"PLANET OF THE APES" (1968)

"PLANET OF THE APES"

Screenplay

by

Michael Wilson

Based on Novel

by

Pierre Boulle

An APJAC Production

08.,,

PIA}i'ETOFTHE APSS II

l EXT. CONSTELLATION OF ORION - NIGI-rr

Stars glitter like diamonds on the black velvet backdrop of space. The Belt of Orion is center screen, but much r2arer and larger ttan ever seen by an Earth-bound 2.3tronomer.

A speck of light appears in the lower left corner of the sc~een. No spaceship can be seen, but only a glowworm, a solitary spermatosoan gliding through the womb of :he universe. Over this we HEAR the voice of an astronaut. Ee is concluding a report.

The cabin is neither cramped nor spacious, but about the size of the President's cabin 'inAir Force One. In the immediate f.g. is a console of dials and switches flanked by f~ur chai~s. Only one of the chairs is occupied. Tbe astrona·.1tI sback is toCAMERA. There is a ladder amidshios which leads to an escaoe hatch. The after part of the cabin is obscured in darkness. We hear the MUSIC of a Mozart sonata emanating from a phonograph of stereotape. The astronaut is speaking ihto a microphone.

He pauses, looking up at:

3 T'tlOLA.RGECLOCKS - ON CABIN WALL

One clock is rr:a:::'kedSELFTir~,bu";;insteadoftwelve •numerals it has twenty-four. One of the needles is moving very slowly.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES - 6/22/67 2

3 Cont.

The other clock is labeled EARTH TIME, and its units, like

those of a tachometer, are given by hundreds and thousands.

The largest needle of this clock makes one revolution eve1y second. Over this we hear:

4 CLOSE ON ASTRONAUT

'!'~isisTAYLOR. He wears s-'.mpledungarees ( or Churchill suit) and comfortable boots. He seems calm and pensive. Extracting the butt of a cigar from the breast pocket of his dungarees, he lights i:, then cont-inues:

He begins to roll up his left sleeve.

He removes the cigar from his mouth, turns to look out through one of the portholes into the astral night.

Cont.

~EVISED - "PLA:IBTOFTHE APES" - 6/22/67 2-A

4 Cont.

He extracts a hypodermic needle from his breast pocket and injects it into the vein of his forear~. He cont!nues speaking.

Cont.

REVISED - "?LANET OF THE A?ES - 7/27/67 3

4 Cont.

Taylor withdraws the hypodermic needle from his vein and secures it in a drawer of the console.

Taylor snuffs out the cigar butt and places it in the drawer beside the hypodermic. Then, flicking a switch to cut off the Mozart, he rises and looks up again at:

5 THE CLOCK r,-f.ARKEDEARTHTIME

The longest needle of this clock now makes nearly two revolutions per second. The shortest needle points to the numeral 2105.

Space scientists have presumably solved the problem of weightlessness, for Taylor walks the short distance from the co: sole to the after section without particular effort. CAMERA FOLLOWS him, and we can now see four glaos capsules, or "caslcets", in the rear of the cabin. Taylor looks down at them.

One of them is open. The other three are occupied by astronauts: DODGE, LANDON and.STEWART. They, too, i·!ear dungarees and boots. Dodge and Landon are thirtyish, clean-shaven, virile -- America's finest. Stewart is a

handsome young woman, her hair bobbed short. Their eyes are closed and they do not appear to be breathing -- yet no undertaker could make them soal~ve.

He grasps the handle of his own casket and slowly pulls himself into it. Continuing SILENCE. CAMERA MOVES IN as Taylor pulls the glass lid shut and secures it. I{o adjusts two dials inside the capsule and lies back, buckling his safety belt. CAMERA MOVES INTO A CLOSEUP of. Taylor. His eyes are open. He seems serene, even enraptured.

(NOTE: Credits will appear here over a series of shots

designed to convey a sense of loneliness, of separation, and of the passage of ti~e.)

REVISED - PLA~T OF THE APES" - 7/27/67 4

We see a strange and distant planet. At first the globe occupies but a small area of the screen; but with each new VIEW it comes closer and looms larger, as if observed from a spaceship in a spiraling orbit of descent.

The topography of the planet bears little resemblance to our own. Much of it is obscured by cloud cover; even more of it appears to be cratered desert of reddish hue. We can, however, make out a few narrow "green belts" and a patch of blue water.

In the FINAL S:IOTS of this SEQUENCE we see the strange planet as it would be observed from a spacecraft plummet- ing from twenty thousand feet to one thousand feet. It appears that the ship will fall into a vast lake surrounded by soaring sandstone pinnacles. The water is blue-black, the pinnacles vermillion. (This is the Lake Powell location, at Lone Rock.)

Four empty pilot seats are seen in f.g., the four glass

caskets in b.g. We HEAR the RHYTHMIC BLEAT of a WARNING

SIGNAL, a RUSH OF WIND as in a rapid descent, and perhaps the ROAR OF RZT~OJETS. Then, a great CRASH as the craft hits water. The whole ship shudders on impact. Loose equipment falls to the cabin floor; CAMERA MCv'ESDOWN

the cabin aisle as the ship begins to roll !n the water

and HOLDS on the four glass caskets. There are TP.REELOUD METALLIC CLICKS as the glass domes of the caskets S\·1ine; open automatically.

18 CLOSE ON TAYLOR

He now has a full beard. His eyes come open. Instantly alert, he rises to a sitting position, gazing across at:

They, too, awaken and sit up, staring at Taylor. They, too, are bearded.

They nod.

He glances at the casket beside his own.

Its dome remains unopened. The young woman is a skeleton in a Churchill suit.

Dodge and Landon have joined Taylor and stare at the grinning skull of their dead comrade. A low, descending HUM of equipment is heard. Simultaneously the lights begin to FADE. A moment later they brighten, but not as much as before.

A slight CRACKING sound is heard. Taylor turns quickly away and o.s.

A trickle of wa ·.,;erhasbegun toseep through a ruptured seam in the cabin. Taylor darts to a porthole and peers cut.

The porthole is no more thans~_x inches above the wat·.,r line. In the distance we discern a shoreline of red desert.

The leak in the seam becomes a growing spray of water. Taylor turns away from the porthole, calling:

Dodge moves instantly to the ladder beneath an escape hatch and mounts it. Taylor stumbles down the aisle of the rolling ship toward the console and addresses Landon, who is still staring at Stewart's skeleton.

25 Cont.

As Landon lurch~s toward the communications equipment in f.g.

AFTERNOON (LONE ROCK, LAKE POWELL)

We are lookingat a lifeless desert of sandstone buttes and pinnacles. ·rhere is no sign of vegetation anywhere. CAMERA PANS DOWN to a body of water that could be the bay of an inland sea. The deep blue of the sea contrasts sharply to the red sands of the shoreline. CAMERA HOLDS on the stricken spaceship, wallowing like a beached whale a hundred yards offshore. The portholes of the craft are beneath the water, and only its roof and the tail fin of its tail assembly are visible. The red-hot skin of the ship vaporizes the water around it.

Suddenly a snorkel-like tube sprouts from the escape hatch, which is located amidships.

Dodge, standing halfway up the ladder,has f~stened a kit of gauges to the end of the snorkel tube. He reads the dials, removes the kit, sniffs the air in the tube and then, taking a deep breath, announces:

Dodge reaches for a control r;:echanismnear the escape hatch.

28 CLOSE ON TAYLOR A.i'JDLANDON

The spray of water coming through the ruptured seam is increasing. The LIGHTS DIM again and the SOUND of the warning signal FADES. While Landon fiddles with the radio, Taylor tries to get the tape recorder ~olling, but all we hear a~e scrambled and unintelligible noises.

Cont.

28 Cont.

LA}JDON It's no use ... thereshe goes.

The esc·apehatch is now open. Taylor darts over to the ladder.and passes a folded life raft up to Dodge. When Landon reaches the ladder, Taylor hands him two neatly packed rucksacks, and Landon climbs through the escape hatch. Taylor is about to follow with a third rucksack, then turns and crosses the cabin for a last look at:

Both clocks have stopped: the red needle of the clock labeled SELF Til-1Erestson the numeral 18; the red needle of the clock marked EARTH TI~".Erestson the numeral 3975.

Dodge inflates the raft with a cartridge of compressed air and tosses ~t into the water. He and Landon Jump into the water c:indclimb onto the raftas Taylor emerges from the hatch. Taylor slips into the water and climbs onto the raft. He and Landon begin to paddle toward shore, while Dodge ir:1..'Tlediatelyopens another kit and takes a sample of the water.

32 CLOSE ON THE MEN IN THE RAFT

33 THE SPACESHIP - FROM THEIR P.o.v.

Only the radio antenna and the tip of the tail fin remain visible.

LAl\'DONI S VOICE (o.s.) Going ... going ...

'rhecraft vanishes beneath the water.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/16/67 8

34 CLOSE ONTHE MEN IN THE RAFT

Dodge is still busy with his kit. Landon is still looking back, but Taylor doesn't bother to turn his head.

35 ANOTlfERANGLE -MOVING WITH ":'HERAFT

They gaze at the forbidding sandstone battlements as they near the shore.

Low on the horizon, seen through a dense envelope of dust particles.

37 BACK TO ASTRONAUTS~ RAFT

Landon glances skeptically at Taylor.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 9

37 Cont.

38 WIDER ANGLE -THE BEACH

As the three astronauts step out into shallow water and pull the raft ashore.

Dodge moves inland about ten yards, removes a small hand

drill from his belt, extends the rod of the drill three feet and begins to take some subsoil samplings. Taylor

begins to examine the contents o~ tr.ethree rucksacks. Landon sits down on the beach, ha.nds around his kr.ees, gazing moodily at the sunken spaceship. During this a.nd succeeding scenes we sense that Dodge's obsession with scientific inquiry leaves him immune to fear: La.ndon is possibly more courageous and certainly more "human," for he has many fears to control: while Taylor -- detached, cool and misanthropic -- is something of an enig~a.

Cont.

38 Cont.

39 ANOTHER ANGLE -FAVORING LANDON

He seems not to have heard.

Cont.

39 Cont.

Landon involuntarily touches the gray hair of his temple as Taylor adds lightly:

LA.!\JDON (long pause) You lrnowit.

