FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. MA TAU CHUNG ROAD - MA TAU KOK ROAD - 09:15
In a three-piece black suit, PETER is going somewhere.
PETER (V.O.): I'd be arriving 1 Ma Tau Kok Road in good time.
At a road junction, Peter sees the "Ma Tau Kok Road" signage and an old office building next to a housing block.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is this it?
Checking the name of the building, Peter sees "Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre".
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, here's my meeting venue.
INT. MA TAU KOK DETENTION CENTRE - 09:20
Appearing, Peter presents a letter to a uniformed OFFICER.
PETER: I'm a Duty Lawyer. I've an appointment with my client.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. HOME, TIN SUM SAN TSUEN - DAY (SPRING 1974)
Phone rings. Peter (19) takes the call.
CALLER (From phone): ...I'm calling from the Housing Dept. We've a letter for you.
PETER (V.O.): What's the letter about? I sense that it's not unimportant.
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. OFFICE - DAY (EARLY SPRING 1974)
Dressed in a new blue suit and carrying an old bag, Peter enters an interview room and sees the CHAIR, MEMBER#1 and a young MEMBER#2.
PETER (V.O.): I've my suit made in Temple Street for this recruitment interview. I've been using my school bag since Form 3.
In response to the questions posed by the Chair and Member#1, Peter answers them confidently. When Member#2 poses a question, Peter hesitates a little.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, he emphasizes on his vocabulary, but he pronounces the past participle "bedevilled" as "bede-villed"...
Nonetheless, Peter responds to the question calmly, as the Chair and Member#1 look on.
CHAIR: Do you have any question for us?
PETER: I'm afraid no.
END FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
CALLER (Cont'd) (From phone): Come to collect it on ... in the afternoon...
PETER: But I've to teach in the afternoon...
CALLER (From phone): You're so troublesome!
PETER: Yes, in the afternoon, Sir.
CALLER (From phone): At 1 Ma Tau Kok Road.
The caller hangs up.
INT. OFFICES, MA TAU KOK ROAD - DAY (DAYS LATER)
Peter gets a thick letter from a middle-aged CLERICAL OFFICER.
PETER (V.O.): It's an offer letter. Accepting it, I'll become a Housing Assistant.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a civil service post. It isn't easy to work for the colonial Govt.
Peter takes another look at the clerical officer.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He has been a bureaucrat for quite a while.
EXT. MA TAU KOK ROAD - (LATER)
Walking along the road, Peter looks very happy.
PETER (V.O.): If I pass the probation, I'd have an iron rice bowl on pensionable terms.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When compared with my teaching job, my monthly salary will be doubled...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But my Dad wished that I could become a Police Inspector...
Peter touches his glasses.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Being short-sighted, I won't be eligible.
END FLASHBACK
Act 3
EXT. MA TAU KOK ROAD - MA TAU CHUNG ROAD - 11:30
Walking along, Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): Working as a Housing Assistant, I got training and was taught laws relating to Landlord and Tenant.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That assisted me a lot when I attended the HKU Law School admission interview in 1981. The rest is history.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's nothing like returning to a place that looks unchanged to find the ways in which it and I have developed.
THE END
FADE OUT
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