The Final Journey Page #10

She watches Tato throw his spear at a snowman from a

respectable distance.

He scores a direct hit to the snowman’s chest, toppling it,

and raises his arms in triumph.

Isha nods, acknowledging his good aim, but puts up a halting

finger. She painfully gets up and, indicating for Tato to pay

attention, creeps to him in a stealthy manner.

Tato knows what she is doing and nods, embarrassed.

Isha shakes her head and stomps through the snow making big

movements and A LOT OF NOISE. Tato nods again.

Isha smiles and grabs his spear for him, giving it back to

him in an impressed, encouraging manner.

42.

ISHA:

(in choppy Attopa)

Good, Tatomatahun. Good.

Tato smiles at her approval, and use of his language, until

HIS STOMACH GROWLS.

Isha raises a sober eyebrow at him and returns to the fire.

Tato looks around, thinking.

A look of determination grows in his eyes. Gripping his spear

with sudden purpose, Tato runs off into the night.

Isha watches him go, then grins at the fire.

ROCKY FIELD - MORNING

Isha awakens to the sound of SOMETHING CRACKLING.

She turns to find Tato cooking several ptarmigans (birds)

over the fire with his spear.

Tato smiles and creeps along the ground as Isha had

instructed, then points at the three ptarmigans.

Isha smiles with delight.

ARCTIC FIELD - LATER

The temperature has dropped. Isha and Tato are bundled up as

they follow the bear tracks, glancing with concern at the

dark clouds moving in above.

They come to an overhang where the tracks run down a steep

incline then cross a short expanse to an ice cave.

Numerous tracks to and from the cave tells them they have

found the bear’s home. Most of the tracks lead around the

incline to the left, and out of sight.

Isha notes the fear returning to Tato’s eyes-- the look of

someone who has stumbled upon the lair of a mortal enemy.

Tato removes his pack extra slow, trying to delay the

inevitable, and sets it in the snow.

He checks his spear, and the stone knife on his belt, then

looks at Isha. A swallow catches in his throat.

Isha opens her mouth, but closes it again-- not knowing what

to say, nor how to even say it.

43.

Tato smiles, understanding, and with a “here goes nothing”

look, creeps down the incline.

Isha watches him go, growing nervous. Finally:

ISHA:

(loud whisper)

Tato!

Tato peers back from halfway down the incline.

Isha motions for him to come back up. She throws a dismissive

wave at the cave and offers an embarrassed half-smile.

Tato considers going back up, but instead returns her half-

smile and creeps down the rest of the incline.

Isha looks as scared as Tato as he approaches the cave,

glancing everywhere, ready for an ambush at any moment.

He slows down, little by little, until his fear wins out and

he stops ten feet from the cave.

Isha’s eyes widen, nervous Tato has seen or heard something.

Nothing happens for a long time-- Tato just stands frozen,

staring at the cave as a COLD WIND BLOWS.

AN OWL HOOTS SOMEWHERE ABOVE, and Tato’s paralysis breaks.

HE RUNS, PETRIFIED, to the side of the cave, pressing his

back against the ice and closing his eyes.

Isha watches, anxious. Tato shakes his head, but it is hard

to tell if this is fear or anger at himself.

He looks very much like a boy again and Isha’s heart goes out

to him. She looks around but doesn’t know what to do.

Snow falls and Isha looks at the sky.

High above, she spots the white owl flying. ANOTHER HOOT

reaches her on the WIND.

The strange calmness returns to her, and she looks at Tato

mouthing a prayer of some kind.

With a determined look, Isha drops her pack and descends.

HEARING SOMETHING APPROACH IN THE SNOW, Tato opens his eyes

in a panic and is shocked to see Isha heading for the cave.

Isha points at Tato in a way that says “you stay right

there,” then DISAPPEARS INSIDE.

44.

Tato’s surprise melts to indignation. He peeks...

INSIDE THE CAVE:

Isha creeps down a long corridor of rock and ice toward a

GLOWING BLUE LIGHT.

She notes animal bones all over the floor. A FOX SKULL

EXPLODES WITH A CRUNCH BENEATH HER FOOT and she freezes.

OUTSIDE, Tato nervously grabs his head.

INSIDE, nothing happens. Isha creeps forward again.

She reaches the end of the corridor and presses her back

against the wall, bracing herself.

Isha sees Tato peering at her from outside, eyes wide.

She summons her courage and peeks around the wall at a

VAST CAVERN, lit by a wall of ice on one side that GLOWS

BRIGHT BLUE IN THE FADING DAYLIGHT.

In the center, snowflakes, illuminated by a thin shaft of

light, twinkle down from a hole in the ceiling.

Hundreds of bones lie everywhere, as do several big pieces of

driftwood that must have been carried in by humans long ago.

Scraggy bushes and spiny vegetation grow here and there.

And in the back of the cavern, against the glowing ice wall,

is a clearing of dried grasses where the bear must sleep.

But there is no sign of the bear.

Relieved, Isha looks back at Tato watching with bated breath.

Isha smiles and notices snow falling behind him.

Making up her mind about something, she walks back...

OUTSIDE:

Tato stares dumbfounded as Isha scrambles back up the incline

and grabs their packs.

She returns, pointing up as she walks back into the cave.

ISHA:

It’s snowing out.

45.

Tato gazes after her in disbelief.

He looks up at the falling snow then checks the direction the

bear tracks lead. With a sigh, he enters the cave.

INSIDE THE CORRIDOR

Tato walks slow, noting the bones-- spear at the ready.

At the end, he peeks around the wall.

BLUE-LIT CAVERN

Tato’s eyes widen, finding Isha digging through his pack on

the bear’s straw bed.

She retrieves his flint rocks and holds them out to him as

she walks over to the light shaft.

Snow still filters down from the hole above. Isha stands in

an area where it does not fall.

ISHA:

Here. Make fire.

Isha points at the ground then up at the ceiling.

ISHA (CONT’D)

Smoke go up through hole.

Tato points at the bear’s bed and the corridor behind him.

TATO:

Uk-thluk?!

Isha does not appear worried.

ISHA:

Make Fire. Keep Uk-thluk away.

Isha sparks the flints together and makes running away

motions with her fingers. She then drops the flints and waves

her hands in pain from the pantomime she just did.

Tato frowns. Isha gathers fuel as best she can for a fire.

Tato looks out of the cave where there is only swirling snow.

Shaking his head, he walks over and stands over the flint

rocks like a pouting child.

46.

He catches Isha glance at him as she bends to grab some

twigs. He puffs himself up, perturbed.

TATO:

Isha!

Tato points at himself and makes an attacking motion like he

is throwing his spear.

TATO (CONT’D)

Tatomatahun, hunter! Kill Uk-thluk.

He acts out killing a bear to get his message across.

TATO (CONT’D)

Not Isha! Isha no hunt Uk-thluk!

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