FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. STREET/MTR Station - 10:45
Cloudy. Peter walks towards a station.
PETER (V.O.): I thought about driving, but June 30, 2022 is special.
Peter waits at a platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Traffic conditions aside, I can do something while travelling.
Sitting inside a train cabin, Peter takes out a small pocket calculator.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've got to file my tax return, but I haven't done all the correct calculations.
Peter presses the calculator's buttons awkwardly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having some knowledge on bookkeeping and accounts, I can't leave fate to do the rest.
Peter continues his calculations.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Inconsistent numbers again! Something is missing but I don't know what it is.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. ESTATE SHROFF OFFICE - DAY (1974)
TENANTS queue up with rental cards and cash in hands. Peter (20) and a COLLEAGUE work inside the strong room.
PETER (V.O.): Housing Assistants do shroff work on a roster basis. It's my most stressful work.
Accepting Tenants' rent cards and cash, Peter (20) records the payment on the rent cards and puts on his initials.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The stress begins when the shroff service is closed at 4.pm. We need to know the exact amount of cash to be banked.
Peter and his Colleague count the cash and do calculations with a large mechanical calculator.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The double counting error is common as there're just a few types of rental rates.
Peter takes a look of the only door.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The security people would come in about 30 minutes to deliver the cash to a bank. And we don't want them and their armoured van to wait too long.
COLLEAGUE: The amount on paper and the cash in hand are consistent!
PETER: Great! What a relief!
We hear door-knocking sounds.
INT. CAMPUS, HKU - NIGHT (1977):
An ACCOUNTANT is teaching bookkeeping and accounts to around 100 STUDENTS including Peter (23). We hear: debits...credits...journals...profit and loss account...balance sheet...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although I'm not good in arithmetic, I've considered if I should learn to become an accountant.
Peter gets off the train.
EXT. PARK - 12:30
Raining. Peter walks in a covered walkway.
PETER (V.O.): There're some decorations to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong rejoining the motherland.
Peter finds an angle to capture the front and the back of the golden sculptures depicting the number "25 & device"
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let Hong Kong, China stay golden.
INT. HONG KONG CLUB BUILDING - 14:00
Harbour view. Sitting on a sofa, Peter sees a vacant stage in red in a square and barges decorating in red cruising in the harbour.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, today is also my last day as an Audit Committee member.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Three years ago when I was invited to do the job, I couldn't believe it.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S PARTICIPATING IN A COMMITTEE MEETING
A. 14:45. Having heard AUDITOR#1's presentation, Peter raises a question and Auditor#1 elaborates.
B. 15: 30. After hearing AUDITOR#2's presentation, Peter makes a query and Auditor#2 explains.
C. 16:45. Following a lengthy presentation made by AUDITOR#3, Peter makes a passionate intervention.
D. 17:30. Before Peter exits, we hear a round of applause.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Tomorrow, I'm stepping up others. But I'll retire by 2025.
Act 3
EXT. MTR STATION/STREET - 18:30
Exiting, Peter walks along a covered walkway.
PETER (V.O.): Days turn into weeks and then months. Since 1997, 300 months have passed.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know Hong Kong's history; and I know I don't have blue eyes.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Politics aside, I chose to live differently. And now I'm content if my residual days and months would be more or less the same.
Peter looks ahead.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Chapter 7 of the year, or Part 2 of the Hong Kong, China's 50-year story, will begin.
THE END
FADE OUT
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