Right of Way by Li Ming Leong
A play about how a minor road accident highlights socioeconomic division among people.
First published in Pandan Weekly in July 2024.
From the author:
This script is based on a real-life story told to me over a kopi in a coffee shop after my weekly exercise class! Our little group of retirees was fascinated by the arrogance implicit in people who could, in good conscience, cause a minor road accident and then try to get away with it by using their social status. Of course, I have made several changes to enhance the class conflict inherent in the situation and bring the various characters to life. I am also grateful to Steph and Rafael at my SEA Lit Circle workshop, who helped me tremendously with the character of Mei Zhu and the narrative in general.
The story itself is universal, but the use of Singlish, the clear divide between social classes and between generations, and the materialism (cars as luxury asset) make it particularly relevant to Singapore society today. The Singapore system of meritocracy, while seen as necessary for our country’s economic survival, has also been criticised as imposing an ideology where people rise or sink to a level in the social hierarchy due to their own efforts. To quote the New Naratif, ‘...because of the myth of meritocracy, one’s income is a reflection of one’s own hard work, merit, and worth as a human being. Therefore, if someone is poor, it is their fault for not working hard enough, rather than being born into poverty or structural conditions that prevent social mobility. The fact of their poverty is thus then used to justify discriminating against them and treating them poorly’.
And yet these ‘lower’ classes sell the rest of us our food and groceries, drive our buses, taxis and MRTs and keep our society clean and running. Their sons serve National Service alongside their wealthy counterparts. Is this right?
Readers for the audio recording:
Sam - Christopher Loh
Mei Zhu - Caitlin Yeo
Esther - Jennifer Soy Avocado Leong
Robert Aw-Yeung - KC Yee
Emily Aw-Yeung - Leong Li Ming
Characters:
Esther — Esther is in her 60s and is enjoying early retirement. She was back-end admin staff at a local bank for many years and saved enough to retire. Her husband passed away unexpectedly a couple years ago and she inherited enough to live comfortably and afford a compact car, even in retirement. Esther dresses simply and comfortably. She can switch between Singlish and English easily, but her accent is more local than Robert and Emily’s.
Mr Robert Aw-Yeung — Robert is in his 50s and is the head of a prestigious international school. Well-educated and well-connected, Robert is confident and well-presented. He looks like he plays golf regularly. He speaks grammatically correct Singapore English in the manner of a seasoned politician.
Mrs Emily Aw-Yeung — Emily is in her late 40s and has been married to Robert for more than 20 years. She is a solicitor by training but gave up full-time work to bring up the couple’s three children — now she volunteers at several organisations and is an outspoken member of the local Residents’ Network (private/public) of Thomson Villas. She looks younger than her age and dresses in stylish sports clothing on weekends. Like Robert, she speaks standard Singapore English.
Sam, also known as Ah Fu — In his mid-50s, Sam has been running You and Me Lim Kopi for 15 years and is on good terms with many of his regulars. A simple guy, Sam enjoys chatting with his regulars when the stall is not too busy. He used to sell watches in a shop in Bugis in the past, but took over the stall when his cousin passed away. He speaks Singlish peppered with Mandarin and Hokkien.
Mei Zhu — Mei Zhu is in her early 20s and is a food blogger (@travellingtastebuds) and an aspiring influencer (her day job is with Starhub). Her Insta and TikTok videos usually include shots of her chowing down a dish and commenting on taste vs visuals. Kopitiams are not really her thing as she is usually trying to chase down the latest trends for the ’gram (like dalgona coffee and cotton candy clouds that rain into your tea). However, she has a weakness for HK-style condensed milk peanut butter toast (rare in SG) and has heard that Sam can whip up some of the best for customers in the know. Her English is American-accented.
Setting:
Ho Jiak Kopitiam, a brightly lit non-airconditioned kopitiam with orange plastic tables in Upper Thomson. Specifically, the tables in front of the You and Me Lim Kopi stall.
