mountain meadow 1: Hunter and Tom

Horseback, side by side, trailing Jackie and Chloe, who trail Sess and Claire. 

TOM: How often do you get to see Chloe?

HUNTER: Her spring breaks, the last few weeks of her summer vacation, every other birthday weekend and whenever I'm in L-A .  

TOM: You and Barbara on good terms?

HUNTER: We are. We talk at least once a week.

TOM: What does she do for a living?

HUNTER: She's a photographer. We met at the same newspaper we worked for.

TOM: Are her parents livin'?

HUNTER: They are. Jan and John. Retired attorneys in Paso Robles.

TOM: Well that ain't too far from San Luis Obispo, is it?

HUNTER: Half-hour drive, and there's a train. Ever been in the area?

TOM: Closest was Pismo Beach 'bout a thousand years ago.

HUNTER: What were you doing in Pismo Beach a thousand years ago.

TOM: Knew a fella who got me a job doin' some wranglin' work on a movie.

 HUNTER: Really?

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: What movie?

TOM:  It was called Cattle Creek, a western.

HUNTER: I don't know that one.

TOM: Never got released. Heck, didn't even really get finished far as I remember. Ran outta money. But it was a good time in the six weeks it lasted. Anyway, me and this fella, Mike Lawler, drove up in his Impala and stayed a few days. Did some deep sea fishin'.

HUNTER: Catch anything.

TOM: Halibut, rock cod. Ever do any fishin'?

HUNTER: No. Do you still fish?

TOM: I do. Got some good trout water near home and me and a friend'll take his boat out on Medina Lake when we're at Ruth's.

HUNTER: Fly fishing for trout?

TOM: Yessir. 

HUNTER: Who taught you to tie and cast a fly?

TOM: My grandad. Dad's father, Willie. He had a friend with some Guadalupe river frontage. Think you might be up for fishin' sometime?

HUNTER: Yes. I would.

TOM: Well then we will.

HUNTER: Alright.

meet Barbara, John and Jan

EXT. CAFE PATIO - DAY

Barbara, 50-ish John and Jan, mid-70s..

JOHN: Do we know where exactly they're riding horses.

BARBARA: North of Ruidoso, end quote. Jackie's family has land and her cousin manages one of the stables in the area.

JAN: Do we know what Jackie does for a living?

BARBARA: History professor at New Mexico State. From whom Chloe received a letter last week.

JOHN: Speaking of which, are she and Hunter going to meet the Arizona coach?

BARBARA: No. Just walk the campus, check out Tucson.

Jackie's PHONE RINGTONES TYPEWRITER CLATTER. She picks up after the ZING OF RETURN.

BARBARA (cont.): Hey.

(Her face expresses surprise as she listens.)

Hunter, I trust your judgment.

They're right here.

Okay.

You or Chloe take a picture, okay?

Can't wait.

Bye.

(She pockets phone.)

JOHN: Take a picture of what?

BARBARA: Whom, dad. Tom Walker from Texas is at Hunter's house. He's spending the night and leaving in the morning. Chloe will call tonight.

They look at each other. WAITER arrives. 

Tom calls Wanda and Ruth, meet Daisy

Wanda and Daisy walking downtown Laramie, day. Daisy re the biodegradable urn she's found re Clem's ashes. A goose she'll set on a lake in the Snowy Range. She stops them at the WYO THEATRE, remembers a date with Clem and the movie. Wanda recalls similar with Tom.

Wanda's PHONE RINGTONES (If I Needed You). She answers.

Tom calling with the news, from Hunter's guest room.

WANDA: Call me tonight and take a picture.

Tells Daisy:

Tom met someone he knows. Staying overnight in Las Cruces.

Tom calls Ruth with Gil in Fredericksburg with peaches.

GIL: Hijole. 

Tom looks at guest book, leaves into hallway. BOOTS ON HARDWOOD fade away. 

The window at the desk looks to the back yard and frames Tom when he arrives at the low stone wall and gazes at the Organ Mountains.