SUBAH (AWAKENING) BY ARNAV GUPTA
Set in New Delhi, India
1 INT. STORE ROOM - NIGHT 1
JAI AND MADHUR sit head to head. Crowd cheers can be heard in the background.
MADHUR AND JAI
7 and 8. 7 and 8. 7 and 8.
EXT. STREET - MORNNG
ANIL (O.S.)
1, 2, 1, 2! Don’t stop! Don’t think! Just run.
FADE IN:
A young BOY runs across the frame in the background while we focus on a MAN in the foreground.
The sun is just about rising.
ANIL VERMA, [late 40s, black tracksuit, clean and white sport shoes], holds a stopwatch and whistles aggressively to keep Jai moving. He talks like an army personnel.
ANIL (CONT'D)
Lift your legs, lift your legs. Or else . . .
JAI VERMA [18, skinny but athletic], barefoot, runs in a circle. He sports a blue and green knee tape.
As Jai crosses Anil, he clicks his stopwatch and shakes his head in disappointment.
As he continues to run, Jai feels a sharp pain in his knee. He slows down and kneels down in pain.
Anil marches towards Jai in anger.
ANIL (CONT'D)
Get up! Only you can lift yourself up.
JAI
I saw her again.
The sun fully rises.
CUT TO:
TITLE CARD: SUBAH (AWAKENING)
DISSOLVE TO:
2 INT. VERMA’S HOME - LIVING ROOM - MORNING 2
A drab and disordered house.
A wall of photos consists of several family photos and photos of Jai lifting trophies, certificates and medals. Alongside lie all those awards: dusty and untouched.
A photo of a WOMAN [late 40s] hangs on a different wall with a garland around it. She resembles the same woman shown earlier in the family photos.
Jai sits at the dining table icing his knee.
Anil, with shaving cream all over his face, throws a shaker to Jai. Jai catches it and puts it on the table.
ANIL
Drink this. Stretch. Only one week is left for the trials.
JAI
Maybe I’m not ready yet since the accident and--
ANIL
That’s all in your head. Forget about it and focus on you--
JAI
You still wouldn’t talk about--
ANIL
(commanding)
Jai.
Jai gulps down his protein shake.
CUT TO:
3. INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - TIME JUMP 3
Jai slams an empty glass of water on the table.
Jai and ANKUR [12, the youngest in the family, free-spirited and aloof] sit at the dining table eating scrambled eggs.
Ankur picks out an eggshell from his mouth and places it on a plate. They have set aside a separate plate for all the shells in their eggs.
Jai notices Ankur cutting up pieces from his plate and putting them on a fresh plate, next to his.
JAI
I won’t repeat myself so stop doing that.
CUT TO:
4 INT. VERMA'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT 4
Anil, while cooking, talks from the kitchen. He has dough-covered hands and sports a flowery apron.
Jai looks at Anil and reminisces about his mom.
MATCH CUT TO:
4A INT. VERMA'S HOME - KITCHEN - FLASHBACK - DAY 4A
Madhur cooks in the kitchen in her flowery apron and her hands covered in dough, while the dreamy sun washes her and her surroundings.
CUT TO:
3 INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 3
Ankur tugs on the sleeve of a lost Jai.
ANKUR
And then the teacher told dad he was very lucky to have me as the prodigy child and you . . . you aren’t as bad at running either.
He laughs at his own attempted joke.
ANKUR (CONT'D)
And she gave me this but I want you to have it.
Ankur places a toy soldier on the table. Unimpressed, Jai responds:
JAI
Pass me that plate.
ANKUR
That’s for mom. I told you before. She’s still here.
Ankur points towards the photo of Madhur with the garland.
ANKUR (CONT'D)
And she’s hungry. Maybe you should contribute--
Ankur tries to steal from Jai’s plate.
ANKUR (CONT'D)
Ow!
Jai slaps Ankur’s hand.
ANKUR (CONT'D)
Mom’s going to scold you.
JAI
Yeah? And what else would mom want?
Ankur leans in.
ANKUR
She does have a message for you.
Anil enters with second servings. The brothers get silent.
ANKUR (CONT'D)
Thank you, dad.
Anil ruffles Ankur’s hair affectionately and leaves. Jai shoots them a look.
Jai grabs Ankur’s neck and pulls him close.
JAI
Stop doing that, you freak. I’ve told you before.
Jai starts stuffing his mouth from the plate set aside by Ankur.
ANKUR
You don’t trust me? Let me show you . . .
