Tuesday, December 3, 2024

White Sands

EXT. WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK - IN THE DUNES - SUNSET 

Hunter, Jackie, Tom and Chloe sit aimed at the sun setting on the San Andres Mountains. Their footsteps on the face of the dune behind them lead to their shoes atop it. Chloe wears Tom's hat and holds selfie stick with phone on the end of it.

CHLOE: Are you doing a sunset cruise?

TOM: We are, our last night in Waikiki. Doin' the luau in Kailua and ridin' at a ranch farrher on up the coast. 

CHLOE; Riding what?

TOM: Horses.

CHLOE: Doh. Of courses.

TOM: Wanda don't believe it but I'm takin' a surfin' lesson.

CHLOE: That's cool. 

TOM: Figure I'll do some fallin' before I get the hang of it, but the landin's gotta be softer than comin' off a horse. Y'all prob'ly been.

CHLOE: Maui and Kauai.

HUNTER: Maui and Kauai with Chloe and Oahu twice. 

TOM: Have ya been to a black sand beach?

HUNTER/CHLOE: Yes.

CHLOE: Waimea beach on Kauai.

HUNTER: Hana on Maui. Have you been to Hawaii?

JACKIE: Yes. Hawaii, the big island, and a black sand beach at Punalu'u.

HUNTER: Any particular occasion?

JACKIE (beat) My honeymoon.

HUNTER (beat): Oh.

Chloe preps her phone on her selfie stick.

CHLOE: One more for the road.

They group together, Chloe takes the picture, stands to retract the selfie stick. The others stand. Chloe puts selfie stick in backpack. 

HUNTER: Any objections to ice cream at Cowville?

CHLOE: Yay.

JACKIE: I second that non-objection wholeheartedly.

HUNTER: Tom, do you think you could manage a scoop or two of ice cream?

TOM: I know for a fact I could handle it easily.

They begin the ascent of the dune.

CHLOE: Do you have a favorite flavor?

TOM: Well, unless Ruthie's homemade peach is available I tend toward vanilla.

CHLOE: Like dad.

TOM: How 'bout you?

CHLOE: Chocolate.

TOM: Like Wanda.

HUNTER: Jackie?

JACKIE: Rocky Road, and Cowville's is the best. 

CHLOE: Will you be having Ruth's ice cream when you're there.

TOM: She picked up the peaches in Fredericksburg yesterday.

They reach the top of the dune, grab their shoes, leave view over the other side of the dune, darker as the sun is eclipsed by the mountains.  


[CUT TO:

John and Jan viewing Chloe's White Sands group selfie.]