A World of Crime

A short film
Written by: Rachana Baditha

Characters:
1) Yoga (Victim)
2) Varsha (Agent #1)
3) Anushka (Agent #2)
4) Sreeja (Agent #3)
5) Achsah (Sister)
6) Nikhitha (Accused)
7) Aastha (Friend)
8) Mansi (Mysterious Caller)
9) Rachana (The Blue X)
The Night of the Murder
(Nikhitha walks down, casually. She looks ahead and sees
Aastha with a dagger in her hand and a dead woman on the
ground)
Nikhitha: (Gasp!) A murder? (Takes out cell phone). Wait…..is
that….Yoga and Aastha!
(Aastha turns around, sees Nikhitha and runs away)

At the Recruitment Center

(Nikhitha walks towards a building)
Nikhitha: This is the place!? Okay then……(walks inside the
building)
(Varsha and Sreeja are giving Anushka and Yoga a test)
(Varsha turns to Anushka)
Varsha: Hello. State your name and occupation.
Anushka: My name is Anushka and I am an M-Tech graduate.
Varsha: And why do you want to join the agency.
Anushka: Because I am quite good at solving mysteries…I
think.
(Varsha looks surprised)
(Varsha turns to Yoga)
Varsha: And you, name and occupation.
Yoga: Only name…ma’am: Yoga.
Varsha: Pardon?
Yoga: I am in 12th.
Varsha: Charming. Sreeja will be asking you Questions
alternatively.
(Varsha steps back)
(Sreeja comes forward)
Sreeja: (Serious) now, a good detective must always have
good general knowledge. First… (Turns to Anushka)…Anushka!
Anushka: (Alarmed) Yes?
Sreeja: Your first question….
Anushka: Wait...it didn’t start? I thought I already answers two
questions!
Yoga: So did I!
Sreeja: (Dumb-founded) first question…What is the cause of
Global Warming?
Anushka: Simple. Stoves.
Sreeja: (Confused) What?
Anushka: See, when we cook, it produces heat. That heat is
causing global warming.
Sreeja: So you are saying that…in order to prevent global
warming…we should stop cooking food!?
Anushka: Exactly!
Sreeja: Wow, you are dumber than I thought.
(Sreeja turns to Yoga)
Sreeja: Your first question: What do you know about Hamlet
by Shakespeare?
Yoga: Is that a kind of omelet with ham or a helmet or
something.
Sreeja: No, it is a play.
Yoga: Oh yeah…In that story, a person rides on a bike with a
helmet. All of a sudden, an egg falls on his helmet and
becomes an omelet due to the sunlight. He thinks it’s from
god and happily eats it. THE END.
(Sreeja is speechless)
(Sreeja turns to Anushka again)
Sreeja: Your next question…
Anushka: I have a question? What does this have to do with
being a detective?
Sreeja: (thinks) your next question: In which year was the
planning commission established and who was its first
chairman?
Anushka: A few days back only, I saw this in the news. So, it
must be in 2015. They even changed its name to Niti Aayog.
And they said that its first chairman was Jawaharlal Nehru.
Sreeja: Oh, so in 2015, they established the Planning
Commission and Jawaharlal Nehru is still alive running it.
Besides that, in a few days only, they changed its name to Niti
Aayog. I never could have imagined that you would have so
much knowledge.
(Sreeja turns to Yoga)
Sreeja: (Frustrated) your second question: Should we wear
glasses while sleeping, and if yes, why?
Yoga: We should because if we do, our dreams become
clearer. If fact, we should wear them all the time! Even while
taking a bath, to prevent soap water from coming into our
eyes!
Sreeja: You are aware that neither you nor I am wearing
glasses, right.
Yoga: (Embarrassed) Uhh… I forgot mine at home!
Sreeja: You both wait here and I and Varsha will look at your
results.
(Sreeja goes to Varsha)
Sreeja: These two are the most idiotic people I have ever
seen!
Varsha: But we have to pick one of them! We need another
person on this team! I think Anushka would be the better
choice.
