The Release Clause

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

5. INT. LIVING ROOM - 08:45

6. 
   

7. The sound of raindrops tapping against the window. PETER carefully checks the documents in a folder.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Yes, there're three original land memorials and a certified copy of a missing land memorial.

10. .

11. Recalling.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Months ago, my younger brother informed us that certain portions of our family home in Tin Sum San Tsuen would be resumed to make way for the construction of the Hung Shui Kiu station.

14. 
    

15. Recalling.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The land where our family home stands is owned by our late Dad and Mum. He suggested to hire a lawyer to handle the matter.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, I knew we still needed to give instructions and provide the land memorials. Since we've to be involved regardless, why not handle it ourselves?

22. 
    

23. Pausing.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm going to take on the role of messenger, delivering the required documents to the Conveyancing Office.

26. 
    

27.  Act 2

28. 
    

29. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - 10:00

30. 
    

31. Sitting in a chair by the conference table, Peter notices the logo of the Lands Department. prominently displayed.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): In 198O, I was appointed as a Land Executive with the Lands Department and assigned to a land resumption team in the Tuen Mun Office.

34. 
    

35. Recalling.

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All the team members showed a lot of respect to the team head.

38. 
    

39. FLASHBACK

40. 
    

41. INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - DAY (Autumn 1980)

42. 
    

43. Seated around the table, the team MEMBERS follow the team HEAD to wash diligently the utensils with a pot of hot water. Peter (25) remains at his seat.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.): This is a decent restaurant, and I don't see any hygiene issues.

46. 
    

47. Peter notices that the team head and other members are looking at him, anticipating that he'd follow their lead.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having worked as a part-time hotel waiter for many years, I found it offensive for customers to have to wash their own utensils.

50. 
    

51. Standing his ground, Peter remains stay put.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since it's just a team lunch, I feel no obligation to follow suit - work is a different matter entirely.

54. 
    

55. RETURN TO PRESENT

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a result, I felt like I wasn't a likable member of the team.

58. 
    

59. Pausing.

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Around that time, a close friend alerted me about a government legal training scholarship that was being offered. Successful applicants would have the opportunity to study law at HKU.

62. 
    

63. Recalling.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Studying at HKU had always been my dream, especially since law is such a prestigious field.

66. 
    

67. Recalling.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, a prerequisite was that applicants' supervisors had to endorse the release clause, commiting to a study leave for successful candidates.

70. 
    

71. FLASHBACK

72. 
    

73. INT. TEAM HEAD'S OFFICE - DAY (Winter,1980)

74. 
    

75. With the application form in hand, Peter approaches the team head.

76. 
    

77. PETER: Sir, I'd like to apply for this legal training schorship, but it includes a release clause. I hope you can endorse it.

78. 
    

79. The team head leans back in his chair, looking at the application form.

80. 
    

81. HEAD: Says here the Department must agree to release you if you succeed.

82. 
    

83. The team head picks up a pen, hovering over the "Supervisor Approval" line...

84. 
    

85. HEAD (Cont'd): The condition is "if" you succeed.

86. 
    

87. The team head shrugs, signs and hands the form back, already turning to another file.

88. 
    

89. RETURN TO PRESENT

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He thought it's unlikely to be his problem; and letting me go proved I was worthless.

92. 
    

93. Recalling.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Surprisingly, I was successful. When other Land Executives sought to follow my lead in the next opportunity, they're denied.

96. 
    

97. Pausing.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I left the Department to understand the law that takes the land. I return to use that law to help my Mum claim what's owed for the portions of the land that were taken.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:45

105. Peter adds a photo taken immediately after leaving the Lands Department's Conveyancing Office to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): Sometimes, the door slam shut behind me only because someone was too eager to be rid of me - little do they realise, they just handed me the key.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Systems hold power. Land holds memory. People like me hold stories caught in between.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Land isn't merely soil and deeds; it embodies my family's spirit and serves as a map of our history.

116. 
     

117. FADE OUT

118. 
     

119. END