Warning this chapter has slight mention of unknowing incestual thoughts. Neither Clayton nor Tarzana know of the ties that bind them, so any thoughts or actions occur is based on no family relation. If Clayton was aware of the family bond he has with Tarzana, no actions he does would occur, but since he doesn't there will be thoughts had. I do not agree with incest.
Normal speech
Thoughts
Talking aloud to self
Phil Collins Singing
Monkey language
The next day, at the campsite, John is showing everyone what Tarzana looks like and how she behaved. John draws on the blackboard a quick but detailed sketch of Tarzana.
John: Well, she didn't stand upright. She sort of crouched, like that.
Porter: Really?
John: Supported her weight on her knuckles.
Porter: On the knuckles!
John: You see? Exactly like a gorilla!
The father and son pair geek out at the discovery.
Porter: Extraordinary!
John: Ah, it was amazing! (He crouches to the ground imitating how he remembers Tarzana walking.) And she bends her elbows out like this, and then she walks like this.
Porter: Oh, I see! (Porter joins John on the ground copying him.) Like Aunt Isabel.
As for Clayton, he is shaving himself with his machete uninterested in the duos findings.
Porter: Bup-bup-bup, oh-oh! This is capital!
Clayton: Hhhmmm. (He watches as the two act as gorillas unamused. He flicks off the shaving cream from his machete.)
Porter: Oh, Johnny. John! What a discovery! A woman with no language, no human behavior.
John: And no respect for personal boundaries.
Porter: How do you mean?
John comes face to face with his father. Mere inches from his face.
John: She was this close, Father! Staring at me. She seemed confused at first, (He continues drawing the rest of Tarzana on the chalkboard.) as if she's never seen another human before. (He adds Tarzana's eyes, getting lost in the memory of such innocence hidden in the blue-green irises.) Her eyes were intense, and focused and gentle and...I've never seen such eyes.
Looking from his son to the chalkboard, Porter teases his son.
Porter: Oh, shall I-ahem, leave you and the blackboard alone for a moment?
The duo chuckle at the remark.
John: Father, stop this. The point is, think at what we could learn from her. We must find her.
Taking a towel that was hanging up nearby, Clayton dries of the rest of his face. He then throws the towel down in frustration.
Clayton: Ooh! Professor, you are here to find gorillas, not indulge some boyish pervert fantasy.
Clayton walks off, but John chases after him.
John: Pervert fantasy? I didn't imagine her! Nor do I dabble in such affairs! Tarzana is... (Everyone gasps as she drops down in between John and Clayton.) real.
Tarzana looks only to John. Not aware of anyone else. She is completely lovestruck. The two men haven't noticed her lack of clothes just yet due to the shock whereas John meets her eyes with a gentle smile as they both start to slowly walk towards one another. In excitement, Porter runs up to Tarzana startling her. She moves back and looks at the eccentric little man.
Porter: Ah! It's her! It's-it's-it's her. Tarzana!
Tarzana gently reaches out to grab Porter's mustache, never have seeing one before. Clayton goes to grab his rifle.
Clayton: Professor! John! Stand back!
Tarzana and the two men look towards Clayton. John and Porter's eyes widen in fear. They call out their opposition.
Porter: Wait!
John: No!
As Clayton is about to fire his rifle at Tarzana, John manages to move it off towards the sky as it goes off. Clayton looks at John mad. In ignorance Tarzana is unaffected by what could have been her death decides to speak up and say a name she learned yesterday.
Tarzana: Clayton.
Clayton looks at the ape woman confused as to how she knows his name. Porter looks to Tarzana shocked. He questions her, not believing his ears.
Porter: What?
She grins at him before confidently restating the name.
Tarzana: Clayton.
Porter exclaims in joy. Clayton leans toward the girl, trying to see if he recognizes her. He questions her unsure.
Clayton: Have we...met? (Tarzana looks at him curiously.) How does she know my name?
Looking to John he asks, seeing as how he was with her previously.
John: She thinks it means the sound of a gunshot.
Tarzana moves to stand. She gently grabs Clayton's gun to help move her closer to John in one swift motion. She looks up at him lovingly as she places her hand against his cheek again.
Tarzana: John.
John chuckles at her mannerisms. He blushes as she still is topless and in his personal space.
