It's Time (My 1st script in the proper format)

This is the 1st script I wrote during my Storygram moviemaking workshop. Will be changing this blog to a mini-repository of my short stories, scripts which might never see the light of the projector. But then who cares :-). Art is nothing but a dream. The best thing about dreams is that realists like me too can afford them.

I have entered characterisation which is not the part of the script format. I had included them here as part of the "Pitching" workshop. I intended this to an imaginary producer if he/she asks more details but more so to the imaginary actors I will have to ensure understand the depth of where the characters are coming :-) rather than just reading out the lines without any connection to the characters. I am a "Director" you see... 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Characterisation:

Husband: His name is Ramesh Nair. He is 38 years of age. He is working for Goldman Sachs as an Operations Manager for Accounts Payable. He holds an MBA in Finance. He was born in Pallakad and finished his B.Com graduation there. He relocated to Bangalore at the age of 21 with his maternal relatives and started working for a local finance firm. With the BPO Boom in early 2000’s, he was able to get into an MNC. His financial improvements helped him in getting a weekend MBA through TASMAC. As the only son, he was always looked upon as the one who would have to support his parents in their old age. At the age of 31, his parents arranged for his marriage to Shailaja Nair (aged 25). Ramesh was also a prominent member of the Nair Samajam in Bangalore. He also had envisioned his parents to be staying with him though the parents had not yet listened to his request. He was always social and his friends appreciated his easy-going yet responsible and caring nature.

Wife: Her name is Shailaja Nair. She is currently 32 years of age. She has just started working with IBM after a long break of 7 years. Ramesh did not want her to work as he believed that they should start a family soon. Ramesh believed that Shailaja could resume work once Rajesh (6 year old son) was 12 years and can stay alone at home. By then, Ramesh believed that his parents too would start staying with them in Bangalore.

                Shailaja was born in Bangalore though her modest family background ensured that she would not get attracted to the pub culture. Her parents were very religious and vacations would mean visiting different temples. Shailaja too followed the crowd without knowing any real understanding of the norms. At the age of 16, she accidentally got introduced to Osho’s book while trying to brush up some knowledge on Zen. From then on, she started reading only spiritual books. She questioned her parents about meditation but they always replied that prayers and devotion is enough for now and they might meditate later when they are really old. She really loved the “Adwaita” philosophy in Sanathana Dharma. She read as much spiritual books as possible. She read about Arunachala and thought that she should visit that place sometime. Luckily, her classmate in S.Y.B.Com stayed in Arunachala and Shailaja spent a week during Diwali vacations there. Her stay there triggered a big metamorphosis in Shailaja’s outlook. She was drawn to Ramana Maharshi’s spirituality and the hill that was a silent master. She started questioning all the worldly achievements. She had always been brought up as an obedient child. She tried to reason with her parents that she would like to explore the spiritual world. Her parents would shoot her down saying that such pursuits are for one old age. She too started working at an MNC in the finance division and was a very good performer. Her colleagues and friends found her interesting but tried to dissuade her spiritual tendencies. As per her astrology, her parents started to look for a partner for her only after she was 24 years of age. Shailaja tried to dissuade them but they did not pay any heed to her. Shailaja too (as was her natural tendency) then agreed to the marriage.

Shailaja and Ramesh: Ramesh was easy going and very understanding. He only had one condition that their child should be looked after by a parent and not some baby-sitter. He never delved into Shailaja’s frequent visits to the temple or her book list every month. An year into their marriage, they were also blessed with a son whom they named Rajesh. Shailaja’s internal turmoils (her spiritual cravings) rarely surfaced and she found Rajesh (who is a very good human being) little devoid of understanding spirituality. When Rajesh was about 5 years old, Shailaja had also gone for a month long stay in Arunachala. Ramesh was overseas at the time. This was also when Shailaja had a spiritual connect with Krishna who was a spiritual wanderer which led to physical intimacy. Shailaja confessed about this only an year back and but Ramesh was accommodating and understanding about it. Although Ramesh was angry but he considered it some stupid slip-up from Shailaja. Meanwhile, Shailaja was getting more self-assured and drawn towards a spiritual life. 3 months back from today, she had asked for divorce. But Ramesh somehow convinced her to stay on for 3 months and then see how it goes. He used to say that she can do whatever she wants by being his wife and a mother to their child. It’s been 2 months and Shailaja felt she was wasting her time. She had been brooding over the situation and the last 2 days were too much for her with entertaining Ramesh’s friends at home and looking after such social obligations. The calling was getting tougher and tougher to ignore.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 INT. MORNING, IN THE BEDROOM

