Chapter 1

This is the story of two families: one is human and the other a family of apes. The two families seem quite
different, and yet, in some ways, they were very much alike. Both had a father, a mother and a baby; both adored
their babies; both would have been surprised to learn that before long their two families would become one.

The story began one stormy night off the coast of Africa. The human family was on a ship that had caught fire.
The father, trying desperately to save his loved ones, helped his wife and child into a lifeboat and lowered them
into the water.

Just then, a burning pole fell from above and crashed to the deck beside him. Dodging sparks, the man leaped over
the pole and dived into the water. He swam to the lifeboat, where his wife pulled him aboard.

As the man sat in the boat soaked and exhausted, the baby looked up at him and smiled. Behind them, the burning
ship broke apart and sank beneath the waves. Up ahead on the horizon lay the jungles of Africa. The man lifted the
oars and began rowing toward the distant shore.

The next day deep in the jungle, the ape family was playing. The baby gorilla raced through the undergrowth
scampered up a tree and hung from a limb. Grinning, the father scooped him up in one massive hand and set him
gently on the mother’s lap. She held the baby close rocking him in her arms.

Some distance away the human mother rocked her baby too. She sat on the beach and watched as her husband
selected a large tree. Then, working together, the father and mother used wood from the shipwreck to build a tree
house.

One evening the ape family was sleeping soundly in their nests, when a frog hopped by. The baby, waking up,
noticed the frog and took off after it. A moment later he found himself face to face with Sabor, the leopard. Sabor
seized the baby and carried him off. The parents came running to help but it was too late. Their baby was gone.

Kala, the ape mother could, not be comforted. She lagged behind as the apes moved on to new feeding grounds.
Suddenly, she heard a distant crying sound. Could it be her baby? She followed the sound to the edge of the jungle
where the human family had built their tree house. Climbing the tree, she looked through the doorway.

The place was a mess; furniture was overturned, windows were broken and on the floor were the bloody paw
prints of a leopard. Cautiously, kala entered the room. In the crib beneath a blanket, she found not her child but the
human baby. Kala gazed at him and he gazed back. She leaned over and sniffed. He sneezed, then giggled, and
reached out for her. Kala picked up the baby and held him close.

Suddenly, Kala noticed a tail dangling in front of her. She looked up and there crouching on a beam was Sabor, the
leopard. Sabor jumped and Kala desperately tried to fight her off. During the fight the baby slipped from Kala’s
arms and fell over the deck into a net. Sabor leaped after him but when she landed on the net the baby bounced
back up. Kala snagged him by the diaper and took off into the jungle leaving savor behind.
Chapter 2

Kala joined the other apes. When they saw what she was carrying, they stopped and stared.

FEMALE GORILLA 1
Well, isn’t that, uh, well, …

FEMALE GORILLA 2
Why, it’s, it’s, just so, so, …

One of the younger apes wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

TERKINA
Yeah, it’s freaky looking, okay? That’s what it is.

TERKINA’S MOTHER
Terkina!

TERKINA
Well, it is. I mean, what the heck is it anyway?

Just then, Kerchak approached and noticed the baby.

KALA
Kerchak! I saved him from Sabor.

KERCHAK
Kala, I cannot let you put our family in danger.

KALA
Does he look dangerous to you?

KERCHAK
Was it alone?

KALA
Yes. Sabor killed his family.

KERCHAK
Are you sure?

KALA
Yes. There are no others.

KERCHAK
Then, you may keep him.

KALA
Kerchak, I know he’ll be a good son.

KERCHAK
I said he could stay. That doesn’t make him my son.

As Kerchak moved off, Terk took one last look at the baby.

TERKINA
So, um, whatcha gonna call it?

KALA
I’m going to call him Tarzan.

TERKINA
Tarzan? Okay, he’s your baby.

It was nest time, so Terk’s mother carried her off leaving Kala and Tarzan alone.

KALA
Come stop your crying
It’ll be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here don’t you cry
For one so small
you seem so strong
my arms will hold you
keep you safe and warm
this bond between us
can’t be broken
I will be here don’t you cry
cause you’ll be in my heart
from this day on
now and forever more
you’ll be here in my heart always
Chapter 3

The time flew by and soon Tarzan was five years old. He liked playing with the younger apes, but they didn’t
always like having him around. He had trouble climbing trees and besides he hardly had any hair.

One day Terk was with some of her friends at elephant falls. In the lagoon below a group of elephants was
bathing. All of a sudden tarzan came swinging on a vine crashing right into her.

