1990
Orphaned PK, guided by a Zulu medicine man and later a German professor, learns the "power of one" and the importance of independent thought, despite childhood trauma inflicted by Jaapie Botha. PK pursues boxing under Solly Goldman and Geel Piet, establishing a secret school for black prisoners, but this leads to Geel Piet's tragic death and the forced separation from his love, Maria. Working as a miner, PK survives a rockfall with the help of Rasputin and uses his winnings to confront and defeat his childhood tormentor, Jaapie Botha, in a brutal boxing match. PK ultimately walks away from the mining camp, reflecting on his journey and the enduring power of his spirit, unity, and justice.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Young PK is raised by his Zulu nanny, sent to an Afrikaner boarding school where he endures brutality and finds his identity through boxing and the mentorship of Doc.
Open full beat sheetPK is listed as Protagonist. A young boy who grows into a boxer and writer, bound by spirit to Africa. In the parsed data, PK is connected to 122 scenes, 127 dialogue lines, 129 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
122 scenes / 127 dialogue linesMorrie Levy is listed as Friend. PK's bright-eyed, kinetic friend and manager. In the parsed data, Morrie Levy is connected to 31 scenes, 38 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
31 scenes / 38 dialogue linesProfessor Karl von Vollensteen is listed as Mentor. A German professor, concert pianist, and cactus enthusiast. In the parsed data, Professor Karl von Vollensteen is connected to 19 scenes, 25 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
19 scenes / 25 dialogue linesMaria Elizabete Marais is listed as Love Interest. The daughter of a Nationalist Party intellectual. In the parsed data, Maria Elizabete Marais is connected to 16 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
16 scenes / 20 dialogue linesGeel Piet is listed as Mentor. A black prisoner who teaches PK how to box. In the parsed data, Geel Piet is connected to 10 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 64.
10 scenes / 8 dialogue linesJaapie Botha is listed as Antagonist. A cruel Boer bully who torments PK at boarding school. In the parsed data, Jaapie Botha is connected to 9 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
9 scenes / 13 dialogue linesGideon Mandoma is listed as Boxer/Ally. A black professional boxer and leader. In the parsed data, Gideon Mandoma is connected to 9 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 76.
9 scenes / 7 dialogue linesSolly Goldman is listed as Boxing Trainer. An old, experienced boxing trainer. In the parsed data, Solly Goldman is connected to 6 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 55.
6 scenes / 26 dialogue linesRasputin is listed as Ally. A giant Russian miner who protects PK. In the parsed data, Rasputin is connected to 6 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 111.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDr. Daniel Marais is listed as Antagonist. Maria's father, a Nationalist Party intellectual. In the parsed data, Dr. Daniel Marais is connected to 5 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.
5 scenes / 20 dialogue linesInkosi Inkosikazi is listed as Mentor. A 100-year-old Zulu medicine man who guides PK. In the parsed data, Inkosi Inkosikazi is connected to 5 scenes, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
5 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA young boy watches his mother being taken away to a sanitorium, leaving him in the care of his Zulu nanny.
PKThe boy watches his mother leave, feeling lost.
PKInkosi Inkosikazi arrives to help the boy with his bedwetting.
PK, Inkosi InkosikaziInkosi Inkosikazi performs a ritual for the boy.
PK, Inkosi InkosikaziThe boy experiences a dream about crossing stepping stones.
PK, Inkosi InkosikaziThe boy wakes up from his dream.
PK, Inkosi InkosikaziInkosi Inkosikazi leaves, and the boy is left with his chicken.
PK, Inkosi InkosikaziThe boy travels by train to boarding school.
PKThe boy arrives at his new school.
PKThe boy is bullied by Jaapie Botha and other students.
PK, Jaapie BothaThe boy sleeps with his chicken.
PKThe boy builds a shelter for his chicken.
PKThe chicken protects the boy from intruders.
PKThe school reacts to the outbreak of World War II.
PKThe boy is kidnapped by the other students.
PKJaapie Botha and his followers threaten the boy.
PK, Jaapie BothaThe boy sees his chicken hanging.
PKJaapie Botha kills the chicken and threatens the boy.
PK, Jaapie BothaStaff members interrupt the bullying.
PK, Jaapie BothaPK reads his story to his class.
PK, Morrie LevyPK and Morrie discuss their plans.
PK, Morrie LevyPK and Morrie prepare for the boxing match.
PK, Morrie LevyPK spots Maria in the crowd.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisPK fights Jannie.
PK, Morrie LevyPK spots two black men in the crowd.
PKPK is knocked down by Jannie.
PK, Morrie LevyPK watches Jannie.
PKPK gets up and continues the fight.
PK, Morrie LevyMorrie encourages PK.
PK, Morrie LevyMaria leaves the arena.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisPK looks for the black men.
PKPK and Morrie celebrate the victory.
PK, Morrie LevyPK infiltrates the girls' school by climbing a tree to get over the wall.
