Wishbone (1995) s01e38 Episode Script

What's the story, Wishbone?
What's this your dreaming of such
big imagination on such a little pub?
What's the story, Wishbone?
Do you think it's worth a look?
It kind of seems familiar
like a story from a book.
Shake a leg now, Wishbone,
let's wag another tale.
Sneffin' out adventure
with Wishbone on the trail.
Come on Wishphone.
Watch the story, Wishbone.
Watch the story, Wish Phone.
Watch the story, Wishbone.
Watch the story, wish phone.
Watch the story, wish phone.
Oh, my God.
Oh, no, you must have lost.
Hey, Mom.
Hey, Joe. Hi, Damon.
Hey, guys.
Hi.
We just cleaned up on the court.
Oh, he's a basketball
star, just like his dad.
Like father, like son.
We have tasted victory!
And now we'd like to taste
some of that coffee cake.
Pse, hey Lee.
How about a little victory treat?
He knows who the pushover
is at this table.
Can I feed him something?
Just say yes, Ellen.
He likes these.
Here you go, Wishbone.
Oh, yeah.
Well, it's not hot.
But I'll take what I can get.
Joe, maybe you and David can help us out.
We're planning our annual Lee
- Natoneba event at the library.
My fifth year to tell a Native
American story for the storytelling.
series.
Last year you told a Navajo,
you are your
Great.
Play funny.
This year I want to try
something different,
but I don't know what yet.
Well, why don't you let me tell a story?
Something in the canine tradition.
Too bad we have a whole one's
kind kitchen.
This man is a genius.
What do you mean?
I mean, sitting around the kitchen table
is the best place for telling stories.
Yes, absolutely!
the best of all possible worlds.
That's how it was in my
grandmother's kitchen.
Everybody would be sitting at the table,
and pretty soon there'd be stories.
Stories about things that had
happened just a few hours ago
or stories that happened at
the beginning of Navajo time.
It all went together.
I grew up with the stories
and in the stories.
You didn't get all your Navajo
stories from books, did you?
No.
They were passed down
generation to generation,
person to person.
As a child,
I listened to learn the story,
to remember the stories,
so that later on I'd be
able to tell it myself,
especially the old
stories of my ancestors.
Do you ever get tired of those stories?
No, they tell me who I am.
Each story is a path, a trail
that leads to a good place
every time I follow it.
Of course, it's fun to hear the
stories for the first time, too.
It's an adventure.
You follow the trail,
but you don't know
where it's going to lead
or what you're going
to find along the way.
that reminds me of a story.
Oh, tell it.
You have your kitchen table.
This story comes from the N.T. Dakota,
who lived in the woodlands of
what is now called Minnesota.
It's called The Story
of the Deathless Voice.
It's about a group of warriors
who followed a trail on
the lookout for the enemy.
I'll go on the trail.
Imagine this.
In the very long ago,
there was a certain
group of Dakota warriors
who left the circle of their tribal camp
in order to help their people.
They were in search of an enemy
who was trying to push them
out of their hunting area
and take food from their families.
They searched for many days
and could not find the enemy.
So they kept moving.
Some had been in battle many times
and had many stories to tell.
Some had no stories of battle to tell.
Some had no stories of battle to tell.
Until yet, this would be
their first time to fight.
The warrior's greatest
weapon is a fearless spirit.
His path may lead to death.
And now on this path, every
sound, every movement,
could mean an ambush.
All on the trail without knowing
what they would find out of the trail
without knowing what
they would find next.
Their story was in the making.
I hope I can be as brave
as those who have gone
before.
Finally, with still no sign of the enemy,
they had to stop to rest and to eat.
We will camp here. Take
turns on the watch.
Oh, let me be in the watch party.
I'm good at that.
You may take first watch.
Remember, watch with
your ears and your eyes.
I have a special talent for listening.
And some young warrior set off
to look and listen for the enemy.
I'm ready for end.
Anything.
I'm totally calm.
Nerves of steel.
What was that?
And that's all I'll tell for now.
What?
Wait a minute. I just heard a sound.
It could be the enemy.
But I want to know what happens.
Yeah, you just got started.
You just have to wait it
out with the war party.
They don't know what's
going to happen next either.
Well, okay, but you promised to
finish the story sometime, right?
Yeah.
I mean, you can't just leave us hanging.
I promise.
but now I have an idea
for the performance.
What?
We're going to turn the library
into a gigantic kitchen!
I don't think I should
be the only storyteller.
What do you mean?
I'll tell one of my
grandmother's stories.
But then I want some people from
the artists to tell a story too.
Something from their own
families, their own experience.
That'll take guts.
Yeah. I think I'll need to
recruit some volunteers.
You want stories?
Oh, I got stories.
I'll do it.
You will?
Well, Joe, that's great.
Now that reminds me of your dad.
