Blackys Trunk Hindi

Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood1
Blackie's Trunk / Kalu ka Baksaa

a play in English and Hindi by Sujay Sood Sujay Sood 8 The Fenway Boston, MA 02215 sujaysood@yahoo.com 98-923-06525 (Bombay mobile) 2386-7672 (Bombay residence) sujaysood@yahoo.com The Players: Atman Kala Braman Maya Child Note: the register is stylized. This is especially true for the shifts in language (from English to Hindi in Act I, from Hindi to English in Act II).
ACT I
A BEACH. A TRUNK. MORNING.
(Upstage right, Child is absorbed in making a sandcastle. It is impossible to tell whether the Child is a girl or a boy) (IMPORTANT: The actors never see Child except when Child speaks to them directly. Child participates in the action as described below, but they are never aware of it) (The light comes on Atman upstage left, presumably asleep. He gets up, stretches, breathes deeply. Inspects his surroundings. Notices Blacky's trunk, runs over to it and peers in. Puts his hand and searches, but finds nothing. Stands on trunk, etc. He is in the process of discovering his surroundings
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood2 and his self. Finally, he kneels to wash his face downstage right) (The light comes on Kala, upstage left, same spot where Atman begun) ATMAN: Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. (Kala awakes as Atman begins a set of martial arts/Tai Chi like motions, downstage right, that will later be employed for his trunk-pulling efforts) (Kala takes a stock of her surroundings, much as Atman. Finally, Kala goes downstage left, kneels to wash her face) (They notice each other simultaneously. A long moment of self searching ensues, with mixed emotions until they finally recognize each other. They are overjoyed) ATMAN: KALA: Kala! Atman!
(They run and embrace at the halfway point) ATMAN: (joyous) Darling, I'm so happy to see you!
KALA: (equally joyous) I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled beyond words! Can it really be you? ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: The one and only. What are you upto? An examination. Of? My self. Again? (strikes a pose) Power and endurance. In the flesh.
You're missing the essential.
ATMAN: KALA:
What? (strikes a pose) Grace and unity.
ATMAN: Grace and unity? (considers this suggestion for a moment. Atman has an Epiphany) Kala! Kala come to me! (Atman spreads out his arms invitingly) KALA: Just hold it for a moment and listen.
(Atman strikes a listening pose) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: thi? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Sure. Where have they gone? (angry) Nahin maloom! Aur tu, tu kahaan
I was around. "Around!" Kiske saath?
Kisike saath nahin. Pakkaa? Sure I'm sure.
(Kala pulls up the lid of the trunk, and gets dressed in a flowing skirt and sleeveless top she retrieves from behind the trunk. Atman watches surreptitiously as she dresses) KALA: (with her back to Atman) like today? ATMAN: See? Ah yes, the sea... So what's the sea
KALA: (Looks out at sea in the audience's direction) The waves sound pensive, like they're listening to us. ATMAN: They're always listening to us.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood4 KALA: ATMAN: Not always. Then?
KALA: Sometimes they stir like petunia longing for honeysuckle. ATMAN: KALA: Ah, yes, suckle. Have you seen Braman around? Braman ko kyoon
ATMAN: (annoyed) "Around!" chahaati ho? KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
He said he wanted to talk. What about? (troubled) Pakkaa nahin maloom. Us?
ATMAN: Us? us as in you and me us? or you and him us? or all of us us? (Genuine anger flares up in the next exchange) KALA: Bataayaa naa, ki mujhe pakkaa nahin maloom! Aisa kyoon hai, ki
ATMAN: Pakkaa nahim maloom?! tujhe pakkaa nahin maloom?
KALA: Duniyaa mein sirf ek cheez pakka hai, aur voh hai ki hum koi bhi cheez pakka nahin jaan sakte hain! ATMAN: hain!" KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (mimics her) "Pakkaa nahin jaan sakte
Mera mazaak udda rahe ho?! "Mera mazaak udda rahe ho!" Bakvaas band kar! Nahin to mein tujhe "Nahin to mein tujhe--"
(Kala floors Atman) KALA: Oh! Are you all right?
(Atman strikes a pose of excrutiating pain) ATMAN: KALA: Haaye! Haaye! Does it hurt?
(Atman whimpers as Kala cradles and soothes him) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Where d'you learn that? Watching you. Me? Feel better? This is familiar. We've been here before. Child hums a happy
(They clasp each other fondly. tune) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: What is that? Music?
Kuch nahin sunaii de rahaa. Listen. What's that? Music?
Mein kuch nahin sun saktaa.
(Kala tries to get up but Atman struggles to keep her. Child stops humming) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Yahaan raho! Chhoddo mujhe! Thodda thheher naa!. Chhodd!
(Kala gets up and scopes the area but there is no music to be heard) KALA: The music is gone.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood6 (silence as Atman gets up) ATMAN: KALA: Where were we? I thought I heard something. Maine kuch
ATMAN: (takes a step towards Kala) nahin sunaa. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (takes a step back) (step forward) (step back)
Self-absorbed as usual.
Absorbed by you.
Abhi nahin. Why not?
(Step forward) (step back)
Dil nahin kar rahaa. You're just saying that. Dil nahin kar rahaa. Are you sure?
(step forward) (step forward) (step forward)
(A frozen moment. They both scream as Atman springs at Kala. Stylized chase ensues until Atman trips over Child and lands face first in the sand-castle) KALA: (laughs) like this? How often do you end up ending up
ATMAN: (gets up and tries to recenter himself) am Atman, the unique.
(Kala sits down on Blacky's trunk. Child begins to build two sand figures, a male and a female) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: You know, they'll be here soon. What else is new. We need to improvise a little tonight. We keep trying. Be more
KALA: I know. But we must try harder. daring, more inventive.
ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
It's not that I don't give it my best but... But? Well, Braman... What about Braman?
ATMAN: (irritated) Braman ke baare kuch hai jo mujhe achchaa nahin lagtaa. KALA: Jealous? Let me remind you that I am
ATMAN: Me, jealous?! Atman, the uni--
KALA: We all need to work hard to make a difference. ATMAN: KALA: We keep trying. We need to do it differently.
(Atman sits down beside Kala on the trunk, both now facing the audience) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (pause) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: How long back was that? Yaad nahin. Mujhe bhi yaad nahin. Hum raastaa kho baithhe the. Before Blacky's trunk. (suggestive) I keep saying.
Need to splice the circle. This isn't the way it's always been. It was different before. It all changed with Blacky's Trunk.
ATMAN: KALA: (pause) ATMAN: KALA: (pause) ATMAN: KALA:
Maybe it's always been here. We just couldn't see it.
Then one day. One day.
Maybe Blacky left it while we were sleeping. Maybe Blacky came in our dreams.
(silence) (Note: As they name the attributes that follow below, they make gestures that will serve as hooks for the audience when this part of the dialogue is repeated in Hindi in act II) KALA: We were full of strange ideas before Blacky's trunk. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (pause) ATMAN: Now we know. We thought that we were the fallen. We were the chosen. The servants. The Renouncers. There was guilt. Sin. Destiny. Othering. Retribution.
KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (pause) KALA:
We know. All is given. Everything is here. Everyone is here.
Improvisation is key. Improvisation mein
ATMAN: (uneasy with foreboding) kaafi khatraa hai. KALA: (disgusted) karte ho.
Tum hameshaa zyaadaa chinta
ATMAN: Jo hummein dyaa gayaa hai, usse zyaadaa chhednaa nahin chahiye.. KALA: (pause) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Isn't the sea blue today? It always is. Green as algae sometimes. (searches for a simile) Grey as mercury. Purple as... Brown as mud. Orange. Mirror as a twin. They stare) Red as... Chahiye.
(silence. KALA:
The sea murmurs its secret to us.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood10 ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: It speaks. Sometimes you can hear it cry. It laughs. It's always calling us. They sigh)
(They listen. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN:
Where's Braman? Where's Maya? Where is everyone? Everyone's here. Here? We're all here. And the others? (dictum) There are no others other than us. All of us.
(silence) KALA: What now?
(Atman springs up, full of energy. He will strike various poses as he suggests the names of the games below) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Let's play a game. Which one? Evening Shore. It's not the right time. Beach Morning. We just played that. Tide in, Tide out?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood11 KALA: ATMAN: trunk) No. (lascivious as he closes in upon Kala on the Spongey spongey!
(They look at each other for a moment. Suddenly they both spring up and face each other in a predatory crouch. The movements of the following lines are exactly the same as previously until the chase) KALA: ATMAN: (a step back, irritated) (a step forward, angry) Abhi nahin. Why not? Dil nahin kar
KALA: (a step back, exaperated) rahaa.
ATMAN: (a step forward, disbelief) saying that! KALA: (a step forward, thawing) rahaa. ATMAN: (a step forward, excited)
You're just
Dil nahin kar
Are you sure?
(A frozen moment. They both scream as Atman springs at Kala. Stylized chase ensues. This time she stops behind the trunk. They end up face to face. They go down behind the trunk. Sex: Giggles and squeals can be heard from behind the trunk. Legs stick out variously. Disappear. A punctuated primal scream. Silence. Kala rises, flushed and disheveled) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: (announcement) What? (inspects trunk) Aaj nahin. I wonder what it's going to be. Probably the same as yesterday. Each day is always different. Have you looked today? Blacky's trunk.
(Atman emerges from behind the trunk, equally disheveled) ATMAN: It's always the same. For example, yesterday we changed
KALA: Different. roles. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN:
We always change roles. There was confusion. There always is.
KALA: (profound sadness) Jaise bhi ho, kal mein kaafi dukh mehsoos kar rahi thi. (French original: En tout cas, hier je me sentais triste) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: What about? Nahin maloom. Wishing what? Wishing Blacky were here with us. Wishing.
(silence as Kala and Atman sit back on trunk as before) ATMAN: KALA: When's the last time Blacky was here? It's been a very long time.
(Silence as they try to remember Blacky. Child onto the trunk and and plays with each of their parts as they describe Blacky below) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Lovely hair. Beautiful eyes. What a voice. Perfect hands. Great legs.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood13 KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Sexy buns. Oh yes, and what a torso! Graceful feet.
(silence as Child returns to his sand figures) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: At least we have Blacky's trunk. Life would be different without it. It's been here ever since I can remember. What did we do before Blacky's trunk? I think it's always been right here. What about before? Before what? Blacky's trunk. Nahin maloom. Wasn't there a time before it?
ATMAN: (Atman walks away from the trunk, irritated) Mujhe kuch yaad nahin! KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Braman thinks he can solve it. Braman? Solve it? What?
Blacky's trunk. (angry) Phir se paagalon vali baat. Kaise?
He thinks there must be an explanation.
ATMAN: Vo Gadhe ka bachaa duniyaa mein sab kuch samjhaane chahaata hai! KALA: ATMAN: rahaa. Be polite, Atman! Kyoon?! Voh yahaan tho kahin nahin dikh
KALA: ATMAN:
They'll be here any minute. Are you sure? Pakkaa
KALA: (pause as Kala walks away from trunk) pakkaa nahin maloom. ATMAN: KALA: Well then.
They might be coming tomorrow.
I'm quite sure they said today.
ATMAN: Yesterday it was, and I remember it clear as today, they promised us tomorrow. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Today? Tomorrow. Yesterday? As today. That they said tomorrow? Pakkaa pakkaa nahin maloom.
(A heated argument follows) KALA: Ajeeb baat hai! Jab bi bhi tere ko kuch yaad aata hai, tho theek yaad aata hai, lekin jab mein kuch yaad karti houn, to hamesha hi galat?! ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Kyoonki tu aurat hai, aurat! Oulloo kahinkaa! Moti! Mein aise faaltu ke jhagde se tang aa
KALA: Bus! gayi houn!
ATMAN: Bilkul tumhaari galti hai ki hum jhagadte rehte hein! KALA: ATMAN: (trying to calm down) Then I'm stopping it.
"Then I'm stopping it!" (Hindi accent)
KALA:
Kafi ho gayaa!
(Kala floors Atman) ATMAN: (strikes a pose of pain) Kyaa dard ho rahaa hai! Haaye! Haaye!
(Atman looks longingly at Kala hoping for an embrace as earlier) KALA: Stop clowning around. Trunk. Let's check Blacky's
ATMAN: (complaining) Apni zindagi Kalu ke bakse ke gulaami mein jeete jeete mein tang aa gayaa houn! KALA: No one is forcing you to look. Not
ATMAN: (stands) But we always end up looking. a day goes by that we don't fish things out of Blacky's trunk. KALA: It's there, we should make the most of it.
ATMAN: Yeah, but where's Blacky, that's what I want to know. KALA: What difference does that make? Blacky's trunk. We have
(Atman paces in front of the trunk, asking attorney like rapid-fire questions) ATMAN: What I really want to know is how did he get the trunk here? How come we never saw him come or go? At what time, precisely, did he leave it here? Why doesn't he want it back? (pause as Kala looks bewildered) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: He? He? He. Who are you talking about? Who's he?
Blacky, who else?
KALA: (throws back her head and laughs) Blacky's a she! ATMAN: a guy! KALA: (throws back his head and laughs)
But
Blacky's
Blacky's a girl.
ATMAN: A guy! a guy like me with balls and a mustache. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: You don't have...a mustache. Blacky does. She does not. What makes you think Blacky's a girl? What makes you think she's a he? Everything points to Blacky's being a guy. Like what? then, jubilant)
(Atman thinks, searching for proof. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
Only a guy could move a trunk this size. You can't move it. I've never tried seriously. That's what you said yesterday. I'm stronger today. I bet you can't move it. Bet me what? Anything. Anything? Anything.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood17 ATMAN: KALA: Even...(whispers in Kala's ear)? Yes. I'm at peak
ATMAN: Ah, yes, you're in trouble now! strength these days!
(Invigorated by the prospect of winning the bet, Atman steps back, centers his energy and attacks the trunk. Grunts, groans, and sweat as he tries out various leverages and positions but is unsuccessful. Child comes over to help for the big, final effort) ATMAN: Yeh haathi ka trunk koi bhi nahin hilaa saktaa hai! (Mais personne ne peut bouger ce monstre de malle Noireau.) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: That's too bad, isn't it? (remembers the bet) Sure. One more try.
(The effort of all efforts) ATMAN: KALA: (panting and dejected) Well, then. koi faydaa nahin!
Blacky's a she.
ATMAN: Just because I couldn't move it doesn't mean he's a girl! You'll have to prove it. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: That's easy. How? Think about what's in Blacky's Trunk. What? Let's take a look.
(Kala opens trunk while Atman pretends to be disinterested. By the way, on the inside of the lid, "BLACK" is written clearly enough for the audience to read) KALA: Wow! Will you take a look at this!
ATMAN: (nonchalant) cheez hogaa.
haan, haan, bilkul first-class
KALA: (excitedly peering into the trunk) really something! ATMAN: (feigning lack of interest, yawns) pasand ho. KALA: (increasing excitement)
This is
Jo bhi
I almost have it!
(Curiosity overcomes Atman) ATMAN: KALA: Let me see. Too late, I got it, it's mine!
(Kala retreats from the trunk, hiding what she retrieved behind her back. Child shuts the lid and sits on the trunk, watching) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Well, what is it? I thought you weren't interested. I am. (yawns) What is it? Whatever.
Come on, show me! Ok, here.
(With a flourish and beaming, Kala reveals a carrot) ATMAN: (between confusion and excitement) That's...that's a...that is...a carrot. KALA: Yes!
ATMAN: (deflated, sits next to Child on the trunk) Well, at least it isn't a radish. KALA: This is the last thing we'd have expected. Yes, a carrot--who would have
ATMAN: (wrily) thought of it.
KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
Do you like it? Kyaa maloom. Do you want it? Shaayad. Here, have my carrot. Really? Yes, go on. Thanks. (takes carrot) May I eat it?
Do whatever you want.
(Atman takes a bite as Kala sits down on trunk. Child sits sandwiched between them. They pass the carrot back and forth, each of them taking a bite. Being in the middle, Child gets the most. They are happy) ATMAN: some. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Hmm, tastes very...carrotty. Here, try
Well, this is a nice bite out of life. Thanks to Blacky's trunk. Things always end up being useful. We wonder why when we first get them. We ask ourselves what this is all about. But in the end we're happy to have it. We always end up using what we get.
(pause as they chew) ATMAN: KALA: Sometimes we get the same thing for days. Sometimes we get nothing.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood20 ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (shaking his head) Kuch bhi nahin.
But sometimes we get really big surprises. Yes, but only sometimes. That's the point of surprises. What?
KALA: If we got surprises all the time, they wouldn't surprise us. (silence as Atman considers this. He throws carrot toward Child's pit and walks away from the trunk) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Why can't we move this trunk? Why do you want to move it? Nahin maloom. Where would you move it to? There. Why? (pause) It's taking up Or there, or there.
ATMAN: Mujhe nahin maloom. all our space. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
But we have unlimited space. Yes, but that's my favorite spot. Since when? Since always. Why?
ATMAN: It's the best spot in the county. (Atman stands up on the trunk, covers his eyes and peers across the horizon) It's got the best view. I can see for miles. KALA: That's because you're standing on it.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood21 ATMAN: So?