John: Yes, hello, uh-huh-Tarzana.
Porter: I see what you mean about these personal boundaries.
Tarzana begins to circle Clayton. She examines him since he seems like an alpha male.
Clayton: What's she doing?
She stands tall and holds her hands against her body in the same way Clayton is holding his rifle. Tarzana grunts a little in her mother language.
Porter: Look at her, John.
John laughs at his father's reaction and being able to watch Tarzana explore her surroundings.
Porter: Moves like an ape but is genetically a woman. (Porter comes up and examines Tarzana.) She could have different genetic links that allowed for her to adapt to the change in her environment giving her the ability to survive better!
A moment of clarity comes upon Clayton.
Clayton: Or our link to the gorillas.
Porter: Ahh, yes, yes.
As his excitement dies down he then notices something John had mentioned the day before. He blushes upon catching a small glimpse at her chest.
Porter: Oh dear. Uhmm, I see what you meant by topless now. Maybe we should first teach her to wear a shirt?
Clayton looks himself and spies the same as the other two had. However instead of being uncomfortable by the impropriety he simple smirks and ignores the comment. Neither him nor the woman knowing of the biological ties they have. Clayton proceeds to clear his throat as he approaches her.
Clayton: Where are the gorillas? (Tarzana notices he also has a mustache and begins to mess with it, climbing onto him. Clayton struggles with the woman on him trying to remove her from him. Although he was enjoying the close proximity she was to him, Clayton had bigger priorities. He had to refrain from the fleshly desires coming to him. He emphasizes the animal they are after to the topless woman.) Go-ril-las! (He finally pushes her off of him.)
She imitates Clayton, getting closer to him once more.
Tarzana: Go-ril-las!
John: Shouting won't help, Mister Clayton. She doesn't understand English. And I would suggest you to not antagonize her where she is practically leaning against you.
John glares at Clayton, not liking the way he is acting around Tarzana. Clayton rolls his eyes and shrugs not feeling threatened by the young Porter son. Tarzana walks back over to John staring up at him in captivation. Clayton walks off to the chalkboard determined to make the woman 'talk'.
Clayton: Then I'll make her understand. (He erases the drawing of Tarzana. Seeing the new movement, Tarzana walks over to him curious as to what he is doing.) If I can teach a parrot to sing "Heavens Save the Queen", I can certainly teach this scandalous savage a thing or two. (He draws a gorilla on the board. He then holds out the chalk.) Go-rilla.
Tarzana snatches the chalk from him, thinking that it is a 'gorilla'. She copies what Clayton said.
Tarzana: Go-rilla.
Porter: Oho! She's got it!
She climbs onto the chalkboard and scribbles on it.
Tarzana: Gorilla. Gorilla!
Porter: Oh, perhaps not.
Clayton snatches the chalk back, waving it in her face in a scolding manner.
Clayton: No, no, no, no!
Confused she keeps mimicking him.
Tarzana: No, no, no, no, no!
The two then fight over the chalk. Tarzana climbs up onto him trying to reach it better.
Clayton: No, no, no! Gimme that! No, no! Leave that! No!
Just as she's about to grab it, John walks over and takes it for himself.
John: Mister Clayton, I think I'll take it from here. First manner of business is trying to get her to wear a top as soon as possible.
Then with that, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter helps John teach Tarzana to be civilized. John lights the oil lamp inside a tent. Tarzana looks at it in shocked that it was able to make fire. John then comes over with a lantern slideshow projector. He places it over the lamp so that it shines a light through. Tarzana walks in front of it looking at the light on the screen before turning to stare at John smiling happily. She then moves out of the way and sees a gorilla on the screen. Curious about how they were able to make an image of the ones she was raised around her whole life; she walks up to the screen and touches it. She looks at John in awe.
Whatever you do, I'll do it as well. Show me everything and tell me how.
John takes a new image slide and replaces the gorilla slide. He smiles back at her. The screen know shows a UK strongman standing with his arms behind his back and looking focused. Tarzana stands beside the image mimicking it down to the focused look on his face. John chuckles at her behavior.
It all means something and yet nothing to me.
