Hunter Tom interview in progress

EXT. HUNTER'S PATIO - DAY

HUNTER: When did you find my mother's obituary and what led you to look for her?  

TOM tells the story. 

HUNTER: What's your wife's name and how long have you been married?

TOM: Wanda. It'll be twenty-five years September second. 

HUNTER: Kids?

TOM: Wanda had a daughter from a previous marriage.

HUNTER: You?

TOM: No previous marriage and no kids. 

HUNTER: What's in Texas?

TOM: My sister Ruth. We're goin' in on a house in the Kerrville area. Gonna drive around, check in on a couple open houses. Wanda would be along but she stayed to be with a friend whose husband just passed. 

HUNTER: Where's your sister?

TOM: Outside a town called Comfort.

HUNTER: Other siblings?

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: Parents living?

TOM: No sir. 

HUNTER: What's your middle name, Tom?

TOM: Travis.

HUNTER: Thomas Travis.

TOM: Yessir. For my grandfathers. Thomas for my dad's dad, Travis for mom's.

HUNTER: Where in Texas did you grow up?

TOM: Born and raised in a town called Bandera. Bout an hour northwest a San Antonio.

HUNTER: Hill country.

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: Hunter is fine.

TOM: Yessir. Hunter.  

to be continued.

barbara, john, jan, hunter's call 1

LOCATION TBD - DAY

Barbara, Jan and John re Hunter.

Hunter's RINGTONE, Barb picks up.

BARBARA: Were your ears burning?

They're right here.

I'm here, Hunter. Nonplussed. 

(John and Jan take note.)

Hunter, if you're fine with leaving your house to a complete stranger I'm going to trust your judgement. 

And what plate is that?

Cowboy boots?

I expect a picture or two. 

Okay.

Love you too.

(She sets phone.)

JOHN/JAN: Drumroll.

BARBARA: Tom Walker is at Hunter's house. Having arrived in a pickup truck with Wyoming plates. If Chloe's cool with it, he's spending the night.

JOHN: She doesn't know.

BARBARA: He arrived about the same time her flight left.

Long pause.

JOHN: A middle name would be helpful.

BARBARA: Check. 

“We weren’t in Vietnam.”

“We were in Laos”

Thus begins Cedric’s War Story re meeting Tom.

Cedric, Hunter, Gil and John.

“Unofficially. I wasn’t flying the helicopter that got shot down over the jungle Tom and two other marines didn’t find us in. Until they did after enough time had passed for it to become official. Gil, you’ve probably heard this.

Gil, shocked, shakes head.

GIL: Cedric, I’ve never heard the word Laos come out of Tom’s mouth.

Cedric considers this, nods.

GIL (CONT.) What helicopter were you not flying?

CEDRIC: I was not flying a Bell A-H one, like two other pilots were not. 

HUNTER: Cobras.

CEDRIC: Yessir. Out on sunrise recon looking for bad guys. We found them. We spun like a merry-go-round into the trees. Both other birds got hit, both made it back to base, one gunner dead, one pilot shot in the arm he lost.

to be continued.

Howdy in progress

TOM: Howdy. My name is Tom Walker.

Hunter surveys him from the crack in the door.

HUNTER: Tom Walker who was in Reno, Nevada about this time fifty-two years ago.

TOM: One of 'em anyway. July twenty through the twenty-third.

HUNTER:  From Texas?

TOM: Born and raised in Bandera.

to be continued.

John, Jan, Barbara, Chloe 1: Location located

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

All seated at table with window view to airport.

Merely Perfect.

Spirit of San Luis Restaurant.

roundtable 3: Hunter, Ruth, Wanda

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Hunter, Ruth and Wanda in three of four chairs around the table, same dark wood as the hutch. Curtains closed across window, view into adjacent kitchen. Large oil on canvas still life, peaches in a wooden bowl on a wooden table lit by shaft of sunlight. Each with a half-empty glass of red wine at hand, the bottle near two photo albums. 

HUNTER: Tom mentioned he'd been in Vietnam.

RUTH/WANDA (beat): Yes.

