INTERCUT SCENES (11) — THE INTIMATE ESCAPE
This scene alternates between:
- THE DIVERSION – SAFA with SULTAN
- PRIVATE SPACE – GANESH with PHULJANI
A) THE DIVERSION – ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES
(Administrative chamber.)
SAFA
The western governors require immediate response.
SULTAN
Now?
SAFA
If the response is not sent by tomorrow, they will feel ignored.
(SULTAN sighs, sits.)
SULTAN
Read it.
(SAFA begins—steady, absorbing his attention.)
B) THE PRIVATE SPACE – PHULJANI REDISCOVERS HER FIRST LIFE
(A secluded inner pavilion. Evening.)
(PHULJANI waits. GANESH enters.)
PHULJANI
He is distracted?
GANESH
He is occupied.
PHULJANI
How?
GANESH
I engaged SAFA to keep the Sultan busy.
PHULJANI
Does she know?
GANESH
She knows her duties.
PHULJANI
You trust her?
GANESH
Everyone has an intent. I use it correctly.
PHULJANI
Why did you call me in my old name?
GANESH
Because it still lives inside you.
PHULJANI
Say it again.
GANESH (soft)
Basudha.
(She places her hand on his chest—not searching, grounding.)
PHULJANI
I was widowed once.
GANESH
And remarried to survival.
PHULJANI
True, partially —
GANESH
And–
PHULJANI
And I was forced by the Sultan to marry him – is the other part.
GANESH
Now you are the Begum Sultana of Shahi dynasty. You have all the power.
PHULJANI
Just as much power the royal guard’s whistle has.
I’m just an instrument in this imperial world.
GANESH
How did Sultan find you?
PHULJANI
Sultan – he was price then – came to our village and he saw me there.
GANESH
Your father, mother, your family members?
PHULJANI
A Hindu widow cannot marry again. My father disowned me. Even if they want to keep in touch, Hindu society will expel them from the village.
(GANESH touches her wrist—where a Hindu bangle once rested.)
PHULJANI (cont.)
No one called me in my original name since then.
Why did you?
(They lean in—foreheads nearly touching. Rested for a while.)
PHULJANI (cont.)
If we stay—
GANESH
—we become visible.
(They pull apart—just enough.)
GANESH (cont.)
Come.
(They move toward the shadowed.)
A) THE DIVERSION – ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES
(SULTAN frustrated.)
SULTAN
Why do they always need reassurance?
SAFA
Because reassurance feels like power.
SULTAN
I assured them in the last meeting.
SAFA
Send them one more letter. The same letter. Just like –
SULTAN
Just like?
(SAFA looks at him, fixes his robes, hands over a glass of wine.)
SAFA
If you want, I can draft it from the last dispatch – tonight.
And, here is one more –
SULTAN
One more?
(She hands him another scroll.)
B) THE PRIVATE SPACE – INTIMACY, UNSEEN
GANESH
You could escape from it then?
PHULJANI
The only way to escape from Sultan was – to suicide!
GANESH
Now you have money and power. Fulfill your all desires.
PHULJANI
What is this to you?
GANESH
Both.
PHULJANI
Love?
GANESH
And leverage.
PHULJANI
Then we will survive.
(She rests her head briefly against his shoulder. Not possession. Refuge.)
(A distant footstep is being heard.)
GANESH
We may have to go.
(They separate before returning.)
GANESH (cont.)
Be careful tomorrow.
PHULJANI
Tomorrow —
(She smiles)
— I am Phuljuni.
Tonight—
GANESH
Basudha.
(They exit in opposite directions.)
A) THE DIVERSION – SULTAN GOES TO SLEEP
(SAFA finishes reading.)
SULTAN
Good. That will occupy them.
SAFA
As intended.
(He stands.)
(She bows.)
(He stumbles.)
(SAFA holds him straight. He lifts her face looks at it.)
(Light fades. Light return – SULTAN is lying on a bed. SAFA comes out of the room. GANESH passes SAFA.)
(They stop for a moment facing each other. Walk away and exits stage.)
(Blackout.)
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21