Académique Documents
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Culture Documents
Original Screenplay
GUN
Major General saab!
GUN (CONT’D)
Very Good, Very Early Morning sir!
Thought you’d relax in bed on your
first day of retirement .
DANIEL
Does retirement mean bed-rest? At
this age, if you stay too long in
it, people may think you are dead.
What’s all the excitement about?
GUN
It’s Errol baba! His photos are in
the paper, his childrens’ too! Your
grandchildren!
DANIEL
I’m leaving. Taking up that
contract at Sandhurst. Arrange the
tickets.
GUN is surprised.
GUN
As the counter-insurgency
consultant? But I thought you
decided to refuse that job. Why re-
locate so far away now?
DANIEL
Away from what? What’s left? I move
on, whether anyone follows me or
deserts me. ‘Old soldiers never
die; they just fade away...’
2.
DANIEL
That’s it.
GUN
Sir, but what about all this stuff?
Shall I order a container and ship
them later, sir?
DANIEL
Not necessary.
GUN
Sir, you are not taking them to
England?
DANIEL
All that I’ve gathered here, I
leave behind. All that I’ve lost
here, I leave behind.
JOGRAJ
Morning, sir! I’m glad I caught you
in time. This is all so sudden.
DANIEL
I wanted to leave the day my
contract was over. Never good at
goodbyes.
JOGRAJ
A pity, sir. We were planning a
splendid farewell bash.
JOGRAJ (CONT’D)
Compliments of General Chauhan.
JOGRAJ SINGH
And sir, please, I’ll see you off
at the airport.
DANIEL
Thank you, Jograj.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
Take whatever you want from the
house. Any buyer turns up for the
farm, direct him to Colonel Saab.
Take care of the livestock. And
don’t you start snivelling, for
God’s sake!
GUN
Sir! Godspeed, sir. Remember, Gun
and India will always welcome you.
The army car leaves with Jograj Singh and Daniel McIntosh as
a forlorn Gun looks on.
AIR HOSTESS
Please keep your seat belts buckled
till the aircraft comes to a
complete halt. You may now switch
on your mobile phones.
INSERT - PHONE
BACK TO SCENE
Daniel gets up and walks out of the plane and into the
aerobridge.
INSERT - PHONE
BACK TO SCENE
DANIEL
Jograj, is this ... news
...confirmed?
JOGRAJ SINGH
I’m afraid it is sir. I’ve spoken
to the Inspector concerned. Sir, I
can’t say ... how ...
DANIEL
Thank you.
PORTER
Sir, is that your bag?
Daniel looks at it, nods and goes to pick it up. CAMERA MOVES
with him as he goes from Arrivals to Departures.
DANIEL
The next available flight to India,
please.
He dials GUN.
5.
GUN
Sir, sir, this is a big tragedy!
ERROL baba and his wife died in a
horrible accident. The children are
alone in Delhi. I don’t know what
to do.
DANIEL
I’m coming home.
ANITA
What, boss scold you?
BUNNY
You stupid monkey, donkey, dog!
6.
Trixie seeks refuge behind Anita, who grabs the fuming Bunny
by the trailing drawstrings of her night dress.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
I’ll kick you, I’ll thrash you,
I’ll...
ANITA
Will you stop your litany? Won’t
you come to the station?
ANITA (CONT’D)
Dad is coming.
BUNNY
I will, I will.
ANITA
Then wake Sunny up and get ready
quickly.
BUNNY
Sunny, wake up, Sunny, get up.
Sunny is unmoved.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
Sunny brother, Sunny sweet boy,
Sunny dear, wake up...
SUNNY
Stop this chanting early in the
morning.
Bunny gives him an injured look. She goes to the sink, fills
her super-sopper and comes back. She gives a beatific smile,
taps Sunny and, as soon as he opens his eyes, lets him have
it. The force of the water spout jolts him awake.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
(to Bunny)
You’re dead today.
ANITA
OK, you both stay home and fight it
out. I’ll go to the station alone.
SUNNY
Oh! Dad is arriving today! I’ll get
dressed in two minutes.
BUNNY
Sunny’s always late.
BUNNY
It’s started.
SUNNY
Idiot, that’s a car engine sound.
BACK TO SCENE
ANITA
It’s your father.
Sunny jumps out of the van and rushes towards the gate.
SUNNY
Daddy!
8.
BUNNY
My daddy, my daddy.
Errol hugs Sunny, gives him a twirl and puts him down.
ERROL
Been up to enough mischief?
ERROL (CONT’D)
Didn’t neglect harassing your
mother while I was away, did you?
ERROL (CONT’D)
Ouch! Separation seems to have
weighed heavily on you.
ERROL
Thought you were supposed to pick
me up. Got up late?
ANITA
It’s never early enough with these
two devils. I tried to call you,
saying we’d be late. But your
mobile was off.
ERROL
Aah. Had to switch it off. Avoiding
Ratnakar’s entreaties.
ANITA
Why are you avoiding Ratnakar?
9.
ERROL
Wondering when you’d come to that.
See, I’ve decided to stop composing
jingles for a living.
ANITA
And do what, cook?
ERROL
No, create! Write my own songs!
Songs that are for singing, not
selling. ‘Buy this’, ‘Use that’.
‘Eat this’, ‘Drink that’. ‘Wash
with this’, ‘Rinse with that’!
Towards the end of this little ditty, he stabs the poori with
the end of the rolling pin to make a few vehement points.
ANITA
Watch out. What are you doing?
ERROL
Making a poori.
ERROL (CONT’D)
Sorry.
BUNNY
My poori is alive. Yours is dead.
Sunny takes another one from the dish. This one is as puffed
up as Bunny’s.
SUNNY
Now mine is alive too.
ERROL
Yes, Ratnakar. No, Ratnakar. Sorry,
no more jingles, even if it’s the
biggest FMCG account. I have news
for you.
ERROL (CONT’D)
I am doing an album. Yesterday I
signed a contract with Sony. And
shortly I’m going on a tour doing
stage shows to promote it with my
family. Even my children are
singing a number! Bye, ciao,
cheerio and toots!
ANITA
You are serious? Singing and
touring with these monkeys?
She points towards the dining room from where the sound of
squabbling emanates.
ERROL
Of course! They are my golden
cherubs. We all will go a-singing
like the Von Trapp family of yore.
ANITA
Well, it’s certainly a trap you are
getting into...
BUNNY
Sunny is hitting me.
Anita waves goodbye and the CAMERA MOVES with her into the
house. It is calm, like the wreckage after a tempest. Towels,
comics, shoe brushes, etc., are strewn everywhere. Anita,
with a sigh, starts to clean up.
CUT TO:
ANITA
My loving tormentors will be back
any minute...
SUNNY (O.S.)
My bag first.
BUNNY (O.S.)
My books first.
SUNNY (O.S.)
My water bottle first.
BUNNY (O.S.)
My shoes first.
SUNNY (O.S.)
My socks first.
BUNNY
Mummy, I’m back!
12.
ANITA
That’s great, but what did you
leave behind?
BUNNY
Everyone. I came first in school!
ANITA
In what?
BUNNY
Came first out of the class after
the bell.
ANITA
That I never doubt.
CAMERA MOVES with Anita as she carries Bunny into the living
room. And she sees the mayhem.
ANITA (CONT’D)
My house would have been cleaner if
I had reared a couple of swine
instead of you two.
Bunny immediately raises her head from the mug, not wanting
to miss out on something.
BUNNY
Mummy, I want a swine.
ANITA
Shut up and drink up. Say anything
and you want it.
Sunny has changed into sporting whites and is going out with
a cricket bat.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Where are you off to?
SUNNY
I have a cricket match.
BUNNY
Sunny, what’s a swine?
SUNNY
Pig.
BUNNY
What?
SUNNY
Pig. ‘Swine’ means pig.
BUNNY
Oh.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
What’s a pig?
SUNNY
There. That’s a prized pig for you.
SURI
Not only do you come late, but you
cart along this appendix too.
SUNNY
You mean appendage.
BUNNY
I’ll also play.
