The Mystic Verses Screen Play.docx

THE MYSTIC VERSES SHORT FILM

SCREENPLAY

SCENE 1 : EXT-DAY-AFTERNOON LOCATION : ZAINAKADAL BRIDGE PROPS : WOODEN BOX, BRUSHES, POLISH, BYCYCLE, SCHOOL BAGS, HALF A DOZEN SHOES CHARACTERS : AHMED, MOHSIN, COBBLER, 6 PEOPLE

DESCRIPTION :

On the right side of the wooden bridge, Ahmed & Mohsin both in school uniform, grey pant, white shirt, holding 2 tuck style button school bags walk towards the cobbler sitting on a wooden plank on the footpath. The cobbler has a wooden box having brushes, polish inside it. Few people stroll the bridge, an old man trudges with an olive green cycle, a women fully covered in afghan Burqa walks too. Mohsin gets his shoe polished, Ahmed waits next to him, shoving his hand in pocket & whistling. Ahmed in wearing tattered shoes. POV : Ahmed is looking towards the river, old latticed houses appear from the bridge sight. Cobbler finishes polishing the shoes, hands it to Mohsin. Mohsin pays him a penny & they both share a smile. Mohsin turns towards Ahmed and asks him to race till home MOHSIN Ahmed, Lets race. Lets see who comes first Ahmed nods his head gently. Both of them race towards the end of the Bridge.

SCENE 2 : AFTERNOON – CONTINOUS LOCATION : BUND OF ZAINAKADAL PROPS : = CHARACTERS : =

DESCRIPTION :

We see old latticed houses grouped in a line on the banks of river Jhelum. Houses made of old bricks with brown rusty rooms

SCENE 2 : AFTERNOON – CONTINOUS LOCATION : Narrow Alley Mahraj’ganj PROPS : = CHARACTERS : = Ahmed, Mohsin, Aasiya DESCRIPTION : Ahmed & Mohsin run down a narrow Alley lined with houses on both the sides. Mohsin leads the race, his shoes lays gets stuck under his foot, he has a slip & falls near his home. Ahmed helps him getting up. Aasiya, Mohsin’s father in light green Kurta, Shalwaar is sweeping the dust outside her gate. She notices Mohsin falling. She drops the duster & runs towards Mohsin. She hugs Mohsin & cleans the dust on his trouser. She scolds both of them. Her expression turns harsh. AASIYA I’ve told you guys not to run like this Aasiya turns towards Ahmed. She gives him a tough look. Ahmed lowers his gaze. AASIYA Ahmed! You should not do this; you know how hard your mother has to struggle for your studies? She works day & night to earn a living Ahmeds face turns crimson & he walks back towards home with a gloomy face.

SCENE 4 : AFTERNOON – CONTINOUS LOCATION : House at Mahrajganj PROPS : Pestle & Mortar, Wire, Clothes, Old Vegetable (AL HACH) Chickens, Coop CHARACTERS : Ahmed

DESCRIPTION :

Ahmed walks towards home, opens the makeshift steel gate, filled marked with dozen of holes, A small courtyard follows. Chickens move inside the courtyard, a wooden coop stands on the right side. A plastic wire runs between the walls, few wet clothes hang on the wire. A wooden pestle & mortar rests against the wall. Dry vegetables, Al hach is hung on the windowpane of the house. The house is a two storey building. Its wall made of sun baked bricks & rough aspen wood. The white color on the terminated brown windows has begun to flake. The front windows are filled with multi colored stain glasses, while some are covered with polythene. Ahmed walks inside-

SCENE 5 : INT- AFTERNOON – CONTINOUS LOCATION : Kitchen cum Drawing room PROPS : Copper utensils, heater, spoons, spices, a yellow sheet, wooden seat, wooden shelves, Shawl, needle, wall clock,White cusion CHARACTERS : = Ahmed, Haleema

