Barbara and Brian, Tom and Olivia

INT BEDROOM - DAY

Brian and Barbara in bed, sweaty like the sheet over them and presumably naked. Ceiling fan whirring. Phones on nightstand.

BRIAN: So tell me about Tom Walker and Olivia.

BARBARA: Okay. What I can remember, anyway. They met at the Reno rodeo. Olivia was performing in a revue at Harrah's. Tom had been working on a ranch in another part of the state and in town for a few days before catching a flight to Los Angeles to meet a friend for a motorcycle trip in Mexico. 

BRIAN:  A revue at Harrah's.

BARBARA: Olivia was musical theatre. She had a degree from Cal State Fullerton. She was there to see someone about an audition for a play at what was then called the Pioneer Theatre and got the revue gig by accident, although I don't recall the details.

BRIAN: How old were they?

BARBARA: Olivia was twenty-three. Tom's age was unknown but estimated to be around the same. 

BRIAN: Do we know what kind of ranch Tom was working on?

BARBARA: A cattle ranch. 

BRIAN: He was a cowboy.

BARBARA: That was Olivia's description. A cowboy from Texas.

BRIAN: Back to the rodeo.

BARBARA:  Where they hit it off well enough that she accepts his offer for a drive around Lake Tahoe the next day. Around the lake Tom drove them in, if I remember correctly, his rental Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado convertible.

BRIAN: Nice ride. Color?

BARBARA: Per Hunter's telling, she described it as shiny sky blue. White top. Down the entire ride. 

BRIAN: Pictures?

BARBARA: One. Olivia forgot her camera so they stopped in South Tahoe where she picked up the instamatic she used to take a selfie of them on a beach near Zephyr Cove. It's a great picture.

BRIAN: That Hunter has.

BARBARA: He does.  

BRIAN: That Tom has never seen.

BARBARA: Unless Hunter's already shown him. Handsome man.

BRIAN: Like Hunter.

BARBARA: Yes, although Hunter's features are more like Olivia's. Who was stunning, by the way. 

BRIAN: Pictures?

BARBARA:  Chloe has them. If you'd like I can have her send a couple.

BRIAN: I would. 

BRIAN: Back to the lake.

BARBARA: And to cut to the chase somewhat. A fire near Spooner Lake diverted their ride back to Reno east on fifty to come back through Carson City where they stopped for the dinner that went so well they stayed the night at what was then called The Pony Express Hotel. Where Hunter was conceived. 

BRIAN: Birth control?

BARBARA: Olivia used a diaphragm. Ninety-four percent success rate. I don't know if I've ever laughed harder than when Hunter told me that's why he wore number six in high school baseball.

Brian laughs.

BRIAN: What position?

BARBARA: Started out at third base and ended up pitching.

BRIAN: The next day.

BARBARA: Drive back to Reno, where they had breakfast before Tom dropped her off at her hotel before dropping off the Cadillac before going to the airport and flying away, neither numbers or addresses exchanged. When Olivia found out she was pregnant she moved in with her parents in the house in Orange County she grew up in.  

BRIAN: Where in Orange County?

BARBARA: Santa Ana. A four-bedroom house at the end of a cul-de-sac with access to Santiago Creek. End quote. That's where Hunter spent his first four years while Olivia went back to school for her M-F-A. 

BRIAN: While her parents took care of Hunter.

BARBARA: Yes. Walt and Ingrid. Walt had just retired from his county engineer career and Ingrid from her administrative job with the school district. They adopted Olivia when she was two years old, by the way.

BRIAN: That's a big by the way.

BARBARA: Yeah.

BRIAN: M-F-A in and from? 

BARBARA: Drama, U-C Irvine. Which she used to begin the theatre arts program at the high school she graduated from. When Hunter was five she bought a house in Costa Mesa. Six years later she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Olivia was a smoker. Seven months later she was dead. Hunter moved in with Walt and Ingrid, who sold and moved to Trabuco Canyon, where Hunter grew up. And that's where I have to stop, for now. More later if you're interested.

He pulls her to him, wraps her up. She wipes a tear away.

BRIAN: Very. 

He kisses her.

BARBARA: I so hope this goes well, Brian.

He strokes her hair. Her PHONE RINGTONES (TBD re Chloe), she picks up, stares at screen, passes phone to Brian, who stares at the selfie Chloe has taken that includes Hunter and Tom.

BRIAN: Cowboy alright.

[CUT TO: 

John and Jan sunset powerwalk.]

Pinus Ponderosa

EXT. PINEY WOODS - DAY

The horses are tied to a rudimentary post near where Jackie, Sess and Claire set a picnic table in a clearing fifty yards away from where Tom, Hunter and Chloe walk into frame. 

TOM: Either of ya have any idea why they're called ponderosa pines?

CHLOE: Pinus ponderosa. Because they're ponderous. Which is to say large, weighty, heavy, et cetera. Not that you don't already know what ponderous means.  

TOM: Which makes one wonder why it's a so-called softwood. 

CHLOE: Right? 

TOM: Ya speak any other languages besides Latin and impeccable English?

CHLOE: Thank you but hardly impeccable. And no Latin. I'll be starting fourth year Spanish.

TOM (Spanish): You must be about as fluent as Octavio Paz.

Chloe stops them, looks at Tom?

CHLOE (Spanish): What do you know about Octavio Paz?  

TOM (Spanish): Not much. My best friend's daughter-in-law is a fan.

CHLOE (Spanish): What is your best friend's name and where does he live?

TOM (Spanish): Guillermo Mendoza. Gil lives in Medina, Texas. A small a little over an hour's drive northwest from San Antonio. Have you ever been to Texas?

CHLOE (SPANISH): The airports in Dallas and Houston. Dad and I are visiting Austin for a long weekend in October to check out the campus and town.

TOM (SPANISH): Softball scholarship offer?

CHLOE (SPANISH): Yes. You've probably been to Austin.

TOM (SPANISH): Several times but it's been awhile. Had an aunt who lived there. 

HUNTER: Interpretación, por favor.    

CHLOE: I asked Tom how he learned Spanish.

HUNTER: I inferred that and bits and pieces previously. How did you learn Spanish, Tom?

TOM: Grew up with it. Being around Gil and his family. A few vaqueros along the way.  

CHLOE: Gil is Guillermo Mendoza, Tom's best friend who lives in Medina, Texas. His daughter-in-law is a fan of Octavio Paz.

