Simran Movie - Script

SIMRAN
THE LIPSTICK BANDIT
FINAL DRAFT
7th Sept 2016
Written by
Apurva M Asrani
1301. Shishira, Off New link Rd, Andheri W, Mumbai 400053.

apurvaasrani@gmail.com
EXT. TRAIN STATION. ATLANTA. DAY
Train station. A petite Indian woman, Praful, 31, runs

towards the platform. Hearing an announcement she takes off
her shoes, holds them in her hand, and bolts towards a train.
INT. TRAIN STATION. ATLANTA. DAY
TITLES BEGIN. The train doors are closing. Praful runs,

sticks her foot in the closing door & enters by the skin of
her teeth.
INT. TRAIN. ATLANTA. DAY
A relieved Praful puts on her shoes. An elderly woman gives

her a weird look. Praful sees ads of luxury living inside.
EXT. BUS STOP. ATLANTA SUBURB. DAY
Praful sprints towards a hotel- The Courtyard Marriot. She is

juggling a bag, her sandwich and her wallet, all in her hand.
INT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. ATLANTA SUBURB. DAY
Praful enters from the staff entrance, an African-American

woman gives her a bored look.
STAFFER 1
Youre seven minutes late..
PRAFUL
(smiles)
Ill make sure I work seven minutes
extra.
Praful drops her wallet while trying to sign. She picks it up

and punches in her attendance.
INT. STAFF ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful opens her locker and takes out her cleaning uniform.
She starts to change. We see two other women also changing.
INT. GUEST ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful in her work uniform, is vacuum cleaning a room.
CUT TO:
2.
She puts all the toiletries, towels in their place.
CUT TO:
Praful cleans the toilet bowl meticulously.
CUT TO:
Praful makes the bed to perfection and puts up a made sign

on it. TITLES END.
Praful sits with her colleagues Salma and Noella and they eat
packed lunches. Praful takes out some theplas. The women
take it happily and eat.
SALMA
Flat ka mortgage mil gaya?
PRAFUL
Pre-approval ho gaya. Infact aaj
Maa ko dikha rahi hu.
NOELLA
Really? Where?
PRAFUL
Uptown Atlanta. Near that Italian
joint, Fredericos.
NOELLA
Whoa! Posh!
SALMA
Mehnga hoga?
PRAFUL
Market cost $700,000 hain...but
mujhe $400,000 mein padega.
SALMA
Kaise?
PRAFUL
Minority Housing zindabad!
SALMA
Kaha se aaye itne paise?
PRAFUL
Jamma kiya hain maine. I worked 7
years for it!
3.
NOELLA
No wonder you never came to any
parties with me, you sly fox!
PRAFUL
Let me buy the flat Noella, phir
party hee party!
A short, impeccably dressed man with big attitude enters the

staff room. He is MIKE MEHNDI, 45, the Housekeeping manager.
There is uncomfortable energy between him and Praful.
MIKE
Why isnt 503 cleaned???
PRAFUL
Door pe Do Not Disturb ka sign
tha.
MIKE
Wahi se aa raha hu. Koi sign nahi
dikha!
He looks at Noella and smiles, she blushes and touches her

pendent. Praful notices .
PRAFUL
Shayad guest ne nikal diya hoga.
Hum log lunch kar rahe the..
MIKE
Tumhara break dus minute pehle
khatam ho gaya. Praful, yeh
housekeeping hain, koi kitty party
club nahin.
The women start packing their lunch. Praful continues to eat

the sandwich.
MIKE (CONTD)
Noella, come to the linen room in
5. I need to take stock of the
towels. Praful, I want 503 cleaned
now.
He walks away.
PRAFUL
Ok Milkhaji.
SALMA
(laughs)
Milkha kyon?
4.
PRAFUL
Har kaam jaldi mein karta hain.
Haina Noella?
Noella ignores.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Sexy pendent Noella.
NOELLA
Thanks.
SALMA
(winks)
Guess kisne gift kiya?
Praful makes a mocking face, as Noella blushes.
NOELLA
Jealous?
PRAFUL
(laughs)
Relieved. Milkha zabardasti ek gift
thama deta hain, aur baar baar
return gift maangta hain.
Salma laughs
NOELLA
This time its serious.
SALMA
(chuckles)
Isko bola ki yeh pendent uski Maa
ki aakhri nishani hain!
PRAFUL
(laughs)
Dekh le, har floor pe kisi ladki ke
galle mein uski maa ki aakhri
nishani hogi!
They both laugh. Noella isnt amused.
INT. EMPTY APARTMENT BUILDING. UPTOWN ATLANTA. DAY
A bright, empty apartment. The door opens and a male agent-

STEVEN, 38, enters. He is followed by Praful and her mother
KUMUD, 53.
5.
STEVEN
Lots of sunlight! Theres a park
upfront, so no chance of a building
coming up.
Kumud looks in awe, Praful beams.
PRAFUL
Be bedroom chhe maa. Dono mein
attached bathroom. Yeh wala aapke
liye, jab aap rehne aaogi.
Praful shows Kumud the quieter of the two rooms. Kumud nods
proudly to Steven.
KUMUD
Big hole.
STEVEN
(concerned)
Hole?
Praful points to the living area.
STEVEN (CONTD)
Yeah. The living area is big!
PRAFUL
Maa, aa jo, yaha pooja room banega.
KUMUD
(inspects)
Bhattji ko bulake vaastu dekhna
padega.
Steven wonders what they are talking about.
PRAFUL
(points)
Prayer room.
STEVEN
Shes religious? Theres an Indian
temple round the block.
PRAFUL
Thats a Gurudwara--for Sikhs. We
are Hindus.
STEVEN
Oh, theres an Indian kebab joint
two blocks away. Best lamb kebabs
in Atlanta.
6.
PRAFUL
Vegetarian.
Beat
STEVEN
Ill wait outside.
Steven exits the room. Kumud stands at the window and a tear
streams down her face.
PRAFUL
Maa? Aa shu? Aansu??
Kumud laughs at Prafuls joke. She blesses her.
KUMUD
Pehli baar khushi ke hain. Rone de
na.
PRAFUL
Toh teri taraf se haan hain?
KUMUD
Mere haan se kya hota hain? Tujhe
rehna hain yaha!
PRAFUL
Tu nahi rahegi mere saath?
KUMUD
Main kab tak rahungi? Shaadi karke
pati ke saath rehle...
PRAFUL
(irritated)
Maa!
KUMUD
Zindagi bhar akeli rahegi?
PRAFUL
Maine kab kaha akeli rahungi?
Beat.
KUMUD
Jaise bhi kar. Koi dhoondh le
Praful.
Praful holds her mother.

7.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Pata hain Praful, mein Ahemdabad
mein sapna dekhti thi...ki ek din
hum teeno saath rahenge, khush.
Lekin yaha aakar...
Kumud begins to cry. Praful controls her emotions.
PRAFUL
Maa, Purani baaten chhod na. Yeh
bata rasoi kaise banayegi. Im
thinking of a 4 burner stove..
KUMUD
Jaise bhi bana. No Non-Veg!
PRAFUL
Haan, haan, ghar mein no non-veg!
EXT. UPTOWN ATLANTA STREET. DAY
Praful, Kumud and Steven walk to Prafuls car. Kumud watches

the upmarket locality in awe.
STEVEN
This apartment is a steal! Just
yesterday we sold a place for
$800,000!
PRAFUL
I know. I think my mortgage should
come through soon.
STEVEN
Ill draw up the paperwork. How
about we meet Monday in my office?
PRAFUL
(smiles)
Ill be there. Thank you Steven!
The women walk towards a Green Nissan and get in.
INT. CAR. ATLANTA ROADS. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful drives slowly. She is not a very good driver.
KUMUD
Itne paise kaha se arrange karegi?
8.
PRAFUL
Kuch jamma kiye hain, baaki
personal loan ke liye apply kar
rahi hu.
KUMUD
Tch. Kitna bola tha tujhe, jama kar
paise..
A car honks at Praful, she is in the wrong lane. She swerves

off.
PRAFUL
Mamma, lecture mat de. Ho jayega...
KUMUD
Apne Pappa se baat kar.
PRAFUL
Hazaar baatein sunayenge. Bank bhi
itne sawaal nahi puchte.
KUMUD
Red light hain.
Praful continues to drive
KUMUD (CONTD)
(shouts)
Red light hain, Praful ruk!
Praful suddenly stops, ahead of the light. She reverses over

the zebra crossing. Irritated walkers give her a dirty look.
INT. ATLANTA BANK. DAY
Kumud sits in the waiting area of a busy bank.
Praful is by the water cooler. She looks around at the

various transactions taking place. The bank has an air of
importance and the employees all seem pre-occupied.
Praful fills water in the plastic cup and drinks peculiarly

without touching her lips.
CYNTHIA
Ms Patel!
Praful is started by the sound and spills some water. She

turns to see Cynthia.
CYNTHIA (CONTD)
The cups are sterilized.
9.
PRAFUL
(sheepish)
Old habit.
INT. BANK. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful sits with Cynthia, who with an air of self-importance,

goes through some papers.
PRAFUL
Actually, I was hoping you could
process the loan quickly, I have
two weeks to..
Cynthia reads some papers.
CYNTHIA
Its good to know that you got a pre-
approval on the mortgage...
PRAFUL
Yes. That makes things easy?
CYNTHIA
Shouldnt be a problem. I just need
to check your credit scores and we
should be good! Please sign this.
Cynthia pushes a paper to Praful.
CYNTHIA (CONTD)
And this, and this..
Praful begins signing the papers.
CYNTHIA (CONTD)
Ill call you on Monday.
PRAFUL
Ok. If you can call me any earlier,
Ill be grateful
Cynthia smiles.
EXT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Praful drives with Kumud into a quiet driveway of her house.

She tries to park the car in the spot, but swerves towards
the garden.
KUMUD
Praful sambhal. Mohan ka garden...
10.
It is too late. Praful drives on the garden patch, crushing

some shrubs.
The door opens and a tall Gujarati man, Mohan, 62, walks out.
MOHAN
Praful, mere chrysanthemums!
PRAFUL
Sorry Pappa. Drive-way miss ho
gayi.
MOHAN
Phir se driving school kyon nahin
jaati?? Kam se kam parking toh
seekh le.
PRAFUL
Im getting better, dad. Pichle
hafte gaadi mailbox pe chadha dee
thee!
Mohan removes the dead flowers.
MOHAN
Itna late kaha se aa rahi hain?
KUMUD
Bank se.
Mohan is uncomfortable.
INT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Mohan and Praful sit at the dining table. Kumud stands and
serves. Praful watches her mother fuss over her father.
MOHAN
Rotli naram thayi gayi!
KUMUD
Aadhe ghante se bula rahi hu. Tum
TV se uth-te nahi! La garam karke
laati hu.
MOHAN
(makes a face)
Sab naram naram kyon khilati hain.
Kuch crispy nahi hain kya?
KUMUD
Farsan lau?
11.
MOHAN
Kumud, joh bechte hain, usse khaate
nahi! Aur kuch idea nahi soojta
tujhe?
KUMUD
Nahi. Anpad aurat hu, ideas nahi
aate. Papad lekar aati hu.
PRAFUL
Tu baith Maa. Main karti hu.
KUMUD
Tu kaam se thaki hogi, kha le
pehle. Hum log toh ghar mein baithe
rehte hain...
MOHAN
Main ghar mein baitha rehta hu?
Tees saal se tum dono ko khila raha
hu, aur aaj beti kama rahi hain,
toh meri aukad nahi? Aye Praful,
teri kamai ka khata hu kya??
Kumud ignores him and goes to the kitchen. Praful eats.
MOHAN (CONTD)
6 mahine se mera business down
hain. Tere kamayi ke paise mere
paas aate hain kya?
PRAFUL
Pehle toh deti thi na? Ab makaan ke
liye jama kar rahi hu.
MOHAN
Achanak flat ki kya zarurat pad
gayi? Yeh tera ghar nahi hain kya?
PRAFUL
Yeh aapka ghar hain Pappa. Main
apna space chahti hu.
MOHAN
Toh shaadi kyon nahin kar leti?
PRAFUL
Ek baar kar chuki hu.
MOHAN
(bitingly)
Dobara wahi galtiya mat daurana...
12.
PRAFUL
Galti meri nahin thi.
MOHAN
Waise kab hoti hain teri galti?
Kumud enters and sees the tension.
KUMUD
Pankha chalu karu?
Beat.
PRAFUL
Pappa please, lecture mat dijiye.
Kar lungi main.
MOHAN
Property khareedna koi mazaak nahin
hain Praful. Kam se kam mujhse sala-
mashwara kar leti?
PRAFUL
Pappa, aapke help ke bina mujhe
mortgage par pre-approval mil gaya
na?
Mohan makes a face.
KUMUD
Kyon rok rahe ho isko? Investment
karna chahti hain. Meri tarah
kamzor rehne se accha hain!
MOHAN
(shouts)
Tu iska dimaag kharaab mat kar!
Paise hain iske paas toh mere
business mein invest kar leti.
Property ke bare mein kya jaanti
hain yeh?
PRAFUL
Koi investment-vinvestment nahin
karna chahti hu. Bas independent
rehna chahti hu..
MOHAN
Kyon? Taaki ghar boyfriends laa
sako??
PRAFUL
Sure. Why not?
13.
Mohan throws his plate and it crashes violently on the floor.

The women are shaken.
KUMUD
Mohan!
Praful gets up from the table.
MOHAN
(angry)
Baith jao!
Praful stares in anger.
KUMUD
Praful. Baith ja. Khana khatam kar.
Praful doesnt sit.
MOHAN
Kumud ek baar ladki haath se gayi
na, toh wapas nahi aane waali.
PRAFUL
Excuse me, main ladki hu, koi ghodi
ya bakri nahi!
KUMUD
Aap kyon iske plan mein rokk laga
rahe hain. Khareedne do isse flat!
MOHAN
Kumud, ghalat salah mat de, warna
tu hee pachtayegi.
KUMUD
Jaise kam pachta rahi hu ab.
Ahemdabad mein hee khush the hum
dono. Dhoke se bula-liya...
MOHAN
Praful, is aurat ne tere dimaag
mein zehar bhar diya hain. Main
tere bhalayi ke liye keh raha hu!
Baith jaa.
Praful doesnt move. Kumud looks at her and nods. Praful

reluctantly sits.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Ek baap ki pareshani ko samajh
Praful. Divorcee ki shaadi karana
kitna mushkil hain jaanti hain?
(MORE)
14.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Agar kisi ladke ke chakkar mein pad
gayi toh..?
PRAFUL
Yeh kya divorcee, divorcee laga
rakha hain tumlogo ne? Meri aur koi
pehchaan nahin hain kya?? Aur main
dobara shaadi nahin karne wali. Yeh
baat aap samajh jaiye.
Beat.
MOHAN
Then you will have to get out of my
house!
PRAFUL
Why do you think ki main yeh flat
khareed rahi hu?
Mohan glares at her, the gets up and walks out of the back-
door, slamming it behind him. Praful makes a face.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Wow! Mujhe table chhodna allowed
nahin hain, magar yeh toh ghar se
hee chale gaye.
KUMUD
Kha le.
Praful continues eating.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Aur lau?
Praful nods to say no. She suddenly remembers.
PRAFUL
Maa, sun. Weekend ko mein Vegas jaa
rahi hu, yaad hain na?
KUMUD
Par tujhe toh down payment karna
hain?
PRAFUL
I have to go Mamma. Amber ka
bachelorette hain.
KUMUD
Praful, tere paas joh $30,000 jama
hain, usse choona mat!
15.
PRAFUL
Naresh uncle saara kharcha utha
rahe hain.
Kumud nods. Praful finishes eating.
KUMUD
Saaru hattu?
PRAFUL
Tip-top!
Mohan is smoking a cigarette and looking at the street.

Praful comes out.
PRAFUL
Pappa, aake khaana kha lijiye!
Mohan gives her a sad look. Praful makes a face, pulls the
cigarette from his hand and stubs it.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Kitni gandi smell aati hain.
MOHAN
Tu mujhe trust kyon nahi karti?
Dushman hu tera?
PRAFUL
Of course not. Ab aa jao andar. Maa
bhi nahi khaa rahi.
MOHAN
Is ghar mein kaunsi problem hain
tujhe Praful? San accha chal raha
tha. Jabse tune tankwha dena band
kiya hain, saara pressure mujhi par
hain.
PRAFUL
Pappa, saari zindagi aise nahi reh
sakti main. Ek baar flat le lu,
main phir se conribute karne
lagungi.
MOHAN
(smirks)
Ek baar ghar se gayi, toh gayi.
PRAFUL
Aap kaha mujhe trust karte hain?
16.
Beat.
MOHAN
Theek hain. Agar yaha nahi rehna
chahti, to kam se kam ladka dekh le
apne liye.
Beat.
PRAFUL
Sochungi. Ab khana kha lo, please.
Praful and Mohan enter the house. They shut the door.
INT. AIRPORT. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Praful, Amber, 25 and Vandana, 27 exit into Las Vegas

airport. Praful is wide-eyed when she sees the slot machines.
INT. SLOT AREA. VEGAS AIRPORT. DAY
Praful puts in a dollar and presses the button. She loses.

She puts another dollar. She loses.
Amber brings her bags. Praful decides to play one last round.
She gets a line of 3 & wins double. She smiles. Music starts.
EXT. AIRPORT. LAS VEGAS. DAY
The girls squeal as they see a hired Limo waiting for them.
INT. LIMO. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Champagne in the limo. They watch in awe at the glimmering

Vegas strip with fancy stores, bars and good-looking people.
A TV screen inside the limo plays ads for the best casinos.
EXT. CAESARS PALACE HOTEL. LAS VEGAS. DAY
The limo stops outside the imposing Caesars Palace hotel. The
girls get out.
INT. SUITE. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. DAY
Their room has two Jacuzzis and a great view. More champagne
awaits them on ice. They click glasses overlooking the Vegas
skyline.
17.
INT. SHOPPING MALL. LAS VEGAS. DAY
The girls go shopping. Amber shops up a storm.
Praful tries a gorgeous dress that she likes on Ambers

insistence, but cant afford the $1200 price tag.
Praful buys a belt instead, and puts it on her credit card.

