Escape from the Planet of the Apes Page #3

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if you can call it "manned"

by monkeys.

- General!

- General!

No comments. Nothing at this time.

I have nothing to say, gentlemen.

- Senator!

- I'm sorry, boys, not now.

I haven't the time now.

A little later, please.

Here comes the chairman.

I'll talk to you boys later.

I'll explain.

Would you give us

any information at all?

Have you got any comments, Paul?

As the president's senior science adviser,

what do you expect to experience...

from this historic meeting?

Fear.

What do you mean by fear?

All right now.

After I break the news, I want you

to start slowly with simple answers...

to what will certainly

be simple questions.

And if the questions become less simple?

Be yourself.

Your better self, Zira. Please?

They're ready, sir.

All right. It's time.

- Oh!

- What do they think we are, gorillas?

I'm sorry.

Oh.

That's it. Just be seated.

Uh Mr. Chairman,

members of the commission...

ladies and gentlemen...

my name is Lewis Dixon,

and I am the animal psychiatrist...

who has been in charge

of these two apes...

since they came to the Los Angeles Zoo.

My associate, Dr. Stephanie Branton,

and I...

are ready to answer your questions.

What may astonish you is that, um...

our chimpanzee friends

are ready to answer your questions too.

Not by signs,

not by looks or movements...

but by words.

Dr. Dixon, as a zoologist,

I know and respect your work...

but if you think you're gonna

turn a presidential inquiry...

into a ventriloquist's act,

I have to inform you

And I have to inform you, sir, that these two

apes have acquired the power of speech.

Come now, Doctor. You know

as well as I do their brain system...

is not developed in either

the vocal or abstract-thinking area.

Yes, sir, but I repeat that

they have the power of speech...

and it is for you gentlemen

to assess how far that power...

can be exercised intelligently.

Well, may we be told

which is the female of the species?

Did she rise as a reflex

to you having indicated her...

or in answer to my question?

That's for you to decide.

- Have you a name?

- Zira.

Certainly she can articulate...

which, in itself, is extraordinary!

Uh, but, Dr. Dixon, are we to infer

that "Zira" is her name...

or, uh, some phrase

in her own language?

Infer what you will, Mr. Chairman.

I suggest you rephrase the question.

What is your name?

Zi-ra!

One might as well

be talking to a parrot.

A parrot?

Mechanical mimicry.

Unique in an ape vocally,

without a doubt...

but, uh, does the other one talk?

Only when she lets me.

- Dr. Hasslein?

- No. Nothing.

- Mr. Chairman.

- Uh, yes?

What is the male's name, please?

- Cornelius.

- My lawfully wedded spouse.

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