Sreeja: Fine.
(Varsha walks up to Anushka and Yoga)
Varsha: I am happy to say that Anushka has been selected to
join our team. Congrats and better luck next time, Yoga.
(Yoga leaves)
(Nikhitha enters)
(Varsha walks up to Nikhitha)
Varsha: Hello. Can I help you?
Nikhitha: Hello. I have a case to report. Three days ago, I
witnessed this…. (Takes out her phone and shows the
agents)….the murder of a woman named Yoga Bhavagna. She
was a classmate of mine. She was lying on the ground, her
neck slit by the woman with the dagger. The thing is, I know
the woman too. She is one of my closest friends, Aastha. I
have no idea what is going on. I don’t know what any of this
means. Aastha would never do anything like this. I was hoping
you may be able to solve this.
Varsha: Were you the only person who witnessed this?
Nikhitha: I am sure I was.
Sreeja: Does she have any relatives we can talk to about this?
Nikhitha: Yes, she has a sister. You should probably talk to
her. I wouldn’t know where to start, so I didn’t try to talk to
her about this.
Varsha: Could you give us her address?
Nikhitha: Of course. I will also give you mine in case I can help
you any further.
(Nikhitha gives Varsha the address)
Varsha: (To Anushka and Sreeja) Girls, let’s go. (Turns to
Anushka) Are you ready to test your detective skills on the
field?
(Anushka nods her head)
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja run out)
(Aastha goes home)
At the Sister’s House
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja come to the apartment. Varsha
rings the doorbell)
(Achsah answers it)
Achsah: Can I help you?
Varsha: Is this the residence of Achsah Marlene?
Achsah: Yes. I am Achsah. Come in.
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja enter)
(The four of the sit down)
Sreeja: Your sister is a suspect of the murder of a woman
named Yoga Bhavagna. We have proof that she was on the
scene of the crime with a bloody dagger in her hand. (Shows
Achsah and the video)
Achsah: (Shaking her head in disbelief) no. My sister is not a
murdered. (Shedding a tear) SHE IS NOT A CRIMINAL!
Anushka: Calm down. We need to know more about your
sister. (Smiles at Achsah)
(Achsah wipes her tears and takes a deep breath)
Varsha: Is your sister here?
Achsah: No…she went missing. I informed the police and they
are still looking.
Varsha: When did she go missing?
Achsah: The day before I reported her missing. At around 1:00
PM that day, she said she was going out to hang out with her
friend, Nikhitha. Later that day, I called her to find out when
she was coming home. She carried an unusually large bag
with her, so I assumed she went for a sleep-over and forgot
to tell me. I knew she was responsible, so I decided to go to
bed. The next day, I tried calling her again, but she didn’t
answer. I called her three more times, but still nothing. I went
to her friend’s house to see where she was, but her friend
hadn’t seen her at all yesterday. I got worried and decided to
contact the three of you. I still try to call Aastha, but no
result.
Varsha: Has your sister ever committed any crimes in the
past?
Achsah: (Angrily) I told you. AASTHA IS NOT A CRIMINAL!
Varsha: Maybe we should go. Let’s get more information from
Nikhitha.
Varsha: Thank you. We will be sure to let you know when we
find your sister.
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja leave)
The Friend’s House
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja come to Nikhitha’s house)
(Anushka knocks on the door)
(Nikhitha answers)
Nikhitha: (Surprised) back so soon?
Anushka: Yes, we need more information about your friend
Aastha. May we come in?
Nikhitha: Of course!
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja enter and sit down)
Varsha: How long have you known Aastha?
Nikhitha: I have known her since we were in 2nd grade. We are
practically sisters ourselves!
Varsha: Her sister mentioned that she came to you but you
haven’t seen her that day. Is this correct?
Nikhitha: Yes. I’ve been having exams, so I couldn’t hang out
with her like we normally do.
Anushka: Does that mean you haven’t seen her all week?
