NCB - DRUG STORY

Created by

Atul Sabharwal

Produced by

Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd.

Episode 1

Screenplay and Dialogues by

Atul Sabharwal

Draft date: 27.09.2007

revisions: 07.02.2009 Blue
FADE IN:

YRF Logo

FADE OUT:

EXT. BADEMIYAN BARBECUE JOINT. -- NIGHT

Usual hob-nob of the people that one sees at a late night

eatery. There are locals and then there are tourists who
hang in the back alleys of Taj Mahal hotel - a mix of
Arabs, Africans and Chinese.

A YOUNG BOY of about 23 makes his way past all the

customers awaiting their orders and walks up to an
expensive Indian car. His name is RAJESH as we will soon
hear.

As he opens the car door --

INT. CAR. -- NIGHT

Rajesh sits and rests the food packet on the dashboard.

In his other hand he is holding the lose change that he
hands to the MAN in the driving seat.

RAJESH
Yes baaki paise...

WASIM ANSARI, of about same age as Rajesh, looks soft but

talks tough. If you passed him on the street on any other
day he would look like a sweet boy-next-door takes. And
in fact he is.

He pockets and the money and puts the car in gear.

WASIM
Chatni zyada dalvayi...

RAJESH
Haan dalvayi...

WASIM
(smiles)
Zubeida bhabhi ko chatni khane ka
bahut shauk hai...

RAJESH
Aur Naved bhai ko banane ka...hum
dono ki bann jayegi agar unhe is
delivery ka pata laga...

EXT. COLABA STREETS -- NIGHT

The car drives past the empty lanes of Colaba and heads
north.

WASIM (V.O.)
Bhai ko pata lagega tab na...
 2.

RAJESH (V.O.)
Aur pata lag gaya toh?

INT. CAR. -- NIGHT

Wasim looks out of the window, gauging the night traffic.

WASIM
Jab tak pata lagega tab tak delivery
ho chuki hogi. Bhai bundle dekhenge
to aadha gussa wahin kam ho jayega.

RAJESH
Aur nahin hua toh?

WASIM
(smiles again)
Nahin hua toh tujhe bachana mera
kaam.

RAJESH
(chuckles innocently)
Mujhe toh waise bhi hamesha tu hi
bachata hai.

EXT. OUTSIDE A MOTEL. ALTAMOUNT ROAD -- NIGHT

Wasim's car drives past a motel.

INT. CAR -- NIGHT

WASIM
Dekh koi paandu log hai kya?

Rajesh looks out of the window.

RAJESH
Lagta toh nahin bhai.

Wasim stops the car a little away from the motel.

Wasim hands it to Rajesh.

WASIM
Room number 201. Lene wala gora
hai. Reception par John ke naam
se pooch lena.

RAJESH
Payment kitna lena hai?

WASIM
Woh advance mein aa gaya hai.
Gora peele t-shirt mein hoga.
Umar 35. Bag seat ke neeche hai.

A BLACK HANDBAG is removed from the bottom of the passenger

seat.

Rajesh opens the zip and takes one last look at the
contents. HEROIN. Smells it.
 3.

His eyes get wide with appreciation.

WASIM (CONT'D)
(smiles)
A-1 hai.

Rajesh gives one last nervous look to Wasim. Wasim nods

as if saying "everything will be fine."

Rajesh opens the car door. Leaves, shutting the door

behind.

Wasim sees Rajesh in the rearview mirror as he walks to

the motel.

EXT. OUTSIDE A MOTEL. ALTAMOUNT ROAD. ANOTHER ANGLE --

NIGHT

A FEW SILHOUETTES in an IDLING CAR see Rajesh getting off

the car and entering the motel.

SILHOUETTE 1
Aaj nikla hai pyada - ye pit gaya
toh badshah hil jayega.

SUDDENLY Rajesh comes running out with the bag still in

his hand. He screams at Wasim. Wasim starts the car and
puts it in gear.

THIS CAR starts from here. A FEW MEN emerge from the
motel, running behind Rajesh.

Rajesh gets into the car. Wasim presses accelerator.

ANOTHER CAR blocks the end of the street while this car
moves behind Wasim's car.

Wasim is trapped. Men leap out of both the vehicles

towards Wasim's car. The others who were chasing Rajesh
open the door of Wasim's car.

Rajesh is dragged out from one side. Wasim from another.

Quickly. They're both thrown into one of the cars and
the door is shut.

FADE OUT:

Opening credits begin with music. A 30 sec V.O. announces

brief facts about Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Opening Credits end

FADE IN:

INT. NCB BOMBAY OFFICE. ZONAL DIRECTOR'S ROOM -- MORNING

Simple office. One main working table with three revolving

chairs around and one tea table in a corner accompanied
by two small sofas.

People seated around are dressed equally simply - pants

and shirts. We will introduce them as we move along.
 4.

ZONAL DIRECTOR (ZD) KRISHNAN is 38, A man with moustache

and an air that an IRS pass out has. He seems polite and
calm in his approach.

ZD KRISHNAN
Ah. Yes. There are certain issues
I need to clear. In fact aaj
Headquarters se phone aaya tha
abhi.
(turn his diary
around)
Tumhare attitude se yahan sabko
problem hai.

He is directly addressing the only female Investigating

Officer (IO) of NCB Bombay - BRINDA SAWHNEY - 29, bright
and good looking. To her detractors she seems to radiate
a sense a entitlement. She doesn't take criticism well
and shows an arrogant streak at odd times. All the right
ingredients for an officer. All the wrong ingredients
when the officer happens to be a woman.

BRINDA
Aur kaam se kisi ko khushi nahin
hai.

KRISHNAN
Kaam yahan sab karte hain.

BRINDA
Lekin mere kaam mein Mukherjee
sahab taang ada rahe the. Inhone
Medichem Ltd. ko unwarranted advise
di mere summons ke against.

SHYAMLAL MUKHERJEE, 35 and politic, is also an IO with

NCB, Bombay.

MUKHERJEE
Dekhi sir aapne inki language.

KRISHNAN
Tum yahan aath mahinon se ho -
Mukherjee yahan chaar saloon se
hai.

BRINDA
Yehi toh Mukherjee sahab ko bura
lagta hai - mujhe aath mahino mein
hi Acetic Anyhydrite charge mil
gaya. Jo charge mere aane se pehle
Mukherjee sahab ke paas tha.

Krishnan smiles and looks sideways at Superintendent USMAAN

ALI MALIK.

Usmaan is 42 and has been catching criminals all his adult

life and is equally at home in the courts and on the
streets. A methodical and meticulous veteran believes in
keeping copious files, exhuming old crimes and sparking
new inquiries.
 5.

He patiently wears the criminals down like water wears

down a rock

Usmaan do not shares a smile with Krishnan, but instead

nods politely. Krishnan looks back at Brinda.

KRISHNAN
Medichem Ltd. walon ne harrassment
ka complaint kiya. Direct to Delhi.
Tumhe apni safai mein kuch kehna
hai?

