Kundun Page #3

SERVANT:

Thank you.

EXT. COURTYARD DAWN

The travelers make their departure at dawn.

As the party reaches the gate, Lhamo runs from the house,

crying:

LHAMO:

Wait! No!

The men stop. Lhamo runs to the Servant.

LHAMO:

Me, too. Me go, too.

Lhasa!

Lhamo is in tears.

MOTHER:

No, no, no. Lhasa!

He always says he will travel

far away. He always wants to go.

SERVANT:

We cannot, young master.

LHAMO:

You come back?

A pause.

SERVANT:

We will.

The travelers head down the road.

Mother and child return to their home, the Mother carrying

the boy on her hip as he swings himself around to take a

last look at the strangers.

EXT. COURTYARD DAWN

The Father readies a pack train of horses. Lobsang and

Lhamo pull on the cinche straps.

EXT. FARMLAND DAY

The Mother plows with a heavy yoke attached to a large yak.

Lobsang Samten and Tsering Dolma help their mother. Lhamo

sleeps under an umbrella.

EXT. COURTYARD DAY

Lobsang and Lhamo running, carrying a bowl of eggs.

INT. KITCHEN NIGHT

Lobsang is wrapped in maroon wool, trying to hold still as

his Mother pins and stitches. Lhamo sits, sipping tea,

watching, woefully.

MOTHER:

Say, Kumbum Monastery.

LOBSANG:

Kumbum. It is not far away.

MOTHER:

It is not far at all, and

it is a beautiful place.

And your big brother is abbott

there. You will not be alone.

LOBSANG:

I will be very smart.

MOTHER:

You will be fine.

You will be a fine monk.

INT. ALTAR ROOM DAWN

Lobsang pours water from one small, copper bowl into six

others, seven in all, placed on an altar before a statue of

Buddha. As the rest of the family watches, the Mother

lights the butter lamps, whispering:

MOTHER:

Om mani padme hum.

Om mani padme hum.

EXT. COURTYARD DAY

Lobsang is perched on the back of a horse - in front of his

Father. The two leave home, goodbyes having already been

said. Mother, sister and little brother remain behind.

EXT. PARENT'S ROOM NIGHT

Mother lies down with Lhamo, holding him.

MOTHER:

Your father had been very sick.

He had been sick from the time

you began growing in me.

We thought he would die.

LHAMO:

Cow.

MOTHER:

Yes. A cow had died.

One night, you stopped all

your moving, and I said to your

sister, "His time has come."

LHAMO:

Me. First break of day.

MOTHER:

At dawn, you were born. One eye was

closed, and your sister opened it

with her thumb. We gave you the

sweet drink.

LHAMO:

I pooped.

His Mother laughs.

MOTHER:

You did. We washed you and wrapped

you in sheepskin and took you to your

father. That day he father got

better

And that day, a pair of crows came to

nest in our roof. I just remembered.

LHAMO:

I miss my brother.

MOTHER:

I miss him too.

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