A People's Car
- Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS
- Jul 20, 2019
- 3 min read
FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Peter waits by the roadside to see a cyber-green New Beetle coming along.
PETER (V.O.)
Having secured a parking
lot, my wife can now
drive to work by herself.
As the cyber-green Beetle makes a turn, two passers-by also turn their heads and chat as if they're referring to the Beetle.
PETER (V.O.)
Yes, the Beetle isn't just
a car, it has a story. It was first commissioned in 1934
by Hitler as a people's car.
INT. CLUB HOUSE - DAY
Peter reads a newspaper article about the Beetle story. A black-and-white feature photo depicts a Beetle with Hitler speaking in the background. .
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Around that time, only
50 Germans could afford
to own cars. Hitler meant
to subsidize half of the
production costs to benefit
the people.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.)
A people's car had to be
simple and compact. The
bug-shaped car was
designed by the then best
German designer Porsche.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Production of the people's car however stopped due
to World War II. Still, Hitler's
officers got some, and Hitler
got the first convertible.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
In 1968, Disney made
magic of the Beetle in the
film - the Love Bug. The
film was released in Hong
Kong in 1972.
Having found the full movie "Love Bug" from YouTube, Peter begins to watch it.
PETER (V.O.)
When I first worked as a
Housing Assistant in 1974,
my immediate supervisor
owned a 1973 yellow
Beetle. I often took lifts
to Kowloon to attend
evening classes. I sat at
back and my head would
hit the roof if there're bumps.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
While I was working in the
Squatter Control division,
Yuen Long in the late 1970s,
a colleague of mine owned
a 1968 orange Beetle. He
was so generous to let me
drive it from time to time.
I found it lacking power
and steering precision.
FLASHBACK
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT (1998)
Peter reads a car magazine.
PETER (V.O.)
The New Beetle was
introduced in 1997. It
looks good, but its max
power is just 102 PS.
My 1989 Nissan 200SX
has 173PS and my
my 1994 Eunos 30X
130 PS.
INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT (2001)
Peter reads a newspaper insert featuring the Beetle.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Wow, the 2001 New
Beetle 1.8T has 150PS.
Let me suggest that to
my wife.
INT. CAR SHOWROOM - DAY (2001)
A SALES REPRESENTATIVE (20s) is receiving Peter and his WIFE as they examine the interior of a New Beetle.
PETER
Wow, it has a built-in
flower vase!
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
.Since then, it has been
very much her cute car.
Peter remembers something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
When I visited Mexico,
the first connection I could
make with the country was
my New Beetle. So I began
my small talks with Mexicans
with it. I could tell they
appreciated my support of
their production.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Peter and his wife are having dinner.
PETER
Do you know that the last
Beetle left the Mexican
production line on July 10,
2019?
His wife looks a little shocked.
PETER (Cont'd)
If we're to buy another one,
we had better...
WIFE
The availability of spare
parts in future will be a
problem...
FLASHBACK
EXT. ROAD - DAY (2014)
While driving his 1989 Nissan 200SX, Peter detects something.
PETER (V.O.)
Oh, there's something wrong
with the clutch.
INT. NISSAN SERVICE CENTER
A service CONSULTANT (50s) talks to Peter.
CONSULTANT
We couldn't find any spare
part in Japan. After conducting
a world search for months,
we finally secured one. You're
very lucky!
PETER
(Grateful)
I couldn't bear scrapping it,
as it still looks good...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
Yes, all good things must
come to an end, or they
wouldn't be good!
Peter and his wife talk about something else.
FADE OUT. The End
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