The card is declined. The cashier makes a face. Praful gives
another card and waits anxiously. It goes through.
INT. SUITE. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. NIGHT
The girls are getting dressed in the room. Vandana does

Ambers hair in rollers, while Amber painstakingly puts on
eye-shadow.
Praful steps out of the bathroom. She is wearing a long skirt

with big boots and a mismatched top. She puts on the new belt
and poses awkwardly in front of the mirror.
AMBER
Sweetie, yeh kya hain?
PRAFUL
Accha hain na?
VANDANA
Haan. Unees-sau nabbe ke hooker ke
liye.
Praful looks at Vandana in horror.
PRAFUL
Boots kuch zyada ho gaye?
AMBER
Baby, sabkuch zyada ho gaya. Aur
kya layi hain tu?
Praful opens her bag and takes out denims and corduroys. The
women make faces.
AMBER (CONTD)
Praf, sweetie, in denims aur
corduroys ko na, tu jala de. Kyonki
charity mein bhi koi nahi lene
wala.
Amber goes to her cupboard and scans through dresses. She

finds a short off shoulder dress and holds it on Praful.
18.
PRAFUL
Bahut tight lag raha hain.
AMBER
Tu na, saas rok-ke aur arse tok se
chal, sab theek hojayega.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. NIGHT
Praful exits the elevator in her tight dress, hair tied up.
She wobbles uncomfortably in stilettos, holding the wall for
support. She sees the casino and wanders inside.
INT. CASINO. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. NIGHT
Praful sees the slot machines. She sits down to play. She
wins a small amount! She looks towards two old ladies playing
next to her. The women smile. She plays again. She wins.
A waitress approaches her.
WAITRESS
Wine?
PRAFUL
Can I have a beer?
She hand her a beer. Praful hits the button. She wins again.
WAITRESS
You should cash in on your luck!
PRAFUL
Meaning?
WAITRESS
To make real money, you should play
Baccarat.
PRAFUL
Baccarat?
WAITRESS
Its the game James Bond plays!
Very simple and quick returns. Its
over there...
Praful looks at the other section.

19.
INT. CASINO. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. NIGHT
Praful walks to am empty Baccarat table. The dealer on the

table is a South Indian guy-MURTHY.
PRAFUL
Kaise khelte hain?
MURTHY
Baithon.
Praful sits.
MURTHY (CONTD)
Main do haath baatunga. Ek PLAYER
ko, ek BANKER ko. Tumhe dono mein
se ek pe bet lagana hain. Jis haath
ka total 9 ke sabse kareeb hoga,
wahi jeetega. Baccarat is all about
the number 9.
Just then an old man sits on the vacant chair next to her. He
takes out his chips to play.
MURTHY (CONTD)
(to Praful)
Want to play?
Praful nods. She takes out the ticket she won at the slots
and hands it to the dealer. Murthy gives her $300 worth of
chips in exchange.
MURTHY (CONTD)
(Nods at her)
Place your bets!!
Praful places $50 on PLAYER.
Murthy deals two hands. They look at it.
MURTHY (CONTD)
PLAYER total 7. BANK total 5.
PLAYER wins.
Murthy moves the chips towards Praful. She has won $100. She
smiles wide.
An older woman comes and sits on the table. Praful notices

her gorgeous dress.
MURTHY (CONTD)
Place your bets!
Praful places $50 on BANK.

20.
The cards are dealt.
MURTHY (CONTD)
BANKs total is 7. PLAYER gets two
Kings. Making the total 0.
Murthy deals a third card to PLAYER, it is a 9.
DEALER
Number 9. PLAYER beats BANK.
Praful loses her bet. Her chips are taken away. The lady
wins, the old man loses.
MURTHY
Place your bets please.
Praful takes out more counters and bets $100 on BANK. The
cards open.
MURTHY (CONTD)
PLAYER has a total of 7, BANK gets
an 8.
Praful wins $200!!
Prafuls heart starts beating faster and the surrounding

sounds tune out. She is feeling a rush of adrenaline.
A series of jump-cuts. Praful wins several more times. She is

getting more confident.
Praful puts all her counters on PLAYER. The cards are dealt,
Prafuls phone rings. She jumps a little with the sudden
interruption. She answers.
PRAFUL
Haan Vandana? Kaha ho tumlog?
She looks at the PLAYERS cards. A natural nine. She squeals

in excitement.
VANDANA
Meet us in the Lobby in ten
minutes. Limo wait kar raha hain!
PRAFUL
Main aayi.
Murthy pushes her winning counters towards her. Praful counts

and is elated. She looks at the older woman.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
$2000! I just won $2000!!
21.
The older woman shows no excitement. Murthy smiles.
INT. SHOPPING MALL. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Praful rushes the same shop where Amber had shopped earlier.
She buys the dress with the $1200 price tag and wears it.
INT. NIGHTCLUB. LAS VEGAS. NIGHT
The girls at the bar at a heaving party. Praful is looking

hot.
AMBER
I told you yeh dress tujhe suit
karega.
VANDANA
Praf, sexy! But yeh shoes??
We see the Praful is wearing mismatched shoes.
PRAFUL
Sab kuch perfect nahin hona
chahiye. Its boring!
The girls giggle. The cute bartender approaches them.
BARTENDER
What will you pretty ladies have?
AMBER
Well have you!
The girls laugh.
BARTENDER
Any drinks on the side?
AMBER
Jagermeister shots please!
BARTENDER
You got it!
He serves them the shots. The girls down it. Amber goes to
pay. Praful stops her and puts some fresh notes out to the
bartender.
PRAFUL
Drinks on me!
22.
AMBER
Are you sure baby?
The bartender returns with the change.
PRAFUL
Keep the change.
The bartender winks at her.
CUT TO:
The girls dance. A group of boys hits on the girls. Amber is

charmed by a handsome white boy. Vandana is close dancing
with a Black girl.
A stocky boy tries close dancing with Praful. Praful cant

match steps, she starts doing her own strange moves. He tries
to hit on her, but her mind is elsewhere.
Praful tries to get Ambers attention, but she is too busy

kissing the white boy..
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Amber, Im bored!
AMBER
(pulls away)
Kya main bored lag rahi hu??
PRAFUL
Main Hotel jaau?
AMBER
Shayad mein isko bhi saath le-
aungi. Room andar se lock mat
karna.
PRAFUL
Oh god!
The White boy pulls Amber away. Praful exits.
INT. CASINO. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. DAY
Praful walks into the hotel and heads straight for the
Casino. Her face begins to light up again. She sees the
Baccarat table and takes out her CREDIT CARD to buy some
chips.
Praful sits. An older Pakistani man, playing at the table,

smiles at her.
23.
DEALER
She places $50 on BANK. The dealer deals. Praful looks at her
cards.
DEALER (CONTD)
PLAYER gets a natural 9. BANK gets
a 7. PLAYER wins.
Praful loses the bet. The Pakistani Man wins.
She bets $50 on PLAYER. The dealer deals and Praful looks at
her cards.
DEALER (CONTD)
The BANK gets a total of 8, PLAYER
gets a 7. Bank wins.
Praful loses again. The Pakistani man wins. He watches as

Praful shakes her head and gets up to get a drink.
CUT TO:
Praful is at the bar drinking a beer. The Pakistani man

approaches the bartender.
KHAN
Ill have a whisky soda.
He sits next to Praful and smiles.
KHAN (CONTD)
Hi, Im Khan. Lahore se.
PRAFUL
Im Praful, from Atlanta.
KHAN
American? Tumhara accent toh Indian
hain...
PRAFUL
India mein badi hui. 17 saal ki thi
jaba yaha aayi.
KHAN
Hmmm. Uss umr mein mushkil raha
hoga, adjust karna?
PRAFUL
Thoda sa. Phir samajhne lagi ki
yaha American koi nahi. Har koi
baahar se aaya hain...
24.
Khan smiles. He seems to like Praful.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Kaafi jeet rahe the aap. Mere liye
koi tip?
KHAN
(laughs)
Tip? Baccarat mein jeetna mushkil
nahi.
PRAFUL
(makes a face)
Main toh haar ke uthi hu.
KHAN
Do round haar ke agar uth gayi, toh
iss game ko samjhi nahi tum.
Praful doesnt understand.
KHAN (CONTD)
Baccarat is a very fast game. Minto
mein aadmi malamal ho sakta hain.
Magar sabr zaruri hain...
Praful pays attention.
KHAN (CONTD)
...yaani accha bankroll hona zaruri
hain. Agar tumhare paas itne paise
ho ke 5-6 bets haar sako, toh uske
baad jeetna almost guaranteed hain.
Trick is to stay in the game. Bas!
PRAFUL
5-6 round kyon?
KHAN
Law of averages. Research batati
hain ke 5-6 round mein ek baar
jeetna almost sure hain.
PRAFUL
(excited)
Really?
Khan nods. The bartender hands him a bill..
PRAFUL (CONTD (CONTD)

Let me get this.
KHAN
No please.
25.
Praful grabs the bill.
PRAFUL
Main aapka tip free mein nahin le
sakti.
Khan laughs. Praful takes out her wallet. Chooses which card
to put. They click glasses.
CUT TO:
Praful walks to an ATM. She looks at her balance of $32,000.

She punches in $1000. She then changes her mind and makes it
$2000. She takes the money.
CUT TO:
Back at the Baccarat table, Praful sits and checks her money.
An elegant lady is already playing.
Praful bets $50 on PLAYER.
DEALER
PLAYER gets a total of 6, BANK gets
an 8. Bank wins.
Praful loses. The elegant lady wins. Praful counts one.
Praful bets $100 on BANK.
DEALER (CONTD)
PLAYER gets a total of 8, BANK has
a total of 7. PLAYER wins.
Praful loses the bet again. Praful counts two.
Praful bets $200 on PLAYER. Dealer deals.
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins.
Praful loses her bet. She counts three.
Praful nervously bets 400$ on BANK. Dealer deals.
DEALER (CONTD)
The BANKs 8 beats the PLAYERs 6.
Praful finally wins. $800. She smiles as she counts four on

her fingers.
Praful goes to bet the entire $1600 on PLAYER. Her phone

rings.
26.
PRAFUL
Haan Vandana.
VANDANA
Amber ne kuch zyada pee li..
DEALER
PLAYER gets a 9, which beats the
BANKs 8.
Praful wins $3200. She screams with joy!
VANDANA
Praful??
PRAFUL
Sorry. Kaha ho tumlog.
VANDANA
Kamre mein..
PRAFUL
Ok. Main aayi.
INT. CAESARS PALACE HOTEL. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Praful is at the cashier, haphazardly holding all her chips

in her hand. She even drops a few, but smiles sweetly. The
cashier counts some money.
CASHIER
(smiles)
Thats $3200.
Praful whistles.
INT. CAESARS PALACE HOTEL. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Praful enters the room to see Amber throwing up in the

toilet. Vandana is helping her.
PRAFUL
Kya hua?
VANDANA
17 shots pee gayi. Jab gore ne kiss
karne ki koshish ki toh...
Vandana giggles. Praful makes a face and gestures to Vandana

that shell take over.
27.
PRAFUL
Tu theek hain Amber?
AMBER
Praf. Sab khatam hone wala hain
yaar.
PRAFUL
Nonsense. Tu kitni excited hain
shaadi ko leke.
AMBER
Sab dikhawa hain. Actually Im
really scared.
PRAFUL
Phir kyon kar rahi hain?
AMBER
Main teri tarah independent nahin
hu yaar. Mere paas koi plan B
nahin hain.
PRAFUL
Itni senti mat ho Amber.
AMBER
I envy you Praf. Tu wahi karti hain
joh tu chahti hain, kaash main...
Amber throws up again. Praful rubs her back.
PRAFUL
Its ok...its ok...
AMBER
(recovers)
Praf, pata hain, jab tu nayi nayi
aayi thi US, toh sab tere accent
ka, tere kapdon ka, mazaak udaate
the...
PRAFUL
Pata hain.
AMBER
Main bhi thoda embarrassed thi.
Praful nods.
AMBER (CONTD)
Lekin Maa ne mujhe force kiya, ki
tera khayal rakhu.
28.
PRAFUL
Aur rakha bhi Ammu. You are my best
friend.
Praful starts helping Amber up.
AMBER
I love you Praf. Im sorry, tujhe
samajhne mein time lag gaya.
Praful tucks her in bed.
PRAFUL
Mujhe kabhi bura nahi laga.
CUT TO:
Amber snores. We see Praful wide awake in bed.
She looks out of the window where she sees the world finest
casinos lit up for a nights play. Prafuls eyes glisten.
The girls wheel their bags out towards a waiting cab. We see
that Amber and Vandana are going, not Praful
AMBER
You sure tu nahi aana chahti?
PRAFUL
Kamra ek aur din ke liye book hain.
Kal aa jaungi.
AMBER
Sorry babe, maine ek raat mein
poore trip ki pee lee. Ab party
nahin hota mujhse.
PRAFUL
Toh mere saath casino mein chal.
You know how much I made yesterday?
AMBER
Beginners luck tha Praf. Tu is
gambling-wambling ke chakkar mein
matt pad!
PRAFUL
Safe khelungi. Promise!
29.
Amber gives Praful a kiss and they leave in the cab. Praful
walks inside and caresses the money she won last night.
CUT TO:
Praful walks to an ATM and checks her balance. It is $30,000.

She punches in $5000.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
(to herself)
Jeeti toh, flat ka saara down
payment haath mein aajayega. Uske
liye kam-se-kam chhe round ka
bankroll chahiye...
Praful changes the amount to $15000. She withdraws the money

and walks to the tale.
CUT TO:
Back at the Baccarat table, Praful sits and checks her money.
She seems to have a decent bankroll.
DEALER
This is a minimum $500 table.
Praful is about to get up when she sees an Arab man smirk at

her.
She sits back down and bets $500 on BANK.
DEALER (CONTD)
PLAYER gets a total of 6, BANK gets
an 8. Bank wins.
Praful wins. The Arab man loses. Praful gives him a dirty
look.
DEALER (CONTD)
Place your bets!
The Arab man bets $2000 on Player. Praful bets $1000 on BANK.
DEALER (CONTD)
PLAYER gets a total of 8, BANK has
a total of 7. PLAYER wins.
Praful loses the bet again. The Arab man wins and gives
Praful a dirty look. He bets $2000 on BANK. Praful bets $2000
on PLAYER. Dealer deals. Praful taps her foot nervously.
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins.
30.
Praful loses the bet. The Arab man wins.
Montage shots of Praful losing. Her face starts to look tired

as her chips deplete.
Praful nervously bets her last $8000 on BANK. Dealer deals.

Praful bites her lip.
DEALER (CONTD)
PLAYER gets a 9, which beats the
BANKs 8.
Praful loses. The Arab wins.
Praful has lost half her savings. As she gets up, she sees
the Arab smirk
ARAB PLAYER
Try the $50 table.
Praful glares at him and walks off angrily.
INT. TAXI. VEGAS AIRPORT. NIGHT
Praful sleeps in the back of a cab, and the Vegas lights pass
her by. The taxi stops at the airport and she awakens.
EXT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful steps out of a cab and rings the doorbell of her

house. No one answers. She rings again. Again no answer.
Praful dials her mother.
PRAFUL
Maa? Darwaza khol ne?
KUMUD VO
Praful, mujhe kholne nahi de rahe
hain..
Praful hears her parents fight. The line gets cut.
PRAFUL
Maa?
The fighting reaches the door.
MOHAN VO
Kal raat kaha thi? Aa Patel motel
chhe kya??
31.
PRAFUL
Flight miss ho gaya..
MOHAN VO
Toh Amber kaise aa gayi time pe??
PRAFUL
I dont know. Security jaldi clear
kar gayi..uske hand luggage mein
shampoo nahi tha..
KUMUD VO
Ae Mohan, jo bolna hain na, andar
bol. Beech raat ko, jawan ladki
ghar ke baahar khadi hain!
PRAFUL
Pappa, darwaza kholo please.
A livid Mohan opens the door and Praful enters.
MOHAN
Itni badi ho gayi hain ke ek phone
nahi kar sakti? Mere kitne calls
kaate hain tune?
PRAFUL
(shouts back)
You cant treat me like this dad?
Kya main bacchi hu??
Kumud shuts the door, hoping the neighbors wont hear.
MOHAN
Agar iss ghar mein rehna hain, toh
you have to follow my rules...
Praful is about to say something. Kumud holds her back.
KUMUD
Behas se kuch haasil nahi hone
wala. Tu so ja. Kal subah kaam pe
jaana hain na.
MOHAN
Kyon beech mein taang adati ho?
Main apne beti se khud baat nahi
kar sakta??
KUMUD
Tum baat nahin karte, sirf chillate
ho. Kal subah, thande dimaag se
baat karlo. Jaa Praful.
32.
Praful begins walking up the stairs.
MOHAN
(to Praful)
Light ka bill tere table pe rakha
hain. Bhar de.
PRAFUL
Lekin, mere paas paise nahi..
MOHAN
Vegas jaa sakti hain, magar ghar
mein haath nahi bata sakti??
KUMUD
Bhar degi. Aap chinta mat karo.
Praful goes up the stairs and shuts the door. Kumud enters.
She takes out some money.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Yeh le. Bhar le bill.
PRAFUL
Magar Maa.
KUMUD
Kuch hee din ki baat hain. Main
nahin chahti tere flat mein koi
rukawat hon.
Praful nods.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Down payment ke paise ko chuaa toh
nahi?
Praful nods to say no. She is feeling guilty.
Monotonous shots.
Praful vacuums the floor.
Praful cleans the toilet bowl.
Praful arranges the shampoos. She gets a phone call.
PRAFUL
Hi Steven?
33.
STEVEN
We were supposed to meet today for
the paperwork. I have another bid
on the house.
PRAFUL
No No. Hold that place Steve. Im
just waiting for my bank to approve
the personal loan.
INT. BANK. ATLANTA. DAY
We see the hustle bustle of a busy bank. At the watercooler,

Praful drinks water from the cup, without touching her lips.
Cynthia approaches.
CYNTHIA
Follow me Ms Patel.
Praful drops the water.
CUT TO:
Cynthia arranges all Prafuls paperwork and takes her time.