TARZAN
Hi, guys!

TERKINA’S FRIEND 1
Terk, what is this? Some kind of joke?

TERKINA’S FRIEND 2
Tell me I’m not looking at the hairless wonder.

TARZAN
Well, Terk said I could come along if I could keep up.

TERKINA
I’ll handle this, guys, okay?
Listen, buddy! Come here!
We got a tiny little itsy-bitsy problem here, okay? Personally
I’d love to hang out with you. You know I would. But the guys, they need a little convincing, you know, okay?

TARZAN
What am I gotta do?

TERKINA
Do? What do you gotta do?
It’s so stupid.

TARZAN
What?

TERKINA
Well, you gotta, uh, you gotta go get a hair.

TARZAN?
A hair?

TERKINA
Yeah, a hair. An elephant hair.

Terk figured Tarzan would be discouraged by this dangerous task. But Tarzan wanted so much to be accepted by
the other apes that he took one look at the elephants and dived over the falls.

TERKINA’S FRIEND
Oh! That one hurt him.
One of the young elephants named Tantor was standing on a rock as Tarzan came swimming up under water.

TANTOR
Are your sure this water is sanitary? It looks questionable to me.

ELEPHANT
It’s fine, honey.

TANTOR
Yecch! But what about bacteria?

ELEPHANT
Tantor, can’t you see Mommy’s talking?

TANTOR
Watch out! There’s something swimming! It’s coming right at you!

ELEPHANT
Honey, Mommy’s losing her patience.

TANTOR
But this time I really see something!

ELEPHANT
Oh boy!

TANTOR
Piranha! It’s a piranha!

ELEPHANT
Sweetheart, there are no piranhas in Africa.

Tarzan swam up behind one of the elephants and reached for its tale.

SECOND ELEPHANT
MY BUTT!

TANTOR
I told you!

SECOND ELEPHANT
There’s something on my butt!

THIRD ELEPHANT
What is it?

TANTOR
It’s a piranha!

The elephants charged out of the water stampeding past Tarzan and disappearing in the direction of Kerchak and
the other apes.

The apes saw them coming and scattered, all except for one baby. Just as the elephants were about to trample the
baby, Kerchak dove in front of them and carried the little ape to safety.
“Oh thank you, Kerchak!”

Tantor watched as Terk dragged Tarzan’s limp body from the water.

TERKINA
Tarzan, buddy, buddy, come on, don’t die on me! Don’t die on me! You weren’t supposed to do it!

TANTOR
Get away from there! Don’t you know a piranha can strip your flesh in seconds?

TERKINA
What? He’s not a piranha, he’s—he’s alive! He’s alive! He’s alive!

TANTOR
He’s alive!

TERKINA
He’s ali—You idiot! You nearly gave me a heart attack, ya happy?

TARZAN
Uh-huh.

Smiling, Tarzan showed Terk an elephant hair.

TERKINA
You—I don’t believe it. You got the hair?

TANTOR
Is that what this is all about? I got a whole tail of them!
Chapter 4

Just then, Kala reached Tarzan with Kerchak right behind her.

KERCHAK
You almost killed someone.

TARZAN
But it was an accident.

KALA
He’s only a child.

KERCHAK
That’s no excuse Kala. You can’t keep defending him.

KALA
But he’ll learn.

KERCHAK
He will never learn. You can’t learn to be one of us.

KALA
Because you never give him a chance.

KERCHAK
Give him a chance? Kala, look at him. He will never be one of us.

Tarzan, stunned, rose to his feet and went running off into the jungle.

Later that evening he gazed into a pool at his reflection. Angrily. he plunged his hand into the water and smeared
mud on his face trying to look more like an ape.

KALA
Tarzan, what are you doing?

TARZAN
Why am I so different?

KALA
Because you’re covered with mud. That’s why.

TARZAN
No! Kerchak said I didn’t belong in the—

KALA
Close your mouth.

She reached out and wiped his face.

TARZAN
Kerchak said I don’t belong in the family.
KALA
Never mind what Kerchak said. Hold still.

Tarzan
Look at me.

KALA
I am, Tarzan. And do you know what I see? I see two eyes, like mine, and a nose, somewhere. Ah, here. Two ears,
and let’s see, what else?

TARZAN
Two hands?

KALA
That’s right.

But when tarzan placed his hands against Kala’s, he once again saw how different they were. Kala took one of
Tartan’s hands and placed it against his own chest.