Porter hands John a new slide for him to put into the projector. The image shows the jungle to which Tarzana stares at it longingly. The image suddenly changes to the streets of London surprising her, making her jump. John keeps replacing the images in succession. One after another an image of a castle and then a sphinx appear. Tarzana stands up looking in awe of the many new things she's never seen before. John leans against the projector and watches Tarzana's reactions with a tender smile. He then puts in an image of a British lady in a dress dancing with a man in a suit.
I can see there's so much to learn, it's all so close and yet so far.
Looking at the image strangely, an idea comes to her mind. She smiles as she looks to John before grabbing his hand and beginning to dance with him. She dances with no rhyme or reason beaming happily as John tries to keep some semblance of a dance. Porter claps cheerfully as Clayton looks on bored.
I see myself as people see me. Oh, I just know there's something bigger out there.
As the two keep dancing, Porter comes up and changes the slide. A picture of space with planets is now show. Tarzana looks on in wonder as she slides up to John hugging him around the waist and resting her head on his chest. She sighs contently. John looks down to her affectionately and places his head of his chin on her head.
I wanna know, can you show me?
Later that night Porter and John take Tarzana outside to look at the stars. They bring a telescope with them. Porter tries to explain the mystery and wonder of space to Tarzana. Porter points out a comet and has Tarzana look at it through the telescope. Her eyes widen in shock as she moves to look at it without the telescope. She never knew that the sky she saw every night held something so beautiful not seen by the naked eye.
I wanna know about these strangers like me. Tell me more, please show me something's familiar about these strangers like me.
The next day John is trying to teach Tarzana how to read. He opens a child's alphabet book. They are on the "J's". The page says "See John. See John run." They say the sentence together as Tarzana tries to sound out each word.
Afterwards Porter shows Tarzana a zoetrope that has a British man riding a penny-farthing bicycle. She looks to it in curiosity as Porter spins it. The animation comes to life before her. Tarzana then rides a penny-farthing bicycle that Porter has let her use. She rides it through the jungle doing tricks with it as she tree surfs with the bike. She rides down the tree towards Porter who begins to run away. He's not fast enough as she scoops him up onto the bike with her. The two laugh at the occurrence.
Later that evening, John feels that Tarzana's understanding of the English language has been built up rather well from the past few days. She still can only say short and uncomplete sentences but her understanding of what others are saying is remarkable. John decides that now would be a good time to try and explain the need of wearing a shirt.
John: Tarzana? I was wondering if you would try something?
Tarzana: Try something?
John: Yes. You see, in England women have something to cover their chests…
Tarzana looks down at her bare chest trying to comprehend what John is asking her.
John: I have made you something to try on…
John raises up a shirt of his that he has refashioned into a more feminine look. Tarzana looks at the cloth skeptically.
Tarzana: Why?
John: Well, it is seen as something scandalous where a woman is seen without a shirt. It is a sign of nudity to be without an article of clothing. I'll explain more later on.
Tarzana: I see.
Tarzana attempts to put on the shirt given to her but ends up getting tangled. John blushes knowing that she needs some assistance to get the shirt on properly.
John: Allow me to help you put it on.
John carefully removes the cloth from Tarzana before helping to put her arms through the correct holes. He makes sure not to touch any of her exposed skin in the process. After a moment of finagling, John gets the shirt on Tarzana.
John: How does it feel?
Tarzana: Feels strange.
Tarzana messes with the new fabric on her top half. She is unsure what to make of it. The material feels nice, but it seems a little restrictive compared to what she is used to.
Tarzana: Less motion.
John realizes what Tarzana is asking.
John: Not so much. There may be a bit of an issue if it were to get caught in some weeds but otherwise you shouldn't have much issue in moving around. The shirt will both cover you and add a little protection.
Tarzana nods her head in understanding.
John: Will you try to wear it for a while?
Tarzana: I will try.
Tarzana leaves the camp seeing that she must return home soon. She is still skeptical of the use of the clothing but trusted John. Before she arrives back at the nesting grounds, she stops by a pond. When she gets there she removes the shirt in a similar manner as how John had put it on. Once it is off, she looks for a Catechu tree. She spies one nearby and grabs some of the leaves. Tarzana heads back over to the pond. She takes the leaves and soaks them in the water while grinding them to a brown paste in her hand. She then goes back to where she placed the shirt that John had given her. Taking the paste she made, Tarzana rubs it all over the cloth. The liquid from the paste soaks into the shirt causing it to tinge brown. Tarzana grabbed a rock and began to rub it against the shirt making the material slightly coarse.
