scene 7

scene 6

INT. NOVELIST'S HOME OFFICE - DAY

If front of room is the big window to the up-close Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. the old wooden desk facing it is at back of room, near open door to hallway. Swivel chair between the desk's drawers. Framed map TBD on wall behind desk.  

From chair POV, loaded bookshelf against left wall. Model sailboat on top shelf. Old leather couch against right wall, under framed print of Ad Reinhardt Red Painting. Navajo rug on hardwood. Cactus sculpture in left corner near window, stool and telescope in right corner near window.  

Printer on stand to right of desk, albums fill the stand's open space. Turntable atop mini-fridge left of desk. Speakers in each of the room's upper corners.  

On desk: globe, pens and pencils in holder near short stack of yellow legal pads, white-new baseball, two 8x10 framed photographs - one of a MAN, mid-40s, and a 12-year-old Chloe in the front seat of a roller-coaster in steep descent, their faces expressing their excitement; and another of a WOMAN, 30, with a 7-YEAR-OLD BOY, flying a kite at a beach - and a laptop with a screensaver of Chloe in a wetsuit, smiling at the camera from the wave she is surfing, Pismo Beach pier in the background.

FAINT SONG OF CRISSAL THRASHER before HUNTER, 50 - running shoes, jeans, untucked dress shirt - enters. He is the man in the roller coaster photo. He goes to desk, opens computer to file text he saves, turns off computer, leaves into hall.

scene 6

scene 5

INT. PORSCHE CAYENNE - DAY

JOHN, fit mid-70s, at the wheel, driving north on woodsy California Highway 25 near Pinnacles, California, per the GPS display, Khaki slacks, sunglasses hang from collar of polo shirt. If we could see them, argyle socks, loafers that match his belt. Gold watch and wedding band. Silver hair cut casual corporate, freshly shaven. 

BARBARA, athletic 50ish - stylish track suit, running shoes, sunglasses propped atop head, hair pulled back in a bun, stylish bag in her lap - in front passenger seat,

JAN, fit mid-70s - Martha Stewart Sunday drive casual featuring capris, deck shoes, cardigan over blouse unbuttoned at top to show silver necklace. behind John. Hands together on the purse in her lap reveal prominent diamond on silver wedding ring. Recently styled silver hair to shoulders, designer sunglasses propped atop head. 

CHLOE, athletic 17 - running shoes, knee-length jeans, sweatshirt with GO SLO embroidered on front, long hair in tail - behind Barbara. 

JOHN: Do we know the location of horse day?

CHLOE: On land Jackie's family owns northwest of Ruidoso, end quote.

JAN: On horses Jackie's family owns?

CHLOE: Not sure.

JAN: Isn't Ruidoso where Bob and Kelly Buford retired to?

JOHN: Yes. 

JAN: We owe them a phone call.

JOHN: We do.

Pause.

CHLOE: In other news.

JAN/JOHN: Cue drumroll.

CHLOE: Dad is selling Las Cruces and heading for the hills.

JAN/JOHN/BARBARA: Really?!  

CHLOE: Really.

JOHN: What hills?

CHLOE: The Cloudcroft area, end quote.

BARBARA: When did this take effect?

CHLOE: Recent decision. He emailed me yesterday. We're going to drive out when we get back from the trip and take a look around.

JOHN: At houses?

CHLOE: No. He wants to buy land and build. We're just gonna spend the day in  town and drive around.

JAN: Isn't this what he's always wanted?

BARBARA: Yes.

JOHN: That makes Las Cruces a brief chapter.

CHLOE: Yeah. He says that lately he's had people driving by and stopping awhile before moving on. 

JOHN: The perils of being a well-known author.

JAN: It is rather exposed in that regard.

JOHN: It is. How much land?

CHLOE: Ten or so acres, depending on what's out there.

JAN: That's roomy.

CHLOE: In other news.

Barbara does a drumroll on the dash.

JOHN/JAN: Well?

CHLOE: He sold the movie rights to Honda Knot.

Pause.

JAN/JOHN: Wow.

Barbara lowers her shades over her eyes.

CHLOE: And will be writing the screenplay. He's put down the baseball story to start it.

Pause. John notices Barbara wipe the tear from a cheek. She aims her gaze out the window. 

JAN: We need to call and congratulate him.

JOHN: I was going to wait 'til Foglost hits the bestseller list.

Barbara wipes another tear away.

JAN: Good idea. John, who would you cast as Cade Satterwhite, living or not?

JOHN: Hmm.

John reaches for Barbara's hand, Barbara gives it to him. Barbara sniffles.

CHLOE: Mom?

BARBARA: I'm sorry. I'm just so happy for Hunter. He's worked so hard to make his dream come true and here it is happening.

Chloe looks at Jan, who looks at her, takes her hand.

JAN: So am I, and yes he has.

Jan reaches over Barbara's seat, places hand on her shoulder. Barbara places hand on Jan's. FAINT SOUND OF MOTORCYCLE ENGINES GROWS LOUDER, A MUFFLED ROAR as SEVERAL WOMEN ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES appear in the rearview mirror. Chloe turns to look.

CHLOE: Biker chicks.

When the road opens to a straight the riders pass, each returning the thumbs-up Chloe gives them. The riders surge ahead and round a turn out of view, ENGINE SOUND FADES AWAY.

JAN/JOHN: You are wearing a helmet aren't you?

CHLOE: Getting one Monday. 

John pats Barbara's thigh, Barbara nods.

BARBARA: Richard Farnsworth.

JAN/JOHN: Yes! 

CHLOE: Who is Richard Farnsworth?

Barbara turns to Chloe, raises shades to her forehead. 

BARBARA: Who your dad would have cast as Clyde Satterwhite. 

CHLOE: Really?. Living?

Barbara shakes her head.

CHLOE (CONT.)  I'll look him up. Love you, mom.

BAR BARA: Love you, Chloe.

John's and Jan's eyes meet in the rearview, they wink at each other. Barbara returns her gaze to the road. Jan and Chloe hold hands.

EXT. CAYENNE

Zoom out to drone view of Rover and landscape, including the Harley riders ahead of them.