DESCRIPTION : Ahmed walks inside the kitchen cum drawing room. Inside the walls are unevenly plastered in light blue color. A 2ft mud wall segregates the kitchen from drawing room. On the left side of the Kitchen decorated with white square chips tiles, cooper utensils are kept on a wooden shelve above the small wooden seat. Yellow Dastarkhwan is hung near the water tap. Spoons, knives are hung on the nails stuck in the edge of the wooden shelve. In a corner a pot is laying on the electric heater. Ahmed’s mother Haleema is sitting in the drawing room, leaning to a white cushion. We see her doing a needle work on a Pashmina shawl. Haleema is wearing a round headscarf, knotted on the back of the head, a pattern of almond vine thread work runs endlessly on the collar of the pheran. Ahmed greets her AHMED Aslamualaikum Haleema stops the needle work, looks at Ahmed and greets him back with a smiling face HALEEMA WalaikumSalaam, Aakha Jaana asal paeth? Ahmed walks towards Haleema, She holds his face between her hands and kisses his forehead

HALEEMA Jaana! Change your clothes quickly. Its 3: 30 pm. Your favorite match will be broadcasted in moments Both look towards the wall clock on the right side of the wall.

SCENE 6 : INT-EVENING LOCATION : TV ROOM (SAME HOUSE) PROPS : OLD TELIVISION, FLOWER POT, RED ROUND CUSHIONS, A WALL PAINTING CHARACTERS : AHMED

DESCRIPTION : Ahmed is sitting in a shabby room with mud coated walls densely scarped in dark green paint. Two window panes overlooking the neighboring houses are set on the left side of the room. The room is furnished with round Namda rug with red round cushions decorated on the sides. A wall painting reading ‘ALLAH’ is hung on the wall. Pear shaped 100 Walt bulbs are hung on the wooden rafter on the ceiling. Ahmed is sticking close to a manual B&W Television. A cheap purple flower pot is kept on the television. Ahmed in anxiously watching the IND VS PAK match on television, wringing his hands and shouting slogans

SCENE 7 : INT- EVENING LOCATION : DRAWING ROOM KITCHEN PROPS : PRAYER MAT, PRAYER BEAD CHARACTERS : AHMED

DESCRIPTION : Haleema is sitting worried and stressed on a brown prayer mat, The mat has a design of Mecca inscribed on it. She is wearing a white hijab, covering her full face. In her right hand she is holding a green Tasbih (Prayer bead). She is rolling the beads curiously. She turns her head up toward the back side, facing the Tv room. With a tense look she is inquiring the score, Haleema screams HALEEMA Jaana score kya aav? VOICE OVER (AHMED) Wasim Akram tche wen gindaan Haleema turns her head towards the Qibla, stretches her hand & seeks divine help for the Pakistani Team. Haleema whispers with moist eyes in a lower tone HALEEMA Karukh panin dastegeeri

SCENE 8 : INT- EVENING - Continous LOCATION : Tv Room, Various shots PROPS : Same CHARACTERS : AHMED, 3 electrician, ladder, Haleema Description : The atmosphere in the room is charged. Ahmed turns the volume of the cricket commentary. The match is getting excited. Ahmed widens his eyes, bits his lips. Pushes the sleeve of his Black shirt to the elbows. The electricity is gone. The Television is Blank. Ahmed nods his head in anger, hits his fist on his left palm. INTERCUT-KITCHEN ROOM Haleema sitting on the mat, turns & watches the red heater coil getting dim. She lowers her head in sadness. Ahmed keeps his left hand on his head, shakes his head in sorrow. Ahmed hears some noise from outside. He crosses the room and looks through the window. POV – ALLEY ELECTRIC POLL Ahmed sees few people propping ladder against the electric pole, he sees them climbing, descending and gesturing. He broadens his looks at them keenly. He smiles as he recognizes one of them. He turns across leaves downstairs to greet them

SCENE 9 : INT-EVENING-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Balcony +STAIRCASE (SAME HOUSE) PROPS : CHARACTERS : AHMED

DESCRIPTION : Ahmed runs downstairs passing through wooden balcony lined with latticed wooden grills, the brown wooden stairs rumbling under him.

