DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN "Hearts And Minds" Written by Andrew Lipsitz Directed by Terrence O'Hara DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN "Hearts and Minds" Cast List MICHAELA QUINN SULLY MATTHEW COLLEEN BRIAN LOREN DOROTHY REVEREND JAKE HANK PRESTON GRACE ANTHONY CLOUD DANCING LOOKS FOR THE SUN (FORMERLY PAWNEE BOY) CROW BOY* (FORMERLY ARAPAHOE BOY) ARAPAHOE GIRL* (FORMERLY CROW CHILD) PAWNEE BOY* FEATURED EXTRAS: SMALL GROUP INDIAN BOYS OF DIF. TRIBES (8-12 YEARS OLD, PAWNEE, CROW, ARAPAHOE, ETC.) 2 SOLDIERS GRACE'S CUSTOMER (DISTRACTS HER) MONTAGE SCENE: INDIAN GIRL GETS MUSLIN DRESS FROM LOREN INDIAN BOY STEPS INTO PANTS CLUMSILY DIFFERENT INDIAN GIRL PUTS ON BONNET; LOREN DEMONSTRATES TO INDIAN GIRL'S END MONTAGE SCENE: MOTHER HOW TO WEAR BONNET (HAIR INSIDE) SCHOOBOYS PLAYING BASEBALL WITH BRIAN BANK CUSTOMER PRESTON DOESN'T NOTICE *ADULT PAWNEE/ADULT CROW WHO TAKE SWINGS AT EACH OTHER BACKGROUND: INDIANS: ADULTS/CHILDREN/PARENTS/ SOLDIERS TOWNSFOLK ANIMALS: BUCK DEER & WOLF MYRA DELETED CBS ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS Prod. #2244-0421 in association with PRODUCTION DRAFT THE SULLIVAN COMPANY January 30, 1996 (C) MCMXCVI Rev. Blue, February 2, 1996 CBS Inc. Rev. Pink, February 7, 1996 All Rights Reserved Rev. Yellow, February 12, 1996 Rev. Green, February 14, 1996 Rev. Goldenrod, February 15, 1996 CBS INC. IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPYRIGHT AND OTHER LAWS No portion of this material may be copied or distributed without the prior consent of CBS Inc. TEASER FADE IN: EXT. WOODS - DAY ONE 1 SULLY, BRIAN, CLOUD DANCING and LOOKS FOR THE SUN (a ten-year old Lakota boy, who is at present quiet and depressed) walk along a trail. Cloud Dancing has a bow and arrows. Sully stops suddenly, with a quieting finger to his lips, and points at something which is off-screen: SULLY (whispering) A buck. Cloud Dancing sees it, but Brian and Looks For The Sun don't. Sully puts a hand on Brian's shoulder and guides his look in the right direction; Cloud Dancing leads Looks For The Sun a silent step or two forward and points out the deer to him. +ANGLE - A BUCK (STOCK) 2 stands alone, disguised by the woods. +CLOSE ON LOOKS FOR THE SUN 3 as he whispers, more to himself than for anybody else: LOOKS FOR THE SUN He has no family... +SCENE 4 Cloud Dancing knows that Looks For The Sun is talking about himself, and puts his hand on the boy's shoulder. Sully and Brian haven't heard this. They move next to Cloud Dancing and Looks For The Sun, as Sully whispers: SULLY You gonna take him? CLOUD DANCING (considers, then:) No. (Off Sully's surprise) Looks for The Sun is Lakota, his father was an Elk Dreamer. They do not hunt deer or elk. (CONTINUED) 2. CONTINUED: 4 Looks For The Sun keeps looking at the deer. CLOUD DANCING Even though his parents have crossed over, he has that birth right. +ANGLE - THE BUCK (STOCK) 5 takes off, running through the brush. +SCENE 6 Brian smiles, watching the buck take off, then turns to Looks For The Sun: BRIAN Good tribe. Looks For The Sun nods, then sadly watches the buck run away... EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY ONE 6A A busy day in Colorado Springs. PRESTON briskly walks up to the store, a piece of paper in his hand -- INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY ONE 7 Preston approaches DOROTHY, who is working the press. PRESTON Dorothy -- I'd like to place this notice in your nice little paper. DOROTHY You're sellin' the telegraph office? PRESTON I'd appreciate it if you'd print that in the next issue of the Gazette, Dorothy. JAKE, nearby with LOREN and HANK, takes this as another presumptuous act on Preston's part: JAKE But you don't own it. (CONTINUED) 2A. CONTINUED: 7 PRESTON Very observant, Jake. Now let's see -- why might I be able to sell it if I don't own it?... Perhaps the telegraph company asked me to act as their broker. Ah yes, that must be it -- good thinking, Jake. Jake, pissed off by the putdown, turns away. (CONTINUED) 3. CONTINUED: (2) 7 LOREN It's a good location. PRESTON No no no, it's not good, it's the best location in town -- As Preston warms to his pitch, Dorothy listens and wanders to the doorway, looking down the street towards the telegraph office... PRESTON -- halfway between the store and the church, across from the saloon, on the way into Grace's and next door to the clinic. The foot traffic alone makes it worth its weight in gold. HANK Why the hard sell, Preston? You workin' on commission? Preston just grins, which confirms Hank's suspicions. LOREN What kinda business they want to put in there? PRESTON That's irrelevant -- as long as the price is right. He tips his hat to Dorothy on his way out. Dorothy acknowledges him, and continues to look at the telegraph office, thinking about how wonderful it would be... EXT. RESERVATION - DAY ONE 8 A couple of INDIAN BOYS OF DIFFERENT TRIBES (Pawnee, Arapahoe, Crow, etc.; eight to twelve years old) are shoving each other. Sully, Cloud Dancing, Brian and Looks For The Sun, on their way back to the reservation from their trek, see this. (Cloud Dancing no longer has his bow and arrow.) Sully rushes over to the Boys and breaks it up. SULLY That's enough... The boys defend themselves, shouting: CROW BOY He started it! (CONTINUED) 4. CONTINUED: 8 PAWNEE BOY Crow tripped me! CROW BOY Pawnee is a liar! SULLY How many times I gotta tell you -- fightin' gives the soldiers an excuse to rough you up. The boys quiet, kick the ground, look away. +ANGLE - MIKE AND THE REVEREND 9 arrive in a wagon, excited. They pull up near Cloud Dancing, Brian and Looks For The Sun: REVEREND Sully, Cloud Dancing, great news! Sully comes over, helps Mike down from the wagon: MIKE The Reverend's been commissioned to open a school here on the reservation for the Indian children. REVEREND They're gonna pay for a school house and supplies -- CLOUD DANCING Who is "they"? REVEREND The government, they've made an agreement with my missionary agency. CLOUD DANCING Who will teach? REVEREND I will... They sense Cloud Dancing's wariness: REVEREND This will help bring them into the world -- (CONTINUED) 5. CONTINUED: 9 MIKE And learning together should give them something in common -- perhaps it'll even stop the fighting between tribes. CLOUD DANCING (considers this; then:) What will you teach? REVEREND Everything -- reading, writing, science -- it's all here in this manual... The Reverend holds up a book. CLOUD DANCING Your government sent that book? The Reverend is growing disappointed that Cloud Dancing isn't as excited as he is: REVEREND This is good news, Cloud Dancing. He looks to Sully for support. Cloud Dancing and Mike look at Sully, too, for his reaction. Sully is wary: SULLY 'Least they're doin' somethin'. But Cloud Dancing is troubled and unsure, as we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER 6. ACT ONE FADE IN: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY TWO 10 Sully and the Reverend unload a couple of boxes, a blackboard, stool and an old teacher's desk from a wagon. Some