Short Film
Waiting
Produced, DOP & Editing: Sanjib Nath
Written & Directed by - Bidyut Kanti Majumdar
Music - Kevin MacLeod & Debasmita Chattopadhyay
Presented by SN FILMS
Another take on love on a tribal husband and wife in a remote village where they speak #sadhi language and live a simple though interesting life style close to nature. What was witnessed by a trespasser camera lover man and woman? Check out the interesting tribal #loveStory #Waiting from #snfilms
Official selection at First-Time Filmmaker Sessions - hosted by Lift-Off Global Network by Pinewood Studios in England (UK). Live screening event at both Pinewood Studios in the UK and Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.
Official selection at Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF) at Waldwick in New Jersey (USA). Official screening on 18th June 2023.
Official selection at Madavera Expojour JazzTimes Festival in New York (USA). Official screening on 2nd August 2023.
SCREENPLAY
Farmer's wife is sitting next to the farmer opening the rice bowl tied with the towel. The baby girl is sitting next to her mother and the farmer is getting ready to eat rice.
WIFE
Yes, of course!
Mother and son have already eaten rice.
FARMER (Laughs)
Do you have something for you in the pot? Or, did you get everything forme?
You are very happy and beautiful couple very nice to see you
Peter and Heidi greet them and take pictures of nature again. As they walked along, they began to share their feelings with the farmers. (LS)
HEIDI
You see Peter? what a nice relationship between them! still his wife did not eat because of his husband. we can't imagine it in our society today
PETER
Yes Heidi. I am so impressed.
[ After little break and sayings smilingly ]
Heidi smiles and pushes Peter away. Peter laughs too. They continue to talk among themselves. (LS)
Standing under a tree, he took out a water bottle of cake and started drinking water. Then he grabbed a cigarette. Hedi also takes a bottle out of the bag and drinks water.
After waiting for a while, they started walking again with the camera in hand.
2) EXT. A ROAD OF A RURAL VILLAGE - AFTERNOON
Farmland on both sides of the road. The farmers are working. After showing the scenes on the land, it will be shown in PAN that Peter and Hedi are walking slowly to talk. (WS)
PETER
Wow! what a nice landscape! look Heidi.
Peter is standing and the camera is getting ready to take some pictures. Hedi with his hands showing the distant scenes. (MID) (LS)
HEIDI
Oh! really very nice. They are farmers. Working in their own field. Hear the method of cultivation is very old. Not like a developing country. I like it. [Cut to (Mid)]
PETER
You see those farmers are very hard workers. Now it is afternoon but they are still working.
PETER - Take pictures. Sometimes standing, fascinated, watching nature, shaking his head, expressing emotions.
HEIDI
I think the villagers maintain their own cultivation. Government does not disturb them. Very simple life style. you see. [Cut to (Mid)]
The two of them continue to walk slowly. And sometimes both of them start taking pictures. Peter occasionally waved goodbye to the farmers, to the people he met on the way.
(LS; cs / Mid)
3) EXT. NEAR LOW LAND / DIGHI - AFTERNOON
Peter-Dighi makes some pictures. Some boats and sailors also started taking pictures.
4) EXT. NEAR DIGHI - AFTERNOON
HEIDI- takes a picture of a woman's face while standing. (LS) [will be pan]
5.1) EXT. CONTINUED
The children are playing. Women engaged in household chores will be shown. Some of the present rural introductory scenes will be shown [these scenes will be taken to show the normal rhythm of life and simple living]
(LS + WIDE + MID)
6) EXT. RURAL VILLAGE - AFTERNOON
PETER
Wait HEIDI. We have to keep our camera in the bag. We are new comer here. we don't know how they are.
If they are very innocent - they would be afraid seeing us.
