ACT TWO   FADE IN   EXT. CHATKA GARRISON - LOW ANGLE - TROOPERS - DAY   reining in and dismounting, CAMERA ANGLING TO INCLUDE Leuric being half dragged to a side door. Konag ENTERS, indicating:   KONAG  Take him inside while I find out what Carsius wants done with him.   The Troopers acknowledge and shove Leuric through the door as Konag moves OFF.   INT. CARSIUS’ QUARTERS - ANGLE ON CARSIUS - DAY   back to CAMERA, at a washstand, reaching for a towel.   CARSIUS  For the time being, Commander…   He turns, dabbing at his face with the towel, tossing it aside, CAMERA ANGLING TO INCLUDE Konag facing him.   CARSIUS  …I suggest you treat him just as you are doing. After all, he is a human…   KONAG  And a dangerous one! He should be shot!   CARSIUS  In time…in time…but for now, Leuric has knowledge which I wish to acquire.  (waggles hand)  Now run along…and see that our prisoner develops a…a cooperative attitude. I’ll be with you shortly.   KONAG  (smirks)  Yes, sir.   Konag EXITS, CAMERA HOLDING ON Carsius, in pleased anticipation.   INT. CELL - MED. CLOSE ON LEURIC - DAY   chained to the wall, half delirious, his tongue running over his lips in thirst. The backhand of Konag slaps him across the face.   LEURIC  Don’t…please…I…I’ll do whatever you want…please…   ANOTHER ANGLE   Konag gives Leuric another slap -- a thin smile on his face. He reacts as the o.s. SOUND of a key turning is HEARD.   LEURIC  …Please…don’t…don’t…   CAMERA ANGLES TO INCLUDE the door as it swings open, Carsius ENTERING. Carsius reacting in a shocked manner.   CARSIUS  What is the meaning of this?!  (to Konag)  Are you insane?!…treating this man this way? Release him!   KONAG  (nonplussed)  But, sir…you said…  (realization)  Yes…yes, sir…   CARSIUS  Have him cleaned up and brought to my quarters…at once, I say!   KONAG  Yes, sir!  (as he moves o.s.)  Guard!   Carsius moves closer to Leuric who tries to focus on him.   CARSIUS  You must forgive me…there’s been a terrible mistake. I only arrived here today and…well, had I known…   LEURIC  Mis…take…   CARSIUS  But of course! Do you think I would allow such a thing? Such treatment of…of a fellow scientist?   Leuric is coming out of it a bit, a smile flickering across his face.   CARSIUS  There, there, dear friend…   CAMERA CLOSES IN on Leuric, his mouth working.   LEURIC  Friend?   INT. CARSIUS’ QUARTERS - CLOSE SHOT - CIGAR BOX - DAY   held by Carsius as he opens it, CAMERA PULLING BACK TO INCLUDE Leuric, refreshed and cleaned up.   CARSIUS  …and when I heard what they were doing to you, I was appalled…simply appalled.  (proffers box)  Here. Try one of these. A human frailty of which I’m quite fond, I must admit.   Leuric takes a cigar. Carsius lights it with a candle, then his own, both puffing, then:   LEURIC  Why was it done at all?   CARSIUS  The whole thing was a complete misunderstanding. Word came to me about your endeavours to fly and…well, I simply thought that it was something I should look into…as Minister of Knowledge, you understand. How’s the cigar?   LEURIC  (choking)  Not to my liking, I’m afraid.   Carsius takes the cigar and puts it out.   CARSIUS  But…flying is to your liking?…   LEURIC  It’s my dream…my entire life.   CARSIUS  And a noble one it is…flying. A major step forward for Ape and man.  (indicates)  Come. I have a surprise for you.   He moves off. Leuric stares after him.   LEURIC  Did you mean that?…For…for Ape and man!   ANGLE ON CARSIUS   by an open door, smiling.   CARSIUS  Come.   Leuric ENTERS SHOT and Carsius ushers him through the door, following.   