Ghost Dance, The (1982)

[bunniefuu]

(eerie music)

(dramatic music)

- Come on.

(claps)

(eerie music)

(chattering)

(scraping)

(eerie music)

(engine rumbling)

(eerie music)

(coyote howling)

(rustling)

(ominous music)

(rustling)

(dog barking)

- Settle down Palo.

(dog barking)

(ominous music)

(ominous chord)

(cries out)

(whacks)

(thunder cracking)

(ominous music)

- Where have you been?

Aranjo?

What the matter with you?

I said where have you been?

- I'm not your child woman.

- [Woman] I spoke with

Vincent's wife today.

Said he got work in the city.

She said maybe--

- I'm not interested.

- We live like beggars

while you wait for some fool

to seek out Aranjo

and his medicine.

- Enough!

You Lena and the

others, all of you,

you will learn to hold

your tongue soon enough.

I will have the power and

everything will be as before.

- Then that's all

we need isn't it?

I can put your chants and

your spells over the fire,

mix them with you power and

serve them at the table.

- Can you understand nothing?

You stupid old woman!

(thunder cracking)

Look, look Lena.

Then you understand this.

Of course not but I do and

that's all that matters.

This is the source,

this is the power

passing over 100

years from the hand

of the Nahalla into mine

and soon woman Nahalla

himself will stand at my side.

- Nahalla?

(scoffs) Crazy!

That's what you are, crazy!

- Wait woman.

Wait and see!

(thunder cracking)

(ominous music)

(rustling)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(whisperings)

(ominous music)

(fizzling)

(whispering)

(door creaks)

- What are you doing?

It's late.

Aranjo?

Aranjo?

(ominous chord)

(screaming)

- Lena?

Lena?

(ominous music)

(snarling)

Lena?

(dog snarling)

(screaming)

- [Woman] Morning Carol.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- Morning.

- Professor Robert

called twice already.

- Gene Webber?

Not before I've had some coffee.

I'll get it.

- Oh, one of the

TV stations called

and they will be here this

afternoon for an interview.

- That didn't take long did it?

- Well I guess our

friend in the vault

is making a big

hit with the media.

- [Carol] Don't

forget your 9:45.

- 9:45 what?

- With Dean Bell remember?

And you have a meeting

with the tribal elders

at the excavation at 2:30.

- Right.

Listen Tom Eagle's

going out there with me

better give him a call

around noon to remind him.

- [Carol] Okay.

- Oh, Paul before we get

swamped with interviews

make out a release and a

fact sheet for the press

not to technical but

make it informative.

Carol will type it up for you.

- Okay, I'll have it

later this morning.

- Paul make sure the

vault stays locked,

no one's allowed inside

without you or me.

- Okay.

- I've gotta get going.

Carol, tell Webber

I'll get back to him

after my 8:40, please.

- This is gonna be

one of those days.

- Good morning.

Well we're only

missing the usual's

so we may as well get started.

Now I believe we left off with

the emergence of the

ghost dance cult.

As the 1880's drew to a close

almost all of the western

tribes shared a crushing

sense of hopelessness

and once again the

white man's government

wanted to reduce their

reservations even further.

So they were ripe for a messiah

and that messiah was Wovoka.

He started preaching a strange

mixture of Christianity

and the old Indian beliefs

called the Ghost Dance Religion.

Among other claims Wovoka

swore that he had actually

visited God in heaven.

- Oh that gorgeous

Rick Haley called

said he was gonna be

here at about 5:30.

- Gorgeous who?

- You know Rick Haley, the

photographer from Geographic.

- Oh no you mean the guy

who was in here last month

with the little cigars

and the tight pants?

- Mmhmm.

- Well do me a

favor, you handle it.

- With pleasure, I

think he's a doll.

Did you know that Rick

does a lot of stuff

for fashion magazines?

- You mean like whips

and chains monthly?

- And for you information,

he said I have a

very classic look.

- Classic is not the word.

