FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIFT/FOYER, HKUST - 09:20
PETER is at the back of a lift. On a floor, the lady PRESIDENT, the PROVOST and a VICE-PRESIDENT enter.
PETER: Good morning.
OTHERS: Good morning.
As the lift door opens on the 7th floor, The lady President exits. The gentlemen follow. Approaching a door leading to the foyer, Peter observes something.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the lady President is opening the door and holding it for us.
PRESIDENT: May I?
PETER (V.O.): I'm not used to that. But it's cumbersome to do otherwise.
As the gentlemen pass through first, we hear them saying "Thank you" to the President.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Her humility is one hallmark of leadership.
Act 2
INT. FOYER, HKUST - CONTINUOUS
Peter is having some dim sum at a corner.
PETER (V.O.): "May I?" is a polite way to ask for permission.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Using "may I" acknowledges a person has the power to grant or deny the request.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I accept the favour as I think it expedient in the circumstances.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It should help establish a more cordial interaction specially with me since I'm a volunteer.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I'm in a lift with others, I always let women exit first, and most of the time, other men.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I may be showing off how "gentleman" I'm in front of the others.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But the situation has changed since the pandemic...
MONTAGE OF PETER'S "LADIES FIRST" PRACTICE
A. Lift. Peter lets WOMAN#1 exit the lift first.
B. Lobby. Following her, Peter sees the woman#1 using a foot to kick open a door.
C. Door. Peter gives a hand to keep the door open.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I felt bad if I didn't do that as I didn't mean to let the woman opening the door for me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've tried another way to maintain my "gentleman" practice.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S "GENTLEMAN" PRACTICE
A. Lift. Peter lets WOMAN#2 exit the lift first.
B. Lobby. Following her initially, Peter cuts her way from behind, opening the door for woman#2.
C. Door. We see woman#2 looking shocked and ungrateful.
END MONTAGE
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I might have overdone it. But it's what I was willing to do.
Peter enters Council chambers.
INT. ESTATE CLUBHOUSE - 20:00
At a lift going from G/F to 1/F, Peter waits.
PETER (V.O.): I save my energy for swimming.
Entering an empty lift, Peter hears "Wait!" from a distance. Pressing the "door opening" button, he sees a uniformed STAFF entering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He must be in a hurry.
As the lift door opens on 1/F, Peter waits until the staff gestures him to exit first.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's only fair to ask of others what one is willing to do it oneself. But it seems that few care.
Act 3
INT. ESTATE LIFT LOBBY - 21:15
A wet-haired Peter is waiting.
PETER (V.O.): This morning, when I said "good morning" energetically to my relatively new neighbours, they didn't care to respond.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been wondering should one allow others to be one's priority while allowing others to be their option?
Wondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And if I'm to influence others to do things otherwise they wouldn't do, should I say eg "may I say good morning to you?"
Peter is smiling.
FADE OUT
THE END
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