EXT. HUNTER'S PATIO - NIGHT
Hunter, Tom and Chloe seated at tables, remnants of dinner on plates and silverware pushed to center near glass pitcher of ice water. Each with half-empty glasses at hand. Tom's hat on back of chair. Starry sky.
HUNTER: So do you and Wanda have plans for your twenty-fifth?
TOM: We do. Goin' to Hawaii.
CHLOE: That's cool. Which island or islands?
TOM: Oahu. Doin' Waikiki the first few nights, last few in a place called Kailua, if I'm sayin' it right.
CHLOE: You are. That's where I learned to surf.
TOM: Wanda don't believe it but I'm takin' a lesson at Waikiki.
CHLOE: Great place to learn.
TOM: That's what I been readin'. Figure I'll do plenty a fallin' before I get the hang of it but I'll already be wet and it's gotta be a softer landin' than comin' off a horse. Did you take a lesson and how old were ya?
CHLOE: Twelve. My mom taught me. Have yiu been before?
TOM: No ma'am. First time for both of us.
CHLOE: That's great. Excited?
TOM: We are. Not so much about the flyin' part but that's part a the package. Where do you surf outta San Luis Obispo?
CHLOE: Pismo, Morrow Bay, sometimes farther up or down the coast.
TOM: I reckon the water's a little colder than Hawaii.
CHLOE: You have to wear a wetsuit. Speaking of cold, what's the coldest Laramie gets?
TOM: Plenty cold enough, then add the wind. It'll keep ya inside. Below zero most a the winter. Been as low as fifty below.
CHLOE: Kerrville's probably a little milder.
TOM: A lot milder. Lows in the thirties. Above. Usually warmer. Sometimes a little colder but that's mostly rare. Nothin' ya can't layer up to take a walk in. Darn near tropical compared to Laramie. Not so tropical that we won't have a fireplace.
CHLOE: Maybe tropical enough in the summer.
TOM: Warmer and stickier for sure but we'll take the trade. You prob'ly got it pretty good weather-wise in San Luis Obispo.
CHLOE: I'm spoiled. But I have been in twenty-below.
TOM: Where and when?
CHLOE: Two Christmases ago at my aunt Kate and her husband Cedric's house in Wilson, Wyoming.
TOM: Alright.
CHLOE: Before they were married.
HUNTER: Kate is John's sister.
TOM: Okay.
CHLOE: You've probably been to Wilson.
TOM: I have. Usually for fishin' with my friend Clem whose wife Daisy is who Wanda's stayin' home with.
CHLOE: Cedric fishes.
HUNTER: They share a trout creek with a neighbor.
CHLOE: Well that works alright.
HUNTER: You fly fish.
TOM: Yessir. You ever do any fishin'?
Hunter shakes his head.
TOM (CONT.): Think you'd be interested in givin' it a shot sometime?
Hunter nods.
CHLOE: I wanna come.
TOM: Hope y'all can when we're settled into Kerrville. Room'll be watin'. My friend Gil's got a boat we'll put on the lake.
CHLOE: What lake?
TOM: Medina. Which is actually reservoir, if ya wanna look it up.
CHLOE: I will.
TOM: Well folks, I hate to be a party-pooper but it's a little past our bedtime so I reckon I'll be a party-pooper and get on to bed after I call and get 'em caught up, per my standin' orders from both.
Tom stands, puts on hat.
CHLOE: Did you send them the selfie I took?
TOM: I did. I'm sure they both got framed and placed by now. Maybe we could take one or two more before I leave in the mornin'.
Chloe nods.
HUNTER: I'm up with the sun and right here with coffee so pour a cup and join me if you're up.
TOM: I do the same every mornin'. You got a date. Chloe, another thing before I leave is that casserole recipe. That was delicious.
CHLOE: Thank you. I'm glad your liked it.
Tom tips his hat.
TOM: Goodnight, y'all.
CHLOE/HUNTER: Goodnight, Tom.
Hunter watches Chloe watch Tom walk to kitchen, stop and turn to them.
TOM: Hunter, I hope you don't mind signin' my copy a Foglost.
HUNTER: I'd be very happy to, Tom. On the condition that you sign the guest book.
Tom nods.
TOM: I plan to.
HUNTER: Thanks.
TOM: Thank y'all. I won't forget this.
HUNTER: Neither will we.
Hunter and Chloe watch Tom continue to kitchen and out of view.
CHLOE: Dad?
HUNTER: Daughter.
CHLOE: Assuming Jackie's cousin could wrangle another horse...and that Jackie and her cousin are okay with the idea...
HUNTER: Would you be okay with Tom coming along, assuming he can and would like to?
Chloe nods. Hunter picks up phone, speaks into it.
HUNTER: Jackie.
Right here across the patio table from me.
We are absolutely still on. The reason I called, by the way.
END Act 1
No comments:
Post a Comment