Risk Tolerance

1. FADE IN.

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. EXT. TUEN MUN HIGHWAY - MORNIING

7. Sunny. Driving his red coupe, PETER presses the air-conditioning buttons.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): The air blowing at my feet has become very cold.

10. 
    

11. EXT. GOLD COAST CAR PARK - LATER

12. 
    

13. Having parked his coupe, Peter takes a few bags and walks towards the Beach's changing room.

14. 
    

15. EXT. BAY WATER - LATER

16. 
    

17. Peter swims along the floating lines dotted with floating orange balls.

18. 
    

19. PETER (V.O.): Am I brave? No, there's presence of fear. But I try to find a way through it.

20. 
    

21. Peter reaches the outer limit of the swimming boundary.

22. 
    

23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I treat the lines and the balls as my ready rescue equipment, just in case my life is at stake.

24. 
    

25. Holding the line and touching one ball a little, Peter swims away from them.

27. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I'm also aware of the risk that I might get entangled with the line or be struck by the balls when the sea isn't calm.

28. 
    

29. Act 2

30. 
    

31. EXT. GOLD COAST CAR PARK - LATER

32. 
    

33. A wet-haired Peter returns, spotting water pooling under his coupe.

34. 
    

35. PETER (V.O.): What's wrong?

36. 
    

37. Opening the bonnet, Peter checks the engine. He then lowers his body to check the source of water leakage.

38. 
    

39. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Yes, I can see one drop of water dripping from somewhere.

40. 
    

41. Making a call, Peter engages in a conversation.

42. 
    

43. PETER (To phone): It could be the water draining from the car's air-conditioning system?

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.): I hope that's the case. My day of pleasure has just started.

46. 
    

47. Pausing.

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My risk tolerance is too low. I've to heighten it when circumstances permit.

51. Opening the car windows, Peter drives off.

52. 
    

53. EXT. NT ROADS - LATER

54. 
    

55. Staring at the dashboard, Peter focuses on the temperature gauge.

56. 
    

57. PETER (V.O.): The engine's coolant begins to overheat again, although I haven't turned on the air-conditioning.

58. 
    

59. Pushing the hazard-light button, Peter stops his coupe at the road side and opens the bonnet again.

60. 
    

61. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the water coolant reservoir is actually empty.

62. 
    

63. Seeing a store nearby, Peter goes and buys bottles of distilled water. He then refills the car's water coolant tank.

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's obvious that there's a leakage in the car's cooling system.

66. 
    

67. Peter makes a call and engages in a conversation again.

68. 
    

69. PETER (To Phone): I'll see if I could drive the car back to Kowloon. I'll avoid the highways to minimize my risk exposure, just in case the car has to be towed back.

70. 
    

71. Driving off, Peter soon makes a U-turn.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.): I'll use the Castle Peak Road, rather than the Tuen Mun Highway...

74. 
    

75. Staring at the dashboard, Peter focuses on the temperature gauge.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): OMG! The overheating has become quicker than expected. I've only topped up the coolant reservoir a moment ago.

78. 
    

79. Pushing the hazard-light button again, Peter checks the road signs and road conditions ahead.

81. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Going up the Tuen Mun Highway is the only convenient option!

82. 
    

83. Reaching at a less sloppy level, Peter stops the car at the break-down lane. Getting off, he quickly climbs up to a near-by embankment.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've prosecuted numerous careless driving cases along the Tuen Mun Highway. Many people drive without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration of other road users.

86. 
    

87. Having captured a photo depicting his location, Peter makes a call.

88. 
    

89. SOMEONE (From phone): The towing operator will get in touch with you direct. Just wait.

91. Act 3

92. 
    

93. EXT. TUEN MUN HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS

94. 
    

95. Then, Peter sees a tow car stopping behind his car and a DRIVER getting out.

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.): But the towing operator hasn't called me yet...

98. 
    

99. DRIVER: I happen to be here. Do you need my service? Save the wait.

100. 
     

101. PETER (V.O.): I want to get out of here as quickly as possible, minimizing the risk.

102. 
     

103. Having made a call, Peter accepts the driver's offer.

104. 
     

105. PETER: $1200? OK.

106. 
     

107. The Driver follows up with his service promptly and happily.

109. PETER (V.O.): The arrangement is like heaven made. The prompt service deserves my paying a bit more.

110. 
     

111. Sitting in the passenger seat of the tow car, the Driver chats with Peter endlessly.

112. 
     

113. DRIVER: Uncle, I've worked in this sector for over 20 years. My tow car is new. The towing equipment has costed me $1 million.

114. 
     

115. As Peter gestures surprise, the Driver passes Peter his name card.

116. 
     

117. DRIVER: Uncle, capture an image of it with your phone so that you could call me the next time you need my service.

118. 
     

119. Peter does what he is told.

120. 
     

121. .PETER (V.O.): Is that a risky investment? In the 32 years of my having this red coupe, this is only the second time that it has to be towed.

122. 
     

123. Pausing.

124. 
     

125. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The first time was around 20 years ago when I was driving my elder son back to St Stephen's College...

126. 
     

127. FADE OUT.

128. 
     

129. THE END