Wednesday, May 27, 2026

scene 14

scene 13

INT. HUNTER'S GUEST ROOM - DAY

Tom's suitcase on queen bed aimed at TV above dresser, his hat on rack near open door to hallway. Chair with lampstand in corner, sliding-door closet, framed Georgia O'Keeffe print TBD. Tom sits at desk with window to patio and back yard.

On desk: pencil and pen on guest book, etch-a-sketch, lamp, legal pad.

Tom stares out the window, tapping phone on desk, stops, speaks into phone.

TOM: Ruthie.


EXT. ROADSIDE PEACH STAND - DAY

Texas plates on the several vehicles in the makeshift dirt lot somewhat shaded by oaks. SHOPPERS picking out and bagging peaches, CLERK at register, ringing them up. RUTH, 70-something - tennis shoes, knee-length shorts, Austin City Limits t-shirt, visor - sets down her bag, gets PHONE RINGTONING Willie Nelson's instrumental Bandera from pocket.

RUTH: Howdy.

Fredericksburg peach stand, where are you?

(She listens, her face expresses surprise, she sits on a bench.)

I'm here. Disbelief. Wanda knows?

Wish I could have seen her face. Tommy, did you have this planned?

Okay. So now what? 

I'm here, processing. So call me tonight and take pictures.

Love you too.

(She pockets phone. She shakes her head, finally rises, walks with peaches to older Volvo wagon, gets in, starts engine, drives away. FAINT WHIR OF CICADAS.)


HUNTER'S GUEST ROOM - DAY

Tom taps phone, stops, gets up, gets hat from rack when he leaves into hall. BOOTS KNOCKING ON HARDWOOD, FADING to silence moments before Tom steps into frame of desk window. He walks to stone wall, positions himself to take a selfie with the Organ Mountains as background, does so, pockets camera, gets pack of cigarettes from shirt pocket, takes one out, puts pack back, gets lighter from pants pocket, lights cigarette, smokes, taking in the scene. He walks out of frame in the direction he came from.

scene 13

scene 12

EXT. ELK MOUNTAIN TRADING CO. - ELK MOUNTAIN, WY - DAY 

Wyoming plates on the newish Subaru wagon and a late-70s Chevy Blazer parked in front. Boat on trailer hitched to old heavy-duty pickup truck, camouflage-painted ATV in the adjacent parking area. 

Wanda and Daisy, 70-something, purses in tow, come out of the store, walk the steps to the lot and Subaru. Wanda in behind the wheel, purse into back seat, Daisy front passenger, purse in lap. 

WANDA: Which way home?

DAISY (BEAT): Arlington Rock River?

WANDA: That's what I'm thinking. Coffee at Shawna's?

Daisy nods.

WANDA (CONT.) Are you sure?

DAISY: Yes. It's just that Trudy and Jack might be there. They don't know about Clem.

WANDA: Oh.

DAISY: But they need to. And it's better that I tell them in person. One reason I'd like to stop in.

Wanda's PHONE RINGTONES instrumental version of the Townes Van Zandt song, If I Needed You. She gets it from purse. 

WANDA: Hey there.

Just had lunch at Elk Mountain, now off to Shawna's for a coffee stop. Where are you?   

She listens, surprise reconfiguring her expression.

WANDA (CONT.) I'm here. My goodness, Tom, did you know you were going to do this when you left?

Alright. So what's the plan?

Alright.

I'll tell her. So call me tonight.

I love you too, you crazy cowpoke.

Oh Tom? Be sure to take a picture. Or two.

I'll be waiting.

(She sets phone in console.)

DAISY: Wanda?

Wanda gets keys from purse, sticks one in ignition.

WANDA: Daisy, would you mind driving?

DAISY (BEAT): Of course not. Is everything alright? Is Tom okay>

WANDA: Yes. Yes. Tom is fine. Daisy, while you drive I'm going to tell you something about Tom you don't know. That Clem didn't know. 

DAISY (BEAT): Okay.

They leave frame when they get out of the car.