BENEATH THE POTA: First Draft Screenplay-Dec.20,1968

Although I intended to confine myself to exerpts from scenes that did not make it into the final film I just had to share with you (Stefan and Gene) what I found regarding Paul Dehn's treatment of that scene in which Taylor hit's a rock faceing, seemingly does a little jump and than vanish's before a terrified Nova (who scream's in silence). I remember this afforded Stefan esecially a great deal of amusement as he couldn't understand why Taylor would do this "little jump." Well, as I recall my interpretaion was that Taylor was off ballance and the force of his striking the rock formation with the butt of his rifle caused him to tumble over into an abyss (as the rock formation was an illusion and thus gave no resistance). Well, I have now found proof that my interpretation was correct in the following excerpt from "PLANET OF THE APES REVISITED" by Mr. Dehn. However, note some of the differences-cheif among them being that Taylor unsling's his rifle before going to the rock faceing and instead of striking it with the butt of his rifle he try's to find and foot holds for climbing the thing:

SPECIAL EFFECT 6: A SECOND "PRECIPICE"

...rearing up directly in front of them and twoering as high as the first precipice (behind them) plunges low.
They are on a 10-yard-wide ledge between the two

Taylor (staring up at the second precipice; scared): "That wasn't here. We'd have seen it. Somebody's playing soldiers." And suddenly he nerves himself to find out who. Taylor: "Nova!" She begins to dismount, but he stops her. TAylor: (urgently miming as he speaks) "If YOU...lose...ME, go to Ape City. (as she reacts in terror) "Not to the Gorillas. Go to the chimpanzee quarter. There's no other way. (fighting her incomprehension) "Find Zira. Zi-ra."

Nova, recognizing the name, nods less fearfully. Taylor produces something from a place of consealment in his clothes, and puts it in her hand. TAYLOR: "Give...Zira...this."

She holds his hand and will not let go till she knows he wishes it. Then, as he unslings and lays down his rifle, we LOSE her and PAN TAYLOR walking resolutely across the 10-yard ledge towards the second (up-rearing) precipice. To climb it, he must find finger-holds. So, a yard away, he stretches both nands out and upwards. But as his hands touch the rock face:

SPECIAL EFFECT 7: THE INTANGIBLE ROCK FACE

Both hands strike CLEAN THROUGH IT; and the rest of Taylor's body, unbalanced by the unxpected lack of resistance, follows..and vanishes. It is as thought he had passed throught a bead curtain and there is nothing on the bare rock face to indicate his passing.

CUT TO:

NOVA SCREAMING

The scream scares the horse which (before she has had time to dismount and follow TAYLOR) gallops away from us along the 10-yard ledge. As she recedes, we ANGLE DOWN on the discarded rifle...

Well their you are. What do you all think?

