Category: Itsy bitsy scripts

INTERIOR of an apartment. LIGHT is streaming in through a NARROW window with frilly curtains that look DRAB. The light is throwing patterns on the floor. Highlighting patches where the hardwood floor has peeled off.

There is sofa-bed/couch in a corner UNMADE, some clothes heaped on it.

ARUNA walks into the room.

BACKGROUND: Sounds of a bathroom flush going off.

She heads for the UNMADE COUCH. Clearly, she has just come out of the bathroom.

She’s about five feet four inches tall with a pear-shaped figure. Her body language is INTENSE. Even half-asleep she seems like she’s ready to SPAR.

The corners of the room are dark. Full of unrevealed SECRETS.

ARUNA lies down on the pile of clothes and murmuring to herself settles down to sleep.

There is a slight sound of a CREAKY floorboard. And then NOTHING. But she continues to sleep, undisturbed.

INSIDE THE ROOM –

The camera pulls back to reveal the rest of the room. There’s a table and chair in OKAY condition. In another corner is the kitchen area, also as untidy as the rest of the room.

The CAMERA continues a slow tour past the open bathroom door with a frayed mat in the front. The walls of the room are an insipid shade of grey-blue.

And then it comes to a STOP in front of a MIRROR with a wrought iron border from where some trinkets and tassels are hanging.

There’s something a little odd about the MIRROR. As the camera moves past it something catches the eye.

The camera RETURNS and we see someone move away quickly. We barely catch a glimpse.

ARUNA moves and snores a bit in her sleep. The camera almost CREEPS up on her. She’s sleeping on her back, one hand thrown out and one hand resting on her chest. On the floor near out-stretched hand is her mobile phone. The light on it is flickering showing the time –

14:58 hrs

And then the phone RINGS. An abrupt staccato sound which comes in short, frequent bursts that seem to ERUPT from it.

At first, she barely stirs. Yet the CAMERA stays focussed on her RELENTLESSLY. She mumbles in her sleep. Gives a giggle.

The camera stays focussed.

The phone is still ringing.

And then her eyes OPEN. The slightly unfocussed look gives way to a look of comprehension. Her hand reaches towards the phone.

The PHONE is still ringing and just as ARUNA’s hand reaches for it and swipes on the answer icon SOMETHING reaches out and swats her finger away.

“Aaah”, she shouts in surprise and irritation.

The camera barely lingers on her angry expression and turns to FOCUS on the tall mirror. A barely visible SHADOW enters the mirror.

ARUNA turns around and goes back to sleep.

*********************************

NEXT DAY – Early morning. The same studio apartment.

ARUNA is up. She pulls back the curtains. They are old and a bit TATTERED.

Something falls out of the FOLDS of the curtains. It makes a tiny tinkling sound. She picks it up.

It’s a small Halloween mask, about two inches tall. There’s something strange about it. The eyes are not hollow spaces. It seems like they’re looking back.

Aruna gives out a tight little SCREAM and then walking to window she THROWS it out.

****************************************

RUBBISH DUMP

The Halloween MASK falls there. The camera moves CLOSER to it. And CLOSER. The MASK is just lying there, on the trash. And just as the camera is moving away from it, the eyes BLINK!

Opening scene

Video game parlour. Dimly lit. Camera SWOOPS down on the scene. Young people engrossed looking at their screens.

Some look thrilled. Some, puzzled. And a couple of them have fierce looks of concentration tinged with disappointment. Clearly, they’re on the verge of losing.

And then the camera finds HIM. A solitary player. Sitting away from the crowd.

Camera approaches CLOSER AND CLOSER. The computer screen reflects in his eyes.

And then we get a view of his SCREEN. We see a JUNGLE.

The viewer enters the jungle.

PITCH BLACK. STILL. SLIVER OF A MOON CASTS A FAINT LIGHT.

The viewer gradually gets used to the stillness and darkness.

And then he hears it. A faint sound. A low hum.

