PISCINE MOLITOR PATEL AND THE WISEDOM OF THE MONKEY

English play presented to

Ms. Yuki Shinonome
Teacher of group 401

Written by Chris Hu, Marc de Man, Owen Liu, Xuanzhi Wang and Dan Bogdan Kistruga

Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Montreal
23 May 2021
Dramatis personne
PISCINE MOLITOR PATEL (PI): Son of SANTOSH PATEL and brother of RAVI. A good-
willed boy who aspires to free all animals.
MONKEY: A very wise and cleaver monkey. PI’s mentor and guide.
XING: Radical bandit. Wants to avenge his fallen comrade YANG. JIANG’s partner.
JIANG: Moderate bandit. Wants to make money. XING’s partner.
POLICE OFFICER: Interprets the law literally.
ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Defends the interests of the animals. Owns an animal shelter.
LION: Calm and brave lion. Captured at the same time as MONKEY.
SANTOSH PATEL: PI and RAVI’s father. Target of XING and JIANG.
RAVI: PI’s brother. Mocks PI a lot.
BYSTANDER: A random bystander.
YANG: Deceased partner in crime of XING and JIANG

SETTING
In the bandits’ lair and outdoors, Pondicherry, India.
TIME
A day in the year 2019
 ACT I:
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Ravi, Santosh Patel (father), Bandits (Xing and Jiang)
SCENE 0
SETTING:
Bandit hideout
CHARACTERS: Bandits (Xing and Jiang)
Two bandits enter in a room, looking frustrated.
XING (radical bandit):
There’re going to pay for this! I’m going to make sure of it.
JIANG (moderate bandit):
Calm down Xing, I know you’re furious that Yang got caught by the guards, but on the bright
side, at least we captured the monkey. Our client will be more than happy to welcome his new
pet before the agreed day. Yes, we underestimated their security, but look at us now, the money
is divided by 2 instead of 3, that’s half a million more for me!
XING:
You better take back what you said! Yang sacrificed himself today, it could have been you or
me!
JIANG:
Yea, yeah, I know, we must avenge Yang. Fortunately, Xing, I know exactly who to target.
Jiang takes out his phone and shows Xing a photo of Santosh Patel
JIANG:
It’s him, Santosh Patel, He’s the owner of the zoo.
XING:
It's that greedy fat rat huh, I'll incinerate his family.
JIANG:
Whoa Whoa Whoa, I’m not getting my hands dirty, I’m out if you’re planning to shed blood.
XING:
Then lets only kill the fat one, and don’t try to refuse me this time Jiang, or else that share will be
mine to spend.
SCENE 1
SETTING:
soccer field, sidewalk
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Ravi, Santosh Patel (father)
Pi and his father are walking home after picking Ravi up from his soccer game.
RAVI:
Hey, father, did you see my two goals? I will win league MVP by the end of the season!
FATHER:
Yes, especially the second one! I’m so proud of you. Keep practicing and working hard; I’m sure
you will be great. Pi, you should take example on your brother.
PI:
Hey! What was that supposed to mean?
RAVI:
it means that you have no talent, Lemon Pie.
FATHER:
I have never stated that, Ravi. Your behavior is becoming unacceptable.
Ravi stops talking. Pi looks down. An awkward silence installs itself in the atmosphere.
They continue walking.

SCENE 2
SETTING:
sidewalk
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Ravi, Santosh Patel (father), bandits
Bandit come out of nowhere and surround them.
BANDITS:
Stop right there!
Santosh Patel raises his arms, then suddenly lunges towards the bandits. The bandits
knock him to the ground within seconds. Pi is frozen with fear.
FAHTER:
Nooooo! Don’t you dare lay a finger on my children!
RAVI [running towards his father]:
No! Dad!
Jiang swiftly moved behind Ravi and knocks him out.
JIANG:
You should act like your brother; he’s smart enough to stay put in front of danger.
XING:
Look at you old man, you really think you had a chance against us.
Bandit 2 shoots Santosh Patel. Pi is traumatized.
The bandits pin and chloroform Pi. They tie him up and carry him away.
The bandits chloroform the children, tie them up, and take them away.

