(Guy and Gal are walking on the road)
Guy: So which restaurant would you like to go to? Actually, what kind of food do you like
Gal: Ahh... Any one... Anything... Really, I just eat whatever and wherever... No hard and fast rule... Hmm... Service needs to good.
Guy: Ohh... That is nice then... I know a nice restaurant here... Let's go there.
(Just a random shot of the hotel, with people dining. Guy and Gal walk in the restaurant, walk towards a table, smiles at each other.)
Gal (after looking around): It looks like a nice place.
(Guy just smiles and nods, waiter comes and gives the menu aong with water, both are looking at their respective menus)
Gal: No starters for me.
Guy: Yeah, No starters.
Gal: I would have "some non-vegetarian food item".
Guy (looks at the girl, slightly surprised): I will have "some vegetarian food item".
Gal: Ok, Let me give the order to the waiter.
Guy: Huh.
Gal: I am never impressed by chivalry, actually offended by it at times.
Guy (smiles): I see and I like that.
Gal: Really, in this age and with all the talk of equality, liberation whatever... I have no idea why we expect chivalry and see it is a nice quality. We can do without it.
Guy: Hmmm...
Gal: All I ask for is a little respect and just spare me some of the gaze. I mean I think you are the only one I have met who has spent so much time with me and not yet looked below my neck.
Guy (slighly shy): Huh! ok... I understand.
Gal: No really, that is more important than some superficial act of...
(Interupted Waiter comes and the gal gives the order)
Guy: Of?
Gal: Ahh nothing, forget it... I tend to be preachy or speechy at times.
Guy: It is fine. I like it.
Gal: No really forget it, there is nothing more to say actually.
Guy: Ohh ok. Yeah, I was surprised to know that you have non-veg. I thought you would not be...
Gal (Interupts): Non-veg? Why?
Guy: Just my impression.. that I had of you.
Gal: Hehehe... hmmm.. Nothing like that... As I told you, I have whatever and wherever. So what you a veggie.
Guy: By choice. Just that I have a choice now so I need not eat an animal.. Listen, I do not have anything against a non-veggie... I am fine.
Gal: Hmm.. Looks like you are sensitive... I sense some too much care and affection there (Gal winks).
Guy: Just, Just like that. Just been like that.
Gal: So now I see why you are such a cynic? You think too much and at times too deeply.
Guy: Hmm... that is true... Yeah, I am a cynic... What to do? In a world, where some African nations are under constant pains like internal fighting, poverty and what not, and then terrorism, global warming... what does anyone do about it, Nothing!
Gal: I will tell you something, but you might not like it.
Guy: Go ahead.
Gal: I see what you are saying about the current world situation we are in and to be honest, yes, I too keep thinking if there will be ever be a better tomorrow?
Guy: Exactly...
Gal: But don't you think that the root of cynicism is still somewhere connected to your life..
Guy (with a questioning look): Hmmm.
Gal: I mean... How happy are you with your life?
(There is little pause here, Guy look down as though in some sort of deep thought, Gal sips a little water never removing her eyes from the Guy, Guy looks at the girl and then looks around and looks down again and looks at the Gal)
Guy: Yes, I agree. I completely agree. I do... You know...
(Waiter brings the food)
To be contd... Stay tuned :-)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Chapter 5: Some looks, Some music **my ode to Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise**
(As they were to take the right turn, the Gal spots Planet M (or any music store).)
Gal: Hye… Let’s go there first..
Guy: Ok…
(They both cross the road… Not before the guy almost extended hands to hold the gal’s elbow to help cross the road)
(The Gal goes ahead… and the Guy wanders across the hall and sees the Gal at a distance… Looks at her with a slight smile for 2 seconds and then looks away… Then looks back to see the gal staring back at him and signalling him to walk across… And he walk towards the Gal)
Gal: So, I was speaking to you about Carpenters, no?