We get a quick glimpse of the game player. His concentration is total. And a strange look, almost of fear, on his face.

THE VIEWER IS BACK IN THE JUNGLE.

The hum is approaching. Or perhaps, he’s heading towards the hum.

LOW SEDUCTIVE VOICE almost from nowhere –

Today’s the day

Back to the gamer. He’s startled.

Voice continues –

You know what you have to do

Still staring at the screen the gamer replies in a monotone. To no one in particular –

Yes

Camera PULLS BACK. We get a complete look again of the gaming place. The lights seem to be FLICKERING. Some of the gamers look up in surprise and irritation.

The gamer completely IN THE MOMENT.

Back to jungle in the game. A slight BREEZE is blowing the leaves. A CLEARING… and then SHE appears.

She is truly SPLENDID. Mahogany dark complexion. Tall. Statuesque.

She looks STRAIGHT into the camera and smiles. Her EYES stay cold and unsmiling.

Hello Gokul

The guy looking at the screen of his game is STARTLED. JUMPS back in shock.

She continues in a throaty whisper –

You thought I had forgotten?

No mistakes this time.

Remember what I said, it has to be done today….today…

The video game parlour is gradually getting EMPTY. ONE by ONE the lights are being switched off.

Owner/Manager calls out –

We’ll close in 30 minutes

GOKUL continues, unperturbed. He’s sitting STILL. WAITING.

Viewer is back in the jungle. Following HER.

Through dense foliage. The low hum continues. Clearly, it’s from HER.

And then a low growl from the undergrowth.

The humming stops. GOKUL’s head comes up with a SNAP. Looks TERRIFIED.

Just then, the lights are switched off. Owner/manager’s voice in the darkness –

Sorry buddy. We’re closed.

You’ll have to go somewhere else.

Gokul looks almost panic stricken. Shouts out –

No, no…wait. Just five minutes. Otherwise she’ll…

Owner/manager responds in the darkness.

We have rules. Can’t break them for you.

I’ll lose my licence.

Gokul’s computer screen flickers off. But before that we get a glimpse of her BLAZING EYES.

*************************

ACT TWO

FOREST. There is foliage all around. Camera CIRCLES around. And then stops at a spot. Something is MOVING. SLOWLY it stands up.

It is a BIG CAT. It looks straight at the viewer.

And then starts moving forward. In slow deliberate steps. It’s tail swishing.

Scene cuts to –

GOKUL’s apartment. He enters and shuts the door behind him. The CAMERA is lurking around catching his movements.

He moves fast toward the windows and pulls the curtains. Switches on just one light.

MUTTERING under his breath –

She’s going to kill me

That stupid, fuckin’ guy

If only…

He’s opening his backpack and pulling out his computer all this while.

He switches on the computer and the screen flickers on.

Something comes on the screen.

Gokul’s face. STARTLED look.

What the fuck….

The camera focuses briefly on the screen. We see PAW PRINTS! As if a cat has walked across the screen.

And before he can say anything more we hear a LOW GROWL.

It’s coming from somewhere in the corner of the apartment.

Gokul spins around in fear. Stares FEARFULLY into the darkness.

Who’s there?

His voice QUAVERS

SILENCE

Gokul waits for a few more seconds and then breathing a sigh of relief goes back to his computer.

The game is BACK ON!

Gokul’s eyes are glued to the SCREEN. Someone is running through the trees. He can hear the sound of FIERCE PANTING.

With his cursor he follows the sound. Through the foliage he can get brief glimpses of the HEAD. SHOULDER. LEGS.

And then the CLEARING. Where we had seen the BIG CAT.

The person who was running has come to a halt. It’s a man. We can see him but not his face.

Hello Gokul!

The familiar husky VOICE.

Gokul whirls around on his chair and peers into the darkness in his apartment.

You shouldn’t have switched off like that.

Gokul, almost sobbing in fear –

I couldn’t help it. The place was shutting down.

