FADE IN:
EXT. HIGH WAY - EVENING
A LADY in her mid-thirties is driving her car. She appears to
be very happy and is humming. She reaches out for an envelope
in her rear car seat. Its the medical report of her scan, the
first image of her foetus. She takes out her mobile from her
bag and dials a number and talks to a male voice.
LADY
Oh honey. I am so happy. I am on my
way back from the hospital
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
What did the doctor say?
LADY
Its a boy. Our baby boy...
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
That's great news honey...
The lady places the mobile on her womb and talks to her
foetus.
LADY
Say hi to daddy...
She does not see a truck coming towards her from the opposite
direction. The moment she sees, the truck is about to hit her
car. She drops her mobile on the floor and even before she
could scream, the accident takes place and everything blacks
out.
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Honey, what happened? Hello,
ANDREA? Andrea can you hear me?
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
A GUY who appears to be in his early forties, is running
frantically as if searching for someone. He is very tensed
and then suddenly stops in front of ROOM NO. 202. He opens
the door and inside we see ANDREA who had just met with the
accident. There is a nurse inside the room who looks up as he
enters.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM - HOSPITAL - NIGHT
NURSE
Excuse me sir, are you related to
the patient?
GUY
Yes, I am her husband, DAVID WOODS.
How is she?
NURSE
She is going to be okay.
DAVID WOODS
Er... excuse me?
NURSE
Yes...
DAVID WOODS
Is the baby okay? Did anything....
The nurse interrupts before David can complete the sentence.
NURSE
We are sorry. Only your wife
survived.
David's eyes wells up in tears and he looks at Andrea. The
nurse exits. David sits on a chair next to her bed. Andrea
comes into consciousness and opens her eyes. Seeing this, he
moves closer to her and strokes her cheek.
DAVID WOODS
Hey...
ANDREA WOODS
What happened? How did I get here?
DAVID WOODS
There was an accident honey. You
car crashed into....
ANDREA WOODS
Oh yes, I remember now... ouch my
head.
DAVID WOODS
You should rest honey.
Andrea tries to close her eyes then all of a sudden she gets
up and feels her stomach.
ANDREA WOODS
My baby. David my baby.
DAVID WOODS
Honey...
ANDREA WOODS
My baby is gone. David, my baby is
gone.
DAVID WOODS
Relax honey... please try to relax.
Andrea breaks into a hysterical tantrum and tries to remove
her tubes and bandages. David tries to calm her but to no
avail.
ANDREA WOODS
I want my baby. Let go of me.
Unable to control her, David buzzes for emergency call
button. A doctor and a nurse rushes in. The nurse helps David
in hold down Andrea, while the doctor sedates her. Andrea
calms down and slowly goes into deep sleep.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)]
My baby... My baby(whisper).
David strokes her hair and wipes the tears off her face.
DOCTOR
She is in a state of hysteria. She
will be herself when she wakes up.
The doctor leaves a depressed David behind and exits with the
nurse.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. DOCTOR'S CONSULTING ROOM - HOSPITAL - DAY
Andrea and David Woods are seated in front of a doctor.
DOCTOR 2
Your reports have arrived Mrs.
Woods... I'm afraid its...
DAVID WOODS
What is it doctor?
DOCTOR 2
The accident had caused severe
injury to your uterus which is why
you suffered a miscarriage.
Both Andrea and David look at each other.
DOCTOR 2 (CONT'D)
I am sorry to be the one to break
it to you. Your result here says
you won't be able to conceive
hereafter.
Andrea's eyes fill in tears and she holds David's hand firmly
DAVID WOODS
How can you say that doctor? I am
sure there could be something that
could be done.
DOCTOR
The wound is too deep to be cured.
But, don't lose hope, miracles do
happen.
David looks at Andrea who is silently crying. He places his
arm around her shoulder.
CUT TO:
INT. CAB - OUTSIDE HOSPITAL - DAY
David and Andrea are both seated. As the cab moves Andrea
starts crying. David comforts her. She places her head on his
shoulder and closes her eyes.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
David helps Andrea out of the cab. Andrea starts walking
towards their house while David is paying the cab driver.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
Andrea stands in the drawing room staring at the stairs. She
places her hand on her stomach and closes her eyes for a
second and starts to go up the stairs. She stops in front of
a particular DOOR. She opens the door and the room behind the
door reveals a newly decorated kid's bedroom, and a cushioned
iron baby cot in the middle of the room.
