Lifting Others
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Dec 10, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LINA HOTEL - 22:30
PETER and his WIFE are sharing two bowls of Bean Curd Jelly.
PETER: The $6 one is good.
WIFE: The $8 one is better.
FLASHBACK
EXT. A TSUEN WAN STREET - NIGHT (EARLIER)
Peter and his wife see two long queues in front of two Bean Curd Jelly shops.
WIFE: I've heard about the one selling at $8/bowl.
PETER: But the one selling at $6/bowl states that it'd make a refund to unhappy customers.
PETER (Cont'd): I'd queue at the cheaper one. You queue at your preferred one. And let's eat and compare them when we're back in the hotel.
Act 2
FLASHBACK UPON FLASHBACK
INT. CAR TESTING CENTRE - 10:30 (EARLIER)
A TESTER talks to Peter.
TESTER: One of the reverse lights of your Previa doesn't work. Probably a burnt light bulb. Can you fix it?
PETER: I can take it to my car repairer.
TESTER: But if you've to take the car out of the centre, I won't issue the roadworthy certificate.
PETER: Er...
TESTER: As a tester, I can't fix it for you. But I think you can fix it yourself here.
PETER: Is that right?
TESTER: Buy a spare light bulb at the spare parts section here.
Having bought a light bulb, the mechanic leads Peter to his car in the car testing area, uplifts the car's back door and then passes him a screwdriver.
TESTER: Use it to lift up the reverse light cover...
Following the tester's instructions, Peter manages to replace the burnt light bulb, and the reverse light works again.
PETER (V.O.): This is the first time I've done that.
Later, Peter gets a roadworthy certificate from the tester.
PETER: Thank you very very much!
EXT. CAR REPAIRER - 12:00
Peter deposits a New Beetle with the PROPRIETOR as a MECHANIC looks on.
PETER: The car window switch is out of order. Can you fix it today? My wife drives it to work on weekdays.
PROPRIETOR: Yes, if spare parts are available. Do you want to change the lubrication oil?
PETER: Okay. And replace the engine oil sensor as well...
PETER (V.O.): I like to come here from time to time - my indirect way to maintain jobs and to contribute Hong Kong's economy...
EXT. BUS TERMINUS/ROAD - DAY - 16:00
While boarding a bus with Peter, Peter's wife inquires with the bus DRIVER.
WIFE: We want to go to the Nina Hotel. Which stop should we get off?
DRIVER: The last stop.
Looking surprised, Peter and his wife take their seats at the rear.
WIFE: It seems that we've to get off one stop before the last stop...but we've to trust the driver.
PETER: Perhaps, the bus has to make a detour before arriving at our destination.
Soon, we see the driver trying to talk to Peter and his wife. Peter notices that and goes forward to the driver.
DRIVER: The route I drove this morning did have the last stop there. But not this one.
PETER: We've to get off a stop before the last stop. Right?
DRIVER: Yes. Do you want to change bus?
PETER: No. That's fine.
Later, after getting off at a bus stop, Peter and his wife wave at the driver. He waves back at them.
PETER: I can see the driver is happy.
WIFE: He's happy as he knows we won't lodge any complaint...
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. NINA HOTEL - CONTINUOUS
Staring out the window, Peter sees city lights.
PETER (V.O.): Becoming a rainbow in someone's cloud is success.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From morning till night today, I've learned that there's nothing greater than to do something for one another.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Life is richer if we make each other better. By lifting others, we also rise.
THE END
FADE OUT
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