Where are you? Where…where

SILKY VOICE –

Not my problem…you should not have…should not have…

GOKUL –

Stop it! Stop saying that! STOP ITTTTT…

He’s almost CRYING now.

Camera is back on the COMPUTER SCREEN.

The guy in the clearing has now turned his head. He LOOKS STRAIGHT into the camera.

It’s GOKUL.

And before we can GASP in surprise the BIG CAT appears before him. And then MORPHS into him.

********************

ACT THREE

Gokul’s apartment. Looks the same. He’s hunched near the computer staring at the screen.

Camera moves closer to his FACE. He’s smiling. Just a little. And then we see his eyes.

GRAY-GREEN like a CAT’s!

 

Film opens with a blank screen.

SOUND: Low humming in a woman’s voice interspersed with gentle laughter

INTERIOR – STUDIO APARTMENT

It is late at night. A middle-aged woman is walking around in her small, neatly furnished living room. Dressed casually in shorts and a T-shirt she’s talking to someone on the phone. One moment she’s smiling and the next moment it looks like she is arguing with the person at the other end

WOMAN

I told you that’s how it’s going to sound…and now… look

The voice at the other end doesn’t seem to be giving in at all

WOMAN

No…just listen to me….your way of….no hear me out!

She’s pacing and moving her hands excitedly. She stops by the window. The light is shining on her. She looks out of the window casually and her expression freezes.

SOUND: The humming sound comes on again in the background.

INTERIOR – LIVING ROOM OF STUDIO APARTMENT

Reflected on the glass window is a young woman. She is wearing a dress, casual sandals and walking forward with slow, deliberate steps.

WOMAN, staring at the reflection in the glass window face white with fear turns around slowly to look over her shoulder.

INTERIOR – LIVING ROOM

The room is empty. A few floor cushions are scattered around. In the corner is an old fashioned turn-table. A few books in a shelf and a vase with a few wilting flowers in it. In the corner is a rocking chair. Everything looks the same. And then she notices that the rocking chair is moving slowly. Almost indiscernibly.

She picks up the phone –

WOMAN (hoarsely)

I’ll call you back later.

SOUND: This time, there’s gentle laughter with the humming sound gradually.

INTERIOR – FAR CORNER OF THE LIVING ROOM

The woman in shorts and T-shirt has a hunted look on her face. Clearly she’s scared and with jerky movements she’s turning over cushions and looking under the furniture.

She is muttering under her breath – Don’t be silly. Get a grip. Just your imagination…..

SOUND: The humming sound follows her around as if it is leading the search, and then suddenly it rises to a crescendo.

INTERIOR OF LIVING ROOM

The woman is standing in the middle of the room. Her cell phone is ringing with a loud jangly sound which converges with the humming sound. She is staring at it. Terrified.

She picks up the phone with a quick, jerky movement.

WOMAN: Hello?

Her body relaxes slightly. It is obvious that the voice at the other end is a known one.

WOMAN: Oh really? No, I didn’t see a missed call from you. At 5? Oh, I must’ve been driving…you know stuck in traffic…

She laughs nervously.

She continues talking on the phone. Pacing the floor. You can tell that she’s avoiding going up to the window.

SOUND: Gentle, soothing piano music in the background.

She turns around while speaking to glance at the rocking chair in the corner. It’s still. A look of relief crosses her face. Her smile becomes wider. She laughs aloud a couple of times.

WOMAN: Sure, let’s do that. Next Saturday? That works. 7 in the evening? At the corner of 10^th and Main? Alright….I’ll be there.

SOUND: The humming sound is back. It leads the viewer’s attention as it goes up a few octaves and then down again.

The woman’s back is to the camera. She’s looking for something. She finds it. It’s the TV remote.

SOUND: The humming is definitely stronger. There is an edge to it. As if it is trying to tell the viewer that something’s up.

The woman settles down on the couch, remote in hand. She’s flipping channels. The camera takes a leisurely look around the living room. The rocking chair is quiet. So is the turn-table. The camera lingers on the book-shelf. One of the books quietly falls over. Silently.

