Normal speech

Thoughts

Talking aloud to self

Phil Collins Singing

Monkey language

Running for his life, John makes his way through the jungle. Looking back on it, he is thankful for his time as a cricket player at finishing school for men. All the running he did to help get runs, lead his team to many victories. So now all that training has allowed for him to maintain a good distance in front of the belligerent baboons.

He keeps on running until he sees a gap up ahead. John has two options get killed by enraged baboons or try and jump the gap. He decides to go with the second option since the odds were slightly more favorable and less painful. John jumps the gap, closing his eyes as he does so, expecting to either get across or fall. All of a sudden, John feels like he isn't doing any of these things. He opens his eyes and sees that he's flying. Feeling something holding him by his shirt, he looks up and yelps as he sees Tarzana, who is carrying him. She looks down at him grinning. John gasps in shock upon seeing his rescuer until he feels a weight on his boot. Looking at his foot he freaks out as he sees that one of the baboons is gnawing on one of his boots. He pulls out his cane and hits it shouting incoherently, trying to make him let go. The baboon does so, taking one of the boots with him as well as his sock. John continues to yelp as Tarzana swings the vine upward and jumps to a tree trunk. When they land on the tree Tarzana has caught John in the bridal position. They stare at each other in the eyes momentarily. Then losing all decorum and trying to save face, John tells Tarzana to drop him.)

John: Put me down, put me down! (Tarzana, at last, puts John down but has a concerned look to her face. He is relieved and tries to collect himself, until he sees the enraged baboons run at them.) No, pick me up, pick me up, pick me up!

Tarzana picks him back up and swiftly does some tree-surfing as the baboons continue their pursuit. She slides down the tree trunk while John continues to shriek in fear of the oncoming baboons. The ape woman slides down the trunk very fast, making him a bit nauseous. He recovers long enough to see some baboons in their way. With a yelp, he climbs onto Tarzana's back and uses his cane to knock the baboons out of their way. John laughs wickedly while Tarzana looks at him funny, wondering what is so funny. Suddenly, he yells as another baboon climbs on his cane making him loses his grip on her shoulders. Tarzana grabs onto a vine to swing away before more can come. At the same time John's legs hold onto Tarzana's waist tightly as he struggles with the screeching baboon.

Soon he gets the furious primate off, but the hook end of his cane catches a vine, making him let go of Tarzana. The ape woman turns her head and sees the baboons coming right at John. She groans as she rolls her eyes. Tarzana shakes her head feeling sorry for the male while turning around to retrieve him. The baboons have caught up to John and begin to get on him. In their efforts to get at him, the vine breaks and causes them all to fall. Luckily for him, Tarzana grabs his foot by her feet. The baboon leader grabs the cane with his son on his head and the troop holding onto him. She swings both John and most of the troop of baboons through the jungle. As the remaining baboons continue their pursuit, Tarzana keeps a hold of her vine. She sees a branch up ahead and gets an idea. She swings by the low hanging branch with a smirk on her face.

The baby baboon looks and yelps, too late as his father hits right into the tree branch. Tarzana lets go of John's foot for a moment throwing him in the air. She lands on a hollowed out log. John then falls back down towards her. She grabs him, but the weight of him is too much, causing the log to crack with Tarzana's leg in between. Unlike most, Tarzana is used to moving in unusual manners, and is unfazed by the unexpected split. Her years of training to be the best ape she can has made her very flexible. The two then see the baboons getting closer again. Tarzana jumps into the log while still holding onto John. The baboon troop tries to follow them into the log, but they block it with their immense number. The log begins to crack even more due to the strain of the baboons. Tarzana keeps moving down the log as the cracks expand. When they get halfway down the log, it completely breaks causing everyone on it to begin to fall. Tarzana grabs some nearby vines with her free hand and feet, trying to stop. Her hand burns from the force, but she manages to stop sliding. The vine then acts as a bungee cord projecting them onto a tree with John now clinging to her back. The log falls from its place and comes down on the branch they were on.

John yelps in alarm as Tarzana dodges the log in the nick of time. She pushes John against the tree, shielding him as much as she can as the log barely misses them. It lands on the ground below with a thunderous crash. The baboons, who were on it, screech as they run off, knowing that going after John isn't worth it now. Tarzana and John look down to the baboons as they both exhale in relief. Tarzana then grins up at John but hears frustrated noises coming from above them. She looks up as the baboon leader with the baby baboon on his head, floats down with John's sock on the cane acting like a parachute. He chatters frustratedly at Tarzana and John in his monkey language. Tarzana, who can speak it, responds in the same language. John isn't sure what the ape woman is saying. He looks at her thinking she's some kind of psycho.

