Script of Sriram Raghavan's Badlapur

Gji May 16, 2014

BADLAPUR

A Sriram Raghavan film If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? SHYLOCK in William Shakespeare’s THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. “Yaadon ke zanjeer mein lipta hua inteqam ka shola.” Radio advt for Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer.

WORK IN PROGRESS DRAFT. CONFIDENTIAL

Illuminati/ Maddock Films Productions

On BLACK …..WE HEAR VOICES…. A MOTHER AND CHILD TALKING. She’s telling the kid a story…..WE LISTEN…..as we sort of imagine…..who they are and what they look like. The kid says something funny…. and the mother laughs…. THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES AS WE fade in on : SC 1. EXT. BANK -‐ MAIN STREET -‐ PUNE. DAY. It’s 10.45 am. The peak traffic is over, the shops are open…. there is a certain lull till the signal turns green. The camera is idly watching the street. It’s almost like watching a documentary. In the background we see two guys pasting poster on a telephone box. They furiously apply gum paste on the back of the poster with their hands….. In the background, we see a bike park and two men get out. They enter a bank. …Some others exit the bank. In BG we also see, a pregnant woman exit Dr. Coyajee’s consulting clinic adjacent to the bank…..she gets into auto… Meanwhile the bank shutter is down…. a customer looks around… Across the street, we now see….. THE YOUNG MOTHER AND CHILD….talking…..she stops by a handcart selling strawberries ….The mother examining the strawberries as the little boy is fascinated by a balloon seller who is doing his best to seduce him with his wares. (or some such item..maybe a crippled beggar on a crude skateboard) A tow van lumbers in…. a traffic cop points to a car parked near a No Parking Sign. Two helpers jump out and start the towing process… We may not realize it now…. but the tow van has blocked the bike the two guys came in… The kid’s attention is diverted by the towing process. The balloon seller still not giving up.

UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

2


The mother tucks a bag of strawberries under her arm and grabs the kid and crosses the street. She puts bags in the back seat , as kid clambers to seat in the front and switches on the car radio…. ‘O mein nikla….gaddi leke…..’ BLARING. She is still fitting the bags in the back…..AS…...The Tow guys are hitching an old Fiat as.. The poster is pasted. WE NOW SEE THE MOVIE IS LAGAAN. The bank shutters coming up…. A couple of customers waiting…. A LULL AND SUDDENLY A COMMOTION. TWO MEN WITH BLACK HOODS ON THEIR FACES RUSH OUT OF THE BANK….ONE OF THEM WITH A GUN. The cop, and tow van guys are startled…One of the hooded guys spots the young mother’s car…. He dashes to it…. opens door and gets into driver seat as he yells at his partner to jump in…..The KID IS STARTLED AND STARTS SCREAMING AS……THE OTHER MASKED GUY SHOVES THE MOTHER INSIDE AND GETS INTO CAR….. THE CAR ZIPS OUT just as ……… The signal is released…. and a flood of two wheelers enter the frame as A bank security guard rushes out with a .303 rifle…. and fires a shot in the air….1 The traffic cop jumps on a passing bike…. and gives chase.2 Chaos erupts as we cut to: 1 Real time. 90 seconds…..

SINGLE SHOT. NO CUTS TILL MENTIONED IN SCRIPT. TO DECIDE WHETHER IT’S FIXED CAMERA OR FLUID. DO I CHOOSE BASED ON BUDGET OR AESTHETIC? 2 The bike rider is a Fergusson College girl with face covered, we only see her eyes. In a sense, she’s also wearing a mask


3


SC 2. INT. PUNE ROADS -‐ MOTHER’S CAR. DAY THE BLACK HOODS ARE STILL ON THEIR FACES……WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE FACES…..for clarity we will REFER TO THEIR NAMES AS WE WILL KNOW LATER. THE GUY DRIVING WITH GUN IN HAND IS ..LIAK. THE OTHER GUY IS HARMAN. Liak furiously driving…gun in hand… HARMAN’S MASK IS STILL ON. HE IS CROUCHING IN THE BACK SEAT. The mother struggling/shouting…. Her name is Misha. And the kid is a boy…. four years old….His name is Robin….. LIAK HAS THE GUN TO THEM. ‘Any nonsense and I will shoot’. It’s A CHASE BUT NOT IN FAST AND FURIOUS SENSE…. THERE IS TRAFFIC ALL AROUND…..LOTS OF TWO WHEELERS…. LIAK stopping at a signal….a scooterist by the side…LOOKS ALARMED…. HIS POV: MASKED GUYS IN CAR WITH WOMAN AND CHILD….arre boss…..wtf…. Liak LOOKS at the guy. Green light. Liak speeds out… We hear a siren… A police jeep is behind them……Liak speeding…. At a turn…. the car door swings open….. Events leading to the side door swinging open and the kid falling out of speeding car. Horrendous visual best left to viewer imagination. We play on screeching tyres and screams on audio……We are in the car. We are with Misha FREAKING OUT………SCREAMING, KICKING……GRABBING LIAK’S HAND…… THE SIRENS blaring all around THOUGH WE DON’T SEE THE COPS COZ WE ARE INSIDE THE CAR……


4


Liak drives furiously… And when the mother tries to grab the wheel…Liak shoots her. Just like that. Blood splatters on Harman’s mask. Harman’s face is covered but we realize he’s shocked. Harman: We are fucked. We are fucked. Liak: jump off at the next turn…..and take the money. I’ll handle this….Now….NOW…. ON THE SHRILL HOOT OF A TRAIN…..LIAK TAKES A SUDDEN SWERVE….THE CAR SLOWS DOWN FOR BARELY THREE SECONDS…..AS We see the car exterior…a police jeep following…Liak’s car takes a sharp turn under a bridge…Harman jumps off at the signal with the bag. It’s a blind spot….. The cop jeep continues chasing the car as.. Harman Scrambles up a gradient to reach a railway track…. A speeding train approaching…. Harman crosses the tracks as train covers him… Harman’s BLACK MASK FLUTTERING IN THE WIND…. AND WE SEE HIS FACE… A LEAN 25 YEAR OLD WITH INTENSE EYES…or maybe even better if we end on the fluttering BLACK MASK. We don’t see Harman…at all. CUT TO: LIAK …his mask still on…DRIVING WITH A SEMICONSCIOUS MISHA…. bleeding on the upholstery… THE SOUND OF A BULLET… AND WE REALIZE A BACK TYRE HAS BEEN HIT. LIAK SLOWS DOWN…. NO CHOICE…. TWO JEEPS STOP…. COPS WITH GUNS GET OUT…..


5


AND WE SEE THE COPS FOR THE FIRST TIME…so far it’s been just sirens and ambient sounds…..The traffic cop on pillion and girl watch as COP GOVIND, FLANKED BY TWO OTHERS…APPROACH THE CAR….GUNS IN HAND. The masked MAN GETS OUT. HANDS IN THE AIR. COP GOVIND removes the mask and we see LIAK…FOR THE FIRST TIME. BASTARD. VILLAIN. Option one: Shoot from all angles and maximum coverage. Option two: Stick to certain givens. Like INSIDE CAR ONLY AND USE COPS IN SUGGESTION AND AUDIO.

SC 3 – ADVERTISMENT SEXY GIRLS from different states of the country…TALKING IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUES… IS THE HOOK BETTER OR VELCRO BETTER…. We wonder what we are watching….. It’s a Bra Ad. 20 SECONDS. Sexy and funny. SC 4. INT. LINGERIE COMPANY -‐ CORPORATE OFFICE. DAY. Applause. The lights come on. We are in a lingerie company’s office. RAGHAV: I’ve put those three shots for the censors to cut. Some time later. Refreshments counter. RAGHAV, 29 with some colleagues including a Japanese honcho.. He is talking to a South Indian lady. RAGHAV: Ok…just a minute back, you said it’s great coffee and asked for another cup. Now you are saying Ugh…. based on what? Information. Not taste. Here’s the second cup. You have to… South Indian: (to another colleague) lizards eat the coffee bean and this coffee is made from their…..SHIT. RAGHAV’s phone ringing: Hi Misha…guess what…. they loved the idea… …..Who’s this…..????? UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

6


Every party sound fades out as all we hear is: “Sub Inspector Trimbak ….KEM Hospital…..aap immejet KEM hospital aa jayiye…aapke missus ka accident hua hai…..Wo ICU mein hain…… CUT TO: SC 5. E/ I. HOSPITAL. – VARIOUS LOC. DAY. EMERGENCY WARD. RAGHAV rushes in…it are crowded. A dozen people at the inquiry counter…RAGHAV searches around…spots a HAVALDAR at Enquiry counter. HAWALDAR TELLS HIM TO GO TO 5th FLOOR. To the ICU. Go…Hurry. RAGHAV rushes into LIFT…. SC 5 A. INT. HOSPITAL -‐ LIFT. DAY WITH OTHER VISITORS INCLUDING MAN WITH BOUQUET …… RAGHAV…. FUCK…HURRY HURRY…THE LIFT STOPS AT SECOND FLOOR….. A STRETCHER WHEELED IN. TRAPPED IN THE FUCKING LIFT. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE STAIRS….. We hold on RAGHAV’s face as the journey to the fifth floor is interrupted at every floor. WE SHOULD SMELL THE ANTISEPTIC… 5th FLOOR…RAGHAV RUSHES OUT OF LIFT. SC 5 B. INT. HOSPITAL -‐ I.C.U. CORRIDOR. DAY A COP SPOTS RAGHAV…. rushing to him…. COP: Mr RAGHAV…..Please come….. RAGHAV : What happened…… Cop: it’s not an accident…. a bank robbery…. she’s been shot…..


7


A doctor leads RAGHAV inside…. gesturing to the cop to stay out. They exchange glances. The doctor shakes his head. SC 5 C. INT. HOSPITAL -‐ I.C.U ROOM. DAY. RAGHAV staring at Misha…. She’s full of tubes and bandages…. a horrible sight….. Her eyes recognize him. She tries to speak… MISHA: ROBIN….WHERE IS ROBIN…… RAGHAV holds her hand… RAGHAV: you will be fine…. it’ll be ok…. Misha: ….it’s all going dark….i am scared…..it’s all going dark RAGHAV…. Her eyes are looking at him… and in the next few seconds…. her eyes are looking at him but we see that she’s gone. She dies in front of his eyes……. RAGHAV STARES AT HER…..HE CANT BELIEVE IT. HE TRIES TO TALK TO HER…LOOKS AT THE NURSE WHO SAYS SORRY SIR…..SHE IS NO MORE….starts filling a form……. RAGHAV looks at Misha …..still talking to her as he room slowly but suddenly gets very crowded… SC 5 D. INT. HOSPITAL -‐ I.C.U CORRIDOR. DAY. RAGHAV STEPS OUT… LOOKS AROUND…WHERE’S MY SON?????? HE ASKS A MATRON…WHO IS FOXED…. He grabs the cop….. WHERE’S MY SON?????? Where is Robin……. CUT TO: SC 6. INT. POLICE STATION -‐ INTERROGATION ROOM. DAY. Cop Govind and a hawaldar. Liak is seated on a chair. Liak: ….. HE SHOT THEM ……I thought he had an empty gun…I was driving. …I got scared. He told me to keep driving…. And he suddenly jumped off….His name is Jayant…. He lives in Yerawada behind Gunjan.


8


Cop: Where behind Gunjan? Liak: I don’t know him very well. I was looking for driver’s job…He said, let’s do this robbery and share the money…I am a fool and got tempted…. Another hawaldar rushes into the interrogation room. Hawaldar: (excited) Sir…..TV mein dikha rahe hain….. SC 6A/B/C. -‐ I/E. POLICE STATION/ STUDIO /BANK (CCTV) ON T.V. announcer’s voice we see: CC camera footage of the robbery from one angle only. We get some infuriatingly brief glimpses of two men in masks…one waving a gun and customers huddled about. Circles around the masked men…. Cop Govind: ….We got one of them. We will get a breakthrough very soon. TV ANNOUNCER: The value of the stolen loot is 3.5 crore rupees. And in other news two Indians and one Nepali were arrested by the Italian police for fraud….” SC 7. EXT. HOSPITAL – DESOLATE CORRIDOR. NIGHT. RAGHAV standing outside a room. We see it’s the Post Mortem room RAGHAV enters. SC 7 A. INT. HOSPITAL -‐ POST MORTEM ROOM. NIGHT Top angle wide shot: We see the bodies. Mother and child. Naked, pre the post mortem. 3 (I hope nobody is munching popcorn on this shot.)

RAGHAV is looking at them. 3 We will use body doubles and pixillate and all that….. UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

9


His Pov: The post mortem equipment…all laid out. There’s a constant sound of running water. In the distance we see two men washing their hands…. TALKING ABOUT something totally unconnected. They emerge from bathroom and come to the bodies… as they spot RAGHAV….. The men mumble something…RAGHAV doesn’t react. He just stands there watching…… SC 8. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE – FAÇADE/ELEVATOR. NIGHT. A teenager walking her dog as some building neighbours are seated on red plastic chairs and discussing a cricket match…. And someone nudges…..RAGHAV has come…. They suddenly get sober and serious and gather to him….. ‘I came to the hospital also…’ ‘I heard about it only half an hour back…..i don’t know what to say….this is so shocking….; ‘there is no God….this is unfair’ Are you bringing the bodies…. RAGHAV gets into the lift and gently shuts them out… SC 8A. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE -‐ CORRIDOR. NIGHT He opens the lift door on 3rd floor where he lives and walks to his flat. Far down a neighbouring door surreptitiously opens and a face almost hidden peeks out. SC 9. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE -‐ VARIOUS. NIGHT RAGHAV enters. We see the happy house. The presence of Misha and Robin. The phone is ringing intermittently through this scene but RAGHAV doesn’t pick up. Many picture frames. A foreign holiday.