SURI
This is cricket, not chocolate. Go
away.
BUNNY
No, I’ll play.
SUNNY
Bunny, you’ll get hurt. Go and sit
there.
BUNNY
Swine pig!
14.
After Bunny crosses the huge Great Dane, it walks towards the
approaching Suri leisurely. Suri does a swift about-turn and
hurries to play cricket.
SURI
My team won the toss and I’m
batting.
SUNNY
When did you toss the coin?
SURI
When you were not here.
SURI (CONT’D)
You may enter a double century
against my name.
FIELDER 1
We are playing with a tennis ball,
aren’t we?
FIELDER 2
Yes. Not a cricket ball. He scares
everyone, but is more timid than
anyone.
FIELDER 1
Out!
FIELDER 2
Howzatt!
15.
Suri turns around and sees the dog with the ball in its mouth
a couple of yards away. Nonplussed, he recovers quickly.
SURI
No way! The dog ain’t a fielder.
Sunny takes the ball from Trixie’s mouth and holds it aloft.
SUNNY
The ball didn’t touch the ground.
Now it’s a catch!
Sunny goes and breaks the stumps at the batting end as Suri
is at the other end, along with the runner, intimidating the
umpire.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Now it is out! Runout!
ERROL
The temperature won’t get hotter
because you hold on to it longer.
When he tries to take the thermometer out, she swats his hand
away.
ERROL (CONT’D)
I’ll get exhausted before you get a
fever.
ANITA (O.S.)
It’s time for school. What’s she
doing?
Hearing her voice, Bunny screws her eyes shut even tighter.
Anita comes into the kids’ room to check it out and sees the
fever drama.
16.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Oh, trying to acquire a fever, is
she?
ERROL
She hurt her leg yesterday at
cricket.
ANITA
My foot, she got hurt. She plasters
band-aids on her body like people
do stickers on bumpers.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Oh! It’s burning.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Sunny! Call the doctor!
ANITA (CONT’D)
While coming, ask him to get his
biggest syringe. Her condition
calls for a huge injection.
Out pops the thermometer from the mouth. And Bunny from the
bed. She grabs her school bag, her shoes, her water bottle
and vanishes.
RAJESWARI
How’s my little baby’s fever? Oh
good, it has subsided. Still
feeling weak? Come, my little one,
I’ll fix you a bowl of malt.
RAJESWARI
No lunch for Julie today. She’s
unwell. Give her Horlicks.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You stupid oaf! Does one give
boiling milk to a baby?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Get some ice cubes immediately.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You’ve done enough!
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
They don’t even have the sense to
strain the milk. Can’t trust anyone
with your food.
MAID
(to the bearer)
Never saw anyone so much taken up
with dogs. Treats them like her own
children.
BEARER
More than her own children. She
mollycoddles cats and dogs but
throws her only daughter out of the
house! It’s ten years, and she
doesn’t even enquire how she is,
where she is, whether she’s dead or
alive. But she pampers these dumb
animals... the crazy queen.
RAJESWARI
(hissing)
Go away.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
(bellowing)
Just get out of this house!
Rajeswari goes to her room and takes out an old album from a
chest of drawers. She opens it and, as she’s seeing it,
collapses. The album falls open.
CUT TO:
RAJESWARI
(mumbling)
Call the lawyer.
19.
SESHA
Doctor’s on the way, Sister.
RAJESWARI
I said lawyer, I want the lawyer.
VARAHA
Think she’s mispronouncing ‘doctor’
as ‘lawyer’ because of the stroke.
RAJESWARI
Shut up and do as I say.
She points to the bedside phone. Though weak, her voice still
has enough bite to make Sesha spring into action. He quickly
dials the lawyer.
SESHA
Mr. Prabhakar? My sister Rajeswari
Devi would like to speak to you.
RAJESWARI
Prabhakar... I’d like to change my
will. Yes, yes, ten years back I
had willed everything to my
brother. Now make my daughter the
sole heiress.
RAJESWARI
No, I don’t know her address. Come
with the documents today.
She disconnects.
RAJESWARI
Find Anita and bring her to me. Her
husband, and her children too, if
she has any. From this moment on,
that’s your only task. Find her.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
One other thing. That bearer I’d
dismissed...
SESHA
Want me to call him back too?
RAJESWARI
(sharply)
He should never set foot in this
house again.
(a beat)
Give him a hundred thousand rupees
and send him away.
VARAHA
One hundred thousand for cursing
her! I too will go and give her a
volley of abuse.
SESHA
Idiot! Fool! Stupid wastrel!
VARAHA
Waste of energy. You can curse me
all day, but I don’t have a penny
to throw at you.
SESHA
Exactly, we’ll be penniless once
she signs the will.
VARAHA
What if we strangle Aunty tonight?
SESHA
We’ll be the prime suspects. The
lawyer will testify that she had
intended to change the will.
21.
VARAHA
We can make the lawyer our defense
attorney.
SESHA
Every time you think, I get sick.
VARAHA
OK, you plan, I’ll execute.
SESHA
First we must locate Anita and her
husband.
VARAHA
Then?
SESHA
We must find out if she has any
children.
VARAHA
Then?
SESHA
We wipe out the entire family.
ANITA
That was a lovely film, wasn’t it,
Bunny.
SUNNY
I don’t know why we have to always
go to children’s films for Bunny’s
sake. I can’t stand them.
BUNNY
Even I don’t like them. Mummy likes
them for me.
Errol guffaws. Before Anita can react, her phone rings. She
answers.
ANITA
Hi! ... Now? Hmm... OK.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Chopra of UniAds. He’s got the
rough designs ready for our Album
Tour campaign.
ERROL
And like all good ad agencies, we
have to OK it today so that he can
get it ready by yesterday... Sunny,
you take Bunny home. Mama and me
will finish that job and come.
SUNNY
I’m not going anywhere with Bunny!
ANITA
What did she do?
SUNNY
Last evening she tagged along with
me to my friend’s birthday party.
BUNNY
Your friend is also my friend.
SUNNY
And now I’m no longer his friend.
She went and cut his birthday cake.
ANITA
Why on earth did you do such a
nasty thing?
BUNNY
He took so long to blow out the
candles. I was hungry.
ERROL
Understandable, especially with
those re-igniting candles.
ANITA
Sunny, you take her home for now.
I’ll come back and deal with this
wild beast.
Anita and Errol leave. Sunny and Bunny walk towards the exit.
Sunny is serious. Bunny looks at him glumly. Then she looks
around.
23.
Bunny hops into a toy shop and picks up a plane. She pays for
it with Monopoly money and a flourish. The SHOPKEEPER does a
double-take. He calls out to her as she leaves.
SHOPKEEPER
Look, little one, this isn’t real
money!
BUNNY
Is this a real plane?
Pat comes her reply. And before he can react, she’s out of
the door.
She runs to catch up with Sunny and gives him the toy plane.
He is pleasantly surprised.
BUNNY
See, I’m a good girl. I like you.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
I’ll buy you ice-cream. Real money,
real ice-cream. Please don’t get
real angry.
Sunny and Bunny are walking along the pavement, licking their
cones. Someone is following them. Bunny looks at Sunny’s
flavour.
BUNNY
Sunny, give me a lick.
SUNNY
Rogue! Why did you eat her ice-
cream?
24.
SURI
I like it, I eat it.
SUNNY
Will you eat anything you see on
the road, like an animal?
SURI
I will. What’ll you do?
SUNNY
Then gobble this too!
Suri wipes his face, then wipes the floor with Sunny. Sunny
screams as his knee is badly bruised.
ANITA
How did it happen?
SUNNY
I tripped.
ANITA
You must have gotten into a fight.
SUNNY
I didn’t.
ANITA
Did someone push you?
Just then Bunny tries to wiggle her head in from behind them.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Why are you pushing me?
BUNNY
I can’t see it.
ANITA
Want me to make the wound bigger?
BUNNY
No.
25.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
(solicitously)
Is it hurting a lot?
ANITA
What happened?
SUNNY
She’s screaming when I’m the
injured -- aaah!
BUNNY
Are you going to cry now?