She knew that if she were to go back home with the shirt that John gave her that everyone would know where she'd been. Her own modifications to it would make it seem like something she came up with and wasn't given. Tarzana looked at her work and smiled. The shirt now looked just like the loincloth she had fashioned years ago. There was no way that anyone would think that John had given her the shirt. She puts the shirt back on and makes her way the rest of the way home.
When she arrives back at the nesting grounds, her mother and Terk come up to her, worry written on their faces.
Kala: Where have you been?
Terk: And what's up with the new addition?
Tarzana tries to calm the two.
Tarzana: Mama I was just out and about stretching my legs. No need to worry. Terk I decided to cover my top half some. I know I don't have fur like everyone else, but I figured out that I wanted to protect myself from injuries by having more on me.
Kala: Why now? You haven't worn a covering ever.
Tarzana: It's something that has been on my mind for a while now. After fighting Sabor and getting cut I thought that if I had more then maybe the next time something like that happens it won't be as bad.
Tarzana felt unease when she told her mother that. She was usually very honest and upfront with her.
Kala: Ok. If you're sure.
Tarzana: I am Mama.
Kala hugs her daughter before walking off into the clan. Terk stays with Tarzana knowing something is up.
Terk: Ok. Spit it out.
Tarzana: What?
Terk: Why are you really wearing it?
Tarzana: I—
Terk: Don't even try to say you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm your cousin and best friend. So spill. What's up?
Tarzana: Fine I'll tell you, but you can't let anyone know especially Kerchak and Mama.
Terk: Yeah, yeah, yeah I swear. Now tell me.
Tarzana: Ok. Come closer. (Terk comes up right beside Tarzana. She speaks in hushed whispers.) I got my top from John. The young male I was trying to introduce to you the other day. They've been teaching me.
Terk: Whattt?!
Terk exclaimed semi-loud.
Tarzana: Shhh. That's why I was whispering.
Terk: But T, you heard what Kerchak said. He said to stay away.
Tarzana: But Terk, they're like me. How can I not be curious?
Terk: I know but you need to be careful. What if he suspects something?
Tarzana: That's why I leave early and come back before it's too late.
Terk: I hope you know what your doing. Try to be safe.
Tarzana: I will. I'm meeting them again soon.
Terk: Ok. I'll keep your secret for now.
Tarzana leaps up to her cousin and hugs her tightly.
Tarzana: Thanks Terk.
Terk: Whatever. It's 'cause you're my favorite cousin.
Tarzana laughs at Terk's statement.
Tarzana: I'm your only cousin.
The two smile at each other before heading to their respective nesting sites to sleep. Two days later Tarzana is sitting on a crate, wearing her shirt, while John draws in his sketchbook. Clayton tries to teach her of the geographic region that gorillas are found on. He shows a map of Africa and points to it while holding a picture of a gorilla up. Tarzana looks bored with the lesson. Tarzana looks up at John as he intently draws. She smiles a little admiring him. John looks up to see her staring at him. He smirks a little at her before continuing his drawing. On his sketchbook he has detailed drawings of Tarzana. Some of her eyes and some notes he's made of her. Clayton grabs her chin forcing her to look back at the map, annoyance on his face. She looks at the map a moment before glancing back at John smirking at him a little.
Every gesture, every move that she makes. Makes me feel like never before. Why do I have? This growing need to be behind her.
That night at the gorilla nesting grounds, Tarzana is wide awake while all the other gorillas sleep peacefully. She's too excited to go back to the human camp in the morning to get any sleep. As dawn breaks she gets up and quietly leaves the nesting grounds. She is unaware that her mom and cousin are watching her as she goes. Kala looks on sadly. Terk has the same look on her face, but she tries to comfort her aunt.
These emotions I never knew of some other world far beyond this place. Beyond the trees, above the clouds. I see before me a new horizon.
Tarzana quickly runs through the jungle to the camp. She sees Clayton smoking his pipe and swinging his arms. She copies him as she enter the camp. She pauses when she sees John, a huge grin on her face. John is by a colorful parrot, drawing it. Tarzana walks over to him smiling. John hears Tarzana's footsteps and turns to her with a grin. He shows her the drawing of the parrot she is doing. Sadly, before he can finish the sketch, the parrot flies away. John sighs disheartened and Tarzana looks at him thoughtful.
