Life Of Pi Page #5

ADULT PI:

Ah. Well, I look forward to reading

it.

WRITER:

You can't. I threw it out. Two

years trying to bring it to life,

and then one day it sputtered,

coughed, and died.

ADULT PI:

I'm sorry.

9.

WRITER:

(Shrugs, making light of

it.)

I was in a coffee house in

Pondicherry one afternoon, mourning

my loss, when this old man at the

next table struck up a

conversation.

ADULT PI:

Yeah, Mamaji. He does that.

WRITER:

When I told him about my abandoned

book, he said:

(Imitating Mamaji:)

"So... a Canadian who's come to

French India in search of a story.

Well, my friend, I know an Indian

in French Canada who has the most

incredible story to tell. It must

be fate that the two of you should

meet."

ADULT PI:

I haven't spoken about Richard

Parker in so many years... What has

Mamaji already told you?

WRITER:

He said you had a story that would

make me believe in God.

ADULT PI:

(Pi laughs.)

He would say that about a nice

meal. As for God, I can only tell

you my story; you will decide for

yourself what you believe.

WRITER:

Fair enough.

ADULT PI:

Let's see, then - where to begin?

CUT TO:
MONTAGE

OF PONDICHERRY,

1954:

10.

19 EXT. PONDICHERRY, SHORELINE 1954 - DAY 19

- The SHORELINE - Bicycles and pedestrians; policemen in

round, flat-top French hats.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

Pondicherry is the "French Riviera

of India." In the streets closest

to the ocean, you might think you

were in the South of France.

20 EXT. ASHRAM STREET, 1954 - DAY 20

- Grey ASHRAM buildings, which give way to images of...

21 EXT. PONDICHERRY CANAL, 1954 - DAY 21

- The CANAL, and just beyond it, INDIAN PONDI.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

A few blocks inland, there's a

canal; just beyond that is Indian

Pondicherry...

SC. 22 EXT. PONDICHERRY MUSLIM QUARTER, 1954 - DAY 22

- The MUSLIM QUARTER, women in head scarves pass men baking

flatbread over coals, the mosque in the background.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

And the Muslim Quarter is just to

the West.

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