PLANET OF THE APES   “TOMORROW’S TIDE”   Written by Robert W. Lenski   REVISED FINAL AUGUST 28, 1974   B-543 CAST LIST   GALEN PETE BURKE ALAN VIRDON   GAHTO (HUMAN) SOMA (HUMAN) ROMAR (HUMAN) HURTON (CHIMP) HURTON’S AIDE (GORILLA) BANDOR (APE) ARMED GUARD (GORILLA) APE DRAYMAN ONE APE DRAYMAN TWO   Human Fishermen, Ape Patrol, Ape Guards   SET LIST   INTERIORS CAVE   EXTERIORS OCEAN BEACH INLAND LAGOON - FISHING AREA INLAND LAGOON - TEST AREA WOODS OCEAN FISHING POOL VILLAGE HURTON’S HEADQUARTERS GAHTO’S HUT CEREMONIAL SITE CAVE AREA   “TOMORROW’S TIDE”   ACT ONE   FADE IN   (NOTE TO DIRECTOR:   PLEASE ALLOW 45 FEET OF SILENT ACTION FOR SUPERIMPOSITION OF TITLES.)   1  EXT. BEACH - LONG SHOT - VIRDON, BURKE AND GALEN RUNNING - DAY   The two Astronauts, VIRDON and BURKE, with their chimpanzee companion, GALEN, are running, apparently in flight, along the hardpacked sand of the beach… but on each incoming wave, Galen heads for the softer sand, leaving tracks.   2  CLOSE SHOT - THE TRIO   as Virdon glances back to see Galen, behind, plodding through the soft sand…and stops!… turns to Galen who also now stops. Burke halts also, appearing thankful for the breather, as:   VIRDON  (to Galen)  You’re a big help!   Galen marches innocently up to him.   GALEN  Huh?   Virdon points back at the tracks.   VIRDON  We’re trying not to leave tracks! Stay closer to the water, get your feet wet.   GALEN  (superior)  My tracks are not cause for suspicion in this part of the world. Besides, we are not quite as fond of water as…humans!   Burke glances in at the shore, inquisitively, paying no mind to the exchange…as Virdon sighs patiently at their friend, Galen.   BURKE  Wonder if this is…Pismo Beach…or Malibu…?   And he glances out to the water…noticing something, pointing.   BURKE  Hey…look!   3  ANGLE SHOOTING PAST THEM TO THE OPEN WATER   A sizeable, bulky object, six or seven feet long, flat, floating in the water. As Virdon and Galen turn on Burke’s cue:   VIRDON  Flotsam…off a ship maybe?  (excited)  Come on…!   And he races into the water, Burke right behind him. They dive into the surf, swimming toward the object.   4  ANGLE ON GALEN   as he watches them, with great curiosity, calling out:   GALEN  What’s a…ship?   They don’t hear him, of course, and his expression changes to one of mild distaste…for the water.   GALEN  Ugh…getting all wet…   5  ANGLE ON VIRDON AND BURKE SWIMMING   toward the object, which we can now see is a raft…only two or three logs lashed together, but something atop it.   VIRDON  There it is…over there…   6  ANGLE ON THE RAFT   as Virdon and Burke swim up to it, and with great surprise, see the prone form of old GAHTO, lashed to the raft with leather thongs. They grasp hold of the raft, look at the old man.   BURKE  Hey…it’s an old man, Al…a survivor…you all right, fella?   7  CLOSE SHOT - GAHTO   His eyes, swollen from being lashed facing the sun, only blink. But he says nothing.   8  BACK TO SCENE   as we see the dorsal fin of a SHARK cut the water not far behind Burke.   VIRDON  This guy isn’t a survivor…He’s a victim…Come on…  (spotting shark fin)  Hey…Pete…shark!   Burke turns, looks around at the warning, sees the shark fin, circling now.   BURKE  Let’s get out of here.   And they start to swim and tug the raft toward shore.   9  SWIMMING SHOT - CLOSE ON THE RAFT   Virdon and Burke towing the raft closer to shore. In the near b.g., the shark fin appears once more, circles, dives, both Astronauts eyeing it cautiously.   VIRDON  Watch him…he’s getting close…   BURKE  What do you want me to do…Tell him there’s nobody home? Swim!   10  ANGLE SHOOTING FROM SHORE - PAST GALEN TO RAFT   Virdon and Burke have towed the raft to shallow water now…and begin hauling it onto the sand of the beach.   11  ANGLE ON THE RAFT   Virdon kneels with Burke near the raft as Galen walks up to them. Spotting the leather thongs with which Gahto is bound to the raft, Virdon looks up at Galen, his hand out.   VIRDON  Give me the knife…   A beat of hesitation as Galen hands Virdon a type of hunting knife. Virdon quickly cuts the thongs but the old man does not stir, even when freed. As he hands the knife back to Galen:   VIRDON  At least he’s still breathing. Somebody must’ve put him on the outgoing tide…   BURKE  (to Gahto)  Hey…who are you…eh?   No reaction from Gahto and Burke snaps his fingers in front of the old man’s face…for a reaction.   