CONFIDENTIAL

“Living is easy with eyes closed” ----- JOHN LENNON

Shoot the
Piano Player
A Sriram Raghavan film

WRITTEN BY
Sriram Raghavan
Arijit Biswas
Pooja Ladha Surti
Yogesh Chandekar
Hemanth Rao

Khulli nazar kya khel dikhega duniya ka…

Bandh aankh se dekh tamasha duniya ka…
----- Majrooh Sultanpuri in Manmohan Desai’s Parvarish.

2
EXT. VEGETABLE FIELD. DAY.

A half-eaten cabbage. And another. And now we see a wild hare feasting
on a cabbage patch. A scarecrow in the distance stands guard in vain.
We are in a vegetable patch in a field… besides a desolate road, leading
to a distant highway.

And now we see a pair of feet cautiously moving forward thru the field.
It’s an angry farmer with a rifle…..

The hare’s ears perk up as the farmer quietly advances thru the bushes
and shrubs. The hare darts across the field, tensing up. And now we see
the hare in close up. It’s got nasty scars where the eyes should be… We
now realize the hare is blind.

The farmer cocks his gun and aims at the hare.

The blind hare senses danger…. It dashes blindly in the opposite

direction, hitting the scarecrow pole full force…The scarecrow shakes a
bit and stops.

The hare recovers… frozen for a second. The farmer advances stealthily.
The farmer steps on a dry bisleri bottle in the field.

THE SOUND alerts the hare.

It hops on the road….Stands at a milestone, on its hind legs, ears
upright….alert…

The farmer gets a clear view. The farmer sucks his breath and aims the
rifle….
We see the blind hare in the cross hairs, resting against the milestone.
The milestone reads PUNE 32 km though we are too coiled to read it.
The farmer squeezes the trigger.
finger on the trigger. On the SOUND OF THE GUNSHOT, we cut to BLACK.
On black we hear the screech of a car. A shattering noise and after a
beat, an EXPLOSION.

3
Titles

VIACOM presents
A MATCHBOX FILMS production

SHOOT THE
PIANO PLAYER
Fade in on:

INT. ONE BHK FLAT. PUNE. DAY.

The notes of a piano fill the air as we see a tree lined lane in the Prabhat
Road area of Pune.

A two storied building with a board saying LADY BARVE TRUST FOR THE
DISABLED.

Inside a modest old flat we see a young man 27, playing the piano with
total focus and concentration. We see a cat on a chair listening… It
reminds us of an EDWARD HOPPER painting. It’s a digital piano on which
there’s a picture of Kishore Kumar at some recording.

This is AKASH, a passionate piano player… his fingers dance on the

keys… and now we see his eyes… they are glazed. We realize he is blind.

The blindness does not seem to affect his passionate play. And then he
abruptly stops. And tries the last bit again. And Again. Stops. We sense
he is stuck. He checks his braille watch and rises from the piano seat

EXT. ONE BHK FLAT. DAY.

4
Akash locks the door. He has dark glasses on. He taps his way down the
stairs.

Below, we see a kid hear the cane….and quickly tie a sutli rope across
the stairs. Akash trips… and has a near nasty fall. The kid watches
amused, as he untangles his leg and proceeds towards the gate.

The kid is KERSI… son of the Istree walla who lives behind the house.

‘Hey, I can drop you to the bus stop…for five bucks’.

Akash turns and smiles. “Ah Kersi….thank you so much. Deal.’

He extends his hand and Kersi grabs it. And WINCES… AAOOOUUUCHH…
AKASH IS SQUEEZING HIS FINGERS…. The next time you tie a rope
na…remember this handshake…Now the sooner you call out an auto
for me….”

Kersi screams at a passing auto.

INT. AUTO. DAY.

The auto is winding thru a busy road. Akash takes off his glasses and
wipes the sweat on his nose. The driver notices his foggy eyes…

Akash: Take it from the left…..near the school….

Driver: That’s a long cut Sir….

Akash: It’s ok….and slow down near the school gate….

The driver stops near the gate. WE SEE inside, the girls of the school are
doing a lezim dance.

Akash is enjoying the music and energy….

The meter drops again…

The driver curiously watches Akash LISTEN and enjoy.

CUT TO:

5
EXT. GITA SOCIETY. DAY.

Akash gets off the rickshaw. The building guard comes to help Akash.

INT. GITA SOCIETY APARTMENT. DAY.

Akash explaining the basics to two kids who are more interested in
playing with his folding cane.
In the distance is an old lady on a chair knitting a sweater. The kid’s
mother darts in and out. YELLING AT THEM TO CONCENTRATE.

CUT TO

INT. BOAT CLUB ROAD HOUSE. TUITION # 2. DAY.

Akash playing Fur Elise…as a middle aged lady MRS JONEJA places her
fingers on his. Akash continues playing as she continues gliding her
fingers alongside…. and suddenly Mrs. Joneja gives him a tight hug or
plants a kiss on his lips. CUT TO:

INT. MUSIC HOUSE. DAY.

We are in a shop selling musical instruments. The owner Alurkar, an

affable middle aged Maharashtrian with Akash.

Akash: …..arre then what? The bell rang….luckily…..her husband came… I

wonder what would have happened otherwise… I have decided sir. No
tuitions till I crack the piece for the competition.

Alurkar: But you need to save money for the trip too, na? How will you
do that?

Akash: I don’t know and right now I don’t care…No tuitions.

ALURKAR COMES CLOSER TO HIM.

Alurkar: That Mrs. Joneja…maybe she can sponsor your trip, eh?

Akash: (laughs) Sir, I’m looking for a muse, not a f*ck.

6
INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. NIGHT.

We catch Akash playing his unfinished piece again. And he stops at the
same point. Once again. Stuck.

We hold on frustrated Akash …….as the camera moves from him to the
photo of Kishore Kumar in a frame ….. transition to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghS8KekFnk4

EXT. INT. PRAMOD SINHA HOUSE. DAY.

A SWANKY RED CAR ENTERS A POSH BUILDING….A MAN GETS OUT

WITH A RED PLASTIC BUCKET IN HIS HAND. WE SEE THE BUCKET HAS A
BIG CRAB IN IT.

The man ENTERS HIS HOUSE USING HIS KEY…. We still don’t see his face.

And then we see a good looking HERO, dancing around trees with a
beautiful girl in a scenic spot.

Pull out and we see it’s the same actor, only 30 or more years later.

THIS IS PRAMOD SINHA, yes, the 70s star- famous for his bold films,
family dramas, and the first start to work in a horror film too.
He is now retired and living in Pune. He is a flamboyant man, with a
youthful spring in his stride.

He reads the comments below the song.

‘Purani yaadein taaza kar di….Where are you, Pramod Kumar.’

He presses a like on a comment. In the bg we get a glimpse of his wife,

emerging from her bath perhaps.

This is SIMI. She’s beautiful and much much younger. She seems like a
fun person…..

7
Pramod: Denmark se aaya hai yeh comment….

Simi: wo Hamlet bhi wahin ka tha na? (for a second, we wonder if she’s the one who’s
posted it?)

CUT TO:

INT. SWANKY KITCHEN. SOME TIME LATER.

Simi in a bright apron, looking even sexier.

There’s loud music on the PORTABLE BLUE TOOTH SPEAKER and she’s
humming to herself as she CUTS A JUICY ROOT OF GINGER….. SMASHING
GARLIC CLOVES and PLUCKING MINT LEAVES….as she takes a large sip of
RED WINE.

She’s also dry roasting BEGDI MIRCH as we see a BIG POT of water on
the boil.

Pramod Sinha walks in, whilst talking on the phone. A face time call.

On the phone we see a 17 year old girl… She is DAANI, daughter of

Pramod’s first wife, now deceased.

Pramod: …. Here….talk to your mother.

He hands the phone to Simi….

Simi: Hello darling…. All good….and wow you are going scuba diving?

Daani: Yesssssss!!! Did dad meet Dr. Mehan for the tests?

Simi: Yes…all good and he walks an hour in the morning…..

Daani: Thanks and bye Aunty….

Simi hangs up and hands the phone to Pramod.

SimI: Why does she call me Aunty? She can call me Simi na…?

Pramod: Give her time….

8
Simi: Two years is a long time…..
Pramod: Arre, she loves me. I love you. so she loves you.

Pramod pops an olive in his mouth as he starts shooting her with his
Iphone.
As if on cue….Simi tosses her hair and turns to camera…..

Simi: ….and now for the main course. Putting the crab in boiling water
will kill it but I don’t want to give the poor thing a shock. So I put the
crustacean in the deep freeze for about two hours. And then…..when he
is in deep sleep I simply take him out and put him in boiling water.

The frozen crab is immersed in boiling water.

Simi: …They say that crab meat is an aphrodisiac. I can’t spell the word
but we all know what it means…. Coming up after the break…a chettinad
crab masala

Pramod Sinha is shooting his wife on his phone. He CONTINUES

SHOOTING AS HE MOVES CLOSER TO GET A BETTER ANGLE

Pramod: Wow…you are too good. You must do a show. I’m going to talk
to my friends in TV. Cookery shows are huge today.

Simi: Shaddup Pammi. You also promised to launch me as a heroine…

REMEMBER? Nurse Radha Part two.

Pramod: Darling…..Nurse Radha flopped. That film had a message….but

nobody got it.

Simi: What message?

Pramod: a message for me. Pramod, better you quit.

Simi: (laughs) …. Pass me the chilly powder

Simi GROUNDS THE MASALAS and the CRAB IS BOILING and Pramod is
still shooting her. And NOW, Pramod Sinha places the camera near the
blue tooth speaker and grabs Simi…..

9
Pramod: GARMA GARAM…SIMI KE SAATH……How’s that title of your
cookery show.

the crab turning red…

….Simi protests sexily and tries to push Pramod away….but he has her in
a hug and she turns…..

HER FINGERS FULL OF CHILLY POWDER PASTE, she puts her arms around
PRAMOD SINHA’S NECK.

CUT TO

ON BLACK. A car screeching.

A girl’s voice screaming, “ANDHAA HAI KYA?”

EXT. EAST STREET. DAY.

A young woman is yelling at a car driver who broke a signal and almost
hit the blind Akash.

Angry girl: Can’t you see it’s RED for you and GREEN for pedestrians.

She holds Akash as she whips out her phone and take a pic of the driver
and his number plate. She continues yelling at the guy to apologize.

Angry girl: (to Akash) Are you ok??

Akash: Thank you. Are you ok?

She helps him across the street.

Girl: “Where do you want to go?”

Akash: Koregaon Park……

Girl: Oh that’s exactly where I’m going. I can drop you if you promise
not to fall off the scooter? I’m SOPHIE.
Akash: Akash….

STREETS…
Akash seated behind her on scooter. Feeling the wind and speed. She’s
got a helmet and mask.

10
Sophie: Hold tight, there are speed breakers ahead.
THE SCOOTER GOES OVER THREE SUCCESSIVE SPEED BREAKERS.
Akash can’t help but bump into her each time.

Akash: Sorry…
Sophie: Fine…I know you are still there…. Where in Koregaon Park?
Akash: I have a date at a place called Franco’s. It’s near the Fire Station I
was told.

SHE BREAKS THE BIKE. AND LOOKS AT HIM…..

Sophie: Do you believe in COINCIDENCES? They say it’s God’s way of
letting us know he exists.

Cut to:

INT. FRANCO’S. DAY.

It’s an old Jazz café in Koregaon Park, with Irani marble top tables and
bended wood chairs. AND THIS GIRL SOPHIE’S FATHER OWNS THE
PLACE. Photos and posters of jazz greats adorn the walls.

There is a grand piano on an elevated stage. She leads Akash to it.

Sophie: Now evaluate this white elephant for us…and give us the best
price.

Akash feels it. Strums a few keys. With his fingers, he reads the
embossed brand name on the side.

Akash: (in awe) It is an original Steinway...in perfect condition....why do

you want to sell it??

Fonseca: She does...not me...

Sophie: Dad…Char Tables aur aa sakte hain yahan…..aur aaj kal yeh
piano viano kaun sunta hai? (to Akash)... tum kyoon nahin kharid lete??

Akash: Kaash.

AKASH STARTS PLAYING… the incomplete piece, which we heard him

play before…He plays with passion…

11
He cannot see but Old Man Fonseca is awed. Two cooks and an
accountant too run out to watch, listen, marvel.

In the middle of this, Alurkar too comes in… silently greeting Franko.

Akash is playing his piece…..And then he stops. The assembled crowd

claps.

Akash: It’s a fantastic piano… and if you must sell it, don’t sell it for less
than ten….

Franco: Hey, Alurkar …you said the max I could get was 3.

Alurkar: Hey Akash….I only said there was an offer of 3….

Franco: … What do you do in the evening my boy? (to Sophie) Arre let
him play till we get a customer…

Sophie: Dad but…..

Akash: Sir I’d love to….

Sophie: No salary…only tips….

Akash: I’d pay to practice on this piano.

EXT. INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. DAY.

Prabhat road lane. Scooter comes and stops. Sophie reads aloud.

Sophie: ‘Prabhat Road Gully kramak 4. Aa gaya tumhara ….kya hai yeh
jagah?

Akash: NGO…Handicapped logon ke liye. Teen mahine ke liye mila hai.

Bhada sirf 300 per month. It’s a beautiful place. There must be lots of
trees here. I wake up every morning to a symphony of bird sounds.

He walks confidently towards the bannister.

Akash: 18 steps….. Coffee?

Sophie: aaj bahut kaam hai. I’ll pick you up at 5 ok.

12
She is about to leave. She watches Akash at the door.

HE IS ABOUT TO OPEN THE DOOR…when he hears CLAPPING. He turns.

Sophie: Your piano piece was FANTASTIC. Dad ke saamne khadoos acting
kar rahi thi…. BUT I LOVED IT.

Akash: Aaj poora karoonga pucca…

Sophie: Tumhe adhura kyon lagta hain…

Akash: Matlab?

Sophie: Mujhe toh perfect laga… Maybe some things are meant to be
unfinished / Shayad uska adhoorapan hi usse poora karta hai…/…abhi
usse aur ungli karke bigado mat. (THIS LINE IS VITAL….improve) See
you…

AKASH HEARS HER GO. HE STARES. HE’S HAD A MOMENT OF EPIPHANY.

HE ENTERS HIS HOUSE AND RUSHES INSIDE.

INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. DAY.

He opens door and hurriedly rushes in…stumbles too. He walks to a

drawer and removes a little box. And then we see his eyes.

THE GLAZED LOOK EYES.

AND NOW WE SEE SOMETHING THAT MAKES US VERY CURIOUS. In

CLOSE UP WE SEE HIM REMOVING A CONTACT LENS. Light floods half
the frame. HE REMOVES THE OTHER.