- And he says he really wants

to do something with me.

- I'm sure he would.

- God Paul, you're always

so cynical about people

you don't even know.

Why don't you go

play with your mummy.

(phone ringing)

- Anthropology.

Hiya Ben, what's up?

Oh brother, what did they get?

- I haven't got a

complete list yet

but the grave sites

pretty well cleaned out.

- [Paul] What the hell are

we paying that guard for?

- Don't ask me, we

can't even find him.

Last time he was gone for

two days you know that.

- Yeah probably sleeping it

off under a cactus somewhere.

Alright look, call me

back as soon as you know

exactly what's missing.

Yeah, yeah, talk to you later.

(phone clatters)

Damn it.

- On page 215 in your text

you'll find a depiction

of the Ghost Dance ritual.

The crude muslin shirt

worn by the dancers

were the sacred ghost shirt.

This shirt was believed

to protect the wearer

against the white man's b*ll*ts.

You'll see a number

of similarities in

some of the tribal

rituals we've already seen.

Isn't that right Phalan?

I said isn't that right Phalan?

- Huh?

Uh sure, definitely.

(laughs)

- I'm afraid even the Ghost

Dance couldn't bring you

back to life Phalan.

(laughing)

It's important to remember

that for the Indians

the Ghost Dance cult presented

a marvelous new world

in graphic detail, a world

inhabited only by Indians

in which the buffalo would

darken the land once again

and in fact, previous

generations of Indians

would come back

to walk the earth.

(wind whistling)

(eerie music)

(ominous music)

- [Ben] Watch it! Watch it!

(ominous music)

(crying out)

(thuds)

(crying out)

- [Paul] Kay Montalos just

called with some bad news.

- [Kay] Oh please not today.

- [Paul] Some more things

disappeared last night.

- What?

- And that's not all,

there's been an accident

with one of the workers.

- Well what happened?

- He got pinned underneath

a flat bed somehow.

- Oh no, is he gonna be alright?

- They don't know yet but

his legs are pretty bad

and Montalos figures you should

get out there right away.

- Well yes of course.

If I can just get out there

before the elders find out--

- It's too late for that,

the elders probably know

more about it than

we do right now.

- Well how could they

find out already?

- They had to take him to the

infirmary on the reservation.

- Oh Paul.

- And they're on their

way out to the site

to meet with them now.

- Alright listen, you're

gonna have to cover my classes

for me, tell Carol to cancel

with Dean Bell immediately

with apologies, I'm gonna

go over and get Tom,

I'll check in with you later.

- Okay.

- This thing's getting

out of hand Kay.

- Alright I'll handle it.

Mr. Basowaya, you

know Tom Eagle.

- This is no time

for pleasantries.

We told you from the start

that this would bring

nothing but trouble.

- Yes but you did give

us your permission.

- Some of us did Doctor,

but not all of us.

- Can you not understand

what you have brought upon

yourselves and on us if

this is the resting place?

- If this is the resting place--

- The Nahalla doctor.

This is the resting

place of Nahalla.

The body that you

found lying in the box,

it was face down

isn't that true?

- Yes.

- And was this not

the way to insure

the dead one could never

revenge himself on others

in the next life?

- You really believe

all that don't you?

- Eagle, you of all

people should understand.

- Perhaps you have forgotten

what the old man taught you.

- You believe whatever you want.

- Tom.

- Enough has been said here.

Doctor.

But I tell you this,

the man who was hurt

was only the beginning,

stop this work now!

- Well you were a big help.

I felt like a real heel

standing down there--

- Look you can listen to all

that nonsense if you want

but don't ask me to.

- Okay, okay.

All I wanna know is do you

know who this Nahalla is?

- Kay he is just a crazy legend.

- Well you might

think it's crazy

but you could at least have

some respect for their feelings.

- That's easy for you to say Kay

you learned all about

the Indians in a nice,

air conditioned

classroom, I lived it!

I worked damn hard to free

myself of these fairy tales

and there's no way I am going

to be dragged back into it.

- I'm sorry.

I just didn't

realize how you felt.

I wouldn't have asked you to

come up here with me if I had.

I'm sorry, I'm

just a bit touchy.

- It'll be alright.

- But what was that

business all about?

You of all people should

understand, what was that?

- Oh who knows Kay.

When you're out on

that reservation

that supernatural nonsense

is about all you have left.

(sighs)

(creaking)

(moaning)

(banging)

- [Woman] Oh my God.

What if Dr. Foster is here.

- [Man] You're

sitting on my pants.

- Paul?

- Oh Paul.

- You shut up.

Give me my shoe

Dr. Foster is that you?

Ah, Rick, Mr. Haley and I--

- [Rick] Mr. Haley?

I'm Mr. Haley.

I wasn't Mr. Haley a minute ago.

- [Carol] Oh it could be my job.

Well maybe she has

a sense of humor.

(eerie music)

(ominous music)

(screaming)

Get...

(ominous music)

(choking)

(crying out)

(ominous music)

- Hey come on you

know I love you

but let's get

outta here alright?

Hey Carol?

Come on Carol let's not

play games, let's go.

(ominous chord)

(slashes)

(crying out)

(glass shattering)

(ominous chord)

(crying out)

(screaming)

(eerie music)

- [Woman] Here kitty.

Here kitty.

- Senor Ocacio?

- [Woman] Here kitty.

(door snaps)

(gasps)

- I suppose you've

already heard.

About the digging place I mean.

There's much talk

in the village.

- Now is much talk there

and little else.

- From some of the elders

there's even talk of Nahalla.

The people are afraid.

Some want to come to you

but others warn

them to stay away.

Some of them tell their

children to stay away from me.

Will you need me in the morning?

- Yes child of the

Crow, in the morning.

(sirens blaring)

- Kay why don't you

on, I'll lock up.

- No it's alright.

I have to wait for Tom

anyway, he's picking me up.

Paul what do you think...

What do you think our chances

are of getting a solid history

on that body?

- It shouldn't be

much of a problem.

We know that area very well.

I could probably develop

a damn good profile on him

I mean considering the

artifacts that we--

- No that's not

what I'm asking you.

Is there even a

remote possibility

that we might come up

with a personal background?

- Oh you mean actually

identify that specific body.

Kay it's, it's

possible, I mean it's...

It's very unlikely you know

but anything's possible.

- Look Paul, you and I both

know that the tribal council

has been terribly upset

about this project

right from the top right?

- Alright, now you're trying

to suggest that there's

something connected

with what the council

and what happened here?

- It's occurred to me.

Look but I don't think we

should even think about that

right now.

Paul, some of the elders,

unfortunately it's some

of the more vocal ones,

believe that what

we have in there

is the body of

somebody called Nahalla

and whoever it is they're

scared to death of him.

I have to tell you I

didn't do very much

for my scholarly pride to admit

I've never even heard

the name before.

- So, neither have I,

but we both know that every

group has a whole category

of dark legends and

this is just one more.

- Maybe.

But if we can actually

identify that body

we can put the

whole thing to rest.

- Yeah, and then what if it

is your Nahalla in there.

- I know.

Well in that case,

we've got a problem.

One big problem.

(ominous music)

(kissing)

- [Tom] You want anything?

- [Kay] No, no

thanks, you go ahead.

- Where'd you put the coffee?

- It's on the stove.

(scraping)

(ominous music)

- [Tom] Kay.

- What?

I'm sorry, I'm...

What?

- Are you alright?

Sure you don't want any?

- Hmm?

Oh um, yeah, yeah.

(clattering)

- Is there any reason why Paul

can't handle things tomorrow?

You need to get

away from there Kay.

For a little while at least.

Maybe we could both get

away for a few days.

(ominous music)

What do you think?

(ominous music)

Paul can take care of the

work for one day right?

- What?

Oh, sure.

I mean no I've got

too much to do.

I'm alright, really.

We'll talk tomorrow alright?

I just, I just gotta

get some sleep.

- Okay, tomorrow.

Lock everything up tight.

(kisses)

(door creaks)

(ominous music)

(door creaks)

(ominous music)

(water splashing)

(ominous music)

(scraping)

(ominous music)

- No they weren't play things.

Kachina dolls were

considered very sacred.

The medicine men

used them in mystical

and religious rituals.

They would often bury

their dead with the dolls,

in fact, they believed that

the spirit of the dead person

entered the doll.

This is an excellent

collection of kachina dolls.

And this little

fearsome creature

with the blood stained

knife is Soyah Wuhti

or the monster woman.

If you have any other

questions please feel free

to ask any of the

staff, okay thank you.

Kay.

- Hi Paul.

- How you feeling?

You look beat.

- I couldn't sleep, you know.

- I know.

Listen, I may have

found something.

Do you remember the

private collection

that came in last semester?

- What, the one from

the Lyndon Foundation?

- That's it.

I found an old diary in there

that belonged to a guard

at the Territorial Prison.

And there's some references

to a real hell raiser

from the Saint Andrew group.

Every time the guy

referred to him

he call him Nathan Hall, Indian.

You know how they used to

give the Indian prisoners

Christian names.

- Nat Hall, Nahalla.

- Look it's a long

shot but who knows.

- Look was there anything

about what area he came from?

- No, not a thing

but there's a lot of material

I haven't even covered yet.

- Okay, well look, let me know

if anything else turns up okay?

- Sure.

Listen, when are we gonna get

time to unwrap our friend?

- I'd like to wait for the x

ray before we touch a thing.

- Well they should

be back this morning.

- [Kay] Good.

(door bangs)

(ominous music)

(whispering)

(whispering)

(throat clears)

(whispering)

(door bangs)

(gasps)

- Oh for goodness sakes Paul.

- Sorry.

- It's alright.

- They just sent

over the x rays.

- Well, why don't you

give me a few minutes

and we'll get started okay?

- Okay.

(door bangs)

- [Kay] Paul?

Paul.

- What is that?

- I'm not sure.

- A tumor maybe.

- Alright.

We'll go over these tomorrow

with the radiologist.

What do you wanna do?

Do you wanna quit or

shall we open it up?

- Let's do it.

- Oh great, a man

after my own heart.

(ominous music)

Alright, let's stop here or

we'll both be at it all night.

(gloves snapping)

Why don't you get ahead

and pull that outer covering

back on and lock up.

I'll give Tom a call

before we leave.

- Okay.

- I am getting out of here.

Alright Tom, maybe you're right.

Wherever, sure, fine, mmhmm.

No, no, no, it'd be crazy to

come all the way back here,

I'll meet you there.

Okay, fine, bye bye.

(phone clatters)

Tom wants to go to dinner.

You wanna come along?

- No, no thanks.

I gotta a whole mountain

of term papers to...

Oh, before you go, I

found some more references

to your Nahalla in

an old BIA journal.

And it seems that at the

time of the Ghost Dance

Nahalla was a renegade

who couldn't accept

the dream of peace

with the whites.

So he practiced his

own brand of religion.

Ritual murders,

burnings, t*rture.

- And he was from this area?

- Came here in 1894 for

kidnapping a white woman

and making her his wife.

But she seems to have

fallen under his spell

because she joined his cult

and they became

a murderous team.

- Holy Jesus.

- Yeah but that's not all.

The woman's sister spent months

trying to track them down,

trying to convince her to

leave him and go back with her

and they tortured her for

days before they k*lled her.

- Oh come on, her own sister?

- Yeah, nice couple huh?

Anyway there's a cross reference

to Colby's Indian Compendium

but I haven't

gotten that far yet.

- Well we've got a Colby's

around here somewhere.

- Kay, do yourself a favor

and let me handle it.

You're tired, go to

dinner and try to relax.

I promise you I'll call you

as soon as I hear anything.

- Can I trust you?

- Scout's honor.

- I don't know how

I'm supposed to relax

after what you've just told me

but I'll try.

I've gotta get going.

- Alright well I'll

walk you to your car.

- [Kay] What for?

(chattering)

(door bangs)

(engine rumbling)

(eerie music)

(whispering)

(eerie music)

(ominous music)

(tires squealing)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(gasping)

(ominous music)

(tires squealing)

(crashing)

(crying)

(screaming)

- [Man] Take it easy lady.

(crying out)

Calm down now.

- Where did you come from?

- [Man] I think you'd better

step back to the patrol car.

- No, no a little fuller.

- How's that?

- Oh yes, that's it.

- Thanks Bob for coming in.

Goodnight.

- [Bob] Goodnight.

- Well?

- I'll be honest with you.

You're right.

I have no intention

of wasting my time

looking for some mystery

man out in the desert

but if there are

some people who are

resentful enough

of your excavation

there's a good chance that

one of them has decided

to do something about it.

You would be amazed at

what people will do doctor,

with or without a full moon.

- Lieutenant I think

I understand your

position quite well.

And I can't blame you

if you just can't accept

this as a serious

occurrence that's--

- Now just a minute.

Nobody is taking this

lightly, most of all not me.

We're talking about m*rder

here doctor, two to be exact

and there's nothing

supernatural about that.

Richard!

Would you make a copy of

this for the lady please?

- [Richard] Yup.

- Thank you.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Good.

Thank you.

Mr. Eagle is down in the lobby,

he'll wait for you there.

- Did they tell

you what happened?

- [Tom] Yes I think that--

- [Kay] You think I'm crazy.

- [Tom] Of course not.

I just think you're

very tired that's all.

- Tom.

I was afraid to

tell the lieutenant,

he already thinks

I'm out of my mind.

(paper crinkles)

This face, the man

who followed me,

it's the face of

the body we found.

(paper crinkles)

- Listen to me honey, you've

been under a terrific strain,

out in the desert at night

your mind can turn summersaults

and whatever you see or

hear can seem very real.

- I'm telling you he was there.

- Sure he was there

and it doesn't matter

if he was actually there or not

because either way

he was really enough

to almost get you k*lled.

- Tom please, if you do know

something about all this, you

and the old man, I

don't even care anymore

please, don't keep it from me.

(crying)

What's happening to us?

I've never been so frightened.

- Oh my God.

(sighs)

- [Recording] This

is Dr. Foster.

- Oh sh*t.

- [Recording] I'm not in at

the moment so please leave

your message when

you hear the tone

and I'll get back to you as

soon as I can, thank you.

(beeps)

- Kay, this is Paul.

I don't care how late it

is please give me a call

as soon as you get back.

There's something...

Well there's something very

strange happening here.

The woman that Nahall kidnapped

was a Melissa Stewart,

and there's a damn good picture

of her in Colby's Compendium

and this uh, it's absolutely

crazy but (beeps).

Oh Jesus.

(phone bangs)

(door bangs)

(ominous music)

(clicks)

(ominous music)

No, no!

(ominous music)

(crying out)

(clicks)

- Special collections please.

Yes, this is Dr.

Foster in Anthropology.

Would you check a

title for me please?

It's Colby's South West

Indian Compendium 1911.

(ominous music)

Would you excuse us?

Now please.

- Lib give us a minute please.

Kay what is the matter with--

(dramatic music)

- Tom please, help me.

- And even those who do

not believe a word of it

would just as soon have

nothing to do with him.

The man is, oh I

don't know, strange.

- Alright I understand that

but can he help us?

- There are some people who

think this Ocacio is a sorcerer.

(eerie music)

(knocking)

(dramatic chord)

Ocacio.

My name is Thomas Eagle,

we come to speak to you about

the trouble in the city.

Many things have

happened which the men

in the city cannot understand

and now, the name

Nahalla is spoken.

