Planet of the Apes Page #7

JULIUS:

Now what?

Taylor gestures for Zira to come closer to the bars.

ZIRA:

He seems to want something.

She advances tentatively toward the cage.

JULIUS:

I'd be careful, doctor.

Taylor suddenly reaches through the bars, tries to snatch the pen and

notebook from Zira. Julius instantly jabs his broom handle through the

bars, hitting Taylor in the ribs.

JULIUS:

What did I tell you!

(to Taylor)

Try that again, I'll break your arm!

Zira draws back, looking at Taylor in surprise.

151CLOSER - TAYLOR

His face is twisted in frustration.

TAYLOR:

(mouthing)

What's the matter with you? I can

talk! Can't you see that?

Over this a door is heard opening o.s., and Julius' voice, nervous,

deferential:

JULIUS' VOICE

(o.s.)

Good morning, Your Excellency.

Taylor looks o.s.

152-OUT

160

161BOOM SHOT - THE THREE APES - FROM TAYLOR'S P.O.V.

Julius and Zira cross to a stout, imposing orangutan who has just

entered the laboratory. Julius bows to him. This is DR. ZAIUS. Like the

other apes, he wears a simple tunic and trousers, but his garments are

of a Costlier material, and several decorations are woven into the sash

of his tunic.

ZIRA:

(bubbling)

Dr. Zaius, I'm so glad you could come.

He's over here.

Zaius crosses with them to Taylor's cage. Beneath his austere manner,

we sense tension, worry. Zira looks up at Taylor, her tone an appeal.

ZIRA:

Bright Eyes, show him! Go ahead!

Do your trick!

Taylor just glares at her.

ZIRA:

Speak! Go on.Speak again.

TAYLOR:

(silent mouthing)

My - name - isn't - Bright Eyes It's

Taylor!

ZIRA:

There! Can you believe it? I looks

like he's talking.

ZAIUS:

(evenly)

Yes, amusing. A man who acts like an ape.

Taylor turns to Zaius.

TAYLOR:

(silent mouthing)

I'm not acting! I can talk! How much

proof do you want?

ZIRA:

(thunderstruck)

Dr. Zaius, I could have sworn he was

answering you!

ZAIUS:

(nodding, but unmoved)

He shows a definite gift for mimicry.

Zira wiggles her fingers excitedly.

ZIRA:

I wonder how held score on a Hopkins

manual dexterity test?

Zaius' voice is quiet, but there is steel in it.

ZAIUS:

An animal?

JULIUS:

Look!

Taylor is frantically wiggling his fingers.

ZIRA:

He's moving his fingers!

ZAIUS:

Of course. He saw you moving yours.

ZIRA:

But perhaps he understood --

161-ACLOSE - TAYLOR

He is pleading silently as Zaius' voice is heard over the SHOT.

ZAIUS' VOICE

(o.s., hard)

Man has no understanding, Dr. Zira.

He can be taught a few simple tricks.

Nothing more.

ZIRA'S VOICE

(o.s.)

I beg to disagree. According to my exper-

iments --

161-BCLOSE - ZAIUS

A warning burns out of his eyes as he stares at Taylor.

ZAIUS:

A word to the wise, Dr. Zira. Experimental

brain surgery on these creatures is one

thing. I'm all for it.

161-CCLOSER - TAYLOR

Fear clouds his eyes. Abruptly, he stops moving his lips.

161-DMED. THE GROUP

Zaius sees the effect his words have had on Taylor. He turns to Zira,

goes on in a more detached tone.

ZAIUS:

But your behavioral studies are another matter entirely. To suggest

that we can learn something about simian nature from a study of man is

nonsense. Besides, men are a nuisance. They outgrow their own food

supply in the forest and migrate to our green belts and ravage our

crops.

(looking casually

at Taylor)

The sooner they're exterminated, the better.

He turns toward the door. A disappointed Zira follows him. Zaius looks

back at Taylor just before going out.