They may not like that we take their pictures. [Cut to (ALS)]
HEIDI
(standing face to face)
Yes you are right Peter. But don't be so afraid. we would tell them we came here to see your beautiful village we also like you very much. [Cut to (ALS & OS)]
PETER
You are right Heidi
I am observing some villagers have a curiosity. [Cut To (OS)]
Peter close his camera and keep it in his bag. Heidi also does so. They walk slowly and speak gently. [Mid (LS)]
7) EXT. RURAL VILLAGE - AFTERNOON
Some people standing on the side of the road look at them with festive eyes. (LS & MID)
Peter and Heidi start walking without looking in any direction. (LS back)
8) EXT. ON THE ROAD OF THE RURAL VILLAGE - AFTERNOON
Small yard in front of a slum house. The road is next to the yard. Some of the women standing in the street had a look of excitement and fear on their faces. (W.S & LS / Close)
TRIBAL WIFE
Taur Gore girli hand. Don't hit Hama anymore ..... don't hit anymore. Taur Gore girli hand.
O Ma ... O Ma .. (.vo)
[Marley is like a teardrop]
[Fall at your feet. And don't kill ... don't kill anymore. Put on your feet O ma ... o ma ..]
The women standing in the street are all looking at the house. (LS & MID)
The sound of crying can be heard from the road well.
9) EXT. ON THE ROAD - CONTINUED
When Peter and Heidi were standing in front of the house, they saw the expressions of the women and when they heard the sound of crying, they looked at the house. (LS)
They see a baby boy standing on the porch looking at the house and crying. (LS)
PETER
What's the problem here? what is happening?
Looking at the women standing there and waving his hand and asking - what is happening here? [Cut to (Mid)]
HEIDI
Someone beating a woman in the room.
[After little break]
no one here to stop him! [Cut to (Mid)]
They stare at the house with sad eyes for a while. (CS)
PETER
We stop him .... HEIDI
[LOOKING AT HEIDI] (ALS)
HEIDI- nodded in agreement. (ALS)
HEIDI
Yes ... Peter
we should take a step
(Cut to)
10) INT. COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
Peter and Heidi walk one or two steps towards the house. Peter gives his bag and camera to Heidi.
PETER
Stop here. I am entering into the room. it is not fair. (CUT TO)
(ALS / MID)
11) INT. IN THE VERANDA - AFTERNOON
Mud or fence house. The baby boy is standing on the porch crying. Peter head down to the porch. Standing by the open door, he wept and looked inside the room. Peter sees the tribal wife lying on the floor of the house with random hair, bloody forehead, scars on his hands, scattering of cloth on the floor. ... (LS + CS + ALS)
TRIBAL HUSBAND
Even if it is very worldly
Husband says all these and keeps hitting. Tribal wife gets beaten without any protest. She just keeps begging.... don't hit, don't hit. (LS)
Peter stands at the door for a while to see all these. Seeing the tribal husband's cruelty goes out of bound, Peter is forced to do so and keeps requesting... (LS + MID)
PETER
Stop brother. It is not fair. It is too much. please don't do this. your child is crying. Your wife is injured. Please stop.
Peter enters into the room. Trying to stop with his hands. Seeing the unwanted and new people, husband stopped beating for a while and looked at Peter. Peter's hand gestures keep asking him not to do this.
Despite this, he started beating his wife hard with a stick, grabbed his hair and shook it.
PETER
Please brothers, don't do it. She is your wife why are you beating so cruelly? It is enough.
Peter tries to snatch the stick from the husband's hand and tries to stop him. (ALS + OS)
ADHIR
Who are you?
My family, my wife, I'm beating! You get out from here. CUT TO
Tribal husband forced to beat again. Peter interrupts and snatches the stick from the husband. At this opportunity, his wife somehow escaped from the house.
[Wife's bloody crazy outfit]
(LS + CS)
PETER
You are so brute. You need a lesson.
I am giving it to you.
I am tolerating for long time. (Cut to)
OS
Peter snatches the stick, hits the surface, throws the impatient person on the ground with his hand, and starts hitting the boy on the ground. (LS + MID + CS)
12) EXT. COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
Everyone can hear the melody of beating and crying from outside (VO)
Heidi now quickly start moving towards the house. (LS)
13. INT. VERANDAH - AFTERNOON
Heidi enters the room. Trying to stop Peter from all this. (ALS)
HEIDI
Please stop Peter please leave them please go outside leave ...... CUT TO
OS
14) INT. IN THE ROOM - AFTERNOON
Heidi snatches the stick from Peter and tries to push it out of the house. (ALS + LS)
There was still the sound of crying in the room. [VO]
TRIBAL HUSBAND
Save me. He's beating me.
