EXT. PINE FOREST - DAY
Shafts of high-noon sunlight and a WOODPECKER KNOCKING, then SILENCE, then the CUH-LIP CUH-LOP OF HORSES before Sess rides into frame first, then Claire, Jackie, Hunter, Chloe and Tom fanned out in search party formation as they ride through and out of frame. WOODPECKER KNOCKING resumes after the last CUH-LIP CUH-LOP.
EXT. RURAL RESIDENTIAL ROAD - DAY
John and Jan with five-pound dumbbells in each hand stride purposefully uphill on the side of the road lined by widely spaced handsome homes on big tree-shaded lots.
Both in running shoes, khaki shorts and polo shirts that match their ballcaps. John's advertises Stanford, Jan's Cal Berkeley. Their labored breathing and sweat-stained shirts reflect their effort and pace.
JAN: When's the last time you were on a horse?
JOHN: Mind reader. I was just remembering. At Dunlap I came down to go to the equestrian center in Griffith Park. We rode along the river. Before that the pony ride at the county fair wearing those Roy Rogers boots. You?
JAN: The summer before my junior year in high school. A friend's cousin's family had horses and land in Santa Rosa.
JOHN: Good time?
JAN: I fell off.
JOHN: Doh. Injury?
JAN: Sprained ankle and bruised ego. I got back on and yes, the day ended up being a good one. I was thinking that as far as I know the only time Chloe's been in a saddle is the Grand Canyon mule ride.
JOHN: To the best of my recollection. I know Hunter and Barb did a ride on their honeymoon.
JAN: Right.
A lull as they near a home with a late-80s Mercedez-Benz 560SL in the driveway that slopes up to the house from the road. They finally arrive at that house, put dumbbells on a ledge connected to the mailbox post.
Jan puts her hands on her hips, John checks his watch.
JOHN: Guess.
JAN: It felt quick.
JOHN: Twenty-nine and a half.
JAN: Yay.
They exchange a high-five, Barbara's PHONE CHIRPS. She gets it from pocket, stares at the screen.
JAN (CONT.): From Barb.
She hands the phone to John, who stares at the Sierra Blanca selfie Chloe sent Barbara.
JOHN: That smile.
JAN: That smile. Hunter's girlfriend is pretty.
JOHN: She is.
JAN: Your gut feeling, John.
He hands her back the phone, puts arm around her. They walk the driveway to the door.
JOHN: Positive. A good thing. For Chloe and Hunter. Your intuitive radar?
JAN: Same.
JOHN: I'm going to plug Travis, Wanda and Laramie into the search.
JAN: Betcha catcha fish.
JOHN: I'll letcha know.
He opens the door, Jan enters, John follows, closes door behind him.
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.
