Dances with Wolves Page #5

Timmons, is not what would be called a credit to his race.

If all teamsters were greaseballs he would be their absolute

ruler. His stink must be incredible. He leans over the side

of the wagon and hocks out a disgusting stream of spittle.

Afternoon shadows are slanting across the rolling ocean of

prairie. The wagon passes camera, headed towards an endless

expanse of prairie.

EXT. PRAIRIE - NIGHT

The sky is filled with stars. One suddenly catches fire and

shoots across the heavens.

EXT. CAMPFIRE - NIGHT

Dunbar sits at the fire watching the star burn out.

Timmons is bending over the fire. He farts, then turns to

Dunbar with a smile "good one, huh?".

He spits for good measure and for Dunbar, the moment is

broken, but not forgotten.

DUNBAR (V.O.)

Were it not for my companion I believe

I would be having the time of my

life. He is quite possibly the foulest

person I have ever met.

Looking over his shoulder at the journal, we see that this

latest entry is one of many and Dunbar is embellishing it

with a drawing of a star.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

Dunbar is off the seat riding atop the mountain of supplies.

He is writing in his journal.

DUNBAR (V.O.)

We have been gone four days now and

still we have seen no signs of life.

Only earth and sky.

Dunbar stops his writing.

DUNBAR:

How far do you make the fort?

TIMMONS:

Far.

DUNBAR:

How far?

TIMMONS:

Forty or fifty miles, maybe... what's

the big hurry on Sedgewick?

DUNBAR:

It's going to be my post... my home.

TIMMONS:

You ain't hard to please, I'll say

that.

Timmons slows the wagon and stops. He has seen something.

TIMMONS:

Look yonder.

EXT. PRAIRIE - DAY

A cluster of bones bleached white, are lying in the tall

grass. Human bones. Dunbar is squatting next to them. Timmons'

head dips into view over his shoulder and the teamster's

mouth splits into a toothless grin.

TIMMONS:

Somebody back east is sayin'... "why

don't he write?" Stupid bastard.

The teamster spits and starts for the wagon. Dunbar comes to

his feet and examines the burnt out remains of a wagon. Then,

he finds an arrow in the grassy wheel. Looking off he can

only guess at the drama here. The sun is sinking fast below

the great expanse of prairie.

EXT. SEDGEWICK BLUFF - DAWN

A hatless soldier in a tattered overcoat, CAPTAIN CARGILL,

is on the bluff staring morosely through his telescope. One

hand rubs a sore spot on his jaw. He sticks the telescope in

his overcoat pocket. He wedges a hand into his mouth and

wiggles a loose tooth. He gives it a tug but it is not ready

to come out.

The breeze is coming up and Captain Cargill pulls his overcoat

closed. As he slips his last button through the hole, it

breaks off, bounces off of his foot and rolls a few feet

down the bluff.

Captain Cargill watches the button forlornly, making no move

to go after it. He raises his head once more and looks to

the east. Nothing is out there.

EXT. SEDGEWICK CUT BANK - DAWN

Cargill is walking along the base of the cut bank. He stops,

staring up at a series of holes dug into the bluff. Their

entrance covered with "found" draperies of all description.

He works up the courage to call out.

CARGILL:

Corporal Guest... Corporal Guest...

Corporal Guest. Corporal Guest, you

don't have to talk to me... just

please come out.

At last there's some real movement behind one of the holes

and CORPORAL GUEST crawls through one of the curtains. He

neither salutes nor speaks. He blinks down at Cargill, looking

more like a hobo than a soldier.

CARGILL:

It's the end... assemble the men in

front of my quarters.

EXT. CARGILL'S QUARTERS - DAY

The "MEN" have lined up in front of Cargill's sad, sod hut;

pitiful men. Sick, moth-eaten, crushed in spirit. There are

nine of them. Just behind Cargill is a half-collapsed supply

house and a broken down corral holding two bony horses.

Cargill has a brave face and a broken heart.

CARGILL:

You hate me... but I feel none of

the same for you... you men stayed.

You stayed after they took all our

horses. You stayed after all the

others deserted. You stayed on the

promise that the army would resupply

us. I've looked for that wagon from

Fort Hays just as you have... day

after miserable day. All I can say

is that I'm proud of you. Get your

things men, we're leaving this place.

The army... can go to hell.

The zombie troops have already broken ranks, lurching back

to their holes and gear like a gang of drunks.

Cargill walks out of frame to reveal the broken down sign

that hangs askew above his quarters: "Fort Sedgewick."

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