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.