ACT FOUR   FADE IN   137  EXT. CENTRAL CITY STREET - NIGHT   The street is deserted but for the lone MAN who walks wearily along, a coil of rope over his shoulder, pulling a small handcart loaded with firewood. He is approaching the entrance of an alleyway shrouded in darkness. As he [is] about to pass the mouth of the alley, Virdon steps out quickly, grabs him with one arm around his chest, the other across his mouth to prevent an outcry, and pulls him towards the darkness of the alley. The only sound is the muffled faint cry of the terrified Man.   138  EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT   As Virdon pulls the Man into the darkness where Kovak is waiting tensely. Still keeping a hand clasped across the Man’s mouth, Virdon whispers fiercely into his ear.   VIRDON  We’re not going to hurt you. All we want is some information. Do you know where an ape named Zaius lives?  (the Man is too terrified to respond. Virdon tightens his grip)  Do you know where he lives?   Fearfully, the Man manages to nod his head yes.   KOVAK  I still think you’re out of your mind.   VIRDON  (ignoring that, to Man)  Will you take us there?  (no response)  Will you?   In terror, the Man’s eyes dart from Virdon to Kovak.   139  INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - NIGHT   Zaius walks briskly along the corridor towards the open door to the cell in which the Astronauts had been held. An armed Gorilla Guard stands outside the cell, comes to attention as Zaius approaches. Zaius pays no attention, strides into the cell.   140  INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT   As Zaius enters. Galen is in the cell, a prisoner, another armed Gorilla Guard there, as well as Ursus. Zaius comes directly to business as he enters, barely glancing at Galen.   ZAIUS  (to Ursus)  What are the charges?   URSUS  Murder of my Lieutenant. Treason. Aiding in the escape of the two humans.   ZAIUS  (to Galen)  Is this true?   GALEN  I didn’t mean to kill the Lieutenant. But they planned the escape. They were going to murder the humans.   ZAIUS  (to Ursus)  Is this true?   URSUS  I don’t assassinate my prisoners.   ZAIUS  (flatly)  It’s been known to happen.  (to Galen)  If you knew of such a plan, why didn’t you report it to me?   GALEN  There was no time.   URSUS  He’s a liar and a heretic.   ZAIUS  A liar…possibly. A heretic…I doubt. I’ve known his family too long.   URSUS  We found this book where he’d dropped it.   He holds out the book Galen had been carrying. Puzzled, Zaius takes it, glances at Galen, then opens the book, flips through it, becoming increasingly tense.   ZAIUS  (finally, to Galen)  Do you realise that possession of such a book, alone, is punishable by death?   GALEN  (a touch of defiance)  Why, Zaius? Why should truth be against the law?   Zaius looks at him for a long moment. There is a touch of sadness in his gaze at first, and then he steels himself to speak quietly and firmly.   ZAIUS  I’m sorry, Galen. I can do nothing for you.   He returns the book to Ursus, turns abruptly, and exits.   141  INT. ZAIUS’ ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT   As the door opens, and Zaius enters, weary and saddened by his encounter with Galen. He glances to one side as Ullman enters from the direction of the servant’s quarters.   ULLMAN  Do you want something to eat, sir?   ZAIUS  (shakes head)  No.  (with a sense of sadness)  Go to bed, Ullman. I’m going to read for a while.   ULLMAN  Yes, sir.   Ullman exits. Zaius sighs wearily, crosses to the closed door of his study, opens the door.   142  INT. ZAIUS’ STUDY - ANGLE TOWARDS DOOR - NIGHT   ZAIUS enters, closes the door behind him, crosses slowly towards his desk. Something catches his eye, and he glances towards the glass-fronted cabinet.   143  CABINET- POV   The glass has been smashed.   144  ZAIUS   Startled, Zaius hurries to the cabinet, realizes that the grenade is gone, turns hurriedly to cross to the door.   VIRDON’S VOICE  Don’t try to leave.   Zaius whirls towards the voice.   145  ANOTHER ANGLE   As Virdon and Kovak step out of the shadows at the far end of the room. Kovak is holding a coil of rope that had been on the Man’s cart. Virdon is holding the grenade as he moves in.   VIRDON  Or I’ll pull this pin, and blow you to pieces. Cooperate, and we’ll just tie you up. You’ll be found in the morning.   ZAIUS  (without fear)  What do you want?   VIRDON  Where did you get this?   ZAIUS  A human.   VIRDON  Who?   ZAIUS  He didn’t live long enough to tell me his name.   KOVAK  (reacting with instinctive anger, moving in towards Zaius)  Why, you murdering…   VIRDON  (stopping him)  Cool it, Stan.  (to Zaius, who hasn’t reacted to Kovak’s threat)  Where did he come from?   ZAIUS  I don’t know.   VIRDON  (tensely)  Look, I’m warning you…   ZAIUS  (interrupting angrily)  Yes, I know! You’ll destroy me as your kind once destroyed its world!   