FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. PETROL-FILLING STATION - 19:15
Stopping his silver coupe near an air dispenser, PETER sees "29 psi" on its screen.
PETER (V.O.): Fits my coupe's tires too.
Getting out, Peter grabs the dispenser hose, unscrew the cap from the tire valve on one tire.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I haven't added air to the tires for many months.
Peter then attaches the hose to the valve and presses down. Then, we hear and see the tire inflating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Good, it needs it.
Having repeated the process with the other three tires, Peter looks around.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There's nothing to see here. I'd watch out the approaching cars.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
EXT. EXPRESSWAY 28 - ROAD, AWAJI ISLAND, JAPAN - 15:30 (30 March 2023)
Driving a silver sedan, Peter talks to his WIFE.
PETER: Just then, we had a great time in Ritsurin Garden.
WIFE: Yes, and we had Kagawa udon in the scenic Garden.
PETER: Your plan to visit it before leaving Shikoku was good design.
Peter checks the time on car monitor and the fuel gauge.
PETER (Cont'd): I've driven for nearly two hours. Time to let you drive and to refill the car tank.
Seeing a service area road sign, Peter is excited.
PETER (Cont'd): In two Kms.
WIFE: Yes, let's go there.
After exiting, they arrive at a fork in the road.
PETER: The one on the left leads to the petrol-filling station. Let's do that first.
EXT. SOLATO PETROL-FILLING STATION - CONTINUOUS
Having parked the car by a petrol pump, Peter opens the fuel cap.
PETER (V.O.): My wife is anxious to assist.
Having chosen the Regular fuel, Peter's wife grabs the handle, puts the nozzle in the hole and squeezes the handle.
WIFE: Has the fuel started coming out?
We hear some intermittent low noises.
PETER: No...
Then, a STAFF approaches and speaks Japanese to Peter and his wife.
PETER (to Staff): Nihongo ga Wakarimasen.
STAFF: Kado? Cash?
WIFE: Cash! Full.
The Staff then taps "Cash" on the pump screen.
WIFE (Cont'd): Oh, I've missed this step!
As Peter's wife squeezes the handle again, we hear some nggggggggg noises from the pump.
PETER: It's working.
Having filled up the tank, the Staff gestures to Peter's wife to insert notes into the insertion slot.
WIFE: But how to get the change?
Soon, a receipt with a QR code comes out from another slot. The staff then gestures to Peter's wife to have the QR code scanned by a machine nearby. We see and hear change coming out in a slot.
PETER & WIFE: That's how it's done!
Recalling.
PETER: When we refilled the tank for the first time in a family-run petrol-filling station in a village, the couple spoiled us with full personal service!
WIFE: Now's the time for us to use the toilet here.
PETER: An option is for me to make a U-turn and drive to the general service area...
As his wife is using the only toilet, Peter watches the Sakura blossoms nearby.
PETER (V.O.): Sakura blossoms are everywhere in Japan.
Later, Peter's wife observes the road signs before taking the driver seat.
WIFE: The road is one-way only. You dare to drive in the opposite direction?
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. PETROL-FILLING STATION - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.): Sometimes, one can enjoy Sakura blossoms even near a petrol-filling station in Japan.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Apparently, it's a random encounter. But we know now is the Sakura blossom season here.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Human's intellect has the capacity to narrate with cause-and-effect logic on whatever it encounters.
FADE OUT
THE END
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