Lion Page #14

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SUE:

I do have fun. My secret hobby.

Lucy notices, on a shelf, a jumble of trophies. At a glance,

there seem to be about ten different sports here, from soccer

to windsurfing to cricket.

SUE (CONT’D)

Saroo’s. He was good at everything.

LUCY:

I had no idea.

SUE:

He was such a happy boy.

Lucy looks away. Spots a framed family photo, picks it up

gently.

LUCY:

Wow, look at Mantosh.

ON PHOTO:
Saroo, Mantosh, Sue and John laughing on the boat.

SUE:

Yep. He was a cheeky little

thing...

Lucy gazes closer at the snapshot of a lost, happy era.

SUE (CONT’D)

Pure energy. Impossible to control.

But incredible. If he could ever

learn to control it, he could do

anything. Saroo’s very protective

of him.

Lucy’s finding this conversation a little difficult. She has

so many questions she’d like to ask Sue, about Saroo’s

childhood.

SUE (CONT’D)

I’ve been blessed...

EXT. UPSTAIRS DECK, BRIERLEY HOME - SAME TIME

Saroo on the deck with John, who’s just stacked some freshly

cooked chops on a plate. Sausages sizzling away on the grill.

JOHN:

Not partying too hard?

Saroo, amused by that.

SAROO:

Not partying at all!

JOHN:

You look a bit tired.

SAROO:

It’s just work.

JOHN:

How’s it with Lucy?

SAROO:

Great.

JOHN:

We love Lucy.

SAROO:

(entranced by the

sausages)

Yep. It’s hard not to. She’s great.

Pause.

SAROO (CONT’D)

I’ll get us another beer.

Saroo turns inside. John nods. Okay. Prods the meat.

INT. KITCHEN, BRIERLEY HOME - CONTINUOUS

Saroo steps inside. And Mantosh is there, back turned,

rolling a cigarette as he props the fridge door open with his

leg, inspecting the contents.

He turns as he hears the sliding door.

MANTOSH:

(nervously)

Was wondering where everyone was.

His eyes are BLAZING STONED. Saroo takes him in.

SAROO:

Jesus. You couldn’t be a little

more wasted?

Mantosh shrugs, grins. Aloof bravado, but fragile underneath.

Just holding on:
clearly it’s a big effort just to come here.

At that moment Sue comes up the stairs with Lucy. Is very

happy to see Mantosh.

SUE:

Darling -

MANTOSH:

Mum!

Sue goes - tentatively - to hug him. Mantosh somehow manages

to balance the half-rolled cigarette as she enfolds him.

Through the awkwardness, it somehow becomes a warm embrace.

SUE:

(private, in his ear)

Well done for coming.

She breaks the embrace

SUE (CONT’D)

This is Lucy ...

LUCY:

(very friendly)

It’s nice to finally meet you.

Mantosh continues to roll his ciggie, licking the paper.

SUE:

(nervous to confront him)

You have to smoke that outside.

Mantosh lights the cigarette, takes a deep toke.

MANTOSH:

No worries.

He heads outside to the deck. Saroo, fuming, can’t stand what

Mantosh does. He notices Sue, now readying the food in a

fussy and manic way.

MANTOSH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Hey, Dad!

JOHN (O.S.)

Son!

ON Lucy. Okay. Right. She feels the world, between them all,

in that cigarette smoke. All the spaces in between them.

INT. DINING ROOM, BRIERLEY HOME - LATER SAME NIGHT

Saroo, Lucy, John and Sue at the table, serving up. A dark

cloud building over Saroo.

LUCY:

(to Saroo)

I saw all your trophies...

SAROO:

Oh Mum, you didn’t? -

LUCY:

(re:
Saroo)

He never tells me anything about

growing up

JOHN:

That’s just half. I’ve got more in

the garage.

LUCY:

(re:
Saroo)

These days I can’t get him off the

couch.

SAROO:

(warns)

Luce -

Sue, John and Lucy quite taken aback by his sudden intensity.