RUTH: Mentioned.

HUNTER: It came up in reference to that being the end of his rodeo aspirations.

RUTH: Yes.

HUNTER: That was it. We were going to pick it up later.

RUTH: Gil can be more helpful in that regard, I think.

Ruth looks at Wanda, who nods.

HUNTER: Was Gil in Vietnam?

RUTH: He was. He and Tom for their draft cards the same day. But Gil can tell you that story and others. 

HUNTER: So, it turns out that Barbara's aunt Kate's husband Cedric crossed paths in Vietnam.

RUTH/WANDA: Really?

HUNTER: Tom confirmed that. They were going to meet. Cedric called me last night. We're going to meet for the first time in Jackson at the end of September.

WANDA: Small world. And as many times as we've been through Wilson.

They drink.

RUTH: I'm gonna get on to bed, y'all.

WANDA: Right behind you.

HUNTER: Me too after I get Chloe caught up.

They finish their wine, stand.

HUNTER (CONT.) But first, tell me something about the painting.

Wanda smiles.

RUTH: Oil on canvas.

HUNTER: Thanks.

RUTH: I painted that over the course of a summer a long time ago.

HUNTER (beat): It's lovely.

RUTH: Thank you.

HUNTER: Are there others?

Ruth nods.

WANDA: We have two in Laramie.

RUTH: Gil has one in his greeting area. There are a few in the studio.

HUNTER: Where's the studio?

RUTH: Out in the oaks. We'll take a walk to it before we leave in the morning.

HUNTER: How long have you been painting?

RUTH: I started with watercolor about a year after Earl and Eric died. So, round it off to thirty-five years. I thought we'd leave on the early side and have breakfast at Tom's favorite diner.

Wanda nods.

RUTH: Is eightish okay with you, Hunter.

HUNTER: It's a dateish. I'm up before the sun.

WANDA/RUTH: Like Tom.

They empty their glasses, set them on the table. They leave into the kitchen and out of view, Hunter in the middle, arms around their waists. 

DINING ROOM LIGHT DIMS TO BLACK, LIKE THE KITCHEN LIGHT a moment later. 

Roundtable 2: Cedric, John, Gil and Hunter in progress

LOCATION TBD

TETON LODGE FIREPLACE?

Empty bottle of tequila, each with their half-full glasses.

AMBIENT SOUND TBD. 

Finally: 

CEDRIC: Cliffs notes. More later if anyone is interested. Pardon my hiccups. 

(Cedric takes a swig.)

We did not meet in Vietnam. We met in Laos. We weren’t actually there, officially. But there we were that day in the jungle when Lance Corporal Walker arrived with two other Marines, private Brian Nelson from Omaha and private Willy Crawford from Gary, Indiana, where me and my gunner, Warrant Officer Terry McDonald from Providence, Rhode Island were holed up waiting for the bad guys to get there.

JOHN: Your gunner.

CEDRIC explains re Bell Cobra.

JOHN thanks him.

GIL: What did you have?

CEDRIC: My Smith and Wesson and the M-sixteen I didn’t we had on board until it fell from the bird upside down in the trees.Terry had his Colt but had to shoot lefty because he’d been shot in his right shoulder. What was left of it. I had broken ribs, left clavicle,  we were both concussed. We could here them chattering, louder as they got closer. I was waiting to have my throat slit when Tom put his blade to it, cupped my mouth and whispered in…

(Cedric stops, another swig. He continues in a damn-near-native Texas drawl.

Sir. United States Marine Lance Corporal Tommy Walker reporting for duty, sir. 

(Gil shakes head in disbelief.)

Gil, you’ve heard this.

GIL: I’ve never heard Laos come out of Tom’s mouth. Please, Cedric. Continue.

CEDRIC: My eyes darted to Terry, already in the same position with privates Nelson and Crawford, the latter of whom was training his GUN TBD on the rustle of incoming bad guys. We’d gone down at sunrise. It was high noon when the marines arrived.

to be continued.

