The Final Journey Page #3

LARGE TENT - END FLASHBACK

SONTO BARKS AT ISHA, pulling her out of her thoughts.

SONTO:

Did you not hear Nadda?!

Isha looks at Nadda who speaks to Isha like a subordinate.

NADDA:

I could really go for some of

Kogi’s black duck.

Nadda points at KOGI, 40, walking around with strips of black

duck meat on a plate.

SONTO:

Go! And bring me a strip as well!

Isha gets up and tracks down Kogi.

She returns with several strips of duck which Sonto and Nadda

snatch up without even looking at her.

Sonto points at OGGA, 60, an old woman boiling a brew of

berries and blubber as she chats with others.

SONTO (CONT’D)

Now get four bowls of Ogga’s berry

broth for your family. Five

if you want one for yourself...

Isha nods with dread and carries five bowls to Ogga.

10.

Ogga smiles at Isha, but notices her squint when she fills

the bowls with thick, hot brew.

OGGA:

Are you alright Isha?

Isha nods, biting back pain. When the bowls are full, Isha

makes her way back cringing-- her hands shaking dangerously.

Ogga watches her with a sad, knowing look.

Isha somehow manages to reach her family without dropping a

bowl, but as everyone takes one, nobody noticing or caring

about her pain, two spill to the floor.

Sonto stands, agitated.

SONTO:

What is the matter with you?!

Isha smiles in apology, distractedly rubbing her wrists.

Sonto notices and she stops. Looking around, Isha realizes

everyone in camp is staring.

Isha smiles deceptively and, indicating she is going for a

walk, disappears into the crowd.

EDGE OF THE GATHERING - MOMENTS LATER

Out of sight, Isha rubs her hands again as she watches all

the families, their old included, having a good time.

She also catches women eyeing her suspiciously as they chat.

Isha stops rubbing her hands and stands alone and bored.

Dejected, she pulls from her pocket the small sculpture of

the winged woman Immanna gave her the day she left.

The sculpture is old now, discolored, with one hand broken.

Isha stares at it sadly, then looks at her own ruined hands.

CHOKO (O.S.)

Grandma! Grandma!

Choko runs over, excited, with an intricate scene sewn onto

an animal skin of a man fighting a polar bear with a spear.

Isha puts the sculpture away and points at the skin.

11.

ISHA:

Did you make this?

Choko nods. Isha smiles, amazed.

ISHA (CONT’D)

Very good, Choko! Very good!

Choko beams and runs off to show others the skin.

Watching Choko impress everyone, Isha gets an idea.

INT. IMMANNA’S HUT - FLASHBACK

Young Isha sits in Immanna’s lap as Immanna teaches her how

to properly sew skins into clothes.

Isha marvels at the power in Immana’s hands as Immana makes

skintight seams with beautiful patterns.

YANTAVVA (V.O.)

Isha... Isha...

EXT. ISHA’S HUT - DAY - END FLASHBACK

YANTAVVA:

Isha?!

Present-day Isha comes out of her daydream to find herself

sitting with Yantavva, Jokka and Innta outside their hut.

She has again zoned out into her own thoughts and has not

been working on her blanket.

The women regard Isha with simmering contempt.

Isha turns away from them. She sighs at her blanket, then

passes her needle through the material, cringing with pain.

CHOKO (O.S.)

Grandma!

Choko runs up and hugs Isha, then stares in awe at her

blanket. Isha shows her the decorative seam she is stitching.

ISHA:

You see what I have done? Do you

think you can do the same?

Choko nods. Isha gives her the needle.

12.

ISHA (CONT’D)

Show me.

Isha throws a sly glance at Yantavva, Jokka and Innta who

watch with disapproval as Choko does Isha’s work for her.

Isha nods proudly as she watches Choko’s every move,

correcting her when she goes astray.

ISHA (CONT’D)

Good. Good. No, no-- be careful

with your loops...

INT. ISHA’S HUT - NIGHT

Isha sits alone in her corner chewing crimps into walrus-skin

soles intended for mukluks.

Everyone else is gathered in the center of the hut, around a

main fire, listening to Sonto TELL STORIES.

Isha suddenly cringes and puts her hand to her jaw in pain.

Yantavva, Jokka and Innta notice and whisper to each other.

Isha turns away, angry, and opens her mouth to continue

crimping, but CRIES OUT IN PAIN.

Sonto pauses his story as everyone turns to stare at Isha.

Embarrassed, Isha waves for Sonto to continue.

Annoyed, Sonto resumes his story, and everyone turns back to

listen again except Yantavva, Jokka and Innta who grin with

evil pleasure at one another.

Isha looks helplessly at her walrus sole. She throws it to

the floor and curls up on her bed mat, fighting back tears.

EXT. ISHA’S HUT - DAY

Isha sits with Choko again working on skins under Isha’s

guidance. Yantavva, Jokka, and Innta are not happy.

INT. ISHA’S HUT - NIGHT

As everyone readies for bed, Isha notices Yantavva and Jokka

talking with Sonto as he inspects Isha’s new blanket.

Isha looks at Choko playing with some children. Choko has

noticed the interest in the blanket and smiles. Isha frowns.

13.

Sonto approaches, holding the blanket in an accusing manner.

SONTO:

Isha? Are you making this blanket?

Isha acts confused by his question and nods.

SONTO (CONT’D)

Or is Choko making it so you can

shirk your responsibilities?

Sonto points at Choko who runs over with a grin.

Isha sneaks Choko a warning look then shakes her head.

ISHA:

No. I have been working on that

blanket myself.

Choko looks crestfallen. Sonto stares at Isha with suspicion.

He holds the blanket out to Choko.

SONTO:

Choko! Did you help Isha make this

blanket?

Choko gazes at Isha, confused. Isha gives her another warning

look. Choko grows upset and shakes her head at Sonto.

SONTO (CONT’D)

You’re not lying to me, are you?

Choko stares at the floor, about to cry. Sonto glares at

Isha. He looks at her hands, which she hides from him.

Sonto throws the blanket to the floor in disgust. He grabs

his parka and storms out of the hut.

Isha notices Choko is now crying. Isha touches her shoulder

but Choko runs to Nadda.

Isha sees everyone staring at her with judgemental eyes,

especially Yantavva and Jokka.

She looks down and shakes her head.

EXT. ISHA’S HUT - DAY

Isha sits with Yantavva, Jokka and Innta on her log. She

searches around, but Choko is nowhere to be seen.

14.

Avoiding eye contact with the others, she bites back her pain

and works the final stitches needed to complete her blanket.

INT. ISHA’S HUT - NIGHT

As everyone sleeps, Isha lies awake staring at the ceiling.

She stretches and notices her old, broken hands. With a sigh

and some painful exertion, she gets up.

EXT. EDGE OF ENCAMPMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Isha stares out at the void listening to the MOANING WIND.

Immanna appears glowing before Isha, not looking pleased.

The Five Old Women Ghosts appear behind Immanna, staring at

Isha with disapproval. Isha looks uneasy.

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