HUNTER: Best friend for how long?

TOM: We met in sixth grade. 

HUNTER: Does Gil know about me?

TOM: He does. Him, Ruth and Wanda are the only ones.

We see Jackie raise and RING A TRIANGLE DINNER BELL.  

TOM: Goodness. Just had a flashback to a chuck wagon and a campfire  alongside the San Saba River.

They walk toward the picnic table.

CHLOE: Like a Conestoga wagon? 

TOM: Well no. Those were a couple years before my time. One I'm thinkin' of was a modified Ford Bronco, but whatever and pretty much wherever it was called the chuckwagon. 

CHLOE: Is that one word or two.

TOM: Oh boy.

HUNTER: Pretty sure both are accepted.

TOM: Whew. Thank you, Hunter.

HUNTER: Happy to help. But It'll cost you more details about the campfire alongside the San Saba River.

CHLOE: Yeah.

TOM: I think I can dig up a memory or two.

HUNTER: How 'bout over lunch. I bet Jack, Sess and Claire would like to hear about it.

TOM: Well alrighty then.

PICNIC TABLE

Lunch (TBD) is set. Sure enough it's a triangle dinner bell hanging from the the table. Jackie, Sess and Claire watch Hunter, Tom and Chloe approach. 

SESS: So cousin.

JACKIE: Yes?

SESS: What can you tell us about how Tom and Hunter know each other?

JACKIE (BEAT): They met yesterday.

SESS: Fast friends. 

Jackie and Sess exchange a glance Claire doesn't notice.  

CLAIRE: They have the same gait.

JACKIE: I can see it.

SESS: Certainly similar enough to notice.

CLAIRE: It's a hip thing, right? 

She turns to Sess and Jackie, who nod.

JACKIE: I can see the similarity.

Claire returns her attention to Tom, Hunter and Chloe.

SESS: Uncanny.

Sess and Jackie exchange another look. Jackie nods. They turn their attention to Tom, Hunter and Chloe approaching. 

Act 4 finalish beats

Act 3 final beats

1. Next day. Guest room, guest book, Hunter leaves in Tom's truck. 

2. Chloe, Jan, John and Barbara on boat, Lake Nacimiento. What do we know about Ruth? Story and re her ancestry site. Chloe ties a Honda knot.

3. Wanda and Ruth, Ruth's front porch. Sound of engine, Hunter arrives.

4. That night. Hunter, Wanda, Ruth. Table talk with wine, photo albums. Wine re California, Paso Robles, Ruth there for Disney re late son's 11th birthday. Wanda and Ruth excuse themselves to bed.

5. Chloe at home gets Hunter's ringtone/call from Ruth's guest room. Re Tom's best friend tomorrow. Enter Wanda and Ruth "about the truck."

6. Next day. Hunter driving with Wanda and Ruth. Re Gil. Gil's gate, enter.

7. Gil on deck, truck arrive. Maria and The Boys watch intros through window.

8. Brian and Barbara re John and Jan re exploring the branches of Ruth's family tree. Dad finished Foglost. Did or does Hunter drink?

9. Fort Park.

10. John, Jan and Chloe, driving.

11. Ruth's back porch. Thunder and heavy rain. R, W and Carson, R's homemade beach ice cream. The Chloe Tom Ruidoso ice cream selfie, more on Chloe.

12. Gil in his den/mancave, USMC tattoo and tequila. Photo albums, and the one he's looking at is opened to pages of he and Tom at 19-years-old in Bangkok. Maybe music. Enter The Boys. 

13. Next morning. Hunter leaving. Different route to Las Cruces, one that Tom and Wanda have taken. Truck out of view, engine fading to dog barking. R and W re calling Daisy.

14. H driving salt flat. Flat. Truck manual in glove compartment registratioN, proof of insurance, WY and TX fishing licenses, Yellowstone map. Opens manual, finds spare and jack.

15. Chloe and The Boyfriend.

16. Hunter, flat fixed, sweaty, change of shirts and using sweaty t-shirt to wipe hands. Sound of car nearing. Father and son, about the truck. H: It was my dad's. And his before.

17. Doc and Hunter, in Tom's boot, belt/buckle. Tom's Stetson on the rack. Re Daisy in on house with W and R. Returning with Tom's ashes. Re Hawaii. Speaking of which, re the new fish in Doc's tank. Chloe's got a boyfriend. Hunter leaves, hat on, boot-knock down the hall. Doc types.

18. Hawaii. Uke, If I Needed You.

19. Hunter and Jackie.

20. Chloe's Birthday Truck. 

CREDITS/EPILOGUE: Gil and Hunter fishing, Gil's bass boat. A Tom story. Fish on. 

Act 3 finalish beats

Act 2 final beats

1. Hunter's dream. 

2. Sunrise, kitchen, coffee, Tom reveal.

3. Hunter tells Chloe.

4. Wanda with Daisy gets call from Hunter.

5. Ruth gets Wanda's call.

6. Gil with Maria gets Ruth's call.

7. Hunter and Chloe watch paramedic truck drive away.

8. Barbara with Brian, John and Jan on golf course gets Hunter's call.

9. Doc gets Hunter's call.

10. Hunter and Chloe.

11. Daisy and Wanda, Laramie airport.

12. Gil arrive Ruth's.

13. Hunter and Doc.

14. Sess with Claire get Jackie's call. Hunter enters Jackie's house, sobs. 

15. Daisy at home with photo albums. 

[CUT TO

A4

Next day. Hunter leaves in truck.] 

Act 2 finalish beats

Act 1 final beats

1. Day. About the truck, heeere's Jackie, away they go.

2. Doc gets Hunter selfie. 

3. John and Jan. "I found them" re Tom's middle name. A Chloe selfie Barbara has forwaded. 

4. Barbara at home placing same selfie, framed.

5. Int. Rover. Hunter, Jackie, Chloe, Tom re "last time on a horse." White Sands re sunset on the way home. Chloe takes a selfie with Tom.

6. Wanda and Ruth facetime.

7. Sess and Claire, Rover arrive, intros and saddle up.

8. The pines, woodpecker, horses and riders.

9. Gil, Maria, The Boys. Re Tom's Las Cruces layover.

10. Mountain meadow.

11. Horses/riders uphill 'round the bend, Sierra Blanca.

12. Pinus Ponderosa, Tom's buckle re grandfather and the family tree Ruth keeps on ancestry website. Triangle bell. Jackie, Claire and Sess re Tom's relationship to Hunter.