curious INDIAN CHILDREN and ADULTS look on, including Looks For The Sun. REVEREND That's the perfect spot for the schoolhouse... the government said they'll pay for the materials -- SULLY 'Til then, we'll put up an awning -- +MIKE AND CLOUD DANCING 11 unpack the boxes, taking out school supplies (slates, chalk, paper and pencils). CLOUD DANCING (pointed) These are the first supplies your government has sent for many months. MIKE I know -- but perhaps this means they're going to start living up to their agreements with you... The wagon unpacked, Sully and the Reverend join them. REVEREND You know, Dr. Mike, there's one vital supply that isn't in those boxes. She looks at him, not knowing what he means. REVEREND Teachers. I'll come out here every afternoon, but with teaching in town, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle everything... It's obvious he's asking for her help. (CONTINUED) 7. CONTINUED: 11 MIKE I'd be happy to help out. REVEREND Oh would you, Dr. Mike? If it wouldn't be too much for you -- MIKE I'm sure I could handle a couple of afternoons a week. REVEREND That would be wonderful -- if you could just take a couple of subjects -- science, maybe geography... MIKE I'd love to. SULLY What do you say we get started on that awning? Sully and the Reverend start off, then look back at Cloud Dancing. Will he join in? After a moment, with a nod to Mike, he does. They're all pleased, nobody more so than the Reverend, who claps Cloud Dancing on the shoulder as they move off. EXT. BANK - DAY TWO 12 Preston shows a customer out, shaking her hand, and is about to go back in when Dorothy, with happy anticipation, approaches him. She hands the telegraph office notice to him. DOROTHY You don't need to print this notice in the Gazette... PRESTON (not following, a little put out:) I'm sorry, I don't quite follow... She takes a deep breath, then plunges in: DOROTHY I'd like to buy the telegraph office. Preston is totally surprised. (CONTINUED) 8. CONTINUED: 12 DOROTHY I've got some money saved, and I want to take out a loan for the rest. PRESTON (not a chance) A loan. DOROTHY You know I'll pay it back. PRESTON (going along even though he knows it's fruitless) Alright -- what sort of collateral will you be able to provide? DOROTHY There's my printing press, and... some other things. PRESTON You do understand that you have to provide collateral that's of equal value to the loan? DOROTHY The Gazette's my collateral -- I'm gonna expand it soon as I move in, it'll pay for itself. PRESTON Dorothy... DOROTHY It's the perfect place for it, and what better business to have in that location -- PRESTON The men who have invested in this bank have strict collateral requirements -- future hopes aren't sufficient. Impatient and upset, Dorothy looks away; she sees she's not going to succeed here. PRESTON I'm sorry... if it was for a smaller amount, I might be able to help. You understand, don't you? (CONTINUED) 9. CONTINUED: (2) 12 DOROTHY If you won't give me a loan, I'll just have to apply to the banks in Denver. PRESTON (keeping a straight face) That's a good idea. Dorothy starts to leave -- PRESTON Dorothy? He holds up the notice that she brought back. Dorothy comes back, takes it, and looks him dead in the eye: DOROTHY I'm gonna get that loan. PRESTON Your tenacity is admirable. She takes off. As soon as she's gone, Preston laughs under his breath: PRESTON Good luck. -- and heads into the bank. EXT. CAFE - DAY TWO 13 MATTHEW and COLLEEN bring some books from the direction of the library to the large table, where Mike, Sully and Brian are already seated, going through some other books. ANTHONY is seated next to Brian, and when Brian puts down a book, he picks it up and starts trying to read it. COLLEEN I checked these out from the library -- BRIAN We brought these from home. Matthew picks up one of the books Colleen brought: MATTHEW "The Spencerian Key to Practical Penmanship"? Better teach 'em the alphabet 'fore you start worryin' 'bout their penmanship. (CONTINUED) 10. CONTINUED: 13 The Reverend approaches from the direction of the schoolhouse, also carrying a pile of books. MIKE It's best to learn both at the same time -- if they want to go into a profession, they'll have to write legibly -- (to the Reverend, happily) And that's what we're going to be doing -- teaching the first generation of Indian doctors and lawyers and -- SULLY If that's what they want to be. MIKE Exactly, we're giving them choices in life. +ANGLE - BRIAN AND ANTHONY 14 Brian notices Anthony closing the book that he was trying to read, frustrated. BRIAN That's by Mark Twain -- he's got a lot of good stories. ANTHONY Too many big words. +ANGLE - GRACE 15 watches from the stove, a protective eye on Anthony... until a CUSTOMER distracts her with a question. +BACK TO BRIAN AND ANTHONY 16 BRIAN Maybe you oughta come to school... Anthony looks at him -- maybe that's a good idea. BRIAN It'd help you learn to read. ANTHONY (defensive) I know how to read. (CONTINUED) 11. CONTINUED: 16 He picks up another book and opens it, pretending to read. Brian sees through it, and adds kindly: BRIAN Everybody needs help learnin' bigger words. Anthony gives that some thought behind his book... INT. CLINIC - DAY THREE 17 Dorothy, discouraged, paces, reading from one telegram after another, while Mike wraps bandages. DOROTHY "We regret that we're unable to..." (next telegram) "We're sorry to inform you..." (next telegram) "We wish that we could be of assistance, however..." (exasperated) Can they find one more way to turn me down? MIKE None of them even agreed to meet you? DOROTHY Obviously they think it'd be a waste of their time. MIKE I suppose they can't imagine that a woman could go into business and pay off a loan. DOROTHY Somebody must 'a thought enough of you to loan you the money for this clinic. MIKE (slightly embarrassed) Actually... it was my mother. DOROTHY Oh... I'm afraid that ain't an option in my case. (then, with a sigh) I guess it was just a silly idea -- what was I thinkin'. (CONTINUED) 12. CONTINUED: 17 MIKE Expanding the Gazette is a good idea, Dorothy -- there's got to be a way... DOROTHY Men find a way. MIKE I suppose if you were a man, other men would take your business proposal seriously. DOROTHY It's not fair, I'm just as capable... MIKE The problem is, they don't know that -- they never take the opportunity to find out. DOROTHY But why not? MIKE Well, they spend their time with each other, working, socializing... That word makes Dorothy think: DOROTHY Socializin'... As she begins to form an idea... EXT. RESERVATION - DAY THREE 18 CLOSE ON the Reverend, as he reaches into a box and pulls out a pair of shiny, stiff new black shoes which he holds out to Looks For The Sun like they're the best treat in the world: REVEREND These are for you, Looks For The Sun. Looks For The Sun takes his cue from the Reverend's manner: LOOKS FOR THE SUN They are mine? REVEREND All yours. (CONTINUED) 13. CONTINUED: 18 Looks For The Sun looks for permission to Cloud Dancing, who stands nearby. Cloud Dancing hesitates; he