KALA
Close your eyes. Now forget what you see. What do you feel?

TARZAN
My heart.

KALA
Come here.

Kala pulled him close to her chest and Tarzan listened.

TARZAN
Your heart.

KALA
See, we’re exactly the same. Kerchak just can’t see that.

TARZAN
I’ll make him see it. I’ll be the best ape ever!

KALA
Oh, I bet you will!
Chapter 5

As the years passed, Tarzan grew into a young man. Terk and Tantor grew with him and the three became fast
friends. One day Tarzan and Terk were wrestling, which always made Tantor nervous.

TANTOR
Okay, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Please stop! No! Somebody’s gonna get hurt here and it’s
always me. Please!

TERKINA
Okay, you win! Okay, yo, let go!

TARZAN
Oh, sorry, Terk!

TERKINA
What kind of animal are you?

Suddenly, out of the bushes leaped a familiar figure. It was Sabor, the leopard and she was heading straight for
Tarzan. But just as Sabor was about to pounce, Kerchak came out of nowhere and knocked her aside. Sabor lashed
out at Kerchak clawing him across the back and he stumbled at his knees.

As Kala and the other apes looked on in horror, Sabor closed in for the kill. There was a loud cry and Tarzan came
swinging in on a vine, holding a spear. He kicked Sabor away and Sabor slashed back, breaking the spear.

Tarzan grabbed the spear tip just as Sabor leaped at him. They tumbled into a deep pit. The apes waited, paralyzed
with fear.

A few moments later Sabor rose from the pit and the apes began to wail. But saber kept rising and beneath her
lifeless body was Tarzan holding her high in the air. He flew back his head and gave a cry of victory. As the apes
cheered, Terk pushed to the front of the group.

TERKINA
Okay, everybody! Move aside, out of my way! Best friend coming through. That would be me. And you! Don’t
make a habit of that, okay? There are other ways of getting attention, you know.

TARZAN
I’ll try to remember that.

TERKINA
All right. And I was right behind you.

At the edge of the clearing, Kerchak struggled at his feet and trudged off, a defeated warrior. He heard someone
behind him and turned to see Tarzan holding Sabor’s body. Tarzan laid the body at Kerchak’s feet and bowed in
respect.
Chapter 6

Just then a gunshot rang out. Everyone turned in the direction of the unfamiliar sound.

TARZAN
What was that?

KERCHAK
Everyone! Let’s move.

Kerchak led the others deeper into the jungle but Tarzan decided to investigate. Climbing a tree, he looked down
at three strange-looking creatures. The leader was cutting a path through the thick vegetation. Tarzan didn’t know
it, but they were humans.

JANE
Mr. Clayton! Sorry! excuse me, but my father and I came on this expedition to study gorillas and I believe your
shooting might be scaring them off.

CLAYTON
You hired me to protect you, Miss Porter, and protect you I shall.

JANE
And you’re doing a marvelous job of it. But we only have a short time before the ship returns, you see.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Oh, Jane, Jane! Do you realize what you’re standing in? A gorilla’s nest!

JANE
Oh, Daddy!

CLAYTON
At last! Our first sign in days! Do you think the beasts could be nearby?

PROFESSOR PORTER
Well, they could be. There’s the evidence, you know.

JANE
Daddy, look! Over there and there and—

PROFESSOR POTER
Yes! More nests! I see them!

JANE
Just as you predicted!

PROFESSOR PORTER & JANE

Family groups!

PROFESSOR PORTER
Oh Jane, I love you!

The group started to move on but just then a piece of fruit struck jane’s head and rolled along the ground. A baby
baboon came running after it. Jane pulled out a sketchbook and began drawing the little animal. He jumped onto
her shoulder and looked at the sketch.

JANE
There you go. What do you think?

The baboon snatched the book and scampered off into the forest, tearing pages as he ran.

JANE
Well, this is absolutely peachy; come to study gorillas and get my sketchbook pinched by a baboon.

Chasing the baboon, Jane found him sitting beneath a tree admiring his portrait.

JANE
Give me that!

Jane grabbed the drawing and tucked it into her waistband. The baboon began to cry. When jane looked up, she
found herself surrounded by hundreds of angry baboons.

JANE
Go easy on him. Children will be children.

She began to back up slowly but tripped over a log. The baboons charged. Jane scrambled to her feet and took off
screaming through the jungle.

