3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Horror/Supernatural
The Tenant on the Roof
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
EXT. BUILDING ROOFTOP TERRACE - NIGHT
Light drizzle. Ek SINGLE SODIUM STREETLIGHT peeli, sickly roshni phenk raha hai. Paani ke puddles mein WATER TANKS aur CLOTHESLINES ki tedhi parchaiyan hil rahi hain.
MANOJ (45), expensive kurta, irritated face, keys ka bunch ghumaate hue, terrace par aata hai. SANJAY (38), faded vest, wary eyes, flashlight pakde, uske peeche.
MANOJ
(ghurte hue)
Teen raat se roof pe kadam ki awaz aa rahi hai.
Aur tum bol rahe ho, “shayad hawa hogi”?
SANJAY
Hawa itni regular nahi hoti, sahib.
MANOJ
Bakwaas band karo. New tenant ka naam kya hai?
SANJAY
Ali. Room 14.
Par… woh room se bahar nikla hi nahi.
Manoj stops. Keys jhatakta hai.
MANOJ
Matlab?
SANJAY
Matlab main khud dekh chuka hoon.
Raat bhar room band. Subah bhi.
Phir bhi roof pe… bare feet ki awaz.
A beat.
Hawa tez. Drizzle slightly heavier.
Roof ke dusre kone se footsteps.
Ali (24), wet hair, plain T-shirt, barefoot, strangely calm, aata hai.
MANOJ
(shock se)
Tu?
Tu kab upar aaya?
ALI
Main yahin tha.
Main gaya hi nahi.
MANOJ
Mazak kar raha hai?
ALI
Nahin.
Aap log kar rahe ho.
Sanjay flashlight Ali par daalta hai. Ali blink bhi nahi karta.
MANOJ
Dekh, naya tenant hai tu.
Drama mat kar.
Roof pe kaun chalta hai?
ALI
Jo bhoolna nahi chahta.
MANOJ
Kya bak raha hai?
Ali slowly water tank ki taraf dekhta hai.
ALI
Building register mein mera naam likha hai.
Par ek page phaad diya gaya tha.
Room 14 ka.
Roof access ka.
Aur us raat ka.
Sanjay freezes. Manoj’s jaw tightens.
SANJAY
(low)
Ali…
MANOJ
Kya raat? Seedha bol.
Ali takes one step forward. Puddles ripple.
ALI
Woh raat jab terrace pe ek aadmi gira tha.
Ya giraya gaya tha.
Aur subah sabne bola—
“Accident tha.”
Silence.
Streetlight flickers.
MANOJ
(defensive)
Bakwaas.
Aisi koi maut nahi hui thi.
ALI
Hui thi.
Aur aap yahin the.
Sanjay bhi.
Sanjay’s flashlight trembles.
SANJAY
Main… maine bas order maana tha.
MANOJ
(exploding)
Chup!
Manoj snatches the OLD BUILDING REGISTER from Sanjay’s hand. It’s wet, old, yellowed. He flips pages angrily.
ALI
Uska naam mita diya tha.
Par building yaad rakhti hai.
Manoj reaches a torn page. His hand stops.
INSERT - REGISTER PAGE
Room 14. Roof access. Midnight complaint. Death on terrace.
Manoj’s face drains.
MANOJ
Yeh… yeh galat hai.
ALI
Galat nahi.
Chhupaya gaya.
Rain grows heavier.
ALI (CONT'D)
Main haunted nahi hoon, Manoj.
Main woh hoon jo yaad karta hai.
Aap log bhool gaye.
Isliye main har raat roof pe chalta hoon.
SANJAY
(terrified)
Toh… tu kaun hai?
Ali looks at both of them, calm as ever.
ALI
Main woh aadmi hoon
jise aap logon ne marne ke baad bhi
register mein zinda likh diya.
A beat. Thunder far away.
Manoj’s keys slip from his hand and CLATTER onto the wet floor.
Ali points to the WATER TANK.
ALI (CONT'D)
Dekho.
Sanjay swings flashlight. On the tank: old SCRATCH MARKS, like someone clawed for help.
Sanjay recoils.
SANJAY
Ya Allah…
Manoj stares, defeated.
ALI
Ab bhi late nahi hua.
Sach ko likh lo.
Ali stands in the rain, barefoot, motionless.
Manoj slowly crouches, picks up the keys, but his hand is shaking.
Sanjay clutches the register to his chest.
The streetlight FLICKERS.
Ali’s reflection in the puddle lingers a beat longer than his body.
CUT TO BLACK.
END.
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