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.
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.
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.
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.