Guy: Hmmm
Gal: Here you go… Put this headphone and listen this song “______”…
(The guy listens to the “_______”. Now all he can listen in the music… he looks at the Gal… The Gal is looking at him… The Guy turns back…. Looks at a distant… Nods his head… looks at her again… Blushes slightly…. Looks away while mouthing the words… Looks at her… Looks away instantly... so as not to be caught… Looks at a distant… Swinging his head according to the music… Looks at the girl again… looks away… This lasts for a minute… All the while the Gal is looking at him with a constant understanding smile)
Gal: Hye… Let’s go there first..
Guy: Ok…
(They both cross the road… Not before the guy almost extended hands to hold the gal’s elbow to help cross the road)
(The Gal goes ahead… and the Guy wanders across the hall and sees the Gal at a distance… Looks at her with a slight smile for 2 seconds and then looks away… Then looks back to see the gal staring back at him and signalling him to walk across… And he walk towards the Gal)
Gal: So, I was speaking to you about Carpenters, no?
Guy: Hmmm
Gal: Here you go… Put this headphone and listen this song “______”…
(The guy listens to the “_______”. Now all he can listen in the music… he looks at the Gal… The Gal is looking at him… The Guy turns back…. Looks at a distant… Nods his head… looks at her again… Blushes slightly…. Looks away while mouthing the words… Looks at her… Looks away instantly... so as not to be caught… Looks at a distant… Swinging his head according to the music… Looks at the girl again… looks away… This lasts for a minute… All the while the Gal is looking at him with a constant understanding smile)
Chapter 4: A singer and a budding poet
Gal: Not sure… I always liked the sound… At times, I used to not sleep but just listen to the sound of rain falling on the ground… Or the sound of the wind… Voice of the birds singing… And I think that’s how I caught… It was like the world is always singing… and I heard… Then I tried to participate in it…
Guy: Hmmm… You do sing very well… Did I tell you that?
Gal (laughs): You know, you don’t have to say that, it is understood.
(Both laugh)
Gal: I argued and cried to my parents for allowing me to learn singing… They agreed… But the real war was when I said that it would be my career, my life, my passion…
Guy: Hah…
Gal: How was I to give up? If they decice how I want to live, then why should I live at all, let them right it on a piece of paper and read it every day… I never gave up… and they had to give… You have no idea how much I had to fight for my basic quality… quality if any human life… freedom…
Guy: I know… Have been there… but…. Well… you go ahead…
Gal: So here I am… there might not be a single music company in this state who would not have received my cassette… (Laughs)… My voice… it is everywhere.
Guy: I thought so… I heard you before… somewhere…
(Both laugh)
Gal: So I still live with them… But I make a living or make a life... Singing in shows… I am part of 2 bands… then there is always Java Café… Enough for my subsistence...
Guy: That is great…
(Guy looking at MG Road, he nudges her)
Guy: I love this road…
Gal: Why so?
Guy: Some time back… actually 5 years back… A young man used to come here… Kind of sad…. He used to sit on the steps on the pavement… Ahh… the seat is no longer there… they are constructing the metro.
Gal: I remember it… But this city needs it.
Guy: They need to improve the infrastructure… It is so unplanned and chaotic.
Gal: Hmmm… So you were saying… A young man?
Guy: He used to come and sit on the steps on the pavement… Actually, he would walk around Brigade Road, Church Street, and finally, come here (/go there) and sit… All the while listening to songs… MLTR, Kenny G, Yanni, Hindi films songs, anything that would stir your soul…
Gal: Have you heard of Carpenters? I love them…
Guy: I don’t think I have heard of them…
Gal: They are… Ohh so sorry… I am interupting… So he used to listen to music and…
Guy: Hmmm… he used to sit right in front of Foodworld… You know the opposite side… He cannot hear the world… he cannot hear what the people are saying next to him or behind him… Nothing…. Not even the vehicles, the cars… anything…
Gal: Hmmm…
Guy: As if it was a silent movie… Just looking at the people… Not trying to analyse… Judge… nothing… just seeing… hmmm... life as it happens… Really… It is interesting… Those moments… were so private… I mean… he cannot even explain it properly… Those evenings were kind of life altering for him… he would always get up a wiser man… I mean… It meant much more to him than all the knowledge he had gained during his academic years… you know… Imagine sitting next to this road and it satisfies you more than any school, college and library…
Gal: Life as a teacher… World as a school.
