Phoenix

One
Light gradually brightens on the stage. There is a mourning track beingplayed in the background. The stage is made up of black curtains. In the centrethere is a long table. A white sheet has been spread on it. A coffin is lying onthe table. The coffin lid is being supported by legs of the table. Three fourthsof the coffin is draped with a flag. There is also a wreath lying against thecoffin lid. A 20-year-old man is sitting on a stool at the head of the coffinwith his head down. There is another table on the right extreme of the stage. Awhite sheet has been spread on it too. A big book is lying open on it; there isalso a flower vase. An old-fashioned chair is in front of the table. A bigcalendar is seen hanging near the table and the fragrance of incense sticks isall around.

Two
After some time, a person wearing khadi and dark glasses makes an entryon the stage. He is around 40-45 years old. A person in khaki uniform followshim with a wreath. They take off their slippers at the door and move towards thecoffin. The wreath is placed next to the one already lying on the coffin lid.The man in dark glasses looks in the coffin and turns around to look at theperson who has accompanied him. They move towards the person sitting on thestool. They stand besides him for a few seconds. From there they walk to thedoor and put on their footwear. But suddenly they return to the coffin to checkif the wreath they have placed bears their nametag. When they find it in place,they heave a sigh of relief. The man in khadi decides to make an entry in thecondolence register. He settles down on the chair and signs the register andslips the pen into his pocket. The man in khaki reminds him that the pen belongsto him and takes it back. Finally, the khadi man does a namaste before thecoffin and leaves. The uniformed man also follows him.

Three
A person who looks like a businessman comes on the stage. He is wearingspectacles. He walks in slowly and keeps his briefcase in one corner, takes offhis shoes and walks towards the coffin. He looks at it with sadness; he removeshis spectacles and wipes his tears. With a deep sigh he moves towards the mansitting on the stool. He presses his hand gently, takes a wad of currency notesfrom his pocket and stuffs it into the man's pocket. He comes to the condolenceregister, signs it, puts on his shoe, picks up the briefcase and leaves.

Four
After a small interval, a lady dressed up in modern attire walks in.She tries to peep into the coffin from a distance. Then takes off her slippersand gets closer to it. She takes out flowers that are jetting out from hervanity bag and offers it with respect. She also takes out a candle and lights itnear the coffin. The young man on the stool, who had kept his head bent all thewhile, now starts looking at the girl. The girl notices the man's glances whenshe is lighting the candle. Then she looks at the currency notes in his pocketand walks towards the door. She returns to sign the register and then stares atthe man on the stool. He puts his head down again.

Five
Another person wearing a loosely-fit pant, coat and a hat walks inholding the hand of a little boy. The person is aged. The little boy is holdingan ice cream and ball in the same hand. Licking the ice cream he looks aroundwith curiosity. The old man slips out of his shoe, he is not wearing socks. Thelittle boy also takes off his slippers.

The old man leaves the hand of the boy and walks towards the coffin. He takesoff his hat and takes a deep breath looking at the coffin. He stretches his handtowards the sky. At a distance, the boy is licking ice cream held in one handand is bouncing the ball with the other. The old man kneels down and crosses hisheart in prayer. The little boy gets curious about the man sitting on the stool.He bends and looks at him and continues to lick the ice cream. He goes to thetable with the register and just flips through the pages of the book. The oldman slowly gets up and comes near the man on the stool and touches his head withaffection. In the meantime, the bouncing ball falls into the coffin. The littleboy looks helplessly at the old man. The old man walks towards the little boywith anger. The boy tries to explain, but the old man drags him out. The boyresists being dragged out but continues to lick the ice cream.

Six
After a little while, the melancholic music in the background recedesand the sound of a march-past is heard. The man on the stool springs up andtakes off the flag on the coffin. A man, about thirty years, sleeping inside thecoffin gets up and jumps out. They take the calendar, the condolence register,the two wreaths, the candle and the flag and put it into the coffin. They alsoput the currency notes given by the businessman into the coffin. They shut itslid. The man who was on the stool remembers something, opens the lid of thecoffin and takes out the ball thrown into it by the little boy and keeps it onthe table. He puts the lid back and takes a hammer lying nearby and taps it onthe coffin lid. The two take out caps from the their pocket and wear it. Theylook at each other and smile. They lift the coffin and march out in thedirection opposite to the one through which others had made an exit. All theaction takes place in great speed and as the two walk out of the stage thespotlight is on the ball on the table. As the sound of the marching step recedesthe light also fades out.