Life Of Pi Page #4

A tank ceremony is about to begin. The tank is a square

reservoir the size of a soccer field; Pi's family sits among

the crowd on the steps that lead down to the water.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

The gods were my superheroes

growing up. Hanuman, the monkey

god, lifting an entire mountain to

save his friend Lakshmana. Ganesh,

the elephantheaded, risking his

life to defend the honor of his

mother Parvati. Vishnu, the Supreme

Soul, the source of all things.

Vishnu sleeps, floating on the

shoreless cosmic ocean and we are

the stuff of his dreaming.

FATHER:

(With quiet sincerity.)

Spectacle. Don't let the stories

and pretty lights fool you, boys.

Religion is darkness.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

My dear 'Appa' believed himself

part of the 'new India.' As a

child, he'd had polio; he used to

lie in bed, wracked with pain,

wondering where God was. In the

end, God didn't save him; Western

medicine did.

Below, Mother watches the ceremony, lost in contemplation.

14.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

My 'Amma' went to college and

thought her family was part of the

'new India' as well - until her

parents cut her off because they

thought she was marrying beneath

her. Her religion was the only link

she had to her past.

36 EXT. MUNNAR TEA FIELDS, 1973 - DAY 36

Rocky mountaintops jut up through a sea of clouds and mist.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

I met Christ in the mountains when

I was 12. We were visiting

relatives, tea growers in Munnar.

It was our third day there; Ravi

and I were terribly bored.

Ravi walks up to Pi, coins in hand, and whispers.

RAVI (14)

Challenge. I'll give you two

rupees. Run into that church and

drink the Holy water.

37 INT. CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1973 - DAY 37

Pi leans down to the font beside the door and drinks. He's

about to leave again when he notices the stations of the

cross depicted on plaques that encircle the church.

PRIEST:

You must be thirsty. Here, I

brought you this.

Not knowing what else to do, Pi takes the glass and drinks.

An awkward pause as he searches for something - anything - to

say. He finally points up to one of the paintings.

PI:

Why would a god do that? Why would

he send his own son to suffer for

the sins of ordinary people?

The Priest smiles down upon Pi.

PRIEST:

Because He loves us. God made

Himself approachable to us - human -

so we could understand Him.

(MORE)

15.

PRIEST (CONT'D)

We can't understand God in all His

perfection, but we can understand

God's son and His suffering as we

would a brother's.

38 INT. PI'S DINING ROOM, MONTREAL - INTERCUT/CONTINUOUS 38

ADULT PI:

That made no sense. Sacrificing the

innocent to atone for the sins of

the guilty? What kind of love is

that?

39 EXT. PLANTATION HOME, MUNNAR, 1973 - DAY 39

Ravi and other kids play cricket. Pi sits by a stream, lost

in thought.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

But this Son - I couldn't get Him

out of my head.

41 INT. CATHOLIC CHURCH, MUNNAR, 1973 - DAY 41 41

Pi stands quizzing the priest near the altar.

PI:

If God is so perfect and we're not,

why would He want to create all

this? Why does He need us at all?

PRIEST:

All you have to know is that He

loves us. "God so loved the world

that He gave His only Son." This

Son taught us to love one

another...

The priest's words continue as Pi leans in, listening.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

The more I listened to the priest,

the more I came to like this Son of

God.

42 INT. PI'S BEDROOM, 1973 - DAY 42

Pi kneels, smiling, in an attitude of worship.

16.

PI:

Thank you, Vishnu, for introducing

me to Christ.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

I came to faith through Hinduism

and I found God's love through

Christ, but God wasn't finished

with me yet.

43 EXT. MUSLIM QUARTER, 1973 - DAY 43

As Pi wanders through the Muslim Quarter, the call to prayer

plays out over a loudspeaker affixed to the nearby mosque. Pi

watches as people pray.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

God works in mysterious ways - and

so it was He introduced Himself

again, this time by the name of

Allah.

Pi crosses inquisitively up the few steps of a mosque in the

Muslim quarter, looking inside, where dozens of the FAITHFUL

are lined up row upon row, praying.

A43 EXT. PONDICHERRY MOSQUE, 1973 - DAY A43

The speaker on top of the mosque plays the Muslim call to

prayer.

44 INT. PI FAMILY HOME, 1973 - DAY 44

Pi is out in front of the house kneeling on a prayer mat,

repeating a prayer. Father passes by with friends. He stops

to watch Pi.

45 INT. FAMILY KITCHEN/DINING ROOM, 1973 - DUSK 45

Father sits at the dinner table with his family. The servant

offers a dish of lamb to Father only. Father pops a bite into

his mouth, savoring it.

FATHER:

This lamb is exquisite - it's best

dish on the table. You are all

missing out...

As he chews, Father notices Pi completing a blessing.

17.

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