The lights go out.
CUT TO:
3A INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 3A
JAI
(with a stuffed mouth)
Ankur? Dad?
An eerie silence fills the room.
A STRANGE FIGURE MOVES BEHIND JAI.
Jai’s hands search for a solution in the dark. He sparks up a matchstick and lights a candle.
His eyes scan the darkness to find himself all alone.
A gentle wind breezes by Jai’s neck. GOOSEBUMPS. He feels his neck and looks back. There’s no one.
Someone starts pounding a door violently. Jai’s mind is racing. However, he moves towards the sound.
Jai hears an echo calling his name. He backtracks his steps . . .
He hits something and stops.
Jai slowly turns around and sees Madhur, wearing her blood-stained clothes, echo:
MADHUR
Wake up.
He falls down in shock and fear. Het gets pulled away.
CUT ON ACTION:
5 EXT. STREET - MORNING 5
Anil pulls Jai away as a pedicab almost hits him.
MAN IN THE RICKSHAW GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Anil holds Jai’s shoulders and shakes him up.
ANIL
What’s wrong with you?
Jai stammers.
JAI
Did you see...? I just saw her in that pedicab . . . and at home . . . I--
ANIL
Shut it!
JAI
This . . . this is the street where it happened.
CUT TO:
5A EXT. STREET - MORNING - FLASHBACK 5A
Glass shards lie around. A bloody hand falls into the frame as a tire rolls across in the background.
CUT TO:
5. EXT. STREET - MORNING - CONTINUOUS 5
Anil jogs away and signals Jai to follow him. Jai looks at Anil as they run next to each other.
ANIL
We’ll race from that tree to the house.
JAI
I can’t keep going on like this.
ANIL
Don’t make me repeat myself.
Anil runs ahead.
CUT TO:
6. EXT. OUTSIDE VERMA’S HOME - MORNING - CONTINUOUS 6
Jai catches up to the top of the street that leads to their house. Anil is waiting for him. As soon as Jai catches up, both of them break into a full speed race.
Jai keeps up with Anil initially but gradually loses ground.
Anil beats him well and good. They reach the house and Jai doubles over, catching his breath.
Anil looks like he can do another round. He's beaming with energy.
ANIL
How’re you gonna manage?
Anil clips a defeated Jai’s ear.
JAI
You don’t think I can do anything, right?
ANIL
There’s a lot you can do. You’re just running on the wrong track.
Anil walks into the house.
EXT. OUTSIDE VERMA"S HOME - MORNING - CONTINUOUS 7
Jai looks at the blazing sun. An arm reaches for Jai.
MADHUR
Wake up, Jai.
The figure kneels down and helps Jai sit up.
JAI
Mom . . .
Jai hugs Madhur. Madhur breaks the bond.
MADHUR
Jai. We don’t have much time.
JAI
Mom, Dad won’t listen to me . . . I tried telling him . . .
MADHUR
You have to run.
JAI
What are you talking about? Please just come home. We can talk inside.
MADHUR
Your dad cares about you, Jai. You must run.
JAI
Wait, mom--
As Madhur gets up, her scarf brushes past Jai’s face.
CUT TO:
8. INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - TIME JUMP 8
ANKUR
Wake-y!
Ankur uses a rolled up newspaper as a megaphone and points it towards Jai’s ear.
Jai jolts awake as Ankur puts his toy soldier on Jai’s forehead.
Jai slaps away Ankur’s hand.
JAI
She’s here.
ANKUR
Who is? Pew-pew.
Ankur hits Jai’s head with his toy soldier.
JAI
Mom. I saw her. I’ve got to tell dad.
ANKUR
Again? Where? What did she--
Ankur tries pulling Jai down as Jai begins to leave. Jai quietly enters Anil’s room. Ankur follows him.
CUT TO:
9. INT. VERMA'S HOME - ANIL’S ROOM - NIGHT 9
The room is barely lit.
Jai peeks in. Ankur gets his head in, too.
Anil lies on one edge of the bed, barely taking any space. He wistfully feels for the other pillow and keeps his hand stretched to the other side.
Ankur looks at Jai and signals to him.
A half bottle of whiskey and a glass sit on the nightstand. Jai shakes his head and pulls Ankur away.
Without making a sound, the brothers exit quietly.
CUT TO:
10. INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 10
Jai gulps down a glass of water. As he lowers his glass, snapshots of him and his family hang before his eyes.