ZAIUS:

It's a question of simian survival.

161-ECLOSE - TAYLOR

He stares after Zaius, than looks away, slumps to the floor. A pause,

then a VOICE is heard.

APE GUARD:

Is this the one you wanted, Doctor?

ZIRA'S VOICE

(o.s.)

Yes, thank you.

(pause, her voice

much closer)

Bright Eyes?

Taylor looks up.

ZIRA'S VOICE

(o.s.)

I've got a present for you.

161-FANOTHER ANGLE - THE CAGE

Standing outside the cage, held on a leash by an APE GUARD is Nova.

She looks at Taylor without expression. Zira gestures at JULIUS.

ZIRA:

Put her in with him.

Julius unlocks the cage door-, leads Nova inside, removes her leash and

collar. Taylor has gotten to his feet. Julius goes out, locking the

door behind him. Nova hesitates, then slowly reaches out, takes

Taylor's hand. Zira beams at them.

162-OUT

169

DISSOLVE TO:

170EXT.- EXERCISE YARD - ANIMAL COMPOUND - ESTABLISHING SHOT DAY

It is nothing elaborate, A wire fence encloses a dirt yard. This

compound is situated on the outskirts of Apetown and the town is

visible in the distance.

There are about a dozen adult human captives within the enclosure, no

more than a third of them females. Some of them trudge around the dusty

yard like convicts in a penitentiary. Others squat against the sun-

drenched wall.

A big male suddenly runs to the fence and tries to climb it. Several

guides, armed with whips and torches, immediately close in on him. The

primitive recoils in fear from a fiery torch and rejoins the captives'

circle.

171CLOSER ANGLE - THE YARD - FEATURING TAYLOR

He plods sullenly back and forth across the rear of the yard,

occasionally glancing off toward the approaches to the compound. Nova

is at his heels. He ignores her. Once again he looks off, stops

suddenly. Nova bumps into him. He turns, impatiently shoos her away,

then looks o.s., again.

172ZIRA AND COMPANION - TAYLOR'S P.O.V.

Zira can be seen approaching with a young chimpanzee, DR. CORNELIUS. He

wears a simple smock over his tunic and trousers. Cornelius glances

surreptitiously around, covertly takes Zira's hand.

CORNELIUS:

Do you have to work tonight?

ZIRA:

No.

CORNELIUS:

Neither do I.

He gives her a quick peck on the cheek.

173CLOSER - TAYLOR

He drifts toward the fence, Nova behind him.

174MED. SHOT - ZIRA AND CORNELIUS

They come up to the fence. Zira nods toward Taylor.

ZIRA:

That's Bright Eyes. The one I was telling

you about.

CORNELIUS:

What's so special about him?

ZIRA:

Watch.

(to Taylor)

Hello, Bright Eyes. How's our

throat today?

Taylor stares at her impassively, then looks around to a that no guards

are watching, hunkers down, begins to scratch in the dust. Nova extends

unclean fingers to touch the bandage on his throat. Taylor flinches,

pushes her hand away. Nova touches a bluish bruise on the inside of her

own forearm, then searches for a similar bruise on Taylor's forearm.

ZIRA:

(excited)

Look -- she remembers.

CORNELIUS:

Remembers what?

ZIRA:

The blood transfusion.

CORNELIUS:

(peeved)

Zira, come on. You know they

can't --

(he stops, looking off)

Oh oh. Here comes Number One.

Taylor looks up and o.s., quickly rises.

175ANOTHER ANGLE - THE YARD - FEATURING DR. ZAIUS

Who is approaching the two scientists from deep b.g. Zaius is followed

by a huge and much decorated gorilla Whom we recognize as the Leader of

the Hunt Club.

ZIRA:

(in a whisper, to

Cornelius)

Something's bothering him. He's

been prying around the lab for the last

two days ...

ZIRA:

(as Zaius comes

nearer)

Good morning, Dr. Zaius. You know Dr.

Cornelius, my fiance.

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