KALA: So if you move it, you can't stand on top of it over there anymore. (Perplexed, Atman begins to think hard) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Anyway, suppose you could. Then? If you moved it. What then? (pause) At least we'd What then?
ATMAN: Mujhe nahin maloom. have moved it.
(Trunk begins to shudder and shake) KALA: Do you hear that?
(They all jump off the trunk. Child resumes finishing the sand figures. Kala throws open the lid and peers about excitedly) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: (feigns disinterest) I see it! What? It's very big! I got it! Quick, Atman HELP! What is it?
Quick, help me!
(Atman rushes over to help. peer in and at them) ATMAN: I got it!
Child moves to trunk to
Pull on three!
(Huge struggle as they try to pull something out of the trunk) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: It's slippery! It's wet! It's getting away! It's huge! Pull, pull, pull!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood22 KALA: ATMAN: KALA: It's huge! Let go on three! Three!
(Kala lets go and Atman is dragged halfway down the trunk. Kala grabs on to Atman's legs. Child grabs onto Kala's leg. Struggle to pull him out. He emerges soaking wet) KALA: (explosive laughter) you look! You should see the way
ATMAN: Hasne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai! doobte doobte bachaa abhi! KALA: Lighten up!
Mein
(Child returns to finish sand figures. Atman goes behind the trunk to strip off his clothes, down to his polka dotted briefs. He emerges, primping for all hes worth) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: What was that anyway? Where did it come from? Where did it go? We'll see it again, I'm sure. That was something. Exciting! You almost went with it. Atman gropes at Kala) Someday.
(They embrace. ATMAN: KALA:
Your hook's unclasped. (warning) Yeh koi button nahin.
(Atman searches the floor around her for it) ATMAN: I can't seem to find it. know where to look. Wait a minute, I
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood23 (Atman crawls under Kala's skirt. A lot of shuffling ensues as Kala tries to get Atman out, while Atman moves around in her skirt) KALA: Mein chahaa thi houn ki tum yahaan se phataphat niklo! ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Just a sec! Bahaar niklo phataphat! This feels familiar. Jaldi niklo nahin tho! I'm coming!
(They end up downstage right. Kala topples over, legs spread. Atman emerges in a birth sequence. Meanwhile, Child's sand-figures are complete. Kala cradles Atman as before. Child begins to hum) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Listen. What? Music. Kuch nahin sunai dera.
(Child blows gently on each of his sand figures and splashes water on them to dissolve them. Maya and Braman enter upstage left, with Braman carrying a huge backpack, tired, panting and lagging behind. Maya is wearing dark glasses. Braman carries a little replica of Blacky's trunk under his arm)
MAYA: (stops behind trunk, looking at them) to each other as usual. (pause) BRAMAN: What should we do?
Stuck
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood24 MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: (pause) MAYA: BRAMAN: (pause) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: hope. MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: (pause) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: Stuck to each other. What should we do? What do you think? Whatever you say. Unless... Unless...? They drowned. Drown them? They're tied: high tide, low tide. (looks at Kala) Tides are the pulse of Can't get rid of them. Can't. Tie them up? Then? They'd still be here. That's for sure.
What?! Nothing. Matlab? Kuch nahin. Something Kala said.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood25 (Maya sneaks up to them and with a big shout, making them jump out of their skins) MAYA: THERE YOU ARE!
(Exaggerated reunion scene ensues downstage right with hugs, kisses, and nonstop smiling) KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: MAYA: KALA: Maya! Atman! Braman! Atman! Braman! Kala! Maya! How nice to see you, Braman! Kala! I love those shades, Maya! Atman! I'm so happy to see you!
(pause as everyone keeps up the exagerated happiness) ATMAN: We were just talking about how quiet it gets when you're not "around!" (The energy of the reunion suddenly dissipates) MAYA: KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN: (to Braman) We missed our chance. Chance for what? Nothing. You look splendid, as usual.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood26 KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Thanks. It's new. We should get you one of those.
(to Maya)
Since when does fashion excite you?
(Atman drags Maya away to give her a demo of his moves) ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: Hey, check this out. Your bag looks very heavy. It is. What's in it?
BRAMAN: It's got all my stuff plus all of Maya's baggage. (Atman finishes his demo) ATMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: ATMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Well, what d'you think? Does it matter? Yeah. Why? Why don't you take it off? I should ask Maya if we're staying. But you must! Well...we're friends. Friends? Well... Do you like me? Yeah, why? You're kind.
KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA:
This is your home as well. As much as Kala? I don't know you that well. I've never stopped you. Atman's a lucky man. You know what I think? What? We're so used to each other.
MAYA: You and Kala spend too much time together in one place. BRAMAN: MAYA: I could get used to this. You shoud explore.
(silence as both couples look at each other. Maya's seductive heat becomes too much for Atman, who jumps out of the way and moves to Braman and Kala) ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Hey, what's that under your arm? A prototype. Of what?
(Braman places the miniature trunk directly on top of Blacky's trunk) ALL: Blacky's trunk. KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: It's cute. Where did you find it?
We didn't find it. (proud) I made it.
Can I hold it?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood28 BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: No. C'mon! No. What's in it? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing is in it. It's a replica.
If it's empty, it's not a replica. It is! See.
(Braman steps back for Atman and Kala to begin an inspection, circling the trunk. The child circles with them once) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Smaller. A different shade. (lifts to test its weight) Smells new. Lighter.
(Atman puts the miniature downstage center and stands on it. Scans the horizon over the audience) ATMAN: (shakes his head, disappointed) anything from here. I can't see
(Atman moves upstage left. Kala picks up the miniature and holds it outstretched for a moment) KALA: Inanimate.
(She puts the miniature back on Blacky's trunk as before. Atman and Kala end up upstage right of
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood29 trunk, while Braman and Maya have been standing upstage left all along) (Atman moves to hold one side of trunk, and confronts Braman across it. Braman does likewise as they engage in an argument) ATMAN: So what is it?
(Kala moves absolutely upstage, contemplating the sky) BRAMAN: (exasperated) Aap logon ko kitne baar bataanaa padega! Yeh kalu ka baksaa ki pratilipi hai! ATMAN: BRAMAN: houa?! A copy? But it's empty you said. Khaali houaa to kyaa
(highly irritated)
ATMAN: (dismissive) Saari duniya jaanti hai ki kalu ka baksa hamesha khaali nahin rahataa hai. BRAMAN: Tum zabardast buddhu ho! Yeh thodi naa savaal hai! ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: So what is this? The solution. kis cheez ka solution? Savaal kyaa hai?
(Child puts the sand trunk into a pail, and pours the pail into the miniature trunk as they argue) BRAMAN: (to Maya) savaal kyaa hai! (It becomes dusk) KALA: ATMAN: What a beautiful sunset! (to Kala) Kyaa chutiyaa hai salaa! Humara mazaak udda Savaal?! Jaane chahaa ta hai ki
MAYA: (instigating Braman) rahaa hai!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood30 (It becomes a starry night) KALA: (soothing Atman) stir crazy tonight. BRAMAN: Faaltu ke log! Calm down! Look--the stars
ATMAN: (confrontational) Saale, humare saath bhiddne chahaa tha hai?! (Maya tries to push Braman into a fight with Atman, but luckily, the trunk is in Braman's way) MAYA: Dabaa ke chaap saale ko!
(Light returns to original intensity) KALA: (turning aroud to face audience) aisaa! Humesha aisaa! ATMAN: Jabddaa haath mein pakdaa doun?! Humesha
(Atman makes a showy attempt of trying to choke Braman, then flings the miniature trunk to the ground downstage from Blacky's trunk. It lands, spilling out sand. Braman is stunned. He scampers over and falls to his knees) BRAMAN: MAYA: I don't believe it! (doesn't move) BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: means? ATMAN: BRAMAN: Maya, come and see!
Curious. It's sand!
(ecstatic) oooh, sand! (vindicated)
You know what this
On a beach even! It works!
(Atman moves up to Braman. Kala and Maya sit down on the trunk and watch the men) ATMAN: Works?
BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: empty. BRAMAN:
You saw it yourself! So? Now it's full of sand!
It was empty.
See!
But that was a while ago, that it was
So?
ATMAN: Well, you know, we're on a beach, time passes, sand filters in, big deal. BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Do you know how long that would take? How long? Many, many years.
ATMAN: We've been arguing for as long as I can remember. BRAMAN: ATMAN: (aside) (aside) Buddhu kahin kaa! Saalaa chutiya!
(Braman opens up his backpack, takes out an aluminum can, and carefully begins collecting a sand sample from his trunk) MAYA: KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Energetic, your Atman. He works hard in his own way.
What are you doing? What do you think? Collecting sand. A sample! Of? Of sand! I'm taking a sample!
ATMAN:
That's what I just said. We need to find
BRAMAN: A sample for analysis. out what makes it work!
(Braman fills up the first container, and takes out a second identical container to fill it with beach sand) MAYA: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Maybe Braman could teach him. What? Stuff. Useful stuff.
Now what're you doing? This is the normal sample. It's all the same beach. That's where you are wrong.
(Braman carefully places the second container next to the first. While he searches his backpack for labels, Atman switches the two containers) KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: Atman knows useful stuff. I mean, more serious things. Serious? Like analysis.
(Braman labels the two containers, unaware of the switch. Picks up one in each hand) BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: One day, I'll get to the bottom of it all. Bottom of what? Everything. Ah, yes, the bottom of everything.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood33 (From his backpack, Braman takes out some apparatus for his analysis) BRAMAN: ATMAN: trunk. BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: This may be vital. But you're not even looking in Blacky's
I've exhausted it. Do you know how Blacky got it here? Doesn't matter how he did it. Ah, well then! I
ATMAN: (triumphantly to Kala) told you Blacky's a he! BRAMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: What? (implacable) Irrelevant.
She is not a he.
But that's the all-important question! No. Then what's the question?
(Braman paces across the breath of the stage) BRAMAN: The question is how does Blacky's trunk work? What makes it function? What does it produce? When? With what frequency? What elements? I've been keeping a detailed log that goes back centuries. I've made Hypotheses, created theories, suggested postulates, and laid down axioms. And the more data I get, the closer I get to the bottom of it all. ATMAN: BRAMAN: Which is? Sachai! (La verit!) Tumhare sachai ka kyaa
ATMAN: Sachai, sachai! matlab hai?!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood34 BRAMAN: Yeh sab meri sachai thodi na hai, lekin sachai hai! ATMAN: BRAMAN: (silence) ATMAN: All we need is Blacky. everything. BRAMAN: Blacky? ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Blacky'll tell us Aur phir bataana zaraa, hai kyaa yeh sachai? (deflated) Nahin maloom abhi tak.
How do you even know this belongs to
That's easy.
It's labeled.
Is trunk par Kalu ka koi nishaana nahin. Sure there is. Here.
(They move back to the trunk. Atman searches one spot with full confidence. Then another spot on the trunk. And so on with waning confidence) ATMAN: Right here see. Right after the scratch that looks like an elephant's tusk. Now where did it go? Ah! Here! No, not quite. Wait, it must be over on that side. (lies down behind the trunk) Ah, yes! Now I remember! Kala! It was that time when we were, you know, it's full of scratch marks here, once I even slipped and hit my head right against it, right here! (pause) No, it's not here. (Atman resurfaces. Pushes Braman away from the trunk and inspects the side) Ah! I know why I couldn't find it, it's because you've been blocking it all this time. Ah, yes, I knew it. Right here, see! Here's an A! a K, yes! and here's an L and...another A. And here's...my name. BRAMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Your name? What does it say? (sheepish) That's my artwork.
(It's now Braman's turn to push Atman out of the way in order to take a closer look)
BRAMAN: (with disgust and envy) hai, "Atman loves Kala!" KALA: (delighted) showed me!
Suno kyaa likhaa
Does it really!
You never
(Kala runs over to kiss Atman upstage left of trunk. Braman regroups with Maya upstage right of trunk. ) MAYA: KALA: It's not labeled, after all. But we know this is Blacky's trunk. I could have sworn I
ATMAN: (to himself, puzzled) saw it written somewhere. MAYA: Why?
KALA: We've called it Blacky's trunk ever since I can remember. ATMAN: That's all we've ever called it.
(Maya very deliberately walks downstage extreme left, and stands, her attention fixed on Kala. After a beat, Kala moves deliberately downstage extreme right. They stand facing off. Maya gets into predatorial crouch) MAYA: (icy. step forward) baksa bhi bulaate hein. Lekin hum isse Kalu ka
BRAMAN: Haan, haan, yeh baat tho khud ba khud mumkin hai. (Kala gets into her predatorial crouch) KALA: (menacing, step forward) the same as Blacky's Trunk. ATMAN: (agreeing) Yes! That means exactly
The very self same!
MAYA: (melodramatic, step forward) Isse Kalu ka baksa bulane mein aur Blackys trunk bulaane mein bahout antar hai. BRAMAN: (supporting Maya) Bilkul! Mahaan antar!
KALA: (stony) same thing. ATMAN:
It's only two ways of calling the
(agreeing with Kala)
Mirror as a twin.
MAYA: (crouches like a predator, step forward) There is a subtle difference between "Blacky's trunk" and "Kalu ka baksa." KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: (likewise) Like what?
The name tranforms everything. Everything is given, with or without a name. Then what? We only name to avoid confusion. We name to approach. To remember. To grasp. Pleasure.
(Silence. The women are practically nose to nose. Braman and Atman hold their breaths. Nothing happens. The women gradually relax, stand to their full heights, and with disdainful toss of the head, return to their starting positions. BRAMAN: ATMAN: You were wonderful! Kala, come to me!
(They each sit on opposite edges of the trunk, while the men, complete with spit bucket, towel and all, all of which are provided by Child, massage their arms and heads as they would pugilists between the rounds) BRAMAN: ATMAN: Pace yourself. She's tiring out!
Stick to the game plan, it's working!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood37 BRAMAN: longer! Give it to her! She won't last very much
ATMAN: When she leaves an opening, step into it, step into it! Right, left , baayen se, daayen se, left! BRAMAN: Ghumaake lagaa! all the way! Combinations, combinations
(The women stand up, shake it out, and return to their starting positions. Child rings a gong. The women rapidly walk to each other, ending up nose to nose and centerstage as at the end of round 1. The pace of the exchange is fast and furious; after each shot, Braman (in french) and Atman (in English) Cheer their women on, with exclamations such as Bravo!, That's it! etc.) (This time, the women punctuate their lines by manipulating each other as in a stylized dance) MAYA: KALA: Kalu ka Trunk exists in an Indian universe. Blacky's Trunk exists in all space.
MAYA: Kalu ka trunk makes a different life than Blacky's Trunk! KALA: Blacky's Trunk belongs to the one life everywhere. MAYA: Kalu ka Trunk came before Blacky's Trunk.
(Maya sits down on the trunk) KALA: Kalu ka Baksaa and Blacky's Trunk are simultaneous. (Kala pulls off Maya and sits on the trunk) MAYA: Divergent but continuous.
(Maya too regains a seat on the trunk. The women sit side by side, facing the audience, elated by their accomplished performance. A moment passes. ATMAN: Darling, you were wonderful!
(Kala and Atman hug) BRAMAN: Shaandaar, Jaaneman!
(Braman's celebratory overture is repulsed by Kala. Braman returns to his apparatus downstage left, takes the can labeled "My Sand," puts it in a beaker and begins to heat it. Atman goes over to watch Braman. The women sit next to each other on the trunk) KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Braman, you wanted to talk. Maya, actually. It's about Blacky's trunk. What's new? Why are you heating the sand? (patronizing) It's science.
Ooh, "garam reta!"
BRAMAN: This is the first step in the analysis of the sand that fell out of my trunk. ATMAN: Yeh hoga garam reta ka vigyaan!
BRAMAN: I'll do a comparative analysis of the beach sand. Record the differences. MAYA: trunk. KALA: You have been monopolizing Blacky's
What?
MAYA: You're always here. Spend your lives stuck to Blacky's trunk. You never leave. KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Where is there to go?
So what's happening now? Samay lagtaa hai in cheezon mein.
ATMAN: BRAMAN:
How much time? Days, weeks, months. Accuracy is all.
(Atman reaches for Braman's backpack) ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Can I help? (fends him off) Kuch nahin chhune kaa!
Mein tumhari madad kar sakta houn! Kuch nahin hilaao. I need to keep track.
MAYA: exploring.
Braman and I, we're always traveling,
KALA: But there are so many possibilities to explore here. MAYA: The problem is, we're never alone with You're always here. KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Trunk. ATMAN: So?
it.
What's the point in heating sand? What I really need is time with Blacky's
