Planet of the Apes | The Cure | First Draft

ACT TWO
FADE IN
EXT. COMMAND TENT - LONG SHOT - DAY	51
Several horses tethered outside the tent. The SOUND of angry voices from within.
INT. COMMAND TENT - ANGLE ON URSUS - DAY	52
URSUS Fire! Purification by fire! It is the only course left to pursue!
CLOSE ON ORANGUTAN	53
ORANGUTAN The situation is different now, Zaius. Apes are being threatened!
CLOSE ON ZAIUS	54
ZAIUS Please. We must calm ourselves and think rationally.
CLOSE ON ORANGUTAN	55
ORANGUTAN But an ape has died, Zaius. An ape! It’s no longer a minor problem.
BACK TO SCENE	56
The council is gathered here in Ursus’ command tent. Zoran sits there also, still shaken. URSUS (turns to Zoran) You and your -- ‘theories.’ (to the council) He should be burned with the others! ZAIUS Ursus -- you are out of order!! (to council) I suggest we hear Zoran’s appraisal of the situation. ORANGUTAN I agree. (a challenge) He promises us success. All eyes shift to Zoran. He rises, his mind racing. All go silent. ZORAN Upon -- my arrival in Trion -- I discovered that the fever -- was of a different nature than I had assumed. It is of a -- rare variety -- called -- Malaria -- obviously fatal to apes as well as humans. It is -- obviously -- not transmitted by bodily contact… ZAIUS Then, how Zoran? ZORAN I have reason to believe -- the disease grows in -- stagnant pools of water -- and is carried into the bloodstream by the sting of -- of -- mosquitoes… They stare at him in amazement. ORANGUTAN You can’t be serious. URSUS He’s got the fever himself. Much muttering from the council. Zaius raps his gavel for order. ZAIUS Zoran -- you are aware of what you are asking us to believe? ZORAN There are such stagnant pools -- in Trion. Both the humans -- (to Ursus) -- and your soldiers have been exposed to this area. ZAIUS And what action do you propose we take now? ZORAN I will need a few hours to -- further appraise the situation. URSUS I protest. I’ll be damned if I’ll back down to a mosquito! ZORAN Ursus -- since the disease is fatal to our people -- we should use this -- this situation to develop a cure… ZAIUS Yes -- perhaps there’s a positive side to this. We can experiment with the humans. Even if we lost the entire village -- if an ape cure was developed -- it would be worth it. Historically, medicine has progressed because of such experimentation. Yes -- I believe we should seize this opportunity. One by one the council nods agreement. ZAIUS So be it… (to Zoran) You’ll report to us… ZORAN Yes, sir. Ursus pushes past him, goes outside.
EXT. COMMAND TENT - MED. SHOT - DAY	57
Ursus mounts and rides angrily away. Zoran comes out of the tent, shaken, feeling trapped.
EXT. TRION - LONG SHOT - DAY	58
Work groups have been organized. Men are burying the dead. The sick are being carried into one of the largest huts. Water is being carried from the village well into this hut.
ANOTHER ANGLE	59
The women and children are working to fashion crude gloves, cloth headpieces with narrow eyeslits. Virdon comes in, kneels to inspect their work. VIRDON Very good…
INT. LARGEST HUT	60
Kovak directs the placement of the sick on cots placed in rows. Amy, Inta and Galen are bathing the fevered with the well water being carried in. At the SOUND of hoofbeats, Kovak looks out the hut window, then goes outside.
ANGLE BY VIRDON	61
He pauses and Kovak joins him from the hut as Zoran rides in, dismounts, studies the activity, the gloves and masks the women are making. ZORAN What are they doing? VIRDON Protective masks and gloves. We’ve got to send a work crew -- to drain off the stagnant water. ZORAN (nods, reflects) I am, in a most -- difficult position with the council. I have related your -- mosquito theory. (beat) Of course -- in order to save you from punishment -- should we fail -- I told them it was my own… Virdon and Kovak exchange a wondering glance. KOVAK You’re very generous…
CLOSE ON ZORAN	62
He studies them wonderingly, baiting them. ZORAN Not entirely. (beat) If I’d told them I heard it from you, they would have asked questions: Who you were -- how you came by this information. They would have been most curious. (pointedly) As I am curious… Virdon and Kovak exchange wondering glances. Clearly, Zoran grows more suspicious. Galen comes out of the hut to join them. VIRDON We told you -- the medical books. ZORAN Yes -- you told me. (smiles) Well now -- we’ve concluded our diagnosis -- what about treatment? KOVAK There’s one known treatment for malaria -- quinine. It’s extracted from the bark of a semi-tropical tree called the Cinchona. ZORAN I’ve never heard of such a tree. VIRDON Just beyond the marsh there’s a heavily wooded area -- fairly tropical growth. -- If we’re lucky -- you’ll get to see one. Virdon picks up a mask, pair of gloves, offers them to Zoran. Zoran nods, takes them. Virdon, Kovak and Galen exchange wondering looks.
