On Wheels
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 29, 2020
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
Waking up, PETER discovers something.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, I forgot to wear my eye-mask when I slept yesterday.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And today's...Monday. I feel just as good. Yes, I worked very hard in court last week.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I've been moving forward. There're so many things I want to do each day.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Peter sees an iron cart on wheels.
FLASHBACK
EXT. VILLAGE PATH - DAY (1964)
A barefooted Peter (10) is mesmerized by a wooden cart.
PETER (V.O.): I believe its four wheels must be running smoothly. It can be a very nice 4-wheeled toy car to me. But I don't even have a dollar and can't afford to buy one.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) : I got my driving licence in 1976 at the age of 22. Since then, I've never stopped owning cars.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. CAR PARK - NIGHT
Having connected the electric cables from a device to the car battery, we see lights inside the SMART car. Peter then goes to the driver seat to start it. After some car-cranking sounds, we hear the car starting up.
PETER (V.O.): Okay. I haven't driven this one for weeks and the battery went out of power. I have to drive it away to let the dynamo recharge the battery.
Moving out the car from the parking lot, Peter drives in a red Nissan Coupe S13.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While my peers were doing their undergraduate studies, I learned a lot about car repairing.
Peter then leaves with his SMART car.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This morning, I'll drive my wife to work in another car.
After taking a photo of the cart, Peter walks towards a car park.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Phone in hand, Peter checks notifications.
PETER (V.O.): What do I think about the number of global coronavirus cases hitting 10 million globally?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a mystery to me that many people don't have the other-regarding attitude.
We hear someone remarking from TV: It's my body, my choice... It's my right to get infected...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even the Europeans think that US has fallen behind in containing the coronavirsus.
We hear someone remarking from TV: It isn't just uncontrolled mitigation, but uncontrolled disaster.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, they're like flying blind or driving drunk. Instead of progressing, they're farther and farther away from the right direction.
After typing on his phone, Peter sees something interesting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): "Is it abnormal to feel highly positive and hopeful during this pandemic?" - That's the question posed to me.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If we understand that there're many things beyond our control and are content with simple lives, we can focus on what's good and be positive even during pandemic times.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But facing quick pain of truth is better than lingering on false hope. So we've to plan and take timely actions to make our hope happen.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Otherwise, we may lose all the good emotions in the next moment.
Peter nods.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Here's a curious question: What do you think of those who use "moving forward" as an adverb?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'd think they're used to taking practical steps to resolve problems programmatically.
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It is an execution skill not shared by all. Actions speak louder than words.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Maintaining our pace even at a tortoise speed will move us forward. Then, success will take care of itself.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - NIGHT
PETER (V.O.): Yes, I haven't fallen back and have avoided stagnation.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm just curious about many things practically and intellectually. They keep leading me to new paths.
Peter goes to bed.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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