Time to do what? We'd like some privacy. Privacy? Privacy with Blacky's trunk. No one's stopping you.
MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN:
But we have plans. Such as? First, what's under Blacky's trunk?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood40 ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (shrugs) More sand?
Next, a sample of the inside. Things in the trunk are always different. We never know what we get.
MAYA: Braman means a sample of the inside of the trunk, not a sample of the trunk's samples. BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: KALA: MAYA: Then, a sample of the air inside the trunk. What? The air inside, it's very important. (aside) Phir se paagalon vali baat! We're not in your way. It's a matter of equality. He inserts a
(Braman returns to the heated sand. thermometer. Atman follows him) BRAMAN: ATMAN: Hmmm. What?
(Ignoring Atman, Braman opens a notebook an begins writes in it and reads) BRAMAN: 27.94, 31.44, 31.78, 566.02, 28.59, 23.13...hmmm. ATMAN: (irritated) "Hmmm" Kyaa? Kyaa "hmmmm?"
MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA:
We need a timeshare system. A timeshare system for Blacky's trunk? Yes. Why? How?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood41 BRAMAN: The readings of this sand from my trunk are completely different from the beach sand readings I've recorded before. ATMAN: (incredulous) times already? BRAMAN: ATMAN: You've heated sand how many
(checks his notebook) 23,000?!
23,000 entries.
BRAMAN: I have many others, too many to carry, too many to count. ATMAN: BRAMAN: Don't you get bored? It's science. We need to be systematic about our
MAYA: search. KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN:
For what? For the truth behind the face of things. Face? Such as Blacky's Trunk. We're all searching.
We need to do it differently. I keep saying. We need to improvise a little.
MAYA & KALA:
(pause. The "search" will now turn creative. The actors turn towards the audience, suddenly remembering that they have people to entertain) ALL: THE SHOW!
(They all gather together centerstage, and the Child joins them in the middle) KALA: Inevitably.
MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN:
(to Atman) (nodding)
Improvise. Improvisation is key.
Ace the performance. Excel. Let's be inspired today. Make changes. Perform differently. Be provocative. Make an impact. Explore the possibilities. Laughter Tears (larmes?). Nafrat. Dhokha. Love. Seduction. Joy. Dukh. (L'angoisse.)
Be daring! Adventurous! Convincing. Riveting!
(Kala sees Atman and Maya are getting a bit too steamy for her liking. She breaks them up)
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood43 KALA: Let us gather together.
(They gather again) KALA: ALL: Are we together tonight? Yes. Let's see, tell me about yesterday's
KALA: Good. performance?
(All murmur commening variously on last night's performance, with shuffling of the feet, shrugging of the shoulders, etc.) KALA: That's good, honesty is good. what's the good news? ALL (murmur): KALA: ALL: KALA: Tonight's the night. But remember,
I can't hear you. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! Tonight's the night! And that means?
(electric silence) KALA: It means we have one more chance to be perfect. (electric silence) KALA: ALL: That's all I have to say. (explosive) Break a leg! Break a leg!
(Everyone enthusiastically wishes each other to break a leg. They disperse around the stage and do individual actor warms-ups. During their warm-ups, Child opens the trunk, takes out four headbands, and hands it out ot them. Having warmed up, each actor dons the headband and exits. Maya sprawls lazily across the trunk after giving her shades to Kala. Braman moves downstage left. Kala exits with Atman who takes Braman's backpack with him. Only Child is left in his sand pit. He starts to build a sandcastle)
(They are going to play each other) (silence) (Braman begins imitating Atman's martial arts) BRAMAN: (getting irritated with himself) Ungh! Ungh! Ah! Aagh! MAYA: BRAMAN: oullou! MAYA: Atman, what are you doing? (more pseudo-painful moves) Aagh! Ungh! Aagh!
You sound constipated. Mein kabhi
BRAMAN: (deflated) Mein bekaar houn! kuch nahin kar paaounga! MAYA: Where are the others?
BRAMAN: (Hindi accent) "There are no others other than us!" MAYA: BRAMAN: (pause) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: (sigh) Here we are. I am so happy being here. You know what I mean. Mujhe nahin maloom.
(expansive)
What should we do today? The same thing we did yesterday? What did we do yesterday? Mujhe kuch yaad nahin aarahaa hai. I know. Let's look in
MAYA: (light bulb flashes) Blacky's trunk!
(Maya jumps up, flips open the lid) I see something! Wait, I almost got it...I got it!
(Maya retrieves a carrot. They sit dejectedly on trunk. In the next few lines, both of them examine and carrot at arm's length before desultorily passing it between each other) BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: What d'you get? (examines, passes) (examines, passes) (examines, passes) (examines, passes) (examines, passes) A carrot. A carrot? Ek lauta gaajar! Sirf ek lauta gaajar! What to do with it? (Rien faire!)
Kuch bhi nahin karne ka!
(Braman throws it disgustedly in Child's direction) (long silence as Maya and Braman sit motionless and stare) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: I wonder why we're here. What we do. Day after day. Week after week. Always here. We never leave. We just sit here. Watch. Wait. I wonder where Braman and Maya are. (admiration) (Envious) Always on the go. Adventurous.
MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN:
They explore. I'm sure Braman will find out. What? How Blacky's trunk works.
(Trunk begins to shudder and shake) MAYA: What the...?
(They jump off the trunk) BRAMAN: A breakthrough!
(He runs halfway to the spot where his backpack previously was and comes to dead stop, remembering to stay in character) BRAMAN: (desperate, calling out to the wings) If only Braman were here, he could record this event! MAYA: Quick, come and help me!
(Braman and Maya lift up the lid together. Trunk stops shaking. They peer in it. Maya puts her arm in and searches by feel) MAYA: it! BRAMAN: I feel something! I feel it! Here, I got
What is it? What is it?
(Maya pulls out yet another carrot. Holds it out at arm's length. They look at the carrot and at each other. Braman snatches it and throws it back in the trunk) BRAMAN: (pacing in front of trunk) karne ka, kuch bhi nahin karne ka! MAYA: (coquettish) kuch bhi nahin
I thought I heard something.
(Braman and Maya lock gazes) MAYA: Not now.
BRAMAN: MAYA:
(strikes an Atman game pose) I'm not in the mood.
Why not?
(Tension dissipates as they remain where they are) (Kala and Atman enter stage left. Kala is wearing the shades. Atman is bowed down by the burden of the satchel) KALA: There they are. Thoda dhire chalo! Mein
ATMAN: (Heavy panting) ekdum thak gayaa houn! (pause as Atman recovers) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
We must make more of an effort. We must. (proud) I am full of ideas.
We have so much in common. (pompous) I am so full of amazing ideas--
Like sharing Blacky's trunk. It's not even funny. Come on. Haaye! Bhaari hai!
ATMAN: (struggling to follow) Thak gayaa!
(This time, their reunion downstage right is markedly sober) KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: Hey. Oh, hi. howdy.
(Jumping behind the raised-lid trunk, Braman frantically takes off his clothes in order to be able to greet them in nothing but his risqu underwear)
BRAMAN: (pause) ATMAN:
Yo!
Atman--I wish I was in shape like you!
BRAMAN: Nonsense! You must be in excellent shape, carrying that backpack all over your travels. ATMAN: Me?! I'm in my underwear. fat and ugly--I'd never be caught
BRAMAN: Nonsense! Carrying all of Maya's stuff must keep you in shape! (Maya gives Braman a dirty look) ATMAN: But I am so full of amazing ideas, I'll get to the bottom of everything! (Atman pushes Braman out of the way and goes to take off his backpack in exactly the same spot it was in before. He is about to do so, then remembers he needs permission). ATMAN (doggy-like panting) Can I? Can I please? (realizing he's
KALA: (not understanding) What? asking for permission) Yes, yes!
(Atman takes off his backpack, and starts rummaging through it, and will end up strewing carelessly around the objects he retrieves) ATMAN: Now, where did I put my test tube? (takes out a whip) No, not this one...(a cat o' nine tails) not that either...(a black eye-mask) hmmm... (handcuffs) Maya, remember this one?...(leather thongs) Oh, baby!...(a thick rope) what's this doing here?...(throws out an aluminum can or two, etc. Finally, he turns the bag upside down to make sure it is empty. Then, after a dramatic assessment of the beach, begins scooping sand with both hands into the backpack. (Kalal crosses to May, who in turn crosses to Atman, while an agitated Braman puts on his clothes)
MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN:
(fawning, excited)
What are you doing?
The bottom of everything! What are you doing?! Collecting sand. A
ATMAN: (haughty, dismissive) sample. MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN:
(praise) You're so dedicated. (patronizing) (disguted) It's science. Chutiya!
(Atman finishes stuffing the backpack and secures it) ATMAN: I am going to get to the bottom of everything. BRAMAN: ATMAN: (angry) Paagal ho gayaa hai!
Now, where's.. Ah, here's my test tube.
(Atman fills the test tube with more sand and wields it at Blacky's trunk) ATMAN: MAYA: now? ATMAN: Beware, Blacky's trunk! (following, fawning) So what's happening
With this, I will explain everything!
(Braman pick up the thong and cat 'o nine tails) BRAMAN: (crossing to Kala, suggestive) d'you get these? Where
KALA: (uncertain) We've collected them over time from Blacky's trunk. MAYA: ATMAN: You're smart. And Blacky's trunk!
BRAMAN: KALA:
Show me how to use this. Later. You're so intelligent. I'm a natural with the test tube.
MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: BRAMAN:
Promise? I mean ask Braman, he'll show you. But he's always busy with his experiments. Are they the right ones? He seems to think so. My hook's unclasped. (enticed) It sure is.
MAYA: ATMAN:
BRAMAN: Do you think there's anything between Kala and Braman? KALA: I don't see them getting very far.
(Maya slowly and deliberately walks behind Blacky's trunk. Atman follows memerized) MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA: Won't you help me? Yes.
I think Braman cares about her. (Threat) He should watch out for me.
MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA:
What are you waiting for? Yes.
You sound dangerous. I am Maya, remember that.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood51 (Maya and Atman are now behind the trunk. Maya turns to face Atman, and they go down. At this point, nothing shows from behind the trunk) MAYA: Don't be rough. Maya giggles)
(A slap is heard. MAYA: Oh!
You naughty boy!
(Sex: giggles, squeals, grunts, legs, etc. Kala and Braman stand upstage left, uncomfortably looking out, not knowing what to do. Soon, Maya's hands can be seen tying his legs up) ATMAN: MAYA: raho. Hey, what're doing?! Not the handcuffs!
Aaraam se lete raho, Braman, Aaraam se lete
(She snaps on the handcuffs. kicking)
Atmans leg's start
ATMAN: Hey, what're you--not behind my back! me free!
Let
(Maya rises, triumphant, disheveled, without her headband) MAYA: KALA: Blacky's trunk. What?!
(Braman crosses to his backpack upstage right and starts putting all his stuff back in, while Maya sits down on Blacky's trunk) MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: (inviting) Have you looked today?
Does it matter? Each day is different. (Doesn't move) Curious.
Don't you wish Blacky were here with us? Where's Braman?
MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN:
Inanimate. What are you doing with Braman's backpack? I want to know how he feels.
(Braman puts the backpack on. Gets into his familiar posture and crosses behind trunk to gloat at Atman. Maya crosses to centerstage extreme left. Kala, centerstage right and Maya face-off) KALA: MAYA: KALA: Kala. MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: Energetic, your Atman. He works hard. You're not behaving like your usual self,
I'm playing around. Is this about Blacky's trunk? Isn't everything? Are you sure? (step forward) Bachaao! Of course I am sure.
(Braman goes to check Atman's plight) BRAMAN: Ah, yes, funny how one ends up. What have you done with
KALA: (step forward) Braman? MAYA: KALA: (step forward) (step forward)
What do you think? You know what I think.
ATMAN: (struggling) Mujhe aise baandh kar tum logon ko sharm aani chahiye! (Mais c'est dtestable ce que vous me faisez!) BRAMAN: it? (derisive) It's not easy to be Braman, is
ATMAN: (hateful) Mein yeh vaadaa karta hou ki jaise hi mein chhut paoungaa, mein aisa badlaa lounga! MAYA: (step forward) I wouldn't trust anything he says. KALA: MAYA: (step forward) (step forward) He's never let me down. He's led me down.
KALA: (step forward) You're talking about my Braman. You must be thinking about yours. BRAMAN: ATMAN: MAYA: (teasing Atman) Au secours! (step forward) You want to join him? It's heating up out there!
(They are nose to nose) KALA: (step forward) Mere khayaal se nahin!
(In a flash, Kala floors Maya) MAYA: (floored and hurt) rahaa hai! Haaye! Kyaa dard ho
(Braman's reacts to help Maya but he is intercepted by Kala, who seduces him to sit with her on Blacky's trunk) BRAMAN: (impressed) Where d'you learn that?
MAYA: (angry) Kis cheez ke intezaar mein baithe houe ho?! Maaro usko, maaro! BRAMAN: (mesmerized by Kala) Who? MAYA: "Who?" ka kyaa matlab houaa? gadhe kahin ke?! Kaun hoga who,
BRAMAN: (mesmerized, happy) Mujhe kuch samajh nahin aa rahaa hai ki tum mujhse kyaa chahaa thi ho. MAYA: Usne mujhe maara! Haaye! Baandh de usse! Mujhe dard ho rahaa hai.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood54 (pause) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Saaraa kaam nasht ho jaa rahaa hai! Err, I am Atman the unique. Dhyaan se sochke kaam lo, nahin to--! "sochke kaam lo, nahin to--"
BRAMAN & KALA:
(Child stands up in his sand pit and clears his throat) CHILD: Ahem!
(Braman looks at Child, jumps up in fright and runs behind Maya for protection) CHILD: MAYA: KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen! (fearful) Yeh kaun?!
It's just a child! What's going on over there?! (worried) Hum isko jaante hein?
Meine pehle isko kabhi nahin dekha! Meine bhi nahin!
(Child approaches them) MAYA: (retreating) rahaa hai! CHILD: BRAMAN: MAYA: KALA: ATMAN: CHILD: Savdhaan! Humare taraf aa
I have a message for Blacky. Kalu ke liye! Khabar! Kalu ke liye khabar laaya hai. A message for Blacky? What's going on?! Will someone help me?
Is there anyone amongst you named Blacky?
(silence) ATMAN: Hellooo? Someone help! Get me out! Braman
(Kala and Braman whisper fiercely together. takes a half step towards Child) BRAMAN: KALA: Er, Haan. He's lying! Haan, mein.
Mein houn Kalu.
(Maya nudges Kala to shut up) CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: Are you really Blacky? Haan, haan! Bilkul! Are you sure?
(pause as Braman looks at Maya for advice. They whisper hurriedly. this time around Maya steps forward) MAYA: CHILD: MAYA: KALA: Sach baat tho yeh hai ki mein houn Kalu. So you're Blacky? Haan. Ismein koi shaq nahin. Her name is-Kala gives up
That's not true.
(Braman implores Kala to be quiet. and goes to untie Atman) CHILD: MAYA:
I have an urgent message for Blacky. I'm listening. Maya and Braman are
(Child reads from a scroll. getting excited) CHILD: MAYA:
Is it true it's your birthday today? My birthday? On the happy occasion of Blacky's
CHILD: It says: birthday"--
MAYA: Arre haan! Mera janamdin hai! bhul jaati houn, apna janamdin! BRAMAN: Janamdin mubarak ho, jaaneman!
Mein humesha
(Child reads parchment, then looks up to announce) CHILD: I have the great pleasure of announcing-(dramatic pause) BRAMAN: MAYA: CHILD: Yes? Yes?! Go on, announce!
Blacky's Trunk has arrived!
(stunned silence) BRAMAN: gayaa?! MAYA: (incredulous) Kalu ka trunk pahounch
Kalu ka trunk?!
(Braman and Maya are disappointed by the message) BRAMAN: Lekin Kalu ka trunk tho ye rahaa!
MAYA: Yeh tho humesha ke liye humaare saath hi rahaa hai! (Ca fait a jamais qu'on a la malle Noireau!) CHILD: MAYA: CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: BRAMAN: Mein is trunk ki baat nahin kar rahaa houn. Nahin?! Nahin. There is an additional trunk? Yes. And it, too, is Blacky's trunk? Yes. Just like this one?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood57 CHILD: More or less.
(Atman, freed at last rise. He is furious and tries to get at Braman but is restrained by Kala. He notices Child) ATMAN: CHILD: ATMAN: Who's this? What's going on?
Are you Blacky? Me? Blacky? Bataa diya
MAYA: (getting angry) Arre, bache! naa, ki Kalu mein houn? (Silence as Child surveys them) CHILD: Get going then.
(Child moves back to the sand pit. Maya and Braman look at the Child and at each other, unsure) CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: MAYA: BRAMAN: Please hurry! Where is it? (pointing off stage right) Is it far? Zyaada dur nahin. What do you think? Whatever you say. Over there!
(Braman hurriedly empties his bag of sand and packs up all his belongings. Maya bids farewell to Kala and Atman) MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Well, we must get going. You just got here. Blacky's trunk has arrived over there. A second one?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood58 BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: That's what the child says. You know how it is. Well, see you around. Do you know where you're going? All set! Let's go! Child
(They walk across to stage right and exit. points in the direction they're going) CHILD: nahin. (sits in sand pit) Vahaan pe.
Zyaadaa dur
(Silence as Atman and Kala sit on Blacky's trunk) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (pause) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: It's quiet. Peaceful. I wonder what they'll find. What they always do. What? Rien. Be nice. Why? No one's listening. I wish them well. Jaise marzi. Be nice. All right, so I wish them well.
You never know.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood59 ATMAN: That's true, you never know. they'll find it? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: What? Blacky's Trunk. It's right here. Yes, but the one that just arrived. Mujhe nahin maloom. Do you think
ATMAN: They'll be around sooner than later. (pause) What now? KALA: I'm tired.
(Atman looks at Kala longingly but she is peeved by his preceding episode) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Are you sure? Abhi nahin. Why not? I'm not in the mood. Are you sure? Black out, END OF ACT I
Blackie's Trunk / Kalu ka baksaa

