Wallet
An imprisoned father bribes his daughter to talk to him.
Is there any human bond more sacred than family? Allegedly at least, families are the glue that hold society together at its fraying seams. Other relationships come and go, but – for better or worse - blood ties are forever. What could possibly be more cherished than parent/child dynamics? Father/daughter, especially -
Well, not according to 20 year old Sri Lankan Keshini. When she takes the call from Dad Deepal, it’s instantly clear things aren’t… well.
First, there’s the fact Deepal’s call is announced by computer. He’s an “inmate at Sacramento County Jail.”
That’s right: Father Dearest is a jailbird. Given the heartfelt sigh Keshini breathes, she hasn’t been missing Daddy much. Still, she takes the call.
And submits to artificially cheery banter. Deepal tries his hardest to play down the dire situation, while steadfastly ignoring Keshini’s bored tone:
DEEPAL (V.O.)
Hi, honeeey!
KESHINI
Hi, Dad.
DEEPAL (V.O.)
How are you doing?
KESHINI
I'm fine. How are you?
DEEPAL (V.O.)
I'm much better now! I guess one of
my investors got assigned to the same
cell block as me.
...investors? That doesn’t sound good. Deepal’s next comments make it worse:
DEEPAL (V.O.)
It's OK. They got me moved before
anything happened. I was worried that
I'd get one of those -- what do they
call them? Sharks? Skanks?
KESHINI
Shank?
DEEPAL (V.O.)
That's it. Someone told me you can
make one out of a toothbrush. There's
actually some very creative people in
here.
KESHINI
Sounds like you're making friends.
Hope so. Because Deepal needs someone. And he’s lost his daughter’s respect. As Keshini listens, she skims an old newspaper clipping: “Sacramento Businessman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for $100 Million Fraud Scheme.” Ah, that makes sense.
At least until Deepal pushes his luck:
DEEPAL (V.O.)
We have a deal.
KESHINI
Don't even.
Bribing us every month for a word --
DEEPAL (V.O.)
You're halfway there.
Behind Keshini stands a whiteboard with twelve lines: 6 have been filled in, the other half blank. She’s halfway there… FOR WHAT?
What exactly is Deepal’s game? For sure, this isn’t Wordle. How long will Keshini care to play?
Family can be sacred, but it’s nowhere near invulnerable. Betrayals can rot even the deepest bonds. Have Deepal’s crimes and manipulations cost him something more valuable than $100 Million? Is there any price he can pay to gain Keshini’s love back?
A surprisingly sweet short, Wallet is single location, featuring dialogue soaked in the subtext of emotional games families often play. Deepal might be going nowhere. But with this short and proper casting, a drama director will!