Short film script on Lockdown

Location : A middle class house of Vikas and Pragati in Mumbai. 1BHK house.

Characters
Vikas - late 30’s
Pragati - mid 30’s
Jyoti - 6 and half. (Daughter of Vikas and Pragati)

Pragati, in her tracks and t-shirt. She is in the middle of cleaning the house and is also talking with her friend on earphones.

Pragati - (shocked) Oh, is it? The cases of domestic violence during lockdown are rising?

(Vikas, who is cleaning vessels, gives a sharp look to Pragati realising she is taunting him. They share a look. A tensed beat. Vikas turns to cleaning vessels again)

Pragati - (continues on phone) But, I am sure many women must not be reporting too.

(Vikas helplessly pauses, but doesn’t turn this time)

Pragati - (continues to taunt while speaking on phone as she realises Vikas is deliberately ignoring to avoid) Just imagine the rise in numbers, if every domestic violence was reported?

(Vikas takes a deep breath to control. Though affected, he continues to clean the vessels with guilt and aggression).

Cut to

Flashback (A day before)

Vikas is so busy on his phone that he is indifferent to the situation. Pragati is multitasking, doing her household work and making Jyoti, their 6 and a half year daughter do summer activities given by school as home assignments for revision during Lockdown. Jyoti excitedly shows her finished work of Maths. Pragati is checking, in between gives a sharp look at Vikas who is still busy on phone. She starts to check again.

Pragati - (suddenly fumes) what is this? You started right. All your additions and subtractions till here are right. But, out of last 11, 7 are wrong. Why? (Scolds)

Vikas still unmoved and busy typing something in phone. Jyoti is standing disappointed and hurt.

Pragati - come on, speak up...don’t behave like your dad.

Vikas - (continues typing) don’t get me in between

Pragati - (angrily whispers to Jyoti) he will never finish what he is doing and you are always in hurry to finish. See, when you started, all your answers were right. But when it came to last 11 questions how can you suddenly forget the concept and keep getting wrong answers, specially towards the end? Because you want to hurry and finish. No attention span and patience at all.

Vikas - (getting disturbed) talk slowly yaar

Pragati - yes yes you are getting disturbed checking your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp or whatever crap you are busy doing instead of helping me, sharing responsibility and making her study. I am just multitasking and cannot make it all alone, do you understand?

Vikas - What nonsense? I make her study almost everyday. Don’t I? Today, I...I...

Pragati - What, I what?

Vikas - I wanted a break.

Pragati - (sighs in frustration) Jyoti, go inside beta. No need to study now. This will turn into a fight, which I don’t want you to experience it.

Vikas - What the hell?

Pragati - (firmly) Please... not in front of her. Jyoti go inside. Take your books. Switch on the Music, loud.

(Jyoti obeys, goes in the room with her books, starts the music with loud volume and shuts the door with sadness and helplessness in her eyes)

Pragati - Continue... you wanted to fight...

Vikas - I don’t want to.

Pragati - You do not have any attention towards us, towards this family. Agreed, you go out and get the groceries whenever needed, that’s it. And sometimes sit with her, after, I have to get after you to sit with her for her studies. A few days back you also argued to have a tuition teacher take her summer assignments on zoom.

Vikas - what’s wrong in that?

Pragati - Her screen time is increasing and with uncertainties ahead she might even have virtual classrooms as a part of her school education. I do not agree for so much of screen time. You understand now? I doubt you would, because if you could you wouldn’t be just enjoying on phone, ignoring us and most importantly not being helpful.

Vikas - I was not enjoying on phone.

Pragati - Don’t give me shit that you were working on phone. You know my health is not well, doctors are not accessible.

Vikas - Exactly... That is why I am saying calm down, it is affecting your health. (pauses) Give me the broom I will do it. (Holds the broom to take it from her)

Pragati - No please... don’t

(Vikas keeps insisting, she keep denying, a little tug of war with broom. Vikas, pushes Pragati to snatch the broom from her. Akward silence as she falls. Pragati looks terrified. Vikas baffled. Loud Music from other room continues)

Flashback over.

Cut to

Present

(Jyoti, is busy drawing silently. There is a striking imbalance in her colouring of the scenery that she has drawn. Vikas goes towards Pragati as she has finished the call)

Vikas - Your taunts were obvious. Why do you always have to carry the baggage of past?

Pragati - The baggage is because of the burden of responsibilities that you don’t care to do. Today you did it, but even you know you did it because what happened yesterday and this so called change is just for a day or two. That’s it.

(Jyoti suddenly gets up with her drawing book and Colors and without uttering or looking at them, silently goes inside the bedroom, shuts the door. Loud Music begins)

(Both, Vikas and Pragati are zapped)

Pragati - let’s not talk.

(Vikas walks away and sits on the sofa. Pragati walks away in the kitchen. She weeps. Both look sad)

(Vikas gets a call)

Vikas - hello...yes...yes speaking...oh yes thankyou. I had applied with your company for being the delivery partner. Let me tell you I have always loved Zomato and I order food from Zomato, but in these times of lockdown it isn’t very easy....you getting me right...the financial insecurities... yes, I have mentioned I do have a bike. And I will be more than happy to utilise this opportunity during lockdown to help myself and my family. It will be a good financial support. (he keeps getting emotional while saying this but there is a constant effort of sounding normal)

Cut to

Pragati - (gets a call, recieves) hello... yes.... hello doctor, thank you. Yes I had applied in Practo App for an appointment with therapist. I need counselling. The thing is....I feel lockdown is a very....very...tough time...(she is emotionally choking as she speaks further) affecting...affecting my family... my marriage... my daughter... (she weeps and tries to gather and continues) Maids aren’t here and I have become one in the family, doing almost everything single-handedly. (Pauses and listens) No... No...No...we haven’t spoken about it. We...generally cannot communicate hard feelings, as it turns out that we are just blaming each other.

(Now, we only see Vikas and Pragati speaking on phone but do not hear them as they continue. We see them both disturbed, seeking help)

Cut to

(Jyoti is trying to balance the colours in her drawing but fails with her attempts. She finally surrenders to the imbalanced coloured drawing and leaves it. We keep seeing the imbalanced colourful image and the music which is playing loudly continues)

The End

“In this LOCKDOWN, don’t LOCKDOWN your feelings. SHARE... Be a better communicator”
                         
- Mirr N Rajda

The story and script is registered with Screenwriters Association. It is meant for reading purpose. Filming or any performing act or mass reading of it should be done only with the consent of the author.