Planet of the Apes Page #13

ZIRA:

(on her feet)

ThatÕs a lie!

PRESIDENT:

(pounding gavel)

Mind your tongue, madame.

ZIRA:

Did we create his mind too? Not only

can this man speak. He can write. He can

reason.

HONORIUS:

He can reason? With the Tribunal's permission,

let me expose this hoax by direct examination.

PRESIDENT:

Proceed. But don't turn this hearing into a

farce.

Honorius crosses to the defendant's table and favors Taylor with an

evil smile.

HONORIUS:

Tell the court, Bright Eyes -- what is

the second Article of Faith?

TAYLOR:

I admit, I know nothing of your culture.

HONORIUS:

Of course he doesn't know our culture -

because he cannot think.

(to Taylor)

Tell us why all apes are created equal.

TAYLOR:

Some apes, it seems, are more equal than

others.

HONORIUS:

Ridiculous. That answer is a contradiction

in terms. Tell us, Bright Eyes, why do men

have no souls? What is the proof that a

divine spark exists in the simian brain?

TAYLOR:

(hands paper to Zira)

Show this to the President.

Zira moves toward the dais. Honorius returns to his own table.

ZIRA:

Since the defendant is forbidden to speak

in his own defense, he asks that this

statement be read into the record.

PRESIDENT:

Read it yourself.

ZIRA:

(reading aloud)

'I have come to you from a planet in a

different solar system. I am an explorer

in space, with no hostile intentions against

your civilization. On my planet it was the

primate Man who evolved Into a thinking

animal, while the apes remained..."

PRESIDENT:

(rapping gavel)

Stop right there. Bring me that paper.

Zira crosses to the dais, handing the statement to the President. He

glances at it, laughs derisively and passes it to Zaius.

PRESIDENT:

(to Zira)

This is a joke in very poor taste.

ZIRA:

Is it a joke to seek the truth about

this man?

ZAIUS:

(glancing at document)

Dr. Zira -- you state here that a ship

from outer space sank in an inland sea

of our eastern desert.

ZIRA:

I do not state it, sir. The prisoner does.

ZAIUS:

Do you believe him?

ZIRA:

(uneasily)

Like you, I find it difficult.

ZAIUS:

But how convenient that the proof of

his arrival has vanished?

(glancing again

at document)

You also state that Bright Eyes had two

intelligent companions at the time of

his capture.

ZIRA:

This is his assertion.

ZAIUS:

Where are they now?

TAYLOR:

(blurting it out)

One is in a museum!

PRESIDENT:

(pounding gavel)

Dr. Zira! Silence that man!

Returning to her table, Zira gestures to Taylor to remain silent.

ZAIUS:

How sad. Stuffed and mounted, eh? Dead

men, like sunken ships, can tell no

stories. And his other companion?

ZIRA:

He doesn't know.

ZAIUS:

Mr. President, I believe the Prosecutor

has reassembled all he surviving humans

captured in the hunt along with Bright Eyes.

HONORIUS:

That's true, Dr. Zaius. My witnesses --

correction -- my exhibits are on display in

the amphitheater.

PRESIDENT:

Very well. I suggest we go and look at them.

The President rises, starts out, followed by the others. Taylor is

last, being led on a leash by the bailiff.

280 OUT

281EXT. AMPHITHEATER - FULL SHOT - DAY

The inquiry group files through a door into the amphitheater. Two APES

stand guard over a number of leashed and nearly naked human beings in

the center of the pit below the dais. There are three primitive males,

the female Nova -- and Landon. He is dirty and bearded, but his hair is

cropped close.

282CLOSE - TAYLOR

He turns to Zira, his eyes shining with vindication.

TAYLOR:

(a whisper)

It's him...Landon.

ZIRA:

Which one?

TAYLOR:

Second from the left.

283FULL SHOT - THE AMPHITHEATER

Zaius glances at the accused.

ZAIUS:

Well...do you acknowledge kinship with

any of these creatures?

TAYLOR:

With one of them.

ZAIUS:

Identify him, then. Speak to him.

Taylor moves forward for a few paces, stops.

TAYLOR:

Landon?

284CLOSER SHOT - FEATURING LANDON - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.

Landon looks catatonic. His face is in shadow

285WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE TAYLOR

Stunned by Landon's imbecility.

TAYLOR:

John ... it's me, Taylor.

Taylor steps forward to grasp his arm. There is still no response.

Taylor takes Landon's head in his hands and looks at his face. There is

a fresh scar running from his forehead to the top of his cranium.

286FULL SHOT - THE AMPHITHEATER

As Taylor whirls on Zira.

TAYLOR:

You! ... You knew about this?

ZIRA:

No, I swear -- I never saw this

man before.

TAYLOR:

(whirling on Zaius)

You did this to him! You've removed his

frontal lobes!

PRESIDENT:

Silence!

(turning)

Bailiff, take the prisoner inside!

The bailiff Jerks brutally on Taylor's leash, pulling him toward the

door leading under the amphitheater.

A-286INT. INQUIRY ROOM - MED. SHOT - DAY

The bailiff enters, dragging Taylor behind him, shoves him into his

chair. Moments later the other apes enter the room. All take their

seats but Zaius. Taylor glares at him furiously.

ZAIUS:

(calmly)

Mr. President, a word of explanation: the

creature in question suffered a skull

fracture during the hunt. Two fine

veternary surgeons under my direction

were able to save his life. But the beast

could not speak, of course. Nor will he

ever speak

Taylor leaps from his chair, livid with rage, approaches the dais.

TAYLOR:

You destroyed his memory! His mind! His

identity! And, you want to do the same to

me!

PRESIDENT:

(pounding gavel)

Bailiff! Stop this outburst! Gag that

monstrosity!

The bailiff and a husky guard seize Taylor, who continues shouting:

TAYLOR:

You barbarians!

The powerful guard twists Taylor's arms behind his back and the bailiff

lashes his wrists together. Then the bailiff gags Taylor. His voice is

cut off as the bailiff ties the twisted kerchief around his open mouth.

The guard holds Taylor's leash during the rest of this scene.

Meanwhile, Cornelius has risen to his feet. His tone is firm, but

conciliatory.

CORNELIUS:

May it please the Tribunal: I for one

grant that this being cannot have come

from another planet. But this much is

certain -- he comes from somewhere in the

Forbidden Zone. He has described the region

to us, and described it accurately, for I

have been there.

PRESIDENT:

You visited the Forbidden Zone?

CORNELIUS:

Why, yes, sir. A year ago. With the special

permission of the Academy.

ZAIUS:

(to President)

He exceeded his orders. His travel permit

was promptly revoked.

CORNELIUS:

Yes, sir, so it was -- thanks to you. But

not before I discovered evidence of a simian

culture that existed long before the Sacred

Scrolls were written ...

HONORIUS:

Objection! These remarks are profane and irrelevant.

PRESIDENT:

Sustained.

(to Cornelius)

Your archeological theories have no bearing

on the disposition of this creature.

ZAIUS:

(softly)

Let them talk, Mr President. Let them talk.

ZIRA:

(rising)

Sirs:
our theories have a bearing on his

identity.

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