13. John and Jan re last time on a horse. Re Grand Canyon mule ride and respective stories from a long time ago.

14. Creekside. Tom and Hunter re fishing. Hunter re John and Jan's boat at Lake Nacimiento.

15. Brian and his father re "golf tomorrow" and Foglost.

16. Horse barn, hay and Honda Knot. Ice cream in Rui White Sands sunset, coffee before they go.

17. Wanda and Daisy. Tom's Rui selfie with Chloe.

18. White Sands sunset. "One more" selfie.

19. Night. Hunter's, Jackie leaves. Shooting star. In they go. Coyote.

20. The Tahoe tale, Tom to bed, Chloe to call mom.  

[CUT TO:

A3, 

1. Hunter's dream.}

Act 1 finalish beats

Have said 'final" plenty onlty soon realize (time after time), "not so fast." But through such process does the Rubik's Cuibe at last CLICK.

This re Act 1 feels like the one that sets in cement.

1. CREDITS, Tom, Wanda, Snowy Range sunset, Hawaii.

2. Sunrise. Tom leaves.

3. Gil, Maria, The Boys, Foglost, Hunter's blurb. Tom, Wanda re arrive Ruth's. Tom's Huey selfie.

4. Sunset. Wanda and Daisy, Tom's ringtone, ABQ motel room. Tom call Ruth, VM. Foglost.

5. Sunrise. Tom leave Yucca Springs motel.

6. John driving Benz w/Jan, Barbara, Chloe. Re horse day.

7. Hunter home office, Chloe pic and screensaver

8. Tom driving Hunter's hood, makes the GPS turn.

9. Hunter, kitchen, patio, yard, calendar Chloe, catfood, receycle bag.

10. Ext. Hunter's house, Rover and motorcycle in open garage. Tom nearing, stops, idles, Hunter, Tom drives away.

11. Hunter foyer, doorbell. Hunter front porch, Tom and Howdy, enter.

12. John, Jan and Barbara gets Hunter's call re Tom Walker. John re getting a middle name.

13. Wanda with Daisy gets Tom's call from Hunter's guest room. Tom calls Ruth picking peaches in Fredericksburg. Tom leaves, appears yard, selfie.

14. Gil with Foglost gets Tom's selfie. Hijole.

15. Hunter and Chloe airport parking lot.

16. Hunter and Chloe near Hunter's house, Tom's truck in driveway, garage door open, in they go.

17. Hunter's kitchen, Tom at patio, intros.

18. Barbara tells Brian about Tom and Olivia.

19. Sunset. John and Jan powerwalk re TV cowboys, boots and spurs.

20. Patio night. Hunter, Chloe and Tom around table. Re ranch foreman, meeting Wanda and Hawaii. Chloe re Tom come along on horse day. 

-----------------------

[ACT 2

Next day. About the truck and heeere's Jackie.]  

Patio Night

EXT. HUNTER'S PATIO - NIGHT

Hunter, Tom and Chloe sit at the table, remnants of dinner on plates, glass pitcher of water. Tom hatless.  Monsoon clouds obscure the full moon. WIND slightly jostles umbrella.

HUNTER: So Tom, what do or did you do for a living?

TOM: Did. Ranch foreman for thirty-five years, ranch hand before that. Retired ten years.

CHLOE: What kind of ranch or ranches?

TOM: Ranches. Worked several. Cattle ranches.

CHLOE: For beef and milk.

TOM: Yes ma'am, although tended to be one or the other dependin' on the ranch. I reckon you as a vegetarian might have a thought or two about the enterprise.

Chloe nods.

CHLOE: Maybe we can talk more about that another time.

TOM: Be more'n happy to. My thoughts on it have shifted some over the years. Wanda and I have some friends with a steakhouse in Cheyenne, and we'll do that a couple times a year, but we been cuttin' back the past several years and these days it's fish a few times a week and Ruth's fried chicken we're there or she's visitin'.   

CHLOE: Where did you meet Wanda?

TOM: Post office in Boise, Idaho, where she worked and I had a mailbox.

CHLOE: Love at first sight?

TOM: Close to it. Married a year to the day later.

HUNTER: Plans for your twenty-fifth?

TOM: Goin' to Hawaii.

CHLOE: Cool. What island or islands?

TOM: Oahu. First few nights in Waikiki, the last few in a place called Kailua. 

CHLOE: Have you been before?

TOM: No ma'am, first time for both of us.

CHLOE: Excited?

TOM: We are. Not so much about the flyin' part but that's what comes with it. Y'all prob'ly been.

Chloe and Hunter nod. 

FAINT THUNDER.

HUNTER: Here it comes. You probably got rain in Albuquerque last night.

TOM: Plenty. Put me straight to sleep.

HUNTER: It helps me too.

TOM: Speakin' a sleep, and sorry to be a party pooper, but I hope y'all'll excuse me to call my wife and sister and get on to bed. Chloe, that casserole was delicious.

CHLOE: Thanks. Glad you liked it.

TOM: Hope the recipe ain't secret 'cause I know Wanda would love it too.

CHLOE: No secret. Before you leave in the morning.

TOM: Thank you.

He stands. STRONGER BREEZE.

TOM (CONT.) Thank ya both. 

HUNTER: Thanks for the conversation. 

TOM: Well, my tremendous pleasure.

HUNTER: We'll have to do it again sometime.

TOM: I'd sure like that.

HUNTER: Then it's a date.

TOM: Alrighty then.

HUNTER/CHLOE: Goodnight, Tom.

TOM: Goodnight, y'all.

They watch Tom walk to, enter dining room, pass to kitchen, leave view into hall.  The first RAINDROPS tap the umbrella and patio. LOUDER THUNDER.

CHLOE: It sounds like he might not be in such a hurry to get to Ruth's.

HUNTER: I wonder if you're reading my mind.

CHlOE: Maybe, if he wanted to, and Jackie could wrangle another horse, he could come along tomorrow.

Hunter smiles and winks at her, gets phone from pocket, speaks into it. HARDER RAIN.

HUNTER: Jackie.

Hey.

She's right here with me on the patio. 

Yep, first drops right now. 