a play in English - Hindi by Sujay Sood
ACT II
ANOTHER DAY.
SAME TIME.
SAME PLACE.
(EVERYTHING IS AS IN THE BEGINNING OF ACT I. CHILD IS ABSORBED IN MAKING A SANDCASTLE. ATMAN IS STANDING ON BLACKY'S TRUNK, EYES SHIELDED AND SCANNING THE HORIZON) ATMAN: (HAPPY SIGH) Aananda!
(ATMAN PACES ALONG AROUND BLACKIE'S TRUNK, SURVEYING IT AND CONSIDERING WHICH OF HIS MOVES WOULD BEST WORK TO SUCCEED IN MOVING IT. MAKING UP HIS MIND, HE CONCENTRATES, WARMS UP AND ATTACKS THE TRUNK) ATMAN: Hee-yaah!
(HE IS UNABLE TO MOVE THE TRUNK) ATMAN: (KICKING IT, FRUSTRATED) Stupid trunk!
(KALA ENTERS, ABSORBED IN A BOOK) KALA: Arre, to tum yahaan ho.
(SHE SITS DOWN ON THE TRUNK AND CONTINUES TO READ) ATMAN: Haan, mein! Duniyaa ka ek lauta Atman!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood61 (PEEVED AT BEING IGNORED, ATMAN NOISILY EXECUTES SOME OF HIS MOVEMENTS TO DRAW HER ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE BOOK) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (LOOKING UP, NEUTRAL) Parikshaa. Phir se? (SHE GOES BACK TO READING) Shakti! aur sahanashee! Yeh sab kyaa hai?
(ATMAN BECOMES AWARE THAT SHE'S NOT LOOKING) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (IRRITATED) Hello?!
Dekh nahin sakte mein padd rahi houn? Kyaa pustak hai? I don't know. Kyaa matlab, "I don't know"? Pustak mein kaafi kuch likhaa hai. Kahaan milaa? Yeh pustak mujhe kalu ke bakse mein milaa. Kalu ke bakse mein? Haan, Kalu ke bakse mein. Kab milaa? I don't remember. Kal? Yesterday?
KALA: Yesterday, or maybe the day before, I'm not sure sure. ATMAN: hai? KALA: Hmm. Achaa, to pustak mein kyaa likhaa gaya
Kaafi saare cheez.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood62 ATMAN: Jaise ki? Zaraa batao bhei.
KALA: Jaise ki sundarataa aur ektaa ke vishay par vaadvivaad. ATMAN: Sundarataa aur ektaa? (CONSIDERS THIS FOR A MOMENT) Kala, mere baahon mein aajaao! (ATMAN SPREADS OUT HIS ARMS INVITINGLY) KALA: Itna uttejit mat ho. zaraa. Pehele meri baat suno
(ATMAN STRIKES A LISTENING POSE) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Voh kahaan chale gaye? I don't know. Where were you gone?
Yahin, aas-paas thi. "aas-paas thi!" Koi nahin. Are you sure? Haan haan, pakki baat. ATMAN SULKS) Aaj saagar kaa kyaa cheharaa Who with?
(SILENCE AS KALA READS. KALA: hai? ATMAN: (STILL READING)
Saagar kaun?
Arre acchaa, saagar!
(SITS ON TRUNK AND LOOKS OUT AT AUDIENCE) KALA: ATMAN: Aur? Saagar to aaj...I don't know.
KALA: (STILL READING) Aise lagtaa hai ki har laher ki jaagriti hamaare shabdon ke prateekshaa mein ho rahi hai. ATMAN: (not quite understanding her) kahane! Hamesha prateekshaa! Vah, kyaa
KALA: ATMAN:
Hamesha nahin. To phir?
KALA: Kabhi kabhi Laheron ki uskaan humare dil mein gulaabon ki komalataa phailati hai. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Hein? Matlab? Pustak mein bilkul aisa likhaa houa hai. Pustak mein? Haan. What's with this book anyhow?
KALA: Achaa bataao, Tumhe yahin-kahin aas paas Braman to nazar nahin aaya? (ATMAN CROSSES TO CENTERSTAGE RIGHT) ATMAN: "yahin kahin aas-paas!" for Braman? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Why are you looking
Voh Baat karne chahaa ta tha. Kis vishay par? I'm not sure. Hum par?
ATMAN: Hum par ka kyaa matlab houa? Hum jaise ki tum aur mein hum? Yaa hum jaise ki tum aur voh hum? Yaa phir hum jaise ki hum sab hum? (KALA THROWS THE BOOK DOWN, EXASPERATED, CROSSES CENTERSTAGE LEFT) KALA: ATMAN: I'm not sure, all right?! Not sure? Not sure about what?! What's sure is that one can
KALA: (REPRIMANDING) never be sure! ATMAN: (MIMICS HER)
"Never be sure!"
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood64 KALA: ATMAN: Stop mocking everything! "Mocking everything!" Watch out otherwise I'll sock
KALA: That's enough! you one! ATMAN:
"Otherwise I'll sock--" HE HOWLS AFTER HIS INITIAL
(KALA FLOORS ATMAN. SHOCK) KALA:
Arre, maaf karo!
Theek to ho?
(ATMAN STRIKES A POSE OF EXCRUTIATING PAIN) ATMAN: KALA: OW! Dard ho rahaa hai?
(ATMAN WHIMPERS AS KALA CRADLES AND SOOTHES HIM) ATMAN: tumne? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: is tarah se palatnaa kahaan se seekhaa
Tumhe hi dekhte hou. Mujhe? Theek ho ab?
ATMAN: (HAPPY) Tumhaare baahon mein kitnaa achchaa lag rahaa hai, jaanaa-pehchaana saa. KALA: Hum yahaan iss tarah is vaqt ko pehle bhi ji chuke. (THEY CLASP EACH OTHER FONDLY. TUNE) KALA: hai? ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Suno! CHILD HUMS A HAPPY
yeh sangita kahaan se sunai de rahi
I don't hear anything. Soun nahin sakte? I hear nothing. Sangita hai!
(KALA TRIES TO GET UP BUT ATMAN STRUGGLES TO KEEP HER. CHILD STOPS HUMMING) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Stay! Let me go! Stay here! Let go!
(KALA GETS UP AND SCOPES THE AREA BUT THERE IS NO MUSIC TO BE HEARD) KALA: (DISAPPOINTED) Sangita mauna ho gayi. THEY FACE OFF AS IN ACT I) I heard
(SILENCE AS ATMAN RISES.
ATMAN: (TAKES A STEP TOWARDS KALA) nothing. KALA: humesha jaise atma-niyukta.
ATMAN: (STEP FORWARD) liya hai. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Not now. (STEP FORWARD) (STEP BACK) (GIVING UP) (SURPRISED)
Mujhe tumhaare prem ne moh
Kyoon nahin?
I'm not in the mood. Pah! What else is new?!
ruk gaye?
Yes, I'm stopping it! Tabiyat to theek hai? I'm fine! Aaj utsukataa nahin? I don't know. Voh sab aane hi vale honge.
ATMAN:
Sochti ho?
KALA: Aaj shaam ko, hummein pukka improvise karnaa chahiye. ATMAN: Aaj tak har shaam yahi to karte aaye hein.
KALA: Haan, lekin hummein zyaadaa koshish karnaa chahiye. ATMAN: Kaise?
KALA: Avashyaktaa hai ki hummein zyaadaa saahasi hona chahiye, zyadaa yuktimaan karna chahiye. ATMAN: (DISGUST) over for you! KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Invention! That's Braman all
Braman ke khilaaf kyaa kahane chahate ho? There's something about Braman that bugs me. Tum itne shakkee aur sandehee kyoon ho?
ATMAN: Mein shakkee aur sandehee?! Ha! Mein tumhe yaad dilaataa houn ki mein houn duniyaa ka ek lautaa Atman! KALA: Jaise bhi ho, Braman aashaapurna hai ki thode hi kaala mein voh maamlaa spashta kar sakegaa. ATMAN: KALA: Spashta? Kyaa spashta karne chahataa hai?
Kalu ka baksaa, aur kiya. How does he
ATMAN: That's the stupidest thing yet! propose to solve it?
KALA: Braman nishchit hai ki voh artha dhound nikaalega. ATMAN: That constipated moron wants to explain everything! KALA: ATMAN: Susheel raho! Polite for what? Is he here?
KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
voh sab aate hi honge. Pakkaa maloom? I'm not sure sure. Aur phir?! Shaayad voh kal aayenge.
Shaayad aaj aane ki baat thi.
ATMAN: Kal thaa, mujhe yaad hai jaise ki aaj ki baat ho, unhone hummein kal kahaa thaa. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Aaj? Kal. Kal? Jaise ki aaj. unhone kal? Kyaa? Kyaa bol rahe ho tum?! I don't know anymore.
(SILENCE AS THEY SIT ON BLACKY'S TRUNK) KALA: Hum mein se har ek ko bhinnataa prapt karne ke liye parishram karna chahiye. ATMAN: Humesha se hi to hum sab parishram kar aa rahe hein. KALA: Hum logon ko kaam karne ke liye alag alag taur dhoundne chahiye. ATMAN: (SUGGESTIVE) Haan, yahi to mein kehtaa houn, jaaneman. KALA: Chakra(vyu) ko Saanthanaa.
(SILENCE) KALA: Sada yeh sab iss prakaar nahin thaa.
ATMAN:
Sab ka sattaa alag thaa.
KALA: Kalu ke bakse ne tamaam duniyaa ko badal daalaa. (PAUSE) ATMAN: chuka? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Mein puchchtaa houn ki kitnaa samay beeta
I don't remember. Me neither. We had lost the way. Kalu ke bakse ke aane ke pehle.
KALA: Ye bhi ho saktaa hai ki kalu ka baksaa humeshaa se hi yahin hai. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (PAUSE) KALA: Shayad jab hum vishraama ke andhakaar mein magna the, to tab hi kaalu bakse ke saath aayaa hoga. ATMAN: KALA: (PAUSE) ATMAN: Kalu ke bakse ke pehle hum galat vichaaron se purna the. KALA: Humaaraa vichaar thaa ki hum naapasanda the. (On croyait qu'on tait les rejets.) ATMAN: Daas-daasi the. Haan, jab hum so rahe the. Yaa phir jab hum svapanamaye the. Haan, aise bhi ho saktaa hai. Hum sirf isse jaan ne ke kaabil nahin the. Haan, aise bhi ho saktaa hai.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood69 KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Asveekaar karnevaale. Paap mein jeene vaale. Aparaadhi the. Karma manzoor karne vale. Anyataa ke adheen.
(SILENCE) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Ab hum sab ki sacchai jaante hein. Jaante hein. Sab diya gaya hai. Improvisation sabse mahetvapurna guna hai. Improvisation is risky. Bhayabheeta ho?
ATMAN: Bhayabheeta mein?! Ha! Mujhe kis cheez se dar nahin. Sirf yeh kahanaa chahataa houn, ki hummein thoda bahout sanyoga rakhnaa chahiye. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: (PUZZLED) Improvisation mein sanyoga?
What's wrong with some consistency? But we're talking about improvisation! THEY SIGH)
(THEY LISTEN AND WATCH. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
Kahaan hoga iss vaqt, Braman? Kahaan hogi iss vaqt, Maya? Saari duniyaa. Kahaan gaye sab?
Saari duniyaa humaare saath yahaan hai. Yahaan? Hum sab yahaan
ATMAN: (MAKES AN INCLUSIVE GESTURE) hein. Saari duniyaa.
KALA:
Aur anya log? Duniyaa mein humaare alaavaa aur
ATMAN: (dictum) anya nahin. (SILENCE) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: hein.
Ab kyaa karein? Kuch khelte hein. Phir se? Kyoon nahin? Mein khel se tang aa gayi houn. Khel ke hi to bane houe hein hum. Kyaa? Khel. Khel? Yeh khel jo hum sadiyon se khelte aa rahe
KALA: That's all we ever do. It's always the same thing over and over again. Play. (ATMAN JUMPS UP A GETS UP, EXCITED. KALA REMAINS SITTING, UNAFFECTED. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, HE DOES ONLY ONE GAME POSE) ATMAN: Shayad hummein abhi..."Samudrateer Saveraa" khelna chaahiye. KALA: the. ATMAN: KALA: (bored) Ek hi to kshana pehle yahi khel rahe
Ushaa ki jvaara bhaataa. abhi sahi samaya nahin.
(ATMAN GETS INTO A PREDATORY CROUCH)
ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: hai. KALA: ATMAN:
(LASCIVIOUS) Not now. (STEP FORWARD)
Spongey-spongey!
Kyoon nahin?
I'm not in the mood. (STEP FORWARD) Yeh to sirf kehne ki cheez
I'm not in the mood! (STEP FORWARD) Pakkaa?
(ATMAN IS NOW AT STRIKING DISTANCE FROM KALA, WHO HAS REMAINED ON SEATED ON THE TRUNK ALL THIS WHILE. WITH AN EXPRESSION OF INEVITABILITY, KALA SIGHS AND STANDS BEHIND THE TRUNK. ATMAN JOINS HER. THEY GO DOWN. LEGS STICK OUT VARIOUSLY. SHORT SEX. A SHOUT OF SURPRISE FROM KALA. SILENCE. EVENTUALLY, KALA RISES, NOT NEARLY AS FLUSHED AND DISHEVELED AS IN ACT I, WHILE ATMAN REMAINS LYING BEHIND THE TRUNK) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Kalu Ka baksaa. Kyaa? aaj nazar daalaa ismein? Haan. Phir? Humesha kuch na kuch Samaan nikaltaa hai. Kyaa milaa? Kyaa? Uth bhi jaao! Nothing! Kuch bhi nahin? Bakse mein aaj Kyaa milaa?!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood72 (STILL HIDDEN FROM VIEW, ATMAN THROWS UP CARROTS, ONE BY ONE) ATMAN: Kuch nahin,bas yah, aur yah, aur yah, aur yah, aur yah! KALA: Itne saare gaajar!
(ATMAN RISES, PULLING HIS PANTS BACK UP) ATMAN: Yes, unbelievable! carrots! KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: us! Be polite! Polite to whom? Atman! It's not like there's anyone listening to The goddamn carrots? Nothing but silly-assed
KALA: That's rich! Everyone is always here, except when you're being obnoxious--is that it? ATMAN: The carrots are obnoxious that's what I fucking think! (HE ANGRILY GATHERS THE CARROTS AND FLIPS OPEN THE LID OF THE TRUNK, THROWS THEM IN VIOLENTLY, AND SLAMS THE LID SHUT) ATMAN: KALA: Fucking dipshit trunk! Stop behaving like an asshole!
ATMAN: Me, an asshole?! just because all I keep getting are fucking carrots everytime I look in that stupid box that just sits there like a moron?! KALA: ATMAN: What d'you expect? It's all your fault!
How's it my fucking fault?
KALA: It's the last time I'm telling you to watch your dirty mouth!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood73 ATMAN: (MAKES LIPS) fucking mouth! There! I'm watching my