doesn't like this. In the b.g., other Indian children and adults start to gather around the box of shoes and the wagon nearby, from which Loren and Jake are unloading crates and boxes. CLOUD DANCING (to the Reverend) Shoes? REVEREND They're just for school. The manual says it'll make them feel like they're part of the same class. Looks For The Sun looks at Cloud Dancing pleadingly. Cloud Dancing is once again moved by him, and nods reluctantly. Looks For The Sun breaks into a grin, takes the shoes, plops down on the ground to put them on. The Reverend starts handing shoes to the other children: REVEREND There's enough for everyone... The Indian Adults look on, not at all sure about this... DISSOLVE TO: -EXT. RESERVATION MONTAGE - DAY THREE (Note that the entire montage is in TIGHT SHOTS, illustrating the preparation of the Indian children for school one by one; we're saving the big picture for later.) +LOOKS FOR THE SUN 19 ties his shoes, all concentration... +AN INDIAN GIRL 20 looks at the square-cut, simple, one color muslin school dress that Loren hands her, not sure what to make of it... +LOOKS FOR THE SUN 21 slips a military-style jacket over his new white shirt... +AN INDIAN GIRL 22 slips her school dress on over her shoulders... 14. +AN INDIAN BOY 23 steps clumsily into a pair of pants, his shoes getting caught in the pants legs... +ANOTHER INDIAN GIRL 24 puts a bonnet on over her long dark hair. Loren demonstrates to HER MOTHER that the Girl's hair should be inside the bonnet... +A PILE OF DARK HAIR 25 lies on the ground. We MOVE UP to discover Looks For The Sun, now in his complete school uniform, sitting in a chair, nervous, watching his hair drop to the ground as Jake cuts it... +CLOUD DANCING 26 watches Looks For The Sun getting his hair cut. Cloud Dancing's unhappiness grows when he looks over and sees: +THE REVEREND 27 hands Loren a wad of bills. +CLOUD DANCING 28 sets his jaw. He doesn't like this. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RESERVATION - DAY THREE 29 The Reverend comes to greet Mike and Sully, who are unloading the wagon (Sully's taking out some canvas, and Mike's got some rolled-out maps; there's also wood stacked in the back). REVEREND Ready for our first day of school? MIKE (enthusiastic) Indeed I am. SULLY I brought some canvas for the awning. (CONTINUED) 15. CONTINUED: 29 The Reverend leads them around a bend (or a grove of trees, or whatever, just so that they are not able to see the school area when they arrive) toward the school area. MIKE And I found some maps that I was given as a child... But her smile fades as they arrive at the school area. Both she and Sully stop in their tracks as they see: +THE INDIAN CHILDREN 30 About two dozen of them, standing stiffly and uncomfortably in their full uniforms. The boys, their hair cut, wear pants, shirts and jackets; the girls are in dresses, with their hair pushed up into bonnets, and all of them wear stiff, brand new shiny black shoes. The effect is overwhelming in its uniformity. Mike and Sully are taken aback; this isn't what they expected, and it's disturbing... A few of the children look happy with anticipation (like Looks For The Sun, who's in the front row), but most of them look uncomfortable. They fidget in the binding clothes. A couple of girls pull at their hair. Some boys tug at their jacket sleeves. You can almost hear the shoes squeak. Mike and Sully look at each other, disturbed. The Reverend, oblivious, beams: REVEREND They're going to do well -- look at them, they're ready to learn. Indian Parents stand around the perimeter. Some are excited, pointing out their boys or girls, but most MUTTER amongst themselves unhappily. Cloud Dancing comes over to Mike and Sully: CLOUD DANCING Tell me -- how does cutting their hair and dressing them in white man's clothes help them learn? Mike and Sully don't have an answer for that; they feel the same way. The Reverend hears that, and wants to nip it in the bud with a more enthusiastic approach. He rubs his hands together: REVEREND Let's begin, shall we? (CONTINUED) 16. CONTINUED: 30 And he heads toward the children. Mike and Sully look at each other, disturbed and unsure what to make of this, as we... FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE 17. ACT TWO FADE IN: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY THREE 31 With the alphabet written behind him on the blackboard, the Reverend finishes singing the alphabet song: REVEREND "-- W, X, Y and Z. Now I know my A-B-C's, tell me what you think of me..." He looks out at the class of Indian children, who look back at him silently. REVEREND That last phrase was just part of the song, you don't really have to tell me what you think of... He trails off as he realizes that he hasn't reached them. He looks over at Mike, who is sitting off to the side, sorting books. A couple of Soldiers who have been watching LAUGH and smirk as they walk away. That fuels Mike to smile back to the Reverend encouragingly. The Reverend tries another tack: REVEREND Let's try it together, shall we? (singing, trying to lead them) "A, B, C, D, E, F, G..." Looks for the Sun is the only one to join in with him, and fades out shyly by the time he gets to E. REVEREND Maybe we've had enough for the first day. Class is dismissed. The children don't move. REVEREND That means you can go. The children take off, some at a run. They take off their shoes, and shed their bonnets and jackets as they leave (taking their clothes with them). One or two, including Looks For The Sun, hang back, taking off shoes more carefully, or looking at books and the blackboard. (CONTINUED) 18. CONTINUED: 31 The Reverend goes to Mike; he's frustrated and she knows it. Sully and Cloud Dancing approach, carrying some lumber for the awning, which they begin to build. MIKE Don't be discouraged. After all, they have no written language of their own -- this is all so new to them. Looks For The Sun comes to them, picks up a primer book, tries to try to read it during the following: REVEREND I s'pose you're right -- for the first day, I guess it's an accomplishment that they were all listening and interested. LOOKS FOR THE SUN (from his book) D. REVEREND (looking at the book) That's right, that's a D. And that's an O, and a G, and together that spells dog. LOOKS FOR THE SUN Dog! He lights up. The Reverend grins, sits beside him and starts to help him spell out words in the book. Mike smiles, gets up to give them some privacy, and walks over to Sully and Cloud Dancing. CLOUD DANCING Is reading and writing the first thing they must learn? MIKE Well, there's a lot of valuable information in books -- information they won't be able to get elsewhere. CLOUD DANCING When you read a story you cannot know who tells it, you do not see him or hear his voice. If you do not know his spirit, the story has no meaning. (CONTINUED) 19. CONTINUED: (2) 31 They look at Looks For The Sun, who is soaking up the book with the Reverend. MIKE All we want to do is give them a new way of learning, so they can have both ways. SULLY Just so long as the new