INT. ROVER - DAY
Hunter driving NM Hwy 70 northeast, nearing White Sands National Park.
TOM: When's the last time you were on a horse?
CHLOE: Does a mule count?
TOM: Far as I'm concerned. Were you in saddle?
Chloe nods.
CHLOE: Grand Canyon mule ride a few years ago.
TOM: Alright. My best friend's grandsons did that and loved it. Took some amazin' pictures.
CHLOE: Have you been?
TOM: When I was a kid. But not down into it. I had an uncle who worked for the forest service outta Flagstaff. My mother's brother Glen, his wife Gloria and my cousins Darrel and Darlene, me and Ruthie's age. We was out for Christmas and drove to the rim the day after. Got snowed on. I'm sure Ruth's got black and white photos in one of her albums. She keeps the family tree on her ancestry website, for what it's worth, if you were ever curious.
CHLOE: I am. My aunt Kate does that.
TOM: Alright.
CHLOE: She and her boyfriend live in Wilson, Wyoming.
TOM: Is that so?
HUNTER: John's sister.
TOM: Okay.
CHLOE: You've probably been to Wilson.
TOM: Me and Daisy's husband Clem who passed did a lotta fishin' in the area. He had a friend of a friend with some land with a creek runnin' through. So I guess you've been.
CHLOE: Every Christmas since she moved there from Chicago and a week in June.
TOM: Like it?
Chloe nods.
TOM (CONT.): Probly seen a little snow then.
CHLOE: And cold as something I can't say.
TOM: Understood. What's the coldest?
CHLOE: Twenty-below.
TOM: That'll chase ya inside to the fireplace.
CHLOE: Like the cold had teeth.
TOM: Understood.
CHLOE: I'd bet you've been in colder.
TOM: You'd win that bet.
CHLOE: When's the last time you were on a horse?
TOM: About a year ago exactly.
CHLOE: On a roundup.
Tom chuckles. Chloe winks.
TOM: No ma'am. Been awhile since I done that. Last time I was on a horse was a year ago at the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days parade.
CHLOE: With a group?
TOM: Correct. V-F-W.
CHLOE: Are you a veteran of a foreign war?
TOM: Yes ma'am.
CHLOE: Vietnam?
TOM: Yes ma'am.
Pause, the dunes of White Sands come into view.
CHLOE: Is that something you'd be willing to talk about sometime?
TOM: We could do that.
Pause.
TOM (CONT.): I'm gonna take a wild guess that we're comin' up on White Sands National Park.
HUNTER: We are upon it. I thought we might tray to time coming home with a white sands sunset.
CHLOE: Speaking of which, I hope you're not camera shy, Tom, because I'll be taking plenty of pictures.
TOM: Well then now's a good time to give y'all the heads-up that I got orders to do the same.
JACKIE: And a good time to say there's a very good chance my cousin's girlfriend will have her movie camera along to record video for the blog she keeps.
CHLOE: We'll get the link, right?
JACKIE: Yes you will.
CHLOE: Cool.
Chloe scoots nearer to Tom, takes a selfie that includes him and white sand dunes in the background.
TOM: Think you could send that to me?
Chloe prepares phone to add contact, hands phone to Tom.
CHLOE: Digits, please.
Tom enters digits. Chloe looks at number.
CHLOE (CONT.) Three oh seven.
TOM: Thee three oh seven.
Chloe calls, TOM'S PHONE RINGS. He picks up.
TOM (CONT.) Hello?
CHLOE: Thee eight oh five.
Chloe pockets phone, Tom does the same.
Chloe extends high-five that Tom meets.
CHLOE/TOM: Contact.
