The Power of the Journey

by

Harshil Debba

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SCENE 1

EXT. SAANA VILLAGE - DAY

SHAKTI, a young fourteen year old girl sprints through the

village. She runs stealthily and dodges a CONSTRUCTION WORKER
who unintentionally obstructs her path.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER
Hey! What are you doing--

Shakti ignores the worker. She sprints at full speed.

EXT. ISHBA RIVER - DAY

The Ishba river separates the village and the forest. Shakti
stops running. She sits on the riverbed and drinks water. The
squawking of a drowning squirrel echoes throughout the
riverbed. Shakti immediately stands up and scans the area.
She spots the helpless rodent being dragged through the
current. She dives into the river and grabs the squirrel. The
current carries her and the rodent. Shakti struggles to grab
anything stable and falls off the edge of the waterfall. She
loses consciousness.

EXT. ISHBA FOREST - NIGHT

Shakti wakes up. Trees crowd her personal space. Her body is
engulfed with leaves. She scans the area. She stands up
covering the exposed parts of her body with the leaves.

SHAKTI
(to herself)
Keep calm, Shakti. There's a perfectly
good explanation as to why I'm in the
forest rather than near the river
which is where my memory ends.

Shakti's face turns to horror.

SHAKTI (CONT'D)
(to herself)
Oh shit. It could be a pervert.

She drops to the ground and gathers pile of leaves. She jolts
to her feet clenching the pile of leaves against her body. A
chuckle echoes throughout the forest. Shakti spots a feminine
silhouette of AASA (the guardian of the forest) whose total
appearance is hidden by the darkness.

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 2.

AASA
No. No rapists here.

Aasa giggles again.

AASA
I believe I'm the culprit for the
removal of your over-garments. I
watched you rescue that squirrel. I'm
impressed. In the entirety of my
existence I have never witnessed
bravery in a package as small and
frail as you. Just when you think
humans can't surprise--

SHAKTI
Sorry to interrupt you, uh...

AASA
It's Aasa. I'm the guardian of the
forest.

SHAKTI
Ah, yes. Ms. Aasa, the guardian la la
lala...

Shakti takes a deep breath. She drops the pile of leaves.

SHAKTI (CONT'D)
(yells)
What?

Aasa steps into the moonlight revealing her true form to

Shakti. The shape of her body consists of roots, plants and
leaves. Her body changes form as the roots flow through her
body like snakes. The leaves on her body rustle as she glides
closer to Shakti.

EXT. EXCAVATION SITE IN FOREST - NIGHT

A group of construction workers are gathered around a table

littered with plans and measurements. Virod is a 25 year-old
man wearing a suit is surrounded by people wearing work
overalls.

VIROD
Alright people. These are the plans
and I want them followed exactly as
is. Failure to do so will lead to a
reduction of everyone's salary.

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 3.

Virod glares at his workers.

VIROD (CONT'D)
(screams)
Kala.

KALA, a middle-aged man with a hunchback straddle's from

behind a large boulder ambles towards Virod.

KALA
What the hell? You're not a dog. So
why do you bark like one?

Virod's face turns red.

VIROD
How dare you--

KALA
Yeah, yeah. Save your hot breath for
warming up your hands in the winter.

VIROD
(irritated)
It is your job to oversee that the
plans are followed and that the
construction is on schedule. If it is
not, then my father will hear about
this.

KALA
(sarcastically)
Oh no. Not your father. If only he
wasn't here then I could stop kissing
his ass.

Kala scowls at Virod. Virod topples the table over. The plans
fly into the air. Virod storms off.

EXT. ISHBA FOREST - NIGHT

Virod angrily struts. He stops and lights a cigarette.

VIROD
(to self)
Who does Kala thinks he is? I'm just
trying to finish the job and make dad
proud. But that bloody Kala! He knows
that this is my last chance. If I fail
then I will be disowned. Maybe he
wants me to become a loser scum

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 4.

like him--

Virod stops talking. He hears Aasa speaking to Shakti.

