Dances with Wolves Page #24

Embarrassed, the lieutenant averts his eyes, they happen

over the forms of Kicking Bird's deeply sleeping children,

the low-burning fire, and settle on Stands With A Fist's

back.

Lieutenant Dunbar, the sounds of lovemaking floating over

him, peers again in that direction only to meet the smiling

eyes of Kicking Bird and his wife.

Embarrassed again, he stares open-eyed at the ceiling. He

looks like a man who knows something is happening but doesn't

know what it is.

Stands With A Fist's eyes are open too. She doesn't move.

EXT. VILLAGE - DAWN

The faintest seam of light is starting to glow on the eastern

horizon.

EXT. KICKING BIRD'S LODGE - DAWN

The camera pans off the tipi to the eastern horizon.

It's the pony herd. And Dunbar is walking in that direction.

His feet leave a trail in the wet grass.

First one, then two, then whole groups of ponies lift their

heads and prick their ears at Dunbar's approach.

Dunbar walks to the edge of this great sea of horses, he

stops and gives a long whistle.

A figure, previously unseen, sits up on the back of a pony.

It's Smiles A Lot. He and Dunbar glance blankly at each other.

But in a moment, both are distracted by movement in the herd.

Horses are being gently eased out of the way by Cisco who is

answering Dunbar's call. A moment later and they are reunited

at the edge of the herd.

Grasping a hunk of Cisco's mane, Dunbar starts to lead him

back to the village. The temporary camp is starting to come

to life. And with Cisco at his side, Dunbar pauses to take

in the scene.

EXT. SEDGEWICK - DUSK

An escort of six warriors is galloping up the bluff to join

the rest of the column as they make their way back to camp.

Dunbar looks on, a travois of meat next to him and gives a

last wave.

DUNBAR (V.O.)

To stay any longer would've been

useless. We had all the meat we could

possibly carry. We had hunted for

three days, losing half a dozen ponies

and only three men injured. Many

times I have felt alone but until

this afternoon, I have never felt

completely lonely.

INT. QUARTERS - DAY

The person we see from the waist up bears little resemblance

to the Lieutenant Dunbar we've known.

His long hair hides his face on his slightly bent head. His

skin is not so white anymore, and the great bone-pipe

breastplate covers his torso.

Dunbar starts to write and stops, he repeats this action. It

is clear that as Lieutenant Dunbar, he can find nothing to

say. He lays the pen down momentarily.

DUNBAR (V.O.)

Made a long patrol today. There is

nothing to report. The truth is I am

bored.

There is the scurry of movement and the scratch of tiny paws.

His eyes roam to the place in the corner where sacks of flour

and hard biscuits and other provisions are stored. Watching

the sacks more closely, he sees that they are infested with

mice.

Restlessly, he walks to the doorway, gazing out onto the old

fort. The awning is beginning to tear at the corner. And

then he spots something.

EXT. QUARTERS - DAY

A large prairie chicken is lying in front of the quarters.

Dunbar squats next to it. It's neck carries punctures, and

when he dabs a finger on the wounds, he finds that the blood

is still wet. The lieutenant rises slowly, his sharp eyes

sweeping the fort.

He's waiting patiently in his usual spot on the bluff

overlooking the river. Two Socks.

Dunbar smiles and shakes his head. Watching his old friend,

he picks up the bird and begins to pluck with an ease that

suggests he's had some experience.

EXT. QUARTERS - NIGHT

Dunbar is gnawing happily at the last of the bird, still on

its skewer. After a couple of bites, he slips the carcass

off the stick and chucks it out to Two Socks. He licks his

fingers and gazes out into the night.

DUNBAR (V.O.)

Though only two days it seems like a

week. I am missing the company of my

new friends. I can see all of their

faces, but somehow it is not enough.

Tomorrow, I will make an unannounced

visit. After all, they are my

neighbors, what can it hurt?

EXT. BLUFF - NIGHT

Two Socks has taken his dinner and retreated to the shadows.

He munches contentedly until a strange sound jolts him to

attention.

At the fort is an odd sight. Dunbar is dancing around the

fire, occasionally singing out an energetic whoop.

Two Socks is caught up in the scene and lets out a howl of

his own. It could be the stone age.

EXT. BLUFF - NIGHT

The silhouettes of three Indians are watching the strange

performance below. One of them is Wind In His Hair. Down

below Dunbar continues to dance.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

There is nothing for miles.

Cisco and Dunbar are walking toward us. His boots are pretty

worn and his striped trousers have faded to almost nothing.

The breastplate shines in the sun. His rifle lies in the

crook of his arm, Indian style.

Dunbar twists around on Cisco and looks back across the

prairie. He calls out.

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