Beneath

"It was very imprudent of him, but when Barry saw the splendor of the chevalier's appearance, 

the nobleness of his manner, 

he felt it impossible to keep disguise with him. 

Those who have never been out of Their Country know little what it is to hear a friendly voice in captivity, 

and as many a man who will not understand the cause of the burst of feeling which was now about to take place. 

The chevalier was as much affected as Barry at thus finding one of his countrymen. 

For he too was an exile from home.  

And a friendly voice, a look, brought The Old Country back to his memory again.

Charlton Heston was reluctant to reprise the role of George Taylor for this movie, believing that 

Taylor's struggles were what drove the first movie,

 and that story had already reached its conclusion. 

A Sequel, in his opinion, would be a lackluster 

"Adventures amongst the monkeys". 

He eventually agreed to appear on condition that his scenes had to be shot within a two week period. 

He also insisted that Taylor had to be killed. 

He agreed to a compromise in which he'd disappear in the beginning of the film and reappear to die at the end. 

Heston claims in the documentary Behind The Planet of The Apes (1998) that he personally suggested the ending, saying, 

"Why don't I just set off this bomb 

and destroy The World. 

That's the end of the sequels."

MUTANT PRIEST :

I trust this simple ceremony convinced you of our peaceable intentions, and I'd like to thank you for your cooperation.

Astronaut BRENT :

When may we hope to be set free?

MUTANT PRIEST :

You may hope whenever you please, Mr. Brent.

How could we hope to let you go on the eve of war, Mr. Brent?

You know too many of Our Secrets, 

like Your Friend.

Astronaut BRENT :

Taylor!

Astronaut TAYLOR :

You're Brent!

Astronaut BRENT :

My God, Taylor!

Astronaut TAYLOR :

How in the hell did you get here?

Astronaut BRENT :

The same way you did.

Spaceship, ape city, subway...

Astronaut TAYLOR :

By yourself?

Astronaut BRENT :

No, Nova found me.

Astronaut TAYLOR :

Nova?

Is she with you? Where?

Astronaut BRENT :

I don't know. 

They separated us.

They tried to make me kill her.

MUTANT PRIEST :

Mr. Taylor, Mr. Brent, we're peaceful people.

We don't kill Our Enemies.

We get Our Enemies to kill each other.

NOVA :

(Gutteral, desperate and stragulated)

TAY-LOR..!!

ZIRA :

Nova!

What are you doing here?

(Astronaut Brent enters behind her)

Taylor?!

Astronaut BRENT :

No, not Taylor. 

My Name's Brent.

ZIRA :

You talked!

That's impossible.

In a whole lifetime devoted to the scientific study of humans, I've only found one other like you who could talk.

Taylor.

ZIRA :

Is he alive?

Have you seen him?

Where? 

Astronaut BRENT :

Where? Tell us.

ZIRA :

Where? Where?

Astronaut BRENT :

I don't know where.

I'm trying to find him.

The longer I stay, the less I'm beginning to care.

CORNELIUS :

Oh, now, we loved Taylor.

He was a fine, a unique specimen.

Why, if it had not been for Zira here, he... he would still be here, a stuffed specimen in the great hall of the Zaius Museum, with his two friends.

Astronaut BRENT :

With his two friends...?

Well, I don't plan to stay around here quite that long.

Look, can you get me some food, some... some water, a map... a map, so at least I'll have some idea where I'm heading?

ZIRA :

You'll want that taken care of, too.

CORNELIUS :

I'll get the map.

Now, if you will look up here, ah, yes, 

towards The North.

This was the last place that we saw Taylor and Nova.

Astronaut BRENT :

What is that damn stuff?

ZIRA :

You wouldn't know if I told you.

Just relax --

Among other things, I'm a trained vet.

Astronaut BRENT :

Oh, great. 

Go on, go on.

CORNELIUS :

Taylor was riding with Nova here, between The Lake and The Sea.

Yes, they were heading deep into the territory we call...

Astronaut BRENT :

Yes, I know.

The Forbidden Zone.

CORNELIUS :

Who told you that?

Hmm?

ZIRA :

Your glorious leader back there.

CORNELIUS :

Zira!

Quick. Quick.

Dr. ZAIUS :

Cornelius, open the door.

ZIRA :

Put the things away.

Open it!

CORNELIUS :

Dr. Zaius, how nice.

We were just about to have something to eat.

Not until I've talked some sense to that headstrong wife of yours.

Where is she?

ZIRA :

Good day, Dr. Zaius.

CORNELIUS :

Has there been an accident?

ZIRA :

Cornelius hit me.

CORNELIUS :

Huh?

ZIRA :

For my bad behavior at the meeting.

I don't blame him.

ZIRA :

I don't resent it, but... his nails need clipping.

CORNELIUS :

Enough of this nonsense.

Are you so blind, you two psychologists that you're unaware that we're on the verge of a grave crisis?

You heard Ursus' speech.

ZIRA :

Militaristic tripe.

CORNELIUS :

Zira!

Perhaps. But now he has the incident he requires to go on a rampage of conquest.

ZIRA :

But that is appalling!

To remain silent while this bully Ursus is permitted to destroy everything in his path is no longer possible.

As Minister of Science, it's my duty to find out whether some other form of life exists.

CORNELIUS :

Where are you going?

Into the Forbidden Zone with Ursus.

ZIRA :

Another manhunt, Doctor?

Someone or some thing has outwitted the intelligence of the gorillas.

ZIRA :

That shouldn't be difficult.

CORNELIUS :

Shh, Zira.

We apes have learned to live in innocence.

Let no one, be it man or some other creature, dare to contaminate that innocence.

ZIRA :

Why, is innocence so evil?

Ignorance is!

There's a time for Truth.

ZIRA :

And the time is always now.

Are you asking me to surrender my principles?

I am asking you to be the guardians of the higher principles of science during my absence.

I am asking for a truce with your personal convictions in an hour of public danger.

CORNELIUS :

And you shall have it, Dr. Zaius, 

or I shall hit her again.

Let us have no violence, Cornelius.

Now, I'm relying on you both.

CORNELIUS :

And we are counting on you, too, Doctor.

If I should fail to return from the unknown, the whole future of our civilization may be yours to preserve or destroy, so think well before you act.

CORNELIUS :

Good-bye, Dr. Zaius, and good luck.

ZIRA :

Let me finish this up and get you out of here!

Astronaut BRENT :

Yeah, get me out of here, please.

I've seen the delicate, humane way they treat humans here.

I don't much care for it.

CORNELIUS :

Have you a horse?

Astronaut BRENT :

Yeah, out in the scrub.

ZIRA :

I'd better get you another set of clothes, the kind fit for humans, like yourself.

CORNELIUS :

You'll pass. Get rid of this.

And this, too.

If you are caught by the gorillas, you must remember one thing --

Astronaut BRENT :

What's that?

CORNELIUS :

NEVER to Speak.

Astronaut BRENT :

What the hell would I have to say to a gorilla?

CORNELIUS :

But you don't understand :

Only apes can speak -- 

Not her, and not you.

If they catch you speaking, they will dissect you and they will kill you in that order.

ZIRA :

Cornelius is right.

Be very careful.

And get out of these things you're wearing as soon as you can.

Astronaut BRENT :

Thanks.

ZIRA :

Thank us by finding Taylor.

Astronaut BRENT :

Yeah, if he's still alive.

In one of the countless billions of galaxies in The Universe, lies a medium-sized star —

And one of its satellites, a green and insignificant planet

— is now Dead.