(RAMESH – 38 YEARS ; SHAILAJA – 32 YEARS)

Shailaja is sitting on bed, Husband walks in after a jog.

RAMESH

Hye Sonu, you are up?

Ramesh looks at mirror and brushes his hair.

RAMESH

So, I don’t feel like going to the office. So Boring!!!

Ramesh turns back.

RAMESH

Arrey, what’s up with you?

Do din se notice kar raha hoon.

Kal dinner pe bhi…

SHAILAJA

(Interrupts)

I cant go on with this.

Ramesh rolls his eyes up, leaves a heavy breath and sits next to her.

RAMESH

What… What… are you saying?

SHAILAJA

Its time.

I think… I need a divorce soon. I just can’t…

RAMESH

(Interrupts)

Everything’s going fine. What’s the problem?

SHAILAJA

Nothings fine. I am tired of acting as if it is.

RAMESH

Arrey, I thought we had discussed

Like we will see how it goes for 3 months and then decide.

SHAILAJA

Yes, I know but…

RAMESH

(Interrupts)

It’s been what, 2 months?

SHAILAJA

Time will not make any difference.

Not anymore.

Ramesh shifts and sits facing towards Shailaja.

RAMESH

What is bothering you?

Did I even nag… no.. no… even mention any of your mistakes?

SHAILAJA

Mistakes! Nagging, How long do you think it will go on?

3 months… 6 months… a year…

Chodo bhi… All that does not matter at all.

RAMESH

Doesn’t matter? I am trying my best…

Dropping the kid to the school, cleaning the house, clothes.

You only had to cook.

SHAILAJA

These are very trivial things.

Now how do I explain to you, kya boluu?

RAMESH

I just don’t get you.

Your mistakes and I am the one mending it all.

SHAILAJA

Hmmm… Do you even know me?

Else, you wouldn’t bring that up.

RAMESH

So is it the guilt?

Maine sab maaf kiya tha naa… Or…

SHAILAJA

Or?

RAMESH

Do you need him- love him

SHAILAJA

Argh. Yahi tho main bol rahi hoon

You have no idea about me.

About who I am!

RAMESH

What the hell are you saying?

Not the guy, not the guilt…

Then this sudden bomb…

What is it then?

SHAILAJA

Not about the guy, not about some chores

RAMESH

So some feminist thing.

SHAILAJA

(Shaking her head)

Told you before.

I did not want all this but wasn’t very sure

All this material pursuit, family

Only if I knew it before

Only if I was stronger.

Ramesh brushes his hair with both his hands, leaves a heavy breath through his mouth and shakes his head.

SHAILAJA

Sleeping with someone- Maybe,

Maybe that too was a sign.

I saw Shiva in him.

But I don’t want to live with him.

RAMESH

What?

SHAILAJA

It was some sign, something abstract.

I too cannot comprehend fully.

But even that is not close to what I feel now.

RAMESH

Feel for whom? For what?

SHAILAJA

For Arunachala.

The calling has come.

There is no point in delaying it.

RAMESH

Huh?

SHAILAJA

I need to be with myself.

Meditate. Enough of books.

Need to experience now.

RAMESH

Ohh! That again.

It can be done here also.

Go for those yoga classes you used to go

Or for some meditation classes, whatever?

Have I ever stopped you?

Ramesh tries to hold her hand but she wriggles it out.

RAMESH

When munna grows up and gets married

(slight chuckle)

We both will retire to that place

SHAILAJA

That is not my way.

