An Alumnus
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jan 3, 2022
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - MORNING
Peter is dressing up.
PETER (V.O.): I'm going HKU Library to return some borrowed books and pick up a book I've held.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I meant to do it on New Year Eve, but the library closed early for the occasion.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I can act fast, I wouldn't wait.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Once time is passed, we can never get it back.
Peter goes out with a big-box briefcase.
Act 2
EXT. STREETS - LATER
Pulling the briefcase, Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): Having graduated from HKU Law School in 1985, I bought a carry-on big-box briefcase.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, briefcases and even baggage didn't have wheels and couldn't be pulled.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was hard to carry them. But I was young then.
Peter takes a look of the briefcase behind him.
PETER (V.O.): I bought this one in 2004 when I had to settle international disputes in Geneva.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It once contained documents concerning two disputes: US v the European Communities, and Australia v European Communities.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was probably the first Hong Kong lawyer to have such an opportunity.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I felt proud that I could contribute something to international jurisprudence.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): One day In the High Court Library, I bumped into the Panel's decisions.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Judging from the brand new pages, I believe no one has ever read them.
EXT. HKU CAMPUS - AFTERNOON
Walking past the Knowles Building, Peter takes a photo of it.
PETER (V.O.): It has touched and concerned me. One day in 1981, I went up to the 4/F Law School Registry to my student registration.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And law lectures and tutorials took place inside.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I didn't spend much time in the Law Library as a vacant desk was always hard to find.
As Peter enters the Main Library, a RECEPTIONIST become attentive.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She must be surprised to see a white-haired man coming here.
Having seen Peter tapping a card against a reader and the gate opens, the receptionist becomes inattentive again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Before I began working in retirement, I'd came here to read and borrow screenwriting books.
Inside a room near the lending service counter, Peter finds the book held for him.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is the first time I've held a book. I want to try anything I haven't tried while I still can.
Peter continues to observe the library environment.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What a privilege for users now!
Getting to a pleasure-reading section, Peter tries to find something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the screenwriting book Save the Cat was checked out. I don't mind re-reading it again.
INT. MTR CABIN - LATER
A WOMAN doesn't wait to offer Peter her seat.
PETER: Thank you.
PETER (V.O.): Being comfortable with discomfort is hard to adapt.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Smartphone in hand, Peter checks something.
PETER (V.O.): Am I an alumni or alumnus of HKU?
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Alumni refers to more than one alumnus. But alumni is used so widely that a lot of people confuse them.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I feel fulfilled that my wife and my son are also HKU's Law School alumni.
THE END.
FADE OUT
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