10 a.m. Saturday morning at the Ho Jiak Kopitiam in Upper Thomson. It is a warm day with bright sunlight starting to heat up the plastic tables and stools. The Kopitiam is not that busy and most stalls are still closed. The exception is You and Me Lim Kopi that sees a steady queue of customers. A few widely dispersed tables are occupied with patrons eating their eggs, kaya toast and kopi. MEI ZHU and SAM are standing in the middle of the kopitiam already deep in discussion. Young MEI ZHU is wearing a cute sundress and understated makeup that looks good in selfies. She has her shiny iPhone Pro Max that she mounts in a tripod cum selfie stick. Middle-aged rotund hawker SAM is wearing a T-shirt and shorts, with a bumbag around his waist for change and a dark baseball cap to hide his receding hairline.
SAM
(Looking a bit sceptical.) So, Xiao Jie, you say you are some kind of ‘food blogger’, so I have to give you free kopi, plus special orders of condensed milk peanut butter toast? Eh all this makan not cheap leh, you sure your publicity worth it or not? Got real people watch you on Facebook, Instagram... and what’s that other one I never heard of leh?
MEI ZHU
(Shocked.) You never heard of TikTok? OMG boomer! And not Facebook lah, all the real audience moved on from there long ago.
SAM
Aiyoh, so I give you everything for free but you cannot even promise me a good review?
MEI ZHU
Eh Uncle, I or ‘Travelling Tastebuds’ always give honest opinions. That’s what my 25 thousand followers want — no cap!
SAM
(Looks puzzled than hurt, adjusts his cap.) What you talking? Cap, cap. Eh you don’t insult my hat OK, it’s genuine original hor. From Taylor Swift guy dancer, when she sang at National Stadium — the Carousell seller got show me photo!
MEI ZHU
(Rolls eyes.) You mean Kameron Saunders? L, Uncle! I think you got scammed, man! Aiyah never mind that... Look, if you want a good review, then all you need to do is serve me good food. The last place I visited saw sales triple that week, OK?
SAM
OK OK, whatever lah, you go sit over there first. I got a lot of regulars coming in now, so need to make sure those people who pay money are happy before I cater for your Dotdot photoshoot where everything has to be zun zun sui sui.
MEI ZHU
Not Dotdot, TIKTOK! Ah never mind, I can’t even...
SAM goes behind the stall counter. Meanwhile, MEI ZHU walks around the coffee shop, checking the lighting before settling into a corner table at the back where she sits down, unfolds her phone tripod and starts setting up. Retiree ESTHER enters in a casual T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. She is carrying her purse and a folded newspaper. She puts the newspaper down to chope a table and goes up to the You and Me Lim Kopi stall.
SAM
(With a broad smile.) Eh hello, good morning, Da Jie! Nice to see you! How come you are here so early? I thought you have your morning exercise class?
ESTHER
Morning, Ah Fu! No class today, instructor sick. So I get to come here and lim kopi! Good, right?
SAM
(Nodding enthusiastically.) Yeah, of course! No need to work so hard for once! So, the usual?
ESTHER
(Smiling.) Yep, your special kaya toast and kopi gau siew dai.
ESTHER hands over the money to SAM, who pours her her coffee and gives her a buzzer. She takes the coffee to her table, opens the newspaper to cover the table and begins reading while waiting for the buzzer to go off.
Cut to an accident video similar to this video. Basically MR ROBERT AW-YEUNG’s Mercedes has hit ESTHER’s bumper while he was trying to park next to her car. The couple get out, take a look and then walk on to the Kopitiam. In the meantime, quick-witted MEI ZHU gets her phone out and surreptitiously starts filming the incident from under her table.
SAM and ESTHER watch the scene open-mouthed. ESTHER is furious as her car now has a large dent in the bumper. She stands up to confront MR and MRS AW-YEUNG as they enter the Kopitiam. ROBERT AW-YEUNG is wearing a coordinated polo-shirt ensemble; EMILY AW-YEUNG a T-shirt, joggers and an anti-UV jacket, open at the front. Both look polished and smart.
ESTHER
(Shouting, very upset and agitated.) Eh, eh EH!! I saw you! You HIT my car!
MR and MRS AW-YEUNG exchange glances.
ROBERT
(Calmly.) Excuse me, do we know you?
ESTHER
You don’t try to be funny with me! You were driving that Mercedes outside, right? I saw you bang my bumper when you were parking!
ROBERT
Are you sure? I think you might be mistaken.
ESTHER
Mistaken? I am not mistaken! I SAW YOU JUST NOW!
