Life Of Pi Page #15

Pi's winces, prepared for an attack. In an instant, he's

struck hard across the face - a stunning blow that sends him

backward onto the tarp.

Pause. Pi opens one eye. Richard Parker hasn't moved. Pi

looks down - a slender grey-blue fish with wings is flopping

about on the tarp. Pi has been hit by a flying fish.

Richard Parker has seen the flying fish as well. He rises to

his haunches. Pi grabs the flying fish and tosses it to

Richard Parker.

PI (CONT'D)

Here, it's yours.

52.

The tiger stands, jaws opening in anticipation...

And then the fish extends its wings, veering at the last

second and dropping into the water. Richard Parker tries to

bat the fish down, but it's too quick for him. The tiger

turns back toward Pi with a questioning glare.

The air around the boat whirs to life as they are struck from

all directions by a school of flying fish that descends upon

them like a swarm of locusts. Some sail clear over the boat;

a number crash into the side. Other, less fortunate fish land

in the boat, where they start a racket of flapping and

flailing. Pi yelps in anguish as he is struck repeatedly.

The school of fish is being pursued through the ocean by

tuna. It is a feeding frenzy - the ocean boils with jumping

fish and snapping jaws.

Richard Parker becomes totally absorbed in the kill, leaping,

blocking, and batting down as many of the fish as he can.

A fat, three-foot long yellowfin tuna lands onboard, cracking

hard against the center bench and falling, stunned and

twitching, into the boat.

Pi sees Richard Parker's head swivel in his direction. In a

moment of insanity brought on by hunger, Pi reaches back and

grabs the boat hook from the tarp, shoving it aggressively

into the tiger's face just as Richard Parker launches

forward.

The boat hook catches Richard Parker square in the mouth; the

tiger staggers back in shock and growls in outrage. Pi rises

up to his full height, staring directly into the tiger's eyes

and shouting in fury, his gaze wide, his posture defiant.

PI (CONT'D)

MINE!!!! MINE!!! AHHH!!

AAAAHHHH!!!!

Boy and tiger face off for several seconds, both panting,

neither blinking nor showing fear, as the rain of fish

gradually slows around them.

Richard Parker turns his focus from Pi and takes in the

situation around him. Realizing that he stands up to his

knees in a pile of flying fish, he turns his attention to a

more convenient meal.

Pi uses the gaff to snag the tuna, shoving it to the farthest

edge of the bow. As he rises, late afternoon light casts

golden flames across the surface of the water, throwing Pi

into backlight.

53.

Pi picks up the boat hook and turns to face Richard Parker.

EXT. THE RAFT - SUNSET

Pi takes a small piece of tuna and gingerly raises it to his

lips, tasting flesh for the first time. A pause as he savors

the taste, considering... and then hunger takes him over. He

grabs at the tuna, stuffing pieces into his mouth, devouring

it.

A132 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAY A132

Pi uses a bandage from the first aid kit to wrap a cut on his

leg. As he works, he glances back toward the boat, deep in

contemplation.

PI (V.O.)

I can't risk my life every time I

have to climb onto the boat for

supplies. It's time to settle this.

If we're going to live together, we

have to learn to communicate.

B132 EXT. THE RAFT - DAY B132

Pi reaches into the stern, prying loose a seven-foot strip of

wooden molding that lines the front edge of the seats.

PI (V.O.)

Maybe Richard Parker cannot be

tamed, but with God's will, he can

be trained.

Pi works intently with his knife, whittling the strip of

molding into a long tapered wand with a handgrip on one end.

133 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT - DAY 133

Pi crosses the tarp, approaching Richard Parker with his new

training stick.

The tiger backs off as Pi approaches - curious and annoyed.

Pi uses the stick to probe into the tiger's territory,

testing his limits; Richard Parker gets angry, batting at the

stick. Pi looks away, tries again, then turns to face Richard

Parker, who growls, angry and begins batting at the stick.

PI:

NO!

54.

Pi gives the tiger a stern glare. RP stops, stares back, then

backs off.

PI (CONT'D)

Good.

Pi reaches into a pouch behind his back, taking out a piece

of fish. He places it on the end of the stick and reaches

out, offering it to Richard Parker, who sniffs the air.

Pi puts the fish on the bench. Richard Parker eats the fish,

then backs up, growing calmer.

Pi takes out another fish, reaches out to tap the bench, then

tosses the fish on the bench. Richard Parker takes the fish,

eats.

Pi tosses the next piece near the edge of the tarp and taps,

encouraging Richard Parker to follow his direction.

PI (CONT'D)

Go Richard Parker. Go. Go on home;

I'll leave you alone. I'll respect

that. I promise. Go, c'mon.

Richard Parker stares at Pi. Pi raises his arms and yells,

chasing Richard Parker around the bench and under the tarp.

PI (CONT'D)

Yes!

Pi sits, the battle over.

137 EXT. THE LIFEBOAT/THE RAFT - DAY 137

The sun is high. Pi raises the adjustable canopy he has

rigged on his raft and sits beneath it. He feels the wind on

his face and watches Richard Parker lounge in the stern of

the lifeboat. Pi smiles, for a moment genuinely happy.

He uses his knife to carefully sharpen his pencil, then

begins writing in the margins of his survival manual, which

are covered with journal entries...

`LIFE IS GOOD' MONTAGE - Pi's raft has transformed again.

Fish strips dry on lines; he has fashioned new tools, rigged

an elaborate water collection system out of turtle shells,

and a collapsible shade umbrella.

- Pi trims his fingernails, a fish bone toothpick in his

mouth.

55.

PI (WRITING - V.O.)

I never thought a small piece of

shade could bring me so much

happiness. That a pile of tools - a

bucket, a knife, a pencil- might

become my greatest treasures. Or

that knowing Richard Parker was

here might ever bring me peace. In

times like these, I remember that

he has as little experience of the

real world as I do. We were both

raised in a zoo by the same master.

Now we've been orphaned, left to

face our ultimate master together.

Without Richard Parker, I would

have died by now. My fear of him

keeps me alert. Tending to his

needs gives my life purpose.

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