And that completes my final report until we reach touchdown.
We're now on full automatic, in the hands of the computers.
I've tucked my crew in for the long sleep
and I'll be joining them
soon.
In less than an hour we'll finish our sixth month out of Cape Kennedy.
Six months in deep space.
By our time, that is.
According to Dr. Hasslein's theory of time in a vehicle traveling nearly the speed of light,
the Earth has aged nearly 700 years since we left it,
while we've aged hardly at all.
It may be so.
This much is probably true.
The men who sent us on this journey are long since dead and gone.
You who are reading me now are a different breed.
I hope a better one.
I leave the 20th century with no regrets, but...
one more thing.
If anybody's listening, that is.
Nothing scientific. It's... purely personal.
Seen from out here,
everything seems different.
Time bends.
Space is... boundless.
It squashes a man's ego.
I feel lonely.
That's about it.
Tell me, though...
Does man, that marvel of the universe,
that glorious paradox who has sent me to the stars,
still make war against his brother,
keep his neighbor's children starving?
Are you all right?
Stewart?
We're in the soup!
She's sinking! Dodge, read the atmosphere!
Landon, get out a last signal!
What signal?
To Earth! That we've landed!
The air's OK!
Blow the hatch before we lose all our power!
It's no use! The power's gone!
Forget it! Abandon ship!
She's sinking.
Going...
Gone.
OK. We're here to stay.
Well, where are we?
Do you have any notion, skipper?
We're some 320 light years from Earth
on an unnamed planet in orbit around a star in the constellation of Orion.
Is that close enough for you?
That could be Bellatrix.
It's too white for Bellatrix.
You didn't have time to read the tapes.
So you really don't know, do you?
What went wrong?
We weren't programmed to land in the water.
The question is not so much where we are as when we are.
We've had enough sleep to hold us for a while.
Let's start earning all that back pay.
Dodge, run your soil test.
- Got your sensors? - Right.
- Geiger counter? - Got it.
Let's see. One pistol,
20 rounds ammo, a medical kit, camera, TX9.
We've got food and water enough for three days.
How long is a day?
That's a good question.
Landon!
Hey, Landon!
Join the expedition.
Sorry. I was thinking about Stewart. What do you suppose happened?
Air leak. She died in her sleep.
You don't seem very cut up about it.
It's a little late for a wake. She's been dead nearly a year.
That means we've been away from Earth for 18 months.
Our time.
You've gone gray.
Apart from that you look pretty chipper for a man who's 2,031 years old.
I read the clocks. They bear out Hasslein's hypothesis.
We have been away from Earth for 2,000 years,
give or take a decade.
Still can't accept it?
Time's wiped out everything you ever knew.
It's all dust.
Prove it.
If we can't get back, it's still just a theory.
It's a fact, Landon. Buy it. You'll sleep better.
Nothing will grow here. There's just a trace of carbohydrates.
All the nitrogen is locked into the nitrates.
No dangerous ionization?
No.
Well...
If there's no life here, we've got just 72 hours to find it.
That's when the groceries run out. Let's go.
Which direction?
That way.
Any particular reason?
None at all.
Come on...
Everybody all right?
Water check.
Eight ounces.
It doesn't add up.
Thunder and lightning, and no rain.
Cloud cover at night.
That strange luminosity... yet there's no moon.
If we could just get a fix.
What would that tell you? I've told you where you are and when you are.
All right, all right.
You're 300 light years from your precious planet.
Your loved ones are dead and forgotten for 20 centuries.
20! Even if you could get back, they'd think you were something that fell out of a tree.
Taylor, quit riding him.
There is just one reality. We are here and it is now.
You get hold of that, or you might as well be dead.
I'm prepared to die.
He's prepared to die.
Doesn't that make you misty?
Chalk up another victory for the human spirit.
Clue me in on something, will you? Why did you sign on for this trip?
You volunteered. Why?
Never mind. I'll clue you in.
You were the golden boy of the class of '72.
When they nominated you for the big one, you couldn't turn it down.
Not without losing your all-American image.
Climb off, will you?
Oh, and the glory. Don't forget that.
There's a life-size bronze statue of you standing out there somewhere.
It's probably turned green by now and nobody can read the nameplate.
But never let it be said that we forget our heroes.
- Taylor, I'm telling you to climb off my back. - And there's one last item.
Immortality. You wanted to live for ever, didn't you?
Well, you damn near made it.
Except for me and Dodge, you've lived longer than anyone ever born.
And with our lovely Lieutenant Stewart dead, it looks like you're the last of the line.
You got what you wanted, tiger. How does it taste?
OK. You read me well enough.
But why can't I read you?
Don't bother.
Dodge, there. He's not like me at all.
But he makes sense.
He'd walk naked into a live volcano
if he thought he could learn something that no other man knew.
But you... You're no seeker.
You're negative.
- And I'm not prepared to die. - I'd like to know why not.
You thought life on Earth was meaningless. You despised people.
So what did you do? You ran out.
No, no. It's not like that, Landon.
I'm a seeker too.
But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking somewhere in the universe
there has to be something better than man. Has to be.
Taylor, over here!
Life.
Where there's one, there's another.
And another and another.
Let's find 'em.
Skipper!
Look!
Scarecrows?
Let's see.
To hell with the scarecrows!
Taylor!
Look at this.
Taylor, look!
They didn't leave much, did they?
Well, at least they haven't tried to bite us.
Blessed are the vegetarians.
They look more or less human,
but I think they're mute.
We got off at the wrong stop.
You're supposed to be the optimist, Landon. Look on the bright side.
If this is the best they've got around here, in six months we'll be running this planet.
Smile.
Which one was wearing the strange clothes?
This one.
Will he live?
I don't know.
This beast has lost a lot of blood.
There's no probe here. Find one!
Yes, sir.
This place is dirty, doctor.
Doctor, these animals are dirty. They stink and they carry communicable diseases.
Why aren't they cleaned up before they're brought here?
- You don't sound happy in your work. - I'm little more than a vet in this laboratory.
You promised to speak to Dr. Zaius about me.
I did. You know how he looks down his nose at chimpanzees.
But the quota system's been abolished.
- You made it. Why can't I? - What do you mean - made it?
I'm an animal psychologist, that's all. We have no authority.
You do all right when it comes to getting space and equipment.
That's because Dr. Zaius realizes our work has value.
The foundations of scientific brain surgery are being laid right here
in studies of cerebral functions of these animals.
They're still dirty, doctor.
And their bite is septic. There. Look at that.
Hold his jaw.
- Good morning, Dr. Zira. - Good morning, Julius.
- How's our patient today? - No change.
The minute you open the door, he goes into his act.
Well!
And what do we want this morning?
Do we want something? Come on. Speak.
Come on.
Speak.
Do we want some sugar, old-timer?
You could get hurt doing that, doctor.
Oh, don't be silly. He's perfectly tame.
They're all tame until they take a chunk out of you.
Well, Bright Eyes. Is our throat feeling better?
Still hurts, doesn't it?
See? He keeps pretending he can talk.
That Bright Eyes is remarkable.
He keeps trying to form words.
You know what they say. Human see, human do.
Now what?
He seems to want something.
I'd be careful, doctor.
What did I tell you?
Try that again and I'll break your arm!
Good morning, Your Excellency.
Dr. Zaius.
Good morning, sir.
Open up, please.
I'm so glad you could come.
Sir, he's over here.
Bright Eyes...
Show him. Go ahead.
Do your trick.
Speak.
Go on. Speak again.
There! Can you believe it?
Yes, amusing.
A man acting like an ape.
Dr. Zaius, I could swear he's answering you.
He has a definite gift for mimicry.
Most unusual.
He's using that old blanket as clothing.
I wonder how he'd score on a Hopkins manual dexterity test.
An animal?
Look!
He's moving his fingers.
Only because he saw you moving yours.
But perhaps he understood.
Man has no understanding.
He can be taught a few simple tricks. Nothing more.
I'm afraid I must disagree.
- According to my experiments... - Dr. Zira, I must caution you.
Experimental brain surgery on these creatures is one thing,
and I'm all in favor of it.
But your behavioral studies are something else again.
To suggest that we can learn anything about the simian nature
from the study of man is sheer nonsense.
Besides, man is a nuisance.
He eats up his food supplies in the forest,
then migrates to our green belts and ravages our crops.
The sooner he is exterminated the better.
It's a question of simian survival.
Is this the one you wanted, doctor?
Oh, yes. Thank you.
Bright Eyes, I've got a present for you.
Put her in with him.
Cornelius! Up here.
Do you have to work tonight?
No.
Neither do I.
Oh, Cornelius.
There's Bright Eyes.
The one I was telling you about.
What's so special about him?
Watch.
Hello, Bright Eyes.
How's our throat today?
- Look! She remembers! - Remembers what?
The blood transfusion.
Zira, really!
You know, they can't... Watch out.
Here comes number one.
Something's bothering him. He's been prying around the lab for the last two days.
Good morning, Dr. Zaius.
