Fort Park dialogue

EXT.  - DESCRIBE - DAY 

Hunter and Gil with beers, the view to Hill Country.  Lean-to with fire-pit, horseshoe area, rope-and-tire swing from tree branch. The boys at the archery range. The ATV's. 

HUNTER: Where does the trail go?

GIL: To the creek.

HUNTER: Where does the creek go?

GIL: West prong of the Medina River, when there's water in it. This storm  will get it wet enough. 

HUNTER: How long have you been here?

GIL: All my life. My dad and two of his cousins used their G-I Bills to start a construction company in San Antonio. About five years in he bought the first parcel and started on the house, little bit at a time. He and mom spent their first night a year to the day after dad broke ground. I was born nine months later. Victoria a year-and-half after that.

HUNTER: Where was your father in the war?

GIL: Pacific. U-S-M-C. 

HUNTER: My uncle was there in the Navy.

GIL: On a boat I might have heard of?

HUNTER: If you've heard of the U-S-S Helena.

GIL (beat): I have. Dad remembered it helping out at Gaudalcanal. 

HUNTER: So did my grandfather. 

GIL (beat): Did he continue on to Kula Gulf. 

HUNTER: He did. And survived. 

GIL (beat): Ever talk about it?

HUNTER:  A little. Not much detail. I didn't press. My mom told me about the nightmares.  

Gil nods.

HUNTER (cont.): Was Dale in the war?

GIL: First Cav, wounded at Luzon.  Ruthie can tell you more about that.

HUNTER: Tom had a First Cavalry tattoo on his left shoulder. 

GIL: (beat) Did he talk about it? 

HUNTER: No. And nothing about Vietnam. I saw it when I found him in bed.

GIL: I was with him in Bangkok when he got that.

HUNTER: R and R.

Gil nods.

HUNTER (cont.) Would you mind talking more about that sometime?

GIL: We can do that. Maybe when you're back.

HUNTER: I'd like that very much.

GIL: I have pictures.

HUNTER: I'd love to see them.

GIL: I'd love to share them. 

HUNTER: Did you enlist?

GIL: We both did.

HUNTER: How were your parents with that?

GIL: Mama was not pleased. Dad was conflicted. I'd never seen him shed a tear until the day I went off to boot camp. I think Ruth will confirm that it was about the same with Dale and Opal. I can tell you that Tom and I came to serious second thoughts about that early in country. But more about that next time you're here.

HUNTER: Thanks. Will the boys join?

GIL: Good question. 

HUNTER: Thoughts on that?

GIL: Still forming. Bobby's starting to ask about it. Maria is dead set against it. You ever in the military?

HUNTER: No, unless the Peace Corps counts.

GIL: How long and where?

HUNTER: Two years in Africa. Ghana. 

GIL: Maybe more on that when you're back.

HUNTER: Sure.  

DISTANT THUNDER

GIL: Here she comes. I guess you're in the middle of Monsoon season in Cruces.

HUNTER: Yep. Have you spent any time there? 

GIL: Passing through several times and once for a wedding in Mesilla. Tom and I used to visit a Vietnam buddy in El Paso at least once a year. Garrison Weaver. He passed a few years ago. White-tail at your nine o'clock. 

Hunter slowly turns to his head to the left to see the white-tail buck in the woods, seeming to stare back at them. The boys have the deer in sight.

HUNTER: How often do you hunt?

GIL: I'll take folks out once each season to feed the homeless for Thanksgiving at the shelter the church runs. Family or friends. This year will be Ramon's first time. Bobby got his a couple years ago. Have you ever hunted, Hunter?

The deer bounds away into the woods out of view.

HUNTER: No. Did Tom?

GIL: He did. We got our first the same day with dad and Dale. 

HUNTER: How old were you?

GIL: Both thirteen. Last time I was in Laramie that mount was in their home office. 

NEARER THUNDER and the first DROPS OF RAIN.

HUNTER: Did he do the Thanksgiving hunts?

GIL: He came along a few times. But as far as I know Tom never pulled a trigger since the last time he did in Vietnam.

NEARER THUNDER, HARDER RAIN, FAR-OFF LIGHTNING. Gil turns to the boys, lets loose a LOUD WHISTLE. The boys are quick to their ATV. Gil starts the engine. Gil gestures to the boys to head on. They do, into the woods and out of view. Gil finishes his beer, sets the empty in the console. 

GIL (cont.): Vámonos.

Hunter finishes his beer, does the same.

HUNTER (cont.): Let's.

Gil drives the ATV into the woods out of view.