INT. KID'S BEDROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE
Andrea walks closer to the cot and picks the TEDDY BEAR lying
on it. She holds the teddy bear close to her heart and cries.
ANDREA WOODS
I'm sorry baby. Please forgive
mama.
David watches her from behind.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
INT. KITCHEN - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
David is seated at the small round dinning table in the
kitchen with the newspaper in his right hand, while Andrea is
preparing breakfast. She places the breakfast on the table.
Both of them are seated at the dining table. David keeps the
newspaper aside and starts eating the breakfast along with
Andrea.
DAVID WOODS
Delicious.
Andrea smiles and continues eating her breakfast. They both
are eating silently. Andrea breaks the silence after few
minutes.
ANDREA WOODS
PETER had called.
Seeing no reaction from David who is busy eating his
breakfast, she gets mildly irritated.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Are you listening to me David?
DAVID WOODS
Huh? What were you saying honey?
Andrea sighs.
ANDREA WOODS
I was saying, Peter had called.
DAVID WOODS
Your brother Peter? Why? What
happened?
ANDREA WOODS
He called to tell us about their
baby.
DAVID WOODS
I see...
ANDREA WOODS
Don't you think we should visit
them?
DAVID WOODS
Honey, you are just recovering from
the accident. You should be taking
rest. Visits can wait...
ANDREA WOODS
But David, he is my brother...
DAVID WOODS
This talk is over...
David gets up, and leaves.
ANDREA WOODS
Honey..
She hears the loud thud of the front door being closed.
Andrea sighs. She gets up and starts clearing the dishes from
the table.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE
Andrea is standing near the same stairs again. She slowly
goes up the stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. KID'S BEDROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
Andrea takes the same teddy bear again from the baby's cot
and holds it close to her heart. She is seated on the floor
with her eyes closed. Time ticks by. She suddenly gets up
having a feeling that she just heard a baby's cry. She hears
it again and by now she realizes that it was for real. She
quickly moves out of the room. She is about to go down the
stairs, when she sees her sister in law LILY standing in the
drawing room. Andrea rushes towards LILY.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
ANDREA WOODS
Lily, what a surprise?
LILY
Sorry for slipping in without
knocking the door. I wanted to give
you a surprise... and I see you
are.
ANDREA WOODS
I definitely am!
Andrea notices the baby in Lily's arms.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Is that your...
LILY
Yes, its your nephew.
ANDREA WOODS
Oh! Can I hold him?
LILY
Sure. Go ahead.
Andrea takes the baby from Lily's hands to her own and starts
cuddling him.
ANDREA WOODS
Oh he's lovely. What have you guys
named him?
LILY
JUDE, after grandpa. He is six
months old.
ANDREA WOODS
That's sweet. Isn't Peter there
with you?
LILY
No, Peter is held up with some
work. He said he cannot make it.
ANDREA WOODS
Oh I see...
Here Lily notices minor bruise marks on Andrea's arm and face
but decides not to ask about it thinking it might torment
Andrea.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
So tell me... how are you guys
doing?
Lily is hesitant to speak, Andrea notices the worry on Lily's
face. She places her hand over Lily's shoulder.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Is everything okay between you and
Peter?
LILY
Oh yes, everything is fine between
us. Well the thing is...
Lily gets up from the sofa and walks towards the window...
ANDREA WOODS
Yes, Lily ...
LILY
Me and Peter are going through
really tough times... we are
planning to start afresh. Peter and
I may have to move to a new place
and its not possible to take proper
care of the baby until we settle
things down. So we thought of
hiring a nanny and nannies are too
costly these days. So...
ANDREA WOODS
So what Lily?
Lily again comes and sits next to Andrea.
LILY
You must help us Andrea, you are
our only hope.
ANDREA WOODS
How can I help you guys?
LILY
Can you... you and David take care
of Jude while we settle down
things...
ANDREA WOODS
What? Take care of Jude?
LILY
Please Andrea, Peter said we could
rely on you. Please...
Andrea looks at the Jude in her arms, who is smiling in his
sleep.
ANDREA WOODS
Sure, why not.