way don't wipe out the old. INT. BANK - DAY FOUR 32 Preston works at his desk, which is covered with prospectuses and other papers. Dorothy sails in, sporting a cheerful, outgoing bravado; she plops a picnic basket down on his desk: DOROTHY Good afternoon Preston. PRESTON Dorothy... What have we here? DOROTHY Lunch -- I didn't make it myself, I didn't have time to with gettin' the Gazette out... but it's Grace's best. He knows what she's up to, and he's entertained by it: PRESTON That's very considerate of you. To what do I owe this pleasure? DOROTHY I was just thinkin' that we haven't really had the opportunity to get to know each other. She opens the basket. He stands, leans in to whiff the food, and looks at her up close, flirtingly: PRESTON An omission which has caused me great unhappiness. Dorothy laughs pleasantly, then tries to shut down his flirting as she clears a place on his desk: (CONTINUED) 20. CONTINUED: 32 DOROTHY Well, we've both been so occupied with our own businesses. Don't want to get food on these prospectuses... do you mind? PRESTON Not at all. She starts stacking papers. PRESTON It's just a shame that your valiant efforts are spent on a business which will never bring you great profit. DOROTHY Now Preston, I'm not here to talk about the newspaper. PRESTON (right, sure) Of course not. Dorothy catches a glimpse of one of the prospectuses: DOROTHY Oh... you're not thinkin' of investin' in this, are you? PRESTON I've invested in railroad securities with Jay Cooke and Company for years, they're very reliable. She shrugs knowingly, as she starts to unpack the picnic basket: DOROTHY If you say so. PRESTON (what's that mean?) And you say differently? DOROTHY It's just that I read that the only way they can offer that rate of return is by waterin' down the value of their stocks. PRESTON (stops him cold) Where'd you read that? (CONTINUED) 21. CONTINUED: (2) 32 DOROTHY The Gazette ain't the only paper I read. She flips a napkin out and places it in front of him. They're both enjoying themselves, each thinking they've got the upper hand... EXT. SCHOOL - DAY FOUR 33 Brian plays baseball with some SCHOOLBOYS. Anthony approaches (from the direction of town) as Brian's team moves up to bat. BRIAN Hey Anthony. ANTHONY Hey Brian. BRIAN Wanna play? Anthony shrugs. He'd like to but... BRIAN Ever play baseball? Anthony shakes his head 'no.' BRIAN We could teach you. Anthony shrugs, looks down at the ground. BRIAN You all right? You been hurtin' again? ANTHONY No, I feel all right. (then) What'd you do in school today? BRIAN Lots of stuff... We read about animals in the sea -- whales and sharks and big turtles... Anthony looks longingly at the schoolhouse; Brian picks up on it: BRIAN When you gonna come to school? (CONTINUED) 22. CONTINUED: 33 ANTHONY Miss Grace don't want me to. Anthony turns and walks back toward town. Brian is surprised by this... INT. BANK - DAY FOUR 34 Preston leans back in his chair, across the desk from Dorothy. Empty plates cover the desk. DOROTHY It's called the Standard Oil Company -- started this year by a man named Rockefeller. PRESTON Never heard of him. DOROTHY He's got a refinery in Ohio. Preston lights up a cigar. He jokingly offers one to Dorothy. She goes along withe gag, takes the cigar: DOROTHY May I keep this for later? She puts the cigar in the picnic basket. He laughs, entertained by all this, and pretends to be very impressed by her knowledge: PRESTON And so... you'd advise me to invest in this -- what was his name again? DOROTHY Rockefeller. PRESTON Sounds risky. DOROTHY Where there's risk, there's opportunity... isn't that right? PRESTON True, but you mustn't mistake gambling for opportunity. Dorothy rises, starts to put the plates back in the basket. (CONTINUED) 23. CONTINUED: 34 DOROTHY Well, all I can say is if it was my money, I wouldn't depend entirely on railroads. PRESTON Oh the railroads are here to stay. DOROTHY From what I've read, it's important to invest in lots of different things -- PRESTON Absolutely -- but you know Dorothy, you can't always trust what you read. DOROTHY All the papers I subscribe to are reputable. PRESTON Naturally, but they all have editors with their own agendas. DOROTHY They report the facts -- PRESTON As they see fit. And they use them to support their own positions: invest in this business, vote for that politician... The penny drops; an idea begins to form in his head. He's so taken with it that he doesn't notice a CUSTOMER come in and wait at the counter. DOROTHY But still, that doesn't mean -- PRESTON In fact, any reasonably intelligent publisher can wield enormous influence... DOROTHY (doesn't see where he's going) Publisher...? (CONTINUED) 24. CONTINUED: (2) 34 PRESTON Take the Gazette, for instance -- everyone in town reads it... DOROTHY That's true, and with the town gettin' bigger, the paper's gonna grow too... PRESTON Exactly! The Customer clears his throat, trying to get Preston's attention. Preston looks up, notices him, holds up in his hand in a "just a moment" gesture. By now Dorothy has packed up the picnic basket. Preston rises, takes Dorothy's arm and escorts her out: PRESTON Supper. DOROTHY Supper? PRESTON We must continue this over supper. DOROTHY That'd be lovely -- PRESTON Always a pleasure, Dorothy, always a pleasure. He leaves her at the door to attend to his Customer. She's slightly confused by this whirlwind, but feeling optimistic. EXT. RESERVATION - NEAR THE SCHOOL AREA - DAY FIVE 35 Sully and Cloud Dancing separate an adult PAWNEE and CROW, who are taking swings at each other (much like the Pawnee and Crow boys did earlier). A couple of Soldiers watch from nearby, amused by it, doing nothing. SULLY Stop it -- C'mon, stop now. As Cloud Dancing helps the Pawnee inspect an injury, Sully leads the Crow to a couple of other CROW ADULTS: SULLY Get him outta here. (CONTINUED) 25. CONTINUED: 35 They do so, as Sully angrily strides to the Soldiers: SULLY You're s'posed to keep the Crow on the other side of the ridge -- you know they don't get 'long with the Pawnees. Cloud Dancing calls over, making sure the Soldiers hear: CLOUD DANCING Maybe it is because they know it that they do nothing. The Soldiers take off in the opposite direction. Sully, exasperated, shouts after them: SULLY When're you gonna start doin' your job? +AT THE SCHOOL AREA 36 (Note that the awning is now in place.) The Reverend stands in front of the class, but the children aren't paying attention -- they're looking off at the fight. REVEREND Children -- let's continue... We use "A" in a word like "Adam"... He adds to the "A" he has already printed on the blackboard so it reads "ADAM." REVEREND And we use the word in a sentence like this: "In Adam's fall, we sinned all." LOOKS FOR THE SUN Who is Adam? REVEREND Adam was the first man God created. LOOKS FOR THE SUN Who is God? REVEREND Well, God is... God created the world. That gets the interest of some of the other children. (CONTINUED) 26. CONTINUED: 36 LOOKS FOR THE SUN (confused) Did not Inyan create the world? PAWNEE CHILD No, Tirawa came first. The