GORILLA SHORTS

THOUGHTS IN SHORTS - STORY 3

STATION MASTER

Written by Ambar Chakravarty

1 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - PANVEL 1

Film opens on a empty Railway Station. We see empty benches

and platform. Then we see a goat standing on the platform.
But the goat has a leash which is held by a sad looking
Station Master holding a glass half full of water. He looks
at the distance, squints his eyes, then looks back at the
watch and then looks the other way. There is no sign of a
train.

A narrator starts.

NARRATOR
Duniya mein do tarah ke log hotein
hain, ek aashawadi aur doosra...jee
bilkul sahi...nirashawadi.

The guy, a station master walks away from camera. The camera
tracks him as he slowly trudges down the length of the
platform. There is a goat on a leash with him. (Panvel)

NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Toh Station Master Phool Kumar
paidaishi toh Ashawadi they, par
jab se unki duty yahan Kesupur mein
lagi hai, unke pair dheere dheere
nirashawadi camp ki taraf badhte
jaa rahein hain.

CUT TO:

2 INT. STATION PANVEL 2

He walks up to the station masters room and looks up at the

sign. He notices that its slightly tilted. He stares at it
for a moment and then adjusts it. Then he goes inside his
room. The camera stays on the board. After a beat, the coolie
lying underneath it, knocks it with his broom handle casually
and it goes back to its tilted state.

NARRATOR
Darasal, bataur Station Master, ye
unki pehli posting thi. Iske pehle
wo Gorakhpur Junction ke star
signal officer they. Isiliye unhein
itni kam umar mein hi Station
Master ka ohda naseeb hua.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 2.

NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Par badkismati se, unki career ki
gaadi yahin Kesupur pe patri se
utar gayi.

CUT TO:

3 EXT. MONTAGE SHOTS TO EST STATION - PANVEL & GUIERRILLA 3

We see a shot of tracks (G), Shot of two platforms (G), Shot

of dog/s (P), shot of sweeper relaxing (P), Shot of booking
office operating as a tea stall (P). The clerk gives someone
tea and two tickets through the window. (P)

NARRATOR
Waise toh Kesupur station mein wo
sabkuch hai jo ek chote se station
mein hona chahiye. Patriyan hain,
do platform hai, ek manmauji kutta
hai, ek jamadaar cum part time
coolie aur ek ticket counter cum
part time tapdi bhi hai.

CUT TO:

4 EXT. MONTAGE SHOTS TO ESTABLISH NO TRAIN 4

Now we see a shot of the far horizon with a mirage forming

over the tracks (G), Wide Shot of empty platform (G), Shots
of red lights (G), Shot of red chillies drying on the track
(G), Shot of clothes drying over tracks (G),, Shot of the
arrivals and departure board with just two entries for
Ballupur Up and Ballupur Down.

NARRATOR
Kami hai to bas ek cheez ki.
Trainon ki. Jee, Kesupur station
mein sirf do hi passenger train
rukti hain, Ballupur Up aur
Ballupur Down, subah aur shaam.

CUT TO:

5 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN - PANVEL FILM CITY 5

Slow track in to Phool Kumars face as he’s trying to listen

to faraway sounds while having a banana.

NARRATOR
Isiliye, aajkal Phool Kumar nirash
aur...kaise kahein...thode
asantulit lagte hai.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 3.

Phool Kumar closes his eyes and immediately the sounds of a

busy railway station fills his head. For a moment he’s happy.

I/C TO:

6 FLASH CUT OF A BUSY STATION INTERIORS. 6

Camera walks about the station like a lost passenger in a

dream like sequence.

NARRATOR
Jahan pahle Gorakhpur mein wo sau
sau gadiyon ki signalling sambhalte
they, wahan aaj wo ek loco ki horn
sunne ko taras gaye hain.

CUT BACK TO:

7 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 7

Crash pull out of Phool Kumar’s face as he opens his eyes in

shock. He throws the rest of the banana to his pet goat who
has been given a nice bed and hurriedly rotates the crank
phone.

I/C TO:

8 INT. RAILWAY SIGNALS CABIN (CHEAT IN PANVEL) 8

Two men are fast asleep when the phone rings. One of the guys
picks up the phone and answers sleepily.

BACK TO:

9 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 9

Phool Kumar talks hurriedly...

PHOOL KUMAR
Haan, ye Patna Rajdhani ki kya
status hai. Dikh nahi rahi system
pe...

