Jedi lessons

FADE IN.

INT. CAR – EVENING. RISTO’S driving on a highway, SON sitting in the backseat, playing Angry Birds on RISTO’S iPhone. The radio’s on, playing Ulrik Munther’s “Soldiers”.

SON
Louder. This is good.

RISTO cranks up the volume.

SON
“See and be seen”. That’s my motto.
Getting ready for the red carpet.

RISTO looks in the rearview mirrow. SON is hunched over the phone.

RISTO
What’s that?

SON
My motto.

RISTO
Yeah, what was it? I didn’t hear you because the radio’s so loud.

SON
“SEE AND BE SEEN”

RISTO turns down the volume a little.

RISTO
Nice!

RISTO (again, after a pause)
What does it mean?

SON
Well, it means: see and be seen.

RISTO
But how? Who?

SON
So you’re famous.

RISTO
You wanna be a celebrity?

SON
No.

RISTO
You wanna be famous?

SON
Forget it. It’s just my motto.

RISTO
Yeah, but, what would you wanna be famous for?

SON
I don’t know.

SON keeps on playing the Angry Birds. RISTO is excited about the conversation.

RISTO
So, “See and be seen”, right? Sounds like a fine motto. When I was your age, my father told me that Walt Disney had a sign on his desk, saying…

SON
… Always be yourself. I know, Dad.

RISTO
That, too, is a fine motto. But, everybody’s gotta have his own.

SON
Can we talk about something else?

RISTO
“See and be seen”. I kind of like it. It means that you’ll have to be observant, be aware of the world, and be a part of the world. Is that why you always make those funny observations? But on the other hand, it’s also, “be seen”, so you can’t just be one that’s at the sidelines looking at things, but you have to be somebody that others pay attention to. That’s good, that’s good. See and be seen. Go get ‘em, right? That’s the spirit!

SON
What?

RISTO
Your motto.

SON.
Oh.

RISTO
I’m not sure if I have a motto myself. Maybe I should think of one. What do you think? What should my motto be? I have to think about that. Any suggestions?

SON
How about “see and be seen”?

RISTO
But that’s yours! I can’t take your motto. Very funny.

SON
I don’t really want it anymore.

RISTO
Oh. Well. Thank you. Thank you very much.

SON
You’re welcome. Can I now play something else?

RISTO
OK.

FADE OUT.

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