The Pen Thief

A “Adequately Enough” FILM
WRITTEN BY Brigitte Chan

We begin with the classic Paper Pusher, trapped in a dull job that he could never love. He is indifferent and couldn’t care less. Having no aspirations whatsoever, he has been outsourced to work for an extension of his family’s stationery business, owned by a very loaded Boss. As a pen cataloger, he works only with the knowledge that he is being paid because he’s family.

The perspective changes to the Pen Thief. Being notorious for stealing pen design concepts to sell to rivalry companies, every firm keeps closed doors to visitors and interviews new employees thoroughly. Unbeknownst to every airhead of a CEO, the Pen Thief is every part-time box stacker boy in every company.

We come back to the Paper Pusher, off-task, trying to waste time away. He is looking through a hole in the blinds to see the ‘panel’. This group of pen snobs, highly equipped with their years of training, they test pens and decide which to put through for marketing. Ticks for barrel size, grip and writability. The Paper Pusher’s concentration is interrupted by a part- timer wheeling away a box of deliveries.

The Boss is in his office, wiping his brow. Business has been declining steadily ever since the rival company introduced their new line. He picks up the phone and presses speed-dial. What he says is inaudible, but alludes to corruption…