GOLA and Nadia exit the bedroom, walking hand in hand through the frenzied dancers.
POONAM backs into her by mistake. She turns around and flies into a rage.
POONAM
Ow. Fuck! Bloody bitch, who do you think you are?
POONAM splashes her gin straight into Nadia's face.
NADIA
Ow! Stop it! Damn you.
She turns and pushes POONAM, who launches into her shouting incomprehensibly.
POONAM Aaargh! Evil witch!
Poonam yanks Nadia's hair and a violent cat-fight ensues.
Sonu hears screaming and comes staggering out of the tiny kitchen, looking bewildered.
SONU Poonam...
PK and his ASSOCIATES watch, amused, as POONAM flies against a cabinet. Some guests try to mediate, but it's way out of control.
VICKY
Hey, hold it. Hold it!
Vicky & Sonu intervene, struggling to hold the ladies apart.
NADIA
I would've whacked you harder, okay, it's just that I was taught to respect old ladies.
POONAM
Fucking uneducated whore, you were taught NOTHING!
Poonam scoops a glass up and throws it at Nadia. It smashes.
The party REVELERS begin clearing out.
NADIA
Say what you like, Grandma.
POONAM has tears streaming down her cheeks. Vicky comforts her.
VICKY
(stroking her head)
C'mon, honey, everybody's friends here, right? These are our friends.
Vicky notices the party breaking up.
VICKY (CONT'D) (loudly)
Come on, let's have a drink.
ISHARA
(steps in and shouts) COME ON, LET'S HAVE A DRINK, EVERYBODY.
53 INT. SONU'S FLAT - EARLY MORNING 53
Sonu stumbles into his miserable one-room flat. The silence is eerie after the din of the party.
The floor is littered with empty containers of food, tonic bottles, old news papers.
Sonu staggers to his dirty mattress and collapses in exhaustion.
54 EXT. WOODS - DAY 54
The bright sun sparkles through the trees, erasing all memories of the night. Birds twitter in the lush grove.
Suddenly a clay-covered CREATURE is seen running through the wilderness, chased by axe-wielding FEMALE BANDITS.
VICKY (O.S.) (to the CREATURE)
C'mon, you're the mad doctor of blood island, for god's sake! What is
this, an art film? Grunt like a beast, animalistic!
The CREATURE makes demented expressions as the Female Bandits axe a Yeti in the background.
CREATURE Aaarghh! Eaaah!
VICKY (O.S.)
Better. Hey, there, girls - loose some clothing.
55 EXT. CAVE - DAY 55
POONAM, wearing a tiara, takes a swig from her whisky before putting it down. Then she slips on her plastic fangs and steps out of her dressing gown. Her body does not do justice to the outfit that barely covers it.
JOLLY
Look like the queen okay, because you are. Now we know that YOU are the sexy body killer! The evil queen who stays forever young by bathing in the blood of young girls.
POONAM Like this?
She bares her fangs, puts on a regal look, then giggles.
JOLLY
Yeah, fine, C'mon lets go.
The camera rolls. There is no other sound. Vicky watches in silence as she steps to her place with a tiny stagger.
The sun flares through the smoke making POONAM appear celestial. She looks down with a giggle and steps into a large metal tub.
POONAM Ugh, it smells off..
She settles down, fishes out some intestines, stares at them unbelievingly, then SCREAMS in sheer terror.
Sonu's seated next to the YETI, who's taking a smoke break.
They recoil in horror.
POONAM (CONT'D)
Aa! AAAAAARGH!!! It's real. How dare you! How dare you do this.
I'll call the cops!
She scrambles out of the tub, dripping with animal innards, wiping herself frantically, pulling off her fangs, shouting.
The crew is in shock.
POONAM (CONT'D) (outraged)
You fuckin' criminals! You bastards should be behind bars.
VICKY
Poonam, calm the fuck down. Get back in there!
POONAM I'm gonna report you.
(announcing loudly)
Vicky Duggal is a criminal. I know everything. You're trying to kill me!
