Lion Page #13

---

INT. CONVENTION ROOM, HOBART GRAND HOTEL - DAY

We follow Saroo (in a suit) into a large convention room

which is at this moment bursting with activity.

The space is filled with STAFF setting big round tables with

perfectly starched table cloths, vases, table numbers etc.

SAROO:

Peter - have you got the individual

place cards too?

PETER:

I’m on it.

SAROO:

(to another worker)

Michael - take three people with

you to the loading dock. The

flowers have arrived.

Michael heads off. Saroo stands there surveying his domain.

CLOSE:
he shifts his tie, stretches his neck. We suddenly see

how uncomfortable he looks. Something not quite right.

He starts striding FAST out of the convention room

EXT. STREET OUTSIDE ONE-ROOM HOME, KHANDWA (FLASHBACK)

-and suddenly we’re behind LITTLE Saroo (same camera angle)

as he follows a scene of utter CHAOS as three POLICEMEN drag

screaming Guddu to a paddy wagon -

-Shekila wailing in Saroo’s arms, Guddu kicking and

screaming, Kamla grabbing at the policemen -

as they spill from inside the home to the alley outside

GUDDU:

Ammi! Ammi! [Mummy!]

SAROO:

Guddu!

KAMLA:

You can’t arrest him!

Kamla lashes at the policemen - we follow behind Saroo as

they drag Guddu up the street to the waiting wagon

INT. HALLWAY, HOBART GRAND HOTEL - MOMENTS LATER (DAY)

-and now (”REVERSE” of previous shot) we LEAD, tracking

backwards, as Saroo picks up speed - striding towards us -

-and STOPS. Panting. Looks around. Generic hotel doors.

INT. HOTEL ROOM, HOBART GRAND HOTEL - MOMENTS LATER (DAY)

STILL LIFE:
an empty high-end hotel room. The door knocks.

SAROO (O.S.)

Housekeeping.

(beat)

Housekeeping.

The door opens. Saroo enters using his swipe card.

He sits on the sofa. Still breathing hard.

EXT. STREET OUTSIDE ONE-ROOM HOME, KHANDWA (FLASHBACK)

Neighbors are gathering at their doors and windows, watching

the commotion, as the police drag Guddu from the door to a

paddy wagon, Guddu resisting, Saroo and Shekila distressed

KAMLA:

Guddu!

GUDDU:

Ammi!

SLAM! They bundle him, struggling, into the paddy wagon. His

fingers through the grille, his terrified eyes looking out.

KAMLA:

He hasn’t done anything wrong

HEAD POLICEMAN:

- he was caught stealing eggs -

Kamla starts screaming, Saroo, still holding Shekila, steps

to the paddy wagon door.

GUDDU:

Saroo!

Saroo is shell-shocked, his big brother being taken away. He

is numb, trying to process it. But Kamla is positively feral.

As she screams and keeps kicking up a fuss, we’re CLOSER with

Guddu and Saroo:

GUDDU (CONT’D)

Saroo! Listen to me. Pay attention!

Saroo crying, focuses on Guddu, nods bravely Okay.

GUDDU (CONT’D)

Whatever happens, you need to be

strong - nothing can break us if we

stick together -

Kamla rattles the paddy wagon door, fearless, feral.

KAMLA:

Arrrrggghh! ...

GUDDU:

I’m talking about Ammi. You

understand?

Saroo nods, Yes.

GUDDU (CONT’D)

Look after her, Saroo! Don’t let me

down. This is all we have. We stick

together

SLAM CUT:

INT. HOTEL ROOM, HOBART GRAND HOTEL - CONTINUOUS (DAY)

Saroo walking it off, pacing. He shakes it out of himself.

Get a grip. Time to get back to work.

INT. KHANDWA PRISON - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Outside the prison, in the shadows, Saroo sidles up to a

barred window:

SAROO:

(whispers)

Guddu! Guddu! -

-he whistles a short coded whistle.

