Plucked

By
Tejus Yakhob

9448271763
 The sound of a fingernail scratching is heard.
FADE IN.
1 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

A tiny finger is nervously scratching the the side of a clay

pot that it’s holding. The tiny finger belongs to MANU, a
tiny boy of age 6. He is standing at the doorway holding
a pot of water.

He stares at his MOTHER, 32, lying on the bed, coughing

uncontrollably. His FATHER, 36, stands beside her while the
DOCTOR, a weary looking 45 year old man, leans over, doing
something to her that he can’t see.
The cries of a baby is suddenly heard. Father takes the clay
pot from Manu’s hand and gestures him to take care of the
noise.
He leaves.
2 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Manu runs up to his sister CHIKKU’S cradle. She is 1 year

old. Manu gently rocks the cradle and hums an out of tune
lullaby, while still eyeing the bedroom.
The coughs stop.

Father and the doctor come into the room. They are
whispering. Father takes out a few notes of money from his
pocket and gives it to the doctor and he leaves.

Father stands there staring out the door for a while before
going back in.
Manu peeps into the bedroom. Father sits beside mother, who
is asleep now. His face is buried in his palms.

Father sniffs loudly and begins to get up. Manu runs back to
Chikku and continues rocking her cradle.
RADHA AUNTY
Manu.

RADHA AUNTY, a 30 year old neighbour, walks in. Behind her

is PAVI, her 5 year old daughter. Manu smiles and so does
she. She has a few teeth missing in front.
FATHER
Come in, Radha.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 2.

Father comes in with his toolkit packed. A chisel can be

seen jutting out from the corner of his bag.
RADHA AUNTY
How is she?

FATHER
She got sicker last night, but
she’s asleep now. Feed her the same
way, she can’t take in anything
else. I’ll be back in the night.
Manu will help you if you need
anything.
Father goes towards Manu and bends down on his knees.
FATHER
Are you scared?
MANU
No.
Father hugs him.

FATHER
Take care of your mother and
sister.
Father turns towards Pavi, smiles and leaves.

3 EXT. FIELDS - DAY

Pavi is chasing Manu. Manu is making faces at her while
evading her. She lunges at him and he jumps aside. He gets
behind her, pushes her and runs away. She falls down and
begins to cry. Manu stops running and goes to her.
MANU
Please don’t cry.
She continues to cry.

MANU (CONT’D)
Please don’t cry. I’m sorry.
Pavi sniffs and starts hitting him on the head. Manu tries
to shield himself from the blows.
PAVI
You’re out now! You have to catch
me. Go! Go to the corner.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 3.

MANU
Okay.
He helps her up.
PAVI
Go!
Manu runs to the corner. Pavi wipes her nose.
PAVI
Okay, start!
He starts chasing her.
4 EXT. WORKSHOP - DAY

Father is sitting on the floor, working. He is flattening

the surface of a piece of wood, using a block plane. His
face is screwed up in concentration.
Fine layers of the wood come out from the block plane.
Father wipes his brow and continues with increased
intensity. The block plane chisels out layer after layer of
wood in a mad frenzy.
5 EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Pavi blows gently on her wound. She is sitting on the ground
and Manu is beside her, lying down and looking up at the
sky. They are covered in sweat and dirt.
PAVI
When will aunty get better?

MANU
I don’t know.
Silence.

PAVI
Mamma says she’s very sick.
MANU
She is.

Silence.
PAVI
Maybe you can make a wish and she
will get better.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 4.

MANU
How do you do that?
PAVI
It’s easy. Whenever you see an
eyelash on your cheek, you take it
and put it on your hand like this--
She clenches her hand and holds it face down.
PAVI (CONT’D)
You close your eyes tight, make
your wish and blow it away.
She shuts her eyes and blows on her hand.
PAVI (CONT’D)
That’s all.
Manu stares at her.
MANU
Stop telling me stupid things.

PAVI
It’s not stupid. It works, I
promise.
Manu continues to stare at her.

PAVI
Last week I wanted pretty new
slippers, but mamma wouldn’t buy me
at all. Then I made an eyelash wish
and two days later--

Pavi lifts up her feet.

PAVI (CONT’D)
Mamma bought me pretty new
slippers.

Manu sits up, looking at the dusty, pink slippers on Pavi’s

feet.
6 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Mother is asleep. She has beads of sweat on her forehead.

Manu’s voice, singing a nursery rhyme, is heard. Chikku
starts crying. Manu stops singing.
A second later--

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 5.

MANU (O.S)
Hey Chikku, shh shh shh. Don’t cry,
don’t cry...
Mother begins coughing.

7 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Manu hears Mother coughing. He slowly goes towards the
bedroom door and looks in. The sound of the cough increases.

8 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Manu opens the cupboard and begins rummaging through. He
pulls out a large, dark bottle and runs out. A second later
he rushes back in and picks up a spoon before going out.