Nikhitha: Besides the murder, yes… (stars to remember
something)….actually, I think I saw here two days ago. Maybe
a day before her sister came to me. I wasn’t hanging out with
her through. On my way home from the store, I’m sure I saw
her. She was wearing her hood up and was
walking….actually…..more like speed walking in the other
direction. I tried to call out to her, but I guess she didn’t hear
me.
Sreeja: She must have been running away before someone
arrested her for the murder!
Nikhitha: I told you…Aastha would never do such a thing.
Varsha: That reminds me. Has Aastha ever committed a
crime? I asked her sister but she sort of…..panicked.
Nikhitha: (Taking a deep breath) Aastha had never committed
a murder, but she has been accused of one. Her workmate
once accused her of stealing her jewels. The police had
nothing to prove her otherwise. After we heard about it, I and
her sister rushed over to bail her out.
(Varsha’s phone rings)
Varsha: (Answering the phone) Hello?
Rachana: Hello Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja. I hear you are
trying to find a missing criminal.
(Varsha puts the phone on speaker)
Varsha: Who is this?
Rachana: I am here to help. I have the missing piece to the
puzzle. If you want it, come and get it.
Anushka: Just name where and when!
Rachana: How about in the same building you met Nikhitha
earlier today.
Varsha: How did you know…?
Rachana: (Interrupts Varsha) Make sure you come alone,
Varsha. See you in 1 hour!
(Rachana ends the call)
(The three looked worried by the call)
Anushka: (To Varsha) I don’t know about this. Nothing good
has ever come from going alone.
Sreeja: But it could be our only lead to our murderer.
Varsha: (Glancing at Nikhitha) let us take this conversation
outside. (To Nikhitha) Thank you for your help.
(Nikhitha nods her head)
(Varsha, Anushka and Nikhitha leave)
Anushka: I still don’t think it is a good idea! We should go
together!
Sreeja: She won’t spill unless only Varsha goes!
Varsha: Sreeja is right, Anushka. I have to go alone. You two
need to stay outside unless anything goes wrong.
Anushka: But…
Varsha: If this mysterious woman can give us any hint as to
where Aastha is or what happened that night, we have to take
it! Let’s go. I don’t want to be late!
 Meeting Point
(Varsha, Anushka and Sreeja reach the place where they met
Nikhitha)
Varsha: Remember, stay out here and don’t come in unless I
call you, okay?
Anushka and Sreeja: Got it!
(Varsha takes a deep breath and walks in)
Varsha: Hello? I’m here! Show yourself!
Rachana: Hello Varsha. We meet at last!
Varsha: Who are you?
Rachana: We aren’t here to talk about me, are we? Let’s just
say I’m your friend.
Varsha: So, what is this tip of yours?
Rachana: An explanation of what really happened. Nikhitha
wasn’t the only person there that night. Sometime before she
came, I was hiding too. If you re-watch the video, you may
even see me. Aastha was framed. Let us call the real
murdered “X” for now. X had something against the victim.
She wanted to strike that night, during one of Yoga’s walks. X
knew about Varsha’s existing criminal record and used it to
her advantage. She called Aastha and asked her to meet her
at that time. X came earlier and killed Yoga. Varsha walked by
on the way to her meeting and the result is the video in your
phone.
Varsha: (Amazed and confused) But why were you there?
Rachana: (Smiles) I was there as a witness of X. She hired me
to witness it.
Varsha: Then you must know why she did it!
Rachana: Sadly I don’t. But I will be happy to give you another
call if I find out.
Varsha: Wait…..If she hired you, why are you telling me all
this?
Rachana: X hired me, but she refused to pay me. I’m just
getting my revenge.
Varsha: Thanks for the help, I guess.
(Varsha starts to leave…)
Rachana: By the way, I wouldn’t trust that teammate of yours,
Sreeja. She knows more than you think.
(Varsha leaves)
Anushka: Your back! What happened?
Sreeja: Did you find out where our criminal is?