POONAM pounds against him, but he stands still, clenching his teeth.
VICKY
Listen, bitch, you got no mind left.
You're paranoid. Hey - You do that again, I'll take your head off!
She slams against him again and again, screaming. Then Vicky snaps. He pulls her hair violently. Sonu comes running, tries to pry them apart. But Vicky's lost it - he doesn't let go.
POONAM
You're hurting me! CRIMINAL. RAPIST!
VICKY
Trying to bring me down, ha? Ruin me?
Vicky WHACKS her, she loses her step.
SONU
(screams pushing him off)
ENOUGH!
POONAM
You dirty, fuckin' bastard! Just try and hit me again!
She snatches off her tiara and flings it at him.
VICKY (screaming)
Poonam - your NEVER coming back. No more films. NEVER. I'm warning you.
She's gone.
VICKY (CONT'D) (mumbles)
Drunken bitch, get out of here.
(shouts)
You can NEVER bring me down.
Sonu starts walking behind her. Vicky follows, needing to displace the anger that's spilling out of him.
56 EXT. WOODS - DAY 56
All three are rushing behind each other through the heavy undergrowth.
VICKY
SONU, I'm warning you! You leave and..
SONU (snaps back) Don't threaten me.
VICKY Watch your mouth!
SONU (screams) FUCK YOU!
VICKY
Fuck me? Why am I taking this from you?
The glaze is spreading over Sonu's eyes. His blood is pounding. He's quivering, panting, wildly whacking the branches of the passing bushes as he follows Poonam.
57 EXT. CAVE - LATE AFTERNOON 57 There is an awkward silence on the set as Vicky reappears,
out-of-breath, wiping his sweat. The crew stare at him, disturbed.
VICKY
(to JOLLY & CAMERAMAN) Got something?
JOLLY (unhinged)
Uh, chest. Legs. Up till the time she got out of the tub.
VICKY (regaining his
composure)
That's the spirit. We'll use the shot.
Vicky looks across the set. PK is in a deck chair, wearing sunglasses and a safari hat. He has a huge smirk on his face and one arm around Nadia. The TURKISH CLIENT is taking their picture with his instamatic camera.
PK
(leaning toward Nadia) I hear we have a new queen?
NADIA
(makes a little face)
Do I really have to bathe in ...that?
VICKY
(walking up to them)
No, your majesty, we do it differently this time around.
58 INT. CAVE - EVENING 58
From inside the dank cave, a beautiful sunset is visible.
Bats fly around wildly, making screeching sounds.
The tiara has specks of blood on it. Vicky wipes them off carefully.
VICKY (whispering) Come here.
Nadia moves close to him, he almost places the tiara on her head, then stops.
VICKY (CONT'D) (gently)
There's just one problem. That queen's costume is ruined.
NADIA So what do I wear?
Vicky smiles at her, says nothing. She blushes, then starts to giggle.
NADIA (CONT'D)
Do I get to wear the crown at least?
Vicky puts the tiara on her head.
VICKY
You're the queen, you have to wear the crown.
Nadia starts unbuttoning, then looks around uncomfortably.
VICKY (CONT'D) Okay, EVERYBODY OUT! Only the CAMERAMAN stays. And you, JOLLY.
NADIA (apprehensive) You'll stay, no?
VICKY Sure. We'll stay.
The camera whirs. PK & the TURKISH CLIENT sit on the floor, watching Nadia undress, looking ghostly under the battery-operated light.
59 INT. CITIZEN RESTAURANT - NIGHT 59
The restaurant is a classy, fading leftover from the Jazz age. Sonu & Poonam have dressed themselves up and are seated in the far corner. A crooner is performing a second-rate
ballad.
Poonam has her head on the table, surrounded by a bunch of empty whisky glasses. Sonu fiddles with the table decoration.
POONAM Are you sad?
He says no with a slow nod, then fidgets with his glass.
POONAM (CONT'D) (drawling)
Well, come on then, let's enjoy life!
