The Sheep Thief
The Original Screenplay
Copyright © Asif Kapadia 19971. EXT. DESERT. DAY.
The sun blazes in the clear blue sky.A deserted landscape bisected by a straight road.
On the ground what appears a bundle of rags; face down in an awkward position lies TASHAN [16, skinny].
Far off, through a cloud of smoke a MOPED rapidly approaches.
The bike heads straight for TASHAN’s torso.
The rider SABIR [30’s, well dressed] sees TASHAN late, he swerves at the last moment and just misses TASHAN.
SABIR somehow manages to keep control of his moped.
He gets off the bike and approaches TASHAN.
He crouches down and lightly touches TASHAN’s cheek with the outside of his hand.
He lifts TASHAN’s head. A look of disgust comes over SABIR’s face.
He drops TASHAN’s head, it falls to the ground with a dull thud.
SABIR heads back to his bike.
The MOPED rides off, leaving a cloud of smoke behind.
The smoke clears revealing TASHAN’s dry, bruised and bloody face.
On TASHAN’s forehead a ‘mark’, [an abstract symbol] can be seen ‘branded’ on.
Working Title: The Sheep Thief
2. EXT. STREET. DUSK. [flashback]
A dark street with tall houses closing in on one another.
Inside one of the houses a family noisily settles down to eat.
Beside the house a large cattle shed, the flicker of a moving oil lamp comes from within.
Crouched behind a goods lorry, TASHAN looks across at the cattle shed, whilst wrapping a length of rope around his palm. TASHAN holds a stick in his hand.
A creaking door is heard, TASHAN lifts his eyes.
A large, pot bellied man BILAL with a heavy moustache, exits the shed carrying a bucket. BILAL disappears inside the house.
TASHAN heads for the shed.
3. INT. CATTLE SHED. DUSK. [flashback]
A large, dark shed with a low roof. Oil lamps hang from the walls and ceiling and in the corner of a room a small fire smoulders.
TASHAN’s eyes hunt for something to focus on. A cow moos, TASHAN turns and makes his way over to it, banging his head hard on a low cross beam.
He bends over and holds his head, recovering.
He unravels the rope and attempts to capture an animal.
A ‘mark’, [an abstract symbol] is seen branded on the animals’ sides.
The animals grow uncomfortable and begin to squeal noisily.
TASHAN corners a SHEEP and ties a knot around its neck.
4. EXT. STREET. DUSK. [flashback]
TASHAN’s bare feet pound the road.
Sweat drips from his face.
TASHAN walks swiftly away from BILAL’s shed, pulling a sheep behind him.
The other animals can be heard loudly squealing in the distance.
A door opens.
TASHAN checks behind him. BILAL comes out of his house, followed by his sons RAJESH [mid 20’s] and SHAM [low 20’s, chubby].
They see the SHED door ajar and notice TASHAN running off with a sheep.
5. EXT. NARROW ALLEYWAY. DUSK. [flashback]
TASHAN turns a corner and runs along a deserted alleyway.
SHAM chases after TASHAN.
The sheep slows, TASHAN hits it on the behind with his stick.
TASHAN hears SHAM closing behind him.
The shoes of SHAM catch up with TASHAN’s bare feet. SHAM reaches out, grabs the rope and pulls it back.TASHAN turns and lashes out with his stick, catching SHAM full in the face. SHAM falls to the ground, screaming in pain.
TASHAN looks down at SHAM. He lets the stick fall from his grasp, and runs off.
The stick lands on the floor, revealing a bloody, rusty nail protruding from the end.
6. EXT. NARROW ALLEYWAY. DUSK. [flashback]
A long dark, deserted alleyway.
TASHAN and the sheep hide under a dark veranda.
Footsteps approach.
BILAL runs into the alleyway.
TASHAN holds his breath. From under the veranda he watches BILAL’s legs approach.
TASHAN calms the sheep and watches wide eyed as BILAL’s legs pass inches away from him and walk off along the alleyway.
TASHAN sighs and drops his head to the ground.
He catches his breath. Then something catches his eye.
A shiny golden coin glitters in the mud in the middle of the alleyway.
Without a thought TASHAN leans across and reaches out at full stretch for the coin.
