Learned Friends
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 18:00
PETER dressed elegantly, sits by the piano, his demeanor reflecting a sense of anticipation.
PETER (V.O.): My former law lecturer Macolm and his wife Elaine are in town and would love to join us for dinner.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I helped my wife become Malcolm's pupil in the 2000s. We've become very good friends.
Peter checks a WhatsApp message forwarded by his wife.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A table for six at a restaurant has been booked under my name.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How nice to hear her call me Peter. She rarely does that, but given the circumstances, she has no choice.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know Alice, who taught property and intellectual property. Devin must be connected to both Alice and Malcolm.
Act 2
INT. HEYDAY CUISINE - 19:20
Elegant. Peter and his WIFE enter.
PETER: Oh, Alice and Devin are already seated.
PETER (V.O.): Early is on time to me. To my wife, on time is early.
Peter instroduces himself to Devin, then nods to Alice - his wife following with grace.
DEVIN: Alice was my thesis supervier...I researched on the "consent scheme"...
ALICE: You should share your business cards with them.
Devin hands over his cards to Peter and his wife.
PETER: Devin, you've got a BA from Fudan...A professor from Fudan University once invited me to speak at a conference celebrating the University's 100th anniversity.
DEVIN: I was studying there then.
PETER: I couldn't remember the Professor's name...My wife got her LLB from Peking University,
ALICE: How did you do it?
WIFE: I didn't study in Beijing. The University flew the professors to Hong Kong to teach us at Shue Yan College. I graduated after 3-4 years' intensive study.
PETER: The graduation ceremony was held in Beijing University... Devin, you've got a JD from CUHK.
DEVIN: I did it part-time and graduated in one and half years.
ALICE: Wow, you studied smart. I came to know Peter as I also taught Intellectual Property.
PETER: I'm still grateful for your support to promote Government's IP policy...Incidently, my wife once taught IP part-time at CityU.
WIFE: Yes, for two years.
PETER: My learned friend Yun initially asked me to take on the task, but I was too busy and passed it to my wife, who was equally qualified.
When Malcolm and Elaine arrive, all stand up to greet them.
DEVIN: Malcolm kindly commented on my draft thesis.
PETER: Malcolm is a living authority on Hong Kong property law.
Peter serves food to Malcolm.
MALCOLM: Oh yes, Peter, thank you for your advice on that IP case...
ELAINE: I'm the only one here who isn't a lawyer. But my good friend has become a Judge working on a high profile case.
MALCOLM: Back home, Elaine is the gardener and I'm the dish washer.
PETER (V.O): I envy that. I leave the garden to the gardener and my wife leaves the dish washing to the maid.
PETER: I maintain my professional status so that I can offer pro bono advice to those who can't afford it.
MALCOLM: I wanted to do that in England too, but I wasn't qualified as my IT capacity was limited.
All smile. Dessert is put on the table.
EXT. NATHAN ROAD - 22:15
The party is about to part. Elaine talks to Peter.
ELAINE: Now that your wife has retired, you don't have to travel solo anymore.
PETER: Well, I'm not so sure.
Elaine tries to read Peter's eyes.
PETER (V.O): She wouldn't know we only chat friendly among friends...Oh, it's only now I can recall Professor Zhang of Fudan Unveristy!
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 23:45
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "Learned Friends..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): Barristers call each other learned friends in court. The older I get, the more I wonder which word matters more.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In court, evidence wins cases. At home? No evidence. No objections. No appeal.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The law remembers everything. Pity my mind doesn't.
FADE OUT
END
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