The baboons were about to catch up, when suddenly jane found herself lifted into the air. She looked up and saw
Tarzan holding her, swinging from vine to vine. The baboons grabbed at her. One of them pulling off her boot and
chewing on it. Instinctively she threw her arms around Tarzan’s neck. They went swinging off again eventually
escaping from the angry baboons.

Only the baby baboon and his father faced Tarzan and Jane as they came to rest on a tree branch. The father
chattered bitterly and, to Jane’s amazement, Tarzan answered him in baboon talk. When he finished, he reached
toward Jane. Tarzan lifted the drawing from her waistband and handed it to the baby. Smiling, the little baboon
accepted it then retreated with his father into the jungle, leaving Tarzan and Jane alone.
Chapter 7

JANE
I’m in a tree with a man who talks to monkeys.

Curious, Tarzan moved toward her.

JANE
Stay back! No! Don’t come, don’t come any closer. Please, don’t!

She tried to push him away with her bare foot. Tarzan grabbed hold of her foot and began inspecting the toes.

JANE
No, get off, get off. Get off!

She kicked him in the face and he stumbled back.

JANE
It serves you right. Now, just stay away from me like a very good wild man.

But Tarzan couldn’t resist.

JANE
You stay!

Moving closer, he sniffed her face then reached out and touched her cheek.

JANE
That’s close enough. How dare you?

She tried to slap him, but he caught her hand. He looked at it fascinated and held out his hand to compare the two.
The hands looked alike. Tarzan stared at Jane, amazed. Could it be that in some way he was like this strange,
beautiful creature? To find out, he leaned his head down to her chest listening for her heartbeat. Smiling, Tarzan
guided her head down to his chest.

JANE
Oh, dear, yes, thank you. That’s a lovely heartbeat. It’s very nice.

TARZAN
It’s very nice.

JANE
You do speak! And all this time I thought you were just a big wild quiet silent person thing. Why didn’t you tell
me? I mean I must say I’m rather curious as to who you are. I mean I’d love to—

TARZAN
Tarzan!

He pointed to himself.

TARAN
Tarzan!

JANE
Tarzan.

JANE
Oh, I see.

TARZAN
Oh, I see. Tarzan! Oh, I see.

JANE
No. Jane! Tarzan! Jane!

TARZAN
Jane!

JANE
Exactly!

JANE
Clayton!

TARZAN
Clayton!

JANE
Um, please! Can you take me to my camp?

Tarzan swept up Jane, grabbed a vine and swung off through the trees.

JANE
Can we walk?
Chapter 8

Not far away, Terk, Tantor, and some friends had become worried about Tarzan and were looking for him. They
entered a clearing and found the humans’ camp, where there were tents, a grandfather clock, a typewriter, a
blackboard, a tea set, and other equipment. Terk looked around appalled.

TERKINA
What kind of primitive beasts are responsible for this mess?

She walked over to the typewriter and tapped a key.

TERKINA
Wow! Come here, you guys. Come here! Look at this.

GORILLAS
What is that thing? Wow.

She hit more keys and one of her friends dropped a plate.

TERKINA
Hey! Do it again. Do it again!

Before long, they had built up a rhythm.

TERKINA
Yeah, rip it! Ding! I love that part. Let me hear it, big fella!

As they played their new instruments, they were slowly destroying the camp.

TERKINA
Come on! Tantor. Oh, I love it.

Kerchak and the other apes, hearing the racket, went to investigate. So did Clayton and professor Porter.

Tarzan and Jane were the first to arrive. And as they entered the clearing, Jane saw Tarzan run over to greet Terk.

JANE
Gorillas! He’s one of them.

There was a noise and she turned to see Kerchak, standing right behind her. Jane screamed and dropped to the
ground. Kerchak sniffed her then motioned to the other apes and they disappeared into the jungle with Terk and
her friends close behind. Tarzan heard someone coming. Tarzan hesitated then let Kala lead him off into the forest
after the others.

Just after Tarzan left, professor Porter arrived with Clayton and saw Jane.

CLAYTON
Good heavens! What happened?

PROFESSOR PORTER
Jane! Oh, thank goodness. Are you all right? We’ve been everywhere looking for you.
JANE
Oh, my goodness! Daddy, I was out walking. I was, little baby, little baby monkey, and I drew a picture. (-
Yes, go on!) Suddenly the monkey starts crying, and I turned around and there’s a whole fleet of them!
There’s an army of monkeys, a huge tree full of them, screaming at me! Terrified I was, terrified. Suddenly I
was swinging in a vine, up in the air, swinging, flying, I was in the air. And we were all surrounded. And
Daddy, they took my boot.

