EXT. AMERICAN LEGION POST 157 - BANDERA, TX - DAY
GIL and DALE, both MID-70s, sit next to each other on one of the concrete steps to the post, their backs to its glass double-doors. A cane at Dale’s side. Flagpole flies United States flag at top, Texas flag below it, above a black POW-MIA flag. All three limp. Intermittent SAWING, HAMMERING and DRILLING from inside the hall.
Texas plates on van in the handicap space near the ramp to the doors. The post's old marquee sign identifies the post number and advertises 8 pm Wednesday night bingo.
Both men in work boots, old jeans, sweat-stained long-sleeve t-shirts. Gil wears a Dodgers affiliate-era San Antonio Missions ballcap. Dale's advertises Hill Country Feed and Tack above the bill. He sips from a bottle the label identifies as sarsaparilla, Gil from a Jarritos soda.
DALE: Maria and the boys comin' up before school starts?
GIL: Day after tomorrow.
DALE: Are we fishin'?
GIL: We are.
DALE: Where?
GIL: Tom's coming down. I thought I'd let him pick.
DALE: Did you tell me that and I forgot?
GIL: No sir. Because you'd have remembered the big news I'd have included. He, Wanda and Ruth are buying a house in Kerrville.
DALE: Hell yes I would have remembered that. Well damn, that is big news and good news. Time frame?
GIL: Before winter gets to Laramie. He gets in tomorrow afternoon. They're gonna start recon and check out a few open houses.
DALE: Wanda ain't comin'?
GIL: Staying back with a friend whose husband just passed.
GIL'S PHONE CHIRPS, he gets it from pocket, looks at screen, smiles, passes phone to Dale. OVER THEIR SHOULDERS we see the selfie Tom has taken where he stands in front of the Vietnam-era Huey helicopter display at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
DALE: Jesus lord. Flashback.
GIL: Yep.
Gil pockets phone.
GIL (CONT.): Back to work?
DALE: If I can get off my ass.
Gil stands, Dale gets cane, Gil helps him stand, puts arm around his shoulder, walks him into hall, follows.
WHIR OF CICADAS.
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