Pinus Ponderosa in progress

Tom, Chloe and Hunter walk among the pines. In the distance, Jackie, Claire and Sess set up lunch a picnic table. The horses are tied to a nearby post.

TOM: Why ya reckon they call 'em ponderosa pines?

CHLOE: Pinus ponderosa. Because they're ponderous. Which is to say their wood is heavy, which I assume to be relative to other woods. 

TOM: Like balsa?

CHLOE: Like balsa.

TOM: Where did ya pick up the Latin?

CHLOE: Eighth grade extra credit lccal flora class.

TOM: Like flora and fauna.

CHLOE: Just like.

TOM: So ya got pine trees in San Luis Obispo?

CHLOE: A few. Bishop pines. Pinus muricata. Bishop because of it being found, or identified anyway, near the mission. There are other common and prior scientific names related to variant forms. Prickle cone pine, Obispo pine, Santa Cruz pine and dwarf marine pine. 

TOM: What's the most prominent tree in the area.

CHLOE: Coastal oak.

TOM: We got a variety of oaks in the hill country. 

CHLOE:  What kind of variety?

TOM: Live Oak, Red Oak,  Post Oak, Lacey Oak, the rare Spanish Oak  

A lull.

TOM (CONT.): Speakin' a trees, sort of, if y'all are int'rested, Ruth's got our family tree online at an ancestry website.

HUNTER/CHLOE: Really? 

TOM: Yep. Goes back quite a-ways.

CHLOE: Would you send me the link to that website?

TOM: Course I will. 

CHLOE: Thank you. 

to be continued.

Brian and Dad dialogue 2

dialogue 1

DAD: What are Barbara's thoughts on where she goes to college?

BRIAN: Conflicted in that she'd like her to stay home or close to it, she also wants her to spread her wings a little. She and her dad are meeting the coach and checking out Tucson for a few days. 

DAD: Where's her dad?

BRIAN: Las Cruces.

DAD: What does he do?

BRIAN: Novelist.

DAD: What's his name?

BRIAN: Hunter.

DAD: Hunter what?

BRIAN: Hardyn. With a Y.

DAD: H C Hardyn?

BRIAN: Yes. How do you know about H C Hardyn.

DAD: Your sister dragged me into a bookstore last week. Foglost was on a display table near the checkout line. Six degrees of a best selling author. Have you read it?

BRIAN: Halfway through.

DAD: Likin' it?

BRIAN: Very much.

DAD: Well lemmee read it when you're done.

BRIAN: I will.

DAD: What's it about?

BRIAN: We'll talk about that when you're done.

DAD: Fair enough. 

They arrive at the Porsche.

BRIAN: Up for getting us to Creston?

He hands dad the key, Dad stops, stares at it, then at the Porsche, then at Brian. 

BRIAN (CONT.): If you think your foot is up for the clutch, dad. 

DAD: Let's find out. 

They get in, Dad depresses the clutch pedal, keeps it there, releases. He depresses the clutch, maneuvers the stick shift from neutral through the five gears in sequence.

BRIAN: Well?

DAD: Buckle up, son.

They buckle up, Dad insterts key, starts engine, turning the heads of a couple Cider House customers. Dad shifts into reverse, backs up, shifts into first, rolls to the highway, stops, lets traffic pass, looks at Brian, who winks. Dad looks left for traffic, drives into the highway and shifts from first to second and finally, at fifty miles per hour, into third. He turns to Brian, both beaming They turn their attention to the road, Brian lowers his sunglasses into place.

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