EXT. MIRROR LAKE PICNIC AREA, MEDICINE BOW N.F., WY - SUNSET
Wanda and DAISY, 70-ish, both in tennis shoes, pants, sweaters over t-shirts, sit at a bench, aimed at the small lake surrounded by trees and hill-sized rocky outcroppings.
DAISY: You're going to miss our balmy winters.
Wanda laughs.
to be continued.
INT. MOTEL ROOM - SUNSET
Basic. Yucca-related art print on wall above queen bed aimed at TV on opposite wall. Curtains closed across window at desk with pencil and pen on Yucca Springs Motel stationery near phone and small potted cactus. Hat rack near door. Open door to bathroom.
We HEAR NEARING BOOTFALL before the DOOR UNLOCK CLICK before Tom enters, puts hat on rack, suitcase on bed, room key and phone on desk. He opens curtains to second-floor view to his truck and other vehicles in the parking lot of the Yucca Springs Motel, advertised by the neon sign above the registration office guarded by potted yuccas. Beyond, the Albuquerque skyline and Sandia Mountains under and obscured by monsoon clouds. Light rain taps the window.
He sits at desk, removes boots, speaks into phone.
TOM: Wanda.
(Waits.)
Hey angel, you're outta reception at the lake and I just landed in A-B-Q. Bout to run a bath, have Chinese delivered, settle in with the book. Call me when you can. Love you.
(He looks out the window, rain pelts harder. He speaks into phone.)
Ruth.
Hey sis.
Just now walked in.
Sunrise. I'll call.
K.
Hatch peppers?
Will do. Love you.
Bye bye.
(Sets down phone, stands, unbuttons shirt, lays it on bed, unbuckles belt, rolls it up, sets on desk, enters bathroom.)
SQUEAK OF FAUCET TWIST BEFORE BATHWATER FLOWING. \
INT. GREAT ROOM - DAY
Texas Hill Country Rustic Rancho. Limestone, heavy beams, reclaimed materials.
Fireplace, two whitetail buck mounts on each side of the TBD above fireplace.
Pool table, U-shaped sofa aimed at Big TV. Stools at mini-bar in a corner with neon agave plant, mezcal-related poster art, ancient machete on wall.
Framed Oil and Canvas TBD on wall above couch flanked by two chairs around coffee table.
Similar arrangement aimed at the big window view to oak motte.
Handsome lamps perfectly placed.
Archway entry/exit near hat rack with sombrero, Houston Oilers football helmet, straw and felt cowboy hats.
And GIL, 70-something - socks, old jeans, unbuttoned and untucked short-sleeve over white tee - in rocker in corner near the big window, reading the book in his lap. Phone and bottle of Victoria beer on lampstand.
FAINT SONG OF GOLDEN-CHEECKED WARBLER before Maria, 40-something - huaraches, old jeans, untucked mustard-colored long sleeve tee with BROWNSVILLE GYRL in mud-brown across the front - arrives in doorway, watches Gil awhile. He turns a page.
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 marks page, closes book, turns to Maria.
GIL: Just Tom. Wanda's staying to be with a friend whose husband just passed.
MARIA: Oh.
GIL: And big news.
MARIA: Big good news?
GIL: Big great news. They're buying a house with Ruth in Kerrville.
MARIA: Wow. That's huge wonderful news.
GIL: Tom and Ruth are going to the looky-loo thing at a few open houses.
MARIA: They're coming over, aren't they?
GIL: Monday afternoon. Dinner at Spanish Trail.
MARIA: Yay. Whatcha readin'?
He holds up Foglost.
MARIA: Your guy.
She walks to Gil.
GIL: Picked it at up yesterday.
MARIA: You're moving through it.
GIL: Page turner.
MARIA: What's it about?
GIL: A man whose drinking has ended his marriage and is ruining his law career buys a boat and takes it on Lake Superior. I'm where he's just encountered a fog event called a ghost ship.
MARIA (Scooby-Doo effect): Ruh roh.
A soccer ball rolls into frame of window, drawing Gil's and Maria's attention. TWO BOYS 16, and 14, in tennis shoes, shorts and Mexico national soccer team jerseys, race neck and neck in pursuit of the ball, follow it out of frame.
GIL: Somebody's caught up.
MARIA: He tries harder.
GIL: I've noticed.
MARIA: The younger ones usually do.
GIL: I'm going to let Robby drive the Corvette, if it's okay with you.
MARIA: Of course. I expect pictures.
GIL: There'll be pictures.
MARIA: Have a route in mind?
GIL: A Vanderpool loop we took when Ricky first drove it.
MARIA: (TWO BEATS): News to me. How old was he?
GIL: Fifteen and-a-half.
MARIA: No pictures?
GIL: Lost in the fire.
Gil's PHONE RINGTONES TBD.
MARIA: Hoodat?
GIL: Tom.
He picks up, stares at screen. A selfie Tom has taken at the Vietnam War-era Huey helicopter at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
MARIA: Where is that?
GIL: Vietnam Memorial in Angel Fire.
MARIA: Have you been?
GIL: Nope. Going in April with Tom to do some fishing out of a friend's cabin outside Red River.
MARIA: Fishing while he's here?
GIL: Friday morning, Breaking in Dale's new pond.
MARIA: Oh that's right. Sounds fun. What's in it?
GIL: Perch. Think he'll keep it that way.
MARIA: Taking the boys?
GIL: Taking the boys.
As previously and practically exactly, the soccer ball enters frame from other direction; the boys, neck and neck follow it out of frame. She leans to kiss Gil's cheek.
MARIA: Off to market, back in an hour.
GIL: If we're not here we're at the treehouse.
MARIA: How's it coming?
GIL: Well, Working on the ladder. Drive safe, sweetheart..
MARIA: Always.
She leaves, he resumes Foglost.
GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER SONG.
EXT. FRONT OF HOUSE AND DRIVEWAY - SUNRISE
One of similar middle class homes with modest front yards that line the leafy street across from a leafy park. United States Stars and Stripes on a couple flagpoles. Screen door shows front door open.
Potted plants, hummingbird feeder, two rockers on the porch that leads to the steps to the driveway, occupied by a 1987 GMC R1500 Sierra pickup truck with Wyoming plates in fine condition, backed to the garage door.
Two-tone paint, running boards, grill guard, trailer hitch, lined bed well with tool box.
Tom - cowboy boots, crisp jeans, belt featuring silver buckle with two linked turquoise horseshoes, western-style shirt with pearl snap-buttons, straw Stetson - opens front door, Wanda - slippers, robe over gown - comes through with a thermos. They proceed to the truck.
WANDA: Thought about where you might have lunch?
TOM: Ain't countin' on it bein' there but if it is that taco truck in Cimarron we stopped at comin' back.
WANDA: Tortilla Azul.
TOM: That's it. Knew it was tortilla somethin'.
WANDA: The only better tamales I've had are Maria's.
TOM: She and the boys got there yesterday.
WANDA: I remembered as soon as I said her name.
He opens driver's door, puts hat on suitcase on passenger side of bench seat with saddle blanket cover. Automatic transmission and dash stylishly upgraded to modernity, including satellite radio. He puts key in ignition, folds down middle seat to console function, turns to Wanda, she hands him thermos, he places in container, turns to het. They embrace facing each other.
TOM: What are you and Daisy doing today?
WANDA: Coffee and croissants at the cafe, walk on the river trail, the library for a showing of Cheyenne Autumn -
TOM: Really?
WANDA: Yep. It's their summer film series that I didn't even know about until Trudy told me last week. After that to Centennial for a glass of wine at Bear Bottom and sunset at Mirror.
TOM: Jealous. Any more shows at the library after this?
WANDA: Cat Ballou next week, then a movie I don't know called Heartland, with Rip Torn, wraps up it up the following week.
TOM: I don't know that one either. If you don't have any plans that day, maybe we could see it.
WANDA: I'll check my schedule.
They embrace, kiss. He checks watch.
TOM: Five-fifty. I'll call at seven and every hour on the hour.
WANDA: Thank you.
TOM: Except when you're at the library.
WANDA: Text me at two and three.
TOM: Will do.
WANDA: And maybe a selfie from somewhere along the way.
TOM: I have an idea already.
They kiss. Tom into driver's seat, starts engine, rolls down window. Wanda steps up onto the running board, pokes her head in.
TOM (CONT.): Ready?
Wanda nods. Tom drives to the street, stops.
TOM (CONT.): I don't guess ya know how many days til we land in Honolulu.
WANDA (BEAT): A hundred and two. And elevenish hours, if the plane's on time.
TOM: Elevenish, huh?
She checks his watch.
WANDA: And twenty-two minutes.
TOM: I love you, Wanda.
WANDA: I love you, Tom.
They kiss.
TOM/WANDA: Miss you already.
Another kiss, Wanda steps down off running board, folds arms cross chest.
WANDA: Git before I start crying.
TOM: Before I beat ya to it.
WANDA: Which house first?
TOM: The brick near the river?
Wanda nods, gives thumbs-up that Tom returns.
WANDA: Go. Okay?
Tom nods, flashes peace that Wanda returns. He makes turn onto street, Wanda watches him drive away.
INT. TRUCK
Tom nears stop sign, his eyes on WANDA IN REARVIEW. He puts hand out window, waves. She waves back.
WITH WANDA
She watches the truck stop at light, left turn signal before Tom makes turn, looks at her, blows a kiss she returns before Tom leaves view. A BREEZE RINGS THE CHIMES. She walks to porch, waters plants to WESTERN MEADOWLARK SONG.
About to enter house, her attention turns to the CROW ON A FENCE, seeming to stare back at her. It CAWS THREE TIMES, flies away out of view. Ruth enters house, screen door closes, then front door.
A HUMIINGBIRD finds the feeder.
