Kaji: A Treat-y of Peace

1. FADE IN

3. Act 1

5. INT. HOME - NIGHT

6. 
   

7. The room is bathed in warm light. KAJI rests on a massage chair.

8. 
   

9. At the dining table, the PACK LEADER and PETER eat in comfortable silence.

10. 
    

11. KAJI (V.O.): There're no sharp words.

12. 
    

13. Pausing.

14. 
    

15. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): This is life.

16. 
    

17. Kaji watches them chew.

18. 
    

19. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): I choose to rest here. I won't hover under the dining table or sit beside the Pack Leader.

20. 
    

21. Pausing.

22. 
    

23. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): But I'm not fooled by today's peace. I know what happened yesterday. I was there.

24. 
    

25. Kaji closes her eyes.

26. 
    

27. Act 2

28. 
    

29. FLASHBACK

30. 
    

31. INT. HOME - NIGHT (Yesterday)

32. 
    

33. Kaji is seated in a chair beside the Pack Leader. Her posture rigid.

34. 
    

35. The Pack Leader eats broccoli with military precision. Peter's plate is a carnival of sin.

36. 
    

37. Then the Pack Leader exits.

38. 
    

39. KAJI (V.O.): Peter will strike.

40. 
    

41. Peter passes a big piece of chicken to Kaji. She eats the treat with delicate precision.

42. 
    

43. The Pack Leader returns.

44. 
    

45. PACK LEADER (to Kaji): Why you've things to eat?

46. 
    

47. PACK LEADER (to Peter): You're killing her!

48. 
    

49. PETER: It's just a piece of chicken! She's happy!

50. 
    

51. PACK LEADER: It's never just one piece. You always give her tasty and oily stuff.

52. 
    

53. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): She' s angry.

54. 
    

55. PACK LEADER (Cont'd): She's turning 10 next week! That's elderly.

56. 
    

57. Peter stares at Kaji.

58. 
    

59. PACK LEADER (Cont'd): Do you want to shorten her life for several years just for a moment of joy?

60. 
    

61. Peter turns to the Pack Leader.

62. 
    

63. PETER: Several years of what? Eating cardboard? What's the point of living a bit longer if the eating experience is the same bland, miserable kibbles every single day?

64. 
    

65. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): They yelled about me. About my life. About my death.

66. 
    

67. Pausing.

68. 
    

69. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): I'm caught in the crossfire.

70. 
    

71. Kaji glances at them.

72. 
    

73. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): The Pack Leader gives me years. Peter gives me the flavours.

74. 
    

75. Kaji looks at Peter.

76. 
    

77. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): His face is red with indignation.

78. 
    

79. Kaji looks at the Pack Leader.

80. 
    

81. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): Her eyes are glistening with frustration.

82. 
    

83. Pausing.

84. 
    

85. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): Who's winning? Who's been defeated?

86. 
    

87. Pausing.

88. 
    

89. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): My brain is the size of a lemon.

90. 
    

91. RETURN TO PRESENT

92. 
    

93. Act 3

94. 
    

95. INT. HOME - LATER

97. We hear the Pack Leader saying: Meal time.

98. 
    

99. Kaji's eyes flutter open. Slowly, she climbs off the massage chair

100. 
     

101. The Pack Leader places a bowl of measured kibbles on the floor beside the massage chair. Peter watches from a nearby sofa.

102. 
     

103. Kaji eats them.

104. 
     

105. KAJI (V.O.): They're crunchy and taste like disappointment. But the Pack Leader smiles when I eat them. And Peter knows I won't be too hungry.

106. 
     

107. Kaji eats them loudly.

108. 
     

109. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): It's a performance.

110. 
     

111. She finishes her meal quickly.

112. 
     

113. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): Peace isn't about winning. It's about making space for other person's fear.

114. 
     

115. Pausing.

116. 
     

117. KAJI (V.O.)(Cont'd): I don't know who is right or wrong. But right now, in this moment, I'm full. Not full of food. Full of them.

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT

121. THE END