BRINDA
(flatly)
Mujhe field intelligence mila tha
ki Medichem Ltd. is diverting
Acetic Anhydrite chemical to drug
traffickers of Madhya Pradesh.
(looks at Mukherjee)
Maine unka stock check kiya. Jo
tally nahin hua. Isiliye maine
summon issue kiya tha - unhe yahan
aake explain karne ke liye. Lekin
jab unka manager yahan aaya tab
Mukherjee sahab ne unke saamne
mujhe kaha ki mujhe summon issue
nahin karna chahiye tha.

MUKHERJEE
Brindaji jhoot bol rahi hain sir.

BRINDA
Sach boloon.

INT. CAR -- MORNING

Talking to each other are two men, but there eyes are
trained at something across the windscreen. WE HEAR sea
waves and gulls faintly.

KARTIK
Kya lagta hai? bach payegi?

MAHENDRA
Aise kaam karegi toh kaise bachegi.

The first one to speak is KARTIK SHARMA, 32, an IO with

NCB, Bombay who hates turf building and credit grabbing
that are part of any bureaucracy. He refuses to play
politics and humor those who do.

KARTIK
Tujhe ab bhi uspe shak hai?

MAHENDRA
(shakes his head)
Information pakki hai - uski
kartooton ki.

The man replying is MAHENDRA, 30. He too is an IO with

NCB, Bombay.
 6.

The man is ideally suited to be a street cop. A giant of

a man, broad shouldered and washboard trim, he projected
confidence that he could handle himself in any situation.
He must have grown up as a sullen kid full of pent up
anger who had had to fight for respect on a daily basis.

KARTIK
Kabhi-kabhi main samajh nahin
paata - tu itni khaar kyun khata
hai us-se.

Mahendra looks at Kartik. A fog horn blows from a ferry

somewhere in the background.

MAHENDRA
Kiski baat kar raha hai?

KARTIK
Brinda ki - aaj ki inquiry ki -
kyun?

MAHENDRA
Mujhe laga uski baat kar raha hai -
jiske inetzaar mein hum yahan
baithe hain.

KARTIK
Uski kya baat karni. Woh aayegi.
Hum pakad lenge.

Mahendra looks back at where he was looking.

P.O.V. FERRY WHARF AND ARABIAN SEA ACROSS -- MORNING

A ferry slowly cruises up the harbour.

MAHENDRA (O.S.)
Brinda ki bhi kya baat karni.
Kal jaati hai - aaj jaye - meri
bala se.

ANGLE ON Windscreen: Reflection of waterfront and the

ferry.

SHIFT FOCUS to see Mahendra and Kartik's face behind the

windscreen.

The car door opens. Mahendra gets down and closes the
door. Kartik turns the car and drives away.

Mahendra walks along the harbour past the crowd on the

wharf.

EXT. FERRY WHARF. ANOTHER SIDE -- MORNING

Kartik slowly drives the car. He adjusts his sideview

mirror and sees Mahendra walking away.

He parks the car at a specific spot from where he can see

the reflection of the water front in his rearview mirror.
The ferry has come to the harbour.
 7.

EXT. FERRY WHARF. ANOTHER SIDE -- CONTINUOUS

A MAN throws a rope on the harbour. ANOTHER MAN ties it

to a hook. It looks like a commercial boat with stuff
loaded on it. The workers on the boat are a mix of locals
and Africans totaling about 6. The boat is loaded with
10-12 boxes.

Mahendra moves into a position from where he can see the

disembarking workers. There's AN AFRICAN WOMAN along
with AN AFRICAN BOY of about 19. The woman seems to be
the supervisor.

Kartik sees the disembarking workers in his sideview

mirror.

One of the workers gets off the ferry and looks around.
Mahendra gives a signal to Kartik as the men start
unloading the stuff.

Kartik catches the signal in the reflection and gets off

the car.

Mahendra starts walking towards the ferry as he sees Kartik

getting off the car.

Kartik jumps on to a harboured boat, then jumps on to

another and another. He's hopping towards the ferry too.

Mahendra hooks a cigarette in his mouth and walks up to

one of the African workers. He pats the man on the
shoulder. The man looks at Mahendra. Mahendra makes a
sign 'light?'

The man takes out a matchbox from his pocket and holds it
out for Mahendra.

Mahendra snaps handcuffs on the man's wrist. And before

the man could react Mahendra snaps the other end of the
cuffs into the hook where rope is tied.

There is a slight panic in the crowd as they notice it.

The other workers think of reacting but next thing they

see is the African woman screaming. Kartik has jumped on
to the ferry and has handcuffed her. He puts the other
end of the cuffs on to the young boy.

The remaining three break into a run. Mahendra leaps on

top of one of them and throws him onto the ground.

KARTIK
(calling out)
Mahendra!

Mahendra looks at Kartik. Kartik throws another pairs of

handcuffs at him. Mahendra catches the handcuffs and
pulling the guys arm behind, he snaps it around his wrist.

He then gets up and starts running after the other two.

 8.

They've ran quite away from where Mahendra is.

Mahendra breaks his run and goes into a different

direction. He jumps across the railing.

The two workers run towards the gate that leads to the
exit from the Ferry Wharf towards main road. They
desperately look behind. They don't see Mahendra on their
trail.

EXT. FERRY WHARF. ANOTHER SIDE -- CONTINUOUS

Mahendra opens the car door. Kartik has left the key
into ignition. Mahendra starts the car instantly and
whoosh he goes to the exit.

As he drives out of the spot into the open he sees -

The two men come running out. Mahendra brakes the car
right in front of them and opens the door immediately.

The car door hits one of the running men in his face.
The man falls. The other runs. Mahendra gets out of the
car and jumps over the bonnet.

He starts chasing the running man. The man runs a away

faster. Within his run Mahendra picks up a heavy iron
rod from an idling boat.

He throws it with the full force at the running man.

Bulls eye. The man falls flat on his face.

INT. NCB BOMBAY OFFICE. ZONAL DIRECTOR'S ROOM -- DAY

Usmaan's eyes dart back and forth on the faces around.

KRISHNAN (O.S.)
Tumne Usmaan sahab ko inform kiya
tha summons ke baare mein?

BRINDA (O.S.)
Karne waali thi sir. Uss Manager
ka statement record karne ke baad.

Krishnan looks at Usmaan. Serious.

Brinda looks at Usmaan. Mukherjee's eyes move around

nervously.

KRISHNAN
Matlab summones issue larne se
pehle inform nahin kiya tha.

BRINDA
Agar main zyada wait karti toh
Acetic Anydrite ka stock unki
factory se nikal jaata.
 9.

KRISHNAN
Usmaan sahab - aap kuch kahen?
What's your opinion?

USMAAN
Aapne jab Brinda ko AA charge
diya tha - tab aapne kaha tha ki
iski saari dealing aapke aur Brinda
ke beech direct rahegi.

KRISHNAN
Kaha tha - par mera yeh matlab
nahin tha ki department mein koi
aur apni opinion nahi de sakta.
Agar Mukerjee ne Brinda ko Medichem
ke summons ke baare mein guide
karne ki koshish ki toh kya galat
kiya.

Brinda gives a helpless look to Usmaan. Usmaan's face

reveals nothing.

BRINDA
(to Krishnan)
Mukherjee sahab toh mujhe apne
bedroom ki taraf guide kar rahe
the.

