Life Of Pi Page #10

Pi bursts above water in total panic, throwing his arms

around the oar, coughing up sea water and bile. The lifebuoy

floats a dozen feet off; he swims toward it. He grabs the oar

moments before a huge wave sweeps him up and over the

lifeboat. He lands on the other side, the oar lost, and drags

himself onto the stern. He jumps over the kicking zebra and

scrambles onto the boat tarp.

An oar sticks out from under the boat cover, hanging out over

the front of the lifeboat. Pi climbs out on the oar, keeping

himself a safe distance from the tiger he assumes is beneath

the tarp. The air vibrates with a tremendous belching groan;

Pi looks over to the cargo ship, watching, astounded...

PI:

Amma! Appa! Ravi! I'm sorry! I'm

sorry...!

WIDE SHOT - from top, looking down into the water: the

Tsimtsum abruptly keels and sinks beneath the surface. Pi

watches in horror as the Tsimtsum plummets into the depths of

the Mariana Trench, it's deck lights gradually fading. Pi

bursts into tears as waves from the sinking vessel buffet his

lifeboat.

Pi weeps uncontrollably.

EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAWN

The storm has passed, but the skies are still heavy with

disgusting grey clouds. Pi has hung the lifebuoy on the oar

and now sits on it, slumped in exhaustion and shivering.

37.

With what energy he still has, he weeps - his face is puffy

and swollen from a night of tears.

Pi watches a shark fin knife through the waves. His feet have

been trailing in the water; he quickly lifts them out. He

raises his head, looking at his new surroundings - water and

air, clouds and sky. Nothing on the horizon.

Pi creeps forward on the oar, pulling himself onto the

gunnels - the side of the boat. No sign of Richard Parker.

The zebra comes into view in the stern of the lifeboat,

injured legs folded beneath it, staring indifferently into

space.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAY

Pi stands a few feet away from the zebra, using an emergency

bucket to bail water out of the bottom of the boat, exhausted

from the effort. He pauses to catch his breath, then becomes

aware of a slight movement at one side of the tarp.

A SPOTTED HYENA lurches furtively into view from beneath the

tarp, then disappears again. Pi freezes, dumbfounded.

PI:

Hari?

Hari, the hyena, with a sloping, bear-like forehead and the

nervous manner of a beaten dog, reappears. Pi instantly dives

across the tarp, scrambling for safety on the oar. The hyena

staggers and stumbles listlessly. Pi turns to face the

creature, struggling for calm.

PI (CONT'D)

Looks as though your drugs haven't

worn off yet.

The screech of a terrified animal echoes across the water -

the hyena looks out to port, the hair rising on its back,

then staggers beneath the tarp.

Pi squints into the rising sun. An enormous bundle of bananas

bobs into view. The bundle twists and rolls - and Orange

Juice, the orangutan tries desperately to stay on top.

PI (CONT'D)

Orange Juice!! This way!

38.

Within moments, the bundle is within reach of the lifeboat;

Pi catches the oar handle in the netting that binds the

bananas together and pulls it against the side of the boat.

O.J. falls onboard in a stuporous fog.

PI (CONT'D)

Welcome to Pi's ark!

The netting, wrapped around the handle of the oar, pulls

loose from the bananas, which tumble out of reach. As Pi

reels the netting in, O.J. moans in distress. Pi throws a

banana to O.J. but she is too sick to react.

PI (CONT'D)

(A sudden realization)

Where is your boy, Orange Juice?

(Pause)

I'll bet Mother and Father found

him. They'll all be here soon.

O.J. turns to look at Pi, a look of inconsolable sadness in

her eyes - as though she knows better what lies ahead.

84 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAY 84

High noon. Intolerable heat. Flies circle the zebra, landing

on Pi's face and arms. He's too exhausted to brush them away.

The only sound is the incessant lapping of water against the

hull. Pi stares out across the ocean - no rescue in sight. He

pushes himself upright, calling over the waves.

PI:

HELLO...! HELLO...! ANYBODY?

Pi kneels and bangs his bailing bucket against the hull. The

hyena emergees, shaking its head violently in an attempt to

clear its thoughts. It screams in frustration and begins

yipping. Pi picks up the oar and pokes the hyena to fend it

off. He watches with increasing alarm as the hyena paces in

frantic circles - whatever tranquilizers this animal received

are wearing off. The boy wraps his grip around the paddle,

prepared to defend himself.

The hyena abruptly stops pacing, coughing and retching - then

lies down, shaking from emotional and physical distress. It

sets its head on the edge of the tarp, predator eyes fastened

on Pi.

85 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DUSK 85

A boy, a hyena, a zebra and an orangutan silhouetted against

the last fading light of day.

39.

Pi has hung the paddle and lifebuoy off the end of the boat

and perches on the bow. The hyena's eyes seem to glow in the

last light, fixed on Pi. Pi stares back.

Pi fights fatigue as waves splash interminably against the

hull. He winces at each creak of the lifeboat; his eyes glaze

over as he stares out at the endless, dusky seascape. Pi sees

movement in the shadows. The hyena attacks the zebra; the

zebra barks and squeals. O.J. reacts to the violence, crying

out.

PI:

No! Stop it! Stop it! No! Stop it!

Stop it! NO!!! NO!!! NO!!!

86 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAWN 86

Silence. Morning. Hazy. Pi slumps over the oar, eyes half

open, glazed. He has stayed up a second night for fear of

being attacked, and now he slowly nods sideways, giving in to

exhaustion despite himself, and tumbles into the water.

Pi gasps in shock as the water slaps him into full

consciousness. He climbs back onto the life ring - coughing,

tired, wet, sad and fearful.

The lifeboat rolls and growls beneath Pi's feet as he stares -

and then he notices O.J. The poor orang is sitting on a side

bench half-hidden by the tarp, and horribly seasick. Her

tongue lolls out of her mouth and she's visibly panting.

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