10


….a floor keyboard that one can jump on 4 and ….more toys. (must research toys) There are lots of post it notes on the fridge and other places. The phones continues ringing… We move with RAGHAV….. See more of the house. RAGHAV’s bedroom…. a glimpse of Robi’s room…. Inside….a partially assembled train set…. A poster size blow up of a photograph. RAGHAV DRESSED AS BATMAN…AND YOUNG ROBIN IN COSTUME. The apartment is frozen at a busy 10:30 am on a day where the bai has not come. Misha had to leave cleaning up halfway to rush and get Robin from school….. He stares at himself in the bathroom mirror. Three tooth brushes including Junior. There’s a tiger striped panty soaking in a mug. RAGHAV Opens fridge and takes out a bottle of water. A red casserole. He pulls it out. RAGHAV places it on the dining table. We see a kid’s hand open the casserole. Robin MAKES A GRIMACE…..RUSHES TO THE FLOOR KEYBOARD AND STARTS JUMPING AND DANCING TO DISCORDANT TONES….. RAGHAV: if you be a good boy and eat it, I’ll take you to the dentist tomorrow…ok…that’s a promise… And if you don’t eat properly, I’m going to take you to a movie…ok… Robi: Means ….what? As Misha bursts out laughing. RAGHAV: (to Misha….and then we realize that we are in the present) This is the last rajma chawal cooked by you that I’ll be eating. 4 It’s there in the shrine and can be good audio when V and N slug it out later. UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

11


He takes a spoonful….as he breaks down. CUT TO: SC 10. INT. POLICE STATION – HOLDING CELL. NIGHT. CU of Liak. Eating watery dal with some pao. He stiffens as he hears voices. Govind and a couple of men get in. Liak jumps up. Liak: Mila saab? Govind KICKS THE FOOD TRAY AND SLAPS HIM HARD. Liak: Murder usne kiya…paise uske paas hai aur aap mujhe maar rahe hain. do ghante mereko chodiye usko dhoond nikaloonga…..(thinking) ek baar koi Kalpana se baat kar raha tha……..thoda charas milega to aur bhi achha soch sakta hoon….aur kuch yaad aayega….Milega thoda….? The cop Govind stares at Liak. Govind: (snarls or does he laugh) Sau gram lal mirchi milega….chalega? CUT TO: SC 11. INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM. DAY. We see RAGHAV and Misha’s wedding album. A few days have passed. An ageing couple in the house. The man is watching the lady go thru an album. Man: (in Tamil) Each time you look at it you will cry. Why are you seeing that album now Saroja… Saroja: (in Tamil) I just want to cry all day and night…. Man: (to RAGHAV in English) She would have liked to donate organs….we had spoken about it. But who thought like this….mind doesn’t function.


12


RAGHAV: Dad, this picture. I would like you to keep it. It was her favourite. (whispers)….Mother , she is a bit weak…you have to keep strong….. He gives a photo frame of Misha and the kid. Cut to: Father looks at RAGHAV as Misha’s mother emerges from the bathroom. Misha’s mother: I remember the first time we came to this house when Misha was pregnant…. and your father….(she breaks down) RAGHAV hugs her. Gestures to father to leave. RAGHAV: (to Misha’s mother) ….he is a bit weak…you have to keep strong….. SC 11A. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE.-‐ FAÇADE. DAY. A Taxi…. the parents get in. It drives off. SC 11 B. INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM. DAY. RAGHAV back in the house. There is a clean space in the wall, where there was the picture frame. SC 12. INT. POLICE STATION – OFFICE. DAY. The cop Govind looks up as RAGHAV enters. Govind shows him a sketch. Strange looking character. RAGHAV: Kaun hai? ANOTHER COP: Ranjeet …. …wo bhi aisa dikta hai….. Actor Rape specialist. Govind: …… Chootiya bana raya hai bhain chod? Kal raat ganja bhi pilaya. Natija yeh SKETCH.


13


RAGHAV: mein mil sakta hoon? SC 12 A. INT. POLICE STATION – HOLDING CELL. DAY. Cop Govind opens the cell. Liak looks up. RAGHAV stares at him. NO INTRODUCTIONS. EVERYONE STARES AT EACH OTHER. WE WONDER WHO WILL BREAK THE ICE AND HOW. There is a third inmate…. a druggie type…. RAGHAV stares at Liak who stares back…And Liak…. just gets it!!! His eyes tell us. Liak: Sir…. Sorry sir…. sorry sir….Meine unko nahin maara sir…. RAGHAV: ……….to kisne mara? Liak: looks at RAGHAV and Govind….comes to RAGHAV in close. (whispers) Akele mein baat kar sakte hain….? RAGHAV TURNS TO GOVIND. RAGHAV: can I spend five minutes alone with him. Govind bit confused. Shrugs. OK. Leaves. As he is leaving…. Druggie: Sprite milega Sir? Govind: Bottle ghusaoon kya kundi mein. Liak sees Govind leave. Liak: jo malum tha sab detail mein bataya….kaisa dikhta hai, kahan rehta hai….….police abhi tak usko pakad nahin payi…. kyoon(whispers) Ya shayad pakad liya. Khatam kar diya aur dafna diya. Sade teen Karod police kha gayi aur main andar.


14


RAGHAV stares at him. Liak: SAYS ONE MORE LINE…..WHICH PROVOKES RAGHAV…..THINK. And suddenly pounces on Liak. And starts throttling him. RAGHAV: Mere biwi aur bachhe ko kisne mara The druggie belying his condition, springs to action….trying to separate them. Heck…is he druggie or undercover cop? Cut to: A full-‐fledged chaos erupts in lockup…. RAGHAV is on LIAK trying to beat and pummel LIAK senseless…punching LIAK as he rolls on the ground…almost hysterically shouting …who killed my wife and son?? Who was with you…the druggie yelling as with a shout…. GOVIND RUSHES IN…. trying to separate. GOVIND grabs RAGHAV up…. pushes him against the wall….Hey..Hey..he shouts….What the fuck are you doing??..... RAGHAV pants. He is on the verge on collapsing. His knuckles are smashed and bloody… GOVIND shakes RAGHAV…. hey… RAGHAV looks at him…he looks really mad…. who was with you……who was with you….. Govind : That guy would have been killed....we would have lost out job for you......you crazy bastard..... GOVIND shakes his head…. As they drag RAGHAV away…LIAK manages to turn and give a half horrible smile …. He seems less worn than RAGHAV… SC 13. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE – FAÇADE. DAY. Two cars stop in front of the apartment building. A few guys and girls get down. Another car stops and some more colleagues spill out. We saw some of these colleagues in RAGHAV’s office earlier. One of them, is carrying a small statue….An award.


15


SC 13 A. INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE -‐ ELEVATOR/LOBBY. DAY. They crowd the elevator….go up in to batches. One fat guy decides to walk up. They Press the bell repeatedly. The door doesn’t open. They look at each other and press the bell again…. FAT GUY HUFFING AND PUFFING enters. Southie Woman: RAGHAV…We got the IEE award….. NO RESPONSE. CUT TO: SC 13 B. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE – FAÇADE. DAY. They are trooping out…. They get into their cars……leave…. We see RAGHAV watching them from a curtained window. He has a slight beard….. ONE LADY WHISPERS TO ANOTHER. I saw him at the window. He is at home. The other lady looks. Puzzled. Cant be. Dammit I saw him. So why didn’t he open the door? CUT TO: SC 14. INT. RAGHAV HOUSE – LIVING ROOM. DAY He is peering over a telephone directory. Yellow Pages. R.Joshi. Private Detective. 34 B Road, Model Colony. SC 15. EXT. DETECTIVE’S HOUSE + OFFICE – FAÇADE. DAY. RAGHAV gets out from the auto.. he looks around…and sees the residential building. SC 15 A. INT. DETECTIVE HOUSE + OFFICE. DAY. RAGHAV presses the bell .. …the door opens…


16


A BAI with pocha in hand standing….. very Marathi and sweating…she looks at RAGHAV RAGHAV : mera appointment tha….saab hai andar?? Bai : yaa……Aiyee… RAGHAV goes in…a small drawing room decked up as an office….more like a dentist’s waiting room. Bai shuts the door and dunks rag in soapy bucket. She goes to bathroom and emerges with a dry towel. She extends her hand… Bai: Rasika Joshi. Missed my yoga class so…. this exercise. RAGHAV stares at her. Then after a brief hesitation…he takes the hand. He also smiles…first time after the tragedy… Rasika walks across and sits…she picks up a box of cigarettes and lights.. Rasika: I am sorry for your loss Mr. RAGHAV..…. So you think now that the police is giving up…. a detective can find the name of the killer for you?? RAGHAV: can you find out? Rasika stares at him. Rasika: I can try. I charge Rs 2000 a day. (on phone)Hey Bagul…. what is the status of that bank robbery…... Rasika talks and listens…. in Marathi….as she opens drawer and gives RAGHAV rate card and terms conditions and ball pen for signature. Rasika: (hanging up) come home sometime. … (to RAGHAV) Liak ko jail bhej rahe hain….judicial custody …….. CUT TO:


17


SC 16. E/I. JAIL – VARIOUS LOCATION. NIGHT. WATCHTOWER POV. We see the jail at night. SOME GUARDS PATROLLING…..graphic shot. ON AUDIO, A MELANCHOLIC TUNE BEING WHISTLED… SC 17. EXT/INT. JAIL -‐ DORMITORY -‐ NIGHT. DORMITORY exterior. CU FEET…..of GUARD PATROLLING…..THE WHISTLE CONTINUES…..GUARD STOPS AT DORMITORY CELL DOOR. SHINES TORCH…. CU: WHISTLER…..THE TORCH SHINES ON HIS FACE. A MEAN LOOKING GUY? GUARD MOVES TORCH. WE SEE MORE FACES……PRISONERS ALL…..ENDING ON LIAK IN TORCH LIGHT . STARES BACK.. THE WHISTLER’S TUNE ENDS…... THE LIGHT GOES OFF. GUY NEXT TO LIAK……Daru peeyega? Liak. Hai? Guy rises….. Chal… TWO more guys rise…...INCLUDING THE WHISTLER Some others stare but don’t get up….. Guard opens lock…..the guys get out. SC 17A. EXT. JAIL -‐ PREMISE -‐ NIGHT. In the dark…..they move….Liak in between the file. Guard opens door. Make it quick guys…. SC 18 . INT. FABRICATION WORKSHOP OR LAUNDRY. IT’S DARK AND QUIET. THERE’S A PRISONER THERE…..WITH A BOTTLE OF RUM…..A BOTTLE OF WATER….PEANUTS AND GATYA. HE POURS THREE GLASSES….THEY PICK UP. He looks at Liak….New friend…..Guy says he will earn his drink…..HE PULLS OUT A RED SAREE….AS Another guy sprays a perfume…. Third guy: (the biggest) Sade teen karod….kahan hai…kiske paas hai….kuch batayega ya idhar ka draupadi banega… A FULL FLEDGED FIGHT ENSURES…. AND LIAK GIVES IT BACK. BUT THE GUYS GET AT HIM TOO….


18


IT’S A JUNGLEE FIGHT…. AND THE RED SAREE PLAYS A PART IN IT TOO. LIAK MANAGES TO SET SOME MACHINE ON….CREATING A RACKET IN THE NIGHT…. It’s a vicious fight….no holds barred…..the things break and the mass bangs against the door…. The sentry outside hesitates and then raps the door with his stick… Sentry : Silence..bastards…. Huge things fall inside…. Sentry is now psyched….he opens the door….and rushes in..he rushes out and blows the whistle… A bleeding goon almost runs the sentry over and rushes out…. Liak. All blood. One hand hanging limply by his side. Rushes out …threatening the chap who ran out…. Another chap comes from behind and jumps on Liak…. Guards rush to the scene…. Liak stands …….he is trying to hold a pose…..with one fist circling before his face…a guard gets near and hits him solidly in the stomach….he crumbles down without a word like a sack of flour… CUT TO: SC 19. E/I. JAIL – VISITORS GALLERY. DAY. Liak’s mother in Visitor’s gallery. (this is her introductory shot) She is shocked to see his bruises. He says he is fine ….as mother raves and rants about why he has become such a bad guy. Why did you…blah blah?. Liak loses his cool. Yells at his mom. Says WHY DID YOU COME….. WE SEE DETECTIVE IN SAME VISITOR’S GALLERY WATCHING HER….


19


SC 20. EXT. JAIL. BUS STOP/RICKSHAW STAND. DAY.(real location) How Detective Joshi befriends Liak’s mother. They have tea. OR SC 20 A. E/I. ROADS – S.T. BUS. DAY. They sit next to each other in ST Bus. (if Jail is Nasik) They talk about men. Sons and lovers. Detective Joshi concocts a fake story. Liak’s mother has her own story. Both seem real. CUT TO: SC 21. INT. MARZ O RIN RESTAURANT. DAY. RAGHAV ENTERS THE RESTAURANT……. It’s a restaurant with character. DETECTIVE Joshi heartily enjoys JUICE AND SANDWICHES. SHE TELLS RAGHAV THE DOPE ON WHORE JHIMLI. Joshi: …….She operates from a flat in Colaba…... (GIVES SOME SAUCY DETAIL about how she met Liak.) Liak was hooked on her. RAGHAV: I want to meet her. Joshi: Go to Shagun Beauty Parlour near Regal and ask for Mamu. He is her pimp. She goes by the name of Pinky but her real name is Jhimli. She charges five grand for two hours. I charge two grand a day. SC 22. E/I. TRAIN TO MUMBAI. DAY RAGHAV in a train to Mumbai.


