Gil and Maria 1 dialogue

INT. GREAT ROOM - DAY

Limestone TexMex Ranch.

Gil reading Foglost,  INTERMITTENT WHIR OF CICADAS .

Maria arrive doorway.

MARIA: Knock knock.

GIL: Who's there?

MARIA: Ida.

GIL: Ida who?

Maria enters. 

MARIA: Ida forgotten Tom and Wanda arrive tomorrow had I not seen it on the calendar.

Gil marks page, closes book, pockets glasses, turns to Maria. 

GIL: Tom only. Wanda's staying back to be with a friend whose husband just passed.

MARIA: Oh. Where are the boys?

GIL: Treehouse. 

MARIA: Whatcha readin'?

He shows her.

MARIA: Foglost. What's it about?

GIL: A sailor lost in fog on Lake Michigan. So far. He's drank away his marriage and is career is careening.  

MARIA: Careening, huh?

GIL: It's in the book.

MARIA: H-C-Hardyn.

GIL: His latest, just out.

MARIA: Author blurb?

He opens to the author flap. Maria mumble-reads the text under the black and white medium shot of H-C Hardyn, 50ish, unbuttoned flannel over t-shirt, looking expressionless at the camera from where he stands in open high desert land, the snowcapped Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces, New Mexico behind him.

MARIA: H-C Hardyn is the author of two other novels, Yubaville and TBD, and TBD, a collection of short stories. Have you read any of these?

GIL: All of them.

MARIA: Really?

Gil nods.

MARIA (CONT.) How could I not know that?

Gil shrugs.

MARIA (CONT.): They're in the library?

GIL: Top shelf, far left. 

MARIA: Hmm.

GIL: Hmm. 

MARIA: What are the H and C for?

GIL: H is Hunter, don't know about the C.

MARIA: Can't be that hard to find out, right? If one were curious enough, of course.

GIL: You'd think. Minimal social profile. A short Wiki paragraph. Doesn't do interviews.

MARIA: Salingeresque?

GIL: I've read that reference. Not so easy these days.

MARIA: Not when you're advertising that you're somewhere near Las Cruces. 

GIL: Misdirection?

MARIA: I mean, even just showing your face with today's recognition technology. Scan face, find address. I think I'm taking this too far. Good looking man with kind eyes. Maybe the sensitive sort.

GIL: Maybe.

MARIA: Maybe most writers are. Anyway, did the boys tell you we're tubing tomorrow?

GIL: They did. So I guess Becky's feeling a lot better.

MARIA: She is. And bringing her new boyfriend and his son. 

GIL: Well that's breaking news.

MARIA: Right? 

GIL: Fill me in.

MARIA: Will do. She sounded happy on the phone. Speaking of filling in, any plans to fill the void of our absence?

GIL: Yes. Meeting Ruth in Fredericksburg to visit a friend.

MARIA: Well bring peaches back and I'll make ice cream.

GIL: That is also part of the plan.

She kisses his forehead. 

MARIA: Going to town for things tamale.

GIL: K. Oh.

MARIA: OH?

GIL: With your permission, I'm taking Robby out in the Corvette.

MARIA: As in him driving?

Gil nods.

GIL: Assuming he's interested, and you're okay with it.

MARIA: He doesn't know?

Gil shakes his head.

GIL: It's a surprise. If mom is, quote, down with it.

MARIA: Mom is. On one condition. I want to be there to record it when you tell him.

GIL: I'd like that to.

MARIA: Hmm.

GIL: May I read your mind?

Maria nods.

GIL (CONT.): I've already told Ricky. He knows how it works and that it's his turn next year. 

Maria smiles, winks.

GIL (CONT.): He's down with it.

MARIA: Love you.

GIL: Love you too. Ricky will get taken care of. 

Maria nods, turns, walks to doorway, stops, turns to Gil.

MARIA:  Dad?

GIL: The key is in the glove compartment.

M: Yay. Thank you.

G: Have fun. But not too much. There's a trooper ambush spot over the rise at Rocky River.

M: All speed limit for me. Back in an hour.

She blows him a kiss, leaves into hallway, Gil returns to Foglost. 

LOUDER WHIR OF CICADAS