Soul Mate: Script

Soul Mate

(Script Inspired by a story in Reader's Digest)

By: M. Danish Hussain Qureshi

Characters

Fariha: A young girl, who is unaware of her fatal disease

Kamal: Fariha’s father

Sameena: Fariha’s mother

Arsalan: Boy who receives cornea donation

Eye Surgeon, Doctor 1, Doctor 2: Different doctors

Act I

Scene 1

FADE IN

INT - Home - Day

Synopsis: Fariha, an 18 years old girl is talking to her mother. She shows her a sketch, she drew.

Woman sitting on a sofa, a girl enters the room with a paper in her hands. Girl pulls out ear plugs attached to her mp3 player, from her ears Girl sits on the sofa besides the woman and takes out the paper in front of her Woman looks at the paper Woman looks at the girl’s face Girl talks looking at the paper Girl gets up and puts the ear plugs in her ears Girl gets out of the room

Fariha: Mom, I wanted to show you something. Sameena: Did you decide where you are going to get admission...which university? Fariha: what did you just say? Fariha: Look at this, mom. Isn’t this beautiful? (cheerfully) Sameena: Who is this boy? Fariha: My Dream Man. (smiling) Sameena: where did you get such an idea? (curiously) Fariha: I don’t know. I just thought to draw somebody. I just had an impulse. Sameena: your father was asking what program you are going to take at the university. Fariha: I didn’t think off yet. I had a headache since morning.

Act II

Scene 2

INT - Doctor’s clinic - DAY 

Synopsis:  Fariha 20, along with her mother is at doctor’s clinic.

Doctor is sitting behind the table and a girl and a woman are sitting on the opposite side. Woman looks at the doctor Doctor explains Girl cheerfully looks towards the woman Doctor explains Doctor looks towards the girl and smiles Woman looks seriously towards the doctor Doctor laughs and looks at the girl

Doctor 1: I have seen your reports and tests. There is nothing to worry about! Sameena: Doctor sahib, she was born with a heart disease but she has been normal, rather she had an active life. She was the tennis champion in her school.  (seriously) Doctor 1: That’s what I am saying, Mrs. Kamal. She is absolutely alright. (in normal tone) Fariha: See, I was also telling mom the same but she… (smiling) Doctor 1: During exams some students take extra pressure that may result in migraines. Fariha: exactly! Thanks God! Exams just ended. I have been in the university for two years and whenever there are exams I get these headaches. Doctor 1: any way take these tablets. Have some rest and fun. Sameena: Don’t you think we should see a neurologist? (anxiously) Doctor 1: You are going to get a doctor in your house. Why do you need a neurologist? (laughing) She is fine, Mrs. Kamal. When you are going to join us? Fariha: I don’t think it is a very good place to come (smiling) except to get some inspiration. I love music, art and writing. I am going to be a painter or teaching somewhere.

Scene 3

INT - HOME - NIGHT

Synopsis: Fariha 23, is talking to her father.

A man and a girl are sitting on the sofa with the cups in their hands.    Man puts the cup on the table and pats her back gently. Girl takes sip from the cup Man looks at the girl Girl describes excitedly

Fariha: Papa! I got a job at Fine Arts College. (smiling) Kamal: Congrtulations Kid! How was your trip to Muree? Fariha: It was fun! Papa. Bonfire, eating, hiking, eating, snow fight and eating. (Cheerfully) except the terrible headache I got the night before we came back. Kamal: It’s very cold at Muree. You must have got fever. How are you now dear? Fariha: I am alright now. We made snow man, and woman and two cute children, whole snow family…  (excitedly)

 

Scene 4

INT - HOME - NIGHT

Synopsis: Fariha is in her room. She feels severe headache. She cries. Her mother rushes to help her. Fariha vomits and faints.

Fariha is sitting on a couch with a book in her lap She suddenly stands up and cries grabbing her head in both hands A woman enters the room quickly Woman holds her and makes her sit Girl vomits blood on the floor Girl faints and her head rolls down in woman’s lap

Fariha: Oh… mom!! (yelling) Sameena: what happened dear? Fariha: I feel terrible, I think I ‘m going to die. (in a loud terrible tone) Sameena: Oh my God!! (desperately) Sameena: Kamal, Kamal (yelling)

Scene 5

INT - EYE SURGEON’S CLINIC - DAY

Synopsis: A 24 year old boy is sitting on a chair. Eye surgeon talks to him.

Doctor talks to the boy Boy stands up and goes towards the door Doctor calls him

Eye Surgeon: Arsalan,  I must and should tell you that the problem in your eyes has grown. Lenses can’t contain the bulge in your cornea. You need surgery boy! (seriously) Arsalan: what kind of surgery? Surgeon: Corneal Transplant. Arsalan: Where we can get the cornea from? Surgeon: some people…. Donate their eyes after their death. And only in 72 hours we have to put in patients’ eyes. … Write an application boy and submit. It is a lengthy process and takes lot of time. Surgeon: Don’t lose hope and pray!!

Scene 6

INT - HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Synopsis: Fariha’s parents are standing in front of I.C.U. Doctor comes out and tells them about Fariha’s death.

A Doctor comes out of a room, man approaches him. Woman cries out loudly Doctor walks away in the corridor

Kamal: What happened doctor? (anxiously) Doctor 2: We couldn’t save her life. Sorry Mr. Kamal… Kamal: What are you saying… (crying)

Scene 7

INT - EYE SURGEON'S CLINIC - AFTERNOON

Synopsis: Doctor phones Arsalan and tells him about the operation.

Surgeon holds the phone and dial a number

Surgeon: Hello! Mr. Arsalan. Mr. Arsalan, we have got the eye. I want you to be at the hospital by six this evening.

Act III

Scene 8

INT - HOME - DAY

Synopsis: Arsalan went to meet the donor’s family.

Man and a woman are sitting on a sofa. Behind them is a frame with a girl’s photograph in it. Boy is sitting on another sofa. They are having tea. Man looks at the boy Woman looks at boy’s eyes Boy picks out a photograph from his pants’ pocket and give to the woman. Woman takes it and puts the photograph in one of empty frame placed on a shelf.

Arsalan: I wanted to tell you that I am also 24. I majored in psychology. And I am recovering beautifully. (politely) Kamal: it’s good to see you! (smilling) Sameena: and specially your eyes… Arsalan: I would like to thank you humbly. (slowly) Kamal: it’s very nice to see a part of my daughter still alive in your eyes. Arsalan: I want to give you something though… It’s my photograph, aunt! Sameena: That’s very gracious of you…

Scene 9

INT - HOME - DAY

Synopsis: Sameena is looking randomly her daughter’s stuff. She finds the sketch Fariha made 6 years ago.

Woman is sitting in a room and in her lap is a file with sketches and drawing in it. She flips the pages aimlessly until she picks out one paper. A man enters the room Woman shows the portrait to the man. Man looks at the portrait curiously. Woman runs out of the room and runs towards the living room and place the portrait beside the boy’s photograph. Man enters the room and stands behind the woman and reads out the verse written at the bottom of the portrait.

Sameena: Kamal!! Come here. (excitedly) Kamal: what’s up? Sameena: look at this, Kamal. Kamal: Oh isn’t it Arsalan’s portrait. Kamal: of anguish, none is greater than the passing of two hearts That never knew each other.               FADE OUT