The Change of Address Card

1. Act 1

2. 
   

3. INT. LIVING ROOM - 12:15

4. 
   

5. Sunlight pours into the room, illuminating the space with a warm glow. PETER sits comfortably, engrossed in his smartphone, as he checks his emails, his expression a mix of focus and curiosity.

6. 
   

7. PETER (V.O.): Oh, Malcolm sent me a link via email last Friday...I was so busy all week.

8. 
   

9. Peter taps the link.

10. 
    

11. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, it's a podcast featuring Malcolm.

12. 
    

13. As he hits PLAY, the sound of an engaging interview fills the room.

14. 
    

15. MALCOLM (V.O.): My mother told me that I had a good memory and would make a good lawyer. Then one day...a Gypsy lady looked at my palm and said: This is a lawyer's hand...I got no idea what would I become...try that!

16. 
    

17. Peter's smile widens.

18. 
    

19. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's just the prologue.

20. 
    

21. He leans back, listening more intently.

22. 
    

23. Act 2

24. 
    

25. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

26. 
    

27. We hear the Host introducing his guest.

28. 
    

29. HOST: ...four decades of experience in the Hong Kong legal sector, as an academic, barrister and author. Aside from his long association with the Faculty of Law of HKU...widely regarded as the leading authority on Land Law in Hong Kong...

30. 
    

31. MALCOLM (V.O.): I'm living in England, but I try to come back more regularly enjoying retirement...

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): Whenever, he and his wife return, we always meet up for dinner.

34. 
    

35. HOST (V.O.):: Let's go back in time...how did you get into Oxford?

36. 
    

37. MALCOLM (V.O.): ...In school, I had good teachers. One of them is from Oxford. He taught me History. He said: I can write a letter for you and you'll have a chance of getting in...

38. 
    

39. HOST (V.O.):...Jurisprudence, that's Philosophy of Law...

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.): In 1981, I got my BA in Philosophy (Lond) as an external student. When I first took up law, I loved Jurisprudence.

42. 
    

43. MALCOLM (V.O.): Oxford calls the whole degree Jurisprudence...much more academic than the London University Law degree...I studied Public International Law...

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.): That was my favourite subject. I got two LLMs (Lond) 1986/1987.

46. 
    

47. HOST (V.O.) :...when you finished your Masters...you started thinking getting a job.

48. 
    

49. MALCOLM (V.O.):...play time was over...I read for the Bar back in London and took pupilage at the Temple...saw an advertisement in the Times to join the School of Law in Hong Kong...so I applied...

50. 
    

51. HOST (V.O.):...you're offered a post...in August 1981.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.): That same month, I also received an offer to read Law at HKU.

54. 
    

55. MALCOLM (V.O.): HKU was very welcoming in those days...about 50 students per year...I was also teaching part-time...Department of Extra-Mural Studies, SPACE now...to teach... Landlord and Tenant to ... property managers...

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.): I was a Housing Assistant and did the Certificate in Housing Management (1977-1980).

59. MALCOLM (V.O.): ...where's the textbook?

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.): In 1981, Malcolm was one of my law tutors; and I encouraged him to write a textbook on Landlord and Tenant.

62. 
    

63. HOST (V.O): You went into practice...

64. 
    

65. MALCOLM (V.O.): ...by the time I left in the early 2000s...

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.): Malcom sent out all those change of address cards. The old fashioned way. I got one.

68. 
    

69. Peter continues to listen, his eyes shining.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I seized the opportunity. I wrote back, asking if he'd take my wife as his pupil.

72. 
    

73. Pausing.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Malcolm did take my wife on as a pupil. He and his late wife Cecilia gave us a friendship that has weathered loss, distance, and time.

76. 
    

77. Peter takes a slow breath. The podcast is winding down.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Listened to Malcolm today. He told the story of his life. But he told mine too.

80. 
    

81. MONTAGE

82. 
    

83. A. Govt office. 1981. Peter (26) is being interviewed by a Legal Scholarship Selection COMMITTEE.

84. 
    

85. B. HKU, 1981. Peter sits HKU Matriculation Exam in English.

86. 
    

87. C. School of Law. 1981. Peter sits written and oral exams.

88. 
    

89. D. Office 1981. Peter (27) finishes filling out of the student admission forms.

90. 
    

91. E. Lift lobby. 1981. Peter talks to MALCOLM about Landlord and Tenant.

92. 
    

93. F. SPACE, HKU. 1991. Peter (37) teaches law to Housing MANAGERS.

94. 
    

95. G. Malcolm's chambers, 2004. Peter (50) takes his WIFE to see Malcolm and his wife CECILIA.

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97. H. Hospital room, 2015. Malcolm sits by a bed, holding the hand of Cecilia. She's frail. Peter and his wife stand behind Malcolm. A silent precence in their grief.

98. 
    

99. END MONTAGE

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:45

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads a photo of a close-up of an envelope, with a green letter box in the background.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): A change of address card is just paper and ink - unless it lands in the hands of someone who remembers who you were, and still wants to find who you've become.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Malcolm moved chambers. I moved heaven and earth to ask one question: would you teach my wife too?

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Great loves and lifelong friendships often begin not with grand gestures, but with a stamp, an envelope, and someone brave enough to write back.

116. 
     

117. The END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT