INT. HUNTER'S KITCHEN - DAY
Tom sitting at patio table, right leg crossed over left, arms crossed at wrists at rest on right knee, cigarette in right hand. Hat and phone on table, gaze aimed toward ground ahead of him.
SOUND OF DOOR OPENED, SHUT, FOOTSTEPS NEARING.
HUNTER (O.S.): Tom?
Hunter enters with grocery bag, Chloe right behind, backpack slung over shoulder. Hunter sets bag, Chloe sets backpack on center island, from behind which she and Hunter stare at Tom, who takes a drag off his cigarette.
CHLOE: The Marlboro man in winter.
HUNTER: He smoked Chesterfields.
CHLOE (BEAT): I'm pretty sure you never told me that.
HUNTER: I just now remembered. How odd I'd have forgotten.
CHLOE: You'll show him the photos.
HUNTER: I will.
CHLOE: Maybe you've noticed his sitting style.
HUNTER: I have.
CHLOE: How odd.
HUNTER: Mere coincidence of course.
CHLOE: Of course.
Tom sits up, notices them, extinguishes cigarette on boot sole, sticks butt in shirt pocket.
HUNTER: Show time.
EXT. PATIO
Tom stands, watches Hunter wave and lead Chloe through door and toward him, Chloe slightly behind Hunter, semi-shield.
HUNTER: Hey there.
TOM: Howdy.
HUNTER: Sorry so tardy, bad accident at the ten twenty-five split.
TOM: Ain't no tardy to it, just been enjoyin' your fresh air.
HUNTER: Did you show yourself around?
TOM: I did. Ya got a real nice place here.
HUNTER: Tom, I'd like to introduce you to Chloe, my daughter.
TOM: Hello, Chloe.
CHLOE: Hello.
TOM: I'm sorry for interruptin' your time with your dad.
CHLOE (BEAT): It's alright.
HUNTER: Tom, would you be up for some fresh lemonade?
TOM: Well, if y'all are and it ain't no trouble -
CHLOE: It isn't. I'll get it started.
She looks to Hunter, who barely nods.
CHLOE (CONT.): If you'll excuse me, Tom.
TOM: Yes ma'am. Thank you.
Chloe nods, leaves into kitchen, visible at the center island as she gets lemons from bag, leaves view with bag.
HUNTER: She's shy and nervous.
TOM: Like me. .
HUNTER: But will have a question or two for you about my mom.
TOM: I'll any and all questions y'all got best as I can remember things.
HUNTER: What moved you to search for her and when did you?
Chloe appears at center island with all ingredients, begins making lemonade, aimed at Tom and Hunter.
TOM: My wife and I was talkin' about where to go for our twentieth anniversary. She brought up Lake Tahoe. She'd never been. Asked if I had. I told her yes, which eliminated Tahoe 'cause we wanted to go somewhere neither of us had been. But she asked about the circumstances of my time there. Told her I was passin' through from the end of a job in the Elko area on my to the airport for a flight to Los Angeles to meet a friend for a drive to Mexico and fishin'. She asked where I stayed. The Sundowner for three nights. Asked if I did anything particularly memorable. Told her I went to see Elvis at was called Centennial Coliseum. She looked it up her laptop, seen he'd been Thanksgivin' Eve of seventy-six. She was surprised I'd never mentioned it. I told her everything. She was pretty quick to start lookin' for Olivia Hardyn. Little longer to find her obituary.
HUNTER: Where?
TOM: Sacramento Bee archives.
HUNTER: What's her name and how long have you been married?
TOM: Wanda. Comin' up on our twenty-fifth in October.
HUNTER: Kids?
TOM: Wanda had a son from a previous marriage. Drowned when he was fourteen.
HUNTER: You?
TOM: No previous marriage, no other kids that I know of.
HUNTER: She knows you're here.
TOM: She does. Called her and my sister. Both more than just a little surprised.
HUNTER: What's your sister's name?
TOM: Ruth. On my way to her house in Comfort, Texas.
HUNTER: Other siblings?
TOM: No sir.
HUNTER: Parents living?
TOM: No.
HUNTER: What if I hadn't recognized your name?
TOM:.I'da been a little turned around askin' how to get back to Drippin' Springs Road.
HUNTER: No G-P-S?
TOM: I'da been fibbin'. Didn't have no plan other than to take a picture of your place, then when ya seen me, well...I didn't wantcha to think you had some sorta stalker on your hands.
Chloe comes out with three glasses of iced lemonade and sugar container and stir-stick on a platter she brings to table.
CHLOE: Tom, sugar if you'd like to add. Sorry we're all out of sassparilla.
Tom and Hunter smile.
TOM: When's the last time you had a sassparilla?
CHLOE: I have yet to make that encounter. When's the last time you had one?
TOM: Bout this time a year ago at Cheyenne Frontier Days. I'll add a dash.
He adds a dash of sugar to his lemonade, stirs it with the stir-stick Chloe hands him.
HUNTER: A toast?
All look at each other.
CHLOE: To this.
Hunter and tom nod. Hunter raises glass, Tom and Chloe raise theirs.
HUNTER/CHLOE/TOM: To this.
They drink. Chloe sets glass down, gets phone from pocket.
CHLOE: Tom, if you're camera shy you better duck now.
Chloe aims phone to take group selfie. Hunter and Tom lean into frame, raise glasses raised, Chloe takes picture they look at.
TOM: Any chance you could forward that to me? My wife and sister would sure be tickled.
CHLOE: A very good chance made more likely with your email and or phone.
Tom sets up phone for Chloe to enter as contact. Chloe does so, calls Tom, who picks up when his PHONE RINGS.
TOM: This is Tom.
CHLOE: This is Chloe. Tag. You're it.
They drink.
