2 Female Actors (F + F) 5 - 8 Minutes Emotional Drama
One More Call
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
INT. SMALL APARTMENT LIVING ROOM - DUSK
Ek simple, purana living room. Ek overhead TUBE LIGHT flicker kar rahi hai. Deewar par family photos. Side table par ek SILENT LANDLINE PHONE. Do TEA CUPS aur ek ENVELOPE table par.
SHALINI (52), simple cotton saree, silver bangles, carefully folded dupatta, tea cups set kar rahi hai. Uski aankhen thaki hui hain.
Door khulta hai.
ASHA (27), blazer over casual clothes, makeup smudged, andar aati hai. Woh apne emotions ko control karne ki koshish karti hai.
ASHA
Main zyada der nahi rukungi.
SHALINI
Achha.
Asha room scan karti hai. Photos dekhkar rukti hai.
ASHA
Jo papers the, woh de dijiye.
Shalini envelope uthati hai aur Asha ko deti hai.
SHALINI
Yeh lo.
Asha envelope kholti hai. Andar ek OLD LETTER.
ASHA
Mera letter.
(beat)
Aapne khola nahi?
SHALINI
Nahi.
ASHA
Kyun?
SHALINI
Dar tha.
Asha ek sard hansi deti hai.
ASHA
Wah. Maa ko dar tha.
Mujhe laga sirf mujhe tha.
SHALINI
Tumhari baat padh leti toh
jawab dena padta.
ASHA
Toh?
SHALINI
Main us waqt jawab dene layak nahi thi.
Silence.
Asha tea cup uthati hai, bina piyye rakh deti hai.
ASHA
Das saal ho gaye, Maa.
SHALINI
Haan.
ASHA
Haan bas?
SHALINI
Aur kya bolun?
ASHA
Birthday pe ek call nahi.
Promotion pe ek message nahi.
Papa ke... last din bhi nahi.
Shalini ka chehra sakht ho jaata hai, par aankhen nam.
SHALINI
Us raat tumhara call aaya tha.
Asha freeze.
ASHA
Kya?
SHALINI
Landline pe.
Main hospital mein thi.
Shalini side table ki taraf dekhti hai. Landline phone.
SHALINI (CONT'D)
Tumhare papa ki last night thi.
Doctor bol raha tha... aur main
receiver aur unki saans ke beech
phansi hui thi.
ASHA
Main ne call kiya tha kyunki
mujhe lag raha tha aap log
mujhe bhool gaye ho.
SHALINI
Main bhooli nahi thi.
ASHA
Phir uthaya kyun nahi?
SHALINI
Uthaya tha.
(beat)
Bol nahi paayi.
Asha ka gussa hil jaata hai.
ASHA
Aapne ek call se mera poora
life line kaat diya.
SHALINI
Aur tumne uske baad koi call
kyun nahi ki?
ASHA
Kyunki mujhe laga aapne mujhe
choose hi nahi kiya.
Shalini slowly family photo frame uthati hai.
SHALINI
Main tumhe choose karna chahti thi.
Par main khud ko sambhal nahi paayi.
ASHA
Main is ghar mein sirf photo mein
achhi lagti thi.
SHALINI
Nahi.
(beat)
Tum hamesha achhi thi.
Main bas achhi maa nahi ban paayi.
Asha ke aankhon mein aansu.
ASHA
Maa...
Shalini landline phone uthakar Asha ke saamne rakh deti hai.
SHALINI
Mujhse kuch maang nahi rahi ho?
ASHA
Nahi.
SHALINI
Toh?
SHALINI (CONT'D)
Ek call.
Ek hi call jo main das saal se
sunna chahti thi.
Asha receiver ko dekhti hai. Saans leti hai.
ASHA
Main... phone karu?
SHALINI
Haan.
Asha number dial nahi karti. Woh Shalini ko dekhti hai.
ASHA
Mujhe maaf kar do, Maa.
(breaking)
Main us raat sirf naraz nahi thi.
Main toot gayi thi.
Aur aap bhi toot chuki thi,
yeh main dekh nahi paayi.
Shalini ke aansu finally girte hain.
SHALINI
Main bhi dekh nahi paayi.
Asha receiver uthati hai, ek deep breath.
ASHA
Hello...
(beat)
Maa, Iām sorry.
Shalini uske paas aati hai. Asha receiver ko neeche rakh deti hai.
ASHA (CONT'D)
Main wapas aayi hoon... practical
matter ke liye nahi.
Main ghar ka lock kholne nahi,
ghar ka darwaza kholne aayi hoon.
Shalini silently apna shawl Asha ke kandhe par rakh deti hai.
Tube light flickers, then steadies.
Dono ek dusre ko dekhte hain. First time, without armor.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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