KRISHNAN
What?

MUKHERJEE
Jhoot...

USMAAN
Sach hai sir - unfortunately.

KRISHNAN
Aapko pata tha iss baare mein?

Usmaan nods.

KRISHNAN (CONT'D)
(to Mukherjee)
Toh isiliye tumne Brinda ke against
iss matter mein complain ki thi.
(to Brinda)
Tumne mujhe complaint kyun nahin
kiya?

USMAAN
Maine mana kiya tha sir. Khamkhan
department ka naam kharab hota.

KRISHNAN
Ab karna chahti ho?

Brinda looks at Usmaan and then shakes her head 'no.'

Krishnan looks at Mukherjee, the latter mumbles something

inaudible.
 10.

KRISHNAN (CONT'D)
(to Usmaan)
Aur bina official complaint ke
main kya action loon?

Usmaan is quiet.

So is Brinda.

Krishnan leans back, resting himself against the comfort

of the sofa cushion.

KRISHNAN (CONT'D)
Theek hai then - mere paas jis
matter ka complaint hai main us-
se deal karta hoon.
(to Brinda)
Main AA Charge tumse le raha hoon.
You showed no regard for the
paperwork. Summons issue karne
se pehle inform na karke tumne
laparvahi ki.

Brinda's face is stone. Her eyes are directly interlocked

with Krishnan's.

KRISHNAN (CONT'D)
Till further inquiry you can
continue with your regular IO
duties.

Brinda nods.

BRINDA
Yes sir.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. MAIN HALL -- DAY

The main hall gives us an idea about the building outside -

an Old Victorian structure somewhere in Ballard Pier.

On the inside it's a huge hall with high ceiling and bare
minimum furniture - six seven cheap working desks and
chairs, around same number of steel cupboards and no piles
of files around. In the middle of a hall, a room has
been made by wooden partitions - the Superintendent's
cabin. And in a far end of the hall there is another
room - Y Cell.

We are somewhere on the third floor. The huge iron gate

is unlocked by the sentry to let Mahendra and Kartik in.
They have brought the fresh arrests four workers along
with the African woman and the 19 year old African boy.

After they enter, the sentry locks the gate while Mahendra
and Kartik walk into the main hall along with the arrested
culprits.

From Zonal Director's room Brinda walks out furiously.

Mahendra eyes catch her first and then Kartik's follow.
 11.

MAHENDRA
(calling out)
Miss Malabar Hill.

Brinda stops midway and looks at Mahendra. Notices the

people they have brought in, including a woman and a few
packs of Cocaine.

Brinda walks up to them.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
(hiding his grin)
Meet Miss Lily urf Tina urf...

KARTIK
Julie...

MAHENDRA
Jul...

Mahendra gives a look to Kartik. Kartik looks away to

hide his smile.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
(suddenly sobered;
to Brinda)
30 kilo Charlie kahin chupaya hua
hai inhone. 3-4 packet mile hain.
Baaki kahan hai poochna hai.

Brinda nods. Mahendra looks at the African woman.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
(to woman)
You - she. Ladies only talk.
Ok!

Before the African could even try to decipher Mahendra's

English, Brinda grabs her arm and leads her to -

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY

The African Woman sits on a stool. At the opposite end

of the table sits the young boy. Mahendra hovers over
boy's head, making him nervous.

Brinda is sitting next to the woman on a stool.

BRINDA
What is your real name?

AFRICAN WOMAN
Lily.

BRINDA
Why do they call you Lily?

AFRICAN WOMAN
My mother's house in Nigeria had
a Lily bush. I got that name as
a kid.
 12.

MAHENDRA
Iski autobiography nahin - ye
pooch maal kahan hai.

The woman looks nervously at Mahendra. He looks bordering

on the verge of violence.

BRINDA
(not distracted)
What is your real name?

Brinda's voice pulls the woman's eyes back to her, away

from Mahendra.

AFRICAN WOMAN
Lily Rosa...

Mahendra violently slaps the boy. The boy starts sobbing.

The woman tries to reach the boy, Brinda plus her back
firmly and makes her sit again.

BRINDA
Are you employed Lily?

MAHENDRA
Kitaab likhni hai kya iski life
pe?

AFRICAN WOMAN
(sobbing)
No. I used to work as a waitress.

BRINDA
What kind of food you used to
cook?

Mahendra kicks the stool. The boy falls on the floor and
starts to cry.

BRINDA (CONT'D)
(it Mahendra)
Will you stop it?

MAHENDRA
Arre you stop. Maal kahin ka
kahin chala jayega itni der mein.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. MAIN HALL -- DAY

Usmaan comes out of Krishnan's cabin. He sees Kartik.

As Kartik sees Usmaan he straightens his posture.

USMAAN
Kya hua? Mili?

KARTIK
Haan sir. 30 kilo ki khabar
confirm hai. Abhi toh yeh mila
hai.
 13.

Kartik points at the Cocaine packets that he was in the

middle of recording and sealing.

KARTIK (CONT'D)
Baaki batayegi.

USMAAN
Mahedra question kar raha hai?

Kartik nods.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Good. Brinda ko dekha?

KARTIK
(bit surprised at
the question)
Andar hai. Mahendra ke saath.
Uss aurat ko wohi interrogate kar
rahi hai.

USMAAN
Oh!

KARTIK
Kya hua sir?

USMAAN
Bad timing. ZD just took the AA
Charge from her.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY

The boy is back on the stool, crying. At the opposite

end of the table Brinda leans closer to the woman.

BRINDA
We want to know where the drugs
are?

AFRICAN WOMAN
(sobbing)
What makes you think that I know
anything

BRINDA
Some people told us.

AFRICAN WOMAN
(sobbing)
Like who?

MAHENDRA
Interrogation iska ho raha hai ki
hamara?

BRINDA
(to woman)
We can't tell you that.
 14.

AFRICAN WOMAN
Let my brother go first.

BRINDA
We can't. We have evidence against
both of you. If you have any
knowledge now is the time to give
it to us.

AFRICAN WOMAN
Give me guarantee that you will
let my brother go if I told you
something.

MAHENDRA
Teri toh...

Mahendra walks towards the woman in a threatening manner

about to grab her arm.

BRINDA
Mahendra!

She stops Mahendra hand.

She look him directly in the eye. He looks too.

MAHENDRA
Main jaanta hoon ki ye consignment
ke baare mein jaanti hai.

BRINDA
Toh kya - iss aurat pe haath uthoge
tum?

Beat.

MAHENDRA
Crime aur police - dono mardon ki
field hain. Aurtein ghusengi toh
pitengi. Ye aurton ko ghusne se
pehle samajh lena chahiye.

They are both staring at each other. The Africans have

stopped crying and are staring at the two of them.

Brinda turns away and walks out of the room. Mahendra

wipes the sweat off his brow. He goes and sits down next
to the boy. The boy shrinks.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
(softly)
Paani piyega? Water? Haan?

INT. NCB BOMBAY. MAIN HALL -- DAY

Brinda walks down to the main door. Usmaan from his cabin
and Kartik from his desk notice her.

The sentry opens the gate for her. She is out. Usmaan
and Kartik exchange looks.
 15.