We see the lit full frame. We see his eyes. Alive. HE CAN SEE. Akash
hurriedly puts the lenses in the cleaning solution and RUSHES TO THE
WINDOW. All he can see is Sophie’s back as she’s riding out on her
scooter. Akash cranes his head. BELOW, UNKNOWN TO AKASH, WE SEE
KERSI WATCHING HIM CURIOUSLY. FADE TO BLACK…

Cut to:
OPTIONAL SCENE: Flashback

13
INT. CONTACT LENS CLINIC. MUMBAI. DAY. DELETED. SHOOT AFTER EDIT, IN CASE
PEOPLE DON’T GET IT.

From BLACK we fade into an ECU of a CONTACT LENS being

removed…..revealing an Eye Doctor with his torch headgear.
Curiously, half the screen is still black.
The doc now looks to the other side of the screen and the second lens
comes off, flooding the screen with Akash’s POV - the smiley
ophthalmologist.
Doc: So? What do you think?
Akash: Wow… doctor, bilkul nahin dikhai deta…I can now practice
for the play…
Doc: ….you should try acting instead of this method stuff…
anyway…take them off at night…and every four hours….

The doc takes off his headgear and gives instructions on how to use the
lenses….BUT WE HEAR AKASH’s VO: Three months I decided to be blind.
It will help me focus on my music…..it’s been three weeks…..

Transition to: PRESENT.

EXT/INT. AKASH’S HOUSE/ROOM. EVENING.

Akash wearing one of the opaque lenses…

Akash debates….and FINALLY…. He removes the other lens, puts it in

the box and simply wears his glasses. Akash locks door and exits.

His POV: She’s leaning on the bike. Akash SEES HER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

INT. FRANCO’S. EVENING.

HAPPY HOURS… AT FRANCO’S. Akash’s first day. He is behind dark

glasses but he can see Sophie. She places a glass bowl on the piano side.
And puts a few 20 and 50 buck notes.

Sophie: Hello everyone. Give a big hand to Akash… our new pianist.

We hear some sundry claps.

14
Sophie: He is blind, but can hear very well….

The claps are louder.

And AMONG THE CROWD at the bar WE SEE PRAMOD SINHA . Some
youngsters click selfies…..and he happily poses.

Akash: thank you everybody….. 1

He introduces the piece he is going to play.

AKASH PLAYING… There is something spiritual that happens when a

talented musician plays, not for commerce, but for his own sake… from
his or her heart, for the sheer joy of the process.

That’s what should happen when we watch Akash’s dexterous fingers…

dancing on the keys……does he have two fingers or twenty…Akash is
playing with sheer abandon. An acoustic piano and a Steinway to boot.
He is in heaven.

And for that brief while so are we …… soon every conversation around
the bar stops…. everyone is listening.

Akash concludes. And Pramod starts clapping. The others join too. THE
CLAPS ARE NOW THUNDEROUS. Sophie is floored. Rushes to Akash but
Pramod Sinha is already there.

Pramod: Behtareen Fantastic Mindblowing! You have a gift my boy….

Hey Franco…this boy will make your bar famous….

AKASH OF COURSE, CAN SEE THE MAN BEHIND HIS DARK GLASSES.

AKASH: Thank you Sir. If I am not mistaken….am I speaking to the

actor…..Pramod Sinha?

The old star is floored. Oh my God, how did you? I mean….

1HE CAN SEE. So what is the crowd he sees? How does he engage them, as a
blind man. This scene can be a terrific piece and perhaps a song. As long as we
don’t make it filmi. Song#1

15
Akash: Sir….my mom was a big fan of your films. I could see till I was 14.
I’ve seen THE SPY OF SHANGHAI…six times.

Akash plays a few chords from the number… It’s a RETRO PRAMOD
SINHA SONG FROM A JAMES BOND STYLE 70s HINDI FILM… song with
Chinese beats maybe. 2

PRAMOD TAKING THE MIKE……BELTING OUT SLURRY LINES….

AKASH SEES PRAMOD PUT A 2000 rupee note in the tips box. Sophie eyes
the tip and smiles. The bar is doing well.

The mood should be NASIR HUSAIN.

NIGHT. EXT. FRANCO’S + STREETS.

Akash and Sophie…walking to her scooter.

“So how did you go blind?”

Akash says 14… a cricket ball hit my head….I blacked out. Woke up…The
optic nerve had got damaged they said…. can’t we talk of more cheerful
things?

Sophie: You got over 4000 in tips. That’s a record at Franco’s.

Akash: If I make two lakhs, I get to go to London for the competition. I’m on
a sabbatical actually, practicing for the Bernstein Competition.

EXT. ROADSIDE EATERY. DAY.

Akash in dark glasses, munching a Cream Roll and sipping chai.

He is enjoying the varied sounds of the busy Amrutulya…..The ginger

being crushed….the stove being pumped….the rattle of coins, the
bhajjyas being deep fried.
Akash is paying the bill….a tune already forming in his head.

2 SONG should be in the zone of classic Kalyanji Anandji

16
FOR A MOMENT, as he is counting his change, WE WONDER IS HE
WEARING HIS OPAQUE CONTACTS OR IS HE STILL ‘CHEATING’.

A lottery selling lady grabs his hand. WE SEE she has a large tattoo of
Shivji and snake on her arm.

Lady: koi bhi ticket ko touch kijiye sir… (to customer) inka teesra aankh
hota hai…. / yeh andha aapki kismat khol dega….(to Akash) ek ticket
nikaliye sir…

Akash obliges. The auntie sells a 100 rupee ticket to a customer.

An auto stops and Murli approaches the tea shop. It’s the auto driver we
saw earlier ferrying Akash.

‘ek cutting, kya re Saroja, koi jackpot laga ke nahin… (spots Akash) Arre
Akash bhai …Yaad hai? Mein Murli….lezim dance…yaad hai?.’

Akash: (realizes it’s the same guy) Arre Murli.

Akash ‘sees’ the auntie and Murli chat …..and then a stray cat or some
interesting sound distracts him.
We CUT TO:

EXT. FRANCO’S. DAY.

Murli’s auto drops Akash at Franco’s. Sophie is busy with some activity.

She’s surprised to see him here. So early.

He says I was wondering if I could just come and hang out HERE. For me
happy hours are when I’m at the piano.

She says sure….it’s all yours. She’s baking the bread in their bakery.

Akash is ‘watching’ all this as A BIRD DROPPING HITS HIS GOGGLES.

Oh shit, says Sophie and takes off his glasses. Akash switches to the
blank blind man look.

17
Sophie washes the glasses under a tap and …. dries with her chunni and
as she hands it to him…. she notices his EYES.

Sophie: Your eyes…..they are so….so alive…..Do you see anything at all?

Akash is on thin ice……

Akash: I do have a sense of light and dark….(smiles) They say it’s lucky if
a bird shits on you? Do you believe that?

HE WEARS THE DARK GLASSES.

Sophie: I believe in Kismat. What if instead of bird shit, a coconut had

dropped on your head? And you died on the spot? Or better still, the
coconut hit the same optic nerve on your head and suddenly when you
woke up you could see again…. Call it Kismat or Manmohan Desai, I
know but it’s these things happen. Do you know World War One
happened because a postman stopped to have a sandwich.

Akash looks at her.

Akash: You are a song…you know that…

FREEZE ON AKASH’S FACE: VO BEGINS. ‘….She has seen my eyes….so I

can’t wear the lenses again….But I want to keep looking at her…. so
thank you… bird.

CUT TO:

Happy Hours MONTAGE. Various locations around Pune, including

Franco’s.

ON A MEDLEY OF PIANO PIECES AND SNATCHES OF SONGS at FRANCO’S.

We see Sophie and Akash connecting.3

3This can be a MEDLEY again in the Nasir Husain mode, but done like
‘our way’, whatever that means. I’d rather Mr Nasir Husain direct this
sequence.

18
We intercut this with brief scenes of Sophie and Akash outside
Franco’s….and various other locations.

EXT. FRANCO’S: DAY.

Akash with Sophie: They are sitting on some steps at Franco’s. And
talking. Mostly Akash talking and Sophie listening.

Akash: …..Bethoven was deaf when he composed the 9th

symphony…..The fact that I can’t see cuts out a lot but also helps me
focus…..on my music.

Sophie: Wow. And how do you choose clothes and all….I mean…

Akash: Oh I chat with the salesgirl and if I like her, I let her choose…..

Sophie: And how do you know whether you like a person?

Akash: From their voices, laughter and so on….I know quite a bit about
you……

Sophie: Describe me…..

Franco comes out…with a poster…….

Franco: Hey… Sophie! 6 tables have been booked by Ex Vincentians. 77

batch. Fuckers love thick French fries….go select the potatoes.

She rises….and he grabs her and whispers.

“Like, lust or love? I don’t care as long as you don’t break his heart. send
a couple of beers”

He puts up a poster at the entrance.

WELCOME BATCH OF 77.

BOYS. LET YOUR HAIR DOWN IF YOU HAVE ANY. J

Franco goes sits next to Akash. “Like, lust or love? I don’t care as long as
you don’t break her heart.”

19
They clink beers and we cut to:

HAPPY HOURS AT FRANCO’S. EVENING.

Pramod Sinha enters…..heads to the bar….. Franko gives him his usual
and Pramod settles…..with his bowl of olives. He is sipping a drink as
people wave to him. Some click selfies.

Akash is at the piano….doing a terrific jazz improvisation….

Sophie darts in and out……serving the fuddy duddies of St Vincent’s

batch of 77 who are alternately comparing notes on their diabetic
levels….and reminiscing about sexy teachers of their time.

Pramod and Franko are watching reminiscing about their own times.

At some point, Franko gets busy. Pramod watches Akash play…….

Pramod walks straight up to Akash and whispers something in his ear….

Sophie watches curiously as Pramod puts 10K in Akash’s jacket pocket

and his card.

Pramod: (to Akash) One Pm tomorrow….And remember, she’s a bigger

fan of Rajesh Khanna….

Sophie comes as Pramod is leaving.

Sophie: (to Akash) What was all that about?
Akash: Sorry. It’s a secret.

EXT. FRANCO’S. NIGHT.

WE FOLLOW PRAMOD AS HE WALKS OUT …..AND GOES TO HIS CAR…

INT. FENG SHUI SHOP. NIGHT.

Simi with a young couple… congratulates them on their marriage….and

the new home…..as PRAMOD walks in.

20
Simi: (bidding the couple goodbye…turns to Pramod) 12 sleeping
Buddhas ….two for each room. Guess why….coz they want twins.
(laughs uproariously) ….Wait….I’m just winding up….

Pramod: Darling I’ve to go to Bangalore tomorrow.

Simi: And when will you be back?
Pramod: Day after.
Simi: (upset) But tomorrow is…
Pramod: What?
Simi: You forgot OUR ANNIVERSARY.???????
Pramod: Oh God. I am so sorry. Ab kya karoon?
Simi makes a GRRRRRR expression and we cut to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt_1r5JCVDc
INT PRAMOD SINHA HOUSE. NIGHT.

Pramod is having a highball and watching his own song on Youtube.

In the distance, we see Simi reading a book with cotton in her ears.

The book is Agatha Christie’s HICKORY DICKORY DEATH

A burst of thunder. And we cut to:

AKASH’S HOUSE. Night.

The door opens. And Akash and Sophie rush in.

It’s raining and they are slightly drenched. Sophie invites herself into his
house. The downpour increases.

Akash keeps his cane on the side and removes his gogs. It’s dark.
Akash: I’ll get a towel… Sorry…lights wahan pe hai…
He or she switches on the lights. We see them properly.

He goes and pulls out a fresh towel. Gives it to her. They are DRENCHED.
But in a good happy mood.

Akash returns with a towel for her as he scrubs himself with a large
napkin….

Sophie: Can I borrow a T shirt?

Akash: Sure…

21
Akash goes to a cupboard and pulls out T Shirt. Gives her.
He goes to drawer near the kitchen area….Puts his tips money in a box.
He turns to see:
Akash pov: Sophie pulling off her Tshirt. She’s wearing a lime green bra.
For a moment….he stares….and turns away….

He goes inside to bedroom. As he pulls out his change….he notices she’s

followed him.
She’s looking at him. He takes off his wet shirt….vest….wears a towel
and is pulling off his wet jeans.

He can sense her watching him throughout.

If he had a tinge of guilt, she doesn’t seem to have it. Just as he’s about
to strip off his pants though, Sophie knocks on the door. Akash turns to
face her.

Sophie: Hi, tumhaare paas wine opener hai?

CUT TO:

They are on his sofa….they clink glasses.

Sophie: Cheers to Secrets.

Akash: To Pune rains.

Sophie: To your music.

Akash: To you for cracking my unfinished piece.

Sophie: to Music
Akash: To coincidences.
Sophie: Ok whoever runs out of things to cheer about has to pay a price.
Akash: Cheers to speed breakers in Pune.
Sophie: (looks around and spots frame on piano) Cheers to Kishore
Kumar.

And she notices the BLINDFOLD under the PHOTO FRAME.

Sophie: yeh blindfold tumhara hai?

22
Akash: (THIN ICE) Raat ko neend nahin aati to pehenta hoon.

HE SEES HER WEARING IT AND GROPE AROUND. SHE IS ABOUT TO

KNOCK OUT HER WINE GLASS BUT AKASH SAVES IT.

Akash: kya kar rahi ho?

Sophie: (bumps into him) Oh sorry….Mera glass dhoond rahi hoon.
Akash: yehin kahin hoga…
Sophie: God, it’s so tough…
Akash: Kya?
Akash: Glass tut jayega…
Sophie: Wine glass ka tootna matlab good luck.
Akash: Madam billi aate jaate rehti hai…please…aah…mil gaya tumhara
glass.
Sophie: Wow….Cheers….She tries to clink glasses blind. He of course,
ensures contact.
There’s a silence. Though it’s not awkward.
She takes his hand and puts it on her face.
Akash: Tumne… eye mask kyun pehna hai…?
Sophie: Describe me….
His fingers over her blindfold goes down to her lips.
Suddenly she bites into his finger. Doesn’t let go.

CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT.
A love making scene….we see she is still wearing the blindfold.
He, of course can see.
Gotta be edgy, BertolucciJ

INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. MORNING.

We see the messiest kitchen ever. Sophie is making an omelet with the
blindfold still on.

Akash smells something burning and wakes up. Rushes out to put the
gas off…..

Sophie hears him and whips off the blindfold.

23
Sophie is making eggs. She says I tried to do it with my eyes closed.
Almost burnt my fingers.

He is again on thin ice. He constantly looks down, avoiding her gaze…He

holds her fingers.

He takes a bite of her omelet. Says the best omelet I’ve ever had.

She says hah….no Oscar for your performance Sir.

Akash stares at her. Bol de….Bol de….Bol..bol de… Bol de….Bol

de….Bol..bol de… Bol de….Bol de….Bol..bol de…Bol

He converts his guilt into a tune…..as we see….it can even be a chotta

peg of a song.

