FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - MORNING
PETER (V.O.): The last time I went to court was Monday, May 10.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Late Saturday night, while my sons and I were on the road with our Mercedes, we found a tire was punctured.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We tried to pump up the flat tire but to no avail. I've replaced the car's 19-year old tires just weeks ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We called for tow-car service. In the end, the operator changed the tire for us - the first time the 19-year old spare tire was used.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On Sunday afternoon. I went with my younger son to get tire-repair service. The puncture was so serious that the tire was beyond repair. A new one will be available later today.
Act 2
EXT. GOLD COAST PUBLIC CAR PARK - LATE MORNING
Rainstorm. Peter waits at the driver seat of his 21-year old Toyota Previa.
PETER (V.O.): I don't want to stay home. I hope there'll be a window that I can swim in the sea.
Seeing water dripping down from the car's sunroof, Peter uses a small bucket to catch the drips.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I love sunroofs. But I haven't opened this one for a long while.
After opening and shutting the sunroof a few times, the dripping stops.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): On the sunny day in the May 10th week, I drove my 32-year old Nissan 200SX here, enjoying the cool air-conditioning on my way.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I returned from my swim, I saw a pool of water under the car and suspected that its cooling system was leaking seriously.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Subsequently, the car had to be towed. It's still being repaired.
The rainstorm has come and gone.
EXT. GOLDEN COAST BEACH - LATER
Under a shade, Peter is fixing his swim goggles.
PETER (V.O.): I now reckon that I've broken the strap by force, as I didn't use its easy adjustable buckle.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was shocked to hear about the cable car fall in northern Italy.
EXT. SWIMMING AREA - LATER
Swimming along the orange buoy boom line, Peter looks disturbed.
PETER (V.O.): What's that? Something has just bumped me.
Peter sees a SWIMMER in the vicinity.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Okay, he's not a shark.
Peter carries on swimming long distance.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I hope the sea would continue to be calm...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was shocked to hear runners in China's ultramarathon died because of extreme weather. Forecast can't be accurate all the time, and the will to survive can't beat death.
INT. LAKESIDE RESTAURANT - NOON
As soon as Peter is seated, the thunderstorm begins.
PETER (V.O.): I don't mind if I get wet. I'm only scared of lightning as two of my matriculation classmates were struck dead at the age of 20.
INT. PETER'S NT HOME - AFTERNOON
Study, 1/F. Sitting behind a desk, Peter is checking a faded photo.
PETER (V.O.): That's how I looked when I was a Housing Assistant in 1974, at the age of 20.
Peter checks another one.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's how I looked when I was a Land Executive in 1980, at the age of 26.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm decluttering my mess so that I'll have fewer worries when it's time...
Act 3
INT. ESTATE CAR PARK - EVENING
Pressing a car key near his Mercedes, Peter looks disturbed.
PETER (V.O.): Just then, I've replaced the key's batteries twice. Still the 19-year old remote car key stops working for no apparent reason. Fortunately, the new ones work.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
Peter is having some pineapple.
PETER (V.O.): Pineapple has happy hormones. I need it this Monday to change my mood.
INT. DINING ROOM - LATER
Having dined with his FAMILY, Peter speaks to his WIFE.
PETER: How was your day today?
WIFE: What do you mean?
INT. STUDY - LATER
Working on his laptop, Peter follows the TV news stories intermittently.
PETER (V.O.): It's good to know that only I've some Monday blues.
FADE OUT.
THE END

Comments