SCENE 10 : EXT-EVENING-CONTINOUS LOCATION : COURTYARD, VARIOUS SHOTS PROPS : LADDER, CIGARATTE , WIRE CHARACTERS : AHMED, 3 ELECTRICIANS DESCRIPTION : Ahmed runs barefoot on the courtyard towards the makeshift gate. A noise from outside unnerves him. He stops, stands silent and listens carefully. He watches through the slit of the makeshift gate. He peeps through the gap. POV- ALLEY ELECTRIC POLE Outside the men are looking very serious. Electrician 1 a not so long man, a man in early 40’s whose paunch in struggling against his cheap sky blue shirt flinches a wire on the poll in anger, He turns towards other two electricians ELECTRICIAN 1 Ye gova Rozgaar? He shakes his head in guilt. Electrician 2 a short wiry man wearing a white Kurta and blue cap looks helplessly towards electrician 1 ELECTRICIAN 2 Aes tche Majboor Electrician 3 a slim tall man having a big moustache, wearing a casual red shirt puffs a cigarette. He smashes the cigarette under his shoe, Fakes a smile & turns towards them ELECTRICIAN 3 They helped them from 2 years? Isn’t it enough? Cut the bloody lines.

Ahmed leans his back/ head against the steel gate & looks at his house in despair SCENE 11 : INT- NIGHT - CANDLE LIGHT LOCATION : TV ROOM PROPS : CANDLE, TABLE CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA DESCRIPTION :

In TV Room a candle is burning in the middle of the room on a small wooden table. The room is dark. Haleema is reclining against the cold wall, holding her knees between her two hands. She is looking at the candle as if she is caught in a deep thought. Ahmed is sitting near the window pane. He looks at the blank television POV- NEIGBOURING LIGHTS He looks towards the glowing bulbs in the neighborhood through the window. The room is silent & gloomy.

FADE OUT

SCENE 12 : EXT-DAY-AFTERNOON LOCATION : COURTYARD, VARIOUS SHOTS PROPS : SCHOOL BAG, UNIFORM, BLUE BOX, CORN CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA, MOHSIN DESCRIPTION : In courtyard Haleema in multi colored Kurta Shalwaar is feeding the Chickens. On the right side the wet dripping clothes are hanging on the plastic wire, baffling the unpleasant sun. The makeshift steel gate opens. Ahmed enters. He is wearing a school uniform. Before moving forward Ahmed hears some footsteps running fast in the alley. He turns behind POV- ELECTRIC POLE ALLEY Ahmed sees Mohsin running hastily with some blue box in his hand. Ahmed gazes but dismays the thought & moves forward. He walks in. He looks towards his mother as to confirm if power had come. She nods her head in disappointment. Nobody talks. Ahmed lowers his head & walks inside

SCENE 13 : INT-EVENING/CANDLE LIGHT LOCATION : TV ROOM, VARIOUS SHOTS PROPS : SCHOOL BAG, PENCIL, NOTEBOOK, CANDLE, VIDEO GAME, TV CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA, MOHSIN DESCRIPTION : In evening dim light filters through the window. Ahmed is sitting near the window. He is writing on a single line copy with a small Natraaj pencil. A Gulistaan Urdu text book, School bag lays in front of him. The light is getting scant. He picks up his bag & gets closer to the window. The pages are getting grey by second. A noise from neighborhood distracts him. He drops his pencil and stands to check out from the window POV- MOHSINS TV ROOM Ahmed sees Mohsin near a television. He sees keenly. Mohsin is fidgeting with a joy pad, playing a video game on television. A frown grows on Ahmeds face. He turns around, feels despondent & breaks down in tears. Tears roll down his face. Haleema enters the room with a candle placed on a steel plate. Ahmed hides, wipes his tears and resumes writing. Haleema places the candle near Ahmed. She pats politely on Ahmed’s head. Ahmed smiles HALEEMA If you’ll study hard, score good. All of our miseries will end AHMED Inshallah HALEEMA I’ll get some food for you.

Haleema leaves the room. Ahmed continues writing. Mohsin still plays game, the sound echoes through window. Ahmed feels tired, his eyes weigh down. He struggles to write & falls asleep on the notebook SCENE 14 : INT- DAY- DREAM LOCATION : TV ROOM PROPS : LIGHTS,COLORED TV, VIDEOGAME, JOYPOD CHARACTERS : AHMED, FATHER DESCRIPTION : Ahmed is sitting near the window pane. A person pats on his back. He turns behind. He sees his father, A man in white Kurta-Pyjaama. His face isn’t disclosed. Ahmed hugs him. The room is bright, lights are on. A new TV has replaced the old one. Ahmed is sitting in lap of his father, playing video game. Ahmed laughs & suddenly finds his father pressing a wrong button on the joy pad. He points with his finger not to press AHMED Abu ye button ne kehn! Time freezes as Ahmed screams this (SLMO). His father pushes the button. A black screen follows with an explosion sound. Dream end CUT TO