BUNNY (CONT’D)
Go beat up Suri Swine.
SUNNY
He’ll break my other leg too.
BUNNY
Make Trixie bite him.
SUNNY
I’ll serve him a treat.
BUNNY
Shall I start eating?
SUNNY
Wait.
BUNNY
Where’s Suri?
SUNNY
He’ll come this way soon.
BUNNY
I’ll eat.
SUNNY
Hold on, will you?
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Now! Start munching!
SURI
Enjoying cookies, I see!
Sunny holds the plate of dog biscuits away from Suri and
warns him.
SUNNY
Touch these and you’ll be sorry.
SURI
Looks like you need another dose of
medicine.
27.
SUNNY
I’ll give you a dose to remember!
SURI
Oh ya!
SUNNY
Good! Put them back on the plate
and apologise.
BUNNY
He got scared! He got scared.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
You ate dog food!
SUNNY
Want more? Wag your tail and I’ll
throw some more.
VARAHA
Did you ask God?
SESHA
About what?
VARAHA
My cousin Anita’s address. How else
can we find her?
VARAHA
(helpfully)
Let’s give an ad in the papers.
‘Long-lost Anita! Your mother is
losing it. Inform your whereabouts
so we can mail medical reports.’
SESHA
Idiot! Advertising is the last
thing we want. She’ll land up here
the next day and our plans will be
scuttled.
VARAHA
Oh! Then maybe...
SESHA
If you stop helping, we can finish
the job before mother and daughter
meet and patch up.
SESHA (CONT’D)
Yes, Sister.
RAJESWARI
Images of Anita haunt me all night.
I wake up and her face flashes in
front of my eyes. But she never
thinks of me. Hasn’t written a
single letter since the day she
left.
SESHA
She was always adamant. A small
flaw...
RAJESWARI (V.O.)
She’s like me. Firm. Any
information about her address?
SESHA
No, Sister. But I’m searching
without respite.
29.
RAJESWARI (V.O.)
Did you give an ad in the papers?
SESHA
Not yet.
Rajeswari is incensed.
RAJESWARI
Then how else will you locate
someone whose address you don’t
know? Comb through every street of
every town in the country?
SESHA (V.O.)
No, Sister.
RAJESWARI
You seem to be vying with your son
in stupidity. Give an ad right
away!
Sesha hurries back to the house just as the day’s papers are
being delivered. He replaces the papers with his photocopied
ones carrying the fake ad and has them sent up to Rajeswari’s
chambers.
30.
Anita is cooking.
ERROL
Sunny! Bunny!
ERROL
Have I entered the wrong dwelling?
Normally our sweet but noisy home
is heard a block away.
ERROL (CONT’D)
What’s up, Sunny? Why so silent?
Have you started meditation
classes?
He moves towards the punishment corner and takes out two bars
of candy from his pocket.
ERROL (CONT’D)
Look what I got you...
Before he can give them the candy, Anita rushes out of the
kitchen with a ladle.
ANITA
Don’t talk to them! They are
grounded.
ERROL
No talk.
He turns away from them, faces Anita and holds the candy
behind him, offering it on the sly to the kids.
31.
ANITA
And no chocolate!
ERROL
No chocolate. Are you cooking or
fuming?
ANITA
Erupting! Know what Sunny did? He
fed Suri dog biscuits. The poor
fellow had the runs all week! And
his mother chewed my head off!
ERROL
A strange-appetite family! Anyway,
seeing how Suri bulges out of his
clothes, the runs should help him
fit in quicker than running can.
ERROL (CONT’D)
Sorry. What did poor Bunny do?
ANITA
She was in on it too. And she never
does her homework. Tells the
teacher she completes it but that
the dog eats it up.
ERROL
That cannot be true. Because Bunny
got a gold medal for homework! It’s
in the papers.
INSERT - PAPER
BACK TO SCENE
The kids excitedly jump out of the corner and peer at the
advertisement. Anita too joins in, anger and boiling pot
forgotten.
ERROL
Tomorrow it will be in all the
national papers!
32.
VARAHA
Why are you up so early?
SESHA
Am at a loss as to our course of
action. I contacted the white man.
VARAHA
White man? I thought you were the
only all-white person for miles.
White hair, white dress, white
footwear, white liver...
SESHA
Shut up. I mean the Major General
whose son Anita eloped with. Sent
an intermediary to find out his
son’s address. Seems he cut off all
contact with his only son since the
day he left.
VARAHA
Appears that we are the only parent-
child combo not separated.
SESHA
Yes, I feel the pain.
VARAHA
How about lodging a missing-person
report at the police station?
VARAHA (CONT’D)
Can’t you see we are busy? Give it
inside.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
Or maybe we can hire a private
detective and...
SESHA
Go! Announce to the whole world
that we are planning a murder. You
muff!
DOCTOR
Good morning! Thought I’d pay a
visit on my way to the hospital.
How are you feeling, ma’am?
SESHA
Kill them all.
SESHA (CONT’D)
It should look like an accident.
ANITA
Neck stiff?
ERROL
A bit.
ANITA
Why these long drives crisscrossing
the state? We could have happily
gone by train.
ERROL
Train? And happy? Battling the
railways’ downed servers or
serpentine queues to buy tickets,
then praying for wait-listed
tickets to get confirmed, finally
torn with doubt whether the train
will depart late or arrive late.
That’s happiness?
ERROL
With a wheel in hand, you are
unbound. Go anywhere you desire,
whenever you desire. For this self-
determination, I’d take any pain.
SUNNY
Dad, what’s self-determination?
ERROL
This. Freedom from restrictions.
Isn’t this happier than swaying and
spraying in cramped toilets on
lurching trains.
35.
ERROL
Half the problems in the world are
because people want to control
others’ lives. Governments don’t
allow freedom to citizens, wives
don’t give freedom to husbands,
fathers don’t give freedom to
children...
SUNNY
Yea.
ERROL
What ‘yea’. Your father’s a brick.
I’m referring to my father.
BUNNY
Is he a bad boy?
ERROL
Not bad... Mm... A bit old-
fashioned.
BUNNY
He doesn’t wear jeans?
Errol chuckles.
ERROL
Jeans? He’s never out of uniform,
even in his sleep.
SUNNY
Why didn’t we ever see him?
ERROL (V.O.)
A long time ago in a galaxy far,
far away was a planet called
Militaria. It was inhabited by
Major General Daniel McIntosh, a
counter-insurgency expert. But he
failed to handle the insurgency in
his own house. Enter the rebel
star, Errol.
(MORE)
36.
SUNNY
Why?
ERROL
He just could not. One day he
visited a tiger reserve.
BUNNY
(gasping)
And the tiger ate him up?
ERROL
No. A tigress did, heart and soul.
An ad agency was shooting a tourism
commercial.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Mauled by Delhi belly. Model’s in
no shape to shoot.
ANITA
Get a replacement.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
In a game reserve? Spotting tigers
is easier.
ANITA
Spotted! White, male, single, and
will make him willing.
ANITA (CONT’D)
Quick, hop in!
ERROL is perplexed.
ERROL
What ...
ANITA
Just jump in, a man-eater is on the
prowl!
ANITA (CONT’D)
Now that I’ve saved your life, it’s
your turn to save my skin. We need
you to shoot our ad film. Say yes
or I’ll shoot myself ...
ANITA (CONT’D)
After shooting you!
ERROL
Dead or alive, at your service!
ERROL
The agency’s account executive was
Princess Anita. And rebel star
ERROL was so smitten that he could
say a fearless ‘NO’ to the army and
his father.
BUNNY
Did he punish you?
ERROL
Yes. He broke all ties with me. I
wrote him a letter once after Sunny
was born. But no reply from the
dictator.
SUNNY
So Mummy is more powerful than the
Major General!
ERROL
Now you know why we are all scared
of her. Your mummy is a tigress.
38.
SUNNY
Stop! I need to go!
The van stops to the side of the road. Sunny rushes out and
disappears into the bushes abutting the road.
SUNNY
Bunny, bring the water!
Bunny goes after him, lugging the water can and grumbling.