- You know my... Dr. Cornelius, my fianc�? - Of course.
The young ape with a shovel. I hear you're planning another archaeological expedition.
- With the Academy's approval, sir. - The project will require my support.
I hope I may count on it, sir.
Cornelius, a friendly warning.
As you dig for artifacts, be sure you don't bury your reputation.
Guard!
Stop!
You'll hurt him!
Take him inside.
Cornelius! Cornelius, if you have a moment today,
I'd like to discuss this expedition of yours in more detail.
Certainly, sir. I'll pick up my notes and I'll come right over.
I don't understand these animal psychologists.
What's Dr. Zira trying to prove?
That man can be domesticated.
- What happened? - Oh, those fools and their torches.
- Do you have any ointment? - I'll see.
I'm sorry, Bright Eyes.
Julius!
I told you what you'd get!
Julius, don't, don't, don't!
It doesn't matter!
Julius, don't hurt him!
Julius!
Natural-born thieves, aren't they?
Get me a collar and leash.
- I'm taking him out of here. - He's vicious, doctor.
- Besides, it's against the rules. - Do as I say!
You... you wouldn't hurt me, would you,
Taylor?
It's a stunt.
Humans can't write.
Dear, you're a scientist.
Don't you believe your own eyes?
Where did you learn to do this?
"Jefferson
Public School."
"Fort Wayne,
Indiana."
Back on that planet you say you came from?
Maybe he is intelligent.
But he is also... crazy.
Cornelius.
Cornelius, please.
"Dodge was killed in the hunt."
"What happened to... Landon?"
I don't know.
They fell out of the sky with you?
"Not fell. Flew."
Flight is a scientific impossibility.
And even if it weren't, why fly?
Where would it get you?
"Do you have maps?"
We're here. You were captured here.
You fell into the water here?
You came ashore...
Marched across the desert?
Mountains?
Many days and nights.
And reached the jungle.
Out of the question.
Cornelius, why do you insist on provoking him?
No creature can survive in the forbidden zone. I know. I've been there. I've seen it.
"Then how do you account for me?"
I don't.
And I'm not going to try.
But what about your theory?
The existence of someone like Taylor might prove it.
Do you want to get my head chopped off?
Don't be foolish. If it's true, they'll have to accept it.
No, they won't.
Cornelius has developed the most brilliant hypothesis.
But I'm probably wrong.
That the ape evolved from a lower order of primate,
possibly man.
In his trip to the forbidden zone,
he discovered traces of a culture older than recorded time.
- The evidence was very meager. - You didn't think so then.
That was before Dr. Zaius and half of the Academy said my idea was heresy.
How can scientific truth be heresy?
What if Taylor is exactly the proof you needed?
A mutation.
A missing link between the unevolved primate
and the ape.
Touchy, isn't he?
"I am not a missing link."
Well, if he were a missing link, the sacred scrolls wouldn't be worth their parchment.
Well, maybe they're not.
Oh, no, thank you. I'm not going to get into that battle.
- Cornelius, show some strength! - Zira, listen to me!
Now, we both have fine futures.
Marriage, stimulating careers.
I'm up for a raise.
Dr. Zaius.
Did you forget our appointment, Cornelius?
No, sir. I was just collecting my notes.
You know Dr. Maximus, of course. Our commissioner for animal affairs.
Yes, sir. It's a pleasure to see you again.
What is that?
A man, Dr. Maximus.
I know it's a man. And you know the rules.
No animals allowed outside the compound, and most especially not without a leash.
Yes, sir, but... but this
creature is a special case.
Why special?
We're conducting a new experiment.
Wouldn't that more properly be done in your office?
Yes, sir.
Guards, return this beast to the compound.
What is this?
A toy.
It floats on the air.
Zira...
Try it.
Nonsense.
- What's up, lieutenant? - We're taking number four to surgery.
- Have him ready. - How come?
- The beast's throat's nearly healed. - The vet's going to geld him.
Dr. Zira won't like it. She wants that pair to mate.
These orders come from Dr. Zaius himself. There's nothing she can do about it.
If only you knew what they're going to do.
Stay still now. Don't give me any trouble.
Weep if you must, but make an end of sorrow.
He lives again.
Yes, he has found peace in heaven.
He was a model for us all, a gorilla to remember...
Hunter, warrior,
defender of the faith.
Cherished husband,
beloved father,
generous master, yes.
He was
a font of simian kindness.
The dear departed once said to me "I never met an ape I didn't like."
Look! It's a man!
In heaven's name! Get rid of that creature!
Catch him!
Catch him! Catch him!
Come on, Quintus.