Varsha: Aastha was framed! A woman she referred to as X
killed Yoga and framed Aastha. The only problem is that we
still don’t know where she could be or who this “X” really is.
(Sreeja starts to look angry)
Anushka: (Smiling) that is great! We should call Achsah and
tell her the good news!
Varsha: Good idea! (Calls Achsah)
Achsah: (Answering the phone) Hello?
Varsha: Achsah! This is Agent Varsha. Good news. We found
proof that Varsha is innocent!
Achsah: I knew it! Thank you!
Varsha: The only problem is we still don’t know where she is.
Achsah: We have been trying to call her put it’s no use. She
isn’t picking up.
Anushka: Maybe that’s because you are calling her. Let us try.
We can track her. All I need is her to answer.
Varsha: What is her phone number?
Achsah: 9932590080.
Varsha: (To Anushka) Do you know how to track a phone if
someone picks up a call?
Achsah: Of course I do! That is the kind of stuff I prepared for!
Varsha: Great! Hook your phone up to the laptop and call her.
(Anushka calls number)
Aastha: (Answers the phone) Hello?
Anushka: I’m getting a location…….
Aastha: Who is this?
Anushka: …….got it!
(Anushka hangs up phone)
Varsha: (To Achsah) we are going to follow the address.
Achsah: I’m coming too. If my sister is there, I have to.
Varsha: Fine…she will trust you more than us for sure. Come
here and we will go together.
Achsah: Okay.
(Achsah hangs up the phone)
(Achsah arrives)
Varsha: Let’s go!
(Varsha, Anushka and Achsah leave)
(Sreeja sneaks away and runs in opposite direction)
At the Warehouse
(Varsha, Anushka and Achsah arrive at warehouse)
Achsah: Are you sure Aastha is here?
Anushka: I’m sure!
(Varsha enters, followed by Anushka and Achsah)
(All use cell phones as flashlights)
Anushka: I found some door. (Tries to open it) It is locked!
Achsah: Move aside. (Kicks open the door)
(Shadow moves across room)
(Varsha shines light at shadow in corner of room)
Varsha: Are you Aastha?
(Aastha sees Varsha’s badge)
Aastha: Officers! I promise! I didn’t kill anyone! I passed by
the body…and I touched the dagger and…
Varsha: (Interrupting Aastha) don’t worry. We know you are
innocent.
Aastha: (Surprised) you….you do?
Achsah: Yes and we came to find you!
Aastha: Achsah!
(Aastha runs up to Achsah and hugs her)
Achsah: What are you doing here?! Why did you run away?
Varsja: We need to know why you ran away.
Aastha: (Taking a deep breath) it all started that day I was
accused of theft. I was put in jail. That one event damaged my
reputation for quite some time. It was hard for people to
trust me after that. Eventually, people started to get over it,
and my life was almost back to normal. One day, I got a call
asking me to come meet me about a job offer. On the way, I
saw the victim dead on the ground with a bloody dagger next
to her. I could have sworn I saw the same dagger before, so I
picked it up to have a better look at it. I know it was stupid but
there was something weird about it. While I was getting a
closer look, I heard footsteps getting quieter and quieter. I
looked to the side to see a girl running away. At that moment,
I knew what she saw: me with a bloody dagger in my hand and
a dead girl beside me. She would have had me arrested! I
couldn’t handle even the thought of that, so I ran away. I
wanted to erase my marks, especially since it would affect
you too, Achsah. I couldn’t let that happen! I was debating
with myself whether I should leave town and start anew or
not. I’m just so glad you found me! Thank You for clearing my
name.
Varsha: It is our job. I’m just happy this case is solved!
Anushka: But wait….we still don’t know who the actual
murderer is.
Varsha: Then we just have to keep working until we do. Right
Sreeja!
(Varsha, Anushka and Achsah notice that Sreeja isn’t there)
Anushka: Where is Sreeja?
Achsah: I don’t know. Was she with us when we came in?
(Varsha looks concerned)
Varsha: (Murmuring) I should have kept a closer eye on her.