Zip Zap Zoom shots of an auto speeding ….on Pune streets.

EXT. PRAMOD SINHA’S BUILDING. DAY.

The auto drops Akash to Pramod Sinha’s building lobby.

Akash gropes his way to the lift….. Akash exits lift.

There are two doors. One says PRAMOD ….Akash is playing blind of
course. Goes to Pramod door. Rings bell. Akash rings bell again. No
response. He looks around and rings bell again, this time longer.
SUDDENLY……

EXT + INT. PRAMOD SINHA’S HOUSE. DAY. The door opens. WE SEE
SIMI looking annoyed and angry. Yes?? Akash says he’s here for Mr.
Pramod Sinha…

Simi is puzzled. Says her husband is not home. Akash says but I WAS
TOLD TO COME HERE AT 1.30 PM… She insists that he has gone to
Bengaluru and will be back tomo morning. Akash:(surprised) But he
called me today… I am the piano player at Franco’s. He said it’s his
wedding anniversary and…

24
SIMI: Yes, it’s our anniversary but he’s out of town today. She’s about to
shut the door…. SUDDENLY…THE OPPOSITE HOUSE DOOR OPENS AND
AN OLD LADY PEERS OUT…SHE STARES CURIOUSLY….AS AKASH SPEAKS.
“he said he wanted to give you a surprise… he paid me an advance… can
you please call him…

The opposite door opens… and an old lady MRS. D’SA peeps out.

Akash hears the sound.

“Shayad aa gaye….?”

Simi asks Akash to come in….

She shuts the door and leads Akash in.

She sits him at the piano and CALLS PRAMOD ON HER PHONE.

Hello PAMMI… there is this YOUNG MAN….what? Oh darling… WHAT A

SURPRISE! this is so lovely….idiot why didn’t you tell me…come soon
come soon…. Pls come … God I am not even dressed for the occasion…

“My husband is on the way….he is coming in ten minutes. My husband

na… I tell you… he is an actor how do I always forget…

Akash gets a feel of the instrument… admires it.

Simi says tell me…. Are you totally blind or…. Partial vision?

Akash tells her the story of the cricket ball and optic nerve damage. She
says why don’t you play something…?

Akash plays a few keys…and then suddenly… he sees A PAIR OF FEET

STICKING OUT OF A FAR CORNER OF THE ROOM… THERE IS A POOL OF
BLOOD AT THE FEET.

AKASH SKIPS A BEAT AND STOPS PLAYING. SIMI CLAPS. WOW, WHAT A
NICE SURPRISE MY HUSBAND GAVE ME. ABHI BHI ROMANTIC HERO
HAIN…

Akash IS RATTLED…

Akash: can I use the restroom please. Simi leads him to the restroom…

25
ON THE WAY… AKASH SEES A BROKEN CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE AND A
BOUQUET OF ORCHIDS ON THE FLOOR… A box of chocolates…a jewel
box….

AKASH SHUTS THE DOOR AND TURNS…. TO ‘SEE’ A BAREBODIED STUD

(mid 30s well-built) WITH A BUSHY MOUSTACHE… standing behind the
shower curtain… a GUN IN HIS HAND. He stares at AKASH menacingly as
Akash UNZIPS HIS PANTS AND TRIES TO PEE. THE MAN CONTINUES
STARING AS AKASH ZIPS HIS PANTS AND GETS OUT….

• SIMI LEADS AKASH TO THE PIANO… AND NOW HE SEES THE DEAD
MAN. IT IS PRAMOD SINHA. HE’S BEEN SHOT IN THE NECK. She
seats Akash at piano… asks him to play some music. SHE INSTRUCTS
THE MAN FROM THE BATHROOM IN DUMBCHARADES…TO FETCH
SOMETHING FROM INSIDE. THE MAN returns with towels and a
bucket. HIS NAME IS MANOHAR.

• Akash playing the piano AND PROVIDING background music as he

watches: MANOHAR AND SIMI SWIFTLY CLEAN UP THE AREA….They
SHOVE PRAMOD SINHA’S BODY INTO the SUITCASE. Simi stops and
removes the ROLEX watch from Pramod’s wrist. She shoves it in a
drawer. Akash watching all this thru his dark glasses He CONTINUES
PLAYING AS …… Simi and Manohar confer.

• SIMI FURIOUSLY cleans the floor of glass pieces and Manohar drags
the body across to an inside room.

• Akash playing…..barely looking up. Simi has now come to the

piano….. Akash plays like a blind man playing for his life.

• Simi moves to the passage as Manohar wheels in a suitcase…..Once

again, they discuss something…and Manohar OPENS THE SUITCASE
AND PULLS OUT A HAND. Simi quickly removes Pramod Sinha’s
watch but the ring proves to be stubborn.

• Manohar snaps the finger and pulls out the ring. Akash watches Simi
wince……..

26
• Simi runs in again and fetches Pramod’s beige jacket and cap. She
also brings the BLUE TOOTH speaker, which we have seen a couple
of times. We are trying to figure out what she’s up to…

• Manohar watches Akash who is STILL playing… Simi does something

with Pramod’s phone. (she’s syncing the phone to the BLUE TOOTH
SPEAKER … and gestures Manohar IN DUMBCHARADAS TO GO TO
THE DOOR AND RING THE BELL….MANOHAR, A BIT PUZZLED OBEYS.

• THE BELL RINGS. And Simi springs to the door…ah I think Pramod is
back…..Simi ushers MANOHAR to continue the clean up as Simi
talks: Arre, Pammi such a lovely surprise….Oooh….he plays so well…
AKASH PLAYS SOME SOLID ROMANTIC TUNE AS MANOHAR puts on
Sinha’s jacket and stare STUPIFIED.

• Akash nearing the end of the piece. Simi is ready. She signals
Manohar to clap AND WE HEAR PRAMOD’S VOICE. Wah Wah Bahut
Achhe Behtereen… Wah (THE HOME VIDEO OF SIMI AND PRAMOD
ON A HAPPIER DAY) We realize she is using Pramod Sinha’s
recorded voice to construct a conversation with him.

• Akash watches Simi escort ‘PRAMOD’ to the inside room. He waits...

like Manohar waits…both staring at each other…IN THE
BACKGROUND….we hear SIMI ARGUING with ‘Pramod’. We mostly
hear Simi speak… What… the builder is waiting for you? Why now?
Cant it wait? Oh Pramod….…come back soon….this boy is waiting.

• SIMI GESTURES MANOHAR TO LEAVE… Manohar wheels out the

suitcase. EXITS.

• SIMI: “Would you like a juice Akash? No, thank you, ma’am. Simi
watches SINHA’S CAR DRIVE OUT OF THE BUILDING. WE SEE HER GO
TO A PHOTO OF PRAMOD…maybe she’s a bit overwhelmed…. SHE
SITS ON A SOFA. SHE BREAKSDOWN FOR REAL….THOUGH SHE HAS
TO ENSURE THAT THE BLIND MAN DOESN’T HEAR HER.

• We see Akash playing the piano….in the distance she’s crying. THE
PHONE RINGS... a call from Manohar. She talks like she’s speaking to
Pramod. “……haan Pramod….where are you? Oh dear. Ok…I’ll see
you there… She turns to Akash…..Sorry. Today’s session is cancelled.

27
 He is held up. How much do I pay. Akash says Sir has paid me….. I
will go now. She says ok….Let me drop you home. AKASH SAYS
THANKS BUT I CAN MANAGE….

INT. AUTO. DAY.

Akash feels the bile rising…..he wants to puke…..

Akash: Police Station chalo…..

EXT. INT. POLICE STATION. DAY.

AKASH GETS OFF AT POLICE STATION. HE IS PLAYING BLIND.

We introduce SUB INSPECTOR KAMDAR Yes?

Akash says I want to report a crime/murder I want to meet the SHO.
Kamdar stares curiously at him and leads him inside. Makes him sit.
‘SAAB TOILET MEIN HAIN.’
We hear the flush and the door opens and THE CHIEF INSPECTOR STEPS
OUT.

IT’S MANOHAR IN UNIFORM.

BOTH AKASH AND MANOHAR DO A DOUBLE TAKE.
KAMDAR says… he wants to report a murder….
AKASH almost drops a glass of water…SAYS ….my CAT …. IT’S MISSING.
MAYBE MURDERED. There is a boy in the building….Kesari….i suspect he
killed it.

Akash makes a bit of a fool of himself but Manohar is extremely

suspicious...

EXT. POLICE STATION. DAY.

As Manohar puts Akash in his car / jeep and is to drive off. A car comes
to a screeching halt on the other side of the road and a fuming lady
comes out and accosts Manohar.

28
WE realize it’s his wife RASIKA… and Manohar has stood her up for a
lunch date……And he’s not answering her calls too.

Akash sits quiet…wondering how he can make Manohar believe his cat
missing story….

Rasika is a dominating virago...and she charges into Manohar from the

side of his car through the window.

Manohar somehow mumbles that he is on an important case and

promises dinner and escapes...
As Manohar drives off Rasika thunders at the police guard who was
watching the fracas.....the guard quickly looks away.

MANOHAR at AKASH’S BUILDING.

He examines Akash’s house. Looking around suspiciously.

Poking his head in the bathroom...strumming the piano… Opening

drawers etc…. Akash watching…
Manohar spots a hammer in a kitchen drawer. Manohar SUDDENLY
leaps over a teepoy and makes a move as if to attack Akash with
hammer. AKASH is scared but prepared. DOESN’T FLINCH.

Can I see your eyes…PULLS OUT AKASH’S GOGS. Akash is prepared.

Manohar stares at his vacant eyes. We hear a school bus. Akash says
that’s the kid’s school bus. Grill him about the cat sir….MANOHAR IS
CONVINCED THIS BOY IS BLIND. AND THEN HE SEES THE CAT coming in
thru window. Meeow. Akash grabs the cat… thank you… Sir…

EXT. INT. FRANCO’S NIGHT.

A car stops and we see Simi get out. She’s LOOKING STUNNING.

Simi enters and announces to FONSECA and SOPHIE that it’s her
anniversary and Pramod will be coming any minute.

29
Can you make the crab the way he likes it? She comes up to Akash and
says hello.

AKASH playing in a FRENZY… SUDDENLY SKIPS A BEAT

“So we decided to come here and celebrate….”

AKASH NODS. Have a great evening Ma’am.

He starts playing, a Rajesh Khanna song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_i2bqZxStA

ON WHICH WE CUT TO:

INT. PRAMOD’S HOUSE. DAY.

Pramod Sinha enters his house, laden with a bouquet and a bottle of
wine and many other presents.
He is on tip toe…as he searches for Simi in different rooms.

And then, he hears a sound in the kitchen. Ah. That’s where she is.
He moves towards the kitchen when he notices a GUN on the table….
Curious he picks it up and stares as the kitchen door opens….

SIMI steps out adjusting her slip as Pramod says SURPRISE!

AND then he sees MANOHAR ON THE DINING TABLE… rising and wearing
his pants.

THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE CRASHES ON FLOOR… Pramod grabs

Manohar’s gun resting on his jeans and TRIES TO FIRE… AS Simi and
Manohar struggle with Pramod. AND THEN PRAMOD FALLS… THEY
STARE AT HIS BLEEDING BODY AS THE DOORBELL RINGS… SIMI LOOKS
AT THE DOOR. WE SEE THE ‘IMAGINED’ MURDER SEQUENCE which may
well be how it happened.

INT. FRANCOS. NIGHT.

In dissolves over music we see Simi….

30
She is sitting quietly….interacting with Franco….
She is sitting….somewhat angry….trying her phone again and again…
Sophie talks to Simi….who is now sort of anxious….
Simi with Franco again….she is about to sob….

Akash watching from the corner of his eye…..as Simi leaves the
restaurant in a huff….

NIGHT. EXT. FRANCO’S.

Sophie steps out with her scooter. Looks for Akash. Watchman says he
left in a rick. Sophie surprised.

Desolate UNDERCONSTRUCTION complex. DAY. (REF: The one we liked in Pune)

DELETED

GULLY CRICKET played by construction workers kids…... A 10 year old

batsman hits the ball…..high in the air.
Ball flies in the air….out of sight.
FIELDER KID 2 runs to retrieve ball.

Fielder kid passes A BLACK SUV….as he searches for the ball. HE LOOKS
UNDER THE SUV AND AROUND….CAN’T FIND BALL. HE GOES INSIDE THE
CONSTRUCTION…..AND SUDDENLY REACTS…..

His POV:
ON THE FLOOR AMONGST SACK OF CEMENT…….A 500 RUPEE NOTE….
…AND HEY ONE MORE….….and a couple more in the distance….and
two more…..
Trembling with excitement, he collects 7 damp notes of 500 bucks.
……heck…enough for a new bat and stumps.

And then he gets the scare of his life. Pramod Sinha’s dead body
PROPPED AMIDST CEMENT BAGS. A bunch of 500 rupee notes in his
coiled fist.

The kid tries to PULL the notes which are stuck in the RIGOR MORTIS
TIGHT FINGERS.
The BATSMAN IS MAKING HIS SEVENTH RUN…..

31
A SCREAM PIERCES THRU THE MORNING.
(Keep duration in mind….THINK of an alternative sequence. Just as an
option)

The place swarming with COPS AND REPORTERS.

Flashes on police cameras...(optional...we see dead Pramod Sinha's
face)
The area is a crime zone now....the kids are sitting in a distance...very
pale…COP KAMDAR IS TALKING TO THEM. Maybe searching them for
more currency notes.
Police cars are all over. Some journalists lurk in the background... A
stretches carries away a white sheet covered body to an ambulance.
As Forensic guys mark the space and a few look around for more
clues...

A REPORTER’S CAMERA CHARGES AT Kamdar AS HE APPROACHES…....

Kamdar: We are looking at all angles… looks like he was murdered

somewhere else and dumped here....

Camera PULLS BACK TO REVEAL KAMDAR on TV SCREEN EVENING

NEWS. WE ARE IN A SMOKY LOW DOWN BAR.
CAMERA CONTINUES PULLING BACK TO INCLUDE THE PROFILE OF A
MAN IN FOREGROUND …IN THE BAR DRINKING RUM… LET’S CALL HIM
SURYA.HE IS SITTING IN THE BAR AND DRINKING WITH A COLLEAGUE.
HE FINISHES HIS MURUKKU AND GULPS HIS DRINK…..
by then the TV is a distant object on a fridge by the counter....but
we can still see and hear an excited news reporter....

Kamdar: (in Marathi) There were some five hundred and two thousand
rupees lying around....may be the killers were in a hurry so they did not
have time to pick these up....all are being investigated...

Reporter: .....It's really sad that such a senior actor who ruled Bollywood
once will meet his end this way....as per his wife...he was lately
investing in some real estate deals and went out carrying around One
Crore in cash.....while we feel sad and ask the police to look into this
more sharply…we also must comment here that such cash transaction in
real estate still shows the government's claim of removing cash
transaction is only a claim.....

