INT.DR.CHAMBER.

DAY
Screenisblankand"presents"creditsappear.
Avoiceoverofawomanstarts.
VO
Mybreastuntouchedbymyhusband
fromlongisnowbeinggropedbya
stranger.
Screensopenstoatabletopboardreading"Dr.VijayAnand,MD,
Oncologist,Cancertreatmentcenter."
Camerapansbacktoestablishtheclinicroom.Adoctor's
chamber.
Nexttohistableandchairisanexaminationspacepartitioned
withgreensheets.Wallscoveredwithdiagramsrelatedto
varioustypesofcancers.
Cameraslowlymovesontothediagramsandstopsatan
illustrationofbreastscancer.
Dr'svoiceisheard.
DR.VOICE
Iamsurethisisthelump.Doesit
pain?
FEMALEVO
No.Notexactly.
OK.

DR.VOICE

CameracutstoMidlongshot.
Doctorinhislate40s,walksoutoftheexaminationcorner
appearingtowardshischair.Sounds(herbangles,brahook,
rufflingofdress)ofwomendressingupispostedontoDoctoras
hetakeshisseat.

Awomanemergesfromthecorner.Early30slookingina
dignified,sobercolorsalwarsuit.
Closeupofherfaceandalmosttearsfilledeyes.Sheistrying
towipethemwithherhandkerchief.Doctorlooksather
sympathetically.Shesitsinthechairoppositetohim.
DOCTOR
(withasoothingtone)
Nothingtoworry.Thesedaysitis
common.Cancerisaccruinglikea
normalfever.Andcureisequally
easy,ifwecandetectitatearly
stage.
Sheislookingatdiagramsabovehimwithblankexpression,as
ifsheisnotlisteningatall.Hereyesarewonderingthrough
diagramswhereonebreastsisremoved.Awomensaying"Iama

survivor"andshowingthumpsupsign.
DOCTOR
(continues)
Afterbiopsyreports,weshallhave
theconfirmation.
Withajoltshecamebacktosensesandlookedbackathim.
SHE

..(Whenwouldthe
reportscomeDr!)

DOCTOR
Withinaweek.
SHE
(murmuringtoherself)
Aweek.
DOCTOR
(Withaconcern)

(Bringyour
husband).SothatIcanexplainthe
entireprocedure.It'sacakewalks
thesedays.Nothingtofeel
depressiveabout.
Shelookedupandtoldhiminalowvoice.
SHE
HeworksinBangalore.
DOCTOR
Oh..
..(Howaboutyou!)
SHE

(Insecretariat)...OK
Doctor,seeyouwithreports.
Shewalkedoutinahurry,whilesuppressingtheswellingtears.
INT.CARANDHOME.DAY
Sheisdriving.
Hereyesmoist.
Roadisnotclearlyvisible.
Pulledthecarasideinacornerofapark,parkingspaceand
pickedupthephoneanddialed.
Itisshowing"home"whiledialing.
Someonepickedupthephone.
Splitscreenopens.
An8yearoldgirlpickedupthemobilephone,keepinganice
creamonthetable.Hermouthissmearedabitwithicecream.
Splitscreenwipesoff.

GIRL
Yes,Mommy...
CuttofullscreenofHer.
Shepausesabit...tryingtocontrolherselffromcrying...She
couldhear"mummy"fromtheotherside.Sherecoversand
speaks...
SHE
Hei.....

...(Whatareyou
doingPapa)
Cuttofullscreenofhome.
Asthekidisspeakingonphone,amaidservantistryingto
feeda3yearoldkidonthediningtableattheback.
GIRL

...

.(I
ameatingicecreamMummy.Afterthis
homework.BhavaniisfeedingBujji)
Splitscreenopenswithhomeandcar,girlandshesidebyside.
Tearsarerollingin'her'eyes.Inanattempttocontrolthe
cry,sheisbitingherlips.
Shegather'sherstregthandsays...
SHE
OK..Iwillbebackhomeinsometime.
GIRL
OKmommy....bye....
Splitscreengoesfullscreentoher.
Shebeaksdowncrying.
Cuttotheexteriorsofthecar.
Intimelapseweshowtrafficpassingby.
Screengoesblank(fadeout)
INT.HOME.DAY
Screensopensfromblack(FadeIn)
Montagesequence.
Amarriagephotographofahappycouple.
Bothsleepinginabedcuddling.
Pictureofbothwithsmallchildintheirlap.
Bothsleepingonabedturningontoeachother.
Photographof5yearoldgirlstandingexttothecoupleand
smallbabyintheirhands.
Bothsleepingonthesamebedhavingtheirbackstoeachother.
Andthedistancebetweenthemisvisible.