Praful waits nervously.
PRAFUL
Cynthia, Is the loan approved?
CYNTHIA
Give me a moment please.
Praful looks around the bank.
CYNTHIA (CONTD)
Ms Patel, Ive gone through your
account, and as much as Id like to
help...you're not eligible for a
loan!
PRAFUL
But why?
CYNTHIA
Your credit rating is really low.
You are spending more than you are
putting back. You often use your
entire credit limit, and off late,
you seem to have half emptied your
account...in one day!
34.
PRAFUL
Thats because Im flat broke!
Thats why I need the money!
CYNTHIA
If you really want the loan, I
suggest you work to improve your
funds over the next few months..
PRAFUL
This is crazy. If I have good
enough funds why would I need a
loan?
CYNTHIA
Im sorry thats how banks work Ms
Patel.
PRAFUL
Actually, they dont work, lady.
Thanks for your time.
Cynthia nods condescendingly. Praful exits the bank.
INT. CAR. ATLANTA ROADS. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful drives slowly thinking of what to do.
EXT. LAKE. ATLANTA. DAY
We see Prafuls parked car. She is sitting by a serene lake

looking at the calm water. She seems disturbed but the
environment gives her clarity. She thinks.
Praful parks badly, half on the sidewalk. Mohan opens the

door and heaves a sigh of relief.
MOHAN
Chalo, kam se kam mera garden to
bach gaya.
Praful hugs her dad.
PRAFUL
Hi dad!
MOHAN
Arre wah! Aaj Pappa pe bada pyaar
aa raha hain.
35.
Kumud serves dinner. Mohan eats quietly. Praful wants to say

something, but cant find the guts.
PRAFUL
(to kumud)
Maa, naye flat mein na open kitchen
rakhenge. Taaki burner se garam
khana pass ho sake.
KUMUD
(looks at Mohan)
Hmmmm.
Mohan ignores the comment.
Beat.
PRAFUL
Pappa, main chahti hu aap bhi flat
dekh lo..
MOHAN
Achanak kya hua?
PRAFUL
As an investment for you. Area
bahut hee appreciate hone wala
hain.
MOHAN
Meri kya zarurat hain? Paise toh
toone arrange kiye hue hain na?
PRAFUL
Mostly arranged hain. Par thoda
shortfall hain.
MOHAN
Kitne ka?
PRAFUL
Yahi kuch 30-40,000 ka.
MOHAN
(laughs)
Thoda shortfall?
KUMUD
Personal loan ke liye apply kiya
tha na? Kya hua?
36.
MOHAN
(smirks)
Nahi mila?
PRAFUL
Nahi. But Hotel se agar undertaking
letter mil jaye, toh ho jana
chahiye..
MOHAN
(sarcastic)
Really? Toh koshish zarur karna.
Praful stares at him.
PRAFUL
Toh aap invest nahin karna chahte?
MOHAN
Invest? Mujhe nahin lagta ki tumhe
investment ke baare mein malum
hain.
KUMUD
Praful, kuch problem ho gayi kya?
MOHAN
Agar madat chahti ho, toh saaf saaf
kyon nahin puchti?
PRAFUL
Madat? Chalo, aap jaise chaho dekh
lo.
MOHAN
Hmmm. Kar sakta hu help. But ek
shart hain..
PRAFUL
Ofcourse, woh pyar hee kya jisme
sharte na ho. Boliye Pappa.
MOHAN
Main chahta hu ki tum ladke dekhna
shuru kar do...
Praful chews her food slowly.
PRAFUL
Aapko shaadi ki siwa aur koi topic
sujta nahin hain kya?
37.
KUMUD
Praful, milne mein koi harj nahin
beta...
PRAFUL
Aapke sharton ke bina manage kar
lungi! Goodnight!
Praful walks up the stairs. Mohan gives Kumud a I told you

so look.
INT. PRAFULS ROOM. MOHANS HOUSE. NIGHT
Praful sits at her desk. She nervously chews her fingernails.

She suddenly opens her laptop and begins searching for
flights. To Vegas!
INT. VEGAS AIRPORT. DAY
Praful walks in the airport lobby purposefully. She seems to

be better dressed and determined.
INT. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL CASINO. DAY
Praful enters the casino with people in expensive suits and

diamonds.
She walks to the ATM and checks her balance. She has $15,000
left in her account.
Praful thinks for a moment and then quickly withdraws it all.
PRAFUL
(to herself)
Zero ho gaye to kya hua Praful, kal
subah kam se kam $70,000 honge!
Praful walks excitedly towards the Baccarat section. She sees

three tables; minimum bet $500, minimum bet $1000 and minimum
bet $5000. She stops at the $500 Baccarat table. The croupier
Murthy recognizes her.
MURTHY
Nice to see you back.
Praful waves sweetly. A waitress smiles and approaches

Praful.
WAITRESS
What can I get you?
38.
PRAFUL
Ill have a beer...
WAITRESS
(makes a face)
Beer? We have some great champagne.
PRAFUL
Ok then!
Praful takes the champagne. Murthy winks at her. She is

excited to be treated with recognition & sits like a queen.
MURTHY
(slides his hand across the
felt)
Place your bets!
PRAFUL
$500, on Player.
Praful bets $500 on PLAYER. Murthy deals.
MURTHY
PLAYER gets a natural 9. Bank gets
a 4. Player wins.
Praful wins the hand. Her nervousness subsides a bit and she
places another bet.
PRAFUL
$1000 on player!
Murthy deals.
MURTHY
Bank wins.
Praful loses the bet. She counts her chips and bets.
PRAFUL
$2000 on Bank
Murthy deals.
MURTHY
Bank wins!
Praful smiles & bets on BANK.
PRAFUL
$4000 on Bank.
Cards are dealt.

39.
MURTHY
BANK loses to PLAYER.
Praful loses the bet. She counts 8k in chips.
Murthy is paying off bets. Praful signals for a drink, the

waitress hands her Champagne. She downs it in one go.
MURTHY (CONTD)
Place your bets!
PRAFUL
$8000 on Player.
Cards are dealt. Praful takes a large gulp of the Champagne.
MURTHY
TIE!
PRAFUL
Shit!
Praful loses $8,000. She nervously starts shaking her leg.

She counts her chips.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
(to herself)
Sirf $4000 hain.
Praful grabs another Champagne and places a bet. A tall older

black man watches Praful.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
$4000 on Player.
Murthy deals. They see the cards.
MURTHY
(looks sadly at Praful)
Bank wins.
Praful gets up angry. She is a little drunk and almost falls

over. She walks to the bar.
PRAFUL
One beer, actually, give me
Champagne.
The bartender pours her a drink and gives her a bill. Praful
gives her credit card. The older black man, JEREMIAH 58, and
a Hispanic smaller guy, BUGS, 36, approach her.
JEREMIAH
Hey. Tough luck.
40.
Praful nods and sips her champagne.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
(to bartender)
Gin. On Ice.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
We were watching you play. You have
a great game.
PRAFUL
I do?
JEREMIAH
Yeah. I saw you double your bets
after every loss. Smart.
PRAFUL
But I didnt win.
BUGS
If you had played on longer...
PRAFUL
Im cleaned out.
JEREMIAH
Do you want to win it back?
BUGS
You know you can.
PRAFUL
How?
JEREMIAH
We can lend you the money. Thats
what we do.
BUGS
You play, you win, you pay back.
Praful is unsure.
JEREMIAH
Hey, think about it. We wouldnt
have approached you if we didnt
think you could win.
Jeremiah finishes his drink and gets up to go.
PRAFUL
You charge interest?
41.
INT. CAR PARK. CAESERS PALACE. DAY
Praful walks with Jeremiah and bugs to a parked car with a

big guy sitting inside. They all sit inside. Bugs begins
counting money.
JEREMIAH
Are you sure 32k is enough? We can
give you more?
PRAFUL
No, that should cover me 5-6
rounds.
BUGS
I told you boss, shes got a great
strategy.
Bugs hands her the money in a packet.
JEREMIAH
Count it.
Praful counts a few and then stops.
PRAFUL
Im sure its fine.
JEREMIAH
We charge 15% interest.
PRAFUL
Ok.
JEREMIAH
Bugs will hang around, till you
win. Just give him the cash with
the interest, and were square.
Praful nods.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
Dont look so worried. Go make a
million.
Praful smiles. Bugs exits with her.
INT. CAESARS PALACE CASINO. LAS VEGAS. DAY
Praful walks nervously to a Baccarat table with a small paper

bag in her hand. Bugs sits at the nearby bar.
42.
DEALER
Minimum bets $500.
Praful buys chips worth .
DEALER (CONTD)
Place your bets!
Praful bets $500 on PLAYER.
PLAYER gets a 4. The BANK gets an 8.
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins.
Praful loses.
She thinks for a moment and then bets $1,000 on PLAYER.
PRAFUL
$1,000
PLAYER gets a 7. The BANK has an 8.
DEALER
BANK beats PLAYER.
Praful loses $1,000.
DEALER (CONTD)
Place your bets!
Praful plays $2,000 on PLAYER.
The dealer deals. Prafuls takes a Champagne from a waitress.
DEALER (CONTD)
Player gets 6. Bank gets an 8.
Player is dealt a card.
Praful watches as the card is opened. It is a 1.
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins!
Praful stares at the cards in anger. Everything moves in a

drunken haze now. Cards dissolving into each other. Croupiers
voice distorting, laughing patrons, diamonds...
Praful bets $4000 on Bank. Player wins. She loses.
DISSOLVE TO:
43.
Praful bets $8,000 on Player. Bank Wins. She loses.
DISSOLVE TO:
Praful tries to focus on her remaining chips. She only has

enough for 1 bet of 16k left.
DEALER (CONTD)
Place your bets.
Praful tentatively moves $16,000 towards PLAYER. She then

changes her mind and moves her chips to BANK.
DEALER (CONTD)
No more...
In the nick of time, Praful pulls away her chips and sits
out.
DEALER (CONTD)
No more bets please!
The cards are dealt. Praful takes support of the table and
gets up to leave. She turns around curiously to see who
won...
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins.
Praful realizes she would have won.
PRAFUL
Shit!
The dealer clears the table. A young couple squeal with joy
as they win big.
DEALER
Praful cant decide whether to play or to leave.
A guy at the table takes out his cigarettes to smoke. Praful

looks at the packet. The brand is called PLAY. The letters
starts to dance around the pack.
Praful reads it and suddenly decides to sit down. In her

stupor, she takes out ALL her chips and thinks where to bet.
PRAFUL
(to herself)
Pichle do round BANK ne jeete hain.
(MORE)
44.
PRAFUL (CONT'D)
Teesri baar jeetne ki kya chances
hain?
Praful bets her remaining $16,000 on PLAYER.
The cards are dealt. Praful closes her eyes and prays. She
opens her eyes and sees the cards.
DEALER
PLAYER has a 5 The BANK has a 4.
Praful is getting excited. PLAYER is dealt a card it is a 3.
DEALER (CONTD)
Player gets a 3 making the total 8.
Praful takes a deep breath and relaxes.
The dealer opens a card for BANK. He puts it down on the

table. It is a 5.
DEALER (CONTD)
Bank wins. Again.
Praful watches in horror as her last chips go to the dealer,

She looks into the paper bag, it is empty. She now owes
Jeremiah $32,000 that she doesnt have. Her head spins!
INT. CASINO. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. DAY
Praful sneaks out of the room, avoiding Bugs at the bar. She
enters the janitor room and steals a housekeeping uniform.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY. CAESERS PALACE HOTEL. DAY
She then slips out of the Casino, doing what she does best
cleaning the floors! Jeremiahs men walk past her but dont
notice.
Praful hails a cab and gets in. Bugs comes out looking for
her, but she ducks in the cab and it speeds away...
INT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
The house is filled with several mithai boxes, piled up in

the hallway. Kumud is counting, while Mohan is checking boxes
in a form. Praful enters and nervously looks at her father.
45.
KUMUD
Praful, yeh koi time hain aane ka?
PRAFUL
Maine bola tha, Vandana ke yaha reh
gayi thi.
Mohan ignores Praful. He is engrossed in his boxes.
MOHAN
Kitne hain?
KUMUD
15 hain.
Mohan makes note of it.
PRAFUL
Aa su chhe?
KUMUD
Mohan ka nayya import. Rajkot se
farsan order kiya hain. Aa taste
kar.
She opens a box and gives Praful some ghaatia-sev. Praful

eats it.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Kaisa laga ghaatia?
PRAFUL
(mutters)
Ghatiya!
KUMUD
Kya?
PRAFUL
Tip-Top!
She begins walking up the stairs. Mohan looks at her for the
first time.
MOHAN
Praful, ek rishta aaya hain, Rajkot
se..
Praful ignores.
KUMUD
Acche log hain. Milne mein koi harj
nahin.
46.
Praful goes up and shuts her door.
INT. PRAFULS ROOM. MOHANS HOUSE. DAY
Praful lies down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
FADE OUT.
INT. ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful in her work routine. She is cleaning the bathtub.
She cleans the toilet bowl.
She vacuums the room. Mike enters and points to a spot she
needs to redo. Mike leaves. Praful makes a face.
She makes the bed and puts a made-up sign.
Praful stands on the train. An elegant woman walks in wearing

a rich dress. Praful stares at her. Life is back to normal.
Praful sits all made up like a perfect Indian bahu. She and
her parents are having tea with the Parekhs, an older
Gujarati couple. Their nephew Sameer, 32, is here to see
Praful.
MOHAN
Beta, aa chhe Parekh uncle ane
aunty. Tujhe kausal bhai yaad hain?
Jinka Rajkot mein hosiery ki dukaan
hain? Yeh unke chachere bhai, aur
yeh Sameer, Kausal ka bada ladka.
PRAFUL
Pranaam uncle aunty.
MR & MRS PAREKH

Pranaam beta.
SAMEER
(to Praful)
Aapko Pinky aur Suyash ke shaadi
mein dekha tha, Ahemdabad mein...
47.
PRAFUL
Mujhe yaad nahin. Usko 15 saal ho
gaye.
MRS PAREKH
Hotel mein kaam karti ho?
PRAFUL
Haan. Housekeeping mein.
MRS PAREKH
Bau fine. House will be neat and
tidy. Housewife is aakhir
housekeeper only!
Praful widens eyes in disbelief.
SAMEER
Mohanbhai bata rahe the ki tum is
Hotel mein 7 saal se kaam kar rahi
ho...
MRS PAREKH
Direct divorce ke baad ne?
Sameer gives his aunt a dirty look, she shuts up.
SAMEER
I mean, 7 saal ek hee company ko
kaun samarpit karta hain aaj? Zarur
team acchi hogi.
PRAFUL
Not really. But its a job. Aap kya
karte ho?
MRS PAREKH
Sameer yaha MBA karna chahta hain,
uska ek start up ka plan hain. He
want to be the self-made man, haina
Sameer?
MOHAN
Acha? Kaun sa start up?
SAMEER
Ek APP banane ki yojna hain uncle.
KUMUD
Arre wah, aajkal sablog apps use
kar rahe hain. Meri friend Roshni,
ghar se nikalti hee nahin. Grocery,
housepainting, gardening, sab ke
liye APP hain...
48.
MOHAN
Abhi toh Puja-paath ke liye bhi APP
hain. Puja going on in Brooklyn but
pujari sitting in Banares.
Mr Parekh laughs.
SAMEER
Mera APP bhi sanskriti se
sambandhit hain. Us-se aap Bharat
ke saare dharmik sthalon ka seedha
prasaran dekh sakte hain, darshan
kar sakte hain.
MOHAN
Su vaat chhe? Dharmik chokra madi
gayo Parekh bhai.
MR PAREKH
Arre dharm to ekach chhe Mohanbhai,
Business no dharm.
PRAFUL
Log in sthalon mein chaadar, bhog
vagaira chadhane jaate hain. Sirf
live darshan se kya hoga?
SAMEER
Iske baare mein bhi socha hua hain.
Hum mandiron aur sansthaon ke
sahyog se donations aur chadhave ke
options, APP pe uplabdh karenge.
Yaani ke ek button se chaadar

chadhao, ek button se 21 gareebo ko
khaana khilao.
MOHAN
Instant Karma! Wah!!
They all laugh.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Kabhi sapne bhi nahi socha tha ke
Praful ke liye Sameer jaisa rishta
ayega. Beta, tujhe pata hain,
Sameer is not divorcee.
Praful glares at her father. Kumud holds her hand.
KUMUD
I think bacchon ko ek-do baar akele
mein bhi milna chahiye. Kyon Nita
ben?
49.
MRS PAREKH
Haan, haan, kyon nahin.
Mohan nods.
MR PAREKH
Yeh accha ho gaya ke Kausal ka
export licence tumhare farsan
business mein kaam aa gaya.
Praful is surprised to hear this.
MRS PAREKH
Haan, rishta aready ho gaya samjho.
MOHAN
Haan, ab bacche ek doosre ko pasand
kare toh sky is the limit I tell
you. Kausal aur main saath mein
Atlanta ka number one farsan
karobar banayenge. Kyon Sameer?
Sameer tries to make eye-contact with Praful, but she looks

away.
Praful is undressing. Kumud enters.
KUMUD
Mujhe accha laga Ladka.
PRAFUL
Phir tu hee kar le shaadi.
KUMUD
(laughs)
Kar leti. Agar itni boodhi nahi
hoti.
PRAFUL
Boodhi kaha hain tu? Salman Khan se
sirf 2 saal badi hain!
KUMUD
(laughs)
Akele mil-le Sameer se, tujhe bhi
pasand ayega.
PRAFUL
Hmmm. Ek Hindi dictionary lekar
jaungi..
50.
KUMUD
(smiles)
Lagta hain desh ki mitti se judda
hain woh.
PRAFUL
Phir America ke sapne kyon dekh
raha hain?
KUMUD
To kya hua? Videsh to Swami
Vivekanand aur Gandhiji bhi gaye
the.
PRAFUL
Hmmm. Kapde bhi ussi zamane ke
pehne hue hain. Koi pant itna uncha
pehnta hain kya?
KUMUD
Shaadi ke baad tu le ja usse
shopping.
PRAFUL
Shaadi toh Pappa ko karni hain uske
daddy se. Farsan ka swarna milan!
KUMUD
(laughs)
Tereko usse kya? Ladka pasand ho,
toh hee haan karna. Ok?
PRAFUL
Goodnight ma!
Kumud leaves.
INT. BANQUET HALL. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Ambers wedding. A grand banquet hall, well decorated, with

many chatty guests in attendance. We see Prafuls parents bond
with Ambers parents Naresh & Pushpa.
NARESH
Where is your drink Mohanbhai??
MOHAN
Kuch der baad Nareshbhai. Abhi to
raat jawan hain.
51.
NARESH
Nonsense. Kumud behn aap inko
tension mat do please. Bacchi ki
shaadi hain.
KUMUD
Main kahan tension deti hu. Tension
to baad mein hoga, jab yeh nashe
mein gaadi chalayenge.
NARESH
Toh Praful kis liye hain. Woh
chalayegi na gaadi.
MOHAN
Wahi to tension hain Nareshbhai!
NARESH
Waiter!
A waiter comes with a tray.
NARESH (CONTD)
One whisky please. On the rocks.
Mohan takes the glass. Kumud makes a face.
KUMUD
Main zara Pushpa se milkar aati hu.
She leaves.
NARESH
Pata nahi aurat aur whisky ki kya
dushmani hain? Bottle kholu toh
dono auratein sar pe chaddh jati
hain...
MOHAN
(laughs)
Chalo ek ko toh bida kar rahe hain.
NARESH
Haan. Lekin Praful ko kab bida
karoge Mohan? Shes over 30!
MOHAN
Ladka dekha hain. Woh Parekh
hosiery ka beta.
NARESH
Divorcee hain?
52.
MOHAN
Nahin.
NARESH
Phir kaise maan liya?
MOHAN
Ladka accha hain.
Naresh nods.
INT. GREEN ROOM. BANQUET HALL. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Vandana and Ambers other friends are rehearsing a dance.

