Day Ext. Housing Estate
An ordinarily dressed young man walks out of the passageway. This person is nicknamed Mr. Bird, and his name has been forgotten because of the difficulty.
Mr. Bird walks to the back of his hatchback and sticks an L-plate to the lower right-hand corner of the tail gate. He then takes his keys out of his pocket, walks over to the left side of the car and bends down.
The rear left wheel of the car is locked to a street light next to the car with a chain. Mr. Bird opens the lock with a key and then gets into the car.
Day Int. Car
Mr. Bird sits in the car and sets the GPS on his mobile phone. There is almost no decoration in the car, but the more observant might notice a red emergency hammer hanging on the right-hand pillar of the windscreen.
A short, straight route is displayed on the GPS map. Mr. Bird presses "Start Navigation".
A voice on the mobile phone GPS starts: "Get ready. 2 kilometres from destination. You will pass through two junctions. Estimated time, 5 minutes." Mr. Bird puts his phone down and looks at the controls in the car while thinking and making a few gestures with his hands.
Day Ext. Car
The car starts and the left indicator blinks, but the car reverses to the right. The right indicator does not come on until the car has turned 90 degrees. The light goes out and the car travels forward.
Day Int. Car
Mr. Bird gives all his attention to his driving. He straightens his back and leans away from his seat.
The car turns right out of the estate and heads forward in the right-hand lane. Another car overtakes quickly on the left-hand side and then not long after this a third car overtakes on the right-hand side.
Mr. Bird is somewhat morose.
He puts his foot down hard on the accelerator.
The car accelerates. The GPS voice is heard: "Go straight ahead at the next junction, keep in the middle lane." Mr. Bird slowly turns on the left indicator while turning around to look in the left-side mirror. A car to his left sounds its horn as it overtakes, and Mr. Bird continues to wait for his chance. A passenger car quickly draws close and reduces its speed before dropping not far behind. Mr. Bird, however, does not turn left.
Mr. Bird looks hesitant. Beads of sweat roll down his cheeks.
The car behind him sounds its horn and overtakes. The lane ahead is marked with a solid line so Mr. Bird has to turn right.
Day Ext. Car
The car moves down the right-hand lane.
Day Int. Car
GPS: "Your route has been adjusted. Please turn left at the next crossroad and keep to the leftmost lane."
Mr. Bird turns on the left indicator again while turning around to look in the left-side mirror. Still, a car sounds its horn as it overtakes
Plucking up his courage, Mr. Bird puts his all into turning left. He moves into the middle lane.
Mr. Bird continues turning left. A car persistently sounds its horn as it overtakes at full speed accompanied by a "bang". More scared than hurt, Mr. Bird is frightened into returning to his original lane.
Mr. Bird breathes a sigh of relief. He looks suddenly to his left and finds something is amiss. He frowns.
His left-hand wing mirror is missing.
Mr. Bird looks morose. GPS: "Please reduce your speed and turn left soon ahead." He gets into a flap. His left-hand wing mirror is missing; he is helpless.
The car moves ahead into the crossroads. GPS: "Turn left." The car continues moving ahead through the junction.
Day Ext. Road
In the midday sun.
Mr. Bird's car continues moving down the middle lane.
Day Int. Car
Mr. Bird stares blankly ahead. GPS: "You are now 12.3 kilometres from your destination. You need to pass through 14 junctions. Estimated duration of journey, 30 minutes ... the route has again been adjusted for you. Please turn left at the next T-junction. Use the leftmost lane."
When the GPS mentions the T-junction, Mr. Bird raises his eyebrows. He stirs himself, apparently having found his opportunity.
Day Ext. Road
At the T-junction. Mr. Bird's car can turn left in the middle lane.
Day Int. Car
As Mr. Bird turns left, he looks to his right. There are now cars on his right-hand side.
Day Ext. Road
After Mr. Bird turns left, he steers his car straight into the rightmost bicycle lane and stops after driving dozens of metres ahead.
The car door opens. Mr. Bird holds onto the door as he gets out of the car. He is barely able to stand. He shuts the door and moves in front of the car. He swings his arms, squats down low a couple of times and then saunters for a few steps. He moves in front of his car and looks at where the left-hand wing mirror should be. He gets back into the car and takes out a vanity mirror. He then takes out a few strands of cord, gets out of the car again and starts to fix the wing mirror on the left side.
Day Ext. Road
The car takes to the road again with its left indicator flashing. The vanity mirror with a cartoon image at the back is tied to the car to serve as the wing mirror.
The car makes its way along the rightmost lane.
Day Ext. Road
Dusk, the sun is about to set.
The traffic moves past the foot of a mountain. Mr. Bird's car advances slowly.
Nightfall Int. Car
Soothing music plays on the radio.
Exhausted, Mr. Bird's head tilts. GPS: "You are nearing your destination. Navigation will end here." Mr. Bird becomes agitated as if about to cry.
To be continued ...