3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Pure Comedy
The Extra Chair
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
INT. SMALL DINING ROOM - EVENING
Warm ceiling bulb glows. Sideboard ke paas decorative lamp flicker kar rahi hai. Chhota dining table. Teen plates. Teen chairs... aur ek EXTRA CHAIR corner mein.
ARJUN (32), office formals mein, water bottle ko shield ki tarah pakde khada hai.
MEERA (58), bright sari, regal posture, reading glasses nose par.
NISHA (30), comfy home wear, sharp eyes, fully alert.
NISHA
Arjun, chair idhar le aao. Mummy ko side mein thoda space chahiye.
Arjun extra chair uthata hai. Table ke paas laate-laate dining table ke corner se takra jaata hai.
ARJUN
Haan... space... bilkul.
MEERA
Space? Shaadi ke baad bhi space ka problem hai?
NISHA
Mummy, problem space ka nahi, coordination ka hai.
Arjun awkward smile. Chair set karta hai. Galti se chair ulte angle mein rakh deta hai.
MEERA
Yeh chair hai ya protest?
ARJUN
Main... seedha kar deta hoon.
Arjun chair ko seedha karta hai. Ab woh table se zyada door ho jaati hai.
NISHA
Wow. Ab toh chair bhi shy ho gayi.
Meera suppresses a smile.
MEERA
Arjun, paani do.
Arjun turant apni water bottle aage karta hai.
ARJUN
Yeh lijiye. Reusable.
MEERA
Main paani maang rahi hoon, lecture nahi.
Nisha spoon se bowl ko tap karti hai.
NISHA
Bottle nahi, glass.
Arjun confuse. Glass dhoondhta hai. Table pe elbow lagta hai. Serving bowl thoda hilta hai.
ARJUN
Glass... haan. Bilkul.
Woh glass uthata hai, paani pour karne ki koshish karta hai. Thoda sa table par gir jaata hai.
MEERA
Bahut hi efficient.
NISHA
Arjun, napkin.
Arjun napkin uthata hai. Paani poochne ke bajaye usse fold karne lagta hai.
ARJUN
Bas... neatness ke liye.
MEERA
Paani table par hai, aur tum napkin ko interview de rahe ho?
Nisha laughs. Arjun phone vibrate hota hai. Woh phone dekhta hai, phir quickly silent karne ki koshish karta hai. Galti se screen lock ho jaati hai.
ARJUN
Silent... ho gaya.
NISHA
Phone ya tum?
Meera takes a spoon, serving bowl ki taraf ishara.
MEERA
Arjun, yeh spoon kahan rakha tha?
ARJUN
Bowl ke paas.
MEERA
Aur ab?
Arjun spoon ko bowl mein daal deta hai. Phir turant nikaal leta hai.
ARJUN
Ab... spoon safe hai.
Nisha and Meera exchange a look. They’re enjoying this way too much.
NISHA
Arjun, ek kaam karo. Extra chair ko thoda aur side pe.
Arjun chair ko side karta hai. Khud hi us extra chair ke saamne atak jaata hai.
MEERA
Aap bhi extra lag rahe ho, beta.
ARJUN
Main? Nahi, main toh...
NISHA
...perpetually anxious.
Beat.
Meera slowly puts down spoon.
MEERA
Chalo, sach bol deti hoon.
Arjun freezes.
MEERA (CONT'D)
Maine tumhare liye ek list banayi thi.
ARJUN
List?
NISHA
Mummy ne? Interesting.
MEERA
Haan. Dekhna tha son-in-law kitna kaabil hai.
Nisha leans back, triumphant.
NISHA
Oh. Toh main bhi sach bol deti hoon.
Arjun looks between them.
NISHA (CONT'D)
Maine bhi list banayi thi.
ARJUN
Tum dono ne... list banayi thi?
MEERA
Same list.
NISHA
Same exact list.
Arjun stares.
ARJUN
Kya?
Meera pulls a folded paper from her sari pallu. Nisha pulls an identical paper from her pocket.
They unfold at the same time.
INSERT - THE LIST
1. Chair sahi jagah rakhna
2. Napkin fold karna
3. Paani serve karna
4. Spoon count karna
5. Phone silent karna
6. Dinner ke baad bowl sink tak le jaana
BACK TO SCENE
ARJUN
Yeh... yeh toh torture hai.
MEERA
Testing, beta.
NISHA
Family tradition.
ARJUN
Main... main fail ho gaya?
Meera and Nisha exchange another look.
MEERA
Nahi.
NISHA
Tum pass ho gaye.
Arjun blinks.
ARJUN
Kaise?
MEERA
Kyunki tumne poori dinner mein ek bhi complaint nahi ki.
NISHA
Na bhaage.
MEERA
Na excuse diya.
NISHA
Na hero banne ki koshish ki.
MEERA
Bas... survive kiya.
ARJUN
Main survive kar raha tha?
NISHA
Haan. Aur surprisingly, politely.
Arjun breathes out, relieved.
ARJUN
Toh main successful son-in-law hoon?
MEERA
Successful? Nahi.
Beat.
MEERA (CONT'D)
Acceptable.
Nisha laughs. Arjun groans.
NISHA
Aur obedient husband?
MEERA
Woh bhi nahi.
NISHA
Phir?
MEERA
Extra chair jaisa.
Arjun confused.
MEERA (CONT'D)
Thoda awkward...
NISHA
...par useful.
A beat. Arjun finally smiles.
ARJUN
Main... useful hoon?
NISHA
Accidentally.
Meera pulls the EXTRA CHAIR closer and sits comfortably.
MEERA
Is chair ko yahin rehne do. Family mein extra space ka bhi importance hota hai.
NISHA
Haan. Especially jab husband itna carefully wrong ho.
Arjun laughs for real now.
ARJUN
Theek hai. Main aaj se wrong bhi responsibly karunga.
MEERA
Bas karo. Aur bowl sink tak le jao.
NISHA
Correctly.
Arjun picks up the serving bowl. He almost drops it, then steadies.
ARJUN
Dekha? Progress.
MEERA
Miracles bhi slow hote hain.
Nisha hands him the napkin.
NISHA
Ab isko fold mat karna.
ARJUN
Promise nahi kar sakta.
All three laugh. Decorative lamp flickers softly.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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