Roundtable 1: Hunter, Chloe and Tom

EXT. HUNTER'S PATIO - NIGHT

Post-dinner, around the table. 

HUNTER: So Tom, what are your plans for your twenty-fifth?

TOM: Goin' to Hawaii. Oahu to be specific. First time for both of us.

CHLOE: Excited?

TOM: We are. Not so much about the flyin' part but ain't no way around it. 

CHLOE: Is there an airport in Laramie?

TOM: Yes ma'am. We'll fly to Denver then on to Honolulu, where we'll stay the first few nights. Waikiki to be specific. Doin' the touristy thing. Then on to a town called Kailua for the last few. I reckon y'all been.

Chloe nods.

HUNTER: Any particular plans?

TOM: Well, like I said, the touristy things. Luau, sunset cruise, lookin' at horseback ride. Wanda don't believe but I'm takin' a surfin lesson at Waikiki.

CHLOE: That's so cool. And that's close to a perfect place to learn.

TOM: That's what I read. Warm water, slow rollin' waves. Figure the worst that'll is me fallin' off but I'm guessin' it's a softer landin' that comin' off a horse.  You ever done any surfin'? 

Chloe nods.

TOM (CONT.) Somethin' ya still do?

Chloe nods.

TOM (CONT.) How long ya been at it?

CHLOE: Since I was eleven.

TOM: You must be pretty good by now.

Chloe shrugs.

HUNTER: Chloe shreds.

CHLOE: Dad. Please.

TOM: Shreds? 

HUNTER: Rips. 

Chloe rolls her eyes.

TOM: I'm sensin' you know you're way around a wave.

Chloe shrugs.

TOM (CONT.) Where do you surf outta San Luis Obispo? 

CHLOE: Usually Pismo, it's the closet. But other spots north or south.

TOM: Did you take a lesson?

CHLOE: My mom.

OM: Pismo?

CHLOE: Costa Rica.

TOM: I'm guessin' the water's a little colder at Pismo.

CHLOE: I always wear a wetsuit.

TOM: You surf, Hunter?

Hunter shakes his head.

TOM: Prob'ly a bit of a drive from Marysville to the nearest beach.

Hunter nods.

CHLOE: Dad was too busy being a baseball star.

HUNTER:  Please.

TOM: Is that so?

HUNTER: I was okay. 

TOM: What position did ya play?

HUNTER: Pitched and played third base. 

CHLOE: Three-time first-team high school northern California. 

TOM: Sounds like you were better than okay.

CHLOE: Three-time first-team high school northern California.

HUNTER: Did you play high school sports, Tom?

TOM: Well, I did high school rodeo.

HUNTER/CHLOE: Really? 

TOM: Barrel racin' when I was a boy, moved on to tiw-down ropin', if ya know what those are.

CHLOE: The barrels never win the race and tie down is the calves' second favorite event.

Tom chuckles.

TOM: Second favorite after what?

CHLOE: Being branded.

Hunter shakes his head, Tom laughs. 

TOM: Can't say my personal experience bears that out. 

CHLOE: I'm playing with you. Mostly. I do have a rudimentary understanding of the need for branding and the necessity of keeping calves still when they need medicine or other cowboying-related reasons you can tell me about sometime. If you wouldn't mind.

TOM: Be happy to, Chloe. And maybe you can share a couple surfin' tips to give me a head start before I hang ten.

CHLOE: Happy to, Tom. Did you win any high school rodeo buckles?

TOM: I think there are a couple in a shoebox at Ruthie's. 

CHLOE: So no pro rodeo?

TOM: That's what I was aimin' for. Uncle Sam had a different plan for me.

HUNTER: Vietnam?

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: Something you'd be willing to talk about sometime?

TOM: We can do that. And on that note I'm gonna be a party-pooper and get on to bed after I call my wife and sister who are waitin' up past our bedtime to hear from me. Chloe, along with some surfin' advice maybe you'd be willin' to share your casserole recipe, 'cause it was sure was delicious.

CHLOE: Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. 

TOM: Delicious.

Tom pushes back from table, stands.