Praful is trying to catch the moves. Amber is upset.
AMBER
Not done Praf! Main ek mahine se
tujhe rehearsals pe bula rahi hu,
aur tu ek baar bhi nahi aayi.
PRAFUL
Arre tension kyon leti hain Amber?
Ho jayega. Yeh gaana toh main acchi
tarah se jaanti hu. Vandana, bas
woh ghoomne wala step dikhana.
VANDANA
Dhyan se dekh.
Vandana does a spiral turn. 5 other girls follow her. Praful

tries, but cant spin 360 degrees.
VANDANA (CONTD)
Yeh kya kamar se turn kar rahi
hain. From your heel babes.
Praful attempts it again. Vandana gets frustrated.
AMBER
Shes going to ruin it. Vandy iska
step change kar.
VANDANA
Kya?? Not fair. Phir in dono ka
step bhi change karna hoga...
AMBER
Kar de!
Vandana shows Praful a half-turn move. Praful watches

intently.
53.
INT. BANQUET HALL. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Sameer enters the marriage hall. He is wearing an ill-fitting

jacket and a pair of jeans pulled way above his waists. He
looks for Mohan and finds him by the bar.
SAMEER
Pranaam uncle.
MOHAN
Haan Sameer. Drink loge?
SAMEER
Main sharaab nahin peeta.
Beat
MOHAN
Naturally. Shaadi kaha hui
tumhaari?
Sameer laughs.
SAMEER
Aunty aur Praful kaha hain?
MOHAN
Aunty log waha kone mein ghusar-
pusar kar rahe hain. Praful ladkion
ke saath dance rehearsal kar rahi
hain..
SAMEER
Accha? Woh dance bhi karti hain?
We hear music start. Mohan points towards the stage.
MOHAN
Khud hee decide kar lo.
On stage, Praful and the girls dance. It starts off nicely,

but soon Praful cant match their moves. She struggles for a
bit, and then begins doing her own thing.
Praful gets lost in her own cool moves. She is the centre of
attention. People enjoy it, but a couple of the girls are
pissed off.
Vandana pulls Sameer and a couple of other guys to dance.

Sameer has two left feet and dances badly. He looks towards
Praful for help.
Praful shows him a move. Amber looks at Sameers dressing

style and gives Praful a disapproving look.
54.
A young boy runs up to Praful and whispers in her ear. The

boy leads her out of the hall. Sameer watches her go.
EXT. BANQUET HALL. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Praful goes outside the hall and is shocked at what she sees.
Jeremiah and his men are standing outside. Praful doesnt
know whether to run or hide.
JEREMIAH
Ms Patel. Weve been looking for
you.
PRAFUL
I..was going to call you.
JEREMIAH
Well, you should have. We tried
your number, seems you changed it.
Took us a while to find your house,
but you werent there. Youve made
us run around quite a bit...
Sameer comes out looking for Praful. He sees her standing

with strangers.
SAMEER
Yeh kaun hain?
PRAFUL
Housekeeping manager hain. Kuch
zaruri kaam hain.
SAMEER
Ok.
PRAFUL
Jaiye na. Main aati hu.
Sameer goes inside.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Can we talk outside? Please?
JEREMIAH
Get in the car.
Jeremiah holds Praful by her arm and pushes her inside a car.
The car drives off.
55.
INT. JEREMIAHS CAR. SAN JOSE. NIGHT
The car drives out of the venue and parks outside. Praful
sits silently. Jeremiah stares at her, but she doesnt make
eye-contact.
JEREMIAH
You ran off with my 32k, bitch. Its
been 30 days..
PRAFUL
Im sorry, I lost it at the casino,
I..
Jeremiah slaps her hard. Praful is shocked.
JEREMIAH
With interest, you owe me $44k. For
the month it took us to find you,
Ill put costs at $5k. Why dont we
round it up to $50k? I want that
money now!
PRAFUL
(horrified)
I really dont have it. I lost it
all..
JEREMIAH
Lets go in and have this
conversation shall we?
Beat.
PRAFUL
Look, Ill find the money Jeremiah,
but give me sometime..
Beat
JEREMIAH
Ill give you one week.
PRAFUL
I...I dont have...Its not enough
time..
Jeremiah slaps her again. Praful falls between the seats of

the SUV. Jeremiah pulls her by her hair. She is bleeding from
the mouth.
JEREMIAH
You think you could pay me back
next week Ms Patel?
56.
Praful is sobbing.
PRAFUL
I..I will..I need..
JEREMIAH
You think I should talk to Mohan
Patel?
Praful looks at him in shock.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
Or Naresh Patel? If hes not too
busy with his daughters wedding?
PRAFUL
Please dont, Ill get the money.
JEREMIAH
You do make a pretty sight Ms
Patel. Lets show you off to your
family.
PRAFUL
No. I promise to find the money.
But one week is too less...
Jeremiah goes to slap her again. Praful backs off and covers
her face. Jeremiah pulls her hands off and sees the blood
smeared over her face.
He then takes out his handkerchief and begins wiping the

blood off Prafuls mouth.
JEREMIAH
(gently)
Rob a house, rob a bank. I dont
care how you do it. You have one
week.
Praful nods.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
Now get out.
Praful recovers from the shock.
PRAFUL
Just one minute please.
Praful looks in the mirror and wipes her face clean. She
adjusts her hair to cover a bruise. She makes a pretty face
and exits.
57.
Jeremiah shakes his head in disbelief as he sees Praful walk

to the hall as if nothing happened.
INT. BANQUET HALL. SAN JOSE. NIGHT
Praful stands with her parents as Amber and her fiance get
married. Praful watches the garlands being exchanged, but her
mind is somewhere else. Sameer notices her.
SAMEER
Aap dono ek doosre ke kareeb ho?
PRAFUL
Haan.
Beat
SAMEER
Aap Bhaavuk type ki nahi lagti?
PRAFUL
Bhaavuk?
SAMEER
Emotional.
PRAFUL
Sab kuch dikhana zaruri hain?
Sameer laughs. Amber gets married.
Praful cant sleep at night. She hears a car in the street

and goes to the window to check. There is no one. She makes a
call.
PRAFUL
Amber?
AMBER
Ek baje hain Praful! Kya hua?
PRAFUL
Kuch paison ki zarurat pad gayi
yaar.
Praful hears a man make some noise next to Amber.
AMBER
Praful, this is my wedding night!
58.
PRAFUL
Sorry Amber, I just...mujhe kuch
paise chahiye.
AMBER
Kyon?
PRAFUL
Amber, bata, hain ki nahin?
Amber is distracted.
MAN VO
Amber, kis se baat kar rahi ho?
AMBER
(to guy)
Mere boyfriend se. You have a
problem?
PRAFUL
Amber?
AMBER
Praful, Iske liye Home Theatre
khareed rahi hu. Is mahine mushkil
hain...
Praful hears the man moan, Amber giggles.
AMBER (CONTD)
Stop it you!
Praful, can I go please? Hero nahin

to hartal pe chala jayega.
PRAFUL
(laughs)
Go!
AMBER
Goodnight.
Praful disconnects the phone and sits alone, thinking.
Praful at work. Salma and her are cleaning a room.
SALMA
Yeh pillow case change nahi kiya?
59.
PRAFUL
Sorry, miss ho gaya.
SALMA
Soyi nahi kya?
Prafuls phone rings. Praful takes the call and walks into the
bathroom.
PRAFUL
Hey Kiran, thanks for calling back.
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Jitna bhi ho sake...10k?
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Kam paise bhi chalenge..
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Of course I understand. Yeah,
schooling itna mehnga ho gaya hain,
haan, hmmm, accha sun, Ill call
you back..
Praful disconnects, takes a deep breath and calls another

number.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Vandana, yaar, I need a favor..ek
loan mil sakta hain.
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Yahi kuch 10-15 hazaar...
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
(disappointed)
Oh, accha. Congrats, kaunsi gaadi
lee hain?
The bathroom door opens and Mr MIKE stands there looking at

her on the phone.
60.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Vandy, main baad mein call karti
hu..
She cuts the call.
MIKE
What the hell is this Praful? Bahar
tumhare colleagues kaam kar rahe
hain aur tum yaha phone pe chat kar
rahi ho??
PRAFUL
Sorry MIKE, kuch problem ho gaya
tha.
MIKE
Apne problems apne ghar pe rakho
please. Yaha tumhara sabse bada
problem hona chahiye ki Salma
tumhare hisse ke bedsheets kyon
change rahi hain?
PRAFUL
Main abhi kar deti hu.
MIKE
Ho gaya already. In fact, maine
Salma ko tumhare doosre kamre bhi
de diye. Mujhe lagta hain tumhe aaj
chutti le leni chahiye.
PRAFUL
I said Im sorry Mr MIKE, ek
genuine problem thi...
MIKE
Toh apne time pe apne probem ka
solution dhundo. Tumhe absent mark
kiya jayega. Without pay.
Praful is shocked.
PRAFUL
Mike! This is not fair. Tum kisi
personal issue ki wajah se mujhe
aise treat kar rahe ho...
MIKE
Personal? Are you accusing me of
being unprofessional? Aur apne aap
ko itna importance mat do Praful,
tumhare jaise bahut aaye hain.
Understand?
61.
MIKE storms off. Praful kicks the cleaning bucket.
Mohan has loaded his car with boxes of farsan. Kumud comes
with the last few.
MOHAN
Arre? Tumne toh kaha saare boxes
rakh diye?
KUMUD
Rape karne mein time lag gaya!
MOHAN
Kya?
KUMUD
Aap bahut fast rape kartne hain.
Mujhe raping mein time lag jaata
hain!
MOHAN
Kumud, tumhara dimaag chalta nahin
subah mein. Woh sleeping pills lena
band karo.
KUMUD
Ahemdabad mein kaha thee goli ki
aadat. Takiye pe sar rakhte hee...
MOHAN
Tum aur tumhare Ahemdabad ke kisse.
Mere paas time nahi hain.
Mohan is about to drive when Praful walks into the house.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Aaj itni jaldi?
PRAFUL
Tabiyat theek nahin hain.
Mohan starts the car and suddenly remembers.
MOHAN
Kumud, mere almari ki chaabi nahi
mil rahi. Saaf karte samay mil
jaaye toh sambhal ke rakhna.
Mohan drives off.

62.
Kumud serves Praful.
KUMUD
Kyon itni dukhi hain?
Praful eats.
PRAFUL
Chaubees ghante agar koi hasta
dikhe, to usko paagal kehte hain.
KUMUD
Flat ke wajah se bura lag raha
hain?
PRAFUL
Maa, please. Emotional mat ho jao
yaar!
Kumud suddenly sees something.
KUMUD
Aah! Yaha bhool gaye chaabi
raping karte samay Chhut gaye
honge. Aur mujhe kehta hain
sleeping pills mat lo!
Kumud picks up Mohans keys and keeps it on the TV. She puts
on her shoes and carries a bag.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Main supermarket jaa rahi hu. Tu
paracetamol leke so ja.
Kumud exits the house. Praful eats and suddenly has a

thought. She looks at Mohans keys.
INT. MOHANS ROOM. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful opens Mohans cupboard and starts rummaging through

his things. She finds the safe and then tries to find the
right keys to open it. She struggles. The keys fall. She
manages to find the right key and opens the safe.
Praful puts her hands in. She cannot find any money. In
frustration she bangs the safe shut and locks it with the
key.
63.
Praful gets into her car and backs out of the house, going
over Mohans garden. She crushes his flowers and speeds off.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful drives her car on the highway. She blasts the music to
and speeds as fast as she can. She notices that she is
running out of gas.
EXT. GAS STATION. ATLANTA. DAY
She fills gas at the petrol station and pays with her credit
card. The attendant makes a face.
ATTENDANT
Declined?
PRAFUL
What?? Try it again!
The attendant makes a face and tries again.
ATTENDANT
Declined again!
Praful desperately rummages her purse and gives him another

card. He tries it.
ATTENDANT (CONTD)
Declined! Look lady, I dont have
time for this. Just pay cash.
Praful looks through her bag and finds some notes and coins.
She gives it all to him. He looks at her disdainfully.
ATTENDANT (CONTD)
Its $10 short!
PRAFUL
(loses it)
Well I dont have anymore money.
Cant you see?
ATTENDANT
Lady, I sold you gas...
PRAFUL]
(snaps)
I know you sold me gas, but Im
broke!
(MORE)
64.
PRAFUL] (CONT'D)
The fucking banks wont help me, my
friends wont help me and my boss is
an arsehole! What do you want me to
do? Sell my car for $10?
The attendant backs off.
ATTENDANT
Hey its only $10. Its cool. Just
leave!
Praful glares at him before getting into her car and slamming
the door. She starts her car. It wont start. Praful kicks the
pedals and screams loudly, tears streaming down her eyes. The
attendant scampers off.
PRAFUL
(to herself)
Mamma, main kya karu!!
INT. CAR. ATLANTA. NIGHT
The car finally starts. Praful drives off, red in the face
and breathing heavily.
Praful drives for a bit and suddenly sees something. She

slows down and stops near a bank. We see the facade of
HILLBROOK BANK. She stares at it and thinks.
She suddenly takes out a piece of paper, tries to find a pen,

but cant find one. Breathing heavily, she takes out a
lipstick from her back and starts writing something.
INT. HILLBROOK BANK. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful enters BANK 1 wearing her hoodie. She walks to the

cashier hiding her face from the cameras with a water bottle
and bag.
CASHIER
Good afternoon, how can I help you?
The cashier cant see her face clearly. Praful hands him a
note.
The man reads it and then begins trembling. It says I am

strapped to a bomb, give me $50,000. tick tock.
The cashier is too afraid to look up.
CASHIER (CONTD)
Any preference of bills?
65.
Praful nods to say no. The cashier begins filling the bag.
EXT. HILLBROOK BANK. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful stumbles out of the bank, just as the cashier presses

the alarm. She runs to her car.
Praful enters the car and tries to start it. It doesnt

start. She tries again. It starts. She speeds off, and drives
over the curb for a bit, then gets on the road.
(I N T E R V A L)
INT. PRAFULS CAR. HIGHWAY. DAY
Praful sits by the desolate highway in her car. She is

counting the money.
PRAFUL
$8,700, $8,800, $8,900, $9,000..
Praful puts the money back in her bag and sits back and
breathes. She hears a car and looks around to see a car drive
past. She smiles to herself, relieved. She picks up her phone
and dials a number.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Mr Jeremiah?
JEREMIAH
You have the money?
PRAFUL
I have about $10k.
JEREMIAH
$50k, not a dime less.
Beat.
PRAFUL
Can I pay in five easy
installments?
Beat.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Mr Jeremiah?
66.
JEREMIAH
Who the fuck do you think I am? A
washing machine salesman?? No EMIs
bitch, I want the whole $50k.
PRAFUL
I need another two weeks, please.
Beat.
JEREMIAH
10 days. Or we take it from you
father.
The line goes dead. Praful stares at the phone in fear. A

loud honk is heard. Praful jumps. Its a truck behind her. The
trucker shouts.
TRUCKER
Thats my parking bay lady!
Praful starts her car and reverses to get out, almost hitting
the truck. He honks loudly, Praful drives off.
Praful enters the house. Kumud is watching TV. Praful begins

walking up the stairs.
KUMUD
Khana parosu?
PRAFUL
Kha chuki hu.
KUMUD
Baith na?
PRAFUL
Thak gayi hu. Jaldi so jaungi maa.
Praful goes up the stairs.
Praful is looking for a safe spot to hide the money in her

cupboard. She finds a long coat and starts stuffing the notes
inside its pockets.
CUT TO:
Praful is in bed, about to sleep, when her mother walks in.