SCENE 16 : INT- DIM CANDLE LIGHT LOCATION : TV ROOM PROPS : SMALL CANDLE CHARACTERS : AHMED DESCRIPTION : Ahmed opens his eyes. He wakes up breathing heavily. He places his hand on his heart & consoles himself. The size of candle placed on plate has reduced. The room is dark. Ahmed rubs the back of his hand on his forehead. A soft whimpering sound reaches his ears, his eyebrows crease together. The sound gets louder as he moves forward. He follows & sound & leaves downstairs.

SCENE 17: INT- DIM CANDLE LIGHT LOCATION : Kitchen/Drawing room PROPS : CANDLE, SHARDS OF PLATE, FINGER CHIPS, BLOOD MARKS CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA DESCRIPTION : Ahmed enters from the kitchen door, a candle is lit on the shelve. Haleema is laying down on the floor in drawing room. Shards of Plates & Potatoes are spilled on the floor. Haleema is crying, clutching at her foot. Rivulet of blood runs on her foot. She tries to crawl, Ahmed approaches to her. He wraps his hand around her waist, buries his face into her stomach and howls HALEEMA Don’t cry. It’s a day of Calamity Haleema moves her fingers in ahmeds hair. Tears roll down her cheek. A gentle wind blows off the candle. FADE OUT

SCENE 18: INT- DAY-DAWN LOCATION : BEDROOM (SAME HOUSE) PROPS : A MIRROR, WALL HANGING PICTURE, A STEEL TRUNK, MATRESS, CURTAINS CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA DESCRIPTION : Sounds of birds chirping. A beam of light enters through the window & filters through the cheap white curtains in a small room. Ahmed lies asleep on a white mattress spread bare floor at the corner of the room. A glass mirror DE silvered on sides is hung with a nail on the wall. A white Kurta ironed is laying above a steel trunk resting on the other side. Haleema knocks the door, steps inside HALEEMA Get up Jaana, Its getting late Ahmed bats his sleep glued eyelids, reluctant too get out of his warm quilt. He rubs his eyes & presses over with his forefinger. Ahmed gets up & faces toward his mother. AHMED Ami! I’ve a holiday today at school HALEEMA NO, It’s something more important. It’s your father’s death anniversary Haleema & Ahmed both turn towards the wall above quilt. The camera tilts up towards the wall photo hung above the quilt on the wall. It’s a portrait picture of Fayaz Ahmed, Ahmeds father

SCENE 18 : EXT-DAY-MORNING LOCATION : COURTYARD PROPS : BLACK SCHOOL TATERED SHOE, WHITE KURTA, White skull cap. CHARACTERS : AHMED DESCRIPTION :

At the Balcony of the house, Ahmed is sitting down and lacing up his black shoes. Ahmed is dressed in a white Kurta Pyjaama & a skull cap. Ahmed brushes the shoe with a white cloth & leaves from the makeshift gate.

SCENE 19 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : DAL INTERRIORS WOODEN BRIDGE PROPS : A SHIKARA CHARACTERS : AHMED, SHIKARA WALA DESCRIPTION : Ahmed trudges gently on the makeshift wooden bridge. The wooden bridge rumbling under his feet. The bridge is covered with acquitted plants on right the side. On the left a Shikara floats in the polluted lake

SCENE 20 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Alleyway ( downtown) PROPS : A Tire, Stick, Metal Shovel CHARACTERS : Nazir, 3 kids DESCRIPTION :

The camera pans right from a wall graffiti to an alleyway. The graffiti reads “AL UMAR MUJAHIDEEN’’. A group of kids roll a disused tire down the alley. Nazir, the grave digger, wearing a multicolor woolen cap walks in from the same alley carrying a metal shovel on his shoulder. He walks wobbly like a Dervish, singing the popular verse “Zinde rozne bapath”. The camera pans with his movement on the curve.