ROBERT
(Firmly.) Do you have video evidence? I didn’t see any sign of an in-car camera.
ESTHER is silent, looks down.
MEI ZHU quietly puts her phone facedown on the table and continues to watch the scene.
ROBERT
Without video evidence, it’s your word against mine.
ESTHER
(Angry, pushing forward.) I don’t need video evidence; I have the evidence of MY OWN EYES! Look, you made a clumsy mistake, OK? Just admit it and give me your particulars for the insurance. Your IC...
ROBERT
(Loudly.) MADAM! I’m not admitting to anything and I am not giving you anything! Your car already has lots of dents and scratches. Are you sure that the one on your bumper wasn’t there from before?
ESTHER
(Agitated.) DON’T BE RIDICULOUS!! LOOK, I SAW YOU DO IT! WE ALL SAW YOU! (She gestures around the Kopitiam. Everyone looks away or looks down. There is a long silence.)
ROBERT
(Confidently.) You see? I think you’ll find it’s your word against ours.
ESTHER
But it’s the TRUTH! I can’t believe you are being so unreasonable!! Fine, don’t give me your particulars, I have your license plate number, anyway, so I’ll just go straight to the Traffic Police and make a report.
ESTHER walks away in a huff and goes back to reading the newspaper at her table.
Meanwhile, the AW-YEUNGS whisper together for a while with gestures in the direction of the car and ESTHER.
EMILY
(To ROBERT.) Don’t worry. Leave it to me. (The AW-YEUNGS go up to the You and Me Lim Kopi stall.)
ROBERT
Morning, Sam. Let’s have some of your good kopi to wash away this unpleasantness, huh? The usual Kopi-O for me and… (He turns to EMILY.) What would you like today, dear?
EMILY
Kopi-C siew dai, dear. I need to watch my sugar levels.
SAM
(Smiling tentatively.) Sure, Mr Robert, Mrs Emily, coming right up! And the eggs?
ROBERT
Of course, the usual.
SAM
(Shouts the egg order to the kitchen, then gives ROBERT an uneasy look. He says quietly to ROBERT.) Mr Robert, why you don’t make a deal with Ms Esther? Sure, I can understand you don’t want to lose your no-claims lah. But, but... she also has to repair her bumper otherwise quite jialat. I’m sure she won’t ask for much lah… and, and... you are both my regulars....
ROBERT
(Sternly.) Sam, I know you mean well, but this is none of your business. Look, don’t I give you angpao every Chinese New Year? Then trust me to handle this properly.
The kitchen comes up with the eggs, as well as ESTHER’s kaya toast. EMILY takes the two coffee mugs and ROBERT takes a tray with both food orders on it. They walk over to ESTHER’s table.
ROBERT
Excuse me, can we share this table? (Without waiting for a response, ROBERT pushes ESTHER’s newspaper to one side so he can put the two food orders down. He and EMILY sit down opposite ESTHER, even as ESTHER glares at them.)
ESTHER
(Hostile.) WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?
ROBERT
(Waving the kaya toast.) Hey look, I know we got off to a bad start but Sam told me this order was for you so I brought it over. Can we talk?
ESTHER
Only if you have something useful to say. (She jerks the kaya toast over to her side of the table.)
EMILY
(Takes a sip of coffee and leans over the table towards ESTHER.) Look, I think we are all reasonable people here so let’s not spoil this nice morning with lots of baseless accusations. (Gestures towards the car.) That little dent in your bumper; it was obviously there from before. (Looks ESTHER right in the eye.) We’re not the sort of people you can extort money from, so I advise you not to even try.
ESTHER
WHAT?!!!
ROBERT
Listen to my wife. She was trained as a solicitor and is a valued member of the Thomson Villas Residents Network. Things can get very nasty for you, if you insist on inventing stories.
ESTHER
(Furious.) BUT YOU’RE THE ONES MAKING UP STORIES!!!! (ESTHER slams the newspaper on the table and glares at ROBERT and EMILY, both of whom return her gaze calmly.)