BILAL turns from the alleyway into the street, he has one final look over his shoulder and freezes. He sees TASHAN’s skinny arm reaching out from under a veranda.
7. INT. CATTLE SHED. NIGHT. [flashback]
Clump after clump of hair falls in a pile onto the dirty, straw and dung covered floor.
A fire burns, throwing flickering shadows of numerous figures onto the walls.
Using rusty clippers, BILAL, toothpick in mouth, hacks off TASHAN’s hair.
The penned in cattle and sheep look on.
TASHAN’s bloody and beaten head is gripped steady by a pair of strong hands.
BILAL removes a red hot branding iron from the fire, he carries the steaming rod across the shed.
He holds it in front of TASHAN’s face.
The orange glow of molten iron is reflected in TASHAN’s terrified eyes.
The intense heat forces TASHAN to struggle and turn away.
He looks up through the corner of his eyes at BILAL, who stares coldly back.
BILAL snaps the toothpick in his mouth in half with his teeth and spits it out.
8. EXT. DESERT. DAY. [present]
The branding ‘mark’ can be seen on TASHAN’s forehead as he lies on the ground in an awkward position.
In the distance a dog passes across the horizon, looking for food.
The sun continues to blaze down.
The shadow from a passing cloud shades TASHAN from the sun.
A single drop of water falls on TASHAN’s mark. Followed by a second, heavier drop.
Slowly, light rain begins to fall.
A tiny pool of water forms on TASHAN’s cheek, it dribbles down his face seeping past his chapped lips into the corner of his mouth.
TASHAN’s eyes slowly flicker with life.
His eyes open.
TASHAN gingerly reaches up to touch the mark with his fingers. He flinches.
9. EXT. ROAD. DAY.
A bright, hand painted goods lorry, beeping incessantly flies past at high speed.
It misses TASHAN, walking unsteadily along the centre of the road by inches.
He holds his head, looking lost and confused.
The lorry vanishes into the distance. Silence but for TASHAN’s footsteps.
10a. EXT. ROCKY STREAM. DAY.
TASHAN walks along the bank of a stream. He hears a cry to the side.
A frail old man BISWAS with a cloth bag over his shoulder stands stranded on a rock in the middle of the fast flowing stream. BISWAS chides himself angrily.
TASHAN stares across at BISWAS. He raises his hand to cover his mark and makes his way through the stream towards the old man.
BISWAS turns to TASHAN, revealing his milky, diseased eyes.
TASHAN drops his hand, he and BISWAS look across at one another.
BISWAS holds out his hand.
Using forefinger and thumb, TASHAN takes hold of BISWAS’ wrist.
BISWAS nods his head and smiles, revealing the single, rotten tooth in his mouth.
10b. EXT. ROCKY STREAM. DAY.
TASHAN wades through the water up to his knees.
He carries BISWAS on his back.
BISWAS holds his legs up to stop his feet getting wet.
As TASHAN takes a step he hears a metallic jingle sound.
He takes another step, again he hears the sound, his eyes dart around.
TASHAN steps from a rock onto the bank.
He carefully lets the old man down from his back.
BISWAS nods his head and sets off on his way.
TASHAN takes hold of the old man’s wrist.
BISWAS smiles and turns to walk away.
TASHAN doesn’t move, instead he tightens his grip on the old man’s wrist.
The smile falls from BISWAS’ face.
TASHAN squeezes tighter.
BISWAS tries to free his arm, he cries out in pain.
TASHAN looks on impassively.
With his free hand BISWAS tries to release TASHAN’s grip.
He hits out and tries to push away TASHAN’s face, accidentally touching the branding on TASHAN’s forehead.
BISWAS freezes, he ‘reads’ the branding with his fingertips.
BISWAS opens his hand and lets a handful of coins fall into TASHAN’s outstretched palm.
TASHAN closes his hand into a tight fist, he shakes it, listens to the jingle of coins then walks off, leaving BISWAS behind him.
11. EXT. HOUSE. DAY.
A secluded house, inside a young woman DEEPA sings as she bakes roti.
Her mother, MANOSHAR sleeps outside on the veranda.
A hand reaches across and carefully lifts MANOSHAR’s red scarf from her head.
