Title: Ek Pal Ki Baat
Duration: 2–2.5 min
Format: Emotional Stop-Motion Short | No Dialogue
ACT 1
SCENE 1: INTRODUCTION – THE CLOCK SHOP
INT. CLOCK REPAIR SHOP – MORNING
CAMERA: WIDE SHOT
A warm, dimly lit clock repair shop. Shelves full of clocks of all sizes — cuckoo clocks,
wristwatches, wall clocks. A rhythmic sea of ticking fills the air.
SFX: Gentle, layered ticking of various clocks. Occasional pendulum swings, faint gear clicks.
MR. MEHTA, calm and focused, sits at his wooden workbench. His face is lit softly by a desk
lamp. He wears magnifying glasses, adjusting a delicate gear inside a pocket watch.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – His hands moving with precision. A spring clicks into place.
CUT TO:
SCENE 2: ANU ENTERS
INT. CLOCK REPAIR SHOP – LATER THAT MORNING
SFX: Door bell chime.
CAMERA: WIDE – FROM INSIDE SHOP
ANU, cheerful and energetic, walks in carrying a lunchbox and a bright, crayon-colored
drawing.
She approaches her father and gently places the lunch beside him. Then proudly holds out the
drawing.
MR. MEHTA doesn’t look up. His tools click and spin. He’s absorbed.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – Her smile fades slightly.
Anu sighs quietly, walks to a stool in the corner, and sits down. She begins swinging her legs
softly, still hopeful.
SFX: Ticking continues — slightly louder now.
DISSOLVE TO:
SCENE 3: TIME PASSES – MONTAGE
INT. CLOCK REPAIR SHOP – DAYS LATER (MONTAGE)
[MONTAGE BEGINS]
1. REPEATED WIDE SHOT – Anu walks in each day with new drawings.
TRANSITION: Cross-dissolve between each day.
2. CLOSE-UP – DRAWINGS STACK UP
The colors gradually fade from bright reds and blues to dull greys and incomplete
scribbles.
3. MEDIUM SHOT – ANU ON STOOL
From swinging legs to still feet. From upright posture to slouched shoulders.
4. CLOSE-UP – LUNCHBOX
Initially opened and arranged. Later untouched, unopened.
5. MATCH CUT – MEHTA’S HANDS WORKING
Same action, different watch — shows time is moving for him but nothing changes
emotionally.
SFX: Ticking grows louder, colder, more mechanical with each cut.
[MONTAGE ENDS]
CUT TO:
SCENE 4: THE WATCH
INT. CLOCK SHOP – EVENING
Dimmer lighting. A slight hum in the air.
Anu quietly enters, holding a brightly-colored, handmade watch.
She offers it silently. Mr. Mehta takes it — still not looking — and sets it aside.
She hesitates. Wait a moment. Then quietly leaves.
SFX: Doorbell chimes. Faint sound of wind as she leaves.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – The handmade watch on the desk.
CUT TO:
SCENE 5: THE REALIZATION
INT. CLOCK SHOP – NIGHT
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – Mr. Mehta’s eyes glance at the watch.
He picks it up. Gently opens the back.
INSERT SHOT – A NOTE INSIDE:
“Papa, I don’t want you to fix time… I just want your time.”
SFX: Sudden silence. All the clocks stop. One clock on the wall glitches — its hands freeze
mid-tick.
CAMERA: CLOSE-UP – His eyes widen. He drops his glasses. Breath catches.
CAMERA: WIDE SHOT – SHOP INTERIOR
With new urgency, Mr. Mehta walks to the front.
He reaches for the metal shutter handle and pulls it down halfway.
EXT. SHOP – CONTINUOUS
CAMERA: LOW ANGLE – OUTSIDE THE SHOP
The shutter comes crashing down behind him with a metallic thud.
He turns quickly and begins to run down the dimly lit street.
SFX: The ticking resumes faintly — now slow and warm.
FADE TO BLACK
SPLIT SCREEN – FINAL IMAGE
LEFT SIDE – BLACK & WHITE STOP-MOTION FRAME
● A simple park bench or bus stop-style bench under a flickering streetlight.
● Anu sits alone, quiet, head resting on her knees.
● Mr. Mehta appears and gently kneels, embracing her.
● Her body relaxes — she leans into the hug.
(Freeze moment with subtle breathing/blinking.)
RIGHT SIDE – BLACK BACKGROUND WITH TEXT:
“Time can be fixed…
But moments must be shared.”
SFX: One clear, steady tick.
FADE TO SILENCE.
