Wednesday, November 06, 2002

UNTITLED STORY - reworked

“ That which feeds me, eats me”
- Saying

“ The greatest of desires , vent out in the form of dreams …”

Story by Neo
With creative inputs from Ram and Zeus.
Special thanks to Kattu !


Characters
Priyan
Sajeev
Indu

Character Description:
<>


Opening Sequence:
A very untidy room. A computer, lots of books and paper here and there. Single window. Dull lighting. Attached bathroom.

1A : Close up shot of alarm clock ( digital ). Starts at 06:59:57. ticking...
Alarm at 07:00 :00 . Camera pulls back .
cut

1B: close up, Priyan. Priyan slowly trying to open his eyes. Pull back. Coincide with right arm raising to press snooze on alarm. Camera gets up. Full view of priyan, as he holds up the alarm clock and looks into it.

Priyan
Indistinct sound.” Mmmm”
( Yeah.. so I am supposed to get up! )

Priyan gets up, camera turns right to follow him. Still static. Turns half a round. Priyan moves towards bathroom. Indistinct sounds , water gushing. Bell rings.

Priyan comes out of the bathroom. Towel on shoulder, wipes face. Moves towards door on left. Coincide , camera moves towards door on left. Priyan opens door.

Delivery man delivers few letters and a package, asks priyan to sign . does it. Bolts door, comes back and sits on bed.

Camera just turns to see him sit on the bed.
Cut:

1C: camera just beside priyan on bed. Shuffles through the letters.
Opens one at random.

Letter
“ We regret to inform you that … ”
Bored , Priyan closes the letter with a sigh.

Priyan
“ Yet another … “

He then sees the package.
Address on Package.
To Priyanandan
From Indu Raghuraman.

Priyan opens the package. Contains a letter and a Diary. Opens letter.
Close up letter.
Indu
(V.O)
“ you were the best thing that happened to me, in my wretched life. I am thankful to you for everything that you gave me, though it was only for once. When you told me goodbye, it didn’t hurt at all, because I knew I had had the best moment in my life. I thought my diary might interest you… Life was great , let me check out death !”

Priyan
“ Ok, so now you are trying to grab my attention, very well you did, but girl… I don’t know you and I don’t want to… “

Priyan opens the diary.
A photo and some details on the first page.
A black and white image of the girl flashes into priyans mind.
Priyan is confused.
Priyan
“ Have I seen her, somewhere ? Memories can be treacherous , better not believe them”

First Page of the diary,
” It was Sunday, 21st September, the arts festival day , I saw you in a black pants and black shirt , you were sitting in a corner , least concerned about the commotion , all about. Its seems you were engrossed in something , and my intuition later turned out to be true … I came up to you and said “hi ! I am indu “, but you just smiled back “

Another indistinct image of a girl , smiling , and saying “ hi ! I am indu “ flashes in his mind. Priyan is a little worried. He returns to reading the diary.
Diary
“ 22nd September , The day of offstage events, you were silently proceeding to the competition hall. I thought I had play a trick on you and so ,I too entered the versification competition and sat just beside you, but you were so serious , you wouldn’t even notice me , I again introduced myself , you just smiled. “

Same image flashes again . . . Priyan frantically turns the page and reads the next . He can in no way remember this.

Diary
“23rd of September, the results have come. You have won the first prize. I came running to congratulate you. You were still unshaken. You silently took the prize and moved away. I followed you and came up to you to say “ congratulations “. You just said “ thanks “. There must have been something in you that caught my fancy. “ remember me ? I am indu , II BA , English , “ and this time I was successful , you said “ Priyan .. MA English “.

Image of the girl smiling and introducing herself flashes oncemore.
Priyan makes a sudden move , draws out the table drawer and digs into it and comes up with a diary of his own. He turns to page 23 september. Comes up with this.

“ I got the first prize, and a girl , name, I don’t remember , came up to congratulate me, and I had to tell my name to get rid of her “

Priyan
“ same as what I have written, somebody has been reading my diary and making up stories to play pranks on me. Enough of this diary … I don’t have time for this.. “

Priyan picks up the newspaper and starts to read. In the middle, he sees the photo of the girl in the diary in the newspaper “Obituary: Indu Raghuraman, Born: 14-07-1981 Died 17-11-2002”.
Priyan is startled. He takes up the diary and compares the photo, it’s the same .

