Dances with Wolves Page #29

DANCES WITH WOLVES

I would not think so.

A little silence.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

Show me where you hit her.

He taps his jaw. She makes a fist and brushes very gently at

the point of his jaw. Dances With Wolves' eyes flutter. They

roll up in his head and he keels over backward... out cold.

She goes with the joke. Bending over him she slaps lightly

at each side of his cheeks, until Dances With Wolves revives.

He sits up, rubbing his jaw.

Neither one acknowledges the joke and, a sudden awkwardness

falls between them. Stands With A Fist fiddles shyly with

the ties on the water bags while Dances With Wolves draws

lines in the earth with a stick.

Finally he works up the courage to ask a delicate question.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

Why are you not married?

The question comes as a jolt to Stands With A Fist. She stops

her fiddling. A visible stiffness overtakes her. She quickly

stands up.

STANDS WITH A FIST

I must go.

Dances With Wolves doesn't know what to do. He only knows

that he should not have asked the question. She slings the

heavy bags over her shoulders and starts back up the path.

Dances With Wolves jumps to his feet.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

I'm sorry. Let me help...

But the words are delivered to her back. She is already

hurrying up the path with her heavy load.

STANDS WITH A FIST

No.

Five ponies have wondered into the middle of the path. She

kicks violently at the nearest innocent bystander. The horses

shy out of the way.

He's left alone at the waters edge, frustrated and confused.

He watches her go for a moment. Then he lets the stick drop

from his hand. He stares at it for a second then gives it a

vicious little kick.

INT. KICKING BIRD'S LODGE - DAY

Stands With A Fist is sitting in the middle of the lodge,

she starts when Black Shawl walks in.

BLACK SHAWL:

You are not talking today?

STANDS WITH A FIST

No, I'm not.

Black Shawl gives her a deeper look, then lets it go.

INT. ARBOR - DUSK

The sun is setting and the village is settling in for the

evening.

INT. DANCES WITH WOLVES' LODGE - NIGHT

Lying on his bed, Dances With Wolves looks sleepy as he stares-

across at the small fire. Even, in his drowsiness, it is

easy to see he's concentrating... in this case on a certain

someone.

INT. ARBOR - DAY

Again, Dances With Wolves is waiting. This time, not so

patiently. He gives up and leaves in search of something.

EXT. INDIAN VILLAGE - DAY

Dances With Wolves is wandering through the village, half-

heartedly looking for Stands With A Fist. The day is very

hot and the village is quiet. Most of the people have gone

to shade.

He sees Stone Calf sitting in the shade behind a lodge. A

newly made shield hangs from a tripod and he is painting a

design on it.

EXT. STONE CALF'S LODGE - DAY

Dances With Wolves sits in the shade with Stone Calf, watching

the older man paint.

STONE CALF:

Some of your words are wrong... but

you are learning fast. That is good.

What can I tell you today?

Dances With Wolves is a little taken aback. The elder has

read his mind. He decides to speak it.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

I want to know about Stands With A

Fist.

For the first time, Stone Calf leaves his work. He gives his

visitor a quick and penetrating look. Then he goes back to

his shield.

STONE CALF:

What is your question?

DANCES WITH WOLVES

There is no man with her.

Stone Calf considers before he speaks. It is not something

he wants to get into.

STONE CALF:

She is in mourning.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

I do not understand "mourning".

STONE CALF:

She is crying for someone.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

Crying for who?

STONE CALF:

It is not polite to speak of the

dead... But I will tell you... you

are new. She cries for her husband.

He was killed not long ago.

The blood has gone out of Dances With Wolves' face. He tries

to digest this.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

How long will she cry?

STONE CALF:

It is Kicking Bird's place to say

when she is finished.

INT. KICKING BIRD'S LODGE - DAY

Stands With A Fist kneels before Black Shawl, the older woman

is combing out the tangles in her hair. Black Shawl senses a

tension in the girl and gently tries to pry it out of her.

BLACK SHAWL:

People are talking about you...

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