The BEST episodes written by John Strong (As J.c. Strong)
#1 - The Unearthly Prophecy
Return to the Planet of the Apes - Season 1 - Episode 3
Urko and his army are searching the desert for the entrance to the Underdwellers caverns. Suddenly, Urko spots Bill. He radios Dr. Zaius with the news. Bill plans to decoy the army so that Jeff can slip away. Huge rock pinnacles abruptly jut up from the ground, a hole opens up and a flash of energy shoots out. As the doorway closes, the two men crawl in and ride a conveyor down a dark shaft. Urko feels that the Underdwellers are responsible and proceed to find their caverns. Inside, Bill and Jeff find a giant dish serving as part of an elaborate power system. They know the apes wouldn't have had the technology to build it. They are shocked to find what remains of the New York Public Library among the rubble; this upside-down world is Earth! They pass by Wall Street and Times Square. Zaius tells Zira and Cornelius that Urko has located Blue Eyes. A soldier enters with the news that Blue Eyes has escaped and is suspected to be with the Underdwellers. Zira and Cornelius secretly wonder if they were right in helping Bill escape. Elsewhere, Bill and Jeff enter a huge cavern above a giant power complex operated by hooded and cloaked figures. An alarm rings and the figures begin chanting "Oosa" (USA) over and over. Bill and Jeff discover that the whole complex seems to be wired to a central, throne-like chair. They follow the crowd into another room and spot Judy, also in a hooded robe, standing at the front of the room. Next to her is a tree, a symbol of life on the surface. They call to her, but she only stares into space. Suddenly, a hooded figure shoots a ray out of his eyes and stuns Bill and Jeff. They are awakened in a cell by Krador, who introduces himself as the leader of the Underdwellers, descendants of the humans who sought safely underground during the holocaust long ago. Krador believes that prophecy has foretold of Judy, or USA, helping the Underdwellers return to the surface. Later, Jeff gives Judy a ring which revives her memory. She kills the power on
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#2 - Invasion of the Underdwellers
Return to the Planet of the Apes - Season 1 - Episode 12
Reports begin coming in to the police that burglars are striking all over Ape City. Valuable items are being stolen from the Museum, Ape Archives, the Library and from ape homes. A first edition William Apespeare book was taken from Zira and Cornelius' home. Into the night, hooded figures sneak to the cemetery to the Tomb of the Unknown Ape where all the stolen items are hidden. In reality, Urko and his gorillas are disguised as Underdwellers in hopes of framing them and convincing Dr. Zaius to declare war on the below world. Zira and Cornelius travel to New Valley to meet with Jeff, Bill, and Judy. Suddenly, Krador appears and tells them the Underdwellers are innocent of the thefts. He asks them to come to their underground city and bring the laser. Meanwhile, Zaius and the war council hear testimonies of witnesses against the Underdwellers. Unknown to the council, the witnesses are lying as instructed by Urko. Urko assures the council that he can win the war by blowing up the tunnel entrance to the below world. Krador, Bill, and Jeff reach the end of the tunnel underground and Jeff cuts through the wall with the laser. The tunnel connects with the tomb where all the stolen items are hidden. Bill plans to have Cornelius tell Zaius the real truth the next day, but Krador warns that by then Urko will have detonated the tunnel entrance, flooding the world below and causing Ape City to collapse. Krador projects Bill's image into Zira and Cornelius' bedroom where he tells them to take Zaius to the tomb immediately or it will be too late. Krador hypnotizes the guard to awake when Zaius speaks to him and tell the whole truth of Urko's twisted plan. After seeing the stolen goods, Zaius tries to radio Urko to halt the attack, but the general was warned that Zaius knows his plan and he disconnects the radio. Zaius and Cornelius race to the dock to stop Urko personally from sending a barge of explosives into the tunnel entrance. While the Underdwellers hold a final service
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