PROFESSOR PORTER
They took—those were the ones I bought you.

JANE
And I was saved, I was saved by a flying wild man in a loincloth.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Loincloth? Good Lord.

CLAYTON
What is she talking about?

JANE
Oh, and there were gorillas.

CLAYTON
Gorillas? You saw the gorillas? Where, Jane, where?

JANE
He left with them.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Who, dear, who?

JANE
Tarzan.

CLAYTON
Tarzan?

JANE
The ape man.
Chapter 9

In another part of the jungle, Kerchak spoke to Tarzan, Kala, and the other apes.

KERCHAK
Everyone, we will avoid the strangers. Do not let them see you and do not seek them out.

TARZAN
They mean us no harm, Kerchak.

KERCHAK
Tarzan, I don’t know that.

TARZAN
But I do. I’ve spent time with them.

KERCHAK
You may be willing to risk our safety but I’m not.

TARZAN
Why are you threatened by anyone different from you?

KERCHAK
Protect this family and stay away from them.

KALA
Tarzan, for once, listen to Kerchak.

TARZAN
Why didn’t you tell me there were creatures that looked like me?

Back in the human camp, Jane described Tarzan to her father.

JANE
He sort of crouched, like that. He supported his weight on his knuckles. See? Exactly like a gorilla!

PROFESSOR PORTER
Extraordinary!

JANE
Oh, it was amazing! He’d bend his elbows out, like this, and then he walks, like this.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Oh, I see. This is capital! Oh, Janey Jane, what a discovery! A man with no language, no human behavior!

JANE
The point is, think of what we could learn from him. We must find him.

Clayton, who had been listening, couldn’t restrain himself any longer.
CLAYTON
Oh, Professor! You’re here to find gorillas, not indulge some girlish fantasy.

JANE
Fantasy? I didn’t imagine him! Tarzan is . . . real!

And, so he was, for he had just dropped from the trees and was crouching directly in front of them.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Ah, it’s him, it’s, it’s Tarzan!

CLAYTON
Professor, Jane, stand back!

Jane knocked his rifle aside and it fired harmlessly into the trees.

TARZAN
Clayton!

CLAYTON
How does he know my name?

JANE
He thinks it means the sound of a gunshot.

TARZAN
Jane.

JANE
Yes, hello, um, Tarzan.

Watching the humans closely, Tarzan tried imitating them by standing upright.

CLAYTON
What’s he doing?

PROFESSOR PORTER
Look at him, Jane. Moves like an ape but looks like a man. He could be the missing link.

CLAYTON
Or our link to the gorillas.

Clayton picked up some chalk and drew a gorilla on the blackboard. Tarzan took the chalk and began scribbling
wildly.

JANE
Mr. Clayton, I think I’ll take it from here.
Chapter 10

Jane set up a slide projector for Tarzan and showed him photos of the world beyond the jungle. Tarzan watched,
fascinated by what he saw and by his teacher.

Tarzan shared his world with Jane. He took her up into the trees and he taught Jane how to swing on vines.
Clayton, meanwhile, was growing impatient.

CLAYTON
We wasted all this time on what he wants. The boat could arrive any day. Now ask him straight out.

JANE
Tarzan, will you take us to the gorillas? Do you understand?

Good work, Jane!

TARZAN
I understand. (- Well?) I can’t.

JANE
Why not, Tarzan?

TARZAN
Kerchak.

One day as Tarzan set off for the camp, he gathered a bouquet of flowers just as he had seen in one of the slides
Jane had shown him. Terk and Tantor watched their friend.

TANTOR
Oh, Terk. I’ve never seen him so happy.

TERKINA
Yeah, I give it a week.

When Tarzan reached the camp, he found the place in chaos. The ship that had brought Jane and the others to
Africa had returned to take them home. Jane didn’t want to leave without learning more about the gorillas. Neither
did Clayton, who was furious with her.

CLAYTON
This is your fault. I should have followed my instincts and set traps for the beasts.

When Jane saw Tarzan, she tried to explain what was happening.

JANE
Tarzan, I was so afraid that you wouldn’t come in time. The boats arrived, the boat that’s come to take us home to
England. And daddy and I were wondering, well, I was wondering well we really hope that you’ll come with us,
won’t you?

TARZAN
Go see England today, come home tomorrow.
JANE
Oh, no. Well, you see it would be very difficult to come back, ever.

TARZAN
Not come back?