LUCY:

Why can’t you tell them what you’ve

been doing? -

SAROO:

- don’t

SUE:

- what’s that, luv? -

Mantosh enters, even more stoned, rubbing hands, big grin.

MANTOSH:

Yum, dinner!

He sits. Notices the tension. And it’s not from him!

MANTOSH (CONT’D)

What? What have I missed?

SAROO:

Nothing.

MANTOSH:

(noticing Lucy)

She looks upset.

SAROO:

She’s not upset.

LUCY:

(to Saroo)

I can speak for myself. And how do

you know how I feel?

In his stoned amazement, Mantosh enjoys the spectacle.

MANTOSH:

Saroo knows everything. He’s an

expert. He’s a manager.

SAROO:

Why are you here?

SUE:

He’s here because he’s your

brother.

SAROO:

No he’s not. We’re different.

So cold, matter-of-fact. For Sue, a knife in the chest. For

John, an alarm-bell - it’s never been easy but this open

aggression is new. Mantosh goes from stoned amazement to deep

hurt. He looks rattled, vulnerable, and five years old. He

stares at Saroo, a deep wound opening in him.

SAROO (CONT’D)

(awkward, but can’t stop)

Every f***ing meal you do come to,

you have to get wasted -

JOHN:

Now, now

SUE:

(to Saroo)

How dare you.

Mantosh gets up - not coping - starting to become wild

- John stands to soothe him - he knows this routine

MANTOSH:

(so wounded)

-I wouldn’t want to be your

brother, mate John

cradles Mantosh, tries to talk him down. Mantosh lashes

out - a verbal lashing too, semi-coherent. John doesn’t let

go - handles it as he always has - whispering the mantra into

Mantosh’s face

JOHN:

C’mon. Breathe. Big breaths. You’re

okay. Shhh. Shh. You’re good, luv.

You’re good.

Mantosh continues muttering, distressed. Quite the show for

Lucy - 25 years of history in a minute.

SUE:

Boys...

Mantosh breaks free, heads out the door - John follows JOHN

No - Mantosh - it’s all good, shh John

leaves in pursuit, he throws a glance back at Saroo JOHN

(CONT’D)

- nice one, mate Sue

looks to Saroo:
if looks could kill.

SUE:

What’s going on?

SAROO:

I hate what he does to you!

Silence. Sue turns to Lucy. Lucy is trapped - she hates

lying, but she has to be loyal to Saroo.

Sue looks disappointed in her. Lucy - mortified.

SUE:

(to Lucy)

I see.

(to Saroo)

Whatever it is, I’m warning you, I

can’t do it.

Sue and Saroo - locked together.

O.S, AUDIO:
fragments of John pleading (”Come on, mate, come

back inside,” etc). Mantosh’s car starting.

Sue’s silence circles Saroo, like a shark.

INT. BEDROOM, BEACH HOUSE - DAWN

It’s silent. Lucy’s just woken up. She’s in bed, alone.

Saroo’s pillows - neat. No sign he’s been in bed beside her.

Lucy - lost in her thoughts.

INT. LIVING ROOM, BEACH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Lucy walks into the living room, wearing Saroo’s old T-shirt.

She opens the curtains. Sunrise floods the room.

Saroo locks eyes with her vulnerable, searching stare.

He shuts the laptop - nothing here he wants to talk about. He

holds her gaze. Almost defiant. Yep. I’ve been up all night.

Yep. This is what I’m doing.

LUCY:

Why don’t you want your parents to

know?

SAROO:

They’ve got enough to deal with.

You saw what Mantosh does to them.

It’s always about him. Ever since

he got off the plane.

LUCY:

They’d support you. They’d

understand.

SAROO:

They’d pretend to. Mum’d keep

smiling even if she was dying

inside.

LUCY:

Because she wouldn’t want you hurt.

She wants to protect you. She’s a

mother.

Beat. Saroo, so mad, so sleep-deprived, turning sour on Lucy.

Whose side is she on?

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