Priyan
“That’s just 3 days back… It could have been her diary , and she might have posted it before her death …. Does it contain any vital information? How did she die ? ….. wait .. calm it , this could be someone trying to play a real prank on me , who would … must be one of those internet pranks …. But if she is for real and this is her diary.. what does she want with me ? does she know me ? could it be some other Priyan ? I cant still make out whether I have seen her “

Priyan shuffles through the diary once again and reaches to where he stopped.

Diary
“ 20th October , sorry , its been a hell lot of time , since I have written the diary , and I have a very valid reason , I am in love , and I cant think of anything but him …. Priyan . May be sometime later ,I will tell you the whole story .. I am too tired today “

“22nd October, Let me tell you about my Priyan ... Priyan is the most amazing person in this whole world. Priyan is an orphan , I came to know … Right from his childhood, he was a lonely child. It was just that he was of the silent type. He loved to read and read a lot. He wanted to know a lot about GOD and was very inquisitive in this matter. He wrote a lot of poems. The person, to whom he was most deeply attached, Father John Zachariah, passed away when he was 14. It was something he couldn’t bear. He felt he had lost everything. And his interest in life steadily declined. And, I am proud to say that, now he is a lot better and the sole reason is me. I have been able to bring out the best in Priyan, because I know what he is capable of... What an amazing and lovable person he is …”

Priyan
(Startled)
“ I have never told that to anyone before !!! , I have never written it … How does she know it ? Do I know her … “
Priyan tries to close his eyes and remember her …. But he cant , all he can remember is .. her smiling and saying .. hi ! I am indu…

Diary
“ I and Priyan have reached a level of understanding , where we don’t have to talk to understand anymore , one look and I can know what he is feeling and he understands everyone of my actions . I feel I am the luckiest person , to have met Priyan ….”

Diary (continued)
“25th October , Today , we had one of our most intimate conversations , he told me that he wouldn’t want any harm to come to me, and in no way hurt my parents. I explained to him that he was most important to me and that my parents didn’t care for me at all. And for the first time , I hugged him today and cried . In his arms , I find so much peace .. so much solace … I wish I had be with him for every other moment “

Diary
“ 28th October , Now nothing can come between us … I feel , I have achieved everything in my life . Priyan was shy at first … I forced him to .. he has a big scar on his back, he had an accident when he was 12“

Priyan
(startled more than ever)
“ No ! no…. you don’t know this … nobody knows this …“

Diary
‘ my guess was right … Priyan turned out to be a very romantic person. We had the best of our lives that day … “

Diary
“30th October, I can’t find Priyan, he has checked out of his room. I am very worried. I don’t know what to do “

Diary
“ 5th Novemeber , Its been 5 days. And I cant tell anyone , because nobody even knows a person named Priyan existed, how are they going to believe me ? I don’t know what has happened … I don’t know what to do . . .”

Diary
“ 6th November, Don’t do this to me , Priyan . why did you leave me .. ?”

Diary
“9th November , I got a letter from Priyan , “ Dear Indu, I am not the right person for you, good bye “ . I cried out a lot. I am all alone in the world. I was ready to give up everything in this world for him , and he doesn’t understand that alone is enough. All my tries have been futile.”

Diary
“ 12th November , Life goes on.. I know Priyan will never come back for me , I think I have had everything life has to offer. I cant lead a normal girls life anymore … “

Diary
“ 13th November, today , I wrote my letter to Priyan’s Old address. I am also sending this diary, as a token of my love. And I have made up some decisions , Diary. You will soon know. I know you wont blame me, because what I do is right … and my right is yours too .. I love you.”

All Pages after that are blank . Priyan closed the diary and began to think , All those thoughts once again. He couldn’t make out anything.
He picks up the phone
Priyan
“ Sajeev, I need to talk to you, Will you be free for dinner tonight ?”

Interior of Restaurant;
Yellow light.

Priyan sitting. Sajeev enters.

Sajeev
“Hi da! So whats up ? so urgent “

Priyan
“ Eda.. I got this letter and diary from some girl today “

Sajeev
“And then ?”

Priyan
“ She has written, things about me, even you don’t know. How is this possible ?

Sajeev
“ what things ?”

Priyan
“ Eda.. lot of things , like say do you know of any accident that has happened to me in childhood ? “

Sajeev
“Na, you haven’t told me”

Priyan
“Well , I have had one , and she knows about this . Now who would want to play pranks with me ?”

Sajeev
“ Are you sure,you don’t know this girl ? whats her name ?”