JANE
Oh, no, I know it sounds awful but you belong with us, with people.

TARZAN
Jane must stay with Tarzan.

JANE
No. I can’t stay, Look. I’ve got my father and . . .

TARZAN
Jane! Stay!

JANE
But. . .

TARZAN
Please!

JANE
But, I can’t.

Crying, she turned and hurried away leaving Tarzan alone with Clayton.

Clayton
Women, how typical! Even if you hadn’t grown up a savage, you’d be lost. There are no trails through a woman’s
heart.

TARZAN
Jane is going.

Clayton
Yes. If only she could have spent more time with the gorillas. She’s so disappointed, crushed, really. Sorry, old
boy.

TARZAN
Clayton, if jane sees gorillas, she stays?

Clayton
Say, that’s why she came, isn’t it?

TARZAN
“I’ll do it.”

Clayton
“Good, man!”
Chapter 11

Tarzan knew that Kerchak would never let the humans get close enough to study the apes, so he went to Turk and
Tantor with a plan.

TARZAN
Turk, all you have to do is get Kerchak out of the way.

TERKINA
What?

TANTOR
“Well, I’d be happy to get Kerchak . . .”

TERKINA
“Hey, shut your trunk and get me out of here. Can you believe that guy? Drops us like a newborn giraffe, kerplop,
now waltz in here and expects us to . . .”

TARZAN
Turk, I’m asking you as a friend.

TERKINA
Oh, with the face and the eyes and the, ah, all right, but don’t make me do anything embarrassing.

A short time later Turk appeared wearing one of Jane’s dresses.

TERKINA
I’m gonna kill him.

TANTOR
Uh, actually, I thought that dress was rather slimming on you.

TERKINA
Oh really? I thought it was a little revealing.

Kerchak appeared in the distance and came rushing toward them. Turk and Tantor took off into the jungle. As
soon as they were gone, Tarzan motioned to the humans. He led them to the gorilla nesting area where Kala sat
feeding.

JANE
She’s beautiful.

TARZAN
She is my mother.

JANE
This is your mother?

Frightened of the humans, Kala backed into the bushes. Tarzan tried to lure her out using ape language. Jane and
the professor, getting the idea, crouched down on all fours and tried to imitate him. Hearing them, apes started to
appear from their hiding places. Some of the younger apes hopped down to the ground and cautiously approached
Jane.

JANE
It’s very nice to meet you, too.

PROFESSOR POTTER
Hello, hello, uh, Archimedes Q. Potter at your service. Ah, quite a grip you’ve got.

The babies clustered around Tarzan and he spoke to them affectionately.

JANE
Can you teach me?

TARZAN
Speak gorilla?

JANE
Yes.

JANE
Good heavens, what did I say?

TARZAN
That Jane stays with Tarzan.

JANE
Stay? But I thought we’d already. . . Tarzan!
Chapter 12

Just then Turk and Tantor came barreling through the clearing, followed by Kerchak. When the ape leader saw the
humans, he stopped abruptly.

TARZAN
Oh, no!

JANE
Oh, Daddy.

Nearby, one of the apes became fascinated with Clayton’s rifle and was trying to wrestle it away from him.
Clayton yanked the rifle back and gave the ape a shot. Kerchak, seeing this, charged Clayton. As the gun went off,
Kerchak knocked the rifle away then pushed Clayton to the ground. Moving quickly, Tarzan grabbed Kerchak
from behind and, straining every muscle, slowly pulled him off of Clayton.

TARZAN
Go, now!

Clayton crawled away from Kerchak then picked up his rifle and fled into the bushes. Jane and her father
hesitated, then followed. When the humans were gone, Tarzan released Kerchak.

TARZAN
Kerchak, I didn’t. . . I’m sorry, I. . .

KERCHAK
I asked you to protect our family and you betrayed us all.

Tarzan backed away, shaking his head, then broke into a run, disappearing into the forest. Kala found him a short
time later, gazing off into the distance.

TARZAN
I’m so confused.

KALA
Come with me. There’s something I should have shown you long ago.

She took him to the tree house long deserted now and overgrown with vines. On the floor was a photograph of
two parents and a baby boy.

TARZAN
Is this me? and this is my father and my . . .

KALA
Now you know. Tarzan, I just want you to be happy whatever you decide.

They embraced and Kala moved off leaving Tarzan alone. A few moments later he emerged from the treehouse
wearing his father’s clothes. Tarzan had made his decision. Approaching Kala, he embraced her.