20


SC 23. EXT. MUMBAI ROADS – REGAL CINEMA. DAY RAGHAV gets off a cab near Regal. Mood. SC 24. INT. SHAGUN BEAUTY PARLOUR. DAY. RAGHAV seated across table with a man. Man: Pinky …. 2 ghante ka Dus hazaar…! RAGHAV nods. Pulls out money. Man takes it. Passes a visiting card. VENUS ESTATE AGENCY. 414 Forjett House, Colaba. Man: 8 baje pahunch jaana. He watches RAGHAV leave. Dials a number. Man: …… First timer hai. Khush kar, Achha tip milega… CUT TO: SC 25. E/I. JHIMLI’S PAD 1 (FORJETT HOUSE COLABA). NIGHT. Forjett House Colaba. A six storeyed building. SC 25 A. INT. JHIMLI’S PAD 1 -‐ CORRIDOR NIGHT. RAGHAV gets off the lift. 414. Venus Estate Agency. RAGHAV Rings the bell. SC 25 B. INT. JHIMLI’S PAD 1. NIGHT. The door opens. Jhimli. Young. Pretty. A smile that looks so fresh despite her profession. RAGHAV enters. The room is full of posters for various housing projects.


21


Jhimli: Flat kharidne ke liye aaye ya mujhse milne. Andar …. She leads him into a bedroom. It’s colourful, a bit gaudy but yet has taste. There is a 21 inch tv, a stack of dvds and vcds mostly porn and music… Jhimli: Drink? RAGHAV: Whisky…. He looks around the room. There is a bowl with a goldfish on the side. Jhimli enters with a quarter bottle and soda and ice bucket. RAGHAV makes a drink. RAGHAV: Tum…? Jhimli: Tumhare se sip loongi….cheers. Be comfortable. RAGHAV avoids the bed, on which she’s sitting. He takes a chair. He drinks his whisky. Big gulps. Almost to fortify himself. She comes to him and takes a sip….finishes the drink. She pulls out a heap of cds. Jhimli: kis type ka music pasand hai….hmm… Jhimli: Mera favourite lagaoon? RAGHAV nods…..refills his drink as ‘ SONG # 1 ’ plays. (Ref: a 90s seductive number. We make our own from an imaginary Sunny Deol film.) Jhimli does a little bar dancer item….She is having fun….seductive and yet impersonal. RAGHAV is watching her. She smiles….comes for a lap dance … Kapde utaroon…?


22


She makes it seem like she’s going to undress but starts undressing him. He holds her hands….. RAGHAV: mein tumhein baandh sakta hoon. Jhimli: (seductive) Kya karega baandhke? RAGHAV: Baat karoonga…… She laughs. Dances to a chest of drawers/box and pulls out two scarves/handkerchiefs CUT TO: Jhimli’s hand against the bed. A kerchief being tied. Jhimli: Not so tight. The other hand is tied too. Jhimli: … kurta kaise nikaloge mujhe pata nahin …fadneka nahin haan!!? RAGHAV fills his third drink……picks up a pair of scissors…….from her dressing table…. She stares at him. A bit hassled. This first timer is a Ripper, hope not. RAGHAV: jaanti ho mein yahan kyoon aaya hoon JHIMLI. Jhimli: Yeh naam kaise jaante ho? Kaun ho tum??? RAGHAV: Liak ka partner……(longish PAUSE)….. jaanti ho na use? Jhimli: Kaun Liak….nahin….kholo mere haath….kaun ho tum…kya chahiye tumnhein… Open this. Chillaoongi main haan… she wonders whether to scream or keep quiet. The twitch of her tied wrists are screaming.


23


RAGHAV: Liak ne nahin bataya uske partner ke bare mein? Jhimli: Mein nahin jaanti. RAGHAV: Tum Liak ki girlfriend ho na? Jhimli: Mein kisike ki girlfriend nahin hoon Saab. Liak aata tha yahan……mein dhanda karti hoon saab…sabko khush rakhti hoon. Mein sab ki girlfriend hoon saab. Naagre saab jaante hain mereko. RAGHAV: Mein police nahin hoon. …..Liak aur uske partner ne mere biwi aur bache ka murder kiya…14 october…. Jhimli stares at RAGHAV….dawning recognition of the case and victims…. RAGHAV: Liak jail mein hai. Uska partner kidhar hai? Jhimli: Mujhe nahin maloom ….Liak bas customer tha… abhi mujhe thodi bataya ki wo dacaity karnewala hai….. RAGHAV: Yeh Goldfish usne diya tumko …. Jhimli: Wo kuch na kuch gift leke aata hai…… RAGHAV: Tumhare liye wo customer tha…..lekin wo tum ko chahta hai. Police ko nahin bataya but shayad tumhein batayega. Tum dus hazaar ka dhanda karti ho…. AGAR tum uske partner ka naam nikal sakti ho to mein tumhein dus lakh doonga…… RAGHAV: meine police ko tumhara naam diya….tum jaanti ho kya hoga? RAGHAV CUTS THE KERCHIEFS WITH THE SCISSORS… Jhimli sits up and takes a big sip of RAGHAV’s drink. CUT TO: SC 26. EXT. JAIL – FAÇADE. DAY. Jhimli gets off a rickshaw.


24


She’s in a line. With other visitors. Brief mood shots. In the distance, a constable is checking the Visitor’s dabbas. An old lady in the line tells Jhimli that they wont allow booze inside. Are you crazy girl? SC 26 A. EXT. JAIL – VISITOR GALLERY. DAY. Liak: tu….mere ko laga meri maa phir ….tu…..tu aayi hai…. believe nahin hota hai….tu…. Jhimli: Pachhas baar sochi aaoon nahin aaoon, ….phir boli ek baar aake milti hoon. Tu kya kardiya ….kyoon….? Liak: Bada galti ho gaya yaar…..lekin meine unko nahin maara…..sab ko bola koi sunne ko taiyar nahin…. Jhimli: Tu kyoon usko chupa raha hai….Approver ban ja….teri sazaa kum ho jayegi na….. Liak: Wo kabhi milega nahin. Police ne uska encounter karke paisa hadap liya hai……. (changes topic) Roz raat ko tere se bahut baat karta hoon….tera dialogue bhi mein hi bolta hoon….. Jhimli: mera kya dialogue bolta tu? Liak: Tere se better bolta hoon…… A COP COMES AND INTERRUPTS. Cop: Teen minute baaki…….. Jhimli: wo aaya tha parson….RAGHAV…..jiski biwi aur bacha…. Liak: wo tere bare mein kaise jaana….kya kiya…


25


Jhimli: kuch nahin…..bola partner ka naam mila to paise doonga ……nahin to police ko bol doonga….Kya bolega police ko? Mein handle kar sakti hoon. Liak… Lots he wants to say…..but…. The constable peeks in again and makes a pronounced noise with his baton. Jhimli: Chal….apna time khatam. (smiles her pure Mumtaz smile) Raat ko milti hoon………. CUT TO: SC 27. E/ I. JHIMLI’S PAD 1– COLABA . NIGHT. JHIMLI THROWS A WRAP OVER HERSELF AND OPENS THE DOOR. RAGHAV IS STANDING THERE. RAGHAV: Tum mili Laik se….. Jhimli: Aayeye…….. RAGHAV: Partner ka naam bataya usne…? Jhimli: …..Usne wohi bataya jo police ko bataya…..Meine kai baar poocha….Sorry…. Kuch lenge? Drink…..? There is a bottle of whisky and a glass. Same like last time. RAGHAV makes a drink. RAGHAV doesn’t know what to do. He sips the drink…… RAGHAV: Aur kya baat hui? Jhimli: Aur kuch nahin….meine poocha yeh kya kar diya…..kuch nahin kiya usne….wo bekasoor hai….fas gaya bechara… RAGHAV: Tumne use mere bare mein bataya? Jhimli: Nahin….mein kyoon batati….


26


RAGHAV: Bees minute thi tum wahan….kuch to baat hua hoga….. Jhimli: aadha time to bas dekhta raha….wo mujhe dekhke khush hua…. RAGHAV: tum bhi khush hui….? Jhimli: ….Dekhiye aapke request peh mein wahan gayi…abhi usne kuch nahin bataya….mein kya karoon? Aap apna time waste kar rahe hain…..Aur paisa bhi…. Mukesh ko commission dena padta hai….…. He takes out his wallet. He gives her a bundle of notes. Jhimli: Thank you She takes the money and is putting it in a tea box or under mattress as he goes to the CD player and hits the play button….. the song plays. SHE REACTS. TURNS. RAGHAV: Tum sabko khush karti ho na…..Mujhe bhi khush karo….. Jhimli is zapped.. RAGHAV: ‘Come on….Dance….NOW DANCE….I am paying you double. On with the show. BAHUT PAISE HAIN MERE PAAS…… THE SONG PLAYS….. Jhimli starts dancing….RAGHAV watches.. strange strip tease which nobody is enjoying. Jhimli takes off the first piece of clothing…her face is deadpan……(complete reverse of the way she was smiling seductively last) RAGHAV: Tum Liak ke liye aise naachti thi….? She dances with a forced smile…. RAGHAV: Kapde…… She starts taking her clothes off…. UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

27


RAGHAV: wo light on raktha tha ya…… The lights are on. He is f***ing her. She closes her eyes. DON’T HOLD BACK ON THIS SCENE. THE BEGINNING OF THE DESCENT. RAGHAV’s pov. Her eyes closed……and we pan/transition to: Liak watching…...them……CUT TO: SC 28. INT. JAIL – DORMITORY / VARIOUS LOC -‐ DAY LIAK’S FACE BEHIND BARS……STARING ANGRILY….. (HE IS IN THE JAIL BUT WE SHOULD GET A SENSE THAT HE’S WATCHING JHIMLI AND RAGHAV……) ABOVE SCENE CONTINUING LIAK IN JAIL………. BEING HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN TO COURT…..A SET OF COURT AND LEGAL VOICES……LEADING TO………. SC 29. E/I. COURT. PUNE. DAY. (To figure out a mise en scene where we can avoid interior court and the usual shots. This scene is largely information so how to present it interestingly.) JUDGE SENTENCES LIAK TO 20 YEARS RI. RAGHAV is in the courtroom…….. We also see Liak’s mother….. Liak protests his innocence once again…..as his mother hollers. Liak is being led out followed by wailing mother. RAGHAV crosses to meet him. Govind debates but gives them a moment. RAGHAV: (whispers TO LIAK) jhimli se kuch kehna hai?


28


Liak tries to attack him as cop Govind shoves Liak into a van. SC 30. E/I TRAIN TO MUMBAI. NIGHT. (OPTIONAL) The train cuts thru the night. RAGHAV at a window seat. SC 31. E/I. JHIMLI’S PAD. NIGHT. Close Up of Jhimli ……SHE’S CRYING SILENTLY……THERE IS PAIN ON HER FACE….. ….its dark…we really do not see anything…. In the bg, we hear breathing….. somebody gets up….takes time in dressing and goes out…..the door opens and closes….we see a body on the bed for a brief glimpse…some notes lying on the floor…. SC 31 A. EXT. JHIMLI’S PAD. NIGHT. RAGHAV walks out of the building. He is looking a pale sick version of what he was just a few months ago. SC 32. INT. TRAIN TO PUNE. NIGHT. RAGHAV in the train. IT’S A 2 TIER PASSENGER TRAIN……RESERVED COMPARTNEMT. RAGHAV LOOKS AROUND….. Various people……alone and together and all kinds. One girl is reading a book. CROOKED HOUSE by Agatha Christie…… CUT TO: SC 32 A. I/E. RAGHAV HOUSE PUNE – BEDROOM -‐ NIGHT (LOVE STORY FLASHBACK) The book cover. A different edition. Misha is reading CROOKED HOUSE.


29


RAGHAV looks at her. snuggles up to her. RAGHAV: …..“I know the killer”…….I read the last chapter while you were in the shower. Misha: if you spoil the suspense …..i will kill you. …got sixty pages left RAGHAV: …..read it tomorrow….or else….. Misha: it’s at the most exciting part. Puhleesse…. I got to finish the book tonite. RAGHAV : Milord…..My sex life is being threatened by Agatha Christie. TIGHT CLOSE UPS OF THE WORDS FROM the PAPERBACK. the Colonel lay slumped on his desk at an unnatural angle. Blue blood seeped out from under his face. For a moment, Nurse Lara was stumped and then she realized that the bottle of ink had split. And then she screamed. Misha…..screams. ABRUPT CUT TO: SC 32 B. INT. TRAIN TO PUNE. NIGHT. Someone tapping RAGHAV on the shoulder. Excuse me, are you in the TV serial ……I’ve seen you on TV. Someone else in the train stares at him. I’ve seen you too…on tv or newspaper…? Are you a model? More passengers join in. It’s some surreal guessing game going on….and then someone guesses right. Heck. He’s the guy whose wife and kid were killed. Am I right Sir? RAGHAV GOES TO THE DOOR….OPENS IT. STARES AT THE HURTLING TRACKS……. A DISTANT SIGNAL GOES RED. Almost by divine intervention….the train slows down…. A station is approaching. SC 33. EXT. BADLAPUR STATION. NIGHT.


