FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 16:00
Cluttered with boxes of different colours, stacks of letters, documents and books. PETER stands amidst the chaos.
PETER (V.O): I need to clear them for renovation. Where to start?
Peter focuses on financial documents.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd):As I've invested in lots of stocks, they come in nearly daily.
Peter stares at two orange boxes.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): On money matters, I put important documents in those boxes and won't declutter them.
Peter checks the inside of the orange boxes.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): One is very full, there's space in another.
Staring at the books.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me put those books that I won't declutter inside.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
Peter selects a thin book "The Prisoner of Zenda".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I studied it from 1966-1967. My first taste in English Literature.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Although I scored 98 marks in the subject, all I can remember now is just the book title.
Peter picks up "Introduction to Logic", running his fingers over the brown cover.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's a gift from my matriculation classmate Wong Chak in 1974. He inspired me to learn Philosophy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Having mastered Logic and Methodology, I didn't have any problem in learning Philosophy as an external student. I got my honours degree from London U in 1981.
Peter continues sorting through the books, pulling out "The Paper Chase".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I was fascinated with the 1978 TV drama of the same name. I yearned to study Law.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I did begin my first year in Law at HKU in 1981. It was hard.
Next, Peter finds "Inside the Patent Factory". He flips through the pages.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a gift from Donal, the author of the practical guide in 1998. He was with Nokia.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): One of my smartphones is a Nokia. It could become a collector's item.
Then, Peter picks up "Zeno and the Tortoise".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I bought this book in a bookstore at Cambridge in 2003. I was following a Senior Executive Fellows Program at Harvard Kennedy School.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I love Zeno's tortoise paradox that challenges the concept of motion and continuity and questions the nature of infinity.
Next, Peter pulls out "The Making of the TRIPS Agreement".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a gift from Tony, the author of the work in 2018. He was with WIPO and WTO.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): On behalf of Hong Kong, I contributed to the making of the TRIPS Agreement from 1989-1994, in particular, the Agreement's footnote 1 which is about Hong Kong (and Macau).
Peter puts all the books into the other orange box.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh yes, there's a book I wouldn't declutter too. Where is it?
Soon, Peter finds "To All Appearances - A Lady".
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a gift from Brian, my former UCL LLM classmate in Air & Space Law in 2019. I was visiting him in Victoria, Canada and staying in his home for a couple of days.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): When Brian was buying me the novel, I confessed to him that I had never finished reading any fiction.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I know it's about Victoria as I did try to read it.
Peter adds the book into the box, satisfied with his selection. He then takes a look of the many financial documents.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): These are just numbers...
Peter steps back to look at the filled box, still amidst the chaos.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 22:00
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled: "Treasures in a Box..." to a draft in his laptop.
PETER (V.O): Financial statements represent practicality, while cherished books signify emotional and intellectual connections.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Treasures aren't merely physical items; they also carry sentimental or intellectual value.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Stepping out of the box, the mind isn't a dustbin to keep anger, jeolousy, and hatred, it's a treasure box meant to hold memories, happiness, and love.
FADE OUT
THE END
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