(Takes out phone and watches video again) Wait……what is
that? (Looks closer to see a blue X tattoo on the victim’s
neck) (To Anushka) Do you have the criminal files with you?
Anushka: Of course!
(Anushka gives Varsha the files)
(Varsha flips through pages)
Varsha: I think I know who our murderer is: The Blue X who is
also known as Mansi Nanavathi! This symbol on the victim’s
neck is the symbol of The Blue X.
Achsah: Who is The Blue X?
Anushka: She is a bounty hunter. She gets paid to kill and
capture people and animals. But what are we going to do
about Sreeja?
Aastha: Is her name Sreeja Penke?
Varsha: (Surprised) yes! How did you know?
Aastha: It’s because we were…*Gasp* I think I understand!
(To Varsha) Can you track Sreeja the same way you tracked
me?
Varsha: We don’t have to! Every agent has a tracker in their
badge in case something happens to them.
Aastha: We need to find her. I just hope she still has her
badge on.
(Anushka starts to track the badge)
Anushka: We got a location. Let’s go!
(Varsha, Anushka, Achsah and Varsha leave)
At the Secret Hideout
(Sreeja is talking to Mansi)
Sreeja: What on earth! I gave you ONE job: Put Varsha in jail.
Not kill another person and still have her proven innocent!
Mansi: It is not my fault! Your teammates proved her
innocent!..
Sreeja: No…that witness you hired proved her innocent! Why
couldn’t you have just given her the money?
Mansi: Why should I when that other girl unknowingly did it for
free?
Sreeja: And why did you have to kill someone? Couldn’t you
have just accused her for theft or something?
Mansi: I was fulfilling a previous order. Before you caught me,
Yoga Bhavagna was the target of my client. He paid
handsomely after I delivered the news.
Sreeja: We had a deal! If you don’t keep your side, I’ll forget
mine and take you back to jail in the blink of an eye!
(Varsha, Anushka, Achsah and Varsha appear)
(Varsha and Anushka point guns at Sreeja and Mansi)
Varsha: FREEZE!
(Sreeja sees Aastha)
Sreeja: (Angry) what are you doing here!?
Anushka: You are both under arrest for the murder of Yoga
Bhavagna!
Sreeja: It is not my fault she was killed. I only wanted that in
jail! (Pointing at Aastha)
Varsha: But why?
Aastha: I’ll tell you why. (To Sreeja) It is because of college,
isn’t it?
(Sreeja cringes)
We were friends once, remember that?
Sreeja: You were never my friend!
Aastha: Well, I’m sorry I had friends who weren’t you!
Sreeja: After those other girls came along, you completely
forgot about me. Even Nikhitha forgot me!
Aastha: No I didn’t! You were still my friend!
Sreeja: That is why you never hung out with me, stopped
answering my phone calls and never paired up with for
projects. Some friend you are!
Aastja: I…uh…
Sreeja: You left me to rot. All I want is my revenge.
Aastha: So you hire a bounty hunter to frame me for murder!
That is extreme, even for you. This is not the way to handle it.
If you had just talked to me about this…maybe…maybe we
could have worked things out and things would have been
better. (Serious) Have fun in jail!
(Silence)
(Mansi tries to run away)
(Varsha and Anushka run after Mansi and stop her)
Anushka: Got you!
(Achsah and Aastha stop Sreeja from escaping)
(Varsha ties Sreeja and Mansi up with rope)
Anushka: (To Varsha) Wow! Crime after crime after crime!
Varsha: Exactly. This world is far from perfect. This is a world
of crime. And it is our job to stop it!
The End!
Props
1) Dagger/Knife/Blade ^
2) Cell phone (x3)^
3) Paper and pen ^
4) File ^
5) Laptop (Real or fake)^
6) Agent badges (x3)
7) Toy guns (x2)
8) Rope

Short Film scheduled on March 15th at Malaysian

Township. Everyone PLEASE try to come! See you
then!