-cozad :hat

Author	Comment
cozad Unregistered User (6/2/03 6:28 am) Reply	BENEATH THE POTA: First Draft Screenplay-Dec.20,1968 The following thread will eventualy consist of exerpts from "PLANET OF THE APES REVISITED," an origianal screenplay by Paul Dehn. This is a First Draft Screenplay published by Dehn on Dec. 20, 1968. "PLANET OF THE APES REVISITED" was aparently the working title for the film that would eventualy be entitled "BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES." As will soon become aparent Dehn's earlier version of "REVISITED" is strikingly deferent from the finished final draft of "BENEATH." However, both are written by the same author and thus the earlier version can be regarded as having a place in the official POTA cannon. Please feel free to post any comments below the exerpts. Oh, by the way, if the title "POTA REVISITED" sounds familer it's because the title was used by Joe Russo, and Larry Landsman for their behind-the-scenes written account of the classic science fiction epic POTA film series (published by Thomas Junne Books. An imprint of St. Martin's Press. Copyright 2001). Enjoy! -cozad
cozad Unregistered User (6/2/03 7:45 am) Reply	Taylor's "little jump" the true story revealed at Although I intended to confine myself to exerpts from scenes that did not make it into the final film I just had to share with you (Stefan and Gene) what I found regarding Paul Dehn's treatment of that scene in which Taylor hit's a rock faceing, seemingly does a little jump and than vanish's before a terrified Nova (who scream's in silence). I remember this afforded Stefan esecially a great deal of amusement as he couldn't understand why Taylor would do this "little jump." Well, as I recall my interpretaion was that Taylor was off ballance and the force of his striking the rock formation with the butt of his rifle caused him to tumble over into an abyss (as the rock formation was an illusion and thus gave no resistance). Well, I have now found proof that my interpretation was correct in the following excerpt from "PLANET OF THE APES REVISITED" by Mr. Dehn. However, note some of the differences-cheif among them being that Taylor unsling's his rifle before going to the rock faceing and instead of striking it with the butt of his rifle he try's to find and foot holds for climbing the thing: SPECIAL EFFECT 6: A SECOND "PRECIPICE" ...rearing up directly in front of them and twoering as high as the first precipice (behind them) plunges low. They are on a 10-yard-wide ledge between the two Taylor (staring up at the second precipice; scared): "That wasn't here. We'd have seen it. Somebody's playing soldiers." And suddenly he nerves himself to find out who. Taylor: "Nova!" She begins to dismount, but he stops her. TAylor: (urgently miming as he speaks) "If YOU...lose...ME, go to Ape City. (as she reacts in terror) "Not to the Gorillas. Go to the chimpanzee quarter. There's no other way. (fighting her incomprehension) "Find Zira. Zi-ra." Nova, recognizing the name, nods less fearfully. Taylor produces something from a place of consealment in his clothes, and puts it in her hand. TAYLOR: "Give...Zira...this." She holds his hand and will not let go till she knows he wishes it. Then, as he unslings and lays down his rifle, we LOSE her and PAN TAYLOR walking resolutely across the 10-yard ledge towards the second (up-rearing) precipice. To climb it, he must find finger-holds. So, a yard away, he stretches both nands out and upwards. But as his hands touch the rock face: SPECIAL EFFECT 7: THE INTANGIBLE ROCK FACE Both hands strike CLEAN THROUGH IT; and the rest of Taylor's body, unbalanced by the unxpected lack of resistance, follows..and vanishes. It is as thought he had passed throught a bead curtain and there is nothing on the bare rock face to indicate his passing. CUT TO: NOVA SCREAMING The scream scares the horse which (before she has had time to dismount and follow TAYLOR) gallops away from us along the 10-yard ledge. As she recedes, we ANGLE DOWN on the discarded rifle... Well their you are. What do you all think? -cozad
Gene Unregistered User (6/2/03 7:11 pm) Reply	Alternate script. Hi, The script makes more sense now. I find it very interesting. BTW, I hope your just not confinding yourself to the scenes that made it in to the final film. But alternate parts (perhaps that half man/half ape) it looks very interesting. I'm not asking you to post the whole screenplay on here, just what you find interesting. Just do what you want to do. I find it very interest so far. Very nice. (I'll also check out eBay for another one so you won't have to be the only one posting these exerpts.) Later, -Gene