Usmaan gets out of his cabin and walks to one of the

windows.

P.O.V. STREET BELOW -- DAY

Brinda is getting into her car.

Usmaan turns away from window. The door opens and Mahendra
steps out of the interrogation room.

MAHENDRA
Consignment ka pata chal gaya
sir.

Usmaan nods.

USMAAN
Us-se zyada chot toh nahin?

MAHENDRA
Nahin sir. Chal-phir raha hai.
Aap kaho toh hansne ko boloon us-
se.

Usmaan puts on a smile and walks away.

EXT. MARINE DRIVE. -- LATER

Brinda gets off her car. Slams the door shut and sits on
the bonnet. Her one leg on the road and another propped
on the mudguard.

Framed against the calm sea and relatively empty promenade

she seems quite in contrast. A peanut vendor walks up to
her.

PEANUT VENDOR
Seeng madam?

BRINDA
(pissed)
Gaye ke hain ya bhains ke?

PEANUT VENDOR
Gadhe ke sar ke hain. Khane hain -
paanch rupaye mein?

BRINDA
Khila bhi sakti hoon. Khayega?

She says giving a look to the vendor. The vendor makes a

face as if saying 'asshole.'

Brinda's mobile phone beeps. It draws her attention.

The vendor exits.

BRINDA (CONT'D)
(on phone)
Yes sir.
 16.

USMAAN'S VOICE
Kahan ho?

Beat.

BRINDA
(on phone)
Marine Drive sir.

USMAAN'S VOICE
Main aa raha hoon.

Beat.

BRINDA
Ji.

The call gets cut. Brinda replaces the phone in her pocket
and walks up to the edge, looking over at Arabian Sea.

KARTIK (V.O.)
Agar uska tareeka pasand nahin
toh bulaya hi kyun tha Brinda ko?

INT. PRABHAT SHIP REPAIRERS -- DAY

Welders are cutting open the bottom of a boat. Sparks

fly. Mahendra and Kartik are seen in the background.

MAHENDRA
Uske tareekon ke liye nahin bulaya
tha us-se. Supreme Court ne
majboor kar rakha hai - female
criminals ke liye female officers -
isliye bulaya tha. Aur upar se
Usmaan sahab ne alga sar chada
rakha hai madam ko.

Kartik looks at Mahendra.

KARTIK
Tune sach mein usko yeh bola ki
underworld aur police mardon ki
field hai.

MAHENDRA
Haan. Main kya darta hoon us-se.

KARTIK
Nahin. Bas yeh kabhi Julie ke
saamne mat bolna.

Mahendra almost jumps. This seems to be an itching nerve.

MAHENDRA
Tu phir...subah bhi tune...

KARTIK
(changing topic)
Woh dekh... ho gaya almost...
 17.

The welding torch goes off. The workers start breaking

the metal with cutters and hammers. Mahendra moves closer
to take a look.

Kartik steps up behind him.

The metal cracks. Concealed neatly in the hull are packs

of cut Columbian cocaine. All 30 kilos of it. Mahendra
claps his hands excitedly and then lifts up a pack and
holds it out for Kartik to see.

MAHENDRA
Dikha diya partner.

KARTIK
(smiles)
Ab court mein dekhte hain kya
hota hai..

MAHENDRA
Court mein kya hoga - Miss Lily
aur uske saathi sab jayenge Arthur
Road.

Kartik nods.

KARTIK
Brinda ke chale jaane ke pehle
uske sign liye the na - panchname
pe.

This wipes off Mahendra's smile. He drops the pack where

he picked it from and shakes his head 'no.'

KARTIK (CONT'D)
Toh phir defense lawyer sabse
pehle panchnama dekhega aur bolega
ki Lily ki questioning mein koi
lady officer present nahin thi.

Mahendra, looking down, nods 'yes.'

KARTIK (CONT'D)
Isliye Brinda ke sign lene zaroori
hain...

Mahendra nods 'yes.'

KARTIK (CONT'D)
Aur uske liye Brinda ko 'sorry'
bolna bhi zaroori hai...

Mahendra nods 'yes.'

KARTIK (CONT'D)
(nods)
Good.
 18.

EXT. MARINE DRIVE. -- LATER

Brinda is standing by the promenade. Usmaan gets off his

car and shuts the door. They both look at each other.
Usmaan smiles.

USMAAN
Achcha hua tum zyada aagey nahin
nikal gayi - varna pakadna mushkil
ho jaata.

She walks up to him. He walks up to her.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Gussa thanda hua?

He seems more like an elder now and not superintendent

and she seems more like a child and not an officer. Once
in a while we will see this side of her.

She lowers her head shakes 'no.'

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Kuch khaya?

She nods 'yes' and then takes out some peanuts wrapped in
a paper from her pocket.

BRINDA
Bhook lagi thi aur mungfali wala
baar-baar aa raha tha.
Mujhse...raha nahi gaya...

USMAAN
Bhook toh mujhe bhi lagi hai -
saath lunch karen?

She smiles and nods.

INT. JAZZ BY THE BAY -- AFTERNOON

The conversation happens over lunch.

BRINDA
...Problem yeh hai sir ki hum log
paperwork mein phanse reh jaate
hain aur criminals apna kaam karke
nikal jaate hain...unhe files nahin
banani padti na..

USMAAN
Toh tum bhi koi gang join kar
lo...NCB chodd ke..

Brinda looks down.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Drugs - karodon ka business hai.
(MORE)
 19.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Upar se lekar neeche tak log
involved hain - kuch countries ki
toh poori economy ispe chati hai
aur kuch countries jaise Pakistan -
unke yahan pal rahe terrorist groups
ko drug smuggling se kamaye paison
se fund karte hain.

BRINDA
Itna mushkil hai isiliye toh NCB
join kiya hai maine.

USMAAN
Jitna mushkil tum samajhti ho
utna nahin hai...

Brinda looks at Usmaan.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
...Us-se kahin zyada hai.

Beat.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Gangsters aur unke political
connections pehle hi hamara kaam
mushkil kar dete hain. Phir
organizations like ANC and DRI
jinhe hamari tarah sarkar se utni
hi funding milti hai jitne
criminals ko pakad ke woh filen
bharte hain. Billi-billi ki ladai
mein bandar roti lekar bhaag jaati
hai.

He looks straight at her.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Aur in sabse badi problem - NCB
ke apne I.O.s mein ego clashes -
jhagde.

She looks down.

BRINDA
Mujhe kabhi-kabhi gussa aa jata
hai sir.

USMAAN
Sab fayada uthayenge - tumhare
iss gusse ka.

BRINDA
I'm sorry sir.

USMAAN
Mujhe nahin. Office chalkar
Krishnan ko bolna.

She nods.
 20.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
And after that mere cabin mein.
Important briefing hai.

EXT. OUTSIDE ANSARI'S BUILDING IN AGARIPADA -- AFTERNOON

The building is like any low-profile building in Agaripada.

A HUGE CHANNEL GATE blocks free entrance and a tough
looking guard sits at the gate.

A CAR stops in front of the building. TWO LAWYERS get

off the car. DAYAL BABU, 62, serious and businesslike
and SHANKAR PATIL, 27, and nervous. They seem to be
returning after day's work at the court as they are still
in their white shirts and pants.