BACKGROUND: TV news sounds.

The audience is taking in the details of the apartment as the camera moves along.

SOUND: The humming sound is following the camera movement along with the audience.

The woman is laughing now. There’s a sitcom going on.

SOUND: Suddenly in the midst of it the humming stops. Canned laughter from the sitcom plays in the background.

WOMAN: Chuckling…

Her cell phone rings. Glancing away from the TV she casually picks it up and looks at the screen to see who is calling. On the screen is a picture of the same woman whose reflection she had seen on the glass pane of the window.

THE END

Interior. Early evening. A gym with the usual stuff. Some weights strewn around. A treadmill. A training cycle. Cross trainer…

Treadmill moving. There is someone working out on it. A middle-aged woman. Walking fast. She’s a little plump, average looking with a pleasant face.

In the background the sounds of the birds as they’re flying back home. The woman is facing the mirror as she works out on the treadmill. Something catches her eye. She darts a quick, almost nervous glance at the glass door at the entrance of the gym.

Woman – Excuse me? Who’s it?

Nothing. She continues working out. Dusk has fallen. The gym gets a little darker.

Woman (under her breath) – Should’ve turned the lights on.

The ticker on the treadmill shows that she has already completed 28 minutes. She is a little out of breath. Something startles her and the camera follows her gaze to the entrance of the gym. It seems like there is a shadow standing by the door.

Woman calls out in a slight quavering voice – Who’s it? Are you looking for someone? Excuse me?

She continues in this vein for a little while longer and then gives up. The treadmill sticker shows 34 minutes. Clearly she’s not done yet because she moves up the speed. There is the sound of wind all around and the view from the glass windows of the gym is spectacular.

Faint sounds of music from a distant loud speaker. There are stray dogs barking in the road outside. In the gym, very little of the outside noise seeps in. The woman hits the pause button as she sees that her phone is blinking. Someone is trying to reach her.

She answers the phone – Yes, I’m almost done. Just 5-7 minutes left and then I’ll be home. Sure…get it started…no, no I’ll do something about it’.

She is on the final spurt of gym-energy. She bumps up the speed and walks on determinedly.

Eyes ahead. Walking fast. She’s humming under her breath.

Woman – One more round and then I’ll be done. Two more rounds and then I’ll be strong. Three more rounds and then it’s more confidence …..

She goes on inspiring herself to move faster. Her breathing is faster too.

The shadow at the gym door gets a little darker, as does the room. This time she doesn’t pay attention to it. Continues with her humming. The treadmill ticker shows 39 minutes.

Woman – Six more minutes and then I’m done. Five more minutes and then it’s over. Four more minutes ….

The shadow detaches itself from the entrance of the gym and almost swoops down on the woman in a matter of seconds.

Woman – Four more minutes and then easy-peasy……ohhh (woman’s voice climbs a few pitches high and stops abruptly)

The treadmill sounds continue. The ticker shows 44 minutes …you’re almost done. And then the ticker goes blank. The camera stays focussed on it. With a stuttering beep it comes back to life and the words that come on it screen are – You’re done!

Cut to a long shot of the gym. Everything is in place. The door opens and the manager in charge of the gym marches in almost. He stops and looks down, spots something on the floor and is about to pick it up when he notices something. He picks it up. It’s a picture of the woman who was walking on the treadmill. She’s smiling at the camera.

He speaks to himself – Well, I’ll be damned. Isn’t that Urmila? I thought she died in that fire on the top floor. How come her picture?

He looks around helplessly and then shrugging his shoulders he carries on walking.

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Announcer: This is a story about a relationship between a little Tibetan boy and the mountain where he takes his goats for grazing.

Background sounds of monks chanting interspersed with birds chirping and the wind rustling through the trees…there’s an overwhelming sense of purity in the air. In the distance the faint strains of a flute can be heard.

