriving at an entry gate, Peter points a finger on a label on the windshield. The gate keeper lets Peter's coupe in readily.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): HKUST is quite convenient if I can readily find a parking lot.

22. 
    

23. Pausing.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I attend meetings in Central, I'd check out matters in my chambers or do some research in the Court library afterwards.

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. EXT/INT. HKUST CLEAR WATER BAY CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS

30. 
    

31. Having parked his coupe, Peter rushes towards a building complex.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's actually a prestige that I can give back by doing voluntary work for HKUST.

34. 
    

35. Peter takes a lift up.

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having the background in philosophy and law, it was quite inconceivable that I'd work in the science and technology sector.

38. 
    

39. Pausing.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I do have decades of leadership and execution experience.

43. Before entering the Council chambers, Peter enjoys the panoramic view.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's so nice to be back.

46. 
    

47. Inside the Council chambers, Peter settles down, exchanging greetings with COLLEAGUES.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's fortunate that I can join today. But for the unexpected intervening events, I should be appearing in court now.

50. 
    

51. When the Council begins to transact its business, Peter isn't slow to make an opening intervention.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Whenever a proposition aligns with my core value, I'd be quick to speak up.

54. 
    

55. The Council continues to transact its many businesses.

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was with the Government, there were so many things I liked to change. But the systemic implications had prevented me from changing anything after all.

58. 
    

59. Peter observes his COLLEAGUES making interventions.

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Within HKUST, our collective wisdom should help drive changes for the better.

62. 
    

63. Peter reads papers on his iPad Mini screen.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We all want to do good. And we'd be leaving something good for HKUST.

66. 
    

67. Hours later, there's no other business. Peter packs his mobile gadgets. Getting out of the Chambers, a lunch reception awaits.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How nice! Instead of having a sandwich and a drink at Central, we'll have dim-sums and other snacks.

70. 
    

71. Peter begins to show support to the catering STAFF, consuming the delicacies and chatting with colleagues.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know the supporting staff have done a lot to make this happen.

74. 
    

75. Standing at the podium before a microphone, the CHAIR is going to speak.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's more than a lunch session.

78. 
    

79. CHAIR:...Today is the 14th day of the Chinese New Year...

80. 
    

81. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, that's a good reminder. I resumed working on the 5th day of it. My holiday mood has long gone.

82. 
    

83. TWO GENTLEMEN and a LADY then happily join the Chair, posing for a few photos. Peter captures the moments before joining them.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, it's an appropriate occasion to celebrate. Through the Chair's leadership and the Administration's relentless execution, HKUST has sustained itself as a value centre.

86. 
    

87. Pausing.

88. 
    

89. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We might be leaving a legacy outlasting our lives. While we might like to be remembered, the hard truth is that any real remembrance is short.

90. 
    

91. Pausing.

92. 
    

93. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Another hard truth is that all things that aren't sustainable must come to an end, no matter how good they were at the inception.

94. 
    

95. Pausing.

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The world is dynamic and what's constant is change. A further hard truth is that nothing is everlasting.

98. 
    

99. Finishing his desserts, Peter says goodbye to the remaining colleagues.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. EXT. HKUST CLEAR WATER BAY CAMPUS - CONTINUOUS

104. 
     

105. At the entrance piazza, Peter walks towards HKUST's icon - the red sundial sculpture or the "Redbird".

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): The sundial - making use of the sun's ray to tell time - is one of humankind's earliest invention.

108. 
     

109. Peter takes a few photos, focusing on the Redbird.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I hope it'd become the focal point of science and technology at least in the Greater Bay Area - China's powerhouse-to-be.

112. 
     

113. Then, we see the sun's ray beginning to cast on the Redbird.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A good omen.

116. 
     

117. Looking pleased, Peter walks towards a car park.

118. 
     

119. EXT. ROADS - LATER

120. 
     

121. Sunny. Through traffic. Opening the sunroof of his silver coupe, Peter continues to drive towards Kowloon.

122. 
     

123. FADE OUT.

124. 
     

125. THE END