TOM (CONT.) Thank y'all so much for your hospitality. Can't find the words but I'll look for 'em.

HUNTER: When you find them there's a guestbook waiting for a few.

TOM: Seen that. I'll leave my mark. Hope you don't signin' my copy of Foglost before I leave.

HUNTER: Happy to. 

TOM: And maybe answerin' a couple questions I have after I finish it.

Hunter nods. 

HUNTER: I'm on the patio at sunrise with coffee if you're up early and care to join me.

TOM: It's a date. Goodnight, y'all.

HUNTER/CHLOE: Goodnight, Tom.

They watch Tom walk into the kitchen, leave view.

CHLOE: Dad?

HUNTER: Daughter?

CHLOE: If Tom were able and wanted to -

HUNTER: Are you reading my mind again?

CHLOE: We'll see. If Tom cand and wants to, and Jackie can wrangle another horse...

HUNTER: Would you be okay with Tom coming along tomorrow?

Chloe nods.

CHLOE: Would you?

Hunter picks up phone, speaks into it.

HUNTER: Jackie.

Hey there.

She's right here, just finished dinner. 

Chloe casserole. 

Still on, thus this call. We have a question.

[CUT TO:

NEXT DAY.

HUNTER'S DRIVEWAY.

CHANICAL GROAN OF GARAGE DOOR OPENING. ] 

Act 4 beats

A3

61. Next day. Hunter leaves in truck. Ruth and Wanda re picking up Daisy at airport.

62. Hunter arrive Jackie's

63. Doc and Hunter, bearded and in Tom's clothes and boots, Tom's room and lingering scent of Stetson. Daisy moving to Kerrville, congrats re bestseller, meeting Cedric, John and Gil.

64. Cedric tells the story. "We did not meet in Vietnam. We met in Laos. Which means we didn't, because we weren't there." The story.

65. Chloe birthday truck.

EPILOGUE: Leaving Laramie.

Not set in stone but closer.

act 3 beats

A2

41. Hunter's dream, wakes to sunrise, to kitchen and coffee, Tom's alarm. Tom reveal. Tells Chloe.

42. Wanda with Daisy gets Hunter's call.

43. Ruth gets Wanda's call.

44. Gil gets Ruth's call.

45. Barbara, Brian, John, Jan, golf, Hunter's call.

46. Hunter and Chloe, Medical Examiner truck.

47. Hunter and Doc, Now what - re itinerary re Tom's ashes - and re Cedric and Tom. 

48. Jackie with Sess and Claire gets Hunter's call from his guest room. Tom's guest book entry. Add Hunter's tear drop.

49. Daisy home alone, gets Wanda's call from road with Gil and Ruth.

50. Next day. Hunter leaves in truck.

51. Kate breaks the news to Cedric, and re confirm re memory. Hunter's going to be in touch with you when he's back from Texas.

52. John, Jan, Barbara, Chloe re about Ruth, Cedric talking to Hunter first. 

53. Wanda and Ruth, front porch. Re rain on the way, Hunter arrive.

54. Hunter, Wanda, Ruth, dining room, wine, re Gil and family.

55. Chloe in bedroom watching Tom video gets Facetime from Hunter in Ruth's guest room. Gil's tomorrow, home next day, back with ashes.  

56. Hunter, Ruth, Wanda arrive Gil's gate, enter. Gil on deck, stands at engine sound, Maria and the boys watch arrival through window.