cozad Unregistered User (6/3/03 6:00 am) Reply	The Lake Scene: The following is a scene that didn't make it into the final movie. Brent and Nova have just escaped from being used for "target practise" by the Apes. However, the way they allude the gorrila patrol's is a bit different than in the film for in the lost scene Nova and Brent come upon a lake that in turn lead's to a subtaranian grotto. This scene comminses after Brent climbs out of the waggon, and wrestles with the gorrila driver. In this version Brent actualy throws the huge gorila driver off the wagan (yea right! In the movie the gorilla is about to crush Brent's wind pipe when luckely the gorila's knocked off the wagon by a low hanging tree limb.) and succsessfully steel's it. Than Brent unharnesses the horses and he and Nova are off. Still pursued they head inland and from the top of a rocky eninence suddenly look down on: WATERFALL cascading into lake below. BRENT (exclaiming) "THe lake on the map~! WE're----- At this moment the horse is shot from under them. (NOTE: We might consider the feasibility of its "carcass" plunging into the lake below). Leaping clear, they begin to make the dangerous descent on foot. ANother rifleshot echooes. BRENT looks up over his shoulder and sees: P.O.V. SHOT-RING OF SULHOUETTED APES ...peering from the high rocks, down which they also begin to clamber. CUT TO: BRENT AND NOVA desperately darting behind rock after rock, as rifles crack and ring clser. They crouch behind a larger boulder, overhanging the lake: BRENT (miming) "Can you swim?" NOVA nods. BRENT (pointing upwards and miming) "Can they?" NOVA smiles and shakes her head. BRENT (smiling back) "Then quick!" CUT TO: NEW ANGLE-BOULDER THEY CRAWL UP IT CAUTIOUSLY...TO WITHIN AN INCH OF INEVITABLE EXPOSURE; THEN STAND IN A SPLIT-SECOND PRE-DEVING POISE. CUT TO: FLASH-APES AIMING. CUT TO: BRENT AND NOVA DIVE As they hit the water, so does a hail of rifle bullets. CUT TO: UNDERWATER-CONTINUATION OF DIVE At it's nadir, BRENT tears off strips of his clothing, and motions NOVA to do likewise. THey let the strips float back and upwards, as thy swim on and downwards. CUT UP TO: LAKESIDE An over-enthusiastic GORILLA jumps into the water, flounders and nearly drowns.. but is hauled ashore (by a thrown rope) clutching a strip of clothing round which ALL cluster. CUT DOWN TO: UNDERWATER-BRENT AND NOVA Needing to surface for breath. We HOLD them in CENTER SCREEN,as they rise throught the water, till (terrifyingly!) a rock ledge seems to descend from SCREEN'S UPPER MARGIN. They hit the ledge; panic; are sucked under it..and helplessly recede. CUT TO: UNDERWATER-BRENT AND NOVA drifting and struggling claustrophobically under the ledge, trying to find a way out. Then the ledge ends as suddenly as it began, and thy shoot up, up, up, to: INT.-DARNESS AT THE SURFACE Couphing, spluttering, inhaling deep gulps of fresh air...and swimming to the gravelly shore of: A SUBTERRANEAN GROTTO whose faint phosphoresence illuminates them as theey collapse, panting exhaustedly. We may FAVOR NOVA'S bosom, as she pants. BRENT (stroking her hair) Sleep, Nova. Sleep. -cozad
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 216 (6/3/03 1:39 pm) Reply	Re: Taylor's "little jump" the true story revealed *Quote:* I remember this afforded Stefan esecially a great deal of amusement as he couldn't understand why Taylor would do this "little jump." Right - but now it makes more sense (well, actually it made sense earlier as you already guessed right as you mentioned), thanks for posting that excerpt. *Quote:* BRENT (pointing upwards and miming) "Can they?" NOVA smiles and shakes her head. LOL - Jesus I'd have loved to watch that scene. Sorry, but I really start to think they more or less did mess up the sequel. I mean, I do like BTPOTA, but if you look at such great scenes (also Nova and Brent swimming and diving to escape from the apes) is such a great idea. I wonder if they maybe shot this scene or others from the screenplay that got cut later, who knows (I mean as we found earlier there's this cut scene in the trailer where Taylor and Nova drink from a puddle. Well, I guess maybe that diving scene was too expensive and they didn't shoot it... seems they really wanted to keep all cheap to keep to the budget, huh... $:\$ . Anyway, thanks again cozad for that excerpts. Somehow they make me sad... BTPOTA probably could have been much better. I mean, I still love the movie 'though... Bye Stefan
Gene Unregistered User (6/3/03 3:18 pm) Reply	Re: The lake scene Hi, Wow, that sounds like one hell of a script. Too bad they cut that out of the film, the swimming and the water seems very clever. And of course Nova seems smarter in this version of the film than in the final. And Brent seems more gentle to. This was probably before James Franciscus wrote some stuff about his character in. Later, -Gene
cozad Unregistered User (6/3/03 5:29 pm) Reply	The Grotto scene: Yes, that escape into the lake would have been visiouly exciting; lot's of action. I think it was at one point planed to film on location in carlsbad caverns New Mexico or somewhere like that for the scenes which take place subsequent to the Lake scene in which Nova and Brent swim down into the lake, get traped under a ledge and by chance find an underwater cave and emerge in a subtaranian groto. I don't think this scene was ever filmed however. It was merely replaced by the subway scene (the scene in which Brent and Nova-being persued by gorilla patrol's-ride to the base of a large mountain, clime down into the clifs, and discover a subtaranian oriface leading to the underground subway. But the scen in which Nova is sleeping in Brents arms was ment to infer that Nova and Brent had been intimate-as you will see: INT. DARKNESS OF GROTTO THe drip, drip, drip on soundtrack is the drip from a stalactite on the roof reaching for a stalagmite on the ground. Nearby lie BRENT and NOVA asleep in each other's arms. WE MAY INFER WHAT WE WILL [Wow! Poor TAylor. Remember Taylor Nova? Aparently Nova has yet to grasp the idea of monogamy.-cozad ]. BRENT wakes; and himself wakes NOVA with a kiss. She is sleepy and confused. BRENT(soothingly) "I know, I know. It could be morning, noon or night" He stumbles down to the water's edge, sluices his face; drinks; scoops more water, and carries it to NOVA. BRENT: "Drink your breakfast....lunch...diner..." SHe drinks out of his cupped hands and lies drowsily back. He gives her a long look: Brent:Are you what we were, before we learned to talk and made fools of ourselves? Did any good ever come of talking...round all those tables? Did Apes make war, when they were still dumb? Did Men? In the silence we haear the drip, drip, drip of water on stone. BRENT (to nobody) You can love without talking. Int Grotto-BRENT, NOVA BRENT: "iF THERE IS A WAY OUT, IT'D BETTER BE EASIER THAN THE WAY IN. He tries to pull her to her feet but her exhaustion and letherargy defy him. BRENT: (Letting go) "Nova, if we stay here, we shall die. No responcse. BRENT: "Nova!" Sulkily, she turns her face away and lies inert. BRENT thinks hard; then tries and experiment. BRENT: "taYLOR." THe name's effect is galvanic. SHe leaps to her feet; looks eagerly about her; and points excitedly to the darkness in b.g., where her animal-eyes must have discerned an egress. Now it is she who seizes BRENT'S hand and tugs it so impationtly that it slips from her grasp and she runs on alone into the darkness. As her footsteps recede: BRENT (rueful smile) "That wasn't very flattering." [ Nova may cheat on Taylor but it's clear that TAylor is the one she preferes by far. Poor Brent! ]. A pause. THe footseps have receded into silence. BRENT: "Nova?" No answer. BRENT: "NOVA!" Only echoes. BRENT (yelling) "NO-VAA!" VAA...vaa...vaa! echoing and clanging round the cavern. Perturbed, BRENT STRIDES INTO THE FAINTLY PHOSPORESCENT MURK OF: Untill next time- -cozad
Gene Unregistered User (6/3/03 7:21 pm) Reply	The groto scene Hey, I didn't expect to see that in the script. Nova and Brents intamacy. I'll admite I would have been all for it (if Taylor hadn't been in the picture). Looks like Nova's playing them both! . Sounds exciting so far though. So far I like the first script better than the film. Even if Nova does some cheating. Hey what do you expect? What would be funny is if later in the script this happened: Brent is brought to Taylors cell: Brent- Taylor! Taylor- Minnie me! Brent- Shut up! Taylor- Well come on, you're 5 inches smaller than me. Brent- It doesn't seem Nova could tell the difference either. Taylor- You mean . . . Brent nodds. Taylor- Well, you ARE a damn good looking man! Brent- Yes, were sexie men. Then the mutant makes them fight. They fight, then Nova runs in and yells "Taylor!" And they kill the mutant. Brent- Wow were adorable aren't we? Nova's just trying to decide which one is Taylor. She can't so she just does "innie-minnie-monnie-moe!" Later, -Gene
cozad Unregistered User (6/3/03 7:49 pm) Reply	Nova and Brent as lovers: Yes, I think the script addresses something that the film didn't. That is, while Nova has a bond with Taylor she has no concept of the traditional male/female monogymous relationship. Nova is much like an animal in this respect. She doesn't realize she is cheating on Taylor. Nova is very much a creature of instinct. That is she's simply enjoying the company of an atractive man who reminds her very much of Taylor because she find's it pleasureable to do so. In Nova's mind perhaps she want's to keep both of these men arround (every girl's dream! ). I don't blame Nova. But Brent is another matter. I wonder if he feels guilty. Surely he must know by now that Nova is Taylor's girl; that she and Taylor have this bond. That's how he concludes the best way to motivate Nova to keep moveing is to mention Taylor's name; he realizes the galvanic effect Taylor's name has on Nova. So Brent must have felt a little guilty. However, these two have been fighting for their lives; they've been looking out for one another, so Brent has this bond to Nova. ANd you can tell the way he is so gentile and afectionate toward's her (much more so than in the film) that he is strongly attracted to her. However, when Taylor arrives on the scene Brent just steps aside and let's Taylor resume where he left off (as it is clear that Nova really does seem to prefere TAylor although she clearly loves and is attracted to Brent as well-at least in the script-first draft). -cozad