AASA
(to Shakti)
Forgive me for startling you with my
presence. However, I require your
help.

Virod hides behind a bush and holds his breath.

VIROD
(softly, to self)
What in the name of the gods is that
thing?

SHAKTI
(to Aasa)
Hold your horses! First of all, bring
out my pants. You didn't start wearing
them did you?

Shakti quivers. Aasa laughs.

AASA
Of course not. I just hung them to dry
so that you don't catch a cold.

Aasa's face is serious.

AASA
I need you to go on a journey and
retrieve something I have lost.

SHAKTI
Oh yeah, right. I'm just gonna leave
my family and skip merrily on a quest.

AASA
(angrily)
This is not funny. The forest and the
well being of your older sister is at
stake.

SHAKTI
Excuse me!

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 5.

AASA
(calmly)
This item that I need you to retrieve
has the power to grant wishes. I need
it to stop those insolent creatures
from destroying the forest to develop
that disgusting factory.

SHAKTI
The workers?

AASA
Yes, and the pollution that this
factory creates is affecting your
sister's health. Go and I will protect
your sister.

SHAKTI
I don't think I can do this.

She turns away from Aasa. She walks. Yaksi, a semi

transparent wind spirit, rises from the ground. Shakti stops
to examine the spirit.

SHAKTI (CONT'D)
Woman, thing? Move or I'll beat you
back into that hole you came from.

Shakti lifts her hands into fighting position.

AASA
This is Yaksi. She will act as your
compass and as my voice throughout
your journey.

Shakti sticks out her tongue at Aasa. She turns to Yaksi.

SHAKTI
Let's go. You old hag!

Shakti lowers her body. She sprints towards the left of

Yaksi. Yaksi moves to intercept Shakti. Shakti quickly closes
gap between her and Yaksi. Yaksi's momentum forces her body
to continue in her initial direction as Shakti sharply dives
to the right of Yaksi. Yaksi hastily tries to grab Shakti as
she dives pass her. Yaksi misses. Shakti's silhouette bends
into the darkness of the forest.

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 6.

SCENE 2

INT. ITAGI CAVE - NIGHT

Flashes of lightning flicker across the sky followed by the

painful sound of thunder accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Shakti and Yaksi are in a deep sleep. A loud thunder
crackles. Shakti wakes up. She rubs her eyes. She sees a
mountain spirit who has shape-shifted into her older sister
(Lakta) standing at the entrance of the cave. She sprints to
the mountain spirit and hugs her tightly.

SHAKTI
I can't believe it. Lakta you look
fine. How? Why are you here?

The rain stops.

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT
I'm all better now and I came to tell
you that you don't need to go on this
journey anymore. Let's go home. I know
a shortcut.

SHAKTI
But what about the mission? And your
health? Did Aasa heal you?

The mountain spirit nods. Shakti turns towards Yaksi. The

mountain spirit grabs her arm.

SHAKTI (CONT'D)
Wait! We can't just leave Yaksi and go
and you still have not answered my
questions.

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT
I'll fill you in on our way home and
don't bother Yaksi. She has the
ability to track living and non-living
things. She'll find us. Now let's
hurry before it starts raining again.

SHAKTI
(to self)
You're right. Plus she doesn't like me
that much anyway so...

Shakti stares a Yaksi. She gathers her belongings. Shakti and

the mountain spirit exit the cave.

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 7.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - DAY

The mountain pathway is situated at the edge of the mountain.

Shakti drags her legs up the pathway. To her left is an
enormous mountain and to her right-hand side is the forest
which is 5 kilometres below the pathway.

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT
Hurry up, Shakti. We're almost there.

The mountain spirit points in the direction ahead of her. The

hike up the rocky narrow pathway.

SHAKTI
(panting)
Almost where? There's no way we're at
the village already.

The mountain spirit is silent. Yaksi emerges at the base of

the pathway. She sees Shakti hiking up the mountain pathway.

YAKSI
(screams)
Shakti.

