INT. GREAT ROOM - DAY
Ranch, limestone. Gil reading, aimed at the window to the boys playing catch with a football among the oaks. Enter Maria.
MARIA: I just remembered Tom and Wanda arrive tomorrow.
GIL: Just Tom.
He marks page, closes book.
GIL(cont.): Wanda stayed back to be with a friend whose husband just passed.
MARIA: Oh. How long will he be here?
GIL: A week or so. Big news.
MARIA: Yeah?
GIL: They're moving down.
MARIA: Down where?
GIL: Kerrville. They and Ruth are going in together.
MARIA: Living together.
GIL: Yep. Ruth and Tom are going to looky-loo a couple open houses while he's here.
MARIA: Wow. Time frame?
GIL: Tom and Wanda will put Laramie on the market when they're back from Hawaii. Ruth will list Comfort when her realtor friend is back from Europe in a few weeks.
MARIA: This is great, dad.
GIL: Yes it is.
She approaches him..
MARIA: Whatcha readin'?
Gil lifts the book to show her it's Foglost.
MARIA: Your guy. When did it come out?
GIL: Sunday.
MARIA: Silly question but are you liking it?
GIL: Yes.
MARIA: What's it about?
GIL: An alcoholic's demise so far.
MARIA: Looks like enough pages left for hope.
GIL: We shall see.
MARIA: Going fishing?
GIL: Friday. I knew I forgot to tell you something.
MARIA: Hmm. Maybe I'll see what Diane is doing.
GIL: She still in Ingram?
MARIA: Yes.
GIL: How's Brian doing?
MARIA: Great. Just started at Rice on a baseball scholarship.
GIL: That's great. What a turnaround.
MARIA: Took awhile.
GIL: Enough pages left for hope.
She kisses his head.
MARIA: Will Ruth and Tom come by?
GIL: Day after tomorrow.
MARIA: Tamales?
GIL: Terrific. Thank you, sweetheart.
MARIA: What's your guy looking like these days?
Gil shows her the author flap, Hunter's picture and blurb re his other three books.
MARIA: Not much for personal information, is he?
GIL: Seemingly not.
MARIA: But those mountains behind him sure like the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces.
GIL: They do, don't they?
MARIA: Cute clue, if it is one. And handsome man aging well.
GIL: Yes.
MARIA: Ready for your haircut when you are.
GIL: Five minutes til end of chapter.
MARIA: I'll Diane and meet you there.
She leaves, he examines author page, opens book to mark. When his PHONE VIBRATES he picks up to see the selfie Tom has sent, standing and saluting in front of the Huey helicopter display at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near Angel Fire, New Mexico. His cowboy hat shades his eyes but his smile is big. Gil goes to the author flap, compares the two images, finally pockets phone, watches the boys, opens book to mark, reads, turns page.
No comments:
Post a Comment