The final corner gets caught under the old woman’s shoulder.
TASHAN gives it a swift tug, pulling it free, he runs off.
12 a. EXT. ROAD NEAR ORCHARD. DAY.
Returning to the road, TASHAN ties the red scarf around his head, covering the mark.
TASHAN hears a cry and cuts across a track. He peers through some bushes.
The wheel comes off a hand cart scattering baskets filled with mangoes to the floor.
A young woman SAFIA [mid 20’s] and her son ZED [aged 9] run around collecting their mangoes, placing them back into baskets.
A mango rolls across the road towards TASHAN.
He follows it with his eyes.
ZED notices the mango and runs across to get it.
SAFIA picks their tiffin [stainless steel lunchbox] up off the floor.
ZED reaches across for the mango, he sees TASHAN staring from the side of the road and freezes.
SAFIA notices, she comes over.
SAFIA and TASHAN look across at one another. She picks out a ripe mango and offers it to TASHAN. He stares at the juicy fruit.
12 b. EXT. ROAD NEAR ORCHARD. DAY.
Juice drips down the side of TASHAN’s mouth as he messily sucks on a mango.
He struggles with all his strength to lift the cart off the ground as SAFIA and ZED reattach the wheel.
TASHAN gently drops the cart to the ground. It wobbles and the wheel falls off again.
SAFIA offers him another mango.
13. EXT. DIRT ROAD. DAY.
SAFIA and ZED walk along the road carrying the baskets on their head.
TASHAN follows, dragging the damaged cart with a wonky wheel.
14. EXT. VILLAGE ENTRANCE. DAY.
TASHAN, SAFIA and ZED approach the village entrance; a narrow gap between two immense, intimidating boulders.
TASHAN stares up at the rocks. His eyes dart around.
15. EXT. LAKSHMI’S HOUSE. DAY.
SAFIA, TASHAN and ZED pass a well kept, two storey house.
Out on the veranda, on a swing sits a well attired old woman, LAKSHMI.
A young servant SANJIT brings her a cup of tea.
LAKSHMI notices SAFIA and smiles.
SAFIA nudges ZED, who runs over and hands a mango to LAKSHMI.
The old woman takes it with a nod.
TASHAN notices LAKSHMI’s ornate jewellery.
SAFIA and ZED continue along the lane.
LAKSHMI and TASHAN share a look, TASHAN breaks it and follows SAFIA.
LAKSHMI watches them go.
16. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. DAY.
YA YA [aged 7] runs out from SAFIA’s home; a compact brick house with a bamboo veranda. He greets his mother and takes a basket from his brother ZED.
The family enter the house.
TASHAN peeks in through the door. He leaves the cart outside their home and walks off.
SAFIA comes out of the house and grabs TASHAN’s shoulder.
He pulls himself free.
SAFIA motions for him to sit.
17. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. DAY. [later]
SAFIA spoons some rice from a pot onto a metal plate.
TASHAN sits legs crossed under the veranda.
On the other end of the veranda sits ZED staring. TASHAN looks across at ZED.
ZED smiles.
TASHAN continues to stare. The smile falls from ZED’s face, he drops his head.
YA YA tentatively approaches TASHAN with a plate of food.
He places the plate in front of TASHAN and quickly steps away.
TASHAN snatches the plate and, using his hands, noisily devours the food.
SAFIA and the KIDS eat inside the house, sharing from the same plate.
18. EXT. SAFIA’S HUT. DUSK.
The licked clean metal plate is lifted off the floor by SAFIA.
She looks around.
TASHAN is no where to be seen.
She heads inside the house, closing the door behind her.
19. EXT. ROAD. DAWN.
A long straight road on a misty morning.
SAFIA walks along carrying her tiffin.
ZED pulls their cart, stacked high with wicker baskets.
It bounces along because of its one wonky wheel.
As they walk something catches ZED’s eye, he pulls at his mother’s clothes.
SAFIA turns to look.
They both slow to a stop.
They stare down at the base of a tree where TASHAN, looking dirtier than ever lies curled up asleep, a stick close by his side.
SAFIA shakes her head and continues walking.