cozad Unregistered User (6/4/03 1:33 am) Reply	...AND another thing: You will note that in the grotto scene Brent say's (to nobody) "You can LOVE without talking." This seems to be in responce to Taylor's comments in the first film in which he say's (rather anoyingly) to NOVA: "Do you love me, I wonder....Can you love, I wonder." Brent seems to be saying; Hey, she can't talk but she can still love; pluss she can't do all those other nasty things that talking men (and apes) do-such as make war. Anyway, I beleive the grotto scene was the scene in which writter Paul Dehn chose to answer Taylor's question about rather Nova could love. I will post another excerpt soon. Oh, and Gene, funny skit you wrote for Taylor and "mini-me"! -cozad
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 218 (6/4/03 1:22 pm) Reply	Re: Taylor's "little jump" the true story revealed LOL - that was funny again, cozad and Gene... Also very interesting. Damn, why didn't they keep that water sequence. I agree with you that it wouldn't be a "deadly sign" if Nova had a relationship with Brent. However I honestly prefer she didn't. I like the idea that both Brent and Nova respected that she was in love with Taylor. And cozad, I think if anybody should have felt guilty (if it would have happened) than it would have been Nova!! Well, OK, Brent, too, but he is only the victim of his desires... . You're right - interesting conclusion... so that "you can love without talking" by Brent was the answer to Taylor's question "can you love?". BTW, do you think there's any way to find out how many scenes got cut from BTPOTA? I mean, I heard almost any movie has many, MANY scenes that get cut... I'd be very curious what else they actually shooted for "Beneath". Bye Stefan
cozad Unregistered User (6/4/03 3:26 pm) Reply	BENEATH:Lost footage Hi Stefan. I dont know of any lost footage. I recall that test footage the shot with the child in make-up as an ape/human hybred but that is all I've ever heard of. There may have been deleted scenes or scenes that were shott but ended up on the cutting room floor but I don't know about them. But you have to remember that back in 1970 they didn't have DVD's or even VHF so the idea of saveing cut material to be added to a directors cut would never have occured to them. I beleive at various studios the policy (I know this was true of MGM and thus maybe of Fox also) was to keep the cut scenes in the archives for a dozen years and than destroy them. Thus, the only way to find deleted scenes would be to get hold of a print that might have been realeased to U.S. military personel (as such prints occationaly had scenes not shown to the general national audience) or special prints released in non-english speaking foriegn markets with sub-titles. I know their are some missing scenes found from the film "Battle for the POTA" found on a laser disk coppy of a Japanese release of the film (someone posted a measage about buying this on eBay on the now defunct planetoftheapesonline site). Now, of course, when the edit a film they keep everything as they know it can latter be added to a director's cut VHF or DVD and the studieo's can make gops of money. But back in the seventies it was just regarded pretty much as discarded junk the studio couldn't make a profit on. Funny how times change! -cozad
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 219 (6/5/03 4:10 am) Reply	Re: BENEATH:Lost footage *Quote:* Thus, the only way to find deleted scenes would be to get hold of a print that might have been realeased to U.S. military personel (as such prints occationaly had scenes not shown to the general national audience) Why is that?? Did the military usually check movies if they were "ready" to be released without endangering the government or something? Hey, and you know what cozad, great idea... I guess for breaking in into the US military you would have to be Van Damme! That would be great - risking your life to get some additional scenes from BTPOTA... Yeah, I read that regarding the "BFTPOTA"-LD, too. But get real cozad, who cares about that movie? I seriously hope cut scenes from part 1+2 are somewhere so "I may like what I will find"... . BTW what's a VHF? You mean VHS? No seriously, what does VHF mean? *Quote:* But back in the seventies it was just regarded pretty much as discarded junk the studio couldn't make a profit on. Funny how times change! Funny? I have to cry imagine there are additional wonderful BTPOTA movies that ended up thrown away in the garbage and don't exist anymore !! Regardless whether or not there might be additional scenes, I would be really curious when Fox might release a special edition of the POTA collection on DVD (like Gene recently suggested), because maybe we at least get to see some additional "behind the scenes" material or interviews (maybe even with Linda from the POTA or BTPOTA set, that would be wonderful, wouldn't it...). I mean, Fox did that with many other movies, too recently (they first released a normal version and then a special edition, e.g. "Die Hard", "Speed", etc....). Oh and BTW: Gene, have you ordered an autograph of Linda now? I wonder if she still gets requests for autographs. Cozad, you mentioned she once wrote she gets a lot of mail and so on. But then again, how come apart from a few visitors we (you, Gene and I) are "the only guys in town" here... -Stefan Edited by: Speed Demon at: 6/5/03 4:16 am