30


The train leaves. RAGHAV is on the platform. THE STATION IS BADLAPUR. We wonder at the irony of that. RAGHAV walks out of the station. It’s deserted….a small township….WE should get a sense of a one horse town past midnight. RAGHAV just walks and continues walking. SC 34. EXT. BADLAPUR HIGHWAY. NIGHT. RAGHAV walks and reaches the highway….traffic is sparse and passing by with speed….RAGHAV WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY…. WE SEE THE FACE AND EYES……WE HOLD ON HIS FACE…… THE ONCOMING VEHECLES LIGHT UP HIS FACE INTERMITTENTLY…. AND THEN…….WE SEE RAGHAV……IN THE SAME CLOSE UP…..MOVE TO THE CENTRE OF THE ROAD….. The next five seconds .......WE ARE ON RAGHAV’S FACE……. We hear a LOUD HORN……… We sense he has walked onto an oncoming truck. LOUD HONKS….HE STOPS AND SHUTS HIS EYES, THE HONK BECOMES A NERVE SHATTERING SOUND AS WE HOLD ON RAGHAV’S FACE AS A CLOUD OF DUST FILLS THE BACKGROUND AND WE NOW CUT TO: A MONSTER CONTAINER TRUCK TWISTED AND HALF IN A DITCH CAREENING AWAY BARELY….AND HIT A MOUND OF SAND….. THREE GUYS JUMP down from the truck and rush to him. He doesn’t protest as in the silhouette we see three guys bashing and pushing him away from the road. SOMETIME LATER. SC 34 A. EXT. BADLAPUR HIGHWAY. NIGHT.


31


THE TRUCK LEAVING…….RAGHAV STIRS. RAGHAV sits on the side of the road….bleeding and dusty….. AN AUTO comes and stops…..Gandhi Chowk? RAGHAV looks at the auto-‐guy..his face is blank…then he shrugs and gets in. SC 35. E/I. BADLAPUR GANDHI CHOWK -‐ HOTEL. NIGHT. A sleepy Hotel Attendant opens the door. He opens a register…. A dusty RAGHAV enter a hotel in Gandhi Chowk.…..is there a room? Yes sir..the attendant says….how many days…. RAGHAV is quiet..the attendant asks..for how many days in Badlapur sir?? RAGHAV looks at him..20 years??? SC 36. INT. JAIL -‐ COMMUNITY HALL. NIGHT. Jail community tv. A movie is on. “Bees saal mein sab bhool jaoge Gabbar…” LIAK is eating silently. Dudhi watery daal and tough chappatis. Next to him is an old man. African. Singing ORIGINAL OF Mehbooba Mehbooba… Liak watching him. Outside he would have enjoyed this item. CUT TO: SC 36A . INT. JAIL -‐ COMMUNITY HALL. DAY. NEXT MORNING. Liak wakes up to commotion. The old timer is dead. Liak learns he was a lifer. Drug peddler who killed someone in a fight at Colaba. He’s been here for 25 years. Close up Liak. (to another prisoner?) Yahan se nikalna hai mujhe. Koi idea hai kya?


32


SC 37. INT. JAIL -‐ OFFICE. DAY. In room we see a jail officer, reading prisoners letters….censoring prisoners letters. There is a bundle of envelopes. He reads out a funny line to another cop. In distance we see Liak steal a sutli rope or a sack… SC 38. I/E. JAIL -‐ UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. (Details to be worked out) Liak’s jail escape attempt. Maybe disguise himself as a sack of potatoes. A cop watching from vantage point. He is highly amused. Tempo at Jail Entry Exit gate. Liak in sack praying perhaps. The cop comes with a bayonet and pokes the sacks at random. Till he hears a sack of potatoes scream. SC 39. INT. JAIL -‐ SOLITARY CELL. NIGHT. THE LUNCH IS SHOVED UNDER THE DOOR. THE HATCH IS SHUT. Liak looks at the closed tray. Liak: (almost singsong) Budhwar…Gobi Shukruwar Baingan Shanivar Aloo Sunday Anda, Somwar Dudhi…..aaj kausa din hai bhai? Opens the tray. ….Cut to black. SC 40. EXT. JAIL -‐ VARIOUS LOCATIONS. DAY. + NIGHT. the GETAWAY MONTAGE We see the jail…..regular activities….. Liak bathing with other prisoners. Lying in cell. Entry and exit from dorm/solitary Letter from Jhimli Playing carom. Sound of carpentry Sound of fabrication Looms


33


Dining area. SC 41. EXT. JAIL – DINNING AREA. DAY Liak is an arrogant loser. Says one day I’ll get out and there’s a fortune waiting for me outside. LOOKS AT HIS TRAY…arre wah Mutton Sagoti, Prawn Biryani, Bombil fry. Gulab Jamun….aaj kiska birthday hai bhai? OR sees a boiled egg. Aaj Sunday hai…..din mein daru peene ka day hai….. Prisoners are not amused. They collect their trays with daal and dudhi. Liak sits with his daal and dudhi. looks at one guy staring at him …and loses it. Every shot is a disturb shot in some sense. The sound, the edit..,..we convey Liak hates this place and wants to get out asap. SOME ACTIVITIES IN RAIN if it’s raining. CUT TO: SC 42. EXT. JAIL. – FENCE. D/N. A DEAD BIRD ON AN ELECTRIFIED FENCE, IN CLOSE SHOTS…..WE SEE A BUCKET HANDLE TIED TO A SET OF TOWELS…..BEING TOSSED ACROSS THE WALL . TWO GUARDS WORKING ON FENCE…..DONT SEE THE BUCKET AND TOWELS. SOMEONE JUMPS, PRISONER IN LONG SHOT STARTS WALKING TOWARDS RICKSHAW ETC…. AND…..SOME PASSING COP IN DISTANCE DOES A DOUBLE TAKE. AND IN LONG SHOT WE SEE A MAD DASH IN THE DAY….THE PRISONER RUNNING….COPS AND OTHER PRISONERS AND RICKSHAWWALLA TOO CHASING,. CAUGHT IN 15 SECONDS AND THE COPS SAY…..joker!!! THEY SLAP THE PRISONER. AND NOW WE SEE HIS FACE. LIAK. A MUCH OLDER LIAK.


34


FREEZE AS A SUPER APPEARS: FIFTEEN YEARS LATER. SC 43. INT. JAIL – THE TONSURING AREA. DAY. RAIN? Day. Tonsuring line up in jail. Few prisoners are praising a great escape artist.....we find Liak listening to them. He is also in the line-‐up..actually they are mocking him. Liak hears and then snatches the razor used on him and threatens these chaps. Quarrel heat up....but suddenly Liak writhes in pain and collapses....the others are zapped...they look at each and run. Some try to revive him.....one runs to the jailgate... SC 44. INT. JAIL -‐ HOSPITAL. DAY. Some dramatic X-‐Rays in close up. A doctor comes to Liak. He is cuffed to the cot. There is a Hawaldar standing besides him. Doctor stares at Liak….. Liak is watching curiously. CUT TO: SC 45. INT. JAIL -‐ COUNSELLING ROOM. DAY. Intro of SHOBA. She’s in her 30s. Smart and attractive. The jail doctor gives her the files as the Jailor is making some sarcastic comment. Shoba says everyone deserves a second chance.…can she meet him now??….doctor says he is upset…Shoba nods…lets go SC 45A . INT. JAIL -‐ ANOTHER ROOM. DAY. LIAK is crying…. we have not seen him cry before.,.. It’s a silent weep….but crying he is. SHOBA talks to him….LIAK wants to know if anything can be done…. SHOBA tells the cancer is far-‐gone…he has only about a year at max to live. But there will be treatment…. Liak is not consoled. Shoba looks at him…. ‘ There is one thing I am going to try. SC 46. EXT. BADLAPUR -‐ ROAD. DAY.


35


She’s in a car. Shoba is driving. Music playing. Getting directions from locals and also Checking directions on Google. SC 47. E/I. RAGHAV’S HOUSE -‐ BADLAPUR. NIGHT. A society secretary type guy is talking to Shoba. He points to a terrace flat 3rd floor 2 BHK. Shoba is relieved. At last. Shoba goes up. SC 47 A. EXT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE -‐ BADLAPUR – CORRIDOR. NIGHT. There is a lock. She looks around. And just sits on the stairs. Some time later. RE-‐INTRODUCE RAGHAV A BUS DROPS HIM/ OR HE DRIVES OWN CAR. (No super. We see the 15 years on his face.) RAGHAV AT STAIRS NOTICES A LADY ASLEEP. She’s 36 and attractive in her own way. SHE WAKES UP. Shoba: Hello….Mr RAGHAV…. RAGHAV: yes???? Shoba: …..you wont believe how difficult it has been to find you……I deserve a medal just for tracking you……Can I come in…..? RAGHAV lets her inside. Thru her eyes…..we see the space. It’s HERMITIC. IT’S CLEAN. THERE ARE ONLY THE ESSENTIALS. INCLUDING A TV. A FRIDGE, GAS AND UTENSILS. SC 47 B. INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE BADLAPUR – LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. Shoba: I am Shoba…I run Prayas…..it’s an NGO focusing on jail inmates…..The idea being that prison can play a big part in reform…..So….This is our booklet….and website ….actually I am here on behalf of Liak …..Liak Tungekar…….


36


Yes….the man who is in jail for being part of a robbery that killed your wife and child……. He has been diagnosed with cancer of the ……. He has maximum a year to live. RAGHAV: ……why are you here? Shoba: I am here because ….if you give him a pardon…..he can get a release…. he can spend his last few days as a free man. ….it will give him better treatment and a dignified death….. RAGHAV: is he in pain? Shoba: Physical pain…..Not yet….it’ll kick in ….in a few months…..he has started chemo….…..here …these are the reports…. He has spent 15 years in jail. RAGHAV: He should have been hanged from a lamp post fifteen years back. But this is better. He will die a slow and painful death…… Shoba: I completely understand how you feel….. RAGHAV: (suddenly flares up) Really…How would you know how I feel right now? I am damn happy. This is the best piece of news I have heard in 15 years….I am going to celebrate…….make a drink…..Would you like a drink? Shoba: I would love one too….. RAGHAV: I have rum. Shoba: a small…..with cold water….. She watches RAGHAV make the drink…WE SEE THE HOUSE THRU HER EYES….. Shoba: There are no pictures of Misha and Robin? RAGHAV hands her the drink.


37


RAGHAV: I don’t have any…..(gulps his drink….goes to make another) Shoba: Liak has spent 15 years in prison under wretched conditions. Pardon my saying so Mr RAGHAV…….but I think you are living in a prison too. Maybe by forgiving Liak, you will get your release too….. I request you to atleast meet Liak once. Maybe you will see a changed man….. RAGHAV stares at her... Nods…. Shoba: Oh thank you…..i will arrange everything….. I apologize for barging in like this. Thank you…. RAGHAV: You didn’t touch your drink….. Shoba: Actually I drink only wine…..(smiles) Some THUNDER….. RAGHAV: you will drive all the way back? Shoba: I don’t see a choice. I’m a bit wary of checking into one of the highway hotels. Don’t worry. I’ll blast music and drive back. I am happy I met you RAGHAV. She leaves. RAGHAV from his window watches her car driving away.Her drink is untouched. He notices the cancer reports. Heck….she’s left them behind. Forgotten or intended. HE GOES TO KITCHEN. TAKES OUT A KEY FROM A STEEL DABBA….. RAGHAV opening the LOCKED DOOR. He goes in. SC 47C. INT. RAGHAV BADLAPUR HOUSE -‐ SHRINE ROOM. NIGHT. RAGHAV SWITCHES ON A LIGHT. IT’S A GREEN ZERO WATT BULB. WE SEE: SMILING PHOTO FRAMES OF MISHA AND KID. Their things. Her handbag. The kid’s schoolbag. The unfinished train set. SO MANY OTHER


38


EVERYDAY THINGS. Every damn thing has a memory and a story. THE PLACE IS CLEAN. IT’S OBVIOUS THAT RAGHAV HAS KEPT IT CLOSED. BUT CLEAN. There is the big poster of RAGHAV with the kid…. Batman with Robin. RAGHAV SITS ON THE BEANBAG….SWITCHES ON THE FAN…. THE WINDCHIME….HANGING IN THE GREEN DARKNESS. AAAAH….SOME AIR…. IT CHIMES…. A smiling picture of Misha. Making a face. RAGHAV picks up the train engine that has derailed and places it on the track. CUT TO: SC 48. EXT. JAIL – FAÇADE. DAY RAGHAV gets down from a taxi…. In the distance. Cop Govind. Heck he is looking run down and old. Govind comes to RAGHAV. Govind: How are you? RAGHAV: Fine. Govind: the loot was never recovered…so if u pardon…surely LIAK will go for his share…. We will follow and catch the partner then. GOVIND stares as RAGHAV walks inside the jail…. SC 48A. INT. JAIL -‐ OFFICE. DAY RAGHAV sits in an office..SHOBA and the warden gets him coffee…. They wait and then they open another door and nod. LIAK comes in…. RAGHAV looks at him….LIAK tries to do a namaste….comes and sits. LIAK plays the contrite reformed convict to the gallery. We almost believe him ourselves…. RAGHAV says give me the name of your partner and I will give you pardon. Liak says I don’t know him. I would not have suffered in jail so long if I knew his name. RAGHAV says you are lying. You know him. Liak says I don’t.