(SWIFT AS LIGHTNING, KALA FLOORS ATMAN) ATMAN: (STRIKES A POSE OF PAIN) Ouch! The pain!
(HE MAKES VARIOUS POSES OF PAIN, BUT KALA IGNORES HIM. SHE RETRIEVES HER BOOK AND SITS DOWN ON THE TRUNK) KALA: Kaafi ho gaya, ab bas karo.
(HE DUSTS HIMSELF OFF, CHECKS HIS POSES TO REASSURE HIMSELF. HE SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER AND TRIES TO READ OVER HER SHOULDER) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Aur phir? (ABSORBED IN THE BOOK) Phir kyaa?
Pustak mein aur phir kyaa, bhei! Chittaakarshak hai.
ATMAN: Yeh to saaf nazar aa rahaa hai, lekin likha kyaa hai? KALA: ATMAN: duniya ke sab kuch pe thoda bahout. Sab kuch pe? Mahaasaagar aur dharti pe, aasman
KALA: (POETIC) aur zameen pe.
ATMAN: Achchaa, samajh gaya! pustak hai.
Yeh ek bhoogola ki
KALA: Hridaya ke gaharahion mein neelkanthtaa ki pratirupi aarambha. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Neel? Vishva ke phuladaarit vayuon ki laal mangal. Laal? Ashaa ki hare magaja mein bechaini ka janma.
ATMAN:
Haraa?
KALA: Iss pustak mein Kaalu ke bakse ke vishay par bhi likhaa houa hai. ATMAN: (AMAZED) Sach? Kalu ke bakse par?!
KALA: Bramane aur Maya, aur tumhare aur mere baare bhi likhaa houaa hai. ATMAN: of us? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: (DISBELIEF) Impossible! A book about all
Kyoon nahin ho saktaa? Kalu ke baare bhi likhaa houa hai kyaa? Haan. Aur phir? Aur phir kyaa? Is
ATMAN: (ILL TEMPERED) And so what does it say? Blacky a guy or a girl? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: A girl. You're lying! Yahi likhaa houa hai. Dikhao!
(ATMAN SNATCHES THE BOOK AND CROSSES CENTERSTAGE RIGHT) ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Kahaan likhaa houa hai?! Okay, so it's not sure. Not sure?
KALA: aneka sambhaavnaaon ki charchaa prastut ki gayi hai.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood75 ATMAN: (MOLLIFIED) Kum se kum, hummein yeh to pakkaa jaante hein ki kalu chini hai. KALA: (TOSSES HER HEAD, LAUGHS) Blackie a Chinese?! What are you talking about? Hum pakkaa jaante hein ki kalu afrika se hai. ATMAN: (TOSSES HIS HEAD, LAUGHS) African?! Blacky an
KALA: Agar afrika se nahin, to phir pakki baat hai ki voh Spain kaa nivasi hai. ATMAN: (TOSSES HIS HEAD, LAUGHS) be the day! Spanish? That'll
KALA: Zaraa budhi kaa istamaal karke socho, haala mein kyaa kyaa nikaala humn Kalu ke bakse se? ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (THINKS) No! Kyaa mila phir? Bahout saare gaajar?
(KALA OPENS THE TRUNK WHILE ATMAN PICKS UP HER BOOK AND BEGINS TO READ) KALA: ATMAN: (LOOKING IN) Vah, kitni sundar cheez hai! (ENGROSSED IN THE BOOK) Hmm... Tum kabhi
KALA: Yahaan aake zaraa haat to lagaao. atkala nahin kar sakoge kyaa cheez hai.
ATMAN: (FLIPS A FEW PAGES) Thehro, Thehro, mein abhi bataataa houn, kahaan hoga, haan yahin paas hi likhaa houaa hoga...Haan! Mil gayaa! Mein shart lagaataa houn ki tumhe ek guitar milaa hoga. (KALA PULLS OUT A GUITAR) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Bilkul theek! Tom-tom. Saaf nahin dikhrahaa! Aake meri madad karo! Aur kyaa?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood76 (ATMAN AND KALA PULL OUT A LARGE TOM-TOM. THEY CHECK OUT THE INSTRUMENTS, STRUM IT, BEAT IT BUT WITHOUT EXPERTISE) KALA: (VINDICATED) tumhe. ATMAN: Kyaa? Yahaan guitar haazir hai, aur yahaan Theek kahaa thaa naa, meine
KALA: (SMUG) tom-tom.
ATMAN: (IRRITATED) What about it? KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:
So it's a guitar and tom-tom.
Meine theek kahaa thaa, bas. (MUTTERS) Yes, dear.
Tom-tom--Afrika se, Guitar--Spain se. So what? Why don't you admit I was right?! This doesn't
ATMAN: (POINTING TO THE INSTRUMENTS) mean anything!
KALA: Clearly it means Blackies either Spanish or African! ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Is not! Is too! Not! Too!
(ATMAN GOES TO LOOK IN THE TRUNK. HE SHOUTS TRIUMPHANTLY AND PULLS OUT A SAXOPHONE) ATMAN: ho? HA! yeh dekho! Ab kyaa bol ne chahaa thi
(THE DISCOVERY OF THE SAXOPHONE WORRIES KALA. SHE TAKES IT FROM ATMAN TO ENSURE ITS REALITY. SHE THEN SITS DOWN ON THE TRUNK WITH THE BOOK)
KALA: (SEARCHES BOOK, SHAKING HER HEAD) know what to make of it. ATMAN: (MOCKING) right?!"
I dont
"Why don't you admit I was
KALA: (STILL SEARCHING) a saxophone. ATMAN: KALA: Koi baat nahin. (CONFUSED)
There's not supposed to be
Yeh rahaa saxophone.
This gives me a bad feeling.
ATMAN: Theek hai, ghabraane ki koi zaroorat nahin, kabhi kabhi mera vichaar bhi sahi ho saktaa hai. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: do?! KALA: (SOMBER) This changes everything.
Kyaa badlaa? Sab kuch! Kyoon? There is no sax in the book! (VERY WORRIED) No sex! What're we going to
No Saxophone!
ATMAN: (GREATLY RELIEVED) Ah, saxophone! Aise daraaya mat karo. Aur phir, chintaa kyoon? Yeh rahaa, Saxophone.
KALA:
You don't understand anything.
(ATMAN COMFORTS KALA) ATMAN: KALA: Kyaa houaa, jaaneman? Ab hummein kyaa karna chahiye?
ATMAN: Jo hum karte aa rahe hein, vohi karte raheinge.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood78 KALA: ATMAN: Lekin Saxophone. Kyaa?
KALA: (POINTS TO BOOK) yeh pustak mein likhi gayi kahaani se milta-jhulta nahin. ATMAN: Who gives a damn about the story in the book! Here is the sax! Let's move on, shall we?! KALA: (INDICATING BOOK) kahaanin hai. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Phir bhi, yeh hamaari
No, that's not our story. This is our story. Aur anta? Anta? Humaare kahaani ka anta? Koi Anta nahin! How can there be no end to our story?
(ATMAN TAKES THE BOOK) KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: hein. Aaj shaam ko hummein khushi manaanaa chahiye. (ABSORBED IN BOOK) Kyaa?
Aak shaam khushi manaate hein. (STILL ABSORBED) haan! Khushi manaate
KALA: Doston ko bulaaenge! Aur phir hum sab naachenge! ATMAN: (STILL ABSORBED)
Sangeeta bajaayenge!
Jaise tumhaari marzi. I
KALA: (IRRITATED) You're not listening to me! said we should have a party tonight! (ATMAN CONSIDERS THIS PROPOSITION AND SEARCHES IN THE BOOK)
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood79 ATMAN: (FLIPS TO LAST PAGE) Zaraa dekhein to aage kyaa hota hai. (READS INTENTLY) hmmm... KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: Mujhe bataao! I don't seem to find a party in here. No party? No. That's ridiculous. We must have a party.
There's no end either. Anta aavashyak hoga. It says, "to be continued." (DOUBTFUL) Bilkul! Mujhe dikhao! No. Give me my book! No. I'm fed up with this stupid book. KALA continued?
(ATMAN THROWS THE BOOK BACK IN BLACKY'S TRUNK. RUNS TO RETRIEVE IT BUT IT HAS DISAPPEARED) KALA: ATMAN: (ANGRY) Now what d'you do that for?!
Because I felt like it, that's why! You had no right to throw
KALA: That was my book. it away! ATMAN:
I don't give a damn whose book it was!
KALA: (DECISIVE) Hummein paagalon ki tarah bahas nahin karna chahiye. ATMAN: You started it!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood80 KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Theek hai, to mein hi rok rahi houn. "Mein hi rok rahi houn!" (ENGLISH ACCENT) That's enough!
(KALA FLOORS ATMAN) ATMAN: (STRIKES A POSE OF PAIN) Ow! The pain!
(ATMAN LOOKS LONGINGLY AT KALA HOPING FOR AN EMBRACE AS EARLIER. IGNORING HIM, KALA ARRANGES THE INSTRUMENTS BEHIND CHILD'S SANDPIT. CHILD HELPS HER MOVE THE TOM-TOM) KALA: Jaise bhi ho, yeh to pataa chalaa ki kalu chini nahin. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: he! KALA: (PAUSE) (PHONE STARTS RINGING IN THE TRUNK. THE PHONE) ATMAN ANSWERS Haan, aur kalu aadmi hai, Aadmi! (EXASPERATED) Phir se bahas mat karo! (PAUSE) But Blackies a
Im not arguing.
Mein tumhaare saat aur bahas nahin karoongi.
ATMAN: Hailo? (HE LISTENS) Haan, bolrahaa houn. (LOUDER) Hailo? Haan, Atman bolrahaa houn. Kaun? Hailo? Braman?! Bramane, Kyaa tum bol rahe ho? Kyaa aashcharya hai! (HE CUPS THE SPEAKER MOMENTARILY) Bramane bol rahaa hai! Haan, Braman? theek ho? Kahaan se bol rahe ho? (HE LISTENS) Haan, acchaa, theek hai... (SILENCE AS HE SHRUGS AT KALA, WAITING. ATMAN EXCITEDLY TURNS HIS BACK TO KALA AS MAYA COMES ON ON THE PHONE) ATMAN: Haan? Kaise ho tum! ...Haan...Kuch khaas nahin...nahin to...nahin to...What?...What do you mean?...Ah, mein to kuch aur hi soch rahaa
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood81 thaa...achchaa, to yeh bataao, yahaan kab aane ka soch rahe ho? (MAYA'S VOICE IS HEARD APPROACHING FROM OFFSTAGE LEFT, BUT ATMAN, WITH HIS BACK TURNED, IS OBLIVIOUS TO THIS FACT. KALA WATCHES, BEMUSED) MAYA: Hum tumhaare bilkul pass hein. Braman says
ATMAN: (CUPPING PHONE, TO KALA) they'll be here any moment. KALA: ATMAN: hein. No kidding! (INTO PHONE)
Aapke intazar mein hum bechain
(MAYA AND BRAMAN ARE FULLY ON STAGE NOW. MAYA IS TALKING INTO A CELL PHONE. BRAMAN IS CARRYING A HEAVY BACKPACK AND ALSO A ROLL OF LARGE SHEETS UNDER HIS ARM)
MAYA: ATMAN: KALA:
Paas hi samjho hummein. (CUPS PHONE, TO KALA) Really? Braman says hi!
ATMAN: (STILL WITH HIS BACK TURNED TO THEM) Haan, to suno, Mein kahane chahaata thaa ki tum mere kaafi priya ho aur mein tumse bahout jalda milne ke liye utsuk houn. MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: (APPROACHING ATMAN) Sach?
Haan, aaj shaam ko hum khushi manaaenge! Sach?
(ATMAN TURNS AROUND WITH A START, REALIZING THAT MAYA IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM) ATMAN: (FLUSTERED) pahounche! Maya! Braman! Yahaan kab
(THIS TIME THE GREETINGS ARE MORE SUBDUED, WITH FRENCH BISOUS ALL AROUND)
MAYA: KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN: KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN:
Atman. Maya. Kala. Kala. Braman. Braman. Atman.
(SILENCE AS THEY CONTEMPLATE EACH OTHER) ATMAN: Mujhe tumhaara chasma sundar lagaa, Maya. Atman!
MAYA:
(SHE SIDLES UP TO ATMAN AND CARESSES HIS FACE) BRAMAN: (TO KALA) rahe ho. KALA: Tum hamesha jaise khubsoorat lag
Mera mazaak mat uddhao. Mere liye
MAYA: (SITS ON TRUNK. TO ATMAN) kuch nahin? ATMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: rahas! Tumhaare liye? Kuch dikhane ka? Dikhane ka?
Arre, haan! Akhaade ke
(ATMAN GIVES A DEMO OF HIS MARTIAL ARTS) KALA: Humaare saat thoda tehroge iss baar?
BRAMAN: Chahaata to houn, lekin pehle mujhe Maya se puch lena chahiye, Kyaa pataa usne kuch aur karyakram nishchit kyaa ho. KALA: Jab tum log teherte ho to dil ko Achchaa lagta hai.
(ATMAN'S DEMO IS INTERRUPTED BY MAYA, WHO SITS HIM DOWN BESIDE HER) MAYA: nahin. ATMAN: MAYA: Mujhe iss mein kuch khaas dilchaspi
To phir? Kyaa mein tumhe achchi lagti houn? Kaafi
KALA: Kum se kum peeth se bori to utaaro. bhaari lagtaa hai.
BRAMAN: Iss mein mere vigyaan ke saare aujaare hein aur uske upar se Maya ka saaraa samaan. ATMAN: MAYA: Haan, tum mujhe acchi lag ti ho. Kala jaise acchi?
ATMAN: Mein tumhe Kala jaise acchi tarah se nahin jaantaa. BRAMAN: Atman kitna khushnaseeb hai.
KALA: Hum donon ko saath saath jeene ki aadat ho gayi hai. MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: yaad hai. Tum mujhe kuch kahane chahaate the? Kab? Phone pe? Uh...I don't remember. Koi baat nahin, mujhe bilkul theek se
BRAMAN: maukaa milaa hota mujhe, to mein bhi aise aadatmand ho saktaa thaa. MAYA: Jaanchnaa chahaate ho?
(ATMAN JUMPS OUT OF HER CLUTCHES AND MOVES CENTERSTAGE)
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood84 ATMAN: (POINTING TO THE ROLL UNDER BRAMAN'S ARM) Yeh kyaa hai, baaju ke niche? BRAMAN: In charma patron mein mere chtrakaari ke namune hein. ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Kis vishay par? Anek. Kahaan mila? (PROUD) Milaa nahin, meine khud banaaya!
Hummein dikhaaoge?
(BRAMAN MOUNTS HIS POSTER ON A BOARD ON BLACKY'S TRUNK. THE BOARD IS PROVIDED BY CHILD. IT IS A LARGE POSTER OF THE TRUNK, WITH ARROWS DRAWN TO INDICATE VARIOUS PARTS, THAT ARE QUITE OBVIOUS, SUCH AS THE LID, THE HANDLE THE LENGTH, BREADTH AND HEIGHT, ETC. HE MOVES AWAY SO EVERYONE CAN SEE IT) ALL: Kalu ka baksaa!
BRAMAN: (SMUG) Meine in chitron ko bahout dhyann deke banaayaa. Chote se chota vyaura yahaan prastut hai. (ATMAN AND KALA PACE IN FRONT OF THE POSTER, EVALUATING) ATMAN: Hmm..., lambaai, chaudhaai, lekin koi geheraai nahin. KALA: Mere raaya mein, in rekhaaon mein kuch zyaadaa kathorataa hai . ATMAN: par. KALA: ATMAN: KALA: Kaale syaahee kaa upyog, safed prishtabhumi
