3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Psychological Thriller
Muted
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
INT. APARTMENT CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Ek dim corridor. Ek bulb buzz kar raha hai. Stairwell se thandi light spill ho rahi hai. Shadows corridor ke end tak lambi ho gayi hain.
AARAV (26), hoodie mein, exhausted eyes, phone ko baar-baar refresh kar raha hai. Door ke bahar khada hai. Uske haath mein KEY CARD aur SMARTPHONE.
AARAV
(under breath)
Aaj bhi notification late hai kya?
PHONE VIBRATES.
Aarav screen dekh kar freeze ho jata hai.
ON PHONE SCREEN: Silent video message. Sender unknown.
Aarav play karta hai.
INSERT - PHONE VIDEO
Aarav ka flat. Dim light. Kitchen corner. Camera andar se shoot kiya gaya hai. Ek hand frame mein aata hai, DOOR CHAIN dheere se kholta hai.
END INSERT
AARAV
Kya...?
Door ke opposite side se footsteps.
SURESH (48), thick mustache, stern face, security logbook aur flashlight ke saath aata hai.
SURESH
Kya hua, Aarav?
AARAV
(haath kaanpte hue)
Mere flat ke andar se video aaya hai.
SURESH
Video? Koi prank hoga.
AARAV
Prank mein chain kaun kholta hai, Suresh ji?
Suresh logbook kholta hai. Calm rehne ki koshish karta hai.
SURESH
Building mein sab entry logged hai.
AARAV
Toh phir mere flat mein kaun hai?
Across the hall se ek door khulta hai.
MIHIR (31), neat shirt, polite smile, unnerving stillness ke saath bahar aata hai.
MIHIR
Sorry, maine awaaz suni. Sab theek?
AARAV
Aapne kuch dekha?
MIHIR
(softly)
Haan.
AARAV
Kya?
MIHIR
Ek aadmi.
Suresh turant uski taraf dekhta hai.
SURESH
Kaunsa aadmi?
MIHIR
Uske flat ki taraf gaya tha.
AARAV
Chehra?
MIHIR
Nahi. Par chalne ka andaaz... jaise woh yahin rehta ho.
Aarav ka phone phir VIBRATE karta hai.
AARAV
Nahi... nahi, ab kya?
Aarav second video kholta hai.
INSERT - PHONE VIDEO
Bedroom angle. Bed ke paas ek pair. Phir ek hand. Aarav ka hoodie chair par latak raha hai.
END INSERT
AARAV
Yeh bedroom se...
SURESH
(interrupting)
Shant ho ja.
AARAV
Main andar se hi toh bahar aaya hoon!
MIHIR
(too calm)
Ya shayad tum andar se kabhi nikle hi nahi.
Aarav ghoor kar dekhta hai.
AARAV
Kya matlab?
MIHIR
Kuch nahi.
Suresh flashlight se door inspect karta hai.
SURESH
Chain andar se lagi hai.
AARAV
Mere paas key card hai.
Aarav card lagata hai. BEEP. Lock nahi khulta.
SURESH
Lock jam hai.
AARAV
Ya koi andar se rok raha hai.
Mihir ek step closer aata hai, smile polite hi hai.
MIHIR
Kal raat tumne door band kiya tha?
AARAV
Haan.
MIHIR
Bas wahi toh.
Aarav ka face pale padta hai.
AARAV
Kya?
SURESH
Logbook mein kal raat koi complaint nahi hai.
AARAV
Complaint? Mere flat mein koi ghusa hua hai!
SURESH
Agar ghusa hota, CCTV...
AARAV
CCTV? Stairwell ka bulb bhi aadha dead hai!
Bulb buzz karta hai. Teeno silence mein.
Aarav ka phone teesri baar vibrate karta hai.
AARAV
Nahi.
He opens it.
INSERT - PHONE VIDEO
Corridor footage. Frame mein teenon khade hain. Suresh logbook ke saath. Mihir door ke paas. Aarav apne flat ko stare kar raha hai.
Camera slowly pans to the dark inside of the flat.
Ek SHAPE darkness se bahar aati hai.
END INSERT
AARAV
(whisper)
Mere peeche tha...
SURESH
Kaun?
AARAV
Woh...
Mihir ka polite smile disappear.
MIHIR
Tum dono ne bhi toh dekha tha.
SURESH
Main kuch nahi dekha.
MIHIR
Jhooth.
SURESH
(tense)
Maine sirf shadow dekhi thi.
AARAV
Shadow?
MIHIR
Haan. Jo aadmi ke saath chalti hai.
Aarav door chain ko jhatka deta hai.
AARAV
Chain tod do!
Suresh flashlight se lock par roshni daalta hai. Uska face tight ho jata hai.
SURESH
(quietly)
Yeh chain nayi nahi hai.
AARAV
Matlab?
SURESH
Kisi ne isko andar se roz khola aur band kiya hai.
AARAV
Kaun?
Silence.
Phir ek KHATKHATAAHAT andar se.
Teeno freeze.
AARAV
Andar...
Mihir ka throat tight hota hai.
MIHIR
Usne sun liya.
SURESH
Kaun?
AARAV
Mere flat mein kaun hai?!
PHONE VIBRATES AGAIN.
Aarav screen dekhता hai.
ON PHONE SCREEN: Final silent video.
Aarav opens it.
INSERT - PHONE VIDEO
Camera angle: bedroom cupboard ke andar se. Dark, cramped frame.
Ek gaunt, exhausted face camera ki taraf dekh raha hai. Yeh face unfamiliar hai, par uske haath mein Aarav ka EARBUDS CASE hai.
Uski lips move karte hain. No audio.
Screen par type hota hai:
"AB TUM BAHAR HO."
END INSERT
Aarav ka haath kaanpta hai. Uski pocket mein se KEY CARD slip hoti hai.
AARAV
(terrified)
Mere... mere paas thi hi nahi?
Suresh logbook gira deta hai.
SURESH
Bhagwan...
Mihir peeche hat ta hai. Pehli baar uska smile completely gayab.
MIHIR
(very low)
Toh woh ab bhi andar hai.
Andar se door slowly OPEN hota hai by a few inches.
Darkness.
Aarav, Suresh, Mihir—teeno ek dusre ko dekhte hain.
CUT TO BLACK.
TITLE CARD: MUTED
FADE OUT.
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