Dodge enters scene. A handful of reddish sand dribbles through his fingers.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 12

39 Cont.l

:epicks up one of the rucksacks and puts it on. The others follow suit.

He moves out. Dodge follows. CA:1ERAPANS wi.ththem. They have gone only a few paces when Taylor looks back over his shoulder and halts.

Landon is squatting in the sand, sticking something into the soil. It is a small American flag, the size of a handkerchief.

Mirth bubbles u:~in Ta:;lor's throat. He explodes with wild l~ughter. He is still laughing as they move out.

)ISSOLVE TO:

A-41 DA:•TNSHOT(GUNSIGHT - LOC //43)

REVISED - "PLA_~·TOF THE APES" - 5/23/67 13

42 T~E AST~OI[AlJTS'TREK

They descend from the plateau (Ochre Dunes)

43 ASTRONAUTS CONTINUE MA.qCH

Across the ton of the hills there suddenly runs a line of fire (Black Dunea).

-'~4 THEY MOVE ACROSS THE TERRAIN

Jagged bolts of lightni~g flash across the sky, but bring no rain, and thunder claps sound like heavy artillery. (Gray Area)

45- OUT

59 ANOTHER PART OF THE CANYON (OCHREmJNES AREA) - GROUP SHOT - DAY

Several huge boulders are dislodged, and the three astronauts run wildly to escape the falling rocks. ~-Then the avalanc:..ee~~ds,theysp:c-awlon the lifeless sands, breathing heavily and dren~hed with sweat, surrounded by enormous boulders. Taylo:- lou!·<Sa.bcuthim.

Murmurs of assent from Dodge and Landon. Taylor ru.1:'.r.''.iges through a limp rucksack, comes up with some empty ~oci cartons, ru.,'lc,10.gesagain,comi1:g upwitha cigar butt.

Dodge takes a plastic canteen from anot~er ruckseck a~d L'1spects it.

DODt'}E Eight ounces.

Dodge lies back and l0oks up at the sky.

Cont.

59 Cont.

Landon also looks up at the sky.

LA}IDON (quietly) I'm prepared to die.

Taylor turns to Dodge, throws up his hands.

Dodge rises and moves off, o.s., either embarrassed by this colloquy o~ u~willing to hear it again. Taylor, cigar clamped betwee:1his teeth, spins to~-1ardLandon.

Cont.

59 Cont.l

'!.'AYLOR Oh, and one :ast i~em. Immortality. You wanted to so on forever. (pause) Well, you damn near made it, Except for Dodge and me, you've lived longer than anybody, And with Stewart dead, it looks like we're the :~st of the strain. You got what you wanted, kid. How does it taste?

Silence. Taylor lies down, spent of h!s venom, pill0w•~g his r.eadon a rucksack.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/16/67 16

59 Cont.2

Taylor's eyes are closed. He is silent for a moment. When he speaks, his tone is soft, reflective.

who has been wandering around, studying the boulders und the barren soil. Taylor and Landon can be seen in b.g. Dodge spots something and squats down to examine it.

It is a tiny desert flower, no more than an inch high.

His eyes light up as he calls:

REVISED - "PLANET OF TEE APES''- 5/23/67 17

63 CLOSE GROUP SP.OT- ANGLING DOWN

as Taylor and Landon hurry over and kneel down on either side of Dodge. The astronauts hover over the tiny flower like three magi perceiving the infant Deliverer.

He digs gently around the roots of the plant with a small

instrument.

A-63 SUNSET SHOT

64 END OF THE TRECK AS THE ASTRONAUTS START FROM TEE CANYON TO THE TAMARISK AREA

Absolute desolation (Ochre Area), The astronauts start down the canyon.

65 ASTRONAUTS CAST HUGE S!J'..ADOWS

As they move across the terrain (top of Crazy Canyon).

A-65 JUMP SHOT

As they jump across a ~ap. Thunder and lj_ghtningagain (top of Crazy Canyon).

B-65 'rHEYMOVE DOWN

They march across Crazy Canyon overlook.

C-65 REACTION SHOTS OF ASTRONAUTS

A-R-66 SERIES OF SHOTS OF DESCENT OF ASTRONAUTS DOWN SHEER ?ACE OF A CANYON (Wire Grass Canyon).

For a brief moment sev,~ral"creatures" appear. We can.,r)t identify the species.

QUICK DISSOLVE '_;_·O:

Blooming tamarisks border a dry stream bed. Taylor n.nd Landon hover over Dodge, ~~o is probing the soil w::..th:1is drill. Their dungarees r!.n,lfacesa.recakedw:..t:1.dust.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 17-A

67 Cont ..

Lande ,traightens up and looks off, startled by something he sees.

REVISED - "PLANET OFTHE APES" - 5/23/67 18

68 LONG SHOT -A CLIFF BEYOND THE TAMARISKS

with the astronauts in f.g. In the distance, on the sky- line, we can make out a long row of wooden crosses, Some animal or vegetable matter appears to be tied to the crosses.

Taylor plunges into the thicket of tamarisks, followed by Dodge and Landon. Their view of the cliff is momentarily obscured. CAMERA HOLDS on the distant crosses. For an instant only, three "creatures''again appear on the skyline near the crosses. Then they vanish.

as they emerge from the tamarisk thicket nearer to the base of the cliff. They halt and look up at:

70 THE CROSSES - ANGLING UP - FROM ASTRONAUT•S P.o.v.

We can now see the pelts of unrecognizable animals have been bound to the crosses and, thus mounted in a long row, seem to make a boundary or serve as a warning. The living bipeds are no le.1gervisible.

71 BACK TO Tt{EASTRONAUTS

Dodge apd Landon are still looking up at the strange crosses, but Taylor is scanning the terrain at the base of the cliff. The sound of rushing water can be heard.

He breaks into a run, CAMERA PANNING with him as he :naves toward a declivity in the face of the cl~ff.

Agonized with thirst, they follow Taylor.

For an ~nstant we see the bipeds again, moving in the same direction.

He scrambles up a rock-st~ewn gorge and looks off at the terrain beyond.

The cascade isnot spectacular, but the vegetation around it is startlingly lush. (This location is not at Lake Powell, but at the Ranch).

His parched lips break into a smile.

The cascade has formed a cool and inviting pool. Thick foliage grows to its very edge. Dodge is on his hands and lmees, testing the liquid with his kit. The others wait expectantly.

Without further ado Landon ducks his face into the pool. Dodge scoops up water in his hands and drinks. Taylor follows suit.

Landon and Dodge immediately remove their boots, strip down and plunge into the pool. But Taylor does not yet disrobe. Alert and curious, he strolls along the ban.le of the pool, looking around.

78 DODGE AND !ANDON SWir'1Mnm

79 TAYLOR

ashe briefly looks around, then starts taking off his shirt.

80 DODGE AND LANDON

as they arrive at opposite s~ore.

as La..~donseessomething on shore.

82 TAYLOR IN WATER

as he swims across.

Jodge and Taylor climb out of the pool ~~d squat ~eside Land.on.

The pr!nt of a large five-toed foot !s clearly visible in the wet sand.

84 GROUP SHOT - THE T!-iREEAST~ONAUTS

Taylor rises and walks slowly toward the underbrush, scanning the g~ound for other sports.

Our view of the astronauts beyond the cascade in b.g. is ~artially obscured by broad-leafed foliage directly in front of CAMERA, which ?ANS SLOWLY away from the water- falland HOLDS on the astronauts' clothing at the edge of the pool. Suddenly and inexplicably a pair of dungarees slithers away into the und~rbrush. A few seconds pass. Now a pair of bronzed and brawny shoulders fill .theSCREEN, blocking our view.

86 REVERSE ANGLE - CLOSE ON A HUMAN FACE IN HEAVY FOLIAGE

Or is it h.:..rnan?Thehair ismatted, the face bearded, the jaw prognathous, the orbital rim prominent.

B·r AlrDTHERANGL~ - AT E~,1EOF ?OOL

A brown thick-fingered hand appears from behind heavy foliage and 9lucks at a boot. The boot vanishes.

Dodge is standing near Taylor and looking back at the spotwhere they left their clothing. Suddenly he seiz·?s Taylor's arm and points silently at the far bank of the pool.

89 WHAT THEY SEE:

Another pair of dungarees slithers into the underbr~sh and disappears.

90 REVSRSE A~WLE - FULL ?.i\.t'l'NINGS:!OT-THEASTRONAUTS

Led by Taylor, they dive back into the pool and swim to the other ba~k. Emerging from the water, they look around in bewilderment. Taylor ~akes hand signals to indicate absolute silence and a reconnaissa~ce. The three ~stronauts fan ou~ and ~ove cautiously into the jungle (or rain forest).

qg

93 THE ASTRONAUTS

Little sunlight penetrates this dense vegetation. These SHOTS are INTERCUT with:

94 WHAT TEE ASTRONAUTS SEE:

fleeting forms asy1t t·'1~.dentified;tre::blingfoliage; brovm shadows against a ~reen backdrop.

who stop at the edge of the clearing, s~artled by

96 WHAT THEY SEE:

a number of primitive bipeds, male &.ndfemale, scarcely visible behind trees and bushes on the other side of the clearing -- here a face, there a p· ·tion of a headand torso. Throughout this sequence, -~:ieprimitives are never seen clearly or at close range.

97 BACK TO THE ASTRONAUTS

reacting. They speak in whispers.

CAMERA PULLS 3ACK as ~aylor advances a few steps into the clearing, extending his empty hands and 'beami::g like a politician.

98 REVERSE - THE STRANGE CREATURES - FROM TAYLOR'S P.o.v.

There are perhaps a dozen of them. They shrink back as Taylor advances -- hostile, friehtened, or both. 'de now see that some of :hem are clutching articles of the astronauts I clothing u..'1.dequipment.Tay::orstops,sta:r~s at them glumly.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANETOF ':'HEAPES"- 5/23/67 23

98 Cont.

Taylor gr·.trnaces atLandon.

More shrinking back by the frightened primitives.

99- OUT

103- A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - 'l'.HEJUNGLE( ORRAINFO:tES':'):

A pistol goes off with a deafening crash, and the primitive creatures scatter in panicky flight. Af:er.a while, quiet returns ~o the jungle.

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 or 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.

As they walk off down the jungle path.

This need not be a cultivated grove. A few trees (peach or apricot or av,cado, 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 cltL'llpof treessome fifty yardsaway. Each camp is feeding and warily watching the other. In the distance beyond the fruit t.~es is an open gra~;y plain or cultivated field.

