scene 32

sc 31

EXT. MOUNTAIN MEADOW - DAY

The riders at a leisurely pace cross through tall grass to where meadow meets forest. Sess and Claire lead the way followed at some length by Jackie and Chloe, followed at a similar length by Tom and Hunter.  

TOM AND HUNTER

TOM: Are you and her mother on good terms?

HUNTER: Yes. Barbara. We are. And there's no better mother.

TOM: What does she do?

HUNTER: She's a photographer. And teaches a class at Cal Poly.

TOM: San Luis Obispo.

HUNTER: Yes. 

TOM: How'dya meet?

HUNTER: We worked for the same newspaper.

TOM: Her folks?

HUNTER: John and Jan. Retired attorneys in Paso Robles.

TOM: Well that ain't to far away, is it?

HUNTER: Half-hour. And there's a train.

TOM: Are they in good health?

HUNTER: They are. They swim a couple times a week, powerwalk every sunrise, and walk nine holes of golf every Saturday. And ski Jackson Hole when they're at John's sister's.

TOM: Does Chloe ski?

HUNTER: Snowboard.

TOM: You.

HUNTER: Ski. Been awhile. You?

TOM: If water skiin' counts.

HUNTER: When's the last time you water skied?

TOM: When we were down last summer?

HUNTER: At Ruth's.

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: Where?

TOM: Medina Lake, southeast a Bandera. Actually a reservoir. Got a friend with a boat. Ever been water skiin'?

HUNTER: My honeymoon. 

TOM: Where?

HUNTER: Tahiti. Took awhile to figure it out. 

TOM: But once ya did.

HUNTER: Good time.

Silence.

TOM: Do you worry about her?

HUNTER: Only constantly.

Chloe turns to them, waves. They wave back.

CHLOE AND JACKIE

JACKIE: I hear you've begun the picking a college process.

CHLOE: Yep. 

JACKIE: Does location matter?

CHLOE: Well, I'm leaning toward environmental studies. Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz have good programs. 

JACKIE: And the latter two are surfing-friendly.

CHLOE: There's that.

JACKIE: Tom's story about taking a lesson was hilarious.

CHLOE: I reckon the landin's softer'n fallin' off a horse. 

JACKIE: I reckon it's not quite the dad time you were expecting when you got on the plane.

CHLOE: You reckon correctly. I reckon it wasn't quite the flight to Albuquerque you were expecting when you got on in Chicago.

JACKIE: You reckon correctly.

Chloe presents a high-five that Jackie meets. Their hand clasp is brief.

CHLOE: This is cool.

JACKIE: This is.

Ahead of them, Sess and Claire reach the woods, turn their horses to face the approaching riders.

SESS AND CLAIRE 

They face the approaching riders.

CLAIRE: Is it just me or does the cowboy seem to have a calming effect on Polly.

SESS: It is not just you.

CLAIRE: Probably no accident you put him on her. 

SESS: You saw that tail swish when she saw him.

CLAIRE: And a little giddyup I haven't seen before.

SESS: Like she wants to play a little.

CLAIRE: Who'da thunk?

SESS: Us.

CLAIRE: Jack's glowing.

SESS: I noticed.

Chloe and Jackie arrive.

SESS (CONT.) How we doin'?

JACKIE: Wheee.

CHLOE: What she said. 

CLAIRE: Couldn't ask for a better day.

All watch Tom and Hunter approach.

JACKIE: Speaking of better day, is it just me or does Polly seem to be having one?

SESS/CLAIRE: We were just saying. 

JACKIE: I did catch him whispering to her.

Tom and Hunter arrive.

SESS: Tom, this is news to you but we're in agreement that you have an impossible to not notice very positive effect on Polly. 

TOM: Well that'd be mutual. She's a sweetheart. 

He pats the palomino's neck.

CLAIRE: She's enjoying herself.

TOM: We got that in common, too.

SESS: Almost like she wants to pick up the pace.

Tom leans in to horse's ears. 

TOM: Whaddaya think about that, girl.

The horse swishes its tail.

JACKIE: Yes.  

The horse snorts.

CLAIRE: Please.

TOM: She raced?

Sess and Claire nod.

TOM (CONT.) Maybe not the best experience?

Sess and Claire nod. Tom handles the horse's mane.

TOM: Maybe she'd take a slow turn or two 'round them barrels back at the ranch.

Sess and Claire look at each other, nod.

SESS: Can't wait to find out. So, uphill to a view and great spot for a group photo, then on to lunch. 

CLAIRE: I'm gonna find a spot to shoot from.

Sess nods, Claire rides into the woods, quickly out of view.

CHLOE: Is she going to post her movie online.

SESS: She is. Link to the site for anyone interested.

Hunter, Chloe, Tom and Jackie are quick with their respective affirmatives. 

SESS (CONT.): To the top.

She leads the riders into the wood and out of view.