Dances with Wolves Page #14

DUNBAR (V.O.)

Since I arrived at this post I have

been walking on eggs. It has become

a bad habit and I am sick of it.

Tomorrow morning I will ride out to

the Indians. I do not know the outcome

or the wisdom of this thinking. But

I have become a target and a target

makes a poor impression. I am through

waiting.

EXT. CORRAL - DAY

The buckskin's ears are pricked and his eyes are set.

Something has his complete attention.

The "something" is Lieutenant John Dunbar. He looks like a

recruiting poster: full dress uniform, red sash, saber

clanking at his side, hair tied in a neat pony tail, knee-

length riding boots. And all of it is gleaming... from the

brass buttons to the gold epaulettes to the army issue belt

buckle.

The red sash flutters and Cisco shies to one side. Dunbar

slaps at the sash, calms his horse and jumps on.

We stop with them at the supply house. Old Glory is standing

against one of the crumbling walls. The flag has been affixed

to a long willow branch. Dunbar sweeps it up and sticks the

staff into one of his boots.

They start off at a jog, the flag popping in the stiff morning

breeze. Just as they are getting small in the distance, Two

Socks comes into view.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

Lieutenant Dunbar has ridden deep into the prairie. Watching

the sky, he takes a drink out of his canteen. The lieutenant

hears something, he turns Cisco in that direction. He listens

harder. A weird sort of singing. Warily he goes ahead.

EXT. KNOLL - DAY

Stands With A Fist is sitting under a solitary cottonwood.

Her hands are folded on her lap. A blood-stained knife is

held between them. She has ritually slashed her arms. The

cuts are not deep -- but all are running with blood. Blood

pours from a deep cut in her thigh.

She lets her song fade to nothing and bows her head. She

dabs at a large pool of blood spreading in the ground next

to her thigh. Suddenly she's alert. Stands With A Fist has

heard something too... a strange popping sound. She turns.

The gleaming buckskin horse is standing thirty or forty feet

behind her on the top of the knoll. A white soldier is sitting

on the horse. A white soldier with a sword, a bright uniform

and a red sash. And most amazing of all, no face.

A shift in the breeze has wrapped the popping red, white,

and blue flag around his head. One of the soldier's hands is

trying to claw it away from his face.

Dunbar pulls the flag away.

It's an Indian woman alright. But now that she is staring at

him open-mouthed and afraid, he can see that there is

something odd about her.

Too late for further study. She's risen and has taken a slow

step backward from the knoll. She's covered with blood.

Reflexively, he offers a helping hand and calls after her.

DUNBAR:

Wait...

She's still backing down the hill, her steps a little faster

now. He's following her at a walk.

DUNBAR:

Wait... you're hurt.

She's reached the base of the knoll and has begun to run.

Dunbar is trotting after her.

DUNBAR:

Let me help you.

She's too weak to run and falls face first in the grass. She

starts to crawl.

Dunbar slips off Cisco and reaches down tentatively for her

shoulder. She screams at his touch and he pulls away. But he

follows on foot as she crawls.

DUNBAR:

You're hurt... you need help.

He takes her again, this time holding her firmly. She

struggles mightily, twisting onto her back. She lashes out

at his face but he grabs her hands, holding them tight.

They're nose to nose.

STANDS WITH A FIST

Don't...

He can't believe he heard it and she can't believe she said

it.

She spits out a Stream of Sioux curses, throws her head back

and wails like a wolf. Then she passes out.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

She's lying in the same spot, still unconscious. The cuts on

her arms have been bandaged up with strips of Old Glory.

Modestly, Dunbar lifts her dress to get at the bad thigh

wound. As he ties it off, the lieutenant notices how white

her skin is. He runs a finger over it. She is very still and

he presses an ear to her heart. She's still breathing.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

Dunbar is on Cisco. His big impression is gone. The uniform,

and his hands and face are smeared with Stands With A Fist's

blood. The girl is slung in front of him.

His arms are holding her. Her face is pressed against his

chest. They've come a good distance and are approaching a

smokey cloud.

EXT. PONY HERD - DAY

Smiles A Lot, Worm and Otter (who now sports a crude splint

on his arm) are occupying an open space in the midst of a

huge pony herd.

They should be on guard against enemies but the three boys

are sitting on the ground, absorbed in a gambling game.

EXT. PONY HERD - DAY

Dunbar is skirting the edge of the herd. Leaving the horses

behind him, the lieutenant makes his way up a gentle slope.

A powerful vision is upon him.

Ten Bears' village is rising slowly, like a curtain going

up. The smoke from many fires, the willow poles fanning

against the sky, the conical houses covered with well-used

hides, the horses along the river, the children, the women,

the men. An ancient tableau, fully alive before his eyes.

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