108 THE PP.IMITIV=:S-FROM Lf\NDON'S P.o.v.

Th~y too are sitting under trees, munching fruit. ?~ere are no more than a dozen altogether.

Squatting on her haunches, eating fruit, gazing back at ~aylor. Her hair is long and black, her skin nut brown, her face hauntingly lovely and hauntingly stupid. This is NOVA.

111 BACK TO ASTRONAUTS

Landon looks o.s. at the primitives.

112 THE PRIMI':'IVES-THEIR ?.o.v.

They appear to be agitated, although neit~er we nor ~he astronauts have ye~ heard or seen any cause for alarm. The primitives get to their feet, sniffing, listening.

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

Taylor turns, looks back at:

114 THE D:!:S'.L'A.NTJUNGLE( OP.FOREST)

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

They suddenly run laterally across the grove, heading back toward their jungle. A rwnble becomes audible -- it is the SOUND of EOOFBEATS.

116 VERY LONG SHO'!'-'!:'HEJUNGLE(ORFOREST)

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.

Cut off from their natural habitat, they reverse direction and flee toward the tall grasses of the savanna (or cul:1- vated field).

118 LONG SHOT -THE RIDERS

~1th an exultant battle cry they break !~to a gallop. The hunt is on.

119 CLOSE GROUP SHO'I'-THE ASTRONAUTS

Stupified, frozen in place.

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

121 MED. SEOT - TEE Ti!RESAS':::'RO~Al."I'S

A bullet spanks into the fruit trees above the~r heads, They r'-l.n,CA!--!.SP.A?A.i';NI~'iGwiththemas~~eyrace~c·.1a.r·d the tall gra5s in ~eep b.g.

122- A SERIES OF FLASH SHOTS - THE HUNT IN THE SAVA't>.'NA

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

foot.

125 MED. CLOSE SHO•r- A RIDER

He reins in, raises his rifle and fires. For the first time, we see that he is a GORILLA. He wears a simule quasi-military uniform -- tunic, trousers and boots.

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

He drops at the side of his fallen comrade.

As Taylor rolls him over. Dodge is dead.

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

The beaters are all GORILLAS. They carry lo~g sticks and nets, and their task is to flush out the terrified primitives cowering in the tall grass.

130- A SERIES OF SHOTS - 'rHEHU1'TERSAND THE HUNTED:

(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 ~ova.

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

(d) Taylor crawls ~hrough 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.

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

137 CLOSE 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 unconscious- ness.

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 ~ire cage. Three captive males and one female are visible within the cage. Dodge and Landon are nowhere to be se~n. Two gorilla porters enter scene, dragging a male human corpse by the ankles, as two other bearers enter scene with 2 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 dw:,9Taylor into the wagon and close the tail gate.

139- OUT

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

Three primitive males bound hand and foot. They seem docile in captivity. ~he female, Nova, clasps bound wrists around her b·ound ankles and gazes blankly at Taylor. T!1ereis a JOLT of MOVEMENT as the .,,ragongetsunder~·ray.

143 CLOSE ON TAYLOR

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

144 TRUCKING ',vITHTHE WAGON -WHAT TAYLOR SEES:

A gorilla hunter stands over a dead man, one foot planted on the chest of his kill and his rifle butt resting on the abdomen. Fac~ng him is another gorilla with an old-fashioned camera on a tripod.

Cont.

144 Cont.

The hunter bares his teeth.

145 CLOSE ON TAYLOR

He faints.

08.,

REVISED - "PLA?-."ETOPTI:EAPES"- 6/6/67 29

l46 INT. A SURGERY - ANGLING DOWN ON '!'WOOPERATINGTABLES - NIGHT

The surgery is dimly-lit. (If possible we should be unaware of the source of illumination.) Taylor lies strapped to the nearar table. He appears to be uncon- scious. The young female captive, Nova, is strapped to the table beside him. She is conscious. Taylor is receiving a direct blood transfusion from her.

Hovering over Taylor are a NURSE and a surgeon named GALEN. Both are chimoanzees. Galen wears a bloody surgical apron, the nu_rsea white smock. Galen is removing a filthy bandage ~rom Taylor's neck. A door behind them opens and DR. ZIRA, an animal psychologist, enters. She, too, is a chimpanzee and wears a smock like the nurse's.

ZIR!\ Which OI'!':?w~ewaaringtheGtrange clothes?

Zira looks down at Taylor.

Galen paws throug~ a tray Qf surgical instrW!lcnts. '!'he equipment is ob~o:.esi::entandthe::::-oomuntidy --like that of a callous small-town veterinarian.

She exits. Zira r-~s a.fcre.f!.ngeracrossa dusty table. Her voice is soft ?.ndwe:1-modulated.

Cont.

146 Cont.

His eyes come open. Over this we hear:

Taylor feebly turns his head a,ndlooks at Nova. She returns his gaze with an unchanged empty stare. We sense that Taylor realizes her blood is flowing into his veins. Over this we hear:

Taylor rolls his eyes toward the apes. Weak as he is, we see his astonishment at hearing them talk.

148 BACK TOGROUP AROUND OPERATING TABLE

as the Nurse reenters with a probe and hands it to Dr. Galen, who protests to Zira:

Cont.

148 Cont.

He shows Zira infected teeth marks on the back of his left hand.

The Nurse complies, gripping Taylor's skull with both hands. Galen leans dovm and begins to probe the throat wound. Taylor passes out.

DAY

The cages are no larger than small jail cells. There are four of th~m. Bars, not walls, divide the cag~s, so that all four are visible. Each of the first ti1ree cages 1s occupied by a primitive male. At the noment the first two are quiet -- dozing or scratching apathet- ically. The third occupant is stolidly regarding a half-dozen brigh~ly colored hollow wooden boxes, or blocks, of varying sizes and proportions on the floor of his cage. He .:!..stry:1.ngtostack theboxesinsuch

Cent.

149 Cont.

a way as to ~each a banana dangl!ng from a cord twelve feet overhead. He has correct·, y selectedthefirst two large, sturdy blocks for his tower under the banana -- but the tall third block is too unstable on its small base to support the broad-based fourth block.

A-149 CLOSE - TA;{LOR

Taylor, looking much st~onge:',sits on a pile of dirty straw in the ~ou.rthcage. The:?:'eisaclean ba~dage a:-01.mdhisthr0at. He watch;2!stheblock-building primitive wlth ~ontemptuous -3.musement.

Both the third a~d fourth blocks tumble to the floor when the prim:!.tivetr-·ies~omount histower. He stands there, s~aring du2.lyat the scattered blocks, then up at the ur..atta.tnab:!.eba.n.ana.

B-149 MED. - THE LABORATORY

A door at the end of the aisle opens and a gorilla na~ed JULrJS enters, dressed in a keeper's uniform. He qui ~kly closes the door, sn~tches up a broom, starts sweeping. Julius is obvioui,lylate for work. Taylor st!'ugglesto his feet, moves to the bars of the cage, tries to call out.

The three other or~mitiYes rr.oYetoward the bars of their cages. Ju].1us b;.r·ksat+;_hem.

The third primit:!.vegoes back to stacking his blocks. Julius comes up to Taylor's cage, i~dicates a like set of blocks strewn across its floor, extends his broom handle to whack the banana overhead.

He returns to his sweeping. Taylor glowers at him. A moment later, the door at theend of the aisle opens and D~. Zi~a ente~s.

Gon.t.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 33

B-lll9 Cont.

She starts down the aisle toward Taylor's cage. He grasps the bars, awaiting her anxiously. As she passes the second cage, the primitive in it shakes the bars, jumps up and down. His tongue is hanging out. Zira smiles, stops, digs into the pocket of her smock.

The primitive continues to Jump up and down energetically. Zira takes a C\:beof sugar from her pocket, ho:1.dsitup for his inspection.

The man eagerly sticks his hand through the bars. She drops the cube in his hands. He Jams it into his mouth.

Z!RA Don't be silly. He's perfectly tame.

She moves toward Taylor's cage, Julius behind her,

Taylor starts :o open h~s mouth as Zira comes up to t~e ba:::'S.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67_ 34

150 Cont.

He winces, puts his hand to the bandage.

Taylor glares at Julius, slams the bars.

Zira hurr~edly takes a pen and notebook from the breast pocket of her smock, sta~ts to scribble.

Taylor ~s staring in silent fascination at the pen and notebook. He stops mouthing, p61nts at them.

Cont.

150 Cont.l

Taylor gestures for Zira to come closer to the bars.

She advances tentatively toward the cage.

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.

Zira draws back, looking at Taylor in surprise.

His face is twisted in frustration.

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

Taylo~ looks o.s.

152- OUT

161 BOOM 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 ga~ments are of a costlier material, and several decorations are woven into the sash of his tunic.

Cont.

11 ..,,..

REVISED - PLANET O? TEE APES" - 5/23/67 .)0

161 Cont.

Zaius crosses with them to Taylor's cage. Beneath his austere manner, we se~se tension, worry. Zira looks i.:.p at Taylor, her tone an appeal.

~aylor just glares at her.

ZAitJS (evenly) Yes, arn•.1sing.Aman who acts like an ape.

Taylor turns to Zaius.

Z1ra wiggles her fingers excitedly.

ZI!iA I \·:o:1derhowheI dscore on a Eopkins nanual dexterity test? Cont.

'37

161 Cont .l

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

Taylor is frantically wiggling his fingers.

A-161 CLOSE - TAYLOR

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

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

CLOSER - TAYLOR

Fear clouds his eyes. Abruptly, he stops ~oving his lips.

REVISED - PLI\NETOF '!'HEAPES - 5/16/67

D-161 MED. THE GROUP

Zalus sees the effect hiswords have had on Taylor. He turns to Zira,goes on ~n a more detached tone.

He turns toward the door. A disappointed Zira follows h•rn. Zaius looks back at Taylor just before going out.

CLOSE - TAYLOR

He stares after Zaius, then looks away, slumps to the floor. A pause, then a VOICE is heard.

ZIRAIs VOICE (o.s.) Yes, thank ycu. (pause, her voice much closer) Bright Eyes?

Taylor looks up.