ZED doesn’t move. He turns from his mother to TASHAN.
He walks over to TASHAN and kneels down.
He gently shakes TASHAN awake.
TASHAN wakes with a start and immediately grabs his stick, scaring ZED who jumps away.
TASHAN looks up at ZED.
ZED smiles nervously, he takes hold of TASHAN’s arm.
TASHAN doesn’t move.
ZED pulls with all his might.
20. EXT. ROAD NEAR ORCHARD. DAY.
SAFIA walks ahead at speed.
ZED struggles to keep up with the cart. He pulls TASHAN along by the arm.
21. EXT. ORCHARD. DAY.
A mango falls from a tree to the earth, followed by another.
The floor around the tree is covered with mangoes.
TASHAN collects the fruit from the floor and places them into a basket.
He hides one inside his shirt. TASHAN places a full basket onto the cart and takes an empty one. To the side, SAFIA tends to the aniseed growing on her small plot of land.
22. EXT. ORCHARD. DAY.
The stainless steel tiffin is unclipped, the handles are folded down to the side. SAFIA lifts off two trays.SAFIA
D’you need somewhere to sleep?TASHAN shrugs. She hands a dish to TASHAN.
SAFIA
You could work for me here.TASHAN nods.
They eat under the shade of their tree as the midday sun blazes overhead.23 a. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. AFTERNOON.
YA YA draws on a piece of slate with some chalk, watched by ZED.
TASHAN sharpens a stick on the floor. He turns to look at YA YA and ZED.
He slides across the veranda, taking a seat beside YA YA.
TASHAN takes a piece of green chalk from YA YA’s chalk box and holds his hand out for the slate. YA YA hesitates, then hands it over.
The curious eyes of YA YA & ZED watch as TASHAN rubs out their drawing and he patiently begins to draw dots, in the shape of triangles.
YA YA and ZED share a look.
23 b. INT/EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. AFTERNOON.
Inside the house, SAFIA mends some clothes. She watches the kids falling under TASHAN’s spell.
23 c. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. AFTERNOON.
The dots cover the slate. TASHAN joins two dots with a line and passes the slate across to YA YA, who thinks deeply, then joins two dots up with a line.
ZED takes the slate...
24. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. LATE AFTERNOON. [later]
The sun begins to set behind a boulder, the shadows have lengthened.
The slate is covered with blue, red but mainly green triangles.
TASHAN joins up two dots to make yet another triangle.
He draws his mark in the middle of the triangle.
YA YA groans.TASHAN
Do you want to know a secret?.... I can do magic.YA YA and ZED look up at TASHAN.
TASHAN
I can make the trees cry.ZED
No you can’t.YA YA
...How?
25. EXT. BOULDERS. DUSK.
The silhouetted TASHAN is followed by ZED and YA YA over a boulder.
26. EXT. TREES. DUSK.
Dense woodland, TASHAN and the kids stand beside an old tree.
YA YA and ZED cover their eyes.
TASHAN checks to see no one is peeking.
With his sharpened stick he peels away a little bark and then using the point he cuts deep, vertical grooves into the soft skin of the tree.
TASHAN clears his throat.
YA YA and ZED uncover their eyes and look at the tree.
Nothing.
TASHAN points with the stick at YA YA, ZED then himself [one, two, three]
He then carefully taps the tree three times with the stick, whilst mumbling ‘magic words’ under his breath.
ZED looks skeptically up at TASHAN.
TASHAN looks confused, then nods his head.
ZED turns back to the tree.
Three ‘tears’ of sap slowly ‘weep’ down the tree’s bark.
ZED and YA YA’s eyes open wide in amazement.
TASHAN hides a smile.
27. EXT. LAKSHMI’s HOUSE. NIGHT.
SAFIA sits before LAKSHMI, who is sitting on her swing drinking tea.LAKSHMI
Where are his family?SAFIA
He has none, he’s alone.LAKSHMI finishes her cup of tea. She sighs.
LAKSHMI
If he causes no problems in the village, he can stay.SAFIA smiles, she touches LAKSHMI’s feet and leaves.
28 a. EXT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. NIGHT.
The village is asleep and silent. Attached to SAFIA’s house is a small shed.
