It's no secret that monkeys are excellent. If you want to be successful in this world, a monkey tie-in helps no end - just look at 1960s proto-boyband, The Monkees. Would they have even been half as successful if they hadn't gatecrashed the simian party, riding the coattails of those most excellent primates?
Sure, they may have been "cheeky", but they weren't really monkeys, and probably only adopted the name to get people to notice them. Would Vic Reeves have ever deemed them worthy of a cover version had they been called something else, like, say The Stoats, or Crumpet? It's questionable at best, and no way would he have got those kerayzee guys of EMF on board. But everyone loves monkeys, so they were sold - that's just the way of things.
By the same token, Planet Of The Apes was a born winner from the moment that French dude thought up the title. Numerous sequels later and it's clear that everyone loves monkeys - even when they're riding around on horses, tying us up and "beating us off", and stuff. It seems we can forgive them even the worst acts of oppression against us, because they're just so darned funnee when they do it.
A flick through Digi's script extracts from the latest film may give some clues as to why we're all such fawning fans of the hairy little cheeky guys...
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: Damn you dirty apes. You won't put me in a cage, like some... ape.
KING MONKEY: Hahaha! Humans are so funny! Look at him jump around!
HUMAN: Stop it! Stop pointing at me and stop that laughing!
MRS MONKEY: And you know what the funniest thing on TV ever was? That teabag advert, where all those humans sat around drinking tea!
KING MONKEY: Hahah! It's the taste! Hahahaha! Brilliant!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: Would you apes let me out of this cage, please?
KING MONKEY: What for?
HUMAN: So I can run around doing hilarious human stuff.
KING MONKEY: Well, OK. But you have to promise not to attack us or run away.
HUMAN: Yeah, yeah. Whatever.
KING MONKEY: OK. There you... OW! Hey - you punched me in the mouth, and have now run away!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape!
KING MONKEY: But I never touched you!
HUMAN: No, but that's what I would say if you ever touched me.
KING MONKEY: WellI'll just have to make sure I never do that, then.
HUMAN: Yeah, you do that.
KING MONKEY: Good. I will.
HUMAN: Good.
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: So, how come you monkeys managed to take over the world?
KING MONKEY: We just entertained the human leaders, by larking around, and then sort of took control while they were too busy laughing.
HUMAN: That's real ingenious.
KING MONKEY: Yes, and it was my idea.
HUMAN: Was this your idea too?
KING MONKEY: You put that banana-skin toilet paper down, you animal!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: Oh, I really wish I could escape from The Planet Of The Apes.
KING MONKEY: I'm afraid that won't be possible today - or any day! You see, this planet - The Planet Of The Apes - is actually Earth, in the far future!
HUMAN: Pff. Yeah, right.
KING MONKEY: Behold the truth!
HUMAN: What the...? What are you doing? What's setting fire to my spare pair of trousers got to do with it?
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
KING GORILLA: Graagh! All humans must be killed. Beginning... with YOU!
HUMAN: But you can't kill me just for being a human. I evolved from you!
KING GORILLA: I can do what I like. Prepare to die!
HUMAN: Don't you mean prepare to DANCE?
KING GORILLA: Cue the music! A-Oo-be-do! I want to be like you-be-do! I want to walk like you! Talk like you!
HUMAN: Ha ha! Monkeys are funny!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
KING GORILLA: So you're saying that you travelled here from the past, and that humans evolved from apes?
HUMAN: Yes, that's right.
KING GORILLA: But if this is your future, and humans supposedly evolved from apes, how come apes are now the dominant species on the planet? Bah! I've had enough of your stupid theory. Guards - tear his einsteins out!
HUMAN: Don't you mean "intestines"?
KING GORILLA: That's what I said. God!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
KING GORILLA: As you can see, human, we apes aren't so primitive. Observe my "futuristic" throne.
HUMAN: What, that rubber tyre hanging from a rope?
KING GORILLA: Yes. Look at this: whee! Haha! Wheee! I'm spinning around and around on my throne! Hahaha! This is brilliant fun.
HUMAN: Can I go now?
