FADE IN
Act 1
INT. BEDROOM - 00:45
In bed, PETER is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, the licence of my 2002 Mercedes will expire in early Jan 2023. Before renewal, I need its roadworthy certificate.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As my younger son would use it while he's in Hong Kong, a roadworthy certificate should boost our confidence in the car.
INT. DINING ROOM - 08:30
Peter is engaging in telephone conversation.
SOMEONE (From phone):...Can you make it 10am today?
PETER: Oh, excellent!...
PETER (V.O.): I was just trying my luck. And now, I can do what's necessary on a rainy day.
Act 2
EXT. ROADS - 09:30
Driving a dark blue Mercedes, Peter sees raindrops and some dirt on the windshield. He pulls a lever under the steering wheel towards him.
PETER (V.O.): No water spraying on the windshield?
Peter repeats his action. No change.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The washer fluid must have been used up...Would the car fail the test because of that?
Making a turn into a side road, Peter sees a stall. He gets off to buy bottles of distilled water.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've the near substitute now.
Finding a red lever under the steering wheel, Peter pulls it and sees the hood popping up a little.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I've never lift up the hood from the outside by myself. It's all done by the car repairers.
Placing his fingers under the center point at the front of the hood, Peter feels for something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can't feel any latch...
Peter uses his phone torch to check the parts behind the grill mesh but sees nothing. Checking the phone time "9:50", Peter pushes and shuts the hood.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just hope that the car tester won't be that critical.
INT. CAR - TESTING CENTRE - 10:15
With a cup of coffee by his side, Peter is reading a car magazine, featuring an iconic VW transporter.
PETER (V.O.): It's called a Type 2.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After about an hour's drive from St Michael's Mount on Nov 6. 2022, we stopped in a service area and saw an old VW Type 2-like pick-up.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never seen such a car anywhere before. I believe it's as old as me. I love its hemp-roped front bumper.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Parked in a busy car park, it's obvious that the very old car is still going strong.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.): VW is promoting a 2022 electric Type 2 Microbus. It looks good. Should I buy one?
Later, a TESTER appears and presents Peter with a certificate.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Passed again, without any hiccup!
Peter thanks the tester before reclaiming the Mercedes. As he stares at the wet windscreen, Peter is surprised.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The tester did test the windshield water sprayer and it worked.
Peter checks the levers under the steering wheel again.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG, I was turning on the flashlight, not the water sprayer.
Pulling towards him the right lever, Peter sees washer fluid spraying on the windshield.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The car is actually okay... Ooops, a dome light is on. The tester must have turned it on inadvertently. How to turn it off?
Having checked the overhead light console for awhile, Peter finds the switch and turns off the dome light.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having owned the car for 20 years, I still don't know how to turn on or pop up this and that!
Smiling, Peter pulls off.
Act 3
INT. BEDROOM - 23:00
Bedside, Peter is working on a laptop.
PETER (V.O.): While the old Mercedes is still new to me, my younger son has just readapted to it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Taking care of my family's interest and welfare, I've been maintaining my old intention with the same heart.
Thinking
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Change isn't just necessary in life, it's life. While I won't reject the old, I'd embrace the new.
Having inserted an image of an old VW Type 2-like pick-up in a draft post, Peter is in thoughts.
THE END
FADE OUT
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