ACT II:
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Monkey, Lion, Bandits, Police officer, Bystander, Priest
SCENE 1
SETTING:
Dark basement
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Monkey
After waking up from the chloroform, Pi finds himself in a dark basement, tied to a chair
and cuffed.
PI:
Aargh! Where am I? where is Ravi?
 Pi starts to shake, exasperated and nervous. Suddenly, a shadow appears in front of him.
He feels a hand on his thigh. He flinches.
MONKEY:
Fear, you must not, young man. I mean no harm.
PI:
Did the bandits capture you too? How could they do something so horrible to a monkey?
MONKEY:
Indeed, I have been captured by them as well.
MONKEY:
Young man, tell me your name. I have overheard many of the bandits’ conversations, and I shall
communicate some important information to you.
PI:
Umm... So, my name is Piscine Molitor Patel, but you can call me Pi.
MONKEY:
Ah, what a beutiful, young Pi, your parents must be very cultured individuals.
Hearing the word “parents”, Pi remembers his father’s fatal wounds and starts weeping.

SCENE 2
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Monkey, Lion
SETTING:
Dark basement
PI:
The bandits killed my father.
MONKEY:
Then you must liberate yourself to avenge him. This vengeance should not be violent: you must
rise to power to bring these criminals to justice and prevent other homicides and ‘zoocides...’
PI:
Your family has also been killed?
MONKEY:
Indeed, but mortals cannot aspire to revive the deceased. One can only endeavor to live his life to
the fullest.
Pi gains confidence
LION:
Those are some very wise words indeed
PI:
*gasps* What.... what is a murderous carnivore doing here?
MONKEY:
Worry, you must not, Pi boy, he may be carnivorous, but he is not murderous. The proof is that
we are still alive, here.
PI:
I shall love him too, then. Once I am liberated, I will free all animals.

SCENE 3
SETTING
: Dark basement
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Monkey, Lion
Pi is tied on a chair in a cell with Chinese terrorists patrolling around.
XING:
猴子怎么吃？红烧还是清蒸!? 蒸炒煮炸焖?
JIANG:
不知道。。。
PI:
What are they saying?
MONKEY:
What they are talking about is not pertinent right now, we must fix our eyes on the prize, Pi boy.
PI:
Why?
MONKEY:
Worrying about impertinent matters will be your demise. Escape is our priority.
PI:
Do you have a plan, though? There are no vents and no escape doors in this cell, plus, there is a
dangerous lion that can change his mind and devour us any second! Although I am totally against
violence, I think the best move would be to attack the terrorists.
MONKEY:
Do not fear, Pi boy, as Sun Tzu once said, the supreme art is to subdue the enemy without
fighting. Therefore, using violence will never be part of our plan. We should use our wisdom and
find a way to collaborate as team.
PI:
But what team? All we have here is a lion, a monkey, and a hopeless boy...
LION：
COMPUTER SOUND EFFECT (ROAR)
MONKEY:
Yes, the three of us form a team and we will find a way together to escape. Also, Pi boy, please
do not have prejudice towards the lion. Do not judge a book by its cover. Here, Pi boy, I found a
plan. But we will need the help from the lion.
PI:
Go on, please explain.
MONKEY:
The lion will untie you with his claws and teeth. Then, I will use my fingers and this paperclip to
pick the lock. We will then proceed to open the door. We wait for the perfect moment, then we
start running towards that exit.
PI:
Wow, that’s one heck of a plan. I almost thought you were the reincarnation of Chinese millitary
strategist Sun Tzu.
MONKEY:
Well- A Gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
They proceed to the plan and start running. The bandits started to chase them. The lion, for
some reason, stays in the cell.
LION:
I am an alpha lion with no subordinates, my life is meaningless! I will sacrifice my life for
Piscine Molitor Patel, the light of freedom for all animals across the globe! Goodbye Piscine.
Lion gets hit in the head with a club.

