FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 04:30
PETER wakes up abruptly, his face filled with worry.
PETER (V.O.): I hope my 1994 Eunos coupe can get a roadworthy certificate...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Although it was good when I took it back from my car repairer a fortnight ago, it might have gone wrong again as I haven't used it since then.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I was okay a fortnight a go, and then days later, I isolated myself for a week.
Turning and tossing in bed.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): While Monday is the launchpad of my key activities of the week, I'm just too anxious.
Peter stays awake.
Act 2
EXT. ROADSIDE - 09:00
Peter is waiting beside a 2001 green Beetle.
PETER (V.O.): Last Friday night, my wife reported that its engine light was on. I took it to my car repairer the following day and had it fixed.
Peter sees his WIFE coming up to collect the car, happily.
WIFE: Our younger daughter has passed her N1 exam!
PETER: She can pass the highest level of Japanese language proficiency test by self-study in Hong Kong?
PETER (V.O.): I'm so pleased. I knew how it felt like. I got my BA in Philosophy (Hons) (Lond) via self-study in Hong Kong.
PETER (Cont'd): How to celebrate?
WIFE: Going to Japan...
INT. STUDIO - 11:00
Surrounded by musical instruments, Peter plays the Clavinova, then a Hofner electric bass guitar, and then a PRS SE electric rhythm guitar.
PETER (V.O.): I seldom wait for the time to pass me by.
Peter glances at the wall clock from time to time.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I've secured a car-testing appointment at 13:30.
INT. CAR-TESTING CENTRE - 14:00
Waiting area. Looking restless, Peter sips a cup of coffee.
PETER (V.O.): I think I need it today.
Peter breathes deeply.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The coupe failed the test last Dec. I spent a lot of money, and my car-repairer spent a lot of effort, to fix it.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When I was at my car-repairer the other day, he asked me if the coupe had already passed the test or not.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I thought as the problem of the coupe had been fixed, I'd just take my time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): His enquiry made me worry.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S WORRY
A. MECHANIC#1 appears to ask Peter to follow him to the testing area to check his coupe.
B. Under his jack-up coupe, the mechanic identifies the defective parts for Peter to see.
END MONTAGE
Grabbing a car magazine to read, Peter focuses on an article about EVs.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The worst scenario is to scrap the coupe and buy an EV.
Reading about the evolution of the SMART model.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's only now I learn that "S" stands for Swatch, "M" for "Mercedes", and "ART" for art.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When I bought my "arts", my children were young. Now, they can drive and I don't provide them with even one EV...
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Should I buy another Toyota, or another VW, or another Mercedes, or another SMART...
We see MECHANIC#2 appearing.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 21:00
Working on a laptop, Peter inserts an AI drawing into a draft post.
PETER (V.O): The prompt "Harmonizing Hurdles" is just too difficult for the AI drawing bot to comprehend.
Peter takes a look of a car's roadworthy certificate near him.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Amidst the hurdles I encounter, my way to harmonize them is to adapt to the circumstances using music therapy. It's immediate and efficient to me.
We see a Martin Backpacker by Peter's side.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Playing better keyboard and guitars, and composing better songs wash away from my soul the dust of everyday life like magic.
FADE OUT
THE END
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