EXT. STAGNANT POOL AREA - MED. SHOT - DAY	63
Virdon and Kovak lead Galen, Zoran and several men from Trion to the edge of the pool. All of them wear the crude gloves and headpieces. Some of the men carry crude shovels, digging tools, etc. VIRDON Remember -- no part of your body exposed. (to Galen) Good luck, my friend. Galen nods. Kovak, Virdon and Zoran move off, followed by half of the men. Galen and his men begin digging.
ANGLE ON VIRDON, KOVAK, ZORAN AND OTHERS	64
as they move toward the edge of the heavily wooded area. They have all pulled up their headpieces so they can see better. At the SOUND of hoofbeats, they pause, see:
P.O.V. SHOT	65
Ursus and several of his armed soldiers riding toward them.
ANGLE ON KOVAK AND VIRDON	66
Alarmed, they lower their headpieces to cover their faces.
BACK TO SCENE	67
Ursus and his soldiers pull to a halt -- blocking their path. URSUS (to Zoran) Running away, doctor? ZORAN The cure is in the bark of a certain tree -- we believe such a tree can be found in the woods. URSUS We believe? What do you mean -- we? I was under the impression you had sole authority here… ZORAN (steady) I have sole authority. But I have described the tree and we -- (nods to Virdon, Kovak and the others) they believe such a tree might be found -- (nods to wooded area) -- in there. Ursus prods his horse closer, studies Virdon, Kovak and their headpieces conspicuously still on. URSUS What are you two afraid of? KOVAK (sotto voce) Mosquitoes… Ursus balks, glances worriedly around, then wheels his horse, rides off -- his soldiers fast behind him, CAMERA PANNING.
CLOSE ON ZORAN	68
He turns, from Ursus’ exit, suspiciously studies:
HIS P.O.V. - VIRDON AND KOVAK	69
The only ones with headpieces on. ZORAN There are no mosquitoes here. VIRDON He doesn’t know that. Suspicion falters and Zoran must admit to the humor of the situation. Virdon and Kovak continue on. Zoran and the others follow.
INT. “HOSPITAL” HUT - MED. SHOT - NIGHT	70
Amy carries fresh water, bathes a fever patient. As she kneels she becomes suddenly faint. She recovers, puts the gnawing fear out of her mind, continues to wipe down the fevered patient while, in the b.g., Inta does the same.
EXT. SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY	71
Virdon, Kovak, Zoran and the others search the heavily vegetated, wooded area.
EXT. CINCHONA TREE GROVE - MED. SHOT - DAY	72
They move TOWARD CAMERA. Virdon reacts to the trees, stops, studies them, then moves forward to examine one. He pulls off a piece of bark, chews it, finds it bitter, turns to Zoran, who moves forward to study him wonderingly, then pulls off a piece of bark himself. VIRDON (great relief) We made it. ZORAN (tasting the bark) Bitter… KOVAK We grind this into powder -- about an ounce in water to each patient… ZORAN How can you be certain it will cure? KOVAK It always has… ZORAN (baiting him) Always? KOVAK According to what we read… The game of cat and mouse continues. Zoran nods, turns to the men. ZORAN Hurry. They all begin pulling the bark off the tree.
EXT. WOODED AREA - LONG SHOT - DAY	73
Virdon, Kovak, Zoran and the men, each carrying a roped bundle of bark, move quickly back toward the village.
EXT. TRION - LONG SHOT - DAY	74
Most of the dead have been buried now. Water is still being carried from the well into the hospital. Some women are preparing food, distributing it. They pause to watch Kovak, Virdon, Zoran and the others as they walk wearily back into the village.