I cannot wait.

Calling has come, I need to go.

RAMESH

So what will you tell Rajesh?

Should I tell him his mom doesn’t want to be with him?

SHAILAJA

I know I am his mother

But there are bigger truths.

RAMESH

Like what?

SHAILAJA

Finding my Self, the eternal truth as they call it.

When he is old enough,

He might understand.

Maybe not,

But I can’t think about it now.

RAMESH

Oh My God!
I can’t believe you.

Uhh, Uhh,

Hasn’t some saints said that

Realisation is possible as a householder.

SHAILAJA

Maybe, but I can’t confirm.

But this is my calling,

I need to walk on this road.

Can’t look back.

RAMESH

All this stupid books

And those idiot friends from that godforsaken place

They have done this.

What will I do?

What will I tell my parents, friends, neighbours, office?

SHAILAJA

Tell them the truth.

Don’t care how they judge me.

RAMESH

You know what,

How about you go there and stay for some months

You will get bored.

All this enthusiasm might die down.

You will come back.

I will not divorce you now.

SHAILAJA

No, I don’t want to put your life on hold.

Also, I want to finish and cut-off everything.

No more looking into the rear mirror.

RAMESH

Divorce baad mein karenge.

SHAILAJA

(Gets up and stands with her back facing Ramesh)

No. Don’t have any false hopes.

RAMESH

Your parents?

SHAILAJA

Been a good daughter so far.

They can come with me if they want.

RAMESH

And me?

SHAILAJA

You are a good person.

It’s unfair of me to be with you anymore.

I don’t love you at all,

Not as a wife anyways.

Ramesh cries a little

SHAILAJA

There is nothing ahead for us.

You need to accept that soon.

Ramesh looks around. Looks at the window, at Shailaja, at her books and then down.

RAMESH

Wait for a week.

I will call my mother.

Once she is here, hmmm

You move out.

Please adjust till then.

Shailaja looks at him now with a quizzed look.

RAMESH

I still don’t believe it’s over.

Maybe, when we are apart…

You might change you mind.

Who knows?

SHAILAJA

Don’t have such false hopes.

Please…

Ramesh walks out of the door and Shailaja follows him.

RAMESH (v.o.)

Raju, get up.

It’s time.

--THE END--

Turning Point ( A Short 10 minute play)

This is a short 10 minute play I had written for a Short & Sweet Drama workshop.

The Turning Point

NARRATION: This is a story of Siddhartha… his most important night. Just 17 years old, frustrated and agitated… He sees it all yet others do not.  His dream of playing cricket while his folks want him to just study. Fought a lot but in vain, it’s time for him to maybe… leave it all or leave his house. So in the dead of the night, as he is about to leave…

(Boy opens the door, a Man walks in)

Boy: Who are you?

Man 1: You, after 24 years.

Boy: Huh.

(Man walks towards the chair and sits on it, with his elbows on his knees. The boy follows and sits on the chair)

Man 1: Yep, believe it. I know it is a big occasion for you. BTW, I did walk out of the door.

Boy: Wow, Really! Then what?

Man1: I did play cricket my entire life. Oooh, that’s fun.

Boy: Great, I need not hear any further. I am going.

(Boy opens the door, another man walks in)

Boy: Now, who are you?

Man 2: You, after 40 years.

(Man walks towards the chair and sits on it, with his right ankle resting on his left knees. The boy follows and stands between the chair)

Man 2: Yes, yes, just like this one. But I didn’t walk out.

Boy: Hmm.

Man 2: So don’t you want to know what happened?

Boy: Yes, of course. But, no, go on… but why 2 and different years… no, no, you tell me.

Man 2: Just retired today. Phew, that plushy job and my cabin. Ahh! Hated it a lot at times.

Man 1: No wonder you are so fair… unlike me.

Man 2: But you were all the while outside… under the sun… playing the game they call cricket. How was that? Don’t even remember how to hold a bat.

Man 1: It was hard work for sure.