- They cannot

understand themselves.

How can they understand

what goes on around?

And they speak of Nahalla.

Why?

To run from their own shadows

like frightened children?

Just as you did.

- Ocacio, I only ask that you

speak with us, that's all.

The woman is from

the university,

she thinks she has seen Nahalla.

But a police lieutenant

says that this all the work

of someone who is

trying to fool us.

- Has this police lieutenant

found such a person?

- No.

- Then let him believe

what he wishes.

He is content.

- Ocacio, couldn't

you just explain--

- This is not a school

and I am not a teacher.

First, I must see

your excavation.

- When?

- When do you wish to be

free of your troubles?

- We could be here

in the morning.

- When is your morning?

- At what time?

- Whenever you want.

- My morning is the gray

before the sun, first light.

- We'll be here, first light.

(ominous music)

I'll just be a minute Tom.

(pounding)

Would you see who

that is please?

(pounding)

- [Tom] Sure.

- Oh hi, I...

- Sorry, the museum's closed.

- Oh I know, I'm really

here to see Paul Michaels.

- You wanna leave a message?

- Well Paul let me borrow this,

but he said if I didn't

get it back to him today--

- Look give it to me,

I'll put it on his desk,

call him first

thing in the morning

and tell him you really

brought it back tonight okay?

- Wow that'd be super.

(door clicks)

- Oh help me Tom won't you?

- [Tom] Yes I will.

- [Woman] Thanks.

Thanks a lot.

- [Tom] You're welcome.

Hey wait a minute.

- Yeah?

- Do me a favor, I'm locked out.

Could you please call

the security guard

and tell him to let me in?

- Yeah sure, right away.

- [Tom] Thank you.

(rattling)

(ominous music)

(ominous chord)

(crying out)

(ominous music)

(screaming)

(ominous music)

- [Kay] Tom!

(ominous music)

- [Recording] This exhibit

represents only a small portion

of the bird life native

to the Sonoran desert

which stretches

from northern Mexico

through southern Arizona.

Listen carefully for the

distinct call of each bird.

(birds chirping)

(ominous music)

(screaming)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)

(crying out)

(ominous music)

(bangs)

(cries out)

(gasping)

(ominous music)

- Kay?

I'm sorry I bothered you.

- [Security] No

problem sir, goodnight.

- Goodnight.

Kay?

Kay are you alright?

- Of course.

No, don't.

- What is the matter?

- Nothing Tom, I'm

just tired that's all.

Why don't you just

go on and I'll--

- Are you serious?

I'm not going to leave

you alone with...

What is that?

(cries out)

(whacks)

(ominous music)

(rustling)

(engine rumbling)

(ominous music)

(coyote howling)

- Now Tom Eagle,

now you must help.

- [Tom] Just tell

me what's happening

and I'll do what you ask.

- This much I can tell you,

if you will do just as I say

you will have your woman back

but if not, she is forever lost.

- I'll do as you say.

- There is a house just beyond,

inside there you must

find a leather pouch,

no bigger than your

hand, when you have it

return the pouch to the

body and burn everything.

If one is not cremated the

soul will wander forever.

Stop for no one

above all the woman,

as long as she with Nahalla

she is (speaking

foreign language)

and she will take your life

and put it in the

basket for him.

(knocks)

(ominous music)

(ominous chord)

(thuds)

(ominous music)

(scraping)

(screaming)

(crying out)

(ominous music)

(clatters)

(ominous music)

(chanting in foreign language)

(ominous music)

(hissing)

(ominous music)

(hissing)

(ominous music)

(hissing)

(ominous music)

(hissing)

(ominous music)

(crying out)

(ominous music)

(whacks)

(cries out)

(ominous music)

- (speaking foreign language)

Tom Eagle!

(cries out)

(ominous music)

(crying out)

(fire crackling)

(ominous music)

(whimpers)

(ominous chord)

(ominous music)

(screaming)

(panting)

(ominous music)

(ominous music)