scene 9

Previous.

EXT. BENCH ALONG THE LARAMIE RIVER GREENBELT TRAIL - DAY

Wanda and DAISY, 70-something, sit on a bench along the path that parallels the river spanned by the Historic Laramie River Bridge.   

DAISY: Did I tell you Mabel Armstrong passed?

WANDA: Opal Meredith told Tom and I at square dance last week. Tom went over to see Bill the next day. They're going to camp at Bear Lake for a night when Tom gets back.

On the path behind them, a MAN, 30, on a bicycle, rides behind a BOY, 3, on a tricycle. Both wear helmets.

DAISY: The day after the sixtieth anniversary of their first date.

WANDA: That's what Tom said. Hud at the WYO in Sheridan. 

DAISY: I want to say Hud was based on a Larry McMurtry novel.

WANDA: Horseman, Pass By.

DAISY: That's it. 

WANDA: Cast a cold eye. On life, on death. Horseman, pass by.

DAISY: Yeats?

WANDA: Very good.

DAISY: Wild guess. Some fragment from college literature that stuck for some inexplicable reason.

Wanda's PHONE RINGTONES an instrumental rendition of the Townes Van Zandt song, If I Needed You.  

WANDA (CONT.): Speaking of a horseman.  

She gets phone from pocket.

WANDA (CONT.).  Hey, hon'.

Sitting with Daisy on the bench down from the bridge. Where are you?

(Her face expresses her surprise at the news. Daisy notices.

I'm here. Tom, did you know you were going to do this when you left?

Alright. So what's the plan?

Okay. Well, call me tonight, okay?

I love you too. Oh, and Tom, if you can, maybe take a picture.

Okay. Bye.

(She pockets her phone.)

DAISY: Do I need to ask?

WANDA: Tom met someone he knows in Las Cruces. He's staying the night.

DAISY: Someone you know?

WANDA: Know of. So. Are we ready for that ice cream yet?

DAISY: We are.

They get up, walk to the trail, let a DOZEN RUNNERS in shorts and University of Wyoming Cross Country singlets run past, follow them hand in hand away from the bridge.