Guy: Yes… Something just like that… Sometimes it used to be as if he was sitting somewhere in the middle of 2 worlds… Like In front he would see a very different world… People who are having the sweet corn…. Having Chaat… having snacks… People coming out of Foodworld with bags full of groceries… it would contain like fruits, vegetables, you know as if they are feeding their colony… And then… There used to be those behind them sitting on the footpath… So poor… Little children begging… Adults all tired after a day of labour probably… Tinge of sickness… and sometimes how it used to cross over… he would see these people crossing the road… but nothing changes… they look at all that is going on… wide eyed… sometimes jaws dropped… He would see all this... Life would go on just like that….
Gal: I am trying to imagine it…
Guy: Yes… After one similar night like this… This guy, he returns home… Fortunately, does not find his roommates at home… Takes out a diary… and dishes out 4 poems… one after the other… He never has written a poem… But that night… he writes a poem right… that too… not 1 but 4… Can you believe that?
Gal: Must have been some experience.
Guy: I know that is great… I mean moments like these sure happen to everyone, right? I believe so… Just that I think we forget that…
Gal: Yes… So how do you know this guy?
(Gal is looking at the guy; guy is looking ahead intensely)
Guy: I just know him… He used to be with me… I think I have lost touch with him now… Probably need to make a contact.
Gal: So is that what you are doing?
(Both look at each other and grin)
Guy: You know it is so wonderful… I mean I forgot the last time I spoke like this… I mean… In office I always wear a mask… I am a complete stranger… I sometimes fail to recognize myself… I too engross myself in unnecessary gossip and chatter.
Gal: Ha… Don’t punish yourself… I think anyone who works needs that… Otherwise you would see some injured managers or bosses or whatever you call them all around
(Both laugh)
Gal: I am hungry… I am starving… So if we are going to paint this town in red the whole night… lets have something to eat first…
Guy: Sure… There are so many restaurants here… We can hop into any 1… Hmm… You do not want to drink, right?
Gal: Huh… Not if I have to stay the whole night out in Bangalore.
Guy: Funny you are.
Gal: Why?
Guy: I never said the whole night… But you believe it is.
Gal: I know it will happen… Why, wouldn’t you love the idea?
Guy: I do.
(Guy stands and does not move ahead; Looks at the gal lovingly, and joins the girl again)
Guy: Hmmm… You do sing very well… Did I tell you that?
Gal (laughs): You know, you don’t have to say that, it is understood.
(Both laugh)
Gal: I argued and cried to my parents for allowing me to learn singing… They agreed… But the real war was when I said that it would be my career, my life, my passion…
Guy: Hah…
Gal: How was I to give up? If they decice how I want to live, then why should I live at all, let them right it on a piece of paper and read it every day… I never gave up… and they had to give… You have no idea how much I had to fight for my basic quality… quality if any human life… freedom…
Guy: I know… Have been there… but…. Well… you go ahead…
Gal: So here I am… there might not be a single music company in this state who would not have received my cassette… (Laughs)… My voice… it is everywhere.
Guy: I thought so… I heard you before… somewhere…
(Both laugh)
Gal: So I still live with them… But I make a living or make a life... Singing in shows… I am part of 2 bands… then there is always Java Café… Enough for my subsistence...
Guy: That is great…
(Guy looking at MG Road, he nudges her)
Guy: I love this road…
Gal: Why so?
Guy: Some time back… actually 5 years back… A young man used to come here… Kind of sad…. He used to sit on the steps on the pavement… Ahh… the seat is no longer there… they are constructing the metro.
Gal: I remember it… But this city needs it.
Guy: They need to improve the infrastructure… It is so unplanned and chaotic.
Gal: Hmmm… So you were saying… A young man?