BUNNY
Always bathroom, bathroom! Toilet
boy!
She sits a few feet away from him on the water can.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
(impatiently)
Over? Finished? How much will you
do?
SUNNY
Just shut up and go!
A riled Bunny starts walking away with the can. Sunny becomes
contrite.
39.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Wait. Bunny, stop.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Leave the water and go!
SUNNY (CONT’D)
I’ll give you my Game Boy.
ERROL
It’s like a dream come true. Trip
was great, wasn’t it?
ANITA
Yes. But would have been less
taxing without your two squabbling
angels.
ERROL
If that’s how you feel, let’s leave
them behind and go.
CAMERA MOVES with Sunny and Bunny, who come out of the bushes
and stop at the edge of the road, puzzled. The van is nowhere
in sight. A hub cap is lying on the other side.
They cross the road and peer over the low retaining wall.
They are shell-shocked at the sight that greets them. The
crumpled van is in the rock-strewn valley. And the parents’
blood-soaked bodies are lying next to the wreckage.
BUNNY
(plaintively)
Mama.
40.
The police Jeep comes and stops near the gate. The Sub-
Inspector and the kids get down. A constable follows with
their bags. The lawn and driveway are strewn with dried
leaves. The inspector opens the gate, then looks at the
neighbour’s gate.
SUB-INSPECTOR
You go on in. I’ll join you.
SUNNY
Mummy!
Sunny opens the door. As the two children enter, the SOUND OF
COOKING and the mother’s voice haunts them as the CAMERA
TRACKS them through every empty room.
ANITA (V.O.)
At last, you remember your address?
Come Sunday you forget home and
hearth, roaming like scalawags all
day!
SUB-INSPECTOR
It seems their grandfather works at
the Indian Military Academy, but
they don’t know the address. I’ll
send word through the Army
Cantonment here. Do you know the
address of Mrs. Anita’s mother?
NEIGHBOUR
No.
SUB-INSPECTOR
It seems the children have never
met her. Don’t even have a photo of
her.
41.
NEIGHBOUR
Sorry, we don’t know much about
their relatives. We shifted here
recently.
SUB-INSPECTOR
Well, I’ll announce it in the
papers. Someone may turn up. Till
then will you please keep an eye on
them?
NEIGHBOUR
Oh, I will!
The SI leaves.
When the Neighbour goes next door, she sees the children
asleep on the floor. Bunny is lying with her head on Sunny’s
chest, clutching onto the parents’ portrait. Their eyes are
closed and cheeks are tear-stained.
The Neighbour tries to take the portrait from Bunny. But even
in her sleep, Bunny grasps it back. The Neighbour is reduced
to tears.
INSERT - PAPER
BACK TO SCENE
SESHA
The kids are still alive and
kicking. Didn’t you make sure they
were in the van?
SESHA (CONT’D)
Anyway, we still have a golden
opportunity. We have their address
now and they are unprotected,
alone. Go and complete the job.
(MORE)
42.
SESHA (CONT’D)
Remember, ‘accidental’ is the
operative word.
BUNNY
Sunny, I too want to read.
SUNNY
Later.
BUNNY
Should only you read always?
SUNNY
(matter-of-factly)
Yes.
Bunny gets piqued. She grabs for the comic. He pulls away and
the page comes off. In a flash of anger, he slaps her.
BUNNY
Wait, I’ll tell Mummy!
Bunny sees the silent, empty room and it hits her. Mummy is
no longer there. She crumples to the floor, sobbing and
hugging her teddy. Sunny comes in contrite. He sits down,
hugs her and makes a promise.
SUNNY
I’ll never beat you. I’ll never
ever scold you.
Trixie, who had been left in the kennel while the family was
on the road trip, starts barking and jumping excitedly. The
DOG HANDLER is puzzled.
DOG HANDLER
What’s got into you? Pipe down,
Trixie!
BUNNY
Trixie! Come, let’s go home.
DOG HANDLER
Who are you?
SUNNY
This is our pet. We have come to
take it home.
DOG HANDLER
I can’t hand it over to you. Get
your parents.
SUNNY
We don’t have our parents.
DOG HANDLER
Do you have the receipt?
SUNNY
No.
DOG HANDLER
Then come tomorrow when the manager
is here.
They are walking along the deserted road downcast when Suri
looms ahead. He stops in front of them and stares with hands
on hips. They stop and Bunny inches towards Sunny. She grasps
his hand, alarmed.
SUNNY
Thank you, Aunty.
BUNNY
Good night, Aunty.
44.
NEIGHBOUR
Why sleep alone there? You can
sleep here.
SUNNY
It’s OK, Aunty.
BUNNY
Trixie is coming.
SUNNY
The inspector said he will see that
Trixie is home tomorrow.
They leave.
Sunny and Bunny are watching a movie on TV. The lights go off
and the TV falls silent. Bunny moves closer to Sunny.
BUNNY
Sunny, I’m getting scared.
SUNNY
It’s just a power cut. Come, let’s
go to bed.
BUNNY
Sunny, I’m still feeling
frightened.
SUNNY
Nothing to fear. I’m right next to
you. Close your eyes and sleep.
Then he bolts all the windows and draws the curtains shut.
Next he enters the kitchen and shuts the windows. Finally he
switches on the four gas knobs on the hob.
Masthan leaves the house, shutting the main door behind him.
The GAS rises from the hob in an OMINOUS HISS. It spreads out
in the kitchen and then seeps through the hallway. It then
enters the kids’ room. It floats towards the candle flame
relentlessly.
DANIEL
Gun!
No response.
DANIEL
Gun, where the hell are you?
GUN (O.S.)
Right here, sir!
DANIEL
What on Earth are you doing inside?
GUN
Sir, I am brushing your coats.
DANIEL
Idiot, hiding from the dog?
GUN
No, sir. I’m not scared.
DANIEL
Stop your foolery! Come out and
stand still. It will not harm you.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
I said don’t move!
GUN
Sunny, call this canine giant to
heel.
DANIEL
Stop this circus and give the kids
a bath.
GUN
Come for a nice, warm bath.
BUNNY
No!
She goes off and sits in a corner. Gun tries to coax her.
GUN
I’ll tell you a story if you take a
bath.
47.
BUNNY
Is your name really Gun?
GUN
Yes. Because I killed enemy
soldiers like flies in the war, the
President gave me the title
‘Machine Gun’.
SUNNY
So this is the story? I thought
Grandpa said you were a cook.
BUNNY
Do cooks fight?
SUNNY
How did you manage to kill all
those enemies?
Gun is left turning his head dumbly from left to right at the
rapid rally from the siblings on either side of him.
BUNNY
Maybe by throwing chilli powder in
their eyes.
SUNNY
Maybe by pouring boiling oil on
them.
BUNNY
He poked them with a fork.
SUNNY
He fed them his dishes.
GUN
Alright, I killed them with tall
tales. Please come for a bath.
BUNNY
No!
DANIEL
Looks more like they gave you a
bath.
48.
GUN
They were reluctant. I cajoled them
and got splashed with water to
humour them.
DANIEL
They appear to be lacking in
discipline. They hadn’t turned off
the gas or locked the door. And
were fast asleep. If I hadn’t
reached in time...
GUN
They are little children, sir.
DANIEL
That’s why we have to teach them.
Can’t mould grown-ups.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
Look at their father. He didn’t
listen to me. And now he’s
beyond...
GUN
Sorry, sir! What happened is still
unbelievable.
DANIEL
You know, I always harboured a hope
that he would come back if I held
firm. I would have extended my
contract here one more time to wait
for him. But the day I saw his
advertisement in the paper about
his singing tour -- not only was he
completely into that music thing,
he was also taking his children
with him. That’s when I knew I had
totally lost him.
He looks up from his book and sees Bunny lying on the floor,
sobbing. He goes over to her and hugs her. She clings to him
and wails in a heart-breaking manner. Sunny’s eyes too well
up and tears stream down.
49.
Daniel and Gun come out. Daniel goes to Bunny and stands her
up.
