Planet of the Apes Page #15

JULIUS:

Stop making speeches and show me the order.

Lucius hands the guard a document. It is dark here, so Julius crosses

to a beam of light near the bars and studies the document. Lucius,

behind the guard's back, signals frantically for Taylor to seize or

strike the guard. Taylor is slow to understand. Lucius shakes his

head impatiently.

JULIUS:

(peering at document)

This order's no good. It must be counter-

signed by Dr. Zaius --

Lucius suddenly gives Julius a violent shove. The guard's head crashes

against the bars and he is stunned.

LUCIUS:

Hit him!

Taylor complies bringing down the heel of his fist on the nape of the

guard's neck. Julius collapses. The youngster immediately squats down,

gags him, and begins to bind him hand and foot. CAMERA MOVES IN.

TAYLOR:

Who are you?

LUCIUS:

(looking up,coolly)

So you can talk.

(as he works)

I'm Dr. Zira's nephew. This abduction was

her idea. You're not really going to the

zoo. That's just our cover story in case

we're stopped.

(off again)

Although I do feel that if it ever came

down to a question of whether something

like you should be public or private

property --

TAYLOR:

Come on. Get me out of here.

Taking the guard's keys, Lucius rises and unlocks the cage. Nova enters

the scene, coming to the bars of her cage.

295CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA

He gazes at her, tense with indecision. She flashes an imploring smile,

a mute appeal that cannot be denied. Over this we hear:

LUCIUS' VOICE

(o.s.)

We've got to move fast.

296WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE LUCIUS

as Taylor leaves his cage.

TAYLOR:

She comes along too.

LUCIUS:

Zira doesn't want your female.

TAYLOR:

I want her.

LUCIUS:

(a shrug)

If you insist. But I'm not taking

any orders --

TAYLOR:

Fine. Just let her out.

Lucius unlocks Nova's cage. She comes out quickly, takes Taylor's hand.

They follow Lucius out of the compound.

297EXT. ANIMAL COMPOUND - MED. SHOT - NIGHT

A horse-drawn caged wagon (like that used in the hunt) stands near the

building. Zira waits at the rear of the wagon. Lucius, Taylor and Nova

emerge from a doorway or archway and join her. Zira notes Nova's

presence with disapproval. They speak in undertones.

ZIRA:

(to Lucius)

I told you not to bring the other one.

LUCIUS:

He wouldn't leave her.

ZIRA:

(with a sigh)

All right...

(to the humans)

Get in...hurry. Put this on.

TAYLOR:

Listen-

ZIRA:

Taylor -- just keep quiet and we may get

away with this. Remember that men all

look alike to most apes.

Taylor and Nova comply, climbing into the cage. Lucius closes the

tailgate. Lucius and Zira move to the front of the wagon and climb

aboard. Lucius takes the reins. As they move off:

WIPE TO:

298EXT. LAKE AND CAUSEWAY - LONG HIGH ANGLE SHOT - NIGHT

As previously established, the animal compound is on the outskirts of

Apetown. The abductors must cross the causeway on their route of

escape. In the distance, near the gazebo, we can see the lights of

several torches.

The caged wagon rolls into scene and out onto the causeway. At the same

time a mounted gorilla leading two pack animals appears on the far side

of the causeway, coming toward CAMERA. Lucius stops the wagon.

299CLOSE TWO SHOT - LUCIUS AND ZIRA - ON THE WAGON

LUCIUS:

(apprehensively)

Gorilla hunters ...

ZIRA:

Keep moving. We can't turn back now.

300BOOM SHOT - THE CAUSEWAY

As the mounted hunter nears the wagon, we can see two bodies slung

across the backs of the pack animals.

301FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - IN WAGON CAGE

They look out at:

302THE PASSING HORSES - FROM THEIR P.O.V.

The bodies on the horses are naked human corpses.

303MED. LONG SHOT - THE CAUSEWAY - REVERSE ANGLE

In immediate f.g., near the gazebo, is a similar wagon. It has lost a

wheel, and its rear axle lies on the edge of the causeway. Two naked

primitive males can be dimly seen within the cage. Four or five armed

gorilla hunters stand near the wagon: two of them carry torches; the

others are passing a jug from hand to hand-.

The leader of the Hunt Club, still on horseback, holds up his hand as

the lab wagon approaches.

LEADER:

Hold it!

Lucius obeys. The hunters on foot swarm around his wagon as their

leader calls authoritatively:

LEADER:

Ah, Doctor Zira! Our wagon broke down! I'm

afraid we'll have to commandeer yours.

304CLOSER ANGLE - THE LAB WAGON

as the Hunt Club Leader rides over, recognizing the animal

psychologist.

ZIRA:

You can't! I've two sick humans in the

cage. We're taking them to the chief vet

at the zoo ...

LEADER:

(indicating his

own wagon)

We bagged two live ones today. I'll have

to ask you to take them along.

He moves to the rear of the wagon.

ZIRA:

(following him;

frantically)

No, no, my animals are diseased... Leave

them alone! They're diseased, I tell you!

Lucius jumps down and runs toward the rear of the wagon.

305REVERSE ANGLE - REAR OF WAGON

The hunters have opened the tailgate and are shining their torches on

the humans. They sound ready for sport.

FIRST HUNTER:

Give him a taste of fire!

One of the hunters points his torch at Taylor, who, quite naturally,

shrinks back as Lucius runs into scene.

LUCIUS:

Stand back! He's dangerous!

FIRST HUNTER:

Why?

ZIRA:

He's rabid! His bite is fatal!

FIRST HUNTER:

You serious?

LUCIUS:

You would die in agony!

(with appropriate gestures)

Frothing at the mouth!

The hunters fall back. Lucius promptly locks the tailgate and he and

Zira run back to the front of the wagon. Lucius snaps the reins and the

wagon moves off. The hunters follow it a few paces, pausing near their

mounted leader.

FIRST HUNTER:

They treat those animals better than they

treat us.

LEADER:

I still say the only good human is a dead

human.

The fugitives' wagon recedes beyond the gazebo, as we:

DISSOLVE TO:

306EXT. AN OPEN RANGE - LONG SHOT - DAWN

The horse-drawn wagon is silhouetted-against the dawn light, bumping

across a semi-arid plain studded with mesquite and sage. (This SCENE

can be SHOT either on the Navajo reservation near Page or on the

Ranch).

DISSOLVE TO:

307EXT. SAVANNA (OR CULTIVATED FIELDS) - LONG SHOT - MORNING

This is the same area described on page 24, where the hunt occurred. As

the wagon rolls along a dirt track, the tall grasses of the savanna (or

cultivated field) can be seen in b.g.

308CLOSE TWO SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA - IN WAGON CAGE

Taylor is dozing, but the girl is alert and nervous. She peers out at

the field, apparently recognizing or remembering this terrain. She

nudges Taylor, waking him.

309EXT. GROVE OF WILD FRUIT TREES - LONG PANNING SHOT - DAY

This, too, is the location described on page 24. CAMERA PANS with the

wagon as it rolls into the grove and HOLDS on three horses. Cornelius

sits astride one horse; the other two nags are heavily burdened with

packs and saddlebags.

310CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROVE - FAVORING CORNELIUS

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