Guy: He used to come and sit on the steps on the pavement… Actually, he would walk around Brigade Road, Church Street, and finally, come here (/go there) and sit… All the while listening to songs… MLTR, Kenny G, Yanni, Hindi films songs, anything that would stir your soul…
Gal: Have you heard of Carpenters? I love them…
Guy: I don’t think I have heard of them…
Gal: They are… Ohh so sorry… I am interupting… So he used to listen to music and…
Guy: Hmmm… he used to sit right in front of Foodworld… You know the opposite side… He cannot hear the world… he cannot hear what the people are saying next to him or behind him… Nothing…. Not even the vehicles, the cars… anything…
Gal: Hmmm…
Guy: As if it was a silent movie… Just looking at the people… Not trying to analyse… Judge… nothing… just seeing… hmmm... life as it happens… Really… It is interesting… Those moments… were so private… I mean… he cannot even explain it properly… Those evenings were kind of life altering for him… he would always get up a wiser man… I mean… It meant much more to him than all the knowledge he had gained during his academic years… you know… Imagine sitting next to this road and it satisfies you more than any school, college and library…
Gal: Life as a teacher… World as a school.
Guy: Yes… Something just like that… Sometimes it used to be as if he was sitting somewhere in the middle of 2 worlds… Like In front he would see a very different world… People who are having the sweet corn…. Having Chaat… having snacks… People coming out of Foodworld with bags full of groceries… it would contain like fruits, vegetables, you know as if they are feeding their colony… And then… There used to be those behind them sitting on the footpath… So poor… Little children begging… Adults all tired after a day of labour probably… Tinge of sickness… and sometimes how it used to cross over… he would see these people crossing the road… but nothing changes… they look at all that is going on… wide eyed… sometimes jaws dropped… He would see all this... Life would go on just like that….
Gal: I am trying to imagine it…
Guy: Yes… After one similar night like this… This guy, he returns home… Fortunately, does not find his roommates at home… Takes out a diary… and dishes out 4 poems… one after the other… He never has written a poem… But that night… he writes a poem right… that too… not 1 but 4… Can you believe that?
Gal: Must have been some experience.
Guy: I know that is great… I mean moments like these sure happen to everyone, right? I believe so… Just that I think we forget that…
Gal: Yes… So how do you know this guy?
(Gal is looking at the guy; guy is looking ahead intensely)
Guy: I just know him… He used to be with me… I think I have lost touch with him now… Probably need to make a contact.
Gal: So is that what you are doing?
(Both look at each other and grin)
Guy: You know it is so wonderful… I mean I forgot the last time I spoke like this… I mean… In office I always wear a mask… I am a complete stranger… I sometimes fail to recognize myself… I too engross myself in unnecessary gossip and chatter.
Gal: Ha… Don’t punish yourself… I think anyone who works needs that… Otherwise you would see some injured managers or bosses or whatever you call them all around
(Both laugh)
Gal: I am hungry… I am starving… So if we are going to paint this town in red the whole night… lets have something to eat first…
Guy: Sure… There are so many restaurants here… We can hop into any 1… Hmm… You do not want to drink, right?
Gal: Huh… Not if I have to stay the whole night out in Bangalore.
Guy: Funny you are.
Gal: Why?
Guy: I never said the whole night… But you believe it is.
Gal: I know it will happen… Why, wouldn’t you love the idea?
Guy: I do.
(Guy stands and does not move ahead; Looks at the gal lovingly, and joins the girl again)
Chapter 3: To live a life or rather be alive?
Guy: So what do you do for a living?
Gal: You saw me doing it…
Guy: What seriously? C’mon you must be kidding me..
Gal: Nooo… This is what I do…
Guy: C’mon…
Gal: Really this is me… This is what I do…
Guy: Why, are you telling me that you always wanted to sing?
Gal: Hmmm…
Guy: Really…
(Gal assures with a silent nod)
Guy: Wow… That is so great…
Girl: Why would you wanna do anything which is not close to your heart?
Guy: Frankly, I am doing something I hate… Yet… I don’t know… Not sure… Why do I do it?
Girl: That’s why… just look around… we say that we have done all the technological progress… actually all we have done is complicate life… Don’t you feel so?
Guy: I do… Really do…
Gal: See… All what man needs is a little bit of food and shelter… and of course, lots of love… Now it’s in reverse.