32
SURYA WATCHES THE NEWS…..RISES…....... he passes the bar on way to
the toilet...

Mein to har mod par tujhzo dhoonda sada RENTS THE AIR…..AS SURYA
GETS INTO THE TOILET…..AS WE SEE a figure IN DARK rises and follow.

SURYA IN THE LOO. TAKES A SOLID LEAK….AH…THE JOYS OF EMPTYING

A FULL BLADDER. The FIGURE IN DARK ENTERS FOREGROUND.

SURYA FINISHES…..GOES TO THE BASIN….TO WASH HIS HANDS….AND

SUDDENLY REACTS…
THERE IS A ROLEX WATCH IN THE URINAL OPPOSITE HIM.
SURYA GULPS AND LOOKS AROUND. HE PICKS UP THE WATCH AND
WASHES IT…FUCK IT LOOKS DAMN EXPENSIVE AND REAL DIAMONDS…
CUT TO:

a RESOUNDING SLAP......

WE ARE INSIDE a POLICE STATION interrogation room.

Surya's face contorts as he hollers and cries... and though unslapped....

his friend FROM THE BAR starts crying too...

Manohar...in civvies...shirt sleeves rolled up....slaps Surya again who was

sitting on a chair....

Manohar: Bastard...found the watch in Vijay Palace toilet ehh??? You

think I am stupid......

Surya : please sir...I did not do anything sir...

Manohar: (laughs) yes…5 years in Yerwada and you are innocent... listen
carefully you fuckers…I also don't think you and this sidey here have the
balls for murder...but tell me who did and how you got the watch.....and
we can come to a compromise…OK??

Surya: please sir..please sir....

33
As Surya hollers....Manohar looks to the other chap on the chair.....who
shrinks.....Manohar pulls him up by the hair beside his ears...he yells
Manohar: (to another cop) Isko missal pao…usko poha….

He hits the guy solidly in the stomach....he croaks and falls... starts
blabbering he is innocent…
Manohar goes out....

Manohar comes into HIS OFFICE.

Kamdar is taking down Simi's version... A girl is sitting next to Simi facing
Kamdar…sobbing intermittently... we may not have a clear view of her in
the first shot...but that's ok.

The ROLEX watch is lying inside a plastic cover with a number pasted on
it.

Manohar: (rolls down his sleeves as he looks at Kamdar and Simi…who

turns to see him) They will sing....matter of time. You are sure that's the
watch ma’am??

SIMI NODS….hugs the sobbing girl who turns….Now we see her….Daani.

.
Daani: I chose it for him on his last birthday...

Manohar nods and sits on a bench...

Manohar: We will get them....

The far door opens.....Akash is escorted in by a police officer...

From Akash's POV...we see the room....

As Akash gropes...Daani gets up and holds his hand.....she escorts him to

another chair in front of Kamdar.

Simi and Manohar watch...

Akash: You....are???

34
Daani: I am Daani...you are Akash no?? the musician who came and met
Papa alive for the last time...didn't you?? How was he....

Akash: I... he was very happy....I was playing XXXXXX when he went
out... he said he will come soon.....then he called to say he will meet us
in evening....

Daani: (nods. Her voice breaks) he was always happy...you know…

They sit... Daani helping Akash...holding him... arranging him into the
chair... they watch....

Kamdar coughs......he has police work to do....

VOICE OVER OF KAMDAR, as he reads out from a prepared note the

basic details of the day for Akash's benefit.... 4

CUT TO:

EXT. INT. CAMA HALL MEMORIAL MEET. DAY.

• Press photographers clicking Simi as she greets various guests

including some celebs….
• FRANCO AND SOPHIE ARE THERE TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TOO.
• Daani is standing dignified, greeting people with folded hands…
• AKASH PLAYING YEH JEEVAN HAI…. ON PIANO…

• Old Mrs. D’Sa gets off car… She enters the hall….takes it all in.
• She lights a candle, pays respects and sits down.
• Akash’s fingers on the piano…
• Ms Marple likes Akash playing
• Flash: She remembers Akash saying …. ‘shayad wo aa gaye?’ and
Simi saying ‘Tum andar aao…”
• Her mind starts whirring

SHE CLUCKS HER TONGUE AS THE PRESS FAWNS OVER SOME CELEBRITY
AND THEN SHE SPOTS COP KAMDAR.

4 Remember to shoot alt visuals for Akash’s post blindness breakdown.

35
She sidles up to him.

Mrs. D’Sa: Any clues, Inspector P. Kamdar?

Kamdar: kya?

Mrs. D’Sa: Murder kaun kiya? Kuch maloom pada?

Kamdar: Ji…. aap kaun?

Mrs. D’Sa: Mrs Janice D’sa, retired principal Cathedral Convent. Pramod
ki padosi. Ussi floor pe rehti hoon. Pramod aur mere husband (clasps her
wrists) good friends. DRINK friends. Abhi dono upar cheers karenge…

Kamdar nods, his attention shifting to another actor who has just come
in. He shouts some instruction.

Mrs. D’Sa: Wo teesra aadmi … wo idhar nahin hai….wo kaun tha?

Kamdar: Kaun teesra aadmi?

Mrs. D’Sa: Sabse pehla jo aaya….phir Pramod aaye…. aur phir wo
andha…..
Kamdar: (half listening…gets curious) Kaun?

Mrs. D’Sa: Mein dekhti hoon kaun hai jab bhi lift ka ting bajta hai. Pehle
wo rough tough aadmi aaya….phir Pramod aaye…gifts ke saath….aur
phir wo…..(points at Akash)

Kamdar: Galat. Pehla wo Lalten aaya phir Pramod Saab

Mrs. D’Sa: Lalten? kya shabd vaparta hai. Andha sabse last aaya. Poocho
Simiji se…(whispers) jao casually poocho…. meri taraf mat dekho. Lalten
se bhi poocho.

Mrs. D’Sa watches Kamdar lumber towards Simi and Daani. From the
distance Mrs. D’Sa watches, Kamdar and Simi talking.

WE CUT TO THEM IN CLOSE.

36
Simi: (ALERT BUT CASUAL to Kamdar) Kab ki baat kar rahi hai? Kaun
teesra aadmi? Achha … pichle hafte ki baat kar rahi hai. Pramod ne pizza
order kiya tha…. delivery wala aaya phir Pramod aaye….

Kamdar: Pizza delivery?

Simi: Pramod loved watching movies in his home theatre. With Pizza.

AKASH concludes the piece.

He can see Daani is close to him.
Daani: Will you teach me this song? Will you come home tomorrow and
teach me this song?
Akash: Sure….

Mrs. D’Sa enters the frame….

Mrs. D’Sa: (to Daani) We saw this picture in Natraj Cinema…you were
not even born then. Hey Pianoman… Us din jab tum Pramod ke ghar
gaye… wo already ghar pe the na?

Akash looks up to see Simi and Kamdar are there too. There’s a crowd
around the piano.

Akash: Ji…Mein jaldi pahunch gaya actually. Pramod Sir kuch dus minute
baad aaye….

Mrs. D’Sa: No, no… There was a Third Man. …Builder type ka…I
mean…body builder… Dekhoongi to pehchan loongi.

She gives a curious stare at Simi and leaves….

Kamdar: satiya gayi hai shayad….

SIMI: She loved my husband… She is only trying to help…..

Akash is listening to this…..

Akash: (to Daani) I’ll see you tomorrow.

UNSPECIFIED LOCATION. NIGHT.

37
Akash spots A TELEPHONE BOOTH. He looks around. Nobody. He calls
100. ‘I can’t reveal my name. I saw SHO Manohar dispose Pramod
Sinha’s body.’

HE CUTS THE CALL. Wipes the phone….and returns.

INT. MANOHAR’S HOUSE. MORNING.

Rasika making poha….as Mahonar is getting dressed.

Kamdar is having a cup of tea.
Kamdar: Sir, there were many crank calls about the murder, including
one in which this guy named you. Ha ha ha ha…

Manohar almost chokes….with laughter. ME??

Rasika pats his back…

Rasika: You have a lot of enemies….But you guys have almost caught the
killer na?

Kamdar: (sighs) Saab is trying to make him talk…..

Rasika: You know what I think …..when I see Simi’s face. I think man
eater. She has a lover…I can bet on that. They killed him and planted the
watch on the history sheeter.

Kamdar: Ai laa. That’s what the old lady opposite said too….
Manohar: Which old lady… what did she say….

Kamdar: That there was a Teesra aadmi in the house…I didn’t pay
attention….

Rasika: Mannu….What are we waiting for? Go and interrogate her asap..

…this is a big case. You will both get promotions if you solve it.

Manohar goes to bathroom and pulls out his phone.

38
EXT. AKASH’S BUILDING. DAY.

As Akash leaves the building, Sophie’s scooter comes in.

Sophie: Akash.
Akash: Sophie? Is everything ok?
Sophie: You tell me. Us raat restaurant se chale gaye… phir kal prayer
meeting se akele nikal gaye…
He is quiet.

Sophie: Private kaam tha? Personal?

Akash: Nothing like that, Sophie…
Sophie: To aise odd kyun behave kar rahe ho phir?
Akash: Odd?
Sophie: Odd! Awkward. Strange. Cold. Jaise ki…tumhe lag raha hai it
was a mistake...
Akash: Daani ko Pramod Sir ke gaanon ke notations dene hain… Baad
mein baat karte hain…?

He seems so distant…. And she is extremely hurt.

Sophie: FYI, it wasn’t a sympathy fuck from my side. Or casual. Agar

tumhaare liye casual tha to at least openly bol do. Yeh invisible tension
mujhe suit nahin karta. It gives me pimples! Ok?

She leaves, quite pissed off.

INT. EXT. PRAMOD’S HOUSE. MORNING.

Daani is cutting obit news items from various newspapers….

SIMI asks Daani to get her some medicines….she’s got a bad migraine.

Daani leaves and Simi goes to the opposite door and rings bell.

Mrs. D’Sa opens the door.

Simi asks if she’s got Crocin.

EXT. PRAMOD’S BUILDING. MORNING.

39
A rick drops Akash and he enters the lobby and proceeds to the
Elevator. Enters and presses 7.

EXT INT. PRAMOD HOUSE.

MRS. D’SA COMES OUT WITH CROCIN and sees SIMI swaying like Rajesh
Khanna in Premnagar…and then she faints…..
ALARMED, Mrs D’Sa rushes to her….Simi….Simi…. … ‘Are you ok?’ SIMI
AS IF….GRABS MRS D’SA FOR SUPPORT….AND

….. AS THE LIFT DOOR OPENS.

AKASH POV: A PAIR OF FEET DISAPPEARING DOWN…. OMG!!!!!!!

AKASH DROPS STICK…

Imp: treat minimalistic.

SIMI TURNS. Akash pretending blind…..as he sees Simi stare at him….

MRS. D’SA’S GRANNY GLASSES ARE STUCK IN HER HAIR. She is hurriedly
trying to extricate the glasses as we hear a SICK THUD.

AKASH BEHAVES LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. HE TAPS HIS WAY TO

PRAMOD HOUSE DOOR. HE RINGS THE BELL…KNOWING FULLY WELL
SIMI IS OUTSIDE. AND THEN WE HEAR A SCREAM BELOW…..

SOME TIME LATER.

MRS. D’SA SPRAWLED IN A POOL OF BLOOD ON THE ITALIAN

MARBLE….
COPS DOING THEIR BUSINESS. AS THE ENTIRE SOCIETY SEEMS TO
HAVE GATHERED BELOW. THERE IS AN AMBULANCE AND
ONLOOKERS…

Akash with Daani who is in tears…In the distance, KAMDAR AND

MANOHAR discuss the unfortunate accident. POOR LADY DROPPED
HER GLASSES AND FELL OFF THE STAIRS BY ACCIDENT says Kamdar as
Manohar nods.

40
SIMI EMERGES FROM THE LOBBY AND COMES TOWARDS DAANI AND
AKASH STANDING TOGETHER.

SIMI: (pulling Daani) Come, we got a Pooja to attend….

Simi gives Akash a sharp look as she leaves with Daani.

At the lift, they cross MANOHAR.

Simi and Manohar exchange looks.
We hold on Akash standing…as people crowd around the ambulance…

EXT + INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. DAY.

Auto drops AKASH who walks briskly to the stairs. He can spy Kersi in the
distance watching him.
As Akash disappears we move with Kersi who runs behind and pulls
out a selfie stick. He attaches it to a tall bamboo and climbs on to a car
in the compound. He raises the bamboo selfie stick to Akash’s window.

Int house. Akash enters and flings off his glasses and cane. He pulls out
his phone and calls Sophie.
Akash: Hi…I need to talk to you. How soon can you come home. You
come I’ll tell you but come soon.
As he is talking, Akash pulls out milk from the fridge… puts water on the
gas and loads two heapfuls of BRU FILTER COFFEE into the small steel
filter. As the water boils, he cracks a boiled egg for the cat. (HIS KITCHEN
PROPS MUST BE BLIND FRIENDLY)

Akash does NOT notice, the phone camera hovering about his kitchen
window.
The Bell rings. Akash rushes to door….sees the dark gogs…. debates…
and he wears it. IN BG WE SEE THE SELFIE STICK GO DOWN….

Akash opens the door.

It’s SIMI. He can see her! She looks a little tense and upset. She has a
big hand bag with her.

Simi is somberly standing.

‘Mein andar aa sakti hoon….??
Akash zapped. Mrs Sinha….?

41
She enters the house. Akash shuts the door. Acts blind.

SIMI: Daani tumhein mandir mein dhoond rahi thi…Kahan chale gaye
tum?

AKASH: Ji?
SIMI: Daani ne bataya nahin. Pramod ka asthi visarjan kiya humne….Yeh
lo prasad...

Akash takes the prasad, touches to forehead. Puts it in his mouth.

Simi: Actually...mein tumhein personally thank karna chahti thi. ….your
presence and music has been a lot of help to Daani…helped her
somewhat cope with this…this…event…

Akash: Ji…aap baithiye….coffee peyengi?

Simi: I would love some.

Akash GOES TO KITCHEN……. SIMI FOLLOWS HIM…. AKASH BUSY

MAKING THE COFFEE….
BEAT.
He can glimpse her BEHIND HIM …staring at him. Akash finishes making
the coffee and turns. She’s not there.
WE GET A START. SIMI IN A SCREAM MASK STANDING JUST NEXT TO
HIM. (A reveal shot, like the Bhoot in BHOOT)

But Akash DOES NOT FLINCH. Al Pacino would have been proud of his
performance. He slowly finds his way to the table. Calls out to Simi, like
a blind person would. SIMI REMOVES THE MASK and sits in front of him

Akash: Shakkar …Doodh…?