I/C TO:

10 INT. RAILWAY SIGNALS CABIN (CHEAT IN PANVEL) 10

The signalman looks confused. He looks at the other guy who’s

also gotten up.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 4.

SIGNALMAN
Hellllooooo...Gate....Rajdhani sir?
Wo...idhar aati nahin hai sir.
Nahin sir, ye Kesupur hai. Koi baat
nahin sir.

He keeps the phone and glares at the other guy in the room.
They nod their head slowly as they pull up their blanket and
go back to sleep.

CUT TO:

11 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 11

A board behind the station masters seat reveals the name of

the earlier Station MAsters. The last name had been corrected
to read Mrs instead of MR by someone.

Tilt down to a dull Phool Kumar who opens a drawer and inside
that is a comb, a CD and a box on sindoor.

NARRATOR
Par Phool Kumar Kesupur Station ke
pahle victim nahin they. Inke pehle
jo station master they wo ek din
pant shirt pahenke aaye aur saari
blouse pehen ke sada ke liye nikal
liye. Virasat mein chod gaye, wohi
Kesupur ki bhayanak boriyat, ek
kangi, do chutki sindur aur atpati
si ek fransisi CD.

He removes the CD and under it is scratched on the wood two

words - “BHAAG JA”

He puts the CD in the public address system and sits back to

listen to the raspy french music. He has a faraway smile in
his face.

CUT TO:

12 EXT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 12

Camera pans with Phool Kumar who rushes out to signal a goods
wagon train. He signals it green like a matador in a bull
ring.

NARRATOR
Haalat ye tha ki kabhi kabhar jab
koi malgadi guzarti, toh Phool
Kumar usey itne harsho-ullas ke
saath jhanda dikhate jitna kabhi
kisi rajdhani ya shatabdi ko na
mila ho.

CUT TO:

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 5.

13 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - NIGHT 13

Phool Kumar is standing in pissing rain with a light signal

in hand.

NARRATOR
Bas, kus isi tarah kat rahi thi
zindagi Phool Kumar ki.

14 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - GUIERRILLA/PANVEL 14

He signals another train and starts moonwalking down the

platform. Soon his walk changes into a random dance. And then
to break dance.

CUT TO:

15 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - PANVEL 15

The dog, the coolie and the chaiwallah cum ticket seller peer
at Phool Kumar as he dances away.

NARRATOR
Nateeja ye, ke kesupur station ke
baaki bashinde unki dimaagi halat
ko leke thode chintit hone lage.

NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Par Phool Kumar ki zindagi bahut
jald badalne wali thi. Jee koi naya
train nahi aayi Kesupur mein, par
platform no. 2 ke bench no. 4 mein
ek nayi passenger zaroor dikhi
gayi.

Phool Kumar moonwalks into frame but suddenly stops on seeing

something on the other platform.

There is a girl sitting in the other platform. She is in the

camera foreground (Panvel)

CUT TO:

16 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - GUIERRILLA 16

We see the girl on the other side, from the station masters
perspective.

CUT TO:

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 6.

17 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - PANVEL FILM CITY 17

Phool kumar stares at the girl for some time and then walks
back slowly to the sleeping coolie.

PHOOL KUMAR
E sun! Ye ladki kaun hai?

COOLIE
Kaun?

PHOOL KUMAR
Wo us taraf?

COOLIE
(yawns)
Pata nahin, kuch dinon se aati hai
kabhi kabhi. Thodi der baithti hai,
phir chali jaati hai...

PHOOL KUMAR
Ballupur Down ke liye rukti hai.

COOLIE
Pata nahin...bidi hai?

He looks at the coolie contemptuously and walks out a bit. He

looks at the girl some more now from a distance. (Panvel{F}
and Guierrila {Back})

CUT TO:

20 EXT. STATION PLATFORM - SYMMETRICAL MONTAGE SHOTS 20

1. We pull out of the Shouchalay on the platform. Then

suddenly, the station master peeks out from behind it. He
slyly comes out and walks on the platform, hoping to attract
the girls attention from the opposite Platform.

NARRATOR
Par us din se Phool Kumar mein ek
nayi jaan si aa gayi. Aakhirkar
uske nirasha ki tunnel mein aasha
ki kiranein chamakne lagi.

2. Shots of the girl sitting from both platforms and possible

Stop Block shots.

3. A shot of the coolie sweeping past to reveal Phool. He

comes back again to irritate Phool.