Pawnee Boy and Looks For The Sun argue, shouting out the first being from each of their people... +SULLY AND CLOUD DANCING 37 hear the children shouting as they finish helping the wounded Pawnee bind his injury. They head toward the school. +AT THE SCHOOL AREA 38 The children's shouting gets louder. The Reverend shouts over them, trying to stop the argument: REVEREND Children... children! (getting their attention) God came before anything or anyone. The children fall silent as they take this in. LOOKS FOR THE SUN (struggling with this thought) Who told you this? The Reverend picks up his Bible. REVEREND It says so right here. This is the holiest of all books... this book tells us how the world began. This interests the children; they start to listen, as Sully and Cloud Dancing arrive. The Reverend tells the story that he loves as he holds the Bible: REVEREND At first there was nothing -- the world didn't exist. Can you imagine? It was dark and cold -- no people, no animals, no trees, no land, no water, nothing. And then God created the earth... (CONTINUED) 27. CONTINUED: 38 The children shift forward on the benches, getting involved in the story. REVEREND And then God said, "Let there be light," and do you know what? The children are captivated. REVEREND The sun shone down on the earth. Cloud Dancing is getting more angry by the moment; he looks at Sully, who is also growing disturbed. REVEREND And then he created the oceans and rivers and streams and lakes... Cloud Dancing steps forward and takes the Bible from the Reverend's hand: REVEREND Cloud Dancing, what're you -- Sully steps in between them: SULLY We gotta talk. REVEREND We're in the middle of class. SULLY Maybe you oughta have recess. REVEREND We'll take recess a little early today, children. The children take off as Mike arrives, carrying a couple of rolled-up posters; she is at first unaware of the tension: MIKE I brought some anatomy charts, I thought we'd get started on science today... CLOUD DANCING There is no teaching here -- only white man's haircuts, white man's clothes, white man's holy book -- you said you would teach them, not preach to them. (CONTINUED) 28. CONTINUED: (2) 38 Disgusted, he hands the Bible to Mike. This is all news to her; she turns to the Reverend, surprised: MIKE You've been preaching to them from the Bible? REVEREND (defensively) The manual says that religious training is part of their education... Mike and Sully exchange a look; this isn't going the way they want it to. Then she turns to Cloud Dancing: MIKE Cloud Dancing, we're just starting, nothing's cast in stone, we can make this work -- together. It'll take time -- (to the Reverend) and compromise -- (to Cloud Dancing) but it's better than nothing. CLOUD DANCING Are you saying they have nothing without your school? MIKE Of course not... REVEREND Unfortunately, the white man's world is the world in which they're going to have to live. We're just trying to help them survive. CLOUD DANCING What of their true nature will survive if they live as white people? He strides off. Mike turns to Sully: MIKE All we want to do is prepare them for the future. SULLY They won't have a future if they don't have a past. (CONTINUED) 29. CONTINUED: (3) 38 Sully takes off, going after Cloud Dancing. OFF Mike's distress... FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO 30. ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. MIKE AND SULLY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT FIVE 39 A tense silence as Mike and Sully prepare for bed. Sully takes his shirt off. Mike struggles to reach behind her back to unbutton her dress -- SULLY Let me help you. MIKE I can manage. But it's impossible to do at this stage of her pregnancy. SULLY (gently) No you can't. She responds to his tone, takes his hand, and says quietly: MIKE I could have used your help earlier at the reservation. Sully squeezes her hand. After a moment, he looks away: SULLY I wanted to believe this'd work, the school. I wanted to believe that the government was finally gonna do somethin' for 'em. I shoulda known. MIKE (sees that this runs deep) It isn't just the school, is it? SULLY The fightin's gettin' worse... the soldiers don't do nothin' 'bout it, they won't listen to me... Just gettin' to seem like there's nothin' I can do to make their lives better. Mike knows there's no easy answer for this. After a moment: (CONTINUED) 31. CONTINUED: 39 MIKE I can see why it must be frustrating -- especially after sharing their lives for so long. It must seem like an uphill battle. Sully considers that for a moment, then: SULLY Still, that ain't no reason not to try. They look at each other and kiss softly. Then she turns her back to him, so he can unbutton her dress... OMITTED (40) 40 EXT. RESERVATION - DAY SIX 40A Sully and Cloud Dancing ride on their horses. SULLY I sent a telegram to Hazen this mornin' requestin' he let us change the way the school's bein' run... He said we gotta run it like it says in the manual. CLOUD DANCING Did you tell him the Reverend is preaching to the children? SULLY He said the Reverend's in charge. CLOUD DANCING (takes that in; then:) I have been talking to some of the others... We can file a petition of grievance -- then you can stop the Reverend from -- SULLY I ain't got the authority. (and he hates it) CLOUD DANCING You are the Indian Agent, you are our representative -- SULLY And Hazen's the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. (CONTINUED) 32. CONTINUED: 40A They're both very frustrated. They continue riding in silence... EXT. CAFE - NIGHT SIX 41 Loren, Jake and Hank are in the middle of supper when Dorothy, wearing the dress Jake gave her last year for Valentine's Day, sweeps into the cafe, looking like a million bucks. (Grace is there, too.) They all react: HANK Well well -- what's the occasion, Dorothy? DOROTHY Nothin'. Just havin' a business supper with Preston. JAKE Not wearing that, you ain't. DOROTHY (surprised) Why not? JAKE 'Cause it's mine, that's why. (Off Loren and Hank's look) Well, I'm the one who gave it to her. GRACE (as she passes by) You gettin' a lot of use out of it? DOROTHY You gave it to me, Jake... and it's a beautiful gift that I appreciate bein' able to use when I want to. Jake can't argue with that. He resumes eating his supper as Dorothy sits down at the next table. +LOREN 42 gets up, follows Dorothy and sits across from her. He's got something he wants to say, isn't sure how to say it: LOREN Dorothy... (CONTINUED) 33. CONTINUED: 42 DOROTHY Yes, Loren? LOREN This supper with Preston -- this about the telegraph office? DOROTHY In a way. LOREN Oh. He still isn't able to say what's on his mind. He looks around for Grace: LOREN I'd sure like some cider -- awful dry air tonight... DOROTHY Loren... you got somethin' on your mind? LOREN No no... it's just that -- I know I told you it was time for you to move out, but you don't gotta rush, you can take your time... Dorothy reaches across, takes his hand. DOROTHY No, you were right Loren. It's time for me to find my own place. Preston descends upon them. Dorothy