Simi: black. Thank you.
He puts some sugar in his mug….

Simi waits for some time, THEN DELVES INTO HER BAG and brings a
bottle marked POISON and puts three drops in Akash's cup. Waits... She
puts a few more drops and very business-like puts the bottle back on the
table.
SIMI STARES AT HIM….

42
‘Thandi ho gayi hai….pee lo’
AKASH STIRS HIS CUP. She watches him.

Stalemate. They both wait......'staring' at each other.....Akash shakily

picks up the cup...

“Main Rusk leke aata hoon….” He rises, fumbles and drops the
coffee......

She dips into the bag...extracts a gun with one hand and jumps up.

Simi: That does it...../Bahut ho gaya naatak/ Pata tha tum yehi karoge/

She cocks the gun....as she thrusts it on Akash's face. Akash raises his
hand....Simi laughs viciously..bitterly...helplessly....

Simi: Utaro Chasma! Do you need the glasses any more you rascal??

Akash takes off the glasses and stares at Simi...

Akash: Hi.

Simi: Mr. Fake Blind.....meet Fake gun......(she fires phut phut phut ..the
stunt gun just clicks...she drops the gun...sits back and laughs bitterly)..
Akash: I...I am sorry.....aapko mujhe ghar ke andar allow nahin karna
chahiya tha/ Aapne mujhe andar kyoon bulaya? Bahar se si bhej deti…Aapne mujhe ghar ke andar aane kyoon
diya……/Us din aap ne mujhe andar aane ke liye kyoon kaha? you should have never let me in....

Simi: Mujhe kya maloom tha ki tum andhe nahin ho/ Andha samajhke allow kiya. Bahar wo Mrs D’sa sab sun rahi thi…
WHAT A BLOODY MESS! tum yeh drama kyon kar rahe ho..

Akash: Shuru mein riyaaz tha…phir ek din mein Sophie se mila aur…

Simi: Sophie jaanti hai?

Akash: Koi nahin jaanta. Aapko mujhse koi problem nahin hogi….Meine
statement bhi diya…Main Pune chodke jaa raha hoon. London…I have a
competition in September…..

Simi: Tum ne Daani ko kuch bataya to nahin….?

Akash shakes his head… he is looking at her a bit dazed…

SIMI: Tum jo bhi samjho….Pammi ke saath mera sab theek hi tha…

43
Manohar is just a good….. Pammi mujhe surprise dena chahte
the….kisko mila surprise…...?? Timing… bad timing….!!? KYA HUA?

Akash is feeling all woozy suddenly. He tries to stand and falls…

….SOMETHING IS WRONG.

He looks up to see SIMI STARE AT HIM. SHE’S WAITING…..

His eyes go on the box of pedas.

Akash: Kya tha us pede mein….? Kya daala tumne us pede mein….

SHE STARTS SHUTTING THE WINDOWS…..AS AKASH RUSHES TO

BASIN…….TRYING TO GAG…PUKE

Akash at the basin desperately trying to puke….and he COLLAPSES…..

SIMI WHIPS OUT HER PHONE. CALLS MANOHAR….NO REPLY. She tries
again…..the phone is ringing….

And suddenly the piano starts playing. Simi turns WITH A SHUDDER…to
see THE CAT ON THE PIANO STARING AT HER.

INTERVAL

PRABHAT ROAD EXT. DAY.

Violent shots of a sharp knife slicing flesh. It’s a coconut vendor

dexterously slicing a coconut. Sophie is waiting, another coconut in her
hand.

Cut to

EXT. AKASH’S HOUSE. DAY.

SOPHIE WALKING TO AKASH’S DOOR balancing TWO COCONUTS.

44
AT THE STAIRS. Kersi accosts Sophie.

Kersi: Didi…..ek video dikhana hai….breaking news….sirf 50 Rupaye….

Sophie shoos the kid off but Kersi insists.

Kersi: Achha video dekho phir paise do…. SEE!

SOPHIE LOOKS AT THE CLIP ON HIS PHONE. IT’S AKASH in the kitchen…
without glasses…..HIS EYES WIDE OPEN.

SOPHIE STARES AT THE CLIP IN A LOOP…FUCK. Akash is sighted?

‘Give me 50 bucks says Kersi as Sophie shoos him and strides up the
stairs BEWILDERED to say the least.

Akash can see? SHE RINGS THE BELL…There’s no response. She rings bell
again. No response.

AND THEN WE HEAR THE BOLT.

The door opens to reveal SIMI. She has a sheet wrapped around her
shoulder …. Simi looks like she’s just woken up.

Sophie, looks STUNNED.

She barges in to see Akash sprawled on a sofa/diwan… his clothes

strewn about too. A half empty bottle of wine on the window sill…..

Sophie calls out to Akash who is breathing heavily, like in a stupor…

maybe he mumbles something.

Sophie turns to see Simi behind.

SOPHIE STARES AT SIMI….

Simi: I am so embarrassed. Sorry…I am sorry…. Pramod ke death ke

baad…. pata nahin…. and Akash …..was so kind…..understanding…..

SOPHIE: (INTERRUPTING) and sensitive and emotional and so wild in

bed… Wow….. I’m glad I’m not the only one who swallowed the sob story
about how he lost his eyes. 14 saal ki umar mein…..

SIMI: (feigns innocence) Kya? Akash andhaa nahin hai? Dekh sakta hai?

45
SOPHIE: (laughs) Mujhe abhi abhi breaking news mila….
Simi: magar….kaise I mean….

Sophie: Neeche us bachhe ke paas video hai…..

AND SUDDENLY SHE LOSES IT….
Sophie: (near hysterical) Jao video dekho…mujse kyoon pooch rahi ho….

Simi: I’ll leave.

Sophie: No pls stay… Uth jaaye to omelette bana dena. Usse extra mirchi
pasand hai. Aur ek message de de na….Franco’s ka piano bik gaya. His
services are no longer required.

SOPHIE STORMS OUT OF THE ROOM, trying to control her tears.

OUTSIDE, KERSI ACCOSTS HER.

Kersi: Didi, Mere pachchas rupye?

Sophie gives him a tight slap….

She starts her bike and leaves…..Upstairs, at the window, we see Simi
watching from behind curtain.
FADE OUT

INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. NIGHT.

We last saw Akash on the bed….He is still there….maybe a couple of

hours have passed.
Akash wakes up.
WE SEE HIS FACE. WE SLOWLY GO TO HIS EYES.
THEY OPEN.
THEY ARE DAMAGED. IT’S AN UNSETTLING SIGHT.
He, and we, wonder as………Akash keeps rubbing his eyes….and suddenly
he gets up, We see him stumble, and flay his arms wildly…..

CUT TO:
Akash dunking his head in a bucket of water. Repeatedly.
He is kneeling in the bathroom over a red bucket…..
Again we see his bloody DAMAGED eyes.

46
And then he hears discordant sounds of the piano.

He stumbles out.
Simi is at the piano….she turns to see Akash at the doorway.

Akash: Mrs. Sinha….kya kiya tumne mere saath….mujhe kuch dikhayi

nahin de raha….

Simi: Tum 14 ki umar se andhe ho na? Article bhi aaya tha paper mein…..

Akash GOES CRAZY.

Akash: Kya dala mere aankhon mein….Mujhe doctor ke paas le

chalo….PLEASE…. Take me to a doctor NOW…. varna mein sab bol
doonga….

Akash hears the clatter of his cane. And Simi speaks.

Simi: Jao doctor ke paas. Press mein bhi jao, police mein bhi jao, ek aur
statement do… Simi Sinha ne Pramod Sinha ka murder kiya. Mujhe
andha bhi bana diya. Ho sakta hai koi yakeen kar lega tumhara.
Goodnight.

She heads to the door and turns.

Simi: Music pe dhyaan do…..artist ho na?

Akash hears the door shut.

EXT. AKASH’S HOUSE. NIGHT.

Simi walks out coolly…in the distance, Kersi is sitting and reading. Simi
calls out to him.

Simi: Kya video hai tumhare phone mein….?

She gives Kersi a 500 buck note.
Kersi shows the clip.
Simi DELETES it.

47
Simi: Hey kahan hai clip….?
Kersi snatches the phone to find the clip missing….
Kersi swiping his phone repeatedly….Simi snatches the 500 bucks back
and leaves…

INT. FRANCO’S. NIGHT.

A tearful Sophie on the phone.

Sophie: Don’t bother…. I saw it with my own eyes….The kid showed me

the clip…you can see. SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME. You just broke my
heart. Write a song about that you asshole. And IF YOU CALL ME AGAIN,
I’LL EXPOSE YOU TO THE COPS.’ HANGS UP.

In the distance, Fonseca puts a few coins in the Tips Bowl. Unaware of
everything….

INT. AKASH’S HOUSE. NIGHT.

Akash. Head bowed between legs. He’s crying.

ON AUDIO, WE HEAR A BARRAGE OF VOICES…INTERRUPTING EACH

OTHER. (there can be flash-cut of faces too)

Are you saying that all these days you were playing blind?

So you saw Pramod Sinha leave with a lot of money.

Oh you saw the murder and yet kept quiet about it.

Why did you give a false statement?

Maybe you had an accomplice and you tipped him off about the money
with Pramod

What is Pramod Sinha’s wedding ring doing in your flush tank?

Akash is on the floor, imagining all scenarios.

48
EXT. AKASH HOUSE. NIGHT.

We follow Kersi coming upstairs and peeping in thru the window. His
pov: We see Akash crying. Kersi stares……a bit unsettled to see the
crying man.
Akash: (hearing a sound) Kaun hai…who’s there…
Kersi just backs off… scared….
Cut to:

EXT. LAL DEVAL. NIGHT.

Manohar is completely flabbergasted…they sit in a parked car and talk…

Manohar: What do you mean, you blinded him? How?

Simi: There are a dozen ways on Google.

Manohar: How does blinding help?? Are you mad??? He can go to the
press..I will be taken out of this investigation…and we will both be
caught…..you should have killed him there….

Simi: Oh yeah... so I am the supari guy here….kill him..kill her..and I

run?? am I to kill everybody when you not take my calls because you are
with your bloody wife ??

Manohar: hey you also kept phones silent….you were married

too…remember…

Simi: yeah…with a thousand times better person than what I got here…
(turns and snaps) …and why did you bring the gun to my house… that
day ?? If you had not got the gun, none of this would have happened.
(mimics) A big macho man….must carry a gun…while somebody else
does the dirty jobs ehh? (she covers her face with hand) fuck fuck fuck
fuck fuck…..

Manohar stares at her….thinking…

INT. AKASH HOUSE. LATE NIGHT

We hear some drawers being opened.

49
Akash gropes for a Tin box…..finally finds it.

HE REMOVES MONEY FROM THE BOX AND his passport. He stuffs them
into his pocket. HE STUMBLES ON A COCONUT. He is flummoxed.

HE takes his passport and starts walking out of the room when a piece of
cloth brushes his face.

It’s a bedsheet…. hanging from the ceiling fan. And we realize it’s a make
shift NOOSE.

… and suddenly we glimpse MANOHAR in the shadows …..

Manohar grabs his neck and tightens the noose as Akash struggles to
free himself and breathe….

SOLID STRUGGLE…

Akash is flaying his free arm….like Grace Kelly in Dial M for Murder.

And Akash lays his hands on one of the Spray Cans that Simi had kept
out. Akash gets a chance to spray Manohar’s face with Mortein’s HIT.

Or it can be an electric iron that comes into Akash’s hands and he

whacks blindly with it and hits Manohar on the forehead. Manohar
clutches his forehead and falls as Akash stumbles his way to a Wait until
Dark escape.

EXT. LAW COLLEGE ROAD. NIGHT.

It’s an empty road with occasional speeding traffic. A couple of dogs

bark furiously as we see….

Akash totter….stumble…..and finally holds on to a lamp post.

He tries to stop a passing vehicle and then another but they just speed
by….

Akash moves along the road….the sounds of dogs and distant music
filling his ears.

50
And suddenly out of the blue, a chicken van turns the corner and wings
Akash……he falls on the ground.

The van speeds on….In the distance, an auto is approaching. The auto
stops. CUT TO:

A few seconds later….We see a BLEEDING MANOHAR ON THE ROAD,

searching….

CUT TO:

EXT. INT. HIDEOUT. DAY.

An isolated old building adjacent to a railway track. An express train

thunders by….. A van is parked outside the building. Cut to:

Inside. We are in a municipal clinic….or some such place though it looks

defunct.

There is a vague hooded light…..shining into camera….

With a start…Akash sits up…he is immediately held by somebody…we

see MURLI holding him….

Dr. Swami checks Akash…..as SAROJA, is watching. We recognize Saroja

as the lady who runs the lottery stall on Karve Road.

Swami taking away the torch from his eyes..Saroja watching…

Akash: where am I..what is this??

Murli: I am MURLI sir..auto driver….taken you around a few times….you

fainted on the road last night.. what happened??

Akash: Murli….(tries to remember)..where am I??

Swami: In good hands my boy…I am a doctor..they called me in the

morning…this is my nursing home.

Swami comes and pats him on the back.

51
Akash: (frantic) Doctor….pls….my eyes….there is something in my eyes…
Doctor…it’s burning….It’s all dark….I can’t see anything….earlier I could
see…a bit…light…now….

Swami: I see your eyes are swollen…also some bruises…

Murli: He has been blind since age 14….

Swami: I’ve seen him play at Franco’s. Wonderful. When God takes
something, he gives something else.

Akash: what is wrong with my eyes…. ….

Swami: This looks like very recent damage…..Did you pour some wrong
drops in your eyes by mistake…?

Akash: No….I….can you tell me what is wrong?

Doctor: I need to take you to an eye specialist. But right now, you need
some food and rest. ……(to Saroja) give him these pills and tomorrow
you should be fine.

Akash: Murli..was somebody..somebody chasing me last night…did you

see anybody…

Murli: No..why??

Akash falls silent…..Saroja comes forward….

Saroja: Is there anybody you would like us to inform….? You didn’t have
a phone….Your passport and money was in your pocket. It’s safe….

Murli: This is my mausi sir….she sells lottery tickets…

Saroja: ….should we call somebody….

Akash: No….I want to meet the specialist….

Swami: Rest today….let me give you a tetanus shot, for safety…(presses

a wound) this looks nasty.

Dr. Swami pulls out his doc bag and takes out a fresh syringe.

52
Swami: (dabs spirit on his forearm) Steady….

Akash WINCES as the doc injects the syringe. We see him extract blood
in the syringe. We wonder …..

HIDEOUT. DAY.

Some time has passed. Murli brings out Akash from a sideroom…looks to
be a bathroom…

Saroja opens some packets of Poha and vada. on a table….Murli takes

Akash to the table…he sits.
Saroja pours a thin tea for him…

Mausi: So where is your family….beta?

