My Priorities

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 11.45

6. 
   

7. Having studied files, PETER put them aside.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Okay, I've prepared for my court appearance next week.

10. 
    

11. Tapping an icon on his phone screen, Peter sees numerals in red.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Hong Kong stock market is beyond my control.

14. 
    

15. Peter picks up car keys from a box.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I want to drive back to my NT home to enjoy myself.

18. 
    

19. EXT. BLOCK EXIT - 12:00

20. 
    

21. Seeing sunshine and blue sky, Peter retreats.

22. 
    

23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):What a beautiful day! Going to the beach first is what I want now.

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. EXT. GOLD COAST BEACH - 13:15

28. 
    

29. Arriving, Peter sees some BEACHGOERS.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): Surprise. No one is swimming though.

32. 
    

33. Checking a lifeguard tower, Peter sees a LIFEGUARD on duty.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's good.

36. 
    

37. In swimming gear, Peter begins to swim.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The water isn't as warm as the sunshine.

40. 
    

41. Swimming breaststrokes.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I shouldn't stay in the cold water for too long. I don't want to have hypothermia.

44. 
    

45. Swimming freestyle.

46. 
    

47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Well, that's enough. My body is mine. I've to be prudent.

48. 
    

49. Resting on the beach, Peter takes some photos.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is life!

52. 
    

53. EXT. ARTIFICIAL LAKE - 14:30

54. 
    

55. Walking around the lakeside path, Peter watches the pigeons and the fish.

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They've to be close humans, hoping to get some food.

58. 
    

59. INT. LAKESIDE RESTAURANT - 14:45

60. 
    

61. Seated, Peter looks around.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.): Good business. It's fortunate that I didn't have to wait.

64. 
    

65. Peter does his order.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I haven't come here for weeks. It's good to see familiar faces working here.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In my teens, I had to work as a part-time waiter.

70. 
    

71. Peter's tea set is being served.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've ordered coffee. I don't have to worry if I couldn't go to bed early tonight as I don't have any professional task tomorrow.

74. 
    

75. INT. PETER'S NT HOME - 16:00

76. 
    

77. Piles of books and papers beside him, Peter checks one after another.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.): Quorans have asked me what should be some 2022 resolutions.

80. 
    

81. Reading books.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): These books have been sitting in bookshelves for decades. One good resolution for myself is to finish reading them.

84. 
    

85. Reading papers.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Checking their contents, I'm re-living my memories - my learning, thinking and experience then.

88. 
    

89. Pausing.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's high time I rescheduled my priorities.

92. 
    

93. Phone rings. Peter picks up the call.

94. 
    

95. PETER (To phone): Can I take up an urgent court appearance tomorrow?

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm actually in festive mood.

98. 
    

99. Pausing.

100. 
     

101. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The cab-rank rule applies.

102. 
     

103. PETER (To phone): Okay!

104. 
     

105. Act 3

106. 
     

107. INT. STUDY - 22:30

108. 
     

109. Books at his knee, Peter is in thoughts.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.): To survive, I've to do what what I've to do.

112. 
     

113. Pausing.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To live, I strive to be the person I want to be.

116. 
     

117. Pausing.

118. 
     

119. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After court work tomorrow, I'll do whatever I want to do.

120. 
     

121. THE END.

122. 
     

123. FADE OUT