Screenplay of 'Dusk' by Saki

DUSK Screenplay by JANSHER. C Based on the short story “DUSK” by SAKI Dusk – an Introduction In this story, a young man is sitting on bench in a Park. Another young man comes and sits down in the same bench. He seems a bit depressed. He says that he was lost and he couldn’t even remember the name of the hotel in which he stays. He played a well crafted drama for some money and the other man was fooled. List of characters Shyju – A young man from Secunderabad. Shiva – A young man from Bangalore. Young man – The owner of soap. Girl – Friend of Shyju. FADE IN SCENE 1 EXT. UNIVERSITY PARK - EVENING Shyju, a 25 year old young man is sitting on a bench in the University Park. He just looks at his watch; it was thirty minutes past 5 on an early December. Evening and dusk had fallen heavily over the scene. He looks around the park. There were many unconsidered figures moving silently through the park. There are a few couples sitting and talking. These scenes pleased Shyju and bring a smile in his face. He started reading a book. Suddenly his mobile phone rings and he attend the call. GIRL (V.O) Hello Shyju. Where are you? SHYJU Yes dear, I’m waiting for you at the bench in the park. I feel lonely. Come fast. GIRL (V.O) I’m coming. I’m on the way. I will be there in 10 minutes. SHYJU Ok Bye. Shyju keeps his phone back to his pocket and continued reading book. His phone rings again, but this time it was a text message of daily horoscope. TEXT MESSAGE Today will be a lucky day for you. Lots of good things may happen today. Shyju feel relieved and he smiles by looking at the sky. Shyju continued reading his book. A fairly well dressed young man sat near Shyju. He nods his head down. He was totally disturbed. He keeps his hands on head. Shyju looks at him and asks, SHYJU You don’t seem in a very good temper Young man shakes his head and turned his face to Shyju with a look of disarming frankness. SHIVA (With tensed face) Well, it’s natural to be bothered if one is in the situation that I’m in. (Pause) I just can’t understand how I committed such a blunder. I’ve done the silliest thing I’ve ever done in my life SHYJU (Dispassionately) I can’t get you. What happened? Shiva continued his talk. SHIVA (Lowers his voice) I’m Shiva from Bangalore. I have come to here for a business meeting. Usually I used to stay at PVS hotel at Secunderabad. (Pause) When I got there, I found it had been pulled down some weeks ago and a cinema theatre run up on that site. Shyju is listening to the young man’s story, at the same time he is also reading the book. SHYJU (By looking at Shiva) Yeah. I know that cinema theatre. SHIVA The taxi driver recommended me to another hotel some way off and I went there. I just kept my luggage in the room and went out to buy soap. SHYJU Soap! Why? SHIVA Yeah! Soap. I’d forgotten to pack soap and I hate using hotel soap. (Pause) Then I strolled about a bit, had a drink at a bar and looked at the shops, and when I came to turn steps back to the hotel I suddenly realized that I didn’t remember hotels name or place. I was totally lost. SHYJU (sarcastically) Interesting. Very interesting. SHIVA There’s a nice predicament for a fellow who hasn’t any friends or connections in Hyderabad. SHYJU Just call your family or friends and say your situation to them. SHIVA (Manages the entire conversation with a tensed face) My mobile is in room and I don’t remember their numbers. Now I’m wandering with two rupees in my pocket and nowhere to go for the night. (Eloquent pause) I suppose you think I’ve spun you rather than an impossible yarn. SHYJU (Said judicially) Not at all impossible. (pause) I remember doing exactly the same thing once I was in Delhi, and on that occasion there were two of us, which made it more remarkable. SHYJU (Continued) Luckily we remembered that the hotel was near to a hospital; and when we reached near to the hospital, we were able to find our way back to the hotel. (Pause) I’m sure there must have been some landmark near your hotel too. SHIVA I can’t recollect any landmark near the hotel. I’m so relieved, you atleast believe me. All I can hope is somebody lends me little money for the night. SHYJU (Laughs at Shiva) Friend. No doubt your story is quite realistic. (Pause) The weak point of your story is that you can’t produce the soap. Shyju smiles at Shiva. Young man searches his pockets. But he couldn’t find soap. SHIVA (Muttered angrily) I must have lost it. SHYJU (Smiles at Shiva) To lose a hotel and soap on one afternoon suggests willful carelessness. Shiva scarcely waited to hear the end of the remark. He flitted away down the path, his head held high with an air of somewhat jaded jauntiness. Shyju smiles by looking at him. SHYJU (Said quietly) It was a pity. Shyju rose to go. He saw a small packet lying on the ground by the side of the bench. It was a packet of soap. Shyju quickly moves through the road to find Shiva to give the soap back. Shyju finds him and calls him. SHYJU (By holding the soap) The important witness of you story has turned up. (Pause) It must have slid out of your pocket when you sat down on the bench. I saw it on the ground after you left. (Pause) You must excuse my disbelief. Shyju opens his wallet and gave 400 rupees to young man. SHYJU Here is my card with address. Any day this week will do for returning the money and here is the soap – don’t lose it again. SHIVA (Surprised) Thank you very much. You are great and so kind. Thanks for everything. Bye. SHYJU (Feeling proud) Shiva fled headlong in the direction of park’s gate. SHYJU (Said to himself) Poor boy, he must have felt so sad. (Shyju looks to the sky) I don’t wonder either; the relief from his quandary must have acute. It’s a lesson to me not to be too clever in judging by circumstances. As Shyju retraced his steps past the seat where the little drama had taken place, he saw another Youngman poking and peering beneath the bench and on all sides of it. Shyju moves closer to him and asks, SHYJU (Doubtfully) Have you lost anything? YOUNG MAN (Nervous) Yes, soap. Shyju was shocked after hearing that. He realized that he was fooled by Shiva. He nods his head down. He saw a card lying on the ground. He picked it up. Suddenly a girl comes to Shyju. GIRL (Innocently) Happy birthday my dear Shyju. Shyju did not reply to her and he just turns the card and it was a joker card. FADE OUT 11