SCENE 21 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Martyrs graveyard eidgah PROPS : A Tombstone CHARACTERS : AHMED DESCRIPTION : Ahmed steps up the stairs & walks inside the arched entrance announcing: Kashmir Martyrs Graveyard. Inscribed on the gate are the words “Lest you forget, we have given our today for your tomorrow. Ahmed walks inside the cobbled footpath running between the graves and defiant reds & violets of roses and irises. The garden around him is full of dry grass with pecks of greenery in them. Ahmed looks & studies all of the tombstones in his way. Each grave is marked with a white, rectangular marble tombstone with a green border engraved with names of Martyrs and quotes. Ahmed reads a quote on a grave. The grave reads “Martyred in Indian Custody”. Ahmed walks towards his father’s grave. The grave reads “Shaheed Fayaz Ahmed”. A part of it stays buried in dust. Ahmed sits down, cups his hands together & closes his eyes for the prayer Fade out

SCENE 22: EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : A wooden shop in downtown PROPS : Radio, Hookah, Cheap candies in jars, Karakuli, metal shovel CHARACTERS : Aziz, Nazir

DESCRIPTION :

Aziz Ahmed a 60 year old wearing a pheran, Karakul cap is sitting inside his fusty rundown shop facing the street. The shop is filled with plastic canisters showcasing cheap inexpensive candies, biscuits which are kept on wooden shelves. A local brand of Cavander Cigarettes is kept in a wooden box. Aziz is taking long puffs on jajeer while listening to the shoe box sized zenith radio on the window shill of the shop. Aziz sees Nazir walking from the road side carrying a metal shovel, he calls him out, waves his hand, pointing him to come to shop. Nazir approaches towards the shop AZIZ Naziroo! Kot tchuk davaan? NAZIR Yet be dohai tche Aa’saan. The radio trends a breaking news & both Nazir & Aziz lean their attention towards it. “ABI ABI SRINAGAR KE HAWAL ILAAKE MAI, JKLF AUR CRPF KE MUT BAED MAI EK AAM SHEHRI HALAAQ HUWA HAI”

Aziz turns off the radio & turns towards Nazir lamenting AZIZ Ye gaes ne gasun, Halaat gasan suedren Nazir takes a puff from Azizs Jajeer, exhales hard & puts a greedy smile NAZIR Agar Halaat suedran? Tel kya bani myanis karas? Nazir makes a greedy expression, laughs & leaves singing “Zinde rozne bapath”

SCENE 23 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Martyrs Graveyard PROPS : Tombstone CHARACTERS : AHMED DESCRIPTION : Ahmed opens his eyes, tears roll down his cheeks. A cold wind strikes his face. He wipes his tears & stands up, before leaving he looks again at the slate. His eyes sticks to a writing on the slate. It’s buried in dust. Ahmed leans closer to read it. “Martyrs are alive” it reads. He keeps gazing on it, Repeating the verses with himself. He shakes his head, read its aloud. He turns around, runs, fierce & desperate

SCENE 24 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Eidgah PROPS : Metal Shovel, Watch CHARACTERS : AHMED, Nazir DESCRIPTION : Nazir enters inside the cemetery from the Iron Gate. He looks right & left to find a spot to unearth for the grave. Ahmed comes in running fast toward the gate, he bumps & collides with Nazir. Nazir slips, his metal shovel falls down. He curses Ahmed angrily NAZIR Koul Haramzaade Ahmed escapes the cemetery through the iron gate. Nazir stands up. Adjusts his skull cap & goes to the spot to unearth. Nazir removes his pheran and buries the metal shovel in the ground. He starts digging. Nazir completes digging a grave. He takes a pause. Rubs the sweat on his forehead. Watches the time on his wrist watch & breathes heavily. He hears some footsteps & looks behind, he sees the same boy running through the path & disappearing from the gate. Nazir gets a confused expression on his face, he scratches his hair with his fingers. He drops his metal shovel in the grave & leaves to find what’s happening.