28 b. INT. SHED. NIGHT.
A single oil lamp burns, throwing flickering shadows onto the walls.
TASHAN’s nervous eyes stare directly ahead as he lies on the floor.
He looks to the side. In the corner of the shack, beside the handcart rests SAFIA’s solitary goat. TASHAN stares hard at the animal without blinking.
The goat sleeps peacefully.
TASHAN tightens his head scarf, turns off the oil lamp and settles down to sleep.
29. EXT. MARKET. DAY.
A noisy, colourful market, hundreds of people buying and selling.
The stalls selling chilies, rice, aubergines, ginger, colourful clothes, pots and pans appear to go on forever.
On the floor sits SAFIA, she calls out to passing customers.
An older woman, RAANI running a stall alongside also sells mangoes but with more fortune. A crowd hover around RAANI’s stall.
RAANI and SAFIA share a look.
RAANI flicks her eyes across to TASHAN.
TASHAN neatly lays the mangoes out assisted by YA YA & ZED, who both wear scarves around their heads. The three of them work closely as a team, TASHAN giving out the orders.
YA YA watches RAANI, he looks across at TASHAN.YA YA
You can do magic. Make them buy our mangoes.TASHAN feels uneasy.
Their work finished TASHAN looks around.
The other stall holders stare in his direction.
He tightens his scarf. People continue to stare.
Feeling paranoid, TASHAN stands, YA YA and ZED also rise.
He shakes his head and sets off alone, pushing his way through the crowd.
SAFIA notices him walking away.
30. EXT. VILLAGE. DAY.
TASHAN makes his way through the village.
He passes a group of BOYS troubling the CHAI WALLA.
Leaving the noisy, crowded market behind him, TASHAN relaxes slightly.
31. EXT. DRY RIVERBED. DAY.
TASHAN passes through some trees into a clearing.
He stops, ahead of him, on the bank of a dry river he finds an old TEMPLE.
32. INT. TEMPLE. DAY.
TASHAN walks towards the beautiful shrine, decorated with intricate ornaments, and golden trinkets. The temple is peaceful and deserted.
TASHAN stares in wonder at the shrine and the beautiful trinkets on display.
Something to the side catches TASHAN’s eye.
TASHAN steps into the shrine, he reaches across and carefully picks up a GOLDEN ORNAMENT and studies the object closely, turning it over in his hand.
The ORNAMENT’s shiny reflection is seen in TASHAN’s eyes.
33. EXT. DRY RIVERBED. DAY.
TASHAN’s flip flops pound the earth.
Sweat drips off his face.
He makes his way along the dry river away from the village.
34. EXT. BOULDER ROAD. LATE AFTERNOON.
TASHAN runs along a straight road lined with angular boulders.
35. EXT. ROCKY LANDSCAPE ROAD. EARLY EVENING.
TASHAN comes round a blind bend at full tilt.
Three young men RAFIK, KAREEM and RAM run in the opposite direction.
TASHAN just manages to dodge them as they fly past.
He turns to continue running and walks straight into another youth AFTAB.
The two of them clash heads painfully.
The GOLDEN ORNAMENT falls to the floor.
AFTAB and TASHAN hold their heads. AFTAB removes his hand to see if he is bleeding, revealing the ‘mark’ branded on his forehead. TASHAN freezes.
AFTAB lifts his eyes to TASHAN, giving him a venomous look.
TASHAN steps away.
AFTAB walks over and pushes his face into TASHAN’s.
TASHAN stares back.
A whistle is heard. AFTAB and TASHAN turn.
RAFIK, KAREEM and RAM wait further up the road.
AFTAB checks behind him, he gives TASHAN a final murderous look then runs off.
The gang cut through some boulders and out of sight.
TASHAN rubs his head, feeling a bit dizzy.
He bends down and picks up the GOLDEN ORNAMENT.
He stands to find a large, middle aged man NISH running towards him.
TASHAN freezes. NISH notices the ORNAMENT, his eyes widen.
TASHAN offers NISH the ORNAMENT.
NISH throws his arms around TASHAN and hugs him tightly.
36. INT. TEMPLE. DUSK.
The GOLDEN ORNAMENT is carefully cleaned and polished before being returned to its spot.NISH [V/O]
There were four ‘marked’ boys....I know them, they’re...