He never thought twice
about helping out a friend.
What kind of story will you tell?
I think I'd like to tell
a story about my dad.
Well, Joe, that's a lovely idea.
You know my dad pretty well,
didn't you, Mr. Netonabah?
He was a good friend.
I think he'd be honored to have his
son remember him with the story.
I know he would.
David, will you help out too?
Sure, I've got lots of family stories.
Great.
And what about the dog?
Time for the dog story?
You glad Wishbone can't talk.
Oh, I talk, Lee.
It's just that nobody listens.
You know, Wishbone?
And a lot of the stories, I know,
it's the animals that do the talking.
And human beings are not necessarily
the wisest creatures on the earth.
Finally, stories that tell it like it is.
Oh, and that was after
your dad's team won
the state championship
third year in a row.
Oh.
You know, Joe, I'm really
proud of you for doing this.
That's a good excuse to
find out more about my dad.
Yeah.
I mean, I remember some things about him.
I remember us going to the tire
swing and the car swing in the
Park. I kind of remember
him carrying me around
on his shoulders. But I
don't remember that much.
Well, you were barely six when he died.
Am I anything like him?
Um, actually, you're a lot of him.
Will I win the state championship
three times in a row someday?
I wouldn't be surprised if he did.
Neither would I, Ellen.
Hey, when you died was
just a freshman in college,
he kept up a 4.0, and he
started on the varsity team.
Yeah.
I guess he was pretty good in math.
That's one way I'll never be able.
like him. Hey, look. Your dad
won an award for a senior essay.
An experiment to measure the modulus of
elasticity of polyvinyl
compounds is applied to
spiroid, rebound, trajectories. I
don't even understand the title.
Well, to tell you the
truth, I think it has
something to do with the
physics of basketball.
Oh, right.
And here he is stuffing himself
with pizza, my kind of guy.
Oh, I'll get it.
Hi, Wanda, hi Lee, come on in.
We've been going over the program design.
I think it's coming along.
Oh, wonderful.
Hi, Mr. Nettonaba.
You've met Sam before.
Oh, yes.
Hi, Sam.
Hi.
I, wishbone.
Hey, why don't you ask
Ellen if you can feed me?
How's it going, Joe?
Fine.
We've been finding out
a lot about Joe's dad.
Like what?
Like that he was good at everything?
Yeah, I mean, look at these trophies
and newspaper articles and stuff.
Boxes and boxes.
Hey, Mr. Notonaba, why don't you finish
that story you started yesterday?
Yeah, that's right. You promised.
Okay.
That's fair.
Ah, yes.
I was on watch for the enemy.
You remember the war party was
camped, and I don't watch to watch.
Suddenly, he heard, he heard
a song in the distance.
Wait a minute.
That's not a bird or a wolf.
That's the song of a warrior.
This could be the song of the enemy.
They would follow it
and try to find them.
They followed the song until
it and try to find them.
Was this some kind of enemy trick?
Where was the voice coming from?
They drew their weapons,
but the voice came.
Joe.
Sorry, Mr. Natona, but I don't feel
like listening to a story right now.
Joe?
I'm sick of stories, and I don't want
to tell a story about my dad anymore.
You can do the performance without me.
Well, he didn't mean that, Ellen.
Joe?
Joe, hey, wait up. Joe?
Where we going, buddy?
I'll follow you all the way.
Are we camping here?
Hey, wishbone.
Listen, why don't you
scratch me behind the ears?
It'll make you feel better.
Oh, ah, yes.
The healing scratch.
Let's face it.
People need pets.
I'm.
I'm going to find me here.
Where do you find me here?
Well, this is where you bring me here?
when we take a walk.
I know this is where you
remember your dad best.
Mom, there's no way I'll ever be able
to live up to all the things my dad did.
What do you mean?
All the stuff he did.
I'll never be that great.
So all the stories about the
state championships and the
good grades and this honor
and this honor and that honor?
He doesn't seem like a
real person, does he?
No.
There's no way I'll ever be like him.
Joe.
You're not in competition with your dad.
He's just somebody I'll never know.
But you do know him.
He's a part of you and
you're a part of him.
You complete his story.
You don't have to compete with it.
You're a part of every
great thing I do, Joe.
Keep thinking of the warriors who
followed the song to the tree.
Let me tell more of the story, Joe.
Okay.
Back on the trail of the story.
No one knew what to make of the voice.
In the next moment, the song died
away and there was stillness.
In the silence, one young warrior
decided to get a closer look.
He found some bones lying
at the base of the tree.
Were these bones singing to us?
These are the bones of a warrior.
He died of a warrior's death.
There's joy in his song. Death took
his body. We will keep his song.
Let us learn.
song.
Aha, way, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
A phrase a Dakota storyteller,
sometimes say to their listeners,
Nye Aichi Ayo.