EMILY
You are not making the situation better for yourself by throwing temper tantrums. Maybe I need to spell this out for you. (Pause.) My husband and I remember seeing you before. You and your group of kakis like going to the Seafood Master Tze Char place around the corner on Friday nights, right? And you have multiple rounds of beers with your food and have a great time. Now that’s all good fun, but I’ve seen you drive them back home even when you’ve all gone quite red in the face. (Long pause while ESTHER and EMILY glare at each other.) So you should think hard — do you want the Traffic Police digging too hard into your background? You don’t want to lose your licence for the price of a minor repair, do you?
ESTHER
(Stares at the couple in shock.) You’re trying to INTIMIDATE me? Seriously?
ROBERT
(Smiling gently.) ‘Intimidation’ is such a nasty word. I think we should simply say that all actions have consequences. We simply want you to think about yours. (Sanctimoniously.) ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone’ and all that kind of thing.
The AW-YEUNGS drink their coffee and exit the kopitiam, waving to SAM as they go. Everyone stares after them. ESTHER continues to sit at the table sipping her kopi. After they leave, she buries her head in her hands.
Sam goes over to her.
SAM
Da Jie, you OK or not?
ESTHER
(Shaking her head forcefully.) How can I be OK? You saw what happened, right? Can you believe those two? Who do they think they are? How can they do this sort of thing and expect to get away with it?
SAM
(Sighing.) Mr Robert and his lao po are both important people. I think he is the principal of some big international school lah and his wife is in some grassroots organization. Both of them quite well-to-do and used to getting their way.
ESTHER
‘Used to getting their way’? They are just a bunch of paikia! Gangsters with money!
SAM
Hey, Da Jie, don’t say that lah. They are not that bad. Mr Robert gives us a big angpao at the Kopitiam Lohei event every year and his wife does a lot of charitable work. (He shakes his head regretfully.) It’s just that they live in their own world and what’s important for us is not so for them.
ESTHER
So that makes it OK for them to bully other people in the estate? Just because they have money and atas jobs?
SAM
(Sadly.) No, no, it doesn’t. I told him he shouldn’t do that, but aiyah, you two are both my regulars. I was here when you used to bring your son round for breakfast during his reservist; I was here when Mrs Emily was in hospital from that fall and Mr Robert came in here for months on his own. How can you ask me to choose between you?
ESTHER
Ah Fu, I know it’s difficult, but I need you to back up my statement on the hit-and-run when I go to the police. I think if I can produce multiple witnesses then they won’t dare to try their blackmail tricks.
SAM
(Shaking his head vehemently.) NO, I don’t want to get involved. I’ll get in trouble!
ESTHER
Ah Fu, you know what they did is not right. Please as your friend, I am asking for your help!
SAM backs away, shaking his head. MEI ZHU approaches ESTHER.
MEI ZHU
Hi, sorry to interrupt, but I also saw what happened. I was sitting at that table just over there. (She waves her iPhone at ESTHER.) I think I managed to video it too, though the angles weren’t always that great with my phone under the table. But hey, at least it’s in 4K!
Both ESTHER and SAM turn to look at MEI ZHU.
ESTHER
Thank you so much for coming forward! I really appreciate your being so public-spirited! Unlike some people I know...
SAM
(Sarcastically to MEI ZHU, he does a slow clap.) Wah, you drama sia? Come I clap for you! So... why should we believe you? (To ESTHER.) This in-flu-en-cer char boh is only here to do food reviews. Ms Esther, come on, she don’t even know you from Adam. Sekali she wayang only, then you really mampus sia.
MEI ZHU
(Shaking her head.) NGL I was really shookt by what happened and how salty that Chad and that Karen character got over the whole thing... That’s why I didn’t say anything earlier. But, but, we can’t let them get away with it, right? Can’t let the Karens win! Anyway, I know one of the mods on SG Road Vigilante — we can get the video up for public view in 24 hours and I don’t even have to dirty my own little hands! (Glares at SAM.) That good enough for you, Sam? If they keep denying what happened, let’s see the Karens try to fight Singapore public opinion. I bet that so-called Principal gets booted right out the door! (She hesitates.) Only... I’m not sure I got their licence plate number on video ’cos of the weird angle. That’s gonna weaken our case.
Silence for a moment, with all the characters deep in thought.
SAM
(Realization dawning on his face.) Eh wait! Da Jie, you remember last year we had those drunk Ah Bengs come over late at night after the kopitiam closed? Then they buay song ah, started fighting with broken bottles?