67.
KUMUD
So gayi kya?
Praful pretends to sleep.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Mera woh blue petticoat nahi mil
raha.
Beat.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Shayad galti se tere cupboard mein
rakha ho...
Prafuls eyes widen as she hears her mother open her

cupboard. She turns around in panic.
PRAFUL
Su karech maa?
KUMUD
Dhone ke baad, tere kapdon ke saath
aa gaya hoga..
Praful sees Kumud searching the cupboard and she springs to

her feet.
PRAFUL
Ruk, main dhoondti hu.
KUMUD
Mil jayega, yahi kahi hoga
Praful sees Kumud venture close to her coat.
PRAFUL
Maa, kyon mere cheezon ko haath
laga rahi hain. Maine kaha na, main
de deti hu!
Praful pushes Kumud aside and looks for her petticoat. She
finds it and gives it to her, shutting the cupboard behind
her.
KUMUD
Mujhe tere cupboard mein jhaankna
allowed nahi?? Kabse?
PRAFUL
Arre, kuch cheeze private hoti
hain.
68.
KUMUD
(emotional)
Aisa kya private hogaya joh apni
maa ko nahi dikha sakti? Ahemdabad
mein mujhse kuch nahi chupati thi
tu...
PRAFUL
Maa, please! Itna drama mat karo.
Bas agli baar puch lena.
KUMUD
Nahi. Mujhe naa to band darwaze
pasand hain, na locked cupboard.
Parivar mein kuch chupaya nahi
jaata, samjhi?
Kumud stares at her heartbroken.
PRAFUL
Ok maa! No secrets! Promise. Ab so
jaao! Im tired.
Kumud shakes her head and leaves the room. Praful looks at
her jacket and sighs.
INT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful punches in at work. The African American employee

gives her a smug smile.
EMPLOYEE
Early today are we?
PRAFUL
Yes. Does that mean I can leave
early too?
EMPLOYEE
Im afraid not.
PRAFUL
Thought so. Have a nice day.
The employee nods.
Praful opens her locker in the staff room and takes out her
uniform. She takes out some clothes of hers and a pair of
shoes and clears space in the locker.
69.
She then removes the $9000 she stole from the bank and puts
it inside some clothes. She pushes the clothes with money to
the back of the locker and then puts her shoes in.
She locks it and begins changing into her uniform.
Praful walks into a room that Noella and Salma are cleaning.
A Bollywood song plays on the TV. Noella watches in awe.
NOELLA
Incredible. Do you guys sing and
dance about everything?
SALMA
Yes. We sing & dance when there is
birth, death, marriage, harvest...
Praful cleans. Noella gets a message. She changes channels.
NOELLA
Hillbrook bank mein chori ho
gayi...
Praful looks up in horror as Noella finds a news channel

where the bank robbery is being reported.
NEWSCASTER
The woman is believed to have
robbed the bank of almost $10,000.
The cashier, visibly shaken by the
episode, described her as heavily
armed and dangerous.
SALMA
Dekh kaise din dahade lootne lage
hain..
Praful tries to distract Salma.
PRAFUL
Mere trolley mein shampoos khatam
ho gaye Salma, zara lekar aayegi..
SALMA
Shhh...Noella increase the volume.
70.
PRESENTER
(to viewers)
The FBI is on the lookout for a
petite woman, heavily armed, who
used a peculiar note to rob the
Hillbrook Bank in Atlanta.
Peculiar because the note was

written with a..brace
yourself..lipstick!
The TV goes off. Salma and Noella look at Praful who has
switched it off from the mains.
PRAFUL
Milkha aayega toh sabki band
bajegi. Lets get to work please.
The women resume their duties.
SALMA
Yaha gola-barood khareedna aalu-
pyaas lene ke barabar hain. Market
mein bhi mil jate hain.
NOELLA
But a lipstick note. Thats a
first!
PRAFUL
Yeh Newswaale sab badha chadha ke
bolte hain. Shampoo le aa na.
Praful does her work nervously.
Praful on the train. She sees a large poster for a leading

bank. It advertises a new housing loan.
She bites her lip and stares at the word BANK.
Praful watches a video on Bank Robberies in the US. We see

visuals of various robbers, their arrests and statistics.
VOICE-OVER
According to Department of Justice
statistics less than a quarter of
bank robberies involve a gun.
(MORE)
71.
VOICE-OVER (CONT'D)
Because why use a gun when bank
tellers are now trained to hand
over the money without fuss?
EXT. COFFEE SHOP. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Praful drinks coffee at a caf opposite the The North Georgia

Bank in Summerville. She watches the infrequent movements at
the bank.
EXT. NORTH GEORGIA BANK. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
She walks around the bank. She sees people in cars banking
with the drive-thru tellers. She walks past the main bank
window and sees just one customer.
INT. DEPARTMENTAL STORE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful enters a departmental store and begins looking at the

various clothes racks.
She considers the elegant dresses, the casual wear and

finally stops at the sports wear section.
She goes through some tights and work out tops. She picks a
pair.
Praful changes into a tight track suit and does a running

action in the mirror to check its elasticity.
CUT TO:
Praful sprints across the store, an old woman watches her,

amused.
CUT TO:
Praful looks at a several wigs placed on mannequins. She

tries on different wigs, making faces to change her
appearance.
INT. PRAFULS ROOM. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT
An alarm goes off. Praful wakes up early in the morning.
She takes out a paper and pen, she is about to write when she
remembers something.
72.
She puts the pen down and opens her lipstick drawer. She
chooses from several shades of lipstick and uses a mauve
color to write the note.
CUT TO:
She wears her new track suit and looks in the mirror. She
then takes some cloth and stuffs her bra. She wears the wig.
Praful climbs down the stairs quietly. To her shock, her

mother is awake, watching TV.
DDLJ is playing on TV, its the climax scene and Kumud is

engrossed. Praful tries to sneak out. Kumud notices her.
KUMUD
Praful? Subah subah kaha jaa rahi
hain?
Praful removes her wig and holds it behind her. Amrish Puri
stops Simran from running to the train in the movie.
PRAFUL
Jogging.
KUMUD
Jogging? Yeh kabse shuru kar diya?
PRAFUL
Aaj se. Fitness zaruri hain!
KUMUD
Magar tu toh pehle se itni patli
hain??
PRAFUL
Patli ka matlab fit nahi hota maa.
Aur tu kitne baar issi picture ko
dekhegi?
On the TV screen, Simran begs her father to let her go.
KUMUD
Roz dekh sakti hu. Humesha lagta
hain ki aaj Amrish Puri Simran ko
Raj ke saath jaane nahi dega!
PRAFUL
Jaane deta hain! Nahin toh picture
itni badi hit nahin hoti.
73.
KUMUD
Tu zyada jogging mat karna. Tere
liye aalu ke parathe banake
rakhungi.
PRAFUL
Aalu Parathe??
Amrish Puri lets go of Simrans hand.
KUMUD
Aate samay dahi lete aana.
As Praful leaves, we hear the dialogue Ja Simran Ja, jeele

apni zindagi.
Theme music begins.
EXT. PRAFULS CAR. HIGHWAY. DAY
It is a bright day. Praful's car drives along the highway. A

truck honks behind her. She is driving too slow. She picks up
speed.
Praful stops a safe distance ahead of the North Georgia Bank

and inches uncomfortably into a parking spot.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Praful adjusts her wig in the rear view mirror and musters up
courage. Suddenly someone bangs the windscreen and Praful is
startled.
A black man leaves a pamphlet for her and walks off. It reads
JESUS LOVES YOU. Praful puts on a big pair of sunglasses.
Praful exits the car, takes the pamphlet and crushes it. As
she walks towards the bank, she trashes the pamphlet in a
dust-bin.
She reaches the door of the bank and looks at her reflection
in the mirror. She can barely recognise herself.
74.
INT. NORTH GEORGIA BANK. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Inside, there are more customers than she expected. She

starts to get a bit nervous. She starts walking towards the
cashier. Suddenly she is intercepted by an Indian employee.
EMPLOYEE
Can I help you?
Praful jumps.
PRAFUL
No, I...I just want to..
EMPLOYEE
Account kholna hain?
PRAFUL
Haan.
EMPLOYEE
Aao mere saath. Zero balance
account is good?
PRAFUL
Haan, but.. main baad mein aa sakti
hu.
EMPLOYEE
Minto main ho jayega. Apna naam aur
number bata do, main tumhe
relationship manager se milvati
hu...
Beat
PRAFUL
Number hai 2..02...555...01...93..
EMPLOYEE
Naam?
Beat
PRAFUL
Simran.
Theme music begins..
EMPLOYEE
Simran. Lovely name. Kajol meri
favorite thee!
75.
The employee seats Praful and goes to meet someone. Praful

quickly gets up and leaves.
Praful enters her car and starts to breathe. She turns up the
AC to stop sweating. She looks up. There is another bank just
down the road. She starts the car.
EXT. UNION BANK. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Praful walks towards the bank.
INT. UNION BANK. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Praful enters the bank with a stronger resolve. There is only

one customer inside. She marches straight to the male cashier
without looking to either side.
CASHIER
Good morning. How are we today?
Praful smiles and hands him a note. The teller reads it Give
me $50,000 or I blow up the bank.
The cashier attempts to press a button, but Praful points to

her jumper indicating that she has a finger on a button too.
The man nervously gives her all the money from the till.
EXT. UNION BANK. SUMMERVILLE. DAY
Praful runs out of the bank and runs towards her car. The
alarm goes off in the bank.
Praful speeds off from the bank, almost running into a hot
dog cart.
Praful stops her car on the side of the highway.
Praful counts the money.

76.
PRAFUL
$4,700, $4800, $4,900.
Its only $5000, Praful makes a face.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Chindi saale!
Praful takes out her wig and throws it in the bag.
EXT. CORNERSHOP. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful walks out with a carton of yoghurt.
Praful returns home to find her father watching the news on

TV. She is nervous.
We see the cashier from the bank on TV.
PRESENTER
How would you describe her?
CASHIER
She wore a hoodie and covered her
face with a water-bottle. I
couldnt really see her face, but
she had a nice rack.
PRESENTER
She had a what?
The Cashier makes an action of a good endowment.
CASHIER
A nice rack.
Beat
PRESENTER
So she was buxom. Was she armed?
CASHIER
Heavily. She had a bomb strapped to
her body.
KUMUD VO
Praful dahi leke aayi?
PRAFUL
Haan.
77.
The bulletin flashes a picture of Praful in the bank. Praful

panics, but luckily her wig and sunglasses cover most of her
face, and her father doesnt seem to realize.
We see a female eyewitness.
EYEWITNESS
Man, she was terrifying. She had
olive skin, sharp features and had
explosives strapped to her waist. I
think she was Middle
Eastern...definitely trained by the
Al Qaida!
A loud brash reporter reports. We see the FBI cordon off the
area.
REPORTER
Because of her peculiar note, the
FBI has nicknamed her the Lipstick
Bandit.
The suspect is believed to be

blonde, buxom and Middle Eastern.
Links to terror groups are being
investigated.
Mohan throws his hands up and looks at Praful.
MOHAN
Humesha yeh Musalman hee kyon hote
hain?
Praful is reeling in shock. Kumud comes in with some food.
KUMUD
Jo! Makhan wale parathe banaye hain
tere liye.
Praful makes a face and heads towards the dining table.
Praful locks the door of the staff room, opens her locker and
adds the 5k to the previously hidden money. She covers it up
and locks it.
She exits to see Noella and Salma gossip.
NOELLA
They think the Lipstick Bandit
maybe Middle Eastern.
78.
SALMA
Of course. Give them a chance and
they will say Hitler was Middle
Eastern too.
Praful, tu bata, Middle East ki

aurten aise kapde pehanti hain kya?
Indian ya hispanic bhi to ho sakti
hain na?
Praful nods quietly changes the sheets.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful is leaving for home. As the elevator doors open she

spots cops in the Hotel lobby. She freezes and turns back
towards the elevator, but the doors shut. The cops walk
towards her.
She is about to run, when another elevator opens, and the

cops begin to enter. Praful overhears.
COP
Room 203?
HOTEL EMPLOYEE
Yes sir.
The elevator door shuts and Praful approaches the employee.
PRAFUL
What are they here for?
HOTEL EMPLOYEE
Theyre here for that Republican
politician staying in 203. Theyre
his security.
Praful is relieved. She walks out hurriedly.
EXT. GRANT PARK. ATLANTA. DAY
The Patels and the Parekhs meet for a typically sanitized

picnic in the ancient woods of Grant Park. Praful helps her
mother take out the food, the men open beers.
KUMUD
Main thepla, shaak and fafda layi
hu. Aap kya layi Nita behn?
Kumud lays them out one by one. Nita waits for her to finish
before she displays her culinary talents.
79.
MRS PAREKH
Main Handvoh, fafda and ghatiya
layi. Nimbu paani pan chhe.
KUMUD
(looks at the men)
Kya fayda nimbu pani ka? Beer jo
pee rahe hain.
MR PAREKH
Nimbu paani Sameer aur Praful ko
pilao.
PRAFUL
Ill have a beer uncle.
MR PAREKH
Aah. Tumhare liye Shandy banau?
Nimbu paani aur Beer ka najayaz
baccha? Ladies drink.
PRAFUL
Nah. Aisa hee chalega.
She puts her hand out. Sameer grabs the beer from his uncle
and gives it to Praful.
SAMEER
Yeh lijiye.
MOHAN
Shandy! Ek Kumud ke liye bhi
banaye?
Kumud makes a face.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Arre, mooh mat bana. Bhagwaan log
bhi somras peete the.
KUMUD
Woh bhagwan hain, chaahe joh kare.
Insaan ko bhakti ka nasha bas hain,
haina Sameer?
Sameer smiles.
MOHAN
Yeh ladies log kyon bhagwaan ke
peeche bhaagti rehti hain? Office-
wofis jaave na, toh mann bhatkega
nahin...
80.
PRAFUL
(smiles)
Ghar ki dekh-baal kisi office job
se kam hain kya? Mujhe toh lagta
hain ki Maayein aadmi se dughna
kaam karti hain.
MOHAN
(laughs)
Aajo! Ladki chali Maa ke paksh mein
bolne. Isiliye mein ladka chahta
tha...
MRS PAREKH
Sameer chhe ne.
Sameer watches Praful as she takes out the food and starts
serving people.
CUT TO:
Praful and Sameer are walking by a water-body. Sameer is

wearing a sweater.
PRAFUL
24 degrees hain, sweater kuch
zyada nahi ho gaya?
SAMEER
(smiles)
Rajkot ke 35 degrees se aaya hu,
mere liye mausam thanda hain.
Aur yaha itni tez hawa bhi toh

chalti hain, sardi ho gayi toh?
PRAFUL
Chance nahi loge to kaise pata
chalega ki tum-me sehan-shakti hain
ke nahi?
SAMEER
(laughs)
Kabhi na kabhi toh apne aap ko
samajhne lagta hain insaan. Tab
tajurba chance se zyada kaam aata
hain.
They walk for a bit.
PRAFUL
Ek baat puchu? Sach bataoge?
81.
SAMEER
Koshish karunga. Waise sach bolne
ke vipreet parinam bahut bhukte
hain maine.
PRAFUL
Mujhse shaadi Green Card ke liye
karna chahte ho?
Beat
SAMEER
Nahi. Main yaha MBA kar raha hu. Do
saal aaraam se kaat sakta hu, bina
shaadi kiye..
PRAFUL
Toh phir?
SAMEER
Dekho Praful, main vastavik type ka
aadmi hu. Ek partner aa jaye life
mein, toh ghar chalane mein haath
bat jayega.
PRAFUL
Vastavik?
SAMEER
Practical. Realistic.
PRAFUL
Ok.
SAMEER
Tum acchi ladki ho, mehnati ho--
double income hoga to mein sukun se
padhai kar sakunga.
PRAFUL
Toh basically tum chahte ho ki main
kaam karke tumhari fees bharti
rahu?
SAMEER
(little irritated)
MBA mera sapna hain, aur main isko
pura karne ki kshamta rakhta hu.
He realizes Praful didnt follow.

82.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Kshamta...potential. Praful, 10 sal
kaam karke paise kamaye hain maine,
yaha fees bharne ke liye. Shaadi
hogi toh ghar ka kharcha bat
jayega, mera kehne ka woh matlab
tha.
We hear thunder. The skies are dark.
PRAFUL
I think baarish hone wali hain.
Laut chale?
Sameer nods and they turn around. There is a strong breeze.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Ek ajnabi se kyon shaadi karna
chahte ho? Tumhe apne pasand ki
ladki bhi toh mil sakti hain?
SAMEER
Aapko kyon lagta hain ki aap mere
pasand ki nahi ho sakti?
PRAFUL
Main kaun hu, meri beeti zindagi
kya hain, yeh aap nahi jante. I
could be a psycho, a witch? Main
pishachani nikli toh?
SAMEER
(laughs)
Pishachani? Maza ayega. Bachpan
mein meri maa kehti thi ki mujhme
Pishaach wale laqshan hain. Saath
milke aas-pados walon ko daraya
karenge!
Praful laughs.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Waise, ek doosre ko jaan-ne ke liye
toh poori zindagi baaki hain.
Woh prem kahaniya na--jaha ladka-

ladki shuruvat mein hee ek doosre
ke liye marne-mitne ke liye tayyar
ho jate hain, woh mujhe bogus lagte
hain. Filmy!
83.
PRAFUL
Jaise raja ko raani se pyar
hogaya, pehli nazar mein pehla pyar
ho gaya..?
SAMEER
(laughs)
Bakwas. Asal zindagi mein toh pyaar
shaadi ke baad hee shuru hota hain.
Jab pati-patni milkar, sansar ke
chunautiyon ka saamna karte hain.
Tab hota hain sacche pyar ka
ehsaas.
Beat
PRAFUL
(wryly)
Shuruvaad mein aadmi ki soch itni
forward hoti hain na? Shaadi ke
baad, reverse gear. Pyaar ki sharte
shuru ho jaati hain..
SAMEER
(laughs)
Sharte? Lagta hain mard-zaat pe kam
bharosa hain aapka.
The two see Mohan, Kumud and the Parekhs waving at them to
hurry.
PRAFUL
Kisipe bhi easily bharosa nahi
karna chahiye.
SAMEER
(laughs)
Aur aap chance lene ki baat kar
rahi thi.
INT. DEPARTMENTAL STORE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful enters a departmental store and walks to the wig

section. She tries on a few wigs.
CUT TO:
Praful buys good running shoes and practices a little running

on a trial treadmill.
CUT TO:
Praful buys a collapsible bag for her loot.

