scene 21

Previous.

EXT. HORSE PROPERTY - DAY

Manufactured home, horse barn, corral, shed surrounded by woods.

SESS and CLAIRE, 40-something cowgirls ready for a day on the trail, sit on a bench on the front porch of the manufactured home facing the dirt road that emerges from the woods and arrives at the large port adjacent to the home. Their hats on hooks on a post.

An old Jeep with New Mexico plates and newish Dodge Ram 3500 dually pickup truck with Oklahoma plates share the port with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Horse trailer near the shed near the barn near the corral. A DOZEN TEENAGERS saddle SIX HORSES tied to a hitching post. 

CLAIRE: How long's it been?

SESS: First date was a month ago.

CLAIRE: How did they meet?

SESS: Sat next to each other on a flight from Denver to Albuquerque.

CLAIRE: What does he do?

SESS: Didn't ask. 

CLAIRE: Where does his daughter live?

SESS: San Luis Obispo.  

We HEAR THE ROVER'S ENGINE before it comes into view out of the woods. Sess and Claire rise, put on their hats, walk to meet the Rover. Jackie waves out the window, Sess and Claire wave back. Hunter parks behind the truck, all out of the Rover to Sess and Claire.  

SESS: Cousin.

JACKIE: Cousin.

They embrace.

JACKIE (CONT.): Miss Claire.

CLAIRE: Jacqueline.

They embrace.

JACKIE: Glad you could make it.

CLIARE: Glad to be able to.

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

They shake hands and exchange variations of nice to meet you.

SESS: And Sess is just fine, thank you. So I'm sure Jack told you at least a little about what we're doing with the horses.

TOM: It's a wonderful thing.

SESS: Thank you, Tom. Today we have some at-risk kids down from Albuquerque for a few days of horse play, as we call it. So Tom, I'm guessing this isn't your first rodeo.

TOM: Been to a couple.

JACKIE: Tom's a retired ranch foreman.

SESS: So maybe more like a few.

TOM: That's prob'ly closer to it.  

SESS: Ready for this one?

TOM: Yes ma'am. I am.

SESS: Hyah.

She and Claire lead the way to the horses and teens.