F'--161 ANOTHER A~GLE - THE CAGE

Standir.g outside the cage, held on a leash by an APE GUMm, is Nova. She looks at Taylor without expression. Zira gestures at ~ULIUS.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF '!'EEAPES"- 5/16/67 38-A

F-161 Cont.

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

DISSOLVE TC:

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 qusty 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, Lrrunediatelyclosein on him. The primitive recoils in fear from a fiery torch and rejoins the captives' circle.

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 of~, stops suddenly. Nova bumps into him. He turns, impatiently shoos her away, then looks o.s., again.

172 ZIRA 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.

COR!IBLIUS Do you have to work tonight?

COR..'t-lELIUS Neither do I.

He gives her a quick peck on the cheek.

He drifts toward the fence, Nova behind him.

They come up to the fence. Zira nods toward ~aylor.

Cont.

11 40

REV!SED - PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67

174 Cont.

Taylor stares at her impassively, then looks around to see that no guards are watching, hunkers down, begins to scratch in the dust. ~ova 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.

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

Who is approaching the two scientists from deep b.g. Zaius is followed by a huge and ~uch decorated gor~lla whom we recognize as the Leader of the Hunt Club.

98 Cont.

175 Cont.

Cornelius bows respectfully. Zaius is patronizingly polite.

A-175 MED. SHOT - TAYLOR

He has stepped back from the marks he made in the dust, 1s watching Zaius with concern.

176 MED. CLOSE SHO'!'-ANGLING DOWN ON TAYLOR AND NOVA

A primitive male squats down to see what Taylor has marked on the ground. In letters a foot high he has written:

\ C.A N \_,Jf.<..,1·6-

:;ova,at once petulant and !:;layful,erasesthe W:HTE with a bare foot. Taylor angrily flings her aside. T~is violence provokes the pr1m1 tive male,who snarls at '.:'aylor and cuffs him. Over ~h~s we HEAR from a distance:

Taylor slugs the snarling male, who wades in, trying to bite him.

Cor.t.

176 Cont.

Two gorilla guards rush 1n to break up the fight. One of them lashes out with his whip. The other pokes his torch at Taylor. Its flane brushes his arm. Taylor opens his mouth, gives a silent yell of pain, shrinks back. Zira runs to the fence.

Prodding the malcreants with their torches, the two guards herd them_toward a doorway in the wall. Zira hurries around the side of the fence and o.s.

He exits hurriedly. The Hunt Club Leader turns to Zaius.

The hunter guffaws. Zaius turns away and looks down at:

179 THE DUST UNDERPOOT

Just beyond the fencewe can rr.akeoutthe letters:

, CAN

Zaius' extended foot appears beneath the bottom wi~e o~ the fence. ~he footw~pes out t~e letters.

His face is a mask.

He is slumped against the bars of the cell, gingerly

touching a large, reddening blotch on his arm. Julius

watches him uncertainly from a few yards away. In the b.g., the outside door opens and Zira rushes in, ~urries down the aisle.

He moves to a cabinet at the other end of the :aboratory, rummages throug~ some drawers.

182 MED. SHOT - ZIM - FROM TAYLOR'S P.o.v.

Zira comes up to Taylor's cage, studies hL~ solicitously.

He looks steadily at Zira, who is only an arm's length away. CAMERA MOVES IN on them. Suddenly Taylor reaches out, snatching the pen and notebook from :he pocket of her smock. Zira leaps back with a cry. Julius grabs a club, races up to the cage, unlocks the door.

Taylor is scribbling furiously on a sheet of note paper. The guard moves in, his club upraised.

Cont.

184 Cont.

Julius swings his club at Taylor's head. ~aylor lifts his right arm to ward off the blow, and the stick strikes him sharply on the hand. He drops the pen and notebook. The guard swings again, driving Taylor to the wall. Then Julius retrieves the stolen articles.

The guard returns her pen and notebook with the comment:

Zira glances at the notebook. Her face clouds.

A hasty, almost illegible scrawl:

~Y name is Taylor.

Her eyes afire wi~h a wild surmise.

Her eyes never leave Taylor as she tells the guard:

The guard shrugsand moves off o.s. Zira beckons to Taylor. He comes forward to the bars of the cage.

D~SSOLVE TO:

REVISED - "PLANET OFTHE APES" - 5/16/67 45

The office is simple, almost Spartan. There are books out no bric-a-brac; several painted portraits of Great Apes but no tape recorder or other modern office equipment. Taylor sits at a desk, scribbling furiously on a sheet of paper. His leash has been removed, but not his collar. Zira stands at his elbow. Cornelius paces nervously up and down, reading a sheaf of notes Taylor has already written.

Taylor scribbles something on a small desk pad, rips off the page, hands it to Cor!'lelius.

He looks at Taylor narrowly. Taylor nods.

Taylor scribbles something else on the pad, hands it to Zira, points at Cornelius.

S~e smiles. Cornelius bristles.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67

190 Cont.

Taylor has resumed writing. He hands the sheet to Zira, who reads aloud.

Taylor writes quickly, hands the note to Zira.

Taylor impatiently begins to fold a sheet of paper.

Taylor points to the floor and mouths the word "Here~'' He flings the paper plane he has just fashioned into the air. It describes a graceful arc around the room and lands at the feet of Cornelius, who slowly picks it up, then exchanges a long glance with Zira.

Taylor scribbles on a piece of paper, hands it to Zira.

Cont.

190 Cont.l

Cornelius puts the paper plane on his desk, crosses to a wall ~ap designed like a window shade. He pulls it down. Taylor and Zira join him at the map.

191 CLOSE ON MAP

It's not a map of the whole planet, of course, but only of that portion known to the apes. Therefore ithas the antique and fragmentary aspect of a map drawn by some Babylonian cartographer.

A swatch of blue at the right margin indicates a sea. In the southwest quadrant are the "greenbelts" of the ape civilization, looking on the map like Jade stones strung on a crescent-shaped necklace. Ruby dots in the Jade indicate ape communities. The northwest quadrant, colored brown, is apparently uninhabited. East of the green belts is a patch of green savanna, and next to it the darker green of a jungle. The eastern quadrants are rendered 1n yellow, and except for a blue lake, appear to be lifeless desert and barren mountain. This area is marked FORBIDDEN ZONE.

Using a pointer, Cornelius orients Taylor, indicating a red dot in the middle of the green belt.

Taylor studies the map, then pointing at the lake in the eastern desert, he goes into a brief charade, dramatizing the astronauts' landing and trek.

Taylor nods, smiles gratefully.

Cont.

191 Cont.

COR.\IELIUS (flatly) Out - of - the - question!

Taylor slams his fist a6ainst the wall in frustration.

192 WIDEf.ANGLE - THE THREESOME

Taylor strides to the desk, writes something, hands 1t to Zira.

Taylor touc~es Zira on the arm, ~akes a gesture of inquiry.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67

192 Cont.

CORl\'ELIUS That was before Dr. Zaiusand half the Academy said the idea was heresy.

Taylor bangs his fist on the desk, mouths the word "No:", scribbles something on a piece of paper.

Taylor thrusts the sheet a~ Zira, who reads italoud.

COR:-IELIUS No, thank you! I won't get in~o that battle.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67 50

192 Cont.l

At that moment there is a loud RAP at the door o.s.

All turn.

Dr. Zaius enters with another portly figure, DR. ~~XI~US. Like Zaius, Maximus is an orangutan.

He hurries to his desk, starts gathering papers. Maximus notes Taylor with dist~ste.

M.AXL~US What is that?

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" -5/11/67 51

During the ensuing exchange, Zaius wanders idly through the office. He glances at the scattered handwritten notes, but does not read them. Meanwhile a rattled Zira replies to ~aximus.

MAXL\ffiS Why special?

The gorilla GUARDS enter from outside.

MAXL\fl.TS Return this beast to the compound.

He regards the apes with hostility as they cross to him. One picks up his leash. Over THE SHOT we hear:

Zira stiffens, looking at Zaius. He is holding the paper plane fashioned byTaylor.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/16/67 52

196 Cont.

Zaius looks down at the oaoer olane in his hand, then back to Zira. He smiles.tolerantly.

He crumples the paper plane into a ball, drops it on the desk. The ape hooks the leash to Taylor's collar, starts leading him out. Zira follows them.

The caged primitives are asleep. Julius, the keeper, dozes in a chair outside Taylor's cage. CAMERA PIVOTS MOVING IN ON Taylor, who 1s lying on his side, also asleep. Nova is curled up behind him. At the sound of a door opening, she comes instantly awake, sitting up and clutching Taylor's arm. He comes groggily awake, rais:ng h~s head in time to hear:

TWO GORILLA OFFICERS have just entered the compound, They wear side arms. Julius has just risen from his chair.

APE LIEUT:!!:NANT We're taking Number Four over to surgery in five minutes. Have him ready.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/11/67 52-A

He stiffens but does not move. The apes, of course, speak freely ~n front of him, believing the animal cannot under- stand.

As the Lieutenant replies:

The two gorillas exit. The guard crosses to a wall peg

for a collar and leash.

Pushing Nova aside, Taylor rises.

As Julius unlocks the door and cautiously approaches Taylor, carrying the collar and leash.

The heel of Taylor's right palm crashes into the keeper's chin, nearly snapping his neck, Julius falls unconscio~s. Taylor leans over him, taking his night stick and a set of keys on his belt.

The male has awakened. He stares stupidly at ~aylor. Nova is whimpering, little strange cries of fear, Taylor moves o.s.

He leaves the cage, moves swiftly to the nearby door ar.d exits.

Barefoot, Taylor silently pads down the corridor to a locked door.

206 CLOSE ON A DOOR

Which is visible because of a beam of sunlight from the half-open door of a guard room. We ff.EARamurmur of ape voices and LAUG:EER. Taylor fumbles with the ~eys, finds one that fits the lock and opens the door.

He emerges, quietly locking the door behind him, Two tethered horses can be seen in deep b.g., and another gust of LAUG~TER can be heard from the nearby guard roo~. Taylor looks off.

208 LONG SHOT -,,LATTAYLOR SEES:

As already established, the an~~al compound is situated on the outskirts of the apes' corr~•..rnity.Thestra!1ge skyline of the town can be seen in the distance.

209 PANNING WITH TAYLOR

He starts to cross an open field outside the compound. At thatmoment we HEAR a shrill police WHISTLE f!'omthe guard room. Taylor breaks into a run.