LILY
Oh thank you Andrea. You don't know
what a big favour you have done to
us. Thank you so much.
Andrea and Lily hug each other.
ANDREA WOODS
Its okay... after all he's my
Peter's baby.
LILY
Shall I get the bags from the cab?
Andrea is a little amused and smiles at Lily.
ANDREA WOODS
Sure.
While Lily moves out of the front door to get the luggage,
Andrea looks at the sleeping Jude in her arms, who is
smiling in his sleep. Lily enters the room with luggage and
smiles at Andrea.
LILY
Where do I keep these?
ANDREA WOODS
Just leave it near the stairs. I
will arrange it later.
Lily does as told by Andrea. Then she takes Jude from her
arms and kisses him on the forehead.
LILY
My sweetheart. Be a good boy.
Lily takes Andrea's hand and presses it as a gesture of
happiness...
LILY (CONT'D)
I must take leave now...
Andrea smiles. Lily is almost in tears. Lily hand overs Jude
back to Andrea. She and Andrea starts walking towards the
door.
EXT. WOOD'S HOUSE - EVENING
As Lily walks towards the gate, she slowly turns back...
ANDREA WOODS
Say hi to Peter for me.
LILY
Sure. Bye. Take care of my
precious.
ANDREA WOODS
Don't you worry about it, he's in
good hands. You too Take care...
Lily gets into the cab, waving good-byes to Andrea and Jude.
Meanwhile seeing Jude stir from his sleep, Andrea rocks him
lightly in her arms.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Lets get you inside.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - NIGHT
David enters from the front door into the drawing room and
finds the place quieter than usual.
DAVID WOODS
Honey, I'm home.
Andrea comes rushing from the kitchen.
DAVID WOODS (CONT'D)
Honey, why is the house...
ANDREA WOODS
Come with me.
DAVID WOODS
Why? What happened?
ANDREA WOODS
Just come with me...
Andrea leads him upstairs and stops in front of a DOOR. She
opens the door.
CUT TO:
INT. KID'S BEDROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - NIGHT
David looks around and finds nothing until he hears a sound
from the baby's cot and he just cannot believe what he sees.
DAVID WOODS
Andrea, whose baby is that? What is
it doing in our house?
ANDREA WOODS
Hush... not so loud.
They both move out and Andrea closes the door behind her.
DAVID WOODS
Whose baby is it? Where did it come
from?
ANDREA WOODS
Relax David, its our baby...
DAVID WOODS
Our baby? How can this be our baby?
ANDREA WOODS
Its Peter's and Lily's baby. Lily
was here today. She and Peter are
going through tough times and
wanted someone to take care of
their baby. They asked me whether I
could...
David interrupts in between.
DAVID WOODS
And you agreed. Are you out of your
mind Andrea?
ANDREA WOODS
They wanted my help very badly. I
just couldn't say no to her.
DAVID WOODS
Andrea, you have hardly recovered
from the accident... You are
suppose to take rest and not, look
after someone else's baby.
ANDREA WOODS
He's Peter's baby, our baby honey.
David puts his arms on her either shoulders and shakes her as
if to bring her back into senses.
DAVID WOODS
God, Andrea. This isn't our baby.
You cannot consider someone else's
baby to be your own just because we
cannot have one of our own...
To this remark Andrea stares at David horrified. David sees
the depth of hurt in her eyes and pulls her closer to his
heart.
DAVID WOODS (CONT'D)
I am sorry, I'm really sorry honey.
I didn't mean to hurt you. Look
here, even I am feel bad about what
happened, but then that doesn't
mean that I can be a father for a
temporary period.
Andrea sniffs and wipes her tears with David still holding
her.
DAVID WOODS (CONT'D)
I just want you to understand that
today you will be giving him all
your love and care and tomorrow
when his father comes he will have
to leave us. Then you will be
totally heart broken. I can't bear
to see you like that.
Andrea pulls away from his embrace and looks into his eyes
and talks.
ANDREA WOODS
Please David at least for once in
my life, I want to know what it
feels like to be a mother. Please
David...
DAVID WOODS
But Andrea...
ANDREA WOODS
Its the only thing I am asking from
you David. I promise I will never
ask for anything else ever in my
life...
To this David feels sad too and kisses her on the forehead.
DAVID WOODS
Oh honey...