releases Loren's hand. PRESTON Dorothy, you look ravishing. JAKE (from the next table) Thanks. Preston looks at Jake -- what the heck does that mean? -- then returns his attention to Dorothy: PRESTON But I think it's a bit too chilly out here... don't you? He offers her his arm. Dorothy isn't sure what to make of this: (CONTINUED) 34. CONTINUED: (2) 42 DOROTHY I thought we were gonna have supper. PRESTON We are. Dorothy, uncertain but hopeful, rises and takes his arm. They take off, leaving the others to wonder what's up -- except for Grace, who exchanges a conspiratorial smile with Preston... INT. OLD TELEGRAPH OFFICE - NIGHT SIX 43 Preston holds the door open for Dorothy, who walks in to discover supper waiting on the table in the middle of the empty office, complete with champagne, candles and flowers. PRESTON What do you think? DOROTHY (surprised) It's beautiful... Can this mean what she hopes it does? She looks at Preston: DOROTHY Does this mean...? PRESTON I'm giving you that loan. Dorothy breaks into a grin almost as wide as his. Then she adjusts to a business-like demeanor: DOROTHY I won't let you down, Preston. PRESTON I know you won't. (then) This calls for a celebration. I didn't have time to make dinner myself -- but it's Grace's best. She laughs. He grins and opens the champagne and pours them a couple of glasses as Dorothy moves around the office, happy and excited: DOROTHY This is the perfect spot and just the right amount of space -- and that door's always gonna be open to everybody in this town... (CONTINUED) 35. CONTINUED: 43 Preston hands her a glass of champagne, and tries to slip past the news he knows she's not going to like: PRESTON And the best part is, you're gonna be half-owner of the best newspaper in the territory. Dorothy's face falls: here comes the catch. DOROTHY Half-owner? PRESTON My investors weren't convinced that this was a sound opportunity -- so I let them talk me into buying half of the property. Your loan is for the other half. Dorothy hands back the glass of champagne: DOROTHY So what are you proposin' -- that you and I be partners? PRESTON In a manner of speaking. DOROTHY In what manner of speakin'? PRESTON You'll retain forty-nine percent ownership of a growing newspaper -- which is a very substantial stake for a first-time editor -- probably unheard of for a woman. Congratulations. He hands her back her glass of champagne. DOROTHY Forty-nine... Then I'm not really even half-owner -- PRESTON It's only for my investor's peace of mind -- DOROTHY But you'd be able to tell me how to run things -- (CONTINUED) 36. CONTINUED: (2) 43 PRESTON Nothing's going to change, you won't even know I'm involved. Dorothy makes a decision; it's a very tough one. She hands him back the glass of champagne: DOROTHY I already do. She leaves. Preston, frustrated, gulps back his glass of champagne... and then Dorothy's. EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY SEVEN 44 The children sit, listening to Mike as she points to a poster-sized diagram of the human body tacked on the blackboard: MIKE And this is what a rib bone looks like. We each have twelve pairs of these bones -- LOOKS FOR THE SUN Even men? The Reverend approaches in the b.g. (Mike doesn't see him). MIKE Yes, men and women have the same amount. LOOKS FOR THE SUN But the Reverend told us that God took a rib from Adam to make Eve... Mike proceeds cautiously: MIKE Not everyone believes that, Looks For The Sun... LOOKS FOR THE SUN If we do not, then we cannot be saved. The Reverend steps in, changing the subject, surprising Mike: REVEREND Thank you, Dr. Mike. (to the children) It's time to work on our projects, children. (CONTINUED) 37. CONTINUED: 44 The children head to an area nearby, where they start to take supplies out of boxes... MIKE But we didn't finish our class. REVEREND We don't want you to over-excert yourself -- MIKE I feel fine. REVEREND Well... actually, the manual calls for vocational training, and I've been letting that slip... Mike sees the girls starting to work on a quilt, and the boys working on building stools. MIKE Carpentry and sewing are considered part of their schoolwork? REVEREND (trying to talk himself through his own doubts) The manual requires it be given equal time -- in order to get the funding... It may not be the way you or I would do it, but it's a small compromise -- and besides, it's good for them to learn a skill. MIKE But they can do that anytime -- you and I are only here for a few hours... REVEREND Michaela -- I'm told the manual has been very effective, it's not my place to question it. This is what I've agreed to do, I can't go back on it. He goes to help the children with their projects, leaving Mike to her growing concern... 38. EXT. CAFE - DAY SEVEN 45 Grace works at her counter, putting off Brian and Anthony with a pleasant if forced smile: GRACE We gotta make sure Anthony's feelin' well enough 'fore he goes to school. BRIAN He ain't had pain attacks for a while now. GRACE But Dr. Mike said they could happen any time. BRIAN School's real close to the clinic. GRACE (losing patience) It ain't just the pain attacks -- But that's more than she meant to say. She turns to Anthony: GRACE I wanna make sure you're all caught up 'fore you get in a classroom. BRIAN I'll make sure he doesn't fall behind -- GRACE You got your own studyin' to do. Robert E and me been teachin' Anthony, and soon as he's ready, we'll send him off to school. BRIAN (realizing what this is about) Miss Grace... the kids'll be real nice to Anthony, I promise -- GRACE (patience gone) Brian. (final:) Anthony'll go to school... when it's time. She gives Anthony a plate to serve. He takes off, leaving Brian to the unhappy knowledge that he has failed... 39. OMITTED (46) 46 EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY EIGHT 46A Sully helps Mike down from the wagon; they are surprised to find the school deserted. MIKE Where are they all going? He nods to the stream of Indian adults who are heading briskly -- some are running -- in the other direction. Mike and Sully look at each other; this doesn't feel good. They follow the Indians... EXT. RESERVATION STREAM - DAY EIGHT 47 The Reverend standing by the bank of the stream, preparing to baptize Looks For The Sun. Other Indian children stand nearby. Indian adults are gathering, MUTTERING angrily. REVEREND I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost... Cloud Dancing arrives, splashing through the stream toward the Reverend: CLOUD DANCING You will not baptize these children -- REVEREND They asked to be baptized -- CLOUD DANCING Because you told them it is the only way they will go to your heaven... Mike and Sully arrive, with some more Indians. They are shocked and disturbed by this, and during the following head quickly toward the Reverend and Cloud Dancing. REVEREND I'm only doing what's best for them... Really, Cloud Dancin', they want this. He takes Looks For The Sun's hand and is about to pour water over him from a baptismal cup: (CONTINUED) 40. CONTINUED: 47 REVEREND I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the -- Cloud Dancing grabs Looks For The Sun's other hand, and the boy is caught in a tug of war between the two men, as Mike and Sully arrive at the bank of the stream: REVEREND (to Cloud Dancing, trying to convince him) Baptism is as much a part of their education as reading or writing. MIKE They can learn to read or write and still be Indian -- but if you baptize them, you're trying to make them something they're not. The Reverend and Cloud Dancing glare at each other, neither giving an inch. Looks For The Sun, scared, squirms free, and runs behind Cloud Dancing. The Indian adults are growing restive, their MUTTERING gets louder and angrier. It's getting tenser and tenser. The Reverend knows he's backed into a corner. He looks at the children, who are confused, unsure -- and at the Indian adults, who now HUSH, waiting to see what he will do. The Reverend starts to walk past Cloud Dancing, holding out his hand to Looks For The Sun: REVEREND Come along, Looks For The Sun, there's nothing to be afraid of -- But Cloud Dancing grabs the Reverend as he passes by, and shoves him back into the water. Mike and Sully are surprised by Cloud Dancing's action. This whole thing is about to spin out of control. Sully is getting more and more disturbed... The Reverend slogs out of the water, shaking himself off as he tries again to walk past Cloud Dancing to Looks For The Sun -- REVEREND It's alright, Looks For The Sun -- Cloud Dancing tries to shove him back into the water, but this time the Reverend is ready for him. They struggle with each other -- (CONTINUED) 41. CONTINUED: (2) 47 Sully lunges in and tries to separate them. Mike looks on, worried... Sully finally separates Cloud Dancing and the Reverend. SULLY (out of breath) I'm closin' the school... REVEREND You don't have the authority to do -- SULLY I'm the Indian Agent here, it's my decision. The school is closed. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE 42. ACT FOUR FADE IN: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY NINE 48 The Reverend and Mike are packing school supplies into boxes. The Reverend pauses; he's not being argumentative, he really wants to know: REVEREND What did I do wrong, Dr. Mike? I only wanted to do the right thing. MIKE I know. (then:) They don't ask us to share their religion, Reverend -- should we make them share ours? REVEREND They don't share our medicine, either, but you help them with it. MIKE Medicine is different -- REVEREND (trying to struggle through it) How? You took an oath to save lives with your medicine, I took an oath to save souls with my faith... MIKE (gently) I thought our job here was to educate their minds. That's a distinction the Reverend hadn't made. He chews on that... EXT. RESERVATION - CROP GARDEN - DAY NINE 49 Cloud Dancing works in the small plot of land, planting seeds. Sully rides up, holding a telegram. SULLY Hazen says we gotta re-open the school, or he'll come in and re-open it himself. (CONTINUED) 43. CONTINUED: 49 He crumples the telegram. CLOUD DANCING What if the children do not go to class? SULLY You know Hazen -- he ain't one to make empty threats. CLOUD DANCING He would bring the army to force our children to go to his school? SULLY Sooner or later. You keep resistin', he ain't gonna let you get away with it. It's clear they've lost. Sully helps Cloud Dancing plant the seeds. CLOUD DANCING They killed our people before... and now I feel I am watching them die again. EXT. OLD TELEGRAPH OFFICE - DAY NINE 50 Mike and Dorothy look in the window of the telegraph office; Dorothy longingly, and Mike sympathetically. DOROTHY I wanted this place so much -- but with Preston involved... MIKE He'd take over. DOROTHY He said he wouldn't, but... you know Preston. Can you believe he thought I'd split the ownership, fifty-one percent and forty-nine percent? That gives Mike an idea. As she thinks it through, Dorothy (who doesn't notice) sighs: DOROTHY Well... She turns to walk back to the store, but is stopped by Mike, who gets an idea: (CONTINUED) 44. CONTINUED: 50 MIKE Actually Dorothy, forty-nine, fifty-one isn't such a bad idea... DOROTHY (are you crazy?) What? MIKE It just depends how you look at it... SMASH CUT TO: INT. BANK - DAY NINE 51 Dorothy sits across from Preston's desk, perched on her chair, sure of herself: DOROTHY Fifty-one percent for me, forty-nine for you. PRESTON Dorothy, you're not approaching this from a business-like perspective -- DOROTHY I believe I am. I'm the one who'll be doin' the work -- PRESTON And I'm the one who'll be supplying the money -- DOROTHY And I'm the one who'll be paying it back. She sits back in her chair, confident she's got him: DOROTHY 'Course, you could put out your own paper -- buy a press, write the stories, set the type. But then you wouldn't have much time left for the bank. PRESTON You're asking me to gamble on the Gazette. (CONTINUED) 45. CONTINUED: 51 DOROTHY Those railroad stocks you like so much are a gamble, Rockefeller is a gamble, the Gazette's a sure thing. She takes a neatly folded stack of papers from her bag: DOROTHY And if your investors got any doubts, show 'em my prospectus. Preston scans the papers... DOROTHY I figured circulation, costs, projected returns, and everythin' else they might want to know. (then) And you know me. You know how hard I'm gonna work. He looks up at her, clearly impressed: DOROTHY Preston, the Gazette ain't got this far just 'cause folks like me. It's a business, and I run it well. (then, the capper) So... you can have forty-nine percent of somethin' that's gonna make you money, or fifty-one percent of nothin'. What's it gonna be? PRESTON (after a moment) You have a deal. He offers his hand to Dorothy to shake. Dorothy doesn't shake his hand, but instead rises: DOROTHY Put it in writin', then we'll have a deal. And she leaves. Preston sits back in his chair with a thoughtful smile, and we... DISSOLVE TO: 46. OMITTED (52) 52 INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY TEN 53 Dorothy walks down the stairs, carrying a small carpetbag. She stops at the bottom of the stairs and takes a last look around the store, as Jake walks in. JAKE Anythin' else? DOROTHY (re: the bag) Just this. JAKE Want me to take it over for you? DOROTHY I can manage... thanks for the help. JAKE It's nothin'. Jake stands, uncomfortable, then leans in and gives Dorothy a quick kiss on the cheek before whispering in her ear: JAKE I'm proud 'a you, Dorothy. Dorothy smiles, but before she can say anything, Jake leaves, cutting the moment short. Dorothy savors his words... Loren comes down the stairs. DOROTHY I should get goin'. I got a lot of unpackin' to do. LOREN You still got a few things upstairs... DOROTHY I know -- I'll... LOREN You can leave 'em, if you want. DOROTHY I'll come back for 'em tomorrow. A beat. They look away from each other. (CONTINUED) 47. CONTINUED: 53 DOROTHY I'll be over here all the time, anyway... LOREN 'Course you will. Just 'cause you ain't livin' here don't mean things gotta change. Another beat. Their eyes meet. They know better. DOROTHY