As the two gorilla officers emerge from the building and run toward their ~orses.

He runs down the road, starts across the long causeway that bisects a s~~ll lake, looking over his shoulder.

The community we s~eat the end of the causeway is small and arcane. There are no power lines, no street lamps --

indeed, no streets as such, but only a small cluster of

buildings around a pleasant mall. The architecture of

the buildings is faintly derivative of the simpler and

less rococo work of Antonio Gaudi -- columns and pillars of brick or exterior masonry look like the trunks and branches of great tr.Jesand suggest an arboreal past.

A small number of apes are visible on the mall:

Taylor darts behind t~ebuttress ofa building, casing the situation. He looks back at:

The two mounted gorilla police can be seen on the c,iuse- way, galloping stra 1gh ttowardCA.MERA. It is evide:it they will soon spot Taylor.

He retreats from the buttress to a dark archway and van- ishes inside the building.

The vestibule is nothing, no set !'equired,a dark space through which Taylor moves toward a shaft of light. ~e -!EARfaintlythe discordant chords of an organ. Or :s it an organ? At any rate, a strange and melancholy ~une. Taylor arrives at a font.

He appears out ot darkness into half-l~ght. The rear of the temple is obscure. Tay~or darts behind a screen. Crouching there, he observes:

217 A FUNERAL CEREMONY IN THE TEMPLE -~D. LONG SHOT

The temole itself is small and austere. There is no altar, but against a plain backdrop we see a statue of the Lawgiver, a Great Ape holding a book. Below the Lawgiver is an ORANGUTAN MINISTER clothed in black robes. He stands in front of a closed coffin. A dozen mourners, seated on comfortable wicker chairs, form a semi-circle around the coffin. The ape ladies wear cowls.

Crouching, listening, wide~eyed.

M!N!STER 1 SVOICE (o.s.) He was a model for us all, a gorilla to remember; hunter, warr:or, defender of the Faith.

219 BACK TO FU:-SERALCERE:10NY-FROM TAYLOR'S P.0. V.

As the minister continues his eulo~y, a small ape boy detaches h~~self (as children will) from the group of mourners and comes marching up the aisle toward the rear of the temple.

'tlho1s still crouching behindthe screen in deep b.g. T~e small fry is coming closer. Over this we hear:

~INISTER'S VOICE (o.s.) T~e dear departed cnce said to me: 'I never met an ape I didn't l~ke'...

Cont.

220 Cont.

The small fry spots Taylor.

The mourners' heads turn. Taylor slinks toward the vestibule.

He is aghast.

Two ushers rise, moving past CAMERA and o.s.

Staying close on the temple wall, Taylor moves stealthily away from the vestibule door. The two ape ushers appear.

They move toward Taylor.

He runs out onto the mall.

Taylor belatedly sees that he is running straight toward his twomounted pursuers. Darting off in another direct- ion, he races past startled pedestrians.

They do a slow take.

He has spotted Taylor. Drawing a folded net from his saddlebag, he swings it overhead (likea cowboy with a lariat) and gallops off in pursuit of theman.

Taylor runs frantically from building to building, rounding corners, vanishing momentarily and reappearing on another part of the mall. At one point themountie nearly overtakes him and flings his net, which falls short. Taylor runs on.

REVISED - "PLAN"ETOF THE APES - 6/19/67 58

It is an open-air structure, like a Greek theater, located near the central mall. Steeply tiered, it seats no more than fifty apes. The dais j_nthe pit is some fifteen feet above ground level.

Taylor enters scene, running toward the amphitheater. Changing direction, he darts into what appears to be an access tunnel. A moment later the pursuing cop rides into scene, dismounts and walks toward the amphitheater, looking around for Taylor.

Taylor suddenly emerges from the access tunnel and runs up a ramp encircling the amphitheater. (A retaining wall shields him from the view of the apes.) Pausing for breath at the top of the ramp, Taylor crouches behind the uppermost tier of seats and peers down:

234 THE AMPHITHEATER - FROM TAYLOR'S P.o.v.

The cop looks around, spots Taylor at the top tier, and starts up after him.

235- OUT

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/19/67 59

He starts to run back down the ramu, but is suddenlf con- fronted by his original pursuer (the dismounted cop) coming

up the ramp. Reversing direction, Taylor runs around the rim of the amphitheater and vanishes into an exit tunnel. The cop blows his whistle, summoning another cop, who joins him in the chase.

ANOTHER PART OF THE MALL - A SWIFT SEQUENCE OF SHOTS

In which we see the fugitive, his pursuers and the reactions of ape shoppers and workers.

A market has been set up on one side of the mall, where street vendors behind carts or tables hawk their wares: fruits, vegetables, wearing apparel, etc. As Taylor runs frantically through the market place, several apes join the chase. In the ensuing· .pandemonium,like the proverbial Chinese fire drill, several tables are overturned.

Taylor runs into scene, pauses, panting, and looks back at his pursuers. Then he darts through the archway into the build.'ng.

For the moment he is the sole visitor in this wing. His pace slows to a walk as he and we observe fleetingly the spec:1Jnensinwhat is a simian museum: Possibly several stuffed and unfamiliar animals; primitive artifacts and fossils; possibly the skeleton of a dog, a cat, etc. Over this we hear a shrill police WHISTLE.

He runs again.

looking at the st·iffedanimals as Taylor races past. The mother gives a startled SCREAM.

He starts after the fugitive.

254 ANO'!'LERPARTOF THE ~-ruSEUM-FEATURING TAYLOR

He runs past displays of other stuffed animals toward CAM.ERAand halts abruptly in close f.g., shocked by:

255 WHAT HE SEES: DODGE

stuffed and mounted, Dodge bares his teeth at the world.

Reacting in horror. He hears another police WHIS~LE and the echoing F0 1JTSTEPSofapproaching guards, which .::1uffle his strangled gasp:

Taylor van~shes in a BLUR of movement.

Order has been restored in the open-a1~ mar~et. Taylor burs ts suddenly inr.oview from a bu.tld.ingonthe fm.,3id~ o~ themall, runnlng in panic f1,omape guards in close pursuit. A mounted policeman spots him and heads him off. Changing direction, ~ay1or is intercepted by another mountad g0rilla. And then a third.

CAMERA HOLDS, hl~GL.rnGDOWNon ~he center of the 1i1a11.

We are witnessing a hideous game: ''baitingthe !nan."

The mounted pol~ce de no~ shoot or club Taylo'!",foehe cannot escape ··- butthey circle him, the.:!.r.1.on[;·.1i1J1;s CRACKING over his head.

258 CLOSER AN'.J~E-THE CIRCLE AROUND TAYLOR - !"A\/Oi1I/l:GA MOUN·rr.s

who unfolds his ~et, swings it overhead and flings lt a~ Taylor. This time he bags his quarry. Taylor ~ivos up, Spent, c:ocile,entar.gled in the net, he st-ands:.:.;'.;oc:c- still in the cente~ of the mall. Guards and civiliuns

on foot join the cil'"·C1earoundthe man at bay. ri !1cy regard him warily.

She pushes thro1.. 1.ghthe.3imianC:!'.'owdaround Taylorar.d hu.1.·1.•iestohise:ide.

260 CLOSE 'IWOS!-!O'I'-'T'AYI.ORANDZIRA

She paws at the net, 0ry1ng impulsively:

Z[RA Taylor, why'd you run away?

Zira re~oves the net from his face. ?anting with exha.ust.1on,'i'ay.lorflicksa.~1.~dglanceat.r.cr.He lool,s demented.

261 1:/l~ERr~r!GLE-TO INCLUDE T,'10GORILLAOFFICERS

who approach ~aylor ~nd Zira. (They are the same gor11J3s introduced in Scer.e198.) One of them carries a collar and le~sh. The other presents nn I.D. card to Zi~a.

LISU'"CSHANT Se(;U.!'i":.ypcl.:!.ce.

8011t.

s,.J

REVISED - ''PL\N:S'!'0~THEAPES" -6/9/67

261 Cont.

His colleague moves toward Taylor with a muzzle.

He speaks at last, his voice hoarse but audible.

The arresting officer steps back involuntarily. All the apes freeze, star!.ngat the speaking animal Hith :m.1te astonishment as we:

fjf\l FADE O\J-

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/12/67

The compound is dimly lit. Taylor, t;1ebanda.genow gone from his throat, is back in his old cage. The other cages, however, are empty -- their occupants presumably having been moved to the surgery or the zoo. He is seated on a pile of straw in the rear corner, Nova's head cradled on his lap. Idly he strokes her coarse hair. There is a dull glow of madness in his eyes, and his manner is one or abstract soliloquy, like a man tal~!ng to a dog,

His manner is now more direct, and educative, but she stares in blank comprehension. She brushes his moving lips with her fingers. He shrugs wryly.

Faint footsteps are heard o.s. Taylor and Nova look in the direction of the sound. A sudden stream of water shoots through the bars and strikes Taylor in the chest.

Cont.

REVISED .."PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/12/67 63-A

An ape GUARD ha.sa high pressure hose trained on Taylor. It forces him back toward the rear of the cage. Julius, whip in hand, unlocks the cage, steps inside, He unlimbers the whip, cracks it in Nova's direction, She recoils. The jet of water hold Taylor at bay. Julius grabs Nova, begins to pull her toward the door of the cage. Taylor tries to fight his way through the water toward Julius.

Cont.

REVISED - PIJ\NETOF THE APES -6/9/67 64

265 Cont.

Julius swings the whip. It cracks against Taylor's legs, biting into the skin. Taylor stumbles, falls to one knee.

Julius drags and pushes the girl through the door, slam- ming and locking it behind him. Taylor, fights through the stream of water, flings himself against the bars.

Julius shoves Nova across the aisle to a cage opposite Taylor's, locks her inside.

Julius gestures toward the ape guard.

Ttteape guard shuts off the hose.

Julius strides over to Taylor's cage.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" -6/9/67_ 64-A

265 Cont.l

He slashes viciously with his whip handle against Taylor's fingers. Taylor yells in pain. Julius and the ape guard start out of the compound.

He sinks to the floor as the apes go out.

266 OUT

Taylor looks desolately through the bars across to Nova 1 g cage. She eyes him sadly.

