The Driver's Palette

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. BEDROOM - 09:45

6. 
   

7. Sitting up in bed with his sleeping WIFE beside him and his smartphone in hand, PETER is lost in thought.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O.): For the past few days, I've been observing the older models of the Toyota Prious in Hong Kong. They pale in comparison to the rental e-four that my wife and I drove in Wakkanai.

10. 
    

11. Pausing.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a shame that this model isn't available for sale in Hong Kong. We'll hire it in Japan again.

14. 
    

15. Pausing.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Since returning from our 11-day trip to Japan, I haven't had the chance to take my Nissan 200SX for a drive.

18. 
    

19. Pausing.

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm going to drive it to my suburban home for storage. I think I'd drive the SMART rather than the Eunos 30X back home.

22. 
    

23. Act 2

24. 
    

25. EXT. ROADS TO GOLDEN BAY - 13:30

26. 
    

27. Sound of a smooth, well-tuned engine purring. Peter glides his signal red 1989 Nissan 200SX.

28. 
    

29. PETER (V.O.): The coupe moves with mechanical precision, a testamount to the decades of care I've invested in it.

30. 
    

31. EXT. CAR PARK, GOLDEN BAY - 14:00

32. 
    

33. After parking the coupe, Peter senses that SOMEONE is eager to engage with him.

34. 
    

35. SOMEONE: Your coupe is truly stunning!

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.): He is driving a Toyota 86...

38. 
    

39. PETER: Thank you! Your coupe is quite impressive as well!

40. 
    

41. FLASHBACK

42. 
    

43. EXT. `RYOKAN HIDATEI HANAOUGI, TAKAYAMA - 17:30 (2014)

44. 
    

45. A concierge STAFF assists Peter and his wife to unload the luggage from a sleek white Toyota 86.

46. 
    

47. STAFF: Your coupe looks stunning.

48. 
    

49. PETER: It's a hired car.

50. 
    

51. STAFF: This is the first time I've encountered a guest renting a coupe.

52. 
    

53. Peter smiles.

54. 
    

55. PETER (V.O.): It's expensive, but I still have a travel allowance.

56. 
    

57. END FLASHBACK

58. 
    

59. EXT. GOLDEN BAY - LATER

60. 
    

61. Sunny. Clear water. Peter pauses at a corner, surrounded by several orange buoys marking the swimming area.

62. 
    

63. PETER (V.O.): During our second Sept, 2025 trip to Hokkaido and Honshu, my wife and I rented three cars.

64. 
    

65. MONTAGE

66. 
    

67. A. Rishiri Island road. Peter and his wife take turns to drive a tiny silver Nissan Dayz through dramatic coastal landscapes.

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69. B. Wikkani countryside. Peter drives, his wife navigates, and they step out of the white Toyota Prius e-four onto a path of white shells to take photos.

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71. C. Gora train station. We see a black Nissan Kicks executes a hairpin turn high in the mountain.

73. END MONTAGE

74. 
    

75. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Of the three rental cars, we absolutely love the Toyota Prius e-four.

76. 
    

77. Pausing.

78. 
    

79. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My garage isn't a museum of a single obsession. It's a toolkit of experiences, where each vehicle is the perfect instrument for a specific movement of my life's concerto.

80. 
    

81. Pausing.

82. 
    

83. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A driver with but one car is a musician who plays only one note. The true enthusiast composes a symphony with a palette of engines, each with its own timbre and tune.

84. 
    

85. Pausing.

86. 
    

87. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The wise driver chooses his steed not by status, but by situation. The sports car for the soul, the microcar for the fun and a tourer/SUV for the journey shared.

88. 
    

89. Pausing.

90. 
    

91. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The driver's palette isn't painted with horsepower and torque, but with memory and feeling. The roar of a classic is nostalgia and the hum of a hybrid is contentment.

92. 
    

93. Pausing.

94. 
    

95. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We don't love metal and rubber. We love the experience they unlock. One car holds the echo of a coastal road; another, the quiet understanding of a long marriage.

96. 
    

97. Pausing.

98. 
    

99. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Nissan 200SX is a conversation with my younger self. My SMART is a witty chat with the city. The hired Prius was a comfortable silence with my wife.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. BEDROOM - 22:00

105. Peter uploads a photo showcasing a Toyota Prius e-four on the path of white shells in Wikkanai to a draft on his laptop.

106. 
     

107. PETER (V.O.): A pallet of one colour is a prision. The joy of driving is in the contrast; the raw mechanical chat with the old, the clever digital whisper of the new.

108. 
     

109. Thinking.

110. 
     

111. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The most practical car in the world is the one that fits the moment. Sometimes, that means a coupe and a roaring engine; other times, it means four wheels and a genius for parking.

112. 
     

113. Reflecting.

114. 
     

115. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A collection of cars reveals me. My Nissan shows my passion, my SMART shows my wit, and my desire for a Prius e-four shows my love for a peaceful journey with my co-driver.

116. 
     

117.  FADE OUT

118. 
     

119. END