Priyan
“ yeah , you know I don’t have any girl friends , her name is Indu , Indu Raghuraman”

Sajeev
“ChicK , heh ?”

Priyan
“ And one more thing.. she died 3 days back”
Sajeev
“Wo …. Wait a minute , what ?”

Priyan
“ Yes, I saw it in the newspaper”

Sajeev
“ Did you enquire about her?”

Priyan
“ No, why would i? besides , what does she want with me ? I want to know that “

Sajeev
“ ok, cant we think it this way , some damn son of a bitch , is playing a trick on you “

Priyan
“ I tried to reason it out that way , but , this diary has a lot of details regarding me, where would that son of a bitch get that , things I haven’t told anyone before , has he been doing some research on me , and after all why ? I mean, I’ve been living a ghost’s life .. no name , no address , no nothing .. nobody even knows me .. “

Sajeev
“ Yes , you don’t have any enemies ….. mmm cant we trace the package ? “

Priyan
“ yeah , I’ll do that , eda , will you just inquire about that girl ?”

Sajeev
“ Yeah , I’ll try , you better not go there, I’ll check it out “

Priyan
“Whats the problem if I go ?”

Sajeev
“ Your name is in the diary , not mine, that’s why , who knows, this girl might have picked someone on random to harm before she died …. By the way what else is written in the diary ?”

Priyan
“ About A Priyan and her , their love story , eventually how he dumped her and she died . she has even mentioned it in her diary. she has last written it on 14th and I got it on 17th. How would someone else plan it so correctly ? Will it be to someone else ?”

Sajeev
“That’s a chance , maybe the address got mixed up, you are not the only Priyan. Or may be just coincidences … “

Priyan
“ yeah , coincidences “

cut:

Priyan’s room
Phone rings
Sajeev
“ I’d been to the girl’s house, they say she was kind of lonely , your type. Drowned in a near by pond , nobody knows much about her. Very few friends. Got a few of them to talk. They say, she did have an affair with someone, but they know nothing else. Eda , keep the diary safe , may be we could hand it over to the police”

Priyan
“What the hell are you saying ? Give it to the police ? No way ,,, the whole description matches me, and I am going to jail …! No way”

Sajeev
“ Ok , then keep it safe alright , did you get any info where the parcel came from ?”

Priyan
“ No, I couldn’t get the address , I must have lost it“

Sajeev
“ Eda .. its nothing , don’t worry , just a mix up of address. But this thing could cost your life , better keep it safe , will call you later, bye”

cut:

Priyan gets back to the diary and looks through the pages. The same things. But Wait a minute, there are a few more pages written. He might have missed them out in the tension.

Diary
“20th November , By now , you must have received the diary and the letter, and I must have passed away. If you are reading this you might be having a kind of awry feeling. How does it feel Priyan ? to live a life like yours , after you have lost a girl who loved you more than herself ? … My question is to you Priyan , you killed me , right ? you made me do this , all for love , but I wont blame you, it was my decision , because , I loved you and didn’t want to live a life without you , Do you still love me ? Didn’t you leave me , because you loved me so much ? I know that , what good is there in this life Priyan without me ? come to me .. I am waiting for you … “

By the time , Priyan reads this, he is completely shattered.

Priyan
“I haven’t cheated you …. I don’t love you ….”

He cries out of pain. He tries to reassure himself that all this is unreal , but he cant. He tries to think hard, real hard about her… yes he is getting images

He is finally able to obtain images about him and her , yes it was real, he knew her .. it was all real , their love and all that had happened.

Priyan
“Oh my god… I cant belive this, you were real , how could I forget this …. May be , my mind couldn’t take it all .. I tried to forget this.. no … I cant …I don’t want to live a life without you … “

Priyan takes the sleeping pills bottle from the drawer.
Cut:

Alarm rings…. Priyan almost jumps off the bed. Time 07:02:00 am.
Priyan looks around the room. Everything is fine.
No Diary .. No Nothing. Takes some time to stabilize.

Priyan
“ Dream …?!”

( REPEAT OPENING SEQUENCE ) . He goes to bathroom. Bell rings. Delivery man. Letters + Package.
Priyan immediately closes door , and turns to the package.

To
Priyan
From
Indu Raghuraman.

He shuffles through the pages, yes … all the same, but there is no photo this time and he cant remember the photo that was in his dream. All what he had dreamt is coming true... He cant believe it. Rushes to get the newspaper. Frantically checks it. Cant find her photo. Takes the phone, dials to the newspaper office.