Akash: My mother passed away….my father….is not in touch for many
years….
Akash takes a sip of tea and rises……

Murli: careful…It’s a big room...let me help you…

He holds Akash and takes him out to a balcony….a train passes by…
Akash: which place is it…

Murli: Loni station is only 10 minutes walking…

Another TRAIN passes and we TRAnsitIoN to:

EXT. INT. HIDEOUT. NIGHT.

We see the doctor drive towards the building in his OLD VAN. The
doctor waves at Murli…..gesturing him to come down.

The doctor comes in… looks at Saroja and nods…Murli sees that and
comes…..

Dr. Swami: It’s done…total 2 lakhs for you…but both kidneys….he hasn’t
eaten anything no ? Good..we can do it now….

53
Saroja nods...Murli is shocked…

Murli: Both kidneys??...But…but how will he live??

Swami: Don’t worry ….He won’t…….just take the body and put it on the
track at night….who checks for missing kidneys in a run over case??? And
he is blind…people will think he just wanted to cross….

Murli: Mausi…are…are you ok with this??

Saroja: Were you ok when your mother begged in trains….ehh??

Swami: (to Murli) get the things ready….Aah….Akash…you are looking

much better.

He walks towards Akash……we see Murli and Saroja contest a point ..we
do not hear them..but Murli is losing…
Swami: I have fixed with Dr. Ambike for tomorrow morning. Come
on…lie down and let me give you a proper examination. SAYS
SOMETHING FUNNY.

Swami motions to Saroja and Murli…to get the equipment and start the
work…..

We see Murli and Mausi wheel in some equipment and stuff.

Dr. Swami’s mobile rings…he cuts…

Akash is relaxed as Swami leads him to to the centre of the room.

Swami: take off your shirt and trouser…and lie on your stomach.

Akash takes them off…and is helped on the steel bed…

Akash: ohh…it’s cold..?? is it an OT bed?

Swami: (puts a rubber/plastic sheet below) Oh sorry….here…..Wear

this….Yes….You are in my clinic….

Akash fleetingly wonders….clinic….with so much silences….no sign of

other patients….. Swami pulls out a syringe…as Saroja comes and turns
Akash over on his belly..

54
In close up, we see Dr. Swami make an injection.

A SURREAL GIALLO atmosphere. The soundtrack is SERGIO.

Akash on his belly…..AROUND HIM Saroja is wearing a surgical mask and

Murli puts scalpel and scissors and forceps in boiling water.

The doctor wears his surgical gloves which makes their own chic chic
sound. He is continuously chatting….putting the patient at ease….

Swami’s mobile rings again. He cuts it.

Dr. Swami prepares the anesthesia and signals instructions to Saroja.

Murli is watching….trying to make his peace with the situation. Akash is
blissfully unaware…..5
Dr. Swami: Relax….I’m going to give you an injection.

Dr. Swami’s mobile rings. Again. He frowns and looks up… Swami picks
it up in a fury and shouts…

Swami: now you also…YES..I cut the cable connection…ask LADDOO to

study and it will be back…..and instead of seeing those stupid serials you
can help him study….I am in the middle of an operation.. so don’t call for
next one hour…

A BURST OF MUSIC.

He cuts the call….Akash tries to turn..

Akash: Hey..hey what operation is this?? What are you doing???

Murli..Mausi…hey…

Swami: Hold him….

Mausi holds the legs….Murli holds Akashs hands….

The doc quickly pushes the injection in……he drops the syringe…takes a
pen and draws mark around two kidneys…

5 Have a doc explain the process and equipment required. Also be on set !

55
Akash: What are you drawing there…. what are you trying to do…

Saroja: Fuck..he is kicking like a horse…..

Doc rushes to help her…

Murli: Don’t fight..its just one kidney we will take…you will have
another…..we are poor people….we need money…please..don’t
mind…yes??

Akash is slipping into darkness…

Akash: You are fools…I can give you much more….Mausi…listen to

me….your Shivji tattoo ki kasam..don’t operate on me..I CAN GET YOU
A CRORE…..listen to me….I AM YOUR BIGGEST LOTTERY.

Akash goes limp…..Swami rises..

Swami: huh..some stud….(he goes to Akash’s side and chuckles as he

takes a scalpel)…one crore….?? Ha…

Saroja is thinking..she suddenly says…

Saroja: Wait…(doc stops) how did he know I have a Shivji tattoo??

They stare at Akash who is unconscious.

SUITABLE TRANSITION to:

DREAM LIKE LOCATION. DAY.

It’s a house with a terrace….or maybe a cottage in the woods.
It’s a bright summer morning and Sophie is making breakfast.
Eggs…sunny side up.
SOPHIE IS BLINDFOLDED but she’s doing everything perfectly.

Akash is sighted. Reading the papers. Sipping Watermelon Juice. The

headline says SIMI MISSING. The toast pops up.

Sophie places the eggs in front of Akash and starts buttering the crisp
toast.

56
Akash cuts out the yolks from the eggs….He places the yolks on a
tissue… Sophie is fentaoing the coffee.

Akash walks out with the yolks. We hear birds. Crows.

And now we see Simi on the terrace…..she’s lying on the mosaic tiles….
her hands tied… her head between two solid bricks.

She looks at Akash and screams something though all we hear are the
crows. The crows get louder and LOUDER as Akash places the egg yolks
on her eyes…

One by one…… Simi screams and struggles but all we hear are crows and
piano…. The crows descend on the egg yolks on Simi’s eyes….

TIGHT CLOSE UP OF BEAK ATTACKING YOLK.

Akash walks away to meet blindfolded Sophie with a piping hot cup of
coffee. ‘here…have some coffee….’
ABRUPT CUT TO:

HIDEOUT: NIGHT. It’s a couple of hours later….

Saroja: wake up..

Akash sits up on bed…..tries to look and feel around…

Saroja finds his hand and puts the coffee cup in…

Saroja: coffee…drink some….

Akash desperately feels around his back…no incision…Saroja watches

impassively…then she says…

Saroja: you are lucky lucky..the doctor was planning to take both
kidneys…we would have got 2 lakhs. (she stops)..now what about this
one crore…and how did you know I have a tattoo…

Akash digests the fact that he has barely survived..he drinks coffee…then
he says…

57
Akash: You are 5 feet 4 inches..generally wear red and yellow
salwar…have a grey cardboard on which the lottety tickets are held in a
clip…

Saroja stands up..zapped….Murli looks..

Murli: shit…

Akash: Murli is 5 feet …….has a thin mustasche..wears a bandanna….his

auto has an aishwariya rai poster at the back….

He stops…they look at each other…

Saroja: you can see??

Akash: yes…two days back I could….and I saw the ONE CRORE… I know
who has it. With your help we can get our hands on it.

INT. FENG SHUI SHOPPE. DAY.

Simi is explaining some objects to a couple….

Simi: For young couples like you…this Jade plant is very important…if you
keep one at home at the right place…the instructions are there…..you
will never run short of money. You can also have a crystal tortoise ..or a
wooden wood chime for luck….

MANOHAR WALKS IN. HE HAS A NASTY CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD. He looks

around the shop, pretending to inspect things.

Simi notices his grim face and the cut….

Simi: Why don’t I do one thing….take my card..give me a call. I can visit

your flat and advice…that way it will be customized…no charge at all…

The couple nod and leave with the card….Manohar sees them go and
comes at the counter…

58
Simi: What happened?

Manohar: He escaped….bastard hit me with an iron too…

Simi stares hard at him….….zapped

Simi: A blind man..hit you and escaped….a police officer ??

Manohar avoids her gaze ..he feels the cut and gulps

Manohar: Don’t worry….I am going to put men out…looking for him…

(he picks up the Buddha…)This is for luck…you said??

Simi stares at him……Her face goes to the fresh garlanded picture of

Pramod in the shop.

EXT. INT. SIMI’S HOUSE. DAY.

Simi exits lift and opens door. Simi walks in and reacts:
Akash is at the piano…with Daani, going over some notes.

Akash: Hello Mrs. Sinha… hello. Mein kal London ja raha hoon…Daani ko
music notes dene aaya tha…Chalta hoon. (to Daani…you keep practicing)
He rises.
Simi: Ghar drop kar doon tumhein….?
Akash: that would be wonderful ma’am….Aap se thodi baat bhi karni thi….

Akash turns to find his cane… He gives Daani a hug…

Simi leads him out… Tells Daani to order a pizza… for both of them…

As he leaves he whispers something to Daani. Simi is watching curiously.

INT. PARKING LOT. DAY.

Simi opens the door on one side and puts Akash in…she bends down and
straps him…as she does so..she presses a button on her cell…
She shuts the door and comes round the car… she stops at the
back…and impatiently kicks the ground…she looks into the car…Akash
impassively sitting…..back to her…

59
Simi: (hissing) pick up the phone ..

A guarded voice comes from the other side…

Manohar: Hello???

Simi: That blind chap is here…..sitting with me….in my car…he wants to

talk….now what??

There is a sound of chair crashing….we may briefly CUT TO MANOHAR at

a video conference from a room in the police station.

We see the chair topple….. an excited Manohar going to the window

with hand cupped on his face….other officers look surprised…the smiling
Buddha is on the table ….

Manohar: Fucking Feng Shui works….bring him to Range hill cemetery….I

will be there…In 30.

He comes back and pats Harbhajan on the back…..

Manohar: Got a lead on that Joshi case…will tell you….(he pockets the
Buddha and goes out…)

ON THE ROAD. IN CAR. DAY.

Simi drives…we see Range Hill Cemetry on GPS…she looks at Akash..who

seems to be in deep thought..

Simi: You have some place you want me to drop you??

Akash: (as if out of reverie)..No..I ..I just want to get out of this mess…

Simi: (laughs) don’t we all??

Akash: (suddenly vitriolic..almost charging)..No..you don’t understand…I

told you I will be quiet..i will go away from here..but then you fucked up
my eyes..then Manohar tries to come and kill me…what is this??

60
Simi: He did??

Akash: I somehow managed to escape..caught an auto..I went to the bus

stand..I went half through Mumbai…I wanted to go to police….

Simi goes pale…she looks at Akash…

Akash: and then….I thought police will take me to be an accomplice..i

gave wrong statement too…nobody will believe me…..so I came back…

Simi: That’s good thought….

Akash: But now I want my eyes to be fixed…I can get a cornea transplant
in the black market….it will cost money. I need to go to London….you will
need to pay me….I will go away if you give me ten lakhs…I promise…

Simi looks as an auto overtakes her…..she looks at GPS…they are

nearing…

Simi: Ten lakhs…but ..I don’t have that much…

Akash: I will need ten lakhs…..or you go to jail….

The auto in front has stopped….almost blocking the road..….Simi brakes

the car….

Simi: Fuck that auto…(leans out and shouts) Hey…remove your vehicle…
I am in a hurry…

Akash: What happened??

Simi: An auto…blocking the road….

Akash: Does it have an Aisharya Rai poster at the back??

Simi is zapped….she turns to Akash…

Simi: You…you can see???

61
Akash smacks a handkerchief on Simi’s face. She is taken totally by
surprise…..she struggles and gasps and finally gives up struggling…..

Akash: No…I cannot!!!

He presses the horn twice. We see Murli and Saroja get out of the auto.
As the Sinhgad Express thunders above the bridge.

MANOHAR’S HOUSE. POLICE QUARTERS. EVENING.

Manohar looking pretty zapped….tries Simi’s number…hears it is

switched off and keeps it on the table…
He has just come home. He sits on the sofa trying to contemplate wtf is
happening…he puts his gun and the Buddha on the table….

Rasika comes smiling and puts the tea and poha on the table..

Rasika: This is Chinese poha…taste and tell me...(she looks at him)

anything wrong….(Manohar shakes head..picks up Poha…..as the
landphone rings) .. you relax…I’ll take it.

Rasika goes…Manohar takes a spoonful of Poha…makes a face..quickly

puts it down and sips tea….

Manohar: It’s superb….

Intercut with Hideout as we show Akash talking….(we can even
DISCOVER it at the end of conversation that it was Akash)

HIDEOUT. LATE EVENING.

Akash on the phone

Akash: Rasika ma’am…I am detective ISMAIL….good evening ma’am…

Rasika: (zapped) you want my husband??

Akash: No No ma’am I need to talk to you….

Rasika: Me?? What about??

62
Akash: Something very important ma’am….

Manohar (VO) Who is that??

Rasika: (quickly thinks)…It’s Mallika….

Akash: Thank you ma’am..see this is very delicate…Pramodji …let his soul
be in peace…suspected that his wife Simi was having an affair..so he
appointed me..to keep a tab on her. I followed her for two months.. got
all report ma’am… photographs….spent around 50 thousand from my
pocket…you see…hotel…food..conveyance….but but then Pramodji
died…now who will reimburse this money and pay my fees??
Rasika: (zapped) how do I know…why are you telling me all these?? .. Go
to Simi….

Akash: Chii….the report is against her no?? I have got all proof….she is
having an affair …..so I thought…may be you will

Rasika: (more zapped) Me????? Why????

Akash: Because ma’am it’s with your husband Simiji was having an affair
with….

Rasika: WHAT???

Akash: Yes..ma’am I have got proof…and more than that..Simiji and

Manoharji killed Pramod Sinha saab..i was outside….I saw your husband
take the body away in a suitcase. I saw you later at the police station
talking to your husband… they killed him for 1 crore money….now
ma’am if you give me that money…then everything will be well…I will
return all the proof I have….

Rasika is stunned…she almost collapses…..one can hear the other side

still talking…..then a click sound…

Akash puts the phone down.

INT.MANOHAR HOUSE. NIGHT.

63
BLAM….BLAM…..two shots ring through the door….taking away half the
pane…Manohar yelps….he is wearing only a towel….he is standing on
the commode…..

Through the hole….the Buddha comes and falls on the bathroom

floor….Manohar looks at it…

Outside a crying...hysterical Rasika aims the gun again….as she screams…

Rasika: That’s from her fucking shop…I know it….you come out ..you
rat…... I will kill you…

Manohar: Rasika put down the gun…please..you will hurt yourself.. it’s
all nonsense. please….I made a mistake… .I love you only….

Rasika: So you think she is more beautiful than me??

Manohar: Am I mad??? She is a lying bitch...a witch…I went mad…..(all

quiet…only Rasika sniffling outside…Manohar sneezes)..please…can I
come out…give me the gun first…

Silence…..Manohar tiptoes down…

His mobile rings on the bathroom counter….

BLAM….another shot….Manohar leaps back..the towel falls…

Rasika: That’s her…that’s her…I know that’s her…

Manohar picks up….it’s Kamdar…

Manohar: It’s Kamdar….

Rasika: I don’t believe you…put it on speaker….

Manohar does…

Manohar: Hello….??