Chikku continues crying in the background.

9 INT. BEDROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS
Manu fills a teaspoon with thick, golden liquid from the
bottle. He lifts mother’s head up and feeds her the syrup.
Mother makes an attempt to swallow it but spurts it all out
in a fit of cough.
Manu grabs the side of the blanket and wipes her mouth. He
holds her head up and massages her chest.

Mother’s cough subsides. She drinks from the teaspoon and

lies down. She turns to Manu.
MOTHER
Oh, Manu...

She caresses his cheek, before pinching his nose, lovingly.

10 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Manu looks into the mirror. He holds a lamp right next to
his face. He begins to blink rapidly for a bit and then
stops. He examines his cheeks for a fallen eyelash.
There are none.
Suddenly, his father comes in. He heaves his bag on the
table and exhales. He then walks up to the bowl of water and
washes up.
He looks at Manu and smiles, while drying his hands. He
looks into Chikku’s cradle and plants a kiss on her cheek.
 6.

11 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Manu brings a bowl of congee water rice and gives it to his
dad. His mother is sound asleep.
Manu’s dad caresses his cheek with his callused hand.
FATHER
Go sleep. You look tired.

12 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Manu unfurls his mat beside Chikku and lies down. He looks
into the mirror one last time. He sees Father’s reflection
in the mirror. He looks tired.

Manu turns out the kerosene lamp and goes to sleep.

13 EXT. COURTYARD - DAY
Manu and Pavi sit underneath the shade.

MANU
I can’t find eyelashes on my cheek.
PAVI
It doesn’t come always. Only
sometimes. That’s why they are so
special.
MANU
How did you find yours?

PAVI
I had just woken up one day and I
saw it.
MANU
Does it really work?
PAVI
Of course it does. See--
She lifts up her feet and shows her slippers.

MANU
Who told you about it?
PAVI
Mamma.

Manu goes silent and kicks a stone that’s underneath his

feet. Two kids in school uniform pass by and wave at Manu.
He waves back.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 7.

PAVI
Why don’t you go to school anymore?
MANU
Because I have to take care of
mamma... Also papa said that he
doesn’t have money for school right
now.
A beat.

MANU
Why don’t you go to school?
PAVI
Papa says girls don’t need to go to
school because girls are smarter
than boys.
MANU
You are not smarter than me.
PAVI
Of course I am smarter than you.
MANU
No, you’re not.
PAVI
Yes, I am!
Pavi stares at him angrily and stands up.
PAVI (CONT’D)
I can make wishes with my
eyelashes. Can you?
She runs away, leaving Manu alone.
14 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Manu feeds his mother congee rice. She swallows her food
silently while staring at Manu, with a smile on her face.
Manu takes a napkin and wipes his mother’s mouth.
MOTHER
Who taught you to do that?
MANU
Papa.
She looks at him silently.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

MOTHER
What’s wrong?
MANU
Nothing.

He continues to feed her.

MANU (CONT’D)
Pavi and me had a fight.

MOTHER
What happened?
MANU
Pavi told me that she’s smarter
than me, but I told her "no, I’m
smarter". Then she got angry and
went away.
Mother looks at him silently, with a smile on her face.
MOTHER
Well? Is she smarter than you?
MANU
I think she is.
MOTHER
Why do you say that?
MANU
She can make wishes with her
eyelashes and I can’t.

MOTHER
What do you wish for?
MANU
I wish that you are not sick
anymore.

Mother looks at him with a smile. Her eyes start tearing up.
MANU
I like your cooking better than
Radha aunty’s. And if you were
better, then I can play with Pavi
all day.
Tears flow out of her eyes. She pinches his nose and pulls
him closer and hugs him. She has a fit of cough suddenly.
 9.

15 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Manu stares into the mirror. He holds his eyelash between
the thumb and forefinger. His eyes shut halfway
involuntarily and then in a quick motion, he pulls. He looks
at his finger. There are three eyelashes.

16 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Father are mother are lying on the bed. Chikku is lying
between them. Father tickles Chikku’s tummy and she
chuckles. Mother holds Chikku’s tiny hands and kisses them.
Manu is sitting beside them, looking and chuckling.
FATHER
Come, Manu.

Manu squeezes into the bed and lies on father’s stomach.

Mother caresses his cheek and Manu smiles. He begins
tickling Chikku on the tummy the same way father was doing.
Mother begins to tickle Manu in the stomach and he begins
giggling uncontrollably. Father does this too and all of
them begin laughing.
17 INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Manu is asleep on father’s stomach. Mother is asleep beside
them, her arm over Chikku, who is asleep as well.
18 EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Manu and Pavi run around, trying to catch each other. It is
high energy - all laughs.

19 EXT. FIELDS - DAY

Manu is lying on the ground. Pavi is beside him. They are
covered in sweat and dust. Pavi is working intently on her
slippers. Her face is contorted, trying to put the knot back
into the hole.
MANU
What are you doing?