Little boy (clucking): Here, here…no, no. You…here, Kalsang (his voice goes up a few pitches), Kalsang you never follow my directions. Next time I’ll leave you behind with Mo and then ..…

Goats calling out

Little boy (humming under his breath): Kalsang, you silly boy… I named you and yet you never listen to me. Do you know Kalsang means good fortune? Heh? Good fortune! And you just want to be like the other goats.

Singing tunelessly as he wanders around. From the pitch and tone of his voice it seems like he is around 11-12 years old.

Little boy (calling out): RI…RI how are you this morning. Why so serious? Your Mo didn’t hug you? So what if you’re a mountain, so big and rough.. but your Mo loves you.

(Ri is the Tibetan word for mountain)

Low rumbling of clouds from a distance. The sound of the wind gets a little harsher.

Little boy: Kalsang, come here. Looks like it may rain. No shelter here.

Then turning his face towards the mountain

Ri, take away this rain. The goats have not eaten properly and they will not give milk and my Mo will be so mad at me.

Faint sounds of thunder. As if from a distance.

Little boy: Kalsang, wait here. I’ll get the other goats.

(With a warning tone in his voice): Don’t you dare move from here Kalsang or I’ll never bring you with me again.

The sound of the wind as it whips past

Little boy: Meh…meh…meh (making a goat-like sounds as he calls out to them)

(Then in a plaintive little boy voice) What happened Ri? Everything was fine when I came and then suddenly you’ve changed.

Are you angry with me? No? Then don’t let the storm come. Please, Ri…(pleading)

Little boy continues: Meh…meh…meh Come here. We have to go home.

Sounds of goats meh-mehying in protest as they are herded together

Little boy (muttering under his breath): Six, seven..Norbu…Yeshe..eleven…Diki..Tashi (then, letting out a huge sigh as if in relief) okay, all of you… let’s go home before the storm catches us.

The sound of wind gets stronger…almost a nasal tone

Little boy (calling out): Kalsang…we’re here…let’s go. Where are you hiding KALSANG!! K-A-L-S-A-N-G don’t make me angry you silly goat. We have to leave NOW.

The boy’s voice seems frayed at the edges with anxiety.

The wind gives a menacing roar and the clouds join in.

Little boy (muttering under his breath): Kalsang…please come out. Please Kalsang..if we’re stranded here then I’ll lose all the goats and Mo will never speak to me again.

Loudly yelling again : KALSANG….KALSANG…

A faint meh..meh..can be heard from a distance against the sound of the wind.

The boy’s voice lights up with happiness: Kalsang…come here. We’re here.

The meh…meh’s of the other goats as they huddle together can be heard in the foreground.

Little boy (talking to his herd): We can’t go back. Too windy and the rain is there too…. And Kalsang… I need to find him.

KALSANG… (The boy makes meh..meh noises). The missing goat now seems closer as it responds to the little boy’s call.

Little boy: Come here… Kalsang. You’re a brave boy. Come…come…we’re all here. How did you get lost? I told you to stay here but you never listen…always running off to do your own thing. That’s what Mo tells me and you’re just like me. We’re brothers…

He gives out a shout of laughter. Relief and joy mingle together. It rings out against the sound of the gathering storm.

Little boy: Ri, we need your help. Find us a place where we can shelter against the storm. Please Ri, help me. You and I know each other since I came here as a toddler with Pha. He used to sing songs to you, remember?

I wish he was still here. But he’s not. Mo has become so quiet after he…

His voice drops. His sadness is palpable. And then suddenly, the wind screams and the thunder barks out loud.

Little boy (softly, pleading): Please Ri…

Sounds of hooves trotting on interspersed with the frightened meh…meh’s of the goats. The boy is pushing them on.

The first drops of rain burst forth. The little boy starts singing softly under his breath. It sounds like a folk song. Almost like a song of the mountains…

Another crack of thunder and almost at the same time we hear a yelp of joy from the boy.

Little boy: Look Kalsang… do you see that corner? Come on all of you. It looks like a small hollowed out corner. We can shelter there from the rain.