DANIEL
Don’t cry, Bunny. Only cowards cry.
Look how frail you are. From
tomorrow you should eat well and
exercise well. Then you’ll have a
strong body and a strong mind.
Endurance is the key to courage.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
Come, it’s getting late. Time to be
in bed.
BUNNY
Grandpa!
He turns around.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
Can you sing me a song?
He is nonplussed.
DANIEL
I... don’t know any.
He leaves.
GUN
What’s this?
SUNNY
An old wound.
GUN
Is it hurting?
SUNNY
No.
50.
GUN
On the day you got injured?
SUNNY
It hurt a lot.
GUN
Your parents’ death is also like
that. It will seem unbearable now
but will heal gradually. If you
lose heart and are depressed, how
will your kid sister cope with it.
She needs your support. Be cheerful
always, even if you feel sad. Then
she’ll be cheerful too.
DANIEL
It’s lonely.
GUN
Sir, children need a woman’s care.
We can provide things, but not
tenderness. Shall we ask their
grandmother to come over?
DANIEL
What, that Royal arrogant Highness?
Think she can look after children?
GUN
Sir, that was ages ago. Maybe the
children will recover faster if
they spend time with her.
DANIEL
I’ll write her a letter tonight. We
do have a duty to intimate her of
her daughter’s death.
Gun tries to divert the kids’ minds and cheer them up with
visits to a nearby village.
RAJESWARI
Any response for the newspaper ad
regarding Anita?
INTERCUT conversation.
VARAHA
There’s one letter, but I haven’t
opened it yet.
RAJESWARI
Get it to me right away!
VARAHA
Sure, Aunty.
SESHA
Why are you taking a letter without
first opening it? Who’s it from?
VARAHA
One mister Daniel McIntosh.
SESHA
Daniel McIntosh!
VARAHA
Is my pronunciation wrong?
52.
SESHA
Idiot! You would have ruined all
our plans. The kids are with him.
VARAHA
Who’s he, an international
kidnapper?
SESHA
Their grandfather.
Varaha is bemused.
VARAHA
But I had gone personally to
investigate in Hyderabad. If the
kids had gone with their
grandfather, why didn’t the
neighbours give me this vital
information?
SESHA
With your dumb face, they wouldn’t
give you the time of day. I’m going
to Masthan to fill him in.
VARAHA
What will I tell Aunty?
SESHA
You write a letter as if from some
institution seeking a donation. And
while at it, write one to that
McIntosh, ‘I have no daughter.
Therefore no grandchildren either.’
Signed ‘Rajeswari’. Got it, dumbo?!
VARAHA
Angry old bird.
Daniel picks up mail from the post box. He reads the letter
Varaha wrote in the name of Rajeswari and grimaces. He goes
to an end of the farm where a deep trench is being dug to
embed a row of big, three-foot-diameter cement pipes for
irrigation.
GUN
Even if one dug with teaspoons, the
progress would be faster.
53.
DANIEL
Rajeswari has disowned her daughter
and her progeny. True to royal
form.
GUN
No reasonable person would behave
that way, sir.
DANIEL
Expected nothing less. Forget her.
The children appear to have
recovered from the trauma. Now they
need to be put on a routine. Make
them run two rounds every morning.
GUN
Right, sir!
DANIEL
You also do four rounds after them.
Your tummy is protruding.
GUN
Oh, this isn’t fat, sir. It’s just
that I had taken a deeper-than-
usual breath and...
DANIEL
Eight rounds!
GUN
That’s great work, little soldiers!
Now disperse for a quick shower. If
you are late for breakfast, the
Major General may order us to run
four more rounds.
BUNNY
Oh, no more!
BUNNY
Me first! Me first!
SUNNY
I’m first! I’m already here.
BUNNY
No! I want to be first!
SUNNY
OK, we’ll shower together. You
remove your top and come in.
He gets into the tub and turns the knob of the shower. The
WATER HISSES OUT and the cobra rears its head.
After he is wet, Sunny turns off the shower and goes to the
other end of the tub, where the shampoo bottle is. He
shampoos himself and closes his eyes as the lather slides
down from his hair.
The King Cobra slides down and coils itself around the shower
mixer knobs. Sunny turns around and takes a couple of
tentative steps towards the shower knob.
55.
Just then Bunny rushes in, complaining about the top. She
sees the snake.
BUNNY
Snake! Snake!
She runs out. A startled Sunny wipes his eyes and looks.
By now the snake has slid down and is crawling towards him.
It has cut off his access to the door.
The King Cobra strikes and Sunny leaps back, toppling the
stool as he falls and slides towards the wall. The stool
careens forward, taking the serpent with it to the far side.
Sunny slides behind the bucket and keeps its open end facing
the snake. He holds his breath. As the snake comes close,
Sunny propels the bucket forward. The King Cobra is thrust
into it. The bucket comes to rest against the wall with a
thud, and the snake is trapped inside.
DANIEL
Get dressed and come to my study. I
have a gift for you.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
(cryptically)
Take care of it.
GUN
What’s in the bucket, little one?
BUNNY
A big snake!
GUN
Bunny. My baby Bunny!
DANIEL
I won this for bravery in the
Falklands War. Your father was a
little boy then, much younger than
you are now. When I came home with
the medal, he asked me for it. I
said, ‘No, I’ll not give it. This
isn’t a toy. You’ll have to earn
your own medal.’ He cried. He
didn’t eat all day. I didn’t
relent.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
Now I feel I should have given it
to him.
SUNNY
What, you didn’t throw out the
snake yet?
GUN
Is it a pail of garbage to take out
casually. It’s the king of snakes,
the cobra. If I try to move the
bucket, it’s hissing venomously.
SUNNY
I’ll show you how.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
You let go.
Gun is dumbfounded.
DANIEL
Yes, Colonel. Settling the affairs
of my son will take some months.
You know the wheels of government
don’t move like the army does. At
the earliest, I’ll be able to leave
for England with my grandchildren
early next year.
Gun enters.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
In the meantime I need a favour. I
want you to get my grandson into a
Sainik School. He has the makings
of a fine soldier.
JOGRAJ
That should be no surprise, given
his lineage.
JOGRAJ (CONT’D)
But will you want him to continue
here when you leave for England?
DANIEL
First we’ll see how he settles in.
A boarding school is a boarding
school, whether here or in UK.
JOGRAJ
Right, sir. Will send you the forms
in two days. Bye, sir.
59.
GUN
Sir. Maybe... please think again.
Separating the siblings is unfair.
They will not be able to cope...
DANIEL
Sunny can’t stay home and go to an
ordinary school to take care of his
sister. He has a brilliant future.
After schooling, I’ll put him at
Sandhurst! He will become what my
son couldn’t.
VARAHA
This must be the local Tajmahal
Hotel.
Masthan, who is lying down, lifts the arm covering his eyes
to give Varaha a cursory look and covers his eyes again.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
OK, I can slum it out, but you seem
to be getting too comfortable here.
Are you committing murders with all
your heart and soul or are you just
doing it for the sake of filthy
lucre?
VARAHA (CONT’D)
This is what Dad said to ask you.
After so many attempts, the kids
are still alive and kicking. That’s
a black mark against your fair name
as a killer. From now on, you are
to follow the kids like a shadow.
And I will be the shadow’s shadow.
MASTHAN
Both of us can go home. The boy is
being put in a hostel. He will be
leaving to Sainik School, Satara,
tomorrow.
60.
Masthan and Varaha watch the vehicle go past and stop at the
entrance.
VARAHA
Goodbye, you little lucky buggers!
Now that they are out of reach, we
can celebrate your defeat with a
quick bite and go home.
Daniel’s Jeep stops at the station entrance, and the two kids
get down. A porter picks up the heavy bags. Sunny carries a
small knapsack.
DANIEL
You follow the porter in and wait
on the platform. I’ll park the Jeep
and join you.
BUNNY
Sunny, will you really leave me
alone?
Sunny doesn’t answer. He takes her hand and goes along with
the porter. CAMERA MOVES with them.
SUNNY
I promised I’ll always be with you.
I’m not going to the hostel.