(Man 1 stands up)

Man 1: 24 years back, when I left this house… Did not know what it would take? But then… Those years of toil… You have no idea how to find a roof over your head.

(Boy stands behind Man 2)

Man 2: I bought a nice apt when I was 24, a decent job right after college and a few years later.

(Man 1 shakes his head and sits back on his chair)

Man 1: Good for you. For me, that was just one of the worries. Even before I could go and look for a cricket club… I needed a job to survive. Then working at that roadside dhaba. It was also my home for the first few years.

(Man 1 looks at the boy pointing towards the ornament around his neck and the years)

Man 1: Be careful about those, it helps you buy the kit and get into the Andheri Cricket club.

Man 2: What are you speaking about? Cricket, cricket… I would only watch that IPL once in a year. That too if the seats are good. Just a fun weekend evening.

Man 1: Hmm.. Cricket and life.. synonyms for me.

(Boy grins and stands behind Man 1)

Man 1: Playing cricket in the day and working in the night. All my complaints would vanish the moment I took my guard to face a ball in the morning.

Man 2: Complaints… Well, that was the first thing I did most of the mornings… hmm.. Monday mornings.

Man 1: Batting, fielding… awesome it used to be... and then trying to teach myself some bowling so that I can get picked up in higher level teams.

Man 2: Now that sounds similar. I too had to crack it up a notch in front of my idiot managers and the idiot box. That fucking rat race. Phew, finally it was over.

Man 1: But I never progressed. I was never good enough.

Man 2: Hahaha… Look at me… I retired as a VP today. Those colleagues of mine just threw me nice fun filled send off.

Man 1: Ohh so you had friends?

(Boy moves behind Man 2)

Man 2: Who the f knows? Maybe, they were happy to get rid of me. But, my wife, Monisha…

Man 1: Hmm, I remember her. I used to see her every evening. I mean, she would be there at the bus stop.

Man 2: Ohh yes… She was happy. She said that at least now you can spend some more time with me.

Man 1: I love her so much. I even did try to get close to her. But then, it never happened. Maybe, I was too, I don’t know… unstable?

Man 2: Haha… She is one of the best things to happen to me. Gave her all the riches and my kids. (winks)

Man 1: Oh, so you had family, friends and, huh, what about mom, dad?

Man 2: Hmm, they were all staying with us only till, you know, they passed away.

Man 1: Don’t know if I regret it, but at times… when I was all alone… when I needed someone… I thought about them.

(Man 1 buries his head in hand for a second and then raises it again)

Man 1: Today evening, it was my last day too. There was no send off like you though.

Man 2: Huh… What last day? You would be called and told that you are not picked up anymore in your state… oh no, you never reached there… the what.. ha, club team.

Man 1: No calls, nothing. I went there and I saw my name was not there. Waited the entire afternoon to speak to the main guy.

Man 2: What else do you expect? You useless.

Man 1: Yeah, he made it pretty clear. I was no longer needed.

(Man 1 pauses, Boy puts a hand on his shoulder)

Man 1 (While holding and then removing the boys hand): No, that was fine. I was sitting on the ground next to the railway lines. Saw a little boy… maybe 5 or 6… playing cricket with his elder brother and father.

Man 2: So what? I see that so often.

Man 1: Did you see the child’s face? Oh no, forget it you will not understand. But then at that very instant a ball flew past me. I leapt up and followed it to collect the ball. But I did not see… hahaha…

Boy: What, what did you not see?

Man 1: The train… I picked up the ball and then… that was it… my life. All over and no one knows.

Man 2: No friends, no lover, no parents, no one… hahaha… and I thought you are poor. You are miserable. Good I came here.

(Boy puts his hand on Man 2’s shoulder, then on Man 1’s shoulder and comes to the front of the stage. After a slight thought, he moves towards the door and opens it).

Man 2: What are you doing?

Boy: I will keep an eye for that train (and winks).

(Man 2 and Man 1 then put arms on each other’s shoulders and smiles at the Boy)

Narration: Who are we to judge how one must justify one’s life? Who are we and how are we to measure success, measure joy.. measure life)

THE END