CLOSER ANGLE	75
They drop the bark on the ground. Inta comes out of the hospital hut. As the villagers gather around, Virdon tells them: VIRDON We’ve got to work quickly. Get stones -- flat stones -- grind the bark into powder… As the villagers begin this, Virdon turns to Inta. VIRDON Any more deaths? INTA One -- and two more sick. Virdon, Kovak and Zoran hurry into the hospital hut.
INT. HOSPITAL HUT	76
They stop, reacting to:
THEIR P.O.V. - AMY	77
on a cot now, convulsing with fever.
ANGLE ON KOVAK	78
stunned, as he moves to Amy, kneels by her, takes her hand. She turns, studies him through her delirium. AMY I’m sorry… KOVAK (torn) What the hell for? AMY I wanted to help. KOVAK We got what we went for. So you hang in -- you just hang in… She nods. Kovak pulls up, turns to Virdon. KOVAK (to Virdon) I owe you an apology… VIRDON How so? KOVAK This dream of yours -- of getting back home -- your wife -- your kid. I understand it better -- I still don’t think we can do it -- but I do understand… VIRDON (gently) We’ll get her through it…
EXT. HOSPITAL HUT - SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY	79
Quickly, the bark is ground into fine powder, mixed with small cups of water, carried into the hospital hut.
INT. HOSPITAL HUT - SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY	80
Virdon, Zoran and Inta administer the cups of medication to the patients.
ANOTHER ANGLE	81
Kovak tends to Amy, who is delirious with fever now.
EXT. VILLAGE - LONG SHOT - DAY	82
Galen and his work force walk back into the area covered with mud and exhausted.
ANGLE ON URSUS	83
astride his horse on a nearby hill, studies the village.
HIS P.O.V. - LONG SHOT - GALEN AND THE MEN	84
returning to the village. From this distance, Galen’s identity cannot be determined.
CLOSE ON URSUS	85
impatient, and inwardly filled with growing fear.
ANGLE ON CENTER OF VILLAGE	86
Virdon and Kovak come out of the hospital hut to greet Galen, who is very tired. VIRDON Are you all right? GALEN (nods) It’s done…
INT. HOSPITAL HUT - ANGLE ON AMY	87
She cries out in her delirium -- getting Zoran’s attention, who turns from the patient beside her. AMY Don’t leave me -- tell me -- other place -- the other place… CAMERA TIGHTENS as Zoran moves closer to her. AMY Tell me again… (a smile) How it was -- before… ZORAN (baiting her) Before what? AMY This -- all this… Before Zoran can continue the interrogation, he reacts to distant SHOUTING, pulls up, starts out of the hut.
EXT. HOSPITAL HUT - MED. SHOT - DAY	88
Galen, Kovak, Virdon and the others move off to look toward a nearby hill.
LONG P.O.V. SHOT	89
Several Gorilla Guards are running away from something. Though we can’t hear what they are saying, there is terror in their voices. Virdon, Galen and Kovak start toward the disturbance.
ANGLE ON ZORAN	90
as he comes out of the hut, looks toward the disturbance. Now Ursus can be seen riding toward the frightened, scattering Gorilla soldiers.
ANGLE ON ZORAN	91
as he moves to his horse, quickly mounts, rides off.
ANGLE ON VIRDON, KOVAK AND GALEN	92
Kovak starts forward again. Galen grabs his arm, nods o.s. GALEN Ursus…
THEIR P.O.V. - URSUS	93
riding toward the area of disturbance. He rides in a direction which will intersect Zoran’s approach.
BACK TO SCENE	94
Virdon, Kovak and Galen must wait there lest Ursus see them.
ANGLE ON HILL	95
Several terrified Gorillas run past Zoran as he prods his horse forward.
ANGLE ON URSUS	96
as he rides into the area, pulls up, sees:
HIS P.O.V. - KAVA	97
prostrate on the ground, his body convulsing -- his breath coming in pained gasps.
ANGLE ON ZORAN	98
as he rides up, halts, sees Kava.
CLOSE ON URSUS	99
He turns to Zoran, rage spilling out of him. URSUS Now we’ll see -- doctor! Now we’ll see if the council still believes in you. The village will burn -- and everyone in it. Everyone! Ursus wheels his horse, rides off.
CLOSE ON ZORAN	100
digesting this, as we:
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
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