37. EXT. LAKSHMI’S HOUSE. NIGHT.
The old woman, LAKSHMI listens, she eats pistachio nuts whilst rocking lightly on her swing. The swing squeaks lightly as it moves to and fro.NISH
....from bad families...They make trouble in many villages round here.TASHAN sits on the floor in front of LAKSHMI as NISH gives LAKSHMI the details.
YA YA and ZED sit on a step listening intently.
A small crowd of villagers hover nearby.NISH
People are afraid of them, but this young man fought them alone!LAKSHMI smiles at TASHAN. Embarrassed, he turns away.
NISH
If it wasn’t for him all the Temple’s Gold would’ve been stolen.The watching crowd begin to murmur.
38 a. INT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. NIGHT.
A cloth is dipped into a bowl of water, squeezed of excess water, then lifted to clean dirt from TASHAN’s face. He stares blankly ahead.
SAFIA places the cloth on the side of the bowl and reaches up to remove his filthy head scarf.
TASHAN pushes her hand away.
She tries again. TASHAN stubbornly holds the scarf in position.
SAFIA looks across at TASHAN.
He slowly pushes off his scarf, revealing the ‘mark’.
The smile falls from SAFIA’s face. She stares at the ‘mark’.SAFIA
What did you do?TASHAN looks away.
SAFIA picks up the bowl and walks away to the kitchen.
TASHAN sits head lowered.
38 b. INT. SAFIA’S KITCHEN. NIGHT.
SAFIA empties the bowl of dirty water. She thinks for a moment.
38 c. INT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. NIGHT.
TASHAN angrily scrunches up the scarf in his hands.
SAFIA’s hand comes in and lightly touches the ‘mark’ with the cloth.
He lifts his head, they look across at one another.SAFIA
Listen to me. What you’ve done before I don’t
want to know. But promise it won’t happen whilst
you’re in this house.TASHAN nods. SAFIA takes the scarf from TASHAN’s hands, noting how dirty it is she puts it aside. She takes her own purple scarf and ties it carefully round TASHAN’s head.
39. EXT. MARKET. DAY.
Numerous hands hold out money.
SAFIA tries to keep up with the demand for her mangoes.
RAANI stares across from her deserted stall.
ZED sits mouth open as the local men and women jostle to shake TASHAN’s hand.
YA YA looks up at TASHAN.YA YA
What other magic can you do?TASHAN leans across, he raises his eyes.
YA YA and ZED look up.TASHAN
I can make the sky cry.YA YA and ZED look at TASHAN skeptically.
TASHAN smiles and shakes another outstretched hand.
He looks up and freezes, the hand belongs to the pot bellied farmer with the heavy moustache BILAL who, toothpick in mouth raises his eyes to the headscarf around TASHAN’s head.
TASHAN tries to release his hand, but BILAL keeps a tight grip.
RAANI looks across from the next stall.
TASHAN struggles to pull his hand away.
BILAL looks across at SAFIA and the kids.
TASHAN finally forces his hand free, and tightens the scarf around his head.
He fills a bag with mangoes. He looks to see SAFIA isn’t watching, then hands the bag over to BILAL. BILAL smiles.
TASHAN pleadingly offers the bag again.
RAANI continues to watch with interest from the next stall.
BILAL snaps the toothpick in his mouth in half and spits it out.
TASHAN recoils.
BILAL takes the bag. He stands and walks away. TASHAN watches him go into the crowd.
RAANI watches BILAL go. She returns her gaze to TASHAN.
40. EXT. ROAD. EARLY EVENING.
A happy SAFIA, YA YA and ZED head home along the dirt road.
TASHAN follows pulling their wonky cart, stacked with empty baskets.
41. EXT. VILLAGE SWEET STALL. DAY.
YA YA greedily looks at various goodies available at the village sweet stall.
The old man YOGESH neatens the selection on view.
YA YA points at a jar of boiled sweets behind YOGESH.
The old man turns to get the jar.
TASHAN notices out of the corner of his eye ZED, reach across for a shiny gold wrapped chocolate.
YOGESH returns with the bag of sweets.