Both of them carry a bunch of files in their hands. A

bag is hanging on Shankar's shoulder.

The guard opens the gate for them.

INT. ANSARI'S BUILDING IN AGARIPADA. STAIRWAY -- AFTERNOON

Dayal and Shankar start climbing the stairs. At every

floor a CCTV camera looks at them. The CCTV fittings
look quite out of place for this low profile building.

The doors and every floor open and shut on their own,
repeatedly.

SHANKAR
Ye...ye kya ho raha hai sir.

DAYAL
Darwaza khul raha hai aur bandh
ho raha hai.

Again the same thing happens. Shankar is almost freaking

out.

INT. ROOM. ANSARI'S HOUSE -- AFTERNOON

They finally reach a room. Quite tastefully done but

looks like home. The door closes behind them again.

On the wall few TV screens show the what CCTV cameras all
over the building are seeing. Then the TV screens go off
as A HAND presses the remote control button.

We see the man NAVED AHMED ANSARI as he gets up. A lean

man of 38 with an aura of intensity that shrank the space
around him. He owns the most piercing pair of eyes.

Ansari extends his hand. Dayal takes it.

DAYAL
Kaise ho?

ANSARI
Bikul theek. Aap sunaiye.
 21.

Shankar walks up to them nervously. Ansari looks at him

skeptically.

DAYAL
Mera naya assistant hai - Shankar.
Pichle hafte hi join kiya.

Ansri nods and offers them to sit. Shankar sits, but his
eyes are all over the room.

DAYAL (CONT'D)
(noticing)
Shankar!

Shankar turns to his boss abruptly.

DAYAL (CONT'D)
Papers.

Fidgety Shankar opens the bag that he's been carrying and
pulls some papers out of it. As the papers come out of
the bag, Dayal almost snatches them from his hand.

DAYAL (CONT'D)
Kitna time laga rahe ho.

ANSARI
(to Shankar)
Aap thanda lenge ya garam.

Shankar opens his mouth but -

DAYAL
(to Ansari)
Nahin hum bas niklenge.

He puts the papers in front of Ansari.

DAYAL (CONT'D)
Zubeida se yeh papers sign karva
do - jo share uske naam par hain
unka bhav badha hua hai. Bech
dete hain.

Ansari lifts an intercom and presses a button.

ANSARI
(on intercom)
Haan andar aana zara.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. SUPERINTENDENT'S CABIN -- AFTERNOON

In the small cabin Usmaan is sitting on his chair. A

bunch of files are open on his table with some photographs.

I.O.s are huddled in whatever space they can find, few

sitting and some standing or perched up against the wall
or the filing cabinet. Brinda, Mahendra and Kartik are
present.

Usmaan opens a file and takes a photograph out.

 22.

USMAAN
Naved Ahmed Ansari. Umar 35 se
40 ke beech hogi. Photo phata
hua hai aur kaafi purana hai -
isliye shakal pe mat jaana.

He hands the photo to the nearest I.O. The photo is HALF

TORN.

As the photo will pass hands we will see that it's Naved
Ansari's photo in his early twenties with an unseen man's
hand on his shoulder.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Bombay mein aane waale ya Bombay
se pass hone wail Cocaine, Charas,
Ganja, Heroin, Mandrax ka 80
percent business Ansari aur uske
aadmi karte hain.

Usmaan places a map on the table - specific locations

highlighted in green ink.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Harbour Line aur uske aas-paas ka
ilaka iska gadh hai. Ansari ke
zyadatar godowns, iske aadmiyon
ke ghar , sab idhar hain.

Usmaan runs his finger in circle over the map. All the
I.O.s are looking at Usmaan with full concentration.

MAHENDRA
Toh kab raid karna hai sir.

USMAAAN
Kahan raid karoge?

MAHENDRA
Iske aadmiyon ke ghar aur iske
godowns pe.

USMAAN
Number 1 - iske zyadatar godowns
ki exact location humien pata
nahin hai. Number 2 - in areas
mein iske kaam karne waale itne
hain agar unhone soongh bhi liya
ki hum surveillance kar rahe hain
toh raaton-raat godown change kar
denge.
(looks at all of
them)
Aur sabse zaroori baat - Iske ek
do consignment ya do-chaar godowns
hum kabhi bhi bust kar sakte hain.
But an organization like Ansari's
can survive almost anything.
Almost anything. Except a direct
hit on the man himself.
 23.

INT. ROOM. ANSARI'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER

Ansari's wife ZUBEIDA ANSARI, 32, simple and somewhat

pretty enters the room with A KID of about 7.

ANSARI
(handing her the
papers)
Ye wakeel sahab ne jahan-jahan
nishaan lagaya hai wahan sign kar
do.

Zubeida takes the papers and moves to a table. The kid

comes over to Ansari and starts jumping on the sofa.

ANSARI (CONT'D)
(to kid)
Aap kya kar rahe the?

KID
Homework.

ANSARI
Toh jaake khatam karo apna
homework.

KID
(jumping)
Mummy ke saath jaaonga.

ANSARI
Ye ammi se mummy pe kab aa gaye
aap.

KID
Teacher ne sikhaya.

Ansari pulls him in his lap.

ANSARI
Yeh do-do uncle baithe hain yahan -
inko 'adaab' bola aapne.

Kid for the first time pays any attention to both the
lawyers.

ANSARI (CONT'D)
Chalo - 'adaab' bolo.

The kid feels shy as Shankar tries to smile at him. Dayal

Babu is largely unaffected.

The kid hides his face in his father's chest and -

KID
(to his father's
chest)
Adaab.
 24.

ANSARI
(chuckles)
Yahan nahin - udhar dekh ke bolo.

The kid turns a bit towards the lawyers.

KID
(quickly)
Adaab.

And then turns back to his father.

Zubeida comes back with the papers and hands them to Dayal
Babu who scrutinizes them.

DAYAL
Theek hai.

ANSARI
Lo andar le jaao ise.

Zubeida extends her hand to take kid's arm.

KID
(to Ansari)
Nahin - main aapke paas.

Ansari gives him a strict look. The kid automatically

gives his arm to Zubeida.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. SUPERINTENDENT'S CABIN -- LATER

Usmaan is passing around some old newspaper cuttings and

old documents from files that have turned yellow and
brittle.

USMAAN
Ye sab Ansari ke purane records
hain. Ansari ne 80s mein imported
electronics or readymade kapdon ki
smuggling se apna career shuru
kiya tha. Phir woh imported cars
ki chori par pahuncha.

Usmaan pours a glass of water for himself. He's been

talking for more than an hour.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Lekin 95 ke baad he dropped out
of sight. Police aur Customs
files mein 1995 ke baad uske kisi
activity ka koi record nahin hai.

BRINDA
Meaning?

USMAAN
1995 mein Narsimha Rao government
ki open door policy ke baad smuggled
electronics aur garments ki market
(MORE)
 25.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
kahtam ho gayi. Drugs was the
next profitable commodity. Ansari
ne apne purane dhande bandh kiye.
Uski files bandh ho gayi.