4. A shot of him, walking close to her but then suddenly an

old woman comes and sits next to the girl. Phool Kumar turns
back from a distance.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 7.

5. Shots of Phool Kumar in various places, looking

contemplating etc. He gets stopped mid tracks by someone who
calls him back.

CUT TO:

21 EXT. STATION PLATFORM 21

He walks up to where the girl is standing and stands there

looking at her. Then he turns and shouts at the sleeping
jamadaar.

PHOOL KUMAR
Hariya...O hariya...ye platform
mein kachda kyun pada hai? Tujhse
kitni baar kaha hai, mere station
mein mujhe koi gandagi nahi dikhni
chahhiye...I want beautiful, clean
station.

COOLIE
Subah subah dimaag mat kharab karo.
Jyada pareshani ho toh jhaadu lo
aur khud hi saaf kar lyo...

We see the girl turning around and looking at the coolie.

CUT TO:

22 EXT. STATION PLATFORM 22

The station master turns back in a hurry and walks up to the

coolie.

PHOOL KUMAR
Saale naukri se nikaal dunga tujhe.

COOLIE
Nikal dyo. Jao jao...Bahut dekhe
tumhare jaise...

Phool Kumar turns around and looks back at the girl

wistfully, thinking about what to do next.

COOLIE (CONT’D)
Apne tharak ko kabu mein rakho
babu...bahut bhari padega Heh heh

Phool Kumar looks back and shoots him a dirty look.

CUT TO:

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 8.

23 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 23

NARRATOR
Par ye tharak nahi tha. Darsal
Phool Kumar ke dil mein 3 alag alag
feelings uthak baithak kar rahin
thee. Ek toh jigyasa thee ki akhir
kiske liye wo roz intezaar karti
aur usi se juda tha dar, joki aap
samajh hi sakte hain. Par sabse
bada feeling tha pyaar ka. Peeche
se hi dekh dekh kar, apne sunsaan
station ke us anjaan ladki ko Phool
Kumar aise dil de baithen ke kya
kahein. Us ladki ke dukhon par
malham lagane, uski zindagi ka
saccha humsafar banne ke liye Phool
bilkul taiyaar they. Kami thee toh
bas thodi himmat aur ek opening
line ki.

Phool Kumar steps up in front of the mirror and looks at

himself. He sees all the flaws in his face. Then he takes
some talcum powder and smears it on his face, wiping the
excess with his hands. Then he notices that the powder has
also smeared his black station masters coat. He curses under
his breath and dusts it.

CUT TO:

24 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 24

He now introduces himself to the mirror.

PHOOL KUMAR
Hi, myself Phool Kumar, Station
Master of Kesupur. How are you?

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

Excuse me? Are you waiting for
train?

But he’s not happy.

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

Nacheez ko Phool Kumar kehte hain.

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

Nice to meet you. Naaice to meet
yew...How you like station
facilities? All ok? Errr...what is
your name.

Suddenly the phone rings. Phoolkumar picks it up.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 9.

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

Kesupur...haanji all clear hai,
main deta hun signal.

He presses the switching button on the machine and walks out

with the signals flag.

CUT TO:

25 EXT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 25

The moment he comes out, he sees the girl still sitting and
runs up to the place in front of her and stands smartly with
the flag.

Seeing her, he forgets about everything. He stands gawking at

her with a broad smile on his face. Then he kisses his bronze
Hanuman locket and decides to finally cross the tracks and
talk to her.

But the moment he steps on the track, there is a loud honk

followed by a goods wagon on the track opposite. A shocked
Phool Kumar belatedly waves the green flag.

The slow train trudges on and he keeps trying to look for her
through the gaps but when the last guard cabin passes by,
there is no sign of her. He is left heart broken.

NARRATOR
Kai dinon tak aisa chalta raha. Na
kismat ne saath diya, na saahas ne
haath thaama. Natijan Station
Master Phool Kumar dheere dheere
phir se nirashawadi camp ki aur
badne lage.

CUT TO:

26 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 26

Track in shot slowly to his sad face.

NARRATOR
Par kismat bhi akhir kab tak denial
mode mein rehti. Ek din, wo hua
jiska Station Master Phool Kumar ko
intejaar tha.

Phool Kumar is still zonked out and sitting in his room under
the slow fan, when something outside catches his eye. He
leaps up.

I/C TO:

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 10.

27 EXT. STATION PLATFORM 27

We see the girl crossing the tracks and coming towards the
ststion masters cabin.