She stumbles up and begins to dance, grabbing Sonu.
POONAM (CONT'D)
Come on, come on. We paid good money to get in.
She pulls him out of his chair, almost falling over herself, and they dance awkwardly together. POONAM mouths the words to the ROMANTIC SONG as she clutches onto Sonu. She's trying not to tear up.
As Sonu swings POONAM past an ornamental mirror, something catches his eye. Fractured into myriad diamond-shaped patterns is the beautiful YOUNG WOMAN from the train!
She's part of a LARGE GROUP, celebrating someone's birthday, clapping her hands in delight as candles are blown out.
POONAM staggers a bit.
POONAM (CONT'D) I feel sick. I need water.
Sonu deposits POONAM in her seat. She sighs and leans back, eyes closed. Sonu looks for a waiter.
Suddenly, he sees the beautiful YOUNG WOMAN coming towards him! No - she goes past... She turns and goes out of the front door. Almost instinctively, he follows.
60 INT. CITIZEN RESTAURANT - PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT 60 She's not in the foyer. Hurriedly, Sonu turns down another
passage. He goes towards the toilets, she isn't there either!
He leans against the wall for a moment.
Then the bathroom door swings open and she's suddenly in front of him! He freezes. Sonu's seen good-looking women before, but he's never come up against like this!
SONU
Excuse me. I mean...
Their eyes meet. She pauses a second to gaze at him.
SONU (CONT'D)
Weren't you at that audition? Ram Kishan Productions...
PINKY (smiling shyly) You work in films?
He's paralyzed.
SONU
Uh, I could say that, yes.
With his dressy shirt and waxed hair, Sonu does come off as someone rather important. Her eyes flash, excited. She fingers her bag awkwardly.
PINKY You're a director?
Sonu smiles back, nodding shamelessly. PINKY can barely
contain her excitement. She fishes in her faded old handbag.
PINKY (CONT'D) (whispering)
Look, I wouldn't normally do this but I've just moved to Bombay and you look like an honest person. Uh, please can I show you?
It's a few portfolio photographs - Pinky in various outfits looking coy, thoughtful, merry. She looks up at him,
trusting, waiting eagerly for a response.
SONU
Yes, yes. We should show these around.
Um, I can help, maybe the next time I see you.
(pause)
Uh, when might that be?
PINKY
Well, I stay with my uncle and...
SONU
You have a contact number?
PINKY
No. No I can't. He really doesn't know, y'know?
(lowers her voice)
If he knew I had these taken... Oh God, he'd just flip his lid.
Sonu quickly tries to redeem himself.
SONU
Yes, yes, but I'm sure he'll be fine once you're a star. Once people become famous...
PINKY freezes in horror. Someone is coming down the
passageway. Sonu turns. Her strict old UNCLE is glaring from the far end of the hall.
PINKY I-I have to go.
Then she's gone.
Sonu's face falls. He looks at her photographs one last time before slipping them into his shirt pocket.
61 INT. CITIZEN HOTEL LOBBY - NIGHT 61
It's two in the morning and the lobby is painfully quiet.
Sonu supports POONAM's forehead as she vomits copiously into a flowerpot.
62 INT. POONAM'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 62
Sonu holds POONAM as she staggers into the dark flat. A window is open in the living room - a curtain blows in the breeze.
He lays her out on the sofa, takes off her shoes, leans over her to see if she's okay.
SONU
Poonam. I'm going. Your key's here.
She suddenly reaches out and grabs him, crooking an arm round his neck. He stumbles forward onto her.
POONAM
V-vicky. Please. Please.
She tries to kiss him, but is too drunk. He pushes her head back gently onto the sofa.
As he leans forward, one of Pinky's photos slips out of his shirt pocket, onto the floor.
63 INT. POONAM'S BUILDING - NIGHT 63
The apartment building is silent. In an empty, decaying passageway, a tubelight flickers . An elevator suddenly appears. Vicky staggers out, quite plastered himself. He trips opening the metal grill.
