Sweeter Than Wine

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. SITTING ROOM - 15:30

6. 
   

7. Opening a wine box, two HKU Law face masks capture PETER'S attention.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): One for me, and one for my wife.

10. 
    

11. Peter's WIFE walks past.

12. 
    

13. WIFE: We won't wear them though. We'll just keep them.

14. 
    

15. PETER: True.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.): That we can associate with HKU law was a happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That the gifts were from my former Law lecturer and my wife's pupil master.

22. 
    

23. Recalling.

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. LAW SCHOOL, HKU - DAY (1981)

28. 
    

29. Lecture room. A LECTURER is lecturing. Peter (27) is among a few dozen STUDENTS.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): Merry is a happy surname and an Oxford law degree is prestigious.

32. 
    

33. Jotting notes.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): No doubt his glasses have thick lens.

36. 
    

37. Observing.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I believe we're about the same age. I'm a mature student.

40. 
    

41. Jotting notes.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My dream was to become a HKU undergraduate if a faculty would admit me.

44. 
    

45. Pausing.

46. 
    

47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I couldn't believe I was screened in as a Government legal scholar 1981, paving my way here.

48. 
    

49. Recalling.

50. 
    

51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From 1977-1980, I came to HKU 2-3 times a week to follow a certificate course on housing management.

52. 
    

53. Recalling.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My first law lecture was on Land law. I learned about an agreement for a lease is as good as a lease in the case of Walsh v Lonsdale (1882).

56. 
    

57. Recalling.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In year 3, I learned the law of Landlord and Tenant. But there wasn't much teaching materials.

60. 
    

61. END FLASHBACK

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Later, I suggest Mr Merry write something on Landlord and Tenant.

64. 
    

65. Pausing.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In early 2000's, I was surprised to receive a change-of-address letter from him. He wrote the envelope address by hand.

68. 
    

69. Recalling.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So I responded to see if he'd accept my wife as his pupil.

72. 
    

73. Pausing.

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As a former senior executive, my wife could reciprocate with some executive help.

76. 
    

77. Pausing.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And so, he became my wife's pupil master. One thing led to another, and the rest is history.

80. 
    

81. Pausing.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just then, we've had a farewell lunch. He's returning to England with his wife and three dogs.

84. 
    

85. Pausing.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I think it's the right thing to do as everybody should keep intact his/her roots.

88. 
    

89. Pausing.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After decades of engagement, Malcolm knows I've many stories to tell.

92. 
    

93. Peter takes a look of the bottle of wine.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But he still doesn't know that I don't drink!

96. 
    

97. Peter smiles.

98. 
    

99. Act 3

100. 
     

101. INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

102. 
     

103. PETER (V.O.): Kind souls think kind thoughts.

104. 
     

105. Pausing.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Kind thoughts reflect a lot of thinking about others.

108. 
     

109. Peter captures a photo.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My photo can't capture memories - only the heart can.

112. 
     

113. Thinking.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Kind thoughts and good memories are sweeter than wine.

116. 
     

117. Pausing.

119. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is how I'd unveil my HKU Law facemask.

120. 
     

121. FADE OUT

122. 
     

123. THE END