A Roadworthy Heart

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. BEDROOM - 09:30

6. 
   

7. Sound of a Duolingo success chime. PETER sits up in bed. His smartphone screen shows he has completed a Duolingo streak in Korean.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Apart from taking my Nissan 200SX for its roadworthy test, let me double check for any other tasks I need to tackle.

10. 
    

11. Checking phone notifications, he sees a message: Hello Peter.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Secretary of the HKUST Secretariat has texted me...oh, 45 minutes ago.

14. 
    

15. After sending his response, Peter quickly dives into a conversation.

16. 
    

17. PETER (to phone): Got it! Morning ceremony, lunch, afternoon fireside chat, and dinner - I'll reserve my entire Saturday for HKUST.

18. 
    

19. PETER (V.O.): Yesterday, I declined an urgent brief that conflicts with my Saturday volunteer work.

20. 
    

21. Pausing.

22. 
    

23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I spend my life keeping the things I love running.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. CAR TESTING CENTRE - 14:00

28. 
    

29. After dropping off his Nissan 200SX, Peter sits in the waiting room, enjoying a soft drink.

30. 
    

31. PETER (V.O.): A roadworthy heart isn't one that never breaks; its one that knows how to make the necessary repairs and continue the journey.

32. 
    

33. Pausing.

35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If my 1989 S13 fails the roadworthy test, I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get it certified.

36. 
    

37. Peter picks up a magazine from a shelf and flips through it. An article on Autumn's red leaves catches his eyes.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My wife plans to travel in early December, hoping to see the red leaves...it's still possible in some places.

40. 
    

41. Pausing.

42. 
    

43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In the autumn of life, a roadworthy heart still seeks red leaves, knowing that the journey is always worth pursuing.

44. 
    

45. Later, a MECHANIC appears and hands Peter a roadworthy certificate.

46. 
    

47. PETER: Thank you!

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.): Great! I won't need to take it to the repair shop, and I can drive it to HKUST this coming Saturday.

51. EXT. SILVERSTRAND - 16:15

52. 
    

53. The Nissan pulls into a carpark. Peter remains in the driver's seat.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.): Since the super typhoon in Sept, the beach and bay have been closed. I don't know if they've reopened yet.

56. 
    

57. Peter surfs the web on his smartphone. Having read an article, his face becomes grim.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): An elderly woman was found drowned in the bay yesterday.

60. 
    

61. Later at the bay, Peter notices piles of debris and sand scattered around. A WORKER is still working in the area with a mechainical tool.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Humans can't overcome the forces of nature,

64. 
    

65. Now in his swimming briefs, Peter swims towards the floating platforms.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm acutely aware of the risk and my own mortality.

68. 
    

69. INT. LIVING ROOM - 17:00

70. 
    

71. Peter sits at the piano. After playing a few bars of "Sukiyaki", he stops.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.): I haven't completed all my Duolingo streaks yet.

74. 
    

75. Peter picks up another smartphone, opens Duolingo, and starts his Japanese lessons.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My daughters and my Korean son-in-law are proficient in Japanese.

78. 
    

79. Pausing.

80. 
    

81. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Just last Sept, my wife and I made two trips to Japan.

82. 
    

83. Pausing.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For my Oct travel next week, I've already booked a packaged tour to revisit sightseeing spots in Guangdong.

86. 
    

87. EXT. STREETS OF KOWLOON - 18:35

88. 
    

89. Peter's Nissan pulls up outside a brightly lit building. His WIFE gets out.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.): Just made it!

92. 
    

93. Peter drives away.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The original plan was to take the MTR and enjoy dinner together before my wife heads to her evening class in Korean.

96. 
    

97. Peter stops before the traffic lights.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): True love is the daily work of making each other's hearts roadworthy - checking the pressure of patience, topping up the fuel of affection.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. BEDROOM -22:00

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads an image, showing his Nissan 200 SX hatchback at Silverstrand to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): A roadworthy heart is the ultimate vehicle of love. It's calibrated not for speed, but for the long, steady journey alongside another.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):  My heart's roadworthiness is measured not by its lack of wear, but by its capacity to carry precious cargo: love, memory, and hope.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The most important vehicle I'll ever own is my own spirit. Keeping its engine of curiosity tuned and its suspension of hope resilient.

116. 
     

117.  FADE OUT

118. 
     

119. END