John: Is she an escaped mentally ill patient?

Tarzana's Conversation

Manu's Father: That boy there, stole my son's image!

Tarzana: You mean this is all because of that weird flat object that can show what things look like?

Manu's Father: Yes! We'd appreciate it being given back.

Tarzana: Give me a second.

Upon learning that the baby baboon is upset because John took the paper away, Tarzana turns back to John annoyed and sees the paper is tucked into the waistband of his pants. She takes it from him and gives it to the baboon, who hands it to his son as they continue to float down. The baboon can be heard saying what sounds like "Thank you, Tarzana". The ape woman sighs, now that the danger is over. As she turns to look back at John, she is shocked to see that he is gone.

John attempts to climb down from the tree that Tarzana saved him on. What just happened has spooked the man out. First, he is chased by baboons and now he is saved by a wild woman who can speak gorilla. He sits against a branch that is wrapped around the tree.

John: Oh, I'm in a tree with a woman who talks to monkeys! (He sees another tree nearby and tries to get on it. The issue is that there is a 7 foot gap in between the two trees. John stretches his foot out to the tree.) Oh, I can't do this, I can't- (He gets his foot on a tree. Now he is doing a semi-split between the trees, one on the old one and one on the new one.) oh, this is good. This is very good. (He places his hands on the tree before moving his other leg down to the other tree. John is now stretched with his legs on the new tree and both hands on the old. He now tries to reach with his hand towards the tree but almost slips doing so. He then gets an idea and starts bounce his body a little to get momentum.) I-wait, one, two...aah! (John pushes off the tree, trying to stand on the other one, but he is still off balance, and he falls back to his starting position.) Oh, it can't get any worse, can it? (Suddenly, thunder is heard as it begins to rain.) Obviously, it can.

John sighs hanging his head down as if giving up.

John: Whatever shall I do now! I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place with no way to contact anyone. The others are probably wondering where I have run off to. Father probably thinks I've gotten myself into trouble again. He'd be right this time.

John has no idea where he's at and it is raining.

John: How am I to get back even if I do get myself out of this mess? What else could possibly go wrong?

Interrupting his self-loathing, a familiar figure appears underneath him. It's Tarzana. He yelps startled and tries to get his balance, but then the ape woman climbs up the tree. She stops him by putting her fingers on his chest and gently pushes him under the leaves of the tree. Once she knows he is safely on the tree, Tarzana jumps onto the tree and goes to him slowly. Now that the adrenaline has finally worn off of John, he goes to compose himself. John watches Tarzana now able to see her fully without fearing for his life. She is has a caramel tan skin tone to her, an athletic build, and wavy brown hair. She's a little shorter than him, maybe four inches smaller. He then notices something he hadn't before. The woman before him was not wearing a blouse or for that matter any clothes on her top half. Her lower half was covered by a loincloth splayed across her waist. His eyes widen and his face reddens considerable.

John: Oh, dear.

John looks away and attempts to act like a gentleman. A small thrill was sent to his head, but he tries to ignore it, by shifting in his seat, in favor of the manners he was taught in finishing school. He tries to keep his distance so as to let her keep some form of modesty.

John: Madame if you would stay back. No, don't come any closer. Please don't Madame. (He tries to use his foot, the one with the missing boot, to keep her from getting any closer. Tarzana stares at it and grabs his foot. Looking curiously at it, she grips his toes gently, making him a bit ticklish.) What are you doing here? (John begins to laugh as she moves his toes. Tarzana watches his reaction with a slight smirk. She finds his response cute.) Ah, hahaha. Please don't! That tickles! (Now the ape woman decides to peek under his shirt, that has come untucked from the ordeal. Uncomfortable with the action he tries to gently tell her to stop.) Get off, get off, get-GET OFF! (He grabs her hands firmly as he shouts, startling her back off a bit. John releases her wrists. She frowns at him while walking to him.) I'm sorry to have yelled miss but that is improper of you. Now you stay away from me like a very good wild woman. (He re-tucks in his shirt. Tarzana keeps coming closer to him.) You stay! I'm warning you, my father won't take kindly to you-

Of course, Tarzana doesn't listen and instead puts her hand on his cheek.

