scene 5

scene 4 

EXT. LARAMIE RIVER GREENBELT TRAIL - DAY

Wanda and DAISY, 70-something, sit on a bench between the trail and river near the Laramie River Historic Bridge. Both in tennis shoes, anklet socks, knee-length shorts, long-sleeve blouses.

DAISY: You're going to miss our balmy winters.

Wanda laughs. 

WANDA: Ruth sent me a picture of her porch thermometer this morning at ten-thirty. Already ninety on the way to a hundred-and-five, with ninety-two humidity.

DAISY: And that's worse than shoveling the driveway in twenty-below?

WANDA (beat) No, it is not.

DAISY: How cold are Kerrville winters?

WANDA: Thirties occasionally. Infrequently colder and usually warmer.

DAISY: Fireplace.

WANDA: Very preferably. 

DAISY: Big back yard?

WANDA: That would be nice. And a shade tree. I think you would like Kerrville.

Wanda's PHONE RINGTONES an instrumental version of the Townes Van Zandt song, If I Needed You. She gets phone from pocket. Behind them on the trail a JOGGER follows her DOG on a leash.

W(CONT.): You in your room?

Rain yet?

On the bridge bench with Daisy about to head to Centennial to meet Carl and Darlene for dinner.

We'll spend the night, come back after a hike in the morning.

Plenty of picture taking. Loved the Cimarron selfie, by the way.

I love you, too. 

Sweet dreams, sweetheart.

(She pockets phone. Behind them on the trail a MAN rides a bike behind a SMALL BOY on a bike with training wheels.)

DAISY: Where is he staying?

WANDA: Yucca Springs Motel. We've stopped there a couple times. Simple, great Chinese restaurant down the street, window to the skyline.

DAISY: Clem and I stayed in Albuquerque once. Nineteen eighty-five. La Posada de Albuquerque.

WANDA: For how long and for what reason?

DAISY: Two nights, for a wedding. Clem's cousin Darrel's son David. We all took the tram ride to Sandia Peak. I have pictures somewhere. 

(A lull. A FISH SPLASH in the river.)

WANDA: Rainbow.

DAISY: Yep. Ready?

Wanda nods. They rise, walk back to the trail hand in hand.

scene 4

scene 3

INT. GREAT ROOM - DAY

Limestone walls, hardwood floor.

Longhorn steer skull and horns above the family photographs on mantel above fireplace. 

Sombrero, two cowboy hats, Houston Oilers football helmet and camouflage ballcap on rack near entryway. 

Leather furniture oriented to fireplace, big screen TV and big window to woods.

Pool table, mini-fridge near counter attended by four stools, loaded rifle closet, four whitetail buck shoulder mounts.

GIL, mid-70s - socks, jeans, button-up short-sleeve shirt, glasses - sits in corner rocker near window to woods in which two boys, ROBERTO, 16, and RODRIGO, 14 - both in shorts, tee shirts, tennis shoes - kick a soccer ball back and forth to each other. Loafers under rocker, phone on the rocker's lampstand. Gil turns a page of the book in his lap.  MARIA, 40-ish - sandals, old jeans, mustard tee with BROWNSVILLE GYRL in brown across chest - arrives in entryway.

MARIA: Knock knock.

GIL: Who's there?

MARIA: Ida.

GIL: Ida who?

MARIA: Ida forgotten Tom and Wanda arrive tomorrow had I not seen it on the calendar.

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: Wow.. 

GIL: Ruth and Tom are going to looky-loo a few places. 

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: What's it about?

GIL: An alcoholic's slow and steady demise, so far. 

MARIA: Looks like enough pages left for hope.

GIL: We shall see.

She kisses his head.

MARIA: When will Ruth and Tom come by?

GIL: Day after tomorrow.

MARIA: What's your guy looking like these days?

Gil turns to the author flap showing a medium shot of Hunter in plaid flannel and beanie, snow on the peaks of the Organ Mountains behind him, above the blurb:

H.C. Hardyn is the author of another novel, Trabuco, and a book of short stories, Puncture Wounds. 

MARIA: Handsome man aging well. Those are the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces.

GIL: Yeah? 

MARIA: Yeah. No indication re location in his social media?

GIL: No. Minimal footprint, Wiki page his publisher maintains, almost zero personal information, never given an interview.

MARIA: Hmm. Ready for your haircut when you are.

GIL: Five minutes.

MARIA: I'll be 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..