Kaji: Dignity Postponed

1. FADE IN

3. Act 1

5. INT. HOME - A WEEK AGO

6. 
   

7. Sunlight pours through the window. KAJI sits in her massage chair.

8. 
   

9. KAJI (V.O.): The Pack Leader and Peter have gone for some days.

10. 
    

11. Then we hear the voice of the pack leader from a loudspeaker hidden somewhere: Baby, baby, come here.

12. 
    

13. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's the pack leader.

14. 
    

15. The voice repeats. Baby, baby, come here.

16. 
    

17. Kaji doesn't move. The pack leader isn't here. I've heard it many times before.

18. 
    

19. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm not a willing servant of the command.

20. 
    

21. Pausing.

22. 
    

23. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): I won't be summonsed by a voice.

24. 
    

25.  Act 2

26. 
    

27. INT. HOME - NIGHT (Days ago)

28. 
    

29. The front door unlocks. The PACK LEADER and PETER enter with their heavy luggage.

30. 
    

31. PETER: We're back!

32. 
    

33. PACK LEADER: Where's our baby?

34. 
    

35. Nothing.

36. 
    

37. Kaji is in a bedroom, clearly awake, clearly aware.

38. 
    

39. KAJI (V.O.): This is dignity postponing its welcome. This is the quiet calculas of respect.

40. 
    

41. EXT. RIVERSIDE PARK - AFTERNOON (Today)

42. 
    

43. A grassy slope. Kaji sniffs the earth.

44. 
    

45. KAJI (V.O.): Something new.

46. 
    

47. A supervised floppy-eared black dog spots Kaji. Drops into a play bow.

48. 
    

49. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Hmm...

50. 
    

51. Peter talks to the Pack Leader.

52. 
    

53. PETER: I think our baby has got an admirer.

54. 
    

55. The black dog is patient.

56. 
    

57. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): This creature is interesting.

58. 
    

59. The black dog takes a step towards Kaji.

60. 
    

61. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): You must observe the potocol.

62. 
    

63. Kaji stays still.

64. 
    

65. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): He observes. Like me.

66. 
    

67. The black dog sniffs Kaji's ears. Kaji reciprocates.

68. 
    

69. PETER: They're quite friendly.

70. 
    

71. Then, a pigeon lands nearby. The black dog's body goes rigid with excitement.

72. 
    

73. Kaji looks at the black dog and then the pigeon.

74. 
    

75. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Target acquired. An ordinary bird. Typically beneath my diginity.

76. 
    

77. The black dog explodes past Kaji, inviting her.

78. 
    

79. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): But dignity postponed isn't dignity lost. It's dignity held in abeyance, waiting for the right moment to return.- usually after the pigeon escapes.

80. 
    

81. Kaji launches.

82. 
    

83. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Dignity is a fine coat. But sometines, I must take it off to run.

84. 
    

85. The black dog veers right. Kaji veers left.

86. 
    

87. PETER: The pigeon panics.

88. 
    

89. They chase across the grass.

90. 
    

91.  KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the pigeon escapes into a tree.

92. 
    

93. They skids.

94. 
    

95. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd):Dignity protects me from embarrassment. Postponed dignity invites me to chase in the grass and discover that embarrassment is never fatal.

96. 
    

97. Kaji and the black dog sniff each other one more time.

98. 
    

99. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Goodbye.

100. 
     

101. Act 3

102. 
     

103. INT. HOME - EVENING

105. Kaji is back in her massage chair. The Pack Leader and the GANG stand at the door. Kaji turns her head towards the window,

106. 
     

107.  KAJI (V.O.): A life spent protecting dignity is a life that has never chased a pigeon with a friendly stranger.

108. 
     

109. They leave. The door clicks shut. Kaji is alone.

110. 
     

111. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I'm old and my legs no longer run, I'll not miss my dignity. I'll miss the wind.

112. 
     

113. Kaji rests her chins on her paws.

114. 
     

115. KAJI (V.O.) (Cont'd): Dignity is the lock. Postponed dignity is the key. And joy is what happens when I finally open the door.

116. 
     

117. FADE OUT

119. THE END