3. Corruption pitfalls
Video 5 – Misplaced trust
Script of the video
Scene 1
| Time: | Morning |
| Location: | Bus Stop |
| Character(s): | Eddy (relationship manager of a bank), Grandma Lam (regular customer of Eddy’s) |
| (Eddy is waiting for the bus to work. He looks exhausted. Grandma Lam passes by.) | |
| Grandma Lam: | Eddy boy, going to work so early. |
| Eddy: | Good morning, Grandma Lam. Are you going grocery shopping? |
| Grandma Lam: | Yes... I bought a few things. Oh, you look so pale? Not getting enough sleep? |
| Eddy: | (embarrassed) No... umm... I watched the late night soccer match. |
| Grandma Lam: | You need to go to bed early to stay healthy. By the way, I want to get some new banknotes for lai-see. I’ll see you later. |
| Eddy: | Great. I’ll reserve some new notes for you at the bank. Just come to me directly. |
| Grandma Lam: | You’re so kind. That’s why I’ve been such a loyal customer all these years. |
| Eddy: | It's my pleasure. |
| Eddy: | (VO) My name is Eddy. I’m a relationship manager of a bank branch. I’ve been working at the bank for quite a number of years and earned the support of regular customers like Grandma Lam. |
| Eddy: | Alright. See you later. |
Scene 2
| Time: | Morning |
| Location: | Eddy’s office |
| Character(s): | Eddy, Grandma Lam, Mandy (bank employee) |
| (Eddy is keeping an eye on the stock prices displayed on the computer screen. The stock prices are falling.) | |
| Eddy: | (VO) To earn extra income, I also invest in stocks. I began to trade on margin last year and hope to be able to quickly save enough for a down payment on a home. But the market is not doing well these days. Stock prices keep dropping. To cover my losses, I’ve resorted to borrowing money from loan sharks. |
| Grandma Lam: | Mandy, is Eddy boy in? |
| Mandy： | Yes, this way, grandma. |
| Grandma Lam: | Thank you. |
| (Mandy escorts Grandma Lam in.) | |
| Grandma Lam: | Did I come at a bad time? |
| Eddy: | Not at all. Grandma, please sit down. Mandy, please bring me a form? (leave the webpage) |
| Mandy： | Okay. |
| Grandma Lam: | Eddy boy, you’re so considerate. |
| Eddy: | It’s my job. Thank you for trusting in me. |
| Grandma Lam: | Thanks to you, I avoided the long queue outside. |
| Eddy: | Grandma Lam, is there anything else I can help you with? |
| Grandma Lam: | Yes. My morning exercise group has been discussing some upcoming IPOs. I forget the names of the companies, but they’re guaranteed to make money. Can you help me invest a little so as to earn some extra cash? |
| Eddy: | No problem. I’ll take care of it for you when the time comes. |
| Grandma Lam: | Why don’t I just leave my signature stamp with you? When the time comes, you can handle everything directly, saving me the trip here. |
| Eddy: | Grandma Lam, I can’t keep your signature stamp. It’s against the bank’s rules. I’ll be in trouble if the management finds out. |
| Grandma Lam: | Don’t worry, Eddy boy, if anything happens, I’ll verify that you have my authorization to keep my stamp. That’s everything. I must pick up my grandson from school now. |
| (Grandma Lam leaves her stamp on Eddy’s desk. As she gets up to leave, Mandy knocks on the door.) | |
| Mandy： | Eddy, the manager wants you to call him now. It’s urgent. |
| Eddy: | Okay, I’ll call him. Please take Grandma Lam to get her new banknotes. |
| Grandma Lam: | Thank you! |
| Eddy: | You’re welcome. |
Scene 3
| Time: | Morning |
| Location: | Bank entrance and Eddy’s office |
| Character(s): | Eddy |
| (Eddy talks to the staff of the finance company over the phone as he walks to the bank.) | |
| Eddy: | (to the phone) Yes... yes... I know. I’ll have the money for you in two days. |
| (Eddy stares at the computer screen anxiously. The stock prices on screen are rising. Eddy turns to the newspaper. The headline reads: “HK Stock Market Resumes Upward Trend with Inflow of Hot Money.”) | |
| Eddy: | (VO) Tomorrow is the deadline to pay the finance company. After all this time, the market finally shows some life today. But I need to wait for the stock prices to rise another 30% in order to break even. It would be crazy to sell the stocks now. |
| (Eddy opens his drawer and takes out Grandma Lam’s signature stamp.) | |
| Eddy: | (VO) I need to withdraw money from the granny’s account for her investments anyway. Why don’t I withdraw a little now to get myself out of this jam? |