He looks at No7a. She stretches her hands through the bars toward him.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/9/_67

C-267 FULL SHO'l'- THE CAGE

Two gorilla officers enter, carrying torches. (Th0:-;0.:::re the same apes introduced in Scene 198.) One carr1ca a double st~t of manacles. Julius comes to meet them. The Lieutenant takes the two sets of manacles from the other officer, hands them to Julius, whispers something. Julius comes over and unlocks the door of Taylor's cage. He advances to Taylor, who does not move, bends down and clamps themanacles around ea~h of his anlcles. '£henhe straightens, lifts Taylor's arms, pulls his wrists to- gether, ~naps on the cuffs.

D-267 WIDER ANGLE -THE CAGE

Taylor looks across at Nova, blows her a kiss. Jul!~s

leads him out of the cage, takes his leash from a pc:,:, snaps it onto Taylor's collar, hands the other end to the Lieutenant. )!ovaaridJulius watch in silence u:.3

Taylor is led down the aisle and out the door.

268- OUT

Taylor, wearing his manacles, is seated at a table in the ot:iS:H'wisedesertedchamber. There is an empty chair on either side of him. Across the room stands a dais with three rude, high-backed chairs. There is a ::;m.:111 table directly below the dais. A third table ~tai.dsat right angles to the dais. Taylor looks around the e1npt.;y room. A door is opened by a gorilla BAILIFF, and Z~_r-a and Cornelius come into the room, sit down on 0ach Llidc of Taylor. A moment later, .DR.HONORIUS, tileP:i:o:..;8ctItcr, and a CLEHK enter, ta:rntheir seats at the thii·<..!';abJ.c.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OFTHE APES" - 6/15/61.._ 65-B

273 Cont.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANETOF THE APES" - 6/15/67 56

273 Cont.

Everyone gets up as THE PRESIDENT, Dr. Zaius and Dr. Maximus enter and mount the dais. The President takes the center chair; the other two flanking him.

All sit down.

Honorius rises and bows.

The President appears to be taken aback. He gl~nccs at his collee.gues.

98 Cont.

273 Cont.l

Sensin; that the President has given them an opening, Zira s ..1iles confidently.

As the Prosecutor continues:

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/1...5/6? 68

275 Cont.

FRESI:)ENT Sustained. In all fairness, Dr. Zira, you must admit the accused is a non- ape, and therefore ~as no rights under ape law.

Honorius seems confounded. Zaius takes over.

276 CLOSE SHOT -THE DEFENSE

Both Cornelius and Zira appear sha~en by this threat. Sensing their predicament, Tay~or rises impatiently.

Although the judges and Prosecutor have been told that this man can speak, th~y react in stunned sile~ce to the first sound of his voice. Flustered, the President bangs his 3avel.

The President refuses to address Taylor directly. Chec~ing a docu~ent, he speaks to Zira.

PRES:D:SNT It says here that n:s na~e is 3right ~yes. You gave him that name yourself.

277 Cont.

The Bailiff quickly crosses to Taylor and shoves him rt 1ghly into his chair.

Taylor has begun to write something on a sheet o~ paper. Zira and Cornelius remain attentive to:

279 FULL SHOT -THE INQUIRY ROOM

As the Prosecutor continues:

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67 70

279 Cont.

Honorius crosses to the defendant's tableand favors Taylor with an evil smile.

TAYT.J.)R I admit I know nothing of your culture.

Cont.

279 Cont.l

Zira moves toward the dais. Honorius returns to his own table.

Zira cross~s to the dais, handing the statement to the President. He glances at it, laughs derisively and passes it to Zaius.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67 72

279 Cont.2

Returning to her table, Zira gestures to Taylor to re,~ain silent.

Cont.

nEVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/9/67

279 Cont.3

The President rises, starts out, followed by the ot!wrs. Taylor is last, being led on a leash by the bailiff.

280 OUT

The inquiry grouy files through a door into the arnpt1i.th:,,Ui:r-. Two APES stand guard over a number of leashed and :1~c1rJ.y naked h~1an beings in the center of the pit below the d~is. There are three primitive males, thefemale Nova -- and Landon. He is dirty and bearded, but his hair ~s cro1Jpccl close.

He turns to Zira, his eyes shining with vindication.

Zai'.l.sglr~ncesatthe ace used.

Co.r1t.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/16/67 74

283 Cont.

Taylor moves forward for a few paces, stops.

Landon looks catatonic. His face is in shadow.

Stunned by Landon's imbecility.

Taylor steps forward to grasp his arm. There is still no response. Taylor takes Landon's head in his hands and looks at his face. There is a fresh scar running from his forehead to thetop of his cranium.

As Taylor whirls on Zira.

The bailiff jerks brutally on Taylor's leash, pulling hi~ toward the doer lead~ng under the amphitheater.

REVISED - PL/1.NE'.i..'Oli''l'Il.l::J\PES -6/9/67

/\.-286 INT. INQUIRY ROOM - :V~'2D.SEOT-DAY

The bailiff enters, draegtng Taylor behind him, sho't,:3 him into his chair. :v1cmen';slatertheother apes e?1t.-~1.• the roo..1.All t3ke thelr·seats bu';Zalw1. Taylor [;lm"'ct; at hirn!'uriously.

ZA.nr3 (cal:n2.y) Mr. Pres!den~, a word cf explanation: the ~rca~~re in qUG$tlo~ suffe~ed a skull .~rac~1..1redu1•111i::;theh1.mt.Two fine vc~,eri1arysu:•g::or1sur.dcr•ny direction were acle to ~ave hls life. But the beast ccttldnot .Jpeak,of course. Nor wlll ~e ~ver ~~eak.

Tavlor leaps from his chair, l=..v:uwit:hra;_;e,appt·onclies the da13.

PRESI:JC:NT (pounding 6 avel) Bailiff! Stop ~his cutburst! Gag that monst~0si~y!

The bailiff and a h1..:.skyguardselze Taylor,v1hoconth:ue:s shouting:

The powerful guard twists Taylor's arms behind his b~1ck and the bailiff lashes his wrists together. 'I'l,enthe bailiff gags 'I'aylor.His voice is cut off as th8 1J,1.~li:·r ties the twisted kerchief around his open mouth. Tll0 guard holds Taylor's leash dur~ng the rest of thls :.,c1Jlli}. ;'--ieanwhile,Cornelius has risentohis feet. His tone is firm, but conciliatory.

CORNELit;S May it please the Tribunal: I for one grant that this being cannot have come from another planet. But this ~uch is certain -- he comes from somewhere in the Forbidden Zor.e. He has described the region to us, and described it accurately, for I have been there.

Cont.

A-286 Cont.

Cont.

A-286 Cont.l

Cornelius has regained his courage. Rising to Z~ra1s support, he points at Taylor.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/15/67

A-286 Cont.2

All rise. The guard dva~s Taylor from the inauiry roora. 21:::-aand Corneliusstand there, stunned by the en~rap.ne:.t into which Z~ius has ~aneuvered them.

287- OUT

The office is as unadorned and Soartan as that of Cornelius -- in fact, with minor·changes in decor, the same set can be used. There are many tr1icklea';;h.e:::-- bound books on this scholar's desk. Zaius is reading one of them and taking notes. He looks up as so~~one KNOCKS at the door.

':'heti·10a<Sentspush Taylorthrough the doo:::-·.vay.

Con<;.

r.0

291 Cont.

The officers withdraw, closing the door. Collared, wrists manacled, Taylor stands facing the desk.

who falls silent, as if this were the only news of import. We note at once a char.ge +n Zaius' tone and attitude. He no longer treats Taylor like a freak animal, but addresses him as an imaginative adversary

who must be intimidated by the threat of terror.

Taylor stiffens but says nothing. Zaius lets this prospect sink in, then continues.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/9/67 80

292 Cont.

ZAI"-1S A fort! Unconsciously, you chose a name that was belligerent. {more calmly) Where were you nurtured?

Cont.

292 Cont.l

Cont.

REVISED - PLANET OF THE APES - 5/23/67 82

292 Cont.2

The two burly security agents open the door and enter.

The guards seize Taylor, start to shove him toward the doorway. He twists around, faces Zaius.

Zaius jerks his head silently toward the door. The apes drag Taylor through it.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES - 5/23/67

A few hours have passed. Nova is watching Taylor from her cage across the aisle. He sits on the pile of straw. There is an ugly welt on his cheek made by the security officer's whip. FOOTSTEPS are heard. Taylor and Nova look up and off.

A solemn, teen-age chimp named LUCIUS appears outside the cage. The guard Julius rises from his chair.

mLIUS At this hour? Who says so?

Taylor enters scene, coming over to the cage bars as Lucius continues gravely, with just a note of disdain.

Cont.

REVISED - PLANET OF THE APES - 5/23/67 84

294 Cont.

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 t!;eguard's back.,signals frantically for Taylor to seize or strike the guard. Taylor is slow to understand. Lucius shakes his head impatiently.

Lucius suddenly gives Julius a violent shove. The guard's head crashes against the bars and he is stunned.

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.

Taking the guard's keys, Lucius rises and unlocks the cage. Nova enters the scene, coming to the bars of her cage.

REVISED - "PLANETOF THE APES - 7/6/67 85

He gazes at her, tense with indecision. She flashes an imploring smile, a mute appeal that cannot be denied.

Over this we hear:

as Taylor leaves his cage,

Lucius unlocks Nova's cage. She comes out quickly, takes Taylor's hand. They follow Lucius out of the compound.

A horse-drawn caged wagon (like that used in the hunt) stands near the building. Zira waits at the rear of t~e 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.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/6/67 85-A

297 Cont.

TA_YLOR L1sten--

Taylor and Nova comply, climbing into the cage. Lucius closes the tailgate. Lucius and Zi:'amove to the front of the wagon and climb aboa:-d. Lucius takes the reins. As they move off:

As previously established, the animal compound is on the

outskirts of Apetown. The abductors must cross the cause- way 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 cause- way. 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.

As the mounted hunter nears the wagon, we can see two bodies slung across the backs of the pack animals.

They look out at:

302 THE PASSL/G HORSES - F:lOMTHEIR P.O.V.

The bodies on the horses are naked human corpses,

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 hor~~back, holds up his hand as the lab wagon approaches,

Lucius obeys. The hunters on foot swarm around ~is wagon as their leader calls authoritatively:

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/6/67

303 Cont.

as the Hunt Club Leader rides over, recognizing the animal psychologist.

He moves to the rear of the wagon.