BURKE  Hey…you understand?  (to Virdon)  In shock -- or deaf?   VIRDON  Maybe he just doesn’t understand us.   GAHTO  (weakly)  I…am…dead. Leave…me.   BURKE  He understands…I don’t.   VIRDON  Old man…what is your name…where do you come from…?   GAHTO  I…am…dead…   GALEN  You heard him. Let’s go.   BURKE  You’ve got to be kidding. You can’t just leave him.   GALEN  Why not?   VIRDON  Who would do a thing like this…?   BURKE  Some early Indian tribes, Eskimos, a few ancient Chinese societies…   VIRDON  He doesn’t qualify. Give me a hand…Let’s get him out of here.   12  ANGLE ON THE SCENE   Virdon and Burke pick the weakened old man off the raft, looping his arms around their necks and start inland with him, toward high cliffs that border the ocean here.   13  ANGLE ON GALEN   holding back a moment before joining them…puzzled.   GALEN  (calling after)  You ought to listen to him. You’re just asking for trouble…   When they pay no heed, he starts after them.   CUT TO:   14  INT. CAVE - ANGLE NEAR ENTRANCE - DAWN   Old Gahto is propped against a wall, his eyes partly open in half-sleep. Virdon is up, rousing Burke, who dozes near a small fire, and Galen also stirs, sits up, rubs his eyes.   VIRDON  Okay, Pete…up!   Burke sits up, yawns…recalling his interrupted dream.   BURKE  Would you believe it…the shark was actually a mermaid and we carried her off…   He glances off toward the aged Gahto, as reality strikes.   BURKE  (wearily)  Oh, boy…   Virdon steps over to Gahto, kneeling by him.   VIRDON  Feeling better?   No Reaction.   VIRDON  Want to tell us your name, now? Huh?   GAHTO  I am dead. The gods have willed it.   Burke goes to join Virdon, by Gahto. A little impatient with the “story” Gahto is giving them, trying an angle.   BURKE  Look…you know you’re dead…we know you’re dead. All we want to know is…what was your name when you were still alive…right?   A long beat, just as Virdon is noticing the metal bracelet Gahto wears.   GAHTO  Gahto…my name was…Gahto.   VIRDON  Gahto…well, that’s a start.  (showing Burke the bracelet)  Look, Pete…   15  INSERT - THE BRACELET ON GAHTO’S ARM   A metal band, the figure of a fish stamped on it.   BURKE’S VOICE  (o.s.)  Bring it with us…for identification, maybe…   16  BACK TO SCENE   as Virdon turns the bracelet slightly, seeing:   VIRDON  No way…this is fastened on for life.   Galen stands, comes to them.   GALEN  It’s the band of an enforced labor community. He’ll be killed if he’s found wandering outside the permitted area.   BURKE  What’s a permitted area?   GALEN  It vaires. A mile or two from the labor centre. It’s a method to keep humans from straying away.   17  ANGLE ON GAHTO   as he looks up with some fear at the chimpanzee, Galen, then curiosity at Virdon and Burke; the picture of humans friendly with an ape too confusing for him.   GAHTO  I am dead…leave me…the gods have willed it…   As Virdon and Burke stand, frustrated:   BURKE  Poor guy, somebody sure sold him a bill of goods -- What’s the next move?   VIRDON  We’re going to find whoever put him there…sort them out…and get him back home. Human beings just can’t…do this!   GALEN  May I ask a question?   Virdon and Burke turn to him, waiting for it.   GALEN  If he wants to be dead…why can’t he be dead?   On their look:   GALEN  I’ve known a lot of humans who would be better off…if…   He halts on their look.   BURKE  Is that your question?   GALEN  Well?   VIRDON  The answer is…you stay here and keep an eye on him. We’ll scout the area and see if we can find who…Gahto here…belongs to. Does that meet with your approval?   On Galen’s rather put-down look, Virdon turns to Burke.   VIRDON  Let’s move…it’s daylight…   And Virdon walks towards the mouth of the cave, as Burke steps over, puts a reassuring hand on Galen’s shoulder.   BURKE  Don’t mind him…he just got up on the wrong side of the cave…   And Burke follows Virdon out the entrance of the cave. When they have left, Galen walks to Gahto, looks down at him, testing.   GALEN  Gahto?   No response.   GALEN  Gahto!?   The old man just stares straight ahead. Galen gives up, walks towards the mouth of the cave and stares out at the increasing light of day, silhouetted against the opening.   