Tarzan's New York Adventure Page #4

- Why, yes. What about that boy?

- This man's taken him.

- What about it?

Here, this will explain.

This is a receipt for a bond

from U.S. Immigration.

It gives Sargent temporary custody

of a nameless boy, parents dead.

- Tarzan's Boy!

- Now, Tarzan, it can't be settled here.

You could level the show,

and you'd never find him.

There's only one way

to get him back, the law.

He's right.

You'd only find trouble here.

We'd better trust the law.

- Ask law, get Boy back.

- Yes.

We'll go to court.

It won't take long.

- And I'll get you a lawyer.

- Lawyer? What's lawyer?

To help to get Boy back.

Tarzan wait. Tarzan see!

Get Boy back. Cheetah.

- Thanks, Chuck.

- Okay.

The affidavits show that Boy

was taken from the jungle...

...a spot in the Congo

known as "the escarpment"...

...where he lived with my clients.

He was taken by Mr. Sargent's agent,

brought here...

...where Mr. Sargent posted

an immigration bond for him...

...and instituted adoption proceedings.

Your client opposes the return

of the boy to his parents?

- Yes.

- On what grounds?

The jungle isn't a home for him.

He's filed adoption papers.

Naturally, we will oppose

any move to adopt this boy.

I have more expert witnesses

on jungle life...

...if Your Honor will permit.

- All right.

- Take the stand, Tarzan.

Tarzan, sit in that chair.

Hand on the book.

Swear to tell the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?

- Tarzan always tell truth.

- What's your name?

- Tarzan.

- Full name?

That's the only name he has.

You have educated your son,

haven't you?

I mean, well,

what did you teach the boy?

Teach Boy where to find water when

thirsty, where to find food when hungry.

Tarzan teach Boy to be strong

like lion and happy like bird.

You find everything you

need in the jungle, do you?

Wise men need little.

Have you thought what would become

of Boy if he grows up in the jungle?

Boy grow up to be brother

of sun and friend of rain.

Hurt nobody.

Want nothing people have.

Grow old like cedar tree.

Boy will be good man, happy man.

No one can want more than that.

That's all, thank you.

- Can you read, Tarzan?

- Read?

Yes, read. Read a book.

Ever hear of Shakespeare's Hamlet?

Tarzan read trails in jungle.

Read clouds in sky.

- Lawyer ever hear of kinsin-nupa?

- Kinsin- what?

Kinsin-nupa. Cure snakebites.

All babies in the jungle know that.

- This is a court of law.

- White man's law lots of words.

Jungle law more easy.

Man live own life.

So you prefer the jungle code

to civilized law?

In jungle, men only kill bad animals.

In civilization, men kill good men.

Will Mr. Norton concede

human life is in constant peril...

...in this wild region

from which this child was rescued?

No, I will not concede any such thing.

In the last year, 35,000 men, women

and children were killed...

...in auto accidents alone

in this country.

I object. Counsel's remarks

are immaterial.

Objection denied.

Proceed, Mr. Beaton.

- Lf the court please...

- Yes.

I submit, Your Honor...

...the jungle is not an issue in this case.

The only issue is guardianship.

Are these two people morally fit to bring

up an adolescent to proper manhood?

It is my contention that they are.

By his conduct in this court,

Tarzan has proved himself no savage...

...but rather uniquely civilized.

You may resume cross-examining

the witness.

No more questions.

Your Honor, I'd like to place

my last witness on the stand.

Very well.

By the way, Tarzan, how's fishing

on this escarpment of yours?

- Big fish.

- How big?

Lipamani, so big.

Malagani fish, so big.

Is that so?

As a civilized fisherman...

...I would have stretched

the truth at least a foot.

Jane is right. Law good.

Give Boy back.

Soon, dear.

Swear to tell the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?

I do.

Before going to the jungle,

you lived a long while in civilization?

- Yes, in London.

- Did you like it?

I had everything money could buy.

In comparison,

how do you like the jungle?

There is no comparison.

I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Is it a good place to raise a son?

It teaches him most things

he needs to know...

...how to live simply,

naturally, happily.

You say that as a mother, with a

mother's instinct and wisdom?

A mother would never wrong

her own son.

Thank you, madam. Your witness.

Tell me what you do in the jungle...

...when you need a doctor?

- We seldom do.

But if we do, we have

our own drug store too.

Many modern drugs were known and

used in the jungle centuries before here.

Digitalis, for example,

and quinine, tannic acid, alum.

- Dozens more.

- Has your boy ever been ill?

- No. He grew up healthy and strong.

- Like the other savage animals?

- He's not a savage animal.

- Like animals...

...he was born and raised in the jungle.

- He was not born in the jungle!

Your boy was not born in the jungle?

Where was he born?

- I don't know.

- Well, you're his mother, aren't you?

I prefer not to answer that question.

You'll have to answer, madam.

Remember, you're under oath.

Tell this court, are you the mother

of this child? Yes or no?

We found him, Tarzan and I,

after an airplane crash in the jungle.

Yes or no?

His parents were killed.

Tarzan and I are the only parents

he's ever known.

You came into this court

with unclean hands.

You led this court to believe

you were the parents...

...when you had no legal claim

to him whatever! You lied!

- I did not!

- And he lied!

You steal Boy from me!

Tarzan, stop it! Let go!

Let go! Darling, Tarzan!

Take a look, Your Honor!

He's a man who claims to be a fit

guardian for a child. He's a savage!

This hearing is adjourned until tomorrow.

Detain him in the waiting room.

I'll take up the matter

of this disturbance later.

Come on.

- What a break.

- You said it.

Let's grab the kid

and make that plane.

You were right, Tarzan,

as you always are...

...and I was wrong.

I asked you to trust the law...

...and you did. And now...

Listen to me, darling.

I know that man's laws

are not for you.

You who are as free as an eagle.

I should've told you

to follow your own law.

To find Boy in your own way.

I said this was my jungle.

I was wrong.

Your jungle is my jungle.

I know that now.

- I only hope it's not too late.

- Too late?

I hope not. I hope not.

- Jane say go?

- Yes, darling.

Tarzan go. Tarzan get Boy.

Come back! You'll break your neck!

The roof! Quick!

Hey!

Tarzan just escaped from court.

He's in a Globe taxicab believed

headed for the circus on Long Island.

Stop all Globe cabs

crossing the bridge.

They're after Tarzan,

who's in the papers.

Follow that cab that just went

by and see who's inside.

- What's that noise?

- That's the law, mister.

Law? Quick! Circus, hurry!

- Didn't you hear that siren?

- Yes.

Come down before you break

your fool neck.

Look, fella, it's no use trying!

Give it up!

Tarzan.

- Make them come and get you!

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