39


RAGHAV looks at him…..uncannily he reads LIAK’s thoughts…. so you thought you will have your money and live your last few months as king….no..you are a rat and die like that in the jail… He gets up ….. He stops at the door…btw, I had some nice meetings with JHIMLI…..she told you? LIAK rises…..seething. He tries to rise but his hands are cuffed. The door opens. Shoba and the Jailor watch as RAGHAV walks out. Shoba rushes to him….but RAGHAV keeps walking. Govind watches… CUT TO: SC 49. EXT.INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE. BADLAPUR. NIGHT. The Ganpati Bappa Morya ambience. (or some festivities…..) Badlapur is getting festive..and so the co-‐operative society. They have a pandal… and there is excitement in the society. RAGHAV is moving through his house…The kids and adults below… celebrating. The loudspeaker blaring….or maybe there’s a tambola for the society. The announcer: 2 fat ladies 88. Cut to: Two fat ladies examining their tickets. CUT TO: SC 49 A. INT. RAGHAV’S HOUSE. BADLAPUR. DAY. RAGHAV. Drinking. Watching the festivities.….5 And then the bell rings, RAGHAV goes to the peephole. There is a woman outside. It’s LIAK’S MOTHER. RAGHAV opens the door. the woman is hesitant... He says..I am not signing anything..please go away… 5 Amitabh in MILI is a good reference UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

40


he goes to close the door….the woman says I have something you need. RAGHAV laughs..you have no idea what I need. The woman looks at him….I can give you the name of the person who killed your wife…. RAGHAV stares. Liak sent you? Mother: No….he will kill me if he knew. But he told me to contact someone last week. His partner. my son….He has only so many months to live…please don’t let him die in prison. RAGHAV opens the door…..please come in. She enters and sits on the floor. RAGHAV offers her some water. She is grateful. RAGHAV looks at her… ‘If I get the name of the partner…..i will get your son out of jail. Mother: I have his name and number here…. SHE EXTENDS HER HAND…..THERE’S A CHIT. MOTHER: Liak told me to call this person….and say that he should keep the money ready. SC 50 -‐ I/E. MONTAGES – VARIOUS LOCATION. D/N A nicely worded pardon letter…being read by Shoba….(indicative dialogues follow) July 16 2000 ko Liak ko court ne meri wife aur bacche ke murder case main 20 saal kathin karawas ki saza di thi aur tab se ab tak wo Yerwada jail main 15 saal 4 mahine ki saza kaat chuka hai. kuch dino pehle mujhe pata chala ki Liak ko cancer ho gaya hai aur wo ek saal ke upar nahin jee payega. Main Liak ko maafi dena chahta hun taaki wo apni baaki ki zindgi jail se bahar azad hokar bita saken.


41


In pandrha salon main maine bahut koshish ki lekin main apne dukh se bahar nahi nikal paya. Lekin mujhe ye ahsas ho gaya hai ki Liak ko jail main rakhne se mera dookh kam nahi hoga nahi mere khoye hue log mujhe wapas milenge. Main is ummid ke saath Liak ko maaf kar rahan hun ki shayad nafrat ki kuch diwaaren dhah saken aur uski azadi main main apni azadi bhi dhoondh nikaloon. On this we see…… SC 50 A . POLICE STATION -‐ OFFICE . DAY Govind reacting to THE NEWS. SC 50 B/C. I/E. PHONE INTERCUT – SHOBHA/RAGHAV HOUSE .D/N Shoba calls up RAGHAV. She is so happy and grateful…..Thank you. We must have that drink. RAGHAV Says FOR SURE…..ONE OF THESE DAYS WHEN I COME TO TOWN. SC 50 D. I/E. JAIL. COMMUNITY HALL. D/N Liak is ecstatic. TV anchor waxes eloquent on the ‘quality of mercy’ .. a disbelieving and ecstatic Liak going around and embracing everybody in his dorm….even his earlier tormentors. SC 51. E/I. WAREHOUSE. BADLAPUR. Warehouse. Trucks. Barrels. Activity. Sound. VISUAL CURIOSITY. FASCINATING SHOTS AND IMAGES BUT WHAT ARE WE WATCHING….AND WHY? AND THEN WE SEE RAGHAV talking to a senior person that he will need a few days leave. A YOUNG FOREMAN RUSHES TO GREET HIM.


42


FOREMAN: SIR…..(OFFERS HIM PEDA BOX) . I got a baby boy Sir. You must come for the naming ceremony next week. RAGHAV: (smiles) Congratulations Kamdar…. He takes peda, breaks into two. Puts one in proud father’s mouth and the other in his own. SC 52. BADLAPUR STATION. DAY. The drumbeats have begun….. RAGHAV boards the train. We hold on the station name. BADLAPUR. CUT TO: THE TRAIN WHIZZING TOWARDS PUNE…… SC 52 A. PUNE STATION. NIGHT. A train stops…… AND MISHA GETS OFF….. WE SEE SHE’S PREGNANT….. SHE SPOTS RAGHAV….. RUSHES TO HUG HIM…. RAGHAV: (bends down to her tummy….whispers to kid) Welcome to the land of the Puneri Missal…… Misha: ….the land of the Peshwas…. WE SEE RAGHAV AND VISIBLY YOUNG AND PREGNANT MISHA…..WALK TOWARDS HIS CAR AS WE DO A WIPE AND SEE…. SC 52 B. PUNE STATION. NIGHT. RAGHAV…..IN PRESENT AVATAR at station……The mood is Amitabh Bachchan in Do Anjaane. (2nd half)


43


SC 53. PUNE. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. DAY/NIGHT. We see RAGHAV in a public place. We realize he is watching someone. Following someone. And the we see……….his target. Harman. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE SEEING HIM. OR….we saw a younger thinner face earlier….. How he has changed in the last 15 years…… The POV camera moves towards HARMAN……He looks intimidating and then we hear a snatch of conversation….. Harman: (on phone) …..why did you break the legs? What did I tell you? He is waiting at an elevator. Maybe a bubble lift. RAGHAV moves towards the lift. Harman is on the phone…talking to someone. Harman: Once the crabs are cooked….shove them in the masala…. Achha….am entering the lift will call later. Harman gets into lift. With two other people. RAGHAV ENTERS….GETS IN TOO. Harman stares at him…... On Harman’s face….fck….this guy….here….He is the husband. What’s he doing here? it’s a coincidence of course….THE LIFT STOPS AND RAGHAV WATCHES HARMAN….. HE STRIDES TO HIS SUV…..AND TURNS BACK TO LOOK AT RAGHAV….. RAGHAV IS STARING GENERALLY IN HIS DIRECTION. HARMAN GETS INTO HIS CAR…..DRIVES OFF….STILL LOOKING AT RAGHAV…. RAGHAV WATCHES THE CAR GOING AWAY. 6

INTERVAL

6 option: Harman playing cricket match neighbor hood kids. The ball rolls. Harman rushes to it. RAGHAV is watching. Maybe he throws back the ball. UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

44


SC 54. E/I. WEDDING RECEPTION/ HOLI PARTY/ NIGHT. Intro KOKO….(IN HER 30s….SHE IS DANCING. THE LIFE OF THE PARTY….) Or she’s cracking a non veg joke. Her laughter is raucous…. We wonder who she is. The angles we shoot, can HINT that it’s someone’s POV. SC 55. E/I. DESOLATE ROAD -‐ KOKO’S CAR. NIGHT. (PIMPRI TYPE AREA STREETS) The street is desolate. Koko in car driving. Music. In close up….we see her tyre…a big nail is embedded. (some such thrilling shot) The tyre goes bang….Koko curses..shit She gets down…looks at the nail…she looks worried. A car passes by….and then comes back… RAGHAV is in the car. He examines car and offers to give her a lift. Koko bit wary but what the hell….a good Samaritan…. She thanks him, makes a call to ... says what happened and I got a lift from Mr MJ 12 3884…..(turns to RAGHAV, big smile) better safe than sorry … They drive. SC 56. INT. DESOLATE ROAD -‐ RAGHAV’S CAR. NIGHT. RAGHAV and KOKO conversation. Got to be engaging and ‘relevant’ to our story and characters. RAGHAV notices her wedding ring. Some talk about spouses. Kids. She notices a pic of misha and robin….ah so lovely……… She tells about husband. He runs a hotel on …..road. ViJAY PALACE. Invites him if he is in that side. Good Rawas…..you non veg I hope? SC 57. EXT. HARMAN’S BUNGALOW – FAÇADE. NIGHT. The car stops in front of a neat bungalow…please come in. RAGHAV


45


declines. Will visit your restaurant for sure sometime. Koko says bring your wife and kid too…..it’s a family restaurant. She : Pardon my saying so…they look so young….please bring them……RAGHAV says maybe …….He waves as Koko goes in… As she rings the bell and door opens….we see its Harman. SC 58. INT. PUNE ROADS -‐ RAGHAV’S CAR. NIGHT. RAGHAV driving. SC 58 A. I/E RAGHAV MISHA LOVE STORY. PART 2. D/N (OPTIONAL) RAGHAV’s flashback with Misha. Avoid cute. A real moment in a real love story. MUST FIND INTERESTING VIGNETTES AND GOOD TRANSITIONS IN AND OUT. SC 59. INT. VIJAY PALACE – RESTAURANT. NIGHT. Two marinated Bangdas thrust into hot oil. We are in Vijay Palace. RAGHAV is sitting is sitting at one corner…he drinks…. then suddenly the door opens and Koko comes in…. She walks in and is extremely surprised to see RAGHAV …hey you here?? RAGHAV nods..how is it for surprise?? Have you met my husband…says Koko….no..not yet…Just a minute..says Koko and rushes in….RAGHAV drinks….and Koko brings out her husband…here .. this is the gentleman I was talking to you about….the one who gave me the lift….RAGHAV looks up and smiles… HARMAN freezes…. Hi HARMAN says RAGHAV and extends his hand….HARMAN looks like he has seen a ghost. Koko asks…why haven’t you brought your wife and kids…. RAGHAV smiles….sit down he says… Koko sits and pulls HARMAN down by hand…. RAGHAV says..actually I lied to you. Lied?? Koko is surprised….


46


RAGHAV says my wife and kid died 15 years back..in a bank robbery…didn’t want to tell you a sob story that night… OMG….Koko is ashen..that IS terrible. HARMAN stares at RAGHAV…RAGHAV looks at both of them. “ even more terrible is that they never got the one who actually shot them (Harman licks his lips here)…but lets not talk of old things….why not recommend a dish?? Oh sure Koko says…..try out this Rawas Koliwada…but wait….let me first check if we have good mussels today….. She rushes in to check. Harman looks at RAGHAV. It’s Clint Eastwood looking at Lee Van Cliff. Who is going to blink first. SC 59 A. INT. VIJAY PALACE -‐ KITCHEN. NIGHT Koko instructing the cooks….TWO MARINATED Bombay ducks ARE CHUCKED INTO BOILING OIL. SC 59 B. INT. VIJAY PALACE -‐ KITCHEN. NIGHT KOKO RETURNS. She has got something cooking. THE CONVERSATION HAPPENS NOW ON TWO PLANES….AS KOKO COMES BACK..THEY SHIFT TO SHOP TALK..BUT WHEN SHE GOES IN…HARMAN AND RAGHAV SPUR. RAGHAV GETS AN INVITE FROM KOKO TO COME FOR LUNCH NEXT DAY. She says the mussels must be done. I’ll just get….Refill? She leaves. Finally Harman says…..my wife doesn’t know. Don’t tell her. RAGHAV says that’s your problem. He walks out. Koko returns……with the mussels….surprised to see RAGHAV gone. Harman tells her let’s go too. “Francis….get my car”


47


SC 60. EXT. HARMAN’S BUNGALOW – FAÇADE. NIGHT Harman and Koko drive in. We see them enter the house. In the distance, in his car. RAGHAV is watching. The house lights go on. RAGHAV debates (rather I am debating) whether to go to the window and peep into their lives. RAGHAV goes to the house. Peeps. Chabrol’s The cry of the owl. Patricia Highsmith. Must watch again. We see Harman and Koko. We cant hear….but it’s something important….we can see from their body language. HARMAN AND KOKO. HE IS CONFESSING HIS PAST CRIME. SHE IS SHOCKED. Chabrol………. SC 61. INT. BARBER’S SALOON. DAY. A Bhojpuri film is on the TV… RAGHAV shaving his beard. (IF WE CAN SCHEDULE THIS AND GET AN INTERESTING LOOK VARIATION) or just having a tel maalish. Head massage. SC 61A. INT. PHONE INTERCUT – SHOBHA HOUSE. DAY She is on the phone talking to RAGHAV. Shoba: Liak is getting out of jail tomorrow. And it’s thanks to you. I would like to take you out for lunch… Small celebration. RAGHAV SAYS sure….i would love to. Rain check? SC 62/A/B. E/I. HARMAN’S BUNGALOW -‐ FAÇADE/LIVING ROOM. DAY. Harman opens the door. RAGHAV walks in. Looks around. RAGHAV: Where is your wife? Harman: She had some work…… RAGHAV: That’s rude. I’ll come some other time maybe….


48


PICKS UP SOMETHING. AND SMASHES THE TV….. RAGHAV: you want to call the cops? There is a sound. Koko emerges from a room. Koko: Please sit….. RAGHAV sits…..Koko and Harman also sit……. Koko: I got to know two things last night. My husband’s past and what happened to you. I am really sorry. Harman: I didn’t kill your wife and child. Liak did. RAGHAV: He says you did. Harman: You spoke about a deal. RAGHAV: Tell me what do you have to offer. Harman: I invested the proceeds of the robbery. It is appreciated to -‐-‐-‐-‐. I can give you 4 crores. Liak’s share. RAGHAV: So Mrs-‐-‐-‐ do you think that’s a fair deal? Koko stumped. Koko: No amount of money can recompense your loss. RAGHAV: (to Harman) even she feels that way…There…I’ll have to go to cops. Koko: Don’t! You can have everything. The hotel, our house, all our money. Everything. We can start from scratch. RAGHAV: (to Harman) you ok with that? You think that’s fair? Harman: …..(nods uneasily)


49


RAGHAV: You didn’t steal my money. You stole my life. I have a deal for you. I want to sleep with your wife. Harman springs up……possessed by sudden rage…..he grabs RAGHAV by the jugular… RAGHAV: go on…..you want to kill me ….go ahead…..you think that will save you…go ahead…..you fucking killer…..c0me on…..kill me…..maybe the neighbours will call the cops… HARMAN has lost his muscle to happiness and prosperity….. Koko intervenes. STOP……….I AM READY. Koko: I am ready. I am willing to sleep with you. Harman turns to Koko….. Harman: What the hell…..you go and let me handle this…. Koko: Let me handle it Harman. …YOU WILL FORGET THIS LIKE I WILL FORGET THE MURDERS…. RAGHAV is watching them….she comes to him. RAGHAV: Your bedroom is upstairs right? Harman sits in the sofa. He watches them take the stairs. -‐ We hold on Harman as the door locks from inside. CUT TO: INT. BEDROOM. DAY. RAGHAV AND KOKO standing….. RAGHAV: SO….strip. She moves towards the bathroom.


