3-Character Trio Cast 6 - 9 Minutes Slice of Life/Family
The Last Train Home
Full Shooting Script in Industry Courier Monospace Format
FADE IN:
INT. SUBURBAN TRAIN COMPARTMENT - NIGHT
Ek nearly empty compartment. Cool fluorescent lights. Windows ke bahar station flashes. Train ki gentle ghoomti hui awaaz.
Madhavi (62), cotton sari mein, seedhi, composed. Cloth bag godh mein. Anu (39), simple kurta, ID lanyard, thaki hui. Kriti (14), school uniform mein, earbuds neck par, attitude on.
Teenon alag benches par, lekin same compartment mein phanse hue.
MADHAVI
Kriti, seedha baitho. School mein kya sikhaya hai?
KRITI
School mein kaafi kuch sikhaya hai, Nani.
Lekin train mein bhi inspection chal raha hai kya?
Anu thak ke aankh band karti hai.
ANU
Maa, please. Shift ke baad lecture mat.
MADHAVI
Lecture nahi. Sanskaar.
KRITI
Haan, wahi. Free with every generation.
Anu ek weak smile dabati hai.
Train ek station cross karti hai. Window par white light flash.
Anu apna lunch box bag se nikalti hai.
KRITI
Abhi bhi khana?
ANU
Haan. Hospital mein patient ko dekhke khud ko bhool jaati hoon.
Khana bhoolna allowed nahi hai.
MADHAVI
Nurse ho, machine nahi.
ANU
Aap dono ke hisaab se main ya to machine hoon ya
criminal jo phone nahi uthata.
MADHAVI
Phone uthati nahi ho, isliye phone karta hai.
Kriti chhota sa snort karti hai.
KRITI
Main bhi phone uthati hoon. Bas aap log hi call karke
interrogation karte ho.
Anu lunch box kholti hai. Simple ghar ka khana.
KRITI
Wah. Hospital shift ke baad bhi tiffin.
Maa, aap superhero ho ya fool?
ANU
Dono. Depends on the salary slip.
Madhavi apni cloth bag mein haath daalti hai. Ek folded TRAIN TICKET nikalti hai.
ANU
Yeh kya hai?
MADHAVI
Extra ticket.
Tumne bola tha late hogi. Kriti akeli wait karegi.
Toh main agle station tak aa gayi.
Anu ko ek second ke liye bolna nahi aata.
KRITI
Aapne... sirf isliye?
MADHAVI
Sirf isliye?
Tum logon ko lagta hai ghar bas address hota hai?
Ghar wait karta hai.
Anu ticket ko dekhti hai. Thodi guilty, thodi touched.
ANU
Maa, aapko bolna chahiye tha.
MADHAVI
Aur tumhe bhi bolna chahiye tha ki itni late ho jaogi.
ANU
Main bolti toh aap tension leti.
MADHAVI
Main tension leti hoon, isliye maa hoon.
Kriti apne earbuds ko ungli se kheenchti hai.
KRITI
Main bhi kuch bolun?
ANU
Bol.
KRITI
Aaj school mein presentation bigad gaya.
Sab ke saamne.
Anu turn karti hai.
ANU
Kya hua?
KRITI
Kuch nahi. Bas... maine earbuds pehen liye.
Taaki koi poochhe nahi.
Silence.
Train ki awaaz aur zyada clear.
MADHAVI
Jo baccha sabse zyada attitude dikhata hai na,
aksar sabse zyada hurt hota hai.
Kriti aankh ghumaati hai, par is baar soft.
KRITI
Aapko sab pata hai kya?
MADHAVI
Nahi. Par principal thi.
Bacchon ke chehre padhna aa gaya tha.
Anu ek tukda khana leti hai, phir dheere se bolti hai.
ANU
Main bhi roz logon ke beech invisible feel karti hoon.
Nurse hoon, par ghar aake strong bhi banna padta hai.
Madhavi uski taraf dekhti hai.
MADHAVI
Aur main?
Principal banna easy tha.
Ghar aake maa banna sabse mushkil exam tha.
Kriti dono ko dekhti hai. Pehli baar bina mask ke.
KRITI
Toh... hum sab thak gaye hain?
ANU
Haan.
MADHAVI
Haan.
A beat.
Train ek slow curve leti hai. Window reflection mein teenon ek frame mein dikhte hain.
Kriti apni seat se uthti hai. Window ke paas jaane ke bajay Anu ke paas bench par chupchaap baith jaati hai.
Anu usse dekhti hai, surprised.
ANU
Yahan?
KRITI
Haan.
Aaj window se zyada... yahin theek lag raha hai.
Anu ke face par relief.
Madhavi halki si smile karti hai. Apna lunch box beech mein rakh deti hai.
MADHAVI
Chalo. Ab khana share karo.
Anu lunch box khol deti hai. Kriti bina naatak ke ek piece leti hai.
KRITI
Maa... kal school ke baad aap mujhe pick kar lo.
Anu ek second rukti hai, phir nod karti hai.
ANU
Haan.
Madhavi window mein dekhte hue muskurati hai.
MADHAVI
Last train hai.
Par ghar ab bhi aa hi gaya.
Train aage badhti rehti hai. Station lights unke faces par soft flashes deti hain.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
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