My Friend
FADE IN:
INT. STUDY - DAY
Reading a thick book, PETER pauses. He taps the CALENDAR of his phone and scrolls down until the year 1987. He checks the October dates.
PETER (V.O.)
Yes, October 19, 1987 was
a Black Monday. The Hong
Kong stock market began
to crash.
FLASHBACK
INT. OFFICE - DAY (October 19, 1987)
Peter (33) in suit waits and waits. Then a SECRETARY relates a message.
SECRETARY
They're having an emergency
meeting...wouldn't know when
anybody would be available to
see you. You may like to go to
the law library meanwhile.
Peter looks surprised and leaves.
PETER (V.O.)
I've advised the office that I'd
be reporting duty this morning,
having completed the Foreign
Office legal scholarship in UK.
INT. LAW LIBRARY - DAY
Dead quiet. Not a soul except Peter. He picks out thick books from the shelves and browses through them.
A beat.
The secretary comes in to speak to Peter. He nods disappointingly.
INT. HOME - NIGHT
Sitting in a sofa, Peter and his WIFE (31) watch TV news. The anchor reports: the Hong Kong stock market crash today has spread west to Europe.
PETER
I see! They had more important
things to do than seeing me.
I'm just one among the many
in the system.
.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Peter flips through the pages. He stops when he sees "Penny Stocks".
FLASHBACK
INT. SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE - DAY (2002)
Peter (48) visits the premises. A FRIEND (50) comes down from the first floor, coughing a little. The friend's WIFE (48) looks concerned.
FRIEND
(Taking a breath)
Ah Fai.
PETER
How are you...
FRIEND
(Dismissively)
I don't care about it. I just
focus on my company's
listing in the GEM Board.
PETER
(Emphatic)
Understood. That's what
you've been striving for.
FRIEND
You've got to support me -
a lot!
PETER
Yes! Of course!
Peter's friend passes him some papers.
FRIEND
These papers are for private
placement...
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT (2002)
Peter reads a newspaper's stock column. His WIFE (38) is by his side.
PETER
Oh dear, my friend's company
stock has been one of the top
10 falling stocks for several
days straight. The market is
most unkind to my dying
friend. Yes! Let's buy more!
WIFE
. (Shocked)
Buy more?
PETER
Yes! To support my friend,
I don't mind if they become
penny stocks.
Peter's wife stares at him unbelievably.
INT - FUNERAL HOME - DAY (2002)
LADIES and GENTLEMEN in mourning. An alter photo depicts Peter's friend. Peter stares at the burning of sacrificial items including a branded paper car.
PETER (V.O,)
When we're at school, he
drove us here and there.
He never owned a very
expensive brand though...
EXT - BRANDED CAR SHOWROOM - DAY (2002)
Peter takes delivery of an avant garde model.
PETER (V.O.)
I'm pretentious. I'm just
a salaried employee.
Peter drives the brand new car away, like a chauffeur.
RETURN TO PRESENT
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, the stocks weren't worth
even a penny later.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Without competent actors to
direct and manage a company,
the principles, rules and
processes would have no
impact on corporate governance.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It's good that browsing over
this book brings back memories
of my friend.
Peter places his hand on the cheek.
FADE OUT. The End