In 1888 off the coast of Africa, a father, his wife, and infant son escape a burning ship
and arrive in the unexplored jungles of Africa, where they build themselves a treehouse in which to live
("Two Worlds"). Meanwhile, a gorilla couple named Kerchak and Kala lose their
son to a leonard named Sabor. As they move to another nest area, Kala hears an infant
crying and follows it back to the treehouse. She investigates the treehouse and discovers that it is ransacked and the parents
of the baby dead. As she looks around the treehouse, she notices a trail of large, bloody cat-like pawprints marked across
the floor. Frightened, she rears back and finds a recent photograph of the family together. Kala hears more infantile crying
and finds the human baby in an overturned basket. Immediately reminded of her own lost child, Kala feels remorse for the baby
boy. Suddenly Sabor appears out of nowhere, hungry for human flesh. After a short chase, Kala and the baby escape the treehouse
and run into the jungle to rejoin the gorillas. Upon arriving, Kala's mate Kerchak, also the leader of the gorillas, does
not like the baby because he is human. Kerchak orders Kala to abandon the child, but Kala protests. Kerchak sympathizes with
Kala and allows her to keep the boy, but he makes it clear that the child is hers and not his. Kala names the child Tarzan
and treats him as one of her own ("You'll Be in My Heart"). As time passes, Tarzan, now ten years old, tries to fit in with the other gorillas ("Son
of Man"). He makes friends with a male gorilla named Turk. Eight years later, Tarzan grows up into an adult and is
attacked by Sabor the leopard. Tarzan kills Sabor and earns the respect of Kerchak. Suddenly a gunshot is heard from far away.
As the gorillas leave, Tarzan follows the sound and sees three humans: Professor Porter, his daughter Jane,
and their hunter guide Clayton. Tarzan saves Jane from some angry baboons and tries
to communicate with her as he can't speak English. Meanwhile, Terk and some of his gorilla friends stumble
upon the campsite of the Professor, Jane, and Clayton. Mesmerized by the many strange human objects, the gorillas begin to
destroy the entire camp ("Trashin' the Camp"). Jane and Tarzan return to the camp and find it ransacked
by Tarzan's friends. After some introductions, Kerchak angrily appears. Tarzan and the gorillas leave and Prof. Porter and
Clayton arrive. Back in the jungle, Kerchak instructs the gorillas to stay away from the strangers. Tarzan protests, saying
that the humans are not dangerous, but Kerchak is unwilling to believe him. Kala tries to make Tarzan understand the danger,
but instead Tarzan angrily asks her why she never told him that there were others who look like him. After some time, Tarzan secretly returns to the camp and is introduced to Prof. Porter and Clayton. Together,
the three teach Tarzan about the human world ("Strangers Like Me"). Repeatedly Tarzan is asked
about the whereabouts of the gorillas, but he is unwilling to disclose their location because of Kerchak. One day while returning
to the campsite, Tarzan sees everything being packed up. He asks Jane what is happening, and she tells him that a boat has
come to take the three back to England. Tarzan does not understand why Jane has to leave, but Clayton explains that if he
leads them to the gorillas they would not have to leave. Tarzan leads them to Kala and Terk, but Kerchak appears and is hostile
to Tarzan and his company. As the others flee, Kerchak scolds Tarzan and he angrily flees. Kala senses the sorrow in Tarzan
and decides to show him the treehouse where she found him. There Tarzan finds the picture of his mother, father, and himself
as a baby. Now knowing where he must go, Tarzan puts on his father's old formal suit and joins up with Jane. However, the gorillas are attacked by Clayton and Kerchak is murdered by Clayton's rifle but Tarzan interferes.
Tarzan is about to kill Clayton, but Professor Porter tells him not to, that they can handle it a more peaceful way and Tarzan
lets him go. Tarzan becomes the leader of the gorillas. Tarzan says goodbye to Jane and Porter as they board the ship, but Jane decides that she loves him and returns,
later followed by Porter. The curtain closes with a kiss by Tarzan and Jane.
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