Planet of the Apes Page #11

In which we see the fugitive, his pursuers and the reactions of ape

shoppers and workers.

245-EXT. OPEN-AIR MARKET - SEVERAL SHOTS

248

A market has been set up on one side of the mall, where street vendors

behind carts or tables hawk their wares: fruits, vegetables, wearing

apparel, etc. As Taylor runs frantically through the market place,

several apes join the chase. In the ensuing pandemonium, like the

proverbial Chinese fire drill, several tables are overturned.

249EXT. A BUILDING - CLOSE ON AN ARCHWAY

Taylor runs into scene, pauses, panting, and looks back at his

pursuers. Then he darts through the archway into the building.

250INT. BUILDING - TRACKING WITH TAYLOR - DAY

For the moment he is the sole visitor in this wing. His pace slows to a

walk as he and we observe fleetingly the specimens in what is a simian

museum:
Possibly several stuffed and unfamiliar animals; primitive

artifacts and fossils; possibly the skeleton of a dog, a cat, etc. Over

this we hear a shrill police WHISTLE.

251FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR

He runs again.

252MED. SHOT - AN APE MOTHER AND CHILD

Looking at the stuffed animals as Taylor races past. The mother gives a

startled SCREAM.

253REACTION SHOT - A MUSEUM GUARD

He starts after the fugitive.

254ANOTHER PART OF THE MUSEUM - FEATURING TAYLOR

He runs past displays of other stuffed animals toward CAMERA and halts

abruptly in close f.g., shocked by:

255WHAT HE SEES:
DODGE

stuffed and mounted, Dodge bares his teeth at the world.

256CLOSEUP - TAYLOR

Reacting in horror. He hears another police WHISTLE and the echoing

FOOTSTEPS of approaching guards, which mufffle his strangled gasp:

TAYLOR:

Dodge ...

Taylor vanishes in a BLUR of movement.

CUT TO:

257EXT. THE MALL - APETOWN - FULL SHOT FROM ON HIGH - DAY

Order has been restored in the open-air market. Taylor bursts suddenly

into view from a building on the far side of the mall, running in panic

from ape guards in close pursuit. A mounted policeman spots him and

heads him off. Changing direction, Taylor is intercepted by another

mounted Gorilla. And then a third.

CAMERA HOLDS, ANGLING DOWN on the center of the mall. We are witnessing

a hideous game:
"baiting the man." The mounted police do not shoot or

club Taylor, for he cannot escape -- but they circle him, their long

whips CRACKING over his head.

258CLOSER ANGLE - THE CIRCLE AROUND TAYLOR - FAVORING A MOUNTIE

who unfolds his net, swings it overhead and flings it at Taylor. This

time he bags his quarry. Taylor gives up. Spent, docile, entangled in

the net, he stands stock-still in the center of the mall. Guards and

civillians on foot join the circle around the man at bay. They regard

him warily.

259CLOSE SHOT - DR. ZIRA

She pushes through the simian crowd around Taylor and hurries to his

side.

260CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND ZIRA

She paws at the net, crying impulsively:

ZIRA:

Taylor, why'd you run away?

Zira removes the net from his face. Panting with exhaustion, Taylor

flicks a wild glance at her. He looks demented.

261WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TWO GORILLA OFFICERS

who approach Taylor and Zira. (They are the same gorillas introduced in

Scene 198.) One of them carries a collar and leash. The other presents

an I.D. card to Zira.

LIEUTENANT:

Security police.

ZIRA:

(promptly)

I'm in charge of this man.

LIEUTENANT:

No longer, madame. He is now in the

custody of the Ministry of Science.

His colleague moves toward Taylor with a muzzle.

262CLOSE SHOT - FEATURING TAYLOR

He speaks at last, his voice hoarse but audible.

TAYLOR:

Get away from me, you dirty ape!

263FULL SHOT - THE SIMIANS AROUND TAYLOR

The arresting officer steps back involuntarily. All the apes freeze,

staring at the speaking animal with mute astonishment as we:

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

264INT. CAGES - CLOSE SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - DAY

The compound is dimly lit. Taylor, the bandage now gone from his

throat, is back in his old cage. The other cages, however, are empty --

their occupants presumably having been moved to the surgery or the zoo.

He is seated on a pile of straw in the rear corner, Nova's head cradled

on his lap. Idly he strokes her coarse hair. There is a dull glow of

madness in his eyes, and his manner is one of abstract soliloquy, like

a man talking to a dog.

TAYLOR:

...and that's when I decided to take

up astronautical engineering., you see. I

was halfway through college and I...

(he breaks off)

It's an old trick! The silent treatment.

Four weeks and three days, and not a word

from anyone. Not Zira.,or Cornelius...or

that damn Julius. No one'll listen...

only you. You...Nova. NO-VAH.

His manner is now more direct, and educative., but she stares in blank

comprehension. She brushes his moving lips with her fingers. He shrugs

wryly.

TAYLOR:

Yeah...me Tarzan, you Jane. That's all

right ... I had a puppy once that never

barked. He just licked my hand.

(pause)

He's dead now. They're all dead. Everything...

I think maybe they'll kill me, too. Are they

afraid of me? I can't hurt them... but I

threaten them somehow. Threaten their faith

in simian superiority. Yeah ... you're right.

They'll have to kill me.

Faint footsteps are heard o.s. Taylor and Nova look in the direction of

the sound. A sudden stream of water shoots through the bars and strikes

Taylor in the chest.

265WIDER ANGLE - WHAT THEY SEE:

An ape GUARD has a high pressure hose trained on Taylor. It forces him

back toward the rear of the cage. Julius, whip in hand, unlocks the

cage, steps inside. He unlimbers the whip., cracks it-'in Nova's

direction. She recoils. The jet of water hold Taylor at bay. Julius

grabs Nova, begins to pull her toward the door of the cage. Taylor

tries to fight his way through the water toward Julius.

TAYLOR:

Let her alone!

Julius swings the whip. It cracks against Taylor's legs, biting into

the skin. Taylor stumbles, falls to one knee

TAYLOR:

Where are you taking her? What are you

going to do?

Julius drags and pushes the girl through the door, slamming and locking

it behind him. Taylor, fights through the stream of water, flings

himself against the bars.

TAYLOR:

(raging)

Take your hands off her, you black

monster! You filth!

Julius shoves Nova across the aisle to a cage opposite Taylor's, locks

her inside.

TAYLOR:

Why are you doing this? Say something,

you hairy scum!

Julius gestures toward the ape guard

JULIUS:

Turn it off!

The ape guard shuts off the hose.

TAYLOR:

Answer me!

Julius strides over to Taylor's cage.

JULIUS:

(fiercely)

Shut up! The reason no one'll talk to

you is because you're a freak!

TAYLOR:

Where's Dr. Zira? Why--?

JULIUS:

I said shut up!

He slashes viciously with his whip handle against Taylor's fingers.

Taylor yells in pain. Julius and the ape guard start out of the

compound.

TAYLOR:

(wildly)

Ape! Apes wearing clothes!

It's a madhouse! A madhouse!

He sinks to the floor as the apes go out.

266OUT

267FULL SHOT - CAGE

Taylor looks desolately through the bars across to Nova's cage. She

eyes him sadly.

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