It lacks a vanishing point. Kaafi chaurasa houa parinaam. It lacks colors.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood85 (PAUSE AS THEY STOP PACING AND STARE AT IT. ATMAN AND KALA END UP STAGE RIGHT OF THE PICTURE, WHEREAS BRAMAN AND MAYA ARE STAGE LEFT. THIS TIME THEY ARE IN FRONT OF THE TRUNK DURING THEIR ALTERCATION, SO THAT THE MEN HOLD ON TO IT FOR SUPPORT, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY PREVENTING THEM FROM GETTING AT EACH OTHER. OF COURSE, THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET AT EACH OTHER--THEY'RE JUST TALKING THE TALK) ATMAN: So, what is it supposed to be? It's a
BRAMAN: (EXASPERATED) It's just as I said! schematic to make copies of Blacky's trunk!
ATMAN: Theek hai, lekin sirf baahar ka naap nazar aa rahaa hai. BRAMAN: And what, pray tell, is wrong with mapping the exterior dimensions of the trunk? ATMAN: (DISMISSIVE) Everyone knows that it's what's inside Blacky's trunk that matters. BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: You're crazy! What is? The solution! So what's the problem? That's not what's at stake!
(CHILD FINDS SOME WATER COLORS AND PAINTS ON THE DIAGRAM AS THEY ARGUE) BRAMAN: (TO MAYA) The problem?! what the problem is! (IT BECOMES DUSK) ATMAN: MAYA: (TO KALA) What an asshole! He's abusing us! He wants to know
(INSTIGATING BRAMAN)
(IT BECOMES A STARRY NIGHT) KALA: (SOOTHING ATMAN) sitaaron ki gunjan. Shaanti! Dekho--jagat mein
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood86 BRAMAN: ATMAN: Good for nothings! (CONFRONTATIONAL) Are you talking to me?
(MAYA PUSHES BRAMAN FORWARDS, AND HE RESISTS VALIANTLY) MAYA: Beat the shit out of him this time!
(LIGHT RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENSITY) KALA: ATMAN: (DEJECTED) Must this always happen?!
You wanna start something?!
(ATMAN FLINGS DOWN THE STAND AND POSTER DOWNSTAGE FROM BLACKY'S TRUNK. BRAMAN NOTICES THE COLORS ON IT. HE IS STUNNED. HE SCAMPERS OVER AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES) BRAMAN: dekh! MAYA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Yakeen nahin aataa! Maya, jaldi, aake
(DOESN'T MOVE) (ECSTATIC)
Adbhuta. Yeh rang birangi ho gayaa!
Oooh, rang-birangi!
BRAMAN: (VINDICATED) Aap sab samajh nahin sakte iska kyaa mahatvapurna matlab hai? ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Aaj holi hai? Meri chitrakaari kaam karti hai! Kaam kaise karti hai?
BRAMAN: Tumne khud kahaa thaa, pehle ismein sirf safed aur kaalaa thaa. ATMAN: BRAMAN: Aur phir? Abhi rang-birangi hai! Dekh naa!
ATMAN: Lekin jabse yeh sefed kala thaa, tabse kaafi vaqt guzar chuka hai.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood87 BRAMAN: Aur phir?
ATMAN: Hum samudrateera rehete hein, vaqt guzartaa hai, Rang badalte hein, yeh sab mein kyaa bari baat hai. BRAMAN: ATMAN: (ASIDE) (ASIDE) He's such a dimwit! What an asshole!
(BRAMAN TAKES A POLAROID CAMERA OUT OF HIS BACKPACK AND BEGINS TAKING PICTURES OF THE CHART) MAYA: KALA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Tejas aadmi, tumhaaraa Atmaan. Apne dhang se kaafi kuch kar letaa hai.
Kyaa kar rahaa hai? Saaf nazar nahin aaraa kyaa?
MAYA: Tumhaara Atman mere Braman se kaafi kuch seekh saktaa hai. KALA: MAYA: Kyaa kuch? Cheez. Kaam ke cheez.
ATMAN: Lekin itne saare tasveer kheenchke kyaa karoge? BRAMAN: mein. ATMAN: BRAMAN: Inkaa upyog hoga mere vegyanic vibhaagon
Kiska vibhaag? rangon kaa, bhei!
(BRAMAN SEARCHES HIS BACKPACK FOR AN ALBUM TO KEEP THE PICTURES IN. AS HE DOES SO, ATMAN TAKES PICTURES OF THE SKY, THE SEA, THE WOMEN, AND SWITCHES THE PICTURES) KALA: Atman kaam ke cheez jaantaa hai.
MAYA: Mein sanjeedagee se kaam karne ke liye keh rahi houn.
KALA: MAYA:
Sanjeedagee? Jaise ki vegyanic vibhaag.
(BRAMAN FINDS THE PICTURES AND BRANDISHES THEM TRIUMPHANTLY) BRAMAN: Mein vaadaa kartaa houn, ki ek na ek din mein sab kaa rahasya praapt kar sakoongaa. ATMAN: Sab ek ka rahasya?
BRAMAN: Sabhi ka. (INDICATES THE PHOTOS, UNAWARE OF THE SWITCH)Kaun jaantaa hai, shaayad yehi soota ka golaa mujhe intazaar thaa. ATMAN: BRAMAN: Soota kaa golaa? Soota kaa golaa.
ATMAN: Lekin kalu ke bakse ke andar kyoon nahin dekhte ho? BRAMAN: Bakse ko to bahout pehle hi meine kshaya kardiya. KALA: MAYA: Safar theek rahaa? kahaan?
KALA: Voh jo kalu ke dusre bakse ke khoj mein nikle the? MAYA: (IRRITATED) was just fine. yes, yes. The second trunk
(FROM HIS BACKPACK, BRAMAN RETRIEVES A LAPTOP FOR HIS ANALYSIS. ATMAN IS ALL EXCITED TO SEE THE COMPUTER) BRAMAN: Aaj kal mein sab kuch kampooter pe gintaa jodtaa houn. ATMAN: Vah! Kitna sundar machine hai!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood89 (BRAMAN SETS UP HIS LAPTOP ON THE TRUNK, AND BEGINS TO UPLOAD HIS PROGRAMS. ATMAN WATCHES OVER HIS SHOULDER, ABSORBED) ATMAN: BRAMAN: Kyaa hai? It's called a laptop. Aap logon ko vahaan kuch milaa? Yes, the second trunk was very
KALA:
MAYA: (ANGRY) productive.
KALA: Kyaa sach-much veh bhi kalu kaa hi baksaa thaa? MAYA: (BOTHERED) written all over it. ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: Yes, it had Blacky's trunk
Kaise chaltaa hai? It's complicated. mujhe iske saath kuch karne doge? Theek se bataao, kyaa milaa vahaan? Kuch nahin. Kuch nahin?
KALA: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN:
Kuch nahin. Kuch nahin? Kuch bhi nahin.. Thodaa samjhaao naa, kaise chaltaa hai. You won't understand.
KALA: Phir tumhe kaise pataa ki veh kalu kaa baksaa thaa? ATMAN: (taps on the keyboard) dabaake kyaa hota hai? Aur yahaan, Yahaan
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood90 BRAMAN: right?! ATMAN: What the?! Don't touch anything, all
But I can help you! It was obviously Blacky's trunk. Kaise pataa? It was labeled, all right?!
MAYA: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: data! ATMAN:
Ab kyaa ho rahaa hai? Mein Data daalrahaa houn, betaa. Iska kyaa laabh hai? (IRRITATED) It's a database! It's got
(UNIMPRESSED)
Haan, to phir?
BRAMAN: Hazaar hazaar namune hein mere paas. In sab namunon ke saath mein ek naa ek din soota kaa aakhri golaa vasool kar paoongaa. ATMAN: BRAMAN: ATMAN: say? BRAMAN: ATMAN: BRAMAN: Aakhri golaa vasool karke kyaa milegaa? The truth! The truth, the truth! What does your truth
It's not my truth!
It's the truth.
Great, so what's the truth? (DEFLATED) I don't know yet.
KALA: Bakse pe pakkaa kalu kaa pataanishaanaa thaa? MAYA: I'm not sure sure!
KALA: Phir kaise pataa ki veh baksaa bhi kalu kaa hi baksaa thaa?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood91 (MAYA CROSSES TO CENTERSTAGE EXTREME LEFT WAND WAITS FOR KALA TO CROSS TO CENTERSTAGE EXTREME RIGHT. THIS TIME THEY DO NOT GET INTO ANY KIND OF CROUCH) MAYA: (STEP FORWARD) Maybe the trunk doesn't belong to Kalu at all, but to Blacky. (ATMAN EXCITEDLY SIGNAL BRAMAN) ATMAN: Dekh dekh, ladkiyon ke beech mein hal-chal mach rahaa hai. (ATMAN AND BRAMAN HURRIEDLY TAKE POSITIONS NEXT TO THE TRUNKTO CHEER THEIR WOMEN) (MAYA WAITS EXPECTANTLY FOR BRAMAN TO GIVE HER A CHEER) BRAMAN: (NOT SURE WHAT MAYA SAID, BUT CHEERING) Err, Yes! of course, that's obvious! KALA: (STEP FORWARD) Agar veh kalu kaa baksaa ho, to veh Blacky's trunk bhi hoga. ATMAN: Haan! Dono ek hi samaan!
MAYA: (STEP FORWARD) Calling it "Blacky's Trunk" makes it completely different from "kalu ka baksaa." BRAMAN: A huge difference! Ek hi cheez ko bulaane ke do
KALA: (STEP FORWARD) tareeke hein. ATMAN:
Sheesh mein judvaa!
MAYA: (STEP FORWARD) "Kalu ka baksaa" aur "Blacky's Trunk" mein Sookshmit bheda-matibheda hai. (THE WOMEN ARE PRACTICALLY NOSE TO NOSE) KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: Jaise ki? Naam sab badal deta hai. Sab kuch naam ke binaa diya gaya hai. Aur phir?
KALA: liye. MAYA: KALA: MAYA: KALA:
Hum naam dete hein vyaakulataa ko hataane ke
Hum naam dete hein paas aane ke liye. Yaad rakhne. Thaamne. Prassana karne.
(SILENCE. BRAMAN AND ATMAN HOLD THEIR BREATHS. NOTHING HAPPENS. THE WOMEN GRADUALLY RELAX, STAND TO THEIR FULL HEIGHTS, AND WITH DISDAINFUL TOSS OF THE HEAD, RETURN TO THEIR STARTING POSITIONS. THE MEN ARE HOPEFUL AND WANT TO REPEAT THE SAME INBETWEEN THE ROUNDS ROUTINE. CHILD IS READY WITH BUCKETS AND ALL, STANDING ON TOP OF THE TRUNK AS IN ACT I) ATMAN: BRAMAN: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: up! BRAMAN: time! ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: BRAMAN: MAYA: Jaaneman! Mere baahon mein aajaao!
Laajawab, Maya! (HOLDING ATMAN AT BAY) Enough already. (LIKEWISE WITH BRAMAN) I've had quite enough. (DISAPPOINTED) But you were just warming
(LIKEWISE)
But you can take her down this
(DEJECTED) Bas. (DEJECTED)
Don't stop now!
Fight some more!
Kaafi ho gaya. What's wrong? Shuruaat hi houi thi. I'm tired of the same routine.
KALA: MAYA: KALA:
It's always the same charade. Hummein kuch naya dhound naa chahiye. Kuch alag karnaa chahiye. Zaroori hai ki hum improvisation
KALA & MAYA: karein!
(SAME ROUTINE AS ACT I. THEY BECOME AWARE THAT THEY HAVE AN AUDIENCE TO ENTERTAIN) ALL: Manoranjan! CHILD JOINS
(THEY GATHER TOGETHER AS IN ACT I. THEM) KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Bhaagyavashataa! (TO ATMAN) Improvise.
Improvisation mein hi sab hai. Achambhaa. Aascharya. Aaj shaam ko hosh jagaaenge. Anukoolataa ke khiladi. Alag taur se khelenge. uttejanaa. dhamakaa! Asambhava ko sambhaavit banaanaa. Harshapradhaan! Tragedy. Hate. Deception.
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood94 KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Prem. Seduction.. Ananda! Anguish. Purushatva se khelein! Bahaduri ke saath. Nishchayaatmak hon!
(KALA SEPARATES ATMAN AND MAYA AS IN ACT I) KALA: Sab paas aao.
(THEY GATHER TOGETHER AGAIN) KALA: ALL: Bataao, aaj hum sheegrataa se khelenge? Haan.
KALA: Shabaash! Lekin pehle mujhe pichle manoranjan ke vishay par kyaa bataane chahte ho? (MURMURS IN HINDI ABOUT YESTERDAY'S PERFORMANCE, FEET SHUFFLING, SHRUGGING, ETC.) KALA: Theek hai, theek hai. Aatma-imandaari se badkar koi guna nahin. Phir bhi mein tumhe yaah dilaati houn, khush khabri kyaa hai? ALL: KALA: ALL: KALA: (MURMUR) AAJ KI RAAT SHUBHRAAT HAI.
Mein tumhe soun nahin sakti. AAJ KI RAAT SHUBHRAAT HAI! Aaj ki raat shubhraat hai, aur iskaa matlab?
(ELECTRIC SILENCE) KALA: Iskaa matlab aaj hummein doshaheena hona hai.
(ELECTRIC SILENCE)
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood95 KALA: ALL: Itnaa hi bolnaa chahati thi. Jaya ho! Jaya ho!
(THEY DO SOME WARM-UPS AS BEFORE, THEN DON HEADBANDS GIVEN BY CHILD AS BEFORE. MAYA SITS ON TRUNK AND READS BOOK. KALA AND ATMAN EXIT STAGE LEFT. BRAMAN STANDS IN FRONT OF TRUNK AND DOES MOCK MARTIAL ARTS) BRAMAN: stupid! (GRUNTS AND GROANS) Hee-yaah! I'm so
(MAYA IGNORES ATMAN ALTOGETHER. SHE SITS DOWN ON THE TRUNK AND CONTINUES TO READ. BRAMAN LOOKS AT HER, THEN PEEVED, TRIES TO GET HER ATTENTION) BRAMAN: (STRIKES AN ATMAN POSE) Shakti! aur sahanashee! MAYA: kyaa? BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: (WITHOUT LOOKING UP) Peth mein kabja ho gaya,
(SIGNALLING THE BOOK) (IRRITATED)
Yeh kyaa hai?
Isse pustak kehte hein. Kyaa mein dekh saktaa houn?
Ooh, pustak!
(HE SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER AND SNATCHES THE BOOK. ON PURPOSE, HE HOLDS THE BOOK UPSIDE DOWN AND FROWNS, PRETENDING HE CAN'T READ. MEANWHILE, MAYA GLARES AT HIM) BRAMAN: (FRUSTRATION) I'm so stupid!
(HE REALIZES THAT MAYA IS GLARING. HE HANDS THE BOOK BACK TO HER AND CROSSES TO PUT SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM) BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Hmm. Kyaa likhaa houa hai?
Kaafi kuch. Jaise ki? (DARK) Jaise ki maut.
(BRAMAN FLINCHES)
BRAMAN: (HIGHLY UNCERTAIN) Maut? (SPREADS OUT HIS ARMS INVITINGLY) Kala, mere baahon mein aajaao! (IGNORING HIM, MAYA CONTINUES TO READ) BRAMAN: (PACING IN FRONT OF TRUNK) kuch bhi karne kaa nahin, kuch bhi karne kaa nahin. (PAUSE) BRAMAN: (PLEADING) Bataaonaa! MAYA: hai. BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: likhaa? MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Bataaonaa, kyaa pad rahe ho?