57. Fort Park, women in kitchen. 

58. Hunter, Ruth, Wanda back porch, rain ice cream, about the truck.

59. Gil in Den, Bangkok photos, tequila, enter boys. Who are the ladies? They were our guides. Maria listening.

60. Cedric gets Hunter's call re meeting.    

act 2 beats

A1 

21. Next day. About the truck, heere's Jackie, away.

22. Wanda and Daisy re Chloe and Fam. Tom's selfie.

23. Ruth at home places framed selfie near Hunter's books.

24. Kate and Cedric (reading Foglost), John's email and Tom pic. Cedric re Tom Walker from Bandera.

25. Hunter, Jackie, Chloe and Tom, last time on a horse. Ruth ancestry website. Re aunt Kate and same. White Sands.

26. Gil and Maria re Tom Las Cruces layover. Maria re coincidence re Las Cruces. 

27. Sess, Claire, kids and horses, Rover arrive, intros.

28. Riders in the pines.

29. Barbara and Brian re Brian's dad and son, Kate's email re Cedric. John and Jan CC'd.

30. Mountain Meadow.

31. John and Jan re Cedric and Tom, Vietnam.

32. Pinus Ponderosa, Latin, Spanish and Hunter's French re Charlotte Charbonneau. High school sports, Tom rodeo re Uncle Sam's plan. Picnic table lunch bell. Sess and Claire ask Jackie about Tom.

33. Brian and Dad re how are things with Barbara. Golf tomorrow at Hunter Ranch. Dad re speaking of Hunter, re Foglost and drinking. Will I ever meet him? If Barbara says yes and he comes to the wedding.

34. Horses at creek.

35. Horse barn and Honda Knot.

36. Claire's dad reading Foglost, Claire and Hunter selfie.

37. White Sands Sunset.

38. Jackie leaves Hunter's under starry skies, shooting star.

39. Tom's Tahoe Tale and Olivia Tahoe selfie.

40. Hunter reads Barb's email, Chloe on phone with mom, Tom confirm re Army Warrant Officer Cedric Turner, asks about him. See you at sunrise? Set my alarm. Sign guest book. A hug.  

act 1 beats

1. Tom and Wanda, Foglost and Hawaii.

2. Tom leaving, truck and Wyoming.

3. Tom driving open land, train.

4. Gil and Maria, Foglost and Tom itinerary.

5. Tom Arrive ABQ motel.

6. Next day. Tom leave ABQ motel.

7. John, Jan, Barbara, Chloe re Jackie and Horse Day.

8. Hunter, home office, Organ Mountains, Chloe photos.

9 Tom driving, nearing Hunter's.

10. Hunter kitchen/dining, July calendar, tie-bag, leave.

11. Tom arrive Hunter's, idle, Hunter out, Tom away, U-turn.

12. Howdy, my name is Tom Walker. Enter.

13. John, Jan, Barbara gets Hunter's call. Middle name.

14. Wanda with Daisy gets Tom 's call from Hunter's guest room. Tom calls Ruth with Gil at peach stand. Hijole.

15. Hunter and Chloe. "...nervous about meeting Jackie."

16. Hunter and Chloe arrive, intros.

17. Doc gets Hunter pic.

18. Barbara tells Brian about Tom and Olivia. Chloe pic.

19. John and Jan, tell Kate tomorrow, Chloe pic.

20. Hunter, Chloe, Tom dinner, Tom leave, Chloe re Horse Day. Hunter call Jackie. 

Sess and Claire, Rover arrive bookmark

Pretty much as previously, kids and dogs with saddled horses tied to post, up to:

ENGINE SOUND before Hunter drives the Rover out of woods into view.

Sess and Claire rise to walk to meet them - Jackie waves out window, Sess and Claire wave back - where Hunter parks next to the carport. Hunter, Jackie, Chloe and Tom out, Hunter gets Chloe's and Jackie's backpack from hatch, Tom puts on hat, they walk to Sess and Claire, Jackie and Hunter ahead of Chloe and Tom.

CLAIRE: Is it me or is Jack glowing? 

SESS: I do detect something of an aura.

CLAIRE: I get the feeling this isn't the surprise visitor's first rodeo.

SESS: I'm guessing the same. 

CLAIRE: Chloe looks fit.

SESS: Surfer and swim team. And straight-A scholar. 

CLAIRE:  Jack a little nervous about meeting her?

SESS: A lotta nervous.

JACKIE (to Claire): What a wonderful surprise.

Claire opens her arms to receive Jackie's hug.

CLAIRE: It's so good to see you, Jack.

JACKIE: When did you get here?

CLAIRE: Half an hour ago.  Your new friend looks a lot like my dad's favorite author.

