Ten Cents

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. LIVING ROOM - 08:30

6. 
   

7. Sunlight slants through the curtains. PETER stands at the cluttered sideboard, where a silver ten-cent coin rests on top.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): Days ago, I purchased a small pack of big rabbit candies for $4.90 at a convenience store in a service station in Guangdong. I paid a $5 bill and received the coin as change.

10. 
    

11. Peter grabs his swim bag, checks its content and sees a $2 coin.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I need this coin for the lock. I'm going to swim early today. Need to be at Zung Fu in the afternoon to pay the deposit for a big job.

14. 
    

15. He then turns to a folder and opens it. We see the vehicle registration document for a 2002 Mercedes Benz 240E Avant Garde.

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17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'll leave this at Zung Fu as well. They need it for the roadworthiness certificate.

18. 
    

19. Peter's eyes scan the sections for First Registration Taxable Value and First Registration Tax Paid.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The numbers weren't insignificant.

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23. Peter places the registration document into his handbag and leaves.

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. ZUNG FU SHOWROOM - 14:30

28. 
    

29. Pristine. A Chief Service ADVISER approaches Peter.

30. 
    

31. ADVISER: The estimate for the repair is ready...

32. 
    

33. Peter pays the deposit using a credit card and leaves the vehicle registration document with the Adviser.

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35. PETER (V.O.): Done. Let me use the toilet before I leave.

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37. Then, Peter spots a silver toy car on display.

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39. FLASHBACK

40. 
    

41. EXT. KAU U FONG - DAY (1959)

42. 
    

43. A nosiy post-war Hong Kong square. Peter (5) stands utterly still by the side of his DAD (28), a stern man. Peter's eyes are locked on a crude toy car, and the joy of other CHILDREN "driving" theirs.

44. 
    

45. VENDOR: Ten cents a ride.

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47. PETER: Ah Ba...can I?

48. 
    

49. His Dad glances at the toy. He shakes his head.

50. 
    

51. DAD: No. Ten cents? Not worth it. Go.

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53. His Dad pulls Peter away. Peter's head turns, watching the toy car, his small face collapsing.

54. 
    

55. EXT. SAME SPOT - DAY (1964)

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57. Peter (10), now taller, stands on the same street corner. The toy ride is still there, looking smaller, shabbier. Peter clutches a ten-cent coin in his palm. He looks at the seat.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.): Can I fold myself into it?

60. 
    

61. Peter tries, jamming his knees against the steering wheel. He's comically, painfully too large. The vendor gives him a pitying look.

62. .

63. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The opportunity, once lost, is now physically impossible to reclaim.

64. 
    

65. MONTAGE OF PETER TAKING DELIVERY OF BRAND NEW CARS (1980 - 2002)

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67. A. TOYOTA SHOWROOM, YUEN LONG - DAY (1980). After signing the paper work, Peter (26) gets inside a white 5-Speed Corolla SR.

69. B. NISSAN SHOWROOM, YUEN LONG - DAY (1989). Once he finishes signing the documents, Peter (35) climbs into a red turbo-charged 200SX.

70. 
    

71. C. MITSUBUSHI SHOWROOM, WANCHAI DAY (1991). Following the signing of documents, Peter (37) enters into a Milky White 8-seater Space Wagon.

73. D. EUNOS SHOWROOM, WANCHAI - DAY (1995). After completing the paperwork, Peter (39) steps into a Silver Enunos 30X V6.

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75. E. TOYOTA SHOWROOM, KOWLOON BAY - DAY (2000). After he has signed the papers, Peter (46) hops into an 8-seater Silver Previa.

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77. F. VOLKSWAGAN SHOWROOM, WANCHAI - DAY (2001). After finalizing the paper work, Peter (47) gets into a cyber-green turbo-charged New Beetle.

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79. G. MERCEDES BENZ SHOWROOM, HUNGHOM - DAY. After signing the documents, Peter (48) settles into a deep blue Mercedes Benz 240E V6.

80. 
    

81. RETURN TO PRESENT

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I bought the MB for three reasons. First, to demonstrate to my Dad that I've made it.

84. 
    

85. Pausing.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Second, my lawyer friends from Malaysia said that in Hong Kong, a MB is a bargain. They couldn't afford one there.

88. 
    

89. Pausing.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Third, my entrepreneurial friend Ah Chung. Drove Volvos. At his funeral in 2002, his wife burnt a paper MB. It smoked for a full minute.

92. 
    

93. Pausing.

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95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The first "no" I remember costs me more than all the "yeses" I can afford later.

96. 
    

97. Pausing.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I spend a lifetime buying back a moment that cost ten cents. only to find that the currency has changed. They don't accept regret.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 21:30

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads a photo of a MB toy car in a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): Ten cents: the original price of a dream. The ultimate cost of a life. The final value of a memory.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The wealth of a man is not measureed by what he acquires, but by what he finally lays down.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Some accounts are never settled with money. They're settled with time, and a weary, grateful heart.

116. 
     

117. END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT