this is where i belong.  this is my outfit.
it was no good.  what's going on here?
alright by me.
forgive me father.
don't take off my foot.
the strangeness of this life cannot be measured. in trying to produce my own death, i was elevated to the status of a living hero.
where can i find major.  fambrough?
sir?
yes sir?
excuse me?
no sir.
yes sir.
actually sir, i'm here at my own request.  i want to see the frontier.
yes sir.  before it's gone.
i'm wondering sir, how will i be getting there?
no sir, it's just that i don't know.
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.
we have been gone four days now and still we have seen no signs of life. only earth and sky.
how far do you make the fort?
how far?
it's going to be my post.  my home.
timmons.  timmons.
timmons.
something's out there.
might have a look.
how come we haven't seen any buffalo?
what about indians?
alright. lets unload the wagon.
i'm staying too.  we don't know what's happened.
not at the moment, no.
this is my post.
this is my post! and these are the post's provisions. now get your ass off that wagon and help me unload.
good.
thank you.
have arrived to find fort sedgewick deserted. am now waiting for the garrison's return or word from headquarters. post is in exceedingly poor condition. have decided to assign myself clean-up duty beginning tomorrow. supplies abundant. the country is everything i dreamed it would be. there can be no place like this on earth.
damn.  damn.
no sign of captain cargill's command. i don't know what to do. communication can only take place if i leave and i don't want to abandon my post.
made a short patrol yesterday p.m.  discovered nothing. will go further tomorrow.
there is a wolf who seems intent on the goings on here. he does not seem inclined to be a nuisance however and aside from cisco has been my only company. he has appeared each afternoon for the past two days. he has milky white socks on both feet. if he comes calling tomorrow i will name him two socks.
almost a month and no one has come. the longer this condition persists, the less inclined i am to believe that anyone will. rain has forced me indoors for most of two days. i have begun an awning. the work has ruined my hands, but i am excited about the improvement it will bring to this place.
it is the loneliest of times.  but i cannot say that i am unhappy.
you there!
have made first contact with a wild indian. one came to the fort and tried to steal my horse. do not know how many more are in the vicinity but i am taking steps for another visitation. am burying excess ordnance, lest it fall into enemy hands.
have made all the preparations i can think of. i cannot mount an adequate defense but will try to make a big impression when they come. waiting.
the man i encountered was a magnificent looking fellow.
i realize now that i have been wrong. all this time i have been waiting. waiting for what? for someone to find me? for indians to take my horse? to see a buffalo?
since i arrived at this post i have been walking on eggs. it has become a bad habit and i am sick of it. tomorrow morning i will ride out to the indians. i do not know the outcome or the wisdom of this thinking. but i have become a target and a target makes a poor impression. i am through waiting.
wait.
wait.  you're hurt.
let me help you.
you're hurt.  you need help.
she's hurt.
welcome.  come.  please.  sit down.
would you like some coffee? coffee?
i'll get some cups.
is the coffee not good? too strong maybe? here.
do you want some?
so what are you guys doing? looking for buffalo?
he's a good one.  good horse. my horse.
good horse.
my horse. you see any buffalo?
wait just a bit.
buffalo?
buffalo.
buffalo.
the sugar didn't figure to last at that rate any way. i don't believe i'd go too far in saying that a foundation for good relations is being laid.
they have come again, as always the same two with an escort of six.
i believe i am dealing with kiowa indians as i have heard that word on several occasions.
i am learning the kiowa words for head, hand, horse, fire, coffee, buffalo, hello and goodbye.
no, i haven't seen any buffalo. are you hungry? i have food.  are you hungry?
nothing i have been told about these people is correct. they are not beggars and thieves. they are not the bogeymen they have been made out to be.
buffalo.
buffalo.  buffalo.
yes. buffalo.
i wish i knew what to say.
thank you.
look i'm full.  i can't tell the story again.
go ahead.
you want to try.  put it on.
here.
this is too much.  i can't take this.
i can't.  no more.
i can't, i'm full.  very full.
that's my hat.
my hat.
yes, it's good. but, i have to sleep.
they asked me to dance.
i was just dancing.
to stay any longer would've been useless. we had all the meat we could possibly carry. we had hunted for three days, losing half a dozen ponies and only three men injured. many times i have felt alone but until this afternoon, i have never felt completely lonely.
made a long patrol today. there is nothing to report. the truth is i am bored.
though only two days it seems like a week. i am missing the company of my new friends. i can see all of their faces, but somehow it is not enough. tomorrow, i will make an unannounced visit. after all, they are my neighbors, what can it hurt?
go home.
damn him.
c'mon two socks.  you can't go.  so go home.
alright then, don't go home. but stay.  stay right here.
you go home.
thank you.  i feel good.
wait.  what is your name?
kick?
kicking?
kicking bird.  what does he.  is he a chief?
oh.
your name.  you.
up? get up?
stand.
stands with a.
fist?
stands with a fist. i'm john.  john dunbar.
yes.
i try to answer all of kicking bird's questions but i know he is frustrated with me. he always wants to know how many more white people are coming. i tell him that it is impossible for me to say. when he persists i tell him that the white people will most likely pass through this country and nothing more.
but i am speaking to him in half- truths. one day there will be too many, but i cannot bring myself to tell him that. i am sure that stands with a fist knows.
a war party is going against the pawnee soon and i have asked to go. i sensed that i have made a mistake in doing so but i could not bring myself to take it back. they are my friends and from what little i gather the pawnee have been very hard on these people. i hope i have not overstepped my bounds.
i'm glad to see you.  please sit.
they are sioux enemies.
i asked that he would think about my going.
then tell him this. i have been a warrior for longer than many of the young men that will go on this war party. tell him.
i know, i understand. but i cannot learn these ways in camp.
i will be happy to watch over your family.
who is dances with wolves?
dances with wolves.  that's right. how do you say it?
dances with wolves.