By a majority vote, the Commission finds no solid evidence for hostility by either ape towards the human race as is presently constituted in this Year of our Lord, 1973. The male's attitude is that of a deeply interested and well-disposed academician who studied the alleged future downfall of the human race with the true objectivity of a good historian. The female's case, however, is different in that she undoubtedly committed actions against the human race of a sort which, if they were to be committed today, would be called atrocities. But would they be so called in two thousand years' time when it is alleged that humans will have become dumb brutes with the restricted intelligence of animals? It has been pointed out that what apes will do to humans is no more than what humans are now doing to beasts. Nonetheless, the Commission is sympathetic to Dr. Hasslein's conviction that the progeny of these apes could, in centuries to come, prove an increasing threat to the human race and conceivably end by dominating it. This is a risk we dare not ignore. Therefore, the Commission unanimously recommends that the birth of the female ape's unborn child should be prevented. And that after its prenatal removal, both the male and the female should humanely be rendered incapable of bearing another. I now declare this Commission dissolved.
Chairman of the Commission's lines
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Lewis Dixon
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.
Otto Hasslein
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...
Lewis Dixon
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.
Lewis Dixon
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?
Lewis Dixon
That's for you to decide.
Have you a name?
Zira
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?
Lewis Dixon
Infer what you will, Mr. Chairman. I suggest you rephrase the question.
What is your name?
Zira
Zi-ra!
One might as well be talking to a parrot.
Zira
A parrot?
Mechanical mimicry. Unique in an ape vocally, without a doubt... but, uh, does the other one talk?
Cornelius
Only when she lets me.
Dr. Hasslein?
Otto Hasslein
No. Nothing.
Lewis Dixon
Mr. Chairman.
Uh, yes? What is the male's name, please?
Cornelius
Cornelius.
Zira
My lawfully wedded spouse.
Wedded?
We'll take that up later, Your Eminence. Cornelius, do you and your lawfully wedded spouse... speak any language other than English?
Cornelius
What is English? I speak the language taught to me by my father and mother... who were taught by their fathers and mothers before them. It has been the language of our ancestors for nearly 2,000 years. As to its origins, who can be sure? The gorillas and orangutans of our community... believe that God created the ape in his own image. And that our language
Zira
Nonsense! Cornelius, as an intellectual, you know damned well... the gorillas are a bunch of militaristic nincompoops... and the orangutans a bunch of blinkered, pseudoscientific geese! As to humans, I've dissect I- I've examined thousands of them... and until now, I've only discovered two who could talk in my life. God knows who taught them.
Cornelius
Where we come from... apes talk. Humans are dumb.
Where do you come from, Cornelius?
Cornelius
I'm not sure.
Zira
Dr. Milo was sure.
Oh.
Cornelius
Dr. Milo was a genius well in advance of his time. When the spacecraft first landed on our seaboard... it was Dr. Milo who salvaged it. He studied it and, uh, half understood it. Half? Was half enough? It was enough for us to escape when war became inevitable. Enough for Dr. Milo to be murdered in your zoo. Enough for my wife and I to be here now.
From where, Cornelius?
Cornelius
I told you. I'm not sure.
Maybe the female knows.
Zira
Of course the female knows! We came from your future! That doesn't make any sense. It's the only thing that does.
Otto Hasslein
Mr. Chairman.
Yes? cornelius, you spoke of war.
Otto Hasslein
War between whom?
Cornelius
The gorillas and whoever lives- lived.
Zira
Will live.
Who won the war?
Cornelius
I don't know. Chimpanzees are pacifists. We stayed at home.
But you left before the war had ended.
In a spaceship.
Cornelius
Which Dr. Milo learned to navigate. Correct.
Otto Hasslein
Cornelius. Did you know a Colonel Taylor?
Cornelius
No. Is he a soldier?
Zira
Look, we are peaceful creatures. We are happy to be here. May we be unchained?