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
David is still in bed. He wakes and finds no sign of Andrea.
Thinking she is in the kitchen he slowly gets out of the bed
and moves to the bathroom.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
David is dressed up in formals and moves down the stairs. He
notices changes in the drawing room. The furniture has been
moved, the vases and other fragile items have been shifted to
the shelf, his favorite rocking chair is no longer to be seen
around. Irritated he storms towards kitchen.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
On entering kitchen he finds no sign of Andrea. He looks
around and sees coffee and breakfast all set on the dinning
table. He then notices the baby's high chair placed between
his and Andrea's chair. He gets irritated, he sits down and
starts eating his breakfast. Few minutes pass by. He hears
the kitchen door being opened and turns around to find Andrea
entering the kitchen holding Jude.
ANDREA WOODS
Hey. See who is here to say good
morning. Say good morning to Dada
Jude...
DAVID WOODS
Hmm.
Andrea is busy pampering Jude and places him gently on the
high chair. Once he is securely seated she starts sterilizing
the feeding bottle.
DAVID WOODS (CONT'D)
Andrea I want to ask...
David notices that Andrea isn't paying attention at all and
leaves the matter. She takes out the feeding bottle, checks
it and again starts sterilizing it. David loses his temper
when he sees her sterilizing the bottle again and again.
DAVID WOODS (CONT'D)
What are you trying to do honey?
ANDREA WOODS
I'm sterilizing Jude's feeding
bottle honey.
DAVID WOODS
You already sterilized it once.
ANDREA WOODS
Oh, no honey, I'm supposed to
sterilize it thrice. Otherwise it
may cause harm to the baby. And I
am not taking any chances.
DAVID WOODS
Gosh, Andrea. You have totally lost
your mind.
She ignores his comment and starts drying the feeding bottle.
She stops and looks at David
ANDREA WOODS
Should I give him milk or the baby
food? What do you think honey? Milk
or baby food?
David opens his mouth to reply but before he can, she
answers.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Milk will be better I guess. Baby
food can wait.
She fills the feeding bottle with milk and sits next to Jude
and starts feeding him. David tries to concentrate on his
breakfast but is unable to do so, his eyes set on Andrea and
Jude all the while.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Ah that's a good boy. See David
what a good little boy he is.
David sighs. Andrea wipes Jude's mouth and starts on her
breakfast. Even before Andrea can complete her first bite
Jude coughs. On hearing Jude cough she drops her food, gets
up and takes Jude out of his high chair and rests him on her
shoulders. To this David loses his patience and gets up.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
What happened honey?
He gets up and leaves the kitchen without replying. Andrea
looks at Jude.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Dada seems to be angry.
CUT TO:
INT. DRAWING ROOM - WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
David is searching for his keys and gets frustrated for not
finding it. Andrea stands next to him holding Jude.
ANDREA WOODS
What are you looking for honey?
DAVID WOODS
My car keys. I cannot find them in
their usual place.
ANDREA WOODS
Can you hold Jude for a second?
David is reluctant but finally holds Jude when Andrea nudges
him. Andrea opens one of the drawers of the shelf and takes
out his car keys.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
There you go.
David gives Jude back to Andrea and take his keys.
DAVID WOODS
How did my car keys get inside the
drawer? I remember leaving them
right here on the table last night.
ANDREA WOODS
Oh that honey, I had placed the
keys inside the drawer so that Jude
would not take them.
DAVID WOODS
Jude may not take them? Is that the
same reason why you moved the
furniture and my favorite chair ?
ANDREA WOODS
Now, don't get upset David, I can
explain.
She places Jude on the floor and he crawls around and tugs at
David's pants.
DAVID WOODS
God, Andrea please pick him up,
please.
ANDREA WOODS
Relax David, he won't bite.
Andrea bends down and calls to Jude.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Come to mama Jude, come baby.
Jude crawls to Andrea and she picks him up.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
That's a good boy.
She then turns to look at David who appears disgruntled.
ANDREA WOODS (CONT'D)
Now you understand why I moved the
furniture. He has started to crawl
David. He needs space to crawl,
besides I don't want him to bump
his head onto something or get hurt
in any way. I am not going to allow
your chair or anything else to come
in his way.
DAVID WOODS
Are you telling me that this baby
is more important to you than me?
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Jude
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