The Center Cap

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. LIVING ROOM - 08:15

6. 
   

7. Morning light. PETER, in casual wear, sips green tea.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): On New Year's Eve, I had dim sum alone at Tim Ho Wan. While there, I spotted an early bird discount on Chinese New Year cakes and thought my wife would be interested, so I sent her a message.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, by the time she woke up and saw my message, I had already left. So, we thought we'd have dim sum together today.

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.): Later, I realized I had also scheduled a roadworthiness test for our New Beetle at 2pm. I need to manage the time better.

18. 
    

19. Peter puts a car registration paper into his wallet.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I knew the testers won't inspect the New Beetle unless the car's wheel center caps are removed, which has been a challenge for me.

23. Peter grabs a VW car key.

24. 
    

25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Unsure of how long it'd take, I'd better tackle this now instead of waiting until just before heading to the testing centre.

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. INT. ESTATE CAR PARK - 08:45

30. 
    

31. Peter kneels beside a cyber-green New Beetle with a cap hook in one hand. He's fighting a stubborn plastic cap.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): The right tool exists. The right angle exists. The strength in my hands doesn't.

34. 
    

35. Later, when the cap pops off, Peter catches it. He repeats the process three times.

36. 
    

37. INT. TIM HO WAN, WEST KOWLOON - 11:00

38. 
    

39. Bustling, noisy, delicious. Peter and his WIFE are at a table laden with bamboo steamers, plates and bowls. Later, Peter's checks the time: 12:00

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.): Perfect timing. The express should bring us back home in about half an hour.

42. 
    

43. WIFE: Oh, since I'm here, I'd like to walk around. It's about time you left.

44. 
    

45. PETER: Oh, but I've never taken the express home...

46. 
    

47. WIFE: I think it's just a 2-minute walk from here. Let me walk you there.

48. 
    

49. EXT. WEST KOWLOON - 12:40

50. 
    

51. They look around. No sign of the express bus stop.

52. 
    

53. WIFE: Not sure if we're at the right level.

54. 
    

55. PETER: Okay, enjoy your exploration, I'll take the MTR.

56. 
    

57. Later, Peter appears at a covered bus terminal and sees the express bus idling at a bay. He checks a bus app.

58. 
    

59. PETER (V.O.): The express departs at 13:00. I think I can make the 14:00 appointment.

60. 
    

61. Soon, Peter boards the express flashes his JoyYou card and collapses into a seat.

62. 
    

63. INT. CAR TESTING CENTRE - 13:58

64. 
    

65. Quiet. Peter parks the center cap - less New Beetle into the inspection slot. He hands his car registration paper to a CLERK.

66. 
    

67. PETER (V.O.): I'm in time.

68. 
    

69. Later, Peter puts a roadworthy certificate on the passenger seat.

70. 
    

71. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since I don't need to visit my car repairer, I'll head to the service station instead.

72. 
    

73. INT. SERVICE STATION - 14:45

74. 
    

75. Peter squats beside a tire, removes the air cap, adds air with a pump and then reattaches the cap.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.): I seldom drive this car. It's my wife's favourite. I only drive it when it needs maintenance.

79. He repeats this process three times.

80. 
    

81. INT. ESTATE CAR PARK - 15:00

82. 
    

83. Peter is back on his knees. He carefully aligns the plastic tabs and presses with the heel of his hand, using his body weight to apply even pressure until he hears a definitive sound for each one.

84. 
    

85. PETER (V.O.): It's physically taxing.

86. 
    

87. INT. BATHROOM/LIVING ROOM - 15:45

88. 
    

89. Peter bends over to pick up his swim bag.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.): Oh, a lightning bolt of pain sears across my lower back.

92. 
    

93. Peter freezes. A sharp intake of breath. He tries to straighten up.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The pain is excruciating. I need to have all the available massage courses.

96. 
    

97. Later, Peter climbs into the massge chair; and soon, its hum fills the quiet room.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I passed the test for the New Beetle. My back, moments later, failed the test for me.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:30

104. 
     

105. Peter uploads a photo showing a silver alloy wheel with a visible space in the center where a cap would typically fit.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): The greatest adversary isn't the grand challenge, but the small stubborn thing I assumed I could master.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Youth is removing the center cap with a flick of my wrist. Age is a 90-minute mechanical massage for the privilege of having tried.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The center caps hide the bolts that hold everything together. My struggle to remove them exposes the bolts holding me together - and how they've weathered.

116. 
     

117. The END

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT