Monday, October 20, 2008

the Colour of pleasure

its deep dark red, like the roses people buy on valentines day and spend way too much money on somethin that is going to dry up the next morning to signify something that we want to last forever and still feel wonderful when we re 80.

its the colour purple like plumo ripe grapes in the monsoon that dont smell like anythin but they more than make up for it in taste and the aphrodisiac qualities we like to attach to them thanks to every greek/roman movie we ve ever seen.

its the colour blue like the sky on that perfect day after that perfect night when you drove home with the top down and for that brief time loved every moment of your glorious life untill you got put off by something as trivial as an ill placed speed-breaker. ironic!

its the colour dark blue like your eye after a good fight with a bad enemy and heck yeah he’s probably a prettier shade of blue that you ever imagined.

its the colour pink like your sore tongue after sucking on a sour-sweet lolly for an hour . its more than just sugar, its memories of fighting for the last cherry flavoured ball of happines on a stick.

its the colour red like that horrendous shade of lipstick you forced your mother to buy you when you were 8 and then wore it to sleep the next night only to never use it again but stand in your dressing drawer where its still standing thinking about that pretty ltlle girl.

its the colour blue like your fingers after that particularly good examination where you aced it inspite of your pen leaking ink on your sweaty palms and your white school uniform.

its the colour green like the leaves of the shoe flower plant after the first monsoon shower when the air smells of wet mud and the sky gathers you in comfortable darkness.

its the colour black like those sparkling eyes that caress you with a single glance and say more than words could ever manage to .

Posted by ANDE in 21:09:42 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, October 13, 2008

                                A story to the one who hears it.             

              “The walls had cracks like an old man’s crooked fingers. They were stained and ugly and you couldn’t take your eyes off them or they would move closer to you, especially at night you’d better make sure you pull your bed away from the wall or they’ll get you in your sleep. Sometimes the chairs creak and the wind whistles through the old hinges of the Portuguese windows, the leaves of trees rustle and the neighborhood cats cry bitter tales to each other.” I made it my personal mission to scare Annie. The cutest thing was that whenever she got scared she ‘d still come running back to me. Annie had a different mission, though one that still proved that we were definitely related, she liked to dig up mud and collect objects found buried underneath much to the disgust of our parents and I must admit me too. The ancestral Braganza house was our yearly visit and a time for siblings to bond in boredom. The old house stood on a hill and was as any native place house usually is – rustic, vintage and had a very ‘lived in’ look. We didn’t have a lot of friends except for Santan , who didn’t fit the profile of ideal playmate but still proved quite entertaining in his own morbid, scandalous sort of way.             Santan pai said that if you loosened some of the bricks in the wall all the secrets of the house would come in shrill shrieks and screams, 400 years of lies, deception and rivalry carelessly swept under the moth eaten rug of a refurbished social image. Santan seemed to know everything about his hometown and my family. He was almost 70 years old which was nearly equally to 400 years for me at 12 years, 3 months and 10 days. Andrew, as my parents named me or Andy as my friends back in the city nick-named me, I’d never been the outdoorsy kind.  Santan worked for my family all his life and though Ma always said he was the most loyal help you could ask for even he needed to vent his frustrations and we seemed to be the only audience for his frequent rants after dinner and a couple of shots of Feni.             My little sister Annie (6 years 7 months and 26days) and I were told to be polite and listen to his purely fictional stories which inadvertently slipped into the affairs of an influential Goan family and the characters who often resembled in uncanny accuracy relatives like old , bickering nana or loony uncle Simon. That particular evening all sozzled after celebrations in the spirit of carnival he continued his his narration of ‘murder of Martha’ in a chaste , traditional Salcette accent. “No, its too late. I’ll get nightmares.” relented Annie. “Is it the one with the ghost on the beach who drown people?”, she continued scared but still curious. “No.” I stood up as if on cue for we were more than familiar with Santan’s stories. “ It’s the one where Martha , the lovely lady, long black curls swept back against chestnut eyes is killed by her enraged lover because he cant see her the only love of his sad existence marry another man albeit of a better household. She belonged to a prestigious upper class house, he was the lowly help. Their affair was tainted with social unacceptance. It’s a gory tale nevertheless, though it may start off as a love story….” I cut off mid-sentence suddenly realizing I had got too caught up with my dramatic paraphrasing which had left Santan’s eyes redder than cashew Feni could ever manage and muttering the choicest Konkani abuses.            Audible, but just barely he spoke slowly through the fuzzy bristles of his moustache , “ “her eyes were hazel”. He seemed to loose focus , breathe hard then quickly stood up and walking in a half run disappear into the darkness of the night. Unsure of what was the real cause of the reaction and perhaps a little embarrassed to have to apologize to an old, half drunk man I jus shrugged but Annie wouldn’t let it go. She kept pestering me to ‘make nice’ as she put it and of course after 12minutes and 30 seconds of me not listening to her she began to cry high pitched little girl sobs till I agreed. Holding her hand Annie and I headed towards Santan’s house armed with a torch and an apology. Though it was only a short distance away it was always in darkness shrouded  amongst coconut palms.           By now Annie’s tears had ceased and she had found an intriguing patch of wet mud, I left her with the torch and pushed the front door open. The dim candle light nearly hid Santan’s frame thrown across the bed, it was heaving and shuddering in odd rhythm. .then I heard the soft, stifled sobs against a damp pillow case. I murmured my apology but Santan’s sobs didn’t stop or even slow. What could have triggered such a break down? I should have known better, those stories were all he had. You’ve ruined an old innocent man, I thought to myself. All his life he has taken care of others and some young over smart kid, too light headed from all the city fumes makes a poor old man cry. There was something far more disturbing about a grown man crying. It made me uncomfortable .I looked around the room for something to distract myself as I was used to doing with Annie and that’s when it caught my eye, an old tattered photograph in a wooden frame of a lady, long black curls swept back against hazel eyes. A hundred thoughts ran through my head like a subway at rush hour. Is this the man who took care of our laundry and meals for the last 10 years? How much do we really know our only native friend? What of the other stories?            “Hazel eyes”, I thought aloud. The figure on the bed turned to look at me, a streak of sadness ran through my heart, but mostly fear. I bolted quicker than lightning, not slowing down I grabbed Annie by the waist and carrying her ran all the way home. Latching the door behind me and breathing heavily I slouched to the floor still holding my little sister. She looked up at me holding in her hand her latest find that she dug up in Santan’s yard. It was a long thick white rod , I think my biology teacher said its called a femur.                                                      

