pinus ponderosa in progress

EXT. PONDEROSA PINE FOREST - DAY

Hunter, Chloe and Tom stroll among the trees. In the distance Jackie, Sess and Claire prep lunch at a picnic table lit by high-noon shaft of sunlight.

TOM: Any idea why they're called ponderosa pines?

CHLOE: Pinus ponderosa. Because they're ponderous, which is to say heavy, to round it off probably a little clumsily, an adjective that is also associated with ponderous. And one might think a wood described as heavy would be a so-called hardwood, but it's not, it's a softwood. To tell you what you probably already know.

TOM: Rings a bell. You speak any other languages besides English and Latin?

CHLOE: I don't speak Latin other than what I learned in an extra credit flora and fauna class my sophomore year. I'll be starting fourth year Spanish.

TOM: Debes ser fluido.

CHLOE Hablas español?

TOM: Mi abuela nació y creció en México.

Chloe stops, stopping Tom and Hunter, stares at Tom.

TOM (CONT.): La madre de mi madre. Nacida y criada en Durango. 

CHLOE: Really.

TOM: Si.

Chloe turns to Hunter.

CHLOE: Comprende?

HUNTER: Something about mother and Durango.

Chloe turns to Tom.

TOM: My grandmother, my mother's mother, was born and raised in Durango, Mexico. Mary Martinez before she married Hoyt Laidlaw. Granny Soly to me and Ruth. They lived in Corpus Christi where mom grew up with her brother, my uncle Bob. He passed a few years ago. If y'all're curious I can forward you the link and password to the family tree on the ancestry website Ruth tends to.  

CHLOE/HUNTER: Yes.

HUNTER: Barbara's aunt Kate, John's sister, does the same.

Jackie RINGS A MEAL BELL. 

to be continued.