Maya aur Braman ke vishay par bhi likhaa houa
Sach?! Maya aur Braman par? Sach. Aur Braman jaise honahaar vyakti par kyaa
I don't know. (STAMPING HIS FEET) Stop being childish! Mein houn duniya ka Tell me!
BRAMAN: (STRIKES ATMAN POSE) ek lautaa Atman! MAYA: (KEEPS READING)
Whatever.
(PEEVED, BRAMAN SNATCHES THE BOOK FROM MAYA, AND RUNS AROUND THE TRUNK, EXPECTING A CHASE. MAYA DOESN'T BUDGE. BRAMAN GOES UPSTAGE RIGHT) MAYA: (THREATENING) Meri pustak vaapas kar.
BRAMAN: (WITH HIS BACK TO HER, READING THE BOOK) haan, yeh houi naa baat! Here's a section on the amazing Braman and his inventions! (MAYA SNEAKS UP ON BRAMAN AND FLOORS HIM. STRIKES A POSE OF EXCRUTIATING PAIN) BRAMAN
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood97 BRAMAN: Ow! The pain!
(MAYA TAKES THE BOOK AND THROWS IT IN THE TRUNK) MAYA: I'm fed up with this stupid book!
(BRAMAN RISES AND DUSTS HIMSELF OFF) BRAMAN: MAYA: Now why'd you do that? Because I felt like it!
(MAYA SITS DOWN ON THE TRUNK, WHILE BRAMAN CLIMBS ON IT TO SCAN THE HORIZON, BOTH FACING THE AUDIENCE AND DOING THEIR BEST TO LOOK DIMWITTED. SILENCE) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Ab kyaa karein? kuch khelte hein. Khel?
BRAMAN: Jab hum khelte hein hummein kitnaa mazaa aataa hai! MAYA: That's all we ever do. It's always the same thing over and over again. Play. BRAMAN: (EXCITED, LEAPS OFF TRUNK AND STRIKES A POSE) Shayad hummein Samudrateera Savaari khelne kaa man ho raha ho? MAYA: Not now.
(BRAMAN GETS SLOWLY GET INTO HIS SPONGEY-SPONGEY POSE) BRAMAN: (PELVIC THRUST, STEP FORWARD) khelein, "spongey-spongey"! MAYA: Not now. We never get to do the Shayaad
BRAMAN: (FRUSTRATED) spongey-spongey! MAYA: BRAMAN: Kalu ka baksaa. Kyaa?
(MAYA SIGHS, GETS UP AND PEERS INTO TRUNK) MAYA: BRAMAN: hein! MAYA: Nazar daalaa aaj? Kyaa fayadaa? Humeshaa hi gaajar milte
Kuch dikh rahaa hai!
(SHE SEARCHES. ATMAN AND KALA COME ON STAGE, ATMAN LAUGHING SILENTLY TO HIMSELF AND GESTICULATING WITH A CELL PHONE TO KALA) MAYA: Nothing. BRAMAN ANSWERS) Haylo?! ATMAN
(THE PHONE RINGS. BRAMAN:
Haylo?! Haylo?!
(ATMAN CAN BE SEEN CRACKING UP WITH DELIGHT. GLEEFULLY DIALS AGAIN. THE PHONE RINGS) BRAMAN: Haylo?! Haylo?! Haylo?!
(ATMAN IS LOVING IT. KALA TAKES THE PHONE AWAY FROM ATMAN AND DIALS. THE PHONE RINGS) BRAMAN: KALA: (FURIOUS) Atman. Atma--?, kaun, Ka--, HELLO! STOP FUCKING AROUND!
BRAMAN: (REALIZING IT'S KALA) mera matlab, Maya?
(ATMAN PRETENDS TO CRUMBLE UNDER A BACK BREAKING LOAD) ATMAN: Thakaavat! Sir mein chakar! AWKWARDNESS
(EVERYONE CROWDS IN FRONT OF THE TRUNK. FROM ALL AS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO) BRAMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (TENTATIVE) Atman. Maya! (KALA NUDGES HIM) Maya!
Mera matlab Kala!
MAYA:
Braman.
(SILENCE) MAYA: KALA: Safar se laut aaye. Hum haazir hein. tumhe dekhne ke liye mein
MAYA: (SITS ON TRUNK) utsuk thi, Braman.
ATMAN: (SITS NEXT TO HER) golaa dhound loonga!
Mein suta kaa aakhri
(MAYA WASTES NO TIME IN WRAPPING HERSELF ALL OVER ATMAN) BRAMAN: (TO KALA) Tumhe lagtaa nahin ki Braman aur Kala ke beech mein kuch ho rahaa hai? KALA: Unke beech gehraai dosti hai, aur kuch nahin. BRAMAN LOOKS
(ATMAN AND KALA GROPE AT EACH OTHER. AT THEM AND MOVES ONTO KALA) Braman: KALA: Kaam lobha. (PUSHING HIM AWAY) Dosti.
(FRUSTRATED, BRAMAN SITS ON TRUNK NEXT TO ATMAN AND MAYA. KALA WATCHES THEM FOR MOMENT. SHE FUMES AND FRETS AND PACES, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO AND IS IRRITATED AT THIS BREAKDOWN IN THE IMPROVISATION) (PAUSE) KALA: MAYA: Kyaa ho rahaa hai? Kyaa matlab?
(MAYA TAKES OFF HER HEADBAND) KALA: Kala! MAYA: (TRYING TO REMIND HER TO STAY IN HER ROLE)
(DANGEROUSLY)
Maya!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood100 KALA: MAYA: KALA: MAYA: The party, Kala! What party? Aaj shaam ko khushi manaane ki baat thi. Khushi bhi manaanaa chahiye.
(NO ONE MOVES. KALA IS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE PARTY TOGETHER) KALA: Braman! Atman! Kis cheez ke intazaar mein kile jaise bethe houe ho! Kitne saare mehmaanon ko bulaanaa hai! jaldi karo! (THE GUYS GET BUSY MAKING PHONE CALLS TO ANNOUNCE THE PARTY. THEY SPEAK IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES) ATMAN & BRAMAN: Haan, kyaa haal hai? Aaj shaam ko humaare yahaan aanaa, haan! What's going on? There's a party tonight! Come on over! Allo, oui, c'est la fte ce soir! Venez tous! Hola! Es la fiesta esta noches! etc. (MEANWHILE, THE WOMEN HAVE GONE UPSTAGE CENTER TO CHANGE. THEY ARE HIDDEN BY THE UPRAISED LID OF THE TRUNK. WHEN THE MEN FINISH MAKING THEIR CALLS, THEY SHUT THE LID. MAYA STANDS REVEALED IN A SKIMPY AND SEDUCTIVE CLUB OUTFIT) DANCE MUSIC BEGINS (PARTY) (FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT UPSTAGE, MAYA AND KALA WATCH ATMAN AND BRAMAN START TO DANCE, EACH ALTERNATELY TRYING TO OUTDO THE OTHER, AND EACH ALTERNATELY MOCKING THE WAY THE OTHER DANCES. THE WOMEN LOOK AT THEIR MEN, LAUGHING AND WHISPERING. THE MEN RUN UPSTAGE TO BRING THEIR WOMEN DOWNSTAGE TO DANCE. THEY DANCE IN A GROUP, INCLUDING CHILD. THEY BREAK INTO COUPLES. CHILD DANCES ON TOP OF TRUNK. EVENTUALLY, MAYA GRABS ATMAN AWAY FROM KALA. MAYA LOCKS ATMAN IN A MASHING DANCE. SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SHE IS TAKING HIM BEHIND THE TRUNK. BRAMAN IS TRYING TO DIRTY DANCE WITH KALA, WHILE KALA IS GETTING DISTRACTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN KALA AND ATMAN)
(THE MUSIC BUILDS TO A CRESCENDO) BRAMAN: (SHOUTING ABOVE THE DIN TO KALA) ke beech paseene chut rahe honge! KALA: BRAMAN: KALA: Kyaa? Kaafi mazaa kar rahe hein voh doh! Haan, bukhaar chad rahaa hoga! Un dono
(MAYA AND ATMAN DANCE BEHIND THE TRUNK. CHILD JUMPS OFF AND DANCES HIS WAY BACK TOWARDS HIS SAND PIT) (ATMAN TRIPS OVER CHILD AND DIES) (ALL MUSIC STOP ABRUPTLY. SILENCE)
KALA: (UNSURE) Kyaa houa? What's happened? Atman khaan hai? Where's Atman? (SHE FINDS ATMAN FALLEN NEAR CHILD'S PIT) Atman? Mujhe jawaab do! (PAUSE) Atman? Talk to me! (KALA KNEELS DOWN TO CRADLE ATMAN. MAYA KNEELS DOWN BEHIND KALA. BRAMAN KNEELS. CHILD KNEELS NEXT TO MAYA) KALA: (SHE KNEELS DOWN AND CRADLES HIM) Atman, aise tang mat karo mujhe. Mujhe acchaa nahin lag rahaa hai (PAUSE) Atman, stop clowning. This isn't funny. (KALA BREAKS DOWN AS SHE REALIZES THAT ATMAN'S DEAD) KALA: (DEVASTATED) Atman, mere jaan! Kyaa kar baithe, jaaneman! My darling Atman, what have you done? Kyoon? Why? (MAYA PUTS AN ARM AROUND KALA'S SHOULDER) MAYA: KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN: (OVERCOME) (GRIEF) Atman. Achaanak. So sudden.
Atman. Atman. Atman. Durghatanaa. An accident.
(REPENTANT)
(SILENCE) (SILENCE AS THEY RISE. THE FOUR OF THEM LIFT ATMAN'S BODY AND PUT HIM DOWN IN THE TRUNK. THEY SHUT THE LID. CHILD RETURNS TO HIS SAND PIT. BRAMAN PACKS UP HIS GEAR. KALA STANDS UPSTAGE RIGHT, STARING AT THE TRUNK) MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: Hummein nikalnaa chahiye. Haan, jaane kaa vaqt aagaya. Hum ek dusraa sthaan dhound lenge. Ek dusri jagah. Humare saath chaloge naa, Kala? Haan, humare saath chalo.
(KALA SHAKES HER HEAD, STILL STARING AT THE TRUNK) BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Humare saath chalnaa chahiye tumhe! You must come, you can't stay here. Kyaa karogi? What will you do?
(KALA LIFTS THE LID AND PEERS IN) KALA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: KALA: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: Chalaa gaya. (TO MAYA) Gone. Kyaa karein?
Kyaa sochte ho? jaise tumhaari marzi. Kahaan chalaa gaya? Where's he gone? Chalo.
Kala, ab nikalne kaa vaqt ho gaya. Haan, nikalnaa chahiye. yahaan se kahin door jaaenge.
BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: KALA:
Yahaan se dur. Tum bhool sakoge. Samay sab bhulaadetaa hai. Shayad tumhe koi mil bhi jaaegaa. Tumhaare koi hai duniyaa mein, bhoolo mat. Phir milenge. Farewell.
(KALA JUMPS IN THE TRUNK AND DISAPPEARS. CRIES OF SHOCK FROM BRAMAN AND MAYA. THEY RUN TO THE TRUNK AND LOOK IN BUT SHE TOO IS GONE) BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: Andar kud gayi! What a crazy thing to do! Kaun soch saktaa thaa! How stupid of her! Ab hummein kyaa karnaa chahiye?
MAYA: (HYSTERICAL) Stop asking me what we should do! What do you think we should do? Hes gone, shes gone after him, and here we are! BRAMAN: MAYA: Shayad hum unka peechaa kar sakte hein? Follow them?!
BRAMAN: All I'm saying is we never know what might happen to us! MAYA: Dont be ridiculous! You cant live without her, is that it? You want to follow her right in?! Go right ahead then, please! (SHE GESTURES TO THE TRUNK) What are you waiting for? Go ahead, jump! Dont think! Jump! (MAYA BREAKS DOWN. BRAMAN COMFORTS HER) BRAMAN: Shaanti, shaanti!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood104 (MAYA VEHEMENTLY SNAPS THE LID SHUT. THEY SIT ON THE TRUNK, FACING THE AUDIENCE. SILENCE) BRAMAN: (tentative) chahiye? MAYA: BRAMAN: (PAUSE. BRAMAN: Kyaa sochte ho? Jaise tumhaari marzi. CELL PHONE RINGS) Haylo? Ab hummein kyaa karnaa
(CHILD STANDS UP IN PIT) CHILD: BRAMAN: CHILD: Haylo? Kaun? Mein Kalu ke saath baat karna chahataa houn. Haan, kyaa kalu bol rahaa hai?
(BRAMAN CUPS THE PHONE AND WHISPERS TO MAYA AND NODS) BRAMAN: CHILD: Yes, this is Blacky. Aap pakkaa kalu hein? (MAYA NUDGES HIM) ek minute Blacky speaking.
BRAMAN: Yes, yes. hold karnaa. (THEY WHISPER AGAIN. MAYA: Haylo?
MAYA SNATCHES THE PHONE)
Yes, this is Blacky on the line.
CHILD: To aapke liye mein atiaavashyak sandeshaa laayaa houn. MAYA: CHILD: Sun rahi houn. Kyaa yeh sach hai--
MAYA: (IMPATIENT, CUTTING IN) Yes, yes, it's my birthday today. CHILD: Ki aap apne bakse ko kho baithe?
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood105 MAYA: Lost my trunk? (PAUSE) Of course, I misplaced my trunk! Kyaa baksaa mil gaya? CHILD: MAYA: CHILD: MAYA: CHILD: MAYA: CHILD: MAYA: Haan. Kahaan? (POINTS OFF STAGE AS IN ACT I) Vahaan.
Kyaa veh pakkaa kalu ka baksaa hai? Kyaa? I mean, are you sure it's my trunk? Pakki baat. Chalo phir, Hum yahaan se nikalte hein!
(MAYA AND BRAMAN GET UP AND WALK OFF STAGE RIGHT. MAYA IS STILL ON THE CELL PHONE) MAYA: CHILD: Dur hai kyaa? (POINTING) Dur nahin. Vahaan pe.
(CHILD WATCHES THEM DEPART, THEN RETURNS TO PLAYING WITH SAND. ALL LIGHTS FADE EXCEPT THE LIGHTS ON CHILD) (SILENCE) (THE LIGHT COMES ON ATMAN UPSTAGE LEFT, PRESUMABLY ASLEEP. HE GETS UP, STRETCHES, BREATHES DEEPLY. INSPECTS HIS SURROUNDINGS. NOTICES BLACKY'S TRUNK, RUNS OVER TO IT AND PEERS IN. PUTS HIS HAND AND SEARCHES, BUT FINDS NOTHING. STANDS ON TRUNK, ETC. FINALLY, HE KNEELS TO WASH HIS FACE DOWNSTAGE RIGHT) (THE LIGHT COMES ON KALA, UPSTAGE LEFT, SAME SPOT WHERE ATMAN BEGUN) ATMAN: Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy.
(KALA AWAKES AS ATMAN BEGINS A SET OF MARTIAL ARTS/TAI CHI LIKE MOTIONS, DOWNSTAGE RIGHT, THAT WILL LATER BE EMPLOYED FOR HIS TRUNK-PULLING EFFORTS)
(KALA TAKES A STOCK OF HER SURROUNDINGS, MUCH AS ATMAN. IMPORTANT: EACH CHARACTER ESTABLISHES WHO THEY ARE BY THE WAY THEY INSPECT THE TRUNK AND THE SURROUDINGS. FINALLY, KALA GOES DOWNSTAGE LEFT, KNEELS TO WASH HER FACE) (THEY NOTICE EACH OTHER SIMULTANEOUSLY. A LONG MOMENT OF SELF SEARCHING ENSUES, WITH MIXED EMOTIONS UNTIL THEY FINALLY RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER. THEY ARE OVERJOYED) ATMAN: KALA: Kala! Atman!
(OVERJOYED, THEY RUN TO EACH OTHER AND EMBRACE AT THE HALFWAY POINT) ATMAN: Darling, I'm so happy to see you! Can
KALA: I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled beyond words! it really be you? ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: The one and only. What are you upto? An examination. Of? My self. Again? (STRIKES A POSE) Power and endurance. In the flesh.
You're missing the essential. What? (STRIKES A POSE) Grace and unity.
ATMAN: Grace and unity? (CONSIDERS THIS SUGGESTION FOR A MOMENT. ATMAN HAS AN EPIPHANY) Kala! Kala come to me!
Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood107 (ATMAN SPREADS HIM ARMS INVITINGLY)
Black out