50


RAGHAV: Stop. Right here. Koko strips. RAGHAV watches her …she’s not looking at him. Look at me….he says…. As he looks around the room. There’s a younger picture of Harman and Koko…..in some foreign destination. She’s in her bra and underwear. RAGHAV: Why are you doing this? Koko: Isn’t this what you want? RAGHAV: Your husband is a killer. You are willing to sleep with another man to save him? Koko: He told me he didn’t do it. I believe him. Cut to Harman coming up the stairs. He has an antique metal statue (or some such) in his hand. He looks crazy. And then he hears……Koko laughing out loud. She continues laughing……And then a happy scream….. Harman stares at the door helpless. Sits on the stairs. CUT TO: INSIDE THE BEDROOM. KOKO STOPS LAUGHING.


51


RAGHAV: …ok….one day you are coming down the stairs in a hurry….and you fall…..how will you scream…..Scream…. Koko fakes a pathetic scream. RAGHAV: Louder….. She screams louder….Fake….. RAGHAV: (whispering) LOUDER…..You know how to fake an orgasm don’t you? Koko screams…. And she laughs. It’s funny and pathetic. RAGHAV: Give me a full throated laugh. RAGHAV drinks water and splashes some on his face. In a while the door opens. Harman turns. He sees RAGHAV exit…..and a glimpse of Koko in underwear rushing to bathroom. THE CALL FROM SHOBA COMES HERE…… “ Oh….i’m with friends…… SHE TELLS ABOUT LIAK RELEASE…… RAGHAV: Liak is getting out TODAY. He will try and contact you for sure. I want to know when he does. And till then…..she’s mine….. Koko enters in a sari. RAGHAV leaves. Harman looks broken. Koko: Listen he didn’t do anything. He is a crazy guy. He told me jokes and asked me to laugh. Listen we are going to make it out of this. Just hold on. They hold each other. Harman hugs her and cries. Or raves and rants about how he doesn’t care and will kill the bastard…..


52


Koko asks him if he killed the wife and child. Harman says NOOOOO. I didn’t…. Do you think the police will believe you? Harmam’s face…. CUT TO: SC 63. E/ I. JAIL – FAÇADE. DAY. Liak GETTING OUT OF JAIL. MANY VIGNETTE SHOTS…..ending with. SC 63A. INT BARBER’S SALOON. DAY. LIAK GETS HIS HAIR DYED….. SC 64. EXT. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. DAY. Liak on way home….a tailing cop in mufti. Let’s call him Khanolkar. SC 65. E/I. LIAK’S HOUSE. DAY. Liak’s mother hears knock…she goes and opens…her jaw drops….LIAK is there…she hugs Liak as she cries… REUNION. PERFORMANCE SCENE. TRANSITION TO: SC 66. EXT. PUNE CITY -‐ ROADS. NIGHT. LIAK ….a night in the city. We see the cop Khanolkar is watching him. Liak knows too. GET VISUALS…..PRECISE AND UNSEEN. SC 67. E/I. JHIMLI’S PAD 11 (FORJETT HOUSE COLABA). NIGHT. JHIMLI’S PLACE. There is a young sexy whore there. She says Jhimli left some years back. I am here now UNCLE. If you can afford me. Liak takes Jhimli’s address. SOMETHING TO SUGGEST IT’S THE SAME PLACE BUT AFTER 15 YEARS. THIS IS A VERY BRIEF SCENE.


53


SC 68. E/I. JHIMLI’S NEW PAD (BORIVALI). NIGHT. JHIMLI OPENS DOOR TO FIND LIAK. FOR A SECOND SHE STARES. AND THEN SHE BURSTS INTO TEARS. I read in paper. I thought I’d come and meet you…but not sure if ….we have not met for so long. I SENT YOU TWO LETTERS……no reply……. Liak stares at her…. (15 years is a long time….. We have option of showing her as sexy as she was in the past…with a bit of age. Or maybe more interesting if she’s a bit of a wreck too.) You are looking fine man….is there pain? Can I get a glass and ice. He pulls out a nip of whisky. He drinks and she drinks and she talks about her life. Colaba place needed a younger girl. She moved here some years back. Says she’s PATIL SAAB’S MISTRESS. He lives in Latur with his farm and family. Comes once in ten days. (chuckles) cant get it up. And you know what? I am paying installments for this house too. 2018 mein possession milega….. Liak laughs. Says he has one year….BUT…. But……he is going to come into some big money. He wants to take her away….have a good time. And once he’s gone, she gets half and his mother gets half…of what is left. JHIMLI IS TOUCHED. LIAK ASKS IF HE CAN BORROW SOME MONEY…SHE GIVES HIM 50K. Do you want to ….? She asks. He says I am on medication. Thanks for the loan. SHARP CUT SC 69. E/I. JHIMLI’S PAD 1 (FORJETT HOUSE COLABA). NIGHT. Liak fucking. AND WE SEE IT’S the younger whore. HE HAS A GOOD TIME.


54


She counts the money. Thank u for the tip. Come again. LIAK smiles….as he wears shirt he quietly picks up the whore’s mobile……he is tipsy….plants a wet kiss and waves and goes out…. SC 70. E/I. MUMBAI STREETS -‐ COLABA. NIGHT. LIAK is out….the Cop Khanolkar is having pav bhaji. Watches curiously as Liak approaches him. Liak: I am taking a taxi to Pune. Why don’t we share the cab and save some money….? Cop looks flummoxed. SC 71. EXT. LIAK’S HOUSE – ROOM. NIGHT. His mother is awake. Where did you go? Liak says don’t ask stupid questions. ARRE….you sleep na…. Takes out whore’s mobile. And makes a call. SC 71A . INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE. NIGHT. (intercut both locations) HARMAN AT HOME. KOKO IS THERE TOO. SHE WATCHES AS HARMAN SPEAKS….. HARMAN: Whose number is this? Liak: it’s untraceable. You got the money? Harman: Yes…..and the passport…. Aren’t the cops watching you? Isnt it too soon…I thought….. Liak: I have to make the most of the time I have left. So tomorrow is dday. I have befriended the cop. The next anda bhurji he has with me will send him to sleep for ten hours. By which time I’ll be on my way to Kathmandu. So meet tomorrow at ……ST Bus Stand near station. Liak: Tomorrow night ……. THE TALK between two old crime comrades. Should be a Melville tone. SC 71B. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE -‐ BEDROOM. NIGHT. Harman alone. Koko comes and asks what…. He wants to tell Liak….maybe kill RAGHAV…and take his chances.


55


She is dead against it. THEY DISCUSS OPTIONS….realize they don’t have any. She takes Harman’s phone and calls RAGHAV. CUT TO: SC 71C. E/I. PUNE. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. NIGHT. (ext restaurant?) RAGHAV gets call from Harman. Liak called. He wants to meet me tomorrow and take his money. RAGHAV:Where is the money? Harman says it’s not at home…here and there….he’ll get it all by tomo 2 pm. RAGHAV says great….I will come to your house at 12 noon. Make sure Koko is there. And some beer in the fridge. I will have some fun, collect the money and get out of your lives forever. Harman: what about Liak? He will be waiting for his share and passport…if I don’t meet Liak and give him his share….. ….he may tell the cops about me. He has kept quiet for 15 years….. RAGHAV: don’t worry about Liak. I will meet him and deal with him. I have the money he wants. He wont bother you again. And book two tickets to Shirdi….take a couple of days off from work. Go and do some penance. HE HANGS UP. SC 71D. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE -‐ BEDROOM. NIGHT. WE STAY ON HARMAN…..AND KOKO…… Harman says that RAGHAV will come at noon tomo. Koko says fine. It’s a good deal. Harman looks at her…..You think so? CUT TO: SC 72. EXT/INT. RESTAURANT. PUNE DAY AND NIGHT. MISHA: THE DEAL SOUNDS GREAT….. RAGHAV: YOU THINK SO TOO? MISHA: it’s a two year stint in Europe. Working with the main agency. It’ll give you terrific exposure….and the money is good too. Sounds fantastic…. RAGHAV IS STIRRING A CUP OF COFFEE……


56


CUT TO: CLOSE UP OF COFFEE CUP AND SPOON. MISHA IS STIRRING. They both look the youngest in the film so far. They look like college kids in love. THEY ARE IN A happy looking RESTAURANT ON MAIN STREET RAGHAV: It’s fantastic……yah but……. Misha: So what’s the catch? RAGHAV: ….Do saal hum mil nahin sakenge….you’re ok with that? Misha: do saal tum azaad ho….sorry hum…aur hummein pata bhi chal jayega whether we are serious about each other. RAGHAV: But I am serious about you dammit. Aren’t you? Misha: Great….to ek aur khush khabar suno. I’ve missed my periods. RAGHAV: What? Are you…..Did you check? Misha: (Continues) To option two hai…..tum is assignment ko mana kardo….aur hum shaadi karlete hain….. RAGHAV: shaadi ???? I am 22…and you are 20….. Misha: Agar hum tan man se ek ho gaye….to we are 42. RAGHAV: ARE U JOKING OR SERIOUS OR WHAT? She: if you love me…..dont lie to me….. am not blackmailing you or pressurizing you or pleading with you……. Tum Europe jana chahte ho. It’s a fantastic offer. You must….. RAGHAV: Tum kya karogi?


57


Misha: ….Unwed mother banoongi. Mein writer banna chahti hoon. I need experiences….. RAGHAV: You are mad…... Misha: No….i am BA. Lit. Jadavpur university……There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat…….. William Shakespeare… Misha: matlab yeh decision humara life bana sakta hai ya bigad sakta hai. CUT TO SC 72A. EXT/INT. RESTAURANT. PUNE DAY AND NIGHT. Coffee cup being stirred. We see older RAGHAV. IN SAME restaurant. It’s night now….. WILD STRAWBERRIES and MAUSAM zone and we CUT TO: SC 73. EXT. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. NIGHT. OPTIONS REQD. We see RAGHAV on phone…..Near an abandoned well or a construction site…..Big cranes and trucks. All silent. The place is desolate. “hi…..not too late to call? ” Want to meet for lunch tomorrow? Great…. SC 73A. INT. SHOBA’S HOUSE. NIGHT. SHOBA… GETS A CALL FROM RAGHAV. PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AND EVEN MORE SO….WHEN HE ASKS HER OUT FOR A LUNCH DATE. She says we can meet at my house. Do you like dhansak…I’ll cook some …. SC 74. INT EXT. LIQUOR SHOP. PUNE CITY. DAY. RAGHAV buying a bottle of red wine.


58


SC 75. EXT. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE. DAY. Koko watches RAGHAV open the gate and enter. He has a big bag and a bottle of wine. SHE OPENS THE DOOR. RAGHAV: Keep this in the fridge. It’s for LATER…. SHE ASKS IF HE WANTS SOMETHING TO EAT…. My husband will be back by 2.30….. RAGHAV: That gives us one and a half hours. Let’s not waste time. Let’s go to your bedroom. She is zapped. He just stares at her. RAGHAV: What happened? You prefer doing it with your husband listening? Koko tries to smile…. Koko: Come….. She walks up. He follows. They enter the bedroom…. He doesn’t shut the door this time. He goes to a chest of drawers…..opens it…..looks at various undergarments….picks a wine red negligee. RAGHAV: Go and have a bath…..and wear this….. SHE GOES IN…..He watches her lock herself in. He starts unbuttoning his shirt. SHOULD THERE BE MORE CONVERSATION? SC 75A. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE – BATHROOM. DAY. Koko locks door from inside. Looks at mirror. Is he going to sleep with her today. Her phone rings. Harman.


