By Fayyaz Butt
Genre: Family / Drama / Slice of Life
Duration: ~8–10 minutes
Format: Short Film Script
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CHARACTERS:
· FAYYAZ BUTT (45) – a father, calm, observant, quietly protective.
· MUAAZ BUTT (17) – his son, eager to prove his independence.
· TICKET CHECKER (TC) – middle-aged, stern but not unkind.
· CHAI WALLAH – at the station (cameo).
· GRANDPARENTS – voices on phone (off-screen).
–SCENE 1: INT. FAYYAZ’S HOUSE – MORNING
Muaaz packs his bag. Fayyaz watches from the doorway, holding a steel tiffin.
FAYYAZ (Smiling)
Aloo parathay. For the journey.
MUAAZ (Without looking up)
Abbu, I’m 17. I’ll eat at the station.
FAYYAZ (Places tiffin in the bag anyway) and said when the train gets delayed?
Muaaz breathes, zips the bag. Fayyaz hands him a white envelope — small, unmarked.
MUAAZ: What’s this?
FAYYAZ: Emergency. Only open if you absolutely cannot find a way out.
MUAAZ (Laughs)
Abbu, it’s just a train ride. Not a war.
FAYYAZ (Quietly) Wars start small too. Keep it.
Muaaz shoves it into his jacket pocket without looking back.
SCENE 2: EXT. RAILWAY STATION – DAY
Lahore Junction. Crowded. Vendors shout. Coolies rush.
Fayyaz buys the ticket at the counter — two tickets, one for Muaaz, one for himself. He pockets his own.
At the platform, he hands Muaaz his ticket, some cash, and a power bank.
FAYYAZ: Train number 127 UP. Bogey S-7, seat 23.
MUAAZ (Rolling eyes) I know, Abbu. You told me seven times.
FAYYAZ : (Fixing Muaaz’s collar) And if anything happens —
MUAAZ (Cutting him off)
I’ll call. I’ll manage. I’m grown now.
The train horn shouts. Muaaz boards. Fayyaz stands on the platform, hands in his pockets, watching.
As the train starts moving, Fayyaz quietly walks to the last bogey — S-9 — and boards it.
—
SCENE 3: INT. TRAIN – S-7 BOGY – 2 HOURS LATER
Muaaz dozes off, his backpack on the overhead rack. A man in a shalwar kameez swiftly swaps it with a similar-looking bag and disappears into the next coach.
Muaaz wakes up, stretches, reaches for his bag — and freezes.
No wallet. No ticket. No phone.
MUAAZ (panicked, to himself) No… no, no, no…
The TC enters the bogey, clicking his counter.
TC: Ticket, please.
Muaaz pats his pockets. Sweat on his forehead.
MUAAZ: Sir… I had it. I swear. Someone took my bag —
TC: (Flat) No ticket, no travel. Fine is 500 rupees — or next station, you get off.
MUAAZ: I don’t have anything. Please —
Passengers stare. Muaaz feels small. Then he remembers — the envelope. He pulls it out with trembling hands. Tears it open.
Inside: a folded train ticket — S-9, seat 42 — and a handwritten note.
CLOSE-UP ON NOTE:
“Beta — I knew you’d handle 99 things. This is for the 1 you can’t. Also, I’m in the last bogey. S-9, seat 42. Come find me.”
Muaaz stares. His eyes well up.
—
SCENE 4: INT. TRAIN – PASSAGE BETWEEN BOGIES
Muaaz walks unsteadily, coach after coach, the train swaying. He reaches S-9. Seat 42.
Fayyaz is sitting there, reading a newspaper. A cup of chai on the table.
He lowers the paper. Smiles gently.
FAYYAZ: Took you long enough.
MUAAZ: (Voice cracking)
You… you were here the whole time?
FAYYAZ (Pats the seat beside him)
Not to watch you fail. To watch you rise — and catch you if you didn’t.
Muaaz sits. Fayyaz hands him his own spare chai.
FAYYAZ Now — tell the TC I’m your father. Show him that ticket. And next time, keep the envelope in your pocket, not your bag.
Muaaz laughs — half cry, half relief.
MUAAZ You knew I’d lose the bag?
FAYYAZ (Shrugs) I knew you’re human. That’s all.
SCENE 5: EXT. GRANDPARENTS’ VILLAGE STATION – EVENING
They step off together. Grandparents rush to hug Muaaz. Fayyaz stands back, watching.
GRANDMOTHER
Beta, why does your father look so tired?
MUAAZ (Looking back at Fayyaz)
Because he’s been running — without me knowing.
Fayyaz winks.
—
FINAL SHOT:
The train pulls away. On the platform, a young boy waves at his own father.
We see Fayyaz’s hand — still holding the second ticket stub.
SUPERIMPOSE TEXT:
“Give them space. Stay in the last bogey. They’ll never know — until they need to.”
FADE TO BLACK.
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THE END