(Gal looks straight ahead… Guy thinks looking down)
Guy: I often think about this… I often wonder how life should have been… and I see how life is… and I can’t even afford a smile to all that could have been… My life that is.
(Gal looks at the guy as if she understands; guy is grim and still looking down)
Gal: There was a Greek philosopher… Diogenes was his name. He was a very unique man… Heard about him?
Guy: I have… Are you going to tell me about him and Alexander the great?
Gal: No… Legend has it that one afternoon he went to the market with a lamp… People, although aware about him, asked why he carries a lamp.
Guy: Hmmm…
Gal: He says that he is looking for a human and he does not see any…
(Both look at each other with a hint of laughter)
Gal: Sometimes I really look around… After I sing a song… And sipping over a coffee… I look for them… someone who has those eyes… those eyes of a human... I never see any…. Till today.
(Guy acknowledges the girl as they look at each other)
Guy: Look at me… I work in a corporation… I keep looking for a genuine human… I never see any… It is like it is a stage and people are putting up some masks… playing their roles day in and day out...
Gal: I knew I would never fit in there.
Guy: Good for you… and as I see it you would not make the cut there… I mean… They do not want genuine people… What they want are cunning and diplomatic people… They are admired… they are leaders… They are the people who succeed in that world… Corporates… all they are concerned is about profits… People are so secondary… You know the recession in 2008 end, right?
Gal: Heard about it… that’s all…
Guy: It cannot even touch people like you… In short, world economy was falling down… There was no business or investments happening in a large scale… these companies… who till yesterday were thanking their employees for the hard work… principles like “We are our people”… Now, they are downsizing… and you have different words to hide behind... “We are dynamic and will have to change with the changing times” all at the same time firing people so that profits can be maintained…. The key word being Profits… And what do they say... “You see—with the current market conditions and in order to provide cost effective service, we will have to terminate, blah, blah”… You see what I am saying….
Gal: Yes, yes
Guy: We say that slavery has ended… but actually it is still there… in a polished and perhaps, more dignified manner… (Pauses, looks down)… That’s what I see… (Looks at the gal) and I am one of them…
Gal: In some way or the other… We all are…
Guy: But not you? So you always wanted to be a singer…
Gal: You saw me doing it…
Guy: What seriously? C’mon you must be kidding me..
Gal: Nooo… This is what I do…
Guy: C’mon…
Gal: Really this is me… This is what I do…
Guy: Why, are you telling me that you always wanted to sing?
Gal: Hmmm…
Guy: Really…
(Gal assures with a silent nod)
Guy: Wow… That is so great…
Girl: Why would you wanna do anything which is not close to your heart?
Guy: Frankly, I am doing something I hate… Yet… I don’t know… Not sure… Why do I do it?
Girl: That’s why… just look around… we say that we have done all the technological progress… actually all we have done is complicate life… Don’t you feel so?
Guy: I do… Really do…
Gal: See… All what man needs is a little bit of food and shelter… and of course, lots of love… Now it’s in reverse.
(Gal looks straight ahead… Guy thinks looking down)
Guy: I often think about this… I often wonder how life should have been… and I see how life is… and I can’t even afford a smile to all that could have been… My life that is.
(Gal looks at the guy as if she understands; guy is grim and still looking down)
Gal: There was a Greek philosopher… Diogenes was his name. He was a very unique man… Heard about him?
Guy: I have… Are you going to tell me about him and Alexander the great?
Gal: No… Legend has it that one afternoon he went to the market with a lamp… People, although aware about him, asked why he carries a lamp.
Guy: Hmmm…
Gal: He says that he is looking for a human and he does not see any…
(Both look at each other with a hint of laughter)
Gal: Sometimes I really look around… After I sing a song… And sipping over a coffee… I look for them… someone who has those eyes… those eyes of a human... I never see any…. Till today.
(Guy acknowledges the girl as they look at each other)
Guy: Look at me… I work in a corporation… I keep looking for a genuine human… I never see any… It is like it is a stage and people are putting up some masks… playing their roles day in and day out...
Gal: I knew I would never fit in there.