Jackie winks, turns to Sess's open arms, they embrace.

SESS: Yay. 

JACKIE: Yay. 

SESS: How was the ride up?

JACKIE: Great start.

SESS: To a great day.

They break embrace.

JACKIE: So. Introductions.

Tom removes hat.

JACKIE: Hunter, Chloe and Tom, it's my pleasure to introduce you my cousin Cecilia and her partner and our other surprise visitor, Claire.  

JACKIE: Sess and Claire, meet Hunter, Chloe and Tom.

All exchange handshakes and variations of hello good to meet you

SESS: And let's go with Sess. Tom, Claire and I are of the notion that you've been on a horse before.

TOM: I have.

Tom puts hat on.

JACKIE: Tom is a retired cattle ranch foreman with some rodeoing under his belt.

SESS: Is that so?

TOM: Been awhile since the latter.

SESS: Claire will not be pleased that I'm bringing it up but she's got a few barrel racing medals.

TOM: Is that so?

CLAIRE: Speaking of been awhile. And speaking of buckles, Tom, yours sure is nice.

TOM: Well thank you. This was my grandfather's.

HUNTER/CHLOE: Really? 

TOM: Dad's dad. Won it in a poker game in Laredo. 

HUNTER: Sounds like there's a story behind it.

TOM: There is, but it'd take awhile to do it justice.

CHLOE: Maybe over lunch?

TOM (beat): Well sure, just wouldn't bore anybody.

HUNTER: Tom, I speak with the utmost confidence in letting you know that will not be the case.

Hunter winks, Tom nods.

SESS: Whaddaya say we get a little closer to hearing it?

JACKIE: To the horses.

Sess, Jackie and Claire lead Hunter, Tom and Chloe.

Cedric’s Story in progress

INT/EXT AND TIME TBD Cedric, Hunter, Gil and John, probably around a FIRE, THE CRACKLING of which is the only sound (other than maybe WAVES ON BEACH). Each with a half-empty glass of tequila, the empty bottle nearby. 

Finally: 

CEDRIC: We did not meet in Vietnam. We met in Laos. Which is to say we did not, officially. Gil, maybe you’ve heard this before?

GIL: Tom never said a word about Laos. But that place and time didn’t come up much. What were you not doing in Laos?

CEDRIC: Looking for bad guys the day before Tom and I met. Found ‘em when they opened fire from the jungle.

to be cont'd.

Hunter and Tom re Cedric dialogue

Tom in pajamas in Hunter’s guest room.

HUNTER: Knock knock.

TOM: C’mon in.

HUNTER: Love the pajams.

TOM: Wanda made ‘em.

HUNTER: Tom, I just read an email from Barbara at request of Kate at request of her boyfriend who wonders if you might remember meeting Army Warrant Officer Cedric Turner in Vietnam,

Tom is clearly moved.

TOM: Is Warrant Officer Turner Kate’s boyfriend?

HUNTER: He is. He remembers meeting a Marine Lance Corporal Tom Walker who was also born and raised in Bandera, Texas.

Tom is stricken.

HUNTER(CONT.): Were you a Marine Lance Corporal?

TOM: Yessir. I do recall meeting an Army Warrant Officer Cedric Turner. Born and raised in Long Beach, California.

HUNTER: What a coincidence.

Chloe arrives.

CHLOE: What coincidence?

HUNTER: There’s an overwhelmingly statistical likelihood that Tom and Cedric have met.

CHLOE: Really? Where and when?

TOM: Vietnam.

CHLOE: Oh.

TOM: Any chance I could get a note to Warrant Officer Turner?

HUNTER: I have the okay to give you his email.

TOM: Thank you.

HUNTER: Naturally I’m curious about the details but Cedric requests that he talk with you first. 

CHLOE (SINGS): It’s a small…small…world.

TOM: Ain’t it. What’s Warrant Officer Turner doing in Wilson?

HUNTER: Retired corporate security consultant. Not so retired backcountry helicopter pilot. Hunters, fishers, hikers and climbers. 

TOM: Warrant Officer Turner flew helicopters.