INT. CARSIUS’ WORKSHOP - ANGLE ON LEURIC AND CARSIUS - DAY   Superbly equipped, a kind of museum of assorted tools used by humanity way back in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. Carsius ushers Leuric proudly into the room. Leuric is amazed by what he sees.   LEURIC  I have never seen anything like this!   CARSIUS  The remnants of previous Ape civilizations…Only this trifling knack for using tools is something we seem temporarily to have lost -- perhaps because we have humans to do all our menial work.   ANGLE FAVORING CARSIUS   as he picks up a carpenter’s plane.   CARSIUS  Did you ever see one of these? Apes used it centuries ago. It’s called a hammer.   Leuric approaches, Carsius looks about, spies a nail and attempts to hammer it into a wooden table with the plane. Leuric smiles, takes the plane, adjusting the blade, then shaving a corner of the table. Carsius reacts, perturbed, then quickly hiding it with:   CARSIUS  That’s something else it can be used for as well…   He takes the plane, setting it aside, turning back for:   LEURIC  Why do you show me all this?   CARSIUS  My dear Leuric…all this is now yours!   LEURIC  (disbelievingly)  Your workshop is at my disposal? For what purpose?   CARSIUS  What purpose indeed. Why, to build an aircraft, of course.  (confidentially)  Look you. I have arranged for a demonstration before the Great Council. If you are successful and the Council is pleased, think of the advancement that will have been made.   LEURIC  Advancement…?   CARSIUS  In the harmony between Ape and man! A new threshold of understanding. Now, what shall we say? Five days?   LEURIC  I…I can’t promise results in so short a time.   CARSIUS  Of course you can!   His words are pointed. He turns to leave, looking back.   CARSIUS  If there’s anything you need, just let me know. And Leuric…I would be displeased…if you failed me.   He eyes him, turns and EXITS, CAMERA IN ON Leuric staring after him, mouthing:   LEURIC  Five…days?   EXT. CHATKA MARKETPLACE - MED. CLOSE SHOT - VENDOR - DAY   at one of the stalls, CAMERA PULLING BACK TO INCLUDE Virdon as the VENDOR expounds:   VENDOR  Like an animal, he was…a rope around his neck…being pulled and dragged. Was he a relative?   VIRDON  No. No, just a friend.   VENDOR  One doesn’t have too many friends these days. It’s sad to lose one.   VIRDON  Yeah, well, thanks…   He smiles and moves off as the Vendor shakes his head sadly.   ANGLE DOWN ALLEY   as Virdon APPEARS, looking about, then moving TOWARD CAMERA, PULLING BACK TO INCLUDE Galen and Burke waiting for him. They glance about, making sure they are not observed, then:   BURKE  What’d you find out?   VIRDON  Nothing…except that he’s in there.   BURKE  Same here.   GALEN  What do we do now?   VIRDON  Somebody’s got to get into that garrison.   BURKE  Don’t look at me.   VIRDON  I’m not.   Both slowly eye Galen, who looks from one to the other, then:   GALEN  (helplessly)  Oh, dear.   INT. KONAG’S QUARTERS - ANGLE ON KONAG - DAY   studying some papers on his desk. An o.s. KNOCK IS HEARD.   KONAG  Yes?   The door opens and a female Chimp, SELTA, ENTERS, worried, moving to Konag. She carries a file folder.   KONAG  What is it, Selta?   SELTA  Sir…there’s someone to see you…an official from the Central Zone Accounting Office!   Konag reacts as though the IRS was closing in.   KONAG  What! But…but…it’s not that time of year!   SELTA  (indicates folder)  He wants to check our last inventory report. I…wouldn’t give it to him and he said I was…   In b.g., Galen, stern and angry, ENTERS, overriding Selta’s line.   