EXT. DECK - CABIN IN THE WOODS - DAY
KATE and CEDRIC, 70-somethings, at repose in their respective chaises, their phones and bottled waters on the table between them. Kate in running shoes, jeans, unbuttoned denim blouse over tee, sleeves rolled to elbows, silver watch. We can't see what on her laptop has her attention. Cedric is reading Foglost. Tan work boots, new jeans, untucked long-sleeve, gold watch.
Cabin surrounded by lodgepole pines. The chaises share the deck with a grill and fire pit near where the deck meets a small meadow. View through big window behind them to room with fireplace and TWO CATS looking out from different levels of cat tree. Intermittent SONG OF WILSON'S WARBLER.
CEDRIC: Do you know if Hunter does or did drink?
KATE: I know that he did. Last I heard he's been clean and sober for a few years. He looked great when I saw him in at Jan's birthday. Like he works out. Why do you ask, unless it gives too much away.
CEDRIC: Well, the protagonist drinks. And Hunter writes about it in such a way that only personal experience can inform. He's poetically poignant. When will I meet him?
KATE: Well, at Chloe's graduation for sure, and I'd bet Chloe's birthday. Both of which we need to talk about as far as where to stay.
CEDRIC: I'm not tired of Pismo.
KATE: It's Pismo. Same or something different.
CEDRIC: Same works for me.
KATE: Settled. Doh.
CEDRIC: A deer.
KATE: I just remembered Chloe's at Hunter's now. They're going on a road trip on a rental motorcycle.
CEDRIC: Eighteenth birthday.
KATE: Yes.
CEDRIC: Do we know what we're getting her?
Kate smiles.
KATE: Your first do we know.
CEDRIC: Been saving it for the right occasion.
KATE: We do not, yet.
CEDRIC: John and Jan?
KATE: They, Hunter and Barbara are talking about a car.
Kate's PHONE RINGTONES MAN'S VOICE CALLING "FORE!"
KATE (CONT.): John's new ringtone.
Cedric chuckles, Kate picks up. Cedric turns page.
KATE: We were just talking about Chloe's birthday after I just remembered she's at Hunter's.
(Her face expresses her surprise.)
I'm here.
(Cedric looks at her.)
Well what a turn. Do we have a middle name?
Do we have as picture?
Can't wait.
I'll be here.
(She sets down phone.)
CEDRIC: Picture of what and whose middle name?
KATE: Do you remember the cowboy in Hunter's short story Honda Knot.
CEDRIC. Vividly. Loyd Landers.
KATE: Loyd Landers is based on Hunter's father. Thomas Travis Walker. Whom, as you might recall, Hunter has never heard from.
CEDRIC: I do.
KATE: He's a retired ranch foreman who lives with his wife in Laramie.
CEDRIC: Which is new information?
KATE: Yes. He showed up at Hunter's yesterday. I should be getting a picture any - there it is. The woman is Hunter's new girlfriend.
(She stares, hands laptop to Cedric, who stares at the San Augustin Pass selfie Wanda showed Daisy.)
CEDRIC: I'll tell ya, Kate. Thomas Travis Walker looks a helluva lot like a Tom I met at a funeral in Casper a couple years ago.
KATE: Who was the deceased to you?
CEDRIC: Frank Baxter. We were in First Infantry together.
KATE: And Tom looks like someone you met at his funeral.
CEDRIC: Damn near a doppelganger.
KATE: You spoke?
CEDRIC: Briefly, over a beer. First Cav. He'd been in boot camp with Frank. Both from Texas.
KATE: Tom Walker is from Texas, though we don't where. Yet. He has a sister who also maintains an ancestry site.
CEDRIC: Well how about that.
KATE: How about it.
He hands back laptop.
CEDRIC (CONT.): I may pause here and re-read Honda Knot. Any chance Hunter was conceived in a Carson City.
KATE: Carson is his middle name.
CEDRIC: And I was about to ask.
CAR HORN HONK. Tom marks page, sets book on table, picks up phone. Kate closes laptop, gets phone. They walk to and through gate out of view.
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