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

The hunters have opened the tailgate and are 3hining their torches on the humans. They so'und ready for sport.

One of the hunters points h!s torch at Taylor, who, quite naturally, shrinks back as Lucius runs into scene.

JIRST HUNTER

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/6/67 88

305 Cont.

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 pace~, pausing near their mounted leader.

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

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES - 5/23/67 89

The horse-drawn wagon is silhouetted against the dawn light, bumping across a semi-arid plain studded with mesquite and sage. (ThisSCENE can be SHOT either on the Navajo reservation nea~ Page or on the Ranch).

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.

Taylor is dozing~ out the girl is alert and nervous. She peers out at the field, apparently recognizing or remembering this terra1n. She nudges Taylor, waking him.

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 ~ags are heavily burdened with packs and saddle- bags.

He dismounts as Zira and Lucius Jump down from the wa.gon and h~rry toward him. Cornelius and h!s fianc§e embrace and kiss lightly, ape-fashion.

LCClUS (calmly) I purzuaeed them our be~sts had ra.i>ie:S.

311 CLOSE T~vOSHOT - TAYLOR A}JDNOVA - IN CAGED WAGON

The apes discussing the abduction are out of earshot. Exasperated to be thus ignored and caged, Taylor kicks the tailgate, shouti~g:

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OFTHE APES" - 7/6/67_ 90

311 Cont.

Lucius hurries back to unlock the tailgate. Taylor gets out of the wagon, stretching his stiffened Joints. Nova follows suit. During the ensuing exchange the girl seems strangely agitated, pacing to and fro,her eyes scanning the grove and fields in search of someone or something.

He moves toward one of the horses. Cornelius starts after h~m.

Taylor takes a rifle from one of the packs, examines it.

Zira and Lucius have come up.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/6/67 91-91-A

312 Cont.

Taylor makes a helpless gesture, realizing that he cannot present sure proof.

Nova seizes Taylor's arm to get his attention. Trying to communicate, she makes whimpering sounds and points at:

313- OMIT

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/6/67 92-94

This is the same view of the Jungle that Taylor saw when the gorilla hunters emerged from the trees. (Page 25)

316 BACK TO TAYLOR AND THE OTHERS

Taylor smiles at Nova, gives her a reassuring shrug.

Nova turns away, still holding Taylor's arm, tries to lead him toward the Jungle.

She looks at him sadly.

CO&~LIUS Right. ( toLucius) Let's put the water and provisions in the wagon.

He and Lucius move off toward the horses.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/9/67 95

316 Cont.l

He walks off to help Lucius and Corneliu~. Nova tags along behind him as we:

A-316 THE GROUP MOVES ACROSS A PLATEAU

The caravan is crossing, in a reverse direction, the route taken by the astronauts on page 17. The three apes are on horseback. Taylor and Nova follow in the wagon. They are nearing the row of sinister scarecTows on the bluff above the dry wash.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 96-97

They halt briefly and look up at the crosses. Lucius is impressed.

CO&"IBLIUS To scare us, too. We're entering the Forbidden Zone.

They move off again, riding across the dry wash.

They, too, have stopped and are looking up at the scarecrows. Nova is plainly terrified. She grabs Taylor's arm, whimpers ..

He hands the reins to Nova. She just sits there. He demonstrates.

Nova flicks the reins, reacting in wide-eyed, open-mouthed disbelief as the horse obeys her.

DISSOLVE T.O:

REVISED - "PLANETOF THE A?ES" - 5/23/67

The party is traversing a red desert to the east of Dead Lake. Great sandstone monoliths rise from the desert floor. From this vantage point the horses look no bigger than ants.

This is terrain never before seen in this picture. (Lake Powell location, a few miles northeast of Wahweap). The party can be seen on the rim of a flat desert table- land that falls away abruptly to a vast, irregular river of deep blue water. Taylor, Cornelius and Lucius are unloading the wagon and repacking their provisions and equipment on the backs of horses. Zira watches them.

A-321 CLOSER ANGLE - THE GROUP

Zira wanders off, falls to her knees.

Taylor looks off. lieand the others move quickly to Nova, CAMERA PANNING with them.

B-321 CLOSE GROUP SHOT - AROUND NOVA

She has been retching. Taylor lifts her up. She is faint with nausea. Zira squats down beside them.

Ass is tingNova to her feet, Zira leads her off tow:trdth,~ wagon.

C-321 MED. SHOT - COR~TELIUS,TAYLOR AND LUCIUS

Taylor watches the departing females, then looks down at the river.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES''- 5/23/67 99

C-321 Cont.

D-321 LONG SHOT - THE RIVER - FROM THEIR P.o.v.

The river winds o.s. between the sheer sandstone cliffs rising from either bank.

E-321 THREE SHOT - TAYLOR, LUCIUS AND CORNELIUS

They start toward the horses and wagon.

F-321 GROUP SHOT - NEAR WAGON

Zira is looking curiously at Nova, who sta.ridsinthe shl;.d~ leaning against the wagon as the males enter the scene. Nova's nausea has passed, and she comes smiling to Taylor.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OFTHE APES" - 6/15/67 100

F-321 Cont.

G-321 CLOSEUP - TAYLOR

Consternation slowly gives way to wonder. He grins.

322- THE DESCENT OF THE GORGE -SEVE!iALSHOTS -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.

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--326 CLOSER ANGLE - TAYLOR AND ZIRA

A small bowl of water rests on the ground in front of

sharp hunting knife. Nova watches, a look of fascinat,d approval on her face. Taylor rinses off his knife, starts to dry it. Nova reaches out, gently strokes his smooth -- if nicked -- chin.

Lucius and Cornelius come up, Zira with them.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANETOF THE APES - 6/15/67 101

A-326 Cont.

Taylor grins wryly at Cornelius, picks up his rifle.

They cross the beach to the ladders, when suddenly they hear the sound of horses. They ~ook o.s.

B-326 WP.ATTHEY SEE:

Dr. Zaius and five armed and mounted apes have come around the corner of the beaci and ride toward them through the rocks.

C-326 MEDIUM - THE GROUP

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

REVISED - IIPLANETOF THE APESII- 2/23i6z 101-A

C-326 Cont.

The party rides up.

327- OUT

He wavers, lowering his piece.

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

Taylor aims at Zaius and calls out:

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 102

350 Cont.

Silence. Zaius knows Taylor isn't bluffing.

They obey. Taylor calls again:

'EAYLOR (pointing) Tell them to move around the point. Out of range ..

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 103

350 Cont.l

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.

As Zaius draws nearer, Lucius lowers his rifle. But Taylor keeps his at the ready.

Zaius laughs derisively, then turns to the apes.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 104

351 Cont.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANETOF THE APES" - 5/23/67 105

351 Cont.1

He gestures toward the path leading to it. Zaius, Zira, and Cornelius start upward. Lucius starts to follow the~.

~e 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 an:!.maJ.,scowls afterhim,then shrugs, adjusting to the ~dea.

352- OUT

,...,,. 3 '.)0 EXT. WESTERN WALL OF GORGE - LONG SHOT - A}!GLINGvP - 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.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE ;\PES"- 5/23/67 106

The crenelated east wall, looking like a red cathedral, is aglow with sunlight. So is the mouth of thecave as the three apes, Taylor and Nova pass through it and o.s.

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, trans- forming it into a kaleidoscopic cavern.)

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.

CAMERA (ON BOOM) MOVES IN SLOWLY as Cornelius continues;

CORt\TELIUS But the artifacts lying at your feetwere found here, at this level. And that's the paradox ..The more ancient cultu~e is the more advanced. Admittedly, many of these objects are unidentified, but clearly they were fashioned by beings with a knowledge of metallurgy.

Cont.

358 Cont.

CAMERA KEEPS MOVING IN on the group in and around the excavation as Cornelius continues:

Zaius flicks a hostile glance at Taylor, then looks down at the artifacts. He nudges them with his foot.

Zaius deigns to stoop and pick it up.

It is only a porcelain fragment, but the head 1s intact, and it is u:1mistakablythe form of a hwnan child.

Exasperated, Zira turns to the man for confirmation.

Zaius idly tosses the doll to the ground near Nova. She picks it up, studies it.

Cornelius tries again.

a8

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 108-A

ANOTHER ANGLE - TO INeLUDE TAYLOR AND NOVA

As Zira again appeals to the man.

Taylor, who has been toying with objects in the dirt, looks

up.

Cornelius and Zira cross the pit and Zaius walks around the rim of the excavation.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - FAVORING TAYLOR AND NOVA

As the apes cor.1e close.A number of artifacts have been arranged in front of Taylor.

He picks up the twisted fragment of a pair of spectacles.

As Taylor continue~ his monologue, he picks up the other objects one by one.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF 1'HEAPES - 5/23/67 108-B

B-361 Cont.

Taylor pauses. Zaius picks up two of the steel rings, studies them.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 109

She is poking her fin~er inside the decapitated head of the doll. From it comes a distorted SOUND.

The apes stare at the doll in astonishment. Taylor snatches

the doll from Nova, brandishes it at the astonished Zaius.

Zaius looks at him, speechless. At that moment the C~CK of a distant rifle shot reverberates through the cavern. All present freeze, listening.

363- OUT

Taylor alone is armed. Raising his rifle, he glowers at Zaius.

Cornelius is already crossing the pit. He climbs out and races toward the mouth of the cave. Taylor runs after him, Zira and Nova hurry after Taylor.

Expressionless, he looks down at the doll, then moves towa j themouth of the cave.

Cornelius emerges from mouth of the cave and runs down the trail toward CAMERA. He halts in f.g., looking down at:

T·t10of Zaius' gorillas have disarmed Lucius and ar-eclubbi.?1g him with their rifle bu~~s. Two other ~ounted apes are driving the scientists' horses back oeyond the trees.

REVISED - '' PLANETOFTHE APES" - 5/21L§1_ 110

Cornelius, Taylor, Nova and Zira (in that order) can be seen high above, descending the trail. CAMERA PULLS BACK TO DISCLOSE A GORILLA SNIPER in immediate f.g., crouching behind a boulder near the water. He sights his rifle at the man on the trail. Taylor is still too distant to make a sure target, and so the sniper waits.

This portion of the trail has no cover or concealment. Unaware of the sniper, Taylor looks down at the camp as he makes his descent.

The gorilla fires.

