3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Emotional Drama
The Terrace Pact
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
EXT. APARTMENT TERRACE - DUSK
Neela aasman. Distant traffic ka low hum. String lights abhi half-on, half-off. Terrace sparse hai — ek PLASTIC CHAIR, water tank, kuch POTTED PLANTS.
FARIDA (60), shawl lapete, chair par baithi hai. IMRAN (37), faded shirt, plants ke paas khada hai. SANA (34), practical aur exhausted, dono ke beech.
SANA
(steady, thaki hui)
Bas. Aaj jawab chahiye, Imran.
IMRAN
Kis cheez ka jawab?
SANA
Mere ghar mein reh ke bhi tum stranger kyun ho?
Imran kuch bolta nahi. Farida nazar neeche karti hai.
FARIDA
(halka sa, dry humor)
Shaadi mein log silence package bhi lete hain kya aaj kal?
Sana ek chhoti, involuntary hansi nikaalti hai. Phir turant sakht.
SANA
Ammi, please.
FARIDA
Theek hai, theek hai. Main bas... hawa mein baat kar rahi thi.
SANA
Imran, mujhe dekh ke bolo.
Imran finally Sana ko dekhta hai. Uski aankhon mein thakaan hai.
SANA (CONT'D)
Mahino se na baat, na touch, na ek normal si chai pe conversation. Tum ghar aate ho jaise duty khatam karke kisi aur jagah chale jaaoge.
IMRAN
(softly)
Main yahin hota hoon.
SANA
Body se. Aadmi kahaan hota hai?
Beat.
IMRAN
Main... darr gaya tha.
SANA
Kis se?
IMRAN
Zindagi se. Paison se. Khud se.
Sana ka jawline tight ho jaata hai.
SANA
Seedha bolo.
Imran ek lambi saans leta hai.
IMRAN
Mujhpe debt tha.
Sana freeze.
SANA
Kya?
IMRAN
Factory band hui. Mainne socha temporary hai. Phir interest badhta gaya. Main har din sochta tha kal bata dunga. Kal... mahine ban gaye.
SANA
Aise kaise chhupa liya?
IMRAN
Kyuki main tumse kamzor nahi dikhna chahta tha.
SANA
(anger rising)
Kamzor?
Tumne mujhe biwi se zyada tenant samjha? Rent time pe dene wala insaan?
Farida beech mein dekhti hai. Uske haath shawl ko aur tight pakadte hain.
FARIDA
Imran...
IMRAN
Ammi, rehne dijiye.
FARIDA
Nahi. Aaj nahi.
Silence.
FARIDA (CONT'D)
Tum dono ko lagta hai bas tumhare ghar mein dukh hai?
Sana aur Imran dono uski taraf dekhte hain.
FARIDA (CONT'D)
Maine bhi kuch chhupaya hai.
Sana, suspicious.
SANA
Kya chhupaya hai aapne?
Farida ek beat leti hai.
FARIDA
Tumhare Abba ke naam ka ek purana medical bill tha. Mainne kabhi bataya nahi.
Imran stunned.
IMRAN
Ammi...
FARIDA
Aur jo paise tumne bheje the na last month... maine unmein se kuch debt mein laga diye.
SANA
Aapne?
FARIDA
(quiet, ashamed but firm)
Main maa hoon. Dekh rahi thi mera beta andar se toot raha hai. Socha ek bojh main bhi uthaa loon.
Imran ka chehra gir jaata hai. Uski aankhon mein guilt.
IMRAN
Mujhe pata hi nahi tha.
FARIDA
Pata hota toh kya alag hota? Tum bolte nahi. Main bolti nahi. Aur tumhari biwi...
Sana turns sharply.
FARIDA (CONT'D)
...wo bas dekh rahi thi ki uska ghar usse door ho raha hai.
Sana ki aankhen nam ho jaati hain. Woh envelope uthati hai jo side table par pada hai.
SANA
Mujhe sach chahiye tha.
IMRAN
Mujhse galti hui.
Beat.
IMRAN (CONT'D)
Main darr gaya tha.
Yeh pehli baar hai jab woh seedha, bina excuse ke bolta hai.
Sana usse dekhti rehti hai. Phir dheere se saans chhodti hai.
SANA
Bas. Yehi pehla sahi sentence tha mahino mein.
Imran nods, eyes wet.
SANA (CONT'D)
Aaj se akela kuch nahi.
Farida ki aankhon mein nami chamakti hai.
FARIDA
Aur jhagda?
SANA
Hoga.
IMRAN
(half-smile, broken)
Roz hoga.
SANA
Lekin sach ke saath.
Farida slowly stands, shawl adjust karti hai.
FARIDA
Toh phir chai bana lo. Terrace pe pehli baar sabne sach bola hai. Iska celebration toh banta hai.
A tiny, tired laugh from Sana. Imran nods.
The STRING LIGHTS click fully ON.
The blue dusk deepens, but the terrace no longer feels cold.
FADE OUT.
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