Priyan
“Do you have an obituary message in the name of Indu raguraman ? in the past few days “

He waits for some time .
Phone
“NO sir, not any”

Priyan cuts the phone. He gets back to the diary and looks at the first page. No flashes of her in his mind. This is different from his dream.

He turns the page. It is then that he notices the handwriting. It is similar to his. He opens the drawer and takes out some pages , his diary ,

Priyan
“ Its my handwriting !“

Priyan takes the package cover, looks at the courier address. Makes a phone call to the company.

Priyan
“Hello , I got a package today , the number is 712563-EIK, can you please tell me who send it and when ?”

Phone
“Sorry sir, we cannot disclose , such information”

Priyan
“Look this is very important, I have the package with me, don’t I have the right to know the senders address ?”

Phone
“We don’t usually collect the senders address, if he doesn’t insist on insurance of the package. But I can tell you when It was sent”

Priyan
“ yes, tell me”

Phone
“what was the package number, sir?”

Priyan
“712563-EIK”

Phone
“It was sent yesterday, from our branch in this town itself”

Priyan cuts the phone. He is very confused. The diary is in his own handwriting. How did it happen?

Priyan
“ Can someone forge , my handwriting ?”

Priyan
“ I don’t write letters, I use my comp, I just write my diary. Could some body have had access to my diary? Even if yes, why would any one do so ? And I cant find this girls photo or anything …. Is this all real god ? Or am I dreaming again ?”

Priyan
“ I think I will go to the parcel office and check out if some one remembers the guy who sent this package”

cut:
Outside of Parcel office. Black and white image of the office flashes through his mind. He has been here before. He goes in. There are two counters. He deliberately goes to the second counter, and shows the package.

Counter Boy
“ Hello sir, back again , with another package ?”

Priyan
“What ? Do I know you? “

Counter Boy
“Don’t you remember me sir? You came here with a package yesterday”

Priyan
“ What ? Are you sure, you must have mistaken me for ….”


Counter Boy
“ No sir, it was you…”


Priyan cant take it anymore. He runs out.

Cut:

He enters room suddenly and closes door, after him. Rushes towards the drawer and opens it. He now notices an inkpot and an ink pen. He opens the diary and looks at it once more . Yes its his own handwriting and this is the pen he used for it. He slides down and sits.
Frame Dissolve…

Cut:
<<>>

Black and white frames flash past fast … he writing the diary . he posting it.

Priyan (screams out)
“But … why …. ?”

cut:
Black and white sequence with Priyans’s voice over.

Priyan
“I was alone …”

Coincide with black and white sequences , flashes of Priyan alone, witing, thinking … etc.

Priyan
“ fed up of the unreal world … I needed someone real ....”
<>

Coincide with Priyan at work. Writing and rewriting. Papers all over the floor.

Priyan
“I couldn’t find love, I created her ... in my mind”


Coincide with Priyan writing the Diary. Careful writing with precise words and lot of intense thought.


Priyan

“ I had to make myself believe of it, so I hid it from myself“


Coincide with Priyan working on the computer, going to sleep, getting up to work on the diary … hides it somewhere.

Coincide with Priyan , posting the parcel . (B/W)

Priyan
“ But something would go wrong …”

Coincide with Priyan sleeping , Alarm Clock 07:00:01 am.

Priyan
“ I knew .. I couldn’t hold on to her for long … She would die …. I would have to die.. “

Coincide with the Scene of Priyan reading the last part of the diary .. asking him to suicide.

Priyan
“ But.. I cant kill myself, I have to reason it out”

Coincide with older images of the sudden dream wake up.. letter arrival.

Priyan
“It wouldn’t be easy .. to know I tried to kill myself …“

Coincide with Him telephoning .. looking at his own handwriting…. Going to the courier office….

Priyan
“ I know the truth – she wasn’t real .“

CHANGE TO COLOR.

Priyan still sitting in the same positon , as he slid down. Leaning on the bed side on the floor.

Priyan
“ What can I trust, if I cant trust myself … ? “

Camera Facing priyan.

Priyan
“ But.. if I can save my life from myself … I can save it from anything else… “

Priyan gets up.
Coincide with dialogue…
Priyan
“I know, the good and bad .. its all within me …”

Priyan
“But before that …”

he throws the diary , the papers all .. to the rubbish can… throws away the comp, opens up the curtains….

Priyan
“ I’ve got a life to live … and I know its not in here”

Priyan exits room.
Fade to Black.
Roll Credits.

END.






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