Guy: Good for you… and as I see it you would not make the cut there… I mean… They do not want genuine people… What they want are cunning and diplomatic people… They are admired… they are leaders… They are the people who succeed in that world… Corporates… all they are concerned is about profits… People are so secondary… You know the recession in 2008 end, right?
Gal: Heard about it… that’s all…
Guy: It cannot even touch people like you… In short, world economy was falling down… There was no business or investments happening in a large scale… these companies… who till yesterday were thanking their employees for the hard work… principles like “We are our people”… Now, they are downsizing… and you have different words to hide behind... “We are dynamic and will have to change with the changing times” all at the same time firing people so that profits can be maintained…. The key word being Profits… And what do they say... “You see—with the current market conditions and in order to provide cost effective service, we will have to terminate, blah, blah”… You see what I am saying….
Gal: Yes, yes
Guy: We say that slavery has ended… but actually it is still there… in a polished and perhaps, more dignified manner… (Pauses, looks down)… That’s what I see… (Looks at the gal) and I am one of them…
Gal: In some way or the other… We all are…
Guy: But not you? So you always wanted to be a singer…
Friday, April 2, 2010
Chapter 2: Can we go for a walk, stanger?
(The waiter brings the order… Both take a sip… Guy signals the gal enquiring about the taste…)
Gal (signalling with her hand, palms open facing down and moving it diagonally): One new thing I tried and understood not for me…
(Guy with a very light grin, as if preoccupied with a thought… actually thinking about what she said)
Gal: So you know what… really… I like to talk… with anyone… at times a few words from a stranger can touch you more than a conversation with a friend…
Guy: I don’t know… I don’t have any friends…
Gal: Yeah so you now have a stranger…
(Both share a small look of understanding at each other)
Gal: So as I was saying… Once when I was on my mobile with one of my friend… He was speaking about something which was sad… He losing his job, mom’s sickness… and probably, all this must have reflected in my face… So here I am, all engrossed in my talk, and suddenly a voice “Don’t worry, this too shall pass”… For a moment.. I turned back to see who he was… But he had already walked by and I could not see him… But those words were like magic… I repeated the same to my friend… It kind off worked for him as well… you see... so really… I am so grateful to that stranger…
Guy: hmmm…
Gal: I always remember those words… And that is why… After that… I openly talk to a stranger… you know… You understand what I am telling you, right?
Guy: Actually yes, very true… In this daily struggle and race… We forget that all others are just like us… aiming, working for a happier tomorrow… if we can add some thing to it… if we can help in some way… I don’t know… You yourself will feel a little lighter… a little happier… if that is the case…
Gal: I know… I feel a little lighter… a little happier…
(Both share a small look of understanding at each other again, the waiter comes and gives the bill. Guy pays the bill.)
Guy: Can we go for a walk, stranger?
Gal: Sure…
Guy: Funny, you know what, we don’t even know our names… never asked
Gal (smiles): World of friendly strangers… It’s not important… (Laughs)
Guy: You know what? Let’s do the reverse… We will ask our names when we are leaving… instead of a goodbye… What say?
Gal: Deal…
(Waiter comes back with the change, guy keeps the tip and borh walk off)
[OUTDOOR: Both stepping out of the café… The guy on the right side of the screen]
Guy: Now what? Frankly, I have no idea… This is the first time I am doing some thing like this.
Gal: Can make out that. (Smiles)
(Both take 3 steps with no word. Gal looks straight ahead with the slightest of grin. Guy looks outwards, to his left, pondering, as if thinking what to say)
Gal (signalling with her hand, palms open facing down and moving it diagonally): One new thing I tried and understood not for me…
(Guy with a very light grin, as if preoccupied with a thought… actually thinking about what she said)
Gal: So you know what… really… I like to talk… with anyone… at times a few words from a stranger can touch you more than a conversation with a friend…
Guy: I don’t know… I don’t have any friends…
Gal: Yeah so you now have a stranger…
(Both share a small look of understanding at each other)
Gal: So as I was saying… Once when I was on my mobile with one of my friend… He was speaking about something which was sad… He losing his job, mom’s sickness… and probably, all this must have reflected in my face… So here I am, all engrossed in my talk, and suddenly a voice “Don’t worry, this too shall pass”… For a moment.. I turned back to see who he was… But he had already walked by and I could not see him… But those words were like magic… I repeated the same to my friend… It kind off worked for him as well… you see... so really… I am so grateful to that stranger…
Guy: hmmm…
Gal: I always remember those words… And that is why… After that… I openly talk to a stranger… you know… You understand what I am telling you, right?
