Be Persuasive
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Nov 10, 2020
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
EXT. LOWER ALBERT ROAD - EVENING
Leaving the Peak Tram station, PETER walks towards the Department of Justice.
PETER: (V.O.): I used to work here. It was Autumn 1985. Having called to the Bar, I became an Assistant Crown Counsel.
MONTAGE OF PETER WORKING IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT (1985)
A. Peter (31) in suit enters the entrance.
B. Peter shares a room with a CROWN COUNSEL.
C. Files on desks, they chat.
D. Researching in an area, Peter does the paper chase.
E. Expatriate COUNSEL chat in their rooms.
F. In a corridor, Peter sees expatriate COUNSEL#1 slides a file on the floor to expatriate COUNSEL#2.
G. During lunch time, expatriate and local COUNSEL share a small lift.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Those were the days.
Having taken a photo, Peter walks past it.
Art 2
EXT. CHATER GARDEN - LATER
PETER (V.O.) : Throughout my civil service career, I worked for the Government.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now, I still work for the Government on fiat, but I'd also act for the other side.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In a case, I asked the Government Counsel if we could agree on certain matters so that only live issues would be discussed during the hearing.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There was no reply. But I had done my part.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Later, when I read the Government Counsel's skeleton arguments, those matters were not disputed.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Anyway.
Peter gets inside the MTR station.
INT. COURT ROOM - DAY
Peter and OTHERS are seated. Then the GOVERNMENT COUNSEL arrives and sits to the left of Peter.
PETER (V.O.): That's the Government Counsel.
Peter takes the initiative to talk to the Government Counsel.
PETER: About those matters, I suppose you don't dispute them.
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: Yes, I do take issues with them.
Peter nods.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Surprise. What are the ingenious ways to challenge them? I can't think of any.
The Court is in session. We hear emphatically:...not challenged...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Government Counsel didn't even attempt to challenge those matters.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A person's credibility is built on words and actions.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It might be that the Government Counsel wasn't willing to accept responsibility.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But the more a person is willing to accept responsibility, the more credibility a person has.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Once credibility is lost, it can never be recovered.
Act 3.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - MORNING
Peter sees his WIFE dressing in black.
PETER: Going to court? I'd better go to drive up the car!
WIFE: In the afternoon only.
EXT. ROADS - LATER
As he drives, Peter chats with his wife.
PETER: At my hearing the other day, I found the Government Counsel not persuasive...
PETER (V.O.): What I want to say is that we've to be truthful to be credible. If we're credible, we're believable.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If we're believable, we'll be persuasive.
EXT. LOWER ALBERT ROAD - LATER
Peter's wife gets off at a car park. Peter drives away and stops in front of traffic lights.
PETER (V.O.): I was crossing the road days before after a daycation at the Peak.
INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING
Walking in, Peter is surprised to see his wife.
PETER: Home already?
WIFE: I've won the case.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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