The bullet ricochets off the rock wall a foot above his head. Taylor scans the terrain below, looking for the sniper. Nova comes to his s:de, pointing at:

His head is visible behind the boulder as he reloads his piece.

374 FLASH SHOT

He aims and fires.

Taylor has missed him, but the sniper ducks behind the boulder.

~aylor takes her hand and they race back up the trail to where Zira is ~~anding. Outcroppings of rock offers me cover here. Taylor pushes Nova down behind a roe~ A~d signals for Zira to follow suit.

The sniper's SECO~D SHOT rings out. Instead of re:~rni~~ the fire, Taylor looks up the t~ail at:

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 111

He is standing ~mpassively on the trail a short distance below the mouth of the cave.

Bent low, he comes charging up the trail toward Zaius. The sniper's THIRD SHOT splatters rock fragments around him,

Zaius starts to retreat to the cave, but stumbles and falls on some loose shale. No sooner has Zaius regained his feet than Taylor overtakes him, Seizing the ape around the neck with his left arm, Taylor drives the muzzle of his pistol into Zaius' kidney. He spins Zaius around, usin~ him as a shield.

Taylor releases the pressure on Zaius' throat but keeps the gun pointed at his back.

His command echoes from the west wall of the Cf.lnyon.

382 LONG SHOT - THE FLOOR OF THE GORGE - FROM THEIR P.O.V.

The sniper emerges frcm behind e boulder near the shore, and walks off along the beach.

383 BACK TO TAYLOR AND ZAIUS

1'aylorlif":sthe muzzle of !1is rifleand presses it against the back of Znius' head.

They move off down the trail.

REVISED - "PLAr-i"ETOFTHEAPES" - 6/15/67 112

Zira rushes down the trail to Lucius, who is sprawled on the ground. He has a bloody nose and a lump on his forehead. Nova and Cornelius come next, then Taylor, prodding Zaius ahead of him at gun point. Lucius appears to be more humiliated than hurt.

08.,, Cont .

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 113

384 Cont.

Lucius looks to Taylor for confimation. Taylor nods. The young ape hurries away through the rocks. Taylor crosses to a useless saddle, picks up a coil of rope, gestures at Zaius, indica~ing a nearby tree.

Zaius squats on the ground beside the tree. Taylor sets his rifle against the trunk, fashions a noose and places it around Zaius' neck. Then, using an ingenlous comb~nation of knots, he ties Zaius' hands behind his back, and fir.ally fastens the rope around the base of the tree.

Zira and Cornelius look down at the captive mandarin. Their rebellious spirit has evaporated, and they are clearly afraid.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 113-A

384 Cont.l

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 1!4

384 Cont.2

OUT

REVERSE ANGLE - .-.':fECIRCLE-FAVORINGZAIUS

As Zira and Cornelius loo~ at him expectantly.

/:\IUS What I know of man was written long ago -- set down by the wisest ape of all -- our Lawgiver. (to Cornelius) Open my breast pocket.

Cornelius crosses to Zaius, and takes a small book bound in black leather from the breast pocket of his ·.:u:1.:.c.

Cornelius :hQ~bs through the book, ~inds the citation and '2adsaloud:

Cont.

11 ,,,·

:tEVISED- PLAL;~TOP '!'!-IEAPES"-5/23/67 --,,,,.>

J89 Cont,

COR~ELIUS 'Beware the beast rian,for he is t~e devil's pawn, Alone among God's primates, he kills ~or sport, or lust or ~reed, Yes, he will murder his u1·otherto nossess his bPother's lund. Let him not breed in e;reatnu!'lbers,forhe will r,1ake a desert of 1tishome and yours, Shun !1.im,Orive him back in toi1is jungle lair: For he is the harbinger of deatht

Cornelius falls silent and looks down at Zaius,

A-J89 ANOTHER ANGLE - ':1HEGROUP

Lucius hurries out of tte rocks leading a saddled horse. Zaius' five mounted goril:.asappear behind him. Taylor calls out tJ them:

'l'AYLOR Stay~ .ere you are!

Lucius comes uo with the horse, Taylor checks the provisions in the saddlebags. Lucius is frowning ..

':'AYLOR (noddinp,o.s.) I' 11 startby follo\1::.ngt:he shoreline, (a smile) And my nose.

ZI;1A But supi:ose you .findnotn:n~ bu~ a wastoL.rnd. !:ow will you survive?

Cont.

R~VISED - PLANET O~ 1':!EAPES - 5/2 3/67 116

A-389 Cont.

'!aylormounts the hor!1e,extends a helping hand to !fova, who vaults nimbly onto the horse's rump. Taylor loo~s at Zira and Cornelius,

CO~NELIUS They con't convict us of that, You proved our innocence. Besides..• (1n•d.1ca..,1ng+-.Za1.us•) ... hisculture is our cult~re.

Cont.

A-JB9 Con t . 1

':'AYLOR Good luck then.

He re~ches down, grasps Cornelius' hand, thengr:!.ns crookedly.

'l'AYLOR Dr. Zira, I'd like to kiss you good-bye.

Taylor smiles, leans down, kisses her.

Cont.

REVIS£D - PLANE'l'OFTHE APF.:S- 5/23/67 llo

A-389 Cont.2

He extends his hllndto Lucius, who takes it.

Taylor looks piercingly at Zaius, more troubled than offended.

REVISED - "PLANET OF ~~HEAPES - 5/23/67 lJ..9

A-389 Cont.3

B-389 WIDER ANGLE - TAYLOR AJ.~DTHE GROUP

Taylor shakes h~s head, still baffled, digs his hee~s into the horse's flank. It canters off along the sandy shore. Zira, Cornelius and Lucius sadly watch the departure.

Cor!1el!usmoves quickly to remove the rope from Zaius' neck. Behind them, the five mounted gor~llas gallop forward. Zaius gets up, waves them to c1:.:ilt.

71 IUS i'~o,!10!Let r1'r'._sO!

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 5/23/67 J.20

MOVING SHOT - TAYLOR AND NOVA ON HORSEBACK

Taylor looks back, sees that Zatus has stopped the mounted apes, slows his horse to a trot, smiles at Nova.

390- OUT

Zaius watches as Taylor's horse moves farther away along the beach. Then he turns to an ape called MARCUS.

Yes, sir.

He remounts his horse and rides o.s.

Cont.

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 6/9/67 121

406 Cont.

Cornelius throws himself at Zaius.

Za1us looks emptily at one of his apes.

A hairy hand is clapped over Cornelius' mouth. He ~.s dragged off, struggling, kicking. Julius, unafraid, glares at Zaius.

Zaius looks benevolently at Julius.

Julius and Zira look at e~ch other, befuddled. Once more their eyes follow the ret:..'•:!ating figuresof Taylor and Nova. The beach separating the water from the canyon becomes narrower as they move downstream.

CLOSEUP -ZAIUS

rlisface is a mask, his tone enigrnatic.

B-406 WIDER ANGLE - TP....EAPESP.O.V.

A moment later, as they watch, Taylor and ~ova ,rn,nish around the bend.

REV!SED - "?~ANE'l'O?'l'HEAPSS - 5/23/67 :.21-/\

407- OUT

l~09 EXT. PALISADE AND BEACH - LONG HIGH Al'iGLESHOT- DAY

Taylor and Nova are already far downstream. There is a striking change in the terrain. The area is still desolate, but some vegetation can be seen on the palisade above the narrow beach, and the river has widened to form a vast tidal basin where it ~eets the sea.

A NOTE ON PRODUCTION: If feasible at new location site, this scene should be shot at high tide, so that t:~ wate~ laps at the base o!'the cliffs, making apas sar~edifficult and risky.

410 CLOSER AlWLE - ?A!-INING1.-JI~!!TAYLORAl',DNOVAONliORSEBACK

He is alert, sniffing the salt air, sizing up the situation. Hearin~ the CRIES of birds, he reins in and looks up.

Sea gulls are soaring overhead.

l.i.12 'l'WOSHOT - TAYLOR Al':D:,,!JVAONHORSESACK

His ex'Oressionis expect;1:u1t,sea:-ching.Novaemits a whimpe~ of anticipation: pointing off.

REV!SED - "PLANET OF 'l'HEA?:~s•t-5/2 3/67 121-B

lil3 LONG SHOT - WHAT T!!l!;YSEE:

A verdant forest atop a distant palisade, Their view or the beach be lowthe forest, is cut off by a rocky pr•omontory in the middle d~stance,

He smiles at her hopefully.

The horse moves of!'at a trot, CAMERA PAN}lILG. Sut they have gone only a short distance when they hear the distii.nt THUNDER of an EXPLOSION. Taylor reins in and looks back.

A column of smo1{eand dust rises from the ex'!)lodedcave far upstream.

416 3ACK TO TAYLOR AtD NOVA

::-''!•owningwithconcern,'I'a,1lorgazesfora!'!Omentatthe smoke, then decides this is no time to linger. He digs his heels into the horse's flanks and they move off at a canter, riding toward the proMontory that splits the beach. They are nearing the promontory that blocks their view o!'the beach beyond.

417-

419 CLOSER A~GLE -'l'RACKINGWITH TAYLOR At-IDNOVA

As they round the promontory, the tip of a strange rock fo~mation coMes into view. It appears to be jutting ~rom the sea,

420 REAC~'IONSHOT -TAYLOR

He reins in ~omentarily, baffled by what he sees. Then he rides on,

REVISED - "PLANET OF THE APES" - 7/27/67 121-C

An immense column juts from the beach at a thirty-degree angle. We can now see that it is not rock, but metal. Green metallic tints show through its gray salt-~tained surface. As we draw closer, the object takes on the appearance of a massive arm, its top shaped like a hand holding a torch.

\22 REVERSE ANGLE - FAVORING TAYLOR

Frowning with consternation. His horse proceeds at a slow walk.

Near the base of the colwnn, where the shore and water meet, are a row of metal spikes. From this angle they look like tank traps.

A-42J CLOSER - TAYLOR

Dumbfounded, he slides from his saddle, approaches the spikes. Nova dismounts and follows him.

He falls to his knees, buries hishead in his hands. CAMERA SLOWLY DRAWS BACKAND UP to a HIGH ANGLESHOT disclosing what ~aylor has found. Half-buried in the sand and washed by thewaves is the Statue of Liberty.

424- OUT

THE ~D