Guy: Actually yes, very true… In this daily struggle and race… We forget that all others are just like us… aiming, working for a happier tomorrow… if we can add some thing to it… if we can help in some way… I don’t know… You yourself will feel a little lighter… a little happier… if that is the case…
Gal: I know… I feel a little lighter… a little happier…
(Both share a small look of understanding at each other again, the waiter comes and gives the bill. Guy pays the bill.)
Guy: Can we go for a walk, stranger?
Gal: Sure…
Guy: Funny, you know what, we don’t even know our names… never asked
Gal (smiles): World of friendly strangers… It’s not important… (Laughs)
Guy: You know what? Let’s do the reverse… We will ask our names when we are leaving… instead of a goodbye… What say?
Gal: Deal…
(Waiter comes back with the change, guy keeps the tip and borh walk off)
[OUTDOOR: Both stepping out of the café… The guy on the right side of the screen]
Guy: Now what? Frankly, I have no idea… This is the first time I am doing some thing like this.
Gal: Can make out that. (Smiles)
(Both take 3 steps with no word. Gal looks straight ahead with the slightest of grin. Guy looks outwards, to his left, pondering, as if thinking what to say)
Chapter 1- First talks
Guy: Hi…
Gal ((as she draws her hand for a shake but he does not): Hi…
Guy: Why don’t you take a seat?
Gal: You know what… a hand shake says a lot about a person.
Guy: Really? Probably, why I do not like it. I would not want to… (pause)… huh… I mean I do not want anyone to make a guess about me.
Gal: Or you do not want anyone getting to know you?
(Guy chuckles)
Gal (with a grin): Ok… You should be asking me this but I am asking you… So would you like something to drink?
Guy: Hm… Yes… a Cold Coffee, and you?
Gal (calls a waiter, Asks for some special coffee): “(Spcl coffee name) and a cold coffee”
Guy: How does that one taste?
Gal: No idea… Will get to know very soon.
Guy: Huh. You never had it before… Wow… I mean I always go for a cold coffee… Never try anything else
Girl: Hmmph… You should… You should… I mean why would you want to be so consistent… so rigid… Be like the dew… always fresh and new…
(Guy nods)
Girl: So what brought you here…
Guy: It’s funny you know… Last week… I was here… You were singing in the podium… I know we shared a look… I did not think you would remember me… and you would have coffee with me…
Girl: Yeah… I like to surprise people… You know… They never see me coming… And then they slip… they fall…
Guy: Wow… Now I can’t say that you hype yourself a little… Geez… It happened to me for sure…
Girl: No really, you know… Once there was this young guy… Staring at me… Not taking his eyes of me… I would steal a stare or so… His GF came in, in a while… That was it… I went to his table and was like “Hye, C’mon all the while you were staring at me and now that I am here, what are you gonna do? C’mon tell me… Should we have a Coffee? Who is this girl, your GF? Huh.., You sure you want it now?”
Guy (laughs): You… (Laughs)… just… (Laughs)… poor guy… I mean (laughs)… You carry on... I don’t know what to say… (Laughs)…
Gal: Wow… So you do laugh.. I thought you would be very sitff… very tight…
Guy: No… Ok, Sometimes…
Gal ((as she draws her hand for a shake but he does not): Hi…
Guy: Why don’t you take a seat?
Gal: You know what… a hand shake says a lot about a person.
Guy: Really? Probably, why I do not like it. I would not want to… (pause)… huh… I mean I do not want anyone to make a guess about me.
Gal: Or you do not want anyone getting to know you?
(Guy chuckles)
Gal (with a grin): Ok… You should be asking me this but I am asking you… So would you like something to drink?
Guy: Hm… Yes… a Cold Coffee, and you?