John: Madame, that's, now that's close enough! How dare-What?

John is about to grab her hand again, but she catches his wrist in time. Just then, something catches her eye. Something...familiar. See spots a hole in John's glove. Trying to solve her unspoken question, she pulls the glove off. Tarzana gazes at John's entire hand. She places her hand against his, just like she did with her mother many years ago. Her eyes widen.

Tarzana: His hand almost looks like...mine. His fingers are slightly longer and broader and his isn't as tan as mine. But our hands are almost exactly the same.

John is puzzled, as he looks into Tarzana's eyes a gentle tenderness to them. Tarzana smiles at him softly.

John: What is this ape woman doing? It seems like...she has never seen people of her own species before.

He tenses somewhat as she does something else; she places her head against his chest. She does it in the same way Kala had taught her to, by closing her eyes and listening. For a while, John thinks she is being a pervert, but she is actually listening to his heartbeat. Realization spreads across Tarzana's face. Then she smirks and puts his head against her naked chest, letting him hear her heartbeat. John blushes at the contact feeling blood rush to his head. Never before had he been in such a compromising position. As an English gentleman, such deeds were not done so blatantly or outside closed doors. This woman seemed to work outside the norms of propriety trying to push the bounds.

John: Oh dear, ohdearohdear oh dear! (He placed his hands on her shoulders to push himself away, making sure to keep eye contact and not look below the neck. He hopes that the tent in his pants isn't as noticeable as it feels.) Yes, thank you. That's a lovely heartbeat. It's very nice.

Thinking carefully, she tries to imitate John's words. Her voice coming out soft but bright, it almost has an ethereal feel to it, capturing those around her.

Tarzana: It's very nice.

John: Oh, thank you. (John messes with his hair trying to style it back to its neat ponytailed look. He doesn't comprehending that Tarzana just spoke to him.) I can't do a thing with it in this humidity though, it's- (He pauses looking to her realizing what she said.) Oh, you do speak! (He drops his hands from his hair in shock.) And all this time I thought you were just a small, wild, quiet, silent-person thing. (He chuckles at himself.) Why didn't you tell me? I mean I must seem rather curious to you, I mean I'd love...

Tarzana silences him by placing a hand to his lips. Getting the idea John stops talking and waits for her to speak. She clears her throat, and gestures at herself.

Tarzana: Tarzana. (John looks on confused. Moving closer she tries again pronouncing slower.) Tar-zana.

John nods properly hearing what she says.

John: Tarzana. (Tarzana smirks as she begins to act like a gorilla. He chuckles, at her enthusiasm. He now understands that her name is Tarzana.) Oh, I see.

She copies him again believing that to be his name. She gestures between the two.

Tarzana: Oh, I see. (She points to herself.) Tarzana. (She points to John.) Oh, I see.

She places her arms on his shoulders. John looks puzzled, but figures that if Tarzana introduced her name, he shall at least introduce his own.

John: No, no, no, no. I'm John.

She repeats John's "name" again, still not understanding that that wasn't his actual name.

Tarzana: No, no, no, no. I'm John.

John groans and face-palms. This ape woman has been in the jungle for far too long.

John: No, no. (He points to himself.) John... (He points to Tarzana.) Tarzana... (He points back to himself.) John.

Tarzana places her hand against John's face again before speaking in admiration. She nods saying his name enamored.

Tarzana: John.

John stares into her eyes lovingly.

John: Exactly.

Now they're getting somewhere. Soon, the rain has stopped, and a gunshot is heard. John gasps at the sound.

John: Clayton!

Tarzana grabs a vine and looks in the direction of the noise. The gunshot goes off again. Believing that the noise is called Clayton she speaks up.

Tarzana: Clayton.

John is stunned by how quickly she's picking up on how to correlate words with objects.

John: Extraordinary. Um, please, can you take me to my camp? (John jumps back as Tarzana imitates the gunshot. He chuckles at her abilities of mimicry thinking it's cute.) Yes. Clayton, wonderful! (Suddenly, to his alarm, Tarzana grabs him by the waist. He yelps as he remembers what happened the last time she did this.) Um, we, can't we waaaaaaalllk?!

It's too late since Tarzana, while holding him, swings to the next vine. She laughs aloud.

Tarzana: We waaaaaaalllk! (She copies, believing it to be John's own animal call.)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you enjoy the update! Be well and stay safe in your travels over the holiday season!