The coded whistle comes back, from ten feet further along.

There’s Guddu, at the next bars along. Beaming.

GUDDU:

Brother -

Little Saroo proudly gives Guddu some tomatoes he has stolen.

Guddu devours them, ravenously, urgently - keeping his back

to the MEN in the cell (B/G).

GUDDU (CONT’D)

Where did you get these?

Saroo merely grins.

GUDDU (CONT’D)

You’re my hero.

Saroo couldn’t be prouder.

GUDDU (CONT’D)

But you have to go! They will catch

you! I’ll be out soon! Go! Go to

Ammi! Go quickly!

Saroo nods, runs. He is his brother’s hero.

We follow little Saroo for a time. Sprinting his heart out.

Gliding through the dark Indian night.

Running. Running.

INT. SAROO & LUCY’S LIVING ROOM - VERY LATE NIGHT

Saroo is now lying on the couch - laptop on his belly - the

SOUNDS of his running fading from the previous scene.

An ever-so-slight smile on his face.

FADE TO BLACK:

EXT. EMPTY STREETS OF HOBART - DAWN (ESTABLISHING)

Music hovers. Empty dawn streets, eerily interesting. And so

still. Not even the birds are up yet.

INT. LIVING ROOM, BEACH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

In the dawn light, Lucy walks into the living room, dressed

for a run.

She finds Saroo, passed out on the couch, laptop still open

on his belly. The neatly piled list of stations and other

search paraphernalia on the floor.

For a moment she looks concerned. Then she moves the laptop

off him - without looking at the screen. Wriggles onto the

couch, next to him. He groans.

LUCY:

Time for a run...

Saroo’s eyes open - his face says “You must be kidding me!”

EXT. CRADLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - DAY

Saroo and Lucy run up a steep mountain track. Both hung-over,

for different reasons. But a combination of natural beauty,

fresh air and endorphins is kicking in.

Lucy pulls ahead - Saroo grabs the back of her T-shirt to

hold her back - she’s laughing.

LUCY:

Oh my god - you are such a bad

loser!

Saroo manages to race past her. Claims victory - we can see

in him the same little kid from Wineglass Bay.

LATER:

We’re BEHIND Saroo and Lucy, who are perched on a viewing

spot. Stretching in front of them:

Spectacular, expansive, glorious GREEN. And OCEAN beyond.

They’re so HIGH UP, it’s like a Google Earth view.

Lucy looks utterly content. Closes and opens her big blue

eyes - we see this panorama through her eyes in all its

expansive glory.

Saroo’s eyes are wide open too - focussing -

- it’s the same view as Lucy’s - but not uninhabited

Saroo’s POV:
in the distance, the tiny figure of Guddu.

What’s Guddu doing here, on Mount Wellington? In the land of

the living?

Guddu’s silent stare calls to Saroo...

Lucy - smiles at Saroo - realizes he’s not here, with her, in

the present moment.

She looks disappointed. Worried.

INT. BEDROOM, BEACH HOUSE - DAY

Saroo is in the bedroom. He’s having a panic attack. Tries to

slow his breathing.

MEMORY, KHANDWA QUARRY

Kamla stands in the moonscape. She seems to be staring

straight at Saroo...

INT. BEDROOM, BEACH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Lucy comes in.

LUCY:

Sweetheart? It’s after six...

Saroo squeezes his eyes shut. As if he could somehow block

out the present.

LUCY (CONT’D)

Are you okay?

SAROO:

Fine.

INT. SUE’S ART STUDIO, BRIERLEY HOME - NIGHT

CLOSE on small, beautiful watercolors - ethereal landscapes,

horizons - stacked around, as Sue and Lucy step into the

downstairs sun-room/studio.

SUE:

I don’t usually show anyone these -

LUCY:

They’re beautiful ...

Rate this script:4.0 / 12 votes