scene 17

scene 16

EXT. HUNTER'S HOUSE - DAY

Tom's truck in driveway, the Rover approaches from the direction Tom had. 

Garage door opens.

INT. ROVER

Chloe's eyes on the truck until the garage door closes behind them. Hunter turns off engine. They unbuckle, look at each other.

HUNTER: Ready?

Chloe shakes her head. Hunter smiles, kisses Chloe's forehead. They leave frame when they exit Rover.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER 

Tom sitting at the patio table, hat off, smoking a cigarette, turned toward the house. 

HUNTER (OFF): Tom?

We HEAR THEIR APPROACH before Hunter and Chloe enter, see Tom, stop and stare from the center island.

CHLOE: The Marlboro Man in winter.

She gets phone, aims at Tom, takes picture. As if he's heard it, Tom turns to them.

HUNTER: Now you've done it.  

EXT. PATIO

Tom puts cigarette butt in shirt pocket, stands as Hunter and Chloe come out, approach, Chloe somewhat behind Hunter, a partial shield. 

HUNTER: Sorry so long, Tom, we got stuck behind a wreck at the ten twenty-five split.

TOM: Ain't no late to it. Just been enjoyin' the view and fresh air. And I'm the one oughta apologizin' for bein' an intrusion.

HUNTER: You're not an intrusion. Did you show yourself around the house.

TOM: I did. Ya got a real nice place in a real nice spot.

HUNTER: Tom, meet Chloe, my daughter. 

TOM: My pleasure to meet ya, Chloe. 

CHLOE: Hello.

TOM: Sorry to be buttin' on your time with your dad.

CHLOE: It's okay.

HUNTER: You're probably thirsty.

CHLOE: I'll make lemonade.

Hunter looks at her, knowing she's using making lemonade as an escape.

HUNTER: Lemonade okay, Tom?

TOM: Sure, but I don't wanna make ya go to the trouble of making some.

CHLOE: No trouble. Just squeezing lemons. 

TOM: Well thank you very much. 

CHLOE: Sugarless but I'll bring some for you to add if you like.

TOM: Sugarless is just fine, thank you.

CHLOE: K. If you'll excuse me.

TOM: Yes ma'am. 

She looks to Hunter, who nods. Chloe leaves. They watch her enter kitchen, leave view. 

HUNTER: She's a little nervous.

TOM: Course she is. And she ain't the only one.

HUNTER: But she'll hang on every word you can tell her about your time with my mom.

TOM: I can do that. I'll answer questions y'all got.

HUNTER: We've got some. Shall we sit?

They sit, Chloe comes into view in window over sink, watching from center island.

HUNTER: Wedding band?

TOM: Yessir. My wife Wanda would be with me but she stayed back with a friend whose husband just passed.

HUNTER: How long have you been married?

TOM: It'll be twenty-five years November eleven.

HUNTER: Were you married previously?

TOM: No sir. Wanda was.

HUNTER: Do I have any siblings?

TOM: Not by me that I know of. 

HUNTER: How long have you known about me?

TOM: Little over five years. Me and Wanda were talkin' about where to go for our twentieth. She brought up Lake Tahoe, she'd never been. Asked if I had. Told her about my time with your mom.

HUNTER: Did she know about her?

TOM: No sir. And she sure was curious. We went online to see what we could find. Found the obituary.

HUNTER: Where? 

TOM: Newspaper archive.

HUNTER: The Register.

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: Wanda knows you're here.

TOM: Yessir. And mighty surprised. 

HUNTER: You didn't tell her.

TOM: Told her I was gonna drive by and take a picture of your house. Then when ya seen me I didn't want ya thinkin' I was some sorta stalker.  

HUNTER: What if I didn't know who you are?

TOM: I'da been a little turned around and askin' for directions back to Drippin' Springs Road.

HUNTER: What's in Texas?

TOM: My sister Ruth.

HUNTER: She knows you're here.

TOM: Yessir. And just as shocked as Wanda.

HUNTER: Other siblings?

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: Parents living.

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: Hunter is fine, if you don't mind.

TOM: Yessir. Hunter.

INT. KITCHEN

Chloe at center island, eyes on Tom and Hunter, adds ice cubes to a pitcher of lemonade, Peels in a bowl near the squeezer. She refills the ice cube tray with water, puts it in freezer, gets three glasses from one cupboard, wooden tray from another, puts glasses and pitcher on tray, opens door to patio, closes it behind her, walks to table. A WHITE CAT jumps onto center island, aims its gaze at Chloe arriving at the table, filling the glasses with lemonade, sitting. After a moment of Hunte speaking, he, Tom and Chloe bring their glasses together in the style of a toast, and drink.