FADE IN
Act 1
EXT. ROADS - 09:45
PETER is driving a blue MB.
PETER (V.O.): For a while, the engine has been sluggish. I doubt if simple maintenance can make it work smoothly again.
Stopping at traffic lights.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've got to surprise my doubts with action. My car repairer is expecting my arrival at around 10am.
Driving.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If the problem can't be fixed within today, I'll collect the car next Monday.
Stopping at traffic lights.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm flying out to Hokkaido tomorrow to see the 2023 snow festivals and won't be back until Sunday evening.
Peter arrives at a car repair shop.
Act 2
INT. OFFICES, IFC TWO - 10:45
Spring reception. Peter is enjoying strawberries and coffee alone.
PETER (V.O.): I thought about flying to Sapporo today. When I persuaded my younger son to join me, he counter-proposed to cut short the trip.
Peter takes a look of the view outside.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If I flew out today, I won't be able to join this function.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not a key personnel. The function can go smoothly without me.
Engaging Peter, GENTLEMAN#1 checks Peter's name badge in Chinese.
GENTLEMAN#1: I'm an IP lawyer. Your name is very familiar to me...
PETER: I was formerly the Director of IP in Hong Kong, China.
GENTLEMAN#1: Oh yes!...I'm from Hubei...
PETER: Where one can see cherry blossoms in March?
GENTLEMAN#1: Yes, at Wuhan University. I was a law graduate there.
PETER: I visited its cheery garden in 2016. A judge friend of mine was your senior. She inspired me to write a song...
Then, GENTLEMAN#2 comes close smilingly.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, what a pleasant surprise!
PETER (to Gentleman#1): My elder son...And then I sang my trilingual song in a harbour cruise function.
Pausing.
PETER (Cont'd): One of the guests was the President of an arbitration institution. Later, he recruited me as one of the institution's arbitrators!
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.): Finding something good without looking doesn't happen often.
GENTLEMAN#3 joins the party cheerfully.
PETER (Cont'd): He's the President I was talking about!
INT. STUDY - 16:15
Putting aside his smart phone, Peter begins to pack.
PETER (V.O.): When I visited the Sapporo Snow Festival 2020, I bought crampons and wore them on my shoes so that I could walk on the snow safely.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I found them very good and bought some spares, believing I'd bring along my family in 2021.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then came the pandemic...
Searching bags.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Where are they?
Repeating.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I can go with my younger son, I can't find them!
Phone rings. Peter takes the call.
PETER (to phone): Repair work is almost complete and I can collect the car before 7pm today?
PETER (V.O.): I can't drive it to Sapporo. But I need to find the crampons...
Act 3
EXT. ROADS - 19:00
Peter exits the car repair shop with his MB.
PETER (V.O.): Even the repairer is surprised that the many jobs can be completed within today.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As to the crampons, I'm confident that I can find them later, as the answer I seek doesn't come when my mind is busy.
Driving calmly.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises.
FADE OUT
THE END
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