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Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood1

Blackie's Trunk / Kalu ka Baksaa

You're missing the essential.

What? (strikes a pose) Grace and unity.

I was around. "Around!" Kiske saath?

Kisike saath nahin. Pakkaa? Sure I'm sure.

Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood4 KALA: ATMAN: Not always. Then?

ATMAN: (annoyed) "Around!" chahaati ho? KALA: ATMAN: KALA:

ATMAN: Pakkaa nahim maloom?! tujhe pakkaa nahin maloom?

(Kala floors Atman) KALA: Oh! Are you all right?

Kuch nahin sunaii de rahaa. Listen. What's that? Music?

Mein kuch nahin sun saktaa.

Abhi nahin. Why not?

(Step forward) (step back)

(step forward) (step forward) (step forward)

ATMAN: (gets up and tries to recenter himself) am Atman, the unique.

KALA: I know. But we must try harder. daring, more inventive.

ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:

ATMAN: Me, jealous?! Atman, the uni--

ATMAN: KALA: (pause) ATMAN: KALA: (pause) ATMAN: KALA:

Maybe it's always been here. We just couldn't see it.

Then one day. One day.

KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: (pause) KALA:

We know. All is given. Everything is here. Everyone is here.

Improvisation is key. Improvisation mein

Tum hameshaa zyaadaa chinta

The sea murmurs its secret to us.

(silence) KALA: What now?

KALA: (a step back, exaperated) rahaa.

Dil nahin kar

Are you sure?

KALA: Different. roles. ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN:

We always change roles. There was confusion. There always is.

Blacky's trunk. (angry) Phir se paagalon vali baat. Kaise?

He thinks there must be an explanation.

They'll be here any minute. Are you sure? Pakkaa

They might be coming tomorrow.

I'm quite sure they said today.

KALA: Bus! gayi houn!

"Then I'm stopping it!" (Hindi accent)

Blacky, who else?

Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood17 ATMAN: KALA: Even...(whispers in Kala's ear)? Yes. I'm at peak

ATMAN: Ah, yes, you're in trouble now! strength these days!

ATMAN: (nonchalant) cheez hogaa.

haan, haan, bilkul first-class

I almost have it!

Come on, show me! Ok, here.

ATMAN: (wrily) thought of it.

KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA: ATMAN: KALA:

Do whatever you want.

Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood21 ATMAN: So?

ATMAN: Mujhe nahin maloom. have moved it.

(Trunk begins to shudder and shake) KALA: Do you hear that?

Quick, help me!

Child moves to trunk to

Blacky'sTrunk,bySujaySood22 KALA: ATMAN: KALA: It's huge! Let go on three! Three!

(They embrace. ATMAN: KALA:

Your hook's unclasped. (warning) Yeh koi button nahin.

What?! Nothing. Matlab? Kuch nahin. Something Kala said.

Since when does fashion excite you?

KALA: MAYA: ATMAN: MAYA: BRAMAN: MAYA: ATMAN: KALA:

We didn't find it. (proud) I made it.