KING GORILLA: No. You must stay and watch me frolic some more.
EXT. APE CHURCH. DAY
KING GORILLA: Come, human, into the sanctuary of our most holy place. As you can see, we have placed statues of our greatest gods around the church.
HUMAN: Your gods? But isn't that...
KING GORILLA: Dunston, out of Dunston Checks In? Yes.
HUMAN: Pff. Next thing you're going to tell me that you also worship those stupid PG Tips chimps.
KING GORILLA: Blasphemy! How dare you mock our most revered icons?!
EXT. APE CHURCH. DAY
HUMAN: Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave The Planet Of The Apes now. It's been a lot of fun. Thanks for everything.
KING GORILLA: Remember, just click your heels together and say: "There's no place like home".
HUMAN: I'm afraid that won't be posible.
KING GORILLA: Why not?
HUMAN: My arthritis is playing up.
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: You know, I'd been expecting the Planet Of The Apes to be a really scary place, but as it happens you apes are a lot of fun.
KING GORILLA: More biscuits?
HUMAN: No thanks - I'm stuffed.
KING GORILLA: Go on. Have a biscuit.
HUMAN: No, really. I couldn't.
KING GORILLA: EAT MY BISCUIT, SNIVELLING HUMAN, OR I'LL TEAR OUT YOUR... heh. Ahem, I mean... fine!
EXT. APE VILLAGE. DAY
HUMAN: So, what do you apes do for fun?
KING GORILLA: We go... disco!
HUMAN: You go to a disco? And where is this disco?
KING GORILLA: No go disco. We do disco where are now good.
HUMAN: Why are you talking like a monosyllabic idiot? Five minutes ago, you were conversing normally.
KING GORILLA: Don't tell me how to talk, you repellent baldie.
EXT. APE PRISON. DAY
HUMAN: How long are you going to keep me in here?
GORILLA: Until we decide what we're going to do with you.
HUMAN: And how long is that likely to take?
GORILLA: Eight minutes. We need to receive guidance from our god, Dunston out of Dunston Checks In. He will decide if you are to be executed.
HUMAN: Dunston?! Oh wow! Is he here? Please - can you get me his autograph?!
EXT. APE CITY. DAY
KING MONKEY: Well, we had a lot of fun with Marky Mark the human, but he’s had to go back to his own time.
MARKY MARK: That's what you think, you crazy damn ape!
KING GORILLA: Marky Mark! You have returned!
MARKY MARK: That's right, but this time I'm really going to shake up your world with my fly-boy hip hop licks!
KING GORILLA: Wow! He's doing the crazy legs!
EXT. APE CITY. DAY
KING MONKEY: Get into the cage, you stupid human.
MARKY MARK: Why do I have to go into a cage?
KING GORILLA: Because your hairless form offends me.
MARKY MARK: What?! But that's stupid.
KING GORILLA: No it isn't. Seeing you standing there all hairless… it's like you're naked. Especially what with you wearing no clothes and all. And you can stop that gyrating right now!
EXT. APE CITY. DAY
KING MONKEY: What do you think you're doing, you stupid human? Why are you mashing that banana into your face?
MARKY MARK: Can't you tell? I'm mocking you, because you're a stupid monkey. Ha ha ha!
KING GORILLA: No, I'm an ape. And I don't particularly like bananas.
MARKY MARK: In that case… er… then… take this!
KING GORILLA: Aieee! He's thrown a bucket of acid in my gorilla face!
EXT. BUDGIE PRISON
ASTRONAUT: Excuse, me, Mr Budgie. Do you think you might be so kind as to let me go free?
BUDGIE: Negative! You are to be tried for crimes against budgies.
ASTRONAUT: Eh?! What am I supposed to have done?
BUDGIE: You broke the little mirror and the bell in our emperor's cage. And then you soiled the newspaper on the floor of his throne room.
ASTRONAUT: Oh yes. Now I remember!
Do you know of any important moments from the annals of Digi history that have been omitted? If so, then mail me (superpage58@gmail.com) right now, man. Credit will be duly given for anything that gets put up.