Shakti stops walking. She turns around and sees Yaksi. Yaksi
runs towards Shakti. Her face is filled with terror as she
waves her hands.

YAKSI
It's a trap! Run!

The earth begins to shake.

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT
Behold the power of the mountain god.
He who has been polluted by humans
with their rubbish unleashes his fury.
Accept it!

The mountain spirit transforms into her original dirt-like

form.

Rocks tumble down the mountain in the direction of Shakti.

Shakti's backs away from the rolling rocks. She loses balance
at the edge of the cliff. Shakti passes out. The rocks crash
onto the mountain pathway.

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 8.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - NIGHT

Shakti wakes up. She feels a blinding bolt of pain emitting

from her legs. She hangs upside down at the edge of the
cliff. The rocks crushed her legs which prevented her from
falling into the forest. Shakti lets out a blood screeching
scream. Her tears roll from her eyes to her forehead and
finally sink into the depths of the forest.

Yaksi wakes up. She follows the sound of sobbing. Yaksi sees
Shakti.

YAKSI
(panicking)
Shit, shit, shit. This is bad. What am
I supposed to do? I swore I'd protect
you.

Yaksi holds head and trembles.

SHAKTI
(in a weak voice)
Help me...

Yaksi analyses the situation.

YAKSI
(shaking)
I...uh. I think we're gonna have cut
off your legs to set you free.

SHAKTI
(crying)
No, no, no. Not my legs. Anything
else. Try moving the boulder instead.

YAKSI
I'm sorry. I don't have that kind of
power.

Shakti hyperventilates erratically.

Yaksi's hand morphs into the shape of a blade. She grabs

Shakti with her other hand. She raises her blade-shaped hand
above her head.

Shakti's painful screaming echoes in the night.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - MORNING

Shakti regains consciousness. She tries to sit up. Yaksi

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 9.

pushes her back to the ground.

YAKSI
Stay still. Your injuries haven't
healed yet.

SHAKTI
Where are we?

YAKSI
We're still on the pathway. the
boulder that smashed your legs
shelters us.

SHAKTI
A cruel irony.

YAKSI
If I could have moved us, then I would
have. However, all my energy is being
used to heal your injuries.

Shakti turns her head away from Yaksi. She notices thirteen
strokes engraved into the wall.

YAKSI
We've been here for thirteen days--

SHAKTI
Damn it! Thirteen whole days! What
happened to my sister?

YAKSI
(angrily)
That was not your sister. It was a
mountain spirit that tricked you. I
never thought that you were this
gullible.

SHAKTI
We have to find Lakta.

YAKSI
I told you that wasn't your sister!

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - MORNING

Shakti struggles to sit upright. She sees her missing feet.

She falls to the ground. Shakti grabs a rock and engraves the
fourteenth stroke.

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 10.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - DAY

Shakti sits upright. She engraves the fifteen stroke.

SHAKTI
(softly, to self)
What was I thinking? I should have
never taken this suicidal mission. I
give up.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - MORNING

Yaksi engraves the nineteenth stroke. She wraps Shakti's legs

with fresh bandages. Shakti looks defeated

YAKSI
Wake up, Shakti. You haven't sat up in
days. How are you going to continue
this journey? Did you forget about
your sister? Your home?

SHAKTI
(mumbles)
What journey? I can't move my damn
legs. You expect me to crawl my way to
the stone. Tell Aasa that I have
failed and that she should send
someone else.

Yaksi storms out.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - NIGHT

Shakti notices a glowing light emitting from Yaksi. The light

fades. Shakti sits up.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
Shakti. You have to continue the
journey. Your sister is gravely ill.
She does not have much time.

SHAKTI
Please. Is there no one else who can
continue this journey? I can not
continue without my legs.

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 11.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
You have to be the one. The loss of
your legs is an excuse. If you are
motivated, then you can move.

Shakti falls to the grounds and rolls her body away from
Yaksi.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PATHWAY - MORNING

Shakti trains her arm by doing push ups. Yaksi smiles.