59


Koko: (lies) It’s all ok….he wanted some tea…..i am making….he is behaving normally. I am fine. Harman says he will be home in an hour. SC 75B. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION – LOCKER – INSERT: HARMAN OPENING PACKET WITH GUN….FROM LOCKER. CUT BACK TO: Koko hangs up. Looks at the negligee. She turns on the shower….and stands under it with all her clothes on. We see her face. She is preparing herself. Ok….so he will sleep with me. Ok….CUT TO: SC 75 C. INT. HARMAN HOUSE -‐ BEDROOM. DAY. KOKO steps out. ‘Here I am……want some red wine? And then she stops. REACTS. HER POV. There are plastic sheets all over the room. She turns to see RAGHAV ….. He is in his underwear. He has a heavy antique item in his hand. HE STRIKES HER WITH it. SHE FALLS mid scream. HE HITS HER AGAIN. She’s GASPING. He watches her breathing in gasps ….trying to say something….. the whole thing is BRIEF, SHOCKING AND TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. WE WATCH WITH HORROR AS RAGHAV SITS ON A PLASTIC WRAPPED CHAIR AND WATCH HER MOAN IN PAIN….We DON’T LIKE THIS MAN. AND HER PHONE RINGS…ITS HARMAN…… RAGHAV: What…. Harman: I want to talk to my wife…. RAGHAV: She cant ..right now…..you got the money? Harman: I’ll be there in 15 min……


60


RAGHAV goes to Koko who is moaning…..this time for real. He watches her……… Hears a car outside….. and walks down the stairs….. SC 76. E/I HARMAN’S HOUSE – FACADE -‐ DAY HARMAN ENTERS. With a suitcase. SC 76A . E/I. HARMAN’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM. DAY RAGHAV IS SEATED ON SOFA. He is in his underwear. The broken tv set is gone… Harman REACTS. where is my wife? RAGHAV says upstairs. Harman RUSHES upstairs…. SC 76B. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE-‐ BEDROOM. DAY HARMAN Enters the bedroom ….zapped by the plastic….and sees her….collapsed on the floor. She’s moaning. She’s alive… Harman:. call an ambulance…. With a scream he goes to her…. RAGHAV is behind him. RAGHAV hits him with the antique…. RAGHAV says it came….they took her to the ICU ….i met her for a few seconds…..she was trying to tell me something…… Harman pleads…get a doctor… ….RAGHAV rants at Koko ….do you see the darkness….what do you see? What was my wife telling me? Harman watches Koko die. He goes crazy…he pulls out the gun but he is too late. RAGHAV strikes him one lethal blow. Harman collapses on the plastic. Next to his wife. There is a lot of blood.


61


The cold blooded RAGHAV. Swiftly bundle up the corpses in plastic. Carries them to Harman’s car. (info shots, so find a way to do it) SC 76C. EXT. HARMAN’S HOUSE-‐ FACADE. DAY RAGHAV walks out of the gate….to his car. He is fully dressed. He has the suitcase and the bottle of wine. He goes to his car. SC 77. INT. SHOBA’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM. DAY. RAGHAV with the bottle of Champagne… rings Shoba’s door. She opens. A bit angry. It shows on her face…. RAGHAV: two hours late. I am so sorry….I had to go all the way to Hadapsar to get this….. Shoba: (her anger dissolving into a meaningful smile) And where are the roses? RAGHAV: Misha loved roses. Shoba: Come in…..My house….. RAGHAV looks around. Pictures of a bright kid. Shoba: That’s Tina…..she’ll be back evening. RAGHAV: No pictures of your husband…. Shoba: We are divorced. SHE EXPERTLY OPENS THE BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND POURS OUT TWO BUBBLIES. Shoba: To the ones we lost….. Shoba gets the Prawn starters….We see that she has a bit of an OCD….But we like her…..


62


THEY ARE DRINKING. Shoba: So…..you just went off the radar…..all these years…..do you want to talk about it. RAGHAV: I don’t know if I can explain it. Her parents….kept in touch with me….They both died within three years. I couldn’t go back to the world I knew….i tried to kill myself …. Shoba stares…..And? RAGHAV: The truck just….saved me….And then I said I wont kill myself. There’s no guarantee there’s a heaven and I’ll meet her. Maybe I’ll be reborn as a horse or a fly………Yes…..i have been a loner. I once thought I’d meet a psychiatrist but I know how they talk…. Shoba: Life is so weird. You love someone you have lost. I hate someone who I was close to…..My husband…Ranjan ….(she continues her story as) We cut to a long shot. Shoba INTERRUPTS HER OWN STORY AND SAYS…..DO YOU LIKE OLIVES….I GOT SOME FRESH OLIVES ….. she gets up and SWAYS TO THE KITCHEN….. RAGHAV CAN SEE SHE IS DRUNK….. SHE RETURNS WITH THE OLIVES…..she was such an expert with the champagne but now it’s tough to open the jar…. RAGHAV opens it…. She eats one. OFFERS TO RAGHAV…. HE EATS ONE TOO. SHE SPITS OUT THE SEED…..SORR….SORRY… RAGHAV: You are drunk. SHOBA SLURS A bit….This is so embarrassing….Do you mind if I lie down for a bit….


63


RAGHAV HELPS HER TO A COUCH. SHOBA: I was telling you something….i forgot…..…..are you in a hurry…are you hungry? RAGHAV: No….. Shoba: will you massage my neck…. CUT to: SC 78. INT. LIAK’S HOUSE. NIGHT. Liak at home. With his mother. Spending quality time with her. Talking to her. She’s like every mother. We realize he is saying his goodbye to her. Leaves his house….followed by cop. SC 79. E/I. HARMAN’S BUNGALOW -‐ FACADE. NIGHT. Brief info shots…..How RAGHAV drives out with the plastic wrapped bodies in Harmans SUV. SC 80. UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. NIGHT. RAGHAV DISPOSES OFF THE BODIES. HE LOOKS AT THE GUN. AND DISPOSES THAT OFF TOO. CUT TO: SC 81. E/I. VICTORY CINEMA -‐ AUDITORIUM. NIGHT. Liak watching a film in VICTORY talkies. The cop is watching. …how Liak gives the cop the slip. Asks cop if he wants popcorn. Cop nods….Liak gets out. Cop hooked on movie. SC 82. EXT. BUS STATION. NIGHT. Liak gets off rickshaw….enters….. Liak is waiting. There is a floating crowd around him. (ideally real location…not staged)


64


RAGHAV is watching him. Some time later. Liak getting restless. Harman is more than an hour late. RAGHAV approaches Liak. Hello…..Waiting for your friend? He is not coming. Liak zapped. What friend? What are you doing here? RAGHAV: He’s gone… How is the cancer? Paining? Liak is too stunned to react. RAGHAV leaves. Maybe disappears into crowd. SC 83. INT. VIJAY PALACE. NIGHT. Liak looking at a ‘framed’ article from Pune Times….about Harman’s hot eatery……A smiling picture of Harman and Koko with some celebrity. 7 LIAK STARES AT THE HAPPY FACE OF HIS PARTNER AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE. Liak: ….saab kidhar hai? Waiter says Shirdi gaye hain….Missus ke saath. Liak: (points to pic) missus? Waiter nods. Liak: Wapas kabhi aayega. Waiter: 2-‐3 din… CUT TO: SC 84. EXT. VIJAY PALACE-‐ FACADE. NIGHT. IT’S SHUT. Liak is talking to watchman. Watchman: boss is missing. Some gadbad. Police had come in morning. Liak alarmed. SC 85. COP STATION/ UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. DAY. Mufti cop Khanolkar tells Govind that Liak has been going to vijay palace LAST FOUR DAYS….. 7 Shivaji Satam UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

65


COP GOVIND: Why? Good food? Cop: I didn’t enter. Didn’t taste…. Govind: Dumbo…..isnt that the same place where there was a missing person’s report. Vijay Palace…..hey Kadam what was that flash that came. Missing persons. Kadam: (FILLS IN SOME DETAILS ON HARMANS RESTUARAND…cc camera footage…….his car is missing ….. We don’t know if he went to Shirdi at all….On Govind’s face we cut to: COP says the hotel had cc tv outside…..some interesting footage. GOVIND stares. a grab of RAGHAV drinking…..A grab of RAGHAV with koko…. What’s this guy doing here? SC 86. EXT. WAREHOUSE -‐ BADLAPUR. DAY. GOVIND MEETS RAGHAV….. GOVIND GRILLS RAGHAV ABOUT HARMAN. GETS NOTHING BUT SARCASM. GIVES HIS ALIBI…WAS WITH SHOBA. DOING WHAT? DRINKING WINE IN THE AFTERNOON. And the rest….you can ask her….. Cop Govind leaves…… SC 87 . HARMAN’S HOUSE -‐ BEDROOM. DAY. TIGHT CLOSE UPS….. We see a pair of feet climbing on a chair. Trying to reach further high. One foot gets on to the armrest. The chair wobbles dangerously as the other foot is also on the other armrest. It looks like a SUICIDE ATTEMPT…..AS…. SOMEONE SHOUTS AND COMES RUNNING TOWARDS CHAIR. And we realize….we are in HARMAN’S BEDROOM Govind at the spot of the horrendous double murder.


66


He is on a chair trying to EXAMINE/ SCRAPE some red speck from the ceiling. BLOOD. SC 88. EXT. UNSPECIFED LOCATION/ POLICE STATION 2. DAY. Liak picked up by cops. Hey…..wtf….. CUT TO: SC 89. INT. HARMAN’S HOUSE. DAY. LIAK ENTERS……what is this place….LIAK LOOKS AROUND. SEES A PIC OF HARMAN AND KOKO….AND THEN HE SEES GOVIND. Govind HAS BROUGHT HIM HERE FOR A REASON. You know this guy? Points to pic of Harman… Liak shakes his head. Govind: He owns the restaurant where you went last four days. Liak: ……I felt like sea food sir…..not a crime. You know Harman Liak says I don’t know….. Govind says he was a nobody 15 years back. Then got a lottery….or so he says…… Liak: Why are you telling me all this….. Govind asks why Liak gave them the slip last Friday. Liak says he wanted to score some ganja because of the pain. He is dying…. Liak: so who are these two…..and what happened to them….. Govind lets him off…..with an admonition.


67


SC 90. EXT. INT. LIAK’S MOTHER’S WORK PLACE. DAY. SHE HAS A LITTLE SHOP SELLING TEA, CREAM ROLLS AND SAMOSA. A solo operation. Liak watching her at work, serving customers. He goes to her….. “I wont make any drama……just tell me……did you tell anyone about Harman. Mother stops frying…….Yes…. She told RAGHAV. That’s why he got the pardon. Nawas thinking furiously. Fck. That’s how RAGHAV knew. What else does he know? Maybe he knows where Harman is. SC 91/ 91 A. INT. RAGHAV’S BADLAPUR WAREHOUSE . NIGHT. (PHONE CUT) RAGHAV AND SHOBA. SHE IS FURIOUS. Shoba with RAGHAV…why did u tell the cop about us? Did you have anything to do with the disappearance? He said you told him that you came to my house at one thirty….Did you have anything to do with the disappearance of that couple. RAGHAV humiliates her…..ending with…..if I am arrested you will come and give me gyan then….. I have to hang up now. It’s Cop Govind. Wiping sweat or rain depending on season. Govind tells RAGHAV about the various proofs he has collected and says he has enough to arrest him. RAGHAV laughs at the irony. Imagine me getting arrested ....i lost my family….i pardoned one of the killers….and the police after 15 years find the second partner….….and accuse me….??? the press will have a field day. Govind stares at RAGHAV. I have a proposition. I am retiring on Monday. I need a nest egg. Harman is dead so that means you have the loot money. Give it to me and I tear up my report. There’s enough to send you to jail….I am retiring on Monday. …..give me the money….and you go free. Think about it.


68


RAGHAV watches Govind leave. SC 92. EXT. BADLAPUR STREETS. NIGHT. PASSING SHOT. RAGHAV going home. SC 93. E/ I. RAGHAV’S BADLAPUR HOUSE. NIGHT. RAGHAV enters his house. Switches on the lights. The SHRINE ROOM IS OPEN. IT’S IN A MESS. AND THEN….SOMEONE grabs/ KNOCKS RAGHAV OUT. IT’S LIAK. Where is the money? Where is Harman? Liak attacks RAGHAV….tries to throttle him. RAGHAV throws him back. A brief INTENSE FIGHT… and Liak gives up. HE DOESN’T HAVE THE STRENGTH HE HAD 15 YEARS BACK. AND THE CANCER. HE GIVES UP. RAGHAV watches him panting….regaining his stamina…. RAGHAV says they are both dead. Liak cant believe. What do you mean? How? RAGHAV says I killed them. Liak cant believe. What did you do? How did you kill them? Harman went to get the money. I first made her unconscious and then killed her in front of Harman…..when he came back. He tried to attack me but I hit him with the spade… Liak: I don’t believe this. Where are they? Where have you locked them up? RAGHAV Describes what he did with the bodies. You want to dig them up? Liak is psyched.


69


Liak: I was the culprit. I killed your family….yes I did. I was high that morning. I panicked. I didn’t know what I was doing. I have regretted it all these years….….and you are worse than me. You killed two innocent people. You are a monster…. Liak makes a drink…. Liak says you left a lot of clues….you are going to get caught. …and let me tell you ….you wont last in jail. You will last lesser than me. RAGHAV says the cop has promised me freedom. In exchange for the money. Laik: Don’t make that mistake. That cop is not corrupt. He is looking for proof to convict you. The moment you give him the money, he will arrest you….Everything else is circumstantial. The money is the proof,. Liak walks out…..we hold on RAGHAV. HE LOOKS AROUND THE SHRINE ROOM……THE RAILWAY SET IS INTACT….RAGHAV PICKS THE SHARDS OF GLASS…….CUT TO: LIAK OUTSIDE THE BUILDING…..HE CAN SEE RAGHAV AT THE WINDOW…. SC 94. E/I. JHIMLI’S PAD 2 – LIVING ROOM. NIGHT. A Delivery boy is leaving….Liak rings the bell. Jhimli opens the door. She is all dressed up. And surprised. Happy. Clearly she wasn’t expecting him. There is some Chinese Food Parcels on the table. Jhimli: Hi…. what’s wrong? She goes to Liak. Jhimli: is it the pain? Liak: No… Jhimli: What happened? You look terrible… Liak: I was supposed to get a lot of money. Now I am not getting any.