Still on. That is why I'm calling. We have a surprise visitor here and are wondering, if said visitor would want to come along, if your cousin could wrangle another horse.

Great. 

A man named Tom Walker.

I'll call you back in a bit.

(He pockets phone, stands, nods, Chloe stands. They walk into house and out of view into hallway per Tom's path.)

LOUDER THUNDER, HARDER RAIN, STRONGER WIND.

John and Jan: TV cowboys, boots and spurs

EXT./INT TBD - DAY 

JAN: Have you ever set foot in a pair of cowboy boots?

JOHN: I have. Santa left a pair of Roy Rogers under the tree our first Christmas in El Cerrito.

JAN: What did they look like? 

JOHN: Faux brown leather with Roy on Trigger embossed on the side. 

JAN: The golden palomino.

JOHN: Yep. 

JAN: So needless to say you watched the show.

JOHN: Every Sunday night at six-thirty for a couple seasons.

JAN: Lone Ranger?

JOHN: Thursday nights. And for awhile if you missed that show it would be repated late Friday night.

JAN: Lone Ranger gear?

JOHN: Same spot under the tree the next year. His white Stetson and a belt with a holster for the Colt Army revolver he used. Toy model, of course. Like the silver bullets in the belt's cartridge loops. Years later I learned that mom had put up resistance to the gun. Too young.

JAN: History and imagery I'd never have had I not asked.

JOHN: How about you and cowgirl boots?

JAN: I tried on a pair I briefly coveted when I was with Margaret Brown in Fort Worth that day you and Ed interviewed that young lady from Tulane. Gladys something?

JOHN: Gladys Chapman. She's a partner at McCloud Rucker. 

JAN: No surprise.

JOHN: What did these briefly coveted boots look like?

JAN: Crimson with an embroidered floral pattern. I think I have a picture on my phone. 

JOHN: Coveted briefly because they didn't fit.

JAN: They fit perfectly. Coveted briefly because they were made of alligator.

JOHN: Oh.

JAN: Cowhide would've been plenty to discuss but can you imagine Chloe's reaction to alligator.  

JOHN: Yes I can. Not one I'd want to have aimed in my direction. Which makes me wonder if the beef cattle aspect of Tom's cowboying will come up.

His PHONE RINGTONES BARB'S SPLASH.

JAN: Maybe a picture.

John gets, stares at phone screen.

JOHN: A picture.

He hands phone to Jan who stares at the photo of Tom, Hunter and Chloe smiling at the camera from where they stand with the hills of the Tularosa Basin in the background.

JOHN: Cool buckle.

JAN: Horseshoes?

JOHN: Looks like. Bet he owns spurs. 

JAN: Bet you're right.

She hands him phone, he pockets it.

JOHN: I've never met a man who's worn spurs.

JAN: Well I reckon you will, partner.

John and Jan: foundem

EXT. RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD  - SUNSET

Describe.

John and Jan - running shoes, anklet socks, knee-length shorts, polo shirts, ballcaps betraying school affiliation - stride uphill on sidewalk, each with five-pound dumbbell in each hand. Their focus is on the ground in front of them.  Sweat and their labored breathing reflect their brisk pace.     

JOHN: I found them.

JAN: Where? 

JOHN: Meadowlark Mobile Estates. There's a streetview to the entrance. Travis did the trick.

JAN: Can't get in?

JOHN: Cannot. Patches of snow on the ground. A small park in one direction, gas station farther away in the other, feed and tack store down a-ways across the road. A few blocks west of the river.

JAN: What river?

JOHN: Laramie.

JAN: When did you find this?

JOHN: You were on the phone with Kelly.

JAN: Oh. 

JOHN:  A couple other links I didn't click on.  

Pause.

JAN: Ever been to Laramie?

JOHN: No. Cheyenne my first year at Buford. You.

JAN: Closest was for a wedding in Fort Collins.  What brought Buford to Cheyenne. 

JOHN: E-P-A, coal and B-L-M arm-wrestling.

JAN: With anyone I know?

JOHN: Hmm. Yes. Gloria Carlton. 

JAN: Hmm. 

JOHN: G. L. O.

Jan smiles.

JAN: Oh! She married Ken Wagner. We met at O'Donnell for the Children's Hospital tournament.  

JOHN: Correct.

JAN: Nineteenth green.

JOHN:  Ding ding ding..

JAN: What do we know about Ken and Gloria these days?

JOHN: I want to say I heard they retired in Tucson.      

Pause.

JAN: When were you in Cheyenne?

JOHN: First week of February. 

JAN: Balmy?

John smiles.

JOHN: A toasty ten-below every morning.

JAN: Where did you stay?

JOHN: The Plains.  Now, I think, The Historic Plans.

JAN: Downtime?

JOHN: On our Saturday night a partner named Gary Henderson and I walked across the street and not far down the sidewalk to the Lincoln Theatre and saw Octopussy. I went alone to the Frontier Days Old West Museum the next day before the team met for snowmobiling and dinner at an old-school cafe restaurant called The Albany.

Labored huffing and puffing as they near the uphill driveway to a handsome tree-shaded ranch-style home with a two-door garage. 11261 stenciled on the oak-framed mailbox. 

JAN: Did you like Octopussy?

JOHN: As best I recall, maybe not so much. 

Pause.

JOHN: Wager on over under?

JAN: It's felt quick.

JOHN: Yep. P-R?

JAN: Go.

She picks up the pace, John keeps up, they swing their arms more vigorously and arrive at the mailbox. They set their dumbbells on a plan on the mailbox post, Jan stops her watch, they mill about in recovery mode, hands on hips then held overhead. Jan finally looks at her watch.

JAN: Wow.

JOHN: Wow what?

JAN: Guess.

JOHN: We're right about under?

JAN: How right?

JOHN: Sub-forty.

JAN: Thirty-eight twenty-two.

JOHN: Wow damn. 

JAN: Time flies with something on your mind.

John's PHONE MAKES SPLASH SOUND.

JAN: Splash?

JOHN: New for Barb. 

He gets phone from back pocket, stares at the screen.

JOHN: Or someone.

Jan reaches hand to him.

JAN: Gimmee gimmee.

John hands over the phone.

JOHN: Your huckleberry.

He stares at Jan stare at the Chloe group selfie Barb received.

JAN: Quite a smile.

JOHN: His or Chloe's?