84.
In the background a TV plays the NEWS. The Lipstick Bandit

is being reported. Praful grins.
INT. PRAFUL CAR. GEORGIA ROADS. DAY
Montage of Praful surveying different banks. We see exteriors

of remote banks. Many with drive through tellers. Cuts of
various signboards. Tellers. Cashiers. All from outside.
VOICE-OVER
Banks with drive-thru tellers have
the least footfall. Most patrons
dont have to enter the bank. They
usually have the least number of
employees...
Praful researches banks on her laptop at home. She sees a

video for HUGO WELLS BANK.
VIDEO VO
Now you can bank as easy as buying
a big mac. Dont even get off your
car. The HUGO-WELLS BANK in
Tennessee boasts of two drive-thru
tellers...
Praful pads her bra. She takes out a paper and looks at her
lipsticks. She picks violet...
INT. PRAFUL CAR. GEORGIA HIGHWAY. DAY
Praful is on a long drive. A car honks behind her and she

picks up speed.
EXT. HUGO WELLS BANK. DAY
Prafuls car drives past the HUGO WELLS Bank. Praful finds a
safe spot to park her car (jutting onto the road). Leaves the
engine running and goes into the bank.
INT. HUGO WELLS BANK. DAY
Praful walks into the BANK wearing a tight cat-suit, a hoodie

and catty sunglasses.
She walks confidently to the cashier and passes the note. The
cashiers face pales as she reads it.
85.
She starts filling Prafuls collapsible bag. Just then

another colleague comes to the cashier.
EMPLOYEE
I need Hexicos audit papers for
2014 and 15...
The cashier nods.
EMPOYEE
(suspicious)
You ok?
Praful begins to cough. The employee looks at her.
PRAFUL
(choking voice)
Water?
The colleague nods and exits. Praful urges the cashier to

hurry up.
When the colleague returns with a glass of water, he sees

Praful running out of the bank.
He takes the note from his stumped colleagues hand, reads it

and presses the alarm.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. GEORGIA HIGHWAY. DAY
Praful is driving on the freeway, music blasting. She takes

off her wig and feels exhilarated.
PRAFUL
FUCKKKKK!!!
Praful locks the door, and counts the money, she is pleased.
She hides the money in her locker and makes a call.
PRAFUL
Mr Jeremiah?
JEREMIAH
You have the money?
PRAFUL
Almost. Im just $15,000 short. One
more loan and Ill be done..
86.
JEREMIAH
I dont need accounts, Im not your
mother! If you dont come in three
days, well come to your house and
take it. Understand?
PRAFUL
Yes.
Praful disconnects. There is a knock on the door.
EXT. STAFF ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful opens the door to see MIKE standing outside.
MIKE
Praful, tumhara make-up session
disturb toh nahi kiya?
PRAFUL
Sorry, mujhe tayyar hone mein thoda
time lag gaya.
MIKE
Arre, koi jaldi nahin. Tumhara
shift shuru ho gaya toh kya hua?
Baaki sab hain na tumhara kaam
karne ke liye. Kuch bheju aapke
liye? Juice? Green Tea?
PRAFUL
Mike, I promise ab se der nahi
karungi.
Praful gets to work. MIKE stares at the staff room.
INT. KITCHEN. MOHANS HOUSE. DAY
Praful oversees a new dishwasher is being installed at home.

Kumud is excited, but Mohan is a bit resentful.
HANDYMAN
When youre washing dishes, its
best you dont use the sink. You
wont get any pressure...
MOHAN
(laughs)
Pressure to mujhpe padega, jab
bijli ka bill ayega.
(to Praful)
(MORE)
87.
MOHAN (CONT'D)
Kaha se aaye yeh paise? Mujhe to
kaha tum broke ho?
PRAFUL
Tips save kiye hain.
MOHAN
Accha? Housekeeping ko bhi tips
milte hain?
KUMUD
(changes topic)
Kab se maang rahi hu dishwasher.
Kam se kam isne sun toh lee.
MOHAN
To isi se kaho har mahine bijli ka
bill bhi bhare. Cheeze khareedna
aasaan hain, maintenance karna
mushkil.
PRAFUL
Maa, maintenance contract bhi
khareeda hain. Har 3 mahine free
mein karke jayenge.
Praful gives her father a sarcastic smile. Mohan walks away.
HANDYMAN
(to Praful)
Please sign here miss.
Praful signs as Kumud puts dishes inside. The handyman

leaves.
KUMUD
Kaise on karte hain?
Praful goes to the dishwasher and turns it on. Kumud watches

in awe.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Arre wah! Mere din ka ek ghanta
bach jayega.
MOHAN
Haan! TV pe AUR drame dekhna.
General knowledge badhega!
Beat
MOHAN (CONTD)
Praful, Sameer pasand chhe?
88.
PRAFUL
Pata nahin. Humlog sirf ek walk ke
liye gaye hain!
MOHAN
Toh? Marathon daudke decide karegi?
PRAFUL
(smiling slightly)
Ek do baar aur milna hain mujhe...
MOHAN
MBA karne California jaa raha hain.
Tere se acchi ladki mil gayi toh?
There is a bing sound. Kumud excitedly goes to the

dishwasher. Praful opens it. The women see sparkling clean
dishes. Kumud holds one and caresses it.
KUMUD
(pleased)
Ekdum tip-top!
Praful kisses her mothers hand and starts running up the

stairs. She hears the news of the TV and stops.
NEWS VO
A breakthrough in the Lipstick
Bandit robberies. The FBI has found
an eyewitness who claims to have
spoken to the robber just before
the Union Bank robbery two weeks
ago...
Praful walks down the stars tentatively and watches the news.
We see the pesky employee from North Georgia Bank talking to
the media.
REPORTER
We have with us Veena Verma from
North Georgia bank. Ms Verma you
saw the Lipstick Bandit up close?
VEENA
Oh. More than saw her. I talked to
her. In fact, I think I managed to
stop her from robbing our bank...
MOHAN
Kumud, aa jo!!
Praful panics as Kumud comes to watch TV.

89.
REPORTER
How did you manage to stop her?
VEENA
My job is to spot potential
robbers.
I saw this woman walking nervously

to the cashier and I stopped her. I
asked her if she wanted to open an
account.
REPORTER
Can you describe her?
VEENA
She was 55 inches tall. Slim and
very soft-spoken. She had blonde
hair, but olive skin..
REPORTER
Was she Middle Eastern?
VEENA
No I think she was an Indian. She
even gave me a name.
REPORTER
What name did she give?
VEENA
Simran.
REPORTER
Simran?
VEENA
Yes. Simran is the heroine of a big
Shahrukh Khan love story. I love
that movie.
Mohan throws his hand up in the air.
MOHAN
Saala, abhi yeh log Indians ke
peeche bhaagenge..
KUMUD
Aa su chhe? Simran jaisa khusburat
naam, aur aise karam?
90.
MOHAN
Sab parvarish ka dosh hain. Maa-
baap ki laaparvahi hain ki bacchi
bigad gayi.
Praful starts to walk up the stairs. She stops to look at her

face in the mirror, then looks back at her parents
downstairs. They have no clue that it could be her. Praful
smiles to herself.
INT. PRAFUL CAR. GEORGIA HIGHWAY. DAY
Praful drives the car slowly and nervously as cars speed past
her.
EXT. WESTERN BANK. NORTH CAROLINA. DAY
Praful drives into a shopping complex and heads to a parking

lot. She parks crooked near the Western Bank.
She walks around the bank and sees the Hispanic guard who is
probably 60+ sitting outside the bank.
Praful is watching Youtube. A retired bank robber talks about

his heists.
YOUTUBE BANK ROBBER

I chose the smaller banks. The ones
with outdated technology. They have
fewer security cameras and usually
just one security guard standing
outside. And hes probably not that
good.
INT. LUXURY STORE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful buys a beautiful pair of sunglasses and tries them on.
INT. MALL LOO. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful changes into a new track-suit and a wig in the mall

loo. She stuffs her bra with more padding.
She puts on her lipstick. Then takes out a piece of paper and
writes a note Give me $40,000.
91.
A lady enters, Praful puts away the note and checks her make
up in the mirror. The lady gives her a strange look. Praful
notices that the stuffing has come out of one bra.
Praful runs back into the loo and fixes it.
INT. MALL. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful exits the loo and heads towards the exit. She looks
towards a store and sees Sameer shopping there. He turns to
see her, but she turns and walks away.
SAMEER
Praful?
Praful walks faster. Sameer runs behind her.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Praful? Hey!
He catches up with her.
PRAFUL
Hey Sameer.
SAMEER
Yakeen nahin ho raha hain. Maine
aadhe ghante pehle tumhare Pappa ko
phone kiya tha, yeh puchne ki hum
kab mil sakte hain...
PRAFUL
Such a coincidence.
SAMEER
Haina?
Sameer notices Prafuls large endowment. His eyes widen for a

bit.
Coffee?
PRAFUL
No really Sameer, ek zaruri meeting
hain?
SAMEER
(looks at her clothes)
Aise jaogi kaam par?
PRAFUL
Haan...wahi change karungi. Abhi
morning jog karke aayi hu.
92.
SAMEER
(charmed)
Jogging karke aayi hain? Bilkul
fresh lag rahi hain aap.
Praful blushes.
PRAFUL
Ok then. Milte hain. Soon.
SAMEER
Theek hain. Coffee akele hee pee
lunga. Actually jetlag ki wajah se
aankh jaldi khul jaati hain, aur
mein yaha kisiko jaanta bhi nahin..
Praful begins walking away.
PRAFUL
Sameer Ive got to go.
Sameer suddenly has a thought and runs after her.
SAMEER
Praful, tum Hotel jaa rahi ho na?
Downtown? Main bhi saat chalta hu,
raste mein baat-cheet hogi, phir
mein bus lekar laut aunga..
PRAFUL
But Sameer...?
SAMEER
Main tumhare Pappa se baat
karlunga, dont worry.
Praful has no choice.
INT. PRAFUL CAR. GEORGIA ROADS. DAY
Praful drives. Sameer looks at the sight.
SAMEER
Kafi hara-bhara hain Georgia.
PRAFUL
Tumhe America pasand hain?
SAMEER
Kuch cheeze pasand hain. Sadko par
gadiyan kayde se chalti hain,
sarvajanik parivahan ki vyavastha
acchi hain.
93.
PRAFUL
Sarvajanik kya?
SAMEER
(laughs)
Public transport.
Praful smiles.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Tumhe kaisa laga tha America jab
tum nayi aayi thi?
Beat
PRAFUL
(laughs)
Shuru mein excited thee. Umeedein
bahut the. Phir darr lagne laga.
SAMEER
Darr kyon?
PRAFUL
Yaha sab kuch itna bada hain!
Sadke, gadiya, log! Sab supersized,
aur main kaafi chhoti hu na.
SAMEER
(laughs)
Kya umar thee tumhari?
PRAFUL
17 saal. Na bacchi, na badi. Kapdon
se lekar baat karne ka tareeka, sab
doosron se alag. Main maa ke saath
chipki rehti thi, aur woh mere.
SAMEER
Tumhare Pappa?
PRAFUL
Unke kabhi theek se jaan nahi
paayi. India mein 16 saal unko sirf
4 baar mili. Yaha aakar bhi zyada
kuch badla nahi. Jaise maine kaha,
main na bachi thi, na aurat. It was
confusing.
Beat
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Yaha paas mein ek khubsurat lake
hain.
(MORE)
94.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Main kabhi kabhi Hotel jate samay
yaha ruk jaati hu. Dekhna chahte
ho?
SAMEER
Par tum jaldi mein ho na?
PRAFUL
Dus minute late pahuch sakti hu.
SAMEER
(beams)
To phir chalo..jheel!
Praful takes a sharp turn and drives to a beautiful lake.
EXT. LAKE. ATLANTA DAY
Praful and Sameer stand over-looking the lake.
PRAFUL
Yaha mujhe darr nahin lagta tha.
SAMEER
Bahut khubsurat hain. Khaskar ke
music lovers ke liye.
PRAFUL
Music?
SAMEER
Yaha ke pakshi kaafi sureele maalum
hote hain. Chorus mein gaa rahe
hain, suno...
Praful listens carefully as birds sing and Sameer moves his

hands like the conductor of an orchestra. Praful laughs.
PRAFUL
Maa ko music ka bahut shauk hain.
But sirf dharmik sangeet. Unko
Sheela ki jawani bhi Krishna leela
ke tune mein sunao toh khush ho
jati hain.
SAMEER
Kaafi kareeb lagte ho tum dono. Us
din park mein tumne jis tarah se
apni maa ko samarthan diya, mujhe
samajh mein aa gaya tha.
PRAFUL
Meri best friend hain woh.
95.
Beat.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Sameer, ek sawal hain. Soch ke
jawab dena.
SAMEER
Hey bhagwan, ek aur pariksha?
PRAFUL
Main apni maa ko akela nahin chhod
sakti, shaadi ke baad bhi. Agar
humari shaadi hui toh...
Beat.
SAMEER
Mujhe koi aitraaz nahin agar Kumud
behn humare saath rehna chahe.
Khaana bada swaadishth banati hain
woh.
Praful laughs. Sameer looks into her eyes. She becomes

conscious and looks away. A cool breeze blows and they watch
the birds in the lake.
Sameer puts his arm around Praful. To Prafuls horror, the

stuffing from her left bra suddenly pops out. Before Sameer
can notice, Praful stuff its back and hurries.
PRAFUL
Late ho gaya..main tumhe bus-stop
pe chhod deti hu...
They head to the car.
EXT. WESTERN BANK. SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA. DAY
Praful parks close to the Western bank and walks to the

entrance. She sees the old Hispanic guard chatting with a
passer by.
INT. WESTERN BANK. SOMEWHERE IN GEORGIA. DAY
Praful enters the bank and sees a line for the cashier. More
people than expected. She is about to turn around when a
second counter opens. Praful rushes to it. She smiles and
hands a note.
CUT TO:
96.
As Praful is exiting, the cashier presses the alarm and all

the shutters start coming down. A black man is at the door
about to exit. Praful collides with the black man and the
guard rushes in.
In his panic, the old Hispanic guard catches hold of the

black guy. Praful escapes by the skin of her teeth.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. GEORGIA. DAY
AS Praful heads to her car, she hears a siren and sees a

police car speed towards her. She gets into the car and tries
to start it. After two attempts, it starts. She speeds off in
the nick of time.
EXT. PRAFULS CAR. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful speeds like a maniac, but the cop is in hot pursuit.
Alarmed, she drives over the divider and drives on the

opposite side of the road, almost colliding with several
cars. She gets away.
She drives on a forest path, screaming at herself. She

realizes that she has gotten away. She stops the car and
turns on the radio.
NEWS VO
The Lipstick Bandit, also
identified as Simran was chased
in her car by agent Robbie Fields
as she made off with the loot from
the Western Bank in Georgia.
Her car has been identified as a

green Nissan. While Fields could
not note the registration number,
he ascertained that the vehicle was
probably a 1998 make...
Praful turns off the radio. She wonders what to do.
Praful drives the car and deliberately crashes it into a

tree.
97.
EXT. JUNKYARD. ATLANTA. DAY
She drives her severely damaged car to the junkyard. She

watches as the car is crushed.
She buys a 2nd hand silver car and drives off.
Praful goes to her safe place in the staff room and locks the
door. She counts the money she just looted.
PRAFUL
$15,800, $15,900, $16,000.
Praful is relieved. She dials a number.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
I have the money.
JEREMIAH
About time.
PRAFUL
Ill be there tomorrow.
JEREMIAH
I dont trust you. Ill come and
get it.
PRAFUL
Ok. But I have one request...
JEREMIAH
What?
PRAFUL
Never contact me again.
JEREMIAH
(laughs)
Wait for my call.
The line goes dead. Praful opens the locker and takes out the
bag with the hidden money. She opens it to add the new loot,
but stares in shock.
The bag is empty!

98.
EXT. STAFF ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
An angry Praful opens the door and sees Salma & Noella eating
lunch.
SALMA
Aa khana kha le.
PRAFUL
Mere paise kaha hain?
SALMA
Kaun se paise?
PRAFUL
Noella, where is my money?
NOELLA
I dont know!?! Where did you keep
it?
PRAFUL
In my locker! Who took it??
SALMA
Praful tere locker ki chabi humare
paas kaise ayegi? Master key sirf
admin ke paas hain, MIKE ke
sanction ke bina..
PRAFUL
(it clicks)
MIKE!!
Praful rushes out of the room and picks up something from a

parked food cart. Salma follows.
INT. MIKE CABIN. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY
Praful barges into MIKEs office, he is in the middle of

eating lunch. Praful shuts the door on Salma who is also
trying to enter.
MIKE
Iska kya matlab hain?
PRAFUL
Mere paise kaha hain?
MIKE
(nonchalant)
Kaunse paise?
99.
PRAFUL
Joh paise tumne chori kiye hain,
you snake!
Praful stumbles as she tries to remove a knife that she hid

in her apron. MIKE sees this and quickly pick up the phone to
dial security.
Praful runs to him and disconnects the phone.
MIKE panics seeing the knife so close. Salma is knocking hard

on the door.
SALMA VO
Praful??
PRAFUL
Maine un paison ke liye bahut kuch
jhela hain Mike. Main usse vaapas
paane ke liye tumhari jaan bhi le
sakti hu!
MIKE
Kaha rakhe the tumne, yeh bhi pata
nahi mujhe!
PRAFUL
Jhoot mat bolo!! Staff mein se agar
koi bhi locker ko access kar sakta
hain, toh woh tum ho!
MIKE
Admin ke sanction ke bina mein koi
locker access nahi kar sakta. Dekho
shayad tumhare colleagues mein se
kisi ne liya ho? Woh Muslim aurat?
PRAFUL
(shouts)
Shut up and give me my money!!
Suddenly there is a banging on the door.
GUARD
Everything Ok?? Open up sir!
MIKE seizes the moment and takes the knife from Praful. He
wrings her neck with his arm. The guards are trying a spare
key in the door.
MIKE
Tum mere khilaaf report kyon nahin
likhti?
100.
Mike starts to smell Prafuls neck.
MIKE (CONTD)
I smell a thief! A delicious, sexy,
thief. I dont think Praful, ki tum
isse report kar sakti ho.
PRAFUL
Get off me, Mike!
MIKE
Pehle toh tumhe yeh sab pasand aata
tha na? Phir kya hua baby? Bhool
gayi ki tumhare doh bonuses mere
wajah se hue the?
PRAFUL
Woh mere kamayi ke paise hain Mike,
please...
Mike tightens his grip over her neck.
MIKE
Tumne koi toh jhol kiya hain
Praful. Nahi toh tum $35,000 uss
locker mein kyon chupati?
PRAFUL
(choking)
Agar woh paise nahin mile toh meri
jaan jaa sakti hain. Please.
MIKE
Drama mat karo Praful. Practically
socho. Agar nahi chahti ki yeh baat
police tak pahuche, toh chupchaap
yaha se chali jao. Mauka de raha hu
tumhe.
Just as the door opens, he lets Praful go. She gasps for
breath. Two guards stare at both of them.
GUARD
Who attacked who?
MIKE sits down and wipes his sweat. He quietly tells Praful.
MIKE
Tum nahi bataogi, toh main nahin
bataunga.
Two guards approaches Praful.