70


Jhimli: How much do you want? Liak: Nothing. I just felt like meeting you… You are looking nice. Jhimli: Patil is coming today….. Shit. Here he comes… The door opens and Patil enters…..He is a bit zapped to see Liak, though he doesn’t know him.(Swanand Kirkire as Patil?) Liak notices Jhimli’s reaction….the slight tension….He grabs the bill….for the chinese food…. Liak: 650 rupees madam…. Patil fishes out his wallet. He is still suspicious. Pays…. Patil: (casually to Liak) Ronnie saab kaisa hai….? Liak: (??) achha hai…… Patil: Pichle hafte unka funeral tha…. (to Jhimli) Kaun hai yeh?(to Liak) Jhimli: Dost hai…. Patil: Mein idhar ka rent bhar raha hoon….Apna condition kya tha? PATIL GETS ABUSIVE….yells at Liak to get out….PUSHES HIM OUT OF THE DOOR…THREATENING HIM…..Jhimli tries to stop….Patil SLAPS her. BIG FRACAS. LIAK AND PATIL GO FOR EACH OTHER…..JHIMLI SEPARATES THEM……She pushes Patil to a corner, picks up her handbag….. Jhimli: Chal Liak…… Patil: Jhimli….Rukh…. Jhimli: Hafte bhar mein khali kar doongi….Chal na Liak…. She walks out with Liak.


71


SC 95. EXT. JHIMLI’S PAD 2 -‐ FACADE. NIGHT. She gets into a second hand Maruti…. Jhimli: Get in….it’s mine…not stealing it. Liak: Arre ja ke pata usko….kidhar ja rahe hain hum? Jhimli: Kidhar jana hai….bol? Singapore mat bol…. CUT TO: SC 96. EXT. MUMBAI ROADS JHIMLI’S CAR. NIGHT Patil calls. Her ring tone ….she cuts. He calls again. She cuts. CUT TO: SC 97. EXT. SCENIC RESORT. NIGHT. GANPATIPULE…?. The car stops at the driveway. The valet comes and Liak is surprised as a confident Jhimli gives car keys to the guy. They come to the reception....the Manager seems to know Jhimli.... He is full attention and smile. Till he notices a bedraggled Liak. Jhimli asks for the best room. The Manager is mighty curious. CUT TO: SC 98. INT. RESORT – ROOM/ BATHROOM. NIGHT. The lights come on in an idyllic big room...with an LCD tv, a large CIRCULAR bed and some fresh pink roses in a vase. Jhimli turns and smiles.....Isn't it Great?? Liak is looking at her..his face is suddenly grim...


72


Liak: kitne aadmi ke saath aayi hai idhaar?? For a second Jhimli stares at him. Her face flushes. This hurts more than that Patil’s slap. She then smiles and comes to Liak. Jhimli: I am a whore…and you are a bank robber…..these are the cards we have been dealt with. We can play or quit…...... Liak looks at her….. Liak: you are right... Sorry…… Jhimli: Go and have a bath…..sab khunnas dho daal….. She fills tub with hot water. A moment between them…. SC 98A. INT. RESORT – ROOM. NIGHT. They are in hotel robes. He is Switching channels. Liak says in jail they only had Doordarshan…. He hits a Karaoke channel on Tata Sky……What’s this. …..Jhimli starts singing….…….….Lena hoga janam hammein kayi kayi baar…. An impromptu Karaoke session Liak drinks and JOINS….Totally outsync. Kya gaa raha hai …pad na…..Liak: ….itna fast thodi angrezi pad sakta hoon….MAKES UP HIS OWN LYRICS…..to the beat. They are in bed. we see them making love….not fucking. Making love. In a film with a lot of tormented sex, it would be good to have one tender lovemaking moment. How to shoot this…..i need Bertolucci’s email id. CUT TO: SC 99. EXT. INT. BADLAPUR HOUSE. DAY. Some packers are loading all the shrine items into cartons and carting them to a truck. (get real packers for this, not junior artiste thespians)


73


CRY lady8. Thank you…… RAGHAV Enters house. SC 99A . EXT. INT. BADLAPUR HOUSE. DAY. The shrine room is now empty. Open. RAGHAV suddenly sees Misha’s red handbag. They’ve forgotten it….the packers…. On a close up of the RED HANDBAG…..WE CUT TO: SC 99B . EXT. INT. USPECIFIED LOCATION – RED HAND BAG STORY. Brief meet cute moment. HOW RAGHAV AND MISHA MET……..thanks to the same RED HANDBAG. A little short film idea needed here. SC 100. INT. RESORT -‐ BUFFET BREAKFAST ROOM. DAY Liak is piling his plate…. It’s a spread…. Jhimli: you are looking better today. The place is packed. An elderly couple request if they can sit at the same table. Jhimli says of course. Liak getting some dessert…..croissants….and a cake. Sees Jhimli with elderly couple….. Elderly man: So what do you teach Mr Liak? Your wife said…..you are a professor …. Jhimli winks. Optional: Liak: (bit zapped)……Professor of Maths. Ganit… Elderly man: oh wow. You teach Dance? 8 priyangi? UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

74


Elderly woman: Janak….your hearing aid is off… Elderly man: exactly. all because of Bollywood. Jhimli rises…..leaves with Liak. Nice meeting you Sir Jhimli: (to Liak) Maths sikhata hai? 17 multiplied by 17 kitna…? Jaldi bol… Liak laughs. The first time we see him laugh in this story. SC 101. EXT. BEACH. DAY. Ganapatipule. Some moments at the beach. Some kids and families on water scooters. They take a ONE MINUTE PHOTO for 30 bucks. Jhimli pays. Liak we realize…has no money. There is a guy selling hats, gogs, souveniers and trinkets. Jhimli buys a pair of glasses for Liak. He immediately sells it to a foreigner for double and buys another….using profit to buy something for Jhimli. The seller is wtf. 9 They are on beach chairs….the elderly couple on adjoining ones. The elderly man is reading a novel. The woman is listening to Jhimli. Jhimli: HE WAS 8TH PASS CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE. are you mad….this guy is good for nothing……My father abused him and insulted him. AND THEN…… HE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP……AND SPENT THE NEXT 15 YEARS STUDYING…. LIAK LISTENING. CURIOUS. Realizes she’s making up a story about them. SHE CONTINUES: I was in a bad job……but we met once a month…… ….. …….yes we got two kids…..they are with his mother in Pune…. His mother…you know……she still sells samosas and tea to the locals Liak, on the other side… too is listening intently. 9 Don’t overdo the Yash C moments. UPDATED 16 May 2014 -‐ CONFIDENTIAL

75


Jhimli: STORY CONTINUES….Jhimli is making up a story of her life with Liak….in a parallel universe….. Liak is listening to her…..looking at the life and activity around him…..sees a five year old kid running towards them…it’s Misha’s kid….... Liak rises…… He starts walking towards the water….. The lady: (to Jhimli) ….SOME TALK… Jhimli suddenly sees….Liak is far deep in the water. She senses something. Shouts…. Liak is walking into the water…..even deeper.. Jhimli rushes…..holds him… Jhimli: Where are you going? She leads him back. He hugs her…… (Still in the water) Jhimli: what…..what happened? Liak: we could have lived the life you told her about……I need to tell you something. Big wave hits. SC 102. INT. RESORT -‐ ROOM. NIGHT. SHE IS BREAKING DOWN AND A BIT ANGRY TOO. LIAK IS TRYING TO COMFORT HER. JHIMLI:…..but why….. but why……? HE SAYS IT’S TOUGH TO EXPLAIN BUT I HAVE TO DO IT. She is silent. Sobbing. He holds her hand…..Comforts her…… Liak: it’s very tough to explain. Jhimli hugs him. Jhimli: Stay tonight….forget everything else and spend the night here…. We’ll do everything we did yesterday… as if it was the first time…


76


Liak: I need to meet my mother. Say goodbye to her. I, VIEWER MUST WONDER WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO. WHERE IS HE GOING? SC 103. INT. ROADS – JHIMLI’S CAR. NIGHT. Jhimli’s car comes and stops outside her house. Liak watches her go back to Patil’s flat. Patil opens the door. He is still there. He grins. Sorry, he says. SC 104. INT. LIAK’ S HOUSE -‐ ROOM. NIGHT. A quiet mood. Liak talking to his mother. Asks her about his father. She says good for nothing fellow. Like you. Liak says there must have been something good about him. She says nothing I can remember. Cut to: SC 105. INT. RAGHAV’S BADLAPUR HOUSE. DAY. MONDAY MORNING. A phone call …..it’s from the cop. “MY LAST DAY AT WORK…….hope you have made up your mind. I am on my way…… Either you give me the money…..or I arrest you. Cut to RAGHAV KEEPS THE PHONE DOWN. SC 105 A. INT. POLICE STATION. DAY. COP GOVIND’S LAST DAY AT THE OFFICE. There is talk of some celebration at 4 pm. The lady havaldars have been given charge of the celebrations and are mighty excited. SC 106. EXT. INT. POLICE STATION-‐ FAÇADE . DAY. LIAK…..SMOKING A CIGARETTE. WATCHING THE BUSTLE…..


77


HE STUBS IT OUT. TURNS. WE SEE HIS MOTHER THERE. SHE IS CRYING. LIAK: (HUGS HER)… IF ANYONE ASKS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOUR SON….. He leaves it hanging….or we don’t hear more….because we CUT TO: CUT TO SC 107. INT. POLICE STATION -‐ OFFICE. DAY. Cop Govind’s room. He is telling staff that he has to go for a while…four hours….Last day at work……it’s an old case Everyone says sir….aaj chodiye na…..kya sir….. They pester Cop Govind to stick on……as As Cop Govind stares at the door…. Liak stands in front of Govind's chamber. Govind looks up.....you here Liak draws a chair and looks at him I killed my friend Harman and his wife Koko …… GOVIND REACTS. WTF LIAK CONTINUES: “ I PUT THEIR BODIES IN ….n XXX place on the night on ZZZ date. REPEATS VARUN’S DESCRIPTIONS IN NEAR VERBATIM DETAIL. GOVIND GRABS LIAK. GOVIND: YOU ARE LYING …..WHY? LIAK: (CONTINUES) Harman refused to give me the share of the robbery so I was forced to do it..I do not know what he did with the money. Govind stares at him......


78


THERE IS A CROWD COLLECTED. THE HAVALDAR LADIES STOP THE DECORATIONS….AND LOOK. SC 108 . TV NEWS. ANNOUNCER AND RELEVANT CLIPS. (make list) News Anchor: Liak…..recently released due to RAGHAV’s pardon has killed two people missing since …. Date. …..INFO TALK…. Leading to : Liak has been arrested and sent back to jail. This is cop Govind’s last day at office and he needs to be congratulated on his grand success of busting a 15 year old case on his last day of service. ‘HOW DO YOU FEEL SIR? A GREAT HISTORIC DAY….What will happen to Vijay Palace? Will the police sell it to recover the robbery loot….. SC 108 A. SHOBHA HOUSE -‐ HALLROOM. NIGHT SHOBA WATCHING AT HOME. MAYBE HER DAUGHTER IS WATCHING TOO. SC 108 B INT. BADLAPUR WAREHOUSE – NIGHT. RAGHAV watching. The news report ends. Cut to: IT’S NIGHT. HE WALKS TO AN AREA IN THE WAREHOUSE. LOTS OF BARRELS AND BOXES. IN ONE OF THEM…..IS THE MONEY. SC 109. EXT + INT. JAIL. NIGHT. LIAK COMING BACK TO JAIL. THE ENTRY PROCEDURES,.. HE IS HANDING OVER PERSONAL ITEMS. INCLUDING THE GOGS JHIMLI GOT HIM…. SC 110. INT. JAIL. NIGHT REACTION OF INMATES. You killed them? For the first time…..there’s some fear and awe amongst inmates. SC 111. INT. JAIL. DAY Brief vignettes of Liak…..We convey a sense of time passing…..his cancer


79


getting worse…. SC 112. INT. JAIL – CARPENTARY. DAY. Liak in carpentry section. Making a chair. Shoba says it’s time for his chemo. He says no. I am fine. There is no pain. I have to act like I am in pain because they give me some ganja now and then…. SC 113. INT. JAIL – DORMITORY. NIGHT. Liak is trying to write a letter.Dear Jhimli….first time I am writing a letter. I don’t want to meet you because I don’t look very good. Yesterday I had a dream…. SC 114. INT. JAIL -‐ OFFICE. DAY. Jail Censor cop reading inmates letters. He reads an extract from Liak’s letter. Some good catchphrase/philosophy that the cop shares with another lady cop also reading letters... SC 115. INT. JAIL – CARPENTARY . DAY. Liak at work on the chair. Liak is busy polishing…. A GUARD COMES…..REACTS. WE SEE LIAK HAS COLLAPSED NEAR THE POLISHED CHAIR. GUARD SHAKES HIM….WHISTLES…..OTHER GUARDS COME RUNNING. ONE GUARD FINDS PIC OF LIAK AND JHIMLI…. The one they took at the resort. He looks at smiling Jhimli. SC 116. E/I BADLAPUR ROADS -‐JHIMLI CAR – DAY JHIMLI IN A CAB….. SC 116A . E/I BADLAPUR WAREHOUSE -‐ DAY STOPS OUTSIDE BADLAPUR WAREHOUSE. RAGHAV WITH SOME WORKERS….


80


She comes to him. Says LIAK DIED THIS MORNING. Do you know why he gave himself up. To give you a second chance. Don’t waste it asshole. We never got it. RAGHAV watches her leave. SC 117. UNSPECIFIED BEAUTIFUL LOCATION. DAY. RAGHAV sitting on a kata somewhere. In the far distance…..a young woman and a kid on a cycle….….. As they come closer we see they are Misha and Robin….. Maybe we have RAGHAV’s VO: I watched them approaching .....they looked really happy…..They cycled past me. They didn’t see me….. They pass by RAGHAV without noticing him. Theme song kicks in….. End.


81

Script of Sriram Raghavan's Badlapur

Recommend Documents