64 INT. POONAM'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 64
Vicky fumbles as he opens the door. Sonu is making his exit, he doesn't look up at his brother.
VICKY (slurring)
This is the last place I had the pleasure of running into you - Big man!
Sonu looks at his brother in the darkness.
Before Vicky can say any more, Sonu slips out of the front door.
65 INT. POONAM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 65 POONAM's passed out. Vicky stands above her and tosses a
stash of money and documents on her stomach. She wakes up and squints at him.
VICKY
It's over. Your money. I'm taking my things.
POONAM mumbles incoherently.
POONAM No, p-please.
She grabs onto his leg, still giddy from the drink. He lights a cigarette, unmoved. She pushes herself up, trying to clutch onto him.
POONAM (CONT'D) No, Vicky, please. Don't go.
She hangs onto him, looking sickly.
VICKY Your breath stinks.
She clings to his hand, not wanting to let him go. He shakes her off roughly.
66 INT. POONAM'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 66
Vicky goes into the living room and starts stuffing his things into plastic bags. He makes a racket.
VICKY (loudly)
As I've said before, it's time you settle down. Lead a decent life.
67 INT. POONAM'S BED ROOM - NIGHT 67
Poonam slinks to the floor, by the bed, and sobs almost inaudibly.
VICKY (O.S.) Goodbye, Poonam.
68 INT. POONAM'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 68
Vicky looks under his foot. A crumpled photograph lies face down on the floor. He picks it up, then flicks on a table light.
Vicky studies the picture, drunkenly straightening the creases. It's Pinky, holding a teddy bear, her faint smile endowing her with tremendous mystery.
69 EXT. AURORA STUDIOS BACKLOT - AFTERNOON 69 Smoke drifts through a palace made out of plywood. A KING
sits on a golden throne stroking his fake beard, CELESTIAL NYMPHS dance around him. One of those NYMPHS is PINKY, who twirls in the background.
Sonu is completely mesmerized.
SHANU
Now just stick to the story, ok?
Think, feel, breath like a movie director. Then you could go places with a girl like that.
They watch her from a distance as the shot is wrapped. She turns. Her eyes meet Sonu's. SHANU gives her a friendly wave.
SHANU (CONT'D) (under his breath)
Quite something, this little maiden.
Not like the sluts I'm always latching onto.
70 EXT. AURORA STUDIO BACKLOT - AFTERNOON 70
PINKY is still in her NYMPH costume as she wanders with Sonu through a half-constructed set: a replica of an ancient
medieval fortress.
PINKY You didn't forget me?
Sonu looks down bashfully.
PINKY (CONT'D)
That little guy told me all about you.
(pause)
I hear you're really connected.
SONU No, no.
PINKY
You're so humble about being
this...this big director? Working with Anil Kapoor and all - that's...
wow. I could never have guessed when we met... You look so...
SONU
Well, I'm not really working with him any more.
PINKY
(looks devastated) No? WHY?
Sonu looks into Pinky's smoldering black eyes.
PINKY (CONT'D) (giggles)
You're staring at me...
SONU
(caught off-guard)
Well, uh... I'm busy with my new film, so I'm just concentrating on the heroine.
There's a sudden bright smile on her lips.
SONU (CONT'D)
Ever since I first saw you, I was wondering what your name was?
PINKY
Well, my friends call me Pinky, what do your friends call you?
SONU I'm Sonu.
He fumbles for a card. It reads: PK ENTERPRISES. 368395.
She looks at it impressed, then glances at him cheekily.
PINKY
So, what's your new movie?
SONU (thinks)
Well, it's... it's called...
(looks at her) Uh, Miss Lovely.
PINKY
Miss Lovely? Mmmmm. Sounds romantic.
(sensing his hesitation) Don't want to talk about it?
SONU
Um, no, it's just... You free Friday?
We can go to Searock, maybe talk more?
PINKY
Hmm. Let's see. It wasn't easy getting away today. Maybe Sunday?
