YaYa Agrawal (bangledamsel) wrote in mnhttnprjct, @ 2010-04-16 18:48:00 |
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The show begins with a shot of Rupa Malhotra, a pretty but shabbily dress young Indian woman, dealing with annoyed customers at a laundromat in District 5. She is dealing with them with dignity, despite the racial slurs that some of them mutter under their breath. But as soon as her relief arrives, she checks her watch and dashes out -- almost getting hit by a taxi in the process. On picking up her daughter at a school in District 2, Rupa has to deal with her daughter (Priti) crying because several other children were calling her a terrorist. She tries to talk to the teacher, but to no avail. The two of them walk home, Rupa telling her stories about her father, Raj, who the audience can presume is dead. They enter a convenience store and greet the woman at the counter, Hua Yao. She is an attractive Chinese woman in her early thirties. Priti, automatically begins playing with Hua Yao while Hua Yao breaks the bad news to Rupa: Their landlord, Ernest Thomas, had increased the rent by $300. The two of them worry over this together, and a handsome Mexican man (Pablo) in his early twenties comes downstairs and buys some things while automatically joining the conversation with the ladies, and giving Priti some gum. They all live together, they all don't have another $100 each to spare. Lei pulls out a bunch of wisecracks, and in the end they decided that they'll try to fit one more person in the apartment, in order to come up with that extra money. Pablo shakes his head, saying that there isn't any way they can fit another person in there, and all of them head upstairs to the apartment except Lei, who is busy serving customers. The apartment is extremely crowded, with boxes in multiple places and all of the shelves completely full. It's pretty run down, and the window screen has holes, and you can hear sirens and shouting occasionally as the apartment scenes progress. The couch is large, but has a number of stains on it, as well as a pile of blankets. Priti re-tells the story of her day at school to Pablo, who gruffly tells her that that's just the way things are, and to not expect anything better. Rupa argues with him, but he ends it by pulling a blanket over his head and pretending to go to sleep, so Rupa and Priti finish making dinner together, singing a child's song in Hindi as they do. While Hua Yao is serving customers, the landlord, Ernest Thomas. He asks her if they're going to turn in the rent money. Hua Yao makes a joke about how he can't ask for the money until the end of the month, when rent is due, and he tells her that they better come up with $150 dollars, by tomorrow (because half the month is left, and the extra $300 per month starts today) or he'll just kick them out. He claims there is a British family who wants to take over the place, and unless they can up their rent, they'll be out on the street. Little Priti comes down at the end of this conversation, when Ernest tries taking hold of Hua Yao's wrist and leans forward in a sexually suggestive manner. Priti says, "Hello, Mr. Thomas," which causes him to drop Hua Yao's hand and turn to her and angrily say, "All of you will be out, even the kid." Late at night, Rupa is holding a sleeping Priti on a twin size bed, another twin size bed against the other wall where Hua Yao is sitting. They talk about their options, and the conversation goes to pawning. Rupa starts looking at her wedding ring, still on her hand, and suggests that maybe she could get at least part of the money, and although Hua Yao protests, Rupa finally decides that she'll go after work tomorrow and sell it, while looking down at her daughter's face. Hua Yao says that she'll try to find something to pawn, too, and see if Pablo can come up with some of the money. The next day, the scene is the same as the opening scene. Rupa is trying to deal with customers, obviously more distracted than she was the day before. She keeps looking at her ring. She also is doing her own laundry, gathering it out of the dryer and quickly folding it as her replacement comes in. Just like yesterday, Rupa rushes out of the laundromat, hurrying to get to the pawn shop before she has to pick up Priti. And just like yesterday, a taxi almost hits her as she runs into the street. But this time, Rupa falls and twists her ankle, the laundry scattering. A handsome Indian gentleman with glasses quickly comes to her aid, assisting her as she struggles to stand, and falls. He picks up her laundry, obviously a bit alarmed and abashed when he accidentally picks up the ladies underwear that has fallen out, and then helps her to her feet. The man introduces himself as Rajesh, which makes Rupa do a double take. She thanks him profusely, and says that she must be getting on. But after seeing her struggle with carrying the laundry and walking, Rajesh refuses to let her go alone, and carries her laundry and tries to help her walk. She asks him if he has a cell phone he lets her borrow it to call Hua Yao and tell her that she can't pick up Priti, and if Pablo or she could do it. Rupa's embarrassment is even more evident when she points out a pawn shop that she must go into. While Rajesh initially just idles by the door, as he realizes that Rupa is about to sell her wedding ring, he comes in and quickly escorts her out, stammering a little as he asks her why she would do such a thing, what her husband would think of her. She tears up a little as she quietly explains that her husband died on November 17th, and that she needs the money to be able to pay for her rent. He asks her more questions, and when he mentions that he has been looking for a new place to stay. Rupa is surprised, but tells him that he might not want to stay there, explains that it is very crowded. He says that he might as well see the room, since he is planning on helping her get back home. Quietly, she says 'It isn't a room. It isn't really anyplace at all.' When they arrive at the convience store, Priti throws herself at Rupa, who struggles not to fall. She is obviously embarrassed at Rajesh being privy to what is a slightly private scene, and before she can explain to Hua Yao, Hua Yao makes wisecracks about Rupa spending all her pawning money on errand boys. Rajesh laughs and says that he is there to see the room. Hua Yao gives him a weird look but tells him how to get there, and to go ahead. Rupa hurriedly heads up the stairs with Priti in tow to get there before Rajesh does, and by the time the scene cuts to the apartment, she is hobbling around the apartment trying to make it look nicer. Rajesh is obviously taken aback by all the stuff, and asks Rupa how many people live there. Rupa shyly answers that there are four of them. That he would make five. She explains the living situation (she, Hua Yao, and Priti in the bedroom and Pablo on the couch). She says that they could make room for an air mattress or something, but try to make him comfortable. Hua Yao calls up that he could always try sleeping in the bathtub. While Rajesh is laughing, suddenly Hua Yao starts talking loudly and angrily, and Ernest's voice can be heard. Rupa looks terrified, Priti runs into her room, and Rajesh looks defensive as Ernest heads upstairs, along with Hua Yao in his wake. Ernest demands the money, and Rajesh quickly, although awkwardly, takes charge. He explains that he knows he owes money since he will be living there, and quickly pulls out his wallet and asks how much. Hua Yao rushes to his side, and once Ernest looks at the ladies he says, "$150." Rajesh takes a deep breath and pulls out $120, to which Hua Yao quickly adds $30. They hand it to Ernest, who looks annoyed to have been beaten, and then says that if they want to live like sardines, they can live like sardines. Pablo comes shortly after, and although he is obviously not very impressed that they have to add another roommate so quickly, Rupa and Priti serve dinner and Hua Yao comes up for her dinner break, and everything seems to be at least a little peaceful and Priti describes a happier day at school. Rupa is obviously happier at Priti's story. Rajesh is paying more attention to Rupa than Rupa realizes. Pablo is twisting his neck and stretching, obviously overworked and looking exhausted, and in the candlelight even Hua Yao looks nervous and anxious. "I'm glad we have each other," Rupa says quietly. And they all nod, and the episode ends. |