It means take courage from the story.
Take courage from your dad's story, Joe.
You can use it to fight your own battles.
Maybe.
We're warriors together.
The story of Joe is still in the making.
And it's wonderful.
And let me tell you something about your
dad that you won't find in the scrapbooks.
What?
On our first date, he was
45 minutes late because
he locked the keys in the
car while it was running.
And then he did it again
when you were born.
I had to take a cab to the hospital.
Really?
Yeah, that wasn't so great.
Your father wasn't perfect, Joe.
Nobody is.
Except for the dog, of course.
You want to go home now?
Yeah.
I'll lead the way on this trail.
I like this picture of us.
Yeah, Joe is a cute little puppy.
Have you, um, thought about
the performance tomorrow?
It's your choice, Joe.
There's no pressure.
I'm going to do it, Mom.
Do you want to hear?
Oh, I'd love to.
I wish my dad was still
alive, but he's not.
So I try to remember everything I can.
I remember his walk.
I remember the sound of his voice.
My mom says she can
see some of him and me.
When my mom tells me stories
about him, I can see his face.
I can hear his voice.
Her stories keep him alive from me.
You know, we have to leave it a few minutes,
so we have time to set up performance.
Think we can make it?
Sure, Mom. I'm almost done with this.
Yeah, Wanda, this program
cover really is beautiful.
Oh, thanks, Ellen.
I got to say it. You have talent.
I really appreciate the help from
everybody in putting this event together.
You think people are
really going to enjoy it.
And dogs? Will dogs get to enjoy it?
I hope so.
So, do you get nervous
before you perform?
Well, I don't really think of myself as a
performer when I tell the Navajo stories.
Why not?
The important thing is the
stories, not the storyteller.
What do you mean?
Navajo storytellers use this
word a lot when they tell story.
Genet means it is said.
The storyteller uses it to remind us that
the story doesn't come just from him.
It comes from a whole
history, a whole culture.
The storyteller is sharing part of what
he's learned from his family and friends.
It's a gift.
Exactly. A gift to the community.
You know that Dakota story's telling?
It's not quite ended.
I think I can tell it while we finish up.
The warriors had defeated
the enemy and returned home.
A certain young warrior now
has been a story to tell.
But not only did they bring
back stories of their victory.
They brought back the story of a new
song, and they shared it with the people.
I'm going to, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
I'll keep the story going.
Leave.
That's what today's performance
is for, to keep the stories alive.
I think Wishbone knows
what I'm talking about.
Finally, a little recognition.
Either that or he's hungry.
Oh, ye of little faith.
Ellen. Well, ready to go? Yep.
Oh, um, why do we take my
car? I think we can all fit.
I guess Wishbone thinks
he's coming with us.
He really should be
there. I mean, it is a
family event, and he is
a part of the family.
Listen to the man. He knows what he's
talking about. He's right, ma'am.
Come on, Ellen. You love me,
don't you? Oh, all right.
Yes! Thank you, Ellen.
Can I drive?
Today, we've come together
to celebrate stories.
We've heard a story that my grandmother
shared with me, her grandchild.
We've heard stories of
sisters and brothers.
We've heard stories of
a father told by a son.
Now, I want you all to imagine that we're
sitting around one
enormous kitchen table.
At this table, there's
a place for everyone.
At this table, there's
time for everyone's story.
We take turns talking,
laughing, laughing, listening.
Even the dog gets to sit at this table.
Our hearts meet together
as we listen to the story.
We speak the story because
the story speaks to us.
At this table,
People, animals, plants, wind,
water, fire, past, present, future.
All creation comes together.
At this table, words become images.
Our speaking turns to sing.
our walking turns to dancing.
At this table, we're all related.
Oh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, and I'm,
Everybody, ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, everybody'd be
sitting at the table, and
pretty soon there'd be stories.
Stories about things that had
happened just a few hours ago,
or stories that happened at
the beginning of Navajo time.
It all went together.
I grew up with the stories
and in the stories.
As a child, I listened to learn
the story, to remember the stories,
and later on, I'd be
able to tell it myself.
Especially the old
stories of my ancestors.
Each story is a path, a trail that leads
to a good place every time I follow it.
Of course, it's fun to hear the
stories for the first time, too.
You follow the trail, but you
don't know where it's going
to lead, or what you're
going to find along the way.
That reminds me of a story.
You can sniff out
Wishbone books and other
great things to read
at your local library.
Funding for Wishbone, provided by annual
financial support from
PBS viewers, like you.
What? You say you want something to do?
Well, try this. Gather up
your humans, put them in
the car, and high tail
it to your local library.
There's something for the
whole family at the library.
Adventure, comedy, mystery.
So hightail it to your local library.
It's a family thing.
Only if you want to book on the
top shelf, bring someone tall.
Gonna get some assistance here.