ESTHER
How could I forget? That was Friday night. Next morning when I came in, you and your kitchen workers were still trying to clean the broken glass, blood stains and vomit from all over the place! SO luan! And the worst thing was you couldn’t even ID the idiots!
SAM
Yes, yes, really heart pain and wallet pain also! So... after that I put in a CCTV. It’s still running 24-7, right up there. (Sam points above their heads.) I have to check the video lah, but it was pointed at the front of the kopitiam. So unless we really sibei suey, we should have record of the crash and even the licence plate number!
ESTHER
(Overjoyed.) Sam, you’re a genius! And if I have footage from both you and... Sorry miss, what’s your name?
MEI ZHU
Mei Zhu. My parents named me after my grandma.
ESTHER
From Mei Zhu here. I bet those two atas paikias will just settle — they won’t want the scandal of everything going public...
MEI ZHU
Yas, I bet they’ll be yeeted out of their country clubs ASAP if they don’t step back in line! (To Sam.) You know, for a boomer, you slay, Uncle!
ESTHER and SAM look at each other confused by MEI ZHU’s words.
MEI ZHU
Uh, I mean, Uncle, you really sibei tok kong!
SAM
(Sam’s face lights up.) Oh! Gam sia lu! (To Mei Zhu.) I have to say ah, when I first meet you, I thought you just eye power leh. But now I realise you actually quite zai.
ESTHER
(Grabs both SAM and MEI ZHU by the hand.) Aiyah, we are all zai! THANK YOU BOTH! Come let’s get some more kopi and toast, my treat! Ah Fu, come and join us, let your staff handle the orders for once! (SAM nods and smiles, coming over and sitting down.) Mei Zhu, tell me more about your channels. Did you know my nephew is opening a cafe specialising in muah chee stuffed youtiao? Maybe it’s something you’d like to cover in future? (MEI ZHU looks interested.) Come on, let’s CELEBRATE!
They all sit back down around the table. Staff bring more kopi and toast to the table and the scene closes with the three characters chatting and smiling over their breakfast.
Singlish Glossary for non-Singaporeans:
Kopitiam — Coffee shop
Xiao Jie — Miss
Makan — Food
Zun — Precise
Sui — Pretty
Chope — To reserve a table or seat
Da Jie — Big Sister
Lim — Drink
Kopi gau — Black local coffee made strong
Siew dai — Less sugar
Kopi-O — Black local coffee
Kopi-C — Local coffee with evaporated milk
Jialat — In trouble
Angpao — Red packets of money gifted at the Chinese New Year
Kakis — Buddies
Lao po — Wife
Paikia — Gangster
Atas — High class
Come I clap for you — A sarcastic response; almost anti-praise
Char boh — Girl/Woman
Sekali — What if
Wayang — Acting
Mampus — Lost cause or gone case
Ah Beng — Young working-class Chinese, loud and unsophisticated
Buay song — Angry or not happy
Luan — Messy
Suey — Unlucky
Sibei tok kong — Very good or very clever
Gam sia — Thank you
Eye power — Only for show
Zai — Cool or very good at something. Actually means steady
Li-Ming Leong loves words, whether written, spoken or sung. She got her start in poetry at the 2021 “A Very Special Walk” fundraiser for the Autism Resource Centre and is a regular participant in SingPoWriMo, SEAPoWriMo and various open mics both local and international (through the magic of Zoom). Lately, she has started branching out into scriptwriting, and several of her scripts have been performed by members of NUSS DramaWorks. She hopes that all her written works let others experience the despair and the magic that lie beyond the everyday.
YouTube: @pretensionsblog
Facebook: @liming.leong
Thank you for reading!
Pandan Weekly is a bi-annual zine and weekly email series produced by SEA Lit Circle, a community of writers and readers from Southeast Asia and the diaspora. At SEA Lit Circle, we inspire each other to write fresh, compelling work that’s true to ourselves, and we encourage each other to read and be more open to new works, stories, and perspectives within and beyond the region.
Subscribe to Pandan Weekly’s newsletter by leaving your email below.
We’d love to feature your writing. We want the works you wish someone out there would resonate with; works you write for fun, for your peace of mind, or for you to understand the world or yourself better; works you wish you had grown up with—works that beg for connections, or empathy. Check our submission guidelines through the link below.