KARTIK
Aur uske naye dhande?

USMAAN
Woh shuru karne se pehle usne ek
workforce banaya...

Usmaan starts to draw a chart.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Managers, pushers, enforcers.
Saara business woh inhi workers
ke through chalata hai.

KARTIK
Darta nahin hai - ye Ansari - ki
kahin kisi din iska koi worker ya
manager saara dhanda na samet le.

USMAAN
Koi kaise sametega - us-se maal
bechne waale yeh nahin jaante ki
woh aagey kahan bechta hai. Aur
us-se khareedne wale ye nahin
jaante ki woh kiss-se khareedta
hai.

BRINDA
Any white collar crime sir? Koi
income tax ka case - ya koi do
number ki property dealing.

Usmaan smiles.

USMAAN
You'd be surprised. Uske naam pe
koi makaan - koi car ya scooter
tak nahin hai. Not even a savings
Account. Hai sab-kuch par doosron
ke naam pe. Isliye uska koi legal
record bhi nahin hai. Woh aur
uski family ka koi bhi shaks drugs
ke aas-paas bhi nahin jaata. Koi
direct delivery mein involve nahin
hota tha.

MAHENDRA
'Tha' matlab?

Usmaan opens another file.

USMAAN
Kal rata ek major breakthrough
hua.
(MORE)
 26.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Ansari ka chota bhai Wasim kal
rata ek delivery dete hue pakda
gaya.

There is a sudden murmur in the room. Excitement.

I.O. 4
Kisne pakda sir?

USMAAN
(smiles)
Tumhare sautele bhai. Mumbai
Police. Anti-Narcotics Cell.

Audible groans come from all present.

INT. ROOM. ANSARI'S HOUSE -- LATER

Dayal is furious.

DAYAL
Maine pachaas baar mana kiya hai
ki delivery lene ya dene khud mat
jaya karo. Lekin yahan toh sab
hero hain na. Wasim maal ke saath
pakda gaya hai.

ANSARI
Aap mil kar aaye us-se? Kaisa
hai?

DAYAL
Theek hai. Aur woh ladka kya
naam hai uska...

ANSARI
Rajesh.

DAYAL
Haan - woh kaafi dara hua hai.

ANSARI
Abhi kitna wakt aur lagega Wasim
ki bail mein.

DAYAL
Dekhte hain.

Ansari goes to his table and takes out a two bundles of

500 rupee notes and hands them one by one to Dayal.

ANSARI
Yeh aapke liye. Aur yeh kisi ko
khilana-pilana ho andar toh uske
liye. Dekhna Wasim ko koi takleef
na ho andar.

Dayal takes both the bundles and gestures Shankar to put

them in his bag. Shankar complies.
 27.

DAYAL
Wasim ko takleef tabhi ho sakti
hai agar usne kuch bola. Ya phir
agar Rajesh ne munh khola.

Ansari looks at Dayal.

DAYAL (CONT'D)
Hum log chalte hain. Khayal
rakhna.

Ansari nods.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. SUPERINTENDENT'S CABIN -- LATE NOON

Usmaan is tired of sitting. He stands up and stretches

his back.

He drops the last photograph on the table. Looks like a

posh bungalow.

MAHENDRA
(re: the photo)
Aur yeh woh resort jahan hum sab
chutti pe jayenge - Ansari ko
pakadne ke baad.

USMAAN
Done. Lekin ticket ka kharcha
tumhara. Waise yeh bungalow
Khandala mein nahin Karachi mein
hai.

KARTIK
Kiska hai?

USMAAN
Hai toh kisi Ali Hassan Iqbal ke
naam pe lekin khabar hai ki Ansari
ka hai.

Everybody struggles to get the point. They all look at

Usmaan.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Ansari ne India chodd ke jaane ka
plan bana liya hai. Woh Karachi
shift hone wala hai. Aur ek baar
woh wahan chala gaya phir koi
extradition treaty us-se yahan
ghaseet kar nahin laa sakti.

BRINDA
Kitna time hai hamare paas?

USMAAN
Jab tak Wasim andar hai tab-tak.
Ansari apne bhai ko chodd ke kahin
nahin jayega. Brinda. Mahendra.

They both look up.

 28.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Mujhe kal Wasim. Uska saathi
Rajesh. Dono yahan chahiye.

He picks up an envelope. Mahendra almost extends his

hand to take it. But Usmaan already places it in Brinda's
hand.

USMAAN (CONT'D)
ANC mein koi inspector choon-chaan
kare toh ye orders ki copy dikha
dena. Wasim aur Rajesh ki custody
officially NCB take over kar raha
hai.
(he looks at all)
Everybody. Clear?

They all nod. Some murmur 'yes.'

USMAAN (CONT'D)
Good. Let's start with Wasim and
Rajesh and get Ansari soon.

All I.O.s slowly head out of the cabin.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. OUTSIDE SUPERINTENDENT'S CABIN --

CONTINUOUS

As Brinda steps out, Mahendra follows her.

MAHENDRA
Unn...Brinda...ek minute...

She stops. Turns

Mahendra walks up to her with a register. As Kartik passes

them he slaps Mahendra's shoulder and mutters 'good luck.'

Mahendra feels awkward.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
(re:register)
Yeh...woh...Miss Lily ka panchnama
hai...sign kar do...

She looks at the register but do not touches it.

BRINDA
Par main toh poore questioning
mein thi nahin. Na mere saamne
usne statment diya.

MAHENDRA
Mere saamne diya - tumhare saamne
diya - ek hi baat hai.

BRINDA
Toh phir maine sign kiya tumne
sign kiya - ek hi baat hai.
 29.

MAHENDRA
Ek baat nahin hai - tum jaanti
ho.

BRINDA
Main jaanti hoon - lekin tum bhool
jate ho. Ab bhugto.

MAHENDRA
Kya bulwana chahti ho mujhse?
'Sorry' ya 'please?'

BRINDA
Actually dono.

MAHENDRA
Ok. I'm sorry. Please sign kar
do.

BRINDA
Good. Kal Crime Branch mein milte
hain.

She holds up the envelope that Usmaan had handed her.

BRINDA (CONT'D)
Wasim ki custody ke liye.

She walks away. On her way she winks at Kartik, unnoticed

by Mahendra.

Mahendra curses under his breath as she walks out of the

gate.

EXT. NAVY CLUB. TENNIS COURT -- EVENING

TWO MEN of about 60 are playing tennis. A crowd comprising

of more 55-60 years old are watching and applauding GOOD-
SHOT.

A WOMAN of about same age is sitting in a chair a little

away from the court, watching the match. The age has
wrinkled her face but has not able to take the charm and
authority away.

Brinda walks up to her. The woman looks up and smiles.

BRINDA
Hi mom.

She sits down taking the next chair. They both see the
two men playing.

BRINDA (CONT'D)
(re: scoreboard)
Mr. Sawhney jeet rahe hain.

BRINDA'S MOTHER
Hamesha ki tarah.

Brinda nods.
 30.

BRINDA
Aur main aaj haar ke aayi hoon -
hamehsa ki tarah.

The crowd cheers the winning man with applause as Brinda's

mother looks at her. She puts her hand on her daughter's
hand.