101.
GUARD 2
Are you ok maam? Any trouble?
MIKE
Go On Praful. Tell them what you
were telling me
Praful glares at him in anger. She is frustrated that she

cant say anything about the money.
GUARD
Did Mr Mehndi attack you?
PRAFUL
(stares at him)
No..
GUARD
Did she attack you sir?
MIKE
(pointing to knife)
Yes. She tried to attack me with
that knife. I want her escorted out
now.
Praful looks at MIKE in shock. The guards catch hold of

Praful and she struggles hard to get out.
PRAFUL
(screams)
Tum ko iski sazza milegi MIKE!
MIKE
Haan haan. Upar wala saza dega,
Karma wagera. Bahut filme dekhi
hain maine.
GUARD
Should we call the cops?
MIKE
No. Just throw her out. If she
comes close to the Hotel again,
have her arrested.
PRAFUL
MIKE!
She manages to break loose and lunges for MIKE, but a guard
catches her and she falls, hurting her leg.
They lift her up, kicking and shouting and escort her out.
102.
MIKE continues to eat his lunch. He sees Salma standing

there.
MIKE
Picture chal raha hain yaha? Kaam
karo.
Salma scampers off.
INT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. SAN JOSE SUBURB. DAY
The guards escort Praful through the staff area. Her

colleagues watch her.
PRAFUL
Just leave me please. I can walk on
my own.
The guard holds her tighter, Praful is embarrassed.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Please.
EXT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. ATLANTA. DAY
The guards escort her outside and let her go.
Praful straightens her clothes and does her hair.
Limping from the fall and barefoot, she walks towards the car
park.
Salma comes running with her footwear.
SALMA
Praful, yeh pehn le.
Praful wears her sandals and limps.
SALMA (CONTD)
Tu theek hain Praful?
PRAFUL
(pretending)
Ya ya, Im fine.
Salma watches sadly as Praful limps to her car.

103.
INT. PRAFUL CAR. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful drives her new car listlessly. She doesnt notice

anything thats going on around her. Her eyes look exhausted.
Praful sees a car parked in the driveway, and struggles to

park around it. She parks sticking out on the road. Mohan
comes out and stares at her car.
MOHAN
Yeh kiski gaadi hain?
PRAFUL
Meri. 2nd hand mein khareedi.
Praful exits looking like a mess.
MOHAN
Kyon? Aur yeh kya halat banaya
hain?
PRAFUL
Gaadi kharab ho gayi thi. Ek ghanta
push karna pada..garage wale ne
kaha repair nahi ho sakti..
INT. MOHANS HOUSE. SAN JOSE. DAY
Praful enters the house to see Sameer and his uncle and aunt
sitting, having a drink. They all stare at her in a mess.
MRS PAREKH
(cheerful)
Hello beta. Hard days work?
KUMUD
Praful, sab tera hee wait kar rahe
the.
Praful fake smiles and begins walking up the stairs.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Mooh-haath dhooke aa jaa beta.
Kumud stares at Mohan.
MOHAN
Woh. Gaadi ka break down ho gaya
tha...
104.
They all look concerned, especially Sameer
Praful changes her clothes and her phone rings. It is

Jeremiah. She disconnects. She is frustrated and screams into
her clothes in the cupboard.
Kumud enters.
KUMUD
Su thayyu?
Kumud is alarmed to see her foot swollen.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Chot aayi kya?
PRAFUL
Zara si moch hain. Woh gaadi push
karte..
Kumud goes to a cabinet and takes out a small bottle.
KUMUD
Balm lagati hu.
Praful watches as her mother applies balm.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Baat karne aaye hain. Kuch dino
mein Sameer California jaa raha
hain, padne.
Beat.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Pasand hain na tujhe?
Praful nods.
INT. MOHANS HOUSE. SAN JOSE. DAY
Dining table. Praful is staring at her food listlessly.

Everyone else talks.
MR PAREKH
Arre bhai, in Banks ne humko itna
loot liya, toh ek-aat hum bhi loot
le! Mujhe uss Simran se koi
shikayat nahi.
105.
MOHAN
Kya baat kar rahe hain aap? Logon
ki jaan jokhim mein daal rahi hain
Simran. Bomb leke ghoomti hain.
kahi phat gaya toh?.
MRS PAREKH
Bomb kaha mili police ko? Asal mein
ek note ke sahare loot rahi hain
woh. No gun, no knife. Only paper
anne lipstick.
SAMEER
Jee haan. Aapko pata hain, 95% Bank
robberies mein hathyar istamal
nahin hota--sirf notes!
KUMUD
Bina hathyar ke bhi paise de dete
hain kya?
SAMEER
Haan. Bank ka niyam hain ke woh
bina pratirodh paise handover
karde.
KUMUD
Pratirodh?
SAMEER
Resistance.
KUMUD
Aisa kyon?
SAMEER
Grahak ko lekar koi hadsa na ho
jaye, isse accha hain ke kuch paise
hee chori ho jaye.
Chor ko bhi bina hathyar wali chori

suit karti hain. Pakde gaye toh
hathiyarbandh dakaiti ki saza dugni
hoti hain.
Kumud nods.
MRS PAREKH
Praful, tum kuch bol nahi rahi
beta?
Praful looks up from her food.

106.
PRAFUL
Thak gayi hu aunty.
MRS PAREKH
Shaadi ke baad itna kaam mat kiya
kar beta.
Praful smiles. Sameer notices something amiss.
SAMEER
Shayad khuli hawa acchi rahegi
aapke liye. Back garden mein chale?
EXT. BACKGARDEN. MOHAN HOUSE. NIGHT
Sameer and she go to the back garden. Praful sits on the

bench.
SAMEER
Tum theek ho? Kaafi vichilit lag
rahi ho.
Praful looks at him quizzically.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Distracted.
PRAFUL
Im ok.
SAMEER
Mujhe Stanford mein admission mil
gaya hain.
PRAFUL
Congratulations!
SAMEER
Monday ko jaa raha hu, fees aur
formalities pura karne.
Praful smiles. Her phone rings. It is Jeremiah. She

disconnects. Sameer notices.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Chahta tha ki baat pukki kar ke
jau.
Praful nods.
SAMEER (CONTD)
(uncomfortable)
Praful, kya tum ghabrayi hui ho?
107.
PRAFUL
(taken aback)
Nahi toh.
SAMEER
Aise kyon lagta hain ki tum kuch
chupa rahi ho.
PRAFUL
Kuch nahin hain Sameer.
SAMEER
Dekho, agar saath milkar kadam lena
hain, to tumhe mujhpe bharosa karna
hoga. Kya samasya hain?
Praful gets up and looks at Sameer. She wants to tell him,

but cant find the courage.
PRAFUL
Sameer...main ek private person hu.
Sab kuch bayaan nahi kar sakti...
Prafuls phone rings again. Praful goes to cut it.
SAMEER
Meri maano toh phone disconnect mat
karo...nahi toh bala talegi nahin.
Praful thinks and takes the call. Sameer excuses himself so

she can speak in private.
PRAFUL
Jeremiah?
JEREMIAH
Why arent you taking my calls
PRAFUL
I have guests over. My phone was on
silent..
JEREMIAH
Cut the crap and come outside.
PRAFUL
Outside?
JEREMIAH
Im parked outside your front door?
PRAFUL
What?
108.
JEREMIAH
You want me to come in?
PRAFUL
Im on my way.
JEREMIAH
Bring the 50k!
Sweat inches from Prafuls forehead. She enters the house and
heads quickly towards the front door. Sameer and Kumud look
at her quizzically.
KUMUD
Kaha jaa rahi ho?
PRAFUL
Manager aaya hain. Kuch samaan
rakhna hain mere paas. 5 minute
main aayi.
KUMUD
Theek hain beta.
Praful exits the house and spots the black SUV. She walks
towards it nervously. Sameer comes to the window and watches
her enter it.
INT. ROMANOS CAR. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Praful enters the car. Jeremiah sits with a drink. His

henchman, Bugs, shuts the door.
PRAFUL
Can you drive ahead please.
Jeremiah stares at her.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Please!
Jeremiah nods his head.
BUGS
Pete, stop at the end of the
street.
The car moves, Praful doesnt make eye-contact with Jeremiah.

109.
JEREMIAH
The money?
Praful trembles as she takes out the $14,000 she got from her
last heist. She hands it to Jeremiah. Jeremiah looks at the
mess. Some $20 bills, $50 bills sticking out.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
What is this??
PRAFUL
$14,300.
JEREMIAH
What?
Praful begins crying.
PRAFUL
Mr Jeremiah, I had the money. I had
it all. But that bastard MIKE stole
it...
JEREMIAH
You dont have $50K??
Praful falls at Jeremiahs feet.
PRAFUL
I will find the money. Just give me
a week.
Jeremiah and Bugs exchange a look. Jeremiah is amused by

Prafuls antics.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
I swear Ill get you the money. I
have a plan...I just need a few
days...
JEREMIAH
Plan? To rob another bank?
Praful is shocked to hear this.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
You think we didnt know?
Praful is uncomfortable. She looks outside the window. Sameer

comes out of the house and looks for her.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
It was all over the news bitch. And
you called me after every heist.
110.
PRAFUL
I..I..
Jeremiah puts his hands on Prafuls face and pushes his

fingers into her cheeks and neck. Praful struggles to
breathe.
JEREMIAH
So I know you have the money. Just
didnt think youd have the guts to
fuck with me again.
PRAFUL
I swear I dont have it. I got
small amounts from every job...I
hid it in the hotel...It was
stolen...please believe me.
JEREMIAH
Bugs, what do you think? She
telling the truth.
BUGS
Seems too dumb to lie boss...
JEREMIAH
But she robbed what...4 banks? She
cant be that stupid.
BUGS
Maybe we can get her to rob another
one. A bigger one.
Jeremiah looks at Praful. She is choking, going red in the

face.
JEREMIAH
Look bitch, you do as I say now.
Praful nods.
JEREMIAH (CONTD)
You rob a rich bank now. Nothing
less than $25k, Understand. Then
maybe we let you go.
Praful struggles to talk. Jeremiah lets go of her face.
PRAFUL
Its..Its...impossible to get $20k
in one shot, they usually dont
have more than $10k in the till.
111.
Jeremiah thinks. He removes a gun and places it on Prafuls

lap.
JEREMIAH
Use this. Might work better than a
lipstick note.
Bugs laughs.
PRAFUL
Ive never used a gun, Look, I can
do it without..
JEREMIAH
Take the gun. Or take a bullet.
Praful stares at the gun.
BUGS
Try Goldmans Bank near Tuxedo
Park. Thats where the rich folk
park their money.
JEREMIAH
Yeah. Do us a Robin Hood? Rob the
rich and pay us poor money
lenders...
Bugs laughs. There is a knock on the window. Praful sees

Sameer standing outside trying to peer into the heavily
tinted glass.
PRAFUL
Please let me go.
JEREMIAH
Is that your lover boy?
PRAFUL
Hes a friend.
JEREMIAH
Does he know youre also the
friendly neighborhood robber?
PRAFUL
Please dont, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah opens the door. Sameer stares at them.
SAMEER
Praful, you ok?
112.
PRAFUL
Yeah, please go.
Praful sees the gun in her lap and hides it before Sameer can
see it.
JEREMIAH
So well see you at...at the hotel
tomorrow Ms Patel. You have
yourself a nice night. You too
Mister.
Praful exits. Sameer helps Praful out and looks at Jeremiah

suspiciously.
Bugs shuts the door and the SUV speeds off. The two are
standing in the middle of the street.
SAMEER
Sab theek hain?
PRAFUL
(shouts)
Tumhara problem kya hain?
SAMEER
(startled)
Problem?
PRAFUL
Yani musibat...masla!!
Kyon mere peeche-peeche bhagte ho?

Kisini tumhe meri rakhwali ka
contract diya hain kya?
SAMEER
Chilla kyon rahi ho? Main chintit
ho gaya tha jab tum dikhi nahi.
PRAFUL
Tum mard log kya samajhte ho, ki
aurat aadmi ki bina laachar hain?
SAMEER
Praful?
PRAFUL
Raakhi baandho toh rakhshak banjate
ho, mangalsutra pehnao toh
rakhwaale banjate ho?? I dont need
you to help me!
113.
SAMEER
Ok Ok. Calm down. Main sirf ek dost
ki haisiat se puch raha hu, kya tum
kisi musibat mein ho?
Beat.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Us din shaadi pe bhi yahi log aaye
the na? Tum baar baar phone kyon
disconnect karti rehti ho? Praful
agar koi samasya hain toh tum mujhe
bata sakti ho!
Praful stares at him.
PRAFUL
Tum sachmuch jaan-na chahte ho?
SAMEER
Haan!
PRAFUL
I dont think tumhe sachai accept

karne ki Ksham..Kshamasta...
SAMEER
Kshamta.
PRAFUL
...Kshamta hain!
SAMEER
Mujhe accha lage na lage, tumhe is
boj ko halka kardena chahiye.
PRAFUL
Theek hain!
She holds Sameer by his hand and takes him to the park
opposite the house.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Toh suno. Mujhe gambling ki aadat
lag gayi thi, jhoot bolke har hafte
Vegas jaati thi, khelne.
Pata hain yeh log mere peech kyon

aaye hain? Kyonki maine inse karza
liya tha, casino mein..dao lagane
ke liye.
114.
Sameer looks at her, confused.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Aur main woh saare paise haar gayi
Sameer. Isiliye mujhe waha se
bhaagna pada...
Lekin inlogo ne mujhe dhoond

liya...aur yeh..yeh bade kameene
log hain Sameer...
Beat
SAMEER
Kitna hain karza?
Beat.
PRAFUL
$50,000.
Sameer sits on a bench in shock. Mohan opens the door to see

them.
MOHAN
Sameer beta, Ras malai ya gulab
jamun?
Both stare at him.
SAMEER
Kuch bhi chalega uncle.
MOHAN
(sweetly)
Gulab jamun garam karu?
SAMEER
Uncle, paanch minute dena please.
Mohan wonders whats going on, but shuts the door. Sameer
thinks.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Police ke paas kyon nahi gayi?
PRAFUL
Is ghar mein police kabhi nahi aa
sakti Sameer. Maa ko sadma pahuch
jayega agar yeh jaan gayi toh.
Sameer thinks.
115.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Abhi bhi madad karna chahte ho?
Sameer is silent.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Mujhe $50,000 de sakte ho?
Beat.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Chalo ek deal karte hain. Tum apne
fees ke jama kiye paise mujhe de
do, main shaadi karke tumhe Green
Card dilva dungi. Yahi chahiye na
tumhe?
Sameer looks at Praful in anger and gets up. He marches

towards the house.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
Kya hua Sameer? Bhaag rahe ho?
Maine kaha tha na, ki tumhe sachai
bardaash karne ki ksham..ksham...
Sameer enters the house. Praful sits outside on the park

bench.
In a few moments, the door opens and Sameer and the Parekhs
exit. Mohan is at the door, looking confused.
They get into the car and drive off. Praful watches the car
go sadly.
Praful enters the house. Mohan and Kumud stand staring at

her.
MOHAN
Su thayyu?
Praful doesnt answer. She goes straight to her room.
Praful takes out her track suit and looks for her wig. Mohan
barges in. She shuts the cupboard.
MOHAN
Kua hua? Kyon Sameer jaldi mein
chala gaya?
116.
PRAFUL
Usne nahin bataya?
MOHAN
Nahin. Kya kaha tumne?
PRAFUL
Yahi, ke main shaadi nahin karna
chahti.
Mohan stares at her in shock. Kumud stands at the door.
KUMUD
Achanak kya ho gaya Praful?
PRAFUL
Mera dimaag kharab ho gaya tha Maa.
Socha ke shayad Sameer auron se
alag hoga. But nahi, yeh mard-log
saare kamzor hote hain Maa...
Mohan slaps her.
KUMUD
Mohan!!
Praful glares at Mohan.
PRAFUL
Mera yahi matlab tha, Maa.
Praful goes and starts packing her things.
KUMUD
Kaha jaa rahi hain?
Praful pushes her aside and starts filling a bag.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Beta, pita ke thappad ka bura nahin
maante..yeh tumhara bhala chahte
hain...
PRAFUL
Kyon apne aap se jhoot bol rahi ho
Mamma? Jab se is ghar mein aayi hu,
yeh mujhe nikaalne ki koshish mein
lage huye hain. Bhool gayi? India
mein humse milne 4 saal mein ek
baar hee aate the...
MOHAN
(shocked)
Main kya chutti manane aaya tha??
(MORE)
117.
MOHAN (CONT'D)
Yaha kutte ke tarah kaam kar raha
tha, tumhe paise bhej raha tha.
Green Card milna aasaan hain kya?
PRAFUL
Pappa, Green Card toh aapko 7 saal
mein hee mil gaya tha. Uske dus
saal baad bhi humari yaad nahi
aayi?
MOHAN
Jab main hee settled nahin tha..toh
tumhe kaise bulata?
KUMUD
Praful! Har mahine paise bhejte the
yeh. Sar pe chhat diya inhone,
tumhare padhai ke fees bhari. Aur
jaise hee mauka mila, humme bula
liya!
PRAFUL
Jab budape mein sahare ki zarurat
pad gayi, tab bula liya Maa. Yaha
jhadu-bartanvali bhi toh nahi
milte!
Mohan wants to hit her, but he controls himself and knocks

down some books instead.
MOHAN
Kitna zehar bhara hain iske andar.
Apne baap ko hee dushman bana rahi
hain.
PRAFUL
Aur Maa, Inhone humme nahin, aapko
bulaya. Main to chipak ke aayi thi
na aapke saath?
Kuch saal bhi nahi rehne diya mujhe

saath mein. 22 saal ki umar mein
hee shaadi karaadi!
MOHAN
Tumhari shaadi karana mera farz
tha. Tum mujhe kamzor lagi. US ko
akele jhelne ki taaqat nahi thi tum-
me. Maine socha, ek accha pati mil
jaye toh...
118.
PRAFUL
Accha? Woh bhi aap hee ki tarah
sochta tha Pappa. Usse biwi nahi,
naukrani chahiye thi...
KUMUD
Praful! bas kar!
MOHAN
Auron pe ungli uthati hain?? Apni
galtiya nahi dikhti tujhe?? Koi bhi
shaadi perfect nahi hoti. Agar tu
chahti toh apne ghar ko bacha sakti
thi. Lekin tere ghamand ne sab
barbaad kar gaya..
PRAFUL
Haan, ghar bachane ki zimmedari
humesha aurat ki hee hoti hain na?
Aapne kabhi yeh jaan-ne ki koshish
nahi ki, ki woh mujhe khush rakhta
tha ya nahi??
Jab mein tooti-bikhri wapas yaha

aayi, toh aapne ek baar bhi mere
sar pe haath pher ke kaha? tu
kaise hain Praful?
Tears stream down Prafuls face.
MOHAN
Yeh sab draame filmon mein hote
hain Praful. Aadmi apni
zimmedariyon show-shaa kiye bina
bhi nibha sakta hain!
PRAFUL
Khair, aap humesha chahte the na,
ki main ghar chhodke chali jau?
Kabse wahi koshish kar rahi hu