BUNNY
Sunny! You are the best brother. I
love you.
SUNNY
Shh! Grandpa will hear us.
61.
They wait there till they see Daniel go in. Then they hurry
out of the station and go to the parking lot.
In the middle of the bridge, the tyre blows out. The car
halts. Masthan gets out to change the wheel. Varaha follows.
When he opens the boot, Varaha too almost has a blowout. Both
of them stare in disbelief at the two dusty children. As
their quarry stare back at them innocently, the blabbermouth
recovers first.
VARAHA
What are you doing here... I mean,
who are you?
SUNNY
We are going to Indore, to our
grandmother’s house.
VARAHA
We too are heading there... I mean,
to Indore.
MASTHAN
You wait near the railing while I
change the wheel. Then we’ll take
you to Indore.
VARAHA
Indore is a city of wonders.
Palaces, gardens, bazaars. It is a
safe and secure haven for
children...
Masthan steals in behind the kids, who are leaning over the
railing. He stoops down, grabs their legs and hurls them over
the bridge in one swift movement.
62.
The kids land in the water with a scream and a big splash.
After a few seconds under water, they come up gasping for
air. Spluttering, they look up, bewildered, at the vile duo
staring down at them with evil grins. They are stunned. They
are rattled. But they don’t drown.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
They can swim!
MASTHAN
You go drown them.
VARAHA
Stop, you crazy killer! I can’t
swim.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
Why don’t you jump in and do the
job yourself?
VARAHA (CONT’D)
Oh, you too are a land animal! OK,
let’s go by road and greet them on
the bank.
They cross the bridge and go down to the bank the kids are
swimming towards.
VARAHA
Come, champions, we were just
testing your swimming abilities.
Sunny and Bunny come close to the bank and tread water.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
You won! We’ll give you a prize!
Come!
Sunny turns and swims along the canal bank, away from the
bridge. Bunny follows. Varaha and Masthan are forced to
follow.
63.
After a time, the kids stop swimming, turn on their backs and
float along effortlessly, much to the chagrin of the two
killers huffing and puffing along uneven land.
VARAHA (CONT’D)
How long will you wiggle along, my
tadpoles? Any further and you’ll
join the sea.
BUNNY
Isn’t this Indore?
SUNNY
It is.
BUNNY
Then why are you sitting here?
Let’s go to Granny’s house.
SUNNY
How? The paper I wrote the address
on is in the bag. And the bag is in
the car.
64.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
I’ll have to phone Uncle Gun and
ask for the address. He may tell
Grandpa. But we can beg Granny to
let us stay together before he
comes for us. Stay put.
VARAHA
Don’t you worry, Dad. Though they
escaped a watery grave, they will
not elude my tentacles this time.
They will surely come by bus here
where I wait like the lord of
death!
SESHA (V.O.)
You lord of idiots! What’ll you do
there? Kidnap them in broad
daylight? If the kids see you,
they’ll raise hell and have the
whole bus station after you. Get
home now!
Sunny, about to open the booth door, sees Varaha inside and
Masthan standing on the other side of the booth. He quickly
hides behind a column before they see him. Varaha comes out
and goes to Masthan.
VARAHA
This old man never gets my ideas.
Operation suspended. Let’s go.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
What? What’s the matter?
SUNNY
Our dog is missing.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
We were going to the park when a
speeding car passed us. The puppy’s
chain got stuck in the rear bumper,
and it was dragged away.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
Where do you live?
SUB-INSPECTOR 2 (CONT’D)
Did you note the car number?
SUNNY
Yes. AIX 6666.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
You write your address down and go
home now. We’ll send the dog when
we find it.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2 (CONT’D)
Calm her, calm her down, for God’s
sake!
SUNNY
She’ll not stop till you find her
puppy.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
How can we find it this instant?
66.
SUNNY
Find out who owns that car.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
Appa Rao, call the RTO office and
give this number, AIX 666... Wait,
isn’t that one from the Rani Ma’s
platoon of cars, all sixes!
SUNNY
Give her address, we’ll go there.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
Go to Lal Bagh and ask, anyone will
guide you to her palace. I’ll call
and enquire if the dog is there.
CONSTABLE
It will be like finding a needle in
a haystack, with the number of dogs
she has!
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
Hello, Sesha Giri, sir? I’m the
Gandhi Nagar Police Station SI.
Sir, is your car numbered AIX 6666
at home?
SESHA
It is. Why are you asking?
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
Is there a dog behind it?
SESHA
What do you mean?
The SI is hesitant.
67.
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
I mean... Is a puppy hanging from
your bumper...
SESHA
Bumper-hanging dogs? Are you in
your senses?
SUB-INSPECTOR 2
No, sir. I mean, these kids...
VARAHA
I’m battle weary. The long journey
and the wild chase across hill and
dale after those brats has drained
me. I need an energy drink, a
potent pick-me-up.
SESHA
Try this. Those kids will be here
any minute.
VARAHA
Oh! I’ll get dressed immediately
and wait near the gate.
SESHA
Of all the faces in Indore, yours
is the one they should not see
here. Why go and put it on display
right at the threshold?
VARAHA
Are they coming to take revenge on
me?
SESHA
Do they know this is their
Grandma’s house? If they did, why
would they go to the police station
first?
SESHA (CONT’D)
Have they lodged a complaint
against you, noting the car number?
Where do these dogs come in?
He turns to Varaha.
SESHA (CONT’D)
Did they have a dog with them?
VARAHA
No. I had Masthan.
SESHA
Beats me. But these kids are sure
smart. If only you had half their
intelligence!
VARAHA
Wait till I reach my full
potential...
SESHA
Just get lost! Go someplace else
for a few days.
VARAHA
Shall I go to America?
SESHA
Go to the Antipodes for all I care!
Just stay out of their sight!
Sunny and Bunny are walking along the road running along a
high compound wall. Sunny has a small carry bag with him.
They reach the massive gate of Rajeswari’s palatial house.
SUNNY
This is the house.
BUNNY
Let’s go in and take the bag from
the car.
SUNNY
Wait! There’s a watchman.
BUNNY
Sunny, I’m hungry.
BUNNY (CONT’D)
Do you think I’m Suri?
SUNNY
Oh! These are for the dogs in the
house.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Aren’t you ashamed to beg?
SUNNY (CONT’D)
Can’t you work?
Same gesture.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
There’s a job, will you do it?
WATCHMAN
Hey! What are you doing?
Just as the Watchman comes within range and raises his baton
to strike, the urchin turns around, pees on him, and scoots.
While the dismayed Watchman looks at his wet clothes and then
chases the beggar boy, Sunny and Bunny slip in through the
gate.
Free of the dogs, the kids go towards the cars, see the one
they travelled in, and start opening the boot. A harsh voice
behind startles them.
SESHA
Why are you here? I mean, who are
you?
SESHA (CONT’D)
Do you know whose house this is?
SESHA (CONT’D)
Then what are you doing here?
SUNNY
We got lost.
SESHA
Don’t lie. You’ve come to steal.
WATCHMAN
You little thieves, I’ll...
SESHA
Stop shouting! Were you dozing off?
You should be sacked! Keep a watch
on them while I call the police.
SESHA
Those infernal kids are with me.
Come immediately and wait outside
the gate. I’ll bring them to you.
WATCHMAN
How dare you fool me and sneak in.
Get me in trouble, will you?
Just as he’s about to strike, the dogs run in and snap at him
viciously.
WATCHMAN (CONT’D)
Lily, don’t! Julie, stop! Oh Dolly!
The dogs make him dance as they repeatedly snap at him. Sesha
comes out and is mad at the ruckus.
SESHA
What is going on?
RAJESWARI (O.S.)
Exactly what I’d like to know!
SESHA
Sister! They are burglars.
RAJESWARI
Burglars?
SESHA
Yes. They stole in under the
watchman’s nose. I’ll hand them
over to the police. Nothing to
worry. You go take rest.
RAJESWARI
Looks like you need rest. Do they
look like burglars to you?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Look at Julie and Lily. They are
more sensible than you.