She pulls a pen from her bag, then grabs his left palm. She scribbles her number, letting her hand linger on his.
PINKY (CONT'D)
If he ever picks up, don't answer, ok?
He looks back at her, now his reaction setting in. He's stunned at this incredible happening.
PINKY (CONT'D) (softly)
You know... I think I like you.
SONU (teasing) Think?
PINKY (laughing)
Mmmmm... And I think I have to go.
She withdraws her hand, blushing.
71 INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT 71
There is a huddle of men in a closed, oppressive room.
A woman, RANI, is lying on a bed, half-dressed in wedding finery, looking uncomfortable.
JOLLY
It's your wedding night. Your first time. Your husband's impotent, you're frustrated. You're having sex dreams.
JOLLY points to a frightening man in MONSTER make-up, with a complexion like burnt porridge. The MONSTER fills a syringe with his claw-like hands, nails at least a foot long.
JOLLY (CONT'D)
You don't notice the Zombie come in, okay?
Vicky, PK and a new THAI ASSOCIATE are watching from a corner.
THAI ASSOCIATE (mutters to PK)
I like this. It has the smell of reality about it.
PK leans over and whispers to Vicky, his eyes glinting savagely.
PK
I have faith in people like you, Vicky. Start thinking up the next one, let's line up something a little more...
Vicky frowns, puzzled. PK drops a friendly hand to his shoulder.
PK (CONT'D)
Maybe some girl students who are looking for something different, a little more, y'know?
VICKY
More? What more do you need?
The camera begins rolling. The MONSTER removes RANI's dupatta, she makes an "aroused" face.
JOLLY
I want you to put on this look, like you're almost going out of your mind, see? No, No..
Vicky is getting impatient with JOLLY's direction. He steps forward, rudely, and pulls up RANI's dress, revealing her sweaty leg. He gives it a hard PINCH.
RANI Ow!
JOLLY
That's it! Roll. That's the expression.
Vicky continues pinching her leg, looking at her intensely.
RANI Ow!
JOLLY Okay, okay, good.
FANIL
(interrupting roughly)
Oye Rani, enough nonsense. Take it off. Slowly! That's better. Take off that chaddi. Okay now you get on top.
We survey the CREW as they stare in silence.
72 INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 72
Sonu is pacing outside the bedroom door. He crushes out his cigarette. Then he lights another and sits down again.
From within, creaking bed springs can be heard.
Suddenly, the bedroom door cracks open and Vicky sticks his head out. Sonu bolts up.
VICKY (annoyed)
Where the hell were you? Call for five more chais.
SONU
Bhaiyya, I need to borrow some money.
VICKY Not now.
Sonu catches a brief, disturbing glimpse of RANI lying almost lifeless on the bed, the MONSTER on top of her. Then Vicky slams the door shut.
Furiously, Sonu hurls down his cigarette.
At the other end of the room, Nadia and a HOOD pour drinks for TWO GIRLS who shift awkwardly on a sofa.
NADIA (O.S.) (murmuring)
Now, ladies, both of you are adults.
Don't be shocked or interfere, it'll just ruin the whole spirit of the evening. Understand? What we want is for you to kick up your heels, enjoy it...
SONU
(interrupting Nadia)
Can't you tell him I need to talk to him urgently?
HOOD (snaps back)
How many times should I say it, eh?
He said not to be disturbed.
Sonu sits back down, averting his eyes. But not before he gets a glimpse of a thick sheaf of CASH which Nadia casually tosses into a box.
73 INT. NEW EMPIRE CINEMA - NIGHT 73
Lovers walk hand in hand on Juhu Beach at sunset. Palm trees sway in the breeze. On the soundtrack, a woman warbles a romantic song:
SINGING WOMAN (O.S.) (Fake-Italian accent)
Beauuutiful Bombay, Bombay Mon Amoour, Where the sun shines golden, just
for me-eee...oh, it rests in splendor, by the Arabian Sea-eee...