It's Today

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 18:30

6. 
   

7. Watching the TV inattentively, PETER smiles.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): I couldn't believe spending time in court can be that satisfying.

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was with Government, there wasn't any work-life balance.

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I wasn't conscious of the change of seasons, not to mention the days.

18. 
    

19. Recalling.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today in court, the bench queried my client's remand from a date to "June 2, 2022". Or "What day is it?"

22. 
    

23. Recalling.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I offered my assistance: "It's today."

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. FLASHBACK

30. 
    

31. INT. STUDY - 10.00 (YESTERDAY)

32. 
    

33. Referring to the cases in a Daily Cause List on his smart phone screen, Peter studies the small prints in a thick book.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.): As a duty lawyer, my clients want my opinions on their probable sentences.

36. 
    

37. INT. SECURED AREA, COURT BUILDING - 10:00 (TODAY)

38. 
    

39. Interview room. Peter and an ASSISTANT are interviewing a WOMAN.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.): She's content and would endure what's to come.

42. 
    

43. Later, the Assistant ushers in a MAN in handcuffs and passes Peter a file to read.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well...a big challenge.

46. 
    

47. Then, the man answers to questions put to him.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His nature isn't bad, the socio-economic problems have caused all the hardships.

50. 
    

51. PETER: I'll do the best I can.

52. 
    

53. MAN: Thank you very much!

54. 
    

55. SEQUENCE OF PETER'S REPRESENTING THE MAN IN COURT

56. 
    

57. A. We hear a case number called. The man, guarded by an OFFICER, appears in the dock.

58. 
    

59. B. Two charges are read to the man and he pleads guilty to both.

60. 
    

61. C. The brief facts of his case are read to the man and he admits their truth.

62. 
    

63. D. The PROSECUTION narrates a string of man's previous conviction records.

64. 
    

65. E. In mitigation, Peter submits from the bar table to the BENCH passionately.

66. 
    

67. F. The Bench sentences the MAN to 17 months of imprisonment, in total.

68. 
    

69. G. Before he is taken down, the grateful man is anxious to have eye contacts with Peter.

70. 
    

71. I. In response, Peter gestures a thumb-up signal to the Man.

72. 
    

73. END SEQUENCE

74. 
    

75. INT. CORRIDOR - 13:00

76. 
    

77. The Assistant is anxious to talk to Peter.

78. 
    

79. ASSISTANT: You've persuaded the bench very effectively.

80. 
    

81. PETER: The bench is most kind.

82. 
    

83. INT. STUDY - 17:30

84. 
    

85. Peter picks up a call.

86. 
    

87. SOMEONE (From phone): Mr Cheung, about the woman you interviewed this morning, she has been tested COVID-19 positive...

88. 
    

89. PETER: Many thanks for the notification, I'll do my RAT then.

90. 
    

91. INT. BATHROOM - 18:00

92. 
    

93. The Rat kits are placed near a basin. Peter focuses on the test device.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.): I feel I should be Okay,

96. 
    

97. Having seen just one red bar emerging in the device, Peter goes to bathe.

98. 
    

99. END FLASHBACK

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. STUDY - 22:30

104. 
     

105. PETER (V.O.): The service I rendered today won't change the world, but it could the change the world of others.

106. 
     

107. Pausing.

108. 
     

109. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Helping those in trouble is what I like to do. I see them as victims of socio-economic problems.

110. 
     

111. Reflecting.

112. 
     

113. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Not yesterday, not tomorrow, today is my favourite day.

114. 
     

115. Smiling, Peter watches "How the Universe Works".

116. 
     

117. THE END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT