Dances with Wolves

Major Fambrough: [reading orders] Lieutenant John J. Dunbar. [pauses, looks up] Lieutenant John J. Dunbar? John Dunbar: Yes, sir. Major Fambrough: Yes, sir. [pause] Indian fighter? John Dunbar: Excuse me? Major Fambrough: You're to be posted on the Frontier. The Frontier is Indian country. I deduced that you're an Indian fighter. I didn't rise to this position by being stupid. John Dunbar: No, sir. Major Fambrough: No sir. [pause] It says here that you've been decorated. John Dunbar: Yes, sir. Major Fambrough: And they've sent you here to be posted? John Dunbar: I'm here at my own request. Major Fambrough: Really? Why? John Dunbar: I've always wanted to see the frontier. Major Fambrough: See the frontier-- John Dunbar: Yes, sir. Before it's gone. Major Fambrough: [taking a sheet of paper from the desk drawer, the sound of liquor bottles clinking as he does so] Such a smart lad, coming straight to me. [scribbling with a quill pen] Sir...Knight, I am sending you on a knight's errand. You

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

John Dunbar: [at the celebration of the buffalo feast, noticing a big Sioux man has his Lieutenant's hat] That's my hat... that's my hat! Big Warrior: [in Lakota, as all becomes quiet in the tent] I found it on the prairie. It's mine. Wind In His Hair: [stands up, in Lakota] The hat belongs to Lieutenant. Big Warrior: He left it on the prairie. He didn't want it. Wind In His Hair: Well, you can see he wants it now. We all know it's a soldier hat. We all know who wears it. If you want to keep it, that's fine. But give something for it. Wind In His Hair: [in English, to Dunbar] Good... trade!

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ten Bears: Let us smoke a while. John Dunbar: [voiceover] With Ten Bears, it was always more than a while. There was purpose in everything he did, and I knew he wanted me to stay. But I was sure of myself. I would be an excuse, and that's all the Army would need to find this place. I pushed him as far as I could to move the camp. But in the end, he only smiled and talked of simple pleasures. He reminded me that at his age, a good fire was better than anything. Ten Bears was an extraordinary man.

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

Stands With a Fist: [explaining how she got her name] I worked every day... very hard... there was a woman who didn't like me. She called me bad names... sometimes she beat me. One day she was calling me these bad names, her face in my face, and I hit her. I was not very big, but she fell down. She fell hard and didn't move. I stood over her with my fist and asked if any other woman wanted to call me bad names... No one bothered me after that day. John Dunbar: [smiles] I wouldn't think so.

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

John Dunbar: We are trying for a baby. Kicking Bird: No waiting? John Dunbar: No waiting. Kicking Bird: I was just thinking that of all the trails in this life, there are some that matter most. It is the trail of a true human being. I think you are on this trail, and it is good to see.

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

Toughest Pawnee: Only a white man would make a fire for everyone to see. Pawnee #1: Maybe there's more than one. Pawnee #2: There may be three or four. Toughest Pawnee: I know three or four who will not be making the trip home.

Dances with Wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0