TARZAN
No matter where I go, you will always be my mother.
KALA
And you will always be in my heart. Goodbye, Tarzan!
Chapter 13

He walked down to the beach, where Jane and her father were preparing to leave.

JANE
I’m so glad you found us in time, Tarzan.

They climbed into a small boat and set out for the ship, which was anchored in the bay. As the boat moved away
from shore Turk and Tantor came running out of the jungle.

TANTOR
TARZAN!

TERKINA
We’re too late. I can’t believe it. If you’d have pulled over and asked for directions.

TANTOR
We didn’t get to say goodbye.

As the small boat reached the ship, Jane couldn’t hide her excitement.

JANE
Tarzan, you can’t imagine what’s in store for you. We’re going to see the world and everyone’s going to want to
meet you, kings and scientists and famous writers. . .

TARZAN
And I’ll be with jane.

JANE
Yes, with Jane. Oh, slippery!

Tarzan looked back wistfully at the jungle, then followed Jane and her father up the ladder to the ship. When he
reached the deck, he found them in the grip of two rough-looking men. Beyond them several crew members were
tied up with ropes. There had been a mutiny. The thugs took off after Tarzan. He scurried up into the rigging, but
when he leaped toward the huge smokestack, he lost his footing and fell. Grabbing Tarzan, the men pinned him to
the deck. There was a gunshot and suddenly Clayton was standing there.

CLAYTON
What’s going on here?

TARZAN
Clayton, Clayton, help!

CLAYTON
Have we met? Ah, yes! The ape man.

TARZAN
Clayton, you, you!

CLAYTON
Ah, so sorry about the rude welcome. Oh, boy. but I couldn’t have you making a scene when we put your furry
friends in their cages.

Clayton motioned across the deck toward a stack of empty gorilla cages.

TARZAN
But, why?

CLAYTON
Why? For 300 pounds sterling a head. Actually, I have you to thank, my boy. Couldn’t have done it without you.
Lock him up with the others.
Chapter 14

Back on shore Tantor was heading home with Turk on his back when he heard something in the distance.

TANTOR
That sounded like Tarzan. He sounded like, like he was in trouble.

TERKINA
Yeah, well, why doesn’t he get his new friends to help him. I don’t care.

TANTOR
That’s it. I’ve had it with you and your emotional constipation. Tarzan needs us and we’re gonna help him. You
got that? Now, pipe down and hang on tight. We’ve got a boat to catch.

Tantor charged out of the jungle, dove into the water, and headed for the ship.

TANTOR
I’ve never felt so alive!

TERKINA
Good, cause I’m gonna kill you!

TANTOR
No time for that now, missy.

Meanwhile, Tarzan, desperate to stop Clayton, was trying everything in his power to escape from the ship’s hold,
where he and his friends were being held prisoner. Again and again, he hurled himself at the bulkhead but it
wouldn’t give way.

JANE
Tarzan! It’s no use. Don’t!

TARZAN
Clayton!

JANE
Yes, Clayton! Clayton betrayed us all. I’m so sorry, Tarzan.

TARZAN
No, I did this. I betrayed my family. Kerchak was right.

PROFESSOR POTTER
Oh, those magnificent creatures, shivering in cages. What is this world coming to?

The ship heeled over to one side.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Oh, by Jove! Don’t know my own strength.

But it wasn’t the professor who was rocking the boat. It was Tantor who, upon arriving at the ship, had gripped the
anchor chain and lifted his massive body up onto the deck.
JANE
What was that?

PROFESSOR PORTER
It sounded just like an elephant.

As Terk and Tantor fought off the mutineers, Tantor’s foot crashed through the deck, opening a gaping hole.

TARZAN
Tantor!

Tarzan pulled himself through the hole and leaped onto the deck.

TARZAN
Thanks, guys.

With a grim nod to his friends, Tarzan dove over the railing and into the water.
Chapter 15

That night Kerchak and the other apes were resting in the forest, when suddenly a flare lit up the sky. As the apes
drew back in fright, Clayton and his men came charging in weapons drawn. The apes were rounded up and thrown
into cages all except for Kerchak, who had to be subdued with whips and nets. Clayton approached him, grinning.

CLAYTON
Ah, I remember you. I think this one will be better off stuffed.

Clayton raised his rifle and prepared to fire, then suddenly the ground shook and Tarzan came swinging in on a
vine followed by a herd of jungle creatures. Joining them was Tantor with Turk, Jane, and the professor on his
back. Men dispersed and Clayton dove for the bushes. Tarzan hurried over to Kerchak and set him free.