She doesn’t react. Manu sits up and looks at what Pavi is

doing.
MANU
Give, I’ll fix it.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 10.

She continues doing it herself. A moment passes and she

thows it down in frustration. Manu picks it up and starts
working on it.
MANU
Mamma is better now.
Pavi stares at her slippers.
MANU (CONT’D)
You only helped her get better.

She looks up.

MANU (CONT’D)
She was very sick, so I made the
eyelash wish and she became better.

PAVI
See! I told you. You just have to
wait. The eyelash falls on its own,
you take it and make a wish! That’s
all.

Manu stops working on the slippers.

MANU
I can’t fix it.

He gives it to her. She exhales.

PAVI
Hmmm. It’s okay.
20 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

MOTHER (O.S)
Now add two cups of rice into the
water.
Manu fills the cup with rice, and walks gingerly towards the
stove. A thin layer of steam rises from the pot. Water
splashes as he empties the contents of the cup into the pot.
MOTHER (O.S)
Careful! The water is hot.

MANU
Okay.
Manu fills another cup and empties it into the pot. This
time, slowly.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 11.

MOTHER (O.S)
Done?
MANU
Yes.

Manu then turns towards the dirty dishes placed on the

floor.
21 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

High pitched sounds of steel crashing against each other is

heard.
MOTHER
Manu, what happened?

MANU (O.S)
Nothing. I’m washing the dishes.
MOTHER
Leave it. Papa will come home and
wash it.

MANU (O.S)
No, I’ll do it. Tell me how.
She sits up on the bed.

MOTHER
There are coconut skins under the
stove. Take them.
She stretches to reach for the pot of water.

MANU (O.S)
Got it. What should I do now?
MOTHER
There is ash next to the plates.
Mix some of it on the coconut skin
and sprinkle some water.
22 INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Manu mixes the coconut skin with the ash and sprinkles some
water.
MANU
Done.

(CONTINUED)
 CONTINUED: 12.

MOTHER (O.S)
Ok. Now make the plate wet and
scrub the plate with the coconut
skin.

Manu dips his palm into the bucket and pours water on the
plate. He searches for the coconut skin amidst the clutter.
He finds it next to the bucket and begins scrubbing the
plate. Once done, he pours water on it. He looks around.
MANU
I finished washing it. Where should
I keep the plate?
There is no reply.
MANU
Mamma? Mamma?
There is no reply. Suddenly, the sound of breaking clay is
heard.
MANU
Mamma?
He rushes out.
23 INT. BEDROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Manu rushes into the bedroom. The clay pot lies shattered on
the floor and the water flows to his feet.
Faint breathing and moans are coming from mother.

24 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Manu stares at father and the doctor standing around mother.
The doctor is rubbing mother’s chest. Radha aunty is holding
Chikku in her arms, trying to console her.

Mother’s breathing becomes louder. Manu’s eyes begin tearing

up. He turns to the mirror and plucks out an eyelash and
places it on his hand. He closes his eyes and a tear falls
on the eyelash. He blows, but the wet eyelash is stuck on
his hand.

He blows again and again but it does not budge. He starts

crying.
 13.

25 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Manu is sitting on father’s lap, next to the bed. His eyes
are puffy. Mother’s breathing has become laboured. Whispers
of neighbours are heard in the background.

Manu’s eyes close slowly but he opens them quickly, trying

to stay awake. This continues a few more times, slower each
time until he falls asleep.
26 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

The bedroom is empty. The sheets on the bed are neatly

folded. It is completely silent.
27 INT. KITCHEN - DAY

The kitchen is empty and silent.

28 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Manu is sitting in the corner, looking out the window. Pavi
comes in and sits beside him with an orange in her hand.

They sit silently for a while. Pavi gives Manu a slice of

orange. They eat silently.
MANU
I can’t play tomorrow onwards. I
have to go back to school again.
Pavi doesn’t reply. The sun sets in the background.
29 INT. BEDROOM - DAY

RADHA AUNTY(O.S)
I’ll take care of Chikku. She’ll be
with Pavi and me.
FATHER (O.S)
Thank you, Radha...
Manu stands in front of the almirah mirror and buttons his
school uniform. He picks up a previously knotted tie and
puts it around his collar. He takes the comb and begins
combing his hair.

FATHER (O.S)
Manu, come fast. It’s getting late.
MANU
Yeah, coming!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

Manu places the comb and is about to leave when he notices

something on his face - an eyelash. He picks it and looks at
it. He turns around and looks at the empty bed. He goes up
to it and places it on the pillow.

FATHER (O.S)
Manu!
MANU
Coming.

He leaves the room.

The sound of the windowpanes rattling is heard. A light
breeze in comes in and blows the eyelash away.
CUT TO BLACK.