The winning man - Mr. Sawhney comes to Brinda and her

mom. He gets happier as he sees Brinda.

MR. SAWHNEY
Did you see my last shot? Did
you Brinda? Aaj phir haar gaya
Chaddha.

He comes closer. Brinda stands and kisses him.

BRINDA
I saw it dad. Wonderful.

They both sit down next to Mrs. Sawhney.

MR. SAWHNEY/BRINDA'S FATHER

It's all about the serve bete.
All about the serve. Match service
mein hi decide ho jaata hai.
(to his wife)
Mrs. Sawhney achcha hua aapne
Chaddha se shaadi nahin ki aapke
dad ke kehne pe.
(to Brinda)
Tere nana kaafi impressed the
Chaddha se academy mein. Aur
Chadda inpe kaafi fida tha. Isliye
jab bhi Chaddha ke against match
hota hai main teri mom ko saath
le aata hoon.

Mr. Sawheny laughs.

MRS. SAWHNEY
I knew from the start - that you've
been quite a manipulator Mr.
Sawhney.

MR. SAWHNEY
Mrs. Sawhney - everything is fair
in love and war. Aapko dekhte hi
Chaddha wants to win so badly
that he ends up losing it.

He laughs again. But stops as he notices Brinda's face.

MR. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

Tumhe kya hua?

Brinda just shakes her head 'nothing.' Mr. Sawhney looks

at his wife.
 31.

MR. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

Kya hua is-se?

BRINDA
I just wanted to win so badly.

INT. NCB BOMBAY. SUPERINTENDENT'S CABIN -- EVENING

Usmaan is alone inside the cabin. Through his cabin glass

wall we see that the lights in the main hall are out.

Everybody has left, except him.

He is putting all the papers back into the files that he

took out during the briefing. He's always been meticulous
with that kind of stuff. He's always been an obsessive
gatherer of information.

After putting the last paper he locks the file and on the
topmost sheet he fixes Ansari's half torn photograph.

He looks at the photo. There is a piece of paper in his

hand which we can't see properly yet.

And then his hand places the paper next to Ansari's photo.
The other torn half of the photo. The jigsaw completes.
The man standing next to young Ansari in the photo is
Usmaan.

Usmaan looks at the photo for what seems like an eternity.

USMAAN
(soft whisper)
I just want to win so badly against
you Ansari.

INT. ROOM. ANSARI'S HOUSE -- LATE EVENING

Ansari is sitting on sofa. He appears to be in deep

thought.

The man sitting opposite him is thinking too. This man

is RAJA, a year or two older than Ansari but lacking the
intense aura that Ansari has. He walks with the help of
a stick.

ANSARI
Wasim aur Rajesh dono saath khel
ke bade hue hain.

Ansari says almost to himself.

RAJA
(concerned)
Uski behen ka phir phone aaya
tha. Pooch rahi thi Rajesh kab
tak bahar aayega.

ANSARI
Main jaanta hoon uss ladke ko.
(MORE)
 32.

ANSARI (CONT'D)
Usme jigra nahin tha aise delivery
pe nikalne ka. Apne Wasim ne hi
baat daali hogi uske dimaag mein.

RAJA
(nods)
Woh jaise hi pata chala Wasim ko
driver aaj chutti pe hai - woh
khud hi nikal gaya delivery pe.
Na mujhse poocha. Na aapse.

ANSARI
Rajesh ki behen ko kya bola?

RAJA
Ek-do din mein ghar aa jayega.
Bas yahi.

ANSARI
Paise-waise ki kuch zaroorat hai
unko?

RAJA
Kuch bola nahin usne...

ANSARI
Bhijwa dena phir bhi...

Raja nods. He comes and places a hand on Ansari's

shoulder.

RAJA
Agar baat sambhal sakti toh yahan
tak nahin pahunchti. Aap dil
chota na karen.

Raja stands and holds his stick.

RAJA (CONT'D)
Main intezaam karke phone karta
hoon.

Ansari just nods, without even looking at Raja. Raja

exits.

EXT. NAVY CLUB. POOL SIDE -- LATE EVENING

The sun has lazily lowered itself into it's bathtub - the
sea. It's become dark except few colored streaks in the
sky.

By the pool side, overlooking the sea, Brinda is sitting

with her parents.

MR. SAWHNEY
Jab Mukherjee wala incident hua
tha - tumne mujhe ya apni mama ko
kyun nahin bataya?
 33.

MRS. SAWHNEY
(upset)
Apne office ke matters ye kabhi
share karti hai - aapse ya mujhse.

MR. SAWHNEY
Mrs. Sawhney please. Is wakt toh
na daantiye use.

He looks at Brinda.

MR. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

It's good ki tum apne matters
khud handle karna chahti ho without
giving any kind of pressure to me
or your mother. Lekin ghar inhi
sab baaton ke liye hota hai beta.
Baatein karne ke liye. Dukh-sukh
baantne ke liye.

Brinda nods slowly.

MRS. SAWHNEY
(still upset)
Aur woh bhi jab tak hum dono hain
hain. Jab nahin honge tab koi
nahin kahega kuch batane ke liye.

BRINDA
Mom please.

She takes her mother's hand and squeezes it.

BRINDA (CONT'D)
I'm sorry.

MR. SAWHNEY
Never be beta.

He says and gets up.

MR. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

Tum dono baitho. Main change
karke aata hoon.

He says pointing at his sweaty tennis shirt.

They both nod. Mr. Sawhney leaves. Brinda looks at her

mother.

BRINDA
I'm sorry mom.

MRS. SAWHNEY
It's ok.

She says pecking her daughter's cheeks.

MRS. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

In sab baaton mein main tujhe
good news dena toh bhool hi gayi.
 34.

Brinda looks at her mom. Sullenness gone from their faces.

MRS. SAWHNEY (CONT'D)

Pummy aunty ka phone aaya tha
Lucknow se. Rajni ka beta hua
hai.

BRINDA
Really. That' great.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Tu bhi ek baar phone kar lena.
Pummy ko achcha lagega. Aaj bhi
keh rahi thi ki Brinda aur Rajni
dono ek hi saal paida hue the...

BRINDA
Ghar chalkar call kar loongi.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Haan kar lena. Pummy mujhe aaj
bhi keh rahi thi - Brinda aur
Rajni dono ek hi saal paida hue
the...

BRINDA
Aapki medicines raaste se pick
karni hain na...

The mother looks at her daughter.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Yeh second time tune meri baat ko
beech mein kaata hai.

BRINDA
Maine bas topic change kiya hai -
dono baar.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Kyun?

BRINDA
Kyunki mujhe nahin baat karni iss
baare mein ma.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Mujhe karni hai. Tu aur Rajni.
Ek hi umar ke ho. Uska doosra
bachcha ho gaya hai aur tune abhi
tak shaadi bhi nahin ki.

BRINDA
Mujhe nahin karni shaadi mom. I
hate the bloody word 'marriage.'

MRS. SAWHNEY
Woh jinhe tu bahut bada hero maanti
hai na unhone ne bhi ki thi -
mere saath.
 35.

Brinda leans closer and hugs her mom.

BRINDA
Woh lucky the - unhe aap mil gaye.

