scene 16

scene 15

EXT. EL PASO INT'L AIRPORT SHORT-TERM PARKING LOT - DAY

Hunter toting roller-bag, Chloe with backpack, walking through the lot.

CHLOE: Do we know how he found out?

HUNTER: Found gramma's obituary, saw my name in the survived by, looked me up, found my date of birth, did the math, end quote. Found my Wiki page, 

CHLOE: When?

HUNTER: Don't know, left it at that. Are you upset that I assumed you'd be okay with this?

CHLOE (BEAT): No. I trust your instincts. Besides which, you must feel some degree of confidence leaving your house to a stranger for three hours.

HUNTER: I have his plate number.

CHLOE: What's he driving?

HUNTER Guess.

CHLOE (BEAT): Pickup truck.

HUNTER: Check.

CHLOE: Cowboy?

HUNTER: From boots to straw Stetson.

CHLOE: Belt buckle?

HUNTER: Two linked turquoise horseshoes on silver.

Hunter aims key-remote at new Land Rover ('Rover" hereafter), CHIRP and LIGHTS FLASH. 

CHLOE: And I was nervous about meeting Jackie.

HUNTER: Well Jackie's nervous about meeting you.

CHLOE: Horse day still on?

HUNTER: Still on. She'll be by around ten.

Arrive at Rover, roller-cart and backpack into back. Chloe front passenger, Hunter at wheel.

CHLOE: Dad.

HUNTER: Daughter. 

CHLOE:  You seem utterly unfazed.

HUNTER: When in fact I am utterly stupefied. Buckle up, sweetheart.

They buckle up, Hunter starts engine, backs out of frame.  

scene 15

scene 14

INT. GIL'S GREAT ROOM - DAY 

Gil as previously with Foglost. Roberto and Rodrigo in the TV area, headphones on, attention on their respective laptops. FAINT SONG OF GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER. Gil turns a page near the end, marks page, closes book when his PHONE CHIRPS. He picks up, stares at the Organ Mountains selfie we saw Tom take. 

GIL: Híjole.

He opens to the author flap at the back of the book. The medium shot of Hunter in plaid flannel looking back at the camera from where Tom took the selfie, snow on the peaks of the Organ Mountains behind him. 

The blurb below reads:

H.C. Hunter is the author of two other novels, Yubaville and Isleton, and The Arroyo: short stories. 

Maria in socks arrives in the entry way. Gil compares the two images, shakes his head, unaware of Maria's approach until she is behind him, looking over his shoulder at the images. He looks at her.

MARIA: Dad? 

GIL: Maria. 

MARIA: It looks like they're in the same spot.

Gil returns his attention to the images.

GIL: I agree.

MARIA: Same stone wall, right?

GIL: Very similar at least.

MARIA: At least. 

MARIA: Do you think they are in the same spot? 

GIL: It sure looks like it.

MARIA: Do you know if Tom has any connection to H.C. Hardyn?

GIL: I do.

MARIA: Can you tell me more about their connection?

GIL: I cannot. 

He looks at her.

GIL (CONT.): Not now.  

Maria nods.  

MARIA: This is big, isn't it?

Gil nods.

MARIA:  Mail run, anything going out?

Gil shakes head. Maria winks, leaves. Gil stares at the images.

FAINT WHIR OF CICADAS.