Scene 1: The Spark – Karachi's SITE Industrial Zone (January 1969)
*[Setting: Pre-dawn darkness pierced by factory sirens. Workers huddle around oil-drum fires.]*
**Worker 1** *(spitting paan residue)*: "They cut rice rations again. My children cry all night with empty bellies."
**Worker 2** *(sharpening iron rod)*: "Bhutto was right—Ayub feeds generals *zarda* while we eat dust."
A police jeep skids to a halt. **Inspector Rahim** leaps out, lathi swinging:
"Back to machines, dogs! Or I break bones!"
**Worker 1** *(grabbing the rod)*: "Break *this*!"
The first stone flies. By sunrise, 30 factories burn.
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Scene 2: Student Storm – Dhaka University Campus (February 15, 1969)
*[Setting: Rain-slicked courtyards. Walls daubed with *"জয় বাংলা!"*]*
**Tofael Ahmed** *(scaling the VC's office)*: "They killed Zahurul in jail! Now we burn their records!"
**Pakistani Major Bashir** *(megaphone trembling)*: "Disperse or we fire!"
**Asma Jahangir** *(18, future human rights icon, blocking a rifle)*: "Shoot! Make me a martyr like Zahurul!"
A tear gas canister explodes. Through the smoke, **Moulana Bhasani**'s roar:
"*Gonobahini*! Form the People's Army! *Teknaf to Tetulia—revolution now!*"
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Scene 3: Bhutto's Dance – Lahore Safehouse (February 20, 1969)
*[Setting: Opium haze over maps of riot zones. Bhutto pours Scotch.]*
**Bhutto** *(to socialist ally J.A. Rahim)*: "Ayub's corpse twitches. Time to sever its head."
**Rahim** *(pointing at Punjab)*: "But Yahya's tanks surround Lahore. One misstep—"
**Bhutto** *(smashing glass)*: "Let him! When workers and generals *both* hate the king..." *(grins)* "The throne is mine."
A courier bursts in: "Sahib! Karachi port workers seized cranes!"
Bhutto scribbles a telegram: *To Ayub: RESIGN OR PAKISTAN DIES BY DAWN. ZAB.*
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**Scene 4: Ayub's Last Card – President House Round Table (March 10, 1969)**
*[Setting: Chandeliers glitter over Mujib, Bhutto, Bhasani, and generals. Ayub's hands shake.]*
**Ayub** *(voice cracking)*: "I offer… a constitutional committee."
**Mujib** *(slamming Six Points pamphlet)*: "No more committees! Accept autonomy *now*!"
**Bhutto** *(mockingly)*: "The Field Marshal begs? How the mighty rot."
**General Yahya** *(whispering to Ayub)*: "Sir, the 111th Brigade mutinied. They chant *'Bhutto Zindabad!'*"
Ayub's pen drops. A dark stain spreads on his uniform trousers.
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Scene 5: The Coup Without Shots – Army HQ Rawalpindi (March 25, 1969)
*[Setting: Midnight. Yahya stares at Ayub's resignation letter.]*
**General Peerzada** *(nervously)*: "Bhutto demands elections. Mujib wants secession. What do *we* do?"
**Yahya** *(signing Martial Law Proclamation No. 1)*: "We break everything."
He gestures to a **Colonel** with a briefcase:
"Operation *Gharara*:
- Arrest Bhutto's strike leaders.
- Move 9th Division to Dhaka.
- And this—" *(slides a dossier)* "Mujib's 'final warning'."
The dossier title: *OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT – DRAFT*.
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**Scene 6: The People's Pyre – Karachi Streets (March 26, 1969)**
*[Setting: Ayub's portrait burns atop a truck. Bhutto stands over the flames.]*
**Worker Leader** *(hoarse)*: "You promised *roti*! But Yahya gives bullets!"
**Bhutto** *(soothing)*: "Patience, *bhai*. First we bury the dog—" *(kicks portrait)* "—then we feast!"
A student screams: "*Yahya says no elections for 3 years!*"
Bhutto's smile vanishes. He locks eyes with **Mubashir Hassan** (PPP strategist):
"Three years? *Laanat!* Prepare the prisons. War comes sooner than they think."
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**Scene 7: The New Master – President House Balcony (March 27, 1969)**
*[Setting: Yahya addresses empty lawns. Only crows listen.]*
**Yahya** *(reading stiffly)*: "I assume power… to restore order…"
**General Hamid** *(whispering)*: "Sir, Dhaka reports 500,000 marching. They carry Mujib's photo."
**Yahya** *(off-mic)*: "Then drown them in the Buriganga."
He turns back to the microphone, voice suddenly thunderous:
"*All political activities banned! Assemblies dissolved! Pakistan is ARMY!*"
The radio static swallows his words. In Lahore, Bhutto smashes his receiver.
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**Scene 8: Embers to Inferno – Tajuddin's Dhaka Hideout (Night)**
*[Setting: Hurricane lamp flickers over rebel plans.]*
**Tajuddin Ahmed** *(pinning Yahya's photo to a map)*: "The tiger traded for a wolf."
**Student Leader Alamgir** *(sharpening daa)*: "What now? *Cholbe na!* We can't wait!"
Tajuddin slides a coded message across the table: *"RAW contact: Agartala border. Midnight. Bring river routes."*
**Alamgir** *(shocked)*: "After the conspiracy case, you still trust India?"
Tajuddin blows out the lamp. Darkness swallows them.
"Trust? No. *Use*."
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