scene 3

scene 2

EXT. AMERICAN LEGION POST 157 - BANDERA, TX - DAY

GIL and DALE, both MID-70s, dressed for carpentry, sit next to each other on one of the concrete steps to the post, their backs to its glass double-doors. A cane at Dale’s side. Clear protective glasses propped on their heads, army-green hardhats between them on the step. Dale sips from a bottle labeled as sarsaparilla, Gil from a bottle of Jarrito soda.  Intermittent SAWING, HAMMERING and DRILLING from inside the hall. 

Flagpole flies United States flag at top, Texas flag below it, above a black POW-MIA flag. All three limp. Texas plates on van in the handicap space near the ramp to the doors and three newish pickup trucks and a late-70s Corvette convertible in the parking area. The post's old marquee sign identifies the post number and advertises 8 pm Wednesday night bingo. 

GIL: Big news.

DALE: Good news.

GIL: Great news. Tom and Wanda are moving down.

DALE: Down where?

GIL: Down here? Well, Kerrville. They and Ruth are buying a house.

DALE: No shoot. When?

GIL: Before winter arrives in Laramie. Recent decision. He's on his way right now to spend a week with Ruth driving around and stepping into open houses.

DALE: Well I'll darned. Wanda ain't comin'?

GIL: Staying behind with a friend whose husband just passed.

DALE: Mm. Did I tell ya Charlie Collingwood died?

GIL: Bill did. 

DALE: We fishin'?

GIL: Tom's call is that spot on the west prong near Carpenter Creek.

DALE: Good call. The boys comin'?

GIL: Yep. Next Sunday?

DALE: Early or late?

GIL: Late? The boys are sleepers.

DALE: Late's great. We're goin' to Lois's friend's church in Boerne.

GIL: Speaking of Boerne, have you heard from or about Claude and Nadine.

DALE: Yes. We were gonna pay 'em a visit but they just left for Cancun for their fortieth anniversary. Speaking of anniversaries do you know if Tom and Wanda have decided where they're doing theirs?

GIL: Hawaii. Oahu. They booked last week. Seven nights. Neither have been.

DALE: Well good for them.

GIL: Ready?

Dale nods. They finish their drinks, put on their hardhats and protective glasses, stand. Gil keeps an eye on Dale who rises a little wobbly. He uses a rail as they ascend the steps, they both place their bottles in a plastic bin, 

Gil stops them just before they enter when his PHONE RINGTONES THE WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP OF HELICOPTER BLADES. 

DALE: That sure as hell brings it back. 

GIL: Tom.

DALE: Roger that.

Gil looks at and shows Dale the selfie Tom has taken at the Vietnam-era Huey helicopter display at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico. They stare at the image.

DALE: I can smell it.

GIL: Strongest sense memory.

Gil pockets phone puts arm around Dale, they enter the hall, leave view.

WHIR OF CICADAS.