A person, with a blanket around his shoulders, is sitting on the floor and beating on a tom-tom or signaling with a smoking fire. The others are across the stage interpreting what is being signaled.
[Indian beats out message or signals with smoke]
#1 Running Deer says that a meeting of the tribe will be held tonight.
[All nod]
[Indian beats out another message or signals with smoke]
#2 He says that many awards will be given at the meeting.
[All nod]
[Indian beats out another message or signals with smoke]
#3 He says that a brave has advanced to the Arrow of Light.
[All nod ]
[Indian beats out another message or signals with smoke]
#4 He says there will be singing and games at the meeting
[All nod, happily]
[Indian beats out another message or signals with smoke. Everyone shakes their heads as though they don’t understand. Beats out another message. Again they don’t understand. Beats out for the third time—finally]
#5 I’ve got it. Running Deer says to telephone him if there is anything we want him to bring to the meeting.
All—nod in understanding, some pull out Cell phones and put them to their ears.