His eyes dart at a photo of him and Madhur. Jai forms a tiny smile.
The camera lingers at one photo. A PHOTOGRAPH OF JAI AND MADHUR POSING BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE.
MADHUR
I remember this day.
Jai turns around and drops his glass.
MATCH CUT TO:
11 EXT. OUTSIDE VERMA’S HOME - NIGHT 11
A ball rolls on the ground. Glass shards lie around.
MADUR
It’s alright. Broken glass is said to be lucky.
JAI
Mom. What’s happened to you? I’m really sorry for that day. I can’t stop thinking--
MADHUR
Shush now. None of that. Here, take this.
Madhur places a locket around Jai’s neck.
MADHUR (CONT'D)
This will protect you.
JAI
Please. Come with me.
Jai pulls Madhur but she doesn’t budge.
JAI (CONT'D)
I think of you everyday.
MADHUR
I see you everyday, too.
JAI
Dad . . . He’s pushing me too hard. I can’t--
MADHUR
As long as one of us is with you, you’ll be okay.
A racket of utensils. Jai turns around.
CUT ON ACTION:
10 INT. VERMA'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 10
Jai runs towards the kitchen.
INT. VERMA'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT 12
A drunken Anil sits on the floor and gathers the fallen utensils.
Jai helps Anil up. Slowly and unsteadily.
Anil attempts to break free from Jai and finds support on the kitchen counter. Jai stands upright on the other side.
ANIL
I’m okay. . . Leave me alone.
Anil gulps down the remainder of his drink resting on the kitchen counter.
Disappointed, Jai begins to walk out.
ANIL (CONT'D)
I had so many plans for you. Wanted to make you a great runner, get you a sports quota, then good college, then a good government job--
Jai stops, his face turned away from Anil.
JAI
These are all your plans. Not mine.
ANIL
Okay. . . so what’s your plan?
Jai turns around.
JAI
Nothing that’ll make me like you.
ANIL
You talking back to me? Talking back . . .?
Anil walks towards Jai and pinches his ear. Jai shrugs it away.
ANIL (CONT'D)
Can’t even handle a little pain.
Anil pinches different parts of Jai playfully. They share a smile.
ANIL (CONT'D)
Your smile. It’s just like your mother’s. She loved you a lot. Even more than she loved me.
JAI
I know, dad. I understand. I came in your room and saw--
Jai goes in for a hug but is shot down by Anil.
ANIL
You make me sick. Have some fire. You’re an athlete. Behave like one.
Anil shoves Jai as he exits the kitchen.
A figure off-screen strikes his head with a newspaper roll.
13. INT. STORE ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 13
Jai drops down to his seat. Madhur sits next to him.
The room is a shrine to Madhur as there are boxes and trunks labeled with Madhur’s belongings.
MADHUR
It’s not important that what you see may always appear to be true.
JAI
I don’t want to hear it.
MADHUR
You know you guys are pretty alike, right?
JAI
I’m nothing like him.
MADHUR
Really? Is that why you treat Ankur the way you do?
JAI
That’s different.
Madhur shoots him a look.
JAI (CONT'D)
Why’re you so supportive of him?
Madhur gets close to him and puts her hand over his shoulder.
MADHUR
You take on family in all shapes and sizes. You care for them, worry for them, however they are.
An awkward silence between them. Defeated, Madhur gives in.
ANIL (CONT'D)
What else do you want to hear?
Jai keeps silent. Madhur’s eyes light up.
MADHUR (CONT'D)
7 and 8.
MADHUR (CONT'D)
7 and...?
MADHUR AND JAI
8.
MADHUR
If you fall down 7 times, get up 8. Always, just, one more.
Jai and Madhur sit head to head.
MADHUR (CONT')
7 and 8.
CUT TO:
14. EXT. VERMA’S HOME - LIVING ROOMM - MORNING 14
A wallet drops open from Anil’s pocket.
Jai and Anil are all packed up to leave for the trials.
Jai picks up the wallet and sees a photo of him and his dad in his wallet.
Anil snatches his wallet from Jai’s hands. They begin to leave but Jai notices the toy soldier resting on the house lock.
Jai picks up the toy soldier and clenches it in his fist.
JAI
Dad. Before we leave. I want to ask . . . last night, I came in your room . . .
ANIL
Really? Now? What do you want now?
JAI
I can’t do this anymore.
Jai drops his bag and begins walking out of the house. Anil goes after him.