JAN: Right? Handsome like Hunter.

She finally hands John his phone, he looks at the picture, pockets phone. They stare at and extend hands to each other, extend hands to each other at same moment, walk the path along the driveway to the house.

JOHN/JAN: You know, sweetheart.

They smile. 

JAN/JOHN: You first.

Bigger smiles. John holds out a fist, Jan does does the same. They stop to play rock, papar, scissors. Jan wins with paper over John's rock.

JOHN: You win, you first.

Jan laughs.

JAN: Okay.

JOHN: I'm kidding.

He holds her from behind, talks into her ear.

JAN: I think this could be a wonderful thing.

JOHN: Cheater. Mind-reader.

JAN: He can fill in some of her blanks about Olivia.

JOHN: Yes. 

JAN: And Hunter's.

JOHN: And Hunter's.

She turns to face him. They kiss.

JAN: Let's shower.

John smiles, they walk to the front door, John opens, Jan enters, John is about to close the door behind him when he HEARS AN ENGINE LOUDER AS IT NEARS. Finally the newish Ford F-150 with Texas plates enters frame from uphill. The DRIVER, a 50-something man, tips his cowboy hat and waves to John as he drives by. John cranes his neck to follow. Jan's hand takes his collar and drags him into the house and closes the door.

Fort Park

EXT. FORT PARK - DAY

Hunter and Gil in ATV aimed at view to tops of Texas Hill Country, and the boys at work/play, and their ATV.

HUNTER: How long have you been here?

GIL: My dad bought the first parcel when I was four. We'd come up on Sundays after church and play while my dad and a few friends got started on the house. 

HUNTER: Come up from where and what did your dad do?

GIL: San Antonio. My dad and a cousin used their G-I Bills to start an auto shop. 

HUNTER: World War Two.

GIL: Yessir. 

HUNTER: Where were they?

GIL: Dad was in the Pacific, Danny in France.  

HUNTER: What branches?

GIL: Marines and Army respectively.

HUNTER: My grandfather was Navy in the Pacific.

GIL: What boat?

HUNTER: Helena.

GIL: Did he talk about it?

HUNTER: He was on it in Kula Gulf. If you've heard of that.

GIL: I have. 

HUNTER: He was in the water for two days. He would talk about it a little but nothing in detail. And in a way that let me know he wouldn't mind not talking about it.

Gil nods.  

GIL: Any military time?

HUNTER: No. Closest was when two Army recruiters came to the house one day my senior year. 

GIL: How'd that go?

HUNTER: Quickly. I listened to them pitch putting off college and letting Uncle Sam pay for it, said no, thank, walked them to the door. You?

GIL: Military?

Hunter nods.

GIL (CONT.) Yes. Marine, Vietnam.

FAINT THUNDER.

HUNTER: Was Tom?   

GIL (beat): Yes. Army. First Air Cav. 

LOUDER THUNDER

GIL: Here it comes. I don't think you're going to get to Ruth's without getting wet. 

HUNTER: Was he drafted?

GIL: Got our cards the same day. 

HUNTER: Can we talk about this more when I'm back.

GIL: We can do that. I've got some photos.

HUNTER: Thank you.

GIL: My pleasure. 

LOUDER THUNDER.

GIL (CONT.): Now might be a good time to head back.

Gil nods to a whitetail buck seeming to look back at them from fifty yards away. Hunter sees it and watches it take its time walking into the woods and out of view.

GIL (CONT.) Have you ever hunted, Hunter?

HUNTER: No. I killed a squirrel with a slingshot when I was a kid and watched it...die, and that itch was scratched and bled to a scab that will always be there.

Gil nods.

HUNTER: Did Tom?

GIL: Got his first here on his thirteenth birthday. Pretty sure the mount is on a wall in Laramie. He was a helluva shot. Couple years later he got an elk from a few hundred yards in the Guadalupe Mountains when we there with our dads. But if he ever picked up a gun after he got back, I never saw it.

HUNTER: Back from Vietnam.

GIL: Yessir.

LOUDER THUNDER and LIGHTNING BOLT in the far-off grey. Gil turns and WHISTLES at the boys, who hurry to their ATV. Gil starts the engine.

GIL: Ever fished?

HUNTER: Once, sort of, when I was a kid. Tom and I talked about meeting up for a fly-fishing lesson.

GIL: Maybe when you're back we can take the boat out on the lake and I could give you a start with chasing bass around. If you'd be interested.

Rodrigo starts the engine of the ATV, drives away. 

HUNTER: I would like that very much.

GIL: It's a date. Maybe add a handful of Tom's ashes.

He turns the ATV around and follows the boys into the woods and out of view.

LOUDER THUNDER and CLOSER LIGHTNING.

Foglost

Foglost is the title of Hunter's bestselling 500-page novel. Both Tom and Gil are reading it. The book's protagonist is a man, Dan, a Minneapolis attorney - a litigator - in his mid-fifties, recently divorced and for a long time a heavy drinker with a preference for scotch. Remorse, regret and career trending toward downward spiral leads Dan to take a leave from work and buy a boat that he takes onto Lake Superior to "clear the fog." A sudden storm coincides with his drunken stupor  to change Dan's course and life. 

We learn most if not all of this when Maria asks Gil about Foglost, which he's reading when we meet him. 

(Thus tweak scene 3, remove talk of Tom and Wanda's move, as that is expressed in scene 19.)

Tom and Olivia

Tom and Olivia were both 23 when they met at the Reno rodeo. Tom was passing through from the end of ranch hand job in the northeast part of Nevada, on his way to meet a friend for a Mexico motorcycle trip in Mexico. He'd be flying from Reno to Los Angeles to the friend. Olivia was a performer in a revue at Harrah's. She said yes when he asked if she'd be interested in a drive to and around Lake Tahoe the next day. The next morning Tom picked her up in his rental, a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, top down. They took Mt. Rose Highway to Incline Village, turned right to travel counter-clockwise around the lake.

They had lunch on Tahoe City. When they stopped at Emerald Bay to take a picture, Olivia realized she'd left her camera back, resulting in her buying a Kodak Instamatic in South Lake Tahoe, which she used shortly thereafter to take the selfie including Tom on the sandy beach, lake behind them. The plan to continue around the lake to Mt. Rose Hwy. was changed by a fire in the Spooner Lake area, so they too 50 east to 580 north. A stop for dinner in Carson City led to drinks, dancing and staying overnight at the Pony Express Hotel, where Hunter was conceived. Birth control was Olivia's diaphragm.

