3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Slice of Life/Family
The Third Cup of Tea
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
INT. COMPACT KITCHEN - EARLY MORNING
Soft window light. Blue flame on the gas stove. Steel containers line the shelves. A chipped mug, tea kettle, sugar jar, spoon, and biscuit tin sit on a small counter.
HARSH (31), in a simple shirt, stands over the stove like a man defusing a bomb.
RADHA (56), in a cotton sari, watches with calm authority.
ANITA (33), in house clothes, leans near the fridge, tired-eyed and amused.
HARSH
(too polite)
Mummy ji, main bana deta hoon chai.
RADHA
Arre haan. Bana lo. Dekhte hain.
ANITA
(dry)
“Dekhte hain” se hi family court lag raha hai.
Harsh ignores that. He pours water into the kettle.
HARSH
Do cup?
RADHA
Do nahi. Teen. Anita ka bhi.
ANITA
Main toh bas witness hoon.
Harsh places the kettle on the stove. The flame hums.
RADHA
Chai patti.
Harsh opens the tea tin, measures carefully, and adds it.
RADHA (CONT’D)
Thodi aur.
ANITA
(to Harsh)
Mummy ko chai nahi, colour chahiye.
RADHA
Respect se bana raha hai. Galti ho bhi gayi toh maaf.
Harsh forces a smile.
HARSH
Ji. Bilkul.
ANITA
Woh “bilkul” abhi hai. Baad mein “oops” aayega.
The water begins to boil. Harsh reaches for the sugar jar.
RADHA
Do chammach sugar.
HARSH
Ji.
He adds one spoon.
RADHA
Kam.
ANITA
Mere liye toh bas naam ka chai rakh do. Main diet pe hoon.
Harsh adds another spoon.
RADHA
Ab theek.
ANITA
Mummy, aapko “theek” ka matlab “thoda aur” hota hai.
Harsh looks from Radha to Anita, confused.
HARSH
(careful)
Toh... aur?
RADHA
Nahi. Bas ab milk.
Harsh pours milk. The tea rises.
ANITA
Ab ek boil aur.
RADHA
Haan. Chai ko zinda rakhna padta hai.
ANITA
Maa, aap chai bana rahi ho ya army training?
Harsh stirs, trying to follow every instruction.
HARSH
(muttering)
Respect se... respect se...
He reaches for cups. He picks up the chipped mug.
RADHA
Yeh cup purana hai.
ANITA
Is ghar mein sab purana hai, bas expectations nayi hain.
A beat. Harsh almost laughs.
HARSH
Ye wala theek hai?
RADHA
Haan. Yeh hi.
He pours tea into three cups. Radha takes hers first, sips.
Silence.
Harsh waits, nervous.
RADHA
Aaj chai theek bani hai.
Harsh lights up.
HARSH
Sach?
Radha nods, then extends the chipped mug toward Harsh.
RADHA
Par yeh cup Harsh ke liye hai. Usne banaaya hai.
Harsh blinks.
HARSH
Mummy ji?
RADHA
Pehli baar kisi ne mere kitchen mein khade hoke sirf chai nahi, ghar samjha hai.
Anita looks at Radha, then Harsh.
ANITA
Wow. Emotional approval. Rare.
Harsh takes the mug, a little overwhelmed. He sips.
A beat.
A small, surprised smile.
HARSH
Mummy ji... is chai mein thodi si...
(searching)
...namak jaisi respect hai.
Anita bursts out laughing.
Radha finally smiles.
RADHA
Ab next cup Anita banayegi.
ANITA
Main emotional load sambhal rahi hoon, chai ka load nahi.
RADHA
Ghar chalana bhi chai jaisa hota hai.
ANITA
Aur overboil ho gaya toh?
RADHA
Toh teenon peena padta hai.
Harsh sets the spoon down, relieved.
The three stand in the tiny kitchen, steam rising between them like a soft truce.
FADE OUT.
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