cozad Unregistered User (6/5/03 5:57 am) Reply	BATTLE FOR pota, WORK OF ART! Sorry, I meant VHS not VHF (the latter being a typo I suppose. Good thing I have you to point out my mistakes. You would think you'd learn that I make so many mistakes that you'll never catch them all! ). About Linda getting lots of mail, maybe she was just being playful when she wrote that. Anyway, I think more people are interested in reading what we have to say (like Rich) than responding to our measages. But your right, it doesn't seem like this site gets an enourmous amount of hits (sorry Linda! ). But it may get more than we think. The prints that were essued to U.S. military personel were probably shown at military bases in countries where it was difficult to see english language films and on Air-carft cariers or ships at sea and so on (where movie theaters were hard to get to). Why the military got special prints (with a scene or two not seen by the general public) I have no idea but I've read of it happening. I don't beleive that the U.S. military held on to these films once they were shown. They could have ended up anywhere. Besides I'm not saying that their was a special print of "Beneath." Its just a possibility. I sent off for some photo's about a month ago and they have yet to arrive. They used to arrive within a couple of weeks. Anyway, I loved Battle for the Planet of the Apes. It had such great dialogue such as "Ape killed ape....Ape killed ape....Ape killed ape," or the ever memerable "No humans in council....No humans in council!" Oh, and let us not forget: "WE WANT GUNS, GUNS ARE POWER. WE WILL GET THEM." Such poetry is rare fare indeed! Lot's better than that simi-literate dribble written by Rod Serling! Sorry, Apes fans. It's only a joke. I couldn't resist! -cozad
cozad Unregistered User (6/5/03 6:50 am) Reply	More lost (never filmed) scenes: MASTER SHOT-CATHEDRAL [The following scenes reveal a far more different ending to "Beneath." As these scenes will reveal the bomb was origionaly only intended to destroy the subtaranian city and the waring mutants and gorilla's beneath. Afterward, Taylor and Brent debate the future fate of the surviveing humans on the surface." This was the more possitive ending that James Franciscus and director Ted Post had prefered. But they were overrulled By Heston and Zanuck among other's.] With a raor, the bomb's rocket -proellant ignites. We see APES burning and dying, as we know that MUTANTS, also, will shortly burn and die. THen, soundlessly, the light whitens to incandescence and a BLEACH-FADE, from which we: CUT STRAIGHT IN TO: THE EARTH'S SURFACE (But Where are we?). shaking to the huge shock of the distant atomic explosion underground. We PANTO: THE TETHERED HORSES OF URSUS AND ZAIUS Rearing, whinnying and plunging in terror. As the earth tremor diminishes, we CONTINUE PAN to: SPACESHIP We HOLD this, until the tremours have subsuded; then CLOSE TO: BRENT emerging from hatch. Carrying "kit with gauges" (as in PLANET OF THE APES Sc.27) attached to the mouthpiece of his space helmet. After reading gauges, he divests himself of the apparatus, and calls down the hatch. BRENT "It's clean. So far. BRENT clambers down; and TAYLOR emerges, helping NOVA. TAYLOR (looking skyward) "No cloud?" BRENT "Not a wisp. With luck, the earth-fall in the air vents will have sealed it off. TAYLOR 'Let's pray for luck. a pause, in which the Zone-wind whines. TAYLOR "Where now?" BRENT: "I knew a man on the moon. And a woman, for that matter. After two thousand years, something should have come of it." TAYLOR: "You want to take off?" BRENT (LOOKING AT THE WASTELAND) "What's left?" TAYLOR (looking at NOVA) "Only her people...and ours." BRENT "They're dumb." TAYLOR "She talked. So could they." BRENT (savagely) "And learn to differ? And learn to quarrel? ANd learn to hate? ANd learn to kill? World without end?" (kicking a stone) "We'd be starting all over again." TAYLOR "Yes." BRENT stares at hem. TAYLOR "We could teach them to talk sense." BRENT "What a hope!" TAYLOR (again) "Yes." A long puse, while the Zone-wind whines. THen BRENT gives the stone another kick. BRENT "Your mad." TAYLOR "Maybe." BRENT "Look. THey have no enemies, now. THe Bomb's gone off, and with luck it's the last on earth. Don't teach them how to make another.' TAYLOR "We could teach them not to." BRENT "Why teach them anything? They can be happy animals." TAYLOR "Animals kill." BRENT "Yes,, but singly. Not collectively. One cat hates one dog. But who in