Gal (calls a waiter, Asks for some special coffee): “(Spcl coffee name) and a cold coffee”
Guy: How does that one taste?
Gal: No idea… Will get to know very soon.
Guy: Huh. You never had it before… Wow… I mean I always go for a cold coffee… Never try anything else
Girl: Hmmph… You should… You should… I mean why would you want to be so consistent… so rigid… Be like the dew… always fresh and new…
(Guy nods)
Girl: So what brought you here…
Guy: It’s funny you know… Last week… I was here… You were singing in the podium… I know we shared a look… I did not think you would remember me… and you would have coffee with me…
Girl: Yeah… I like to surprise people… You know… They never see me coming… And then they slip… they fall…
Guy: Wow… Now I can’t say that you hype yourself a little… Geez… It happened to me for sure…
Girl: No really, you know… Once there was this young guy… Staring at me… Not taking his eyes of me… I would steal a stare or so… His GF came in, in a while… That was it… I went to his table and was like “Hye, C’mon all the while you were staring at me and now that I am here, what are you gonna do? C’mon tell me… Should we have a Coffee? Who is this girl, your GF? Huh.., You sure you want it now?”
Guy (laughs): You… (Laughs)… just… (Laughs)… poor guy… I mean (laughs)… You carry on... I don’t know what to say… (Laughs)…
Gal: Wow… So you do laugh.. I thought you would be very sitff… very tight…
Guy: No… Ok, Sometimes…
Narration Continues
Narration coninues: “A regular start to the weekend… He gets up to the lonely house… Drives to the nearby restaurant… Eats at a restaurant… As usual looking at things from his viewpoint… Observing life and poetry all around… Which many miss…
But there is a difference today… He is off to meet someone… Someone whom he had only seen last week for the first time… Now, never done this before… But just like a flower opening up to the sun… He seemed drawn towards her…”
But there is a difference today… He is off to meet someone… Someone whom he had only seen last week for the first time… Now, never done this before… But just like a flower opening up to the sun… He seemed drawn towards her…”
Opening Narration along with titles
Opening Narration along with titles : “Many of you have seen him... known him... but never understood him... has walked alongside him... but never with him... as someone who has currently decided to keep all his dreams to himself... As well as the lessons in this wonderful road that is his life... interesting ha... the road, the journey, the traveller... all are LIFE in different dimensions...
He is just like any one of you... working in an MNC... drawing a nice salary... has a nice career going... but in the end when he is all alone... He asks “if this is what I am here for”... looking for an answer which he knows is NO... but still... may be there is something more to it... something more to him... something more to life... “
He is just like any one of you... working in an MNC... drawing a nice salary... has a nice career going... but in the end when he is all alone... He asks “if this is what I am here for”... looking for an answer which he knows is NO... but still... may be there is something more to it... something more to him... something more to life... “
Seeker - The Movie
Introduction:
To be honest, in college I used to think how it would be to make a movie capturing only conversations betwen 2 people and it looks like there are many who beat me to it. There are 2 movies which I would certainly like to highlight here and that is Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset".
I have always had some rage within me... and I still remember the thought or feeling that I used to have during my college days that my future life need not be just some random job (which it is now), coming home, watching TV, eat, procreate, sleep and one fine day, die. I always wanted to do something more... SOMETHING.
Well, so now as I sit back and slowly prepare myself... working with numbers like age, money and life's necessities, all those thoughts keep coming back to me. But for the last 2-3 years, there has been a feeling of emptiness and anxiousness and of course, the ultimate fear of just living through days rather than living life. There has been a lot of internal battles fought before I found my current peace. Not sure if these are any steps that I am taking towards attaining some of my dreams, but yes sure I know now I am more focused than ever, more patient than ever... and as always in my all inclusive way... of having it all... Living here as just another common man and Living here as my own man, my hero.
The movie that you are about to read is a certain manifestation of those internal battles fought, in a dimension of a fable and of course, with an undercurrent of Love. How can I ever be away from Love? How can I ever undermine it's importance? I mean of all the things out there, it is love which can be so commonly pointed out to that 1 attribute which might be connected to the 21 grams that we loose when we die!
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