18  EXT. WOODS - MOVING SHOT - VIRDON AND BURKE - DAY   walking together through the wooded area, looking for any sign of life. Nothing…all is still…until we hear the sound of CRACKING BRUSH…and a HORSE WHINNY! In instant, fearful reflex, Virdon grabs Burke’s arm and they both hit the deck, close to a protecting shrub which hides them from:   19  ANGLE ON MOUNTED PATROL   A single, mounted APE PATROL, uniformed, armed with a rifle, plods by on his horse, within feet of the Astronauts’ hiding place. He does not see them.   20  ANGLE SHOOTING PAST THE PAIR TO MOUNTED PATROL   as the mounted Ape moves by and farther into the woods. The Astronauts, tensed, but able to breathe easy for the moment.   BURKE  Hey, Al…maybe old Gahto had a point. We could go back and get Galen and split.   VIRDON  Sure. Will you take Gahto back and tie him to the raft…?   Burke shrugs.   BURKE  Okay, okay. My nasty survival instinct got the better of me for a minute.  (peek toward departed guard)  He went that-away…  (pointing other way)  Let’s us go…this-away…   They stand and hurry off into the woods in the opposite direction.   CUT TO:   21  EXT. OCEAN FISHING POOL - LONG SHOT - DAY   A sizeable cove, sheltered by rocks from the open sea, where commercial spear fishing is done to supply raw material for inland fertilizer factories. Several human spear fishermen from this producing village are now engaged in fishing. Armed Ape guards stand by. We see a couple emerge with fish on their spears and start for a half-filled wooden wagon parked on the beach, horse driven, and being tended by two Ape Draymen. An armed Ape guard stands on a rock overlooking the fishing pool.   (NOTE: To one side of this area stands a large collection of earthen jugs…stored oil for the test area.)   22  ANGLE ON THE WATER   A flurry of excitement as two fishermen, their heads just out of water, let out sounds of alarm, and we see a shark fin cut the water near them.   23  ANGLE ON THE ARMED APE GUARD   as he raises his gun and fires at the shark.   24  ANGLE ON THE FISHERMEN   as the rifle shot blips the water near the shark fin, and it disappears.   25  ANGLE SHOOTING FROM A SECLUDED SPOT ON SHORE TO THE SCENE   Virdon and Burke are watching this activity with interest, bewilderment.   BURKE  Man, if this is Paradise Cove, they’ve made some changes…   A beat, and Virdon points.   VIRDON  Pete…look…the bracelets…   And CAMERA ZOOMS IN on two villager fishermen standing at the wagon to unload their catch onto a pile of fish in the dray…the left arm of each of them bearing a bracelet identical to the one Gahto wears.   26  ANGLE ON VIRDON AND BURKE   as they exchange a look.   BURKE  What do you think?   VIRDON  I don’t think we ought to go in there…with all that artillery around…   Their thoughts are cut short by a stern, loud COMMAND from behind them.   ARMED GUARD  You! What are you doing here!?   27  REVERSE ANGLE   as Virdon and Burke turn to see they’re looking up the muzzle of a rifle held by a sinister Ape ARMED GUARD. The Guard cocks the rifle in a menacing metallic sound of readiness. Too startled to answer immediately, Virdon and Burke make a slight move.   ARMED GUARD  Stand! Slowly!   Virdon and Burke stand. The Ape studies them, glancing at their wrists…no bracelet.   ARMED GUARD  Who are you!? Where do you come from!?   BURKE  We’re just sort of travelling through. If we’re not supposed to be here, we’ll --   ARMED GUARD  (overriding)  Silence!   Holding the gun on them, gesturing:   ARMED GUARD  This way…!   And he starts to march them in a direction that will take them past the group near the fishing area, to the village.   28  ANGLE ON THE FISHING AREA   as the fishing activity is interrupted momentarily by the curiosity over these two strangers being led through by an armed Guard. The humans murmur with AD-LIB curiosity as the Astronauts’ captor marches them close by the other humans and order them to:   ARMED GUARD  Stop! Stay!   While another Armed Guard trains his rifle on the pair, the Armed Guard in charge of Virdon and Burke steps away to seek advice of a third Armed Guard, MOS. Virdon and Burke scan the group of male humans, inquisitively. Burke calls lowly to one of the male humans near him.   BURKE  You…do you know…Gahto?   The male human and a couple of others within earshot turn their backs on Virdon and Burke.   VIRDON  Wait! Do you know if Gahto lives here?   As their captor is returning the fews steps to them:   BURKE  Looks like old Gahto has a lot of acquaintances but no close friends…   ARMED GUARD  Silence!  (gesturing ahead)  Walk!   And the Guard starts marching them away from the scene as CAMERA PANS to ROMAR, who turns his head from the group of men, watching the two strangers carrying Gahto’s name, with some fear.   CUT TO:   29  EXT. THE VILLAGE - ANGLE SHOOTING PAST HURTON’S HUT - DAY   Virdon and Burke are being led to the f.g. hut, the most impressive in the village, and set slightly apart. As they walk down the “main street” toward the headquarters hut of Hurton, a few villagers, mostly women and two or three small children, appear and follow at a safe, permitted distance, low chatter starting to rise…a noticable commotion. It brings an irritated HURTON, a chimpanzee, from his headquarters to see.   30  ANGLE ON HURTON   as he steps importantly from his headquarters, carrying a riding crop.   HURTON  What’s going on…  (noticing)  What is this?   31  ANGLE ON SCENE   as the Armed Guard marches Virdon and Burke directly up to Hurton, announcing:   ARMED GUARD  Stray humans, sir. I found them hiding near the fishing area. Probably waiting to steal fish!   Virdon and Burke exchange a glance on this accusation, as Hurton steps to them, angrily. He starts pacing around them.   HURTON  Hah! That’s all I need! Three wagonloads behind already this period! The fertilizer factories wanting more…more…more!   He steps in front of Burke, pokes his riding crop in Burke’s stomach.   HURTON  (demanding)  And how many fish do you have in your gullet…eh?   Burke flinches from the jabbing of his middle.   VIRDON  We didn’t steal any fish.   Hurton turns to him, now. He looks down at Virdon’s bare wrist, whacks it with his riding crop.   HURTON  Hah! You wear no band of a fisherman. How else would you get fish to eat except to steal them!   VIRDON  If you’ll let me explain…   ARMED GUARD  Silence!   Hurton steps back, gives the pair a fast objective appraisal of a weary bureaucrat.   HURTON  (for the Guard)  If they’re not fishermen, they’re no use to me. Take them out and kill them…   And Hurton turns his back on them, starting back for his headquarters.   ARMED GUARD  Come!   BURKE  Hey, hold it! We’re probably the best fishermen in this whole part of the world!   Hurton stops, turns with interest. As Virdon gives his pal a look, Hurton walks back to them, cautious, but interested.   HURTON  If you lie…you die.   BURKE  No lie…hey, on the level…nobody, but nobody brings in the fish like we do.   Hurton points with his riding crop.   HURTON  Then how is it you do not wear the armband of a fisherman? Eh? Eh?   With a superior shrug, as though he is about to “dismiss” them again, until Virdon jumps in:   VIRDON  We were…farmers. We were…released by one of the big farms inland…   BURKE  Because all we wanted to do all the time was…fish. We’ve been practicing…   Hurton starts to pace around them again, considering. He whacks their leg muscles with his crop, pinches their arm muscles like he’s examining livestock. In front of Burke again, he presses a fist to his middle.   HURTON  You have good wind? To fish long underwater?   BURKE  Oh yes, sir…   A beat of hesitation by Hurton.   HURTON  Do you have your ‘release papers?’   VIRDON  (quickly)  No, sir…we lost them.   BURKE  While we were fishing.   Another beat as Hurton considers this technicality, muttering somewhat to himself.   HURTON  I could use two more good producers…have to discard the old ones…takes forever to grow new ones…  (a decision, to them)  We’ll let the fire decide!   VIRDON  What?   Hurton, very matter-of-fact…doing them a favor.   HURTON  We’ll test you tomorrow. If you can prove your swimming ability under the sheet of flame…   He grabs Virdon’s arm and lifts it possessively.   HURTON  I’ll band you myself. Two more producers in the prime…Bandor will be delighted…   BURKE  (doubtful)  Well, now…I’m just not too sure we’re…ready…to go swimming under any…fire…   HURTON  (abruptly)  Then it’s out of my hands, of course. You’ll be killed immediately before the gods are offended…  (to Guard)  Guard them! And no food before the test. If we have to kill them…I don’t want any fish ration wasted on them…   And he turns and stalks back to his headquarters, muttering.   HURTON  Quotas…quotas…   32  ANGLE ON VIRDON AND BURKE   as they exchange looks that say they’re not exactly comfortable with this new, deadly dilemma.   FADE OUT   END OF ACT ONE