EXT. CAFE PATIO - DAY
MURMUR OF PATRONS at tables and JOHN COLTRANE THROUGH SPEAKERS.
Jan and John at their tables with a view to train and tracks at Paso Robles depot remnants of their waffles and eggs benedict brunch on plates near a pitcher of ice water. Mimosas in champagne flutes. They stare at the San Augustin Pass photo on Jan's phone. John's on table.
VOICE ON LOUDSPEAKER: This is to inform passengers waiting for the delayed southbound Coast Starlight that your train is scheduled to arrive in twenty minutes, at two-thirty. Again, the southbound Coast Starlight is scheduled to arrive at two-thirty. We apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience.
John and Jan are so focused on the image they don't notice their 20-something WAITRESS, PAIGE by her name tag, arrive behind them and look over their shoulders at the picture.
PAIGE: What a great picture.
Startled, John and Jan turn to her.
PAIGE (CONT.): I'm so sorry.
JOHN: Paige, could you please wear a bell?
He winks, Paige smiles.
JAN: We were a little locked in.
PAIGE: Who's with her and where are they, to be really nosey.
JOHN: That's her father, his father's girlfriend, and a someone her father knows, somewhere between Las Cruces and Ruidoso, New Mexico.
PAIGE: Finally a face for dad. Who, by the way, looks a lot like the writer of the book my uncle is reading. Fog something, I think.
JOHN: Foglost?
PAIGE: That's it. By H-C something or other.
JAN: Hardyn with a Y?
PAIGE: Yes! Don't tell me that's Chloe's dad.
JOHN/JAN: We won't.
PAIGE: Can I tell my uncle?
Jan and John nod.
PAIGE (CONT.): Can I refill your mimosas
John and Jan look at each other, then at Paige, nod. Paige leaves into cafe. John and Jan finish their mimosas. return their attention to the picture.
JAN: They both lean on their left leg.
JOHN: Yep.
JAN: Jackie is beautiful. Isn't she?
JOHN: She is.
JAN: Did you look into the Spider blog Chloe mentioned?
JOHN: Cursory glance. Hers is red.
JAN: Like Benjamin Braddock's.
John smiles.
JOHN: Let's watch that tonight.
JAN: You have a date on your hands, mister.
JOHN: Promise?
JAN: You just show up.
JOHN: I'll be there.
JAN: Do you think we'll get a picture not forwarded by Barb?
Both their PHONES RINGTONE TBD. They look at each other. John gets phone looks at what Jan opens to: a selfie Chloe has taken with Tom in the back seats of the Rover. Tom's window frames the dunes of White Sands National Park
JAN: Barbara meets Brian, Kate meets Cedric, Tom Walker arrives on the scene. Within a month-and-a-half.
JOHN: Enough to keep you on your toes.
JAN: I'm on mine.
They pocket phones when Paige arrives with fresh mimosas.
PAIGE: Round two.
She sets them on table.
JOHN/JAN: Thank you, Paige.
JOHN: How's the band thing going?
PAIGE: The band thing's going okay. We're closing the concerts in the park Thursday night.
John and Jan, look at each other, shrug and nod.
JOHN: Paige, we're going to treat that like an invitation and accept it.
PAIGE: Really? That would be so cool.
SAME VOICE OVER LOUDSPEAKER: Attention Amtrak travelers waiting for the southbound Coast Starlight.
(Paige waves, leaves.)
Your train will be arriving in ten minutes so you might want to begin making your way to the platform.
(John and Jan sip, return their attention to the Chloe with Tom selfie, hold hands.)
Once again, southbound Coast Starlight will be here in ten minutes.
SO G OF LESSER GOLDFINCH.