Yaksi leaves. She returns with two prosthetic legs.

YAKSI
I've been waiting for a time when you
would need them. I created this
myself. They are lighter and more
powerful than your normal legs.

She hands Shakti the prosthetic wooden legs.

SHAKTI
(crying)
Thank you, Yaksi.

She hugs Yaksi and proceeds to fit her new legs.

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 12.

SCENE 3

EXT. VALLEY OF TRES - DAY

The magical gem blinds Shakti and Yaksi. Shakti covers her
eyes. She proceeds cautiously towards the source of the
light. She grabs the wish granting gem.

Shakti turns to Yaksi. She jumps up and down in excitement.

SHAKTI
(excitedly)
I got the gem! I got the gem!

Kala unleashes his whip. He lashes the whip at Shakti. The

whip smacks the gem out of Shakti's hand.

KALA
Hiyah! Did you see that, boy? That is
skill. I should have been the actual
villain of this movie.

VIROD
Stop jerking around and get the damn
stone.

Kala stands motionless. He crosses his arm and smirks at

Virod.

VIROD (CONT'D)
Fine. I'll get it myself.

KALA
Now, there's a good doggie.

Virod grabs the stone and lifts above his head.

VIROD
I wish thousands of my father's
factories are build worldwide.

Everyone is silent. Kala laughs hysterically.

KALA
You stupid idiot.

The sky darkens into an ominous purple colour. Everyone

struggles to breathe.

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 13.

KALA (CONT'D)
(gasping)
Your dumb wish just drove the world
into extinction.

VIROD
How? What did I do wrong?

Yaksi is unconscious. Shakti's wooden prosthetic legs

disappear. Yaksi's body emits a blinding white light. The
light fades.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
You did nothing wrong, dear. In fact,
you have exceeded my expectations. I
believed that your flaw would lead to
humanity's extinctions. I did not
however foresee the extent of your
stupidity that would allow my plan to
work so smoothly.

Yaksi glides towards Virod.

VIROD
(gasping)
What flaw?

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
The constant need to please someone
who never loved you. To do the bidding
of a man who considered you an
accident. Humans are so disgustingly
pathetic.

Yaksi steps on Virod back. The sound of his ribs breaking

echoes throughout the valley. He screams.

VIROD
(gasping aggressively)
That's not true.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
Think back to a time where he showed
you affection.

KALA
No!

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 14.

FLASHBACK MONTAGE - VIROD'S MEMORIES

INT. VIROD'S HOUSE - DAY

YOUNG VIROD wearing a birthday hat is surrounded by his

friends. He searches the room. He turns to SAVI (his mother)

YOUNG VIROD
Ma? Where's Dad?

Savi looks at Virod with sympathy.

SAVI
Your father didn't want to come.

EXT. VIROD'S DRIVEWAY

TEENAGER VIROD is flung onto the driveway. His eye is swollen

and his lip is bust. A huge figure emerges from the house.
VIROD'S FATHER is carrying a baseball bat. Savi looks at
Virod with tears in her eyes.

VIROD'S FATHER
(angrily)
You get one more chance. You mess this
up and you're going to be disowned.

END OF FLASHBACK MONTAGE.

EXT. VALLEY OF TRES - DAY - PRESENT DAY

Kala slowly lifts his head up.

KALA
(gasping)
You didn't need a damn flashback
montage. I've been telling you this
throughout the journey.

Yaksi laughs.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
Do you see now, boy? You were never
loved. You were just extra weight.

Virod laughs weakly. Yaksi looks confused.

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 15.

YAKSI
(in Aasa's voice)
What are you--

VIROD
I didn't show you that flashback to
prove you right. I did it to distract
you.

Shakti crawls next to Yaksi and slams a rock into her foot.
Yaksi screams and falls to the ground.

SHAKTI
Forgive me, Yakshi.

Shakti rips off Yaksi's legs.

SHAKTI
You once told me that with motivation
I can progress. How's this
progression, bitch?

She holds the stone above Yaksi's head.

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