Alternative Home Coming
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Aug 12, 2021
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - MORNING
Surfing the web, PETER makes a call and then ends it.
PETER (V.O.): Not sure if the High Court Library has reopened. If it's open, I'm not sure if it'd close during lunch time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I want to do some research before attending a meeting at 3.pm.
At 11:00 Peter leaves home.
EXT. HIGHT COURT, G/F - 12:00
'
Arriving, a STAFF gestures Peter to take the escalators to a High Block. Peter looks excited.
PETER (V.O.): The High Court Library has moved to where I used to work back in the late 1980s.
Peter takes the stacks of escalators up.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From 1986-1991, I took these escalators on work days.
Act 2
INT. GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1/F - 12:10
Stepping out of a lift, Peter sees the High Court Library sign on the wall.
PETER (V.O.): In 1988, I'd turn left to go to my office. The library of the Attorney General's Chambers was on the right hand side.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now, it's the new High Court Library.
Having taken a photo at the entrance, Peter passes the barrier gate with a smart card.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I'm not a lawyer, I won't the able to use the facilities here.
Peter talks to a STAFF.
PETER: Do you close during lunch time?
STAFF: No.
PETER (V.O.): Good, I don't have to hurry then.
Seeing the new mobile bookshelves, Peter looks astonished.
FLASHBACK
INT. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS' LIBRARY - DAY (Oct 1987)
Quiet. Peter in suit is only library user. He checks the books in fixed bookshelves.
PETER (V.O.): Having completed my 1-year study leave. I'm reporting duty today. But no one is free to see me.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That day, the Hong Kong stock market crashed.
Peter arrives at the old edition sections.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These're some of the books, digests, journals and reports that I used to read decades ago.
Peter grabs some to skim through them.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I used to read Halsbury's Laws of England. There weren't any Halsbury Laws of Hong Kong then.
Sitting in a corner, Peter reads periodicals.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While working, I didn't have time to read them. Now, working in retirement, I can read some of them.
Having read a few articles, Peter checks the time and leaves.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I quit the Attorney General's Chambers in late 1991, the main thing I missed was the library. Now, I can come as often as I like.
INT.CONFERENCE ROOM, HKUST - 14:50
Arriving, Peter grabs a packet of crackers to eat.
PETER (V.O.): Although I haven't had lunch, I've discovered that I still passionate about learning the law.
A COLLEAGUE sitting next to Peter remarks.
COLLEAGUE: Peter, you've to treat yourself better.
The CHAIR then makes his opening remarks.
INT. BUSINESS SCHOOL, HKUST - 17:20
Sitting area. Peter has just finished discussing with a PROFESSOR.
PETER (V.O.): He's a PhD in Maths (Harvard). I want to seek his views on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT). I'm investigating if ordinary people can monetize their intellectual property (IP) via NFT.
Later, Chair comes to chat with Peter.
CHAIR: Peter, we can't retire...a counsel aged 84 is still working...
PETER: True, we've status wealth...
INT. MTR CABIN - 18:30
Crowded. A young MAN offers his seat to Peter, Peter politely declines.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Lying on a sofa, Peter is watching TV, breaking a story about Afghanistan: An Endless War.
PETER (V.O.): The Law of War used to be a component of international law. I saw volumes of it in old libraries. When war has been outlawed, there's Law of Peace.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But for the latter part of 2019, Hongkongers have been enjoying peace. And there's no place like home.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Returning to the very floor where I used to work and research is like an alternative home coming to me.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Commentaires