HUNTER: More uncanny coincidence.

TOM: You’ve met him.

HUNTER: I have not. I will at Chloe’s birthday. Maybe you’ll meet him before then. Will I see you at sunrise?

TOM: I’ll set my alarm.

HUNTER: You will leave a note in the guest book, won’t you?

TOM: Just about to sit down and compose my thoughts.

(Goodnights, Tom sits, opens guest book, gets pencil, hovers it above page, scratch scratch of pencil on paper.)

silly interlude re timeout before Final

what good a week off away before beginning Fina.

.

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.

mountain meadow: Chloe and Jackie dialogue in progress

JACKIE: I hear you've begun the where to go to college process.

CHLOE: Yep.

JACKIE: And trending toward an Environmental Science major.

CHLOE: Trending but subject to change.

JACKIE: Will surfing factor in?

CHLOE: Good question. 

to be continued.   

mountain meadow: sess and claire dialogue

Sess and Claire, side by side in saddle, near the woods.

CLAIRE: Up for a wager on the cowboy's relation to Hunter?

SESS: You have an idea?

CLAIRE: Just a feeling.

SESS: What's it feel like?

CLAIRE: Feels like something. What's it feel like to you? If anything.

SESS: Like something.  

CLAIRE: Same eye color and a jawline similar enough to notice. I wonder if Jackie knows.

SESS: She knows.

CLAIRE: Cool to inquire?

SESS: I plan to. Back to that wager.

CLAIRE: I bet we'd make the same bet.

SESS: I bet you're right.  

CLAIRE: How'd you know to put him on Butter.?

SESS: The way she looked up and swished her tail when she heard his voice.

CLAIRE: She's having a good day.

SESS: Looks like it.

CLAIRE: So am I.

SESS: Seems like everybody is. 

They reach the woods, turn to Jackie and Chloe. wave, Jackie and Chloe wave back, 

CLAIRE: Jack and Chloe seem to be hitting it off.

SESS: She was worried.

CLAIRE: Looks like emphasis on was.

SESS: Yep.

They ride into the woods.   

mountain meadow: Hunter and Tom dialogue

Hunter and Tom side by side in the saddle, behind Chloe and Jackie who are behind Sess and Claire. Tom on palomino, Hunter on paint.

TOM: Do you worry about her?

HUNTER: Only constantly, although she gives me nothing to worry about.

TOM: Good grades?

HUNTER: Excellent.  

TOM: She'll be going to college?

HUNTER: Yes. In the early stages of deciding where.

TOM: Do you monitor her social media.

HUNTER: We do, within the limits of agreement.

TOM: You and Barbara get along?

HUNTER: We do. She's my best friend. And I can't imagine a better mother.

TOM: What does she do?

HUNTER: Photographer. And teaches a class at Cal Poly.   

TOM: How did you meet?

HUNTER: We worked for the same newspaper in Bangor, Maine.

TOM: To take bein' nosey further, is there someone in her life?

HUNTER: Yes. Brian. They met a few months ago.

TOM: Have you met him?

HUNTER: No. We've talked on the phone. Seems like a good guy and Chloe confirms that. 

TOM: What does he do?

HUNTER: Residential architect. I'll meet him at Chloe's birthday.

TOM: When's that?

HUNTER: November second. 

TOM: Know what she's getting?

HUNTER: A car, the details of which I'm working on with John. How did you and Wanda meet?

TOM: A-A meeting in Boise a year to the day before we married.

HUNTER: Maybe can talk about that sometime.

TOM: Anytime. The fella in Foglost drinks a little.

HUNTER: Based on personal experience.

TOM: I was gonna ask.

HUNTER: We can talk about that too.

TOM: Alright.

HUNTER: I'm may agent in Jackson for a few days in early October. 

TOM: Jackson, Wyomin'.

HUNTER: Yes. Teton Village. If you can make it, I'll get you a room.

TOM: I'll be there.

HUNTER: Cool.  

CUH-LIP CUH-LOP.

[CUT TO CHLOE AND JACKIE].