She kisses her mom's cheek.

MRS. SAWHNEY
Mujhe behla mat.

Mrs. Sawhney says irritatingly wiping her cheek. Brinda

laughs.

Slowly their figures become silhouettes. The sun sets.

It goes dark.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. OUTSIDE CRIME BRANCH. CRAWFORD MARKET -- MORNING

Brinda and Mahendra get off their vehicle. And walk

towards -

INT. CRIME BRANCH. RECEPTION -- MORNING

- A certain reception. The wooden board above it says

Anti Narcotics Cell, Mumbai Police.

Brinda picks up the pen and makes the entry into the
register:

NAME INVESTIGATING OFFICER BRINDA

She is about to write + MAHEN...but then she cuts his

name out from next to hers and puts his name and rank in
the column below.

Mahendra gives her a look. She never looks at him.

FROM NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU

TO SEE INSPECTOR UMESH JAGDALE, ANC

As she scribbles the name:

MAHENDRA (O.S.)
Jagdale sahab.

INT. ANTI NARCOTICS CELL. OFFICE ROOM -- MORNING

Another office with minimal stuff and staff though the

presence of files is much more here than NCB. They are
overflowing out of every filing cabinet and on to each
desk.

PEON
Jagdale sahab toh aaye nahin abhi.
Aap kahan se?
 36.

MAHENDRA
Main Byculla se. Aur ye madam
Malabar Hill se. Problem hai?

Peon looks. The other officers stare knowing well where

these two are from.

Mahendra and Brinda seat themselves at the nearest chairs.

Their body language is condescending.

MAHENDRA (CONT'D)
Time pe nahin aate kya log yahan
pe?
(pointing at the
wall clock)
Sawa gyarah baj rahe hain - daftar
sunsaan pada hai.

SUB INSPECTOR 1
Aap logon ki tarah jaldi nahin
sote hum log. Kaam kya hai?

BRINDA
Woh toh jis-se hai usi ko
batayenge.
(looks at another
S.I.)
Kya Rao - mota ho gaya hai.
Execrice wagarah chalo nahin hai
tum logon ki?

SI RAO
Haathi ke daant hain madam - khaane
ke aur - dikhane ke aur. Agar
khaane ke daant dekhne hai toh
kabhi bhi do-do haath kar lena.

MAHENDRA
Doodh ke daant toh tote nahin
abhi tak tere Rao aur badi-badi
baatein karne lag gaya hai.

SUB INSPECTOR 1
Jab daant todne-tadne pe baat
aayegi tab dekha jayega kaun kiske
todta hai. Abhi hum hamara kaam
karte hain. Aap log Jagdale sahab
ko phone karke aana.

BRINDA
Musibat phone karke nahin aati.
Bas aa jaati hai.

The door opens and INSPECTOR UMESH JAGDALE enters. Jagdale

is about 35, a staunch dark Maharastrian - a believer in
politics of policing and a doubter of coincidence.

MAHENDRA
Lo - aa gayi.
 37.

Jagdale walks to his desk and takes his Ray Ban's off.
The officers in his office stand up or stand straight
depending upon their position as they see Jagdale entering.

Mahendra and Brinda do not even bother sit straight in

their chairs. Jagdale looks straight at them.

JAGDALE
Kyun aaye ho?

BRINDA
Aapko hello bolne?

JAGDALE
Hello. Hi. Ho gaya. Abhi wato.

BRINDA
(shrugs)
Theek hai. Wat-te hain.

She stands. Mahendra, not getting her move, but still

playing along, stands too.

She places THE ENVELOPE on Jagdale's desk, turns and walks

out. Mahendra follows.

Jagdale stares at the envelope lying on his desk.

The envelope has ministry's stamp on it.

EXT. CRIME BRANCH. OUTSIDE CANTEEN -- MOMENTS LATER

Brinda and Mahendra are standing outside the Crime Branch

canteen with a glass of cutting chai in their hands.

They quietly sip their tea. She nods at Mahendra as she

sees Jagdale walking up to them. The envelope is in
Jagdale's hand.

Mahendra turns to face Jagdale.

JAGDALE
(subdued)
Upar aao. Office mein baat karte
hain.

MAHENDRA
(polite)
Chai khatam karke aate hain.

Jagdale nods.

INT. ANTI NARCOTICS CELL. OFFICE ROOM -- LATER

Brinda and Mahendra are sitting face to face with Jagdale.

The others curiously look on.

 38.

BRINDA
(with due respect)
Yeh jaante hue bhi ki drug related
cases mein NCB apex agency hai -
aapne humein Wasim ke delivery ke
baare mein inform nahin kiya.

JAGDALE
NCB ko inform karna hamari duty
nahin hai. Waise agar sabse zyada
powers NCB ke paas hain toh Wasim
ki delivery waali information
pehle NCB ke paas kyun nahin
pahunchi.

BRINDA
Intelligence toh har tarah ki aati
hai. Action lete lete kabhi kabhi
time lag jaata hai.

JAGDALE
Intelligence gather karne ka jo
street-level network police ka
hai woh kisi bhi badi agency ka
nahi hai. Waise NCB ko Wasim mein
kya interest hai?

BRINDA
Wohi jo police ko hai.

JAGDALE
(smiles)
Hum ANC waale toh chote se chote
case mein bhi interested rehte
hain. Aap NCB wale toh bade cases
mein hi deal karte hain.

BRINDA
Zyada bade cases aate hi kahan
hain aaj-kal. Par sarkar ko khush
karne ke liye filen toh bharni
padti hain. Bas isliye Wasim ko
aapse cheen rahe hain.

Jagdale laughs.

JAGDALE
Aur bhi chaar sau saat filen hain
ANC mein. Unme se khaas Wasim ki
custody ke liye aaye hain aap
log. Kuch toh baat hogi?

MAHENDRA
Humne chaar sau saat naamon ki
parchi daali. Jab ek nikali toh
Wasim ke naam ki nikli. Waise
hai kaun yeh Wasim?
 39.

JAGDALE
Baat karne ka time hi kahan mila
us-se. Ab aap lekar jaa rahe
hain. Aap hi pooch lena.

A constable comes in with a file. Jagdale looks up. The

constable hands him the file.

JAGDALE (CONT'D)
Saab Wasim Ansari ko van leke
aayi. Neeche hai.

Jagdale nods. Constable exits.

JAGDALE (CONT'D)
(handing the file
to Mahendra)
Yeh rahe Wasim ke custody ke
papers. Yahan sign kar dijiye.
Aapka qaidi neeche van mein hai.
.

MAHENDRA
(looking at the
documents)
Do logon ki custody ki baat hui
thi - Wasim aur Rajesh. Doosra
kahan hai?

JAGDALE
Doosre ke custody aapko aur upar
jaana padega.

MAHENDRA
(smiles)
Humse upar kaun hai.

JAGDALE
Uparwala.

Mahendra and Brinda look at Jagdale.

JAGDALE (CONT'D)
Rajesh ussi ke paas chala gaya
hai. Kal rata suicide kar liya
usne. Pehle hi dara hua tha.

Brinda and Mahendra are shocked.

FADE OUT:

ROLL CREDITS: