City of Joy Page #9

MAX:

Really?

Max grabs Ashoka... who breaks free, and GUNS the CYCLEdown a side street. Max gives chase, his aching ribsslowing him a bit.

43.

SEVERAL CUTS:

Ashoka, glancing back, begins to open up some distance.

Yet, Max hangs tough, weaving like a broken field runnerthrough the mass of bodies and vehicles. Now, suddenly,

he loses Ashoka. He has to make a choice about this

corner or that one. He chooses.

EXT. CITY OF JOY - AROUND CORNER - DAY (EARLY EVENING)

A COP steps into his path. He sees Ashoka up ahead. He's

hopelessly out of breath.

MAX:

Oh... great... good...good timing...him!

He can't talk and breathe. He points desperately. The

Cop glances where Max points, but he makes no move togive chase.

COP:

May I see your passport?

MAX:

Passport? I'm in the middle of a

high speed chase. That guy -

COP:

Passport please.

A crowd has begun to form. In the distance, we see a

group of girls carrying cricket equipment COMING AT us.

MAX:

It's in my hotel room.

COP:

Passport, please, now.

MAX:

Ready my lips:
I do not have my

passport with me at this...

(he gets it)

Ah, I see, said the blind man.

The Cop obviously is doing this at Ashoka's behest. Max

starts around the Cop. The Cop, however, sticks his clubin Max's face; there's fire in Max's eyes... but a handtakes the Cop's stick before Max can make a big mistake.

44.

ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING OWNER OF HAND

The girls with the cricket equipment (and Margareta,

the teacher). The hand belongs to Joan Bethel.

JOAN:

Well, all right, junior, so you'llowe me three.

EXT. POST OFFICE - DAY

A scribe finishes writing a note home for Hasari. The

scribe hands it to Hasari.

INSERT - NOTE AND MONEY ORDER

"We are well. Manooj does not go in the cinema. I am

earning my living as a rickshaw wallah. It is myhonor to send you this."

RESUME:

With great pride, Hasari pays the scribe, seals the moneyorder with the message in an envelope, licks the flap,

and puts the envelope into the mail slot.

EXT. SQUARE (CITY OF JOY) - TEA SHOP - DAY (DUSK)

Surya plays his zither. Max and Joan sit at a table. Max

pops little boiled candies into his mouth from a dish onthe table.

JOAN:

Oh, it was just a whim in thebeginning really -- to try toconvince them not to be so bloodypassive, that they could pullthemselves up on their own. I

get a little money from a Swissorganization. Now it's become a

bit more than I can manage.

MAX:

It's got to be like trying todrill a hole in water, though.

JOAN:

We just need a few more hands onthis little life raft we've set

afloat here.

(CONTINUED)

45.

CONTINUED:

They stare at each other. Shambu has become one of

Surya's tea boys and refills their tea.

JOAN:

You know what I've come to think

in my middle age, Max?

MAX:

Nope, no, earthly idea. You're

pretty much outta my league,

thought-wise.

JOAN:

There are really only threeactions open to a person.

MAX:

Only three -- okay. And what are

they?

JOAN:

To run, to spectate, to commit.

Max peers at her a moment, then around the square.

MAX:

Has it occurred to you that thisobsession with charity is really aflaw in your character?

JOAN:

Charity! It's not charity, dearchild, it's love. You're verybadly twisted around, aren't you?

MAX:

One of us sure as hell is.

The clinic's part-time doctor, SUNIL DASGUPTA, comes outof the clinic after a very long day.

SUNIL:

I'm off for home, Sister Joan. A

pleasure to meet you, Dr. Loeb.

MAX:

The same.

SUNIL:

See you day after tomorrow.

JOAN:

Good night, God bless, Doctor.

(a beat)

Generous young man.

(CONTINUED)

46.

CONTINUED:

As he watches Sunil head away, Max senses something coming

at him from the side. A soccer ball almost hits him;

he jumps up, handles the ball athletically.

SQUARE:

He begins to play with Manooj and several other children.

Shambu leaves his post in the tea shop to join them.

MANOOJ:

Are you the American doctor? Are

you coming here to help us.

MAX:

No, I'm the visiting Americansoccer star, El Max.

MANOOJ:

Do you go to the cinema inAmerica, El Max?

MAX:

When I was your age -- two movies,

plus cartoons every Saturday.

Aloka and Amrita are cooking on an open fire bucket. Max

almost knocks the fire over. Aloka looks at him, apologetic,

shy... as Manooj knocks Shambu down at Max's feet.

Max scoops the little boy up...

MAX:

There you go, little guy. Ut -what's

this?

Reaching behind Shambu's ear, Max produces a boiled sweet.

Aloka watches this with a smile; their eyes touch again...

as Manooj lets out a cry at the sight of their father.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Ram and Hasari return home. Hasari can hardly walk.

Shambu runs to his father, explaining excitedly...

SHAMBU:

Daddy, there is the doctor fromAmerica. He saw two movies everySaturday. What's in your fist?

Open, Daddy!

Shambu pries his father's fist open: seeds.

(CONTINUED)

47.

CONTINUED:

SHAMBU:

Seeds? Why?

HASARI:

So we can watch something grow.

EXT. RAM'S HUNT NIGHT - UPSTAIRS

Children leaning down as smoke wafts up. We FOLLOW the

smoke DOWN TO Max's cigar. Aloka and Amrita laying thefood out. Shambu rubbing his father's aching legs asHasari and Manooj plant the seeds in Hasari's little teacaddy full of earth from home. Max is watching this"family" huddled around the father.

RAM:

Another few months, I'll be able

to pay off the moneylender in myvillage and go home and open agrocery shop. All around me sacks

overflowing with all kinds of daland rice, aromatic spices, pilesof vegetables... and at night, I'lllie on my back beneath the treessniffing fresh aubergines.

This beautiful picture burrows into Hasari's mind. For

a moment, he goes there -- home, to the village...

RAM:

If my wife will let me come withina hundred miles of the place whereshe herself resides.

Ram laughs, Hasari smiles...

HASARI:

Amrita, I saw a beautiful weddingsari today.

Amrita is terribly embarrassed.

RAM:

It was six hundred rupees only.

He laughs at the impossibility of the price.

MAX:

That's only 40 dollars, isn't it?

HASARI:

If you have it.

(CONTINUED)

48.

CONTINUED:

MAX:

I'll send it to you from Americawhen I get home tomorrow.

HASARI:

That's very generous but no,

thank you.

MAX:

Repayment for punching you in the

nose.

HASARI:

You have repaid me by sharing our

supper.

Joan indicates that Max should let it go. Hasari ever

so carefully waters the tea box.

RAM:

Doctor Big Brother, I myself wouldbe willing to accept a gift. Could

you give me five rupees in a note -ten,

perhaps. My ankle is badlyswelled; the higher the number themore the swelling sinks.

Max has to laugh.

MAX:

I don't have a cent on me. I'll

owe you.

RAM:

How much?

Now everyone's attentions is taken by a CRY from Shambu,

who expels his breath, his terrified eyes directing ourattention to...

ANOTHER ANGLE:

It's an amazing sight. Two lepers: ANOUAR, bearded with

a sharp intelligent, unmarked face, makes his way alongon a small wheeled board, at an amazingly fast pace,

ahead of SAID, a huge, mute leper. They stop some feet

away. Lepers aren't often welcome. Out from behind Said

steps Poomina.

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