Broken Television

By
Dattaprasad
INT. DRAWING ROOM - DAY
SUPER: Monday, 4 Months Before Lockdown
FATHER, the kind of jovial fifty-year old who returns
strayed cricket balls to children, is watching a soap on his
TV but it abruptly switches off.
He slaps the remote, but it doesn’t work. He notices his SON
hurrying out of the kitchen, with a sandwich in his hand.

SON
(on the way out)
Bye, Mummy! I’ll be late today.
Father tries to catch up with the son, for getting his TV
repaired.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

FATHER
Are Bittu! Suno...

But the son has already zoomed away on the bike.

FATHER
... TV ke mechanic ko bulana.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - MIDNIGHT

We see the clock striking 1:30 AM. The Father is waiting on
a rocking chair. The son comes home, tired. Father tries to
say something, but the son goes directly to the room to
sleep. Father’s mouth is still open.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - MIDNIGHT

SUPER: Tuesday, 4 Months Before Lockdown

We see the same cycle, just sped up. Father is trying to

catch up to son. He’s speeding away. Father spends the day
reading newspapers, books, and swatting flies. It becomes
night. The son goes directly to the room.

SUPER: Wednesday, 4 Months Before Lockdown

Same cycle as above sped up twice.
SUPER: Thursday, 4 Months Before Lockdown
Same cycle sped up thrice.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

SUPER: Friday, 4 Months Before Lockdown

Same cycle sped up even more.

INT. BEDROOM - NOON

SUPER: Saturday-Sunday, 4 Months Before Lockdown

The speed now is real-time, but it seems slowed down because
of the context. Father is entering BITTU’s room to talk
about TV.
FATHER
Are Bittu! Zara TV ko... (pause)
Father notices that the Bittu is sleeping. So, he holds
himself back.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - DAY

Now we see the same cycle repeated, only the time scales are
dilated.
SUPER: Weekdays
Bittu runs away on sped up footage, returns tired.
SUPER: Weekend
Bittu is sleeping in real time.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

SUPER: Lockdown

Bittu is sitting on his laptop in his bedroom. Father

arrives into his room. Bittu sorts himself.
FATHER
Bittu, beta zara TV ko dekhna. Kaam
nahi kar raha hai.
Bittu readily obliges.

INT. DRAWING ROOM - DAY

Bittu is checking TV and convinced that it needs a repair.

BITTU
Lagta hai Mechanic ko bulana
padega. Kab kharaab hua?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

Father answers sheepishly.

FATHER
...Chaar mahine.
Son’s jaw drops and he droops down.

CUT TO:
A Reconnect Television gets installed in the room. Son hands
remote to his father. He switches on the TV. It’s the same
soap. He smiles again.

FADE OUT:
SUPER:
THIS FATHER’S DAY, MAKE HIM HAPPY!

RECONNECT: WE SERVE HAPPINESS