Planet of the Apes Page #5

TAYLOR:

No cigar.

LANDON:

Try telling them our names.

Taylor grimaces at Landon.

TAYLOR:

Well, if we're looking for an icebreaker...

(turning to the creatures)

Listen, folks .....

More shrinking back by the frightened primitives.

DODGE:

(softly)

I'm afraid they aren't having any.

99-OUT

102

103-A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - THE JUNGLE (OR RAIN FOREST):

105

A pistol goes off with a deafening crash, and the primitive creatures

scatter in panicky flight. After a while, quiet returns to the jungle.

106EXT. A JUNGLE PATH - THE ASTRONAUTS

They examine the remnants of their clothing and equipment and start to

don whatever is able to be worn. Taylor puts on what remains of a

ripped pair of trousers; Dodge starts to improvise from the remnants of

the kit (it is a torn shelter half). Landon, like Taylor, has the

remains of his pants.

DODGE:

They didn't leave much did they?

LANDON:

Shall we follow them?

TAYLOR:

Haven't much choice.

As they walk off down the jungle path.

DISSOLVE TO:

107EXT. A GROVE OF FRUIT TREES - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY

This need not be a cultivated grove. A few trees (peach or apricot or

avocado, it matters not) grow wild in a pleasant glade. Nor is the

grove extensive. The three astronauts sit under a tree in f.g.; the

primitives sit under a clump, of trees some fifty yards away. Each camp

is feeding and warily watching the other. In the distance beyond the

fruit trees is an open grassy plain or cultivated field.

108THE PRIMITIVES - FROM LANDON'S P.O.V.

They too are sitting under trees, munching fruit. There are no more

than a dozen altogether.

109BACK TO ASTRONAUTS - CLOSE GROUP SHOT

TAYLOR:

Well, at least they haven't

tried to bite us.

DODGE:

Blessed are the vegetarians.

110THE OTHER CAMP - FEATURING A YOUNG WOMAN

Squatting on her haunches, eating fruit, gazing back at Taylor. Her

hair is long and black, her skin nut brown, her face hauntingly lovely

and hauntingly stupid. This is NOVA.

111BACK TO ASTRONAUTS

Landon looks o.s. at the primitives.

LANDON:

We got off at the wrong stop.

TAYLOR:

You're our optimist Look at the bright

side. If that's the best there is

around here, in six months we'll be

running this planet.

DODGE:

(suddenly)

Look...

112THE PRIMITIVES - THEIR P.O.V.

They appear to be agitated although neither we nor the astronauts

have yet heard or seen any cause for alarm. The primitives get to

their feet, sniffing, listening

113CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE ASTRONAUTS

Puzzled and alarmed by the primitives' behavior, they too get to

their feet.

LANDON:

Think they'll attack us?

Taylor turns, looks back at:

114THE DISTANT JUNGLE (OR FOREST)

From which they recently emerged. There is no sign of life.

115LONG PANNING SHOT - THE PRIMITIVES

They suddenly run laterally across the grove, heading back toward

their jungle. A rumble becomes audibleit is the SOUND of HOOFBEATS.

116VERY LONG SHOT - THE JUNGLE (OR FOREST)

Twelve "horsemen" suddenly emerge from the trees, riding abreast at a

canter, like a squadron of cavalry about to charge. The horses look

huge. So do the riders, but at this distance we cannot identify them.

117LONG PANNING SHOT - THE PRIMITIVES

Cut off from their natural habitat, they reverse direction and flee

toward the tall grasses of the savanna (or cultivated field).

118LONG SHOT - THE RIDERS

With an exultant battle cry they break into a gallop. The hunt is on.

119CLOSE GROUP SHOT - THE THREE ASTRONAUTS

Stupefied, frozen in place.

120 LONG SHOT - THE RIDERS

Coming closer. We HEAR a rifle shot, then a flurry of shots.

121MED. SHOT.

A bullet spanks into the fruit trees above their heads. They run,

CAMERA PANNING with them as they race toward the tall grass in deep

b.g.

122-A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - THE HUNT IN THE SAVANNA

124

As the "horsemen" close in on the creatures fleeing on foot.

125MED. CLOSE SHOT - A RIDER

He reins in, raises his rifle and fires. For the first time, we se that

he is a GORILLA. He wears a simple quasi-military uniform -- tunic,

trousers and boots.

126FLASH SHOT - DODGE

Running through the high grass. He is shot in the back and falls.

127FLASH SHOT - TAYLOR

He drops at the side of his fallen comrade.

128CLOSE TWO SHOT - ANGLING DOWN ON DODGE

As Taylor rolls him over. Dodge is dead.

129WIDER ANGLE SHOT - THE SAVANNA - FEATURING A LINE OF BEATERS

The beaters are all GORILLAS. They carry long sticks and nets, and

their task is to flush out the terrified primitives cowering in the

tall grass.

130-A SERIES OF SHOTS - THE HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED:

135

(a)Landon flees from one rider only to be cut off by another.

He stumbles and a rearing stallion tramples him.

(b)A third mounted gorilla flings a net over a running female.

She is hopelessly entangled. This is Nova.

(c)Landon lies unconscious on the grassy plain, an ugly gash

on his forehead.

(d)Taylor crawls through the tall grass on his hands and knees.

A rider crosses his path without seeing him.

(e)The beaters close in on Taylor, blocking his escape route.

(f)Taylor changes direction and decides to run for it.

136EXT, SAVANNA - PANNING WITH TAYLOR

Bent low, he flees through the tall grass. A SHOT rings out. Taylor

falls.

137CLOSE ON TAYLOR

Lying on his back. His fingers go to his throat. Blood appears between

his fingers. He opens his mouth in pain, but no sound comes forth, as

Taylor sinks into unconsciousness.

DISSOLVE TO:

138EXT. GROVE - FULL SHOT - THE HUNTERS - DAY

The hunting party has reassembled here beneath the fruit trees. Some of

the gorillas have dismounted; others are still on horseback. In the

middle distance is a crude horse-drawn wagon. The sides and top of the

wagon form a wire cage. Three captive males and one female are visible

within the cage. Dodge and Landon are nowhere to be seen. Two gorilla

porters enter scene, dragging a male human corpse by the ankles, as two

other bearers enter scene with a living burden on a long carrying pole.

Taylor dangles from the pole, held aloft by the bonds around his wrists

and ankles. CAMERA PANS with the two gorillas as they dump Taylor into

the wagon and close the tail gate.

139-OUT

140

141CLOSE ON TAYLOR - WITHIN WAGON CAGE

His throat is smeared with blood. His eyelids flutter as he regains

consciousness.

142CLOSE SHOT - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:

Three primitive males bound hand and foot. They seem docile in

captivity. The female, Nova, clasps bound wrists around her bound

ankles and gazes blankly at Taylor. There is a JOLT of MOVEMENT as the

wagon gets underway

143CLOSE ON TAYLOR

With a great effort he raises himself on one elbow and looks out from

the cage.

144TRUCKING WITH THE WAGON - WHAT TAYLOR SEES:

A gorilla hunter stands over a dead man, one foot planted he chest of

his kill and his rifle butt resting on the on abdomen. Facing him is

another gorilla with an old-fashioned camera on a tripod.

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