Posted by ANDE in 17:57:45 | Permalink | Comments (2)


Little Miss. Missing

 

FADE IN

1. EXT. CARNIVAL. GOA  - NIGHT – (CRANE) LONG SHOT. SLOW TYPICAL MERRY-GO-ROUND MUSIC

The screen is filled with a top view of the carnival with the lights , colourful banners ,the giant wheel, the merry, multitude of stalls etc CAMERA DESCENDS (PAN )to show the food stalls, the games . the prizes etc. (not concentrating on people but the actual elements of the fair)

CLOSE UP. of the balloons with the balloon seller.

 

2.LOUD POP (balloon bursts) MUSIC FADE OUT . FADE IN OF CARNIVAL SOUNDS (CROWD, VENDORS SHOUTING, BABY CRYING)

 

3. CLOSE UP .

Baby crying .ZOOM OUT TO MED SHOT. A family of 4 ( mother , father, baby and small girl) standing at balloon seller. Father is trying to buy another balloon as he struggles with many bags, mother is trying to pacify crying baby while holding hand of little girl who has back towards mother ,staring at one of the stalls.

 

 4.MED SHOT (TRACK)

Forward view of family as they walk through the fair. All awed by the carnival around them at the same time involved in their own activity.  Many funnily dressed characters walk in front of the family as they move along such as a woman in witch costume, man in king costume, people dressed as cartoon characters etc.

 

5.MED SHOT

Little girl jumping up and down. Holding her mothers hand. CARNIVAL SOUNDS MOVE TO A BUZZ IN THE BACKGROUND . mother is standing at one place but little girl – ANNIE is running a 180 degree path round her mother still tethered holding her mother’s hand, staring at the lights , colours etc wide- eyed.

 

6.MED SHOT

Big shabby dog meandering through the fair approaches little girl. She bends down and pets him. Parents have meanwhile stopped to find the bottle for the baby. Girl removes the ribbon round her bon-bon and ties it round dogs neck.

 

7.MED SHOT

Mother suddenly realizes daughter is playing with filthy dog and grabs her habd pulling her away from canine. Little girls struggles then gives in.

 

8.CLOSE UP

Dog with tongue out. (panting lost in buzz of surrounding)

 

LOW ANGLE SHOT(dogs point of view)

Little girls feet (small red shoes). Looks at ground. PAN .. lots of shoes of crowd all around. UNSTEADY CAMERA as dog trots away.

 

9.MED SHOT

Girl jumping a lot. Pointing at various things round her.

ANNIE : mama…mama…mama!

              Can we go on the giant wheel now?

           (Mother is not paying attention)

ANNIE : (excitedly but more to herself)

               First I’m gonna go on the giant wheel….and then I m gonna eat cotton candy ….and then can we go to the haunted mansion?…..or play shoot the balloons….tho! tho!(making sounds of a gun)(GIGGLES)…..mama ma ….

 Pulls mothers hand and gets a stern look.

ANNIE: (whines) But we never…do what I want to do….

             The baby can come on the giant wheel too…

 

10.MED SHOT(TRACK)

Family resumes walking.

MOTHER : Annie you shouldn’t complain so much. You wanted to go to the carnival . We brought you to the carnival. You know your brother is not well….

FATHER: (kindly) Okay not sweety… which rides do you want to go on ? just tell me and we’ll both go together okay? Mama will wait her with….(trails off)

 

11.HIGH ANGLE TILT DOWNARDS

Annies smilng face

 

12.CLOSE UP

Baby throws up on mothers shoulder.

Mother pats baby.