Pitter-patter of hooves followed by urgings from the boy

Little boy (in a singing tone):

Come with me and I’ll take you to a little corner.

My friend Ri has saved it for us.

He may not smile but he’s a friend.

Behind that stern face is a kind heart.

My friend Ri he is helping us.

He is a true friend. And he will always be there for us.

The sound of the wind and rain decreases. As if the entire group of goats and boy are now in a sheltered space.

Little boy: See, we’re so lucky. We’re safe and dry. The rain cannot hurt us. (Then shouting out aloud with glee): Rain, rain we’ve escaped you. Now you can pour all you want. You can’t do anything to us.

The goats sound more confident. There is no trace of nervousness in their meh…meh’ing.

Little boy: Look, somebody has left a bunch of grass and what’s this… it looks like a broken flute. Okay, something for you and for me.

The sound of a raggedy melody coming from the broken flute. In the background can be heard the restless movements of the herd.

Little boy (a broken sob in his voice): Pha, pha..why did you leave? Where are you now? Why doesn’t Mo tell me anything about you? Are you dead? Yes, maybe you’re dead like Jigme’s uncle. That’s why you haven’t come back.

As if the idea makes perfect sense. There is a sense of relief in the boy’s voice.

Little boy: Yes, that’s why. But doesn’t Mo know you’re dead? She knows everything. She always knows when I’m lying to her.

In the background the rain and wind continue to rage on.

Little boy (singing softly to himself): My pha was a brave man. He was never afraid. He used to laugh at Ri.

Then as if an idea strikes him.

Little boy: Of course, Ri knows what happened to Pha. I should ask Ri. When the storm goes away I’ll ask him. He’s my friend. He will… (he lets out a yawn)

From a distance sounds of chants as if from a monastery. The wind is whistling through the trees. The weather has cleared.

Little boy (he yawns and stretches as if he has just woken up): The storm has passed! Look Kalsang, the sky has cleared. Let’s go quickly. I’m hungry and Mo will be angry. She’ll think I was wasting my time.

Sounds of goats being herded together.

Little boy: Let’s go… c’mon Norbu, faster, faster. Tashi! If you don’t move your lazy butt I’m leaving you here.

Frantic meh..meh’s as the goats jostle together. And then, suddenly…

Little boy: Wait, what was that sound? Did you hear it?

There is a quiet pause as if the goats understand the urgency in his voice.

From a distance the sound of the wind whispering gently. Almost sounds like it is saying “Jinpaaaa” “Jinpaaah”  (Jinpa is a Tibetan name)

Little boy: Someone is calling me. Someone is saying my name. Ri, are you calling me? You know my name? Of course, you know…pha used to call out to me when I was little when he came here to graze the goats.

Again, the wind whispers urgently, “Jinpaaa” “Jinpaah”

The sounds of the goats getting restless.

Little boy: Tell me Ri. I know it is you. Tell me. Do you want me the follow the call? Okay, I’m coming there.

Sounds of movement. Goats moving. Their bodies brushing against each other.

Little boy (muttering under his breath): Ri, just a few minutes. I’ll be there. I’m almost….

Loud, thunderous noise. As if the mountain is falling. Boulders crashing down. The goats bleat in fright.

Little boy: Ri, what happened? What is that sound? Ri? Ri?

Gentle voice: Jinpa, don’t be afraid. I’m your pha. I’m taking care of you. Nothing will happen to you. Remember, I’m always with you. Always.

Voice fades away

Little boy: Pha…pha…wait. Talk to me. Where are you? I want to see you. Pha..

Sounds of goats bleating loudly. Impatiently.

Little boy (as if waking up suddenly): What? What happened? Pha?

Then suddenly he gives out a shout of laughter.

Little boy: Kalsang, you silly fellow. Stop pushing me. Yes, we’ll leave now before Mo comes here herself. I’ll tell you secret Kalsang. My pha came to me in a dream. Ri, brought him to me. He has not vanished Kalsang. He is with me. All the time. And he watches …. (his voice fades away).