Lion Page #10

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ON Saroo:
he scans the room. Students of all races. He spots

a CLUSTER OF INDIAN STUDENTS.

PROVOST (O.S.) (CONT’D)

We see ourselves as the United

Nations of hospitality schools, and

we like to think we teach a

balanced and global perspective. -

Saroo studies the Indian students. We feel ever so slightly

his intrigue - as memories awaken from the deep.

PROVOST (O.S) (CONT’D)

You’re here because you have a

dream. We’re here to help you make

that dream a reality.

INT. RMSHM AUDITORIUM, AISLE - LATER

Induction over. The aisle between the seats is crowded.

Saroo shuffles along shoulder to shoulder with other students

of many races.

He hears fragments of Hindi - it strikes him how many Indian

students there are.

He nods neutral hellos to them. Saroo eavesdrops as an INDIAN

STUDENT on her cell phone excitedly calls her Ammi.

Saroo is stuck at the end of a row. Opposite him - also stuck

-is a beautiful young woman - LUCY (late 20’s). She meets

his eye. They step forward together. A mirror-moment.

INT. RMSHM CLASSROOM - DAY

Open MID on Lucy - we’re in a round-robin discussion in a

tutorial of about fifteen STUDENTS, assorted ages and

backgrounds. A non-Anglo TUTOR.

LUCY:

-so I saw first-hand how the

hospitality industry brings

infrastructure to communities that

really need it. But I also saw the

problems that causes. Which is why

community groups really need to be

involved, every step of the way.

And taken seriously. And I thought -

I could help give them a voice.

Saroo, watching, listening, entranced by this beautiful,

idealistic woman.

LUCY (CONT’D)

Not try to prevent progress, but

convince developers there are

benefits to being sustainable and

community oriented.

TUTOR:

(amused, encouraging)

Why not think big?

LUCY:

(laughs)

Absolutely. In return, the labour

force would be more consistent and

better trained and more motivated.

Win-win.

TUTOR:

So you want to be ...

The tutor considers.

TUTOR (CONT’D)

-a community liaison consultant?

LUCY:

That sounds good!

Done. She looks to Saroo: his turn next.

SAROO:

I want to run hotels that put all

the profits into my pocket.

Some laughter. Some frowns. Saroo was only joking.

Lucy grins at him. A tickle of chemistry.

TUTOR:

Let’s start with where you’re from.

SAROO:

Tassie.

PRAMA:

“Tazzy”?

SAROO:

Tasmania. Across the water.

TUTOR:

So born in Australia.

SAROO:

(resistant)

Umm ... Kolkata.

PRAMA:

I have cousins that live there.

They’re quite mad.

BHARAT:

Which part?

Saroo’s sudden discomfort. It’s been a long time, and even

talking about it is stirring up memories.

SAROO:

I’m adopted. I’m not really Indian.

He inadvertently comes across as a little rude - as if he

wouldn’t want to be Indian. Bharat and Prama feel it. Lucy

dispels the growing tension.

LUCY:

You love cricket though, right?

SAROO:

Of course.

BHARAT:

You don’t support the Aussies, do

you?

SAROO:

Only the Aussies, mate.

Bharat and Prama look alarmed.

BHARAT:

This is going to be interesting!

They all smile.

TUTOR:

(getting it back on track)

And why are you doing this course,

Saroo? What do you hope to get out

of it?

Saroo refocuses, ponders the question. He smiles at the tutor

-trying to find the elusive answer.

EXT. FLINDER’S STREET, MELBOURNE - DAY

Saroo walking in the afternoon light. A metropolis strangely

like Howrah. The hum and energy, the traffic, distant train

sounds.

INT. SAROO’S STUDENT APARTMENT - DAY

Silence. A sudden sense of isolation. Saroo goes to the

window.

Ten stories down, the busy city with its enticing energy.

EXT. INDIAN SHARED FLAT - DUSK

Beers in hand, Saroo climbs the exterior stairs of a 70’s

block, where a long balcony leads along the third floor.

As he reaches the landing, he sees Lucy at the far end -

coming up the opposite identical stairs. Like mirrors again.

Struck by the serendipity again - and Saroo struck by Lucy’s

beauty - they burst into smiles.

As they arrive at the door, Bollywood music can be heard.

They can’t resist the “mirror” temptation - they knock on the

door in unison, cracking up.

INT. INDIAN SHARED FLAT, LIVING ROOM - DUSK

Prama opens the front door to Saroo and Lucy

PRAMA:

Hi! Come in, come in

Inside, Bharat greets them and introduces some fellow

students. Make sure we hear Lucy’s name here, as she hasn’t

been introduced anywhere else. SAMI (24) and ANNIKA (30). A

Bollywood movie plays B/G. A GREAT SPREAD of Indian food

already on the table.

LUCY:

Wow, something smells amazing!

BHARAT:

Ah - Saroo - Lucy - this is Sami -

and Annika.

Everyone shakes hands, says “Hi”.

PRAMA:

(challenges Saroo)

You do eat Indian food...?

LATER:

The food served Indian-style. Saroo watches Lucy - and the

others - eat with their hands. He looks lost.

Lucy’s no expert, but she’s giving it a go. She raises her

eyebrows at Saroo, amused at his inaction.

Bharat slides a fork across the table to Saroo.

BHARAT:

(to Lucy)

So why was it called Taxi to

Tomorrow?

PRAMA:

(to Saroo)

It’s easy, come on try it.

(eating with her hands)

On Saroo:
he puts down his cutlery.

LUCY:

Okay, I say flashlight -

(to Annika)

- you say

ANNIKA:

Lampe de poche.

LUCY:

(to Saroo)

You say

SAROO:

Torch.

49

PRAMA:

(to Saroo)

Do you speak Hindi?

BHARAT:

Why would he, he’s from Tazzie.

Flashlight is ...

Bharat says flashlight, in Hindi. On Saroo: a flash of

recognition, that feeling he hasn’t felt in so many years.

Tries eating with his hands. A mirror of the “Peppa” scene.

LUCY:

And what’s “taxi”?

BHARAT:

Taxi.

ANNIKA:

Taxi.

LUCY:

See? It’s the same in every

language.

SAROO:

(jokes)

Unless you take a cab.

Lucy gives him a “thanks very much” look.

SAMI:

(to Lucy)

I still think you’re crazy. I’d be

terrified to live anywhere in

Africa.

LUCY:

(to Saroo)

Have you travelled much?

Saroo shakes his head.

SAROO:

Who wants another beer?

Saroo escapes into a role he’s familiar with.

INT. INDIAN SHARED FLAT, HALLWAY & KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

We follow Saroo along the hallway, past the homely

decorations the Indians have put up in a short space of time -

-and through to the kitchen. As Saroo moves to the fridge he

sees a tray of jalebis - those deep golden-orange spirals

from the far recesses of his memory.

He stares at them. His mind spinning. Retrieving the

memories.

He’s not just struck. He’s thunderstruck.

SLAM CUT:

MEMORY, KHANDWA MARKET

Back on that day more than 20 years earlier when Saroo and

Guddu swapped the stolen coal for warm milk.

The jalebis sizzling in the vat - an unattainable feast.

SAROO:

(nudges Guddu)

Guddu ... Jalebis ...

Guddu looks at them too; for a beat we see beyond the boys’

deep hunger - they’re just kids, yearning for a sweet.

Then Guddu makes light of it - with bravado:

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