TASHAN hands over the money.
ZED swiftly walks away.
TASHAN stops him, he reaches into ZED’s pocket, he finds three shiny gold sweets. TASHAN returns them to YOGESH.
TASHAN, YA YA and an embarrassed ZED head off along the lane.
42. EXT / INT. SAFIA’S HOUSE. EARLY EVENING.
SAFIA places a plate of food onto a mat on the floor.
TASHAN and the kids enter and take their seats.
SAFIA nods her head and they tuck in.
They eat like a family, sharing from a single plate and drinking water from a shared metal cup.SANJIT [off screen]
Sister Safia.SAFIA turns to see LAKSHMI’s servant outside the house.
SANJIT
The Panchayat wants to see you.SAFIA turns to look at TASHAN.
SANJIT
The village elders want to see you.TASHAN stares back.
YA YA and ZED continue to eat, oblivious.43. EXT. LAKSHMI’S HOUSE. EARLY EVENING.
SAFIA and TASHAN sit on the floor before LAKSHMI, who sits on her swing.
The Panchayat [village elders] sit behind LAKSHMI, men on one side, women on the other.
A small crowd of villagers including NISH and RAANI watch from the side.
TASHAN stands before them, without his scarf, his ‘mark’ exposed.LAKSHMI
His reputation is bad for the village.SAFIA
But where will he go?LAKSHMI
There’s nothing to discuss. The Boy will be gone by morning.SAFIA tries to plead her case but TASHAN stops her.
He respectfully touches LAKSHMI’s feet.
He and SAFIA share a look. TASHAN touches SAFIA’s feet, then walks away.
SAFIA notices the crowd of villagers watching, she notices RAANI staring.
SAFIA turns away and follows TASHAN home.
44. EXT. HILL. DUSK.
A hill overlooking a wide, expansive landscape.
TASHAN, YA YA and ZED sit on the hill.
YA YA and ZED stare at the ‘mark’ on TASHAN’s head. They share a confused look.
TASHAN rips his scarf in two and gives one half to ZED and the other half to YA YA. The two of them wrap the material around their heads.
TASHAN slumps flat on his back and looks up at the sky.
He stares directly upwards, never blinking.
YA YA and ZED watch TASHAN.
He appears upset.
The kids share a look.
TASHAN continues to stare up at the sky.
The sun goes behind a cloud, dropping the three of them into shadow.
ZED looks up.
Rain clouds gather overhead.
YA YA nudges his brother.
ZED looks down again at TASHAN.
TASHAN looks tearful.
Just then a drop of water falls on ZED’s cheek, he wipes it away.
A drop of water lands on YA YA’s nose.
Another on TASHAN’s ‘mark’.
Suddenly, heavy rain begins to fall.
YA YA and ZED look up at the heavy thunder clouds in the sky, back at TASHAN, then share a look. Their eyes open wide in amazement.
A crack of thunder shatters the silence.
The boys are drenched in a torrential downpour.
ZED takes YA YA by the hand and leads him home, leaving TASHAN on the hill alone.
45. EXT. VILLAGE ENTRANCE. DAWN.
The sun rises behind the two intimidating boulders at the entrance to the village.
46. INT. SCHOOL ROOM. MORNING.
A class in progress. The children sit cross legged on the floor, their slates in front of them.
YA YA wearing his red scarf writes on his slate intently.
He repeatedly draws TASHAN’s mark with his chalk.
47. EXT. ORCHARD. DAY.
ZED, wearing his red scarf climbs from one branch to another.
He passes mangoes down to his mother.ZED
Where’s he gone?SAFIA fills a basket.
SAFIA
...To help another family.She places the basket onto the cart and takes a breather. ZED thinks for a moment.
ZED
He can use his magic to help them too.SAFIA smiles.
48. EXT. JUNGLE ROAD. DAY.
TASHAN carries in his hand SAFIA’s stainless steel tiffin. He walks, without a headscarf along a hilly road through lush, green landscape. The only sound comes from his footsteps on the road. The branches from the trees curve over and shade TASHAN from the sun. Leaving the shade of the trees TASHAN steps into the harsh sunlight and heads off into the distance.fin.
to the top of the page