72.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
(tenderly)
Come here. Who are you?
BUNNY
I’m Bunny.
SUNNY
I’m Sunny.
BUNNY
Sunny got a gold medal for killing
a snake!
Rajeswari is impressed.
RAJESWARI
Oh my! Who gave him the medal?
BUNNY
Our grandpa...
BUNNY (CONT’D)
No one.
RAJESWARI
Why did you come here?
SUNNY
To visit our grandma.
RAJESWARI
Where does she live?
SUNNY
Here.
Rajeswari is surprised.
RAJESWARI
Here?
SUNNY
Yes, in Indore. But we lost the
address.
RAJESWARI
So where are you from?
73.
By now Bunny has mastered the art of the strategic wail when
confronted with dicey questions. She lets out a howl.
Rajeswari looks concerned.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
What’s the matter?
BUNNY
I’m hungry.
RAJESWARI
Oh poor child!
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Santha! Give them dinner and put
them to bed.
The maid leads the children into the house. A very concerned
Sesha hurries towards Rajeswari.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Looks like they have run away from
home.
SESHA
It’s not wise to shelter strangers
in the house. I’ll take them to the
police.
RAJESWARI
Why do you want to get the police
involved? How can such small
children spend a night at the
police station? Let them stay here.
Tomorrow I’ll find out the details
of their grandmother.
BUNNY
Sunny, I’m scared. That bad man may
come here.
SUNNY
The man who tried to drown us?
Bunny nods.
74.
SUNNY (CONT’D)
I think he doesn’t live here. If he
did, we would have seen him.
BUNNY
But his car is here.
SUNNY
Maybe he’s just a driver. Anyway,
we’ll take our bag tomorrow and
leave this house. Get up early, not
like you do when going to school.
SESHA
Hello...
DANIEL
Daniel McIntosh speaking.
Sesha is startled.
SESHA
And who would that be?
DANIEL
I’m Errol’s father.
SESHA
Ah, yes. I’m Sesha Giri. To what do
we owe this rare privilege?
DANIEL
Have my grandchildren gone there?
75.
SESHA
No. No, why would they come here? I
think my sister made it clear that
she has disowned them.
Daniel sighs.
DANIEL
If they do go there...
SESHA
I’ll call you right away.
DANIEL
(to himself)
What’s this cowardly streak in my
progeny? My son ran away from
college. My grandson runs away from
school. What’s wrong with them?
GUN
Maybe it’s not them. Maybe it’s you
who has a flaw.
ERROL (V.O.)
Dad, I’ve become a father today.
Oh, forgot to mention it, I married
Anita.
ERROL
I know you’ll remain angry with me
for life. Because me living my life
on my terms, you take it as your
defeat. But if everyone follows in
his father’s footsteps, who will
lay new paths?
ERROL (CONT’D)
In your view, I’m good-for-
nothing... sorry I can’t agree. But
in my view, you... are up there, a
notch above everyone. I’m very
proud of you. I feel that a soldier
must be like you.
ERROL (CONT’D)
I’ll send my son to you when he’s
old enough to understand. There’s a
lot he can learn from you --
dedication, perseverance, the
courage to face any adversity. Dad,
you’ll not turn my son away because
of me, will you?
DANIEL
I’m sorry, my son, I’m sorry.
Sunny and Bunny come out of the house and make their way to
the car.
The children open the boot and are surprised that their bag
is not in there. As they stare, puzzled, Sesha enters.
SESHA
What are you snooping around for?
SUNNY
Is this your car?
SESHA
Yes.
SUNNY
Do you have a driver?
SESHA
No.
SESHA (CONT’D)
No, I mean we used to have a
chauffeur. The thief! He stole my
car. The police found it last
evening and returned it to me.
SUNNY
Your driver is an evil man. He
threw us into the canal.
SESHA
Did he? The dastardly scoundrel!
The police would be breaking his
bones by now. Anyway, it’s
fortunate that you knew how to
swim.
SUNNY
How did you guess that we could
swim?
SESHA
Well, isn’t it because you could
swim that you got out, got here and
are talking to me? Now what are you
searching for?
SUNNY
Our bag. I left it in the boot and
our grandma’s address is in the
bag.
SESHA
Maybe it’s in the police station.
I’ll send for it and you can
happily leave for your granny’s
place. Till then don’t breathe a
word about yourselves to this old
lady here. She’s a little batty. If
you tell her, she’ll send you back
to your grandfather.
SUNNY
We won’t tell her.
BUNNY
We won’t.
78.
SESHA
Good, go back inside. I’ll find
your bag.
Sunny and Bunny are sitting at the dining table. Bunny has
nibbled away a hole from the centre of a slice of bread and
is peering through it around the room.
RAJESWARI
Right, now spill the beans. Why did
you run away from home?
SUNNY
Our grandfather wanted to send me
to a hostel, away from Bunny.
RAJESWARI
Where are your parents?
SUNNY
They are...
SESHA
Sister! Cheque this sign!
RAJESWARI
What’s the hurry?
SESHA
Just want to finish my work quickly
and take these two runaways to the
police station.
Rajeswari is cross.
RAJESWARI
You seem to have a police fixation.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
What’s your grandfather’s name?
BUNNY
Dan...
SESHA
Baby! Eh... Baba Sing. They had
told me in the morning.
RAJESWARI
So you lost your grandma’s address.
Do you at least know her name?
BUNNY
Raj...
SESHA
(desperately)
Hamsa! Raja Hamsa!
RAJESWARI
What kind of a name is that?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You find out the details from them
and try to locate the address. You
can use your precious police for
that.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Hasn’t the handler turned up? It’s
their shampoo day.
SUNNY
(excitedly)
We’ll give them a shampoo.
BUNNY
We have a big dog!
Rajeswari calls out from her chambers. The kids are in the
bathroom with the dogs.
RAJESWARI
Are you going to be in there all
day?
80.
The tub is filled with suds that have overflowed and cover
half the bathroom. In this ocean of lather can be seen a tail
here, a snout there and the foam-covered faces of the kids.
RAJESWARI
OK. All of you are clean enough.
Come out while the maid cleans the
bathroom. Come, come.
RAJESWARI
After going to your granny’s house,
will you come to visit me?
BUNNY
I’ll come every day.
RAJESWARI
And what will you do?
BUNNY
I’ll play all day.
RAJESWARI
With whom?
BUNNY
With Julie, with Dolly, with Polly,
with you.
RAJESWARI
So you’ve equated me with the dogs!
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You don’t have a change of clothes.
Don’t worry, I’ll get some sent
over from the shop.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Today’s my daughter’s birthday. You
wear new clothes on her behalf.
SESHA
Here it is! Go to your grandma’s
house. Be quick and silent.
The kids open the bag. The paper with the address is there.
Also a pair of clothes. But they are Sunny’s as this was part
of his school baggage. Bunny has to make do with a T-shirt
that hangs down beyond her knees.
VARAHA
Why have you given them the bag? I
go to great lengths to capture them
and you set them free. I’ve been
snooping around in disguise,
watching your every move.
SESHA
Things were just falling into place
in your absence, you deadweight.
VARAHA
They’ll go out, see the address and
come right back into their granny’s
arms, you featherweight.
SESHA
I have replaced this address with
that of the abandoned ruins near
the park. There, Masthan will be
waiting to welcome them. Goodbye.
Here they come.
The kids come out of the portico with the bag. Varaha
disappears along the road, and Sesha goes away to the
backyard. The children walk to the gate. Sunny puts down the
bag.
82.
SUNNY
You wait here. I’ll go and search
for an auto-rickshaw.
The dog had placed the bag near Rajeswari’s feet. Sunny and
Bunny come up the stairs sheepishly. Rajeswari is perplexed.
RAJESWARI
You found your grandmother’s
address?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
I would have sent you in a car. Why
were you leaving without telling
me?
SUNNY
We thought you would send us back
to our grandfather.
Rajeswari is pained.
RAJESWARI
Do I look like a monster?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
I bought new clothes for you. Also
bought a cake, expecting my
daughter to come back today. Eat it
and go to your granny’s house.
