Planet of the Apes Page #17

They start toward the horses and wagon.

F-321GROUP SHOT - NEAR WAGON

Zira is looking curiously at Nova, who stands in the shade leaning

against the wagon as the males enter the scene. Nova's nausea has

passed, and she comes smiling to Taylor.

TAYLOR:

What's the diagnosis, doctor? A touch

of the sun?

ZIRA:

She's not sick at all.

(a beat)

She's pregnant.

G-321CLOSEUP - TAYLOR

Consternation slowly gives way to wonder. He grins.

TAYLOR:

So I'm not an altogether

different breed, you see?

DISSOLVE TO:

322-

325THE DESCENT OF THE GORGE - SEVERAL SHOTS - DAY

To reach the camp site -- a beach at the base of the gorge -- the party

must lead the horses along a narrow trail that zigzags down the face of

the sandstone cliffs. They have abandoned the wagon.

DISSOLVE TO:

326EXT. ARCHEOLOGICAL CAMP - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY

Sand bars and two narrow beaches are in evidence here. The camp itself

consists of several lean-tos against the cliff wall. Above the camp,

reached by ladders connected to scaffolding, is the mouth of a cave.

Zira is cleaning up the breakfast things; Zaius and Lucius are sorting

out equipment.

A-326CLOSER ANGLE - TAYLOR AND ZIRA

A small bowl of water rests on the ground in front of Taylor He has

nearly finished shaving himself with a sharp hunting knife. Nova

watches, a look of fascinated approval on her face. Taylor rinses off

his knife, starts to dry it. Nova reaches out, gently strokes his

smooth -- if nicked -- chin.

TAYLOR:

(smiling)

You like it?

Lucius and Cornelius come up, Zira with them.

LUCIUS:

(disapprovingly)

Why did you do that? Scrape off your

hair?

TAYLOR:

In my world -- before I left it -

only youngsters of your age wore un-

scraped hair.

CORNELIUS:

(to Taylor, quizzically)

It makes you look somehow ... less

intelligent.

Taylor grins wryly at Cornelius, picks up his rifle.

TAYLOR:

When are you going to show me what's

in the cave?

CORNELIUS:

Right now, if you like.

They cross the beach to the ladders, when suddenly they hear the sound

of horses. They look o.s.

B-326WHAT THEY SEE:

Dr. Zaius and five armed and mounted apes have come around the corner

of the beach and ride toward them through the rocks.

C-326MEDIUM - THE GROUP

Taylor scrambles up onto the lower scaffold. Lucius runs to a lean-to,

scoops up his rifle.

CORNELIUS:

Lucius -- don't fire at them.

The party rides up.

ZAIUS:

You're all under arrest!

(to Lucius)

You seditious scoundrel. Drop that

rifle.

327-OUT

348

349FLASH SHOT - LUCIUS

He wavers, lowering his piece.

350WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE BOTH GROUPS

Zaius' gorillas ride forward a few paces, but halt again as Taylor

shouts:

TAYLOR:

Stop right there.

ZAIUS:

Don't be a fool. You're outnumbered

and outgunned.

Taylor aims at Zaius and calls out:

TAYLOR:

If there's any shooting, Dr. Zaius,

you'll be the first to die. Depend

on it.

CORNELIUS:

(protesting)

Taylor, you're not in command here.

Put down that gun.

TAYLOR:

Shut up.

Silence.Zaius knows Taylor isn't bluffing.

ZAIUS:

Very well.

(to his followers)

Lower your weapons.

They obey. Taylor calls again:

TAYLOR:

(pointing)

Tell them to move around the point.

Out of range.

Zaius turns and whispers to his apes. They rein about and ride away

through the rocks. Zaius dismounts and approaches the fugitives alone.

He is unarmed.

351CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROUP

As Zaius draws nearer) Lucius lowers his rifle. But Taylor keeps his at

the ready.

CORNELIUS:

(uncertainly)

How did you know we'd come here?

ZAIUS:

It wasn't difficult. Only an apostate

or a lunatic would flee to the Forbidden

Zone.

(a glance at Taylor)

I see you brought along the female of

your species.

(Taylor nods)

I didn't realize a man could be monogamous.

TAYLOR:

On this planet -- it's easy.

Zaius laughs derisively, then turns to the apes.

ZAIUS:

(evenly)

I ask you to reconsider the rash course

you've taken. If you're convicted of heresy,

the most you'll get is two years. But if

you persist in pointing guns in my direction,

you'll hang for high treason.

CORNELIUS:

(respectfully)

We've never meant to be treasonable, sir.

(pointing off)

But up there, in the face of that Cliff,

is a vast cave -- and in that cave a

fabulous treasure of fossils and artifacts.

ZAIUS:

I've seen some of your fossils and artifacts.

They're worthless.

TAYLOR:

(derisively)

And that's your Minister of Science. Honor-

bound to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

ZIRA:

(worried)

Taylor, please --

TAYLOR:

Except that he's also the Chief Defender

of the Faith.

ZAIUS:

(loftily)

There is no contradiction between faith

and science. True science.

TAYLOR:

(suddenly angered)

All right, let's see if you're willing

to put that statement to a test.

CORNELIUS:

Taylor, I'd rather you -

TAYLOR:

No. You saved me from this fanatic. Maybe

I can pay you back.

ZAIUS:

(calmly)

What is your proposal?

TAYLOR:

When were the Sacred Scrolls written?

ZAIUS:

Twelve hundred years ago.

TAYLOR:

Very well. If Zira and Cornelius can prove

that those scrolls don't tell the whole

truth of your history; if they can show you

definite evidence of another culture from an

unrecorded past -- will you exonerate them?

ZAIUS:

Of course.

TAYLOR:

Okay.Up to the cave.

He gestures toward the path leading to it. Zaius, Zira, and Cornelius

start upward. Lucius starts to follow them.

TAYLOR:

Sorry, Lucius. You'll have to stay here

and guard the horses.

LUCIUS:

Always giving orders. Just like every

other adult.

TAYLOR:

Relax. You'll see it all later.

He pats the barrel of Lucius' gun, in the manner of a stern but

benevolent non-com, then starts up the trail with Nova at his heels.

Lucius, unused to taking commands from an animal, scowls after him,

then shrugs, adjusting to the Idea.

352-

355OUT

356 EXT. WESTERN WALL OF GORGE - LONG SHOT - ANGLING UP

AFTERNOON:

The sun hovers over the lofty rim of the lake like a great red balloon.

The wall of the gorge, in shadow, is a darker hue.

357EXT. EASTERN WALL OF GORGE - LONG SHOT - ANGLING UP

The crenelated east wall, looking like a red cathedral, is aglow with

sunlight. So is the mouth of the cave as the three apes, Taylor and

Nova pass through it and o.s.

358INT. CAVERN - BOOM SHOT - DAY

Nature has formed a vaulted room here. It need not be enormous, but

should be as weird and fantastic as production capabilities permit.

There is an ape-made excavation in the floor of the cave, some ten feet

square and eight feet deep. Some small objects lie on the rim of the

excavation. Zaius, Cornelius, Zira, Taylor and Nova enter from the

outside.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE:
The effect should be an eyeful. I wish to create an

illusion of sunlight penetrating this cave, flooding it with direct,

refracted illumination, transforming it into a kaleidoscopic cavern.)

ZAIUS:

Present your evidence, Cornelius.

Cornelius clambers down into the pit, followed by Zira. Taylor bends

down, examines some of the artifacts lined along the edge of the

excavation. Nova sits beside him.

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