I wanna know, can you show me? I wanna know about these strangers like me. Tell me more, please show me something's familiar about these strangers like me.
Tarzana then get an idea. She grabs John's hand, having him stand up. She drags him to a nearby tree that has a vine. Confused by what she was planning, John looks to her in bewilderment. She then climbs up the vine a bit before wrapping her leg around his waist. Now understanding, John wraps his arms around her neck as she begins to climb up the vine carrying him. Once she reaches the top of the tree, she helps John to steady himself on the branch before pulling back the leaves. To his astonishment, she has brought him to a parrot colony. Tarzana looks at John happy to see that he loves the place. She then stands up causing the parrots to fly around them. The parrots land on both Tarzana and John. He chuckles and kisses one of the parrots on the nose. Tarzana watches John lovingly, her feelings growing more for him as they spend more time together.
Come with me now to see my world, where there's beauty beyond your dreams. Can you feel the things I feel? Right now, with you.
That night while still in the trees Tarzana teaches John how to swing on a vine. They both jump from the branch holding onto a vine. Tarzana helps guide John onto another vine as she casually swings on her own. John closes his eyes hugging onto his vine tight. After a moment he realizes that he's doing it on his own, he opens his eyes. He laughs in glee at the new experience. Tarzana then swings by grabbing onto John's vine as well twirling the two together. She looks up at John as he looks down into her eyes seeing nothing but love. John's face blushes a little as Tarzana looks on confused by his action.
Take my hand, there's a world I need to knoooooOOOOW!
A few days later, Tarzana has now begun to understand more of the human language and grows fonder of John. One day when she comes to visit the camp, Clayton is having a discussion with John and Porter.
Clayton: We've wasted all this time on what she wants. The boat could arrive any day. Now ask her straight out.
Tarzana is messing with a model of the solar system, eyes eager to learn more. John walks up to Tarzana speaking gently to her.
John: Tarzana, will you take us to the gorillas? (Her face sullens at the question.) Do you understand?
Tarzana: I understand.
Porter: Ooh! Good work, John.
Clayton: Well?
Tarzana: I can't.
Porter and Clayton speak up in confusion.
Porter and Clayton: What?
John questions Tarzana further.
John: Why not, Tarzana?
Tarzana looks sad and a bit fearful. She knows what would happen if she brought them to the clan. She responds to their question uttering a single word.
Tarzana: Father.
She goes to run back off into the jungle, saddened that she can't help her friends. Porter looks on disappointed.
Porter: What? (He sighs as John comforts him.)
Clayton runs after her, angry. He grabs her aggressively by the shoulders shaking her in frustration. He holds up a picture of a gorilla and demands for her to show them. She jumps over Clayton not wanting to talk more on it. Enraged Clayton tears up the image of the gorilla.
I wanna know, can you show me? I wanna know about these strangers like me.
As Tarzana is using the slides later, she sees some firefighters saving a baby from a burning building, a British man driving a horseless carriage, and two sumo wrestlers fighting. She quickly replaces each slide, trying to see as many new things as she can. She sees the Eiffel tower, a soldier standing on a horse, a double decker bus with people on it, two men fencing, a walrus on an iceberg, and an overweight rich man being measured by a tailor. Porter and John are asleep on the chairs beside her. The light flashing in the tent as she keeps looking at all the images. Her eyes widen in amazement as she sees a wooden ship, a father holding his daughter, a boxer fighting a kangaroo, a swordfish, the statue of liberty, several hot air balloons, a train, William Shakespeare, the Wright brothers test flight, the Mona Lisa, a doctor looking inside someone's mouth, someone in a complete diving gear outfit, a man playing the violin, and an octopus.
Tell me more, please show me something's familiar about these strangers like me. I wanna know!
She finally stops at the picture of a woman showing her interest in a man. The woman has flowers in her hair. She has one hand placed on the man's chest while the other is placed on his shoulder. The woman leans close to the man looking into his eyes. Tarzana gets a thoughtful look on her face. She looks to John who is still curled up on a chair asleep. He has a peaceful look to him. She gets an idea while staring at the picture. A plan formulates in her mind that she will put into place in the morning.