Someone save me please. He's killing me (scream and cry)
15) EXT. ON THE COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
The sound of crying inside can be heard from outside as well. [VO] [W.S]
The atmosphere around the outside is thumping.
[Various expressions will be shown].
(LS - Back & Fornt)
Peter looks at the house in such a way that his anger has not subsided yet. (MID + LS)
16) EXT. ANOTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE - AFTERNOON
Bloody forehead. Random hair. Pulling his clothes, Mahua ran towards the house. He enters the house crying and screaming. (L.S + CS + ALS)
TRIBAL WIFE
My husband is dying...
Who is there?
My's husband...
He's killing my husband. (CUT TO)
Someone please help...
17) INT. IN THE ROOM - AFTERNOON
Tribal wife enters the house while running. (LS)
The baby boy is standing at the door crying. (M.D)
Wife enters the room. Going to her husband, she is fidgeting while lying on the ground. She tries to lift Adhir. (LS + OS)
Both are crying. (ALS)
[This goes on for a while]
18) EXT. ON THE COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
Heidi grabs Peter's hand and brings him towards the road. (LS + MID)
[Everyone hears the cries of the two from outside]. (VO)
HEIDI
Go fast. it is there family matter we should not involve into this. (CUT TO ALS)
Leave.
19) INT. IN THE ROOM - AFTERNOON
They kept on crying for a while and then the female Jagra came out in tune. (LS + MID)
The tribal wife comes out of the house talking.
TRIBAL WIFE
Vulgar!
Who told you to come here?
My husband hits me, what's your problem in that?
Did we ask you to come among us?
Uncivilized!
Why di you come?
Is it what you wanted?
Wild!
Why did you come to ruin our relationship? Get out of our place. Get away. Wild.
The wife, standing in the yard, saying this, the boy also stood beside his mother and shouted. He picked up a lump of clay and started muttering to the PETER, "Come on... come on."
(LS + CS)
20) EXT. ON THR ROAD - AFTERNOON
PETER
Strange!
HEIDI
Let go Peter don't stay here.
The two begin to walk the path. Peter shakes his head and says
PETER
I never saw it before in my life.
As they walked down the aisle they walked away (a little faster)
21) INT. ON THE COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
The tribal wife was still standing in the yard. The sound of crying is slowly diminishing. She is trying to push himself a lot. Then he enters the room crying. (LS + CS + ALS)
The boy holds the pole on the verandah and looks at the house. He is still crying. (LS + MID)
22) INT. IN THE ROOM - MID NIGHT
One room house. A small hurricane is burning in a dark room. Indoor environment as seen in soft light. Crickets call. MAHUYA is lying next to the boy.
Tribal husband is lying on the common mat a little way away, face opposite. Time passes in silence. Wife is turning back occasionally.
No sleep in the eyes.
The boy is sleeping soundly. After a while she sat up.
After sitting for some time, he fell asleep again.
Spend some more time like this. She sat up again. Then slowly get out of bed. Husband spends a lot of time in silence sitting where he is lying. Trying to say something but can't. After a while the inertia breaks down and the wife starts speaking.
TRIBAL WIFE
I made a mistake. I'm sorry. You hit me. I'm in trouble myself. I can't sleep.
What happened ... talk. Cut to (cs + ls)
The wife is sitting next to her husband with her head on her knees and saying these things in a very soft voice.
TRIBAL WIFE
I just couldn't go today. I was very busy all day today. The body was not good either. It was also very painful for the baby. I couldn't get up to meet you. My mind was with you all day. I also want to meet you a little ... talk. Don't get me wrong. Forgive me That will never happen again. Cut to (CS + LS + MID)
The wife now puts her hand on husband's body. Cut into a moment of silence. This time she broke down in tears. I keep saying in tears.
TRIBAL HUSBAND
You're from here. I will not forgive you. I won't even talk. You live with your children. I don't need you anymore. You don't have time for me. Cut to (cs + os)
She was listening very quietly. After sitting like this for some time, she started touching her husband's head. He started crying loudly. The suppressed pride is expressed through these tears. The cries gradually subsided. She raised her hand and extinguished the hurricane light. (ALS + CS + LS)
The story ends in the dark A Santali bass tune will continue to play in the background.