64
Kamdar: Sir….Simiji’s car is found at the hillside sir….it seems she has
jumped and committed suicide…

The door opens….naked Manohar comes out…gaping with the phone in

hand….Rasika looks at him…

TV NEWS. VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

We see Simi’s car near the raging waters….

There is a crowd of onlookers….as divers are getting ready for a search…

On TV we see the police bandobast on the cliff side….Manohar and

Kamdar…a stunned Daani is comforted by a policewoman…

Anchor: Within a week of Pramod Sinha’s brutal murder…his wife Simi

goes missing. Her car is found at the hillside…Police suspect she may
have committed suicide out of grief….but there is no suicide note
found…

We can move from anchor to anchor…

Manohar: (on TV) we are looking into this…that’s all I can say…..

INT. FRANCO’S. NIGHT

Manohar: (on TV) we are looking into this...that’s all I can say...

Daani: Mother left with my music teacher….

Anchor: Intrerestingly……Akash the blind music teacher is also not found

at his place…

Sophie watches….she smirks..

Sophie: they have eloped.

Franco watching TV too….

Franco: you are too negative….give the boy a chance to explain..

65
Sophie: Do you know he lied to me??

INT. HIDEOUT. NIGHT.

As the anchor reads the news Simi is wheeled into the room…..
She is struggling…she finds her eyes are taped and her hands and feet
are tied……..even her mouth is gagged….

Suddenly she falls very quiet as the news are read out….we sees tears
are trickling down from under her taped eyes… (we should feel
sympathy at this point)

Murli helps Akash to Simi’s chair (should be a bizarre sort of scene) ….

Akash feels Simi’s face.. Simi cringes … Under her gag Simi is sobbing ….
She tries to move her hands and legs…but much more feebly this
time…Akash feels the eyes…gagged mouth...stops at tears…. Murli
whispers to him..

Murli: she is crying…

Akash feels and then fumbles and opens the gag at the mouth…

Akash: Crying at the news of your own death….??

Simi starts shouting….

Simi: Help….please help….

Akash holds his hand over her mouth…

Akash: listen to me….you cannot get away from here….I want to blind
you and take your eyes..and the people who are helping me….they want
to take your kidneys and sell that…..there is no escape till you do as you
are told….

Akash calls out….

66
Akash: Doctor….

Swami comes and puts in a syringe..extracts the blood…

Simi: (screams) what are you doing?? What is this….

Akash: I cannot see…cannot tell….possibly the doctor is taking some

blood….some blood group needs to be matched.

Simi: You can’t be serious…..you cannot do this….Manohar will get you….

Akash: Oh I cannot do this….really?? and one person can go around

killing and blinding people…..?? (he laughs) by the way ..Manohar thinks
you are dead…and his wife knows about you now…so….guess he will not
be so keen…

Simi: What...what do you want…

Saroja: One crore…

Simi: who…who was that?? How may are here…

Akash: you can count when we open your eyes….now…why not start
with a confession.. tell us what happened….

Simi: (takes a breath…looks around) hey….why don’t you take this man
and sell his kidneys or whatever….I will pay you double for what you will
get if you let me go and take him instead…..is that a deal??

There is an uneasy silence…then Dr. Swami speaks

Swami: that makes sense to me…

Simi: doesn’t it?? Open my eyes….i will pay triple if you let me watch as
you cut this guy open….

Akash: She doesn’t even have ten lakhs she told me.

Simi: I lied…

67
Murli: You lie, you kill your husband….that’s why I don’t like you…..

Saroja: Imagine a bahu like this for you….

Simi: Who killed her husband…???

Akash: you did..I saw..you forgot i was there…you helped Manohar pack
the body…

Simi: I just helped him… it was an accident….Manaohar brought his

gun…PRAMOD picked it up….they struggled ..the gun went off…

Akash: but that’s not what police know..do they?? May be you planned
it with your lover…

Simi: I tell you it was an accident….Manohar called me up to wish for

the anniversary… ..heard I was alone so came over….only if stupid
Pramod would not be so daft as to lie…

Saroja: So why did Manohar come ehh……may be you planned it all

along and used him to kill your husband…

Simi: me using him??....huh…it was him all along…he was sort of

blackmailing me….threatening to tell Pramod….I was forced to go
along….. please believe me...you are a woman…what will you do in my
place?? … he threatened my home..family...husband…(she weeps)
please.. I loved my husband….It was Manohar’s gun….he shot him..not
me…

OPTIONAL:
QUICK CUTAWAY TO MANOHAR

Manohar contrite sitting with a banyan and shorts…speaking earnestly

to Rasika who is watching him..

Manohar: I was forced to go along….She was almost blackmailing me…

threatening to inform my bosses…inform you….please put me in my
position…what was I supposed to do?? She threatened my family...my
job….yes it was a mistake...but I loved only you…..it was her who pulled
the trigger…not me…

68
BACK TO THE HIDEOUT.

Simi sneezes….

Simi: Sorry…my tears are getting into my nose…please I have been

punished enough…please let me go…

Akash: What about Ms. D’sa, eh?..I saw you push her over…

Simi: (suddenly loses it and shouts) Hey….is this a court or what??? You
guys are killers too…..and I paying you to kill this creep…..(turns face to
general direction of Akash) ..yes..I killed her..you also would have done
the same….she would have identified Manohar straight away…as such
strange people were sending messages…

Akash: yes..that was me…

Simi: Hell..Manohar was right…I should have killed you…instead of

blinding you….

Akash: (to Murli) OK….That’s it…

There is some sound…. Simi is zapped..

Simi: what is?? (she is zapped more as she hears her own voice being
played from a mobile…we see Murli holding one up..smiling)… is..is that
a recording??

Akash: A great confession….thank you… you deserve a kiss…

He fumbles and brings his mouth near her ears….whispers ….

Akash: we are dead….if we are not together in this….

As Akash gives a big kiss on cheek…Simi head butts him on the

nose….Akash is stumped and falls..others laugh…

Simi: Bastard..you got me into this….wait till I get out of here…

69
Akash: (Tries to get up..Murli helps)…..You are not getting out of here till
we get our money….And remember the world thinks you are dead….they
are looking for you in the river…

Swami: (to himself) ……so many bodies just go waste…..…everybody

wants to go to heaven with his kidneys….

EVENING AT THE HIDEOUT.

They are having Drinks in the evening. Doctor, Akash and Murli….Dr
pours rum and they strike glasses….Murli helping Akash to meet the
other glasses.

Dr. Swami slaps Akash on the back..

Swami: You are drinking..so if even I want I can’t operate on you before
48 hours…some sort of insurance ehh?? Haha….

Murli: What will you do with the money Doctor?

Swami: (before he answers mobile rings and he picks it up)..Arre I am

coming….wrapping up..hey..how is that TV on?? You have…what do you
mean..

He goes off…enraged…gesticulating on phone….

Akash: What will you do Murli…

Murli: Don’t know sir….never had so much in my life…maybe..maybe get

married??

At the back…Saroja escorts Simi out of the loo….She is still blindfolded.

Simi: I am telling you..there is no money..it’s a lie…

Saroja is impassive..

70
Saroja: I heard on TV…

Simi: We lied to cover the death…..don’t you realize?

Saroja: You think we are fools? Your boyfriend has agreed to hand over
the money…you are lying…

Simi: Arre..why will I lie now?? What is more valuable..my life or 1

crore…

Saroja: I have met nobody who is more valuable than one crore…. 3 lakh
will be max….that too if everything gets sold…

A train thunders by in the night.

NEXT MORNING AT DR. SWAMI’S HOUSE.

Swami reads the paper at the veranda……he takes a sip of tea..looks up

to see his son watching cartoon with TV on mute in the drawing
room..….

He gets up..goes in…switches the TV off and comes back…

Swami: This time when I cut the cable...your mom also won’t be able to
get it back….understand…

Son: (SMIRKS) mom and I will go stay with granpa…

Swami sighs and sits….the nurse Sandhya comes with some papers…he
nods and picks it up…

Suddenly something catches his eyes..he sits up like a bolt….starts

reading something avidly…then clutching some papers rush inside..
nurse is zapped..

Nurse: something wrong sir…

Swami: ehh…no..nothing…everything is fine…..

71
INT. MANOHAR HOUSE. DAY.

we catch Rasika and Manohar at the dining table.

He has just taken a vow never to look at another woman again. She is
wrapping rubber bands on bundles of 2000 RUPEE NOTES.

THE LANDLINE RINGS…..Manohar puts the phone on SPEAKER and gives

it to Rasika.
Hello?
This time it’s Murli on the other side.
Manohar can’t recognize the voice.
Murli: Is the money ready?

Rasika: Yes….ok….

Murli: Give the money and your cell phone to Manohar…And if he’s not
listening, tell him I’ll be waiting at KALPATRU HEIGHTS at 10am.
Tell him to come alone or I will sell the tapes to news channels. They pay
well too.

RASIKA HANGS UP.

Rasika coldly hands him his gun and says GO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

Manohar dips rusk in his tea and stares at her. The rusk disappears.

INT. HIDEOUT. DAY.

Murli shakes Akash by hand…

Murli: best of luck..when we come back we will drink and celebrate…

Saroja holds Akash and brings him to a chair…

Saroja: you will hurt yourself..please sit…

Akash sits..only to be caught by Murli against the chair as Saroja quickly

ties him..

72
Akash: ehh…what happened ...why are you tying me up??

Saroja: we will be back in one hour. keep quiet..you are too bhola…..Simi
will intimidate you or trick you….this is for your own good….

Simi laughs out hearing this…...

INT. HIDEOUT. DAY.

Simi: So… plans went wrong Mr. Akash..you seems to be as tied up as I

am…

Akash: Why don’t you keep quiet??

Simi: (laughs) so you have set out an amateur gang to meet Manohar for
some fictitious money….Manohar will just eat them up… then come here
and whip your ass. Meanwhile of course you planned to escape with
that confession and create some problem for us……nothing like that is
going to happen now of course….only I will like to see what Manohar
does to you….

Akash: And once he has killed me it will be very easy for him to use the
same gun to put a bullet through you too…saying the organ guys
kidnapped both of us and killed us….that will take care of Rasika too….

Simi falls silent….

Akash: Not very cheerful now…are we??

Simi: You lie…

Akash: Why don’t you find out?? Yes, I hoped to escape but now we
both are in equal danger. If the organ mafia returns without the money…
I wonder whether they would spare either of us. Manohar or the gang…
We will know in one hour.

73
Simi: …tell me how are your hands tied..

Akash: Back to the chair why??

Simi: Lets come closer...you sing or shout…

Akash sings badly from the Spy From Shanghai..

Simi: you know only one song??

Akash sings …Simi scraping her chair….trying to get closer to him.

It’s an odd sight.

…..she places her chair opposite to Akash… They are now back to
back…..their fingers touch.

Simi: Hold still. I can feel the knots….

Akash: (snatches his hand away) I am not going to trust you ever again…

Simi: (laughs) So how will two blind people escape from a closed room
my dear??? (We hear a train passing) don’t be daft...I will still be tied
here….I can guide you to escape….

Akash: Why will you do that??

Simi: Because….i can use that to bargain with the organ duo…Come on…i
want to help you escape….Quick….we are losing time every minute….

CUT TO:

EXT. KALPATRU HEIGHTS. DAY.

In a top Angle shot we see MANOHAR GETS OFF HIS MOBIKE AND ENTER
THE COMPLEX with a bag.

He stands under a board which says THIS PROPERTY IS UNDER COURT

RECIEVER. An old chowkidar enjoying a siesta in the shade. HIS PHONE
RINGS.

74
MURLI ON THE 11TH FLOOR is watching Manohar.

Murli: Go to the Lobby of C BLOCK Tower 6. Put the money in the Lift and
wait outside. I will send the proof down. If you get into the lift, I won’t
respond.

MANOHAR walks to the designated block and enters.

There is nobody there. But the lift is working. He looks around.

He opens the lift… And puts the BAG inside and shuts the lift.
A beat. And the LIFT STARTS GOING UP.
Manohar watches… the lift crosses First floor and MANOHAR STARTS
RUNNING UP…SPRINTING ON THE STAIRS… TAKING TWO OR THREE
STEPS AT A TIME…

MANOHAR RACING WITH THE LIFT…

Manohar is on the ninth floor when the lift stops at the 11th FLOOR.

Murli opens the lift and pulls out the BAG as Manohar BURSTS OUT OF
THE STAIRCASE brandishing a gun.

HANDS UP ISMAIL!!

MURLI PANICS AND TRIES TO MAKE A DASH FOR THE STAIRS… AS

MANOHAR SHOOTS HIM IN THE BACK.

MURLI FALLS… his phone rolls down a step…It’s live.

MANOHAR JUMPS ON HIM IN TRUE COP STYLE AND holds gun to his
forehead.

Manohar: Where THE FUCK IS THE EVIDENCE?

MANOHAR GUN BUTTS HIM ACROSS THE FACE.

Murli howls… for Saroja.

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE SCREAMS MANOHAR…

75
A bleeding Murli says ‘basement …MY SISTER…SAROJA…SHE IS IN THE
BASEMENT’

MANOHAR runs to the lift and presses G AS WE CUT TO

INT. BASEMENT. DAY.

SAROJA IN THE BASEMENT… WITH PHONE…

SHE SHOUTS INTO PHONE… MURLI… YOU OK?

MURLI: He has got into the lift. I got the money….

SAROJA smiles…HER HAND ON THE MAINS. SHE SWITCHES OFF THE

POWER AND THE LIFT HALTS BETWEEN THE 8TH AND 9TH FLOOR…

MANOHAR PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS.

Manohar PRESSES THE SWITCHES AND BANGS ON THE STEEL DOOR.
HIS PHONE SHOWS NO SIGNAL… he pulls out a lighter…

The lighter falls… Manohar gropes for it and bangs the door…
FRANTICALLY…gun in hand. ON BLACK WE HEAR THE STEEL WALLS
BANGING….

BACK AT THE HIDEOUT.

Simi is dexterously at the ropes…..

Simi: … by the way what was your plan??

Akash: There’s a balcony out there…..I heard a pebble drop…..that’s not

very high...I can make a rope out of the bedclothes and escape….the
station is near…

Simi works on and the knots come loose…Akash leaps up…

He feels his way to the table and starts tearing bedclothes for the rope...

Simi: you forgot my blindfold…

76
Akash: No…I am not going to take that off.

Simi: You fool…I can guide you….I will still be tied… Come on. They
should be back any moment…..

Akash deliberates….Yes….he could require some help.

He goes and takes off her eye tapes…..

Simi looks around wildly…. assessing the situation…..

She sees some medical boxes….some equipment…..

Simi: You will need to cut the bedsheets…..there is a box there….with

equipment….maybe a knife or scalpel….. To your right….little left….

Akash gropes for the box. We realize that Simi is guiding him somewhat
wrong. A bottle crashes…..
Simi: Careful…..the box is on the left….

