Gloss Over

RADHA (late 60s, tenacious and hard-headed) looks at the wall with a questioning look. She tilts her head to the side and rolls the paint roller covered in white paint over a spot on the wall. Happy with her work, she sits on a pull-out chair next to a temporary table, starts an alarm for 5-minutes, and watches the wall. The moment is peaceful but is eventually broken by the alarm sounding. She strolls to the wall, places a finger on the paint, and assesses the wetness of the wall. She notes down a 'Wet Raring' of 10/10 on a notepad before returning to her chair drawing out 5-minute interval markers on the notepad and setting the alarm for a second time. She returns to the task of watching the paint dry. Her attention is broken as someone enters the door. She turns to see her son, ARMAAN (38, warm but abrupt) with a mug of tea. He places the tea on the table and joins Radha as the paint stands, looking at the wall. He tells her that her grandchildren are waiting for her to join them, but she declines his offer, explaining that she must finish her product review of the paint first. Armaan thinks his mother is joking. He casually leans onto the table, pushing his weight down and knocking the tea onto the floor. The tea splashes onto the painted wall. Radha's overreaction tells him that she is serious. She intends to watch the paint dry with her full attention, believing that she is offering the world a service by offering such a close-up review of the product. In their argument, Radha's potential for growth is introduced when she explains that writing reviews has been a good way to fill her time since her husband passed away. Left at a loss, Armaan leaves. Radha returns to watching the paint dry. Time passes until only 5 minutes until the hour marker and the completion of the test. Radha's grandchildren NIKKI (11, smart and analytical) and DANIEL (7, a bundle of energy) burst into the room. Nikki is inquisitive and enquires about the product review, seemingly unphased by the fact that Radha is watching the paint dry. Daniel, on the other hand, runs around the room, pretending to shoot the wall with his toy plane. He falls into Radha's lap and says that they should paint the wall a bright color. Nikki says that they could paint a mural on the wall like she has done recently at school in an art lesson. Daniel plays up and knocks the table. Radha is quick to react and stops the paint tray from falling and spilling on the wall. She snaps, telling Daniel to behave or leave. He leaves with tears in his eyes. Radha regrets her outburst. Nikki is quick to change the topic and the pair talk about the virtue of patience. Radha reminds Nikki of something her grandad said. She does an impression of him before noticing a picture of Radha and her husband on the side. The pair stand in front of a small house in the green countryside of rural India with their arms wrapped around each other smiling. Nikki places the picture on the table. Radha longing looks at the picture, tearing up as she remembers her husband. Nikki offers her support and leaves to make a cup of tea for Radha. The alarm sounds and Radha touch tests the paint, revealing that the wall is still wet and the paint did not dry within its promised hour. She grows agitated when Araam enters the room, asking why Daniel is in tears. The pair argue about her compulsion when she insults him and swipes an arm in frustration, knocking the table over, smashing the picture, and spilling the paint tray on top of it. Radha cleans up the mess and notices the broken picture. Radha is forced to reflect on her actions and realizes that what she is doing is overreacting. Nikki enters the room with a cup of tea. Nikki explains how she has brought Radha her favorite biscuit, a fact that she knows due to one of Radha's product reviews. Nikki decides to put the biscuit to the test and eats one. She offers a harsh review of the biscuit, showing her dislike for something she previously enjoyed. Radha is shocked at how a child can not take pleasure in a simple biscuit. Nikki explains that Radha has shown her to look past such trivial matters and dissect a product. Radha realizes she has been wrong the entire time. Things are made to be enjoyed, enjoyed now as much as when her husband was with her. Radha's demeanor switches. She is ecstatic and filled with joy as she places pots of colored paint onto the floor. Araam passes the door and she calls him in, apologizing for her actions. He accepts the apology and notices a glint in her eyes. He enquires about what they are up to. Radha, Armaan, Nikki, and Daniel stand in front of the white wall with paintbrushes in their hands. The family plays around as they happily paint the wall in a dozen colors. They stand in front of their creation, a mural displaying a painted version of the picture of Radha and her husband in India.