Teenage Cave Man

In a dry, barren, hilly area, a primitive cave-dwelling clan lives with the constant threat of starvation because of the scarcity of animals. A teenage Boy, son of the clan's advisor, the Symbol Maker, grows increasingly restless over the clan's strict taboos on traveling beyond their territory and demands permission from his father to go to the lush, well-stocked land beyond the river. The Symbol Maker counsels the Boy to maintain respect for the Law and reminds him that the land beyond the river contains many dangers, including dirt that devours men, gigantic animals and the god whose touch kills. Back at the main camp, the Boy questions the clan's three wise men, known as the Keepers of the Law, but they can only repeat proscribed phrases handed down over the generations. Soon after, the Symbol Maker leads the clan on a hunt and is attacked and injured by a large bear. As the Medicine Man and clan Elder tend to the Symbol Maker back at the caves, an ambitious Clansman goads the Boy into crossing the river in search of more food, thus sparing additional risk to the hunters. The Boy then challenges his friends to accompany him across the river for the good of the clan. Four other boys agree to make the daring journey and, armed with spears, the group departs. In the fertile jungle area beyond the river, the boys spot numerous animals, but the Boy tells them that the goal of their trip is not simply to procure food but to learn the truth about the region so that the clan may benefit. When the boys witness a violent battle between two enormous reptiles, two members flee in fear. Upon reuniting later, one of the boys falls into quicksand and is pulled under despite his friends' efforts to save him. Shaken, the boys return to the clan camp, but the Boy stubbornly remains behind. The Boy explores for a while, but later, is startled when his campfire attracts a strange, upright creature with a hideous head. The Boy flees in a panic, only to knock himself out against a tree. Two days later when the Symbol Maker revives from his injuries, he asks for his son and, upon learning that the Boy is missing, vows to go in search of him. The Clansman warns the Symbol Maker that if the Boy brings evil upon the clan, he must die. Meanwhile, the Boy recuperates and, after fashioning a bow and arrow from branches, kills a large stag. While carrying the carcass back toward the river, however, the Boy is beset by wild dogs and only saved by the arrival of his father. Back at the camp, the clan meets to discuss the fate of the Boy. Full of hatred for the Boy's resolve to bring change to the clan, the Clansman insists that the Boy has brought evil gods to them. Although the people agree with the Clansman, the Symbol Maker points out that no evil gods have yet arrived and suggests that the Boy be shunned until he reaches the age of manhood. When the Elder agrees, the Clansman is outraged and attacks the Boy until the Elder demands that the fight be stopped. The Boy is then shunned by the entire clan for many weeks. One afternoon, the Boy speaks to a pretty blonde Girl and describes the rich beauty of the land beyond the river. Because she is fond of the Boy, the Girl breaks the silence to warn him that a repeat trip will mean certain death. Their discussion is interrupted by panic in the camp at the arrival of a weary man dressed in a fur pelt and riding a horse. Unfamiliar with the man's garb and the horse, several clans people become overwrought, led by the hysterical admonitions of the Clansman to kill the "creature." The Boy pleads to spare the visitor, who clearly has traveled a great distance to come to them, but the Clansman attacks the stranger who utters the word "peace" before being speared to death. At a council meeting, the Symbol Maker tells the Elder and the Keepers that the arrival of the stranger changes everything because it indicates that life exists where the Law claims there was none. The Clansman is outraged and insists that because the Symbol Maker has disavowed the Law, he must be replaced. The Elder and Keepers agree, after which the Clansman is appointed the new Symbol Maker. A few months later, the clan celebrates the Boy's transition to manhood and he takes the Girl for his wife. Although the Boy and Girl live happily for some time, the Boy declares that nothing in the clan will ever change unless someone takes a risk to learn about the forbidden areas. Soon after, the Girl tells the Boy's father that the Boy has returned across the river, and he decides to follow. Suspecting that the Boy and his father have again violated the Law, the Clansman rallies several others to go after them to kill them. Across the river, the Boy and his father discover the strange creature, who holds out a hand to them. When the Clansman and the others arrive, wild dogs attack them. As the others fight off the dogs, the Boy attempts to communicate with the creature, and the Clansman climbs into a tree and then hurls a huge stone at the creature, killing it. The Boy then kills the Clansman. The Boy, his father and the others approach the creature and discover it is a very old man inside a heavy suit. Inside the suit, the Boy finds a book with strange writing and photos of men and the atomic blast that ended their civilization. Perplexed by the images and strange symbols, the Boy and his father declare the end of the old Law and beginning of a new Law. Returning to the camp, the men wonder how the book will affect their lives.