Pappa. Magar kya karu, kuch na kuch
ulta ho jata hain...
MOHAN
(bitter)
Aaj kaun rok raha hain tumhe?
Kumud starts crying.
KUMUD
Praful! Jaa. Tu jaa yaha se. Main
aur nahin sun sakti.
119.
PRAFUL
Kaash mamma, ek baar toone inse
kaha hota, ki aadmi ke bina bhi
aurat ki kuch ehmiyat hoti hain.
Praful takes her things and walks down the stairs. Kumud
breaks down as Praful gets out of the door.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. MOHAN HOUSE. DAY
Praful sits in her car and starts it. She drives off. Mohan
watches her from the window.
EXT. SALMAS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Praful lands up at a door and rings the bell. Salma opens the
door. She has been expecting her.
SALMA
Aaja. Khana khaya tune?
PRAFUL
Haan.
INT. SALMA HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT
Praful enters the living room. Salmas husband is watching TV

and two kids aged 5 and 12 are playing.
SALMA
Yeh hain Praful, do-chaar din saath
rahegi.
The husband nods.
SALMA HUSBAND
Chaar din baad chacha aa rahe
Islamabad se..
SALMA
Maalum hain.
The husband starts watching TV again.
SALMA (CONTD)
(to Praful)
Aa tujhe kamra dikhati hu.
120.
INT. ROOM. SALMA HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
Salma brings Praful inside the childrens room. A make-shift

bed has been made for her.
SALMA
Bacche mere saath soyenge. Tu thaki
hogi, so ja.
PRAFUL
Salma, maine tujhpe shaq kiya us-
din...Im sorry..
SALMA
Pagal hain kya. Mere paise jaate
toh main bhi sabse puchti. Harami
hain woh MIKE..
Praful hugs Salma.
PRAFUL
Main do-teen din mein chali jaungi.
SALMA
Woh theek hain. Par jayegi kaha?
PRAFUL
Ek zaruri kaam khatm karna hain.
Uske baad mein Atlanta chhodke
chali jaungi. Nayi zindagi shuru
karungi kahi.
SALMA
Theek hain. Khuda kare tera kaam
accha ho.
Salma shuts the door. Praful looks at the room.
CUT TO:
Praful opens her bag and takes out the laptop. She sees the
gun in her bag and shuts it quickly.
On the internet, Praful sees images of Goldmans Bank near

Tuxedo Park.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GOLDMANS BANK. TUXEDO PARK. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful drives near Goldmans Bank in a plush neighborhood.

121.
She sits at a caf opposite Goldmans Bank and sees the

beefed up security. She makes notes.
She notices that there is 15 minutes of no security when the

guards shift changes. She writes and mumbles.
PRAFUL
Lunch ke baad..1:45 ko...15 minutes
ke liye...no security...
Her phone rings. It is Sameer. Praful disconnects.
INT. SHOPPING MALL. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful buys a new wig and sunglasses.
INT. BEDROOM. SALMAS HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful changes into her cat-suit in Salmas house. Salma

and her husband are away at work and their young child
watches curiously as Praful transforms her appearance. Praful
stuff her bra to the biggest its ever been.
Sameer calls again. Praful disconnects.
Praful takes the gun and puts it in a bag.
INT. SALMAS HOUSE. ATLANTA. DAY
Salmas older daughter is watching TV.
NEWS OF SIMRAN-THE LIPSTICK BANDIT. Cops have tightened

security around city banks. Image of Praful in her track-
suit. The girl turns to see Praful in similar clothes.
Praful takes the remote control from her and turns off the
TV.
Praful drives. Her attention keeps going to the bag with the
gun.
122.
EXT. LAKE. ATLANTA. DAY
Praful stops her car by the lake and purposefully marches

towards the water holding her bag. She looks at the water for
a bit, then removes the gun from the bag and throws it into
the water. As the ripples emerge, she walks to her car.
The shift at the Bank changes. Praful parks her car (badly)
at a strategic point and walks with an assured confidence.
INT. GOLDMANS BANK. TUXEDO PARK ATLANTA. DAY
She enters the bank. This one is much busier than the others.
She gets a little nervous, but breathes in and regains
composure. She walks to the cashier.
CASHIER
And how can I help you?
He looks up at Praful and recognizes her from the news. He

panics.
Praful hands him a note. Give me all your money, if you mess
around, I blow up the bank.
The cashier looks around for help. Praful points to a remote

control in her hand.
The cashier fills her bag.
Praful begins walking out. Just then he presses the alarm. As

the siren rings, a security guard almost catches her, but she
holds out the remote control. He stops.
Praful gets away by the skin of her teeth.
INT. PRAFULS CAR. TUXEDO PARK. ATLANTA DAY
Praful drives off from the parking lot.
She stops on the side of the road and counts the money. She
cant believe her luck. There are only $1 and $5 dollar bills.
She screams.
PRAFUL
$1000 fucking dollars???
123.
Prafuls phone rings. It is Sameer. She answers.
PRAFUL (CONTD)
(barks)
Kya hain Sameer?
SAMEER
Main tumse milna chahta hu.
PRAFUL
Kyon??
SAMEER
Main..main shayad tumhari madat kar
sakta hu....
INT. RESTAURANT. ATLANTA. DAY
Sameer and Praful are at an open-air restaurant. Prafuls

food lies untouched.
SAMEER
Uss din tumhari baatein sunkar
hairaan ho gaya tha.
Praful cant fathom what he is about to say.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Par mein raat bhar so nahi paya.
Mujhe yeh baat khayi jaa rahi thi
ki tum musibat mein thee, aur maine
tumhe akela chhod diya.
PRAFUL
Sameer, sorry kehne ki koi zarurat
nahin. Main tum-se kuch expect
nahin karti..
SAMEER
Mujhe apni baat kehne do.
Main tumhe woh $50,000 dena chahta

hu.
Praful isnt sure she heard right.
PRAFUL
Kya?
SAMEER
Main paise apne saath laya hu.
Chahta hu tum isse lekar, apna
karza chuka do.
124.
PRAFUL
Yeh paise...tumhare fees ke hain
na?
SAMEER
Haan. Magar mujhe koi jaldi nahi.
MBA agle saal bhi kar sakta hu.
Beat.
PRAFUL
Shart kya hain Sameer?
SAMEER
Shart? Koi shart nahin Praful.
Praful cannot believe it.
PRAFUL
MBA karna tumhara sapna raha hain
na? Uske liye itne saal kaam kiya
hain tumne...
SAMEER
Dekho Praful, ek taraf tumhari yeh
takleef hain, aur doosri taraf mera
MBA ka bhoot. Maine dono ko parkha.
Tum iss takleef se nikal jao, meri
khushi isi-mein hain.
Prafuls looks into his eyes as if she has seen unconditional

love for the first time. Her eyes well up.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Main tumhe pasand karta hu Praful.
PRAFUL
Tum mujhe jaante nahin Sameer...
SAMEER
Maine tumhare dil ko samjha hain
Praful. Apno ke liye itna pyar
maine kisi mein nahi dekha. Aur
galti toh har insaan se hoti hain.
Praful wipes a tear.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Asha hain tumhe bharosa hogaya hoga
ki mujhe Green Card ka lalach nahin
hain.
Beat
125.
Praful suddenly gets up.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Kaha jaa rahi ho?
PRAFUL
Man tumhare paise nahi le sakti
Sameer.
SAMEER
Kyon??
Praful walks to her car. Sameer holds her arm.
SAMEER (CONTD)
Mujhse baat karo Praful...
Praful stops.
PRAFUL
Dekho Sameer, tum ek acche ladke
ho. Tumhara future bright hain.
Mere saath involve hokar tum
musibat mein pad jaoge.
SAMEER
In paison se tumhari musibat tal
jayegi Praful.
PRAFUL
Nahi Sameer. Maamla aur bhi uljha
hua hain. Please mujhe jaane do.
SAMEER
Yeh mat samjho ki paise lekar tum
kisi ehsaan mein bandh jaogi. Chaho
toh mujhse dobara milna bhi mat.
Praful opens her car door and looks at Sameer lovingly.
PRAFUL
(controlling her tears)
Tum fees bharke MBA shuru kar dena.
Woh tumhara dharmik APP...idea
bahut accha hain..usse banana...ek
acchi uncomplicated ladki dhundkar
shaadi karna...Im sorry Sameer,
main chahu toh bhi woh ladki nahin
ban sakti..
Praful starts her car and drives off. Sameer watches her go.
126.
Tears stream down Prafuls eyes as she drives. She has never
experienced this kind of unconditional love from a man
before. She calls her mother on the Bluetooth.
KUMUD
Praful?
PRAFUL
(crying)
Maine us-se jaane diya Maa...
KUMUD
Kisko? Kyon roh rahi hain Praful?
PRAFUL
Pyar karta hain mujhse, bina kisi
shart ke...aisa hota hain kya maa?
Beat.
KUMUD
Haan beta. Aisa hota hain.
Beat
Tere Pappa bhi bure nahin hain

beta, bas pyar dikhane ka tareeka
alag hain.
Praful cries.
Tu ab ro mat. Ghar aaja Praful. Sab

theek hojayega.
Beat
KUMUD (CONTD)
Jabse tu gayi hain, woh soye nahi
hain.
Praful cries.
KUMUD (CONTD)
Beta, ghar wapas aaja.
Praful disconnects the phone and makes a u-turn.

127.
Praful drives to her parents house. Her mother is at the

door, waiting for her. Praful sees Mohan looking at her
through the window.
Just as she is about to park the car, Praful sees lights

flashing from her rear view mirror. She is alarmed to see two
police cars enter her lane.
Praful looks at her mother and the cops and panics. She
speeds off as her parents watch, confused.
EXT. PRAFULS CAR. GEORGIA HIGHWAY. DAY
Praful speeds onto the Highway. Police cars follow her. She
overtakes vehicles and jumps lanes.
Fox News Broadcast: We hear an excited reporter on the news

as we watch the chase.
REPORTER VO
The police is chasing what appears
to be the car used in the Tuxedo
Park Bank robbery early this
morning.
Suspect is said to be the notorious

Lipstick Bandit, who also uses the
alias Simran and is believed to
have robbed a string of banks
across the state of Georgia.
Prafuls car climbs on a narrow winding hilly road and speeds

dangerously. The police cars follow more cautiously. Praful
hears the news report on the radio.
REPORTER VO
An unexpected breakthrough in the
Lipstick Bandit case today.
The Police arrested one MIKE MEHNDI

of the Courtyard Marriot Hotel, who
was caught using marked notes from
the HUGO WELLS robbery last week.
128.
EXT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. ATLANTA. DAY
Mike is being escorted by cops outside the hotel. He

struggles and argues, and the police drag him in front of all
his colleagues.
REPORTER VO
MIKE confessed to have taken the
money from one Ms Praful Patel, of
Atlanta. It is believed that they
were accomplices...
More police cars swarm Mohans house. Cops runs inside.
REPORTER
The suspect is reported to have
escaped just as the police reached
her home. Even as the police chase
her, her family is being
questioned.
Praful is horrified to hear this. She cries. Her phone rings.

It is her mother. She cuts the call and speeds. It rings
again. Again she disconnects.
Her car speeds on the freeway. It overtakes a truck and

almost collides with another. The car regains control and
speeds away just before the police catch up. Two more police
cars join the chase. Her phone rings again.
Praful answers this time.
MOHAN
(gently)
Yeh kya hogaya Praful?
PRAFUL
Pappa please. Mujhse kuch mat
puchna.
129.
MOHAN
Maine muafi maangne ke liye phone
kiya hain Praful...
Beat
PRAFUL
Ghar mein police aayi hain?
MOHAN
Haan.
Cops in Mohans house. Kumud sobs while being interrogated.
MOHAN
Tu Bhaag mat beta! Apne aap ko
police ke hawale karde. Hum saath
mein iska hal nikalenge.
PRAFUL
(wiping tears)
Main bhaag nahin rahin thee. Ghar
ke paas pakdi nahin jaana chahti
thi, Maa ke saamne...
Mohan looks at Kumud, he controls his tears.
MOHAN
Tune sahi kaha tha Praful, maine
kabhi tere sar pe haath pher ke
nahi pucha ki tu kaisi hain?
Beat. Praful continues to speed.
MOHAN (CONTD)
Ek baap pe bahut dabav hote hain
beta, bacche ki sahi parvarish ka.
Khaaskar jab beti ho. Aur maine
wahi kiya joh apne pita se seekha
tha. Mujhe muaf karde beta.
PRAFUL
Pappa...
MOHAN
Haan?
PRAFUL
Aap mujhse pyaar karte hain Pappa?
130.
MOHAN
Haan beta.
PRAFUL
Bina kisi shart ke?
Mohan processes her words. And finally understands.
MOHAN
Haan beta. Pyar karta hu tujhse.
Bina kisi shart ke.
Praful cannot hold back her tears and disconnects the call.
She wipes her tears, but they continue to stream.
She looks behind as two more police cars emerge on the

horizon and even though there is enough distance between
them, she starts to slow down. She stops her car on the side
of the road and wipes her tears.
As a chopper hovers over them and the Police cars approach

her, Praful opens her glove compartment and takes out her
blonde wig. The police surround her vehicle and pull out
their guns. Praful carefully put on her wig and sunglasses.
With not a hair out of place, the sensational Lipstick

Bandit exits her car. Her designer sunglasses betray the
tears behind them and she walks with a confident swagger
towards the waiting police cars.
END TITLES ROLL

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SIMRAN

THE LIPSTICK BANDIT

1301. Shishira, Off New link Rd, Andheri W, Mumbai 400053.

Train station. A petite Indian woman, Praful, 31, runs

INT. TRAIN STATION. ATLANTA. DAY

TITLES BEGIN. The train doors are closing. Praful runs,

INT. TRAIN. ATLANTA. DAY

A relieved Praful puts on her shoes. An elderly woman gives

EXT. BUS STOP. ATLANTA SUBURB. DAY

Praful sprints towards a hotel- The Courtyard Marriot. She is

INT. COURTYARD MARRIOT. ATLANTA SUBURB. DAY

Praful enters from the staff entrance, an African-American

Praful drops her wallet while trying to sign. She picks it up

INT. STAFF ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY

INT. GUEST ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY

Praful in her work uniform, is vacuum cleaning a room.

She puts all the toiletries, towels in their place.

Praful cleans the toilet bowl meticulously.

Praful makes the bed to perfection and puts up a made sign

INT. STAFF ROOM. COURTYARD MARRIOT. DAY

A short, impeccably dressed man with big attitude enters the

There is uncomfortable energy between him and Praful.

He looks at Noella and smiles, she blushes and touches her

The women start packing their lunch. Praful continues to eat

Praful makes a mocking face, as Noella blushes.

They both laugh. Noella isnt amused.

INT. EMPTY APARTMENT BUILDING. UPTOWN ATLANTA. DAY

A bright, empty apartment. The door opens and a male agent-

Kumud looks in awe, Praful beams.

Praful points to the living area.

Steven wonders what they are talking about.

Kumud laughs at Prafuls joke. She blesses her.

Praful holds her mother.

Kumud begins to cry. Praful controls her emotions.

EXT. UPTOWN ATLANTA STREET. DAY

Praful, Kumud and Steven walk to Prafuls car. Kumud watches

The women walk towards a Green Nissan and get in.

INT. CAR. ATLANTA ROADS. ATLANTA. DAY

Praful drives slowly. She is not a very good driver.

A car honks at Praful, she is in the wrong lane. She swerves

Praful continues to drive

Praful suddenly stops, ahead of the light. She reverses over

INT. ATLANTA BANK. DAY

Kumud sits in the waiting area of a busy bank.

Praful is by the water cooler. She looks around at the

Praful fills water in the plastic cup and drinks peculiarly

Praful is started by the sound and spills some water. She

INT. BANK. ATLANTA. DAY

Praful sits with Cynthia, who with an air of self-importance,

Cynthia reads some papers.

Cynthia pushes a paper to Praful.

Praful begins signing the papers.

EXT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT

Praful drives with Kumud into a quiet driveway of her house.

It is too late. Praful drives on the garden patch, crushing

Mohan removes the dead flowers.

INT. MOHANS HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT

Kumud ignores him and goes to the kitchen. Praful eats.

Kumud enters and sees the tension.

Mohan makes a face.

Mohan throws his plate and it crashes violently on the floor.

Praful gets up from the table.

Praful stares in anger.

Praful doesnt sit.