GALEN  Uncooperative! That will be the first item on my list! Yes indeed… Un-co-operative!  (approaches)  You’re Konag?!   Konag rises, flustered, indicating to Selta for the file folder. She starts to hand it to him. Galen snatches it away.   KONAG  Yes…yes, sir…I…   Selta backs off frightenedly as Galen peruses the file quickly.   GALEN  Ah-ha!  (pointedly)  Discrepancies already! The Central Office was right! This garrison bears looking into!   KONAG  My reports have always been accurate. I mean…well…   GALEN  We shall see…   ANOTHER ANGLE   Galen turns to leave, pausing and looking back.   GALEN  I’ll be in and out for a while and I do not wish to be disturbed, is that clear?   KONAG  (weakly)  Y - Yes, sir.   GALEN  Except when you have the execution. I shouldn’t want to miss that.   KONAG  Wh -- what execution?   GALEN  (surprised)  Aren’t you holding a prisoner? An enemy of our society? Uh, what’s his name…uh…Leuric! Yes, Leuric. A farmer?   KONAG  H -- How did you know that?   Galen returns to the desk, eyes level, voice down.   GALEN  Are you questioning the Central Office?   KONAG  No! I mean…well, yes. We have such a human…but - but he’s working for Minister Carsius.   GALEN  Oh? Doing what, pray tell?   KONAG  Building an aircraft.   GALEN  A what?   KONAG  An aircraft. A flying machine…to teach us how to fly!   GALEN  Are you drunk?   KONAG  No! It’s true. I swear it!   Galen stares at him, then looks at Selta who shrugs weakly.   ANOTHER ANGLE   Galen leans over to Konag, almost confidentially.   GALEN  And when is all this to take place?   KONAG  Five days from now. There’s to be a demonstration for the Council.  (brightens)  Of course, if he fails, then he’ll be executed…but…you won’t be here…so…   Galen stands back, chuckling.   GALEN  My dear Konag. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.   Still chuckling, he moves to the door, looking back.   GALEN  You will keep me posted, won’t you? As I said, I’ll be in and out.   Konag nods weakly. Galen tips a finger and EXITS, CAMERA IN ON Konag and Selta as Konag slumps back into his chair.   SELTA  Should I…inform Minister Carsius, sir?   KONAG  That we’re being investigated? Certainly not!   INT. HUT - CLOSE ON VIRDON AND BURKE - NIGHT   LAUGHING to:   GALEN’S VOICE  (o.s.; mimicking)  Are you questioning the Central Office?!   CAMERA WIDENS TO INCLUDE Galen, amused with himself.   BURKE  I wish I’d been there…   Their CHUCKLES slowly cease, then:   VIRDON  You might be there sooner than you think.   ANOTHER ANGLE   as they regard him curiously.   VIRDON  Well, it’s a cinch Leuric isn’t going to be able to build a satisfactory glider all by himself. Not in the time he has. He doesn’t know enough.   BURKE  (chides)  What do you want to do? Offer our services?   VIRDON  In a way. What if we build one here…with an exact set of plans? We could break it down…Galen could deliver it and Leuric could put it back together again.   They exchange sober glances, then Burke shrugs.   BURKE  Well, I suppose it’s worth a try.   GALEN  More than that.  (beat)  It’s worth Leuric’s life.   As he regards them meaningfully:   MONTAGE SEQUENCE   EXT. WOODS - ON VIRDON - DAY   hacking down a slender tree branch, stripping it, bending it to his satisfaction.   EXT. HUT - ON BURKE - DAY   inspecting a hide, holding it up to the sunlight. In b.g., Galen is braiding thongs into a rope.   INT. HUT - ON VIRDON - NIGHT   using a stone, smoothing a piece of wooden framework.   INT. HUT - ON THE THREE - DAY   fitting a section of framework to another, Burke leashing it in place.   EXT. HUT - ON GALEN - DAY   removing a pot from a fire, heading into the hut.   