FADE IN:
INT. RECEPTION - DAY
A car testing centre. Peter speaks to a RECEPTIONIST.
PETER
My car failed the first
check. It has been repaired.
Having presented the papers and paid, Peter waits and reads a newspaper column.
PETER (V.O.)
Interesting! HKUST hosted
an authors' association's
30-year anniversary function.
Peter reads on.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
Founders passed away...
流光容易把人拋,紅了櫻桃,
綠了芭蕉。
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
Yes - "Time flies over us
- cherries turn red;
banana leaves green."
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
Subtle poetic lines. There's
a time to everything. Who's
the author?
Peter researches with his phone.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
The little-known author
was 蔣捷 (1245-1301). The
lines are his legacy to
the Chinese literary
circle.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
I wonder if any of my
stuff would be cited
hundreds of years from
now... Never mind, I've
enjoyed the process.
A MECHANIC appears and calls "VW". Peter responds and gets a PASS certificate from him.
MECHANIC
The car is outside.
Peter thanks and leaves.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Peter drives a cyber-green Beetle. There is a mini artificial flower bouquet next to its steering wheel.
PETER (V.O.)
The car is 17 years old.
Certain parts have worn
out. They can be replaced
readily.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Humans are different...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
There's nothing much we
can do to our gene
inheritance; and our
environment.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
We can stay positive in
our minds if we want to.
We can change a bit of the
world, and help our genes
evolve better biologically.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
If procreation trumps
every living things, let's
also create, like authors,
and recreate in our special
ways to have joy in meaningful
ageing!
Peter takes a look of the flower bouquet.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
And the old car is still
green. Very little is needed
to make a happy life!
Peter presses the accelerator and the old Beetle goes swiftly.
FADE OUT. The End