PKPK navigates the darkened campus, avoiding staff and students.
PKPK approaches the cottage where Maria resides.
PKPK hides in a shower room to avoid being seen by other students.
PKPK narrowly avoids detection while hiding in a shower stall.
PKPK confronts Maria in her room; they share a moment before he leaves.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisPK meets Dr. Marais and they debate politics and justice.
PK, Maria Elizabete Marais, Dr. Daniel MaraisFlashback to young PK meeting Doc.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK and Doc walk to Doc's house.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK and Doc tend to the cactus garden.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenDoc explains his philosophy on cacti and life.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenDoc negotiates piano lessons for PK.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK practices piano with Doc.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenDoc teaches PK about nature and independent thought.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK and Doc roam the veldt.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK narrates about the town of Barberton.
PKPK performs at a concert.
PKDoc is arrested by soldiers.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenDoc is taken into the prison.
PK, Professor Karl von VollensteenPK writes in his room.
PK, Morrie LevyPK and Morrie head to the gym.
PK, Morrie LevyPK and Morrie approach the gym.
PK, Morrie LevyPK meets Solly Goldman.
PK, Morrie Levy, Solly GoldmanPK spars and impresses Solly.
PK, Morrie Levy, Solly GoldmanFlashback to young PK at the prison gate.
PKPK waits in the prison hall and is summoned to the Kommandant's office.
PKPK meets Kommandant Von Zyl to discuss his visits to the professor.
PK, Dr. Daniel MaraisClose up of the cactus specimen.
Von Zyl gives PK a pass to visit the professor.
PK, Dr. Daniel MaraisPK and Von Zyl walk through the prison and encounter a boxing training session.
PK, Dr. Daniel MaraisPOV of Geel Piet working.
Geel PietGeel Piet is assigned to train PK.
PK, Geel Piet, Dr. Daniel MaraisA strongman game at a carnival.
PK and Maria talk on a Ferris wheel.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisGeel Piet trains PK, and Doc visits.
PK, Professor Karl von Vollensteen, Geel PietPK spars at Solly's gym.
PK, Morrie Levy, Solly GoldmanPK notices a mysterious black man.
PK, Gideon MandomaPK finishes training.
PK, Morrie LevySolly asks PK to fight Gideon Mandoma.
PK, Morrie Levy, Solly GoldmanPK and Morrie leave the locker room.
PK, Morrie LevyPK sees Maria.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisPK, Morrie, and Maria talk.
PK, Morrie Levy, Maria Elizabete Marais, Solly GoldmanNguni waits in the shadows.
PK talks to Nguni, interrupted by police.
PK, Morrie Levy, Maria Elizabete Marais, Gideon MandomaPK and Maria share a moment.
PK, Maria Elizabete MaraisPK presents his work to the Oxford Board.
PKFlashback to Geel Piet training PK.
PK, Geel PietFlashback to PK growing older.
PK, Geel PietBut it harms no other plant. It has patience and solitude and modesty. In Mexico there is a cactus that blooms once in a hundred years and then only at night. That is saintliness of the highest order I think. Ja? From cactus comes medicine to heal the wounds of men and little buttons if you eat one you can touch the face of God or stare into the mouth of hell. It is the plant of patience, solitude, love, and madness. Modesty, beauty. Toughness and gentleness. Of all the plants I think it is closest to God. Ja?
I came to after being unconscious for two days, the rock missing my eye by half an inch. After a week in hospital it was decided I'd be sent to my grandfather's house in the English town of Barberton, at least until passions at school cooled. Jaapie Botha was expelled; sent home to his family's farm in disgrace. And so the first recorded South African casualty of Hitler's insanity was not a Boer, nor a Rooinek, but a tatter-feathered, half-bald kaffir chicken.
The problems of South Africa, my boy, do not come from tribalism. They come from counter-tribalism. From people insisting that natural laws which have been in place and operating since God's creation, should be tampered with. Does the gazelle sleep with the lion? Does the rhino graze with the mouse? The separation of things is not coincidental. Do you think a Zulu wants to see his culture, his sense of identity, replaced by someone else's anymore than I do?
Who knows what is true and what is not. The legend of Onoshobishobi Ingelosi is very powerful among the people. They see you box the Boer and always you win. They have heard the stories from Barberton. The people live with little hope. They must see if the spirit of the boy still lives in the man.
To them you are. You are the one who brings the smoke, the one who writes the letters, the one who puts clothes on their children when they are cold. You are Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.
And made much less of an impression. Talk to someone about their passion. Even if they disagree they'll remember you. It was really the most logical strategy if you think about it.
I was three rocks in when I ran out of gas. I couldn't pull myself any further. No matter how hard I tried, the current tried harder. I felt myself going under for the last time.
I've received notice from the Oxford selection committee. You are to appear before them in three weeks. I assume you'll be reading a piece of your fiction as your presentational.
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