INT. HUT - ON VIRDON AND BURKE - DAY   fitting a piece of hide to the framework, CAMERA PULLING BACK TO INCLUDE Galen standing by holding the pot which contains a primitive feather brush. Burke reaches for it and starts applying the liquid to the forward edge of the hide.   VIRDON  Pull it tight so it’ll hold.   Burke tosses the brush back into the pot and assists Virdon. Galen stares at the pot.   GALEN  Amazing. Boiled tree sap, and corn flour.   He runs his fingers around the edge of the pot.   BURKE  Best we could do.  (beat)  It’s called glue.   ON VIRDON AND BURKE   VIRDON  Galen, lend a hand here.   GALEN’S VOICE  (o.s.)  I can’t.   They react and look up.   ON GALEN   GALEN  My fingers are stuck together.   He brings up his hand in a helpless gesture.   EXT. HUT - FULL SHOT - VIRDON - DAY   backing out of the hut, beckoning with his hands.   VIRDON  Okay…easy…watch the edges.   After a moment, Galen and Burke APPEAR, carrying one side of the completed glider, CAMERA PULLING BACK TO REVEAL the other side resting nearby on the ground. They set it down next to it and stand back. Virdon pulls a set of plans from his belt, opening them.   VIRDON  (to Burke)  Lash ’em together at the stress points…  (indicates plans)  Here…here and here.   Burke nods, taking the plans.   GALEN  Do you really think Leuric will understand all this?   VIRDON  Sure. Both sides just fold and unfold like an umbrella…then you tie ’em together.   GALEN  What’s an umbrella?   VIRDON  (reacts; then)  Never mind.  (indicates to Burke)  I’ll be up on the hill looking for a launch site.   BURKE  Are you gonna try it first?   VIRDON  Not me. If a patrol saw a human in that thing, they’d be tempted to try a little target practice. An Ape on the other hand…   Galen reacts as they both eye him.   GALEN  Oh, no. Not me, either! I refuse! I absolutely put my foot down!   He folds his arms defiantly.   EXT. HILLSIDE - CLOSE SHOT - GALEN’S FOOT - DAY   bracing on the lower bar of the glider.   VIRDON’S VOICE  (o.s.)  That’s it…just brace it right there…   CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL Galen as the “pilot” with Virdon demonstrating. Burke holds the glider wing level.   VIRDON  …hold on here…and by leaning forward and back or sideways, you can guide it. Simple?   GALEN  I don’t feel well.   BURKE  Come on, Galen. It’ll be over before you know it.   GALEN  That’s what I’m afraid of. What if a rock gets in the way?   VIRDON  Jump.   ANOTHER ANGLE   as Virdon moves opposite Burke, each holding a wing edge.   VIRDON  Just kick off like I showed you. Ready?   GALEN  No.   VIRDON  Go!   Galen kicks off with his free foot as Virdon and Burke haul the glider forward by the wing tips.   LOW ANGLE - FULL SHOT - GLIDER   soaring off from the hillside. Burke and Virdon holding up, watching.   PROCESS SHOT - GALEN   trying to control the glider, petrified, gasping.   FULL SHOT - GLIDER   winging around, wobbling.   VIRDON’S VOICE  (o.s.; yells)  Stand easy! Let the wind do it!   PROCESS SHOT - GALEN   gaining courage, getting the hang of it.   TWO SHOT - VIRDON AND BURKE   watching.   PROCESS SHOT - GALEN   settling down, almost smiling. He releases a hand to wave and just as quickly grabs the support again.   FULL SHOT - GLIDER   soaring along.   BURKE’S VOICE  (o.s.)  I think he likes it.   TWO SHOT - VIRDON AND BURKE   VIRDON  Yeah…but the important thing is that it works. Now, all we have to do is get it to Leuric. Tomorrow’s the last day.   They exchange concerned glances.   FULL SHOT - GLIDER   winging by   POSSIBLE FADE OUT