The Final Journey

I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul,

Where I’ll end up, well I think, only God really knows...”

--Cat Stevens, THE WIND

Authors Note:

This script is about Inuits (Eskimos) of long ago. It was written

to be an extremely visual story-telling experience. As such, all

characters speak in Inuit dialects but it was the author's intent

that no subtitles would be needed for an audience to understand

what is happening at any point in the tale.

As to a director's intention, that will be up to her... :)

FADE IN:

EXT. MANPICHU WINTER CAMP - SUNSET

Ten square huts made of wood, bone, rock and fur snuggle in

an alcove of high cliffs bordering a frozen harbor and an

immense field of snow.

YOUNG ISHA, 5, wearing trousers and a coat with the hood

drawn tight around her face in the tradition of her people,

runs through the camp looking nervous.

She fiddles with something in her hand as she hurries past

scenes familiar to her way of life:

A woman digs food out of a snow pile beside her hut.

A few bold men make weapons, and a kayak, in the cold.

A man and woman play in the snow with their children and dog.

Isha stops at a hut with four low benches out front made of

log-halves. Three are covered by woven grass mats.

Isha stares with trepidation at the bare bench, then enters

the hut by crawling into a low, small hole.

INT. HUT - CONTINUOUS

Isha crawls through a tunnel leading down a few feet, then up

again (to prevent flooding), emerging in a great square room.

A CROWD is gathered around something Isha cannot see because

of her height, but SHE HEARS A WOMAN CHANTING IN INUIT.

Isha pushes by everyone to find her graven father NATO, 40,

and obedient mother NUTCHA, 35, sitting cross-legged behind

her elderly grandmother IMMANNA, 80.

All three face the chanting woman who stands before them

RECITING HER SONG WITH VIGOR.

When the song ends, Immanna nods and the woman recedes into

the crowd.

A young man replaces her and RECITES ANOTHER SONG IN INUIT.

Nato notices Isha and beckons her.

Isha moves to him, keeping low. Immanna smiles as she passes,

and Isha smiles back.

2.

Reaching Nato, however, her smile disappears. She shows him

what she carries-- a necklace with a walrus-ivory pendant

carved in the likeness of a snow owl.

Displeased by the pendant, Nato shoves Isha to the ground.

The reciting young man STOPS SINGING, alarmed. Immanna looks

at Isha, who puts her head down, embarrassed.

Immanna nods at the young man who nods back and returns to

the crowd. Nobody takes his place.

Nato stands and lifts Isha by the ear, WHISPERING SOMETHING

TO HER and pointing at the hut entrance.

Isha nods and runs back through the crowd towards it.

But when she reaches the entrance, AVANNTA, an Angakok (Holy

Man), enters, rising to an unsettling height above her.

Isha stares up at him in awe, but despite the black lines

tattooed on his face, and his collar and crown of elaborate

feathers and long grasses, he offers her a gentle smile.

Avannta takes Isha’s hand and marches her back to Nato, who

appears nervous as they approach.

Glaring at Nato, Avannta holds out his hand to Isha.

Isha gives Avannta the pendant and glances anxiously at

Immanna who stifles a laugh.

Avannta holds the necklace out before Nato and all present.

Everyone bows their head in reverence, including Nato.

AVANNTA:

(Reminder:
all dialogue is

in real Inuit dialect

with no subtitles)

I knew you would not listen to your

daughter! I gave her the amulet to

present to you until I came, but

this was not good enough for you!

You treat her in a manner that

could curse your family through the

ages! No respect for the young

leads to no respect for the old,

and so ends everything!

Nato lowers his head in fearful obedience.

Avannta steps before Immanna and bows. Immanna bows back and

he holds the pendant above her. CHANTING:

3.

AVANNTA (CONT’D)

Oh, great spirits of the world,

take pity on this kind soul who now

does this deed of love for her

family, and those of her village.

Guide her well so she may become

one with your wondrous light.

Finished, Avannta thrusts the pendant at Nato and storms back

through the parting crowd, disappearing from the hut.

When he is gone, everyone turns to Nato. Embarrassed, Nato

glances at Isha who returns a shy smile.

Anger swells inside him, but he bites it back and turns to

Immanna with the pendant.

NATO:

Immanna, we thank you for your

sacrifice, and the life you give

us. We will honor your name and

memory for all time.

Nato places the necklace on Immanna, and everyone CHEERS.

Isha CHEERS as well, but is confused about what is happening.

Immanna nods in thanks, then stands with the help of Nato.

With shaking hands, she tries to grab a small, seal-hide bag

beside her with an owl etched on it like her necklace. Isha

grabs it and nimbly helps her put it over her head.

Immanna smiles again at Isha, this time revealing she no

longer has any teeth, and caresses Isha’s face.

IMMANNA:

Isha, Isha, Isha...

Immanna walks through the crowd towards the exit.

People take her hand as she passes, and bow their foreheads

to her palm. Immanna nods to each in return.

At the exit, she glances around the hut for the last time,

then bends slowly and crawls out.

EXT. HUT - CONTINUOUS

Immanna exits to find more people have gathered outside.

She passes through them, each bowing to her as well, then

walks off towards the snow-covered tundra bordering the camp.

4.

Isha and Nato emerge from the hut, and Nato BLOWS A GREAT

MUSK-OX HORN.

Everyone follows Immanna, others from camp stopping what they

are doing and joining the procession.

Isha grows excited as they march, but is still confused about

what is going on-- everything seeming both a merry and solemn

occasion beyond her comprehension.

AT THE EDGE OF CAMP

Three hunters returning from a hunt with a caribou see what

is happening and honor Immanna with bows.

They fall in with the crowd as Immanna stops at the edge of

camp and turns to regard everyone.

IMMANNA:

Thank you for seeing me off. Having

become only a burden, I hope, in

leaving, to bring you all long life

and happiness.

Isha goes pale with shock. She shakes her head and tries to

run to Immanna but Nutcha holds her back.

Immanna sees Isha’s turmoil. She bends before Isha and pulls

from her bag a small wooden sculpture of a winged woman

reaching to the sky with outstretched arms.

She hands this to Isha and watches her look at it. Crying,

Isha buries her face in Immanna’s neck, hugging her tight.

YOUNG ISHA:

Don’t go, Immanna. Please.

IMMANNA:

Be strong, young one. One day I

pray you grow to understand what I

now do for you.

Isha shakes her head, trying to stop the inevitable, and

grips Immanna until Nutcha pulls her away.

Immanna wipes Isha’s tears and reaches into the sky with a

triumphant smile, looking like the figurine she gave Isha.

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