SUNNY
Doesn’t your daughter live with
you?
83.
RAJESWARI
She left me ten years ago. This
very day.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
I called the man she loved a
penniless wastrel. I forbade him to
step into this house. Then you know
what he did? He climbed that wall.
RAJESWARI
He sat astride that wall and sang a
song, something about a silver
moon.
RAJESWARI
Are you stupid? If you like
someone’s music, you ask him to
play at a party and tip him
handsomely. You don’t marry him!
ANITA
You won’t understand even if I
explain. Even if you understand,
you won’t accept it.
RAJESWARI
Is he more important to you than I?
ANITA
If you willfully create an either-
or situation, then yes, it’s him!
Rajeswari tries one last weapon, her voice breaking with the
emotion.
RAJESWARI
If you walk out now, you’ll never
enter the house again.
84.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
I’ll bequeath all my property to my
brother.
This last gambit does stop Anita. She comes back, puts down
her suitcase, opens her purse and up-ends the contents. All
the money and change inside tumble onto the chest of drawers.
She snaps the empty purse shut and picks up the suitcase.
ANITA
I’m taking my clothes, though. They
may not fit your brother.
Anita goes out and walks away into the sunset with Errol.
RAJESWARI
Your mother’s name?
BUNNY
Anita.
RAJESWARI
Do you... do you know your
grandmother’s name?
BUNNY
Rajeswari Devi.
RAJESWARI
It’s me! I’m your grandma.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Where’s your mother?
BUNNY
She died.
RAJESWARI
No baby, you should never say that.
It’s wrong. She sent you ahead to
test me, right? I know her nature.
BUNNY
She really died, Grandma.
RAJESWARI
Bunny, you eat so slowly. Come, one
more morsel.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Did your mother ever talk about me?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Did she say I was a bad woman?
SUNNY
No, Granny. She said you were a
very good woman.
Rajeswari is pensive.
RAJESWARI
I committed a mistake. A grave
mistake...
RAJESWARI
Can’t you sleep, Bunny?
BUNNY
Granny, I want Sunny.
RAJESWARI
But he’s here, right next to me!
BUNNY
Please don’t send him to hostel.
RAJESWARI
Why will he go to hostel? He’ll
stay with us.
SUNNY
But Grandpa said he’ll send me to
Sainik School.
RAJESWARI
That old soldier’s lost it. Why
does he insist on putting all his
family into uniform? If he’s not
had enough, let him enlist again.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You two are not going anywhere.
This is your home. You both will
study here, in your mother’s old
school. So go to sleep now.
Tomorrow we will tell your grandpa
this final decision!
DANIEL
I am sorry, my children.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
I guess I owe you an apology,
ma’am.
RAJESWARI
I do too. But the two people we
want to say sorry to are... not
here.
DANIEL
Maybe they are.
GUN
Rise and shine like new! The Major
General is calling you to arms. He
has a brand-new timetable for you.
RAJESWARI
This soldier will not change his
stripes.
The kids troop out into the portico. Daniel is standing near
the tailgate of the Jeep. He beckons them.
DANIEL
This is a strict timetable. You
have to destroy all these crackers
and fireworks by nightfall. Every
single one of them. Take no
hostages.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
That’s not all. We have a mission:
to play war games in the nearby
jungle. All without talking; only
singing.
Gun is even more shocked than the kids that the crusty old
soldier is talking of music.
VARAHA
From the day I was born, you were
an enigma. First you said their
death should look like an accident.
Now you plan to shoot them dead.
You can’t have four shooting
accidents in one place.
SESHA
Once the Major General hears about
the canal incident, our game’s up.
We have to kill them to stay out of
jail.
VARAHA
The canal wasn’t my fault! The kids
wilfully stowed away in my car.
SESHA
We can still win, though. Just dump
the bodies in the house and set it
ablaze. A credible Diwali fire
accident! Bless the festival!
VARAHA
Sometimes I wonder if you are
really my father. I am so proud of
you; never say die.
RAJESWARI
What are you doing here?
He remains mute.
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Is it a tax problem?
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
Then why did you come here?
SESHA
To ensure that you and the infernal
kids don’t return.
RAJESWARI
Have you taken leave of your
senses?
SESHA
Yes! After I kill you and the kids
too, I will regain them.
RAJESWARI
You are raving mad...
RAJESWARI (CONT’D)
You mean... you killed Anita!
90.
She lunges forward and slaps him. Sesha grabs her by the
throat.
SESHA
You dare to slap me, you witch?
Before he can strangle her, Daniel comes and pulls him back
by the scruff of the neck. He gives him a tight slap. And
keeps slapping him till Sesha’s head is a swaying blur.
DANIEL
Attacking a lady, you wimp. Come
hit me. Hit me.
SESHA
Let go. He’s a ruthless killer.
He’ll shoot you.
SESHA (CONT’D)
He’ll shoot you, you mad man. He
killed your son like a dog!
DANIEL
You killed my son?
Before Masthan can react, Daniel grabs the gun hand and pulls
it forward and away from his body. He grabs the off-balance
Masthan by the neck with his other hand. He then pushes him
to the wall and starts squeezing the life out of him with a
cold fury.
GUN
Sunny, Bunny, you run away. Go, go!
Sesha and Masthan push Rajeswari and Gun into a room and lock
them up. Daniel is left unconscious on the verandah.
91.
SESHA
Shoot the bloody dog.
Sunny and Bunny run to the end of the buffalo shed. There’s
no way out. They see the trio approaching from the other end.
Sesha and Varaha have an evil smirk. The kids are trapped and
putting up a valiant show with toy guns. As they come near,
Bunny orders:
BUNNY
Fire!
They reach a narrow passage between thorny brush and the pump
house. Along this passage lie the cement pipes to be laid for
the drainage work. Sunny and Bunny run into this line of
pipes. Bunny can run upright and Sunny has to bend his head a
bit, so they make good pace inside the pipes.
Bunny goes to the trunk of a tree and peers behind it. She
relaxes as there’s no one there.
When the smoke clears, the children have gone and Varaha is
left clutching the tree, his dress seared at the back.
Finally the three killers regroup and chase the two soldiers.
Sunny and Bunny do a detour over some twigs and stop at the
other side, guns pointing at the advancing foe. The villains,
smarting from being outsmarted, go straight for them with a
vengeance.
And they fall into the trap. The pit is too deep to scale
easily. Sunny comes to the edge and throws them a rope.
The trio dance like beans on a hot pan. The kids celebrate
with a victorious jig and continue their run to escape.
DANIEL
(to Trixie)
Where are Sunny and Bunny?
BUNNY
Sunny, I can’t fight anymore.
SUNNY
OK. Let’s rest here. I don’t think
they’ll find us here.
They sit down and drink deeply from their water canteens.
BUNNY
Grandpa, I thought you died.
DANIEL
It takes more than those flea-
bitten foxes to kill me.
Daniel has three coils of rope with him. He ties one end of
each to the trunk of a tree, then gives one coil each to
Sunny and Bunny while he holds one.
DANIEL (CONT’D)
Now follow me out of the forest. In
case you get lost, we can all find
our way back here again with the
help of the rope. Come, let’s
march, little soldiers!
They move out. After a few minutes, the trio come in.
SESHA
They have trapped themselves, the
over-smart soldiers.
(MORE)
94.
SESHA (CONT'D)
With the ropes, we can pull them in
like fish. Tie the rope firmly to
your hand.
He starts winding one rope around his wrist. Varaha takes his
end and starts winding it around his waist.
VARAHA
I have a better idea. Tie it around
your waist. It will never come
loose.
Above, Daniel and the kids have reached the very escarpment
that the villains had occupied. They bring down the high-
powered rockets they had earlier hidden on the branches.
Sunny and Daniel securely tie a dozen rockets to the end of
each rope. Then they light the fuse.
SESHA
Masthan, you go that way. I’ll go
this way.
(to Varaha)
And you stay put.
Sunny and Bunny run in and plant their flag on the ruins.
They salute their grandfather. Daniel kneels down and salutes
his brave Little Soldiers.
THE END *