Meanwhile Simi is inching towards the medicine box which is on the

right.
But Akash manages to find a large piece of broken glass….He uses it to
tear the bedsheet….

Simi:. But you will need another bedsheet….there is one under the
bed….

Akash grops as we see Simi reach for a box of tools……near the

Operating Table.
…..she tries to get the box open...but it falls and scatters on the floor…

Akash stops, hearing the noise…

Akash: Simi……(no answer)…fuck…

Akash hurries to the balcony with his ‘rope’…tries tying it around the
banister…

77
Simi has picked up a razor thin scalpel….she is working on her
ropes….eyes…set in stone…on Akash…

Akash ties the rope as Simi tries to cut hers….

Akash has tied his rope’s end…he throws it over and tries to get
over….

Footsteps….he turns…he cannot see……

A solid piece of iron pipe…. catches him by the jaw and he falls…

Simi: (now free and brandishing the weapon)….Bastard….

She hits Akash solidly …..he totters and falls…..AND WE HEAR THE
SOUND OF A CAR. Simi stops.

Akash: They are back.

We hold on Akash….Simi has disappeared….

Simi waiting at the door with the weapon.

It’s Dr. Swami. He enters the place…..and is TAKEN BY SURPRISE AS SIMI

HITS HIM WITH FULL FORCE.

Simi: (laughs) it’s that fucking doctor…..

Swami tries to crawl and move away….Simi hits him again….and then she
throws the iron pipe away….Akash hears the sound….

Simi picks up a scalpel….Swami screams in fear…

Simi: Where are your kidneys….Should I cut here…?

She swings…Swami screams as the scalpel cuts skin….or should I cut your
throat first….

Swami: Listen….please…

78
Simi bends down and pulls up Swami…..she is panting….she laughs…

Simi: Nurse Radha Part Two. Carnage at the clinic….how’s it for a movie
name…ehh??

THWACK…..the spade hits her and she falls….Akash stands..

Akash: very bad title….

Simi falls.
The bleeding Doctor removes an injection and sticks it into Simi who is
still reeling. Simi goes unconscious.
Swami comes and embraces Akash….his mobile rings…Akash laughs..

Akash: Laddoo??

Swami checks…he smiles too….

Swami: heck no…..Saroja….but forget them my boy….I have a great

surprise….just help me out ..ok…???

CUT TO

INT. MURLI’S AUTO. DAY.

Saroja is driving frantically...a bleeding Murli lies on the backseat… trying

to hold the wound….and the bag with the money….…

Murli: (getting weak)..Mausi…my share… give to my mom….

Saroja: (snaps as she cries) ... don’t die ….please please please don’t
die….. …..please…

She opens her mouth in wordless crying….swerves madly past a car…

Murli: (tries to smile) you drive better than me…(he faints)

SAROJA AT HOSPITAL

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The auto screeches into a hospital compound…Saroja leaps in and
rushes…

After a while…

Saroja sits with the suitcase clutched…a doctor comes in…he looks
grim…

Doctor: I am sorry….he lost too much blood…..but in case…. if you want

you can donate his organs….you know….that way….

Saroja screams…..
Saroja: Noooo….make him live….just make him leave…..here take all the
money I have…please….

She grabs the bag and opens it….tries grabbing a fistful ….the neatly cut
bundles of Rs 2000 notes are only a front. Inside, it’s just blank
paper….…

Doctor: what the fuck is this??

Saroja looks at the cut-pieces around…slowly she sits on them…

INT SWAMI’S WAGON.

The car moves…it’s a goods cum multipurpose vehicle and makes

noises….As he drives…Swami pants..he looks at Akash and chuckles…
even pats him once as the car picks up speed.

Swami: You did a good job there lad…..you won’t regret it…(he fishes out
a thermos and drinks from it…hands it over) ..here..have a sip…

Akash: Where..where are we going..?

Swami: We are going to be very rich…that’s where we are going. (he

looks at Akash) there’s a private flight to Qatar tonight…we are going to
Mumbai to meet that…(he fetches a mobile as he speaks…switches it
on)…look at this./.oh heck you cannot see…then listen…

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Swami puts the mobile on the dashboard and plays…we see an middl
eaged Sheik..with a sickly daughter on his lap….speak earnestly on
phone..

Sheik: Meet Dr. Nagerkar..he will do the rest..if the liver matches…I
promise there will be one million dollars for you tonight…

Swami laughs like a wolf and switches it off…

Swami: that’s 6 crore and more…go figure...will give you one crore … you
saved me and I am a good guy...you can have the best transplant done
in that money…you will also be able to see….
He smacks Akash’s knee in excitement….

Akash: I did not understand….what is it??

Swami: Jackpot dear…the Sheik daughter …she needs a liver transplant…

but she has a rare blood group and guess who has that??

Akash: me???

Swami: Arre then how will you get 1 crore…it’s your Lady Macbeth…
ehh?? Sweet revenge...what do you say…she takes your eyes…we take
her liver for me..and her eyes for you….you will be rich…and maybe see
again…

Akash: (stunned) but…that means she will be killed…

Swami: Well I have not seen many people alive without a liver….have
you??...hahahaha….

The car drives…..Akash sits in stunned silence….Swami checks watch…

A new noise adds to the noises of the car….….Swami frowns..he listens..

Swami: Heck..what is that??

He concentrates….then it is heard again…somebody is kicking the

floor….Swami sighs..

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Swami: Shit…could not push the full dose in it seems..she has woken
up…

He takes the car to the side…and parks. He switches on the radio….

turns on his seat…reaches out and gets the medical bag. He opens and
takes out a syringe and some vials..

Swami: This will do the trick….Hold this….

Akash: Listen….I have already forwarded the confession….she will be

arrested anyway….why don’t we just let her go…??
Swami looks at Akash…. His face changes...

Swami: Let 6 crore walk out of here?? Am I mad??...(he stares) are you
feeling sorry for her?? She killed two people...blinded you….and you
want her to go free??

Akash: But…this…this is not right…

Swami: (takes the liquid into the syringe carefully…then looks at Akash
and sighs) listen ….the car is parked..and I see a bus-stand..if you do not
want to be a part of this..then just walk out…take a bus and go home
with your confession…ok?? I am letting you go because I am basically a
decent man..and because you can’t do fuck to me….you don’t even
know who I am or what I look like…so take your choice….

(he opens the car door on the other side and steps out…then peeks in)

I understand how you are feeling..but you know what..the world gives a
fuck about how you feel….(he chuckles)

“Eko briksha somarurha nana paksha bihangama / probhate chaw disho

janti..ka kossho poribedona” .. birds of all sorts gather for the night on a
tree…in the morning..they all go their ways..who weeps for whom??

That is life my dear…..If you need to cry…save the tears for yourself…..
The doctor goes out….

Akash sits there….he fumbles around….his hand touches the thermos..he

is thinking…..groping for something….his fingers touch the car radio and

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it goes on. “Rafta Rafta dekho aankh meri ladi hai” A Kishore Kumar
song from Kahani Kismat Ki….

Akash sits stunned there…we see tears rolling down his eyes…On a close
up of his eyes…..we hear the sound of the car dicky opening.

CUT TO:

LONDON OXFORD STREET. DAY.

We see Sophie walking and suddenly she sees a board. She peeps into
a PUB. We can hear a melodious piano playing inside…..

The piano melody fills the air. We see fingers playing on it…fast…expert
…and the music rises to a crescendo…
SUPER: 18 months later….

The music ends…there is clapping…we pull back sharply to see..

Akash in dark goggles plays…there is also a walking stick beside the

piano…

The people turns and clap…Akash speaks in a microphone..

Akash: Thank you…thank you…this was a love song composed back in

India where I fell in love with a girl….

He goes back to the piano…and tunes….when he hears a voice…

Sophie (VO): So..the con is still on…Congrats nevertheless.. the piece

was good….

Akash is surprised…he looks around…his face changes and we SEE

Sophie…standing next to the piano….she takes his hand in her grip and
shakes…
Akash: SOPHIE???

OUTSIDE PUB.

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Two coffees are drawn and a waiter comes outside and puts them down.
They fall quiet….

Sophie is looking at Akash incongruously….beside her….at a different

table sits a guy (RONY) (Somewhere in the conversation he will lean in
and show Sophie the watch and she will nod)

They wait as the waiter does some complicated maneuver with the
ordered stuff…

Sophie: It’s so unbelievable …. Playing blind for music and then really
losing your eyes……And I was so sure you saw me and pulled a fast one
with that piece...

Akash: (smiles sadly)…yes...it was like magic…I play and there you are…

Sophie: So Bernstein did not happen??

Akash: No…but I am more prepared this year….let’s see….

The waiter finally retreats….Sophie leans in….her eyes burn in

eagerness

Sophie: ………THEN???

Akash takes a breath….

Akash: Kismet….like you said. That song perhaps saved me….

Sophie: Means what?

‘Arre Rafta Rafta dekho aankh meri ladi re….’ THE KISHORE KUMAR
SONG FILLS THE AIR AS

WE GO BACK TO THE ROAD LEADING TO THE HIGHWAY. FLASHBACK.

A brief flash of what happened…

Swami with injection in hand, opens the car boot.

And is viciously slashed by Simi, ….with A RUSTY NUMBER PLATE….. ….

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Swami holds his throat and collapses……

….Simi jumps down…she viciously hits the doc twice…then lifts and
pushes his limp body into the dicky. She looks like a woman
possessed…..she turns to go…sees the syringe lying on the
ground…comes and picks it up…

The music fills the car.

Akash is staring ahead…the car door opens and we see…… SIMI peering
in….the injection in her hand….

Akash looks towards the open door…

HE THINKS IT’S DR. SWAMI.

Akash: Listen…I cannot live if I kill somebody for her eyes….I won’t be
able to play music anymore…what I said in that room was just to
frighten her…..(he pauses...there is no sound…Simi watching him….Akash
speaks again)….and I will not let you harvest her too…for
liver…kidney…or whatever….I know enough to bring you to trouble….I
suggest you put us both down here and go away….I will not tell about
you….

Simi laughs… Akash is bewildered…. Simi gets into the car and starts…
the car comes onto the road….she still holds the syringe…

Akash: You!!!!

Simi: I am dropping you after a mile…..find you own way home…seems I

have to disappear….thanks to you….

Akash shrinks the furthest corner

Akash: He was trying to harvest us…I tried to save us… (It’s an empty
stretch…..Simi halts the car….)... ..

Simi gets out… comes to the other side…opens the door and drags Akash
to the middle of the road….

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Akash: No…what are you doing??

Simi stabs Akash with the syringe in his buttocks….presses the liquid in…

Simi: Making it look like an accident…goodbye…

She pushes Akash and goes to the car…she gets in behind the wheel and
starts….

Akash feels the world reeling about him…he tries to run...falls…tries to

get up….and WHAM….the car has hit into him and gone
forward……lifting him and throwing him aside…..

Akash screams……SIMI backs the car and runs over his ankle….Akash
screams….

Simi moves the car forward…..Akash gets up…there’s excruciating pain

in one leg..its almost dead….he tries to limp…and screams in pain….he
half crawls..half drags himself…but he has come to the middle of the
road….

The world is reeling and turning into a vortex around him…he

stands…and can hardly hear the car take a U turn and rev up…

Simi sees Akash bang in the line of the car…she bares her teeth…wipes
tears of anger from her eyes…revs and revs the car…then changes gear
and the car zips forward….

Akash can hear the car come…he can hardly move… he throws up his
hands...in an attempt to save himself….

WHEN

We CUT TO THE PRE TITLES SCENE. THE FARMER HUNTING THE BLIND
HARE.

The farmer shoots…. the blind hare takes a running jump…. comes
flying and hits the car’s windshield….

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Simi screams in shock/tries to turn the wheel…the car topples….turns
turtle sideways a number of times…hits a milestone and drops in the
field below…

Akash is stunned…he calls out..

Akash: Simi…
He starts going towards the thud the overturned car made…..when the
car explodes…Akash is thrown sideways on the road…

Akash tries to rise…but collapses….

LONDON PUB.

Akash smiles… Sophie stares at him…

Akash: I got my senses back after a couple of days…they said there was
an accident…..I was in Mumbai……thought of going back…but what
would I say? Who would believe me?? So I managed to get abroad….

Sophie: That’s why they never found her…she died in the car… wonder
how the accident happened…..

Akash finishes his coffee….

Sophie: (pensive) they found Manohar after about a week…he survived

but left police….You know…..she was a complete bitch..… you should
have taken her eyes…

Akash takes off the glasses and looks at Sophie…his eyes look like they
used to…..For a second we wonder, is he blind or can he see?

Akash: (smiles) Do you think it’s easy to be a monster??

Akash claps for the waiter…

The waiter comes out…and hands Akash his cane….

Akash thanks him…We may or may not notice…..there is a hare’s head
on the cane…..

Akash: Bye, Sophie….Hope to meet you more often….

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CUT TO:

SOPHIE WATCHES….as Akash feels the street and gets down from the
curb… he limps in one leg….but his strides are purposeful…he crosses by
the zebra….a confident blind man walking down.

A car almost comes on the zebra….and barely misses him…Akash

sidesteps instantly and then proceeds on his way again.

RONY: The cab has come…

INSIDE CAB

Sophie is frowning as the cab pulls out…she turns back to see Akash..one
can still see him take a turn …suddenly Sophie shouts..

Sophie: Stop the car…take a turn…go back….

A bewildered driver does that….RONY looks at Sophie

Ronie: What happened??

Sophie: What if he has lied..what if he can see..what if all he told us did

not happen..and he allowed Simi to be sold and harvested her eyes??

Rony: wow..wow..not so fast….

Sophie: We only have his version of what he said…. what if he has made
all up??...maybe it was not co-incidence…he saw me there and played
that piece…. ….and you saw him cross that street….how could he side-
step that car??

Rony: sometimes these men can hear far more acutely…you see when
one organ……

They have arrived at the other side of the road….

Sophie jumps down..peeks in and shouts….

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Sophie: I need to know whether he is the same person I loved ….or has
he become a monster…..

Sophie runs to the square… pigeons fly….she looks everywhere….she

sees the evening crowd…but not Akash…

The camera moves to top….now we can see Akash walking by through

streets… Sophie is looking for him too but is going further away…

As he walks….in CU we see the bobbing rabbit’s head…and then from

top we see Akash hit a beer can on the sidewalk….

On the flying beer can…we cut to:

BLACK.

END TITLES BEGIN… a montage of piano clips of every Indian star who’s
ever done a piano song…right from Saigal to Bhagwan to Dev Anand
and Shammi Kapoor,Shashi Kapoor, and Raj Kapoor and Rajesh
Khanna and Dharmendra and Vinod Mehra and Sunil Dutt and Raj
Babbar and Ashok Kumar and Rajendra Kumar and more and finally
Pramod Sinha from a vintage film playing the piano…. He looks into
camera and smiles.

FIN

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