Father fusses about. FATHER : wait I’ll get the towel…

                                  MOTHER : you poor little thing…aww…(pats baby)

 

13.MED SHOT :

Annie , head bent down, walks to the edge of the stall adjacent to her parents who have stopped in the middle to care for baby.

A brightly coloured red ball rolls to her foot. She picks it up. A clown walks up to he and she hold out the ball. He takes it and starts to juggle adding it to 3 other brightly coloured balls.

 

14.MED SHOT

Parents look around and move to a nearby bench to take care of baby.

 

 15.LOW ANGLE SHOT LOOKING UPWARDS at flying colourful balls.

A crowd forms round Annie as the clown entertains them.  

(Happy laughing sounds, interspersed with oooh! And ahhh! From the crowd)  the clown does his act.

 

16.MED SHOT

Crowd disperses. Annie looking happy. She looks to where she thought her parents were standing. She can’t find them. Runs here and there, searching.

INTERCUT with CLOSE UP  of Annie’s face looking and growing troubled.(TENSE, WITH RISING TEMPO)

 

17.LONG SHOT

Small girl standing alone. Nobody around her in a small radius of 6 feet and then crowds of people beyond.

 

18.CLOSE UP

Annie’s eyes brimming with tears.(soft sniffs) tears flow down her face.

 

19.MED SHOT

Annie standing head bent down. Suddenly the shabby dog finds her once again.

She drops down to her knees to stroke the dog. A small smile with tear soaked cheeks.

 

20.Cut to MED SHOT of the parents on a bench finish tending to baby suddenly realizing Annie is not with them. Father stands up quickly and looks near the stalls in the vicinity. Mother clutches at baby against her chest. Father looking harrowed after searching for quite a while slowly sits down on the bench. Mother grips his hand tight. Her expression is grave.

 

21.LONG SHOT FROM ABOVE.

Shows the two groups 1. Annie and dog

                                     2. Parents and baby

In focus while their surrounding is blurred comparatively not too far away from each other but still unable to find one another.

 

22.MED SHOT

Dog licks Annie’s hand and moves in one direction. Annie gets up and follows the dog into the lane of the carnival.

SIDE VIEW . TRACK - Colourful stalls once again occupy Annie’s vision and she cheers up.

 

23.FAST SHOTS(fast cuts) FAST UP-TEMPO MUSIC

Merry- go – round with horses bobbing in sync with music, two clowns acting our a charade of throwing fake knives at each other and dodging them in a spoof, shinny, tiny windmills fluttering in the evening breeze, candy floss being churned in a big spinning vessel, a stall with an ongoing game of ringing the ducks, a corner full of curious soft toys….

 

24.FADE IN

FAST SHOTS . FAST TENSED MUSIC

Mother and father talking to the authorities, frantic hand gestures and worried expression. Authorities taking down details. delegating 2 officers. Searching through the many lanes. Mother breaking down and crying. Father holding her steady.

 

25.MED SHOT- SIDE VIEW

Annie’s slow walk turns into fast run as she sees the giant wheel up ahead. The dog follows suit.

 

26.FORWARD TRACK SHOT

They run and suddenly come to a stop. Staring wide eyed.

LONG SHOT FROM BEHIND ANNIE with giant wheel in front of her.

Cut to LOUD HAPPY AND SCARED SCREAMS , UNSTEADY CAMERA. View from the seat of the giant wheel. MED SHOT Annie  and dog in the seat. Annie holding the dog, happily screaming. CAMERA ZOOMS OUT. LONG SHOT of giant wheel in motion. Background of screaming sounds.

 

27.MED SHOT

Giant wheel comes to a stop.

Cut to – parents turning a corner and walking , looking every way searching.

Cut to – Engineer of giant wheel removes the belt and helps Annie and dog step out.

Cut to – Father looking up at the giant wheel from a distance.

Cut to – Annie smiling and patting the dog.

Cut to – Moment of realization for father. Starts walking faster.

Cut to – Annie stands up and starts walking slowly.

Cut to – Father turns the corner to the lane of the giant wheel. Strains his neck searching.

Cut to – Annie sees her father. ANNIE : (shouting loudly and happily) Daddy ..daddy …

Cut to – Annie runs towards her father.

Cut to – Father hears the daughter’s call. Look of relief on his face. Starts a half run towards Annie.

 

28.SIDE VIEW. MED SHOT

Annie and father come in the same frame. Father picks up Annie in his arms and hugs her.  Still carrying her, father looks at Annie and kisses her on the cheek many times. Annie giggles and squirms happily.

ANNIE: Daddy…(laughs).. that tickles….(more laughing)

FATEHR: Are you okay? I was so worried….

ANNIE: Oh daddy! You wont believe what I did…(excited.) I went on the giant wheel…its was so awwwwesome….and I saw a clown, and he was throwing things at the other clown…..and the puppy was with me the whole time….i don’t know what his name is….and it puppy ….the puppy… and we ……

THE END

 

 

 

Posted by ANDE in 17:55:10 | Permalink | Comments (2)