MAYA IN GOA

PANI PURI & HARMONY ~ Episode 15 ~ Bhangra Event

Late morning and the cafe is comfortably busy.

A few regulars sit chatting and drinking tea.

Anjali is briefly helping Aman in the kitchen.

Maya is behind the counter sorting out the flyers.

Lucas and Conor enter. They approach the counter.

MAYA Morning.

LUCAS Morning. I see you have many flyers for us.

CONOR Excellent.The future of tonight’s entertainment.

Maya hands them the flyers.

MAYA What would you like to drink?

LUCAS A coffee and a kiss please.

CONOR I’ll just have a coffee.

MAYA Here’s your coffee.I have to find Dad.There is so much to do.

Then –

Lucas and Conor finish their coffee and walk out onto the busy streets.

CONOR (looking at his half empty stack of flyers) I think we’ve changed lives this afternoon.

LUCAS At the very least, we’ve advertised a dance event.

A JAPANESE COUPLE wave at them from the other side of the road,still carrying their flyers.

CONOR International marketing works every time.

LUCAS Of course.

As they step back inside the cafe, they both look in amazement.

Bright fabrics hang from the walls. Colourful lights weave across shelves and doorways.

AUNTY (directing operations) No,no. The flowers go over there.

CONOR This looks great.

Then –

BOOM.BOOM.BOOM.

Two dhol players and three dancers.

AUNTY Welcome! Welcome!

One of the dhol drummers taps a rhythm on his dhol. The room vibrates with sound.

ARUN ( Dhol drummer) Where would you like us to set up?

LUCAS I can help with the backing track mix.

PRIYA (Dancer) Thank you. So you’re a musician?

LUCAS Something like that.

The dancers disappear into the annexe to change into their outfits.

Regulars and tourists enter the cafe. Several sit on chairs and bar stools. The Japanese couple wave at Lucas and Conor and sit at a table.

ViKRAM Good evening everyone….and thank you for coming to our first Bhangra night at Pani Puri & Harmony. We hope you enjoy the music,the dancing…and of course,the food.

Aunty beams proudly.

The lead dhol drummer starts to play. Priya and two dancers enter in a lively circle formation.

The final Bhangra dance finishes.

The room erupts into applause. The dhol players and dancers take a bow.

AUNTY Nobody leaves hungry.

The dancers laugh…Guests begin chatting,eating and mingling.

PRIYA (to Lucas) Thank you for your help.

LUCAS My pleasure.

CONOR I also helped.

PRIYA Yes…with the cable.

Conor smiles and watches her rejoin the others.

LUCAS You’ll never see her again,you know.

CONOR I know…Still a beautiful distraction.

Across the room , Maya is closing the till.

She looks up.Lucas catches her eye.

Vikram walks slowly around the cafe,taking in the scene.

VIKRAM(to Aunty) I told you people would come.

Maya walks up to Lucas and holds his hand.

CONOR(sighs) I’m the only single musician.

ANJALI You’ve been single for about twenty four hours.

CONOR It’s been a difficult journey.

ANJALI (smiling) Poor you.

Warm lights glow around the cafe.

Outside – night time settles over the street.

Inside – Pani Puri & Harmony is full of music,laughter and friends.