A DYING WOLF. It’s CRIES are pitiful. It paws the air
trying to raise its head. She pulls her KNIFE from its
chest.
NEYTIRI
(in Na’vi)
Forgive memy brother.
She cuts its throatending the pitiful cries. She touches
its head gentlyregarding it with sadness.
Neytiri wipes the knife and returns it to the sheath at her
waist. She crosses to another slain wolf and kneelspulling
the arrow from its heart.
JAKE
LookumI know you probably don’t
understand this. But -- thanks. Thank
you. I owe you.
Neytiri ignores himassuming a prayer posture over the dead
animal.
NEYTIRI
(in Na’vi)
Forgive me. May your spirit run with the
Great Mother.
JAKE
I would have been screwed if you hadn’t
come along --
She rises and walks away without looking at Jake.
JAKE
Heywait. Wait! Where you goin’?
He crashes through some plantscatching up to her.
JAKE
Slow down a second will you. I just want
to thank you for killing those --
He makes the mistake of grasping her shoulder and --
39.
WHACK! She WALLOPS him upside the head with her bow in a
fierce backhand swinglaying him out flat.
He looks up to see a FURY standing over him. A Fury who
speaks English -- accentedhaltingangry English.
NEYTIRI
Don’t thank! You don’t thank for this!
This is sad. Very sadonly.
JAKE
OkayI’m sorry. Whatever I did -- I’m
sorry.
She gestures at the bodies of the viperwolves.
NEYTIRI
All this is your fault! They did not need
to die.
JAKE
They attacked me. How’m I the bad guy
here--
She silences him with the tip of her bow at his throat.
NEYTIRI
Your fault! You are like a babymaking
noisedon’t know what to do. You should
not come hereall of you! You only come
and make problems. Only.
Jake gets upslowlyfacing her.
JAKE
Okayfineyou love your little forest
friends. So why not just let them kill
my ass? What’s the thinking?
CU Neytiri -- looking away. Finallyreluctantlyher eyes
MEET HIS for the first time -- a riveting gaze with those big
gold orbs.
NEYTIRI
Why save you?
JAKE
Yeswhy save me?
NEYTIRI
You have a strong heart. No fear.
She leans closer --
40.
NEYTIRI
But stupid! Ignorant like a child!
She turns awaystalking offbut Jake goes after her.
TRACKING WITH Neytiri as she climbs nimbly along a huge ROOT.
WIDER as she trots with perfect balance along the rootwhich
forms an elevated walkway.
Jake runs to catch uprealizing suddenly that he is far
above the forest floor. Throughout the following they move
through a GLOWING PHANTASMAGORICAL FOREST.
JAKE
If I’m so ignorantmaybe you should
teach me.
NEYTIRI
Sky people can not learn. You do not
See.
She leaps to another elevated root. Jake followssurprised
that he made it.
JAKE
Whooaa.
He runs to catch up with her easy jogging pace.
JAKE
Then teach me to “see.”
She stops and he almost runs into her.
NEYTIRI
No one can teach you to See.
Then she turns and trots on.
EXT. GORGE - NIGHT
They run across the elevated root of an enormous tree -- a
horizontal trunk big as an oak.
WIDE SHOT as they cross a DEEP GORGE. A waterfall shimmers
silver in the Polyphemus-light. Vines hang down a hundred
feet into the gorgeand among them swoop stingbats and other
night flyers.
JAKE
Heyslow down. LookI think we just
got off on the wrong foot and --
41.
Jake looks downsuddenly aware of the height.
JAKE
--you just have to get to know me. I’m
Jake. Jake Sull--
A vine catches his spear and spins him off balance. He drops
the spear and almost falls off the root.
JAKE
Whooaaa -- shit!
Neytiri catches him with one handgripping his bicep. He
watches the spear cartwheel down to splash in the river.
She pulls him upright. Shouts at him in English and Na’vi.
JAKE
I need your help.
NEYTIRI
You should not be here.
JAKE
So take me with you.
NEYTIRI
No. You go back.
DOWN ANGLE FROM FAR ABOVE -- several WOODSPRITES float down
through the trees. FOLLOW THEM as they descend silently
toward Jake and Neytiri.
NEYTIRIsensing a presencelooks up to see --
The WOODSPRITESPULSING with purposefloat
right towards
Jake. They dance gently around his shoulders and head.
JAKE
(off her amazed look)
What?
More woodsprites gather around him. Several ALIGHT on him.
Jake holds stillknowing he should be afraid -- but somehow
he’s not. He spreads his arms. More sprites comelanding
all over his armshandsbody.
JAKE
What are they?
CU NEYTIRI -- reacting with a mixture of wonder and dread.
42.
NEYTIRI
Atokirina’. Seeds of the Great Tree --
very pure spirits.
Jake -- now a pulsingglowingfluttering MASS OF LIGHT --
moves one hand slowlynot wanting to break the spell. He
studies one of the sprites dancing on his palm until --
-- WHOOSSHH! the woodsprites whirl up and awayscattering
into the darkness.
JAKE
What was that all about?
Neytiri seems shaken. She seizes his hand and pulls him
after her.
NEYTIRI
Come!
CUT TO:
EXT. RAINFOREST - NIGHT
TRACKING WITH JAKE as he gazes about him in growing wonder.
He touches leaves as he passeswatching the bioluminescence
shiver through them.
Jake looks down as -- they cross a bed of purple MOSS which
reacts to the pressure of their footsteps. Rings of green
lightlike ripples on a pondexpand outward from each
footfall. Exploding rings of light where his feet touch
down. Dream-likesurreal beauty.
WIDE ON THEM as they run over a large rootacross a mirror-
like POOL at the base of a WATERFALL.
Jake follows Neytirirunning along a raised root-trunk.
JAKE
What’s your name?
JAKE hears WHOOSH-WHOOSH and snaps a look as a BOLO flies at
himspinning end for end and --
SHWHAP!! -- tangles around his legs. He topples off the root
and crashes into the foliage below.
JAKE untangles himselfgetting up to run just as --
SEVERAL NA’VI RIDERS thunder toward him. They are riding
DIREHORSES -- six-leggedarmor-skinned alien Clydesdales.
43.
We see that the riders’ QUEUES are connected to the horses’
long moth-like antennae -- a neural-link with which they can
command the horseleaving hands free for weapons.
The riders aim bows and spears at Jake as they approach. Jake
turns to boltbut --
NA’VI HUNTERS melt out of the shadowsweapons aimed --
blocking his retreat.
Neytiri drops to the ground next to Jake and confronts the
LEAD RIDER. She shouts sharply in Na’vi --
NEYTIRI
(subtitled)
Tsu’teywhat are you doing?!
He is my
captive!
TSU’TEY(tsu-Tay)is young and powerfully builtwith sculpted
features and a proud jawlinepiercing eyes. Tsu'tey swings
off his mount with fluid grace.
TSU’TEY
(subtitled)
These demons are forbidden here. I will
kill this one as a lesson to the others!
Tsu’tey draws his bow but Neytiri leaps between him and Jake
confronting him warrior to warrior.
NEYTIRI
(subtitled)
Stop! There has been a sign. This is a
matter for the Tsahik.
Tsu’tey clenches his jaw with frustration -- frustration with
her as much as the situation. He turns and angrily remounts
his direhorsebarking a command to the HUNTERS.
TSU’TEY
(subtitled)
Bring him.
They grab Jake and haul him to his feet. Encircled by spears
and bowshe is shoved forward along the trailas Tsu’tey
and the others ride ahead.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOMETREE - NIGHT
JAKE is hauled roughly toward Neytiri’s villagewhich is
sheltered inside one of the GREAT TREES. HOMETREE is 250
meters tallwith a trunk four times the diameter of the
largest Sequoiaand a base of massive mangrove-pillars.
44.
TSU’TEY rides inside the columns at the base of Hometree
shouting an ululating WARNING.
Jake is force-marched through the pillars into --
INT. COMMONS/HOMETREE - NIGHT
An open CENTRAL AREA. The villagers gather to see the
arriving hunt party. We see the people of the tribe --
mothers with babiesold womenyoung hunters.
They gawk at the alienexpressions ranging from curiosity to
outright hostility. The huge eyes of the children follow
him.
Jake is amazed at the size of HOMETREE inside. By the light
of the COOK-FIRES he can see up into a vast cylindrical
gallery -- a living cathedral.
Clear membranes -- sturmbeest bladders -- filled with
fluttering bio-luminescent insectsact as area lighting.
The central space is dominated by the SKULL of some enormous
creaturemounted with much embellishment on a TOTEM.
Standing in front of thisawaiting their approachis --
EYTUKAN (AY-too-kahn)the Clan Leader. Eytukan has deeply
chiselled features and a long chest mantle of THANATOR CLAWS.
His normally stern features are clouded further by anger.
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
Why do you bring this creature here?
Neytiri addresses Eytukan in Na’vi.
NEYTIRI
(subtitled)
I was going to kill himbut there was a
sign from Eywa.
He glowers at her as he respondspointing at Jake.
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
I have said no dreamwalker will come
hereto offend our home! His alien
smell fills my nose
Neytiri stands her groundanswering in a respectful but not
submissive tone.
45.
NEYTIRI
(subtitled)
Fathermany atokirina came to this
alien.
JAKE
What’s going on?
NEYTIRI
My father is deciding whether to kill
you.
JAKE
Your father!?
(to Eytukan)
Uhgood to meet yousir.
Jake steps forwardoffering his handand the hunters JUMP
to restrain himshouting. But they all FREEZE as --
A commanding FEMALE VOICE echoes through the chamber.
MO’AT
(Na’vi)
Step back!
Everybody looks up.
MO’AT (MOH-aht) stands on the second levellooking down.
She is a severe woman in her 50’s. Her bearing is haughty
her expression friendly as a hanging-judge. Her outfit is
elaboratedenoting her rank as CLAN MATRIARCH.
MO’AT
(subtitled)
I will look at this alien.
There is an expectant hush as Mo'at descends the helical core
of Hometreea kind of natural spiral staircase.
NEYTIRI
That is Mother. She is Tsahik -- the one
who interprets the will of Eywa.
JAKE
Who’s Eywa?
Neytiri kneels before her like an acolyte as Mo’at passes.
The villagers stare silently as the Matriarch circles slowly
around Jakeexamining his tail and the end of his queue.
46.
MO’AT
(thick accent)
What are you called?
JAKE
Jake Sully.
She produces a long THORN between her fingertips. With a
flourish she strikes his chest.
Jake flinches. RED BLOOD wells up and Mo'at rubs some
between her fingertips. She tastes it.
MO'AT
Why did you come to us?
JAKE
I came to learn.
MO'AT
We have tried to teach other Sky People.
It is hard to fill a cup which is already
full.
JAKE
My cup is emptytrust me. Just ask
Doctor Augustine. I’m no scientist.
MO'AT
What are you?
JAKE
I don’t know. I was a Marine -- uha
warrior. Of the Jarhead clan.
TSU’TEY
(subtitled)
A warrior! I could kill him easily!
EYTUKAN
(subtitled)
No! This is the first warrior
dreamwalker we have seen. We need to
learn more about him.
JAKE
What’s going on? What are they saying?
MO’AT
(to Neytirisubtitled)
Daughter. You will teach him our wayto
speak and walk as we do.
47.
NEYTIRI looks shockedthen angry.
NEYTIRI
(subtitled)
Why me? That's not fair! I only--
MO’AT
(subtitled)
It is decided!
Neytiri subsidesturning to glare at Jake.
MO'AT
(to Jake)
My daughter will teach you our ways.
Learn wellJakesully. We will see if
your insanity can be cured.
She turns to Neytiriher expression stern --
MO'AT
(subtitled)
He is your responsibility.
Neytiri nodsacceptingbut she’s not a happy camper. She
grabs Jake’s arm and pulls him roughly away.
JAKE
So it’s all goodright? You and me --
NEYTIRI
Do not speak.
CUT TO:
INT. SECOND LEVEL/HOMETREE
LATERNeytiri leads Jake up the spiral to the SECOND LEVEL.
He now wears only a ratty LOINCLOTH. His wounds are bound
with plant-fiber bandages.
THE ENTIRE CLAN is squatting at dinner in a huge circle. They
stop talking and turn to gaze at Jake as he enters the
circle.
JAKE
Don’t get up.
Neytiri crosses the circle to the cook pit and returns with
several large leaves heaped with food. She kneels next to
Jakeplacing the food in front of him almost DEFIANTLY.
JAKE
You never told me your name.
48.
NEYTIRI
Neytiri te Ckaha Mo'at’ite.
JAKE
Okayagaina whole lot slower.
NEYTIRI
(exaggerated slowness)
Neytiri. Nay-TEE-ree.
Jake knows she’s baiting him. He smiles in response.
JAKE
Nay-TEE-ree. That’s nice. Nay-TEE-ree.
ACROSS THE CIRCLETsu’teyMo'at and Eytukan sit together
glancing up occasionally from their food to the stranger.
TSU’TEY
(subtitled)
These aliens try to look like peoplebut
they can’t.
MO'AT
(subtitled)
He seems dim to me. And his eyes are too
small.
NEYTIRI motions for Jake to take portions from the serving
leaves onto his own leaf.
JAKE
Your mom likes me. I can tell.
MO’ATwatching Jake and Neytirileans over to Eytukan.
MO'AT
(subtitled)
Neytiri will test this “warrior.” Hey may
learn nothing -- but we will learn much.
EYTUKAN
You speak truth. We must understand
these Sky People if we are to drive them
out.
Jake munches on a white shrimp-like thing.
JAKE
These rock. What are they?
NEYTIRI
Teylu. You call beetle larvae.
49.
Jake blanches. She heaps some more onto his leaf -- a
CHALLENGE -- and Jake meets her eyestakes a handfuland
starts munching enthusiastically.
