FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 08:30
Wearing a tie, PETER is checking his brief case and jacket pockets.
PETER (V.O.) : As I left the court house yesterday, I took off my Tsinghua U tie.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I couldn't remember if I put it inside my brief case or a jacket pocket.
Peter finds no tie.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Did I drop it? And just then, I've discovered that only a spare MB car key is there...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I used the original one the last time I drove to HKUST to attend a council meeting. Did I drop it too?
Checking time.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've got to leave for Clear Water Bay now...
Act 2
INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM, HKUST - 09:00
Entrance. STAFF#1-6 are greeting Peter.
STAFF#1: You're the first to arrive!
STAFF#2 presents Peter with a white HKUST face mask and a red HKUST tie.
PETER: I'll change mine to show solidarity.
Later, Peter is seated in one of the VIP rows. A string of formal speeches follow.
PETER (V.O.): They're all scripted, except the one given by the President.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Not only that he knows the matter inside out, he also structures and particularizes the presentation in his mind.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I know that because it's my practice too. Moreover, I won't let the speaker podium separate me from the audience.
Later, other VIPS speak ex tempore from the floor.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's engaging.
Then, after a photo session of VIPS (including Peter) on stage, the grand opening of HKUST (Guangzhou) is being streamed on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I like their 30-minute celebration ceremony, although the gestation period of the project is about 5 years.
EXT. SILVERSTRAND BEACH - 14:00
Sunny. Peter is swimming towards the floating platforms.
PETER (V.O.): The water here is clear and cool.
Peter swims around floating platform#1.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Have I seen a school of small fish swimming together or are my vision blurred?
We see Peter refocusing behind his goggles.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, it's actually a shoal of small fish of the same species twisting and turning.
Watching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's like the film scenes in "Finding Nemo"- but much smaller in scale.
Swimming near floating platform#2, Peter sees another shoal of another species, twisting and turning as he's approaching.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I come in peace.
Peter then climbs up onto the platform.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here's heaven on earth to me.
Peter lets the sun tan his chest.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is just a blank slate. But having a blank slate is daunting.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was a primary school pupil, I'd only do my summer holiday homework on the last one or two days of August.
Peter lets the sun tan his back.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My mind is still blank as to how my Tsinghua U tie and the MB car key can disappear.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Unless and until they resurface, I won't have the mood to play guitar.
Suddenly, Peter leaves the platform and swims back quickly to the beach.
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 18:00
Peter is playing electric bass guitar.
PETER (V.O.): Voluntary work aside, I'm beginning the 6th year of my private legal practice.
:Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm glad that I've proven I still have some residual professional value. I've written something on my blank slate.
Playing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): First is a beginning. Sept 1 is a good day to remember. The slate is clean.
Peter takes a look of a Tsinghua U tie and a MB car key near him.
THE END
FADE OUT
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