hell ever heard of an army of cats declaring war on an army of dogs? Collective hatred is for those who talk. Be merciful, and keep these ones dumb. Leave them in ignorance." TAYLOR turns on him with sudden ferocity. TAYLOR "LIsten. THe whole stinking, rotten history of this stinking, rotten planet is the history of leaders keeping their people in ignorance. "Ignorance that the earth moved round the sun. Ignorance that men were descended from monkeys. Ignorance about the mass-murder of Jews in gas-chambers. Ignorance of what the Bomb would do, when we dropped it on Hiroshima. Aaius kept the Apes in ignorane--and they died for a false God who taught them they were the Master Race. Mendez kept the Mutants in ignorance--and the poor bastards were burnt alive by a monstrousityh they'd been faslely told was their own Creator. Two thousand years ago, yhou and I were kept in ignorance about germ-warfare and nerve-gas and all the other cancerous and obscene secrets that governments used to sweep under thier ceremonial red-carpets, while the bloody bugles blew a lie: that it was seet and proper to slaughtert our fellow-men. If we're told the whole truth, we can at least protest. We can at least rebel. But if we're not told...one madman can kill millions." BRENT "Their children. Leave them be." TAYLOR "Brent, we chould break the cycle. We could change the history of the world." BRENT "For the better?" TAYLOR "Could it be worse?" BRENT (looking at the spacecraft) "If it gets worse, theree's always the ship." TAYLOR "If it gets worse, all the more reason to stay." BRENT "Not if theres the ship." Their eyes meet in understanding. BRENT "I was sent to fetch you home..." TAYLOR "We are home." BRENT "Under orders from my superior officers. TAYLOR "I'm your only superior officer who isn't, litteraly, a fossil. BRENT turns to look at: SPACESHIP We PULL BACK to include BRENT and TAYLOR in FG. BRENT (hotly) "THen order me to destroy the ship. And keep the people, we're supposed to educate, ignorant." TAYLOR "Destroying the ship can't keep them ingnorant. PReserving it could. Look, we may be deatd by the time they've learnt to talk senteces instead of wrds. We may be dead before they even understand that the ship's not oa God to be worshipped but a thing that's been built. ANd by the time thy've understood that--in heaaven knows how many hundreds or thousands of years--it'll have rusted and rotted away, anyhow. So one day, they'll build their own.' BRENT (torn by indecision) "Then order me." NOVA joins BRENT and Taylor. TAYLOR "No." A long pause, with the Zone-wind riseing. THen Brent gives the stone a final kick, walks slowly twards the spacecraft and begins to climb it. Halfway-up: BRENT (quoting from some 1990 manual) "'Should spacecraft appear likely to fall into enemy hands, activate Delta.' Where's the enemy?" TAYLOR (begining to smile) "Everywhere." SPACECRAFT EXPLDING TAND BLAZING we PULL BACK and PAN TAYLOR, NOVA, BRENT--all watching. EXT. APE CITY-HUMAN "PEN"-DAY ZIRA, CORNELIUS aand a GROUP of young CHIMPANZEES unlock and throw open the double gates, behind which hundreds of overcrowded HUMANS are cowering. For a long beat (durring which we PULL BACK to include TAYLOR, BRENT, AND NOVA watching on horseback) not a single anti-Ape -conditioned HUMAN dare stir. Then a small Boy edges to the gates, and desitates on the threashold. In the pause, TAYLOR tensely grabs NOVA'S hand. The Boy takes an uncertain step forwaard; and suddenly (seeing no enmity in the aCHIMPANZEES' demaeanour) breaks into a walk, and from a walk into a run. We PAN him past Brent; past kTaylor joyfully kissing NOVA; and HOLD him as he recedes over green fields to freedom. -cozad
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 220 (6/5/03 7:01 am) Reply	Re: Nova and Brent... ...isn't that a nice picture Well, it relates to BTPOTA... I thought it might be nice to have a picture of Nova+Brent while we discuss the first draft... BTW, as I found out I used to much compression in the earlier screenshots. As you might notice this screenshot has much less compression - I think it looks great (the others had some pixelation $:\$ ). Thus if I make more screenshots they will look much better know (sorry, just to let you know...). Later, Stefan P.S.: Sorry I just saw your new replies... (will reply soon...)
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 221 (6/5/03 7:39 am) Reply	Wow... ... thanks cozad, reading that ending was great! Thinking of it, it is almost as if watching an alternative ending... well, not quite, but it's close to it... . However - oh god Brent. At first I found everything he said made sense (I personally would have thrown Taylor and Nova in the space ship and left within 2 min. after the horror they've gone through ). But then - how could he destroy the ship?!? Stupid!! On the other hand, OK, where could they go though? Also, what I didn't understand, flying to the moon was a joke, right? Nova and Brent in action... (shortly before they dive into the water... ). Brent kissing Nova's butt... (sorry, couldn't resist...) Bye Stefan
