The Story of Doctor Dolittle recap

Doctor John Dolittle loses his human medical practice because his house is crowded with pets, but the parrot Polynesia teaches him animal language and he becomes a celebrated animal doctor. When Chee-Chee brings news of a deadly epidemic among African monkeys, Dolittle sails to help with Jip, Dab-Dab, Too-Too, Gub-Gub, Polynesia, and other companions. Despite a shipwreck, detention by a distrustful king, and resistance from some African animals, he reaches the monkeys and organizes a successful treatment campaign. The grateful monkeys give him the rare Pushmi-Pullyu. On the return voyage the party outwits pirates, rescues a boy, and finds the boy's missing uncle. At home, Dolittle earns enough by showing the Pushmi-Pullyu to pay his debts, then returns to his quiet life as a doctor for animals.

Doctor John Dolittle lives in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh with his sister Sarah and an ever-growing household of animals. His fondness for them drives away his human patients and leaves him short of money. Polynesia the parrot reveals that animals have languages of their own and patiently teaches him to understand them. With this new skill, Dolittle changes professions and treats animals instead of people. His unusual practice becomes successful, but he spends freely on creatures who need help and soon faces money trouble again. Then Chee-Chee, a monkey from Africa, arrives with news that a dangerous illness is killing monkeys there. Dolittle decides that he must cross the sea to help them.

Dolittle borrows a ship and sails for Africa with Polynesia, Jip, Dab-Dab, Too-Too, Gub-Gub, Chee-Chee, and other animal companions. A storm wrecks the ship near the African coast, but the party reaches land safely. The local king, angered by the conduct of earlier European visitors, refuses to trust Dolittle and has the travelers confined instead of allowing them to cross his kingdom. Polynesia uses her command of human speech and her quick thinking to frighten a guard, enabling the party to escape. They hurry inland toward the country of the sick monkeys, while the king sends pursuers after them.

The monkeys form a living bridge so Dolittle and his companions can cross a ravine and evade the king's soldiers. At the epidemic's center, the Doctor finds far more patients than his small party can manage. Some powerful animals initially refuse to help, but the lions cooperate after illness strikes the leading lion's family. Working through the animal community, Dolittle separates the healthy from the sick and organizes food, nursing, and treatment until the epidemic is controlled. The monkeys thank him with a Pushmi-Pullyu, a rare two-headed creature that agrees to travel with him. Before the Doctor can begin the journey home, however, the king's forces catch up with him.

Doctor Dolittle is taken back to the king's palace, where he is held while his companions seek a way to free him. Polynesia's plans and the animals' cooperation secure his release, and the travelers recover a vessel for the voyage to England. During the crossing, rats warn Dolittle that the ship is unsafe, allowing the party to abandon it before it sinks. They transfer to another vessel, only to discover that it belongs to pirates led by Ben Ali, the Barbary Dragon. The pirates threaten the expedition and block the route home.

With help from birds and sea animals, Doctor Dolittle and his companions outmaneuver Ben Ali's pirates and gain control of their ship. They discover a boy whose uncle has disappeared at sea and agree to search for him. Messages passed among ocean birds narrow the search, while Jip follows a scent over an extraordinary distance. The missing man is found alive on a rocky island and reunited with his nephew. In the nearby fishing town, the travelers resolve the questions surrounding his disappearance before resuming their homeward journey.

Doctor Dolittle returns safely to Puddleby with his animal companions and the Pushmi-Pullyu, but he still needs to repay debts created by the expedition. The rare animal permits the Doctor to exhibit it, and the public pays eagerly to see a creature with a head at each end. Dolittle makes sure it is treated kindly while the successful show brings in enough money to settle what he owes and provide lasting security. He then gives up touring and returns to his familiar house, where he can again devote himself to caring for animals and listening to their concerns.

Doctor Dolittle defeats the pirates without becoming a pirate himself, rescues a boy and reunites him with his missing uncle, and continues toward England. In a seaside town, Jip's extraordinary sense of smell helps establish the truth about the rescued man. Back in Puddleby, the Doctor still needs an income, so he exhibits the Pushmi-Pullyu to fascinated crowds while protecting the animal from mistreatment. The successful tour pays his debts and leaves him comfortably provided for. He returns to his old house and resumes caring for animals, surrounded by the companions who shared his journey.