Wednesday, May 28, 2025

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.