BACK TO:

28 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 28

In a flurry of actions, Phool Kumar straightens his hair,

sprays deo, and fixes his clothes to look presentable.

NARRATOR
Madam X Platform 2 se patri paar
karke, Platform 1 ki taraf aati hui
dikhi gayi. Aur Phool Kumar ne bhi
tai kar liya ki aaj uski zindagi ye
paar ya woh paar hogi.

CUT TO:

29 EXT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 29

Phool KUmar rushes out to meet the girl. The girl is walking
out of the platform towards the main exit. But he runs in a
and stops her:

PHOOL KUMAR
Suniye!!!

The girl stops. He runs upto her and stops, panting.

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

Main....Main Aapka dard samajh
sakta hoon.

The girl looks quizically at him.

PHOOL KUMAR (CONT’D)

(nervously)
Nahin...wo....aap roz intejaar
karti hain na. Toh...mujhe bhi kisi
ka intejaar hai...

The girl stares at him for a beat and then takes out a
cellphone from under her chunni.

GIRL
Jee main wo...free wifi laga hai
na....uske liye...

Meanwhile there’s a guys voice from the phone.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 11.

GUY ON PHONE
Kaun hai...bey...kaun hai...

I/C TO:

30 TIGHT SHOT OF GIRLS CELLPHONE 30

We see the young guy in the phone looking aggresive and

trying to catch what’s going on. But he’s getting stuck on
screen on account of the buffering.

GUY ON PHONE
kissey baat kar rahi hai...usko
bol...moonh tod dunga uska...

BACK TO:

31 EXT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 31

Station Master Phool Kumar is left ashen faced. The girl

walks out towards the ticket hall talking to the guy on the
phone.

GIRL
Arrey koi nahin...TT hai...

Phool Kumar makes the slow walk to the room. He turns to look
at the coolie.

I/C TO:

32 SHOT OF COOLIE 32

The coolie grins evilly.

CUT TO:

33 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 33

He walks in sadly and settles down on his chair. Then he puts

his head in his hands. There is silence for a beat.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. He looks up and is

surprised to see the girl. He gets up.

GIRL
Suniye...

PHOOL KUMAR
Jee...?

GIRL
Mujhe bhi aap se kuch kehna hai.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 12.

Phool Kumar can’t think of a single thing to say. He

stutters.

PHOOL KUMAR
K..k..k..kahiye

GIRL
Wo...pichle do dinon se...wifi
theek se nahin chal raha...

Phool looks like his heart has been trampled on once again.
He doesn’t answer and sits back on the chair.

After a beat.

GIRL (CONT’D)
Wo bhaiya se baat nahin ho paa
rahi...london mein rehte hain..

Phool Kumar looks up.

PHOOL KUMAR
Bhaiya???

The girl smiles ever so little.

GIRL
Bhaiyaa.

I/C TO:

34 TIGHT SHOT OF GIRLS CELLPHONE 34

Meanwhile the guy on the phone is again getting mad.

GUY ON PHONE
Chutki...tu issey...kya baat kar
rahi hai...

BACK TO:

35 INT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 35

The girl smiles at Phool Kumar. Phool kumar smiles back

idiotically. The Girl cuts the call.

FLASH CUT TO
BLACK.

FADE IN:

36 EXT. PLATFORM 2 36

Now the girl and Phool Kumar are both sitting on the bench
and watching a film on the phone, each having one earphone.

©Addict Studios India, 2019.

 13.

NARRATOR
Ab aap ladki ka bio data mangenge.
Kaun hai, kya karti hai, ityadi
ityadi. Toh ladki kar rahi hai MA
in Hindi bhasha, kad 5 foot saat
inch aur naam hai...heh
heh...Aasha.

A train honk is heard and this time Phool Kumar lifts the
signal without as much as looking at the train.

CUT TO:

37 EXT. STATION MASTERS CABIN 37

The coolie is sitting there with a smug smile on his face.

When he starts talking to camera, we realize that he was the
narrator all along.

NARRATOR
Toh bas, ban gaye humare Phool
Kumar poore Ashawadi. Toh aap bhi
jayiye aur apni zindagi mein
dhundiye thodi Asha. Kyonki baaki
jaisa chalta aa raha hai, waisa
chalta rahega.

He taps the broom on the Station Master board and it limps

back again.

38 ---- The End ----- 38

©Addict Studios India, 2019.