ANIL
Ok, ok, listen. We’re not gonna do this now. Not now, not here. I can't share. I don’t have a choice. I can't talk. 'Cause if I did, if I told you I haven't slept alone in 20 years, if I told you running was the only way to keep you close to me . . . I would fall apart. And I don't have time to fall apart. I’ve to take care of you and then Ankur and then myself but I really wish that you just run. . . run away so fast so the choice to talk and fall apart would go away.
Jai keeps silent and continues to walk out.
ANIL (CONT'D)
What else is left to say now?
JAI
The reality is you don’t even know the day I was born . . .
ANIL
Of course I know the day . . . (checks his watch) Happy birthday.
Jai walks away once again. Anil grabs his arm.
ANIL (CONT'D)
I’m sorry, please.
Jai frees himself from the holds of Anil and continues to make his way out.
ANIL (CONT'D)
Jai!
Jai continues to walk forward.
Anil lunges for Jai and grabs him by his arm.
ANIL (CONT'D)
I’m sorry! I said I’m sorry!
Jai breaks free from an aged Anil and makes his run. Jai and Anil come charging out of the house.
15. EXT. OUTSIDE VERMA'S HOME - MORNING - CONTINUOUS 15
They begin to chase each other down the street.
It’s turned into another race, and there’s much more at stake.
Jai takes a couple of turns down streets and ends up on the main street. He starts running on the pavement. Anil is still close to him, and he’s catching up.
Jai moves off the pavement onto the clearer main road. Anil follows him.
Jai runs for his life, but Anil is slowly gaining. He almost catches up with Jai, but Jai musters all his energy and puts a little bit extra into it.
His feet pound the street. He starts pulling away from Anil. A smile breaks out on his face.
Anil loses ground.
Jai runs like the wind. Anil stops running.
Jai realizes that Anil isn’t behind him anymore and he stops. He looks behind. Anil is far away.
Anil holds the expression of a victor, even though he lost the ‘race’. A huge smile breaks on Jai’s face and he continues to run.
CUT TO:
16. EXT. STREET - MORNING - CONTINUOUS 16
As Jai continues to run, he sees a hospital bed in the middle of the street. Anil, Madhur and Ankur all surround the bed.
Jai uncovers the body lying on the bed and sees himself lie on the bed, swathed in bandages.
Terrified, he takes a step back and knocks over a glass of water.
CUT TO:
17 INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT 17
The glass shatters on the floor.
Jai’s body lies on the bed. He is wearing his mother’s locket around his neck.
Madhur, sniffling, sits beside his bed, praying. On the other side sits Anil, by his feet.
ANIL
Please wake up, Jai.
Jai’s eyelids move ever so slightly. He opens his eyes sluggishly. He amasses the strength to move his lips.
JAI
(weakly) Mom. Dad.
Madhur opens her eyes instantaneously. Her face fills with life. Her eyes slowly fill with tears of realization and she looks at Anil.
Madhur rises from her seat and smothers Jai with hugs and kisses.
Jai struggles to free himself from the clasps of his mother’s love.
MADHUR
Are you okay?!
ANIL
Do you remember anything Jai?
Jai looks around.
MADHUR
Say something? You’ve woken up after 2 months!
ANIL
Jai, once again you took so long to get up?
Jai releases a weak chuckle.
ANIL (CONT'D)
I’ll go tell the doctor that Jai’s out of the coma.
JAI
Dad . . .
Anil turns around.
Jai takes a moment to form his words.
JAI (CONT'D)
Thank you.
JAI (CONT'D)
Happy birthday, son.
They exchange a look. Anil leaves.
Madhur aggressively wakes up Ankur who’s asleep in a chair in a corner.
Camera dollies out.
FADE TO BLACK:
ROLL CREDITS.
Arnav Gupta's script won first prize in the Tenth Annual Humanities & Sciences Undergraduate Writing Contest. Arnav is a recent graduate of the BFA Film program at the School of Visual Arts. Born in Delhi, India, Arnav experienced a nomadic upbringing across various cities. He recently directed and shot his prize-winning script, "Subah." With a passion for sports, he intertwines athletic themes in his work, and is grateful for the grants he received during his time in the program for this project,
Judges Susan Mosakowski & Edwin Rivera had this to say about Arnav's prize-winning entry: "In the screenplay "Subah" the writer deftly weaves the parallel narratives of Jai, a young boy who is struggling to regain consciousness after he is hit by a car, with the story of a race that he must run against his father. Both stories conflate in a surreal blend as Jai ultimately awakens to who he is."