SCENE 25 : EXT-DAY-CONTINOUS LOCATION : Graveyard, Various PROPS : Letter,Stone,Tomnstone CHARACTERS : Nazir, Ahmed DESCRIPTION :

Nazir walks on the cobbled path to have a look around. He sees here and there checking everything. While searching his eyes get caught on a folder paper resting on a grave with a stone above it. Nazir looks at it, walks near it then looks around before picking it. Nazir picks the folder & opens the letter inside it. He sees it with his eyes wide open & reads Voice Over (Ahmed)

(ASALAMUALIKUM ABU JAAN) “WHEN YOU LEFT US, AN OCEAN OF PEOPLE CAME TO OUR HOME, SHOUTING THEYRE INDEBTED TO YOUR SACRIFICES, THEY SAID HELP OUR FAMILY IN EACH CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT WITH TIME THE PROMISES HAVE FADED. I JUST WISH YOU KNEW HOW DIFFICULT THE LIFE HAS BECOME WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE .WE ARE HAVING NO ELECTRICITY. THEY HAVE CUT OFF OUR LINES. I DON’T KNOW BUT PEOPLE SAY THAT YOURE ALIVE? IF YOURE WHY DON’T YOU HELP US,IF YOU WILL HELP US, I SWEAR I WONT TELL ANYONE Your loving Son Ahmed

INTERCUTS INT/EXT Ahmed running through the Bridge (Dal Interriors) Ahmed running up the Staircase (Staircase,Ahmed’s house) Ahmed writing the letter (TV room) Placing the stone on letter (Graveyard)

Nazir falls down on his knees after reading down the letter. He howls like a kid. Rubs his both hands on his eyes. He looks at the letter & then looks at the sky, stretching the letter towards the sky. His tears fall on the letter’s word “I swear I won’t tell”. He turns towards the tombstone & whispers his name to himself : “Fayaz Ahmed, Fayaz Ahmed Zainakadal”. He gets up with moist eyes & walks fast towards the iron gate

SCENE 26 : INT-NOON-CONTINOUS LOCATION : NAZIRS ROOM PROPS : LOCKER MONEY CHARACTERS : Nazir DESCRIPTION : In a desolate room, Nazir approaches hastily towards a wooden locker. He collects the money from a box and spreads them in hand. He looks at them and kisses them

SCENE 27 : EXT-NOON-CONTINOUS LOCATION : OFFICE BUILDING PROPS : CHARACTERS : Nazir DESCRIPTION :

We see a 2 storey moderate white color concerete building. Nazir comes running and steps inside the building. Outside the board on the building reads “PDD OFFICE”

SCENE 28 : INT-NOON-CONTINOUS LOCATION : PDD inside PROPS : Bills, ledger, stamp, files, pen, Table chair, Money CHARACTERS : Nazir, Officer DESCRIPTION : A young man in 30’s wearing a specs & formal dress is sitting on a chair behind the desk. He is signing some papers. The desk is surrounded with some electric bills, rack of files and a ledger. Nazir drops the money on the desk. Officer stops signing & looks up towards him NAZIR FAYAZ AHMED, NOWHATTA Nazir tries to fight back tears. Officer picks his ledger, runs his finger on ledger. Encircles the name Fayaz & stamps the registry CUT TO

SCENE 29 : EXT-NOON-CONTINOUS LOCATION : COURTYARD PROPS : CLOTHES ON WIRE CHARACTERS : AHMED, HALEEMA DESCRIPTION :

Ahmed pushes the steel gate & walks in the courtyard. Haleema is collecting the clothes from the wire. Haleema sees Ahmed & smiles HALEEMA Hope you prayed safely Haleema taps his head, asks him to collect rest of the clothes from the wire HALEEMA Ahmed can you please help me? Can you bring them inside. Haleema takes the half of clothes on her shoulder & steps inside the house. Ahmed pulls the clothes one by one from the wire in a deep thought. A voice from inside the house echoes Haleema Ahmed power ha aav Time seems to slow as Ahmed looks at the house, drops the clothes. He sees the light in the house. He looks up at the sky & runs toward the gate (SLOMO)

SCENE 30 : EXT-DAY-AFTERNOON-CONTINOUS LOCATION : GRAVEYARD PROPS : TOMBSTONE CHARACTERS : AHMED DESCRIPTION : Time looks frozen as Ahmed walks in the cobbled footpath between the graves and flowers. Ahmed is in tears as he stops, falls down to his knees near his fathers grave. He laughs in joy while tears run down his eyes. With his sleeve he brushes the dust from the slate and kisses the verse “Martyrs are alive”

Fade out THE END …