They next morning they drove to Reno, had breakfast, then Tom dropped Olivia off at her hotel, returned the Cadillac, caught his flight to Los Angeles. Neither had a phone, thus no numbers to exchange. She missed her period, discovered she was pregnant, moved back home into her parents' house in Orange County, California, had Hunter, went back to school at a community college, then to a nearby state university to get a bachelor's in theatre with an emphasis in dance. Throughout, her parents assisted in raising Hunter. They - Robert and Maxine - had adopted Olivia when she was a year old and they were in their early-forties. When Olivia came home to have Hunter, Robert, an engineer for the county, retired. 

We learn most if not all of this when Brian asks Barbara about Tom and Olivia.

scene 19

scene 18

INT. HUNTER'S KITCHEN - DAY

Through window over sink we see Tom sitting in the shade at the patio table, hat on table. We HEAR NEARING FOOTSTEPS IN HALL.

HUNTER (O.S.) Tom? He might be on the patio.

Hunter enters with rolling suitcase, Chloe right behind  with backpack  They see Tom. Chloe puts backpack on center island, Hunter rolls the case to a side. They stare at Tom.

CHLOE: The Marlboro Man in winter.

HUNTER: Right?

CHLOE: I'd've guessed at least five years younger.

HUNTER: Same. Firm handshake when I left him. 

CHLOE: Gonna show him the Tahoe pic?

HUNTER: In the morning.  

Chloe gets phone, takes picture of Tom. Tom seems to hear, turns his attention to the window.

HUNTER (CONT.) Iiiit's showtime.

Hunter waves, Tom waves back, stands.

EXT PATIO

Tom watches them come out through the dining room door, Chloe a half-step and somewhat behind Hunter.

TOM: Howdy.

HUNTER: Hi. Sorry we're late, there was a crash just before the ten twenty-five split.

TOM: Ah, ain't no late to it, and I'm the one oughta be apologizin' for interruptin y'all's time together.

HUNTER: Not interrupting, no need to apologize. Tom, I'd like you to introduce you to Chloe. Chloe, mister Tom Walker.

Chloe steps forward to extend her hand. 

CHLOE: Good to meet you mister Walker.    

Tom steps forward to shake.

TOM: Pleasure's mine, ma'am. And plain old Tom is fine.

Chloe nods.

CHLOE: As is plain old Chloe.   

TOM: Alright. Chloe.

CHLOE: Tom, I'm going to make some lemonade. Would you like a glass?

TOM (BEAT) Well, since yer makin' it, yes, please, thank you very much. That'd be about perfect.

CHLOE: Then if you'll excuse me, I'll get on that.

TOM: Thank you. And for excusin' me. 

CHLOE: B-R-B

TOM: B-R-H.

Chloe somewhat smiles, looks to Hunter, who winks. 

CHLOE: Cheese and crackers?

HUNTER: Thank you, sweetheart.

Hunter and Chloe watch her walk back and into the house. 

HUNTER (CONT.)  She can be a little shy at first.

TOM: Well, she's got a good reason to be. How old is she, if ya don't mind me askin'?

HUNTER: She'll be eighteen in November. Starts her senior year in a month.

TOM: Whereabout, unless that's pryin'.  

HUNTER: San Luis Obispo, where she lives with her mother. I'd like to get back to the math you did to find me.

TOM: Yessir. Well, like I said, I found her obituary online.

HUNTER: When?

TOM: Seven years ago this past May.

HUNTER: Where? 

TOM: Newspaper archive. 

HUNTER: What newspaper?

TOM: Orange County Register.

HUNTER: What moved yo to do a search?

Through window over sink we see Chloe take position at center island, aim her attention at Tom and Hunter.  

TOM: Well. Me and my wife was talkin' about where to take a little vacation. Lake Tahoe came up and whether or not I'd been before. Told her I had, which of course brought up the circumstances of the time I spent with your mother. 

HUNTER: What's your wife's name?

TOM: Wanda. Normally she'd be along but she stayed back to help a friend out. 

HUNTER: She knows you're here?

TOM: She does. She's the one who suggested lookin' up your mother. Anyway. Like I said, seen Hunter Hardyn as her survived-by, looked that up, found your Wiki page, your date a birth there. Did the math. Nine months to the day. A few weeks later I found and read your short story Honda Knot.  That took away any of the small doubt I had. Wrote a letter to ya care of your publisher.

HUNTER: I never got it.

TOM: I never sent it. Thought about it and decided there was a good chance it would be an intrusion. Didn't know what your mother mighta told ya.

HUNTER: Not much to say. 

TOM: I reckon not.

HUNTER: Cowboy from Texas, good dancer, twinkle in kind eyes and infectious smile. 

TOM: Considered there might already be somethin' like a father figure in your life.

HUNTER: No, other than my grandfather.

TOM: And you was just comin' into success. Didn't wanna seem like someone outta the woodwork lookin' for somethin'.

HUNTER: Why now?

TOM: Truth is, didn't have no plan other than to drive by and take a picture. Then, when ya seen me, I thought maybe you might think you had a stalker on your hands. Somethin' like that.

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

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

HUNTER: Plenty of Tom or Thomas Walkers in Texas.

TOM: Yessir. I've known two others myself.

HUNTER: Thomas?

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER; Middle name?

TOM: Travis.

HUNTER: For?

TOM: My grandad on my mom's side.

HUNTER: Are your parents living?

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: What's your sister's name?

TOM: Ruth Ellen Burleson.

HUNTER: Married?

TOM: Widowed.

HUNTER: Any other siblings?

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: Do I have any?

TOM: Not that I know of. 

HUNTER: How long have you and Wanda been married?

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

HUNTER: Previous marriage or marriages?

TOM: No sir. Wanda has one.

HUNTER: Where does Ruth live?

TOM: Small town called Comfort, 'bout a half-hour northeast of Bandera, where we grew up. Me and Wanda and her are goin' in on a house in Kerrville. We're gonna do some drivin' around and stop into an open house or two.

HUNTER: We're hoping you won't mind being in a photograph or two.

TOM: I was hopin' y'all wouldn't mind the same. My wife and sister'd be real tickled. 