KERCHAK
You came back!

TARZAN
I came home!

Tarzan and his friends set about opening the cages, but before they could finish, Clayton called out to two of his
men.

CLAYTON
You there, take what you can back to the boat. I’ve got some hunting to do.

The men lifted the cage containing Kala and carried her off into the jungle. Jane, seeing what had happened,
swung in on a vine and kicked one of the men to the ground, knocking over the cage. Jane tried to pry open the
door.

JANE
Don’t worry. (I’m) Gonna have you out of this in a second.

Tarzan came over to help and as he did, a shot rang out. Tarzan staggered, his right arm bleeding.

Clayton approached, rifle in hand, preparing to finish him off. Clayton aimed and was about to fire when Kerchak
came charging in between them. Kerchak fell to the ground. Tarzan tried to help but was forced to flee into the
jungle with Clayton right behind him.

CLAYTON
Hiding, are we? Oh good!

TARZAN
Clayton, you!

CLAYTON
I could use a challenge because after I get rid of you, rounding up your little ape family will be all too easy.

Clayton climbed into a tree to get a better look. Suddenly Tarzan leaped onto him from a higher branch. Grabbing
Clayton’s rifle, Tarzan leveled it at him.
CLAYTON
Go ahead, shoot me, be a man.

A shot rang out, but it wasn’t the rifle. It was Tarzan imitating the sound. Tarzan swung the rifle against the tree
branch where they stood.

TARZAN
Not a man like you.

Enraged, Clayton drew a machete and advanced toward Tarzan, who started making his way through the vines.
Clayton followed. Getting an idea, Tarzan gripped a vine with his good arm and looped it over Clayton. He looped
another and another until Clayton was tangled up in a web of pit vines. Swinging his machete wildly, Clayton
hacked away at the vines but in his blind rage, he also managed to wrap a vine around his neck. Tarzan saw
Clayton’s danger.

TARZAN
Clayton! Don’t!

Clayton slashed through the last supporting vine. As it gave way he fell.

Tarzan dropped from the tree and joined his mother, who knelt over the fallen Kerchak. The great silverback
looked up, his eyes growing dim.

TARZAN
Kerchak, forgive me.

KERCHAK
No! Forgive me for not understanding that you have always been one of us. Our family will look to you now.

TARZAN
No, Kerchak.

KERCHAK
Take care of them, my son!

TARZAN
Thank you.

Kerchak’s eyes closed. Tarzan held him close. Then he looked at the ape family. As their new leader Tarzan led the
apes into the jungle.
Chapter 16

The next day, the ship was ready to depart. Professor Porter and the captain were already in the small boat,
watching as Jane and Tarzan spoke for what they knew would be the last time.

JANE
London will seem so small compared to all this.

TARZAN
I will miss you, Jane.

CAPTAIN
Ms. Porter!

JANE
I know, I’m coming. Well, I suppose we should say goodbye.

TARZAN
Goodbye.

Tarzan pressed his palm to hers just as he had done the first day they met. Jane, overcome with sorrow, turned
away and ran to her father. As they pushed away from shore the professor waved.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Goodbye, Tarzan. Goodbye! Oh, I’m going to miss that boy.

Settling into his seat, he took his daughter’s hand.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Jane dear, I can’t help feeling that you should stay.

JANE
Daddy, please don’t. We’ve been through all of this. I couldn’t possibly, I, I belong in England with you with
people. . .

PROFESSOR PORTER
But you love him.

Jane looked up at her father. He smiled and nodded toward the beach. Glancing back, Jane knew what she wanted
to do. She turned, gave her father a hug, then leaped into the water, and swam toward shore. Tarzan met her in the
surf where jane gave him a big kiss. The professor, watching from the boat, turned to the captain.

PROFESSOR PORTER
Captain! Tell them that you never found us. After all, people get lost in the jungle every day.

And with that he leaped overboard, too. On the beach Kala and the other apes formed a circle around the happy
couple. Jane, gathering her courage, spoke the words Tarzan had taught her. Tarzan grinned and the apes cheered.
Then Tarzan leaped onto Tantor’s back pulled Jane up next to him and they went riding off into the jungle.

This was the story of two families; one was human and the other a family of apes. It had taken a long time but at
last after 20 years the two families had become one. It would never have happened without a mother’s love, a
father’s understanding, and the strength of their adopted son, Tarzan.