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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

The Opportunity


  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. EXT. PASSING PLACE - MORNING


  4. As PETER's WIFE gets inside the car, an elegantly-dressed WOMAN#1 waves at a taxi in front of them.

  5. PETER: I've never seen her dressing casually.


  6. WIFE: I've noticed that. We're in the same lift.


  7. PETER: Although not all of your dresses are branded, you've got me as your chauffeur.


  8. Smiling.


  9. PETER (V.O.): My wife deserves that. She exercises her best endeavours all the time.


  10. Pausing.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): She's a fine barrister now.


  12. Peter drives off.


  13. Act 2


  14. INT. STUDY - LATE MORNING


  15. Surrounded by box files, thick books and documents, Peter is laser-focus on something.

  16. PETER (V.O.): I'm still learning how to apply the law in specific and special circumstances.


  17. Taking a call, Peter engages in a lengthy conversation.


  18. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Among other considerations, I need to advance the best interest of my client.


  19. INT. LIPPO CENTRE - AFTERNOON


  20. Lift. Peter takes a look of a young WOMAN#2 in black, carrying a pilot's case.


  21. PETER (V.O.): She's still wearing a barrister's white collar.


  22. Pausing.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What's the favourite part of any game? I believe it's the opportunity to play.


  24. Pausing.


  25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I first dressed similar to that in 1985.


  26. Getting out of the lift, Peter rubs elbows with a FRIEND (60s) in casual wear.


  27. PETER: I've just left chambers.


  28. FRIEND: I'm going back, having just had a long lunch...


  29. They part.


  30. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After a distinguished civil service career, he became a Barrister several years ago.


  31. Pausing.


  32. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was his dream. And he has seized the opportunity to play.


  33. INT. COURT LIBRARY - LATE AFTERNOON


  34. Peter is reading a thick book. A STAFF approaches Peter.


  35. STAFF: We close at 6.pm ie in 15 minutes.


  36. Nodding, Peter flips through the pages.


  37. PETER (V.O.): Let me go back to HKU law library to loan an old edition of it for reference.


  38. INT. LAW LIBRARY - EVENING


  39. Carrying a bulged leather brief case, Peter exits. He then notices a celebrating backdrop and a banner for the class 2020.


  40. PETER (V.O.): No regrets for all the struggles?


  41. Pausing.


  42. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Why should there be regrets? I've been struggling all my life.


  43. FLASHBACK


  44. INT. LAW LIBARY - DAY (1984)


  45. Reading desks are either occupied by STUDENTS or books. Peter (30) is walking around searching for a reading spot.


  46. PETER (V.O.): If I could find an empty desk, I would spend hours reading texts here.


  47. INT. HOME - DAY (1984)


  48. SHARON, Peter's WIFE, is talking to him.


  49. SHARON: It's good that you're graduating. We've been very worried that you might not cope.


  50. RETURN TO PRESENT


  51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I studied all the time, for years. When exams were just over, I'd be back to the empty library to read something new.


  52. Peter takes a shot of the scene.


  53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And after so many years, I'm back again.


  54. Pausing.


  55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Do they mean the regret of missing other more enjoyable opportunities?


  56. Act 3


  57. EXT. LIFT TO HKU MTR STATION - NIGHT


  58. Waiting, Peter is among the STUDENTS.


  59. PETER (V.O.): For decades after graduation, I had the rare opportunity to design the intellectual property law as it should be for Hong Kong.


  60. Pausing.


  61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Law students study the law, not the law that ought to be.


  62. Pausing.


  63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having had the opportunity to re-learn the law now, the subject becomes interesting to me again.


  64. Reflecting.


  65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Learning lots of life lessons, there's no regret.


  66. INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT


  67. Having a hotpot dinner, Peter's wife serves him with all sorts of food from shellfish to vegetables.


  68. PETER (V.O.): My wife enjoys doing that.


  69. FADE OUT.


  70. THE END


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