Behind the expensive watches was a small, old-fashioned silver timepiece.

It didn't look valuable.

Its leather strap was worn.

The glass was slightly scratched.

James stared at it.

His eyes became emotional.

Richard looked from James to the watch.

RICHARD:
"That's what you came here for?"

James slowly picked up the old watch.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he turned it over.

Engraved on the back were four words:

"TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING."

James closed his eyes.

A memory flashed across his face.

Then he finally spoke.

JAMES:
"My father made this."

The boutique fell silent.

Richard looked confused.

RICHARD:
"Your father was a watchmaker?"

James nodded.

JAMES:
"He worked in this mall for thirty years."

Richard's face slowly changed.

James continued.

JAMES:
"When I was a kid, I used to wait outside his workshop until he finished."

He looked down at the old watch.

JAMES:
"People barely noticed him."

The executive standing beside James looked toward Richard.

Then spoke quietly.

EXECUTIVE:
"Until today."

Richard lowered his eyes.

James placed the watch carefully in his hand.

Then he looked at Richard.

Richard swallowed.

RICHARD:
"Mr. Carter... I didn't know who you were."

James stared at him.

A long silence.

Then he gave a quiet, almost sad smile.

JAMES:
"That's the problem."

Richard looked up.

James continued.

JAMES:
"You shouldn't need to know who someone is before deciding how to treat them."

Richard had no answer.

One of the executives stepped forward.

EXECUTIVE:
"Mr. Carter, the board is waiting. The acquisition documents are ready."

Richard's eyes widened.

RICHARD:
"Acquisition?"

James looked around the boutique.

Then toward the entire luxury mall outside.

He slipped his father's old watch onto his wrist.

JAMES:
"Yes."

A pause.

JAMES:
"This morning, I was here to buy one watch."

He looked at Richard.

Then toward the mall.

JAMES:
"Now I'm buying the building."

Richard froze.

James walked toward the exit.

But before leaving, he stopped beside him.

He looked down at the old watch.

JAMES:
"My father used to say time reveals people."

Richard remained silent.

James nodded toward him.

JAMES:
"Looks like he was right."

James walked out of the boutique.

The two executives followed.

Richard remained standing beside the glass display.

Surrounded by watches worth millions of dollars.

Yet all he could think about was the one thing James had said:

You shouldn't need to know who someone is before deciding how to treat them.

James walks through the luxury mall wearing the old watch that once belonged to his father.

Behind him, executives follow.

The camera slowly pushes in on the scratched silver timepiece.

The second hand continues moving.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

“Never judge someone's worth by what they wear.”

“Because time has a way of revealing who people really are.”