Life Of Pi Page #12

As Richard Parker enjoys his treat, Pi climbs backward over

the bow, unhooking the rope, grabbing the water cans and the

biscuits and slipping over the side, falling into the water.

He drops onto the raft and pushes himself back with his feet.

The raft floats back and hits the end of the ropeline with a

jerk. Pi remembers the rope and goes back to untie it.

Suddenly Richard Parker appears at the bow and lunges at him,

almost falling off the front of the lifeboat onto Pi. The

tiger scrambles back onto the boat and off the tarp, while Pi

paddles the raft away.

When he is finally at a safe distance, fear and stress

overwhelm Pi - he throws up what little food and water he has

taken.

43.

92 EXT. THE RAFT, BEHIND THE LIFEBOAT - NIGHT 92

A full moon, backlit clouds rolling through the skies,

reflected in the water below. Pi floats behind the lifeboat,

weeping, surrounded by nothing but terror and the abyss. A

thick range of clouds moves in, threatening to cut off the

light from the moon and stars.

Pi watches Richard Parker on the lifeboat, a shadowy

silhouette on the bow ahead. The tiger takes the zebra

carcass under the tarp. The clouds blot out the sky. Darkness

envelops them.

93 EXT. ABOVE THE RAFT - EARLY MORNING 93

Angle on Pi, the raft and boat from above, lost on an endless

ocean, the bright colors of morning light dancing on the

surface of the water.

Pi has taken out his pencil and now writes on the back page

of his survival manual, his voice heard over:

PI (WRITING V.O.)

"My name is Pi Patel. I have been

in a shipwreck. I am on a lifeboat

alone - with a tiger. Please send

help."

He tears the page out and stuffs it into an empty water can,

sealing the opening with a plastic lid. He tosses it as far

as possible; the can splashes down, rippling the water, then

bobs, going nowhere. Pi stares at the bobbing can, crushed as

he sees the futility of this plan.

A defeated pause, and then Pi looks up and sees the majesty

of his surroundings. The cloud cover breaks; dawn light glows

down on Pi.

A grunt from the lifeboat. Pi turns, surprised. He grabs the

tow line and reels into the lifeboat.

He lifts the tarp; Richard Parker's eyes glow out at him from

the shadows, greeting Pi with a low snarl. Pi gingerly lowers

the tarp and casts the raft back from the bow. He looks up.

PI (CONT'D)

(In awe, shuddering:)

God... I give myself to you. I am

your vessel. Whatever comes... I

want to know. Show me.

FADE TO:

44.

EXT. THE RAFT - DAY

Pi sits on his makeshift raft, flipping through his manual.

The foldout map of the manual shows the ocean's currents,

longitudes, latitudes, and depths. Pi stares at the chart,

bewildered by it all. He rises up on his knees, looking out

at the ocean around him, then sits back, hand to forehead.

PI:

There are no lines!

95 EXT. THE RAFT - DAY - MONTAGE 95

Montage - Pi struggling with discomfort on his raft.

PI (READING - V.O.)

"Set your house in order and dig in

for the battle to survive.

Establish a strict schedule for

eating, keeping watch and getting

rest. Do not drink urine or sea

water.

Keep busy, but avoid unnecessary

exertion. The mind can be kept

occupied by playing card games,

Twenty Questions, or I Spy.

Community singing is another sure-

fire way to lift the spirits.

Telling stories is highly

recommended. Above all, don't lose

hope."

- Pi scratches marks into the side of the boat to indicate

the passage of time - it is his 11th day at sea.

A96 EXT. THE RAFT - A SHORT TIME LATER A96

Pi is still reading his survival manual. The waves pick up.

The lifeboat rocks. Somewhere beneath the tarp, the tiger

lets out a faint groan of discomfort. On Pi as he

contemplates this...

PI (READING V.O.:)

"Few things can sap the spirit

faster than seasickness. Waves are

more strongly felt when a boat

turns sideways to the current. A

sea anchor is used as a drag to

keep the boat's head to the wind.

(MORE)

45.

PI (READING V.O.:) (CONT'D)

Proper use of them can increase

control and reduce seasickness

during rough seas...

Pi takes a sea anchor from inside his life ring and tosses it

overboard. As soon as the sea anchor has been deployed, the

raft slows down and the anchor lines go taut.

97 EXT. RAFT - DAY 97

Pi has rigged an additional line between the open end of the

lifeboat and his raft.

PI (READING V.O.)

For castaways who must share their

lifeboats with large dangerous

carnivores it's advisable to

establish a territory as your own.

The following course of action is

recommended.

Step one:
choose a day when waves

are moderate but regular.

Step two:
with the lifeboat facing

into the waves, making the ride as

comfortable as possible, blow your

whistle soothingly.

Step three:
turn the lifeboat

sideways to the waves, accompanied

by harsh aggressive use of the

whistle. With sufficient

repetition, the animal will

associate the sound of the whistle

with the discomfort of seasickness.

Similar methods have long been used

by circus trainers, though they

generally lack access to rough

seas.

He reels in this line, turning the boat sideways to the

waves. The rocking increases. Pi blows the whistle several

times harshly ("warning" signal) as the rocking increases.

From within the boat, he hears the tiger groan. He grabs the

original lifeline that connects the raft to the boat and

hauls himself in. Pi grins, spits out the whistle.

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