cozad Unregistered User (6/5/03 2:17 pm) Reply	New Screen shots and the moon: Hi Stefan. Yes, I loved the screen shots. I have sort of a proprietary interest in this particular thread so I'm very grateful to you for adding the photo's of our Star and her Other leading man. Yes, your improvments look great; much better. About Brents coment about going to the moon. It does sound like a joke but I think it was ment to be taken seriously. That is I think we can infer from the coment that just before the time Brent left earth a small moon base had been set up on the luner surface; a moon base populated by one man and one woman (kind of like the plot of the film "Way Way Out" staring Jerry Lewis. Linda was in that one to by the way [I wonder if Paul Dehn was refering to this film indirectly as kind of a nod to Linda?]). Anyway Brent seems to be saying that in the time that elapsed between when Brent left earth and the year 3955 the space program might have expanded that colony of one man and one woman (might have had time to build a self sufficient moon bace populated with thousands of people before the world wide nuclear war cut them off forever. Perhaps Brent was aware of plans to make the moon base self sufficient. I once read an article which indicated ice had been found under the luner surface or at least is believed to be there. If you have water you could build an eco-spere type base that might be self sufficient. So maybe Brent wants to check it out; wants to see if for the past two-thousand years humans have been on the surface of the moon but cut off from the earth due to the nuclear war having happend. I think it was just something writter Paul Dehn added just for fun; to stimulate the veiwers emagination (I guess it certainly stimulated mine!). Oh and speaking of the "moon"; your right, Brent looks like he's haveing a bit too much fun in that last shott! Very funny! You are in rare form today my friend. Just more evidence why Mark Longmire needs to parady "Beneath" after he finishes with POTA. cozad
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 222 (6/5/03 3:15 pm) Reply	Re: Taylor's "little jump" the true story revealed Hi cozad, interesting story - you're right, that seems logical (the moon / Brent). BTW, regarding ice on the moon and so on, I heard some more negative thing: They found there's not enough (or no?) water on the moon to survive, not below the surface either... $:\$ . However, I read about 5 years ago in a magazine they really plan to build a tourist station in about 45 years on the moon (LOL). What's even more strange: You can't look directly out of the windows because of the radiation or something, so you only get to see the outside by monitors. Wow, that makes perfect sense: Flying on the moon to see it on TV... . I'm glad you liked the screenshots (incl. the last one... ). (I'm also glad I got rid of the pixelation... ). Yeah, I, too thought about Mark's "Funkified" story when looking at that last screenshot again... damn, I hope I didn't take away an idea... maybe he can take that as an "inspiration (or even use it, I think it would fit quite well to the style we got to know in POTA funkfied...). Hey it's great to talk to you and about Linda and POTA again... I'm really so glad we have this nice Linda forum. Sometimes it makes me sad POTA 1968 + BTPOTA seems almost forgotten (well not forgotten, OK, but it seems so) to the general movie fans / audience. I wish more people would regard POTA and especially Nova / Linda as "cult" like I / we do. CYA Stefan
Gene Unregistered User (6/5/03 3:40 pm) Reply	Very interesting. Hi guys, I agreed with Brent on everything he said and did (with the exception of blowing up the ship). At least we found a lighter ending. It seemed to make the film (if it were to be in film) it would have made it more political. It's better than having the planet blown up at least. So then they could have continued anywhere from that point without Charlton Heston. I figured a way they could have done that. And nice screenshots Stefan. The very first one you put on here could like Brent and Nova were watching a nasty fight and they had that "Oh that's not good" expressions on their face. Well done, very nice. You've been pretty good with the laughs lately Stefan. Later, -Gene
Speed Demon Registered User Posts: 223 (6/5/03 4:06 pm) Reply	Thanks Gene... Hi, that first shot was when Nova showed Brent the city of apes for the very first time... Linda looks like this: $:\$ , but seriously, I think Linda did a perfect job in that scene (she looks like she can't decide what to think about the apes or something... but additionally of course she knows they're dangerous, at least the gorillas... I think you can read that perfectly from her face.) Later... Stefan

Linda Harrison Community > Linda Harrison Message Board > BENEATH THE POTA: First Draft Screenplay-Dec.20,1968
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