KOVAK  What do you mean?   ZAIUS  You and your science and your machines and your cities! Your death and your destruction! We don’t want them!  (to Virdon, evenly and tightly)  We don’t even want their memory.   KOVAK  (stunned, as the realization sinks in)  Oh, my God…Alan…   ZAIUS  Yes, you did it to yourselves, as you would do it again.  (gesturing to grenade)  That human was caught trying to sneak into the city. And yes, I had him killed. As I will have you killed some day. As I must have poor Galen killed.   VIRDON  (startled, puzzled)  Galen…?   ZAIUS  The infection you carry is fatal.   146  EXT. PRISON - NIGHT   It is dark and seemingly deserted. Then we see three figures moving in the shadows, one of them being forced along against his will. Virdon, Kovak, and Zaius. Virdon, still holding the grenade, is pushing Zaius ahead of him. Behind him is Kovak, the coil of rope over his shoulder, a piece of heavy wood serving as a club in his hand.   147  CLOSER ANGLE - ZAIUS, VIRDON, KOVAK   As they huddle against the wall.   VIRDON  (to Zaius, indicating door)  Go ahead.   ZAIUS  You’re fools, you know that. You could have been out of the city by now.   KOVAK  He saved our lives. You expect us to leave him here to die?   ZAIUS  You’re strange humans. I don’t understand either of you.   VIRDON  (brandishing grenade)  You understand this? I won’t hesitate to use it.  (to Kovak)  Stan.   Kovak takes up a position against the wall, alongside the door, the club ready in his hand. Virdon takes up a position on the other side of the door, against the wall.   VIRDON  (to Zaius)  All right. Now.   Zaius glances from Virdon to Kovak, then steps up to the door, hesitates a moment, then uses the knocker. Virdon and Kovak wait tensely. Nothing happens.   VIRDON  Again.   ZAIUS  You can still escape.   VIRDON  (with intensity)  Again.   Zaius glances at him, then uses the knocker again. Again they wait. Then the small porthole in the door is slid back and we see the face of a Gorilla Guard.   ZAIUS  Councillor Zaius. Open the door.   The porthole plate is slid back into place, and we can HEAR the bolt being pulled back. Virdon indicates for Zaius to step back a little way.   VIRDON  (softly)  Back.   Zaius steps back as the door is opened by the Guard.   ZAIUS  I need some help out here.   Puzzled, the Guard starts to step out.   148  CLOSE- KOVAK   As he brings the club down hard.   149  CLOSE - ZAIUS   As he turns and runs.   150  CLOSE - VIRDON   As he charges after Zaius.   151  ZAIUS   Running. Virdon catches up to him, tackles him. They both go to the ground, the grenade tumbling from Virdon’s hand. Zaius rolls over, gets free, scrabbles to his feet, charges for the grenade. Virdon jumps to his feet, knocks Zaius aside just as the ape is about to pick up the grenade. Virdon bends down, scoops up the grenade, turns and looks at the defeated Zaius, both breathing heavily.   152  INT. SECOND PRISON CELL - NIGHT   An unused prison cell. The guard is still unconscious from the blow with the club, and has been bound and gagged. Kovak is looking through his pockets. Zaius has been bound, and Virdon is in [the] process of affixing a gag.   VIRDON  (to Zaius, as he finishes)  One bit of information. The grenade’s my only clue to getting home. I would never have used it.   KOVAK  (with concern)  Alan…  (Virdon glances at him)  …no key.   VIRDON  Look again.   Virdon crosses out of the cell as Kovak turns back to look through the Guard’s pockets again.   153  INT PRISON CORRIDOR - NIGHT   As Virdon emerges from the Second Cell.   GALEN’S VOICE  Who is it? What’s happening?   Virdon crosses directly to Galen’s cell, which is the cell previously occupied by the Astronauts. Galen, looking through the barred opening is completely startled to see him.   VIRDON  Who has the keys to your cell?   GALEN  What are you doing here?   VIRDON  The keys. Who has them?   GALEN  Ursus. A new rule. -- I don’t understand what you’re…   He’s interrupted by Kovak, who comes hurriedly out of the Second Cell, up to Virdon.   KOVAK  No keys, Alan. We’ll have to use the grenade.  (Virdon looks at him, as though not comprehending)  The grenade. It’s the only way.   Virdon looks at Kovak, then down at the grenade. We can almost see him watching his slim possibility of finding a way home dissipating. But he makes his decision.   VIRDON  (to Galen)  Get in the far corner of the cell. On the floor, face down, hands over your head.   154  INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT   Galen at the door, talking to Virdon.   GALEN  Why?   VIRDON  (great tension)  Never mind why! Just do it!   Galen glances at him, then moves to the corner of his cell, starts to get down on the floor.   