SCENE 4
SETTING:
in the woods
CHARACTERS:
Pi, Monkey
Pi and Monkey have successfully fled the bunker and are now running in the woods. Pi is
moved by the lion’s self-sacrifice.
PI:
Why, why must a strong, healthy alpha Katanga lion sacrifice himself for an weak, frail and
hopeless boy?
MONKEY:
Young Piscine, it is precisely because Lion has perceived hope incarnated in you that he decided
that your life was more important than his own. Your life now holds the meaning of two, so hold
no regrets and live it to the fullest!
They arrive at a clearing. They climb a structure and sit on top of it to rest.
PI:
Whoaaah! Free at last! It is hard to imagine such brutalities happen in such a beautiful place. It is
hard to believe that we are still in the magnificent domain of God, the realm that lies between the
blue sky and the flames of hell.
MONKEY:
Humans alone are not to blame: all creatures are born good. Society is what tarnishes the canvas
of a blank soul.
PI:
But those bandits! Those terrorists! They have killed my father and beat my brother!
MONKEY:
Those poor souls. Imagine how much evil a man must experience to take the life of another.
Society has not been good to them. I shall pray for them, for the liberation of their spirits.
Monkey kneels, presses his forehead on the ground, and mumbles an indistinguishable
prayer.
PI:
Ok, we should take off now. The terrorists are probably catching up
They run away.
ACT III
SCENE 1
SETTING: in a city
CHARACTERS: Pi, Monkey, Police officer
Pi and Monkey arrive in a seemingly civilized area. They are exhausted and breathing
hard.
PI:
*sighs of relief* we have finally made it!
MONKEY [nods approvingly]: You may have reached safety, Pi boy, but I still have a long way
to go.
POLICE OFFICER [rushing in and blowing whistle]:
Halt! All animals should be held on leash!
MONKEY:
Worry, you must not, young officer. I mean no harm.
The officer proceeds to assault Monkey and hold his hands behind his back
POLICE OFFICER:
Shut up, you monkey! Do you have a license?
POLICE OFFICER [again]:
Shut up, you monkey! Do you have a license?
Officer proceeds to hit Monkey reputedly.
PI [emotional]:
Why are you doing this to him? What did he do to you?
POLICE OFFICER:
Him? This monkey is an it, and it belongs in a cage and it has no right of freedom.
The police officer takes a rope and ties monkey’s arms behind his back. He kneels on
Monkey’s back.
SCENE 2
SETTING: in a city
CHARACTERS: Pi, Police officer, Monkey, animal rights activist (ARA), bystander
Priest walks in play
ARA:
What the hell is happening here?
PI [pointing at the policeman]:
He… he is hurting my friend!
POLICE OFFICER:
In the name of law, I am arresting an unlicensed intruder to civilized society!
ARA [to police officer]:
Calm down sir, violence is never the answer.
PI [shyly]:
I absolutely agree with him.
POLICE OFFICER [pointing at bystander]:
Who’s this guy?
BYSTANDER:
*gasps* the police endorse animal brutality!
Bystander takes out his phone. The policeman quickly removes his knees from the monkey.
POLICE OFFICER:
I have the duty to purge the city from all illegal behavior.
ARA:
Your duty shouldn’t contravene to basic human or animal rights. This monkey has done no harm.
It would be completely immoral to harm this creature of God.
PI:
I…uh…totally agree with him.
ARA [while taking out a piece of paper]:
This is my licence for wildlife handling. I will now take this noble creature into my custody at
my animal shelter.
MONKEY:
I am extremely relieved.

SCENE 3
SETTING: in a city
CHARACTERS: Police officer, bandits (Xing and Jiang)
Bandit coming out of the forest
JIANG: Ooh, I see the monkey!
XING: Go get it!
Jiang runs out of the wood
Jiang runs out, sees the police officer’s gun, and runs back. He is shot. Xing runs out too, and
makes the same mistake.