Loren... we been friends too long to start lyin' to each other now. LOREN It's gonna take some gettin' used to, that's all. Dorothy nods. She starts to turn to go, until Loren stops her with: LOREN I -- I wanted to get you somethin' for your new place... Couldn't think of anythin' that seemed right. DOROTHY Oh Loren, you already gave me the best gift of all the day you took me in. He looks at her, doesn't know what she means. DOROTHY You gave me my life back. They stand, looking at each other, as if taking in their whole history together. They linger, each reluctant to break the moment, to move on. Then: LOREN Time for you to go home. With a last look at Loren, Dorothy turns and walks out the door. We follow her -- EXT. GENERAL STORE - CONTINUOUS 54 -- out onto the porch. She stops at the edge of the porch, looking out at Colorado Springs, and the adventure of the rest of her life. (CONTINUED) 48. CONTINUED: 54 Then, with a deep breath and a hint of a smile, she steps off the porch, and then keeps walking toward her new home. +LOREN 55 shuts the door. We see him through the glass as he puts up the "CLOSED" sign, and watches Dorothy walk away... EXT. CLINIC AND OLD TELEGRAPH OFFICE - DAY TEN 55A Mike locks the door of the clinic, and walks with Sully toward Grace's. MIKE There must be some way to reopen the school that we can all agree upon... SULLY Maybe if the Reverend wasn't so strict about followin' that manual -- and we had some kinda plan that he could along with -- (shakes his head) Hazen would find out. MIKE Perhaps -- but in the meantime... we'd have a school. Dorothy greets them from the door of the telegraph office, where she is tacking up a press printed sign that reads: "COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE / Dorothy Jennings, Editor / Our Door is Always Open." DOROTHY Michaela, Sully -- what d'ya think? MICHAELA It's wonderful. SULLY Congratulations, Dorothy. DOROTHY Oh thank you Sully -- but you know, it ain't just for me, this is gonna be good for the whole town. I mean it when I say the door's always open -- I want everybody to contribute to the Gazette. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 49. CONTINUED: 55A DOROTHY (CONT'D) If Preston was in charge, they'd only hear one voice -- now they're gonna hear everybody's. MIKE (getting an idea) That way everyone can make up their own minds... She looks at Sully. He sees where she's going, and nods with a growing smile at her good idea... EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - DAY TEN 56 The Reverend, his manual in his hand, is trying to gather the children for school: REVEREND Time for class, children... Most are reluctant -- except for Looks For The Sun (who is the only one to wear his uniform; the rest wearing their normal clothes), who leads a trickle of children under the awning. The Crow Boy grabs some chalk and tries to rub it on his face: CROW BOY White boy! White boy! REVEREND (separating them) Stop that -- now that's enough. Mike and Sully arrive. The Reverend is apprehensive: he isn't sure what to expect. SULLY Afternoon, Reverend. REVEREND Sully, Dr. Mike -- I was just about to start class... He gestures toward the school area with the manual as if it's his defense. Mike nods to the manual: MIKE May I? (off his unsure look) We were thinking we might try something a little different today. (CONTINUED) 50. CONTINUED: 56 It's a loaded question, and a weighty moment, and they all know it. The Reverend looks at Looks For The Sun and the Pawnee Boy, and makes a decision: He offers the manual to Mike, who puts it in her bag. MIKE To start with, perhaps we could sit in a circle so we can all see each other... Some of the children start to drag the benches into a circle -- SULLY No, on the ground. Sully leads the way, sitting on the ground, crossed legs. The Reverend and the children are surprised. Some of the children follow Sully's example and sit in a circle on the ground with crossed legs. Mike pulls up a stool, and sits next to Sully. Cloud Dancing arrives. He and the Reverend watch from opposite sides of the circle, standing outside of it, not sure they approve. LOOKS FOR THE SUN This is not how we sit in school. MIKE What do you do when you sit like this? LOOKS FOR THE SUN We hear stories. MIKE (nods) And I know someone here with many stories. She looks at Cloud Dancing. MIKE (to the children) When he was your age, he learned these stories from his elders. They passed their wisdom to him, and he passed it to the children of his tribe. The children follow her gaze to Cloud Dancing. After a moment: CLOUD DANCING The soldiers will still come. (CONTINUED) 51. CONTINUED: (2) 56 SULLY They ain't here now... Cloud Dancing takes in the children's faces, then joins the circle, sitting on the ground. CLOUD DANCING Who here knows of the Cheyenne? A couple of children raise their hands. CLOUD DANCING And who knows how the Cheyenne came to be? None of the children do. CLOUD DANCING I am Cheyenne. I was born to the tribe led by Black Kettle, three days south of here. The Cheyenne believe that before there was earth, all was water... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - LATER 57 We PAN AROUND the circle of faces of the children as they listen, fascinated: ARAPAHOE GIRL I am Arapahoe. I was born two suns east of the river. My father taught me that Nih-anc-An created Sun and Moon, Man and Woman to mold and shape the earth... The PAN CONTINUES around the circle, as more children join it... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - LATER 58 ... the PAN INCLUDES Mike, Sully and Cloud Dancing, who listen to: CROW BOY ... And Old Man Coyote told the birds to dive in the water for mud. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 52. CONTINUED: 58 CROW BOY (CONT'D) Three could not find mud, but one did, and from that he made the earth... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - LATER 59 The PAN AROUND THE CIRCLE ENDS on Looks For The Sun (by now, all the children have joined the circle). MIKE Looks For The Sun? Looks For The Sun shyly looks over at Cloud Dancing, who nods, encouraging him to speak. LOOKS FOR THE SUN I am Lakota, an Elk Dreamer. We are taught that Inyan came first, and he was when there was no other... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RESERVATION - SCHOOL AREA - LATER - THE REVEREND 60 listens from where he still stands, now the only person outside the circle. MIKE Has everyone spoken? The childen nod. CLOUD DANCING No, not everyone. (then:) Reverend? There is a look between them, of understanding and acceptance. The Reverend joins the circle, sitting on the ground. REVEREND Before my father came to this country, he lived in a place called Brighton, in a country called England... He looks over at Mike and Sully, whose looks tell him to continue. (CONTINUED) 53. CONTINUED: 60 REVEREND We -- my people believe that the world was created by one God... As the circle listens to his story, we PULL BACK... REVEREND He created a man and woman named Adam and Eve, and they *lived in a beautiful garden called