155  INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - NIGHT   As Virdon bends down with the grenade, puts it on the floor at the door, pulls the pin. Then both he and Kovak run down the corridor.   156  VIRDON AND KOVAK   As they hit the floor, cover their heads with their hands.   157  CELL DOOR   Hold for a beat, and then…WHAMMM!!…the explosion.   158  VIRDON AND KOVAK   Scrambling to their feet, rushing back towards the door, which is open, hanging at a crazy angle on one hinge. They rush into the cell.   159  INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT   As Virdon and Kovak enter. Galen is just staggering to his feet, stunned by the blast. Kovak grabs his arm.   KOVAK  Come on!   GALEN  …What…?   VIRDON  No time!   Together, they fairly pull him out of the cell.   160  INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - NIGHT   As they pull Galen along towards the prison exit door. We can HEAR the sound of running feet approaching.   161  EXT. PRISON - NIGHT   As Virdon, Kovak, and Galen emerge…Galen more in control now. They race away into the darkness.   162  INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - NIGHT   As Ursus and several Gorilla Guards come rushing into the corridor from some other area in the prison. Ursus rushes to the cell door, looks in, then rushes towards the prison exit, followed by the Guards.   163  EXT. PRISON - NIGHT   As Ursus comes hurrying out of the prison, the Guards close behind. None of the fugitives are in sight.   DISSOLVE TO:   164  EXT. SPACESHIP - DAY   It seems deserted. No sign of life.   165  INT. SPACESHIP - DAY   Virdon is working at trying to extract the magnetic disc from its housing, as Kovak and Galen stand by watching. Galen is a bit tense.   KOVAK  (to Galen, shaking [his] head)  Can you figure that kook? He really thinks that flight record’s going to get him back home.   GALEN  (ignoring that, to Virdon)  How much longer?   VIRDON  Five, ten minutes, maybe.   KOVAK  When are you going to give up that pipe dream?   VIRDON  When I see my family.   GALEN  They’ll be looking for us here. I’m surprised they haven’t come already.   VIRDON  (working throughout)  It’s been a week, Galen. Probably stopped looking by now.   GALEN  Zaius? Ursus? They’ll never stop.  (suddenly on the verge of tears)  Never…   He turns away to hide his emotion, walks out of the space ship. Kovak glances after him with concern.   166  EXT. SPACE SHIP - DAY   Galen standing on the ramp, looking forlornly out at the woods. After a beat, Kovak emerges, comes up beside him.   KOVAK  (with compassion)  You okay?   GALEN  (nods, ruefully)  I’m sorry. I…  (glances at Kovak, then away again)  You see, I had family, too. I had friends.   KOVAK  (simply)  You still have friends.   GALEN  (a grateful smile)  Yes, I know. I…   He breaks off suddenly, as he hears something we do not yet hear.   KOVAK  (startled by his reaction)  What?   Galen holds up his hand for Kovak to be quiet. And then we hear it in the distance, the sound of GALLOPING HORSES.   GALEN  Horses. Only apes have horses.   Kovak turns and rushes back into the space ship.   167  INT. SPACE SHIP - DAY   As Kovak enters hurriedly. Virdon is just about to remove the magnetic disc.   KOVAK  They’re coming, Alan! We have no time!   VIRDON  (the final touch)  It’s…just…about…  (has the disc)  There’s the baby!   GALEN’S VOICE  Hurry! Please hurry!   KOVAK  Come on, Alan! Let’s go!   Kovak races out of the ship, followed by Virdon.   168  EXT. SPACE SHIP - DAY   As Kovak and Virdon emerge from the ship. The sound of GALLOPING HORSES is very close now. With Galen in the lead, they dash madly across towards the wooded area, barely make it into the woods when, from the opposite side, Ursus, Zaius, and a number of Gorillas gallop in on their horses, rein to a halt near the ship.   URSUS  (to his Gorillas)  See if they were here, then take care of the ship!  (to Zaius)  You sure you want to do this?   ZAIUS  (with fierce determination)  Yes. I’m sure.   169  EXT. WOODS - DAY   Galen, Virdon, Kovak scrambling madly through the woods, stumbling, running, crawling, getting to their feet again, running, and finally collapsing behind some bushes. Suddenly, from the direction of the ship, we hear the BLAST of a great EXPLOSION. They all react.   KOVAK  The ship?   VIRDON  I’m afraid so.   They’re both saddened by the loss of this last link with home. Virdon looks at the disc he holds in his hand, then puts it into his pocket.   VIRDON  All right. Which way?  (glances at Galen)  Galen? It’s your world.   GALEN  (quietly)  It’s yours, too.  (glancing at Kovak)  And yours.   They all glance at each other, sobered by the awareness that they’re all part of the same world. Virdon slowly gets to his feet. The others rise, too.   VIRDON  Let’s just start walking.   He moves off through the woods. The others follow.   FADE OUT   THE END