HUNTER: How about a selfie to get it started?

Hunter gets his phone, Tom his, they move next to each other to take selfie. We see Chloe get her phone, aim it at the window. 

INT KITCHEN

Chloe records their selfie. They sit at table, Chloe pockets phone, pours lemonade from pitcher into three glasses half-empty with ice. She sets glasses on tray with cheese and crackers plate, leaves into dining room. A CAT leaps onto center island, aims gaze at kitchen window. Chloe comes into view on way to patio. She sets down tray, passes glasses. They toast, sit, sip. Cat leaps down from center island. 

scene 18

scene 17

EXT HUNTER'S HOUSE - DAY

Tom's truck in the driveway. Hunter's Rover down the road nears as did Tom from the same direction. The garage door opens.

INT. ROVER - CONTINUOUS

Hunter drives into the driveway and garage, Chloe's eyes on the truck throughout. Hunter parks, turns off the engine, the garage door closes, they unbuckle.  

CHLOE: Well.

HUNTER: Well.

CHLOE: In case you were running out of things to talk to Doc about.

Hunter smiles, they get of the Rover, enter house. 

scene 17

scene 16

EL PASO INT'L AIRPORT SHORT TERM PARKING LOT - DAY

Hunter pulling suitcase on wheels and Chloe toting backpack walk through the lot. 

CHLOE: And I was nervous about meeting Jackie.

HUNTER: Well Jackie’s nervous about meeting you.

CHLOE: Horse day still on?

HUNTER: Still on. She’ll be by around ten. Are you upset I didn’t ask you before I invited him to stay?

CHLOE: No. I trust your judgment, intuition and instinct. You must feel okay with him to leave him alone in your house for three hours. Besides which, I was in the air.

HUNTER: Could've called for a raincheck.

CHLOE: Rainchecks get rained out too. End quote.

HUNTER: Touché.

CHLOE: He knows gramma’s dead?

HUNTER: He found her obituary online a few years ago. Through that, my name. Through that and some searching, my date of birth. Did the math, end quote. That’s where we left it. 

CHLOE: Nothing about half-siblings.

HUNTER: Didn't ask. I showed him around, we exchanged phone numbers in case of emergency.

CHLOE: Emails next. What’s he driving?

HUNTER: Old pickup in good condition.

CHLOE: Do we know what's in Texas?

HUNTER: Sister.  No details.

CHLOE: Cowboy?

HUNTER: Boots to hat.

CHLOE: Belt buckle?

HUNTER: Two interlinked turquoise horseshoes on silver.

Hunter CHIRPS the Rover, stows the suitcase in back, Chloe adds her pack, gets in front passenger seat. Hunter gets in behind the wheel. 

CHLOE: Dad.

HUNTER: Daughter.

CHLOE: You seem utterly unfazed.

HUNTER: I’m stupefied, sweetheart. Buckle up.

They buckle, he starts engine, backs out of frame. 

scene 16

scene 15

INT. GIL'S GREAT ROOM - DAY

Gil as previously in same chair with Foglost. Rodrigo and Roberto on sofa aimed at TV, each with headphones and attention on their respective laptops. Gil turns to the last page of the book, reads it, closes book just before his PHONE BUZZES as Maria, in socks, enters from hallway, unbeknownst to the boys and Gil. Maria approaches Gil as he gets phone from pocket, opens it and stares at the selfie Tom took with the Organ Mountains backdrop.

GIL: Híjole. 

MARIA: Híjole?

Gil is slightly startled when she arrives behind him. 

MARIA (CONT.) Sorry.

She looks over Gil's shoulder at the picture.

MARIA: Hey, Organ Mountains again. Right?

GIL (BEAT) Yes. 

MARIA: Recent?

GIL: Yes.

MARIA: What's Tom doing in Las Cruces?

Gil stares at the photo.

GIL: Good question.

MARIA: Hmm. 

GIL: Indeed.

MARIA: I'm off.

GIL: Pass along my hello.

MARIA: Will do.

Gil watches Maria approach the boys and startle them when she puts her hands on their shoulders. They turn to her. She winks, kisses them on the forehead, leaves into hall. The boys return their attention to their laptops. Gil opens the book to the author page, stares at the picture, closes book, gazes out the window. 

scene 15

scene 14

INT. HUNTER'S GUEST ROOM - DAY

Tom taps phone on desk as he stares out the window, watches the coyote   lope away out of frame. Tom eyes the guest book, opens it at random to an entry dated, in pencil, 5/25. The entry, in cursive:

Hunter,

Thank you so much. Haven't had such a good time in quite awhile. Our cheeks are hurting from smiling so much. Door always open and bed waiting if ever you find yourself in Portland. 

Love and gratitude, 

Charlie and Dawn.

Tom closes the guest book, gets up, walks to door, puts on hat, leaves into hall. We hear HIS BOOTS KNOCK ON HARDWOOD before silence moments before he is framed by the window as he walks to the stone wall, uses phone to take a selfie, Organ Mountains behind him. He pockets phone, walks out of frame.

scene 14

scene 13

INT. HUNTER'S GUEST ROOM - DAY

Framed print of Georgia O'Keeffe's The Beyond above headboard of queen bed aimed at wall-mounted TV. Tom's suitcase on bed. Lamp on both nightstands. Dresser near closet, Tom's hat on rack near open door to hallway. Open door to guest room bathroom. Wall to wall carpet and Tom sitting in the chair at the desk with window view to back yard. Lamp, pen and pencil near guest book, and etch-a-sketch on the desk. Tom stares out the window at the far-off stationary COYOTE seeming to look back at him as Tom taps phone on desk before finally speaking into it.

TOM: Ruth. 

EXT. ROADSIDE PEACH STAND - DAY

Describe. 

Texas plates on Mazda Miata convertible, newish Ford F-150 pickup, early-90s Volvo wagon.

RUTH, 70-something - tennis shoes, knee-length shorts, untucked button-up short-sleeve shirt and sunhat - walks a bag of peaches to the Volvo, while the phone in a back pocket RINGTONES the Willie Nelson instrumental, Bandera. She sets down the bag, gets phone.

RUTH: Hey there.

Same Fredericksburg peach stand as last year. Where are you?

(Her face expresses perplexed surprise as she listens.)

I'm here. Tom, did you know you were going to do this when you left?

So what's the plan?

Alright. Well, take a picture, okay?

