The Utopian Concept
FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Waiting at the driver seat, PETER turns on the car radio. We hear some conversations about "Occupy Central" and "convictions". Peter switches to another channel, the same.
PETER (V.O.)
Although I'm indifferent
to politics, I'd follow
the stories for a while.
FLASHBACK
EXT. SCHOOL - DAY (1971)
Peter (17) reads a book on History.
PETER (V.O.)
Why Hong Kong Chinese
are ruled by the British?
Can't it become an entity
of its own? I'll write an
article about my belief
and publish it in the class
magazine.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
And I did. There wasn't
any feedback. Perhaps
those who had read it
were mature enough to
think that I was naive
and unrealistic.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Later, when I studied
Philosophy, one of the
papers I had selected
was Political Philosophy.
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDY - DAY (1977)
Reading a book entitled "Plato", Peter (23) is in deep thoughts.
PETER (V.O.)
I subscribe to Plato's concept
of "Philosopher King". How
nice would it be for the
governed if the person in
the highest authority is very intelligent, knowledgeable,
reliable, and is willing to
live a simple life.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That was Plato's utopian
thought. Not realistic in
modern city entities, not
to mention regions and
countries. Stability in the
context of rule of law and
accountability is the key.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But some of the governed
want change - not for the
better - but for the perfect,
right away. Conflicts
between government and
the governed are quite
inevitable.
As his WIFE gets inside the car, Peter drives off.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Checking his various devices, Peter looks for something.
PETER (V.O.)
I recall a photo I took in
Admiralty during the Occupy
Central period. Where did I
store the image?
Scrutinizing images on one of his phones, Peter looks delighted.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Here it is!
We see an image of a casually dressed Peter in the traffic-free Queensway, taking a selfie.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It's just a snapshot taken
on Oct 7, 2014 at no costs
to me. If I wanted to take
one like that in an orderly
day, I can't afford to
compensate for Hong
Kong's economic and
social losses!
FLASHBACK
INT. HKU LAW LIBRARY - DAY (1981)
Peter (27) reads a book on Constitutional Law.
PETER (V.O.)
How can a revolution be
legal under a territory's
existing constitution?
No basic or ordinary laws
would permit that! At
the end of the day, it
isn't rule of law, but
rule by law actually!
INT. STUDY - DAY (1986)
Peter (32) studies volumes of International Law.
PETER (V.O.)
International law is no
more than power politics?
INT. STUDY - DAY (2003)
Watching TV, Peter (49) looks shocked.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
US and its allies invade
Iraq? Oh my God! Power
politics, rather than law, is at work.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
And the realistic first rule
in power politics in a peace-
loving fashion is counting
votes.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I got fed up with lobbying
for votes to get Bills through.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Upon retirement, my
first rule of politics
is not to talk about
politics. I just live a
simple life - inciting
others to be good.
Peter takes another look of his selfie.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I once daydreamt to
become a Philosopher
King. As I became less
naive, I've become less
convicted to the utopian
concept!
Peter retires to a sofa to take a nap.
FADE OUT. The End