ManwalksinasSheisfeedinga5yearoldkid.Opensuphis
laptopandshowsheramail.
"CongratulationsonthepromotionBereadytomoveto
Bangalore"isthecaptionofthemail.
Shelooksathim.
Heholdsherhands,
Shehugshim.
Hehugsherandpatsheronback.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingMarch...
Knockonthedoor.
Sheopensthedoor.Heisatthedoor.
SheputsacrossmarkonthecalenderonthefirstFriday.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingMarch...
Knockonthedoor.
Sheopensthedoor.Heisatthedoor.
SheputsacrossmarkonthecalenderonthenextFriday.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingMarch...
Knockonthedoor.
Sheopensthedoor.Heisatthedoor.
SheputsacrossmarkonthecalenderonthelastFriday.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingApril...
SheputsacrossmarkonthecalenderonlastFriday.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingMay...
Thereisnomarkonthecalender.
****
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingJune...
Thereisnomarkonthecalender.
***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingJuly...
Thereisnomarkonthecalender.

***
CrossdissolvetoacalenderreadingAugust...
Thereisnomarkonthecalender.
Screengoesblank(Fadeout)
INT.CAR.EVENING
Fadein
Extremecloseupofherteardropsfalling.Ascamerapulls
back,sheislyingonthedrivingwheel.Shegetsup.
Picksupthephonenexttoherandlooksupfor"Husband".Tries
todial.Butrefrainsfromit.
Rubsherfacewithchunny.Whiletakingoutthechunny,she
looksatherbreasts.Looksatthephoneonotherhand.
Shetakesoutthechunny.Looksaround.
Itsalreadybecomingdarkandnooneisvisible.
Sheputsonthelightinthecar.
Takesoutthemobileandturnsitinto"selfimode".
LiftsupherSalwar.
Cuttoherface.
Extremecloseupofhereyesandinthecorneratearrollsas
thephoto"clicks"withaflash.
Asoundofwhatsappmessageisheard.
INT.FLAT/CAR.EVENING
SoundofWhatsappmessengerisheardaswecuttoanexterior
shotofBangalorecitylandscape.
Extreamecloseupofthephoneandamanpickingitup.
Whatsappreads"wife"andthepicisstillinadownload
mode.Faintlywecanseetheshapeofapairofbreasts.
Cuttohisfaceasitmakesdownloadcompletesound.Hesmiles.
Andmakesawhatsappcall.
SplitscreenopensasShepicksupthephone.
HE

?(Heiwhatisitwith
thisselfie?)
Sheisshiveringwithsadness...andintryingtosuppressher
lipsareshakingallthemore.Shebitesthemtocalmdownand
putsupanartificialsmileandsays..
SHE
(tryingtosoundlaughing)

...

...(Ourmarriagedayisinnext
week,justtoremindyouofthat)

HE
(withasmile)

(Youhave
becomenaughtythesedays)....Iwill
bethere.Okei...bye.
Hecutsthephone.
Shelooksatthephonedisappointingly.
Splitscreenisfullonher.
Assheisstilllookingatthephone,thephonerings."Husband
calling"flashedontoit.
Sherecievesthecall.
Splitscreenon.
Fromtheotherend...manwithhisconcerningtone.
HE

?(Whathappend?)
SHE
(withstoicexpressionof
stillness)
.(Mightbecancer)
Hebecomessilent.Holdshisheadandshakesitwithdismay.
SHE
(Continues...)
..

.
.
.
.

...(Don'tworry.Drsaysits
normal.Adayofsurgery.Twodaysof
restandthanIwillbefine.EvenI
cangobacktowork)
Heisshockedandtryingtogatherhiswords,ashestarts
movingaround.
HE
...
.(Whydoesithaveto
beyou)
Sheholdsherheadandlaughsoutloudunexpectedlybylistening
tothequestion.
SHE
,

.(Idon'tknow)
Heissilentfromtheotherend.
SHE
(contnues...)


...

...
...

....(Maybe...ifonlyyou
havespokentome,pamperedme,
kissedmeandlovedmeoften,Imight
havenotgotit.)
Hiseyesarewet.Heiscryingwithoutmakinganysoundashe
listenstoher.
Hegathershistoneandsays...
HE

.(Iamcoming)
Sheinaverysubtlebutasuretone..
SHE

.(Don'tbother,Iwilltake
careofmyself.Don'twasteyour
leavesforme.)
Heliterallyshouts...
HE

.
.

.(Ithink
youhavenothearditright,Isaid,
Iamcomingbackforever.)
Shebreaksintocryingandshots.
SHE

.
....(No.Noneedto)
Hebreaksintocryingloudlyandsitsdownholdinghishead.
Shecouldhearhimcryandshekeepscrying.
Inthesplitscreens,bothareseencryingforeachother.
Screensfadesoutandfadesinagain.
Sheslowly,says...
SHE
.,

?!(Don;tcry.DoIhave
tolosesomethingtofindyoubackin
mylife?)
Musicreachescresendoasscreengoesblank.
Titleappears"SELFIE"
EndCreditsroll
TheEnd