I wish I could've seen her face. Have you told Gil?

That'll be good.

K, love you too.

(She pockets phone, opens back of Volvo, puts in peaches, closes door, goes to driver's door as she gets keys from pocket.)

INT. VOLVO 

She gets in behind wheel, gets purse from under front seat, sets it in seat, opens purse, pulls out Foglost, opens to About the Author page, stares at Hunter's photo, finally closes book, shaking her head, sets it next to purse, starts engine, drives out of frame.

scene 13

scene 12

EXT. S. 5th STREET - DOWNTOWN LARAMIE, WYOMING - DAY

Wanda and Daisy, each with purse in crook of elbow, walking north on the sidewalk toward the Wyo Theatre, made evident by signage above the marquee. 

DAISY: Did you know that Ellen Burstyn wanted the role that Cloris Leachman won the Oscar for? 

WANDA: I did not. Who would you have given the Oscar to?

DAISY: I guess I think they mostly got it right. I'd probably flip a coin. 

WANDA: Now didn't Ellen Burstyn get Best Actress for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

DAISY: She did. Who won Best Supporting? 

WANDA: Hmmm. Hint.

DAISY: Albert Finney.

WANDA: Murder On the Orient Express. Ingrid Bergman.

DAISY: Ding ding ding. Although my vote would have been for Diane Ladd. Who did, by the way, win a Golden Globe Supporting Role for the TV show Alice, if you remember that.

WANDA: Of course. She was Belle Dupree, briefly.  

DAISY; Very briefly.

Daisy stops them at the Wyo, its front boarded up, the boards painted a scene from the 1964 film, Cheyenne Autumn. The mural depicts Richard Widmark's character, Captain Archer, standing and facing us, burning Conestoga wagons behind him. Wanda steps them back for a wider view.

WANDA: Besides Richard Widmark, I'm drawing a blank.

DAISY: Cheyenne Autumn, John Ford, nineteen sixty-four.

Wanda's PHONE RINGTONES the If I Needed You instrumental as previously. She gets phone from back pocket. 

WANDA: Hey there.

Standing in front of the Wyo on the way to the car from the library where we watched Last Picture Show. Where are you?

(Her face expresses perplexed surprise as she listens.)

I'm here. So what's the plan?

Alright.

I'll be waiting.

I love you too. Oh Tom, if you can, maybe take a picture.

Okay. Talk to you tonight.

(Wanda pockets phone, brow furrowed.)

DAISY: Whence the furrowed brow, she inquired nosily.

WANDA: Oh. Tom met someone he knows in Las Cruces and is spending the night.

DAISY: Someone you know too?

WANDA: Know of. I've never met him. Onward to ice cream?

Daisy nods. Wanda walks them out of frame. 

[CUT TO: Tom in HUNTER'S GUEST ROOM - DAY.]

scene 12

scene 11 

EXT, WINERY SITTING AREA - DAY

Handsome tasting room and grounds with tables under umbrellas, postcard view to the treed green rolling hills west of Paso Robles, California. 

MURMUR OF VISITORS seated and milling. John, Jan and Barbara sharing a bottle of white wine at a table. Jan's purse in her lap, Barbara's bag slung over the back of her chair.   

JOHN: Do we know if Brian has his new clubs yet?

BARBARA: We do. Picked them up yesterday and is playing with Kyle at Dairy Creek right now.

JOHN: When does Kyle leave for Ann Arbor?

BARBARA: A week from today.

JAN: Did they get the housing situation settled?

BARBARA: They did. A room in a bungalow in the Water Hill neighborhood.

JOHN: Big change.

BARBARA: Yeah. He just got tickets for the Ohio State game. Kyle's birthday is three days before.

JAN: In Ann Arbor?

BARBARA: Columbus. Staying at a friend of Brian's in Upper Arlington.

Barbara's PHONE RINGTONES FOGHORN.

JAN/JOHN: Hunter?

BARBARA: Changed it yesterday.

(She picks up.)

Hey.

They're right here.

(Her face expresses perplexed surprise as she listens.)

I trust your instinct, Hunter.  I wish I could see her face when you tell her.

Alright.

Well take a picture, okay?

Love you too.

(She sets phone down, looks at John and Jan.)

JAN: Cue drumroll.

BARBARA: Tom Walker is at Hunter's house. He's spending the night.

They consider this, looking at each other.

JOHN: A middle name would be helpful.

BARBARA: Chloe will call tonight.

Silence but for CONVERSATIONAL MURMUR and the FAINT RINGING OF WIND CHIMES.  

scene 11

scene 10

INT. HOME ENTRYWAY - MINUTES LATER

Describe.

Hunter enters from one hall, crosses into the other as the DOORBELL RINGS. He comes back into the room, approaches door, takes look through the peephole, pulls away, face an expression of perplexed, looks through peephole again.

EXT. HUNTER'S FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS

Tom on the shaded landing, eyes cast downward.. Hunter opens the door wide enough to reveal his face.

HUNTER: Can I help you?

TOM: Howdy. My name is Tom Walker.

Hunter surveys him.

HUNTER: Tom Walker who was in Reno about this time fifty-one years ago?

TOM: I was there July tenth through the thirteenth.

HUNTER: What's my mother's name?

TOM: Well, if I got the right Hunter Hardyn, she went by her middle name Olivia. Her first name was Marilyn.

HUNTER: What's your middle name?

TOM: Travis.

HUNTER: How did you find my address?

TOM: Paid a few bucks for an online search.

HUNTER: Just happen to be in the neighborhood?

TOM: Sorta. Passin' through on my way to Texas.

HUNTER: From where?

TOM: Laramie, Wyomin', where I live.

HUNTER: I'm leaving to pick up my daughter at the airport in El Paso.

TOM: Yessir. 

HUNTER: Will you be passing through on your way back to Laramie?

TOM: Yessir. In about a week.

HUNTER: We won't be here in a week.

TOM: Yessir.  

Hunter opens door wider, motions for Tom to enter.

HUNTER: Come in if you have a minute.

Tom hesitates, removes hat, enters, leaves view. Hunter eyes the truck on the street near the bins, closes door.

silly interlude 1: SHF 1

 

decided no harm in the occasional silly interlude. SHF is who i'll be sending the link to this blog.   

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Other titles: Already Completed, Settled, Mission Accomplished, Tasks Completed